Highland Knight of Rapture

Highland Dynasty #4

by Amy Jarecki

After five years of marriage, Lady Helen has failed to produce an heir. Giving birth to a lass, Helen’s husband rejects her and openly takes a lover while she endures in silence.

But war is brewing. The MacDonald feud with the crown comes to a head and with it arrives Helen’s childhood friend, Sir Eoin MacGregor. Eoin and his men join with the MacIain Clan to quell the rebellion. But when he witnesses Helen suffer undue humiliation, his troubles escalate tenfold.

If Eoin helps the lady escape, he will break the sanctity of marriage. Worse, the king has commanded Eoin to fight beside her barbarous husband. To rescue Helen from tragedy worse than death, will the gallant knight find the strength to mask his deepest desires to save the woman he’s always loved?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2015

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

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Highland Dynasty Series and each one just gets better and better!! Full of treachery and deceit, passion and secrets, you will absolutely love this as much as I did!

Helen has tried everything in her power to get her husband Aleck to care for her...even if it's just a little bit. But having just birthed their firstborn..a girl..shows just how much disdain her brutish husband has for her. And she can't understand it. Until she sees him openly with the widow Mary. Humiliated in front of the clan, she vows to try harder to please him.

Eoin has known Helen for years and has secretly loved her just as long. When the king's orders take him to her husbands castle he sees what horrors she lives with. And vows to do everything in his power to help her. But with another clan trying to overthrow the king how will he possibly pull it off? When things grow increasingly violent he knows he must do something. And with their increasing attraction things get very dangerous indeed!

[Christine Woinich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and this book did not disappoint. This is the story of Helen and Eoin. Helen has been in an arranged marriage for five years to a cruel man. She does not give up hope that her husband will come to love her. The man that she had hoped to marry when she was younger is sent to train her husband's men, and she tries to maintain her dignity throughout her mistreatment. Eoin knows that he should not have feelings for Helen because she is married to another, but their love is too strong. Eoin will do whatever it takes to get her out of the trouble she is in. There are some harsh scenes in this book, but it proves that not all lives are rosy. I could not put this book down. I hope there are more to come.

Update
Listening to this story on audiobook took me back to the highlands, and I enjoyed this story all over again. The narration of Dave Gillies kept me interested and brought Helen and Eoin's story to life with his vocal characterizations of all the characters. If you don't have the luxury of time to read this story, grab a hold of the audio and listen as the words come to life.

[Taria Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Eoin and Helen. I was amazed at how no matter what Alec threw at her she kept her head held high. Were I in her situation I totally would have poisoned that dirtbag but that's just me ;). I thought the ending was kinda anticlimactic and blah. Alec got off EASY. Helen's brother (not the bishop) made me wanna punch him in the freaking mouth. The way he spoke to Helen was unacceptable. Knowing her personality the way he did he should have taken her side from the door and sorted shit out when she was safe. But overall i'm happy with this story and look forward to more from this author.

story 3
narrator 3 Dave Gillies does a great job.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highland Knight of Rapture by Amy Jarecki is the 4th book in her Highland Dynasty series of books. Although it is part of a series it can easily be read without having to read the other books first.

This story is about Helen, a woman who was given in marriage by her brother Duncan,to a man who unbeknown to him would turn out to be Helen's worst nightmare. Aleck accepted the betrothal to further his fortunes, and to have Helen produce a son and heir for him. After five years Helen finally has a baby but to her husband's horror she has a baby girl! He is furious and wants nothing to do with the baby, and starts being physically abusive to Helen as well as the usual mental brutality he has dealt her since marriage. Life is unbearable for her and she fears for both her and the baby's safety.

Sir Eion MacGregor is the hero of the story. He grew up with Helen and has loved he since he was 14. He and his men are sent to help Aleck teach his men to fight and to defend their lands against the MacDonald Clan who are reeking havoc trying to gain back lands they believe to be theirs and wrongly taken from them. During his time at the keep, Eion, like everybody else present, witnesses the harsh treatment bestowed upon Helen by Aleck and is determined to find a way to help her.

