ARC Review: The Highlander’s Pirate Lass by Heather McCollum

About the Book:

Title: The Highlander’s Pirate Lass

Author: Heather McCollum

Series: Brothers of Wolf Isle #2

Publication Date: Aug. 23, 2021

Publisher: Entangled: Historical

Synopsis: Eliza Wentworth is no lady. After the notorious pirate Jandeau murdered her family, she vowed to spend the rest of her life at sea, saving others. She’d rather be firing cannons than embroidering pillows—or worse, bowing to the demands of a husband. But when she’s stranded on an island off the coast of Scotland, now she is the one in need of help. And, annoyingly, that help comes not only from a man, but a man she struggles to resist.

Highlander Beck Macquarie has never met a woman like Eliza. He hasn’t met many women, period, thanks to the blasted curse set upon Wolf Isle decades ago. To save the clan, he needs a wife and bairns, and rough-around-the edges Eliza is anything but wife material. She has no intention of staying once she’s able to set sail again. He should let her go. But the desire between them is impossible to ignore.

When she asks Beck to teach her the ways of the bedroom while she bides her time on his island, he can’t say no. As they learn more about each other, though, past trauma and secrets resurface. Now, Eliza must choose between the freedom and comfort of the only life she’s ever known and sacrificing it all to save the people she loves…including Beck.

LINKS:     Goodreads    |      Amazon   

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My Review:

Heather McCollum writes wonderfully swoon-tastic historical romances, and The Highlander’s Pirate Lass is no exception. I love the characters, the story, and the overarching story of Wolf Isle and the curse that plagues it. This story focuses on Beck Macquarie, the second eldest brother of Wolf Isle. The story begins as Beck rescues Eliza, who is stranded on an island with three children and another woman. Beck is immediately intrigued by this mysterious woman. Who is she really, and how did she get to the island?

When Eliza was twelve, a nefarious pirate named Jandeau and his crew brutalized and murdered Eliza’s family and kidnapped Eliza. Rescued several weeks later by a rival pirate named Captain John, Eliza finds a new family aboard his pirate ship, and for years she helps Captain John and his crew rescue other victims of abduction. That is, until Captain John leaves her, another woman, and three children on an island with no explanation. Will Eliza ever find out what happened to her father-figure? And can she resist the growing feelings she has for Beck even though she knows her destiny is at sea and not in Beck’s arms?

Eliza is feisty, loyal, brave, and so strong. She is also fearless and protective, and she is a natural leader. She has such a fantastic personality, and I love that she doesn’t care what others think. She is true to herself and doesn’t care for or follow the dictates of society. Selfless, she spends her life rescuing others, saving them from the harsh realities that shattered her life when she was a child. Like the rest of her crew, Eliza is a pirate with honorable intentions, though they are still entirely ruthless when needs be.

Beck is taken with Eliza almost from the beginning. She is nothing like any woman he has ever met, and he quickly falls for the beautiful pirate. I think he likes her free spirit and her unconventional ways. The pair definitely bring out the best in each other and show each other the promise of a long-lasting and treasured relationship. They have amazing chemistry, and their romantic scenes are positively swoon-worthy! Of course, many obstacles stand in their way, including the curse on Wolf Isle, Jandeau’s relentless pursuit of Eliza, Eliza’s loyalty to Captain John and the crew, and familial pressures.

Captain John and his crew are fantastic! They are a rag-tag group of men, ruthless and unforgiving, yet they all turn into huge softies when it comes to Eliza. She is like the daughter of all of them, and the way they treat her is so special (and comical). I love the scenes with Captain John and his crew! They are funny and passionate, and they add so much to this already wonderful story. I have a feeling that these dynamic characters will have prominent roles in future books in the series, especially considering what happened to many of them in this book. Other characters like Eliza’s friend and Beck’s brothers are also interesting and well-developed, and I’m eager to see their stories in future books as well.

The story has a lot of action and suspense, and the high seas adventure is filled with heart-stopping moments. The story also highlights some of the social issues prevalent during this time period. Uneasy peace agreements, human trafficking, social snobbery, piracy, and more are explored throughout the story and add to the rich and well-developed setting and plot.

I would definitely recommend The Highlander’s Pirate Lass to readers who enjoy historical romance with dynamically developed characters, a ton of action and adventure, and an epic love story. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Heather McCollum for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance!

• The action and adventure.

• The mysteries of Wolf Isle.

Favorite Line:

I will not let go.

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about The Brothers of Wolf Isle? Check out my review of the first book: