Review: Great romance mixed in with a history of Scotland.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 7, 2012
The course of this book takes place shortly after the battle of Culloden a huge battle that took place in Scotland during the 1700's.  A battle that was ultimately won by the British and nobody who fought against the British king was not spared from  impisonment or death on the battlefield.  That harsh treatment of the Scots expanded into many villages as houses were looted and many were even burnt down to the ground.  Maddie is one of those that lost two people in her life, her father and the man who may have eventually become her betrothed.  Therefore her hate of the British is already really big when some troops come and ramsack her house.  But thanks to a more compassionate soldier then others, her home itself is spared.  Maddie has a caring heart and doesn't know what she's going to do as her and those in her village are going to starve as the soldiers have plundered them of food and supplies.Garrett is a British soldier assigned a position near Maddie's village, because of his Scottish background.  His grandmother had come from some of the Scotts who ultimately fought on the side of the British, but he's looked at as a last resort to see if he can capture a notorious outlaw Black Jack who with a band of five others, have managed to steal supplies from the British.  While one highly ranked soldier hopes to end things peacefully if at all possible, another Hawley ones to continue to administer the harsh treatment they've reigned down on the Highlanders so far.  Not wanting any more bloodshed if at all possible, Garret is their last hope of bringing the situation to a peaceful conclusion.  The suggestion is made that he try to woo one of the village women in the hopes that maybe he can either earn her trust or possibly learn something while she's in the throes of passion.But Garret't assignment gets off to a rocky start as he and his men end up being victims of Black Jack themselves, but he arrives in the village a few days later.  He promptly moves some of his men into Maddie's house at Farraline.  He's immediately attracted to the spirited on the woman on the spot while she's filled with nothing but hatred but also fear as it turns out she's the legendary Black Jack that Garrett has been assigned to find.  Although it makes her mission more dangerous with a bunch of British soldiers on her property, Maddie is determined to continue on with her raids until she and her villagers have enough food to feed them through the upcoming winter.  A plan that she is able to carry out thanks to a hidden tunnel beneath the house that takes her safely about 40 yards away from the edge of her property.Some complications arise thanks to Hawley's eagerness and lack of patience in capturing the legendary Black Jack.  What does this mean for Maddie and the fellow band of villagers that go with her on these raids.  And how does her growing attraction for Garrett possibly jeopardize the trust she's earned from the rest of the villagers who are grateful for everything she's done for them?  Can she trust Garrett if she decides to give herself up in order to spare the rest of the village?  And does she risk losing the man forever when she stubbornly tries to deny the building passion she feels for Garrett?Miriam Minger rights really good historical romances with some very spirited women and this book was no exception as Maddie was very passionate about her people and their cause.  But it's that same passion and stubborness that almost causes her and her people to lose even more then they already have.  Will she learn from her mistakes before it's too late?I've bought and read other Miriam Minger novels and as I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far I'll continue to purchase more of her books in the future.  If you like romance or historical fiction this was a good book that gives you the best of both worlds.