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Spirit of the Highlands #2
Once Upon a Plaid
A wife may be courted, too…
Many would count Katherine Douglas fortunate indeed. Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. But after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart. And she has yet to bear him an heir. The distance between them is too great—and so she flees over the snowy highlands to Glengarry Castle, home of her childhood, to set her husband free.
But William won’t let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he’s at her father’s threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved…
Many would count Katherine Douglas fortunate indeed. Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. But after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart. And she has yet to bear him an heir. The distance between them is too great—and so she flees over the snowy highlands to Glengarry Castle, home of her childhood, to set her husband free.
But William won’t let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he’s at her father’s threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 7, 2014
30 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Mia Marlowe
34 books387 followersMia's work has been featured in PEOPLE magazine's Best of 2010 edition. One of her books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands next to Johnny Depp memorabilia. Her books have been tapped for numerous awards including RomCon's Reader's Crown, RT Reviewers Choice and Publishers' Weekly named her
Touch of a Rogue
one of their 10 Best Romances!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 23, 2015
4 Stars! Lovely heartfelt story!
The story of William and Katherine's plight was poignant and bittersweet. Set during a time when marriages were arranged and rarely based on love, these two were the exception to the rule. They truly love each other, but Katherine's inability to give William an heir has her thinking it would be best to part ways and allow him to find someone who can give him a child. He disagrees, and while he would love to have a family, she is more important to him and he's not willing to let her go.
William is a proud, tough, Highland laird, but when he finally allows his heart to break and grieves with Katherine over what they've lost and what may never be, well, I broke right along with him. While it was sad and heart wrenching, it was also sweet and brought about healing for the two of them. Their journey was not an easy one, filled with indecision and doubt, but it was necessary for both of them to appreciate what they had...each other and hope.
While I enjoyed William and Katherine's story, there was a secondary tale about the Glengarry's court fool, Nab, that I found to be utterly delightful. Nab's constantly being treated less than human by the men in the clan, and his despair and doubt of self worth was heart wrenching. He finds a friend and confidant in William, and also catches the eye of one of the nursery maids, who sees beyond his fool's cap and sets about to lure him into her heart. Theirs is an incredibly sweet love story, and the hopeless Nab goes from zero to hero! It's also Nab's words of wisdom that finally breaks through to William, restores his faith, and allows him to finally grieve.
His eyes burned. Then his vision swam and the back of his throat ached. He stood abruptly and walked away lest Nab catch him with weak eyes. “For what it’s worth, Nab, I’ve never heard a fool make more sense.”William and Nab form the most unlikely friendship, complete opposites, and while in stature and tenacity they were like night and day, both men were smart, full of heart and in their own way looked out for each other!
The writing is true to the time period, historically correct, and beautifully done. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and then Nab's observations underneath, it added an extra element of humor and wisdom to the read. There were a few times when I was willing the story to move forward, and I think that had to do with Katherine and her stubbornness in believing that William needed an heir more than her and that she alone would be enough for him. Overall though, a very charming, enlightening read, that deals with difficult circumstances in any time period, however, it's particularly stressful in this setting where medical knowledge was limited and modern technology unavailable. It's a plot we doesn't always see addressed in historical romance. I appreciated that the author didn't diminish William and Katherine's childless situation with a contrived ending, and I think readers will find it appropriate and satisfying!
Once Upon a Plaid is the second book in The Spirit of the Highlands series, but there is not an overlapping character or story connection and it can be read as a standalone.
*A copy of the book was provided by Kensington books via NetGalley*
December 8, 2014
Unanswered question depresses me.
I've been a fan of Mia Marlowe ever since she was Emily Bryan, so she's sort of an auto-buy for me. Some of her books have hit the spot with me and some have left me a little empty. Once Upon a Plaid, while a sweet book, left me feeling out of sorts. I don't like to be out of sorts; I get grumpy and don't throw the stick for my dog when that happens.
Let's explore some of the things in Once Upon a Plaid that made me a Grumpy Gus. We have our hero, William, and our heroine, Katherine. I loved the introduction to this couple. The entire first chapter is dedicated to Katherine avoiding the manly-man William. He disturbs her, he makes her nervous, he makes the hair on her arms stand on end. It's not 'til the end of the chapter that we, the reader, learn that they are actually husband and wife and that they have been married for four years. I liked that surprise at the end of the chapter and was rubbing my hands together with glee at the thought of a marriage-in-trouble book.
Here's the problem: Katherine has left William because she has failed to provide him with an heir. She is terribly in love with him and she would sacrifice anything to give him what she thinks he desires - in this case, a child. They have been married for four years and in that time they have lost one child and she has had numerous miscarriages. It seems she is unable to carry a child full term. Now, because this is an historical novel the importance of having an heir of one’s own body is paramount. Katherine has decided that the best solution for William is that their marriage be annulled and William marry another. William on the other hand wants nothing to do with ending his marriage. He has arrived at Katherine's father's castle, through a raging snow storm with the intention of taking his wife back home where she belongs. He is deeply in love with Katherine. The problem with this couple is communication, especially with William. The loss of all of her children has been a heavy burden for Katherine and she seems to have suffered through all of the losses alone because William has been unable to communicate his pain to her. So, we are presented with a Balogh-like, angst-filled, suffering drama through a lot of the book. Also thrown in is a secondary romance, which was very sweet, between a servant, Dorcas, and the fool, Nab. I thought Nab's character was one of the better ones in this book, very well-defined, and I was captivated by his story. There is a third-dary story concerning Katherine's absent brother, Donald, and his pregnant wife. I actually thought this storyline deserved a novella; I would have liked to see Donald grovel a little. There is also a sub-plot with an evil nephew who stole a spear or something and then tried to storm the castle.
My disenchantment with the story was with Katherine and William. After a while I became really annoyed with Katherine vacillating between ending her marriage to William and then the next moment giving him big wet kisses all over his body, even his man nipples. I have to tell you that there were numerous door-slamming moments in this book by William as his wife is hot one moment and cold the next. There was a lot of whankee-roo interruptus. There was also a strong element of faith in this story, and I'm not a big fan of religious overtones in my stories. However, this was a historical and Katherine didn't have too much of anything else to cling to. But my biggest problem with this story was something I keep asking throughout the whole book, and it was left unanswered at the end. We have a woman who is unable to carry a child and this woman happens to live in a time period when medical science would have been unable to help give her the child she so desperately wanted. The solution at the end of the story was that William tells Katherine that he has nephews who can inherit so there isn't any problem and she shouldn't worry. Katherine is happy, William is happy, everyone is happy - we have our happy ending. But wait! Here is where my mind kicked in. I am assuming that Katherine and William are still going to have sex. Just because a woman is unable to carry a child full term doesn't mean she can't get pregnant. So, what does the future hold for Katherine? Years and years of one failed pregnancy after another? This is where the story failed me. There was never any mention of William using something to prevent Katherine's possible pregnancy. And, I would think that her loss of so many children would trigger some kind of warning bells that there was something dangerously wrong with Katherine's health, something that could someday be life-threatening to her. In the end, that was what kept looming in my head. I think I understand that Ms. Marlowe was trying to inspire us with surrogacy parent-hood and maybe that would have worked in a contemporary novel. I would have preferred that the ending show Katherine giving birth to a healthy child, but since that wasn't what the story was about then I would have liked William saying something about protecting his wife from future impregnation. For me, that was the void that should have been filled and that was why I was a Grumpy Gus.
I've been a fan of Mia Marlowe ever since she was Emily Bryan, so she's sort of an auto-buy for me. Some of her books have hit the spot with me and some have left me a little empty. Once Upon a Plaid, while a sweet book, left me feeling out of sorts. I don't like to be out of sorts; I get grumpy and don't throw the stick for my dog when that happens.
Let's explore some of the things in Once Upon a Plaid that made me a Grumpy Gus. We have our hero, William, and our heroine, Katherine. I loved the introduction to this couple. The entire first chapter is dedicated to Katherine avoiding the manly-man William. He disturbs her, he makes her nervous, he makes the hair on her arms stand on end. It's not 'til the end of the chapter that we, the reader, learn that they are actually husband and wife and that they have been married for four years. I liked that surprise at the end of the chapter and was rubbing my hands together with glee at the thought of a marriage-in-trouble book.
