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MacLeod #9
Roses in Moonlight
Escaping Into The Past…
Derrick Cameron, antiquities dealer and adventurer, is furious when the priceless piece of Elizabethan lace he's been pursuing slips right by him, in the improbable custody of a mousy textile historian! But he will retrieve it, even if it means dragging a very skeptical, albeit adorable, Samantha back in time with him. After all, he is used to living dangerously—in whatever century he finds himself.
Conscientious Samantha Drummond never dreamed the package her British employer gave her would lead her into places an ordinary gal should never go—like Elizabethan England!—or throw her into the company of one extremely attractive, but highly suspect Highlander who not only thinks she's a thief, but insists on involving her in his mad schemes to retrieve his stolen treasure.
Can Lead You Straight Into Your Future…
Trapped first in Elizabethan England, then caught in a web of modern-day intrigues, Samantha and Derrick are forced into an unlikely alliance by peril, never imagining that what they're forging is a timeless love…
Derrick Cameron, antiquities dealer and adventurer, is furious when the priceless piece of Elizabethan lace he's been pursuing slips right by him, in the improbable custody of a mousy textile historian! But he will retrieve it, even if it means dragging a very skeptical, albeit adorable, Samantha back in time with him. After all, he is used to living dangerously—in whatever century he finds himself.
Conscientious Samantha Drummond never dreamed the package her British employer gave her would lead her into places an ordinary gal should never go—like Elizabethan England!—or throw her into the company of one extremely attractive, but highly suspect Highlander who not only thinks she's a thief, but insists on involving her in his mad schemes to retrieve his stolen treasure.
Can Lead You Straight Into Your Future…
Trapped first in Elizabethan England, then caught in a web of modern-day intrigues, Samantha and Derrick are forced into an unlikely alliance by peril, never imagining that what they're forging is a timeless love…
353 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
90 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kurland
71 books1,557 followersLynn began her writing career at the tender age of five with a series of illustrated novellas entitled Clinton’s Troubles in which the compelling hero found himself in all sorts of . . . well, trouble. She was living in Hawaii at the time and the scope for her imagination (poisoned fish, tropical cliffs, large spiders) was great and poor Clinton bore the brunt of it. After returning to the mainland, her writing gave way to training in classical music and Clinton, who had been felled with arrows, eaten by fish and sent tumbling off cars, was put aside for operatic heroes in tights.
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
April 20, 2013
There are some authors that you just know. You know their style, you know their characters and you know you’re going to love their stories. Lynn Kurland has been that author for me ever since I picked up a Time Travel romance on a whim and was immediately caught up in her world of timeless chivalry and paranormal happenings. I have come to enjoy the recurring families of her books and eagerly awaited stories for some secondary characters who were tailor made for their own titles. Fortunately Ms. Kurland saw the potential in those characters too and her latest release Roses in Moonlight returns to the Scottish branches of her ever growing family trees to reintroduce us to Derrick Cameron and a side of him we never expected.
For seven years Derrick has been the right hand man to Lord Robert Cameron and an integral part of his business empire Cameron Antiquities, Ltd. Through Derrick’s expertise and discretion the company has become known for getting the very rare and valuable for the top collectors in England, as well as providing the resources to protect their investments. Derrick has seen both the legitimate and shady sides of the trade and over time it’s turned him into a cynical and jaded man who is hesitant to trust any but those in his close circle. When the company is asked to investigate the robbery of a valuable piece of Elizabethan lace from a valued client Derrick is certain it’s a cut and dry case. He traces the lace to a possible suspect, begins his surveillance, and lies in wait for the criminal to make their move so he can catch them red handed. What he doesn’t expect is that suspect number one doesn’t fit into any of his criminal molds and intrigues him more than any woman has in a long time.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
For seven years Derrick has been the right hand man to Lord Robert Cameron and an integral part of his business empire Cameron Antiquities, Ltd. Through Derrick’s expertise and discretion the company has become known for getting the very rare and valuable for the top collectors in England, as well as providing the resources to protect their investments. Derrick has seen both the legitimate and shady sides of the trade and over time it’s turned him into a cynical and jaded man who is hesitant to trust any but those in his close circle. When the company is asked to investigate the robbery of a valuable piece of Elizabethan lace from a valued client Derrick is certain it’s a cut and dry case. He traces the lace to a possible suspect, begins his surveillance, and lies in wait for the criminal to make their move so he can catch them red handed. What he doesn’t expect is that suspect number one doesn’t fit into any of his criminal molds and intrigues him more than any woman has in a long time.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...
October 30, 2013
Definitely not one of Lynn Kurland's best, but I enjoyed it. I feel like these more recent books are a bit more rushed and just not quite as captivating, but I'll always read them because I love her and they make me happy. One day I want to read all of them in order so I can see the big picture and how everything connects.
December 31, 2021
Re-read. Sigh. 😉
May 3, 2013
Ahhhhhhh. Why do I love these books they are so silly, but I do:} This was different in style then most of her others. Most of it taking place in present day England. You get to know the characters a lot before they meet but I enjoyed all of it. These characters are very distantly related to the first McLeod's and DePiget's and it is best to start at the beginning of all these books and just enjoyed the journey, but you could read this all by itself and only be lost a couple of times. This was very clean. There is some kissing but that is it. Some of the cleanest romance books out there without religion.
March 18, 2024
5/2/2013: 4* This will be one of my favorites in the collection. It was lighthearted and full of witty humor - I laughed out loud a lot! Lynn Kurland books are nothing more than a fun romantic getaway where the women are beautiful and find their inner strengths, and the men are gorgeous, intelligent, kind, rich and good with swords. Oh, and they tend to have really nice cars! So fun!
3/18/2024: 4*. This one was great. I have no memory of reading it before, and don’t think it was particularly funny, but it was a fun ride.
3/18/2024: 4*. This one was great. I have no memory of reading it before, and don’t think it was particularly funny, but it was a fun ride.
September 28, 2020
I love Ms. Kurland's books. I don't like that it take a full year before they come out. and I read in four hours. I was up till four am. but luckily not a work day. Another of the Cameron boys finds love and adventure in Elizabethan England and hilarity insues. I love the time travel and as always Jaime MacLeod finds a way to make his presents known. get it...you won't be sorry ...unless you don't like time travel...then oooh well.
July 15, 2013
*Does Derricks book is finally coming dance*
December 23, 2021
The heroine could never be called the adventurous type. In fact, she's rather under the iron fist of her parents and her own self doubt and fear of being on her own. She's 26 years old and she owns no other clothing besides what her mother has chosen for her, she still lives at home and 'works' for her mother at in antique business though she dislikes the profession. And she's never been anywhere on her own. But all that's about to change. She's been given the chance to travel to England to house sit for a client on her brother and she sees this as her opportunity to earn herself freedom. She is naturally a withdrawn person and she doesn't easily communicate with those around her but she kind and determined to be her own woman. Her trip goes well at first, she sees the sites and even speaks to a few hansom men along the way. But then, she gets the feeling she's being followed. She tries to convince herself it's all in her head but she's positive she's being followed by no just one but 2 men. In her hotel room, she's horrified to discover she's in the possession of a valuable but stolen lace cloth that's been stashed in her bag. Shocked by the discovery and terrified she'll be labelled a thief though she has no idea how it came to be there, she's chased by a threatening duo of men and saved by the one man she's seen stalking her. He's in injured in the sword fight but able to kidnap her despite his bleeding arm and drag her back to his hotel room. The hero has been tailing the heroine for some time now, convinced she's the key to finding the lace he's been hired to find. She may not be the thief but she's defiantly involved somehow and he means to get to the bottom of it. But he's seriously beginning to doubt the savviness of his target. She's either the best of liars or she's an innocent creature without the experience to cheat on a test let alone be involved in a multi million dollar crime ring. This woman before him can barely find the courage to tell him to go to hell but regardless, he needs to with him. She's hidden the lace and he has to find it. Only, the next thing he knows he's waking up with a disastrous fever courtesy of his knife wound. This spells a turning point in the relationship between antiques bounty hunter and the innocent woman just looking for a taste of freedom. She sees him as a vulnerable man who can snarl like a bear but lacks to conviction to follow through. He sees her as a fragile little bird who cages a phoenix within just looking to escape. Together, they track down the lace and return it to it's grateful owner but their journey is not down there. The lace was the least of their troubles as now she's the target of thugs looking for the diamonds which were also hidden on her person. And to top it all off, now they must travel back in time to right the wrongs done to her ancestors else the future of the heroine be unwritten forever.
This book can be broken down into 3 acts. The first part of the book was fantastic if a bit slow on the uptake. Though I found it hard initially to get into, It did pick up and I found myself loving the lost and confused heroine paired with the determined but sweet hero. When they got the lace back, I was wondering what would happen next as it was only little under half way through the book at that point and the heroine and hero had yet to kiss let alone anything more romantic. Then came the 2nd part where the heroine is the target of jewel thieves and the hero, now the more caring man and who shows a great deal more affection, must protect her while trying to figure out what else his little woman is being framed for.....Then came the 3rd part which just through off the entire mood of the first 2 parts of the book. Suddenly, they are traveling back in time to save the heroine's ancestor and the hero is on stage acting out the part in Hamlet. I was totally lost at that point and wondering what the hell happened to my comfortable but predictable romance. There were ghosts present up to that point so it was already technically a PNR and though I adore time travels, I didn't care for this one as I didn't think it fit into the overall story. While this was a source of discontent for me, the romance between the 2 characters just confused me. First of all, there was no sex scenes and very very little kissing. Shocking for a romance. What's worse is that for the vast majority of the book, the characters showed little to no sexual interest in one another either. Sure there was a companionship and respect and the hero and heroine developed into something more bonding than instant lovers but still.....perhaps a little romance in a romantic story? It was lacking for me in things I shouldn't have to do without considering the genre. I didn't mind the story. I didn't mind the characters personalities and I didn't mind the easy chemistry but will I read this book again? probably not. A lot of elements I felt were just thrown together without any effort to make them jive.
This book can be broken down into 3 acts. The first part of the book was fantastic if a bit slow on the uptake. Though I found it hard initially to get into, It did pick up and I found myself loving the lost and confused heroine paired with the determined but sweet hero. When they got the lace back, I was wondering what would happen next as it was only little under half way through the book at that point and the heroine and hero had yet to kiss let alone anything more romantic. Then came the 2nd part where the heroine is the target of jewel thieves and the hero, now the more caring man and who shows a great deal more affection, must protect her while trying to figure out what else his little woman is being framed for.....Then came the 3rd part which just through off the entire mood of the first 2 parts of the book. Suddenly, they are traveling back in time to save the heroine's ancestor and the hero is on stage acting out the part in Hamlet. I was totally lost at that point and wondering what the hell happened to my comfortable but predictable romance. There were ghosts present up to that point so it was already technically a PNR and though I adore time travels, I didn't care for this one as I didn't think it fit into the overall story. While this was a source of discontent for me, the romance between the 2 characters just confused me. First of all, there was no sex scenes and very very little kissing. Shocking for a romance. What's worse is that for the vast majority of the book, the characters showed little to no sexual interest in one another either. Sure there was a companionship and respect and the hero and heroine developed into something more bonding than instant lovers but still.....perhaps a little romance in a romantic story? It was lacking for me in things I shouldn't have to do without considering the genre. I didn't mind the story. I didn't mind the characters personalities and I didn't mind the easy chemistry but will I read this book again? probably not. A lot of elements I felt were just thrown together without any effort to make them jive.
August 7, 2013
4.5 Blue Ribbons
ROSES IN MOONLIGHT is a breathtaking romantic adventure that features time travel back to Elizabethan England. Join Samantha and Derrick as they work together to return a stolen heirloom to its rightful owner. This exhilarating novel will appeal to paranormal fans as well as romantic suspense enthusiasts.
Twenty-six year old Samantha Drummond has lived a sheltered life under the rule of her outlandish parents. Presented with the opportunity to house sit for a couple in England, Samantha jumps at the chance to get away. When her new employer asks her to deliver a Victorian embroidery for her, Samantha thinks nothing of it and readily sets off on the errand.
It isn’t long before Samantha notices that she is being followed by a man who keeps trying to disguise himself. When the man accuses her of stealing a piece of lace, Samantha has a hard time convincing him that she is not a thief, especially when the stolen artifact is indeed on her person.
Derrick Cameron works as a retriever of stolen goods. He has been commissioned to find a missing textile that is worth a lot of money. He suspects that Samantha has the missing article and sets out to get it back from her. While Samantha is trying to ditch Derrick, she unknowingly steps back in time to Elizabethan England where she unwittingly leaves the stolen piece of lace.
http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artm...
ROSES IN MOONLIGHT is a breathtaking romantic adventure that features time travel back to Elizabethan England. Join Samantha and Derrick as they work together to return a stolen heirloom to its rightful owner. This exhilarating novel will appeal to paranormal fans as well as romantic suspense enthusiasts.
Twenty-six year old Samantha Drummond has lived a sheltered life under the rule of her outlandish parents. Presented with the opportunity to house sit for a couple in England, Samantha jumps at the chance to get away. When her new employer asks her to deliver a Victorian embroidery for her, Samantha thinks nothing of it and readily sets off on the errand.
It isn’t long before Samantha notices that she is being followed by a man who keeps trying to disguise himself. When the man accuses her of stealing a piece of lace, Samantha has a hard time convincing him that she is not a thief, especially when the stolen artifact is indeed on her person.
Derrick Cameron works as a retriever of stolen goods. He has been commissioned to find a missing textile that is worth a lot of money. He suspects that Samantha has the missing article and sets out to get it back from her. While Samantha is trying to ditch Derrick, she unknowingly steps back in time to Elizabethan England where she unwittingly leaves the stolen piece of lace.
http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artm...
June 23, 2013
while definitely not my favorite, still a very cute book. i found myself not very attached to either samantha or derrick and not overly attached to their story. derrick had potential as a character, but he was a bit of a let down. and samantha just seemed a bit of an annoying sheltered girl. when the story finally picked up and added a bit of adventure, the characters grew a bit and it was a little more interesting. their slow and steady relationship growth was sweet, if a little dull.
i think kurland should just be done with this series....there is no way she can create characters as amazing as the main depiaget (and even some of the macleod) characters. perhaps creating a story involving the son of one of the originals...that way we can have some of the same personality traits as well as bring back some of the original favorites. otherwise, i'm just not finding myself that interested in these peripheral characters.
i think kurland should just be done with this series....there is no way she can create characters as amazing as the main depiaget (and even some of the macleod) characters. perhaps creating a story involving the son of one of the originals...that way we can have some of the same personality traits as well as bring back some of the original favorites. otherwise, i'm just not finding myself that interested in these peripheral characters.
May 2, 2013
I am so glad Lynn Kurland has this new book out! I absolutely love to read her books. They have all the content of a great novel should have. If you have read any of her other MacLeod/McKinnon/Drummond books you will love this one also!! It was difficult to put down! And I am sorry it had to end!!
July 21, 2013
I Love Lynn Kurland's love stories, and this one did not disappoint. Time travel, intelligent characters, tongue in cheek humor, castles rich friends - what's not to like. Her books always provide me with a wonderful escape, and I enjoy her PG romances.
April 16, 2017
Thirteenth in the MacLeod Family romantic paranormal time-travel series (and fifteenth in the De Piaget series). The couple focus is on Samantha Drummond and Derrick Cameron.
My Take
WTF?? Can Samantha be any more of a dipwad? She's twenty-six-years-old and works for room-and-board from her mother. That's right. No salary. And intense pressure from her tyrant of a mother to remain at home. Her mother still monitors what she reads, for god's sake. Uh-huh. Supposedly Sam is an intelligent person. Her father ignores her, and her brother takes advantage of her. I couldn't believe he actually charged her a fee for exchanging some dollars for pounds! Maybe it was a fee for his not telling mommy her baby girl has some extra dollars. Kurland keeps mentioning, here and there, that Gavin likes his sister. You couldn't prove it be his actions in this story.
Her parents actually email her and order her home when her brother splits on her and tells them that (at 26) she's without supervision…
Definitely do NOT read this one without having read some of the earlier stories so you'll at least remember the matchmaking ghosts as Kurland isn't fashed about informing you about this or Ambrose MacLeod's plans.
For all the fuss that Kurland makes of the disgusting Dory, there's nothing at the end. No comeuppance, no upraised finger, and it was very disappointing.
Derrick's basic profession isn't explained very well either. In fact, I got the impression that Kurland was in a rush to crank this out and get it to the publisher. It's just too full of a rush-rush-rush feel with a hurry-up-and-write-the-next-chapter. Eventually we do learn quite a bit about the recovery side of the biz with all the high tech toys and the skills his men have. Hmmm, maybe that's why I gave it a "3"…'cause I'm so gadget-happy…
Thank god, Samantha finally starts to find some backbone; she also finds that her theatre background (acquired from catering to her father) comes in handy as well.
How does Derrick discover the Cookes' involvement in the first place? Why does Samantha jettison the booty the way she does? The whole routine where Derrick kidnaps her, accuses her, and then hauls her off to the Ritz is unbelievable and contributes to the the feeling that this was a rush job.
Samantha backing off simply because Derrick was mad about some "damn Yank" didn't wash with me.
Oh, too funny! I loved that Kurland includes the clothing realities of Elizabethan England. And planning a SEALS-type rescue in the same time period…oh, boy, LOL. I do love how Derrick is gonna have to finish off this renaissance rescue!
Romantic time-travel requires a certain suspension of belief, and for the most part, Kurland achieves this with her earlier stories. Her lack of attention in Roses in Moonlight leaves me empty and annoyed. It's a cute rough draft that Kurland needed to take some time to finesse. Too bad she didn't.
The Story
Samantha's finally escaped her parents! A summer spent house-sitting for friends of her brother's. In England, no less. But it gets snarled up when Mrs. Cooke asks Samantha to deliver a bit of embroidery for her.
It's chases galore and trips to Elizabethan England to escape, hide, recover, and rescue stolen goods and falsely accused actors. After all, the Drummond family line needs to go on…at least long enough for Samantha to be born!
It's also an opportunity for Samantha to become her own person, to pursue what she wants in her life. Derrick Cameron is just the man to help her find that freedom.
The Characters
Samantha Drummond is a wimp with a degree in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century handwork and still lives at home with mummy and daddy. It's so bad that when they go on a trip, she gets a cot in their hotel room, and her mother picks out her clothes. Gavin is the brother who left home as quickly as possible and moved to England, getting hired on with a gallery. Louise McKinnon Drummond, her mother, specializes in Victoriana and absolute control of everyone; her father, Richard Drummond, is an actor "who thinks he's the second coming of Sir Laurence Olivier". Granny Mary is Samantha's great-aunt and has been encouraging Samantha to make a break for it for years; seems she has been engaging in all sorts of travel.
Derrick Cameron seems to be a second cousin or so (he's the grandson of Alistair Cameron's valet and cousin, yeah, right…) to Lord Robert for whom he's been working the last eight years and a year ago was given Cameron Antiquities, Ltd., a firm which searches for rare items. His brother, Connor, is more of a prick than Gavin and less of an actor.
The men who work for Derrick include Oliver Phillips, who can pick any lock; Rufus can drive anything; Peter Wright is brilliant on a computer; and, Ewan Cameron, a cousin, is charming. Emily is a distant cousin (she's Madame Gies’, the Cameron cook's, granddaughter) and works for Derrick, I think, as an assistant, who takes up Sam's cause. Why she does, I have no idea.
Lord Robert Cameron of the clan Cameron is married to Sunshine, who is a healer (see With Every Breath , 11), and they have an infant son, Breac. Derrick goes off on time jaunts with James MacLeod ( A Dance Through Time , 1).
Lord Epworth is missing a valuable piece of Elizabethan lace. Again. Edmund and Lydia Cooke have hired Samantha to house-sit their home based on Gavin's recommendation while they perform onstage in Stratford. Edmund was the director who dropped Derrick. Theodore "Dory" Alexander Mollineux IV is the son of a wealthy family who doles out an allowance to him. He's cheap, self-centered, and incredibly clueless. He's also been set to spy on Samantha.
The 1602 Elizabethan contingent
Thomas Mauntell has a home in London where the time-travelers can stay. Lord Walter Cooke is on edge; his son, Francis, is a putz.
The ghosts
Ambrose MacLeod is the laird of the sixteenth century clan MacLeod, and he keeps a firm hold on the reigns with his co-conspirators: Hugh McKinnon, laird of the clan McKinnon; Fulbert, who's currently helping the latest Earl of Artane, Stephen; and, Sir Richard Drummond, a sixteenth-century Shakespearean actor, who is in the Tower.
The Cover and Title
The cover is very romantic with a stone arch covered in pink roses and view further into a lovely English garden at twilight.
The title is a remembrance of Roses in Moonlight when Sam and Derrick took a walk in Sunny's garden.
My Take
WTF?? Can Samantha be any more of a dipwad? She's twenty-six-years-old and works for room-and-board from her mother. That's right. No salary. And intense pressure from her tyrant of a mother to remain at home. Her mother still monitors what she reads, for god's sake. Uh-huh. Supposedly Sam is an intelligent person. Her father ignores her, and her brother takes advantage of her. I couldn't believe he actually charged her a fee for exchanging some dollars for pounds! Maybe it was a fee for his not telling mommy her baby girl has some extra dollars. Kurland keeps mentioning, here and there, that Gavin likes his sister. You couldn't prove it be his actions in this story.
Her parents actually email her and order her home when her brother splits on her and tells them that (at 26) she's without supervision…
Definitely do NOT read this one without having read some of the earlier stories so you'll at least remember the matchmaking ghosts as Kurland isn't fashed about informing you about this or Ambrose MacLeod's plans.
For all the fuss that Kurland makes of the disgusting Dory, there's nothing at the end. No comeuppance, no upraised finger, and it was very disappointing.
Derrick's basic profession isn't explained very well either. In fact, I got the impression that Kurland was in a rush to crank this out and get it to the publisher. It's just too full of a rush-rush-rush feel with a hurry-up-and-write-the-next-chapter. Eventually we do learn quite a bit about the recovery side of the biz with all the high tech toys and the skills his men have. Hmmm, maybe that's why I gave it a "3"…'cause I'm so gadget-happy…
Thank god, Samantha finally starts to find some backbone; she also finds that her theatre background (acquired from catering to her father) comes in handy as well.
How does Derrick discover the Cookes' involvement in the first place? Why does Samantha jettison the booty the way she does? The whole routine where Derrick kidnaps her, accuses her, and then hauls her off to the Ritz is unbelievable and contributes to the the feeling that this was a rush job.
Samantha backing off simply because Derrick was mad about some "damn Yank" didn't wash with me.
Oh, too funny! I loved that Kurland includes the clothing realities of Elizabethan England. And planning a SEALS-type rescue in the same time period…oh, boy, LOL. I do love how Derrick is gonna have to finish off this renaissance rescue!
Romantic time-travel requires a certain suspension of belief, and for the most part, Kurland achieves this with her earlier stories. Her lack of attention in Roses in Moonlight leaves me empty and annoyed. It's a cute rough draft that Kurland needed to take some time to finesse. Too bad she didn't.
The Story
Samantha's finally escaped her parents! A summer spent house-sitting for friends of her brother's. In England, no less. But it gets snarled up when Mrs. Cooke asks Samantha to deliver a bit of embroidery for her.
It's chases galore and trips to Elizabethan England to escape, hide, recover, and rescue stolen goods and falsely accused actors. After all, the Drummond family line needs to go on…at least long enough for Samantha to be born!
It's also an opportunity for Samantha to become her own person, to pursue what she wants in her life. Derrick Cameron is just the man to help her find that freedom.
The Characters
Samantha Drummond is a wimp with a degree in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century handwork and still lives at home with mummy and daddy. It's so bad that when they go on a trip, she gets a cot in their hotel room, and her mother picks out her clothes. Gavin is the brother who left home as quickly as possible and moved to England, getting hired on with a gallery. Louise McKinnon Drummond, her mother, specializes in Victoriana and absolute control of everyone; her father, Richard Drummond, is an actor "who thinks he's the second coming of Sir Laurence Olivier". Granny Mary is Samantha's great-aunt and has been encouraging Samantha to make a break for it for years; seems she has been engaging in all sorts of travel.
Derrick Cameron seems to be a second cousin or so (he's the grandson of Alistair Cameron's valet and cousin, yeah, right…) to Lord Robert for whom he's been working the last eight years and a year ago was given Cameron Antiquities, Ltd., a firm which searches for rare items. His brother, Connor, is more of a prick than Gavin and less of an actor.
The men who work for Derrick include Oliver Phillips, who can pick any lock; Rufus can drive anything; Peter Wright is brilliant on a computer; and, Ewan Cameron, a cousin, is charming. Emily is a distant cousin (she's Madame Gies’, the Cameron cook's, granddaughter) and works for Derrick, I think, as an assistant, who takes up Sam's cause. Why she does, I have no idea.
Lord Robert Cameron of the clan Cameron is married to Sunshine, who is a healer (see With Every Breath , 11), and they have an infant son, Breac. Derrick goes off on time jaunts with James MacLeod ( A Dance Through Time , 1).
Lord Epworth is missing a valuable piece of Elizabethan lace. Again. Edmund and Lydia Cooke have hired Samantha to house-sit their home based on Gavin's recommendation while they perform onstage in Stratford. Edmund was the director who dropped Derrick. Theodore "Dory" Alexander Mollineux IV is the son of a wealthy family who doles out an allowance to him. He's cheap, self-centered, and incredibly clueless. He's also been set to spy on Samantha.
The 1602 Elizabethan contingent
Thomas Mauntell has a home in London where the time-travelers can stay. Lord Walter Cooke is on edge; his son, Francis, is a putz.
The ghosts
Ambrose MacLeod is the laird of the sixteenth century clan MacLeod, and he keeps a firm hold on the reigns with his co-conspirators: Hugh McKinnon, laird of the clan McKinnon; Fulbert, who's currently helping the latest Earl of Artane, Stephen; and, Sir Richard Drummond, a sixteenth-century Shakespearean actor, who is in the Tower.
The Cover and Title
The cover is very romantic with a stone arch covered in pink roses and view further into a lovely English garden at twilight.
The title is a remembrance of Roses in Moonlight when Sam and Derrick took a walk in Sunny's garden.
August 18, 2013
I normally love Lynn Kurland books, which is why it's a shame that this one fell flat for me.
There are a lot of the usual elements - of romances in general, and of Kurland's stories in particular. The hero is tall, dark, and handsome, with a past he doesn't like to talk or think about - and is obviously upset when Samantha ferrets it out. As heroes go, he was...okay. There were certainly things to like about him, but I had two main issues: 1) He is apparently perfect at EVERYTHING (save, perhaps, German), and that kind of thing just drives me nuts. Super spy, super lover, has more money than Bill Gates, can break into - or hack into - anything he wants. He has a person on his team who is, by his own right, a security genius and tries his best to break through Derrick's security and gets a raise or something when he manages it. Derrick is just THAT good at what he does. 2) His "tortured past" was, I'm sorry, a little ridiculous. Is it a sad story? Sure. Does it explain why Derrick may have some family issues? Absolutely. Is this the kind of "dark and tortured past" that warrants him trying to run from it, not think about it, and get visibly upset when Samantha finds out about it? Please. I've met puppies with more justifiable angst.
Samantha is smart (I guess), pretty (enough - not at first, but her looks apparently improve over time), and...well, not funny. Or charismatic. Or particularly memorable. In fact, she's something of a wet blanket. In her mid-twenties (26?) she's pretty spineless, living at home with parents who railroad her, make her work for room and board, monitor every aspect of her life (she has to hide money to have any and Mommy Dearest monitors what she reads, picks her boyfriends, and picks out her clothes). Her brother, we are told, does love her but heaven help me if I can see any proof of that. On the one hand, I thought, "Perhaps that will be shown in another book?" On the other hand, I thought, "PLEASE tell me he's not the star of his own book." There's nothing I read in this book that outlines him as a "hero" I'd ever want to read.
Samantha's trip to England is her first real "rebellion" in her life and even that is kind of "meh." If it weren't for the intrigue she gets caught up in, I'm sure she'd have gone home and married the boy picked out for her and let her parents run her life. It takes her a great deal of time to manage to say, "Go to hell" with anything approaching conviction. Heaven help her if she were to ever ACTUALLY have to tell someone off! As a reader who enjoys strong, independent female characters, this one didn't appeal to me at all. People (Derrick and Emily, for example, but not the only examples) seem to want to rescue her, help her, take her under their wing, etc. I would say I don't understand why, but I guess there's something appealing for some about her extreme form of helplessness. It's like a bird with a broken wing - it certainly can't take care of itself, so you just can't help but want to rescue it, since you know it would be cat chow within ten minutes, left to its own devices. Samantha seems a lot like that.
Which isn't to say I detested her. I just found her...bland. I'm told she's smart and wonderful and all those things, but I don't feel that I was particularly shown why she's so amazing. I think Derrick makes a list at some point, of things he likes about her. I can only remember the author mentioning one point on that list. I can only imagine it's because even she couldn't find much to say about Samantha.
However, the flaws in the characters, taken by themselves, would have probably made this book an okay-for-the-bathtub-but-generally-forgettable read and would have gotten it three stars. It fell to two for me because of the issues with the characterization, combined with some weakness in the setup and plot.
While I think Kurland has done some phenomenal time travel romance in the past, if that's an aspect of the plot that has you reaching for the title, I have to say you'd be better served by picking a different of her works. Time travel is such a minor plot point in this book, I think the entire thing could have been done just as well without it. (The characters literally stumble into the past in the beginning, pop into the past for a few minutes (maybe half a chapter) in the middle, and then finally have something approaching a significant scene in the past at the very end.) It seems like it's in there more because it's Kurland's "thing" so she has to find a way to justify the characters traveling to the past than because the plot organically required them to be there.
There was also something a little redundant about the plot. Samantha is (unwittingly) embroiled in intrigue - and I mean this when I say that she is the absolute LAST person you'd expect it of, so I guess in that sense it was believable she'd be such a "babe in the woods" about it all. That's resolved, and then she finds she's in ANOTHER of pretty much the EXACT kind of intrigue. And she's SHOCKED to find that she'd be unwittingly used as a courier the second time around! Shocked, I say! (Not shocked that it happened for a second time, immediately after the first. Shocked that someone would use her that way. She's a bit of an idiot.) Things happen that aren't really explained. Characters are introduced that serve no purpose, disappear shortly thereafter, and are never mentioned or made relevant again. (Is Dory annoying to you? Don't worry; he's a completely superfluous character and disappears fairly early in the book.) And a lot of the plot hinges on huge, glaring coincidences.
