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A Scotsman in Love: A Highland Romance of Haunted Pasts and Healing Hearts
Running from their pasts
Margaret Dalrousie was once willing to sacrifice all for her calling. The talented artist would let no man interfere with her gift. But now, living in a small Scottish cottage on the estate of Glengarrow, she has not painted a portrait in ages. For not even the calming haven in the remote woods can erase the memories that darken Margaret's days and nights. And now, with the return of the Earl of Linnet to his ancestral home, her hopes of peace have disappeared.
From the first moment he encountered Margaret on his land, the Earl of Linnet was nothing but annoyed. The grieving nobleman has his own secrets that have lured him to the solitude of the Highlands, and his own reasons for wanting to be alone. Yet he is intrigued by his hauntingly beautiful neighbor. Could she be the spark that will draw him out of bittersweet sorrow—the woman who could transform him from a Scotsman in sadness to a Scotsman in love?
Margaret Dalrousie was once willing to sacrifice all for her calling. The talented artist would let no man interfere with her gift. But now, living in a small Scottish cottage on the estate of Glengarrow, she has not painted a portrait in ages. For not even the calming haven in the remote woods can erase the memories that darken Margaret's days and nights. And now, with the return of the Earl of Linnet to his ancestral home, her hopes of peace have disappeared.
From the first moment he encountered Margaret on his land, the Earl of Linnet was nothing but annoyed. The grieving nobleman has his own secrets that have lured him to the solitude of the Highlands, and his own reasons for wanting to be alone. Yet he is intrigued by his hauntingly beautiful neighbor. Could she be the spark that will draw him out of bittersweet sorrow—the woman who could transform him from a Scotsman in sadness to a Scotsman in love?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 2009
About the author
Karen Ranney
101 books949 followersI’m a writer who’s been privileged to have attained the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists.
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 21, 2009
All the elements of a great story were supposed to be in this book: love-hate theme, reclusive hero, I-follow-my-own-path-and-the-world-be-damned heroine and all taking place around a foreboding castle in the Scottish highlands. Well, all that’s there but the h/h are rarely together throughout the story and when they do get together it felt like the author was running out of pages and finally decided to smack them together with the I Love Yous. It’s as if you’re reading the beginning of a book that sets the scene for the story but it’s over 250 pages.
Margaret Dalrousie lives in a little cottage on the land of the great and powerful laird Robert McDermott who’s been absent for years. A famous court painter for the Russian aristocracy she had to flee Russia after something horrible happens to her. She lives in virtual isolation, apart from a housekeeper and a caretaker that also look after the castle, spending her days doing nothing and trying to forget her past. She also refuses to paint which is an integral part of her. Finally the laird returns with a sad past of his own that he’s trying to get through. He can’t seem to put the death of his wife and daughter behind him so he neglects his home and lives elsewhere. The two finally meet accidentally, dislike each other on sight and end up spying on each other for about three quarters of the novel because they’re both sort of interested in the other.
You’d think with that kind of a plot line some big love story would come of it but no matter how many pages you keep turning not much ends up happening. It’s such a dismal, miserable read from start to finish. There’s way too much dense narration with trivialities that are just page fillers and when the h/h finally do get together it’s so out of nowhere that the HEA in the end is totally unbelievable. One good thing the author can do is make colours come alive as Margaret starts to paint again. The description is very well-done and you can nearly see the different hues from how she mixes her paints to the final work on canvas. At the end of the novel the author provides an info page on how paints were quite dangerous back in that period and often artists risked their lives to get those vibrant colours.
Aside from the author’s note at the end, this book is sheer boredom and very difficult to get through which is amazing considering all the good pieces there but unfortunately they aren’t woven together well and remain individual pieces which makes for a truly lackluster story.