I won't give any spoilers, you will have to read the book to find out what happens. I really enjoyed the story. I went through the whole gamut of emotions reading it, sometimes I'd want to cry because of what poor Helen was going through. Other times I would literally punch the air in triumph over things that were happening. Other times I would be shocked to the core at the brutality Helen was suffering from her husband. And finally I even cried happy tears at the end of the book. I can't remember ever having cried at a book's ending before. This book will always rate as a very special one amongst the many others I have read. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The author has written a spectacular highland romance with adventure, deceit and of course passion. I loved reading romances with unrequited love as the background. The characters were very well developed in giving us readers a lot to absorb.
It starts out as Lady Helen has just given birth to a baby girl and she is so excited and awed by her child. But her husband is not happy with the results after five years of marriage. He wanted a son to carry on his name and berates Helen. So off he goes to his lover Mary and scorns the day he married her. Helen has been trying to be brave about her situation, but somethings gotta give. She will do anything to safeguard her child from her brutish husband.
Sir Eoin MacGregor has arrived at the castle of the MacIain clan to offer support and men to squash the feud with the McDonald. Lady Helen has always been friends with Eoin and is happy to see him at her home.
But her husband is not so thrilled with the man and his believes that Eoin is trying to unsurp his power. Eoin doesn't like the way Helen is treated by her husband and will do anything for her because he loves her. Getting an annulment from the Pope is the only way Helen can be safe from her husband. But she worries that her husband will take his revenge on her if she doesn't run away and hide. With the aid of family, Eoin and Helen will be together no matter what happens.
Will it be a happy ever after for them? You will just have to read and find out.
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

[Katherine Yearwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where have I been, that I never read the beginning this fantastic series. I had the pleasure of reading Highland Knight of Rapture (Highland Dynasty Book 4) by Amy Jarecki. This book was off the charts. It had action, adventure and romance, let not forget the romance. After five years of marriage, Lady Helen has failed to produce a suitable heir; a suitable heir in her husband eyes was a son. So her husband rejects her and openly takes a lover while she endures in silence.

My Take: This book was beyond great. It was exceptional. The heroin Lady Helen was a strong women, even in the time were ladies are rarely seen as strong. She became even more so in her dealings with her husband when Sir Eoin MacGregor steps in. Sir Eoin was Helen longtime friend and unbeknownst to her, he has always been secretly in love with her. Noticing the mistreatment that she has been taking by her husband….he becomes the Knight that he was, champion the one that he loves and the child that he was willing to claim us his own. After reading this book it made me go purchase the other three in the series. I just have to say good job Amy Jarecki.

[Debra Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good ! The author captured my interest with the first chapter and kept me spellbound until the end.

This is a very special romantic story of childhood friends who find love amidst turmoil and bitter betrayal. It has the kind of angsty romance that I love to read, and the author really tugged at every one of my emotions. Lady Helen is married to a brutal man who treated her terribly and has sinister plans for her all along. Yet it takes her so long to see the clear danger. I felt bad for her even though I really wanted to shake her at times. The author easily made me feel for all of the characters in this story. Eoin is the kind of strong hero that I always fall in love with in the story. He hates the way Helen's husband treats her so he stands up for her and eventually convinces her to do the same for herself. This is an exciting story filled with passion, intrigue, and action.

This is the kind of romance I enjoy. It's well written, with fantastic characters and a story that kept me entertained until the end. Four Flying Stars and Very Highly Recommended !

[Lorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I do most of my reading in the morning but with this book I tried to sneak in one more chapter before bed. I wanted to read on just to see Helen reach retribution for all she's endured. She was a strong-minded woman refusing to let the acts of her husband drown her. Over and over again she kept her chin up. I actually wanted to reach into this book just to hug her. Then enters an old friend of the family's who trained with her brother when they were young. He's been assigned to her husband's keep to train his men for battle. He's mortified to see the conditions in which she's living and wants nothing more than to whisk her away. Honor and duty holds him back.

