Customer Reviews

A Garden In The Rain (MacLeod Family)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A trip to Scotland was supposed to be her honeymoon, but Madelyn Phillips was dumped before the wedding. Considering how obnoxious her fiance, Bentley, is, that is most likely one of the better things to happen. Still, she decides to take the trip, only to find that Bentley has arrived ahead of her and hijacked her room. He has also come to "generously" offer to take her back, despite the weight she has gained since his rejection. Madelyn is less than enthusiastic and refuses. However, Bentley is determined. Her flight to escape him will bring lead her to meet handsome Scottish lord, Patrick MacLeod on a windswept moor. He rescues her from Bentley and carries her home.

Patrick is unlike anything Madelyn has ever met, as well he should be. Patrick has traveled forward in time from ancient Scotland. Madelyn appears to be the woman he was destined to love, at least in the opinion of his resident ghosts. There are some obstacles though. The father of Patricks' first wife is out for his blood, and Bentley is still hanging around making a nuisance of himself. For her own safety, Patrick decides to send Madelyn home. She makes a detour first, to medieval Scotland. It is up to Patrick to rescue her from his clan's sworn enemies.

***** Laughter rolls off the pages in this splendid romance. Even in the darkest moments, there is something to smile about. Ms. Kurland is truly the reigning queen of time travel romance. *****

Madelyn Phillips was pretty much a walking disaster. She had been engaged then dumped by her fiancé, Bentley Douglas Taylor III, a couple of weeks before the wedding; this same fiancé who then arranged, quite vindictively, to have her fired from her job. With not much else left other than a mountain of debt from student loans and canceled un-refundable wedding deposits, she managed to keep her pre-paid ticket and reservations for her life-long dreamed for, and planned honeymoon tour of Scotland. Unfortunately, her totally obnoxious ex-fiance, has a change of heart (did I say change of heart - he had no heart) but was determined to win her back through whatever devious means he could - such as, canceling her credit cards, reservations, stealing her luggage, passport, etc. in effect, trying his best to leave her no alternative other than to crawl back to him for aid.

Patrick MacLeod, was haunted by a past he couldn't have controlled yet blamed himself for. After the death of his wife and child, he wanted no part of love ever again and was not ready to run to the aid of the Yank who couldn't drive and had tangled herself up with such an obnoxious character like Bentley. Unfortunately, the past would rear it's head back again and he felt the connection that would find himself inexplicably pulled in to come to Madelyn's aid. He would be uneasy in discovering the measure of peace and hope just being in her presence would bring. There was just something that emanated from this woman that set him into wanting to hope but would he have the courage to open his heart again, and possibly risk her life to the vengeance his ex-father-in-law was intent on delivering?

I've read all of Kurland's books and she does write a splendid tale as she continues the saga of the MacLeod clan. While it is always a treat to re-visit other members from the previous tales of the MacLeod clan, it is even more fun to discover new ones! The stories are always great entertainment and yet I sensed a bit of a change here in the romance aspect. If you are looking for the lusty, squirm in your seat seductions in the previous books, you will not find it here. There are virtually no big seductions, or sexual encounters between the two central protagonists. Rather, we are treated to two adults getting to know one another as Patrick initially plays the good samaritan. While both feel the power of their attraction to each other, neither acts on it. I also had trouble with Patrick's laid back attitude and almost passive way he had in his treatment of the obnoxious Bentley Douglas Taylor III. Knowing that he was a transplanted medieval highlander, it just didn't seem in character that he would be so passive in allowing Bentley to continue his torment of Madelyn. In spite of the non-sexual content, the paranormal aspects are fabulous and I truly did enjoy this latest addition to the MacLeod saga.

Mmmm! Delightful! Wonderful! Yummy!
Lynn Kurland Is my favorite romance author and she did not let me down this time either. This is in the same tradition of romance and humor that she laces all her books with.Once again she has a normal girl we can relate to, who is in the middle of her anything that could go wrong has gone wrong circumstances. But here comes her reluctant Knight in shining armour or black jeans in this case. The book has it's time travel portions as well as action scenes(so don't worry). But most of all it has a love story that will pull you in and have you laughing, hoping and rooting for that love we all find so magical. The story brings other Kurland novel charactors back to life by keeping the family tree alive.
I couldn't stop reading and then passed it on to a friend who stayed up 'til 3:00 in the morning cheering on Patrick and his lady. The only other book I loved this much was a Dance through time, also by Kurland. Buy it, read it and you'll see what I am talking about.

I just went on a shopping spree one day and decided to buy whatever Lynn Kurland book I could get my hands on. As I read each book, I grew more and more impressed with Kurland's work - until A Garden in the Rain.

This story is about Patrick's character (brother of James McLeod in A Dance Through Time) meeting the love of his life in Madelyn Phillips. I was expecting just the same excitement in this spin off of "A Dance..." especially since Kurland wove a sense of mystery around Patrick's character, but A Garden in the Rain was lacking - lacking in the sense of urgency, danger, plot and character substance. The absence of these elements made this book dragging. I mean, how exciting is it for a heroine to be harrassed by her ex-boyfriend on a trip to Scotland, only to be saved by a medieval warrior who came through an enchanted forest? I may have missed something but where was the sense of danger, urgency in the book? Patrick didn't even act the hero and Madelyn was so weak, even someone like me who likes needy heroines, had to balk at her wimpiness. Even the brief appearance of James and Elizabeth in this book couldn't spice it up for me. I was a bit disappointed.

Ms. Kurland, I have a feeling you were rushed into finishing this book. Please take your time next time. I love your work and it inspires me. I know you can do better than this.

