The Marshal and the Heiress

American/Scottish Trilogy #2

by Patricia Potter

U.S. Marshal Ben Masters travels across the Atlantic to Scotland to guard the life of a four-year-old orphan, the lost heir of an ancient estate, whose beautiful aunt distracts him from his mission

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Adult

547 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Patricia Bouvier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in two days ! Couldn't put it down.

Great story ! Lots of curve balls I didn't see coming.

Love, drama , animals and suspense.

I didn't know who caused all the trouble and was shocked at who it was

[Nancy Sanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this historical romance. I loved the mix of danger, adventure, and romance as Ben’s mission brought him into a world of secrets and unexpected feelings. The characters were engaging, and the story kept me turning the pages to see how everything would unfold.

[Varian Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I missed something by picking up book 2 first. I didn't realize it was the second in a series. I did enjoy the writing, so I'll see if my library has the other books.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the story begun in the first book: "Diablo." Ian Hamilton, heir to a Scottish castle with lands, was killed in America for cheating at cards. At the time if his death, Ian was married to a saloon-girl, Mary May. Ian died prior to Sarah Ann's birth.

Ben Masters has adopted the 4-year-old child given to him (Sarah Ann), by his dying lover, Mary May. Realizing that he cannot keep his job as a US Marshal with a small child, Ben retires from chasing criminals and decides to return to his first career as a lawyer.

In the meantime, a US manhunt has been going on to find Ian (or his heirs), because he/she has inherited Calholm (Scottish castle and lands).

Calholm is in an uproar when Sarah Ann and Ben arrive. Ian's heirs will have to decide the fate of how the lands are used - a wrenching decision in the best of times. However, Ben is soon smitten with one of the combatants, Lady Lisabeth.

There are murder attempts aplenty; this is a well-paced novel. However, I did not enjoy it as much as "Diablo." Why? I can't tell you. The characters were likable and strong, particularly Ben. This book just didn't have the life-and-death drama of the first book.

Another reviewer commented that she found the frequent references to "Diablo" to be excessive. I think Patricia Potter wanted to show the source and depth of Ben's motivations. It is important to read this trilogy in order.

Patricia Potter American/Scottish Series:

1) Diablo
2) The Marshall and the Heiress
3) The Scotsman Wore Spurs

[Kazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Sarah Ann’s character did not feel, erm, real. It did not feel as if she were a child. She also felt as being on the verge to growing up spoiled. She is getting everything she wants, including a pony. Granted Ben acknowledges that he “wished he knew what boundaries to set, but parenting was too new. He wanted to give her the sun and moon and every star in the sky. The word ‘no’ had become difficult, if not impossible to say.” Therefore, Sarah Ann’s character was odd to me.
* I can see how/why Ben never developed a strong relationship with Mary May (it was mostly physical, there was not a lot of time spent together); yet he takes on the responsibility of guardian of Sarah Ann and develops a strong relationship with Lisbeth: “he knew he had never really made or given love before” Lisbeth. I guess guilt can be strong enough? And sometimes love comes about faster with the right person?
* Ben does not feel comfortable showing off his bad leg, but then he wears a kilt to a ceilidh, and now everyone can see his legs?

[Gmc · Rating 5 out of 5]

U. S. Marshal Ben Masters has become guardian to 4 year old Sarah Ann after promising the mother at her death that he would care for the child. Then the child becomes a Heiress, and the marshal takes her to Scotland to claim her inheritance and introduce her to her "family".
This is the middle book in a series.

[Marilyn Kavanaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is one significant problem

with a basic device of the book and that is that adoption severs the adoptee's legal relationship with the biological parents--including the right of inheritance. The establishment of Ben's guardianship of Sarah Ann was sufficient for the plot.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book seemed to spend a lot of time rehashing what happened in the previous book.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Potter's Western Historicals. Miss them.