I can confirm that with a very valid reason why the word was even floating about and an ending that left me smiling, I was content. Well, I will admit, I started gripping my kindle tighter and mumbling and grumbling under my breath when the dreaded word… Mistress floated about. Hmmm…if you’re anything like me you start questioning how this could ever lead to a happy ever after. So, we have two very different ends of the social standing, near royalty and near leper. Most left the country but some were able to meld in with society but with their distinctive dark colouring, most were mistreated. Tinker’s are “known” for stealing, trickery and begging and were outlawed. Tinker, a term used in this story (and I’m guessing derogatory), is used to describe them. I always knew they were looked down on, but I wasn’t sure why.

I didn’t know too much about Gypsy’s before starting this one, and I found it interesting to learn more about them and their history. This healer is near the bottom of the rung when it comes to social standings because she’s a…Gypsy (gasp). Good old Dukey (yes, another bloody Duke) is getting matched up with a healer. I think it makes it a little more believable when they are both at the same level in social standings. I kind of need (in my previous reads) for the hero and heroine to be on equal footing. I really enjoyed The Highland Duke, and I was very surprised at how much I loved it. Well, The Highland Duke has given me a great introduction to Amy Jarecki AND she has a backlog…SCORE!!!! There’s just something about the big braw Scottish dudes wearing a kilt, with a sword in one hand, a flask of whisky tucked into his sporran and riding a wee beastie, that gets my heart pumping. When I find a new author to me who writes Historical Highlander set way…way back in the day, you may catch me doing a shake and shimmy happy dance. I see the word Highland or Highlander in a title and I get a wee bit excited. Shake and shimmy happy dance.I found a new author.

The highland duke amy jarecki