Here's the problem: Katherine has left William because she has failed to provide him with an heir. She is terribly in love with him and she would sacrifice anything to give him what she thinks he desires - in this case, a child. They have been married for four years and in that time they have lost one child and she has had numerous miscarriages. It seems she is unable to carry a child full term. Now, because this is an historical novel the importance of having an heir of one’s own body is paramount. Katherine has decided that the best solution for William is that their marriage be annulled and William marry another. William on the other hand wants nothing to do with ending his marriage. He has arrived at Katherine's father's castle, through a raging snow storm with the intention of taking his wife back home where she belongs. He is deeply in love with Katherine. The problem with this couple is communication, especially with William. The loss of all of her children has been a heavy burden for Katherine and she seems to have suffered through all of the losses alone because William has been unable to communicate his pain to her. So, we are presented with a Balogh-like, angst-filled, suffering drama through a lot of the book. Also thrown in is a secondary romance, which was very sweet, between a servant, Dorcas, and the fool, Nab. I thought Nab's character was one of the better ones in this book, very well-defined, and I was captivated by his story. There is a third-dary story concerning Katherine's absent brother, Donald, and his pregnant wife. I actually thought this storyline deserved a novella; I would have liked to see Donald grovel a little. There is also a sub-plot with an evil nephew who stole a spear or something and then tried to storm the castle.
My disenchantment with the story was with Katherine and William. After a while I became really annoyed with Katherine vacillating between ending her marriage to William and then the next moment giving him big wet kisses all over his body, even his man nipples. I have to tell you that there were numerous door-slamming moments in this book by William as his wife is hot one moment and cold the next. There was a lot of whankee-roo interruptus. There was also a strong element of faith in this story, and I'm not a big fan of religious overtones in my stories. However, this was a historical and Katherine didn't have too much of anything else to cling to. But my biggest problem with this story was something I keep asking throughout the whole book, and it was left unanswered at the end. We have a woman who is unable to carry a child and this woman happens to live in a time period when medical science would have been unable to help give her the child she so desperately wanted. The solution at the end of the story was that William tells Katherine that he has nephews who can inherit so there isn't any problem and she shouldn't worry. Katherine is happy, William is happy, everyone is happy - we have our happy ending. But wait! Here is where my mind kicked in. I am assuming that Katherine and William are still going to have sex. Just because a woman is unable to carry a child full term doesn't mean she can't get pregnant. So, what does the future hold for Katherine? Years and years of one failed pregnancy after another? This is where the story failed me. There was never any mention of William using something to prevent Katherine's possible pregnancy. And, I would think that her loss of so many children would trigger some kind of warning bells that there was something dangerously wrong with Katherine's health, something that could someday be life-threatening to her. In the end, that was what kept looming in my head. I think I understand that Ms. Marlowe was trying to inspire us with surrogacy parent-hood and maybe that would have worked in a contemporary novel. I would have preferred that the ending show Katherine giving birth to a healthy child, but since that wasn't what the story was about then I would have liked William saying something about protecting his wife from future impregnation. For me, that was the void that should have been filled and that was why I was a Grumpy Gus.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2019
I loved infertility as a topic in a romance novel but the plot otherwise was only so so for me.
October 1, 2014
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
Once upon a plaid is the second book in the Spirit of the Highlands series from this author I didn’t know but who has many historical romances to her credit, and a great discovery for me.
Katherine, desperate to have one miscarriage after the other, decides to take refuge in her father’s castle, to leave her husband William and to obtain an annulment of their marriage for him to be able to marry a woman capable to give him an heir. Inevitably William doesn’t agree and will try to have her change her mind, and to prove to her their love is more important than an heir.
I can say that the heart of the problem between Kat and Will, beyond the miscarriages, is the lack of communication. Kat is so hurt by the successive losses of her future babies that she became withdrawn and even concealed her pregnancies from her husband. She’d need to talk with him about her pain but she thinks that if he doesn’t say anything it’s because he doesn’t care. She also feels guilty not being able to give him an heir and that adds to her suffering. I found her at times a little unreasonable and childish, but by calculating and given the era, those two married very young and must be at most 20 year old, so it’s more understandable.
Will is aware of each failed pregnancy and suffers too, but as a good male he doesn’t know how to express what he’s feeling and chooses the adage “let’s sleeping dogs lie”. He even thinks he mustn’t show his suffering to his wife because it wouldn’t be manly and would serve no purpose. I almost felt more sorry for him than for Kat because his love for his wife is everything for him and he comes to believe that if she wants to leave him it’s because she doesn’t love him anymore. What’s more for him the question of an heir is secondary, even if he’d like to have a child, he has already considered that his title could go to one of his nephews.
Once finished the first chapters where I had to get used to the scottish/period language which bewildered me at first, I was snatched by the emotion of this novel. I felt sorry for Kat and Will as individuals and as a couple. I wanted to shake them to have them talk to each other but they didn’t listen to me LOL. I liked how they finally rediscover the pleasure to be together.
There especially one aborted sex scene which is really poignant and brought tears to my eyes. By the way I can’t resist sharing this excerpt: “Love me, Kat. The words repeated in his brain like a song he was unable to find the end of. I’ve loved ye since I dipped your braid in that wax. Dinna fret about making a child. Let me be enough for ye. Ye’re enough for me.”
Fortunately the secondary characters enable to alleviate a little the emotion. A second couple is formed in this novel, featuring Kat’s father’s “fool”, a simple-minded man who takes everything at face value. It was quite funny to see his reaction faced with the young woman who’s wooing him. We also follow Kat’s sister-in-law, in the last days of her umpteenth pregnancy, who’s hoping her careless husband will come back from the Court in time to support her. Not to mention the cousin who decides to take advantage of the faltering health of his uncle to seize his holdings.
I really liked too that the atmospheres are very well done: the era through lots of little details about every-day life, Christmas time through customs, some of which I didn’t know, and the language I already talked about. We’re far from the wallpaper historical romances, and that’s another positive point for the author.
So Once upon a plaid is for me a great discovery I recommend to every historical romance lover, and I look forward to discover Mia Marlowe’s other books.
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
Once upon a plaid is the second book in the Spirit of the Highlands series from this author I didn’t know but who has many historical romances to her credit, and a great discovery for me.
Katherine, desperate to have one miscarriage after the other, decides to take refuge in her father’s castle, to leave her husband William and to obtain an annulment of their marriage for him to be able to marry a woman capable to give him an heir. Inevitably William doesn’t agree and will try to have her change her mind, and to prove to her their love is more important than an heir.
I can say that the heart of the problem between Kat and Will, beyond the miscarriages, is the lack of communication. Kat is so hurt by the successive losses of her future babies that she became withdrawn and even concealed her pregnancies from her husband. She’d need to talk with him about her pain but she thinks that if he doesn’t say anything it’s because he doesn’t care. She also feels guilty not being able to give him an heir and that adds to her suffering. I found her at times a little unreasonable and childish, but by calculating and given the era, those two married very young and must be at most 20 year old, so it’s more understandable.
Will is aware of each failed pregnancy and suffers too, but as a good male he doesn’t know how to express what he’s feeling and chooses the adage “let’s sleeping dogs lie”. He even thinks he mustn’t show his suffering to his wife because it wouldn’t be manly and would serve no purpose. I almost felt more sorry for him than for Kat because his love for his wife is everything for him and he comes to believe that if she wants to leave him it’s because she doesn’t love him anymore. What’s more for him the question of an heir is secondary, even if he’d like to have a child, he has already considered that his title could go to one of his nephews.
Once finished the first chapters where I had to get used to the scottish/period language which bewildered me at first, I was snatched by the emotion of this novel. I felt sorry for Kat and Will as individuals and as a couple. I wanted to shake them to have them talk to each other but they didn’t listen to me LOL. I liked how they finally rediscover the pleasure to be together.
There especially one aborted sex scene which is really poignant and brought tears to my eyes. By the way I can’t resist sharing this excerpt: “Love me, Kat. The words repeated in his brain like a song he was unable to find the end of. I’ve loved ye since I dipped your braid in that wax. Dinna fret about making a child. Let me be enough for ye. Ye’re enough for me.”
