It Happened in the Highlands is the next book in the new historical highland series, The Penningtons, from USA Today bestseller May McGoldrick…Lady Josephine Pennington was jilted by her fiancé once rumors spread about her questionable origins. Her adoptive parents have always provided her with the love and protection she’s needed to feel secure, and over the last sixteen years she’s molded … she’s molded herself to meet the expectations of others. When she receives a package containing sketches where the subject is eerily familiar, Jo believes she might have found a clue to the identity of her birth mother.
When Captain Wynne Melfort ended his engagement to Jo Pennington sixteen years ago, he never imagined he would see her again. But after he uncovers information that could reveal the truth about Jo’s parentage, Wynne feels bound by duty to right an old wrong and inform her of his find. He didn’t expect for feelings long thought dead to resurface, for in his mind a love departed was gone forever.
As they strive to unravel the mystery of her birth, Jo must learn how to trust the man who’d once rejected her and Wynne must reconcile his head with his heart. But as secrets of the past begin to surface, evil forces will stop at nothing to keep Jo from uncovering the truth and reclaiming her legacy. Together, Jo and Wynne must fight the deadly menace lurking deep in the Highland mists.
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I am really torn about this review – the writing was great and the story was gripping, but as a romance novel, it fell flat for me.
Sixteen years ago Lady Josephine Pennington, the adopted daughter of the Earl & Countess of Aytoun fell in love with Lt Wynne Melfort and they were engaged to be married. But ten days before the wedding, Wynne broke the engagement, dueled with her brother and left her without a backwards glance.
Jo has suffered greatly, she knows almost nothing about her birth parents, but rumor and speculation run rampant throughout the ton and is often vicious. After Wynne left her, Jo basically retired from society, she devoted her time to various charities, especially those that care for ruined woman and children. But always in the back of her mind is the desire to find the truth about her birth. Now drawings of a woman who looks like her have given her hope that she had almost given up on.
Wynne Melfort is now widowed with a young son and has retired from the Navy and along with his friend Dermot McKendry, has relocated to Scotland. Dermot has started a hospital for people with traumatic brain injuries, Dermot is the doctor and Wynne is the businessman. When a patient begins communicating by drawing pictures of the same woman over and over, Dermot asks Wynne to help him find the woman. Wynne is shocked to see the face of Jo looking back at him and instructs Dermot to write to Jo, but asks him to refrain from mentioning him.
Jo comes to the highlands and is stunned to see Wynne, she is not ready to confront the past between them and asks him to pretend that it never happened. She meets with Charles Barton and his family and it is oblivious that they recognize her, but they deny it – Charles however, takes Jo’s hand and speaks for the first time. Dermot is overjoyed and asks her to stay. His family is not as happy and say they will not leave him at the hospital. Dermot begs them to reconsider and reluctantly, they agree. Jo has mixed feelings about staying, she wants to help Charles and hopefully find out who her mother was, but begin close to Wynne picks at a wound that never healed, especially when she learns he married and had a son.
Wynne denies having any feelings for Jo, he needs to concentrate on building a life for his son., Cuffe. Cuffe is not fitting in and refuses to speak to Wynne. He was raised on Jamaica by his maternal grandmother after his mother died shortly after his birth. He barely knows his father and wants to return to Jamaica. Wynne worries for Cuffe, his mixed blood leads many to believe he is not Wynne’s legitimate son and Wynne is very protective and defensive on his behalf, but he feels like he is fighting a losing battle and has yet to bond with his son.
This is a story of second chances, for Jo, Wynne, Charles and even Cuffe. I thought the story surrounding Jo’s parentage was excellent and very well done, but I really didn’t care for the romance aspect of the story. I felt that Wynne’s initial rejection was lame, implausible for the era and given that he married an even more unacceptable woman a few years later even more unforgivable. I also felt like Jo was “just too good to be true”, seriously the woman should be nominated for sainthood, she is too understanding, too forgiving and too meek. I felt like the love story unfolded too quickly and they reconciled much too easily. But the mystery of her family was fantastic and made this book well the time I invested to read. So for me, this was a 2 star love story with a 5 star mystery.
I would recommend the book, it is second in the series, but could easily be read as a stand alone title.
I loved seeing how Jo had matured and found a peace for herself and her situation. Wynne was racked with guilt for most of the story, but how they resolved their problems with the past was perfect. Cuffe was a great addition to family and setting as well. The updates on Grace and Hugh was wonderful to see. The antagonist threw me off a little, it wasn’t the person who I exactly thought it was, but I’m glad the ending turned out as it did. Pretty much perfect justice in the end! Thank you NetGally for the ARC!