Margaret Dalrousie lives in a little cottage on the land of the great and powerful laird Robert McDermott who’s been absent for years. A famous court painter for the Russian aristocracy she had to flee Russia after something horrible happens to her. She lives in virtual isolation, apart from a housekeeper and a caretaker that also look after the castle, spending her days doing nothing and trying to forget her past. She also refuses to paint which is an integral part of her. Finally the laird returns with a sad past of his own that he’s trying to get through. He can’t seem to put the death of his wife and daughter behind him so he neglects his home and lives elsewhere. The two finally meet accidentally, dislike each other on sight and end up spying on each other for about three quarters of the novel because they’re both sort of interested in the other.
You’d think with that kind of a plot line some big love story would come of it but no matter how many pages you keep turning not much ends up happening. It’s such a dismal, miserable read from start to finish. There’s way too much dense narration with trivialities that are just page fillers and when the h/h finally do get together it’s so out of nowhere that the HEA in the end is totally unbelievable. One good thing the author can do is make colours come alive as Margaret starts to paint again. The description is very well-done and you can nearly see the different hues from how she mixes her paints to the final work on canvas. At the end of the novel the author provides an info page on how paints were quite dangerous back in that period and often artists risked their lives to get those vibrant colours.
Aside from the author’s note at the end, this book is sheer boredom and very difficult to get through which is amazing considering all the good pieces there but unfortunately they aren’t woven together well and remain individual pieces which makes for a truly lackluster story.
April 23, 2024
| grumpy x grumpy | neighbours-to-lovers | grief/loss | Scotland | class difference |
Considering that I mainly bought this novel because of its stunning cover, I was pleasantly surprised by the story that came with it. Margaret and Robert's love story isn't one of those silly, light-hearted love at first sight stories that one might expect. Honestly, the vibes of this novel is quite the opposite, a rather serious, even sad story about two very hurt people.
Margaret and Robert are two very lonely individuals who had bad things happen to them which changed their life path forever. When they first come in contact, they feel bothered in their solitude by each other; creating countless instances of quarrelling and fighting. Yet, somehow they can't stay away from each other, they are similar in how they are opposite. Strangely to both of them, they find hold in each other, but truly to be able to be together, they have to let go of their past which is still hunting both of them.
It's an overall pretty mature story and somehow I really loved that. The main theme of this novel is clearly grief: grief of the loss of a family, a passion and yourself. You spend a lot of time sitting with these characters before the romance takes off. At first, I was really confused that at page 200 they still weren't straight up liking each other, let alone in love, but having read the entire thing, it made total sense. They needed time to get to a place where they could start healing; for Robert that was talking about his dead wife and for Margaret it was to paint again. Only with that they had a foundation to let the other person in. It wasn't even boring watching these two bud heads with each other; it was - as I said - very lovely. It really gave me the chance to connect with these characters before my perception of them was clouded by their romance.
I could go on and on about how much I really liked it. Maybe the story isn't for everyone, but as someone who went through quite a bit of grief in my short life, it not only gave me a feeling of being seen, but also hope. Hope that time can heal anything and that even as a broken person you are deserving of love and a new beginning.
Overall, I definitely won't shut up about this book for a while.
Considering that I mainly bought this novel because of its stunning cover, I was pleasantly surprised by the story that came with it. Margaret and Robert's love story isn't one of those silly, light-hearted love at first sight stories that one might expect. Honestly, the vibes of this novel is quite the opposite, a rather serious, even sad story about two very hurt people.
Margaret and Robert are two very lonely individuals who had bad things happen to them which changed their life path forever. When they first come in contact, they feel bothered in their solitude by each other; creating countless instances of quarrelling and fighting. Yet, somehow they can't stay away from each other, they are similar in how they are opposite. Strangely to both of them, they find hold in each other, but truly to be able to be together, they have to let go of their past which is still hunting both of them.
It's an overall pretty mature story and somehow I really loved that. The main theme of this novel is clearly grief: grief of the loss of a family, a passion and yourself. You spend a lot of time sitting with these characters before the romance takes off. At first, I was really confused that at page 200 they still weren't straight up liking each other, let alone in love, but having read the entire thing, it made total sense. They needed time to get to a place where they could start healing; for Robert that was talking about his dead wife and for Margaret it was to paint again. Only with that they had a foundation to let the other person in. It wasn't even boring watching these two bud heads with each other; it was - as I said - very lovely. It really gave me the chance to connect with these characters before my perception of them was clouded by their romance.
I could go on and on about how much I really liked it. Maybe the story isn't for everyone, but as someone who went through quite a bit of grief in my short life, it not only gave me a feeling of being seen, but also hope. Hope that time can heal anything and that even as a broken person you are deserving of love and a new beginning.
Overall, I definitely won't shut up about this book for a while.
June 15, 2016
4.5/5. Miss Ranney does write angsty and introspective characters so well. Here both the widowed hero, who lost his beloved wife and young daughter, and the heroine, who survived a vicious gang-rape, have to slowly dig themselves out of the darkness. The Earl of Linnet returned home after 3 years abroad, recovering from his injuries and heartbreak following a carriage accident that lead to the deaths of his loved ones. He encountered Margaret, a talented painter, who intruded on property and land. As he traded barbs with her, she started to intrude on his thoughts and the anger and irritation elicited from their fiery exchanges slowly pushed the emotional numbness away and eroded into his self-imposed cocoon. Margaret lost more than her virtue and sense of safety following the attack. She lost the ability to paint which in turn hindered her recovery - her confidence, her identity robbed and raped more than her body. In the earl, she found herself inspired artistically for the first time in months. The road to their inevitable union was tentative and palpably agonising. Beautifully played out like many other books by this author.
September 26, 2009
I fell in love with the front and back cover of this novel from the first and decided I had to read it. Despite coming exams I did- in one sitting.
I read negative reviews on the plot's 'darkness' and 'depressing' characters but it didn't deter me from finding out what this beautiful novel had to offer for myself. However, I find that although (Robert) McDermott WAS 'depressed', the man was grieving the loss of a beloved wife and daughter- how was that not understandable- and that Margaret was gang raped, again, justifies the loss, hurt and anger that both characters suffered through. Yes the novel is dark but it's about two people who have endured so much finding each other and unexpectedly giving the other a reason to live again.
Corny as that may sound both characters are fleshed out so wonderfully and indeed, spend more than half the novel irritated and annoyed at one another but the reader sees what the two take quite a bit longer to realize and you therefore cant help but to read on and wish that they would see what's right in front of their eyes.
Although admittedly I'm reluctant to read about heroes who have loved before and so deeply and similar to Margaret I often wondered if McDermott would never let go of his wife's ghost, which as dear lost loved ones do, remain forever virtuous. It's what made his confusion but acceptance of his feelings towards his 'Maggie' more endearing and so heartfelt. Both had different reasons for hurting but it was heartbreaking and truly wonderful to read about how they healed each other.
An absolutely beautiful love story that made me weep several times. My first novel by Karen Ranney but it certainly won't be my last.
I read negative reviews on the plot's 'darkness' and 'depressing' characters but it didn't deter me from finding out what this beautiful novel had to offer for myself. However, I find that although (Robert) McDermott WAS 'depressed', the man was grieving the loss of a beloved wife and daughter- how was that not understandable- and that Margaret was gang raped, again, justifies the loss, hurt and anger that both characters suffered through. Yes the novel is dark but it's about two people who have endured so much finding each other and unexpectedly giving the other a reason to live again.
Corny as that may sound both characters are fleshed out so wonderfully and indeed, spend more than half the novel irritated and annoyed at one another but the reader sees what the two take quite a bit longer to realize and you therefore cant help but to read on and wish that they would see what's right in front of their eyes.
Although admittedly I'm reluctant to read about heroes who have loved before and so deeply and similar to Margaret I often wondered if McDermott would never let go of his wife's ghost, which as dear lost loved ones do, remain forever virtuous. It's what made his confusion but acceptance of his feelings towards his 'Maggie' more endearing and so heartfelt. Both had different reasons for hurting but it was heartbreaking and truly wonderful to read about how they healed each other.
