Sophie Reads YA: Eliza Knight

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: You've Got Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #3) by Eliza Knight

12:00

You've Got Plaid
Series: Prince Charlie's Angels #3
Author: Eliza Knight
Published May 25th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
This Highlander is determined to return the daughter of his enemy to the safety of her home, even if it means helping her...

Brogan Grant, a Jacobite soldier and bastard son of the Chief, fought savagely on the battlefield, and barely escaped capture. On the run for his life, Brogan comes across what he thinks is a spy—a very bonny lass disguised as a lad, who happens to be the daughter of his clan's enemy. He admires her bravery, but he knows what can happen to a woman alone in a war-ravaged land.

Lady Fiona MacBean is determined to do her part to ensure there is a Scottish king. Disguised as a healer, she delivers coded messages to rebels throughout the Highlands. There's only one thing impeding her mission—a striking Highlander who's determined to send her home.

Unfortunately, Fiona will not be deterred. Left with little choice, Brogan agrees to join her mission if she agrees to return home after. Now the two must work together and risk everything to save the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. If only their hearts weren't at risk as well...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

To say that Lady Fiona MacBean has the most to lose if she is discovered spreading messages and delivering treasonous reports for the Jacobite cause, would be an understatement. She has faced the evilness of the English dragoons, and especially the vindictive Captain Boyd, and wants nothing more than for the rightful heir to the throne to be restored, as well as the honour of the Scottish people. As both a royal postmistress, and the rebel Phantom, Fiona traipses across the country, and is never more at risk than immediately after the defeat at Culloden. She comes across Brogan Grant, an illegitimate member of a rival clan, and his people, returning from the battle, and they strike up an unlikely truce, only working together for the good of their prince. Both know that if they were found, they would be killed, but they can't go down without a fight, even if they want nothing more than to be able to be together, and safe, away from the terror of the English regime.

This was a little sad to read, because I've fallen for the characters in the series, and knowing it would be over made me want to savour it more. Fiona and Brogan's romance was perfect, and though Brogan could be a little heavy handed in wanting her to go home and be safe, he respected her bravery, and her skill, and protected her at every turn. The merry bunch of Grant's and Fiona, traipsing across the countryside, looking for their prince, with little Milla alongside, made for a real found family vibe. We saw more of the destruction that Culloden wrought on the people of Scotland, and also met some of the previous characters again - both good and bad - who got the endings they all deserved. I've definitely found myself in a little bit of a highland romance binge, and these were the perfect books for it. I'm hoping Eliza has another series out soon, as I can't wait for more of her fantastic characters!

Dates Read:
August 30-September 1, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Truly Madly Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #2) by Eliza Knight

11:00

Truly Madly Plaid
Series: Prince Charlie's Angels #2
Author: Eliza Knight
Published December 29th 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
These Highland warriors are prepared to give up everything to fight for their country.

Annie MacPherson's world was torn apart when her family's castle was ravaged during the war. Determined to aid her countrymen, she braves the battlefield and finds Lieutenant Craig MacLean left for dead. Soon, her heart belongs to the fierce warrior.

As the English dragoons draw closer to Annie's makeshift hospital, Craig knows they have to escape together if they'll have any chance to survive. But when they come face-to-face with the enemy, and Craig is imprisoned, Annie will have to risk everything she has to save the man she can't live without.

History and adventure come to life in Eliza Knight's thrilling Scottish Highland romance. Annie is based loosely on Anne MacKay, Anne Leith and Lady Maxwell, who risked their lives to protect Jacobite soldiers by hiding them, healing their wounds, and aiding in their escape from enemy forces.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

As the healer to Prince Charlie, Annie MacPherson knows she is risking everything as she travels the countryside during the Jacobite rebellion, healing injured Scots. Her family want her to be safe, but when the vicious Captain Boyd brings his regiment to her home, and burns it down, she is more than willing to fight, and help, and with the upcoming battle at Culloden on the horizon, she's never been more needed. After the Jacobite army fell, and the Dragoons were hunting down survivors, Annie discovers a number of injured men, and nurses them back to health. Lieutenant Craig MacLean expected to die that day, but when he is saved by his best friend's sister, who he promised to protect if he survived and Graham didn't, he knows he will do everything to keep her safe, and return her home. But when the English find them, and Graham has to give himself up to save the woman he's fallen for, can Annie save him, or will their love be doomed?

