Highland Force Series: Boxed Set

Highland Force #1-3.5

by Amy Jarecki

Four sinfully sexy Highlander romances from Amy Jarecki:

Captured by the Pirate Laird ~ features a rugged Scottish warrior whose only care is the protection of his clan…until an English gentlewoman ignites in him a fevered desire so powerful, it threatens to ruin them all.

The Highland Henchman ~ The way Sir Bran’s eyes hunger for her ignites an internal fire Enya cannot quell. All her life she’s wanted adventure and excitement but now her every thought is consumed with the rugged Highlander.

Beauty and the Barbarian ~ Born with the mark of the devil, Merrin has been hidden on the Isle of Eilean Fladda for near twenty years. When a Highlander washes ashore with a musket ball in his back, her sheltered world shatters into tumult that could forever destroy them both.

Return of the Highland Laird, A Novella ~ Wounded, battered and down on their luck, a violent storm embroils a Lady Jane and Laird Alexander in an unlikely union deep in the woods of northern England. Both must hide their hideous pasts, both desperately need to find redemption. But before healing can begin, it is essential they learn to trust…and love.

(Scottish Historical Romance)

Genres: Historical Romance

889 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2014

About the author

Known for her action-packed, passionate romances, USA TODAY Bestselling Author Amy Jarecki has received reader and critical praise throughout her writing career. She won the prestigious RT Reviewers' Choice award for THE HIGHLAND DUKE and a RONE award from InD’tale Magazine for Best Time Travel for her novel RISE OF A LEGEND. In addition to being a USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Amy has earned the designation as an Amazon All Star Author. She holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and now resides in Wisconsin with her husband where she writes immersive historical and contemporary romance novels.

Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com!

Reviews

[Barbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amy Jaecki is a fabulous story teller the entire series will leave you breathless & wanting more!!! Love The Highland Force set!, September 7, 2014
By Barb Batlan-Massabrook


This review is from: Highland Force Boxed Set: Three Full-Length Books and One Novella (Kindle Edition)
A Fabulous and Enchanting Read by Amy Jarecki LOVED IT!!!!
By Barb Batlan-Massabrookon February 27, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition

Book one
"Captured by the Pirate Laird" by Amy Jarecki is the first book in her new series The Highland Force and believe me you do not want to miss this one it was absolutely wonderful. It has all the elements I look for in a Historical Scottish romance and believe me this one did not not disappoint and the plot has so many twists and turns as I couldn't wait to turn each page to see what would happen next.

It is the story of about an English girl whose family is from a nobility as she is an Earl's daughter and her Uncle whose has made an a arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her Grandfather. This man has seen her from across a ballroom as she did not even remember meeting the man and without her knowledge she is told she has been married by proxy to Lord Wharton, Baron of Wharton. To say Anne is not only shocked but also unhappy is an understatement and she is to be packed up and ready to sail ship the very next day! Oh and the kicker was she was not aloud to being her dearest and best friend her serving maid Hannah under the tyrant unknown husband of his orders.

This story is also about Laird Callum MacLeod who is trying to save and protect his starving clan of Herbride Isle of Raasay and he has heard through informers that this fast beautiful new English racing galleon would be out with full to the the hilt with cargo his people needed desperately. He was going to seize it and what he didn't expect to see was the most beautiful girl he every laid his eyes on and soon he finds out this was The devil Whartons wife! One of Scotland's worst enemies! Of course in the beginning there is a lot of rough water but you can feel the attraction as well, once Ann realizes he is not really a tyrannt pirate but tying to help his people survive and Callum realizes she was only sold to the highest bidder by her family and not the aristocratic stuck up English self centered Lady Ann the sparks really sizzle.

So many emotions pulled out of me as I read this book, another sign to me this was really a fabulous book. I also enjoyed the secondary character's in this book such as the friendship that bond between Mara and Anne, the love between Mara and her husband John. Even the man of the cloth, the Friar Pat made me laugh I adored twelve year old Bram as well. The scenes between he and Anne were just so precious.

Actually Amy Jarecki's next book is going to be Bram's story ten years later which has an April 28th release date called "The Highlanders Henchman" which will book two in The Highland Force series. I can't wait to read it...SQUEE!!!

I want to thank Amy Jarecki a special thank you for gifting me with this fabulous ARC as I enjoyed this book so very very much and look forward to future books by this special author.

Happy Reading Everyone and I recommend to give this book a read you will be as enchanted as I was guaranteed!