Fortunately the secondary characters enable to alleviate a little the emotion. A second couple is formed in this novel, featuring Kat’s father’s “fool”, a simple-minded man who takes everything at face value. It was quite funny to see his reaction faced with the young woman who’s wooing him. We also follow Kat’s sister-in-law, in the last days of her umpteenth pregnancy, who’s hoping her careless husband will come back from the Court in time to support her. Not to mention the cousin who decides to take advantage of the faltering health of his uncle to seize his holdings.
I really liked too that the atmospheres are very well done: the era through lots of little details about every-day life, Christmas time through customs, some of which I didn’t know, and the language I already talked about. We’re far from the wallpaper historical romances, and that’s another positive point for the author.
So Once upon a plaid is for me a great discovery I recommend to every historical romance lover, and I look forward to discover Mia Marlowe’s other books.
October 4, 2014
3.75 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2014
A wife may be courted, too…
Many would count Katherine Douglas fortunate indeed. Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. But after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart. And she has yet to bear him an heir. The distance between them is too great—and so she flees over the snowy highlands to Glengarry Castle, home of her childhood, to set her husband free.
But William won’t let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he’s at her father’s threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved.
~~~~~~~
3.75 stars--ONCE UPON A PLAID is the second full length storyline (third story) in Mia Marlowe’s slightly paranormal, historical Spirit of the Highlands romance series. Told from third person POV, this is Katherine and William Douglas’s story-a heartbreaking story of love, loss and regret.
After fours years of marriage, Katherine has yet to give William an heir-not that she is unable to get pregnant- but the numerous pregnancies have all ended in still births or infant deaths. Knowing William needs an heir, Katherine becomes a martyr and offers to annul their marriage so that William can remarry and get himself an heir. As the Christmastide approaches, Katherine remains secluded at the home of her ailing brother while forces seek to destroy the Laird of Glengarry castle and everything that he has built.
The relationship between Kat and William has already been established-a married couple, desperately in love with one another –but Kat continues to pull away from husband fearing yet another unsuccessful pregnancy. As Kat and William work at repairing their relationship, betrayal from someone close threatens the castle and everyone who lives within. William loves and needs Kat with every beat of his heart but Kat continues to push away the only man that she will ever love. Kat suffers guilt and anguish with every loss and miscarriage, and believes that William will be better off with another wife. He has kept his emotions and grief about the many losses to himself resulting in mixed signals to the woman that he loves.
The secondary characters include family, friends and castle staff. We watch as Kat’s sister in law gives birth to child number seven leaving Kat brokenhearted and yearning for a family of her own. Kat is willing to sacrifice love and her marriage to see William with an heir of his own.
Mia Marlowe pulls the reader into an imaginative and emotional tale of family betrayal and broken hearts. We watch as one couple struggle with childlessness, hoping for a miracle, only to realize that perhaps it was never meant to be. ONCE UPON A PLAID is an intimate look at a private and personal heartbreak for Katherine and Will.
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2014
A wife may be courted, too…
Many would count Katherine Douglas fortunate indeed. Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. But after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart. And she has yet to bear him an heir. The distance between them is too great—and so she flees over the snowy highlands to Glengarry Castle, home of her childhood, to set her husband free.
But William won’t let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he’s at her father’s threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved.
~~~~~~~
3.75 stars--ONCE UPON A PLAID is the second full length storyline (third story) in Mia Marlowe’s slightly paranormal, historical Spirit of the Highlands romance series. Told from third person POV, this is Katherine and William Douglas’s story-a heartbreaking story of love, loss and regret.
After fours years of marriage, Katherine has yet to give William an heir-not that she is unable to get pregnant- but the numerous pregnancies have all ended in still births or infant deaths. Knowing William needs an heir, Katherine becomes a martyr and offers to annul their marriage so that William can remarry and get himself an heir. As the Christmastide approaches, Katherine remains secluded at the home of her ailing brother while forces seek to destroy the Laird of Glengarry castle and everything that he has built.
The relationship between Kat and William has already been established-a married couple, desperately in love with one another –but Kat continues to pull away from husband fearing yet another unsuccessful pregnancy. As Kat and William work at repairing their relationship, betrayal from someone close threatens the castle and everyone who lives within. William loves and needs Kat with every beat of his heart but Kat continues to push away the only man that she will ever love. Kat suffers guilt and anguish with every loss and miscarriage, and believes that William will be better off with another wife. He has kept his emotions and grief about the many losses to himself resulting in mixed signals to the woman that he loves.
The secondary characters include family, friends and castle staff. We watch as Kat’s sister in law gives birth to child number seven leaving Kat brokenhearted and yearning for a family of her own. Kat is willing to sacrifice love and her marriage to see William with an heir of his own.
Mia Marlowe pulls the reader into an imaginative and emotional tale of family betrayal and broken hearts. We watch as one couple struggle with childlessness, hoping for a miracle, only to realize that perhaps it was never meant to be. ONCE UPON A PLAID is an intimate look at a private and personal heartbreak for Katherine and Will.
www.thereadingcafe.com
October 9, 2014
Mia Marlowe's Once Upon a Plaid is the second in a series but the first I have read written by her. No matter, it stands very well on its own. Saving a marriage with the backdrop of the Christmas season is at the heart of this wonderful Scottish tale. Change the setting to present time and it would just as relevant today. Very well written.
I loved much about this story. First, is the strong development of the characters, showing their intense emotional anguish as they dealt with infertility. You will see inside their heads and hearts. Also is William’s commitment to Katherine and his marriage in spite of the lack of communication between them. Just as superbly is the way the author made me feel as if I was transported back to the 1500’s, experiencing all the sights and sounds of Christmas celebrated in a Scottish castle. Lastly, I enjoyed the supportive characters especially Nab, fool to the Earl of Glengarry, so much so that I began to looked for his quote at the beginning of each chapter. He really is no fool. I’m glad I was not the only one to see him as the gem he is.
Usually, I am not a reader of historical romance fiction but Mia Marlowe has convinced me into converting. Once Upon a Plaid is an unexpected delight novel - dramatic, poignant and brilliantly written. Now, I’ll go back in time with Ms. Marlowe any time.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
I loved much about this story. First, is the strong development of the characters, showing their intense emotional anguish as they dealt with infertility. You will see inside their heads and hearts. Also is William’s commitment to Katherine and his marriage in spite of the lack of communication between them. Just as superbly is the way the author made me feel as if I was transported back to the 1500’s, experiencing all the sights and sounds of Christmas celebrated in a Scottish castle. Lastly, I enjoyed the supportive characters especially Nab, fool to the Earl of Glengarry, so much so that I began to looked for his quote at the beginning of each chapter. He really is no fool. I’m glad I was not the only one to see him as the gem he is.
Usually, I am not a reader of historical romance fiction but Mia Marlowe has convinced me into converting. Once Upon a Plaid is an unexpected delight novel - dramatic, poignant and brilliantly written. Now, I’ll go back in time with Ms. Marlowe any time.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 20, 2014
When I started reading this, I thought oh! another highlander book. But this was very different because of the storyline. If you have read other books by Ms Marlowe, you will find she gets into her characters. You feel happiness, pain and sorrow when you get into reading about how one family life has changed. Katherine Douglas has decided that she hasn't any real connection to her husband of four years. Kate has fled her home to spend the holidays at her father's home and to set her husband free. She feels inadequate because she miscarried several babies. Even though she still loves William, things have made her turn inside herself. Of course, William doesn't want to lose his wife and the only way is to open himself to her. He goes through suffering too, and Kate recognizes this. But maybe the Yuletide season will bless this couple with the joy and love that will always be. I really enjoyed this cute holiday story. Thank you Net Galley for this wonderful read in which I gave an honest review.
September 29, 2014
A Scottish romance with breathtaking historical detail. Mia Marlowe's stories are full of adventure and intrigue. A tale of the Scottish highlands with amazing characters and lots of fasinating twists and turns. The story centers around a married couple, Katherine and William who love each other but circumstances beyond their control have strained their marriage. Katherine desperately wants to give her husband an heir, but has miscarried 5 times. She feels that even though Will loves her, he has never shared his grief with her and she feels hurt and alone. She leaves him to return to her father's keep and he follows her. As treachery stalks the inhabitants of the castle Will opens up to Katherine about his grief and they begin to heal their marriage. There are great secondary characters also like Nab the fool who will make you laugh out loud. I really enjoyed this novel, the first I have read by this author, but I will be reading much more of her. A wonderful scottich historical romance novel.
August 19, 2014
Will was just really swoon worthy, "I, for one, havena given up hope of getting ye with child." He shot her a wicked grin. "And I'm looking forward to the effort verra much." I loved how he felt about his wife, "but he noted a few differences from his mental version of Kat too. Her hips were a little wider, her breasts a little smaller. No matter. She was his. He felt very proprietary about every bit of her. Protectiveness swelled in his chest." He loves for his girl to join him in everything, "he was seated in the earl's copper tub. Flickers of firelight kissed his bare chest and steam curled from the surface of the water. "Will ye care to join me, wife?" I enjoyed reading this book.
October 7, 2014
I liked this book from Mia. She has a lot of history added into her romance. She develops her people to be truly real people. They aren't Saints but neither are they Demons. I love Scotland but don't think I would like to be around that far back. I felt so bad for Kat who loved her husband William, Laird of Badenoch. She left him to go home. She is there because she can't carry to full term. William is sad for both of them. There is a lot of bad intentions around. There are quite a few spoilers here. Try this book. It is hard to put down and there is a lot of information in the Author's Note that makes the story even better. I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.
August 5, 2016
L’émotion est très présente, certaines scènes sont vraiment touchantes, et les personnages sont attachants. L’ambiance de Noel et l’époque sont très bien rendues, on sent que l’auteur a fait beaucoup de recherches.
Avis complet
Avis complet
May 28, 2017
I just recently discovered Mia Marlowe and have now read the 3 "Plaid" books. This book is not connected to the other two. While I do admire Marlowe's addressing infertility, I really dislike romance novels where the hero and heroine (one or both) spend the whole book not communicating with each other and constantly making erroneous assumptions as to what the other is thinking/meaning/wanting/needing. I very much enjoyed the other two books, but almost quit this one in the 2nd chapter because I didn't want to suffer through 340 pages of this wearisome plot device. However, there were several great twists and turns, several sub-stories of interest and I otherwise enjoy Marlowe's writing. As another reviewer said, I would always prefer that we had an epilogue telling us Katherine had been able to carry another baby full-term (we've been prepared by Kat's father divulging to William that her mother had the same problems with child-bearing…she gave birth to older brother Donald, had numerous miscarriages, and then Kat was born), along with Kat finally understanding that William needed her more than anything else and was happy taking in children who needed homes. I would have also liked to see more understanding and acceptance (in the end) of Nab…some understanding by the community he was part of that while he was different, he had value and deserved respect and acceptance. If we're going to have a happy ending, let's make it really happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2017
DNF at 55%
I cannot believe this is the same author! The first book in the series (Plaid Tidings) had great characters, amusing dialogue and some fun ghosts. This book is just whiny.
The entire thrust of the plot is that the hero and heroine have had a stillborn child and several miscarriages. So she lies to husband when she gets pregnant, completely withdraws from her husband, and then runs away when she loses this baby. She has decided that even though she loves (?) her husband, she must get an annulment and join a convent so he can remarry and have heirs. GACK! I only struggled to 55% thinking it would get better, but, alas, no.
Perhaps if this is an issue you or a someone you know has struggled with, this book might be cathartic, but it is certainly not a nice Christmas romance.
I cannot believe this is the same author! The first book in the series (Plaid Tidings) had great characters, amusing dialogue and some fun ghosts. This book is just whiny.
The entire thrust of the plot is that the hero and heroine have had a stillborn child and several miscarriages. So she lies to husband when she gets pregnant, completely withdraws from her husband, and then runs away when she loses this baby. She has decided that even though she loves (?) her husband, she must get an annulment and join a convent so he can remarry and have heirs. GACK! I only struggled to 55% thinking it would get better, but, alas, no.
Perhaps if this is an issue you or a someone you know has struggled with, this book might be cathartic, but it is certainly not a nice Christmas romance.
November 9, 2020
DNF @20%
Book source ~ NetGalley
Katherine Douglas runs to her brother’s home to get away from her husband, Laird William Douglas. William doesn’t understand why his loving wife has been so cold toward him and when she claims she’s going to seek an annulment he is staggered. Betrothed since they were children and married for four years he decides he just needs to court his wife. But she has other plans.
This sounded intriguing when I picked it up, but it fails to deliver. Mainly because William is an idiot. I mean seriously, a huge blockhead. And don’t get me started on Katherine. I understand the tragedy that keeps playing over and over in their lives, but her decision and her refusal to just have a conversation with her husband are just plain juvenile. I have sentenced them both TSTL and close the book on them. I have no desire to subject myself to any more of their company.
Book source ~ NetGalley
Katherine Douglas runs to her brother’s home to get away from her husband, Laird William Douglas. William doesn’t understand why his loving wife has been so cold toward him and when she claims she’s going to seek an annulment he is staggered. Betrothed since they were children and married for four years he decides he just needs to court his wife. But she has other plans.
This sounded intriguing when I picked it up, but it fails to deliver. Mainly because William is an idiot. I mean seriously, a huge blockhead. And don’t get me started on Katherine. I understand the tragedy that keeps playing over and over in their lives, but her decision and her refusal to just have a conversation with her husband are just plain juvenile. I have sentenced them both TSTL and close the book on them. I have no desire to subject myself to any more of their company.
January 22, 2017
Good but not as good as the first one.
I liked the characters, I liked the story but it really didn't grab me. If you read the prequel and the first book, you might as well read this one. Finish the series.
I liked the characters, I liked the story but it really didn't grab me. If you read the prequel and the first book, you might as well read this one. Finish the series.
August 6, 2019
Such a fantastic book! This series is really good and it will keep you engaged from dawn till dusk. Such a good book and with the amount of action in this book, you will never be left bored. Mia Marlowe is such a great author! Can't wait to read more of her books!!
December 13, 2020
It's Okay
Not really Christmas themed though it was set around the solstice. Also, you didn't really get to know any one character well enough to identify with them. Margaret was probably the most notable but she didn't GRT much screen time.
Not really Christmas themed though it was set around the solstice. Also, you didn't really get to know any one character well enough to identify with them. Margaret was probably the most notable but she didn't GRT much screen time.
April 18, 2018
This was a good read.
April 3, 2024
Pretty good.
August 28, 2014
This story starts with Katherine returning home, abandoning her marriage to William after a still born birth and many miscarriages. Infertility must have been very common in historical times, but it’s not always the main plot of a historical romance novel.
Through the telling of the story, you get to know that William and Katherine love each other deeply. The main problem besides the infertility is an inability to communicate. For a modern woman, this was a very relatable plot point. William can’t understand why Kat has left him and longs for her to be his wife again. Kat despairs at not giving William his heir and grieves deeply for her lost children. We discover through the book that the two were married for four years and had a passionate marriage. They were each other firsts and delighted in exploring the intimacies of marriage.
When William returns to Glengarry to retrieve Kat, it is Christmas time, so it adds that element of hope and renewal to the story. William is dogged in his attempts to woo back Kat, but she is so conflicted. She longs to go back to her husband, whom she loves deeply, yet she can’t help but feel like a failure. Her failings are what keep her from reuniting with him and telling him she loves him.
These two are very passionate. Through flashbacks, we learn about how steamy and sexy their bedroom adventures were before the pall of miscarriages and a still birth change their relationship. Once they are reunited at Glengarry, William not only voices his love and desire, but he shows her as often as he can. It isn’t a simple story of him chasing her to just get under her skirts. There is love and desire to have an emotional connection. In one encounter, when he realizes she has been faking orgasms, he is angry, yet determined to put her needs above his own. There are quite a few steamy scenes in this book, but they work toward repairing the relationship and are well placed within the plot.
William has not grieved for his still born son, and when he finally does it felt so cathartic to the reader that you knew there was more than hope for this couple. His grieving helped Kat heal emotionally and it was what she needed all this time, instead of careless comments people make when they don’t understand the emotional trauma of infertility.
The reunion between the two is not the only story happening. The castle fool, Nab, has quite a story line of his own. In modern times, I would hazard to say he has Aspergers Syndrome. He has accepted his lot in life, for it is not a bad one, but just limiting to his hopes and dreams. He meets a kindred spirit in Dorcas, the maid. The story between the two was sweet and hopeful. It was the perfect balance between the heavy emotions of William and Kat. Sometimes I am frustrated as a reader when a secondary plot takes away time from the main characters, but I greatly enjoyed seeing Nab’s life take a wonderful turn.
When William arrives at Glengarry, there is the matter of the bully Ranulf. Ranulf is the Laird’s nephew who openly has designs to take over the castle and rule. With Donald, the heir away at court, there seems little challenge as the current Laird is suffering from strokes. With cunning and brute force, Ranulf makes his stand and the battle for the castle is fast paced and an exciting read. Ranulf has discovered a trebuchet and uses the siege engine to attack the castle. The author is very descriptive and skilled at detailing the elements of war. I actually read as fast as I could to see what would happen. The battle definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!
This book was a great read. I wanted to shake Kat at times for being so uncommunicative to Will. I wanted to shout at her to just tell him how she feels instead of being silent and avoiding the topics at hand. I also liked how this book didn’t follow the typical recipe for sexual encounters. It was refreshing to see a married couple learn to love one another again and to rekindle the sexual heat they once had for once another.
Reviewed on behalf of Kiltsandswords
Through the telling of the story, you get to know that William and Katherine love each other deeply. The main problem besides the infertility is an inability to communicate. For a modern woman, this was a very relatable plot point. William can’t understand why Kat has left him and longs for her to be his wife again. Kat despairs at not giving William his heir and grieves deeply for her lost children. We discover through the book that the two were married for four years and had a passionate marriage. They were each other firsts and delighted in exploring the intimacies of marriage.
When William returns to Glengarry to retrieve Kat, it is Christmas time, so it adds that element of hope and renewal to the story. William is dogged in his attempts to woo back Kat, but she is so conflicted. She longs to go back to her husband, whom she loves deeply, yet she can’t help but feel like a failure. Her failings are what keep her from reuniting with him and telling him she loves him.
These two are very passionate. Through flashbacks, we learn about how steamy and sexy their bedroom adventures were before the pall of miscarriages and a still birth change their relationship. Once they are reunited at Glengarry, William not only voices his love and desire, but he shows her as often as he can. It isn’t a simple story of him chasing her to just get under her skirts. There is love and desire to have an emotional connection. In one encounter, when he realizes she has been faking orgasms, he is angry, yet determined to put her needs above his own. There are quite a few steamy scenes in this book, but they work toward repairing the relationship and are well placed within the plot.
William has not grieved for his still born son, and when he finally does it felt so cathartic to the reader that you knew there was more than hope for this couple. His grieving helped Kat heal emotionally and it was what she needed all this time, instead of careless comments people make when they don’t understand the emotional trauma of infertility.
The reunion between the two is not the only story happening. The castle fool, Nab, has quite a story line of his own. In modern times, I would hazard to say he has Aspergers Syndrome. He has accepted his lot in life, for it is not a bad one, but just limiting to his hopes and dreams. He meets a kindred spirit in Dorcas, the maid. The story between the two was sweet and hopeful. It was the perfect balance between the heavy emotions of William and Kat. Sometimes I am frustrated as a reader when a secondary plot takes away time from the main characters, but I greatly enjoyed seeing Nab’s life take a wonderful turn.
When William arrives at Glengarry, there is the matter of the bully Ranulf. Ranulf is the Laird’s nephew who openly has designs to take over the castle and rule. With Donald, the heir away at court, there seems little challenge as the current Laird is suffering from strokes. With cunning and brute force, Ranulf makes his stand and the battle for the castle is fast paced and an exciting read. Ranulf has discovered a trebuchet and uses the siege engine to attack the castle. The author is very descriptive and skilled at detailing the elements of war. I actually read as fast as I could to see what would happen. The battle definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!
This book was a great read. I wanted to shake Kat at times for being so uncommunicative to Will. I wanted to shout at her to just tell him how she feels instead of being silent and avoiding the topics at hand. I also liked how this book didn’t follow the typical recipe for sexual encounters. It was refreshing to see a married couple learn to love one another again and to rekindle the sexual heat they once had for once another.
Reviewed on behalf of Kiltsandswords
December 2, 2014
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Once Upon a Plaid was an angst filled, tender and passionate romance that brought tears to my eyes on many occasions and of course, a smile to my face at the end.
Katherine Douglas has the one thing every woman dreams of: She is married to a handsome, kind, gentle man who loves her but she knows little about the husband she has been with for four years. Worse still, she has yet to bear him an heir, something that is expected and vital for the survival of the clan. Feeling she has no choice but to abandon him, she flees to her childhood home for Yuletide.
Laird William Douglas doesn’t know how to bridge the growing distance between him and his wife but when she runs away to her father’s home in order to force him to dissolve their marriage he is spurred into action. Arriving at Glengarry Castle, William plans to do everything in his power to win Katherine back but he must also contend with the growing discontent among his father in law’s clan and a nefarious plan to take over leadership.
I’ve read plenty of holiday romances over the years but this one really pulled at my heartstrings! William and Katherine came off as star-crossed lovers with tremendous odds against them. They were so in love with each other in that sweet and passionate but inexperienced way. In their short marriage, they have experienced some deeply personal and tragic events yet for all the love they have for each other, they cannot seem to talk to one another about it. The lack of communication and stubbornness is slowly but surely tainting their once good and pure love with bitterness, insecurity, and resentment.
There's just so much life happening in Once Upon a Plaid! Even while William and Katherine's lives seem to have stalled, the lives of those around them go on. As harsh as the winter is during the story, I could easily picture all the people in Glengarry Castle bustling around, going about their business and preparing for the Yuletide celebrations. I truly felt privy to everyday life in that time period.
However my favorite thing about this book was how Mia Marlowe gave both characters such raw vulnerability and caused them to experience such heartbreak; to me it made their happy ending so much sweeter. As an author, she not only brought these two characters to life but allowed me as a reader to connect with their story and feel what they were feeling, which wasn’t always hearts and butterflies but that is what made Once Upon a Plaid a memorable read for me.
Light on the sex but heavy on the emotions, Once Upon a Plaid provides a holiday romance that is bittersweet, passionate, strong and of course, terribly romantic. I highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of angst ridden characters, Yuletide miracles and of course, Scottish heroes with a deeply ingrained sense of loyalty.
Final Verdict: Pick this one up, it's a beautiful second chance story between a young couple so in love yet so inexperienced when it comes to making a marriage work.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Once Upon a Plaid was an angst filled, tender and passionate romance that brought tears to my eyes on many occasions and of course, a smile to my face at the end.
Katherine Douglas has the one thing every woman dreams of: She is married to a handsome, kind, gentle man who loves her but she knows little about the husband she has been with for four years. Worse still, she has yet to bear him an heir, something that is expected and vital for the survival of the clan. Feeling she has no choice but to abandon him, she flees to her childhood home for Yuletide.
Laird William Douglas doesn’t know how to bridge the growing distance between him and his wife but when she runs away to her father’s home in order to force him to dissolve their marriage he is spurred into action. Arriving at Glengarry Castle, William plans to do everything in his power to win Katherine back but he must also contend with the growing discontent among his father in law’s clan and a nefarious plan to take over leadership.
I’ve read plenty of holiday romances over the years but this one really pulled at my heartstrings! William and Katherine came off as star-crossed lovers with tremendous odds against them. They were so in love with each other in that sweet and passionate but inexperienced way. In their short marriage, they have experienced some deeply personal and tragic events yet for all the love they have for each other, they cannot seem to talk to one another about it. The lack of communication and stubbornness is slowly but surely tainting their once good and pure love with bitterness, insecurity, and resentment.
There's just so much life happening in Once Upon a Plaid! Even while William and Katherine's lives seem to have stalled, the lives of those around them go on. As harsh as the winter is during the story, I could easily picture all the people in Glengarry Castle bustling around, going about their business and preparing for the Yuletide celebrations. I truly felt privy to everyday life in that time period.
However my favorite thing about this book was how Mia Marlowe gave both characters such raw vulnerability and caused them to experience such heartbreak; to me it made their happy ending so much sweeter. As an author, she not only brought these two characters to life but allowed me as a reader to connect with their story and feel what they were feeling, which wasn’t always hearts and butterflies but that is what made Once Upon a Plaid a memorable read for me.
Light on the sex but heavy on the emotions, Once Upon a Plaid provides a holiday romance that is bittersweet, passionate, strong and of course, terribly romantic. I highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of angst ridden characters, Yuletide miracles and of course, Scottish heroes with a deeply ingrained sense of loyalty.
Final Verdict: Pick this one up, it's a beautiful second chance story between a young couple so in love yet so inexperienced when it comes to making a marriage work.
September 24, 2014
Usually I read Regency Romance and little Highland stuff but I found this one on netgalley and just head to read it.
First of all a little about the storyline. It’s part 2 in the “Spirit of the Highlands” saga by Mia Marlowe. I have no clue about book one and I didn’t feel like you have to know it when you read book 2 which is what I prefer.
It’s the touching story of Katherine “Kat” Douglas and her family. But not only about her family in general, much more about her husband William – a handsome looking- laird and her and their problem: she isn’t able to bear him an heir.
It’s winter and she is visiting her Glengarry Castle, where her father lives and her brother’s wife and sons. Her sister in law is in her last days before giving birth again and Kat wants to be there for her but also goes through all the pain of giving birth to a dead baby a couple of years ago again.
Kat thinks about writing to the Pope to ask for an annulment because she wants William to have an heir, to give his title and everything in the bloodline to somebody. Not a cousin, nephew or other relative. But he won’t let her slip away. He does everything in the days around Christmas to make her see that a heir isn’t everything to him – but she is.
But there is also the lovely storyline of Nab, the fool. It’s adorable.
+
+
Well the book took me longer to read because I am not native English and those Scottish/ Highland dialect speeches weren’t easy to understand in the beginning and many words weren’t known by my Kindle dictionary (Pons) nevertheless I made it through the book and really enjoyed reading it.
In the last 1/3 I grew a little board about the planning of the attack of Glengarry castle and the attack itself but that’s because I am not much into those things.
There was a scene, when Kat told William about how she felt when she gave birth to the death baby, Stephan, I grew all sentimental and had to cry with her. It was so emotionally. It happens to me from time to time reading but this scene was so “horrible” that I really had to give myself some time to recollect myself again and finish the book. And this scene is so very, very important to them.
Also the scene between William and Nab at the chapel – amazingly written. Very well done.
I’d give the book 4 of 5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley to give me the option to read this book!
http://starthebucksreading.wordpress....
First of all a little about the storyline. It’s part 2 in the “Spirit of the Highlands” saga by Mia Marlowe. I have no clue about book one and I didn’t feel like you have to know it when you read book 2 which is what I prefer.
It’s the touching story of Katherine “Kat” Douglas and her family. But not only about her family in general, much more about her husband William – a handsome looking- laird and her and their problem: she isn’t able to bear him an heir.
It’s winter and she is visiting her Glengarry Castle, where her father lives and her brother’s wife and sons. Her sister in law is in her last days before giving birth again and Kat wants to be there for her but also goes through all the pain of giving birth to a dead baby a couple of years ago again.
Kat thinks about writing to the Pope to ask for an annulment because she wants William to have an heir, to give his title and everything in the bloodline to somebody. Not a cousin, nephew or other relative. But he won’t let her slip away. He does everything in the days around Christmas to make her see that a heir isn’t everything to him – but she is.
But there is also the lovely storyline of Nab, the fool. It’s adorable.
+
+
Well the book took me longer to read because I am not native English and those Scottish/ Highland dialect speeches weren’t easy to understand in the beginning and many words weren’t known by my Kindle dictionary (Pons) nevertheless I made it through the book and really enjoyed reading it.
In the last 1/3 I grew a little board about the planning of the attack of Glengarry castle and the attack itself but that’s because I am not much into those things.
There was a scene, when Kat told William about how she felt when she gave birth to the death baby, Stephan, I grew all sentimental and had to cry with her. It was so emotionally. It happens to me from time to time reading but this scene was so “horrible” that I really had to give myself some time to recollect myself again and finish the book. And this scene is so very, very important to them.
Also the scene between William and Nab at the chapel – amazingly written. Very well done.
I’d give the book 4 of 5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley to give me the option to read this book!
http://starthebucksreading.wordpress....
February 28, 2015
Once Upon A Plaid is the third installment of The Spirit of the Highlands series by Mia Marlowe. (Plaid to the Bone, Plaid Tidings are the first two)
This historical romance deals with a subject not often covered in romance novels of any genre. Infertility. It is a heartbreaking subject for any couple who want to have children with all their heart. Imagine how emotional the inability of a wife to bear children for her husband was in olden times – when the need for an heir often cause women to lose their husbands if not their heads.
Be prepared for an emotional story.
Read on for my thoughts on Once Upon A Plaid. No true spoilers, promise.
I’m not going to get too detailed in this review. Because to really feel the emotions of Katherine and William you need to actually read their story.
But I can give you an overall feel for that story.
Katherine and William have been married for four years without a living babe to show their love or to ensure the safety or future of William’s lineage and lands. One stillborn son and many miscarriages later Katherine has decided to leave William so that he can set her aside and find a more fruitful wife.
The only problem with that plan – William does not want another wife. In fact, he loves his only wife and sees no reason at all to set her aside. Children will come in time, if only Katherine would stop harping on the subject. And if they didn’t, then their love for each other was enough for him. Why couldn’t she see that?
In the midst of Yuletide, with a possible takeover attempt of his father-in-law’s castle by a power hungry relative – William must woo his wife and keep her from leaving him for his own good. The only good William wanted was his Katherine at his side, no matter what the future held.
This is such an emotion read. The story of two people who obviously love each other, grieve for their stillborn child in far different ways who need to find their way back to each other.
Yes, there are really sensual love scenes, William is a hunk there is no denying that.
But that is not the main story. The story is how two people handle their childless marriage -and how one stubborn, determined man, who loves his wife, will do anything to prove that love to her until she believes that she is enough for him.
I highly recommend it with 5 stars. I think, if you enjoy historical romance, seeing two people who are deeply in love get past a tragedy to fulfill that love – then you will want to read this novel.
This historical romance deals with a subject not often covered in romance novels of any genre. Infertility. It is a heartbreaking subject for any couple who want to have children with all their heart. Imagine how emotional the inability of a wife to bear children for her husband was in olden times – when the need for an heir often cause women to lose their husbands if not their heads.
Be prepared for an emotional story.
Read on for my thoughts on Once Upon A Plaid. No true spoilers, promise.
I’m not going to get too detailed in this review. Because to really feel the emotions of Katherine and William you need to actually read their story.
But I can give you an overall feel for that story.
Katherine and William have been married for four years without a living babe to show their love or to ensure the safety or future of William’s lineage and lands. One stillborn son and many miscarriages later Katherine has decided to leave William so that he can set her aside and find a more fruitful wife.
The only problem with that plan – William does not want another wife. In fact, he loves his only wife and sees no reason at all to set her aside. Children will come in time, if only Katherine would stop harping on the subject. And if they didn’t, then their love for each other was enough for him. Why couldn’t she see that?
In the midst of Yuletide, with a possible takeover attempt of his father-in-law’s castle by a power hungry relative – William must woo his wife and keep her from leaving him for his own good. The only good William wanted was his Katherine at his side, no matter what the future held.
This is such an emotion read. The story of two people who obviously love each other, grieve for their stillborn child in far different ways who need to find their way back to each other.
Yes, there are really sensual love scenes, William is a hunk there is no denying that.
But that is not the main story. The story is how two people handle their childless marriage -and how one stubborn, determined man, who loves his wife, will do anything to prove that love to her until she believes that she is enough for him.
I highly recommend it with 5 stars. I think, if you enjoy historical romance, seeing two people who are deeply in love get past a tragedy to fulfill that love – then you will want to read this novel.
August 28, 2014
An emotional and sweet romance, Once Upon a Plaid was an enjoyable holiday read. With a couple struggling through a vast emotional distance and a would-be heir stirring up trouble, this book was a lovely read that I quite liked.
Katherine was a good heroine. She was weighed down by the loss her unborn children and she was, in her own way, trying to be selfless about the situation. However, it just seemed a bit foolhardy. I understand that she was trying to annul the marriage so that William could marry a woman that could give him children, but she just made the situation worse (it's not like he had no heirs, with his nephews, and I'm not sure why it didn't occur to her that William would be more upset about her leaving than about not having children). Also, she seemed to underestimate how difficult getting an annulment would be, especially because the wife would be applying and the husband was against it (so they probably would rule in favor of the husband and uphold the marriage). This didn't make her an unlikable heroine, just one that I wanted to shake some sense into. But, overall, I thought she was fine.
William was a sweet man, determined to convince his wife to stay with him. To be honest, he really needed to work on his communication. So many times, he wanted to say the exact thing that would have made Katherine let go of the annulment, but he could never say it, for some reason. But, he was kind man, one who was devoted to his wife and wouldn't give up on her. So, despite his extremely poor communication skills, I liked him.
The romance was sweet. The book was, for the most part, about Katherine and William bridging the gap that had come between them. So, we got to know the workings of their relationship and the feelings the were hesitant to give voice to. Despite any issues between them, it was always obvious that they loved each other. And, the definitely had some chemistry, though the heat level was on the lower side. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was steadily paced and, though I wasn't totally hooked, I was kept interested the entire way through. The whole issue with Katherine's cousin trying to claim his uncle's lands added a bit of thrills. I enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Once Upon a Plaid was a sweet historical romance that I enjoyed reading. Romance lovers, this is a book you might want to check out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Katherine was a good heroine. She was weighed down by the loss her unborn children and she was, in her own way, trying to be selfless about the situation. However, it just seemed a bit foolhardy. I understand that she was trying to annul the marriage so that William could marry a woman that could give him children, but she just made the situation worse (it's not like he had no heirs, with his nephews, and I'm not sure why it didn't occur to her that William would be more upset about her leaving than about not having children). Also, she seemed to underestimate how difficult getting an annulment would be, especially because the wife would be applying and the husband was against it (so they probably would rule in favor of the husband and uphold the marriage). This didn't make her an unlikable heroine, just one that I wanted to shake some sense into. But, overall, I thought she was fine.
William was a sweet man, determined to convince his wife to stay with him. To be honest, he really needed to work on his communication. So many times, he wanted to say the exact thing that would have made Katherine let go of the annulment, but he could never say it, for some reason. But, he was kind man, one who was devoted to his wife and wouldn't give up on her. So, despite his extremely poor communication skills, I liked him.
The romance was sweet. The book was, for the most part, about Katherine and William bridging the gap that had come between them. So, we got to know the workings of their relationship and the feelings the were hesitant to give voice to. Despite any issues between them, it was always obvious that they loved each other. And, the definitely had some chemistry, though the heat level was on the lower side. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was steadily paced and, though I wasn't totally hooked, I was kept interested the entire way through. The whole issue with Katherine's cousin trying to claim his uncle's lands added a bit of thrills. I enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Once Upon a Plaid was a sweet historical romance that I enjoyed reading. Romance lovers, this is a book you might want to check out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2014
Historical Christmas Romance Mia Marlowe's Once Upon a Plaid is book two of the Spirit of the Highlands series. A very emotional, tear-jerking story about being unable to have a child in the 16th century. I enjoyed reading it but Katherine kept bouncing back and forth with her emotions and it got annoying after awhile. William is well he is a manly man and part of the problem was his lack of sharing his emotions as soon as he got past that everything was fine.
Katherine and William were and arranged marriage since childhood, fortunately they feel in love with another; but after four years of marriage one still birth and numerous miscarriages Katherine has pulled away from William. Emotionally traumatized by unable to carry a child Katherine leaves and returns to her home to help her sister-in-law in her time of confinement and help out during Twelve Nights (Christmas to New Years are the Twelve Nights of Christmas). William traveled through a blizzard to get to his wife only to have continually try to push him away. William isn't easily detoured and keeps after the only woman he has ever loved. Nab the fool who isn't the fool every everyone sees offers words of wisdom to William and Katherine through out the story that help heal their wounds and work past the pain. Katherine got worked up about it because William needs an heir to pass everything on too and she feels the pressure of not being able give it to him. William would love to have kids but nothing is as important to him as Katherine and even with her threats of annulment he seduces, woos and convinces Katherine he's not going anywhere without her.
On top of Katherine and William's problems her sister-in-law is having some complications with her pregnancy and with her husband spending all his time time in court with the young King instead of at Glengarry castle with his wife and people and his dying father. Which also leads to Katherine's cousin trying to take over Glengarry castle and invading with a long forgotten weapon of mass destruction, and their only hope of salvation is the fool, Nab. Nab also has a little bit of a love story going on.
A touching story, about reaffirming love and faith. If it had been a contemporary romance I would have avoided it. Bringing religion into a story is touchy with me but in the historical setting religion was a huge and I get that, I tend to be more lax about it in historical settings.
Katherine and William were and arranged marriage since childhood, fortunately they feel in love with another; but after four years of marriage one still birth and numerous miscarriages Katherine has pulled away from William. Emotionally traumatized by unable to carry a child Katherine leaves and returns to her home to help her sister-in-law in her time of confinement and help out during Twelve Nights (Christmas to New Years are the Twelve Nights of Christmas). William traveled through a blizzard to get to his wife only to have continually try to push him away. William isn't easily detoured and keeps after the only woman he has ever loved. Nab the fool who isn't the fool every everyone sees offers words of wisdom to William and Katherine through out the story that help heal their wounds and work past the pain. Katherine got worked up about it because William needs an heir to pass everything on too and she feels the pressure of not being able give it to him. William would love to have kids but nothing is as important to him as Katherine and even with her threats of annulment he seduces, woos and convinces Katherine he's not going anywhere without her.
On top of Katherine and William's problems her sister-in-law is having some complications with her pregnancy and with her husband spending all his time time in court with the young King instead of at Glengarry castle with his wife and people and his dying father. Which also leads to Katherine's cousin trying to take over Glengarry castle and invading with a long forgotten weapon of mass destruction, and their only hope of salvation is the fool, Nab. Nab also has a little bit of a love story going on.
A touching story, about reaffirming love and faith. If it had been a contemporary romance I would have avoided it. Bringing religion into a story is touchy with me but in the historical setting religion was a huge and I get that, I tend to be more lax about it in historical settings.
October 29, 2014
Once Upon a Plaid is the latest book in the Spirit of the Highland series by Mia Marlowe. It is currently scheduled for release on October 7 2014. Katherine Douglas is considered fortunate. Her husband, Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. However, after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart and she has yet to bear him an heir. Her pain and desire to set her husband free so he can have his heir has her at her childhood home. But William won't let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he's at her father's threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved.
Once Upon a Plaid deals with issues most romance novels ignore, the ever after that has troubles of its own. Katherine and William were promised to each other as children, and have found love together even if they do not really communicate well. However, after a still born babe and several miscarriages, some of which Katherine has kept to herself, there are barriers and pain between them that need to be breached. It is the lack of communication and shielded emotion that is the root of all the strife between them. I liked that both characters are strong, intelligent, and thinking about the welfare of the other more so than themselves. the addition of clan strife adds another layer of tension and excitement to the story, as does the trials of Katherine's sister, but the true heart of the story is about sharing pain and coming together. There is some faith involved, but not so much that it will push away those that do not enjoy religious fiction. It is more a part of the character's and their lives than a plot point.
I enjoyed that Once Upon a Plaid dealt with some very tough issues, and I felt for the characters throughout the story. i will say that since it began with the couple well into their married life I did feel like I missed something important when I first began the book. It was still a solid read, and may be a very hard read for those that have had trouble conceiving or carrying children to term. The main suggestion I would offer to make the book feel more complete is to offer a preface with a wedding night or childhood day when their love for each other showed.
