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Highland Guard #8
The Raider
Of all Bruce's elite warriors, Robert "Raider" Boyd is the most formidable. A true patriot whose bare hands are a deadly weapon, Robbie is the fierce enforcer of the Guard, and his hatred of the English has been honed to a razor-sharp edge. But vengeance proves bittersweet when his enemy's beautiful sister falls into his hands and he finds himself fighting temptation—a battle he badly wants to lose.
Lady Rosalin Clifford barely recognizes the rebel prisoner she saved from execution six years ago. Though her girlish ideals for fairness have matured into a passion for justice, Rosalin believes she betrayed her brother when she helped this dangerous man escape. Now her traitorous act has come back to haunt her. But she can't deny the longing this tormented warrior ignites in her, or deny the passion that turns sworn enemies into lovers.
Is the gentle love of a true English rose enough to free Scotland's most brutal warrior from a path of vengeance—before it's too late?
An unabridged recording (12 hours, 38 minutes).
Lady Rosalin Clifford barely recognizes the rebel prisoner she saved from execution six years ago. Though her girlish ideals for fairness have matured into a passion for justice, Rosalin believes she betrayed her brother when she helped this dangerous man escape. Now her traitorous act has come back to haunt her. But she can't deny the longing this tormented warrior ignites in her, or deny the passion that turns sworn enemies into lovers.
Is the gentle love of a true English rose enough to free Scotland's most brutal warrior from a path of vengeance—before it's too late?
An unabridged recording (12 hours, 38 minutes).
13 pages, Audible Audio
Published February 25, 2014
204 people are currently reading
3037 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCarty
61 books2,969 followersWhat do you get when you mix a legal career, a baseball career, motherhood, and a love of history with a voracious reader? In my case, a Historical Romance Author.
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
January 18, 2024
Reread 2024- This was still a 5 star read. Loved these two together. Robbie, what hero, LOVED him. And the heroine was very sweet but strong.
I never get tired of rereading this love story. Beautiful couple and romance.
Reread!!! This was so so enjoyable, the best!!! Highly recommended.
6star rating in my book.
Monica's books just get better and better. Six star!!!
Incredible romance between the Hero and Heroine. Grabs you from the first pages and doesn't let go till your done. The sexual tension between the two is off the charts, the emotions, they draw you in, and the characters and storyline come alive.
The heroine was sweet, kind and strong. Beautiful and caring.
Hero had angst (lost his siblings and father)and was somewhat stubborn. But he was tender and had a soft side the heroine brought out.
Very enjoyable read!!!!!
Cannot,wait for Arrow!!!
I never get tired of rereading this love story. Beautiful couple and romance.
Reread!!! This was so so enjoyable, the best!!! Highly recommended.
6star rating in my book.
Monica's books just get better and better. Six star!!!
Incredible romance between the Hero and Heroine. Grabs you from the first pages and doesn't let go till your done. The sexual tension between the two is off the charts, the emotions, they draw you in, and the characters and storyline come alive.
The heroine was sweet, kind and strong. Beautiful and caring.
Hero had angst (lost his siblings and father)and was somewhat stubborn. But he was tender and had a soft side the heroine brought out.
Very enjoyable read!!!!!
Cannot,wait for Arrow!!!
May 17, 2016
I really must learn to give writers second chances.
I read The Chief: Highland Guard #1 by Monica McCarty before. That was my first book from her. I thought the book was ok, but the heroine really annoyed me with all her "why won't he love me?" After that, no matter how many raving reviews I have read about Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series, I could not bring myself to read another one from the series.
Until today.
This book, the Raider, is not an easy book to like. Robbie, the hero, is as stone-hearted as humanly possible. Even a full-of-love Rosalin almost did not manage the daunting task of melting Robbie's heart. The struggle lasted the entire book and I swear to God, a few blood veins near my temple were about to pop when Robbie kept up his impossible speech about how everything was not meant to be. At times I wanted to scream at Rosalin, tell her to leave this pig-headed Robbie behind and let him wallow and rot in his pitiful life without her. It is, a frustrating book.
But frustrating goooooooooood.
Scotland of Robert the Bruce, was a dangerous time and place to fall in love. Robbie, a Scottish warrior and Rosalin, a English lady, had no business developing any tender feelings towards each other. But that they did. Robbie however, fought Rosalin every step of the way. Rosalin saw love and hoped for a future with the impossible Robbie Boyd. Robbie, too long in the war, saw absolutely no hope and decided the best he could do is to fight for the freedom for his people. He thought: it was not as if I ever had a chance in hell with Rosalin. If I refused to be with her, at least I got to do my job.
Robbie is ruthless, that is a fact. He harbored lots of feelings towards Rosalin but almost was never swayed by his personal emotions. He kept true to his character. As often as I flinched reading how insensitive he was to Rosalin's feelings, I cannot fault Monica McCarty for writing him this way. I think this is exactly how Robbie is supposed to be. It simply wouldn't do, if McCarty made Robbie into some "I will chance for love" kind of hero. He definitely protected Rosalin from everyone else, but the fact is, the real danger Rosalin faced, was always Robbie and his inability to see past the English/Scottish feuding.
I think the characterization in this book is fantastic. Robbie and Rosalin are exactly who they should be in this story. They both stayed true to their characters. No magical change of heart to appeal to the readers' tender feelings or needs for a swift happy ending. The plots are complex. I read every word, not wanting to miss anything in the story. The story kept a fast and intense pace. I felt like I was forced to go on one of those brutal rides through the Highlands because the story was so intense sometimes I felt the tightening of my own chest. It was like having a blistering wind coming at your face when you are riding against the wind.
I finished the book in one sitting, could not put it down. I now see why people love Monica McCarty. The intensity, the imperfect characters, the distrust and betrayal, she turned some ugliness in life into something that people long for in this book: the overdue happily ever after after much suffering.
I read The Chief: Highland Guard #1 by Monica McCarty before. That was my first book from her. I thought the book was ok, but the heroine really annoyed me with all her "why won't he love me?" After that, no matter how many raving reviews I have read about Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series, I could not bring myself to read another one from the series.
Until today.
This book, the Raider, is not an easy book to like. Robbie, the hero, is as stone-hearted as humanly possible. Even a full-of-love Rosalin almost did not manage the daunting task of melting Robbie's heart. The struggle lasted the entire book and I swear to God, a few blood veins near my temple were about to pop when Robbie kept up his impossible speech about how everything was not meant to be. At times I wanted to scream at Rosalin, tell her to leave this pig-headed Robbie behind and let him wallow and rot in his pitiful life without her. It is, a frustrating book.
But frustrating goooooooooood.
Scotland of Robert the Bruce, was a dangerous time and place to fall in love. Robbie, a Scottish warrior and Rosalin, a English lady, had no business developing any tender feelings towards each other. But that they did. Robbie however, fought Rosalin every step of the way. Rosalin saw love and hoped for a future with the impossible Robbie Boyd. Robbie, too long in the war, saw absolutely no hope and decided the best he could do is to fight for the freedom for his people. He thought: it was not as if I ever had a chance in hell with Rosalin. If I refused to be with her, at least I got to do my job.