Barbee's Personal Note: Raasay ( Ratharsair in Scots Gaelic) is an Island part of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated by the sound of Raasay and Applecross by the Inner Sound. Even though this is a fictional book the islands and places do exist

B Amy Jarecki is a spectacular storyteller! The Highland Henchman is amazing, fabulous and excellent! I just loved it!!!, April 19, 2014
By Barb Batlan-Massabrook

Book Two
This review is from: The Highland Henchman (Highland Force Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
This book deserved 100 Stars if you ask me! Wow! The Highland Henchman was just spectacular and amazing! It totally rocked as I just Love! Love! Loved it! This book is just brilliant and I just couldn't put it down from page one to the very last word on the last page. This book really knocked my socks off! Yes it was that great, a joy to read, excellent, perfect. If you love Scotland like I do with a bit of history like I do plus adventure, suspense, at long last love. You will love and adore this book as I did! Amy Jarecki is a wonderful writer, this is the second book in the series *Highland Force Series* as I also did a 5 star review for her first book "Captured by The Pirate Laird". As much as I loved her first book, I think I loved this one "The Highland Henchman" even more though some parts were a bit darker, yet captivating as well. You can read this book alone or in series order, I recommend reading it in series order, just because I think it's more fun plus you will know the connections though it is briefly explained in this book too. So it is a personal choice.

This book is about Bran MacLeod, he goes to the unwelcome lowlands as he and his clan were invited to a tournament by Laird Ross although he and his laird already suspected it was for other reasons and since there is no love lost between highlander and lowlanders. It turns out they want them for war to help free and fight the incarcerated Mary Queen of Scots. His laird and all the highlander just left the best sword arm as they could not dessert their own lands as they had enough problems with The MacDonalds and of their own feuds, so his best sword arm is Bran his henchman , but also like a son or brother as well as Laird Callum MacLeod had raised his since Bran's parents death at ten and two.

This female heroine in this book is Lord Ross daughter who yearns for adventure and see the world or fight in battle. As she is not like most ladies her age who learn embroidery and want a husband and nursery. Hoping their fathers will pick a good match for them. Enya Ross wants none of that, but her freedom wishing at times she was boy for their freedom. Enya's pursuits are she is the perfect archer and and love riding horses but no side saddle but astride like a man, she fears her father will pick a peacock of man that would also stop these activities she loves so much.

Yet when Lady Enya sees the big handsome highlander and watches his impressive strength she starts falling for him and Bran is instantly attracted to Enya and her beauty, but adorable spirit as well. As to him she is forbidden fruit not that she is a Lowlander, but a highborn lady as he has nothing to offer a beautiful lady as highborn as her. Of course there are family member of hers that will oppose and betray this union feeling Bran is so beneath them and a barbarian highlander! Of course Lady Enya could care less about wealth and title all she cares about is Bran and soon they can't resist the attraction no matter how forbidden it might be. Yet there are repercussions because of the ones opposing their love which become rather deadly. So how will they figure out to be together or will Enya's family force her to marry someone of her own station leaving Bran with a broken heart or worse. You will just have read this amazing book to find out!

I definitely recommend "The Highland Henchman" by Amy Jarecki as she is a fabulous talented writer and I look forward to more books by her in the future as her books are definitely wonderful reads and on my keeper shelf.

Another Winner As I Was Dazzled Once Again by The Gifted Storyteller Extraordinaire Amy Jarecki in Beauty and The Barbarian!, May 26, 2014
By Barb Batlan-Massabrook

Book Three
This review is from: Beauty and the Barbarian (Highland Force Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
Another absolute winner by the talented Amy Jarecki as this is the third book in this fabulous Highland Force Series as you can read this book alone. My recommendation is to read the two prior books as well as each book is as wonderful as the one before as I have 5 star reviews in each one. I personally find it more fun to read this way, but that is a personal choice. You just have more insight to some of the minor and secondary characters and the connections, but it won't effect the main story the reader choice of course. Either way I have enjoyed this series immensely and find Amy Jarecki a rare talent in the Scottish historical romance fiction genre and a pure joy to read!

This book starts off in the year of our lord 1584,in Eilean Fladda, Scotland. The body of Ian MacLeod second son of the former legendary Laird of Raasay Callum after being shot by his evil Uncle Ruari's henchman Rewan. The heroine of this story "Beauty and The Barbarian" is the dark haired, blue eyed beauty is Merrin, daughter of Niall who is the healer. Due to living in such a superstitious time in history added with ugly gossip and fear of the unknown,since birth Merrin has been hidden due to an innocent birthmark. My heart really went out to the heroine and the unfair treatment of her. As she has never left Eilean Flodden a small islet of Eilean Flodden. Niall her father makes sure she keeps the mark hidden by wearing a scarf fearing her death as the prejudice townspeople call it the mark of the devil and would order her burned at the stake or worse. Poor Merrin just wants a friend of her own age and the only other being she comes in contact with is the aging jovial Friar Pat. My favorite man of the cloth whom I first met and loved in Book1 Captured by the Pirate Laird the story of Ian's parents Laird Callum MacLeod and Lady Anne.

When it turns out Ian is not dead both Merrin and her healer Father start healing him round the clock, as even Friar Pat does not recognize him as Ian had been sent to be fostered for the past ten years by his Uncle the ancient evil Chieftain of the isle of Lewis. Also the one who ordered for his head on a platter by his henchman for helping his wife Janet MacKensie escape his abuse. As Ian is a second son, but a good and compassionate man he cannot abide any woman or child to be abused and beaten. For this Rauri will not be satisfied just hearing he is dead he wants proof of his death as well whether it be his head and bones.

My favorite secondary character is Tar Merrin's deerhound dog, who seems to be a war dog that nobody had any idea of. Niall brought him to Merrin one day from the castle to keep her company. Niall did this for when he had to go into town for supplies and leave her alone. Even though she calls him a useless hound at times, but you can feel her everlasting love for her pet and best friend. I did chuckle at a few scenes and was rooting for Tar in some dangerous scenes as well. If your an animal lover like myself , but especially for dogs theses scenes will definitely pull your heart string as it did mine,

As both Ian and Merrin have secrets and are hiding so how can this couple have a happy ending of will they? All Ian had dreamed about was returning to his home Castle Brochel in Raasay and being a good sword arm for his brother who is now The Laird of Raasay. Yet he realizes that now he has put Merrin and her father in immediate danger since they have assisted and helped heal his wound. They go on a merry chase, but Ian knows the sooner they separate the safer his angel and her father will be or will it. As Merrin also feels this happy time is just for a short limited time, as she is marked as a witch, and no one will ever accept her true self, and she could never ask Ian to leave his family and Raasay. Merrin also feels he is too high born and she is too lowborn for anything to happen between to them on a permanent basis more then a distant friendship.

So will they go their separates ways or worse. Will the witch hunters and superstitious townspeople and Clan burn Merrin? They think her dead for the past twenty years, but if find out she lives will they burn the woman with the witches marks as they call it? What about Ian? Will Rauri get his revenge too? The ancient chieftain who is rumored to of sold his soul to the devil for immortality. Will Ruari's get his henchman Reman to retrieve Ian's head on platter to prove he is really dead this time? You will have to read this amazing wonderful book and find the answers.

I read this book in one sitting as I could not put it down and yes it was that magnificent!Each book is a wee bit better, but they all excel in excellence outstanding reads in my opinion that you will be totally dazzled by.

Author Amy Jarecki has turned into one of my favorite authors in the Scottish historical fiction genre and even though you can read each book alone I highly recommend you read the entire series and here is the series order:

Highland Force Series
1. Captured By the Laird Pirate ( Laird Callum & Lady Anne)
2 The Highland Henchman (Bran & Enya)
3. Beauty and The Barbarian. (Ian & Merrin
4. Return of The Highland Laird (Laird Alexander & Jane) Novella Coming Soon

Amy Jarecki is one of those writers you can feel her passion and love of Scotland. If you love Scotland Amy covers here tracks about the history Herbrides and even Eilean Donan Castle and Clan Macrae, plus her, beautiful,description of Alba. OF COURSE WHO DOES NOT LOVE A HIGHLANDER IN A KILT! Plus Amy has a wonderful imagination and gifted storyteller and to me it doesn't get any better then that! I highly recommend "Beauty and The Barbarian" By Amy Jarecki and look forward to future books by this magnificent author!!!~B.

*On a personal note: My Scottish ancestors got a brief part in this book. Even the connection to Clan Mackenzie whom clan Macrae supported and fought under there flag many times. I really enjoyed that, as I rarely have seen Clan Macrae or Eilean Donan Castle mentioned in the fictional books I have read. Had a big smile on my face during that part! I know there are a lot people in the world who also are ancestors of Clan Macrae and Mackenzie another reason I am putting a personal note in my review which I never do. Plus the fact that many friends on Scotland holidays visit Eilean Donan Castle each year which is open to the public if your ever in Kintail Scotland or near Skye, Scotland. :)

Amazing Amy does it again with another spectacular read in this captivating novella book 4 in The Highland Force Series. Loved, August 14, 2014
By Barb Batlan-Massabrook

Book Four
This review is from: Return of the Highland Laird: A Highland Force Novella (Kindle Edition)
This is a wonderful and enchanting novella by the talented Amy Jarecki. This is book four in the Highland Force Series.

