Lost in the Highlands Found by the laird! Part of The Lochmore Legacy: a Scottish castle through the ages! Far from her home in France, Marguerite Vallon escapes her arranged marriage to a man she despises. Stowing away in a stranger’s cart, she finds herself headed deep into the Highlands with Ewan Lochmore, the new Earl of Glenarris! Ewan vows to protect her. But maybe the freedom Marguerite … freedom Marguerite has been searching for can be found with this rugged warrior…
The Lochmore Legacy collection
Book 1 — His Convenient Highland Wedding by Janice Preston
Book 2 — Unlaced by the Highland Duke by Lara Temple
Book 3 — A Runaway Bride for the Highlander by Elisabeth Hobbes
Book 4 — Secrets of a Highland Warrior by Nicole Locke
“Elisabeth Hobbes has a fantastic compelling writing style. She’s chosen an original time frame for her story and makes the eleventh century come to life in an amazing captivating way … A gorgeous love story that melted my heart.”
— With Love for Books on Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight
“This book is right up there with the best Medieval Romances I have read, from an author who knows her craft and isn’t ashamed to share that knowledge. Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight is cleverly written, supremely romantic and engaging from that very first page.”
— Chicks, Rogues and Scandals on Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight
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A Runaway Bride for the Highlander by author Elisabeth Hobbes is the third book in The Lochmore Legacy. In the previous stories in this series, we did hear of Ewan and Marguerite so I was excited to learn more about them as a couple and the part they played in the mystery. After reading this story, I must congratulate Ms. Hobbes as she has given us another masterpiece to add to this series and brought us one step closer to unraveling the mystery! Another book of perfection!
Ewan Lochmore has traveled to Sterling to claim his title of the new Earl of Glenarris with the death of his father and brother. Ewan was the second son, sent to study law at the University in Glasgow with no intention of ever leading his clan. Ewan’s career ended with the death of his father and brother and now he struggles with grief and fear of his new role as Earl.
Marguerite Vallon is not happy to be in Scotland. She misses her homeland of France and her mother who died two months ago. She is also not happy with the marriage arrangement her father made for her to Duncan McCrieff a man almost twice her age. When she realizes she cannot go through with the wedding, she devises a plan to sneak on to Ewan’s cart to help her get closer to the coast and escape back to France.
Ms. Hobbes writing is as always beautifully and richly detailed, so much so that you feel yourself pulled into the storyline absorbing every moment. Ewan and Marguerite are a fabulous couple. Although they have little in common they both are suffering from the grief of the loss of their loved ones and facing an uncertain future, which neither one of them planned nor wanted. You can actually feel the weight on Ewan’s shoulders as he struggles with the uncertainty over whether he will be accepted as Laird. As for Marguerite, she’s very young but she’s strong, brave, kind-hearted and determined to make a life for herself. Although there is an awareness on Marguerite’s part and an attraction on Ewan’s, he knows she’s engaged to Duncan and has no plans to act on it in the beginning. But when Marguerite runs away from her betrothed and Ewan agrees to help her, a journey to Lochmore has them finding it harder and harder to resist the feelings that are growing between them. As the journey comes to an end the uncertainty of both their futures hangs in the air. Will they part as agreed or will they be able to overcome the uncertainties and admit their feelings towards each other.
With the mystery now coming closer to being revealed, Ms. Hobbes has given us a wonderful story full of fabulous characters, stunning scenery, and an absolutely perfect ending for this couple. I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it!
This is the next book in the reverse chronology of the Lochmore Legacy. Some questions from the previous books are answered while new ones make their appearance. Ewan and Marguerite are mentioned several times in the earlier books, so I was happy to get their story.
The story begins immediately after Scotland’s defeat at Flodden, as the clans gather at Stirling to plan Scotland’s future. Ewan, who had been studying law in Glasgow, is on the way to Stirling to claim the title of Earl of Glenarris following the deaths of his father and brother. Grief-stricken, Ewan suffers grave doubts about his ability to fill his father’s shoes. While at the castle, he encounters an unusual young woman who he can’t get off his mind.
Marguerite is a young Frenchwoman who is betrothed to Duncan McCrieff, a man twice her age. Still grieving the death of her mother, Marguerite is out of her depth in the rougher environment of the Scottish court. She also quickly realizes that her fiancé frightens her in ways she had not anticipated. The only bright spot is the young, handsome Highlander who befriends her. When she decides to run, she stows away in Ewan’s cart.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Marguerite and Ewan. Their fascination with each other was evident from the beginning. While a good share of Ewan’s interest was wrapped up in physical attraction, there was also a layer of protectiveness. He knew Duncan and his reputation and that it would not be a pleasant marriage for Marguerite. He was also well aware that there was nothing he could do about it. Though Marguerite was fearful of most men, there was something about Ewan that she found easy to trust. This made her avenue of escape an easy decision. I was quite impressed with her planning and preparation, though she neglected to confirm precisely where Ewan was going. I was surprised that she remained hidden as long as she did.
I loved Ewan’s reaction when he found her. Though not at all happy to discover her there, especially given his recent encounter with Duncan, he is a gentleman. Knowing what he does, he won’t return her to Duncan, but keeping her with him creates a whole different set of problems. As they make their way toward Lochmore they learn more about each other and realize that their initial impressions were not entirely accurate. I loved seeing Marguerite destroy his belief that she was a spoiled miss by rising to every challenge placed in front of her. She also learned that Ewan wasn’t the barbarian she thought he was. In the time they spent together, the attraction between them grew stronger, and feelings of friendship deepened to more. I laughed a little at Ewan whose gentlemanly behavior warred with his baser urges. It became even more difficult as Marguerite’s wariness lessened, her trust increased, and she discovered that getting close to the right man is pleasurable indeed. There are some emotional scenes that expose their vulnerabilities and fears to each other, but also show how right they are for each other.
But nothing is easy, and their arrival at Lochmore is complicated as the castle is under siege by the McCrieffs in a double-motivated attack. Ewan had previously made clear to Duncan that he was suspected of treason, and Ewan meant to prove it. Meanwhile, Duncan’s cousin Donald is angry that Ewan received lands that Donald believed rightfully belong to him. Ewan must make his debut as Laird under these trying circumstances, and he isn’t sure that he’s up to the task. I loved Marguerite’s confidence in him and the steadying effect that it had on him. The tension increases as the McCrieffs’ actions strike at the heart of Lochmore, and Marguerite’s disappearance forces Ewan to make a choice. I was on the edge of my seat until the final confrontation was over. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to this book and gave a sweet look at the Ewan and Marguerite’s lives.