A Highland Duchess

The Tulloch Sgàthán Trilogy #2

by Karen Ranney

Her heart, her soul, her passion belong to the magnificent Scotsman . . . but she can never be his.

The beautiful but haughty Duchess of Herridge is known to all the ton as the "Ice Queen." But to Ian McNair, the exquisite Emma is nothing like the rumors. Sensual and passionate, she moves him as no other woman has before. If only she were his wife and not his captive . . .

Little does Emma know that the dark and mysterious stranger who bursts into her bedroom to kidnap her is the powerful Earl of Buchane, and the only man who has been able to see past her proper façade. As the Ice Queen's defenses melt under the powerful passion she finds with her handsome captor, she begins to believe that love may be possible. Yet fate has decreed that the dream can never be—for pursuing it means sacrificing everything they hold dear: their honor, their futures . . . and perhaps their lives.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Scotland, Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 27, 2010

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

[willaful · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading Karen Ranney is starting to make me feel like the Forty Year Old Hippie:



I persist in believing she's a good writer, yet I keep finding her books boring. This one has a strong Victorian setting and some potentially interesting characters -- a scientist hero, a heroine essentially suffering from PTSD -- but the plotting is stupid and full of mcguffins. And though I could understand why Emma is so passive and depressed, after all she'd been through, it didn't make her much fun to read about.

[Carrie Olguin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story started out interesting enough, but the middle sagged (as if the writer added unneeded paragrahps to make word count). I skimmed the last third of the book hoping the dip was a sag and that the ending would be more interesting. Alas, not to be.

The heroine was married to a depraved (and sexually active) duke for four years and somehow emerged into widowhood still wealthy? (How come the money didn't go to the Duke's heir.

Her husband certainly didn't care enough to leave her any money in his will) After four years of marriage, she didn't have one single child or miscarriage. Really?

More logic errors and characters acting out of character (and spoilers) in the plot:

The major villain is her uncle who became her financial guardian when the duke died (herone has to be less than 25 to have one, right? The heroine's age is never specified.) is blackmailed by a minor villain. So what does her uncle do? Does he offer the blackmailer lots of her money to silence him? No, he offers the golden goose, the heroine and her fortune through marriage. Really. The blacmailer doesn't ask for her hand in marriage. The uncle makes the offer. Okay, put the major villain into the "not very bright" catagory.

Hero is an Earl and a scientist. A friend asks him to obtain a mirror the heroine is rumored to own. So what does a wealthy, logic driven, peer of the realm do? He breaks into her home to steal the item. Really?

The heroine is not accepted by polite society, been given the cut direct, due to her dead husband's reputation as a depraved libertine. She hates society and the people who gave her the cut. And yet she plans to become the model of virtue. Why? They will never accept her back and she knows it. So why bother to try? (contrived emotional conflict that just doesn't work)

There are plenty of other examples of characters slipping out off character in this story, and logic errors in character thoughts and deeds.

I don't know why I bothered to finish the story. I knew the second husband had to die. I knew who the murder was. I knew it was going to end with the heoine fighting for her life with the uncle in some type of predictable physical contest with the hero arriving just in time to save her.

I just had no idea why I bothered to finish reading until the end.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the latest book by an author that I respect. I loved her book “The Devil Wears Tartan” and I am very fond of her Highland Lords Series. As for this book, I didn’t like it much.

Ian sounded interesting and mysterious, and Emma started off as being spunky. I’m not sure where they lost all their personalities, but somewhere something went wrong, and we ended up frustrated with the story as it dragged on, and on, and on…How long were we supposed to believe that NO ONE could figure out the Villain? It was too predictable.

As for Emma, she just kept dragging, that at one point I wanted to slap her and tell her “GET IT TOGETHER, GIRL”!! Being forced to marry once, she goes and does it again! AGHHH! I couldn’t take it.

The bones were there, and that is the ONLY reason that I read it all through the AGONIZING end. I should have felt something for Emma, but the writing felt rushed through and the Author didn’t even try to do these characters justice. Sorry, but I do not recommend it.

I think I’ll go and reread Ms. Ranney’s earlier works, of which I am a great fan.

[Monique Takens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Candlelight Historische roman 1000 .
Idioot verhaal waarin de meest onwaarschijnlijke dingen gebeuren .

[Koki · Rating 4 out of 5]

V spoločnosti jej hovorili Ľadová kráľovná. Bolo to tak, kým žil jej manžel. Teraz je vdova. Do spoločnosti nechodí. Jediné, čo chce, je mať konečne pokoj. Pri manželovi si toho prežila až-až, pokojný život by si zaslúžila.

Pokoj však Emma nemá. Aspoň pokiaľ žije jej strýko, ktorý má v pláne ju znovu vydať. Emmin strýko nie je iba do vetra rozprávajúci muž. Nie. Je to muž činu. Aby dosiahol svoje, nestráni sa použiť aj násilie. Emma má vyhrážky na dennom poriadku. A bitku? Nuž, to závisí od toho ako veľmi sa na ňu strýko hnevá... Zvyšok recenzie je tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.com/20...

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a fan of historical romance, I couldn't resist taking a break from the paranormal to read this one. And I'm glad I did. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved watching Emma's character develop, as well as, the growing relationship between her and Ian. I thought Ranney did a good job at creating solid characters and bringing readers into the story. As a romantic, the star crossed lover theme definately made the story most enjoyable for me, and had me not only rooting for Ian and Emma, but saying "screw being proper...go for it". However much I though that, I'm glad Ranney wrote the story as she did. It definately made the ending more satisfying. If I can add one more thing, I enjoyed the unpredicatability of the plot. I would definately recommend this book to fans of historical romance.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters kind of misleads you to what the whole novel will about; which kind of pissed me off, since I was deciding between this book & another. It wasn't the seductive romance novel that I originally read in the few chapters but instead it contained many hard obstacles that the characters will have to face....I didn't have a problem with this part but to me, this novel felt like a long narrative. It was okay overall but this novel wasn't for me

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book #3 for Historical Romance Readathon March 2020. Scottish Highlander romance.

I picked up this book a while ago from the used book store. I don't remember why, but it sounded interesting enough. What a disappointment. I liked Ian and Emma fine enough. (OMG, yes, we get it. She's an ICE QUEEN)

The plot was a mess. He abducts her, they fell in love in 3 days after boning, and then he brings her back only for her to marry his cousin? Was that part really necessary? And then he's engaged!? (I don't like romances with cheating or semi-cheating involved. Not my cup of tea). And then everything is fine in the last 10 pages after SO MUCH ANGST.

I was just bored. The plot meandered and was just silly. I should have ditched it during the readathon and read my other books. Because this book almost made me DNF it. Also she's no longer a duchess or a highlander (and neither is he! How is he an Earl and a Laird, which is never explained).

Like I said, I liked the characters and there were some interesting themes brought up, but they glossed over them (the sexual assault in her marriage, women's control over finances) and they didn't help develop the characters in any way. Meh.

[Wenny Widjaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sukaaaa !!! Ga disangka banget buku ini selesai dibaca dlm waktu 2 hari sajah.., buku ini udah lama banget ada di rak buku dan belum ada niatan baca sampai kemarin. Dan ternyata bagusss !! Mungkin ga semua orang akan suka dengan buku ini kali yah karena auranya agak2 murung gitu. Awalnya ada banyak bagian yang lucu juga menurut saya dan itu yang bikin saya ga bisa berhenti baca. Trus makin seru juga karena ada suspensenya.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book during bowling and had to be told it was my turn, I was so engrossed, and came home and finished it. This may be my last book of the year. Heroine is a widow and happy about it as she was married to a horrible man. The hero steals into her room to ask her for a Scottish mirror. We learn both of their stories, and it is a wonder she survived. I did like the characters and will now read book #3.

[Diah Johar · Rating 2 out of 5]

All that i can say is Brenna deserve more than this!!! i feel like happiness in this book can be felt noly on the last ten pages.

[Michelle]

decided not to read

[meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

so boring, had to force myself to finish it. didn’t really like any of the characters plus i just don’t think reading about women in the 19th century, who have no rights, is really something i enjoy…

[Cornflowerfairy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emma is depressing... i was constantly thinking: "run away...." Everything would be better than staying with such a man/ getting beaten/ being sold for the second time to a disgusting man...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.. such a nice break from books with young innocent heroines, or snarling fighter girls.. Karen Ranney books never disappoint with her prose and character development.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma, Duchess and a recent widow, is still in her mourning period, but about to come out of it. Then he uncle informs her that she is to be married again, willingly or not, she has no choice in the matter. Then that night, a stranger comes into her bedroom and kidnaps her for he is in search of a mirror, a gift from her late husband, that she had practically forgotten about. Now Emma is his captive, and send her uncle a ransom: the mirror, for his niece. However it is apparent that her uncle could care less if she ends up not returning to him dead or alive, ever since her husbands death, has gambled away her fortune and if she were dead he would have full access to it. Emma even though captured, has felt more at home with Ian that she has ever been with anyone else, and she opens her heart to him, even knowing that there is no future for them, for she is to marry another, as is he.....but sometimes the matters of the heart have a way of disrupting best laid plans....
A Highland Duchess is the most recent book from Karen Ranney. As far as romances go, this was a average read for me. I could get into the story, but it wasn't like I couldn't put it down, I actually ended up pausing multiple times through the story. It wasn't a enlightening read or enchanting, but there was a drama about the story that held a certain appeal for me. I have usually enjoyed reading books from this author, so I was surprised when I had such a challenging time getting through this one. I found that there wasn't much consistency of engaging the reader much. The story had some flow, but it could be erratic at times. I did enjoy the characters and the emotional side of the story. There were parts of the story that drew me, but there were other parts, where I had to force myself to read through it. Overall it was a enjoyable read, but not one I would want to buy or re read....

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sob. Gasp. Ulp. Questo libro l’ho mandato giù con l’imbuto. Finirlo è stato un vero supplizio, non tanto per lo stile dell’autrice, che è apprezzabile, quanto per la trama. Lei è stata costretta a sposare un vecchio satiro, subendo ogni sorta di angheria e perversione sessuale per quattro lunghi anni. Lui la incontra quando si trova a Londra per tre motivi: un simposio, uno specchio magico (inutile alla trama) e per riacciuffare il Cugino (tenete da parte il Cugino, servirà più avanti). Ovviamente fra Lei e Lui esplodono scintille e volano unicorni. Ma lei è finalmente vedova e senza intenzione alcuna di risposarsi, mentre Lui è già promesso. Lui riparte per la Scozia e Lei torna dallo zio, che la costringe a sposarsi di nuovo. Nel frattempo Lui decide di tornare a Londra perché non può fare a meno di Lei, senza sapere che Lei invece sta andando in Scozia perché chi altri ha sposato se non il Cugino? Durante il viaggio il Cugino sta molto male e si scopre che è stato avvelenato. Gli intrighi si scatenano, le cose si complicano, Lui continua a desiderarla e non poterla avere, Lei anche, il Cugino pare stare meglio, ma alla fine qualcuno lo strangola. Perciò Lei resta di nuovo vedova e potrebbe anche sposare Lui, che nel frattempo ha rotto il fidanzamento perché ha in testa solo Lei. Ansia mia, portami via. Che polpettone pesantissimo e indigesto. Peccato, i personaggi sono meravigliosi, ma la trama proprio non va.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars because it's okay but I didn't exactly like it, either. Still, some of my complaints are probably better directed at the genre than the author. (I don't really read romance, so this was a new experience.)

I liked the historical tidbits that lent legitimacy to the setting, and the time period it was set in (Victorian, when germ theory was being debated) is fascinating. However, the characters' actions didn't seem particularly realistic, and evil male characters with dubious intentions (always centered around gambling and degrading women) abounded. While I wouldn't have minded so many purely evil characters if the main characters were interesting enough, all they did was worry about the same things all the time. Despite that, their thought processes never went beyond a certain brick wall. They were completely innocent except for (of course) their inappropriate lust for one another. A little honesty would have gone a long way, especially since I was forced to slog through pages of feelings that didn't ring true. Still, the fact that I read the whole thing is a compliment to the author - there was some tension there, and good writing when it wasn't flooded with melodrama.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms Ranney really knows how to torture her heroines. Ian kidnaps Emma after a foiled robbery and does her a great favor. Unfortunately her returns her and her evil uncle gives her in marriage to a blackguard to settle a blackmail threat. This is her second marriage to a blackguard; although her previous husband was a duke he was a hedonistic sicko. Ian, meanwhile, can't get her out of his mind. He is smitten. Smitten to the point that he decides to cancel his previous wedding plans even if he can't marry Emma since she is now married to blackguard #2. Blackguard #2 happens to be his cousi, by coincidence. Murder and mayhem keep this story rolling. Even though I knew who the bad guy was I enjoyed reading how it worked out.

I wish Ian had been developed more as a character, even so, he is memorable. Emma is definitely a damsel in distress. The pace tended toward slow and I doubt I'll re-read it but am glad I finished it.

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book from the dollar store... This was my first read from the author, but I doubt it will be the last as it was a most enjoyable experience! I did suspect the outcome at about the halfway point, but found that I very much wanted to continue reading to discover all of the twists and turns before the ending confirmed my suspicions. I was entertained by the character development of Emma and Ian, but also that of each of their homes. I do agree that some portions of the plot (and subplots) were drawn out, but that, to me, served to illuminate parts of each character's personality. It did not detract from the overall experience. Historical Romance readers enjoy!

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting storyline although it did drag in parts. I loved how the relationship between Emma and Ian developed but it just felt like it took way too long to resolve all the issues. However, it's a good read and I'd try the other books in the series. The biggest problem I have is not explaining the part the mirror plays in the trilogy. If you haven't read the first book (which I hadn't), it just springs up. There could have been just a little more paid attention to it because otherwise, it's rather insignificant in the grand scheme of the book.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some strong possibilities with the heroine's traumatic backstory, and I'll read more by this author, but I was never completely riveted by the storyline. I liked the characters and I love the fact that the author took me by surprise by putting her heroine completely and seemingly irrevocably out of the hero's reach. But it still seemed too easy, by the end. A good read, and some strong potential, though. Will read more.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma, the "Ice Queen" is married to an evil and vile man who is killed one night. Emma is afraid she will be blamed, but then finds herself abducted jy the mysterious Ian, who is really the Earl of Buchan. There are many twists and turns here as well as a mystery, as Emma and Ian become closer to each other. Good read. Recommended.

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author. I simply loved it! And I definitely will look for other books by KR. The characters were terrific, the storyline intriguing, and the dialogue witty. An all around captivating historical read.

[S. Rutherford · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took a LONG while to get into, and wasn't easy to stay focused. It had an interesting story, and was written rather well, but I think it's the over-descriptive gesture Karen used that made it difficult to focus. Still, I adore seeing a fellow Texan author.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a tough one to finish. I loved the way the first hundred of pages were directed...then wham! Everything changed! I had my doubts how Emma and Ian would find their HEA. Lots of surprises. Overall, enjoyable.

[Martina Nix Govoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonostante il buon finale non sono completamente soddisfatta, c'è qualcosa che manca, non arriva. Forse perché le premesse mi avevano mal indirizzata sullo svolgimento, ma mi aspettavo una storia diversa.

[Taylor Sorenson]

Love

This book was thrilling! Mystery, suspense, scandal, and love! Kept me reading to the very end! Karen Ranney is constantly compelling with her blend of history and romance. I simply cannot wait to pick up the next book.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked wish for more info at the end

[J.M. Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were very engaging and extremely likable. She did a great job with the heroine.