Betrayed by her now ex-fiance, Bentley Douglas Taylor III, Madelyn Phillips embarks on what would have been their honeymoon trip to Scotland, and what has always been her idea of a dream vacation. She has problems from the start, not the least of which is her creep of an ex following her, trying to get Madelyn back. He steals her luggage, her violin, and tries to thwart every move she makes without him. Then he doesn't understand why she isn't falling all over him! After all, the man fired her, then broke off their engagement. Bentley has one giant ego, and Madelyn has no intention of feeding into it anymore. Especially since he's also stolen her reservation at the quaint Scottish hotel she planned to stay in.

After a few rocky meetings, Patrick MacLeod, brother to Jamie MacLeod from A DANCE THROUGH TIME, becomes Madelyn's reluctant champion. He has no time for rescuing modern-day damsels in distress, but something inexplicable keeps pulling him closer to Madelyn. The more time they spend together, the less he dwells on his haunted past.

A GARDEN IN THE RAIN is fabulous! Ms. Kurland works her magic by letting Madelyn and Patrick develop a believable relationship together. No love at first sight, bed hopping here. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- sometimes. <g> All characters are integral to the story, whether they're good guys or bad, and it was a pleasure to revisit with Jamie, his wife Elizabeth, and the rest of the MacLeod clan. The bantering and swordplay between them all is a hoot, and Madelyn's reaction is priceless the first time she sees Jamie and Patrick practice with their swords.

This wonderful, tender, and emotional story flows along seamlessly and smoothly, never skipping a beat. The intensity of the time travel scene is nearly heartbreaking, but shows both Madelyn's and Patrick's true colors, making each stronger and more aware of the deep feelings that have been developing between them.

This is classic writing from Lynn Kurland and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend A GARDEN IN THE RAIN as one of Ms. Kurland's best books to date, but admit I'll always have a special place in my heart for the first book of hers that I read, STARDUST OF YESTERDAY.

If you've never read a Kurland -- get thee to a bookstore post haste!

Ms. Kurland has written a worthy addition to her collection. She does as she always does. The characters are well developed and thought out, very believeable people in a time-travel setting. The book was not written in a rush but carefully plotted and well written. Humor is one of Kurland's stronger draws and this book does not disappoint the reader.
Reading this book is like a having family reunion with the opportunity to catch up on the characters she has written about in her previous novels and novellas.
I can only wonder where Kurland's ideas and inspiration come from.... I am already wondering who will be the lead characters in her next novel and how long will it be before I can get my hands on it.

Marybeth Wallick
Ellsworth, Michigan

Patrick MacLeod is a man haunted by a tragic past, that of the death of his first wife, and an ex-father-in-law who is convinced that his daughter was murdered. Madelyn Phillips is a woman trying to escape an ambitious but cowardly opportunist who used to be her fiancé. Her former fiancé follows her to Scotland and proceeds to make her life miserable, convinced that if he took everything away from Madelyn, she would come back to him.

Patrick and Madelyn first meet on the fields of Culloden and something magical happens. Their attraction to each other seems timeless, as if they've known each other before and have loved before. Despite their reservations, Patrick and Madelyn are thrown together because of Madelyn's predicament. Patrick repeatedly rescues her from the clutches of her former fiancé but finds himself losing his heart to her. But there are secrets in Patrick's life that Madelyn must learn first before anything can happen between them.

This was such a great book to read! I absolutely loved it! Lynn Kurland's talent with words is extraordinary. She weaves an enchanting story that lures you in to the world of her fictional characters until time fades and naught matters but the magical world she's built around you. Basically you're hooked from start to finish.

I absolutely loved this book. I think it was better than A Dance Through Time only because it wasn't focused on war and excruciating amounts of history. Many people who have read both have more of a liking towards one book. If you like bloody battles and more historic tone, than A Dance Though Time is your book. If you like a more realistic romance novel- with lots of conflicting events, than A Garden in the Rain is your book.
A little short summary about the book: Madalyn visits Scotland knowing she only has enough money for food. Her evil ex-fiancée wants to marry her now because he wants a higher position so he takes her reservation. Madalyn still wants to go on her dream vacation so she takes the smallest room and trys to enjoy. She meets Patrick MacLeod when driving to the MacLeod hotel. They encounter again and Patrick is partially interested, partially still depressed over his lost of his wife, which he did not love, and his unborn child. And from here, they meet, have many complications, and you can find out the ending for yourself. Enjoy!

Time travel, ghosts, humor, romance. This is her forte and she puts it together in one delicious package. I stayed up until 3am (much to the delight of my son who gave me this book as a Christmas present), just so I could finish it. I have NEVER done that before this novel. This is one to keep on your shelves, and for those who didn't notice the fine print...she is working on another one.

Simply put: Don't miss this one.

A Garden in the Rain is a wonderful, delightful book. One that you will love to add to your keeper collection.

When I heard this book was coming out, I went to the bookstore everyday till they had it. I read it in two days. Ms. Kurland doesn't disappoint. I love the stories on the MacLeod clan. This one brings us Patrick, who you hear about in the other books, but not too much. I still think my favorite MacLeod is Jaime, and he's here too as well as Ian and the rest of the MacLeod lot. The dueling section where they stand around and watch Patrick is quite humorous in the way they banter with each other. You will get some new insights as well into the Fergusson/MacLeod relationship through time-travel and magic.

If you haven't read any of the MacLeod stories, please do so. You won't be disappointed. I have read them over and over again and I never get tired of them.