Once Upon a Plaid deals with issues most romance novels ignore, the ever after that has troubles of its own. Katherine and William were promised to each other as children, and have found love together even if they do not really communicate well. However, after a still born babe and several miscarriages, some of which Katherine has kept to herself, there are barriers and pain between them that need to be breached. It is the lack of communication and shielded emotion that is the root of all the strife between them. I liked that both characters are strong, intelligent, and thinking about the welfare of the other more so than themselves. the addition of clan strife adds another layer of tension and excitement to the story, as does the trials of Katherine's sister, but the true heart of the story is about sharing pain and coming together. There is some faith involved, but not so much that it will push away those that do not enjoy religious fiction. It is more a part of the character's and their lives than a plot point.
I enjoyed that Once Upon a Plaid dealt with some very tough issues, and I felt for the characters throughout the story. i will say that since it began with the couple well into their married life I did feel like I missed something important when I first began the book. It was still a solid read, and may be a very hard read for those that have had trouble conceiving or carrying children to term. The main suggestion I would offer to make the book feel more complete is to offer a preface with a wedding night or childhood day when their love for each other showed.
November 8, 2014
Oh how I love my Scottish-themed historical romances! The second in her Spirit of the Highlands series, Mia Marlowe brings a story that is set in Scotland and features a couple in the midst of a marital crisis as the main theme.
Laird William Douglas has been married to the woman he loves, Katherine, daughter of the house of Glengarry for four years. A solid clan leader, he is quietly confident, kind to his tenants and kinsmen and gentle with his wife. Everything that Katherine could hope for in a husband and father.
But after all this time, when a male heir is most certainly required, the couple is childless. Katherine has had several miscarriages and still-births, and she is heartbroken and feels inadequate, worried about what her ever-loving but still silent husband is thinking. Knowing that he needs an heir, she decides to bow out gracefully and head to her brother’s castle, Glengarry so William will move on and take a new wife.
These two just have NO communication skills! Well, Katherine tries, but she is afraid that he will say he needs to move on. William is a man who is confident in himself and loves her to death, but isn’t certain what words to say. I really liked them, even as I wanted to shake them both. William was incredibly solid and caring, you could feel and see his feelings. But, Marlowe makes Katherine’s emotions easy to understand as well, and you can feel her insecurities build, and her bone deep sadness when she left. Emotions are on a rollercoaster in this story, and it was a wonderful ride: full of heart and life that resonate with readers today.
The first in this series that I have read, I didn’t find any missing connections nor was I hoping for more background information on the characters. I will, however, be looking for more of this author’s titles.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Laird William Douglas has been married to the woman he loves, Katherine, daughter of the house of Glengarry for four years. A solid clan leader, he is quietly confident, kind to his tenants and kinsmen and gentle with his wife. Everything that Katherine could hope for in a husband and father.
But after all this time, when a male heir is most certainly required, the couple is childless. Katherine has had several miscarriages and still-births, and she is heartbroken and feels inadequate, worried about what her ever-loving but still silent husband is thinking. Knowing that he needs an heir, she decides to bow out gracefully and head to her brother’s castle, Glengarry so William will move on and take a new wife.
These two just have NO communication skills! Well, Katherine tries, but she is afraid that he will say he needs to move on. William is a man who is confident in himself and loves her to death, but isn’t certain what words to say. I really liked them, even as I wanted to shake them both. William was incredibly solid and caring, you could feel and see his feelings. But, Marlowe makes Katherine’s emotions easy to understand as well, and you can feel her insecurities build, and her bone deep sadness when she left. Emotions are on a rollercoaster in this story, and it was a wonderful ride: full of heart and life that resonate with readers today.
The first in this series that I have read, I didn’t find any missing connections nor was I hoping for more background information on the characters. I will, however, be looking for more of this author’s titles.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 30, 2014
He wanted her to want him. To need him as he needed her. And if God never saw fit to grant them a child, for him to be enough for her without one.
ONCE UPON A PLAID by Mia Marlowe was a sweet Highlands' Christmas romance teeming with action, angst and a lovely but heartbreaking second chance at love. It is the second book in her Spirit of the Highlands series, but can be easily read as a standalone.
As the story opens, the reader learns that the Laird has journeyed to Glengarry Castle, his wife's childhood home, to retrieve her after she has run from him. His wife has left him so that he can find and marry another wife who can bear him an heir. After four years of marriage, Kat has been unable to give William an heir. She is able to get pregnant- but every pregnancy has ended in a miscarriage or a still birth. So, Kat is dealing not only with being barren, but also with the unacknowledged losses of her babes, as the babes she has lost are like non-entities. Kat's issues are sad, but ones that childless couples can relate to whatever the time period.
The author's note at the book's end includes information about the childless issue she addressed in the book. She wrote: I decided to tackle the theme of childlessness after my sister served as a gestational surrogate for a couple who could not conceive. Infertility is a difficult enough issue in the twenty-first century, when we have access to in vitro fertilization technology and a host of other options. It was devastating in the sixteenth century, when there was no help for childless couples at all. But no matter the time period, the emotional pain is the same and my heart goes out to all who grapple with infertility...."
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Check it out here: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
3 1/2 Wine Glasses!
ONCE UPON A PLAID by Mia Marlowe was a sweet Highlands' Christmas romance teeming with action, angst and a lovely but heartbreaking second chance at love. It is the second book in her Spirit of the Highlands series, but can be easily read as a standalone.
As the story opens, the reader learns that the Laird has journeyed to Glengarry Castle, his wife's childhood home, to retrieve her after she has run from him. His wife has left him so that he can find and marry another wife who can bear him an heir. After four years of marriage, Kat has been unable to give William an heir. She is able to get pregnant- but every pregnancy has ended in a miscarriage or a still birth. So, Kat is dealing not only with being barren, but also with the unacknowledged losses of her babes, as the babes she has lost are like non-entities. Kat's issues are sad, but ones that childless couples can relate to whatever the time period.
The author's note at the book's end includes information about the childless issue she addressed in the book. She wrote: I decided to tackle the theme of childlessness after my sister served as a gestational surrogate for a couple who could not conceive. Infertility is a difficult enough issue in the twenty-first century, when we have access to in vitro fertilization technology and a host of other options. It was devastating in the sixteenth century, when there was no help for childless couples at all. But no matter the time period, the emotional pain is the same and my heart goes out to all who grapple with infertility...."
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Check it out here: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
3 1/2 Wine Glasses!
September 4, 2016
[graciously accepted with pleasure from NetGalley for an honest review]
If you want a novel that tugs at the heartstrings - read it! The hero is ardent and his devotion and adoration to his wife was moving. My weakness is a novel with the hero smitten by his heroine.
Will and Katherine are a passionate, married couple that were torn apart by loss which brought their relationship to a point of frustration, shame, anger and misunderstanding. This novel is a work of depth and realism faced with the inexperience to deal with matters of a married couple’s difficult struggle to communicate their sadness and grief to being the healing process.
The love scenes and sexual encounters are passionate and plotted to perfection and not just thrown in for the sake of it. They are emotive with an unusual style which was refreshing. The flashbacks were also a good touch to a novel. These elements really sets the book apart from the typical Historical Romance theme.
The inner struggles they both experience can be frustrating until Will finds his moment of catharsis, which in turn is shared with Katherine, rekindling their emotions and love once again.
This was my virgin novel of Mia Marlowe, and a pleasure to read. I think Mia is an excellent author who researches and presents her subjects in her work impeccably. I will definitely be keen to read further novels by this author.
If you want a novel that tugs at the heartstrings - read it! The hero is ardent and his devotion and adoration to his wife was moving. My weakness is a novel with the hero smitten by his heroine.
Will and Katherine are a passionate, married couple that were torn apart by loss which brought their relationship to a point of frustration, shame, anger and misunderstanding. This novel is a work of depth and realism faced with the inexperience to deal with matters of a married couple’s difficult struggle to communicate their sadness and grief to being the healing process.
The love scenes and sexual encounters are passionate and plotted to perfection and not just thrown in for the sake of it. They are emotive with an unusual style which was refreshing. The flashbacks were also a good touch to a novel. These elements really sets the book apart from the typical Historical Romance theme.
The inner struggles they both experience can be frustrating until Will finds his moment of catharsis, which in turn is shared with Katherine, rekindling their emotions and love once again.
This was my virgin novel of Mia Marlowe, and a pleasure to read. I think Mia is an excellent author who researches and presents her subjects in her work impeccably. I will definitely be keen to read further novels by this author.
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