It Happened In The Highlands by May McGoldrick is an amazing historical romance. Ms. McGoldrick has delivered a book that is well-written and loaded with fantastic, lovable characters. Jo is an orphan raised and loved in the Pennington household as a daughter and was jilted days before their wedding by Hugh. Their story will take you on an emotional roller coaster. There is plenty of drama, humor, action, suspense and spice to keep readers glued to this book. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to reading more from May McGoldrick in the future. It Happened In The Highlands is book 2 of The Pennington Family Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a wonderful book filled with intrigue, colorful characters, romance. Jo is the adopted daughter of an Earl and knows little of her origins. Wynne, a sea captain, and Jo were engaged several years ago and broke it off under dark circumstances. Now the two are pulled back together by the possibility of learning of Jo’s biological family. But in that discovery danger lurks and the two begin to work together to solve a thirty five year old mystery.
The heat between the two was well written and the colorful characters added a great deal to this story. I am really looking forward to the next and highly recommend it as I couldn’t put it down.
I read this as an arc on netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.
I’ve never read May and took a chance when the ARC was offered to me. I am SO glad I did. I now have a new Historic Scot author to add to my favored list! This was a great story about prejudice and how gossip hurt others. It’s about knowing the value of yourself and trusting that inner core of strength.
Lady Josephine Pennington was born in the streets of London witnessed by her adopted mother while her unknown birth mother died from her labors. Jo was fully embraced by the Pennington family and treated as one of the many siblings she grew up with. Unfortunately there were others in the “ton” who also witnessed her birth and never let others forget her uncertain heritage with their malicious whispers. All her life Jo tried to ignore the whispers, her family surrounding her jumping to her defence. When she was presented to the Queen for her “coming out” and put forward in the “marriage mart” she caught the eye of young Captain Wynne Melfort. He saw the slight to her heritage and sought her out to ease her hurt. During their courtship he was ever there, quick to defend and give her support. Even to his parents who did NOT favor their courtship. Ten days before they were to be married he received his Navy orders that he was to ship out to fight in the war not knowing when he would return. The realities of not being there for her and knowing his parents would make her life hell, made him realize he couldn’t go through with the marriage even though he loved her dearly.
Years pass and Jo has become a “spinster” heiress who uses her wealth to help women and children who need support and have nowhere to turn. She gets a clue in the post of someone who might know who she is and decides to investigate on her way to visit her brother who’s going to be a father for the first time. This starts the adventure as it’s retired Captain Melfort who sees the clue and makes sure she gets it. He’s planning to stay out of her path when she arrives but you know how plans go. I loved how these two find their comfort zone and renew the passion between them. I’m a sucker for second chance stories and guardian protector heroes. This one hit all my favorite “hot buttons” for story lines.
Just loved this adventure! Thank you May McGoldrick and St. Martin’s Press for the NetGalley ARC of this book. I’m sorry it’s late but well worth the time I took to read the story. I will be seeking more stories from this Husband-Wife writing duo.
Can two people have a second chance at love after sixteen years apart? Josephine Pennington and Wynne Melfort were engaged to be married. Jo was a foundling who did not know her birth parents but was so lucky to be a part of a wonderful adoptive family. But gossip and ugly stories about Jo’s background tear them apart. Wynne’s family is against his marriage and he ends up breaking if off with Jo. She is of course devastated because she really loved Wynne so she devotes herself to helping others and tries to forget him.
So sixteen years later, Jo and Wynne meet again and find the old attraction is still there, although both have changed a lot with the passing years. Can they come together or let the past keep them apart? Does Jo find out about her birth and where she really came from? This is a wonderful story you will be glad you read and will leave you anxiously awaiting the other stories in this series!
It Happened in the Highlands by May McGoldrick is book Two in “The Pennington Family” series. This is the story of Lady Josephine ‘Jo” Pennington and Captain Wynne Melfort. We did meet Jo in the first book ‘Romancing the Scot’ but feel this can easily be a standalone book.
Jo and Wynne had been engaged about about to get married when Wynne broke things off. After Wynne left to go to the Royal Navy Jo retried from society to do charitable work. Wynne reasons for breaking things off that help somewhat to understand he thoughts behind hurting Jo. Jo who has always had feeling of upset from being adopted because she never her new her blood family but having Wynne break off their engagement just added to that sorrow.
Years later Wynne is retired from the Royal Navy along with his friend and they go forward to open up a place for people with brain injuries or mental issues to be treated. There Wynne learns something related to Jo that brings them forward in meeting again.
But can past hurts be forgiving and can what Jo is learning about herself help in moving forward?
Great Story!
It Happened in the Highlands by May McGoldrick
The Pennington Family #2
Engaged from the beginning I could not put this book down! It made me think and care and invest in the characters hoping they would manage to find a way to the HEA they so richly deserved.
Definitely a second chance at romance love story but with sixteen years apart both Jo and Wynne are different people than they once were and better, in many ways, for their years apart. Both have grown and developed into more interesting, complex and stronger people than they may have had they married years before.
I enjoyed reading this book not only for the romance but for the mystery of finding out what Jo’s background was. I enjoyed the growth of Wynne as he got to know his son better. I found the relationship between Wynne and Jo believable and now want to find out what will happen in the next two books of the series and can’t wait till they are released!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 – 5 Stars
Lady Josephine Pennington was jilted by her fiancé sixteen years ago & she has never married. Her adoptive parents have always provided her with the love and protection she’s needed to feel secure. When she receives a package containing sketches where the subject is eerily familiar, Jo believes she might have found a clue to the identity of her birth mother.
When Captain Wynne Melfort ended his engagement to Jo Pennington sixteen years ago, he never imagined he would see her again. But after he uncovers information that could reveal the truth about Jo’s parentage, Wynne feels bound by duty to right an old wrong and inform her of his find. He didn’t expect for feelings long thought dead to resurface, for in his mind a love departed was gone forever.
As they strive to unravel the mystery of her birth.
I’m so glad Jo has her story she won my heart as a secondary character in her brothers’ books. Another lovely read from the author I found it very hard to put down & read it in under a day. The characters are vwery well fleshed & the story flows very well. Cuffe is delightful & the way his character develops from a sullen little boy to a generous, caring youth is very well handled. I began by disliking Wynne for his treatment of Jo many years ago but as his reasons were revealed I could forgive him but felt he handled it very badly. I ran through a gamut of emotions reading the book from laughter at Wynne & Hugh’s meeting to Jo’s heartbreak after speaking to the curate. I look forward to the remaining two Pennington sisters having their stories.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This exciting and interesting tale is the second installment in May McGoldrick’s Pennington Family series. It is well paced, well written, and well plotted. Don’t let the book blurb fool you, he didn’t exactly walk away from the betrothal because of the gossip. So, if that description puts you off – as it did me – I’d say give it a chance – because it isn’t exactly accurate. I won’t give you his reasons because you need to read the book to find out. Now, I WILL say that I understand his reasoning, but NOT his timing. He was a very smart and capable man and should have recognized his dilemma long before he did. So, as I said – if that trope bothers you and you are thinking of not reading it because of it – give it a chance, I think you’ll like it.
We met Josephine Pennington (Jo) in the first book of the series – Romancing the Scot. You couldn’t help but like her in that one. She’s no less likable in this one, but I did feel she was a bit of a doormat. I really did enjoy watching her grow a spine. It wasn’t that she wasn’t smart and decisive, she just couldn’t stand conflict – especially when that conflict involved her. She allowed others to gossip viciously about her without any confrontation at all – she’d just run away. That forced everyone who loved her, especially the males, to be more and more protective of her. I was so very happy to see her grow a spine – and use it toward the end of the book. There is a scene with Lady Nithsdale at around the 95-96% mark that you will absolutely LOVE!
Captain Wynne Melfort is the younger son of a hateful, vindictive, spiteful, bigoted Baron – and his mother is as bad as his father. It would take a lot for a very young man to go against them and society. I was glad to learn that he found his bravery and was an accomplished leader in the Royal Navy. I think it took him a while, but he did get there. I believe my main reservation about him is his timing. I do sort of understand his reasoning for jilting Jo, what I question is his timing. Early on in the relationship, he knew ALL of the things he used as an excuse – he could have just skipped the proposal altogether or given her a choice to jilt him earlier. Instead, he made the decision for both of them. Then, he tells her in a letter! Granted, he called on her, but when she was out he left a letter breaking their engagement – say what! Talk about cowardice.
Sixteen years after the broken betrothal, Wynne is retired from the navy and has gone into partnership with his ship’s surgeon. They have opened an innovative hospital for people with mental illness. Wynne is the director of the hospital and the surgeon, of course, is the doctor. (BTW – you’ll love the doctor and I’m sure we will see him in his own story later). Wynne is also a widower with a son, Cuffe (wish I knew how to pronounce that). They are in the Highlands and Cuffe is having a hard time adjusting to the changes in his life.
They have a patient in their hospital who is uncommunicative – but he keeps sketching pictures of the same woman. Once Wynne sees the sketches, he recognizes the woman immediately – it is Jo. Wynne knows how important it is to Jo that she find her origins and Wynne thinks maybe this patient might hold a clue to those origins. So, he has Dr. McKendry write to Jo and include a copy of the sketch. Wynne knows that Jo will come to the hospital to see the patient, and he plans to be away while she is there – except she shows up earlier than expected.
The story leads the two of them into discoveries of many kinds. Discoveries about themselves, discoveries about their feelings for each other, discoveries about how strong they really are – so many things. As they search for Jo’s origins, they have to deal with villains, love and a lonely, unhappy little boy.
While I liked the first book better, this one is still a great read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”