In
Your Wildest Scottish Dreams
The MacIain Trilogy #1
Your Wildest Scottish Dreams
The MacIain Trilogy #1
By: Karen Ranney
Releasing January 27th, 2015
Avon Romance
Blurb
New
York Times bestselling author Karen Ranney’s first novel in a brand-new series
spins the intriguing story of a beautiful widow and a devilishly handsome
shipbuilder…
York Times bestselling author Karen Ranney’s first novel in a brand-new series
spins the intriguing story of a beautiful widow and a devilishly handsome
shipbuilder…
Seven
years have passed since Glynis MacIain made the foolish mistake of declaring
her love to Lennox Cameron, only to have him stare at her dumbfounded.
Heartbroken, she accepted the proposal of a diplomat and moved to America,
where she played the role of a dutiful wife among Washington’s elite. Now a
widow, Glynis is back in Scotland. Though Lennox can still unravel her with
just one glance, Glynis is no longer the naïve girl Lennox knew and vows to
resist him.
years have passed since Glynis MacIain made the foolish mistake of declaring
her love to Lennox Cameron, only to have him stare at her dumbfounded.
Heartbroken, she accepted the proposal of a diplomat and moved to America,
where she played the role of a dutiful wife among Washington’s elite. Now a
widow, Glynis is back in Scotland. Though Lennox can still unravel her with
just one glance, Glynis is no longer the naïve girl Lennox knew and vows to
resist him.
With
the American Civil War raging, shipbuilder Lennox Cameron must complete a sleek
new blockade runner for the Confederate Navy. He cannot afford any
distractions, especially the one woman he’s always loved. Glynis’s cool
demeanor tempts him to prove to her what a terrible mistake she made seven
years ago.
the American Civil War raging, shipbuilder Lennox Cameron must complete a sleek
new blockade runner for the Confederate Navy. He cannot afford any
distractions, especially the one woman he’s always loved. Glynis’s cool
demeanor tempts him to prove to her what a terrible mistake she made seven
years ago.
As
the war casts its long shadow across the ocean, will a secret from Glynis’s
past destroy any chance for a future between the two star-crossed lovers?
the war casts its long shadow across the ocean, will a secret from Glynis’s
past destroy any chance for a future between the two star-crossed lovers?
My Review
4.5 Stars!
This book was one of the best historical romances that I have read in a very long time. I read a large variety of books and I really like to mix things up so I don’t read all that many historical romances anymore. Historical romance can sometimes be a little bit predictable but that did not apply to this book at all. This book made me question why I don’t read historical romances more often.
This book is set in Scotland during the time of the American Civil War. As I read this book, I realized that I never gave a lot of thought as to how an American War would have impacted other areas of the world. I think that the Civil War and its impact on Scotland added a very interesting element to the book.
Glynis has always had feelings for Lennox but when she hears that he has plans to marry she leaves her homeland heartbroken. She soon finds herself married and living overseas in the United States. After seven years she returns to Scotland after the death of her husband. Her feelings for Lennox have never changed.
Lennox is still very single and has never married. He now runs his family’s shipbuilding company with ships high in demand during this time of war. Lennox is one of those men who seem to be able to fix everything and he worries about a man trying to get close to Glynis.
The chemistry between the pair was wonderful and I loved that this couple actually talked to each other. Glynis was a little hesitant to share her past with Lennox but she comes around eventually. I loved the secondary characters in this book, Glynis’s mother, the town busybody, and Lucy all added to the story even though I often wanted to slap them because of the way that they acted.
When faced with difficulties, Glynis and Lennox met them head on. Glynis’s reaction to the rumors being spread was simply priceless. There were a few really touching scenes in this book as well a well developed mystery and action.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical romance. I have previously read a novella by Karen Ranney but this is the first full length book by that author that I have had a chance to read. I definitely plan to read more books by Karen Ranney in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books via Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Author Info
Karen Ranney beganwriting when she was five. Her first published work was The Maple Leaf, read
over the school intercom when she was in the first grade. In addition to
wanting to be a violinist (her parents had a special violin crafted for her
when she was seven), she wanted to be a lawyer, a teacher, and, most of all, a
writer. Though the violin was discarded early, she still admits to a
fascination with the law, and she volunteers as a teacher whenever needed.
Writing, however, has remained the overwhelming love of her life.
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Excerpt
“You’ve come home,” Lennox said.
Glynis wanted to pull away but stood still.
Precipitous gestures could be misunderstood. Better to allow him to hold her
hand than cause a scene, especially when whispers swirled around them.
Precipitous gestures could be misunderstood. Better to allow him to hold her
hand than cause a scene, especially when whispers swirled around them.
“It’s the MacIain girl, home after all these years.”
“Wasn’t there some scandal about her?”
“Is this the first time she’s been seen in public?”
Were people recalling those times she followed after
Lennox as a child? At five years old she marked him as hers. As a young woman
she was prepared to tell him she adored him.
Lennox as a child? At five years old she marked him as hers. As a young woman
she was prepared to tell him she adored him.
Foolish Glynis.
He must not affect her. She wouldn’t allow it. She was
no longer nineteen and desperately in love.
no longer nineteen and desperately in love.
“Why didn’t you come home sooner?” he asked now, still
holding her hand.
holding her hand.
Instead of answering, she only smiled. The diplomatic
ranks did not value honesty and so she became adroit at sidestepping it.
ranks did not value honesty and so she became adroit at sidestepping it.
He still smelled of wood and the ocean. Whenever
anyone said the word “ship” or she tasted a brine filled breeze, he would
appear in her memory with a twinkle in his eye.
anyone said the word “ship” or she tasted a brine filled breeze, he would
appear in her memory with a twinkle in his eye.
The hint of beard showing on this important occasion
wasn’t due to any sloth on his part. He had to shave more than once a day to
eliminate a shadow appearing on his cheeks and chin.
wasn’t due to any sloth on his part. He had to shave more than once a day to
eliminate a shadow appearing on his cheeks and chin.
“I think God wants me to have facial hair,” he said to
her. “But God and I are going to disagree.”
her. “But God and I are going to disagree.”
He was a foot taller than she was, dressed in black
evening wear accentuating his shoulders and height. All his life he’d worked
hard and it showed in the breadth of his chest and muscled legs. Something
about him, though, hinted at power and always had. In a crowded room people
sought him out the way they looked to leaders and confident men.
evening wear accentuating his shoulders and height. All his life he’d worked
hard and it showed in the breadth of his chest and muscled legs. Something
about him, though, hinted at power and always had. In a crowded room people
sought him out the way they looked to leaders and confident men.
Lennox Cameron resembled a prince and a devastating
Highlander and he’d been the hero of most of her childish dreams.
Highlander and he’d been the hero of most of her childish dreams.
No longer, however. Too much had happened in the
intervening years.
intervening years.
Thank you for hosting today! Great Review!
Thank you for letting my blog host a spot!
Great review thank you.
Thanks, Rita!
Thanks for your review. This sounds like a very interesting read. What with the Civil War and Scotland. Thanks for the excerpt and the chance.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Thanks a lot , Carol! I really had a wonderful time reading this book. It really was one of the best historical romances that I have read in a very long time. Good luck!