Customer Reviews

A Scotsman in Love

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"There will come a moment when you want to smile," she said softly.
"Even despite yourself, you'll begin to live, to want to.
The human heart finds a way through the darkness." ~ Karen Ranney

Margaret Dalrousie--a very talented and well known portrait artist--had lived in Russia for several years as a "darling' of the Imperial Russian Court. She had her art--was completely devoted to it--and knew where she was going in life and exactly what she was meant to do... until... she becomes the victim a terrible assault. And, unfortunately, when she reveals the details of her attack and that the possible culprits were "royals" she then loses the Empress's patronage.

With no chance of getting any new commissions, and the source of her income gone, she goes home to Scotland. However, soon after her return Margaret realizes the psychological strain of her terrible ordeal has not only robbed her of her ability to paint, but also of her sense of self... because up until this point of her life everything she is, thinks or feels has been inexorably intertwined with her art. Now pennilessness and at brink of starvation--with no way to support herself--she is fortuitously given ownership of Blackthorne Cottage, a small house located on the estate of the Earl of Linnet, by an anonymous benefactor.

There, believing her dreams have all slipped through her fingers, Margaret passes her days with long solitary walks and quiet contemplation; desperately trying to recuperate both in body and spirit, and find new meaning for her life.

But she doesn't realize her peaceful refuge is about to be disrupted by the return of a completely exasperating Earl...

Robert McDermott, the Earl of Linnet, has been living in France for the past three years and has now come home to Scotland to fulfill his responsibilities to his title, his home and his people--everything that was left to languish during his extended absence. But this is not a pleasant homecoming for him--he's mourning the loss of his beloved wife and daughter who were killed in a carriage accident that he barely survived. And Robert's still not completely recovered; physically he has pain--though he tries to hide it--and he limps when he's tired or overexerts himself. Mentally, he's still steeped in grief.

But by returning to Glengarrow--his home--his family's home--Robert knows he must now face his emotional heartache... all the anguish of his loss, and all the bittersweet memories of their happy life before the accident. He knows, as well, he must to come to terms with the "ghosts" that linger in his home, in his heart, and in his mind before he can accept that his life has been forever changed, but that his life will go on. Time alone is what he thinks he'll need, and the restful seclusion of the countryside surrounding Glengarrow is the perfect place for that.

But he doesn't know his sanctuary has been invaded by a completely infuriating female...

Both Robert and Margaret will soon find out that falling in love changes everything.

*****
A Scotsman in Love by Karen Ranney is an exceptionally well written story; and one that's beautifully told, deeply touching--so emotionally honest--and realistic that I couldn't help but feel drawn into Robert McDermott and Margaret Dalrousie's fascinating lives. As I read I became completely invested in their HEA--truly wishing their developing love would grow stronger and be everything they needed to mend their battered hearts, restore their "lost" souls, and indeed, be their salvation. I felt almost as if they were good friends and I had a personal interest in their happiness. To me that's the sign of a great book and a very talented writer.

Ms. Ranney, an exceptional wordsmith, deftly and vividly paints their story with such passion and sensitivity that these powerfully compelling, intriguing characters literally came alive on the pages--and in this reader's mind and heart. The combination of a rich, complex storyline with a hero and heroine, who were so finely nuanced, lifelike, and relatable, captured my attention from the first chapter, until the last.

And I was absorbed in the atmosphere the author created; Ms Ranney's eloquent narrative and beautifully descriptive sentences effectively set the scene, situation and action in my mind. It was almost as if I was there--virtually--sharing her characters experiences as they took in all the sights, sounds and scents of the landscape around them. This story's set in 1852; during a stark, cold, desolate and bleak Scottish winter season. And I felt the setting perfectly paralleled the loneliness, melancholy, and hopelessness of Robert and Margaret's lives at that period in time... Then as the season changes, bringing the hopefulness of spring and the promise new beginnings; we see their feelings and outlook slowly start to change as well.

I really loved both the story and the characters, though; it undoubtedly was a bittersweet romance. But I thought the author made it so easy for readers to empathize with Robert and Margaret's plight--to care about them--and understand they both needed to travel on a personal, yet, similar journey through the grieving process. For me they became two normal people; good, decent human beings who'd been touched by heartbreak and tragedy, and who struggled everyday with their painful memories and at times with loneliness, or their unresolved anger, doubts, and fears. All emotions everyone has felt, endured and survived at one time or another in their lives. But now, as their healing cycle begins, they are finally ready to allow themselves to move forward in their lives, to take comfort from each other--in the here and now--and accept the gift of this incredible second chance at love.

This is simply a beautiful story. Bravo Ms. Ranney!

The rave reviews convinced me to buy A Scotsman in Love. After I finished it, I wish I had borrowed rather than bought the book. It's not that it is a badly written book; on the contrary it is well written, but the leads never really captured me, therefore it will not be going on my keeper shelf.

Hero Robert McDermott, the Earl of Linnet has lost his beloved wife and daughter in a terrible carriage accident. He has come back to his Scottish Estate bruised and heart broken after a three year absence. He cannot forget his wife especially and she seems to haunt his home. He is shaken out of his reverie by his new neighbor Margaret Dalarousie, a renowned artist.

Margaret is also a battered soul. Once the darling of the Russian Court she is now practically penniless hoping to heal from a trauma she has suffered in Russia and the reader is given enough clues to discern what occurred in the land of the Tsars. Margaret has stopped painting completely, she believes her talent has left her and has come to Scotland to recuperate.

Margaret and McDermott seem to argue constantly, each trying to one up the other in barbs. McDermott finds Margaret abrasive, rude, and autocratic. Margaret finds McDermott to be the same. They are both correct in their judgments about each other. Margaret was irritating; in fact, she seems to go out of her way to be so. McDermott is taciturn and reserved, hard for both Margaret and the reader to know.

McDermott commissions Margaret to paint a picture of his dead wife and she agrees to it. However, she has no likeness from which to paint and insists that McDermott sit with her daily when she paints. Oh, and he must describe his wife but never see the painting until it is finished. To me this made little sense. How on earth would McDermott even know that his wife's likeness was suitably painted unless he could periodically review Margaret's work? Police sketch artists have witnesses correct their work thoroughly and often so as to capture a good likeness. But here the reader is to believe that the Margaret has some sort of supernatural insight and can accurately paint a woman she has never seen with the description of blond hair and blue eyes. Even more surprising is that an educated man agreed to her demands.

Echoing another reviewer, I never understood why Margaret, a Scot herself, did not even visit her parents and siblings. She seemed supremely unfeeling not just to McDermott but to her own family. She is beyond reserved to being completely obsessed with her art.

While Margaret paints the two at first share some insults with both trying to get a rise out of the other. Neither lead acted very kindly toward the other. It wasn't until the last third of the book that I really began to know and like the leads. They softened their words and tone and really began to see beyond themselves. It took a little too long for me to warm to the leads and by the time I really liked them I was in the last chapters of the book.

I loved this book-it's the best Ranney has written for some time-I couldn't put it down. I know other reviewers have had reservations including how quickly Maggie went to bed with the Earl, but somehow it worked for me because I had felt the passion that had built up between them. Lovely story about relationships, healing and love.

Robert McDermott, the earl of Linnet has just returned to his estate Glengarrow after a three year abscence. He had been in France healing and mourning the loss of his wife and daughter, who died in a carriage accident. But he had survived not just with physical wounds, but much deeper emotional ones.

Margaret Dalrousie is now a destitute artist, who has lived in Scotland for a year, ever since leaving Russia after a traumatic experience, which left her deeply wounded. She is given Blackthorne Cottage, which happens to be on Glengarrow land by a mysterious benefactor who she was told was very impressed by her talent.

Both Robert and Margaret are reserved and distant characters, and when they meet their relationship developes slowly (as he asks her to draw a painting of his late wife). So while I thought that this was an engaging read, both characters were too reserved throughout the book, they only loosen up emotionally in the last 10/20 pages. I thought that we should have seen their healing sooner.

I had attributed Margaret's reserved character to what happened to her in Russia (that would have been understandable to me), but when we learn of her backstory it seems that she was always a distant person who was always obsessed with painting, and that made her seem just a cold character to me. I can understand someone who loves painting, but in her case it is obsession. She literally put all her life in painting, giving up on trying to make friends or find love or even feel.

Also I felt that Margaret got over her fear of intimacy too quickly with Robert, given what had happened to her. Robert was always formal with her, and she with him, and suddenly they are gettng intimate and she has no fear... I didn't feel that Robert was there for her emotionally, until the end, because he himself was so reserved (wrapped up in his grief). So that part of the story did not strike me as realistic.

Also I felt that some loose ends were left with Margaret's family, why did she never try to contact them? So her parents were bad and neglectful, but didn't she at least wish to see her sisters and brothers? And see how they are faring? That important aspect of the heroine's life is just left hanging like that.

In the end, I like this author's writting style, there is something very elegant about it, and the descriptions of Glengarrow and the forest around it are beautiful. But I felt that both lead characters could have been written better, and the story could have had a faster pace and been more emotionally engaging to the reader before the end part.

WOW! This was a strange depressing *extremely* wonderful story!! Think along the vein of "Wuthering Heights." The journey is a long very long - sad one; hard to stick with sometimes, but the end of the journey - was so beautiful - and poignantly written! And the "sigh" of the house and scene that followed at the end, I actually felt my heart sigh along with them! And then I cried.

I did have a couple thoughts along the way but by the time I reached the end I didn't care about them. It's a rare story! Not everyone will like it but those who do will love it!!

I would give anything to see a movie made of this because it would be one of those rare and wonderful classics that stand the test of time; like "Gone With The Wind" or "Wuthering Heights." Brava Ms. Ranney!!

Oh...and this is the *first* PB I will keep a copy of. Enjoy! =)

Cheers!

i could not put this book down, the characters flew off the pages, it was such a deep story, and so well written that you felt every emotion. I truly truly recommend to anyone who likes deep stories - and I did not agree that she was obsessed with her painting, it was who she was! Painting clarified her life and personality and it was an imporatant element of the story. I loved this book.

It's not all the time I read a book that makes me cry. I get weepy-eyed easily enough, but to actually have the tears flowing, that's different. By the second chapter of this book, I was already weepy-eyed. And then by chapter 8 I was in tears. The pain and loneliness of Margaret and Robert was a constant build up to a pivotal scene that hit both of their wounded souls. You could not help but feel their suffering and loss.

While there was not a single look of longing or a kiss or a simple brushing of skin in the first 200 and some pages, I could not put the book down. The inner struggles and demons that each of them battle captivated me and broke my heart; Robert with the terrible and tragic loss of his wife and daughter, and Margaret suffering from a brutal attack. As much as I love a nice dose of hands-on between the h/h, I also don't mind stories like this one, where the romance is so subtle, it seems nearly non-existent. But when eyes are finally opened and that first contact is made, the intense power is such a rush. And man oh man, did I get one hell of a rush. So completely worth the wait.

I loved every bit of this book. It was a nice change to not read how the two can think of nothing but rip each others clothes off and get freaky almost from the get go. Their interactions and conversations eventually lead to them wondering why they began to think of the other and often searched the other out, if just for a glimpse. Each of them together helped to mend the pain and loneliness of the other. A superbly written sorrowful tale of two people struggling to find life within themselves. A hauntingly beautiful love story.

I haven't read a Karen Ranney book in a while and I'm so glad that I have found her again. Maybe I'm wrong but I think her writing has matured and she's letting herself take new chances with her writing. This is a jewel of a book. The characters are very interesting people and they push at, and bounce off, each other so well. The story is different from most but done with great taste. I loved the way Ms. Ranney let us deeply into the character's thoughts and emotions. Well done.

This is a wonderfully written, character driven book that will capture you from start to finish. The book follows two people, lost and alone in the world and traces their journey in finding happiness once again. This book is so much more than just a lusty tale about a hot hero and a woman in need of saving. In this book, the characters save each other. The author beautifully develops their love story allowing us true insight into the depths of the characters sorrows. I can't praise this book enough!!!!

Ms. Ranney has outdone herself. It is rare that I read every word in a romance novel. The character growth of Margaret and Robert throughout the flows so smoothly I did not even realize it was happening. Both characters are passionate; Margaret for her painting and Robert for his dead wife. It was a joy to see these two characters evolve from the pain of loss into finding it within themselves to take steps to an unknown future. A must read for the true romantic at heart.