posted on December 18, 2017 by Amy Jarecki

Behind the Scenes in Jarecki’s New Release

RELEASING DECEMBER 19TH!

I am thrilled to announce the release of THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN and though it is a stand alone novel, it is the 3rd in the Lords of the Highlands Series (and my favorite so far)!

He has sworn to protect her . . .

Captain Reid MacKenzie, Earl of Seaforth, is a man of his word. During a harrowing battle at sea, the heroic Highlander makes a vow to a dying friend to watch over the man’s daughter. His plan: send the child to boarding school as quickly as possible so he can continue his mission. But Reid’s new ward is no wee lass. She’s a ravishing, fully grown woman, and it’s all he can do to remember his duty and not seduce her himself.

But he might be her greatest threat . . .

Miss Audrey Kennet is stunned by the news. First this kilted brute tells Audrey her father is dead, and next he insists she marry. But as Reid scours England for the most suitable husband, Audrey soon realizes the brave, brawny Scot is the only man she wants—though loving him means risking her lands, her freedom, and even her life.

My Inspiration for THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN:

Reid MacKenzie, the Earl of Seaforth, was a strong supporting character in THE HIGHLAND COMMANDER. He proved himself to be powerful, smart, loyal and decisive, and his story begged to be written!

As with all my books, there is a bit of history in its foundation. THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN was formed around William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth and his wife, Mary Kennet who was the only child and heiress of Nicolas Kennet, a prominent businessman from Coxhoe. Though the story of their meeting and romance is fictional, I found the architecture research for this book amazing. The manor Coxhoe Hall was once considered one of the finest houses in County Durham. It came into the possession the Kennet family through marriage in the 17th century and was set high on a south facing hillside adjacent to the site of Coxhoe medieval village. A tree-lined avenue led to the manor and it was surrounded by grounds with terraces, and walled garden. Interestingly, poet Elizabeth Browning Barrett was born there in 1806. The Earl of Seaforth and his Countess did use Coxhoe as their winter estate. The manor fell into disrepair in the 20th century and was demolished in 1956.

Coxhoe Hall before it was demolished in 1956

 

The parlor fireplace at Coxhoe Hall

 

Brahan Castle was built by Colin MacKenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth in 1611 and at this point in history Clan MacKenzie were notable Jacobites. The Siege of Brahan took place in November 1715 where William (Reid) MacKenzie was force to forfeit the estate. The castle was later sold back to William’s family where it changed hands many times. In the early 1950s the castle fell into disrepair and was demolished.

Brahan Castle before demolishment

Below is a lovely portrait of Mary (Audrey) Kennet (from Wikipedia) who bore the earl three sons. So much of her character can be interpreted in her picture. A true English rose, she appears to be both petite and courageous and I truly hope her strength shines through in THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN.

Praise for THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN:

“Magnetic, sexy romance is at the heart of this novel, made complete with a cast of richly depicted characters, authentic historical detail, and a fast-moving plot.” – Publishers Weekly

“Amy Jarecki has done it again — wrapped a beautiful love story into…this action-packed third installment of the Lords of the Highlands series.” – Goodreads Reviewer, Maria Logan Montgomery

“Seriously complex and historically detailed, this book kept amazing me with its unassuming tenderness and sweeping prose.” – Erin McCoy, BookRiot

Releasing December 19th, Pre-order your copy at your favorite retailer (also, look for it in Walmart!)

       

Amy Jarecki

Amy Jarecki

Amy embarked on her writing journey shortly after she completed an MBA with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her first manuscripts were suspense novels and were never published. She calls them baptism by fire---lessons in learning to write fiction. These lessons, combined with several writing conferences and classes, led her to write her first published book, Boy Man Chief, which won the League of Utah Writers award for Best Manuscript, and the Spark Book Award. A lot has happened since, with some of the highlights being Rise of a Legend winning the national RONE award for Best Time Travel; hitting the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller list; and a host of other accolades. Amy enjoys the freedom of authorship and the opportunity to work creatively every day. She has lived in Australia, Bermuda and has spent extensive time in Scotland. Whenever possible, she visits the places she writes about to add vibrant realism to her stories. She loves writing Scottish historical romance, and now she's adding romantic suspense to the mix. Come along for the ride!

https://amyjarecki.com

One thought on “Behind the Scenes in Jarecki’s New Release”

  1. Jennifer Mary Stewart Browne says:

    Even though this is fiction, it is based on fact.
    I find it highly offensive, as Mary Kennett was nothing like is written in the books and nor was William MacKenzie.

    Brahan and the MacKenzie Esates were sold back to Kenneth MacKenzie, LOrd Fortrose, William’s eldest son.

    Brahan stayed in the MacKenzie family, via Mary Elizabeth Frederica MacKenzie, daughter of Francis Humberston MacKenzie. He was descended from Alexander MacKenzie, William’s younger brother.

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