Carried Away [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill Barnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2002

Nobody writes a love story quite like Jill Barnett, whose romantic tales are "as magical and unique as any you ever had the joy to read" (Romantic Times). Now she spirits a misty, secluded island off the central coast of Maine, where a pair of handsome brothers clash with two independent women...

The proud descendants of a Highland clan, Calum and Eachann MacLaughlan live in seclusion on a Maine island. The brothers are as different in spirits as they are in looks. Though one is dark and levelheaded, the other fair and adventurous, they have one thing in common: they want brides. When Eachann's two unruly children are expelled from school, he is even more determined to wed. Following an old Scottish tradition, Eachann decides to solve the problem for both himself and his brother....

Spying on a fancy society party, Eachann sees a solution before him. The always capable debutante Georgina Bayard is basking in the light of her own ball. Meanwhile, outside, Amy Emerson is valiantly struggling to conceal her first broken heart. Swept away by this young Scotsman, both young women become captives. Kidnapped and furious, with only each other for support, Amy and Georgina have a choice: fight for the life they'd previously known...or let their hearts get carried away....

Editorial Reviews

Review

Time is ticking for Georgina Bayard and life as she knows it is slowly winding to a halt. Appropriate enough for the heiress of the famous Bayard clock dynasty, but Georgina is determined to stay the hand of fate and take control of her own fortune. With no time at all before the bank is to foreclose on everything she owns, she has decided that her only hope of saving her home, and with it her heritage, is to marry into wealth, even if it means wheedling a proposal out of the short, balding John Cabot. Eachann McLachlan is a man used to taking what he wants. Devilishly handsome and powerfully built, he comes to the conclusion that it's Georgina he wants after a chance encounter has her mistaking him for a delivery man while she orders him to get to work. After overhearing her talking to herself about wanting to get married, Eachann whisks her off to his Highland Castle on a remote island off the coast of Maine, set on making her his bride. And just for good measure he includes a serenely beautiful Amy Emerson as a gift to his older brother, Cullum. The brides are less than ecstatic. As a matter of fact, Georgina causes such a ruckus, Cullum is certain the shrieking hoyden will bring the entire household down around their ears before the fog lifts enough to see them back to the mainland. Still, he is haunted by the pain and loneliness he sees in the eyes of the other young lass. Content with his resolve to remain unmarried, Cullum fights his attraction to Amy and her gentle ways. By the time the fog finally dissipates enough to see their way clearly, Amy and Georgina have spent two full weeks on the MacLachlan island, and each has grudgingly gained a new respect for the men that occupy the land. Amy watches as Georgina struggles with the man she calls, MacOaf, yet she also sees her risk her life to save Eachlann's precocious six-year old daughter. The child and her brother appear forlorn having lost their mother in an accident as they grapple for their father's attention. Amy also feels the tenderness that Cullum shows her and her lonely heart is hungry for the feel of his soothing touch. Upon leaving the island, both women are lost in thought, knowing that the brief time they've spent with the MacLachlan's has forever changed them. Georgina and Amy try to ignore the sense of loss threatening to overwhelm them as their hearts cry out for the matchless love they leave behind. Few books I've read have been as satisfying as this one! With a stitch of laughter and a hint of tears, Jill Barnett confidently presents simultaneous love stories that weave together seamlessly, resulting in one beautiful, multi-faceted tapestry of words. Charming and uproariously funny! Jill Barnett writes straight from the heart. It's impossible not to get Carried Away with this book!Lori Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

About the Author

Jill Barnett is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen acclaimed novels and short stories. There are more than five million copies of her books in print in seventeen languages. Her work has earned her a place on such national bestseller lists as The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her website at www.jillbarnett.com.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671521446
• ISBN-13: 978-0671521448
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a native Californian, a baby boomer who grew up in a very idyllic place at a very idyllic time--on the coast of Southern California in the 60's, although I spent many childhood summers before that on my grandparents' farm in Texas.

So I'm a West Coast girl raised by Southern parents, who grew up in a place where you spent your free time playing volleyball on the beach and weekends dancing to local bands like Beach Boys, Dion, and the Righteous Brothers.

My husband and I met in high school, and I never knew I wanted to be a writer until I was in my thirties and back in college again. I had been an art major the first time around--it was the 60's--quit to make some kind of mark in the world, but I got married instead.

My love of history and reading and art all came together for me when I quit school again, after working toward my history degree and then becoming a mother--something we were told couldn't happen. (The child not the degree.) So with the miracle gift of my daughter, came a new career for me.

I knew then I wanted to write a book, had an idea and more importantly a vision of the kind of stories I wanted to tell. I told myself I could always go back to school.

Funny thing the way life works. Almost two years to the day I quit school, I sold my first book on 50 pages to Pocket Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. That was over eighteen years ago and many books later.

So the road I traveled to become an author had many twists and turns, joys and disappointments. Yet I'm doing something I really love. In so many ways I'm a very lucky woman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tender and witty romance, March 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carried Away (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was absolutely hilarious, while at the same time tender and touching. I am a new reader of Ms. Barnett's, and she has found a new fan. Her ability to combine romance with such incredibly witty dialogue is fantastic! Definately a book worth reading!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two brides for two brothers, May 29, 2004

By 

Lealing (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carried Away (Mass Market Paperback)

Georgina Bayard is struggling to keep her estate afloat after her brother recklessly withers away their fortune. Her last chance to save the family's remaining fortune is to marry into wealth. She has chosen short and balding John Canot to marry for his enormous wealth. Georgina thus embarks on the prepartion of society party in her remaining home in Maine to coax a proposal out of her intended.

Amy Emerson, a wealthy heiress of new money has just overheard her fiancé joke with his friends that he is only marrying her for her money. Brokenhearted, Amy pubicly breaks of her engagement at Geogina's party.

Eachann MacLachlan, tall, handsome and blond is the younger of two scots brothers who live on Arrant Island, off the coast of Maine, which remains a mystery to the local mainlanders, is in trouble. His wife died three years ago and he is left with two unruly children who have just been expelled from boarding school. Eachann decides that what he needs is a new wife to look after his two children, Kirsty and Graham.

Calum MacLachlan, older brother of Eachann, is tall dark and handsome and leads an orderly life unlike Eachann. He has sworn that he does not want any women in his life and has deidcated his life to helping newly arrived Scots immigrants.

When Eachann sets his eyes on the vibrant and sharp-tongued Georgina he decides that he will kidnap her for his wife and bring her back to Arrant Island. And for good measure he decides to kidnap Amy for his brother. Before the girls can protest they find themselves bundled aboard a ship and headed for Arrant Island.

Calum is shocked when he finds his brother has kidnapped two debutants to be their wives. He objects and states that the girls must be returned to their families but the problem is no boats can sail whilst there is a thick fog in the air surrounding the island and the fog doesn't lift before two weeks are up, ample time for the protagonists to get to know each other.

Calum and Amy are both attracted to each other's gentle and caring natures. Calum cannot help but notice Amy's sadness and helplessness and Amy finds Calum's meticulous nature endearing. This was sweet love story between two decent people and I was really happy that they got together.

However, as for Eachann and Georgina's story I was less convinced. The interaction and witty dialogue between the two head strong character was wonderful to read about but it was difficult to believe that the ambitious Georgina would end up with Eachann the islander who raises and breeds horses.

However, this was still a good read as with all Jill Barnett books. She never disappoints and I do love the funny situations and witty dialogue that she spins with ease.

Lealing

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Romances... Double the Fun!, March 31, 2004

By 

"klpepsi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carried Away (Mass Market Paperback)

Heiress Georgina Bayard has one last chance to save her home and the Bayard clock dynasty from foreclosure. She must marry a wealthy man, and unfortunately, the one she must manipulate a proposal out of is short and bald. So she's using the last of her money to throw a huge house party to secure her proposal.

Young, gentle Amy Emerson is attending that party, as well as her fiancé. She finds out rather publicly he's only interested in her money. Brokenhearted and humiliated, she breaks off their engagement.

Eachann McLachlan, tall, blonde and a bit wild, lives at Highland Castle with his older brother, Cullum, who is his polar opposite. Cullum is dark, calm, meticulous, and has resolved to remain unmarried. The brothers are descendents of a Highlands clan who were forced to flee Scotland, and now reside together on this remote and isolated island off the coast of Maine.

Eachann's two young children have just been expelled from school, and are returning to live with him and Cullum. Eachann decides he must marry in order to have a wife to raise his children. During Georgina's house party, he overhears her say she must marry, so he impulsively kidnaps her to be his bride. Eachann also witnessed Amy's misery, and decides to bring her along against her will, as the bride for Cullum.

Once back on the island, Georgina is angry, screaming in protest, and tries repeatedly to escape. But between Eachann, who she refers to as "McOaf", and the pea soup fog covering the whole island, she's stuck with her captor. Amy handles the situation quietly while nursing her broken heart. Cullum finds himself attracted to Amy, but valiantly tries to fight his feelings. With escape impossible due to the never-ending fog, ultimately passions begin to flare as both couples come to terms with each other.

You get two romances here, and twice the fun. It's difficult to find a novel where the author can successfully combine two love stories in the same book. Ms. Barnett makes it look effortless in this selection. I never had difficulty keeping track of the characters, or what was taking place. The characters were three-dimensional, and I found all of them likeable. This was a sexy, entertaining, and hilarious read. It is one of my favorites by her, and actually one of my overall favorite romances. An absolute must read!