An absolutely beautiful love story that made me weep several times. My first novel by Karen Ranney but it certainly won't be my last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2009
I usually avoid Scottish historical romances because they are typically full of over exaggerated accents and heroes that are way too alpha. Thankfully those things were absent from A Scotsman in Love. I like that it featured two mature characters with tragic pasts that treated each as equals. Character development drove the plot in this one and the author never resorted to misunderstandings to drag the book out a little longer. This was definitely one of the better written historical romances I’ve read this year.
October 23, 2019
A good romance and I liked it but I didn’t enjoy it. Slow-burn love story that was great, character-driven, excellently written. But so introspective and very descriptive and, well...a bit boring.
May 15, 2009
This was a good book that really could have been so much better. I think it suffered from inadequate tension building between the H&H. They don't appear to like each other much for most of the first half, in spite of their mutually growing - AND mutually annoying - curiosity about each other. The first love scene, when it finally shows up at about the halfway point, almost comes as a surprise. I was of the impression that Ranney just sort of threw it in there when she realized that the story was starting to lag. The hero was lovely and as tortured as you could possibly wish, and the heroine, while original, was never fully developed enough to completely sympathize with. I also noticed that with this book, much like her previous book - The Devil Wears Tartan - Ranney showed an annoying tendency to sort of shortcut some of the drama she spent much of the earlier portions of the book building up to - apparently in favor of a somewhat rushed and glossed over ending. This, probably more than any other little flaw, really annoys me, because I know that she's capable of so much more. As the writer of at least two of my all-time favorite romance novels, she can, and has, done much better with so much less. I wondered a couple of times if she "accidentally" slapped a little extra padding on the summary and published it instead of the real story:P
I still recommend it, mainly because it's Karen Ranney! - and for all of its shortcomings, it's still a pretty decent book and worth a read.
Sensuality Rating - PG-13
I still recommend it, mainly because it's Karen Ranney! - and for all of its shortcomings, it's still a pretty decent book and worth a read.
Sensuality Rating - PG-13
February 11, 2013
Sheer boredom with a shrew of a heroine.
October 25, 2017
Not a light and fluffy read. Well written but dismal.
July 28, 2011
I’d been looking forward to reading this book since we talked to Ms. Ranney here at the blog a few weeks ago. Then even more so once I heard from a friend who loved the book. While this is a good read, for some reason the whole of it didn’t work that well for me.
I think the biggest thing for me was that I never felt that connection to the characters that I normally get when introduced to them. I mean, I liked Robert and Margaret. They’re good people who have had bad things happen to them in life, things should have made me feel more than I did. One of the reasons I felt disconnected is that when their stories unfolded in the book, it didn’t happen when they were together. It happened with either other characters or one of them just remembering back on the events. For me, I wanted them together when they first heard of the other’s pain and reaction to their horror. Because, believe me, those events warranted something like that. Robert and Margaret do eventually talk about their pasts with each other, but by that time the punch of the emotion in the telling is not nearly as strong as it could have been and it’s just not the same in the aftermath.
Another part of the book that left me disconnected is what I call the negativity involved. Now, I realize that in romance there’s conflict between the main characters. That is to be expected. This seemed a more callous conflict than it needed to be. Even when they aren’t together flinging slights at one another, their thoughts are just as bad toward the other, and it goes on way too long. It’s nearly three-quarters of the way into the book before one of them realizes there’s something more going on in their heart. Robert is the more negative of the two, going as far as to want Margaret off his land and out of his sight before he knows anything about her, constantly criticizing her. That just didn’t endear him to me; his hardheartedness just lasted too long.
I also didn’t care for Robert’s single-mindedness about Margaret’s looks. She’s not beautiful, nor is she ugly, but he’s not satisfied with a certain part of her and he seems to fixate on that, at least too much for me. She even mentions it herself a couple of times. Yes, he obviously gets over it, comes to love that part of her, but it was just mentioned too many times in too many different ways and I couldn’t get it out of mind in other parts of the book.
I did like the storyline, though. The horrors of their respective lives, as I mentioned earlier, are simply terrible, things you would never wish on anyone. They each have their own way of dealing with feelings derived from those events, doing what they need to do to get by. I liked the idea of them finding each other, a balm for the other’s soul to help them each heal from their past hurts; I just wanted to see this happen sooner. Robert comes home to try to put his ghosts behind him, pick up the reins of his home and estate to get them in order again. Margaret is just trying to survive her injury, all the while plotting her revenge.
The book didn’t actually come alive for me until the last quarter of it all when Margaret thinks Robert will not be back, so she forges ahead toward her retribution. Once Robert does return and finds out what she’s done, he follows her, hoping he’s not too late to stop her, not too late to make sure she’s his, not too late for a life that neither of them thought they’d never have again. In fact, it’s this part of the book that actually brought my grade up for it as a whole.
I know a lot of you will disagree with me on my thoughts of this story. That’s okay, I’d like to hear what you have to say. I’d like a different take on these issues. I really wanted to like it more than I did. I’m truly sorry that didn’t happen.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
I think the biggest thing for me was that I never felt that connection to the characters that I normally get when introduced to them. I mean, I liked Robert and Margaret. They’re good people who have had bad things happen to them in life, things should have made me feel more than I did. One of the reasons I felt disconnected is that when their stories unfolded in the book, it didn’t happen when they were together. It happened with either other characters or one of them just remembering back on the events. For me, I wanted them together when they first heard of the other’s pain and reaction to their horror. Because, believe me, those events warranted something like that. Robert and Margaret do eventually talk about their pasts with each other, but by that time the punch of the emotion in the telling is not nearly as strong as it could have been and it’s just not the same in the aftermath.
Another part of the book that left me disconnected is what I call the negativity involved. Now, I realize that in romance there’s conflict between the main characters. That is to be expected. This seemed a more callous conflict than it needed to be. Even when they aren’t together flinging slights at one another, their thoughts are just as bad toward the other, and it goes on way too long. It’s nearly three-quarters of the way into the book before one of them realizes there’s something more going on in their heart. Robert is the more negative of the two, going as far as to want Margaret off his land and out of his sight before he knows anything about her, constantly criticizing her. That just didn’t endear him to me; his hardheartedness just lasted too long.
I also didn’t care for Robert’s single-mindedness about Margaret’s looks. She’s not beautiful, nor is she ugly, but he’s not satisfied with a certain part of her and he seems to fixate on that, at least too much for me. She even mentions it herself a couple of times. Yes, he obviously gets over it, comes to love that part of her, but it was just mentioned too many times in too many different ways and I couldn’t get it out of mind in other parts of the book.
I did like the storyline, though. The horrors of their respective lives, as I mentioned earlier, are simply terrible, things you would never wish on anyone. They each have their own way of dealing with feelings derived from those events, doing what they need to do to get by. I liked the idea of them finding each other, a balm for the other’s soul to help them each heal from their past hurts; I just wanted to see this happen sooner. Robert comes home to try to put his ghosts behind him, pick up the reins of his home and estate to get them in order again. Margaret is just trying to survive her injury, all the while plotting her revenge.
The book didn’t actually come alive for me until the last quarter of it all when Margaret thinks Robert will not be back, so she forges ahead toward her retribution. Once Robert does return and finds out what she’s done, he follows her, hoping he’s not too late to stop her, not too late to make sure she’s his, not too late for a life that neither of them thought they’d never have again. In fact, it’s this part of the book that actually brought my grade up for it as a whole.
I know a lot of you will disagree with me on my thoughts of this story. That’s okay, I’d like to hear what you have to say. I’d like a different take on these issues. I really wanted to like it more than I did. I’m truly sorry that didn’t happen.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
December 31, 2013
I recently discovered and love Karen Ranney and am plowing through every book she's written, but this was my least favorite of hers so far. Margaret was so prickly and cold, and I didn't find the H/h banter/sparring believable, or even easy to follow. One or both of them would suddenly get furious, or sad, or storm off, and it all felt out of the blue. When they first slept together, I couldn't believe that these two people would have slept together at that point. And a minor thing that really bugged me: McDermott decides to start calling her Maggie. She tells him not to. He does anyway. And it doesn't come off as a teasing, cute thing. I get that it was likely supposed to represent that he knew/loved her better than anyone else in her past. But the way Margaret was written, it didn't seem like she was a woman who would ever find it cute to be saddled with a nickname she didn't want and specifically declined to have. The ending was nice (of course!) but I wasn't all that invested because I didn't get strong sense of the characters as individuals. Not sure why -- like I said, I have read several other of her books and really liked them. On to the next one! This won't deter me. :)
November 26, 2023
Loved!
I really enjoyed this story. This story contained sadness and happiness. I teared up a few times. I laughed a few times. This story is about finding happiness after a tragic. How to live again. How to love. This story hits home on some levels. This is a good story to read. Thank you Karen Ranney for sharing this story. You wrote this beautifully.
I really enjoyed this story. This story contained sadness and happiness. I teared up a few times. I laughed a few times. This story is about finding happiness after a tragic. How to live again. How to love. This story hits home on some levels. This is a good story to read. Thank you Karen Ranney for sharing this story. You wrote this beautifully.
October 22, 2009
Good story line but to much going back to what happened before so that you have to stop and think where the story left off.
January 14, 2020
Very conflicted with this novel. I debated between 2 and 3 stars, but the ending was very strong, so I moved it to a 3. A Scotsman in Love was a painful book to read. The two characters were coming from such a bad place...they were both hurt and lashing out at each other. Which really wasn't pleasant to experience. I felt like I was watching a tennis match between these two characters and didn't know which protagonist upset me more. Margaret said absolutely hurtful thing...then Robert would reply with another hurtful thing. It was cringe-worthy at times. Yet something compelled me to continue and I'm not entirely sure what that was. Ranney's write is very compelling and definitely keeps you enthralled. I kept reading thinking these two would start to bring each other out of the darkness...and I think we were working towards that, but it's like Ranney had to move the story along immediately at some point. All of a sudden the pacing went from slow and steady to super speed. Their attraction just literally came out of left field and hit you right in the face.
The last quarter of the book felt like a traditional historical romance...the pacing picked up, the characters actual started to feel something other than anger or sadness. I was thoroughly engaged in their happily ever after. The problem was it was just a very bumpy journey to get to that point. Overall, I don't at all regret reading this book, but it definitely isn't my normal fare.
The last quarter of the book felt like a traditional historical romance...the pacing picked up, the characters actual started to feel something other than anger or sadness. I was thoroughly engaged in their happily ever after. The problem was it was just a very bumpy journey to get to that point. Overall, I don't at all regret reading this book, but it definitely isn't my normal fare.
July 3, 2017
Engrossing
Ranney writes landscapes of the soul, filling in details, painting pictures of passion, passion for grief, for one's lifework, for the earl, and for the artist. Forget the house, forget the timeclock, Ranney demands our time until the tale is told.
Ranney writes landscapes of the soul, filling in details, painting pictures of passion, passion for grief, for one's lifework, for the earl, and for the artist. Forget the house, forget the timeclock, Ranney demands our time until the tale is told.
April 3, 2024
Sleeping pill
Waste of my time. Story dragged. The relationship development is unbelievable. This was poorly written The ending was thrown together. This novel can be used as a great sleeping pill
Waste of my time. Story dragged. The relationship development is unbelievable. This was poorly written The ending was thrown together. This novel can be used as a great sleeping pill
March 6, 2018
Loved loved loved this book....it took me forever to find it, for some reason, but it was sure worth the wait. The angst and pain of the H/H were palpable...but the payoff was so incredible:)
February 18, 2021
DNF.
The descriptions of the countryside are were beautiful...I don’t usually say that about a romance novel! Unfortunately the book was boring, for all the reasons another reviewer gave.
The descriptions of the countryside are were beautiful...I don’t usually say that about a romance novel! Unfortunately the book was boring, for all the reasons another reviewer gave.
September 17, 2025
I enjoyed reading.
August 10, 2019
My star rating was originally a four but I changed it into a 5 after considering it. The reasons is the uniqueness of the story for me. Okay it's a simple story that is told well but the idea behind it wasn't just falling in love but healing as well. Two people that went through tragedy moving forward and not only for the person they are with but for themselves. They showed strength and I was down with that. I don't think I've read much about it.
So the story goes like this, after years of absence due to an accident that took his wife and child Robert McDermott the Earl of Linnett has returned to his Scotish estate to find a beautiful trespasser walking around his property. This is his new neighbor Ms. Margaret Dalrouisie a renowned painter who now lives in the cottage formerly apart of his lands. It was instant annoyance for him to find her but soon they connect on a deeper level.
Margaret came to Scotland after a benefactor gifted her the cottage. Suffering a cruel faith in Russia and left into poverty she hopes to live a quiet life fulfilling her life with her walks and residing without her beloved art. It changes when she meets a man that piques her curiosity and seemingly as broken as she is.
Continue Reading the review by clicking the image above.
December 12, 2011
Margaret Dalrousie is an acclaimed artist who was bruttally attacked in Russia leaving her emotionally and physically scarred. Art had been her world before her attack; but now she was unable to paint. An anonymous benefactor has left her a home in Scotland, the land of her birth, and she has taken up residence there to hopefully find herself again.
Robert McDermott,the Earl of Linnet, has just returned to his country estate, Glengarrow, also emotionally and physcially scarred from a freak accident that took the lives of his wife and child. McDermott was certain that he would never be able to lift the depression that had engulfed him since the accident, much less ever love again.
The two tormented souls meet while Margaret is on one of her constitutional walks and McDermott is returning to his estate from a 3 year absence... and immediately clash.
Can they survive living as neighbors? In their quests to find themselves again, can they also find each other?
Karen has written another beautiful, romantic tale set in Scotland...
Robert McDermott,the Earl of Linnet, has just returned to his country estate, Glengarrow, also emotionally and physcially scarred from a freak accident that took the lives of his wife and child. McDermott was certain that he would never be able to lift the depression that had engulfed him since the accident, much less ever love again.
The two tormented souls meet while Margaret is on one of her constitutional walks and McDermott is returning to his estate from a 3 year absence... and immediately clash.
Can they survive living as neighbors? In their quests to find themselves again, can they also find each other?
Karen has written another beautiful, romantic tale set in Scotland...
January 15, 2012
Margaret Dalrousie was once willing to sacrifice all for her calling. The talented artist would let no man interfere with her gift. But now, living in a small Scottish cottage on the estate of Glengarrow, she has not painted a portrait in ages. For not even the calming haven in the remote woods can erase the memories that darken Margaret's days and nights. And now, with the return of the Earl of Linnet to his ancestral home, her hopes of peace have disappeared.
From the first moment he encountered Margaret on his land, the Earl of Linnet was nothing but annoyed. The grieving nobleman has his own secrets that have lured him to the solitude of the Highlands, and his own reasons for wanting to be alone. Yet he is intrigued by his hauntingly beautiful neighbor. Could she be the spark that will draw him out of bittersweet sorrow—the woman who could transform him from a Scotsman in sadness to a Scotsman in love?
A ficitional account based on the actual life of an artist in Scotland. I think she helps the Earl get over the death of his wife and daughter as much as he ehlps her!
From the first moment he encountered Margaret on his land, the Earl of Linnet was nothing but annoyed. The grieving nobleman has his own secrets that have lured him to the solitude of the Highlands, and his own reasons for wanting to be alone. Yet he is intrigued by his hauntingly beautiful neighbor. Could she be the spark that will draw him out of bittersweet sorrow—the woman who could transform him from a Scotsman in sadness to a Scotsman in love?
A ficitional account based on the actual life of an artist in Scotland. I think she helps the Earl get over the death of his wife and daughter as much as he ehlps her!
January 11, 2011
Robert McDermott, the Earl of Linnet does not approve of Margaret Dalrousie and is not happy that she is living in Blackthorn Cottage which used to be part of his estate “Glengarrow”. He lost his wife and daughter in a carriage accident in France and has not been home for 3 years, he has come home to put his affairs in order.
