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The MacAlpins #1
The Inscription
When immortal Lachlan MacAlpin pulls a 20th century American woman from Loch Ness in 1566, he thinks he has found his true love, the fulfillment of a prophecy. Reprint.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
July 2, 2024
I spotted The Inscription (The MacAlpins #1) by Pam Binder at a used bookstore and it sounded intriguing enough to try it. I think I was more interested in the idea of it than the final product. It's something along the lines of Highlander meets Outlander, but it could have used a few more rounds of editing to tighten it up. Plus, there were quite a few typos, misspelled words, and other errors that a previous owner had circled in pencil. Honestly, didn't help me stick with it.
May 30, 2011
Historical novel set in Scotland. Can it get any better? I mean.... NESSIE!!
April 8, 2020
Review also will be published in the March/April issue of Affaire de Coeur magazine.
February 8, 2016
Wonderful time travel
Amber McPhee is from Seattle and is spending time with her aunt Dora in Scotland. While on her way to a fair she crashes into Loch Ness.
Lachlan MacAlpin has been dreaming about a woman in the Loch for a while. He goes to the loch and while walking the shore he sees someone in give water. He swims to her and tries to bring her to shore.
Amber wakes to find the Scottish re-enactors all over the castle. She is unclear as to what has happened until she realizes she is in a castle that in the 1990's is a ruin.
Time travel doesn't seem real, but it us the only conclusion age can reach.
The author really makes the castle and the characters come to life. The struggle for Amber to adjust to the clothes and the rustic provisions are very much how I would feel in that situation.
Lachlan is a wonderful provider and caretaker for his family. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. He has worries about inheriting his Father's worst trait.
Amber is such a gentle person. She is a good hard working woman that really has herself together. She was a pleasure to meet.
The secondary characters are as lively and interesting as the main. There is so much family intrigue and personality, that I found them to be a bonus.
I loved Gavin as well. He was the perfect character to add fun and heart to the story.
All in all I just loved this book. It kept me reading all night long.
Amber McPhee is from Seattle and is spending time with her aunt Dora in Scotland. While on her way to a fair she crashes into Loch Ness.
Lachlan MacAlpin has been dreaming about a woman in the Loch for a while. He goes to the loch and while walking the shore he sees someone in give water. He swims to her and tries to bring her to shore.
Amber wakes to find the Scottish re-enactors all over the castle. She is unclear as to what has happened until she realizes she is in a castle that in the 1990's is a ruin.
Time travel doesn't seem real, but it us the only conclusion age can reach.
The author really makes the castle and the characters come to life. The struggle for Amber to adjust to the clothes and the rustic provisions are very much how I would feel in that situation.
Lachlan is a wonderful provider and caretaker for his family. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. He has worries about inheriting his Father's worst trait.
Amber is such a gentle person. She is a good hard working woman that really has herself together. She was a pleasure to meet.
The secondary characters are as lively and interesting as the main. There is so much family intrigue and personality, that I found them to be a bonus.
I loved Gavin as well. He was the perfect character to add fun and heart to the story.
All in all I just loved this book. It kept me reading all night long.
July 17, 2015
Awesome book! With a beautiful romance, this story of Amber McPhee's journey from present day to Scotland 1566 captured my attention fully from the beginning. It's an amazing adventure in which Amber meets and falls in love with the warrior, Lachlan. There's a castle, immortal people, and the mysterious Guardian, also known as the Loch Ness monster. A captivating tale that keeps the reader glued to the pages, The Inscription has all that you could want in a story...it's an emotional time for Amber, and she eventually becomes one of the family, but not before having to adjust to a completely different way of life. I would love for this story to continue, to find out more about Lachlan's people and their immortal lives. Thanks to the author and goodreads for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is highly recommended, a fascinating story.
July 15, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
Romance is not really a genre I read much. That being said, this was a pretty fun book! Don't get me wrong, there's lots of fighting and bloodshed and the occasional beheading, but it all made the story more intriguing.
The occasional scene change felt awkward, but I definitely was drawn back into the story every time. I just wanted to know what would happen next! I have to say though, I think that you could play "romance book trope" bingo with this and win in the first 100 pages. Also, I think the Kindle copy I got had a few problems - it kept replacing "th" with "d", so occasionally I felt like I was translating.