This book isn't a terrible addition to the series, but it certainly isn't a strong one. I actually think Kurland should consider writing her next book about an entirely new family, unconnected to the Cameron or de Piaget clans. I could probably have overlooked the weaknesses in the plot and characterization, but the biggest flaw in the book is that it really lacked the magic and wonder of some of her other titles. Even in time travel, and that's where I think Kurland could benefit from branching into another family, wholly disconnected (at least for some time) from the usual families she writes about. There was admittedly some short-lived disbelief, but there was no sense of awe or wonder about time travel in this book - for Derrick, it was old hat, and for Samantha, there was some disbelief at first but there was no significant sense of wonder from her in time traveling. (The first time, she doesn't even know she's really done it; the second time, they're in and out and she has other things on her mind. The third time, we're at the end of the book, so who really cares anymore?) At the point she COINCIDENTALLY runs into a member of her family who ALSO travels to the past like it's some kind of hobby, I can't help but 1) feel that's some heck of a coincidence and 2) wish I could get the feeling again that time travel is something amazing and incredible to do...not like it's just another way to kill a Saturday night. Readers can't really get a sense of wonder and enchantment from characters who are so hum-drum about it, so it would be nice to get into the heads of characters for whom this is all new.
It's an okay way to kill a few hours, but if you want to read a great book about time-travel, romance, or even just to get a sense of Kurland's usual style, I'd probably skip it.
There are a lot of the usual elements - of romances in general, and of Kurland's stories in particular. The hero is tall, dark, and handsome, with a past he doesn't like to talk or think about - and is obviously upset when Samantha ferrets it out. As heroes go, he was...okay. There were certainly things to like about him, but I had two main issues: 1) He is apparently perfect at EVERYTHING (save, perhaps, German), and that kind of thing just drives me nuts. Super spy, super lover, has more money than Bill Gates, can break into - or hack into - anything he wants. He has a person on his team who is, by his own right, a security genius and tries his best to break through Derrick's security and gets a raise or something when he manages it. Derrick is just THAT good at what he does. 2) His "tortured past" was, I'm sorry, a little ridiculous. Is it a sad story? Sure. Does it explain why Derrick may have some family issues? Absolutely. Is this the kind of "dark and tortured past" that warrants him trying to run from it, not think about it, and get visibly upset when Samantha finds out about it? Please. I've met puppies with more justifiable angst.
Samantha is smart (I guess), pretty (enough - not at first, but her looks apparently improve over time), and...well, not funny. Or charismatic. Or particularly memorable. In fact, she's something of a wet blanket. In her mid-twenties (26?) she's pretty spineless, living at home with parents who railroad her, make her work for room and board, monitor every aspect of her life (she has to hide money to have any and Mommy Dearest monitors what she reads, picks her boyfriends, and picks out her clothes). Her brother, we are told, does love her but heaven help me if I can see any proof of that. On the one hand, I thought, "Perhaps that will be shown in another book?" On the other hand, I thought, "PLEASE tell me he's not the star of his own book." There's nothing I read in this book that outlines him as a "hero" I'd ever want to read.
Samantha's trip to England is her first real "rebellion" in her life and even that is kind of "meh." If it weren't for the intrigue she gets caught up in, I'm sure she'd have gone home and married the boy picked out for her and let her parents run her life. It takes her a great deal of time to manage to say, "Go to hell" with anything approaching conviction. Heaven help her if she were to ever ACTUALLY have to tell someone off! As a reader who enjoys strong, independent female characters, this one didn't appeal to me at all. People (Derrick and Emily, for example, but not the only examples) seem to want to rescue her, help her, take her under their wing, etc. I would say I don't understand why, but I guess there's something appealing for some about her extreme form of helplessness. It's like a bird with a broken wing - it certainly can't take care of itself, so you just can't help but want to rescue it, since you know it would be cat chow within ten minutes, left to its own devices. Samantha seems a lot like that.
Which isn't to say I detested her. I just found her...bland. I'm told she's smart and wonderful and all those things, but I don't feel that I was particularly shown why she's so amazing. I think Derrick makes a list at some point, of things he likes about her. I can only remember the author mentioning one point on that list. I can only imagine it's because even she couldn't find much to say about Samantha.
However, the flaws in the characters, taken by themselves, would have probably made this book an okay-for-the-bathtub-but-generally-forgettable read and would have gotten it three stars. It fell to two for me because of the issues with the characterization, combined with some weakness in the setup and plot.
While I think Kurland has done some phenomenal time travel romance in the past, if that's an aspect of the plot that has you reaching for the title, I have to say you'd be better served by picking a different of her works. Time travel is such a minor plot point in this book, I think the entire thing could have been done just as well without it. (The characters literally stumble into the past in the beginning, pop into the past for a few minutes (maybe half a chapter) in the middle, and then finally have something approaching a significant scene in the past at the very end.) It seems like it's in there more because it's Kurland's "thing" so she has to find a way to justify the characters traveling to the past than because the plot organically required them to be there.
There was also something a little redundant about the plot. Samantha is (unwittingly) embroiled in intrigue - and I mean this when I say that she is the absolute LAST person you'd expect it of, so I guess in that sense it was believable she'd be such a "babe in the woods" about it all. That's resolved, and then she finds she's in ANOTHER of pretty much the EXACT kind of intrigue. And she's SHOCKED to find that she'd be unwittingly used as a courier the second time around! Shocked, I say! (Not shocked that it happened for a second time, immediately after the first. Shocked that someone would use her that way. She's a bit of an idiot.) Things happen that aren't really explained. Characters are introduced that serve no purpose, disappear shortly thereafter, and are never mentioned or made relevant again. (Is Dory annoying to you? Don't worry; he's a completely superfluous character and disappears fairly early in the book.) And a lot of the plot hinges on huge, glaring coincidences.
This book isn't a terrible addition to the series, but it certainly isn't a strong one. I actually think Kurland should consider writing her next book about an entirely new family, unconnected to the Cameron or de Piaget clans. I could probably have overlooked the weaknesses in the plot and characterization, but the biggest flaw in the book is that it really lacked the magic and wonder of some of her other titles. Even in time travel, and that's where I think Kurland could benefit from branching into another family, wholly disconnected (at least for some time) from the usual families she writes about. There was admittedly some short-lived disbelief, but there was no sense of awe or wonder about time travel in this book - for Derrick, it was old hat, and for Samantha, there was some disbelief at first but there was no significant sense of wonder from her in time traveling. (The first time, she doesn't even know she's really done it; the second time, they're in and out and she has other things on her mind. The third time, we're at the end of the book, so who really cares anymore?) At the point she COINCIDENTALLY runs into a member of her family who ALSO travels to the past like it's some kind of hobby, I can't help but 1) feel that's some heck of a coincidence and 2) wish I could get the feeling again that time travel is something amazing and incredible to do...not like it's just another way to kill a Saturday night. Readers can't really get a sense of wonder and enchantment from characters who are so hum-drum about it, so it would be nice to get into the heads of characters for whom this is all new.
It's an okay way to kill a few hours, but if you want to read a great book about time-travel, romance, or even just to get a sense of Kurland's usual style, I'd probably skip it.
April 23, 2024
I did enjoy this book, not as much as some but better than the last few that I have read. I did find the start a bit slow, something that is common to many of Lynn Kurland’s books. I loved Samantha Drummond, (Our Heroine) and her journey to find her own life not her parents. I loved Derrick Cameron (Our Hero) who we met in “With Every Breath” (alongside Ewan, Oliver and Peter) and how he softened
The Time Travel, was for once, I think, well managed, with our group going to Elizabethan London instead of medieval Scotland or England. However, having said that I did find it a bit unbelievable to have a working time portal by The Globe theatre in 21stC London. The appearance of Lady Mary McKinnon from earlier novels was a treat. She is a fun character and provided some light relief.
The 2 plots were skillfully woven together and the ending was well thought out and executed. All the loose ends were tidied up, it wasn’t rushed and everyone got what they deserved.
All in all, one of the more satisfying Lynn Kurland books, perhaps because it focused on the MacLeods (always my favourites) instead of the de Piagets.
The Time Travel, was for once, I think, well managed, with our group going to Elizabethan London instead of medieval Scotland or England. However, having said that I did find it a bit unbelievable to have a working time portal by The Globe theatre in 21stC London. The appearance of Lady Mary McKinnon from earlier novels was a treat. She is a fun character and provided some light relief.
The 2 plots were skillfully woven together and the ending was well thought out and executed. All the loose ends were tidied up, it wasn’t rushed and everyone got what they deserved.
All in all, one of the more satisfying Lynn Kurland books, perhaps because it focused on the MacLeods (always my favourites) instead of the de Piagets.
November 20, 2024
All’s Well, That Ends Well....
What could be more intriguing than a mystery involving jewel thieves in Elizabethan England?
The story has just enough intrigue to keep the novel from being sappy. The romance is understated, but less is more when character development is key rather than steamy sexual encounters.
The ghosts make a reappearance and Samantha discovers that her cousins, Granny, and Aunt are experienced time travellers. She also discovers Cousins Megan & Jennifer are both married to de Piaget lads, several centuries removed.
It’s all very MI6 spooks meets Elizabethan England when the lads go back to rescue Sam’s ancestor from the Tower of London. Quite an entertaining read.
What could be more intriguing than a mystery involving jewel thieves in Elizabethan England?
The story has just enough intrigue to keep the novel from being sappy. The romance is understated, but less is more when character development is key rather than steamy sexual encounters.
The ghosts make a reappearance and Samantha discovers that her cousins, Granny, and Aunt are experienced time travellers. She also discovers Cousins Megan & Jennifer are both married to de Piaget lads, several centuries removed.
It’s all very MI6 spooks meets Elizabethan England when the lads go back to rescue Sam’s ancestor from the Tower of London. Quite an entertaining read.
February 27, 2024
This was my first book by this author so I was confused about the first few chapters and I don’t think they were ever fully explained. I guess it would make sense for fans of the series but I had no idea what the ghosts actually did that truly moved the plot forward significantly. And, the characters spent much less time in the past time traveling than I thought they would. Which works for me as that is not a favorite trope of mine. Liked the romance between Derrick and Samantha and that they were both of the current time period. Also loved Derrick’s lads who helped with their capers.
May 20, 2025
scottish time travel
I somehow missed this one in Kurland’s series - but remembered so many of the characters that I felt right at home. In any era. Modern or Elizabethan. Rapiers or cellphones. This is a delightful mystery romp and wonderful romance, a perfect beach read (which was read on a horrible chilly rainy spring day). I would so love that house by the sea.
I somehow missed this one in Kurland’s series - but remembered so many of the characters that I felt right at home. In any era. Modern or Elizabethan. Rapiers or cellphones. This is a delightful mystery romp and wonderful romance, a perfect beach read (which was read on a horrible chilly rainy spring day). I would so love that house by the sea.
November 27, 2017
I really loved this book. Derrick and Samantha are amazing, and I really would like a story about the lads too: Oliver, Peter, Rufus, Ewan....they're great.
I think Derrick/Samantha tie for favorite romantic couple after Tess/John.
I think Derrick/Samantha tie for favorite romantic couple after Tess/John.
January 27, 2022
Honestly, it started off slow and I thought I'd be leaving a horrible review but this sleeper surprised me! I ended up loving this one, Samantha and Derrick ended up being two of my favorite characters and Oliver, Peter, and Rufus made it so enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
June 22, 2020
A very fun adventure. Definitely different from others but just as fun and silly and a great escape. I loved the characters in their own ways.
December 29, 2022
Ah, those Cameron lads
I love this series and characters. I reread these books every couple of years. Lynn is a wonderful story teller.
I love this series and characters. I reread these books every couple of years. Lynn is a wonderful story teller.
June 28, 2023
3.5 Stars. Derrick and Samantha searching for lace and other items in the past. Throw in a little Hamlet and it’s a fun story.
August 8, 2023
The first half was a little slow, but the second half was fun and quite interesting.
March 15, 2017
Another good read by Lynn Kurland. This one took some unusual turns and twists - different from her other stories. It was almost like a mystery novel, which is good. The thing I liked most about this story was that it mainly took place in the current time period. Main male character, who deals in antiquities, comes across main female character because someone hid something on her in the hopes that she would unknowingly help to comment a crime. Once it was proved that female character was hones, romance ensues.
January 2, 2015
Another great story by Lynn Kurland. Samantha has come to England for the summer to housesit for friends of her brother. When she is asked to run an errand for one of them she doesn't expect to be caught in the middle of a search for stolen goods. Derrick's job is to find the piece of stolen lace and get it back to its rightful owner. He doesn't expect to be intrigued by the woman he thinks is the thief and then fall for her too.
I really liked both Samantha and Derrick. Samantha is the youngest of the family and has been stuck in her life with her parents. They are both pretty controlling, especially her mother, and Samantha longs to break free. When she is offered the chance to housesit in England she leaps at the chance, planning to squeeze in as much living as she can before going home. Shortly after her arrival in England her boss asks her to deliver a package to London. On the trip she is followed and while trying to escape briefly ends up in Elizabethan England, though she doesn't realize it at the time. She is rescued by Derrick, who thinks she is one of the thieves. She is attracted to him but doesn't trust him at first. When she hears his time travel story she thinks he is nuts, but goes along with him because he seems more trustworthy than her other options. She finds herself caught up in the chase for the lace, then trying to figure out why someone is still after her. I loved seeing Samantha bloom now that she is out from under her parents' thumbs. She is pretty naive at the beginning, not expecting the trouble that comes her way. She is basically a nice person so doesn't get into making scenes when weird things start happening to her. I loved her interactions with Derrick right from the beginning. While she is naive she isn't stupid and her questions and statements to Derrick show that. She doubts his sanity at the beginning when he talks about the time travel, but soon becomes a believer. As she deals with these events she begins to grow as a person and soon learns to stand up for herself and her own needs and wants. She also begins to care for Derrick and gets closer to him as she nurses him after he is wounded helping her. I loved seeing her care about him in ways that no one else has and the way that it aids in her own maturity. I loved the ending and seeing her really become the woman she was meant to be.
Derrick was a bit obnoxious at first but quickly turned around. He has been doing a lot of time travel over the last year as he goes on adventures with Jamie, but also works at his business of retrieving stole goods. He's feeling a bit jaded at the start of this one and doesn't so his usual research and as a result doesn't realize that Samantha isn't the thief but just an unknowing courier. He begins to think that some things just aren't adding up as he saves and then confronts Samantha. Once he understands the truth he gets Samantha to join forces with him to recover and return the lace. The more time they spend together, the more she gets under his skin. He doesn't want to be attracted to her or like her that much but he can't help it. I loved the way that he watches out for her after the lace recovery and discovers that she's still in danger. I also loved the way that he helped her gain confidence during their time together and didn't try to control her the way her parents did. I especially loved the ending when he gave her the gift of the experiences she had missed out on. I also loved learning more about Derrick and his secrets and the way they influenced his life. I really enjoyed seeing him thumb his nose at his brother. I loved the interactions with various members of his family and how they all were there for each other even while trading insults.
I really liked the appearances of the ghosts and characters from earlier books such at Robert and Sunny. I loved Derrick's coworkers, Oliver, Rufus and Peter and how totally unflappable they seemed to be. The romance itself was sweet and gentle and perfect for Derrick and Samantha. I'm looking forward to seeing who gets the next story.
I really liked both Samantha and Derrick. Samantha is the youngest of the family and has been stuck in her life with her parents. They are both pretty controlling, especially her mother, and Samantha longs to break free. When she is offered the chance to housesit in England she leaps at the chance, planning to squeeze in as much living as she can before going home. Shortly after her arrival in England her boss asks her to deliver a package to London. On the trip she is followed and while trying to escape briefly ends up in Elizabethan England, though she doesn't realize it at the time. She is rescued by Derrick, who thinks she is one of the thieves. She is attracted to him but doesn't trust him at first. When she hears his time travel story she thinks he is nuts, but goes along with him because he seems more trustworthy than her other options. She finds herself caught up in the chase for the lace, then trying to figure out why someone is still after her. I loved seeing Samantha bloom now that she is out from under her parents' thumbs. She is pretty naive at the beginning, not expecting the trouble that comes her way. She is basically a nice person so doesn't get into making scenes when weird things start happening to her. I loved her interactions with Derrick right from the beginning. While she is naive she isn't stupid and her questions and statements to Derrick show that. She doubts his sanity at the beginning when he talks about the time travel, but soon becomes a believer. As she deals with these events she begins to grow as a person and soon learns to stand up for herself and her own needs and wants. She also begins to care for Derrick and gets closer to him as she nurses him after he is wounded helping her. I loved seeing her care about him in ways that no one else has and the way that it aids in her own maturity. I loved the ending and seeing her really become the woman she was meant to be.
Derrick was a bit obnoxious at first but quickly turned around. He has been doing a lot of time travel over the last year as he goes on adventures with Jamie, but also works at his business of retrieving stole goods. He's feeling a bit jaded at the start of this one and doesn't so his usual research and as a result doesn't realize that Samantha isn't the thief but just an unknowing courier. He begins to think that some things just aren't adding up as he saves and then confronts Samantha. Once he understands the truth he gets Samantha to join forces with him to recover and return the lace. The more time they spend together, the more she gets under his skin. He doesn't want to be attracted to her or like her that much but he can't help it. I loved the way that he watches out for her after the lace recovery and discovers that she's still in danger. I also loved the way that he helped her gain confidence during their time together and didn't try to control her the way her parents did. I especially loved the ending when he gave her the gift of the experiences she had missed out on. I also loved learning more about Derrick and his secrets and the way they influenced his life. I really enjoyed seeing him thumb his nose at his brother. I loved the interactions with various members of his family and how they all were there for each other even while trading insults.
I really liked the appearances of the ghosts and characters from earlier books such at Robert and Sunny. I loved Derrick's coworkers, Oliver, Rufus and Peter and how totally unflappable they seemed to be. The romance itself was sweet and gentle and perfect for Derrick and Samantha. I'm looking forward to seeing who gets the next story.
June 10, 2013
3.5 stars
Samantha Drummond is the daughter of two over protective parents, who at the age of twenty six, gets out on her own for the first time. She travels to England to house sit for her brother’s friends. There she is given a package and asked to swing down to London and have it delivered. She soon discovered, while she is doing a little sightseeing, that she is being followed. Derrick Cameron is the one doing the following. He was hired to find a piece of Elizabethan lace that he believes Samantha has. Once he meets her, he starts to have his doubts about how she is involved with the real thieves. While he is trying to track her down she stumbles into a ring of mushrooms, popping into Elizabethan London. Derrick rushes in after her, but when he pulls her back out. This creates a list of problems for the both of them.
Roses in Moonlight is book fifteen in the De Piaget series and the first book I’ve read by Kurland. The chapters follow Samantha or Derrick with the exception of the prologue. I didn’t fully understand the prologue and think it’s the only thing you have to have read the full series to understand. It looks as if each book in the series follows a different couple, so I felt pretty safe heading into it.
The first thing I felt was doubt. Samantha isn’t my kind of heroine. She was sheltered, to the point that her mother still approves the books she reads. At twenty six, and still not gaining any freedom I was mortified by her personality. On the other hand this book is about her opening up, and deciding that she does have a life of her that she can live, but while she changes, it isn’t the kind of change I was expecting. She travels to England, excited at the prospect, and then more or less runs into Derrick. There is a constant thread running through the book that Derrick is bossy, but really she lets him do a lot of that, which still didn’t sit well with me.
Derrick runs a family business that deals in antiques. On the side he enjoys frolicking through time and finding stolen antiques. He wants to find a good Scottish woman and settle down soon, when Samantha comes into his life. At first he believes her ‘librarian persona’ is a front, and she is really a thief, but when he gets up close and personal he starts having his doubts. He is injured when they slip into the Elizabethan period, and when they end up stuck in a hotel room while Derrick is healing. They form a kind of relationship. Like in many romances there is a lot of moving away and then coming back together for these two.
I was disappointed that I didn’t feel fully immersed when the characters time traveled to Elizabethan England. Instead the story focused more on the couple and plot line. Despite my reservations on Samantha and the sometimes campy feel of the novel, I got through it really fast. Something about it was comforting and easy to read. The story line had a twist towards the end, but I was expecting more of a bang.
In short what keeps the novel going was how comforting it could be. The pace isn’t that strong, but I was expecting a lot more from it. I think those expectations kept me turning the pages. The romance here is a sweet one, not anything heavy or too steamy. I didn’t get along very well with Samantha, or her life choices, but that was a side note for me in the plot line that I wanted to see out to the end. The most impressive thing about Roses in Moonlight is just how much goes on in the plot. I wished it did a lot more.
- Beth
Samantha Drummond is the daughter of two over protective parents, who at the age of twenty six, gets out on her own for the first time. She travels to England to house sit for her brother’s friends. There she is given a package and asked to swing down to London and have it delivered. She soon discovered, while she is doing a little sightseeing, that she is being followed. Derrick Cameron is the one doing the following. He was hired to find a piece of Elizabethan lace that he believes Samantha has. Once he meets her, he starts to have his doubts about how she is involved with the real thieves. While he is trying to track her down she stumbles into a ring of mushrooms, popping into Elizabethan London. Derrick rushes in after her, but when he pulls her back out. This creates a list of problems for the both of them.
Roses in Moonlight is book fifteen in the De Piaget series and the first book I’ve read by Kurland. The chapters follow Samantha or Derrick with the exception of the prologue. I didn’t fully understand the prologue and think it’s the only thing you have to have read the full series to understand. It looks as if each book in the series follows a different couple, so I felt pretty safe heading into it.
The first thing I felt was doubt. Samantha isn’t my kind of heroine. She was sheltered, to the point that her mother still approves the books she reads. At twenty six, and still not gaining any freedom I was mortified by her personality. On the other hand this book is about her opening up, and deciding that she does have a life of her that she can live, but while she changes, it isn’t the kind of change I was expecting. She travels to England, excited at the prospect, and then more or less runs into Derrick. There is a constant thread running through the book that Derrick is bossy, but really she lets him do a lot of that, which still didn’t sit well with me.
Derrick runs a family business that deals in antiques. On the side he enjoys frolicking through time and finding stolen antiques. He wants to find a good Scottish woman and settle down soon, when Samantha comes into his life. At first he believes her ‘librarian persona’ is a front, and she is really a thief, but when he gets up close and personal he starts having his doubts. He is injured when they slip into the Elizabethan period, and when they end up stuck in a hotel room while Derrick is healing. They form a kind of relationship. Like in many romances there is a lot of moving away and then coming back together for these two.
I was disappointed that I didn’t feel fully immersed when the characters time traveled to Elizabethan England. Instead the story focused more on the couple and plot line. Despite my reservations on Samantha and the sometimes campy feel of the novel, I got through it really fast. Something about it was comforting and easy to read. The story line had a twist towards the end, but I was expecting more of a bang.
In short what keeps the novel going was how comforting it could be. The pace isn’t that strong, but I was expecting a lot more from it. I think those expectations kept me turning the pages. The romance here is a sweet one, not anything heavy or too steamy. I didn’t get along very well with Samantha, or her life choices, but that was a side note for me in the plot line that I wanted to see out to the end. The most impressive thing about Roses in Moonlight is just how much goes on in the plot. I wished it did a lot more.
- Beth
October 14, 2013
The backbone of Lynn Kurland’s romance is, of course, the time travel, the romance, her characters, and her writing style. She’s so very true to her style – you know exactly what you’re going to get when you open one of her books. I’ve found, however, with the last few books in this series, that her characters come out only lukewarm once in a while. But with that in mind, those characters still have a chivalry, loyalty, and honesty about them, no matter the era they originate from. Thus is the case with this story.
