Journey to Enchantment

The Golden Chronicles #2

by Patricia Veryan

Beautiful, flame-haired, fiercely independent Prudence has two passions: Scotland and the heroics of Ligun Doone, scourge of the hated Redcoats. And she is shocked when her father takes one of those Redcoats–a wounded English soldier–into their home on the shores of Loch Ness.

But soon Prudence begins to suspect this Englishman is more than he seems–she fears he is a spy, even as she begins to surrender her heart. What's more, she is suddenly embroiled in a daring plot to rescue rebel Scots and smuggle a cypher containing the location of Bonnie Prince Charlie's lost treasure. This is her adventure of a lifetime, with even greater treasures to be found on her Journey to Enchantment.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Georgian, Scotland, Fiction

362 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Patricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.

At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to four. A good book, but not as good as others I've read from this author, but also bonus points for setting most of the book in Scotland.

[Tweety · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 rounded up to 4

Patricia Veryan is a go to vacation author for me, she's humorous along with the right mix of historical romance for the occasion.

This was another all round good story, a big plus was the setting in Scotland, I don't get to read enough books set there. Add escapes across the hills, dodging bounty hunters and the redcoats alike and you have a wonderful bit of excitement ahead. The banter between the hero and heroine was even laugh out loud funny in moments!

The hero, a Captain in the King's army, is recovering from wounds and starts out to just enjoy the fiery Scottish heroine's company, if she'll let him, and maybe get some kisses/information of Scottish spies. Prudence/Penelope whateverhernameis, mistrusts the wounded Captain as soon as she hears her father is letting him recuperate in their home, and is determined to find out his game and stop him from capturing her brother and a Scottish hero.

The regular visitors and strange nightly visitors the Captain receives alert the heroine to what he's doing and she hatches a plan to expose him for the spy he is.

I enjoyed this, there was some very interesting details on the Jacobite Rebellion and watching the characters grow and seeing the true them is one of the things I love about this author.

I'll admit it was slightly frustrating on the romantic side as the hero took too long to declare his intentions, but you know how it's going to end so I just sat back and enjoyed to quirky ride.

That said, Patricia Veryan does tend to border silly at times. The Loch Ness Monster was one of those times. Having seen that loch, and then picturing this contrived monster on it, it was all I could do not to cringe and feel the book was tainted. Yes, she used it ingeniously, rather like the Trojan Horse, but why? Why? Of all the options available..!

I did enjoy it, I just have to blank that out of my memory. And otherwise, the book was fantastic!

There's betrayal, secrets. learning to look beyond what someone seems to be on the outside, and humor to stop you from taking anything too seriously.

PG Some light swearing, fighting and mention of mistresses, people having affairs and the like. The heroine's Aunt is into astrology, no one takes her seriously, and while its talked of we don't actually go into it.

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, another very late night - or early morning. Sadly my vacation will soon be over and I won’t be able to dedicate so much of my time to my Veryan re-read.

This one was in parts very funny, in parts nail-bitingly suspenseful, and apparently not one of her books I read for the upteenth time, since I could not remember all of the plot, which was nice. Also, first mention of Rump by name. Did she plan the redemption of Roland Otton from the beginning, or did she gradually see his potential? Nah, she probably knew.

I love how totally out of this world romantic her books are. I don’t read them for the reality, but for the fantasy, and for the very real feelings her characters and their adventures inflict on me. Even now, after I’ve finished, my belly still is this wonderful kind of upset, a mixture of happiness with melancholy and glee. Just thinking of certain scenes, dialogues, looks.... Pure bliss.

Also: I want to see this on film: the period costumes, the sword fights, the kissing - ah, delicious!!!!

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, sometimes I liked it a lot. But sometimes I felt overwhelmed by Scottish dialect, and sometimes it was... how to put it... too long like to me. I know, it sounds bizarre but what can I tell, I felt this way. It doesn't mean I was bored. I really don't know how to explain my feelings.

Nonetheless, I liked it, and if you like Patricia Veryan books you should read this one too.

For more, read Tweety's review

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journey to Enchantment is another deft mix of Veryan’s signature adventure/romance. Like its predecessor, the emphasis is on the adventure. In the second in the series, we follow Geoffrey Delavale, Penny’s brother she thought dead in Practice to Deceive. He is a dying man, but still manages, masquerading as Ligon Doone, to rescue Jacobites fleeing from Lord Cumberland’s savagery. There is a shade of The Scarlet Pimpernel in this one, as Prudence, our Scottish heroine, idolizes Ligon Doone, while thinking contemptuously of Geoffrey Delavale, a Sassenach she suspects of being a spy. He is recovering from his war wounds at her family’s estate on the banks of Loch Ness by virtue of the fact that though fighting against Bonnie Prince Charlie, he is an old friend of her brother Robbie. The second half of the book is a chase through the highlands, as Geoff, Prue, and their compatriots are running from soldiers, bounty hunters, and paid assassins. It ends with a tense nail biter of a showdown between the evil and greedy Uncle Joseph the wanton Aunt Sybil, Roland Otton, and the Captain who has been pursuing them. I did enjoy this one a bit more than the first of the Golden Chronicles as I found the hot tempered Prudence more funny and engaging than Penny, and the brave and noble Geoffrey much more mature than the sometimes not-too-bright Quentin Chandler.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Both main characters are amazing. I love Geoff. I have to say, though, normally, I don't care for the ladies who have tempers. And Prudence has a temper. It typically gets on my nerves. A lot. But this one, not so. The guy is so easy going that they balance each other out. It's amazing the way Veryan manages it. If you are a fan of Veryan, or are just trying her for the first time, let me say, this is one of the best. (At least in my own humble opinion.)

[Catie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not take to our flame-haired feisty (why do they call this headstrong? anything but the head in charge...) 'och aye the noo' Scottish heroine (inaptly named Prudence) - other than that it was a fun book not quite up to Veryan's usual standard.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'd have loved these had I discovered them in high school. At this point in my life however, the foolishly headstrong ingenue trope mostly just makes me feel old and tired.

[Anneceleste · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
Like the first book from the Golden Cronicle series, Practice to Deceive, the first 100 pages take place in the house of the heroine, while the last two thirds of the book are full of on the road adventure. I liked the first part very much. The second was hard to follow because the author uses so much written scottish dialect. There is a mystery concerning a cypher which I hope will clear soon.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a bit less than 3 stars - I was excited at the beginning because although it was obvious where it was going,, I loved the premise. But I felt the plot moved very slowly - especially the first half - or whenever they were forced out of the house. The characters were interesting and well - drawn, and the plot was fun, what there was of it....but not enough angst or drama in the relationship to sustain such a long pause in action. Probably wouldn't want to re-read.

[Flora Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been facinated by Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. I have always felt the it was a cause that should have been allowed to succeed and have found it an atrocity the brutality done to the Scots and all those who added them in the aftermath, so this book was right up my alley.

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this second volume of the Golden Chronicle series (begun with Practice to Deceive, the setting is again 18th century Scotland and England. Ligun Doone is a mysterious folk hero who somehow eludes and frustrates the redcoats, the enemy Sassenach. Prudence MacTavish, a lass from the shores of Loch Ness, is passionately patriotic. Fate, in the person of a wounded officer, brings Ligun Doone not only into Prudence's home but into her heart as well, though Ligun Doone's real identity turns out to be an ironic surprise. The two engage in dangerous escapades for the safe conduct of a cipher who will help the cause of those called by Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Sounds exciting, right? WRONG. Before I got to page 50, I had already figured out who Ligun Doone was, had already tired of the feisty heroine who cannot control her mouth, had already known she would cause trouble to the hero with her uncontrollable temper. Bah! Too formulaic. So sad, too, cause I loved the first one.

[Lhenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, Veryan's books have a great blend of romance, adventure and humor. Geoffrey's humor is particularly gallant when the reader realizes his condition. One of my all time favorite scenes involves the Loch Ness monster - the book is worth reading for that part alone, but there's lots more goodness in here including a better glimpse of the fantastic hero/anti-hero Roland Otten. One thing that always bothers me a little about this one is that Prudence makes a fool of herself several times and even puts others into dander because her father and Geoffrey have not told her all the facts. But once they tell her, she is an awesome heroine

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th in my Veryan re-read. June 1746, set in Scotland. Prudence MacTavish and Geoffrey Delacourt (actually Delavale, brother of Penelope from book 1. This book is a close continuation).

Thaddeus Briley is a major secondary character, along with Elizabeth Clandon. Prudence's brother is Rob MacTavish. Curious to see if he shows up in a later book. Colonel Cunningham is the military antagonist. Here's where we get the first glimpse of Otten's future redemption. He loves his horse . . .

Houses are name dropped: Dominer, Lac Brillant and people: Marbury, Treve de Villars, Aynsworth

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually better the second time I read it. I can’t figure out where my head was at when I read these 2 1/2 years ago, but it obviously was not in what I was reading because I barely remember these books. I’m enjoying them more obviously because I’m upping my stars. I see in this book a faint effort on the part of the author to redeem a very bad man, and I will be extremely surprised if she pulls it off.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun continuation of Practice to Deceive. Although I have to say that the front of my book doesn't look like that. This story takes place in Scotland. It centers around a captain who was severally wounded during a battle. He was fighting for England, but after seeing the harms done to women and children, he sets out to help those still being persecuted in Scotland.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book better than the first one in the series. Of course it's another love story but I just don't get tired of a good romance.

[Vero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow I didn't like this one very much - neither the heroine nor the hero moved me.

I just couldn't find much interest in me for their story.