Anyway, I had fun reading this all in one day. Time travel romances always have the possibility of ending horribly, and so do mortal/immortal matches - it was great seeing what the author did with those elements.
Romance is not really a genre I read much. That being said, this was a pretty fun book! Don't get me wrong, there's lots of fighting and bloodshed and the occasional beheading, but it all made the story more intriguing.
The occasional scene change felt awkward, but I definitely was drawn back into the story every time. I just wanted to know what would happen next! I have to say though, I think that you could play "romance book trope" bingo with this and win in the first 100 pages. Also, I think the Kindle copy I got had a few problems - it kept replacing "th" with "d", so occasionally I felt like I was translating.
Anyway, I had fun reading this all in one day. Time travel romances always have the possibility of ending horribly, and so do mortal/immortal matches - it was great seeing what the author did with those elements.
August 27, 2020
The Inscription is a heartwarming romance with more than one good twist at the end. Readers will find themselves rooting for not only Amber and Lachlan, but the solid cast of characters that supports this novel. This is truly a story of legendary love that spans the ages. www.chantireviews.com
July 6, 2017
This book is a DNF. I made it to about page 100 and just had to give it up.
This book could have done with some combing through by an editor. I felt there needed to be more clues being laid along..bread crumbs as it were. If Lachlan is an immortal (maybe I only knew this from reading good reads reviews) but he sleeps, eats, idk... Una mentioned that he needs to watch his health. ?? What possible need does an immortal have for guarding his health? If the reason Lachlan's immortality isn't slowly spelled out then maybe the immortality is secret, and perhaps it would be better to have only Amber's POV and the reader could discover things as she does? Granted, I made it just to page 100. Of course my understanding would be different if I had made it clear through.
The story seems to be written as a series of vignettes which seem to stand alone. Then they are pieced together without transitions: being in the underground chamber, then that ends and suddenly the reader happens upon the next scene. I feel lost a bit. Perhaps that is to create an air of mystery but the story structure makes me feel confused.
This book could have done with some combing through by an editor. I felt there needed to be more clues being laid along..bread crumbs as it were. If Lachlan is an immortal (maybe I only knew this from reading good reads reviews) but he sleeps, eats, idk... Una mentioned that he needs to watch his health. ?? What possible need does an immortal have for guarding his health? If the reason Lachlan's immortality isn't slowly spelled out then maybe the immortality is secret, and perhaps it would be better to have only Amber's POV and the reader could discover things as she does? Granted, I made it just to page 100. Of course my understanding would be different if I had made it clear through.
The story seems to be written as a series of vignettes which seem to stand alone. Then they are pieced together without transitions: being in the underground chamber, then that ends and suddenly the reader happens upon the next scene. I feel lost a bit. Perhaps that is to create an air of mystery but the story structure makes me feel confused.
Read
November 26, 2020I loved reading this book. It was a bit long for a Scottish love romance book, but, I liked this book a lot. The romance between Lachlan and Amber was a slow build. I loved how Lachlan quickly took to protecting Amber. Amber character is a strong and determined young lady. Sometimes the damsel’s in distress in Scottish love novels are bit much. I loved the action, which played out so well in the book. The writing stayed close the the Scottish brogue, which I truly loved. I reviewed this ARC after a free gifted copy
September 8, 2018
What a lovely and totally engrossing story. It had everything. Time travel, romance, adventure and immortality. Reminded me a little of Gabaldon's books as they too are set in Scotland. The only thing that spoilt the book for me was some bad editing otherwise a book I would recommend to anyone.
Read
April 18, 2021Good read reminds me of Diana Gabaldon
August 24, 2016
A mystery story placed across the boundaries of time maybe. And based in Scotland so I expected plenty of scenery and draughty castles. Perhaps the love of a woman brings an immortal man into the human world and creates ripples of change across time.
Actually, I wasn't too far off with the immortal man in the human world because of the love of a woman. Except that he was already living in the world as a Laird of a Scottish castle. And Amber McPhee travelled through time to him. Having arrived she has to adapt to the 16th century way of life. The clothes, the food, the personal hygiene!
Now they need to fulfil an ancient prophesy and fall in love within a moon's cycle or they will be separated again. This isn't made easy by Amber's determination to have her say about things nor Lachan's determination to be absolutely totally sure that AAmber loves him truly.
