Night Owl Reviews Critic’s Choice award winner.
A legendary love, an unforgiving curse, and the discovery of a lifetime . . .
Centuries ago a vengeful curse buried itself deep into the history of the MacLaoch clan and become a legendary tale told by all those not cursed by its words.
In present-day Scotland, the laird and chieftain of the MacLaoch clan is an ex-Royal Air Force fighter pilot … ex-Royal Air Force fighter pilot who has been past the gates of hell and returned a changed man. Rowan MacLaoch does battle with wartime memories and a family curse that threaten to consume him—unaware that his life and that of the history of the clan will be changed forever by the arrival of an American woman.
Cole Baker, a feisty recent graduate of a master’s program, stumbles upon the ancient curse while researching her bloodlines. Moved by the history of the MacLaoch clan and the mystery of its chief, she digs into the legend that had been anything but quiet for centuries.
On their quest for answers, Cole and Rowan travel to places they have never before been and become witnesses to things they have never before fathomed. The legend—one started with blood—will end with more shed as its creator finally exacts her justice.
more
I loved this book!
This one wasn’t really my thing on paper it had everything I usually like it just didn’t work for me at all.
The concept itself was interesting and it wasn’t badly written I just felt detached throughout and Couldn’t connect.
The main character American Nicole Baker who goes by Cole finds herself researching deeper into her family linage after her grandfather’s death.
This journey brings her to Scotland and the Maclaoch family seat where she discovers the ancient legends and family curse that connects the current Chieftan Rowan Maclaoch with Cole’s past ancestor.
So I had a few issues here first off I found Cole herself to be very aggressive and overly hostile.
I didn’t like her one little bit and thought she was way over the top very rude and so passive-aggressive in her attitude towards others.
Then there was Rowan himself he also had some personality problems and I wasn’t much a fan of him either though I did prefer Rowan to Cole which isn’t really saying much as I couldn’t stand her so hardly a glowing endorsement that.
Then there was the constant unnecessary back and forth with such unneeded angst that a bit of information sharing would definitely have cleared up.
This was also lacking in chemistry and I never felt any connection between either Rowan or Cole I just wasn’t feeling any love from either.
Their whole relationship felt cold and flat and not at all genuine.
Combine this with the secondary characters who I found one-dimensional caricatures of the villain’s with no logical reasons for there strange psychotic behaviours and I was out.
It all just felt so far fetched and totally confusing.
I did like that this was set in Scotland but that was about it really.
I was bored and found my self skimming heavily initially this also moved at a snail pace the last part of this was much faster but it was all just so fantastical.
I do like paranormal stuff so this wasn’t the reason I found this far fetched I just don’t think this was executed or constructed very well.
I’m disappointed as the blurb here showed so much promise the reality of this unfortunately for me fell quite flat.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Legend of lady Maclaich.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
http://www.beckiebookworm.com
This story takes you to Scotland from the land to the language. I absolutely loved how you are sucked right into the place. The characters are well rounded and fully developed.The legend was enticing and grabbed you from the prologue but then I absolutely love curses, legends and history. It also has science concepts that I’m very interested in learning more On this subject.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This book was definitely running from the start. It started out with a prologue from the past setting the tone and jumped right into modern times effortlessly. The main characters were brought in individually with a brief, yet emotionally tied backstory that is weaved in throughout the book. There are a few cuss words, but they are filtered in a way that makes sense-not just thrown around to make it feel “grown up”.
Cole and Rowan come from completely different backgrounds, but with one common result – family ties. Unfortunately, these ties came with a price that each Chieftain of the MacLaoch has had to pay due to a curse put upon them. Ultimately the story has a lot of energy behind it that wants you to keep going – even if you know where it ends.
I give it 4 stars because of one detail that any researcher knows, especially those into genealogy. Misspellings occur, sometimes on purpose, sometimes because those recording just couldn’t spell or the handwriting was harder to read. Cole (Nicole) is very wrapped up in the difference between the o and the a, yet there was viable proof there the entire time. That and I would like to know how she would be able to afford such a trip and extend it, also coming from an orchard that is not going to just have money laying around to go buy dresses and other items. Maybe they took out a loan, sold something, I dunno. But those things aside, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who love romance, nature and a little fun on the side.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Legend of Lady Maclaoch by Becky Banks is an enthralling book full of romance, mysticism, and thrills. I connected with this story as I have not in a long while. Maybe it was the genealogy? Cole Baker is at the Thanksgiving table at her parents’ house when she hears that they are really not descended from a Baker, but from a Minary. Why has she never heard this before? This news bothers her and after graduation, before there is a job, she decides to travel to Scotland to do a little onsite research. When she arrives on Glentree and settles in, she starts asking questions everyone treats her strangely, not really answering questions at all. She ends up on her way to Castle MacLaoch with two very odd elderly fishermen, Angus and Bernie MacDonagh. The old guys, when they are not bickering, tell her an intriguing tale of an ancient curse having to do with a man named Minory. But, she is looking for Minary. When she arrives near the castle, she is hiking a trail leading to it when she runs into a good-looking, well-dressed man, who is not very nice. She later discovers he is Rowan, the chieftain of Clan MacLaogh.
I would not presume to take the reader through the entire story but suffice to say there is intrigue, guns, galas, windstorms, a crazy woman from Iceland, PTSD from fighting in the Middle East, and more. I am not sure why I connected with this book so thoroughly. I am not usually much for the paranormal but the mysticism found here is just enough to be enticing and explanatory. The characters, especially Rowan and Cole and their past lives, both real and mystic make this one of the most charming books I have read lately. I cannot recommend it heartily enough and cannot wait for the next in the series. I hope you love it.
I received a free ARC of the The Legend of Lady MacLaoch. All opinions contained herein are my own.
What I absolutely loved about this book was the imagery. It was so easy to imagine the Scottish countryside, the islets, and craggy cliffs. I’m so ready to book a trip! I also loved the way the author wove the legend of the MacLaoch family curse into the story of Cole and Rowan. I’m not crazy about prologues, but this one, set 800 years before the story, was key, and I’m glad I didn’t skip it! If it hadn’t been in italics I just might have. I found the prologue, the original curse, intriguing and mysterious and a great anticipatory set.
I wasn’t crazy about the antagonists Kelly and Eryka. If they really had to be in the story, I wish that Kelly was a bit more suave and manipulative rather than crude and repulsive. It also would have been more believable if Eryka was from another prominent Scottish family rather than being a heady, Icelandic, gold digger. The two of them were borderline ridiculous, but the contemporary story woven with the local lore was captivating and more than made up for the mediocre secondary characters.