Title: The Arrow
Author: Monica McCarty
Published August 26, 2014
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780345543950 (ISBN10: 0345543955)
Rating: 4.16
Overview
After a long and bitter war, peace has finally come to the werewolf packs. Mating season has arrived, and for Alpha Declan Xavier, that means choosing a mate.
With so many beautiful and strong women vying for his attention, Declan is unsure who to pick. But when he meets the fiery and independent pack enforcer, Rachel, he knows she is the one for him.
Rachel is hesitant to give in to her attraction to Declan, knowing that being the alpha’s mate comes with its own challenges and dangers. But as the threat of a rogue pack looms, Rachel and Declan must work together to protect their pack and their love.
Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their path and find happiness together?
About the Author
I am a Historical Romance Author, and it all started with my love for reading. Growing up in California, I always had a book in my hand.
From The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume, I read it all. I even branched out to adult books like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, which led to some interesting conversations with my mom.
She then steered me towards Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances, and I was hooked.
In high school, my father encouraged me to read the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written. I tackled Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare, which proved to be an invaluable foundation for college.
I attended the University of Southern California, where I majored in Political Science and minored in English. After four years of college, I traveled to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School.
Law school proved to be one of the best times of my life, and I graduated with a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball.
After law school, I worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, had a couple of kids, and moved back to California. It was then that I realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year would be extremely difficult.
So, I decided to sit down and write.
I fell in love with writing because it combines my love for research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
Editoral Review
Monica McCarty’s The Arrow is a historical romance novel published in August 2014, and one of the books in her Highland Guard series. Monica McCarty is known for her passionate, action-packed romance novels set in the Scottish Highlands in the fourteenth century.
She is also a USA Today bestselling author and has won many awards for her novels. The Arrow, which is set in the fourteenth century, revolves around Eoin MacLean, the captain of the Highland Guard, who is tasked with protecting King Robert the Bruce’s illegitimate daughter, Lady Margaret.
As the plot unfolds, Eoin is conflicted between his loyalty to the king and his growing affection for Lady Margaret. As he navigates this tricky path, he discovers a plot to assassinate the king and is forced to go to great lengths to save him.
McCarty’s writing style in The Arrow is rich with vivid descriptions of the Scottish landscape and battles. Her attention to detail adds depth to the plot and her portrayal of the historical context is impressive.
The characters are well developed, and their motivations and actions are always clear. Moving on to the analysis of The Arrow, McCartys strong suit lies in her ability to weave a passionate romance into a historical setting.
The intensity of the romance between Eoin and Lady Margaret is captivating and adds to the tension in the plot. Her use of historical characters, events, and settings draws the reader into the story and makes the characters and their struggles feel real.
However, the pacing of the plot in The Arrow can be slow at times, and the dialogues can be clunky. Though the dialogues aim to reflect the language of the time, they sometimes fall flat and inhibit the characterization.
Furthermore, the reveal of the antagonist’s identity and motivations comes too late in the story, and the resolution feels rushed.
Despite these limitations, The Arrow is a must-read for the fans of the historical romance genre.
The novel is perfect for readers who love a mix of history, politics, and passion. The Arrow provides a glimpse into not only the lives of the Scottish nobility, but also their struggles against the English invasion.
It also highlights the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society.
In conclusion, The Arrow by Monica McCarty is a well-crafted historical romance novel that transports the reader to the Scottish Highlands.
Though it has its flaws, it remains a riveting tale with characters who are vivid, realistic and passionate. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy the genre and give it a rating of three out of five stars.
