The Scottish Companion

by Karen Ranney

Desperate for an heir, he hastily chose a fiancée. But it is another woman who sets his heart aflame.

Haunted by the mysterious deaths of his two brothers, Grant Roberson, 10th Earl of Straithern, fears for his life. Determined to produce an heir before it's too late, Grant has promised to wed a woman he has never met. But instead of being enticed by his bride-to-be, Grant can't fight his attraction to the understated beauty and wit of her paid companion.

Gillian Cameron long ago learned the danger of falling in love. Now, as the companion to a spoiled bluestocking, she has learned to keep a firm hold on her emotions. But, from the moment she meets him, she is powerless to resist the alluring and handsome earl.

Fighting their attraction, Gillian and Grant must band together to stop an unknown enemy from striking. Will the threat of danger be enough to make them realize their true feelings?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Scotland, Historical Fiction, Regency, Regency Romance

375 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 25, 2007

About the author

I’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.

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Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inconvenient Love

Gillian was the companion for the beautiful and clever Arabella, but Arabella never desired her company. All that interested Arabella was practicing her physician father’s art of treating people’s maladies.

Grant Roberson, the 10th Earl of Staithern was certain that his brothers had been murdered and that perhaps he was next. Grant believed he should marry immediately and be about making heirs before he followed his brothers in death. The doctor’s daughter Arabella would do as well as any to give him heirs.

Unfortunately, although it was her duty, Arabella had no desire to be the Countess of Staithern and it seemed impossible for her to pretend otherwise. Gillian did her best to help Arabella to no avail.

Seeing her every evening at dinner and walking the property, Gillian became the center of Grant’s attention. No matter how much she tried to be demure, Grant fascinated her as well.

There was a sadness in the people and the very grounds of Grant Roberson’s home, but Gillian brought light to the shadows. They were not equals, so there was no hope for a future, but there was still joy in the present. Still, deadly shadows surrounded his ancestral home, and it seemed to Grant that no one was safe.

This was a very good story that held my interest, but I found places where the story changed scenes and it wasn’t immediately obvious. It would be confusing and I would need to reread scenes to grasp the change. That is why I couldn’t give this five stars.

[Monique Takens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Het geheim van Rosemoor - Candlelight Historische roman 754 .
Na de onverwachte en verdachte dood van zijn 2 jongere broers heeft Grant Roberson , de Graaf van Straithern , zich voorgenomen om zo snel mogelijk te trouwen en voor nageslacht te zorgen . Hij verloofd zich ongezien met Arabella de dochter van de huisarts van de familie . Wanneer zij komt kennismaken op Rosemoor blijkt al gauw dat zij totaal geen zin heeft in het huwelijk . Samen met Arabella is Gillian Cameron als haar gezelschapsdame meegekomen . Grant raakt veel meer onder de indruk van haar dan van zijn verloofde .
Dit was een spannend verhaal die een beetje te abrupt eindigde , ik zou het 3 en een half sterren geven als dat kon .

[Nabilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[L8blmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't like others I've read by this author. There was a "Jane Eyre" feel about it; somewhat dark and subdued. Yes, there was romance and some pretty steamy action, but lots of angst as well. The mystery aspect was fairly easily solved, and the HEA was all too brief. The characters were well-written and the two leads were appealing enough. I can sum it up best by saying this was a 5-star story ... on tranquilizers. I rounded it up from 3.5 to 4, as I like this author and plan to continue reading her books.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give this a solid 3.5, but unfortunately Goodreads doesn’t work that way.
I expected the same amateur writing and plot development as Nora Roberts but was pleasantly surprised. Although the twist was predictable, I still really enjoyed the grown up romance, the sinister climactic elements and how Ranney dared to delve into some deeper emotional topics.
All in all it’s still a quick and easy read with a basic plot line, but it was still a fun time.

[J.W. Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is my first book by her. I really enjoyed the layers to each character. Peeled back slowly for the mystery.

[lucien]

Arabella did nothing wrong

[Carrie Olguin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I scanned this one, but I did finish reading even when I lost connection with the H/h somewhere in the middle.

I'm not certain what event destroyed the "fourth wall" so badly that the story no longer held my complete interest. It was more like a series of small things that created "cracks" in the wall until it shattered.

This is a murder mystery written as a romance novel. Warning to authors: if you plan to mix genres, study both for structure before attempting the mix.

A murder mystery should have plenty of suspects, with an ever present sense of danger, which makes the romance sweeter.

This story had three suspects. Early on, we find out the murderer is female, bringing the suspect to two. Since one of those suspects is the grieving mother of the two murdered "boys" that left only one suspect. Not much of a mystery there.

The hero is an Earl who has been living in Italy. He is a scientist, obsessed with electrics. He returned to England when the second of his two brothers died unexpectedly of what the Doctor calls a hereditary blood disease. The Doctor claims that the hero could die at any time off the same malady so he should not put of importatnt things.

Even though the hero does not believe he has the strange blood disease (he believes his brothers were murdered), right-then-and-there the hero decides to marry and produce an heir. And since the doctor has a daughter (whom the hero has never met) he decides she will do just fine as a wife and countess.

He has no time or inclination to enter society to court a wife. And his father's scandalous behavior might be a detrament to any proper girl accepting his suit. (He's wealthy and titled. He could find better or at least meet and talk to the chit before offering for her. But instead, he settles on a commoner, sight unseen?).

(Tried to swallow the logic. Didn't go down.)

The heroine is from a wealthy merchant class family. When she was young, she fell in love and had a fling with a man who then married someone else. Pregnant, she confessed to her father and stepmother, who disowned her. The scandal followed. She lost all her friends as well as family. She was sent to live with a cousin until she gave birth. When she found out they planned to give her child away, she ran away.

Her possessions were stolen and she found herself alone on the streets with only her body to sell. Fortunately, the Doctor (from above)rescued her before she had to take that drastic step. He hired her as a companion for his daughter.

The daughter is beautiful but obsessed with playing doctor (even though she cannot because she is a woman. Her father wupports her efforts even allows her to tend to his patients). She does not like to be touched. She does not like to talk to people. All she wants is to practice medicine or study medicine. "puss makes her jubilant." She does not want to marry at all but has no choice but to do what her father tells her to do.

Okay, so there's a triange here (I'm not fond of those). The hero is betrothed to a cold fish but drawn to the warm companion. He won't call off the marriage due to his honor (doesn't want to bring down more scandal on his family name).

Cracks in the wall:

When the hero finds out that his betrothed does not like to be touched by anyone, big red flags sould be waved. He needs heirs. If his intended does not like to be touched, how will he manage that? Since he was never told, based on fraud, he should have confronted the doctor and ended the betrothal.

The hero calls the alliance a disaster in the making but he doesn't do anything to convince the doctor's daughter, or the doctor to cry off.

The ariostocracy (and gentry) would understand if he came to his senses and refused to marry a commoner (someone they would consider an upstart social climber, anyway). It would no be that bad of a scandal compared to his father's sexual hunger for children.

Instead of calling off the betrothal he persues the heroine. What a cad! He kisses her, takes her to bed, makes her his mistress, creates a scandal by doing so. But for honor's sake and to stop scandal, refuses to end his betrothal. What the heck? A scandal about the woman he loves is acceptable but a scandal about his lack of honor is not???

There are only a few ways a writer can dissolve a romantic triangle and still include an HEA for the H/h. All have been used so many times, as to make endings to triangles almost cliche. And usually, the writer makes certain the "third" is unlikable and so that she does not deserve to find happiness with the hero. I think that is why I don't like triangle romances as a general rule.

There was only one triangle story I rememer that I liked and it was because the "third" was loyal, deserving, a nice person who really loved the hero. So when he cried off (despite the scandal and blow to his honor - because he really was honorable and not just pretending like the hero in this story), I wept for her loss.

I didn't weep for any of these characters.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark. Not the happy book you would expect looking at the title and cover. 2.5 should come with a warning.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

****SPOILER ALERT*****


After learning that he could die of a "blood" disease, Grant states he wants to marry someone, decides on his doctor's daugher, Arabella, whom he has never met but has heard that she loves medical science. He has a laboratory where he experiments with electricity and wants to be left alone for that, so he figures Arabella can do her stuff and he can do his and they don't have to get all tangled up with emotions, passion, etc. Enter Gillian Cameron. Gillian is in her late twenties and has figured that she's basically done with passion, relationships, and such because she is a fallen woman. She is somewhat content that she has food to eat and a roof over her head as Arabella's paid companion.

When Arabella and friends are invited to Grant's estate so that Arabella can become familiar with her new home and family, Gillian catches the eye of the earl because she is more receptive to him than Arabella. From how the author portrays Gillian, it seems to be that Gillian becomes a bit petty and envious of Arabella. She scolds Arabella a couple times about her silent conduct and lack of welcome to Grant, but at the same time, Gillian seems very pretentious. One of the things that draws Grant to Gillian is when she wanders his estate and happens to find his laboratory where he is currently working on an experiment. To me, she hardly seems to act that of a paid companion and this incident just seems like she was looking to find him, even though the author states that Gillian was innocently meandering around. She spends the day with him, they flirt with each other, etc. No wonder she became a fallen woman...

It is in another meeting between Gillian and Arabella that I begin to like Arabella and dislike Gillian more. Although Arabella is made to be the antagonist because, in the end, she is the one who is poisoning people, I don't ever dislike her, but I do dislike Gillian for many reasons. Gillian flirts with Grant, allows him to seduce her (and seduces him too), is envious of Arabella for things she cannot have, scolds Arabella for not being receptive to the earl, and really doesn't try to help Arabella at all. She never seems to care for Arabella at all. She never tries to find why Arabella is the way she is...obsessive compulsive over treating illnesses/wounds. And in the end, it leads to Arabella's tragic death and Gillian's undeserved happy ending with Grant.

Now, I don't expect Gillian to be a saint, but she's not exactly the warm and caring female protagonist I'm used to from Karen Ranney. She's selfish, petty, and jealous. I really love the female protagonist in Ms. Ranney's "After The Kiss", but in this book, Gillian seems more to me like the female characters you are supposed to dislike in romance novels, rather than like.

I felt sorry for Arabella throughout the book. She was molested as a child by the Grant's late father and had to live with that throughout her life. Arabella became obsessed with healing people and wanted to be left alone. There was no one for her to confide in or help her through her early ordeal (even though Gillian was supposed to be that person). She poisoned the earl's blood line basically because of what happened to her when she was younger. She definitely needed help and there was no one that helped her.

I think the characters got mixed up in this book - Gillian should've been the antagonist, whereas Arabella should've been the protagonist.

[Deyanira C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, weird, dark...

2 stars.

The plot: Grant is a Scottish earl who prefers science and is not very sociable, but after the death of his brothers in suspicious circumstances, he must find out who and why the men in his family are being murdered. He must also hurry and produce heirs. To do this, he becomes engaged to his doctor's daughter, Arabella, a beautiful young woman who, however, is too strange and quiet. This is why the relationship between Grant and her never prospers, in addition, Grant is attracted to Gillian, Arabella's companion, with whom he begins a sexual love affair, while unraveling the mysteries and secrets of his family.

When I came across this book and noticed that the heroine was a kind of "other woman," I put it at the top of my reading list because I thought it was going to be something very different, and yes, it was, but I didn't like it or find it entertaining on the contrary, the plot is too slow and the author's style is not my thing. The characters talk a lot but don't say ANYTHING! They reflect for about 10 pages per dialogue, so the book is more reflection than story.

Gillian is a terrible heroine, and look, I don't like sanctimonious, beautiful, and perfect heroines, in fact, at first, I liked that Gillian had been through love, that she had made a mistake, that she had suffered the scorn of her first love and her family, and the loss of her baby gave her a touch, but the truth is that I ended up disliking her because she's too immature, stubborn, and stupid.
Let's see, horrible things have happened to her. A man betrayed her, cheated on her, and abandoned her, ok ??? Her job as companion isn't perfect, but it's a good place, she has no family, no money, or ANYTHING, and yet she gets involved with Grant knowing that it will cost her everything, and DAYS AFTER MET HIM? Really???? He doesn't even promise her anything, but she's already undressing herself for him ¡¡¡¡¡ I think she was stupid and ungrateful, because despite everything, the Doctor saved her... and she pays him back by sleeping with her daughter's fiancé, and she's not even discreet........ Now, I understand that Arabella, her boss, was the "bad woman," but she really wasn't. From the beginning, it was obvious she had problems and was suffering, but Gillian never cares about her even a little, she's just jealous and attacks her as if Gillian were perfect. I confess that for most of the book, I liked Arabella more, and that shouldn't happen.

I didn't like Grant either. He's too WARM... he has no character or personality whatsoever. His science stuff isn't believable at all. He spends all his time saying he'll find his brothers' killers, but he does NOTHING to investigate. Let's not even talk about his relationship with Gillian. What romance? They just spend their time bothering each other like two 8-year-olds fighting over a pencil. I really don't see any chemistry, much less anything in common...

I think the "mystery" is the only thing that keeps the lights on in this book, but although the sexual abuse is very realistic, it was also very uncomfortable to read and dark for my taste...

Overall, I didn't like anything about the book. The ending is too abrupt and exaggerated, the characters are boring, and the plot never develops.

[Patrizia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sono ben consapevole che un lettore non possa recensire un romanzo sulla base della simpatia o antipatia destata dai protagonisti, così come non si può valutare negativamente la recitazione di un attore solo perché è il 'cattivo' del film. Devo però confessare che la mia antipatia per Gillian (la protagonista femminile, pericolosamente oscillante tra ninfomania e perbenismo ipocrita) e per Grant (il protagonista maschile, che, nei vari rapporti interpersonali, non sembra avere la più pallida idea di cosa significhi 'correttezza' ) mi ha impedito di apprezzare la trama della storia; che, forse, qualche merito l'avrebbe pure avuto.
E pensare che, dopo la lettura di "Till next we meet" avevo messo questa autrice in cima alle mie preferenze

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should have been a novella. I like the author, and wanted to like this more, but the plot was paper thin, and whatever substance it had was weirdly anemic. The two characters supposedly fall in love at first sight, but The Moment is completely glossed over. The next 400 (ebook) pages are just repeating the same angsty “I shouldn’t but I DO” interior dialogue, but they spend so much time avoiding one another, that I’m baffled as to how they know any of these things about each other. There are 12 plot points or characters I could use as an example that are just so poorly developed and not integrated into the story in any meaningful way that I can’t even choose one. Ultimately it’s just a really unsatisfying book, and not up to the author’s standards.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder if this is an earlier novel. It is not as well written as other books I've read from this author.
I do not like the abrupt ending. A building and a corpse burning together, the MCs mention marriage then - thats it.

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last like five chapters were insane and rather sad

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the characters but it had a rather disturbing ending.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

#150 - 2025
Genre: Historical Romance

[Merrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

Good story line, surprises and humor. I liked the authors writing style and appreciated her use of English language. I recommend to all.

[babyfishmouth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Karen Ranney and I was mostly underwhelmed. I found the prose stiff and unnatural. All the characters sound alike and no one has their own unique voice. It made it especially challenging to figure out who was saying what when the H/H had lengthy conversations. I had to repeatedly re-read sections to make sure I was attributing the correct sentences to hero or heroine.

The plot is pretty ridiculous. I thought it would be a bit more light-hearted but it turns very gothic and rather ugly at the end with one extremely grisly scene and a very disturbing motivation for the villain's actions.

The heroine starts off rather interesting but then becomes a bit of a doormat. What really got me was how little focus was put on Gillian's baby. She seems to spend more time mourning the loss of her reputation and her unfaithful baby-daddy than the death of her day old baby . The hero seems incredibly cowardly at times with his inability to chose the heroine over his awful fiance. He spends a lot of time spouting that HE IS THE EARL and HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS yet he clearly is full of hot air because he never choses Gillian until the circumstances make it easy. The HEA is also only about two paragraphs.

This book has a pretty mediocre rating on GR so I'm going to try a more highly rated one by Ranney to see if I just chose a bad example of her writing and story-telling as my first one.

[BJ Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Earl of Straithern has buried his two younger brothers in the past six months. The doctor fears a blood disorder, but the earl suspects poisoning. His solution? Propose a marriage with the doctor's daughter Arabella, so he can beget an heir before the same fate befalls him. Of course, he's hoping he figures out the who and why before he becomes the next victim. But Grant has another big problem. He finds himself drawn to Arabella's companion, and increasingly sure that marriage to Arabella will be a disaster. Gillian has her own past tragedy to deal with and feels guilt at her attraction to the earl.

This was darker and more angsty than I was expecting but it was a good read. At one point I got really angry at the author and thought, "No! She can't do that!!" but thankfully she redeemed herself. This is not quite a 4*, but 3* definitely is not enough.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy Karen Ranney's Scottish novels but this one is terrible...way too predictable and boring. Grant needs an heir and sight-unseen chooses the doctors daughter, Arabella. He has absolutely no intention of having a real relationship with her just a sexual one to beget heirs...asshole. But it is a good thing as Arabella wants nothing to do with him either (or any man for that matter). She's too absorbed in medical learning and has no interest in feminine pursuits or manners. Her companion, Gillian, however, is a wild child and immediately falls for Grant though to her credit, she does try to resist. Grant, of course, wants her too but with none of the complications of marriage. Yada yada yada. Next!

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually really like the writing of Karen Ranney, but I couldn't seem to get into this book. I got to page 80 and it seemed like nothing had really happened and I wasn't willing to read on to see what happened. I usually enjoy the authors characterizations, but the characters in this book were not very interesting to me. I felt that it was pretty unrealistic for a Scottish lord to want to marry just anybody sight-unseen. Annabelle was not my idea of anybody who would make a good doctor. She seemed pretty robotic to me. I just couldn't like her. Gillian was okay, but it really just took too long for her to become involved with the Scottish Lord. I don't know.....it was all just too predictable and boring. I would rather spend my time reading a book that I'm interested in.

[Tatrd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gillian Cameron & 10th Earl of Straithern Grant Roberson
His 2 younger brothers have died of what doctor says is a blood disease and says he might succumb too. He decides to marry quickly so he can have an heir so Grant asks he doctor if he can marry his daughter. She is beautiful but cold and uncaring about anything but her book on medicine. Grant is enchanted by her companion though the doctor and his daughter say she is a fallen woman. Grants thinks someone poisoned his brothers and is looking for a murderer too.

[Yvonne Boag · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Earl of Straithern recently lost two of his brothers. The doctor thinks it was to a blood disease but the Earl thinks poison was involved. Whatever the case he thinks he should marry and start on the whole heirs business. The perfect solution is to marry the doctor's daughter but from the first he prefers her companion. Can he sort out his love life and solve the mystery of his brothers' killer?

Oh so lame a premise. It had all the earmarks of a gothic horror rather then a romance. Very Wuthering Heights without the excellent writing. Two and a half stars from me.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this story is a bit dark. Multiple murders, poisonings, secrets, and scandals. Faced with his very real and not too distant demise, Grant decides to marry. And the fact that the family doctor who delivers this news has a daughter makes things easier. Arabella, her father and her companion come to get acquainted. Well things don't seem to be proceeding as planned. Question: Whatever happened with the gardener who might lose his hand? Major interest: medicine, poison, and scientific experiments specifical electrics.

[Diane Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book a long time ago although I didn't remember reading it. So I bought the e-book. I remembered snippets and thought, how could I forget I owned it already? So glad I bought again and enjoyed it more so. I really liked these characters and the plot. I so look forward to reading more from Ranney.

[NorthernLightsGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a your family did me wrong so I'm going to do you wrong and while I am at it I am going to wipe out your whole blood line book. Interesting plot. I would like to know Lorenzo's story. He made an interesting secondary character.

[Brandy *Ahviel* · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that I really did not like this book. I felt that it dragged on. I thought the book would be interesting especially with the aspect of a laird (earl) finding love with his intended campanion.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant Roberson needs a wife. He is also embroiled in a mystery. to find who is killing off his family. He decided to marry the cold and aloof Arabella, but instead finds himself attracted to her travelling companion. Good read with suspense too. Recommended.

[Sharon Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Ranney wrote a whale of a story. It is a historical romance with a touch of mystery. The Earl of Straithern believe his brothers were brought down by poison and wanted, needed, to find the murderer to protect himself and others. This is a book I will definitely reread again.