Samantha is the child of two fairly successful parents who think of her as their slave rather than a daughter. She’s been under their thumbs all her life, and it’s time to rebel. With the help of her brother, Samantha takes on the job of house sitter for an English couple for the summer. Freedom at last! And, heavens, does that freedom take on a life of its own. Just as Samantha is getting used to her new employer, surroundings and upcoming duties, she’s sent to London to deliver a package. That’s when her feeling of being watched isn’t just a feeling anymore, when she realizes the same man shows up everywhere she goes, even though he’s trying to be someone different each time.
Knowing he’s about to get his man – or woman in this case – Derrick Cameron’s current job is nearly completed. Following Samantha to her end destination to grab both a stolen antique piece of lace and the ones involved in its theft will be a job well done. But once he comes into close contact with Samantha and listens to her explanations, it’s the first time in seven years in working with Lord Robert Cameron in their business, Cameron Antiquities, that he’s been wrong. On top of that, he has to follow her back in time, where she hides the lace, since she doesn’t know she’s time traveled. Thus, a return trip is eventually necessary.
And that’s one of the things that doesn’t work for me this time around as it has in most of the previous stories. Though the second trip to the past is full of surprises and a bit of action, it’s not enough for me. That’s the charm, along with the writing, that makes Lynn Kurland’s books so wonderful to read. I also enjoy when the hero and heroine are from separate time periods, giving some fun conflict along the way. Derrick and Samantha come from different worlds, yes, and they work well together once suspicions are dealt with, but those worlds aren’t nearly as far apart as they could be. I do like Derrick. He’s been in the lists with Jamie MacLeod, so he knows how to handle a sword, as well as travel through time with great success. Samantha is also quite likable. She doesn’t hold back when something needs saying, she’s smart, and she thinks before she runs headlong into most trouble. But they both come just short of comparing to earlier couples in the series.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a good read. It is Lynn Kurland, after all. There’s just a little something missing that keeps it from the same level as her other books.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Samantha is the child of two fairly successful parents who think of her as their slave rather than a daughter. She’s been under their thumbs all her life, and it’s time to rebel. With the help of her brother, Samantha takes on the job of house sitter for an English couple for the summer. Freedom at last! And, heavens, does that freedom take on a life of its own. Just as Samantha is getting used to her new employer, surroundings and upcoming duties, she’s sent to London to deliver a package. That’s when her feeling of being watched isn’t just a feeling anymore, when she realizes the same man shows up everywhere she goes, even though he’s trying to be someone different each time.
Knowing he’s about to get his man – or woman in this case – Derrick Cameron’s current job is nearly completed. Following Samantha to her end destination to grab both a stolen antique piece of lace and the ones involved in its theft will be a job well done. But once he comes into close contact with Samantha and listens to her explanations, it’s the first time in seven years in working with Lord Robert Cameron in their business, Cameron Antiquities, that he’s been wrong. On top of that, he has to follow her back in time, where she hides the lace, since she doesn’t know she’s time traveled. Thus, a return trip is eventually necessary.
And that’s one of the things that doesn’t work for me this time around as it has in most of the previous stories. Though the second trip to the past is full of surprises and a bit of action, it’s not enough for me. That’s the charm, along with the writing, that makes Lynn Kurland’s books so wonderful to read. I also enjoy when the hero and heroine are from separate time periods, giving some fun conflict along the way. Derrick and Samantha come from different worlds, yes, and they work well together once suspicions are dealt with, but those worlds aren’t nearly as far apart as they could be. I do like Derrick. He’s been in the lists with Jamie MacLeod, so he knows how to handle a sword, as well as travel through time with great success. Samantha is also quite likable. She doesn’t hold back when something needs saying, she’s smart, and she thinks before she runs headlong into most trouble. But they both come just short of comparing to earlier couples in the series.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a good read. It is Lynn Kurland, after all. There’s just a little something missing that keeps it from the same level as her other books.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
February 26, 2017
Another great romance in this series. Derrick and Samantha are great together. I can only wish the bad guys got there just desserts without us readers having to imagine it. Those kind of closures were glossed over. I also wanted Sam's parents to get dressed down a peg or two. I find myself dreading the end of this series. They are so much fun to read.
August 2, 2013
Samantha Drummond is twenty six years old and is still having her parents run her life. She doesn’t actually like it that way but that’s the way it is. She’s finally put her foot down and taken a job house-sitting in Newcastle on Tyne, England. The Cooke’s are a very nice family and when she’s asked by the wife to make a delivery for them in London she agrees – why would she not? She takes her time getting down to London and does some sight seeing. Little does she know that not only does she have Derrick Cameron on her tail but a couple of sets of thugs as well.
Derrick is hunting down a piece of Elizabethan lace that was stolen from one of his clients. He tracked it down to the Cooke’s in Newcastle. When he sees Samantha making a trip he follows her just knowing that she has the lace and that she is one of the thieves. He eventually corrals her in London but as she’s trying to get away from him inadvertently goes through a time travel gate and ends up in Elizabethan England! Derrick follows and defends her honor and then gets her the hell out of there. Back in current time he basically kidnaps her and they end up at the Ritz. After much discussion Derrick finally believes that he has misjudged Samantha and gets that she’s just an innocent in the whole scheme.
Things are worked out satisfactorily with the lace but Samantha still has thugs on her tail. Derrick comes to the rescue and between smashing chairs over heads, trips to Scotland and yet another trip to 1602 to save an ancestor the pair find that they’ve each found their love in each other.
In this one I just loved Samantha and Derrick together. He’s a sarcastic man who can be a complete ass but even when he’s being an ass he to his family and friends you know he has love in his heart for them. He was brave and kind and for me a really great hero.
Samantha started off as a mouse and got pretty near being a lion by the end of the book. She wanted so desperately to be out on her own and make her own decisions and while that took time, Derrick was there for her helping her in ways she didn’t even know she needed.
This the 15th book in the de Piaget series – yes the 15th! I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I opened the book but I was so please with the story. Even though Kurland’s romances are PG, they are just so wonderfully sweet (not sickeningly sweet) that I can’t help but enjoy them. There were so many things about this book that I liked I can’t possibly name them all. There was friendship, romance, intrigue, humor, time travel, sarcasm and great cars – how could I not love it? lol
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.
Derrick is hunting down a piece of Elizabethan lace that was stolen from one of his clients. He tracked it down to the Cooke’s in Newcastle. When he sees Samantha making a trip he follows her just knowing that she has the lace and that she is one of the thieves. He eventually corrals her in London but as she’s trying to get away from him inadvertently goes through a time travel gate and ends up in Elizabethan England! Derrick follows and defends her honor and then gets her the hell out of there. Back in current time he basically kidnaps her and they end up at the Ritz. After much discussion Derrick finally believes that he has misjudged Samantha and gets that she’s just an innocent in the whole scheme.
Things are worked out satisfactorily with the lace but Samantha still has thugs on her tail. Derrick comes to the rescue and between smashing chairs over heads, trips to Scotland and yet another trip to 1602 to save an ancestor the pair find that they’ve each found their love in each other.
In this one I just loved Samantha and Derrick together. He’s a sarcastic man who can be a complete ass but even when he’s being an ass he to his family and friends you know he has love in his heart for them. He was brave and kind and for me a really great hero.
Samantha started off as a mouse and got pretty near being a lion by the end of the book. She wanted so desperately to be out on her own and make her own decisions and while that took time, Derrick was there for her helping her in ways she didn’t even know she needed.
This the 15th book in the de Piaget series – yes the 15th! I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I opened the book but I was so please with the story. Even though Kurland’s romances are PG, they are just so wonderfully sweet (not sickeningly sweet) that I can’t help but enjoy them. There were so many things about this book that I liked I can’t possibly name them all. There was friendship, romance, intrigue, humor, time travel, sarcasm and great cars – how could I not love it? lol
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.
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