Robbie is ruthless, that is a fact. He harbored lots of feelings towards Rosalin but almost was never swayed by his personal emotions. He kept true to his character. As often as I flinched reading how insensitive he was to Rosalin's feelings, I cannot fault Monica McCarty for writing him this way. I think this is exactly how Robbie is supposed to be. It simply wouldn't do, if McCarty made Robbie into some "I will chance for love" kind of hero. He definitely protected Rosalin from everyone else, but the fact is, the real danger Rosalin faced, was always Robbie and his inability to see past the English/Scottish feuding.
I think the characterization in this book is fantastic. Robbie and Rosalin are exactly who they should be in this story. They both stayed true to their characters. No magical change of heart to appeal to the readers' tender feelings or needs for a swift happy ending. The plots are complex. I read every word, not wanting to miss anything in the story. The story kept a fast and intense pace. I felt like I was forced to go on one of those brutal rides through the Highlands because the story was so intense sometimes I felt the tightening of my own chest. It was like having a blistering wind coming at your face when you are riding against the wind.
I finished the book in one sitting, could not put it down. I now see why people love Monica McCarty. The intensity, the imperfect characters, the distrust and betrayal, she turned some ugliness in life into something that people long for in this book: the overdue happily ever after after much suffering.
January 18, 2021
This is my second fav in the Highland Guard series. My number 1 is The Chief but this book provided a different type of thrill via the enemies to lovers trope. Robby Boyd: what can I say about this gorgeous alpha male? I pictured him as Henry Cavill but taller and with a more ripped, muscled body. He was a hothead whose extreme patriotism was so commendable. I loved how torn he was between his duty to his country and his fiery lust for the forbidden English beauty, Roslyn.
The love scenes were HOT and I was impressed with the way Robby lost all interest in his mistress Deidre when Roslyn was in his life. Deidre was a rather pathetic and passive other woman but then again, she was just a camp whore. Robby's grand gesture for Roslyn, at the end, just blew my mind. He was great at grovelling ! And I got to enjoy seeing sweet pretty Helen, Magnus' wife from The Saint, in the epilogue. She helped to deliver Roslyn's cutie pie baby boy, who looked just like his handsome daddy. Robby was so sweet during the epilogue when he held onto his 'mo gra' ( his love ) and awaited the birth of his son. I wish Monica McCarty would write more historical romances.
The love scenes were HOT and I was impressed with the way Robby lost all interest in his mistress Deidre when Roslyn was in his life. Deidre was a rather pathetic and passive other woman but then again, she was just a camp whore. Robby's grand gesture for Roslyn, at the end, just blew my mind. He was great at grovelling ! And I got to enjoy seeing sweet pretty Helen, Magnus' wife from The Saint, in the epilogue. She helped to deliver Roslyn's cutie pie baby boy, who looked just like his handsome daddy. Robby was so sweet during the epilogue when he held onto his 'mo gra' ( his love ) and awaited the birth of his son. I wish Monica McCarty would write more historical romances.
May 30, 2021
Bu seriyi çook severek okuyorum 😍
April 8, 2015
Rating Clarification: 4.5 stars
I loved this book so much. I'm a sucker for forbidden romance and if it's in historical romance that's a million times better. I loved Robbie and Rosalin's love story and that epilogue was just beautiful <3
I loved this book so much. I'm a sucker for forbidden romance and if it's in historical romance that's a million times better. I loved Robbie and Rosalin's love story and that epilogue was just beautiful <3
August 1, 2017
*5 delicious stars*
Now this, THIS is what I know and love about Monica McCarty. Oh Robbie Boyd WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
I was starting to get very disheartened the further I went into this series. The plots, dialogue and most specifically the characters were all blurring and sounding the same. The warriors were all interchangable for me after Book 4 and I was very disappointed by that. This series was falling into the dreaded 'copy paste repeat' syndrome which I feel is a total discredit to an author of MM's caliber. But alas! The spell is broken. Yay! Hands down my favorite book from this series. Why I loved this? It was different all around.
Robbie Boyd is more ruthless, war-hungry, driven and he had a serious struggle between wanting his revenge and fighting his growing love for his sworn enemy's beautiful sister Rosalin, who happens to be his hostage. Mmm...
I loved it. He managed to stand out from the sea of muscle-ripped towering brooding brothers at arms. I felt some of the 'conflict' and angst that was derived in the last handful of books seemed tired, repetitive and very forced in some areas. But not here. The conflict and angst was so much more organic, fluid and intense. Robbie and Rosalin were sweet, sexy, endearing and adorable in every sense of the term. I'm a sucker for star-crossed lovers theme and here it was utilized and explored to every extent. Nothing was half-measured or half-approached and it's one of the reasons why I love MM's writing so much. It's rich, full, and vivid to the point you can breathe in the scenery the characters are living in. The suspense and adventure and historical accuracy is always on the mark, MM will never let you down in that regard. The romantic tropes are still repetitive in some areas but the story is marvelous you don't find yourself counting the number of maidenly gasps or ripped muscles of steel. ;P
Rosalin was such a sweet mixture of innocent, brave, kind yet smart, compassionate, level-headed, and reasonable. Her sense of compassion and fairness is what makes her so endearing and refreshing in this series. Even when she's put in the worst possible situation with accusations and condemnations thrown at her and her countrymen she handles it admirably and with so much grace. It's very hard to find that kind of balance in a heroine especially in a Highlander setting, when the writing can get a little overzealous. I liked the fact that she was so honest and open to love the man who is considered her sworn-enemy and willing to give everything up just to be with him. I adored her and her patience and understanding. For someone so naive and sheltered to the bigger picture of the war between the Scots and the English she managed to look at the struggles and injustice from both sides with compassion and not make excuses for anyone. That impressed me the most. This couple are everything that makes me go ga-ga over Highlander novels and what McCarty truly excels at.
Wonderful story and managed to breathe so much life into the series that was becoming very mechanical. I'm curious yet nervous about reading Arrow's story. Really hope his book doesn't fall back into hold habits like the others. *crossing fingers* And what happened to the brunette heroines?? They have completely disappeared in this series. :( Why do all the blond ladies get these virile gruffy yummy Scotts..huh? Save some for us man. Can we please switch it up get a brunette or red head in here? I mean we are 8 books in. It's a little ridiculous with the constant lack of variety. Just saying.
And I will leave you with my favorite quote:
Now this, THIS is what I know and love about Monica McCarty. Oh Robbie Boyd WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
I was starting to get very disheartened the further I went into this series. The plots, dialogue and most specifically the characters were all blurring and sounding the same. The warriors were all interchangable for me after Book 4 and I was very disappointed by that. This series was falling into the dreaded 'copy paste repeat' syndrome which I feel is a total discredit to an author of MM's caliber. But alas! The spell is broken. Yay! Hands down my favorite book from this series. Why I loved this? It was different all around.
Robbie Boyd is more ruthless, war-hungry, driven and he had a serious struggle between wanting his revenge and fighting his growing love for his sworn enemy's beautiful sister Rosalin, who happens to be his hostage. Mmm...
I loved it. He managed to stand out from the sea of muscle-ripped towering brooding brothers at arms. I felt some of the 'conflict' and angst that was derived in the last handful of books seemed tired, repetitive and very forced in some areas. But not here. The conflict and angst was so much more organic, fluid and intense. Robbie and Rosalin were sweet, sexy, endearing and adorable in every sense of the term. I'm a sucker for star-crossed lovers theme and here it was utilized and explored to every extent. Nothing was half-measured or half-approached and it's one of the reasons why I love MM's writing so much. It's rich, full, and vivid to the point you can breathe in the scenery the characters are living in. The suspense and adventure and historical accuracy is always on the mark, MM will never let you down in that regard. The romantic tropes are still repetitive in some areas but the story is marvelous you don't find yourself counting the number of maidenly gasps or ripped muscles of steel. ;P
Rosalin was such a sweet mixture of innocent, brave, kind yet smart, compassionate, level-headed, and reasonable. Her sense of compassion and fairness is what makes her so endearing and refreshing in this series. Even when she's put in the worst possible situation with accusations and condemnations thrown at her and her countrymen she handles it admirably and with so much grace. It's very hard to find that kind of balance in a heroine especially in a Highlander setting, when the writing can get a little overzealous. I liked the fact that she was so honest and open to love the man who is considered her sworn-enemy and willing to give everything up just to be with him. I adored her and her patience and understanding. For someone so naive and sheltered to the bigger picture of the war between the Scots and the English she managed to look at the struggles and injustice from both sides with compassion and not make excuses for anyone. That impressed me the most. This couple are everything that makes me go ga-ga over Highlander novels and what McCarty truly excels at.
Wonderful story and managed to breathe so much life into the series that was becoming very mechanical. I'm curious yet nervous about reading Arrow's story. Really hope his book doesn't fall back into hold habits like the others. *crossing fingers* And what happened to the brunette heroines?? They have completely disappeared in this series. :( Why do all the blond ladies get these virile gruffy yummy Scotts..huh? Save some for us man. Can we please switch it up get a brunette or red head in here? I mean we are 8 books in. It's a little ridiculous with the constant lack of variety. Just saying.
And I will leave you with my favorite quote:
"Joanna, what does mo ghra mean?"
Joanna smiled. "It's a term of affection- an endearment. It means 'my love'."
Rosalin felt her heart rise up high in her chest and lock in her throat, cutting off her breath. My love. Not "my beautiful one." The sneaky devil! He'd lied to her! Lied!
And she'd never been more happy in her life.
June 19, 2013
I love Monica McCarty and have never been disappointed with any of her books.
May 6, 2014
Originally posted at The Book Nympho
About this Highland Guard
Robbie Boyd, aka Raider, is skilled in physical strength and hand-to-hand combat. No one's been able to best him in many years. He was friends with William Wallace when they were kids and he's now Robert the Bruce's authority on the borders. His most hated adversary is Englishman Robert, Baron de Clifford.
The conflict
Six years ago, Clifford had Robbie imprisoned and he faced certain death. His younger sister, Rosalin, was fascinated by the young warrior and secretly helped release him. Now, by pure chance, she was inadvertently abducted by him and she's desperately trying to find the nobility she once saw in the now war-hardened man who is driven by vengeance. Robbie's never forgotten her and both are struggling to avoid an ill-fated romance while he holds her hostage and bargains for her release with her brother on behalf of Bruce.
The heart of the story
Rosalin is the ideal heroine. She's appropriate for the era but has just enough backbone and wits to make things interesting. Robbie is brash, fearsome and completely undone by this Englishwoman. She rounded his sharp edges and worked hard to revive that honorable and idealistic young man she discovered six years ago. Robbie is an utterly formidable Highland Guard and kept things really exciting with his struggles of conscience and desire for retribution. The historical accuracy continues to fascinate me (I tend to Google certain details as I read along).
The bottom line
Another hit in this Highland Guard series. As much as I lusted after Robbie, Rosalin is who makes this story interesting. She's clever and knows how to handle both Robbie and her brother. There are lots of tense moments and the romance is really well done. Wrap all this around an important time in Scottish and English history and you have another fine story in this exceptional series. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
About this Highland Guard
Robbie Boyd, aka Raider, is skilled in physical strength and hand-to-hand combat. No one's been able to best him in many years. He was friends with William Wallace when they were kids and he's now Robert the Bruce's authority on the borders. His most hated adversary is Englishman Robert, Baron de Clifford.
The conflict
Six years ago, Clifford had Robbie imprisoned and he faced certain death. His younger sister, Rosalin, was fascinated by the young warrior and secretly helped release him. Now, by pure chance, she was inadvertently abducted by him and she's desperately trying to find the nobility she once saw in the now war-hardened man who is driven by vengeance. Robbie's never forgotten her and both are struggling to avoid an ill-fated romance while he holds her hostage and bargains for her release with her brother on behalf of Bruce.
The heart of the story
Rosalin is the ideal heroine. She's appropriate for the era but has just enough backbone and wits to make things interesting. Robbie is brash, fearsome and completely undone by this Englishwoman. She rounded his sharp edges and worked hard to revive that honorable and idealistic young man she discovered six years ago. Robbie is an utterly formidable Highland Guard and kept things really exciting with his struggles of conscience and desire for retribution. The historical accuracy continues to fascinate me (I tend to Google certain details as I read along).
The bottom line
Another hit in this Highland Guard series. As much as I lusted after Robbie, Rosalin is who makes this story interesting. She's clever and knows how to handle both Robbie and her brother. There are lots of tense moments and the romance is really well done. Wrap all this around an important time in Scottish and English history and you have another fine story in this exceptional series. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
July 4, 2015
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Monica McCarty. Having read the previous books in the Highland Guard series, I know just how amazing Ms. McCarty is at her job of weaving tales of gorgeous and lovable highlanders. But God, this book tested my complete devotion to the author. The Raider started out excellently, but by the middle of the book, everything just fell apart, particularly when Robbie started being an asshole. I can never forgive him for calling Rosalin an "English bitch," even if he said it out of passion. Gah.
I am extremely disappointed at the fact that, in the end, Robbie never redeemed himself. The weight of his sins against Rosalin (calling her a bitch, treating her like a harlot, ignoring her without having a good enough reason to) significantly outweighs his apology or his profession of love. I found myself doubting his love by the end of the book, thinking that his actions were driven by lust and not love. Anyway, I understand that many could have interpreted things differently, but this is how the book seemed to me. Extremely disappointing.
I am extremely disappointed at the fact that, in the end, Robbie never redeemed himself. The weight of his sins against Rosalin (calling her a bitch, treating her like a harlot, ignoring her without having a good enough reason to) significantly outweighs his apology or his profession of love. I found myself doubting his love by the end of the book, thinking that his actions were driven by lust and not love. Anyway, I understand that many could have interpreted things differently, but this is how the book seemed to me. Extremely disappointing.
October 27, 2016
I loved Robbie and Rosalin's love story. They were a great couple with plenty of chemistry. Also the epilogue was super sweet!
