Customer Reviews

The Scottish Companion

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

 

 

The tenth Earl of Straithern, Grant Roberson, is seeing his mortality. Both of his brothers have suddenly died from mysterious and completely unexpected illnesses. Illnesses that were alike in each man, so Grant knows that it is only a matter of time before he becomes afflicted with what he knows is probably a genetic disorder. He decides then and there that he must wed and produce an heir before the unthinkable happens, so he arranges to marry the daughter of the local physician. He doesn't count on being attracted to his betrothed wife's Scottish companion.

Gillian Cameron has been the companion to Arabella Fenton, the contracted bride, for years. Gillian was taken in by Dr. Fenton, Arabella's father, after becoming destitute as a young woman. She is told to accompany Arabella to the Earl's home so as to acclimate the spoiled woman to her surroundings and duties. As soon as Gillian is introduced to the Earl, she knows she is in trouble and wonders how in the world will she be able to convince Arabella to marry Grant when in an instant she covets him for herself.

Grant and Gillian are unable to suppress their desire for each other. Embarking on an affair, they each know that one day their trysts will have to end. Before that day, however, they must find the danger that seems to be stalking Grant. A danger that neither suspects, but which brings them closer.

Oh how I loved The Scottish Companion! Karen Ranney wrote a simply delightful and often times steamy historical romance that kept me guessing the entire book. I could not for the life of me figure out `the bad guy' and when it was finally revealed, I could have smacked my forehead. It seems that I was entirely focused on the love Grant and Gillian had for each other. Their turmoil at the thought of being without the other made me tear up more than once and even I was looking for ways to keep Grant from marrying Arabella. Throw in a subplot the likes of which I had not seen before, and this historical loving reviewer was in pure reading bliss

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is a slow, elegant, almost old-fashioned story about loving the wrong person at the wrong time and poisoning people in the name of justice. OK--let me clear things up a little. Lots of well written characters, deeply felt emotions--both madness and passion, however, the style reminded me of Georgette Heyer-type Regencies of decades ago. I was interested in the resolution, but it was pretty obvious how the ending would occur, not much to say about the setting because it stayed close around the old castle--still this is not one easily discarded. Might be a good start for an skilled teen reader with patience or someone
recovering from an illness. For me--not a keeper but worth the cover price and then pass it on. Filled with constant reminders of how poorly women were treated just a little over a century ago, their limited options and the consequences of deep emotions.

Loved it from begining to end. I am an avid romance book reader, and set very high standards. What I liked best about Grant and Gillian is that they are very real people. At lot of times romance novels get so caught up in righting a wrong or trying to change the world with distorted views for that time peroid, they loose the essence of good characters. There isn't a;ways a happy ending in life that doesn't cause for sacrafice. This book give you that. A love that is troubled and imperfect. Read it. You'll love it!!

I disagreed with the bad reviews. It was not a slow story at all. However, it is not your typical historical romance. I enjoyed it, the story line, the writing, the characters. It was a very good read, and even had a mystery which EVEN I did not figure out till the end! I would not consider this a frivolous light story. I know if I do not skim the book, that means it keeps my attention and interest. Good read and I recommend it.

In 1850 in Rosemoor, Scotland, Grant Roberson is stunned by the recent unexplained deaths of his brothers that have led to him becoming the Earl of Straithern, as he was not even the spare, which he relished as he had time for his scientific experiments. Still grieving and shook up, Grant decides he needs to marry a levelheaded sedate female so that he can begat the heir and spare without a fuss. He chooses the doctor's daughter, Arabella Fenton.

However, Grant finds himself thinking more of Arabella's friend Gillian Cameron although she will not suit as she is passionate about life. She also shows she is brilliant as she shares his knowledge of electricity experiments. As they fall in love, Gilliam fears the feeling as she has been burned before by it while Grant still insists he needs a meek malleable mate even as the pair begin investigating together who killed his siblings and why.

THE SCOTTISH COMPANION is a charming Victorian Scottish amateur sleuth romance starring two likable protagonists who combine a love of science with a curious need to learn the truth re his siblings and eventually love; an emotion neither wanted. Fans will appreciate their escapades as they face danger from an unknown adversary while investigating the murders of his brothers as no motive seems to surface. Karen Ranney provides an enjoyable historical romantic whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down for a minute. The author had me feeling as though I were a part of the characters.

I'm a fan of Karen Ranney but did not like this book at all... (Spoiler Warning!!)

Introduction of Characters:

*Female Protagonist - Gillian Cameron (female companion) Having been ruined by a previous man, Gillian lived in poverty until Grant's doctor happened to come across her one day on the streets and hired her to be his daughter's companion.

*Male Protagonist - Grant Roberson (Earl/scientist) Grant Roberson's brothers have recently died of a "blood disease" and, in light of this, Grant feels the need to marry and produce an heir in case he dies of the blood disease. He decides he wants someone who is not so passionate or clingy..someone who can understand his need to be a scientist so he can be alone with his work (he's trying to discover electricity) so he chooses Arabella Fenton (daughter of his physician).

*Female Antagonist - Arabella Fenton (Grant's fiance and the woman Gillian is companion to) Arabella absolutely adores her medical work..is obsessed with it actually...and just wants to be left alone. She does not want to be married at all.


Hopefully after introducing all those characters to you, you've gained an insight into the storyline. Basically, after learning that he could die of a "blood" disease, Grant states he wants to marry someone, decides on his doctor's daugher, Arabella, whom he has never met but has heard that she loves medical science. He has a laboratory where he experiments with electricity and wants to be left alone for that, so he figures Arabella can do her stuff and he can do his and they don't have to get all tangled up with emotions, passion, etc. Enter Gillian Cameron. Gillian is in her late twenties and has figured that she's basically done with passion, relationships, and such because she is a fallen woman. She is somewhat content that she has food to eat and a roof over her head as Arabella's paid companion.

When Arabella and friends are invited to Grant's estate so that Arabella can become familiar with her new home and family, Gillian catches the eye of the earl because she is more receptive to him than Arabella. From how the author portrays Gillian, it seems to be that Gillian becomes a bit petty and envious of Arabella. She scolds Arabella a couple times about her silent conduct and lack of welcome to Grant, but at the same time, Gillian seems very pretentious. One of the things that draws Grant to Gillian is when she wanders his estate and happens to find his laboratory where he is currently working on an experiment. To me, she hardly seems to act that of a paid companion and this incident just seems like she was looking to find him, even though the author states that Gillian was innocently meandering around. She spends the day with him, they flirt with each other, etc. No wonder she became a fallen woman...

It is in another meeting between Gillian and Arabella that I begin to like Arabella and dislike Gillian more. Although Arabella is made to be the antagonist because, in the end, she is the one who is poisoning people, I don't ever dislike her, but I do dislike Gillian for many reasons. Gillian flirts with Grant, allows him to seduce her (and seduces him too), is envious of Arabella for things she cannot have, scolds Arabella for not being receptive to the earl, and really doesn't try to help Arabella at all. She never seems to care for Arabella at all. She never tries to find why Arabella is the way she is...obsessive compulsive over treating illnesses/wounds. And in the end, it leads to Arabella's tragic death and Gillian's undeserved happy ending with Grant.

Now, I don't expect Gillian to be a saint, but she's not exactly the warm and caring female protagonist I'm used to from Karen Ranney. She's selfish, petty, and jealous. I really love the female protagonist in Ms. Ranney's "After The Kiss", but in this book, Gillian seems more to me like the female characters you are supposed to dislike in romance novels, rather than like.

I felt sorry for Arabella throughout the book. She was molested as a child by the Grant's late father and had to live with that throughout her life. Arabella became obsessed with healing people and wanted to be left alone. There was no one for her to confide in or help her through her early ordeal (even though Gillian was supposed to be that person). She poisoned the earl's blood line basically because of what happened to her when she was younger. She definitely needed help and there was no one that helped her.

I think the characters got mixed up in this book - Gillian should've been the antagonist, whereas Arabella should've been the protagonist.

The plot had merit but it just went on and ON and I started to find things to do in my house and what was on HGTV instead of finishing the novel. Just not my favorite.

I don't think this author likes to utilize dialogue...b/c this book contained very little of that particular literary technique. What it did have a surplus of was boring and lengthy introspection! I read "after the kiss" and enjoyed it although there was a lot of self-contemplation, however there was also chemistry and some action. This book was SLOW and there was no chemistry between the characters. I found most of the minor characters unlikable as was the hero. If you like pages and pages of character self-examination and self-depreciation you'll enjoy this book...otherwise, don't read or else you'll be left very unsatisfied.

not bad but author could have done more with the characters a bit slow a bit oldish karen have done better