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Clan MacKenzie #4
Beguiled
A Woman of Rare Valor
At the wedding ceremony of her sister, Sarah, Agnes MacKenzie leapt in the path of a speeding arrow, saving Edward Napier's life. For Agnes, it was a matter of instinct and training—all Scotland knew her fame as a bodyguard. Few knew the heartache that spurred her perilous course.
A Man of Science—And Mystery
Despite the towering rage of her father, Lachlan, Duke of Ross, Edward Napier used his medical skills to tend Agnes' wounds. Owing her his life, the widower granted her request to accompany him and his children to Glasgow. But he had no intention of allowing this beautiful, foolhardy woman to search out his unknown assassin.
A Passionate Union of Equals
Agnes had forsworn romance until she could right the wrong that burdened her, yet Edward's powerful intellect and easy grace drew her like a magnet. Her audacious ways provoked him to fascination—and occasionally to fury. Amid a new storm of poisoned arrows, they would yield to a love as sudden as it was joyous...a love to cherish and protect as fiercely as life itself.
At the wedding ceremony of her sister, Sarah, Agnes MacKenzie leapt in the path of a speeding arrow, saving Edward Napier's life. For Agnes, it was a matter of instinct and training—all Scotland knew her fame as a bodyguard. Few knew the heartache that spurred her perilous course.
A Man of Science—And Mystery
Despite the towering rage of her father, Lachlan, Duke of Ross, Edward Napier used his medical skills to tend Agnes' wounds. Owing her his life, the widower granted her request to accompany him and his children to Glasgow. But he had no intention of allowing this beautiful, foolhardy woman to search out his unknown assassin.
A Passionate Union of Equals
Agnes had forsworn romance until she could right the wrong that burdened her, yet Edward's powerful intellect and easy grace drew her like a magnet. Her audacious ways provoked him to fascination—and occasionally to fury. Amid a new storm of poisoned arrows, they would yield to a love as sudden as it was joyous...a love to cherish and protect as fiercely as life itself.
303 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Arnette Lamb
19 books66 followersArnette Lamb was an American writer of 13 romance novels from 1995 to 1998. She was born in 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and she died prematurely from cancer on September 18, 1998. Her funeral service was held in the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 5, 2016
No fue una gran historia, más sin embargo quería ver cómo terminaba, los personajes me parecieron interesantes pero creo que la autora podía sacar más de ellos, por momentos me desesperaba que la relación entre Agnes y Edward estuviera estancada y muchas de sus peleas ni las entendía y no las entendí, entretenida es, pero tampoco te pierdes de mucho si no la lees. De esas historias que lees pero se olvidan o pasan a segundo plano con otras mucho mejores.
November 16, 2008
I started this book a while ago, and put it down for several months. It was really good when I started reading it, but I am a mood reader so it wasn't fitting my mood. I finished it yesterday and I was ready to read it then. Agnes Mackenzie is a heroine after my heart. She has purpose and drive, but also a heart. She can be ruthless when needed, but for the best reasons. She is tough and a warrior. I wish there were more genuine women warriors in romance. I also liked the hero, Edward. He is a scientist and a thinker, but also a man of action. Both characters embody elements that I love about Scottish people: passion, pragmatism, loyalty to the end, and love of family. The love scenes come late in the book, but they are well written and emotional. You want this couple to be together, and I loved that Edward supported Agnes's mission and was willing to change his own life to be with her and to help her fulfill her mission. I highly recommend this older romance for a reader who likes Scottish romances, strong heroines, sexy, cerebral heroes, and a good bit of adventure thrown in. This is part of the Clan Mackenzie series which starts with Highland Rogue, and is followed by Betrayed, if you like to read books in order.
July 21, 2013
There aren't enough exclamation marks to satisfy my enjoyment of this book. I found it at a used book store and what a treasure it turned out to be. I even went back to the store to find more books by this author I was so enthralled. Alas, the good news is I found the next/last in the series. The bad news is the author died in 1998 so her books are generally unavailable even as e-books. This MacKenzie series is so good though, if you happen upon it like I did don't hesitate to pick it up and read it.
Agnes is not your ordinary heroine. She's trained in martial arts. The reason is in the background of this story and is also the reason she has spurned all suitors. Her younger sister was abducted while she was meeting a beau and so she is relentless in her search for her.
She saves the hero, Edward, from an assassin's cross-bow while at her sister's wedding in the first chapter and the adventure never wanes until the epilogue.
The two spar verbally mostly because Agnes is in denial of her feelings for Edward. She doesn't want to be distracted while protecting the family and she knows that if she were to receive news of her missing sister, she would abandon whatever she was doing at the time and go. Edward is a widow who dearly loved his wife. He recognizes his love for Agnes but keeps it to himself knowing he has his work cut out for him getting her to love him in return. There are several secondary characters that add delight throughout: Edward's children, Christopher and Hannah, Auntie Loo, her father, Lachlan MacKenzie, Duke of Ross, her sisters Mary, Sarah and Lottie.
Agnes is not your ordinary heroine. She's trained in martial arts. The reason is in the background of this story and is also the reason she has spurned all suitors. Her younger sister was abducted while she was meeting a beau and so she is relentless in her search for her.
She saves the hero, Edward, from an assassin's cross-bow while at her sister's wedding in the first chapter and the adventure never wanes until the epilogue.
The two spar verbally mostly because Agnes is in denial of her feelings for Edward. She doesn't want to be distracted while protecting the family and she knows that if she were to receive news of her missing sister, she would abandon whatever she was doing at the time and go. Edward is a widow who dearly loved his wife. He recognizes his love for Agnes but keeps it to himself knowing he has his work cut out for him getting her to love him in return. There are several secondary characters that add delight throughout: Edward's children, Christopher and Hannah, Auntie Loo, her father, Lachlan MacKenzie, Duke of Ross, her sisters Mary, Sarah and Lottie.
January 1, 2023
Pull quotes/notes
"'Please, Papa,' Agnes begged. 'There isn't much time.'
Her eyes were now glassy. Lachlan's fear returned with a vengeance. 'Time? What do you mean?'
Perspiration dotted her brow, and her head lolled against Cathcart's shoulder. On a sigh, she said, 'The arrow was poisoned.'" (10) of course it was
"Chang Ling, the master who'd taught her the fighting ways of the ancient ones, had also schooled her to control her emotions. Calling up his teachings, she tightened her grip." (27) oh BOY
"Lord Edward's hands were large, but not square or overly callused, and his fingers were long, graceful, and vaguely reminiscent of those of a violinist she'd met in Paris. It was odd that she should think of that engaging Frenchman now. Her sister Lottie was quick to say that she'd love her own husband, David, even if he had warts on his nose and crippled limbs." (27) cameo for the engaging Frenchman, I guess? No further explanation given, none taken.
"'A dismissed student or a sultry one, wanting revenge over failing marks?'" (31) wtf meaning of sultry is this
"A post horn hung below the inn's symbolic sign bearing a badger and a bird." (38) ok, Rocky Flintstone
"Oh, they had and still did prank among themselves," (62) what
"His forearms were beautifully shaped
with ropes of muscles and a light dusting of hair." (120) ropy strikes again
"Christopher leaned close to his half sister and whispered, 'If you're nice to our mother, she'll teach you how to pick a lock with naught but a hairpin for a tool.'" (302) honestly this would've convinced me to behave as a child
"'Please, Papa,' Agnes begged. 'There isn't much time.'
Her eyes were now glassy. Lachlan's fear returned with a vengeance. 'Time? What do you mean?'
Perspiration dotted her brow, and her head lolled against Cathcart's shoulder. On a sigh, she said, 'The arrow was poisoned.'" (10) of course it was
"Chang Ling, the master who'd taught her the fighting ways of the ancient ones, had also schooled her to control her emotions. Calling up his teachings, she tightened her grip." (27) oh BOY
"Lord Edward's hands were large, but not square or overly callused, and his fingers were long, graceful, and vaguely reminiscent of those of a violinist she'd met in Paris. It was odd that she should think of that engaging Frenchman now. Her sister Lottie was quick to say that she'd love her own husband, David, even if he had warts on his nose and crippled limbs." (27) cameo for the engaging Frenchman, I guess? No further explanation given, none taken.
"'A dismissed student or a sultry one, wanting revenge over failing marks?'" (31) wtf meaning of sultry is this
"A post horn hung below the inn's symbolic sign bearing a badger and a bird." (38) ok, Rocky Flintstone
"Oh, they had and still did prank among themselves," (62) what
"His forearms were beautifully shaped
with ropes of muscles and a light dusting of hair." (120) ropy strikes again
"Christopher leaned close to his half sister and whispered, 'If you're nice to our mother, she'll teach you how to pick a lock with naught but a hairpin for a tool.'" (302) honestly this would've convinced me to behave as a child
January 12, 2022
3.5. (Explícito). Excelente, aunque a la mitad del libro me aburrió la historia fue muy entretenida y algo interesante. Agnes se dejó seducir por Edward totalmente. Pero que inicio del libro, me llamó mucho la atención.
Como me he dado cuenta con esta escritora, me ha dejado con ganas de un misterio más complejo y que no todo se resolviera por si solo y que tampoco tuviera un final tan apresurado. Siento que deja muchas cosas inconclusas. Otra cosa que ya no me debería sorprender es la diferencia de edad entre los protagonistas, él treinta y nueve y ella creo que veintitrés. No lo vi venir por las descripciones que los personajes tenían de Edward, lo imaginaba algo más jóven.
Me gustaron los protagonistas, incluso Tía Loo, Agnes no se dejaba vencer por las limitaciones que las mujeres tenían en esa época ni se dejaba influenciar por lo que dictaban las normas del título de su padre, un duque, puesto que no le interesaba seguir las más estrictas normas de etiqueta. Incluso me encantó ese entrenamiento de algún arte marcial que recibió en China.
Edward también me gustó porque se enfocó en conseguir el amor de Agnes, no se dejó vencer ni aunque tuviera un suspuesto asesino detrás de él.
Aquí, más que en el libro siguiente, se puede apreciar mucho más el amor que el duque de Ross, Lachlan, siente por sus hijas (e hijo), muy adorable.
Narrado en tercera persona de parte de Agnes y Edward.
Como me he dado cuenta con esta escritora, me ha dejado con ganas de un misterio más complejo y que no todo se resolviera por si solo y que tampoco tuviera un final tan apresurado. Siento que deja muchas cosas inconclusas. Otra cosa que ya no me debería sorprender es la diferencia de edad entre los protagonistas, él treinta y nueve y ella creo que veintitrés. No lo vi venir por las descripciones que los personajes tenían de Edward, lo imaginaba algo más jóven.
Me gustaron los protagonistas, incluso Tía Loo, Agnes no se dejaba vencer por las limitaciones que las mujeres tenían en esa época ni se dejaba influenciar por lo que dictaban las normas del título de su padre, un duque, puesto que no le interesaba seguir las más estrictas normas de etiqueta. Incluso me encantó ese entrenamiento de algún arte marcial que recibió en China.
Edward también me gustó porque se enfocó en conseguir el amor de Agnes, no se dejó vencer ni aunque tuviera un suspuesto asesino detrás de él.
Aquí, más que en el libro siguiente, se puede apreciar mucho más el amor que el duque de Ross, Lachlan, siente por sus hijas (e hijo), muy adorable.
Narrado en tercera persona de parte de Agnes y Edward.
January 28, 2025
Not good
January 9, 2015
One of my favorite Scottish historical romances. It has been many years since I last visited the Mackenzies and Agnes is one of the best. She has a character that never gets old, strong, defiant and determined. Edward Napier is her perfect match. His dedication to his children and those under his care is admirable and decidedly uncharacteristic of the times. They are a bit of role reversal, he has a quiet even manor to her stronger take action demeaner. This makes for a wonderful story. I really hope it is released in ebook format soon.
June 24, 2015
Nebylo to špatný čtení...ale...hm.. poslední třetina knihy byla taková... no.. říkala jsem si, že tam prostě některý věci nesedí a navíc... ach bože umřu z oslovování "můj lorde x má milady" fakt jo..
April 14, 2021
Another reread, 3.5 stars. Lots of problematic racial stereotypes, colonization, not surprising for when it was written. Agnes is probably my favorite character of the series.
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September 2, 2013"Historical Romance"
June 12, 2014
Agnes would be an unbelievable character at the hands of many writers, but Arnette Lamb makes this story sing. Edward is drawn to Agnes despite the fact that she occasionalllly provokes him to fury.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews