The Enchantress

Highland Treasure #2

by May McGoldrick

Second Installment of Highland Treasure Trilogy

Beginning with The Dreamer, May McGoldrick's Highland Treasure trilogy captures the lives and loves of three Scottish sisters. Now, meet Laura...The Enchantress...

Fleeing persecution from the English king, the three Percy sisters scattered to different corners of Scotland. But when the level-headed Laura found herself abducted by the fearsome Laird of Blackfearn, all her well-made plans were torn asunder. His reckless and wild ways left Laura burning in his wake-and awakened in her a passion as untamed as his own....

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Audiobook, Scotland

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

May McGoldrick, Nik James, and Jan Coffey are pen names for USA Today bestselling authors Nikoo Kafi and Jim McGoldrick. Together, they have crafted over fifty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical, contemporary, and Western novels, and two works of nonfiction.

Nikoo’s education and training was in engineering. She worked in robotics and submarine shipbuilding. Before earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature, Jim pursued a hundred and one jobs, including a decade in submarine construction.

Storytellers at heart, Nikoo and Jim were always searching for careers that gave them time for both family and writing. Then, after thirteen years of marriage, they recognized each other’s creative strengths. Nikoo is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Their first attempt in writing fiction together produced their award-winning novel, The Thistle and the Rose. Since then, their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages and counting.

Nikoo and Jim are four-time Rita Finalists and the winners of numerous awards for their writing, including the Daphne DeMaurier Award for Excellence, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award, three NJRW Golden Leaf Awards, two Holt Medallions, and the Connecticut Press Club Award for Best Fiction.

The authors make their home in California.

Here is a complete catalogue of May McGoldrick, Nik James and Jan Coffey’s work, in chronological order.
Each book stands on its own.

MAY McGOLDRICK

Macpherson Clan Series
The Thistle and the Rose
A Midsummer Wedding (novella)
Angel of Skye
Heart of Gold
Beauty of the Mist

The Intended
Flame
Tess and the Highlander
The Dreamer (Highland Treasure)
The Enchantress (Highland Treasure)
The Firebrand (Highland Treasure)

Much Ado About Highlanders (Scottish Relic)
Taming the Highlander (Scottish Relic)
Tempest in the Highlands (Scottish Relic)

Arsenic and Old Armor
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Pennington Family Series
The Promise
The Rebel
Borrowed Dreams
Captured Dreams
Dreams of Destiny
Romancing the Scot
It Happened in the Highlands
Sweet Home Highland Christmas (novella)
Sleepless in Scotland
Dearest Millie (novella)
How to Ditch a Duke (novella)
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Royal Highlander Series
Highland Crown
Highland Jewel
Highland Sword
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A Prince in the Pantry (novella)
Ghost of the Thames
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Made in Heaven
Thanksgiving in Connecticut (novella)

NIK JAMES
The Winter Road (novella)
High Country Justice
Bullets and Silver
Silver Trail Christmas

JAN COFFEY
Trust Me Once
Twice Burned
Triple Threat
Fourth Victim
Five in a Row
Silent Waters
Cross Wired
The Janus Effect
The Puppet Master
Blind Eye
Road Kill
Mercy (novella)
Tropical Kiss
Aquarian
When the Mirror Cracks

NONFICTION

Marriage of Minds: Collaborative Fiction Writing
Step Write Up: Writing Exercises for 21st Century

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Reviews

[Karla Brandenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

well plotted

A Highlander thrust into unwanted leadership. Buried family secrets. A half-English heroine, which by itself pits him against her.

I do enjoy this couple’s books. Well plotted if a bit predictable (hence 4 stars instead of 5). Have another in this series that I intend to read.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book - not quite as much as the last book ( The Dreamer) but more than Flame.

Will and Laura are both great characters and I liked them both a lot. I think they had wonderful chemistry. I loved the banter throughout the book. Especially between Gilbert and William.

What I didn't care for was William's guilt. It was over the top. My God - the way he carried on you would think he knowingly seduced his brother's intended. And I agree with another reviewer regarding the Mildred/Miriam thing - there is NO WAY he could know - no freaking way!!

Other than that - the book was great and I would highly recommend this book and the series.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SOLID 3.5 STARS

THIS ONE WAS WAYYYYY BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK. AT LEAST THE CHARACTERS' CHEMISTRY WAS CLOSE TO GENUINE AND THERE WAS THAT SLIGHT ANGST BURIED WITHIN THE STORY, MAKING IT MUCH MORE INTERESTING.

OUR HERO was sent to help rescue Laura but he's chewed on more than he bargained for when the lass turns on him and bashes his head in with a rock. Their relationship started off rocky with a smoldering attraction between the two, until they parted ways again when he dropped her off at his brother's place. His brother Gilbert is a Priest. Long ago, William fell in love with a vain and materialistic beauty who played around with his feelings, strung him along while opening her legs to almost any men she found desirable, William himself included. Alas, he also slept with her the eve before her wedding to his older brother...and she ended up with child. For 7 years, William knew that he has a daughter but was pretty much in denial. Till, Laura returns to help pave the way for his "niece" and sets his castle to right, at the same time inflaming his heart and for the first time he truly knows what love is, and not the selfish kind he knew as a young lad. I don't particularly like it when the heroes have bastard children (though the young uns are not at fault, duh but the irresponsible parents are), I still cringe most of the time when there are scenarios like this.

OUR HEROINE is exceptionally beautiful, the gem amongst her siblings most likely and they are all beautiful. This time around, the story continues with the bad guys looking for the 'treasure' that has something to do with her family and mother. Somehow, she became captive to a bunch of men and in comes a Highland Laird who rescues her and she mistook him for the enemy and whacked him. That doesn't put her in good light in his book. When a stolen, heated moment occurred between them, William dumps her bottom on his brother asap and hightailed back to his castle. That is, until she storms right back to help set his castle to right, which he obviously isn't happy about. As their attraction deepens, it's only a matter of time of whether ANYTHING will happen between them. Throw in a suitor and the hero's past...you get a not so bad story.

OVERALL this was enjoyable if not some parts a little lengthy. I did enjoy the chemistry and passionate sex between the characters and those jealousy infused moments? A classic.

[Lilmissmolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Enchantress by May McGoldrick is an exciting second book in the Highland Treasure Series wherein three sisters each hold a piece of a map to a valuable treasure with evil men who will stop at nothing to obtain that treasurer. Like the first book in this series, The Enchantress has everything that I love in a good book -- an adventurous story, engaging characters, and excellent writing.

This installment features Laura Percy who is very organized, stubborn, and temperamental; and William Ross, the reckless brother of a church provost, who is tasked with protecting Laura from the evil men who wish to take her captive. When William arrives to escort Laura to Blackfearn Castle, she believes William is kidnapping her so she hits him upside the head and knocks him unconscious. When the bad men do show up, Laura realizes her mistake and she ends up saving William - not only from the evil men, but from his fractured heart as well.

I really appreciated how William and Laura fought obstacles from their past to find true love. For example, at the beginning of the book, it appeared as though William had a death wish; it took Laura, his brother, and the entire clan to help him realize how much they needed him and his leadership, and he in turn, began to accept his responsibilities to his family and clan.

Originally published in 2000, it is nice to see this novel and entire trilogy get a much needed audiobook update. It’s amazing how an audiobook gives one a different perspective from when I read these books more than 15 years ago. Ruth Urquhart narrated this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to start listening to the next book in the Highland Treasure series, The Firebrand!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

William and Laura
Narrator: Ruth Urquhart

William is sent to kidnap Laura to keep her safe from a group of bad men who are also there to kidnap her. There is a spark and they share a kiss. It scares William off and he sends her to stay with his brother, a provost. He decides that she needs to help out with William's niece who is being sent to his castle and so he sends her to William's castle, too. That's fine with her. She loves children and is sweet on William. She gets there and the castle is a mess and William pushes her away. But Laura is an organizer and starts putting the castle to rights. The niece, Miriam, arrives and she is a sweetheart. Laura is kind and wonderful to her and William cannot help but warm up to her as well. But William, who has fallen in love with Laura, has this big secret that he thinks will run her off. The way she finds out was rather anticlimactic, but still a nice hea.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Enchantress, book 2 of May McGoldrick’s Highland Treasure series, was an entertaining and exhilarating novel. Laura Percy is on the run, and charged with protecting a family secret/treause, when she is kidnapped by the Laird of Blackfearn. William and Laura are like oil and water and when they get together the sparks fly. He wants nothing to do with her, and she’s determined to make him face his responsibilities to his family and his people, a duty he never wanted or expected. But when danger comes calling will William be able to protect Laura.

[Cherry-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highland romances are one of my favs. Recently, I learned about midges in the Highlands and am now reading these books to assess how closely my fav romances are based on "reality". Loved the interaction between the laird and his lady. Since the book was a trilogy there were some obvious gaps. The authors did a fair job of providing some back-end details that helped to provide understanding. A fairly good read of the highlands but not terribly exciting.

[Dania Mcardle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brava!

