The Ghost (Highland Guard #12) by Monica McCarty-Review and Giveaway

The Ghost
Highland Guard #12
by Monica McCarty
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance
Release Date: May 31, 2016

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Joan Comyn swore allegiance to Robert the Bruce the day she witnessed England’s barbarous king torturing her famous mother, Scot patriot Bella MacDuff. Now the mysterious beauty slips into men’s hearts like a specter and entices England’s most illustrious barons to unwittingly divulge their secrets, then shares them with her king. Known only as the Ghost even among her Highland Guard brethren, Joan has become the most wanted spy in England.

The man determined to uncover her identity poses her biggest threat yet. Alex Seton once stood with Bruce but now fights for the enemy. Though Joan knows she must avoid the handsome warrior or risk discovery, his knightly chivalry touches a place in her long since buried. When his suspicions grow apparent, Joan realizes she must do everything in her power to stop Alex from revealing her mission and convince the powerful fighter to join forces with the Highland Guard once more. But as the ultimate battle in the great war approaches, will Alex chose love or honor?

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REVIEW: 5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

I almost don’t want to write this review. If I finish writing this review, it means that it’s over. This is the final book in what I wholeheartedly believe is one of the best historical highland romance series out there. The Ghost by Monica McCarty is the 12th and final book of her Highland Guard series. She tied this entire series up in a package and set everything to right. I am so sad it’s over, but what an incredible journey I have had the past few years with all these characters.

The Ghost is Alex Seton’s (remember good ole Alex .. he left to go back to the English in one of the earlier books) and Joan Comyn’s (remember her mother is the lady that the English punished and who ended up with Viper) story. I always wondered about Alex as he was a complex man. He is a true English Knight, who once stood with The Guard, but opted to return to his homeland and is now considered a traitor by The Guard. Joan, has grown up now, has become a member of The Highland Guard and given the code name “The Ghost”. She specializes in obtaining vital information from the English to pass to the Scots. She will use whatever means to get this information, and that includes seduction. When Alex and Joan meet, their chemistry in instant, and the burn is very hot. Both are equally passionate about their causes, which leaves us readers wondering how Monica is going to write these very different characters a happily ever after.

SHE NAILS IT!

It is very much a cat and mouse game these two play with each other. The only thing is, they are uncertain who is chasing and who is getting caught. They both suspect each other, flirt with betrayal to their countries and to each other. Wounds fester, and some heal. As per usual, the love is brilliantly written, and the scenes are smoking hot. You feel the devastation of despair and the elation of true happiness. Truely, I am not giving you any actual story in this review .. I just refuse to spoil it for you .. like at all! LOL

The story/series finishes with a final battle that we knew was coming. Monica weaves together all the characters from previous books and we get to see where their lives have taken them since we last met. I LOVE THAT. This ending was very bitter sweet. What I have said in many past reviews of this series, Monica writes her stories around actual events and actual characters in history. There is always a little blurb at the end that fascinates me.

Full of action, history, emotions, betrayal, lust, mystery and suspense, every single one of these books has hit it’s mark. No two characters are the same, and all are well matched. Monica McCarty has a talent for knowing which characters should be paired, which should be enemies, which should be playful and/or serious, which is awkward, it’s rather brilliant really. LOL

Thank you Monica for this journey. Thank you for providing me hours of entertainment and nail biting moments. I love your writing style and again I am so sad it’s over. Although, I just realized that I can go back and reread/revisit any of these amazing couples whenever I want .. that makes writing this review a little easier! LOL

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Monica’s publisher and The Reading Cafe are offering a paper copy of THE GHOST to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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