Needless to say the story is very convoluted and even Queen Elizabeth I has some input into events.
The medieval fayre in Inverness sounded so lovely and I would have enjoyed going along myself, had I had the opportunity!
The book is well written, Pam carried me along with the characters as if I were a miniaturised drone camera tracking their activities. I wanted to stay with Amber in Urqhart Castle to see her live her life out there. It was such a disappointment to come to the last word in the book. I will be keeping an eye out for further books written by Pam Binder.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.
Actually, I wasn't too far off with the immortal man in the human world because of the love of a woman. Except that he was already living in the world as a Laird of a Scottish castle. And Amber McPhee travelled through time to him. Having arrived she has to adapt to the 16th century way of life. The clothes, the food, the personal hygiene!
Now they need to fulfil an ancient prophesy and fall in love within a moon's cycle or they will be separated again. This isn't made easy by Amber's determination to have her say about things nor Lachan's determination to be absolutely totally sure that AAmber loves him truly.
Needless to say the story is very convoluted and even Queen Elizabeth I has some input into events.
The medieval fayre in Inverness sounded so lovely and I would have enjoyed going along myself, had I had the opportunity!
The book is well written, Pam carried me along with the characters as if I were a miniaturised drone camera tracking their activities. I wanted to stay with Amber in Urqhart Castle to see her live her life out there. It was such a disappointment to come to the last word in the book. I will be keeping an eye out for further books written by Pam Binder.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.
October 15, 2017
I got this book from net gallery for an honest review.
Amber is visiting Scotland when her car crashes into the Loch Ness.
Lachlan has been having strange dreams about a woman calling him from the Loch Ness. He senses she's in trouble so he walks the Ness only to discover a woman in the water. He dives into Ness to save her.
Amber wakes up and genuinely believes she's observing the Scottish re-enactments. Her first thoughts are that the actors are taking everything far too seriously. However, as the days pass she realises she's gone back in time. Will she ever get back to her own time?
Is she the woman the prophecy refers to?
I absolutely loved Lachlan and Amber's story. It was slow paced at times, but I couldn't seem to put the book down. Amber definitely shakes things up in 1566. Her unique adventure makes her cross paths with a man she falls in love with - but will time be on her side?
Brilliant book with an innovative yet original narrative and I thoroughly, enjoyed it.
Review posted on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R27LGE2...
Amber is visiting Scotland when her car crashes into the Loch Ness.
Lachlan has been having strange dreams about a woman calling him from the Loch Ness. He senses she's in trouble so he walks the Ness only to discover a woman in the water. He dives into Ness to save her.
Amber wakes up and genuinely believes she's observing the Scottish re-enactments. Her first thoughts are that the actors are taking everything far too seriously. However, as the days pass she realises she's gone back in time. Will she ever get back to her own time?
Is she the woman the prophecy refers to?
I absolutely loved Lachlan and Amber's story. It was slow paced at times, but I couldn't seem to put the book down. Amber definitely shakes things up in 1566. Her unique adventure makes her cross paths with a man she falls in love with - but will time be on her side?
Brilliant book with an innovative yet original narrative and I thoroughly, enjoyed it.
Review posted on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R27LGE2...
September 29, 2007
Not a bad story. Cross between Outlander and Highlander. Time traveling woman (through Loch Ness), immortal guy. A bit heavy on the fantastic – the story could have been just fine with just a brush stroke.
July 15, 2008
I'm not usually a time travel reader, but my sister-in-law said this one was good so I gave it a whirl. I actually really liked it, but it still isn't my thing. I would try another one, just not one with the mythological twist of immortals.
December 30, 2009
Excellent historical details. Flat, uninteresting characters. There was no chemistry between the H/H to speak of and the time travel and immortal characters served no real purpose other than as lame plot devices to throw two people, who otherwise would have never met, together.
July 4, 2016
Pleasantly surprised with this story. I couldn't put it down once I started, which I will honestly say I wasn't expecting when I started reading it.
I received this book via NetGalley from the publisher for an honest review.
I received this book via NetGalley from the publisher for an honest review.
December 21, 2011
This is one of my all time favorite romance novels. I lost my original copy and searched for about two years before I finally got a second copy. And I love it more every time I read it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews