This review is way late! I managed to put it on my calendar for May instead of March. Oops. I'm letting it slip that I don't always have it perfectly together! So I apologize to Jennifer Haymore, Loveswept and NetGalley for being tardy. (I received an advanced copy of this book from Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.) This was a nice quick romantic read that made my crack of dawn Southwest flight pass in the blink of an eye. So, yay!

The Highland Knights are a group of soldiers who have come home from Waterloo and banded together as a mercenary group to conduct special assignments for the Crown. In this installment, the Knights' assignment is to guard the odious Lord Pinfield, who has been receiving threats against his life. While performing his guarding assignment, Camden McLeod, our hero, keeps running across Lady Esme Hawkins, our heroine. I really liked Camden's character. Having shunned his father, and society, due to their questionable values, Cam is an honorable sort unlike the masses of male chauvinists and adulterers common for the time. I loved the way that he took care of his sister, Anna, and vowed to not treat women as his father, the Earl of Sutton, treated his mother. His somewhat gruff and bulldozing ways also endeared him to me, even though they sent Esme running the other way on occasion.

Our heroine, Esme Hawkins, is the youngest sibling of the House of Trent. So this book is kind of a spinoff from that series, because there is a lot of character crossover and detail mentioned about those books. I have yet to read them, so I felt I was lacking some backstory. But despite that, I still enjoyed this romance. Esme is a bit of a tortured heroine due to some events that have happened in her past (which I assume are detailed in the Trent books). She is shy and awkward and never says the right thing. She tends to be a bit of a klutz at societal events. But she has a hidden passionate side and has secretly authored a number of romance novels. I liked Esme and could totally relate to her klutzy social awkwardness. I just wish I had read the Trent books so that I was more informed about her history and family life.

I loved the relationship between Esme and Cam. He was a bit of a steamroller when it came to obtaining what he wanted, namely, Esme. The chemistry between the two was sweetly passionate... but the steam built to an explosive point quickly. I liked that these books have been more on the erotic side than mainstream historical romances. I loved that Cam's initimate preferences matched his demeanor and personality... and they certainly kept me riveted on the very early morning flight. I look forward to Colin's story next in Highland Temptation.

Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled
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...secret lives revealed

Lady Esme Hawkins seems to draw mischance and scandal towards herself without trying.
So it's now up to her to make sure she is beyond reproach. A respectable marriage should help that. And maybe it will cover her darkest secret--a writer of steamy romances.
That was all before she met Highland Knight, Camden McLeod in somewhat scandalous circumstances and discovered just what responses a kiss could evoke. It would appear that Esme's fears link her sensuality to her 'gypsy' heritage. Although I can see why the Esme of that time might react like this, such an inclusion in a novel written today leads into a downward labelling cultural spiral. A difficult writer's choice. Esme is governed by her own and her society's perceptions.
Of course Cam is the damned hero, never having known love who falls for the innocent, hidden siren, and then doesn't really know how to express that love.
So the story of another Highland Knight (those who serve the crown in secret) is laid to rest.
The continuance of the stories of this disparate band of brothers-in-action and their women is an easy read with no great challenges.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review. Esme has a secret that she is fiercely protecting from her family but Cam discovers it. Cam will do whatever he can to make sure that Esme choices him over her intended fiancé. However, there is an evil presence that is out to destroy their happiness. I have to say that the revelation of the villain was perfect and unexpected. Cam's character is complex but at the same time clear in his resolve to find happiness. A great read. ( )

I have been waiting to read Esme's book after meeting her in the 'House of Trent' series, and then pairing her up with a highland knight, that was double the fun.

As usual Jennifer Haymore has a technique that when you start reading one of her books you don't want to put it down. I really enjoyed seeing Trent and Sam also make an appearance in this book.

The one thing I disliked was that I had no idea about the passage of time in this book, for all I know the entire book might have happened in a day. I'm a little bit leary of instant love books so not knowing the passage of time in this book made it a bit off for me, other than that I enjoyed everything else.

Thanks to Netgallery and Random House Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

READING PROGRESS ( )