I'll leave my commentary there so I do not spoil anything for the next reader. The book was well-written and has you searching into the next chapter wondering if Helen will ever find her freedom from an abusive marriage.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written, well thought out complex tale if treachery, danger, clans,passion and finding love. I absolutely love this series. While a series, each story is written as a stand alone. There is nothing not to enjoy in this story. The characters while, harsh, rough, and sexy they are also strong, realistic, engaging and well rounded. The storyline is fantastic, fast paced, energetic, entertaining and passionate. Another hit by this author. I look forward to her next grand adventure. A must read for fans of Historical Romance, action packed, intriguing stories which have you in awe. Bring on more, please.

* Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Galley *

**Will be cross -posted on My Book Addiction Reviews dot com **

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the action and adventure of a great story with a strong historical undercurrent Amy Jarecki's Highland Knight of Rapture was a great read! Rapidly moving plot developments, secrets and forbidden love set the background for the fourth book in Ms. Jarecki's Highland Dynasty series. A brave and honorable hero and heroine offset the cruelty of others and leave the reader with the knowledge that in the end good can conquer all!

*I received this ARC via Netgalley*
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone.*

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eoin knows what to say to his lady, “I did.” Leaning in, he trailed kisses down her neck. “I’ve always wanted you for my own, Lady Helen.” The blurb had me nervous but I found I liked the book more than I thought I would. I didn't like some scenes and I wished that a certain man got more than what he got but overall it was a good read.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Rachel
Book provided by the author for review
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

Let me just start off by saying this, it’s very rare to find historically accurate Scottish Highland books. Most authors take a lot of creative license or are lazy in their research. Let’s be honest, any type of historical novel, is hard to write.

This isn’t the case with Amy Jaericki’s books. Not at all. The reader is immediately immersed into a Scottish culture where you can feel the dampness of the castle as your skirts swish by your ankles. The smell of fresh baked bread, the hidden danger lurking in every corner, and the passion between the Highland warriors and their brides.

The writing itself is at times, tedious, meticulous, almost giving too much detail only to pull back and add in a dash of romance that is so needed when dealing with such heavy content.

Highland Knight of Rapture centers around Lady Helen and her marriage to Aleck, a wealthy and well known earl who has the ear of the King (for now). She immediately jumps into this marriage, knowing it’s her duty to produce an heir.

The only problem is, she doesn’t love him, but she’s convinced that if she just gives him children, he’ll return that love. Early on in the story she births him a daughter and you see what was already a very unstable marriage, start to crack. He refuses to see the child, and blames Lady Helen for everything. She can’t do anything right even though she’s by all accounts the perfect wife. What follows is a lot of verbal abuse which makes the reader cringe with each chapter. All I kept thinking, is how can this get worse? It does. Get worse that is.

Enter in the hero, childhood friend Eoin. Lady Helen knows she shouldn’t want the boy who’s grown into a fine young man and hero to Scotland, but she does. And it doesn’t take long for him to see that she’s in a very dangerous situation. In order to protect her daughter and her life, he persuades her to go to her brother, who is now part of the church, and ask for a divorce. Something TRULY frowned up on that time. She’s hoping that since her brother has the ear of the Pope that he will dissolve the marriage based on first hand accounts of the abuse she had at her husbands hands.

The love story between the two starts to blossom and even though she is technically married, I don’t think of this as an actual cheating book considering Lady Helen’s husband basically tired to kill her. As a reader you’re already going, “Okay, he’s dead to me.” And in your heart, you’ve already broken away from the whole “this is right or this is wrong.” Mentality. Which again, is great writing, because it’s a very sensitive subject line that could easily offend or turn off many readers.

The other shoe has to drop. This is my thought process as I press on towards the last few chapters. Someone is either going to die, or she’s going to get discovered, etc. I’ve read enough of Jareki’s books to know this isn’t the end, and she does have a few surprises in store that I’ll allow the reader to discover for themselves.

Just be aware that this is the type of book you finish in one sitting. It’s intense, dangerous, exhausting, and beautiful. I give this book (and the rest of the series) five roses. I LOVED it and would recommend it to any and all historical romance buffs who want a little bit of dangerous with their sexy.

[Nancy Yohe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eoin and Helen.

I have loved each book in this series. Helen is the second oldest sister of Duncan Campbell. She is in an arraigned marriage to a horrible, abusive man Aleck MacIain. Sir Eoin is one of the Highland Enforcers led by Duncan. He has loved Helen since she was 14 and she has loved him. They never spoke their love aloud. When the king orders Eoin to train warriors at MacIain’s keep, Helen’s home, he sees firsthand how abused she is. He vows to help her any way he can. Their story includes broken trust, spousal abuse, intimidation, personal strength, unrelenting fortitude, and a love that knows no bounds.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Lady Helen gave birth finally after 5 years of marriage to a lass . Her husband Aleck MacIain laird of his clan is upset he had no son. After birth of his daughter he refuses to see her and is even more cruel to his wife. Nothing she do is right amd os openly affectionate to his mistress. Eoin MacGregor, Chieftain of Clan Gregor, os sent by the king to secure Aleck keep amd is back in front of the woman he ever loved Helen . upon seeing how she is treated he decides step in and help her. Good book enjoyed

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couple of things that annoyed me:

Hero states that heroines brother set up her betrothal with her husband, yet continuously says she broke his heart. He never even told her of his feelings nor did they ever have any type of flirtation.

Hero says he fell in love with her when he fist met her . He was 14 and she a child of 7 🥴
He also tells her he first saw her (in a romantic way) when she was 15, he was a grown man of 22 at that point. While it was common for girls to be married off that young it still skeeves me out when a hero is basically stating his attraction to a child.

[Barbara A Canjura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Amy destined her characters as if you knew them.always exciting love story's & great sex. Looking forward to continue series. With t by e hopes of continuing there lives as they get older.

I love how Amy described her characters as if you knew them.I love the excitement of the adventure,love & sex. It would be great to continue the siblings interacting as they grow older.great jo

[Sara Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hating The Villain

I really disliked the villain, Aleck in this story, I couldn't wait for someone to put him in his place! I love the historical facts; was happy for Lady Helen and Sir Eion. I was almost emotional a few times for Lady Helen and wanted Sir Eion or others to come to her aid!

I can't wait to start the next book...

[Barbara Sue Deegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series

This has been a very enjoyable series. I've cried and laugh with them her people are so real, you love and hate the bad ones, and one of the main character you fine your self liking and disliking. Don't want to give the plot away. There's two more sister's looking for love can't wait too read the next book.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I've read another book by this author and enjoyed it. I really did not like the writing style in this book. The constant descriptions of how wonderful the H and h were and how horrible the villainous husband was, felt like overkill. With more skilled writing the story would have connected more effectively with me

[Ann Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

This is an emotional series. Once again the characters were well written and the story a page turner. Each book can be read alone, but I prefer as a series. I look forward to more books in this series.

[Gerry Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-One Read

I have not read anything Amy has written, that I did not love. Her stories are filled with excitement, love, enough sexuality to keep it interesting. I would recommend them to anyone who loves "anything Scottish".

[Barbara Szalay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highland knight of Rapture...

So enjoyed the last book of this series! Amy continued her descriptive story of two people in Love whose lives went different ways, but end up together after physical hardships - love endures!

[Ma. Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am Really enjoying this series.. !

[Nancy Bodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

This book was a well written sweeping tale. The storyline was detailed and brings forth a full range of emotions!
Highly recommend!

[Patrice · Rating 1 out of 5]

It would have been a fabulous book except for the infidelity that snaked throughout. I'm npot a fan of cheaters.

[Deborah Roussety · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

[Jennifer Feltz Milkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book, I normally don't do cheating books but this one's description intrigued me.
I enjoyed learning at the end that the people in the book were actually real people.

[Beachbaby]

In boxed set - "The Highland Dynasty Series"

[Fiona Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series, this storyline was intriguing with great characters. A little slow at times but overall a good read.