Margaret is here because an unknown benefactor has deeded Blackthorn Cottage to her. She has spent quite a few years away from Scotland, her last country of residence was Russia. She is an artist who finds that because of something that happened that caused her to leave Russia she has not been able to paint.
Every meeting they have seems to antagonize each of them and it takes quite a lot for them to overcome their problems. Robert asks Margaret to paint a picture of his wife Amelia from his memories, she agrees and it does not go without problems.
I found this story to be quite slow – not one of the best that I have read.
Margaret is here because an unknown benefactor has deeded Blackthorn Cottage to her. She has spent quite a few years away from Scotland, her last country of residence was Russia. She is an artist who finds that because of something that happened that caused her to leave Russia she has not been able to paint.
Every meeting they have seems to antagonize each of them and it takes quite a lot for them to overcome their problems. Robert asks Margaret to paint a picture of his wife Amelia from his memories, she agrees and it does not go without problems.
I found this story to be quite slow – not one of the best that I have read.
May 31, 2009
For me, Ranney's books are hot and cold- some I really like, some I just like, and some I don't like. This is one of the those books that I liked; but can not give four or five stars. As I said, I liked this book, and the story. I liked how the heroine was strong and independent; and how she did not give in, but stuck to her beliefs. Ofcourse, my romantic heart loved how the hero persisted after the her; eventually winning her over in the end. I must admit, I was suprised with the depth of Ranney's characters, and felt they added to the overall story. Although I enjoyed the story, I felt it was rushed; especially towrads the end. If asked, I would recommend this book to romance readers; especially those who are partial to historical romances.
August 10, 2012
For me, comfort reads often involve a lot of angst. Something about the theme of love as redemption, and seeing love heal characters and help them free themselves from their suffering reaches me on a deeply emotional level. That's one of the reasons I enjoy Karen Ranney's work; she does tortured characters quite well. In A Scotsman in Love, two characters who have experienced deep sorrow find their way to one another - and a very happy ending.
This is a partial review. You can find the full review at All About Romance: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
This is a partial review. You can find the full review at All About Romance: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
September 2, 2013
Margaret is famous artist in Russia who now has secluded herselves to Blackthron cottage in Scotland after the incident in her life.
Robert McDermott, the Earl of Linnet does not approve of Margaret Dalrousie and is not happy that she is living in Blackthorn Cottage which used to be part of his estate “Glengarrow”. He has returned to his home after losing his wife and daughter in a carriage accident in France 3 years ago.
For no reason their meetings is unpleasant and how they fall in love is the story.
I found this story to be quite slow – not one of the best that I have read.
Robert McDermott, the Earl of Linnet does not approve of Margaret Dalrousie and is not happy that she is living in Blackthorn Cottage which used to be part of his estate “Glengarrow”. He has returned to his home after losing his wife and daughter in a carriage accident in France 3 years ago.
For no reason their meetings is unpleasant and how they fall in love is the story.
I found this story to be quite slow – not one of the best that I have read.
July 24, 2013
I was really looking forward to this book after reading another of KR's books but wasn't as taken by this one. Her love scenes seemed stilted, part of which could be attributed to the characters, but not all. Also, the characters said each other's names so much it quickly became distracting and annoying. Other than those two flaws I really liked the story. Unfortunately those were two flaws that were hard to overlook to enjoy the book completely.
September 6, 2012
i simply liked how the story goes and that it is straight to the point. margaret and robert are both recuperating from their past and in order for them to at least conquer it they need to at least face it. indeed the story was touching even the proposal it melt my heart and fell in love more with robert's character.
August 1, 2013
Great book for life's struggles. Another story about overcoming the society of "statuses". The poor bettering their life to accomplish great deeds. The rich recognizing the talents of the misfortunate of the lower class. Then taking their fortune & helping another "human being", no matter their status.
December 5, 2013
Solid enough second-chance-at-love story of a widower still grieving and an artist. TW: contains references to a pretty brutal rape (*not* by the protagonist)which is the Heroine's Thing To Get Over. I thought it was handled okay within it's context, but YMMV. Likeable characters, sensible plot, and Highland Scotland in winter.
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