The Highland Duke (Lords of the Highlands Book 1)

FINAL DECISION: An action packed adventure combined with a romance where the hero is a jerk for most of the story, but redeems himself by the end. I especially loved the heroine who is strong but sweet and genuine.THE STORY: Akira Ayes, a healer from a Gypsy family finds an injured Scot after a battle with English troops during the Jacobite Rebellion. Akira can't bear to leave the Highlander to fend for himself and ends up embroiled in his danger. Geordie aka George Gordon aka Duke of Gordon keeps his identity a secret from Akira. He needs to make his way home to hide his participation in the battle because otherwise his life and lands would be forfeit. As the two travel together fleeing the English, Geordie finds he likes how Akira treats him as a man -- not as a duke.OPINION: I found this book to be a rousing adventure story as Akira and Geordie race across Scotland evading the English. That portion of the book was excellent. Geordie and Akira argue, work together, find commonality and care for one another as they race through the countryside. The book had an exciting beginning and didn't leave off until the two reached Georgie's home.For me, the book slowed down a bit when that happened and I think the book lost a bit of focus. As the two fall in love but have to confront the impossibility of them marrying, I thought the book meandered a bit and I was not as interested in the ending of the book as I was in the beginning. Ultimately, however, I thought that the story overall was a success.Akira is a wonderful character. She has been treated poorly by many people because of her Gypsy heritage. (In the book Gypsies are called Tinkers and are thought of as mere thieves and beggars, reflecting the prejudices of the time). Despite the discrimination and intense poverty she has faced, Akira is a healer. A kind and generous woman. A woman willing to risk herself to save a stranger's life. She has a progression in this book. Akira begins with fixed ideas of sexual morality, but finds herself having to think about what is important in her life as she and Geordie fall in love but are unable to marry. She is also a woman who can make a duke appreciate being a man.Geordie is a man who has two sides...the distant duke and the man he finds himself being with Akira. Akira challenges Geordie's assumptions about his world and about his obligations in it. Akira demands that Geordie consider the common folk and he realizes that she is right and he is ashamed of his prior self-absorption. In order to be with Akira, Geordie must change himself and prove himself worthy of her. I like that he is willing to acknowledge his mistakes.This is a good start to the new series and I look forward to the next book.WORTH MENTIONING: Some parts of this book had vague echoes to OUTLANDER but perhaps that is only because I have been reading those book recently.CONNECTED BOOKS: THE HIGHLAND DUKE is the first book in the Lords of the Highlands series.STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I see the word Highland or Highlander in a title and I get a wee bit excited. When I find a new author to me who writes Historical Highlander set way…way back in the day, you may catch me doing a shake and shimmy happy dance. There’s just something about the big braw Scottish dudes wearing a kilt, with a sword in one hand, a flask of whisky tucked into his sporran and riding a wee beastie, that gets my heart pumping. Well, The Highland Duke has given me a great introduction to Amy Jarecki AND she has a backlog…SCORE!!!!I really enjoyed The Highland Duke and I was very surprised at how much I loved it. See, I’m a bit of a snob. I kind of need (in my previous reads) for the hero and heroine to be on equal footing. I think it makes it a little more believable when they are both at the same level in social standings. Well, this was definitely not that. Good old Dukey (yes, another bloody Duke) is getting matched up with a healer. This healer is near the bottom of the rung when it comes to social standings because she’s a…Gypsy (gasp).I didn’t know too much about Gypsy’s before starting this one and I found it interesting to learn more about them and their history. I always knew they were looked down on but I wasn’t sure why. Tinker, a term used in this story (and I’m guessing derogatory), is used to describe them. Tinker’s are “known” for stealing, trickery and begging and were outlawed. Most left the country but some were able to meld in with society but with their distinctive dark colouring, most were treated badly.So, we have two very different ends of the social standing, near royalty and near leper. Hmmm…if you’re anything like me you start questioning how this could ever lead to a happy ever after. Well, I will admit, I started gripping my kindle tighter and mumbling and grumbling under my breath when the dreaded word…Mistress floated about. I can confirm that with a very valid reason why the word was even floating about and an ending that left me smiling, I was content.The Highland Duke is filled with action, adventure, chemistry and conflict. The characters are far from perfect but are lovable and endearing. The baddies will make your skin crawl and tutt, tutt over their greedy and self-serving attitudes. We also meet some interesting characters that I desperately want to know more about.If you’re a fan of historical romance and don’t mind a wee bit of braw Scottish highlander, The Highland Duke will definitely keep you satisfied.

Can a Jacobite and a gypsy find love?I loved the premise of this story. Set between The Glorious Revolution and the early Jacobite rising, Amy Jarecki weaves a rather compelling romance about George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon and a young gypsy healer, who saves his life and almost loses her own because of it.I felt Jarecki took a little be of a risk using a historical figure as the hero of her romance. Jarecki clearly states in her ‘Author's Notes’ that she has manipulated the years and she certainly took literary licence with a great many things. I think the best of course of action is not to look up the life of the real George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon, as it kind of spoils the fantasy. My mistake!!Going back to the book itself. I adored the characterisation of Akira. She comes across as an incredibly strong woman, who is not cowed by titles, or guns or soldiers, or anything really. She was a remarkable protagonist. Likewise, George is equally well crafted and was very real in the telling.Jarecki brought the Highlands to life in this fast-paced novel full of treachery, peril and she certainly knows how to throw obstacles at her protagonists. The antagonists balance the story well by being as horrible as the protagonists are nice.The story is a faced-paced one, and I certainly enjoyed it.I would Recommend.

I don't understand how this book can have such good reviews! I bought the book on basis of the reviews and I'm thinking the people who rated it high haven't really ever read a good story.Both main characters are shallow and almost childish in their reactions, dialogues and thought processes are disjointed and description of gesticulation in distress is just not fitting - when she's angry, she's putting fists under her chin?!?!?! When he's upset, he's putting his fists on his hips...Sorry, Amy Jarecki, I'm sure you have put a lot of time and effort into the book, but it is not hitting the mark with me. I bought 3 other books of the author on basis of the reviews on Amazon - I'm hoping those books are better than this one.

Beautiful read by Amy JareckiIf you want a beautiful highland romance book from a Duke to a beautiful Gypsy then this book will keep your toes curling lolIt's full of love, romance & battle to have the beautiful woman he adores & to top it a gypsy wedding.

This book I felt was disappointing. It started well and looked as if it was going to be a interesting period story about the Highlands. But it had a lot of crude sexual scenes, and a lot of Blasphemy which was not necessarily.

Really enjoyed