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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful historical romance, October 3, 2009
This review is from: Taken By the Laird (Mass Market Paperback)
In December 1829 her guardian Viscount Stamford, knowing she will no longer be under his control in just two months and disgusted with his disobedient ward, arranges for Brianna Munro to marry the son of a duke the contemptible Marquess of Roddington. As Stamford waits for her by the altar to give Brianna away, she avoids the nuptials much by dressing up as a boy and fleeing. Her hopes lie with reaching her beloved Aunt Clare in Scotland where she will hide until she becomes legally an adult.
However, she makes the trek to her aunt only to find Clare dying. She says her goodbyes and though grieving her loss as she loves her aunt, she continues to run away from her evil appalling fiancé and her even worse guardian. After a day of traveling in a downpour, Brianna takes shelter in a dank, dilapidated castle owned by Laird Glenloch; Hugh Christie who assumes she is a thief though she insists she a maid on the lam from a lecherous aristocrat. He invites her to spend the night in his abode, but one night becomes two nights and three nights and much more as the guest and her host fall in love in his haunted run down ruins of a castle.
Readers will feel the icy cold of December in Scotland in which even shelter feels cuttingly freezing. That backdrop sets the tone of a wonderful historical romance starring two delightful lead characters, a ghost seemingly seeking salvation and some nasty villains. Although the changes in viewpoint seem abrupt especially when the nasties or the ghost take the stage, fans will enjoy Margo Maguire's vivid nineteenth century tale just wears gloves, scarf and a sweater while keeping the hot chocolate nearby.
Harriet Klausner
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Redundant Romance, October 24, 2009
This review is from: Taken By the Laird (Mass Market Paperback)
This story sounded so promising, but about 50 pages in it had already started grating on my nerves. The delivery of the information regarding the past of both characters became repetitive which only escalated as the book wore on. The reflections of both characters followed the same annoying redundancy. I don't have to be hit over the head with the same information ad nauseam! I understood perfectly well the first time, the second time, the third time - once I began rolling my eyes I knew it was over. I didn't even care about the plot regarding the brandy, the murder, the dead wife,etc.- and quickly tired of the annoying Glenloch Ghost. Even the sexual encounters between the hero and heroine were uneven and nothing special. I barely made it to the end of the book, basically scanning to the end.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bride on the run, November 24, 2009
This review is from: Taken By the Laird (Mass Market Paperback)
When Brianna Munro decides not to marry the rather unpleasant chap her guardian has chosen for her, she knows she's going to be in trouble. She escapes London and heads for her aunt Clare in Scotland who will hopefully shelter her. However, when she arrives and finds Clare dying, she knows she will soon be on her own again.
After Clare's death Brianna finds herself walking alone through Scotland to try and cover her tracks. When a bad storm arrives she shelters in the empty Castle Glenloch, only to find it isn't empty. The Laird, Lord Glenloch, a famous rake, is actually in residence - and despite the dangers Brianna has to stay. She has given Hugh Christie, the Laird, a false name, and she tries to leave as soon as she can, but there's something between them that means Hugh comes after her. Is there a future for them? Can Hugh keep Brianna safe? Can Hugh keep his people safe?
There's a lot in this book about smuggling and whisky distilling which was interesting if sometimes rather tangential. However the central point of the story is the romance between Hugh and Brianna which I felt was rather too much based on physical appearance and not so much on a meeting of minds. The book relied a great deal on secrets and misunderstandings and I found that it was all rather too formulaic for this reader to fully enjoy.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
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