May 2, 2021
O kadar özlemişim ki Monica okumayı 🥰
Söylenecek çok bir şey yok aslında yine harikaydı. Bu sefer aşık olan birlik üyemiz Akıncı'ydı ve kendisi nefret ettiği İngiliz lordu Clifford'un kız kardeşine aşık oldu. İkilem inanılmazdı gerçekten ama sonuçta her şey yoluna girdi.😻
Bu kitapta bir olay oldu ki spoiler vermeden söyleyemiyorum ama bunun sonuçlarını okumak için 12.kitaba kadar bekleyecek olmak...ah ejder.😔
Söylenecek çok bir şey yok aslında yine harikaydı. Bu sefer aşık olan birlik üyemiz Akıncı'ydı ve kendisi nefret ettiği İngiliz lordu Clifford'un kız kardeşine aşık oldu. İkilem inanılmazdı gerçekten ama sonuçta her şey yoluna girdi.😻
Bu kitapta bir olay oldu ki spoiler vermeden söyleyemiyorum ama bunun sonuçlarını okumak için 12.kitaba kadar bekleyecek olmak...ah ejder.😔
April 12, 2021
Tam eski İskoç historicalleri tadındaydı, özlemişim 😊
February 17, 2014
When Lady Rosalin was sixteen, she rescued a rebel who was sentenced to death by her brother. She sensed something noble and great about him, and after she freed him they shared a kiss that was short but full of promise. Now its been six years, and she has come back to see her brother. When she and her nephew go on a walk outside the safety of the walls, she ends up captured by the one man she once freed and admired. Now she sees a man that is fierce in his determination to get his revenge, and she is his key to gaining it. Robbie has seen horrible things that the English have done to his people and has seen many innocent people be tortured and killed. So when he captures the one woman that can bring some justice to his people and his effort to fight the English, he never realized how she would turn his life topsy turvy. Will Rosalin's love be able to free Robbie from the bitterness in his heart?
The Raider is the eight installment, and I can't believe I haven't caught up in the series. Reading Raider has definitely been a revelation to me. WHEW!!! Such a remarkable romance, and one of the best that I have read this year. It definitely is at the top of the list for me. When I first starting reading The Raider, I didn't know what to expect, but I did love the first three books I have read from this author, and enjoyed them so much I bought them. So yes now I am reading this series out of order, but I found that in Raider, I wasn't lost or had a feeling of out of place at all. I was curious about the other members of the Highland Guard where their stories I have yet to read, but their books are on the next list when I visit my library. Now The Raider, I was given a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review by Netgalley and Random House Publishing.
The Raider is a marvelous example of why I adore historical romance novels. There is quite a bit of evidence that this author researches and she researches well. As you begin in the story, you are completely immersed and its almost as if you have been taken back through time, when you see the hardships and sufferings that the Scots had to deal with from the English. You gain a broader understanding and a bit of empathy for what they went through in trying to gain freedom and peace. In Raider, not everything is black and white, there is quite a bit of grey. The two main characters Rosalin and Robbie are from different sides of the war. Rosalin has no idea of the atrocities that that Scottish people have been dealing with. She only hears propaganda and rumors that portray the Scots to be bad and the English good. She has a caring heart and you see much evidence of it throughout the story. Robbie is a fierce fighter and warrior and being at war with the English has changed him since Rosalin last had seen him. We see that they have a strong and fierce connection from the very beginning, but they are enemies, but slowly a desire blossoms into a flaming love that sears the readers heart.
I couldn't help but fall for this story and most especially the characters that captivated me. I did love seeing these two battle wits against each other, and I love the tenacity of both characters. They are evenly matched and I enjoyed how intense the setting could get. You never knew what was going to happen next and I was reading as fast as I could just to see what would happen next. I was totally engrossed in the story and I couldn't believe I waited so long to read this one. I found myself being enriched by a story with such historical truths set in it, and the way this author writes is telling...she provokes a vivid emotional reaction from the reader, and you can't help but feel lost in the story. There is quite a bit of rich flavors that enhance the plot and you can't wait to find out the ending and see if these two get their HEA and how it happens. It definitely surprised me, and I just fell for both Robbie and Rosalin. Their courage and love for each other is phenomenal and heart breaking at times.
Overall a stimulating romance with a rich historical setting, a conflict to put you on your toes, and a love story to pull at the heart strings!! CLASSICALLY WELL DONE!!
The Raider is the eight installment, and I can't believe I haven't caught up in the series. Reading Raider has definitely been a revelation to me. WHEW!!! Such a remarkable romance, and one of the best that I have read this year. It definitely is at the top of the list for me. When I first starting reading The Raider, I didn't know what to expect, but I did love the first three books I have read from this author, and enjoyed them so much I bought them. So yes now I am reading this series out of order, but I found that in Raider, I wasn't lost or had a feeling of out of place at all. I was curious about the other members of the Highland Guard where their stories I have yet to read, but their books are on the next list when I visit my library. Now The Raider, I was given a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review by Netgalley and Random House Publishing.
The Raider is a marvelous example of why I adore historical romance novels. There is quite a bit of evidence that this author researches and she researches well. As you begin in the story, you are completely immersed and its almost as if you have been taken back through time, when you see the hardships and sufferings that the Scots had to deal with from the English. You gain a broader understanding and a bit of empathy for what they went through in trying to gain freedom and peace. In Raider, not everything is black and white, there is quite a bit of grey. The two main characters Rosalin and Robbie are from different sides of the war. Rosalin has no idea of the atrocities that that Scottish people have been dealing with. She only hears propaganda and rumors that portray the Scots to be bad and the English good. She has a caring heart and you see much evidence of it throughout the story. Robbie is a fierce fighter and warrior and being at war with the English has changed him since Rosalin last had seen him. We see that they have a strong and fierce connection from the very beginning, but they are enemies, but slowly a desire blossoms into a flaming love that sears the readers heart.
I couldn't help but fall for this story and most especially the characters that captivated me. I did love seeing these two battle wits against each other, and I love the tenacity of both characters. They are evenly matched and I enjoyed how intense the setting could get. You never knew what was going to happen next and I was reading as fast as I could just to see what would happen next. I was totally engrossed in the story and I couldn't believe I waited so long to read this one. I found myself being enriched by a story with such historical truths set in it, and the way this author writes is telling...she provokes a vivid emotional reaction from the reader, and you can't help but feel lost in the story. There is quite a bit of rich flavors that enhance the plot and you can't wait to find out the ending and see if these two get their HEA and how it happens. It definitely surprised me, and I just fell for both Robbie and Rosalin. Their courage and love for each other is phenomenal and heart breaking at times.
Overall a stimulating romance with a rich historical setting, a conflict to put you on your toes, and a love story to pull at the heart strings!! CLASSICALLY WELL DONE!!
April 25, 2016
It was well written, just so dull. I really liked the H/h, but the plot was more about the battle between the English and the Scots than the actual love story. As a Fellow reader (Jonetta) pointed out, it's more Historical Fiction than Historical Romance. It felt like jogging on sand, hard work when I wanted to just enjoy a nice HR.
The Hero Boyd was an honorable man, and the heroine Rosalind was a kind yet strong heroine. I enjoyed them together but it took so long to get there and there was too much politics talk. This is my last book in this series because I haven't loved the stories compared to the Campbell Trilogy.
I love the covers so much though.
*Special thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via Netgalley for the e-book given in exchange for an honest review.
The Hero Boyd was an honorable man, and the heroine Rosalind was a kind yet strong heroine. I enjoyed them together but it took so long to get there and there was too much politics talk. This is my last book in this series because I haven't loved the stories compared to the Campbell Trilogy.
I love the covers so much though.
*Special thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via Netgalley for the e-book given in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2022
This is such an excellent series.
February 16, 2019
Loved this h! She was a great character; so smart and so loving ... H tries to be a jerk but he loves her and always treats her well ... she is strong, he makes an effort for her and loved the way he goes to ask her brother for his blessing ... I never expected to like Robbie so much ... also liked Rosalyn's relationship with her brother and the nickname he had for her ....
November 25, 2025
Six years earlier, an English young lady staged a prison break, freeing the Scottish rebels. Now Lady Rosalin finds herself a captive to the same band of men she saved.
Her brother is one of the most hated Englishmen, and she discovers that the man she fell in love with at only 16 was the dreaded “Raider” Robert Boyd.
The chemistry is electrifying, but coming from opposite sides of the war seems to be a gap they cannot bridge. When Rosalin shows herself a kind and compassionate person time and time again, the men under Boyd's command start to question their beliefs on the English...but will Boyd see it before he loses the woman he's come to love?
This is a surprising and fun fictitious historical read. Rosalin is a completely relatable character that you can't help but be drawn in by, while Robbie is gruff and conflicted. I completely enjoyed this story, especially the reintroduction to past Highland Guard characters. This story had heart! If you are a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend you check out McCarty's The Raider.
I received this ARC copy of The Raider from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on February 25, 2014.
Her brother is one of the most hated Englishmen, and she discovers that the man she fell in love with at only 16 was the dreaded “Raider” Robert Boyd.
The chemistry is electrifying, but coming from opposite sides of the war seems to be a gap they cannot bridge. When Rosalin shows herself a kind and compassionate person time and time again, the men under Boyd's command start to question their beliefs on the English...but will Boyd see it before he loses the woman he's come to love?
This is a surprising and fun fictitious historical read. Rosalin is a completely relatable character that you can't help but be drawn in by, while Robbie is gruff and conflicted. I completely enjoyed this story, especially the reintroduction to past Highland Guard characters. This story had heart! If you are a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend you check out McCarty's The Raider.
I received this ARC copy of The Raider from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on February 25, 2014.
May 18, 2017
Prejšnja knjiga mi ni bila tako dobra (najbrž tudi zato, ker sem imela vmes bralni mrk), mi je pa tale toliko bolj sedla. Robert ali Plenilec je huh, zelo trd oreh, ampak Rosalin kar tako ne obupa nad njegovo trmo. Ženske smo odločne, če nam gre za dragega, kajne? ;) Zelo zanimiv pa se mi še posebej zdi lik Alexa, upam, da ga bomo spoznali.
April 9, 2014
This hero is one tough cookie to like, it took me a while to warm up to him. The heroine was amazing throughout the book. Overall a great addition to the series, can't wait for the next one.
August 1, 2025
BEST 👏🏻 FUCKING 👏🏻 BOOK 👏🏻 OF 👏🏻 THE 👏🏻 SERIES 👏🏻 I couldn’t love Robbie + Rosalyn’s enemies to lovers story more if it tried. It’s everything you want in a Scottish Highlander historical romance. I enjoyed every minute of The Scottish Raider + The English Rose finding their way to each other. Their age-gap (10 years) + grumpy/sunshine dynamic was pure perfection, and I’ve never read a better shmidnapping. Hands down the best. One of my favorite moments was when Rosalyn was scared of James “The Black” Douglas, so she instinctively moved closer to Robbie + he instantly went into protective mode secretly loving it. GAH! These two and their epic love story with a secretive past is everything. Read this series for this book alone!
February 27, 2015
Raider- Highland Guard #8
Why do all the ladies from this series have to be virgins? Except for one, all of the eight women in this series have been virgins and there is a big importance and emphasis put on it. I know that the setting is in the early 1300s but all the men in the series have bragged about the many lasses (in some cases hundreds of lasses) that they have been with so there must have been a lot of women who were not virgins. Of course, the heroines in this series are usually noble women so that might make a difference since noble born women have only two choices in life; get married or become a nun. For some reason, their noble born husbands want virgins. I get that part but I wish one of the heroes of these books would fall in love with a regular lass who isn’t a virgin or a noble. It’s such a double standard that the men can have hundreds of lovers but the women have to be virgins.
Okay, my rant is over.
Robert Boyd is said to be the strongest man in Scotland. He is idolized by the men and women of Scotland but he feared and hated by the people of England. They call him the Devil’s Enforcer among other names. He’s part of Robert Bruce’s secret Highland Guard, a group of warriors who are the greatest Highland warriors in Scotland. Nobody knows who they are and most believe they are myth and some think they are ghosts or phantoms, appearing out of the mists and then disappearing just as mysteriously. Boyd fought alongside William Wallace and has been seen with the Black Douglas so he is a wanted man by the English.
Robert Boyd along with a few of his friends are imprisoned when the English break a truce. Some of the men have already been executed. The English have the rest of them doing hard labor, tearing down a stone wall at Kildrummy Castle but the men know they will be executed once the job is complete or they will die from the poor conditions. One of his friends is slowly dying from lack of food and too harsh of conditions.
Lady Rosalin Clifford can see the prisoners from her tower bedroom. Her brother, the Baron of Clifford has been named the overlord of Scotland and is in charge of the prisoners. She is not yet seventeen but has become infatuated by one of the prisoners. She watches the huge, muscle-bound prisoner takes care of his friends by taking on their work, giving water rations to the weaker men and even taking on punishment meant for the others. She thinks he is the epitome of what a knight should be. She feels bad for the prisoners and starts secretly leaving food for them but when the men get caught with it and one gets severely beaten, the huge prisoner intervenes. He gets sent to the pit and Rosalin’s brother sentences him to death but Rosalin helps him escape.
Six years later, Clifford raids a village where Robert Bruce stores his grain so Robert Boyd and his men go on a mission to get it back during a fair. Rosalin is at the fair with her fourteen year old nephew, Roger, who is a squire and her seven year old niece. Some of her brother’s soldiers, along with her brother try to fight off Boyd’s men when one of the men notice who Roger is and grabs him, thinking that they can use him to negotiate with Clifford. Rosalin latches on to her nephew and won’t let go so Boyd puts a burlap sack over her head and grabs her to make her let go of Roger. He plans on letting the lass go until he finds out who she is.
Now, Robert Boyd has a way to force Clifford into a truce. He has Clifford’s son and his beloved sister. Rosalin tries to talk him into letting them go and tries to appeal to the man she thought he was six years ago but she is starting to think she made a big mistake by helping him escape because all she can see is a man bent on revenge for what her brother and the English have done to him, his family and his countrymen.
The anger Boyd had for the English was so strong that he never fully connected with his Highland Guard partner of over six years because he was born in England. He never let Sir Alexander forget that he was English. Even though Seton had fought alongside him for so many years, Robert Boyd treated him with hatred and distrust. They fought all of the time; Seton didn’t like the pirate techniques of the Highland Guard, believing in honor and chivalry while Boyd was more realistic knowing that wasn’t always possible but Boyd always belittled Seton which bugged me. I was routing for the two to work things out once Robert Boyd realized his hatred for the English blinded him.
My favorite part in the book was when Robert Boyd is mad at Rosalin and basically orders her to wash him as he bathes and she says, “I’m afraid I’ve not much experience bathing men but it isn’t much different than washing a pig before market.” It set him right in his place and rightly so.