North coast of Scotland 1587, Laird Alexander is grieving after recently loosing his wife, even though it was an arranged marriage and he was not even attracted physically to his wife he feels like a failure not able to protect and save his wife! On top of that they have a two year old son together his heir Malcolm.

Laird Alexander is so devastated and deep in grief he just jumps in the little birlinn and gets caughts up in a bad storm totally alone with only the clothes on his back, a few weapons and his purse. Due to bad luck he ends up in a town Bees full of thieves in England not a good place for a Scot at the time. The thieves rob him of everything except his clothes on his back. On top of that they beat him badly and leave him for dead in a burn!

The heroine of this novella is Lady Jane Whitehaven who is a fugitive on the run after recently murdering her husband The Earl of Whitehaven. After taking eight years by this monster she finally defended herself but she knows the Courts. Won't see it that way and her dead husbands valet offers a place to hide her in a Forrest most consider haunted.

Laird Alexander finds the broken down house in the woods and asks for help which Lady Jane at first refuses but he sees all the repairs that needs to be done and the woman can't even cook for herself. They both realize they both have secrets and she dies relent and let him stay. Of course living under such close quarters they are both attracting to each other and find love, yet after Alexander is healed and in love he reveals his secrets yet Jane won't reveal and confide any. Alexander is furious and has always known he has to return to his clan and leaves which unbeknown to him leaves Jane broken hearted and vulnerable and eventually caught and brought back to her brother in law the new Earl who is just another abusive monster like her dead husband was.

Will Alexander find it in his heart to forgive Jane? Will he make it in time before Jane is convicted of murder and hung or burned at the stake? It's definitely not looking too good for Lady Jane! You must read this wonderful novella and find out! As always another captivating read by the talented Amy Jarecki. I look forward to more books by this outstanding gifted storyteller.

I thoroughly have enjoyed this entire series and have given each book a five star reviews and have loved each and every book. I highly recommend you read this series in book order just for a better connection to the secondary characters which some are heroes in the futures books. Of course the choice is yours and you can read any one of them alone too. This is the only novella is the series but it was truly fabulous and definitely got me fascinated right from the beginning to the very last page in the book.

Highland Force Series

1. Captured By The Pirate Laird
2. The Highland Henchman
3. Beauty and The Barbarian
4. Return Of The Highland Laird

**On a personal note: Unfortunately the type of situation Lady Jane found herself in too many women are still physically abused even today. Did you know a female from ages six months to a hundred years old is abused every three minutes on our planet this is a true fact sadly. There are people that can help you so please get help before enduring years of abuse or worse as Lady Jane had. Remember always say NO.

**The National Sexual Assault hotline and Crisis Center is 1-800-656-HOPE is open 24/7 everyday of the year! You can look it up online also at rain.org which is anonymous and will connect you with trained professionals at a crisis center in your area for help. It's a shame they didn't have this type of help in centuries past, but they do now thank goodness. God Bless~B

[JENNIFER J HIGGINS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb writing!

Characters come alive off the page. S superb master story teller! What a marvelous movie or TV series this generational clan collection would make filled with high adventure, mystery, romance and intrigue!

[Wendy Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesomeness

I loved everything about these three parts of this novella. Reading the authors notes afterwards was even more exciting. I too am fascinated with the Highlands!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Jarecki's book are all AWESOME reads. She's a must-buy author for me. I've read every book in this box set and each was FABULOUS! Her books are reminiscent of Kathleen Woodiwiss' books that made me re-fall in love with reading romances many years ago. Adventure, Pirates, Highlanders, OMG! Each of these tales grabbed my attention from the very first page and never let go.

You should know that I am wholeheartedly a sucker for a man in a kilt. Just thinking of each of the stories within this boxset make me dreamily sigh. The heroes are sexy, honest, smart and stubborn. The heroines are all strong and feisty characters.

The author's writing style is beautiful and polished. I'm infatuated with Amy's books and cannot recommend this box set highly enough. What a bargain! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! These are all books that I would re-read over and over just for the happy glow that results.

5 Stars!

[Hazel Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Worth The Money

Loved all of the stories of the McLeod clan. From Cullan and Lady Anne to Ian and Merrin. I think my favorite story in the Highland box set was Bran and Lady Enya's. Oh yeah there is a lot of Hot Sex.

[Sandy Gowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highland force boxed set

I enjoyed these books, especially since they were boxed and you didn't have to find one at a time. All the characters came alive on the pages. I enjoy the satyr as well as the bad-boys turned reformed take.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure of a set to have. Great writing and strong characters. Everything one would want in a book!! Highly recomended

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books

This was a great series. It was action packed with just the right amount of romance. Amy Jerecki did a good job keeping the story interesting from book to book.