The Recruit
The Highland Guard
Kenneth Sutherland is determined to earn a place in Robert the Bruce's elite guard. Lady Mary of Mar, a widow wary of men and war, wants nothing to do with him, yet their passion threatens both their plans. A medieval…
About This Book
The Recruit is a historical romance novel by Monica McCarty, first published in 2013 by Random House Publishing Group. It is part of the The Highland Guard series and runs 448 pages. Readers can expect enemies to lovers.
At a glance
- Genre
- Historical
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Published
- 2013
- Length
- 448 pages
Reading Options
The Recruit
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A determined recruit to Robert the Bruce's elite guard finds his ambitions and his heart challenged by a cautious widow who wants nothing to do with him.
- fans of medieval historical romance
- readers who enjoy high-stakes romantic tension
- intense
- Features Enemies to Lovers
This may not be ideal if…
- Limited information regarding heat level or specific character development beyond the central conflict
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Historical Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: unknown
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, moderate angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult historical romance readers
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Kenneth Sutherland is striving to join Robert the Bruce's elite Highland Guard. His path crosses with Lady Mary of Mar, a widow who is deeply wary of the men and war that surround her. Despite her attempts to avoid him, the palpable passion between them threatens to disrupt the careful plans they have both made for their lives.
Central Conflict
The struggle between Kenneth's professional ambitions as a guard and his growing, inconvenient passion for a woman who is explicitly resisting romantic entanglement.
Setting
Medieval Scotland
Strengths
- Clear conflict setup
- Strong historical grounding
Consider before reading
- Limited information regarding heat level or specific character development beyond the central conflict
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Monica McCarty
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Random House Publishing Group
- Published
- 2013
- Length
- 448 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780345528414
The Recruit: quick answers
- Who wrote The Recruit?
- The Recruit was written by Monica McCarty.
- When was The Recruit published?
- The Recruit was first published in 2013 by Random House Publishing Group.
- What genre is The Recruit?
- The Recruit is a historical romance novel, with enemies to lovers.
- How many pages is The Recruit?
- The Recruit is 448 pages long.
- Is The Recruit part of a series?
- Yes — it is part of the The Highland Guard series.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inReading Options
The Recruit
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
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