I could not put this down! The romantic sparring had me laughing out loud. Her writing style drew me into the storyline easily. Not realizing it was book 2 in the series, of course I had to seek out books 1 and 3. I can not wait to start them and I will probably re-read this in between. I look forward to reading Mays other collections. I highly suspect I'll enjoy them just as much.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthy writing that is worth the read.

Excellent story with a few wrong words and wrong names scattered about.

In this one you need to start paying close attention to place names, and descriptions of symbols, as not everyone has been identified yet.

The MCs are enchanting, and there are many touches of humor throughout.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Better than the first because it focuses more on the main characters and less on the treasure hunt. Laura is very likable, and I loved being at the heart of life in the laird’s castle in the time of Ann Boleyn. What a hard life it was. I thank God every day for electricity and indoor plumbing! Bring in a child and a dog and what’s not to love!

[Gina Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continuous adventure....

This second book in this series continues from book one, Laura is the second sister who was sent away to safety. This storyline reads like a movie, just love it, the characters have chemistry and passion, looking forward to book three.

[Lindy Studt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura and William

A woman who likes to be useful by organising and helping others. A Laird who has been running away from himself and letting things get out of hand. I couldn't wait to find out if they killed each other or would stay together.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story but so many parts of it just go on and on. All the thoughts and so much silly thinking. I had to skim past parts of doubt about her love for him and his love for her. Besides that it's a very good story.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written follow up to book 1 The Dreamer.
Enjoyed it, very fast paced and the characters develop as you move through the book. Next the third book The FireBrand

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at like 40-50%

[Emmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me all sorts of Julie Garwood Highlanders vibes and I really liked it.

[Wendy Barsanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Highland story!!

I love stories about the Highland heroes and this is no exception! There is nothing like love in historical Scotland.

[Elena Cadesome · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Enjoyable continuation of the series. I like a capable heroine and the hero’s soft side was adorable.

[Lori Meehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the series did not disappoint. Laura and William. What great characters! The secondary characters are just as fabulous as the h/H. I’m on to the third and final book.

[Jewels · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second book by these authors and the second in the series
I think I may have enjoyed this one more because there seemed more banter and a longer time before they did the deed Soto speak
But again lots of interesting characters and action

[Kbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible Catalogue
AUDIOBOOK: Read 25 & 26 January 2023
9hrs 15nin

Narrator: Ruth Urquhart does a good job as usual
Though I started backwards to this series I did like it

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I started in the middle(book two) of this series about 3 English sisters who are given a map divided into 3 parts to protect a family treasure. This sister, Laura, meets a Highland Lord who rescues her from those who want the map and would wish her dead. The are attracted to each other and William Ross is a good person who is willing to helpand protect her. He takes her to his castle where they findmore than just attraction.
Recommended.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this historical romance, Our hero is clueless to how to deal with the lovely Laura, made me laugh out loud alot.The couple themselves are really funny with their back and forth.There are sexytimes and the tension build up before those sexytime is exactly what i look for in my romance novels. Fantastic Really enjoyed it. 2nd in a series of 3.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bof
Ce tome 2!n'apporte pas grand chose sur le "mystère" qui ce met en place dans le tome 1

Les personnages sont un peu fades et je ne suis pas vraiment rentrée dans leur histoire

La traduction française est pleine d'erreur mais malgré tout c'est une romance qui se lit facilement et j'ai hâte de lire le tome 3 qui semble plus prometteur ..

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were so many endearing moments in this book, along with little bits that made me laugh out loud. Fabulous book and, so far, my favorite in the series. :)

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

As enjoyable (or maybe even more so) than the first. Again, not exactly clean romance, so beware. But the love story here was very sweet. Perfect weekend read. Now onto the final book...

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

moins bien que le premier tome, mais c'est peut-etre aussi parce que Will est beaucoup trop têtu, (mais qu'est-ce qu'ils ont ces hommes? ^^)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, and bought the third from my Nook immediately after finishing.

[Kat W · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book I thought were better done than the first book, such as the steadier relationship development and building upon the mystery surrounding the treasure of Tiberius. It still had the same focus on lust as the relationship builder, but at least it was more drawn out and getting the couple together was a little more complex than the first book. So, again I would have preferred a less lust-driven romance and also more proof that Laura was a planner. I'm not sure that character trait got across to me and she was actually kind of ridiculously impulsive thus undermining her proclaimed organizer personality. The same was for Catherine though, so I didn't have high expectations here and other castle members were involved in the story, which helped balance it out. Again, more typos than I would like, but not blinding at least.