The author really knows her history of Robert Bruce’s struggle to free Scotland from English tyranny. She has a way of writing that makes me believe I am right there riding along with the heroes and heroines. The men of her stories are strong warriors and a lot of times they are misogynistic as they would be in those times but the heroines always break through the macho behaviors because their love for each other is so strong. Half the time, I feel like strangling the male characters because of their chauvinistic ways and double standards but it is what makes her books so enjoyable and believable because men back then would have been just like that.
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
Why do all the ladies from this series have to be virgins? Except for one, all of the eight women in this series have been virgins and there is a big importance and emphasis put on it. I know that the setting is in the early 1300s but all the men in the series have bragged about the many lasses (in some cases hundreds of lasses) that they have been with so there must have been a lot of women who were not virgins. Of course, the heroines in this series are usually noble women so that might make a difference since noble born women have only two choices in life; get married or become a nun. For some reason, their noble born husbands want virgins. I get that part but I wish one of the heroes of these books would fall in love with a regular lass who isn’t a virgin or a noble. It’s such a double standard that the men can have hundreds of lovers but the women have to be virgins.
Okay, my rant is over.
Robert Boyd is said to be the strongest man in Scotland. He is idolized by the men and women of Scotland but he feared and hated by the people of England. They call him the Devil’s Enforcer among other names. He’s part of Robert Bruce’s secret Highland Guard, a group of warriors who are the greatest Highland warriors in Scotland. Nobody knows who they are and most believe they are myth and some think they are ghosts or phantoms, appearing out of the mists and then disappearing just as mysteriously. Boyd fought alongside William Wallace and has been seen with the Black Douglas so he is a wanted man by the English.
Robert Boyd along with a few of his friends are imprisoned when the English break a truce. Some of the men have already been executed. The English have the rest of them doing hard labor, tearing down a stone wall at Kildrummy Castle but the men know they will be executed once the job is complete or they will die from the poor conditions. One of his friends is slowly dying from lack of food and too harsh of conditions.
Lady Rosalin Clifford can see the prisoners from her tower bedroom. Her brother, the Baron of Clifford has been named the overlord of Scotland and is in charge of the prisoners. She is not yet seventeen but has become infatuated by one of the prisoners. She watches the huge, muscle-bound prisoner takes care of his friends by taking on their work, giving water rations to the weaker men and even taking on punishment meant for the others. She thinks he is the epitome of what a knight should be. She feels bad for the prisoners and starts secretly leaving food for them but when the men get caught with it and one gets severely beaten, the huge prisoner intervenes. He gets sent to the pit and Rosalin’s brother sentences him to death but Rosalin helps him escape.
Six years later, Clifford raids a village where Robert Bruce stores his grain so Robert Boyd and his men go on a mission to get it back during a fair. Rosalin is at the fair with her fourteen year old nephew, Roger, who is a squire and her seven year old niece. Some of her brother’s soldiers, along with her brother try to fight off Boyd’s men when one of the men notice who Roger is and grabs him, thinking that they can use him to negotiate with Clifford. Rosalin latches on to her nephew and won’t let go so Boyd puts a burlap sack over her head and grabs her to make her let go of Roger. He plans on letting the lass go until he finds out who she is.
Now, Robert Boyd has a way to force Clifford into a truce. He has Clifford’s son and his beloved sister. Rosalin tries to talk him into letting them go and tries to appeal to the man she thought he was six years ago but she is starting to think she made a big mistake by helping him escape because all she can see is a man bent on revenge for what her brother and the English have done to him, his family and his countrymen.
The anger Boyd had for the English was so strong that he never fully connected with his Highland Guard partner of over six years because he was born in England. He never let Sir Alexander forget that he was English. Even though Seton had fought alongside him for so many years, Robert Boyd treated him with hatred and distrust. They fought all of the time; Seton didn’t like the pirate techniques of the Highland Guard, believing in honor and chivalry while Boyd was more realistic knowing that wasn’t always possible but Boyd always belittled Seton which bugged me. I was routing for the two to work things out once Robert Boyd realized his hatred for the English blinded him.
My favorite part in the book was when Robert Boyd is mad at Rosalin and basically orders her to wash him as he bathes and she says, “I’m afraid I’ve not much experience bathing men but it isn’t much different than washing a pig before market.” It set him right in his place and rightly so.
The author really knows her history of Robert Bruce’s struggle to free Scotland from English tyranny. She has a way of writing that makes me believe I am right there riding along with the heroes and heroines. The men of her stories are strong warriors and a lot of times they are misogynistic as they would be in those times but the heroines always break through the macho behaviors because their love for each other is so strong. Half the time, I feel like strangling the male characters because of their chauvinistic ways and double standards but it is what makes her books so enjoyable and believable because men back then would have been just like that.
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
October 28, 2025
I've come to expect good writing and great historical research from Monica McCarthy. However, there is always something stopping me from giving her books 5 stars. This time around, the hero was just so damn frustrating and the third act breakup was nonsensical for how short it was. Also, Robbie did not grovel nowhere near as much as he should have.
P.S. I'm very much looking forward to reading Seton's book, The Ghost. He totally stole the show for me.
P.S. I'm very much looking forward to reading Seton's book, The Ghost. He totally stole the show for me.
March 14, 2014
The Raider by Monica McCarty is a 2014 Ballantine Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a teenage girl, Lady Rosalin Clifford freed Robert Boyd and saved him from execution. Now six years later, her lofty ideals and prinicples are being put to the test. Rosalin and her nephew have been taken hostage by Boyd the infamous "Raider". Rosalin recognizes him at once, but Boyd is a little slow to catch on. Once he realizes that the sweet angel that freed him six years ago is a Clifford, he can't comprehend it. Boyd HATES the English with a passion. Having Rosalin and her nephew as hostages couldn't be better. That is until he finds he is beginning to care for Rosalin.
Rosalin spent the past six years feeling guilty about freeing Boyd. She thought she saw something in him that was honorable and of course her romantic inclinations at that age also played a role. Now, Rosalin is sadded to see that the man she freed has changed. He fights only out of bitterness and hatred. He has forgotten the reasons behind this war and has lost perspective. While Rosalin, who is bethrothed, finds that after six years her feelings for Boyd haven't wavered, she is ready to throw away all she has ever known for the love of this one man.
Boyd, however, continues to struggle with the fact that Rosalin is English, that he hates her brother, and that she makes him feel something he has never felt before. As a result he is at once romantic, passisonate, and a stubborn jerk that only thinks of himself and his situation without once considering what Rosalin is prepared to do on his behalf.
Ultimately, a show down will force The Raider to make a decision between this war and the lady he loves.
Rosalin is a strong willed and principled woman with a clear set of values she tries to stick to. She doesn't understand all the politics of war, and of course she has been protected from the ugliness of battle until she finds herself kidnapped and at the mercy of this rather brutish group of people. Rosalin will learn first hand the horrors of battle as she sees things from Robert's point of view. She will fight against the physical violence she sees perpetrated against the women she is encamped with, and she will show Robert what true unconditional love is really about.
Boyd has held onto his hate for so long he doesn't know how to feel anything else. It consumes every part of his life until he finds himself not only in a battle against the English but a battle within his own self when a new unsettling feeling begins to grow in his heart. These feelings will come between him and his long time comrades and force him to reevaluate everything he has known for most of his life. This is not an easy thing for this hardened warrior. When he stands to lose the woman he loves it will be Robert's turn to decide on what side he will stand on- his pride or true love. Which one will he chose?
A wonderful Scottish romance featuring characters taken from the pages of true history. Monica McCarty is always coming up with great stories and romances that have authenticity, humor, steamy romance against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. It's a combination that is hard to resist. This is another wonderful outing for Ms. McCarty. Overall this one is an A.
As a teenage girl, Lady Rosalin Clifford freed Robert Boyd and saved him from execution. Now six years later, her lofty ideals and prinicples are being put to the test. Rosalin and her nephew have been taken hostage by Boyd the infamous "Raider". Rosalin recognizes him at once, but Boyd is a little slow to catch on. Once he realizes that the sweet angel that freed him six years ago is a Clifford, he can't comprehend it. Boyd HATES the English with a passion. Having Rosalin and her nephew as hostages couldn't be better. That is until he finds he is beginning to care for Rosalin.
Rosalin spent the past six years feeling guilty about freeing Boyd. She thought she saw something in him that was honorable and of course her romantic inclinations at that age also played a role. Now, Rosalin is sadded to see that the man she freed has changed. He fights only out of bitterness and hatred. He has forgotten the reasons behind this war and has lost perspective. While Rosalin, who is bethrothed, finds that after six years her feelings for Boyd haven't wavered, she is ready to throw away all she has ever known for the love of this one man.
Boyd, however, continues to struggle with the fact that Rosalin is English, that he hates her brother, and that she makes him feel something he has never felt before. As a result he is at once romantic, passisonate, and a stubborn jerk that only thinks of himself and his situation without once considering what Rosalin is prepared to do on his behalf.
Ultimately, a show down will force The Raider to make a decision between this war and the lady he loves.
Rosalin is a strong willed and principled woman with a clear set of values she tries to stick to. She doesn't understand all the politics of war, and of course she has been protected from the ugliness of battle until she finds herself kidnapped and at the mercy of this rather brutish group of people. Rosalin will learn first hand the horrors of battle as she sees things from Robert's point of view. She will fight against the physical violence she sees perpetrated against the women she is encamped with, and she will show Robert what true unconditional love is really about.
Boyd has held onto his hate for so long he doesn't know how to feel anything else. It consumes every part of his life until he finds himself not only in a battle against the English but a battle within his own self when a new unsettling feeling begins to grow in his heart. These feelings will come between him and his long time comrades and force him to reevaluate everything he has known for most of his life. This is not an easy thing for this hardened warrior. When he stands to lose the woman he loves it will be Robert's turn to decide on what side he will stand on- his pride or true love. Which one will he chose?
A wonderful Scottish romance featuring characters taken from the pages of true history. Monica McCarty is always coming up with great stories and romances that have authenticity, humor, steamy romance against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. It's a combination that is hard to resist. This is another wonderful outing for Ms. McCarty. Overall this one is an A.
February 19, 2014
I’ve missed so much the world Monica McCarty has created! Let me give you 10 reasons why you should read this book and this series:
1. Usually I start with the hero because, let’s be fair, I am a heterosexual female who digs hot dudes *and very mature too ;;)*. In this book Rosalin, the heroine, won me: she is smart, inventive, isn’t afraid to breech difficult subjects and she stands for what she believes in. I admire her greatly.
2. Robbie, the hero. He’s a bit slow on the uptake and definitely has PTSD from all the years he fought, and is still fighting, but he’s generous, a bit grumpy, loyal and when he sets his mind on something he can’t really be budged. He’s also gentle and, at heart, hates war, though he’s very good at it
3. The setting: Ms McCarty sets the scene in such a way that you feel you’re there! The small details about the clothes, the geography, the food, everything, just helps you immerse yourself in the story.
4. Alex Seton. Oh he was such a gentleman, even when it didn’t work for him(almost all the time to be fair), but he didn’t let himself be daunted, he didn’t change his code for anything. I hope he gets a book and everyone understands his decisions
5. The camaraderie between the Guard, I’ll always love it
6. The historical accuracy. I know that if I want to google some historical battle or person to learn more about them, they actually exist! In how many HRs can you find this?
7. Rosalin and her love for her brother, and vice versa. Her brother chose to do what was right for her and her happiness, it doesn’t happen often, especially in medieval romances.
8. Seeing characters from the other books that had their HEA. I like seeing them thriving and going on with their lives, it makes their stories believable.
9. The author’s note. Ms McCarty writes the bets notes I have ever seen! She explains where she took poetic license with the characters and what inspired her to write them.
10. Rosalin and Robbie’s love story. It actually started before the book and they didn’t even notice. She was looking for him in every man she met and he kept thinking of the woman who saved him and who gave him a little hope in the people he fought for. She had to fight for him, but, at the same time, didn’t give in to his demands or attempts to rule her. He was an idiot who didn’t see what he had till he lost it, but he redeemed himself with a really stupid, and romantic for those times, gesture.
BONUS: How the strongest man in Scotland aka Robbie almost fainted! I couldn’t stop laughing!!!
Conclusion: This series is a must read for loves of historical romance, Scottish dudes and people looking for a greatly written story!
1. Usually I start with the hero because, let’s be fair, I am a heterosexual female who digs hot dudes *and very mature too ;;)*. In this book Rosalin, the heroine, won me: she is smart, inventive, isn’t afraid to breech difficult subjects and she stands for what she believes in. I admire her greatly.
2. Robbie, the hero. He’s a bit slow on the uptake and definitely has PTSD from all the years he fought, and is still fighting, but he’s generous, a bit grumpy, loyal and when he sets his mind on something he can’t really be budged. He’s also gentle and, at heart, hates war, though he’s very good at it
3. The setting: Ms McCarty sets the scene in such a way that you feel you’re there! The small details about the clothes, the geography, the food, everything, just helps you immerse yourself in the story.
4. Alex Seton. Oh he was such a gentleman, even when it didn’t work for him(almost all the time to be fair), but he didn’t let himself be daunted, he didn’t change his code for anything. I hope he gets a book and everyone understands his decisions
5. The camaraderie between the Guard, I’ll always love it
6. The historical accuracy. I know that if I want to google some historical battle or person to learn more about them, they actually exist! In how many HRs can you find this?
7. Rosalin and her love for her brother, and vice versa. Her brother chose to do what was right for her and her happiness, it doesn’t happen often, especially in medieval romances.
8. Seeing characters from the other books that had their HEA. I like seeing them thriving and going on with their lives, it makes their stories believable.
9. The author’s note. Ms McCarty writes the bets notes I have ever seen! She explains where she took poetic license with the characters and what inspired her to write them.
10. Rosalin and Robbie’s love story. It actually started before the book and they didn’t even notice. She was looking for him in every man she met and he kept thinking of the woman who saved him and who gave him a little hope in the people he fought for. She had to fight for him, but, at the same time, didn’t give in to his demands or attempts to rule her. He was an idiot who didn’t see what he had till he lost it, but he redeemed himself with a really stupid, and romantic for those times, gesture.
BONUS: How the strongest man in Scotland aka Robbie almost fainted! I couldn’t stop laughing!!!
Conclusion: This series is a must read for loves of historical romance, Scottish dudes and people looking for a greatly written story!
July 30, 2014
***This ARC was provided to me by the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.***
The Raider by Ms. Monica McCarty is an epic and amazing read. This is the first book that I have read in this series and I was pleasantly surprised but how this book took me for a journey from start to finish. I laughed and cried and at times wanted to throw my kindle across the room because of something the Hero would say.
This book is the journey of Lady Rosalin Clifford and the beloved but pig headed warrior Robbie Boyd. The journey starts out with Lady Rosalin coming to the rescue of Boyd but without him knowing her true identity. Years later they meet again under a different set of circumstances that places her at his mercy this time around. The author does a great job of showing both characters POV and letting you see their inner demons. I loved how Boyd squirmed and suffered through figuring out what his feelings actually meant and how he would call her his love but then lied and told her the saying meant something else when Rosalin asked.
Another great aspect of this story was the rapport between Boyd and the other Highland Guards. Also it was interesting to watch the relationship grow between Rosalin and Boyd's partner in the Guard Alex Seton. After meeting Sir Seton I can't wait to read his story and see how things turn out for him.
In all this story will take you on journey of highs and lows and make you really think about the meaning of love, betrayal, and revenge. It will make you rethink things that you thought to be true and question what you would do to protect those you loved. I am eagerly anticipating the next epic book in this series by this truly talented author.
The Raider by Ms. Monica McCarty is an epic and amazing read. This is the first book that I have read in this series and I was pleasantly surprised but how this book took me for a journey from start to finish. I laughed and cried and at times wanted to throw my kindle across the room because of something the Hero would say.
This book is the journey of Lady Rosalin Clifford and the beloved but pig headed warrior Robbie Boyd. The journey starts out with Lady Rosalin coming to the rescue of Boyd but without him knowing her true identity. Years later they meet again under a different set of circumstances that places her at his mercy this time around. The author does a great job of showing both characters POV and letting you see their inner demons. I loved how Boyd squirmed and suffered through figuring out what his feelings actually meant and how he would call her his love but then lied and told her the saying meant something else when Rosalin asked.
Another great aspect of this story was the rapport between Boyd and the other Highland Guards. Also it was interesting to watch the relationship grow between Rosalin and Boyd's partner in the Guard Alex Seton. After meeting Sir Seton I can't wait to read his story and see how things turn out for him.
In all this story will take you on journey of highs and lows and make you really think about the meaning of love, betrayal, and revenge. It will make you rethink things that you thought to be true and question what you would do to protect those you loved. I am eagerly anticipating the next epic book in this series by this truly talented author.
July 25, 2016
After a lengthy drought of likable heroines and at least slightly different types of heroes, The Raider reminded me again why I started reading this series in the first place. I truly liked this book a lot.
Don't kill me, but instead of writing a full review this time, I'd like to give you the links to two reviews of my GR friends, Zoe and Melody. Both have covered my exact sentiments I have about The Raider, concerning the plot, some problems the author has with creating new and interesting characters and the character development itself. This isn't laziness. Both reviews are beautifully written and I'd simply write the same. So here's to their brilliant reviews! Thank you both, I could never have put it so eloquently into words as you two did.
Why 4 not 5 stars? Well,
Don't kill me, but instead of writing a full review this time, I'd like to give you the links to two reviews of my GR friends, Zoe and Melody. Both have covered my exact sentiments I have about The Raider, concerning the plot, some problems the author has with creating new and interesting characters and the character development itself. This isn't laziness. Both reviews are beautifully written and I'd simply write the same. So here's to their brilliant reviews! Thank you both, I could never have put it so eloquently into words as you two did.
Why 4 not 5 stars? Well,
September 24, 2023
One of my favorite books in this series! :)
April 25, 2022
It was great book with perfect and honorable MCs and side characters. Even OW was understanding!
June 13, 2021
On iki kitaplık Highland Guards serisinin sekizinci kitabı, İskoç Kralı Robert Bruce’un hayalet ordusunun üyelerinden Akıncı’nın hikayesini anlatıyor.
Yazarın iki farklı serisi şu ana kadar Türkçe’ye çevrildi. Highland Guards serisi ise favorilerim arasında.
Seride genelde İskoç – İngiliz düşmanlığı üzerinden konu işliyor. Bu kitabında da Akıncı adıyla bilinen Robert Boyd, haklı sebeplere dayanarak İngilizlerden nefret ediyor.
Eline fırsat geçtiği gibi İngilizleri dize getirmek için önemli birini rehin alır.
Ama işler hiç de Akıncı’nın istediği yönde gitmiyor..
Güzelliği dillerde olan İngiliz Leydisi Rosalin ile Robert Boyd’un yolları altı yıl sonra tekrar kesişirse;
Aşk ve Tutku mu yoksa Nefret ve İntikam duygusu mu galip gelecek?
Çok ama çok keyif alarak okudum, nasıl bitti anlamadım. Umarım sevgili yayınevi, serinin devam kitaplarını da seri biçimde çıkarmaya devam eder.
***********
“Lütfen,” dedi yumuşak bir ses tonuyla. “Bunu yapmayın. Bizi bırakmanızı rica ediyorum.”
Kızın bakışı Robbie’yi huzursuz etti ve yine sanki onu tanıyormuş gibi hissetti. Robbie’nin yüzünde bir şey arıyor ama bulamıyor gibiydi. Bir şey bekliyor gibiydi.
“Bunu neden yapayım?”
Gözlerini Robbie’den hiç ayırmıyordu. “Çünkü bunu bana borçlusun.”
Yazarın iki farklı serisi şu ana kadar Türkçe’ye çevrildi. Highland Guards serisi ise favorilerim arasında.
Seride genelde İskoç – İngiliz düşmanlığı üzerinden konu işliyor. Bu kitabında da Akıncı adıyla bilinen Robert Boyd, haklı sebeplere dayanarak İngilizlerden nefret ediyor.
Eline fırsat geçtiği gibi İngilizleri dize getirmek için önemli birini rehin alır.
Ama işler hiç de Akıncı’nın istediği yönde gitmiyor..
Güzelliği dillerde olan İngiliz Leydisi Rosalin ile Robert Boyd’un yolları altı yıl sonra tekrar kesişirse;
Aşk ve Tutku mu yoksa Nefret ve İntikam duygusu mu galip gelecek?
Çok ama çok keyif alarak okudum, nasıl bitti anlamadım. Umarım sevgili yayınevi, serinin devam kitaplarını da seri biçimde çıkarmaya devam eder.
***********
“Lütfen,” dedi yumuşak bir ses tonuyla. “Bunu yapmayın. Bizi bırakmanızı rica ediyorum.”
Kızın bakışı Robbie’yi huzursuz etti ve yine sanki onu tanıyormuş gibi hissetti. Robbie’nin yüzünde bir şey arıyor ama bulamıyor gibiydi. Bir şey bekliyor gibiydi.
“Bunu neden yapayım?”
Gözlerini Robbie’den hiç ayırmıyordu. “Çünkü bunu bana borçlusun.”
March 29, 2025
Ohhh...I liked it way more than I was expecting. and I am always complaining about the female characters but Rosalind was so sweet and easy going - really adorable 🥰
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