This book, I think, might have been better than the first. I liked Annie when we met her in The Rebel Wears Plaid, and was glad we would be getting her own story. I knew when we saw the dates for the book, that Culloden would play a part in the plot, and I hoped Annie wouldn't lose her brother, but, understandably, the author had to have many characters die, otherwise it wouldn't have been believably. Annie, I thought, dealt with the situation of being in complete danger, at risk of harassment, assault, or worse, with such a level head, I was in awe of her. Her character was truly incredible, and I loved that though Craig was extremely protective, he didn't want to completely coddle her, and respected her strength. The way the relationship between the two of them developed as Craig was nursed back to health, was perfect for the couple, and I loved the way it concluded. I'll be reading book 3 straight away, and hope that Fiona gets her happy ending, just like Annie and Jenny have done.

Dates Read:
August 28-29, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Rebel Wears Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #1) by Eliza Knight

10:00

The Rebel Wears Plaid
Series: Prince Charlie's Angels #1
Author: Eliza Knight
Published June 30th 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
When he agreed to join her
He never expected her to be the enemy...

By day, Lady Jenny Mackintosh helps her widowed mother manage their Highland estate. By night, she risks her life to raise troops, weapons, and coin for the Jacobite rebellion. On one late-night mission, she is confronted by a handsome warrior who happens to be vying for the other side...

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites responsible for his mother's death. When he's intercepted by Jenny and asked to join her cause, he agrees, knowing she can help him uncover the truth. He never expected she would be his enemy...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lady Jenny Mackintosh may be the sister of the Mackintosh Laird, but when her brother turns traitor, and starts to support the English king George, at the detriment of the Scottish people, she has to do what she can for her country, and her rightful king, Bonnie Prince Charlie. As Mistress J, she travels the Highlands, raising troops, arms, and money for the war effort, and risks her life at every turn. Coming across two Highland men, fleeing a notorious prison fortress, she decides to take them with her, but can she trust Toran Fraser, and his injured cousin, Archie. Toran has been working with the English Captain Boyd since his mother's body was returned to him, defiled and desecrated, with a note from 'Mistress J'. Coming across Jenny, and discovering she is Mistress J, he's shocked that the notorious rebel he's had in his mind all this time, is a beautiful woman, who doesn't seem to be the cutthroat killer he was expecting. As they get closer, and the truth about Toran's mother's death is revealed, will they be able to have a happy ending, or is the looming battle too big an obstacle to overcome?

This is the first book in a new series, and I hadn't even realised I hadn't read it yet, until I was checking my GR shelf, and saw I had the whole trilogy to read. So, I decided to binge read it all, and was so glad to have kept them together. This period of British history is one that we see time and time again being explored in novels and other media (*cough* Outlander *cough*), and I'm ashamed to say that as a Brit, and a history graduate, I don't know too much about it, other than Culloden. I'll say as a former history teacher, that the British curriculum doesn't like to show too much that portrays the country in a bad light, and the English treatment of the Scots during this time, would definitely fall under that umbrella. Jenny was such a strong character, and I just fell in love with her from the first few pages. She's the daughter and granddaughter of proud Scotsmen, who would be turning in their graves to see where her brother, Hamish, was now. She had to take up the mantel and help her people, even acting as the Laird in all but name. The risks to her body and her life were there at every moment, and drawing the attention of Captain Boyd was unbelievably dangerous, but she did it to help her Prince. She wasn't trusting of Toran at first, for good reason, but they had a chemistry that would overcome anything, and the way they hit it off, and played off each other's strengths was glorious. Honestly, they were one of the best couples I've ever read, and I loved seeing the growth in them both. For Toran, he had been on the side of the English, thinking to make the Jacobites suffer for what happened to his mother, but when he learnt the truth, and saw that the Scottish people just wanted their freedom, and dignity, he soon was fully on Jenny's side, and her biggest supporter. I really liked the ending, and hope we see more of the people of the Mackintosh clan in the subsequent books, which follow Jenny's friends, Annie and Fiona.

Dates Read:
August 26, 2021

Rating
4 Stars