New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell brings the proud heart of Scotland to life in her magnificent novels. Now the seven MacEnroy brothers are about to take America by storm . . . Off the New England coast, courageous Mehitabel Ampleford wields a rifle to protect her home from a brutish band of men who are after her land. She will not be intimidated, but their attacks are growing … their attacks are growing fiercer, and just as their latest confrontation threatens violence, a bold stranger appears out of the ocean mists to send the raiders packing.
Geordie MacEnroy has seen the ravages of war in his mountain town—and in the injuries suffered by his youngest brother; now, his restless soul is calling him to find sanctuary by the sea. His long journey to the beautiful coastline of his adopted homeland feels like a new beginning as lovely Mehitabel, so wise and self-sufficient, offers blessed hope for healing his brother’s wounds. Geordie envisions a beautiful life with her as his bride, but a woman who has fought so fearlessly for her home may not willingly surrender all for his love . . .
“This will be a hit with fans of historical and Scottish romances.”
—Booklist on The Scotsman Who Saved Me
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Hannah Howell is one of my favorite authors and the Seven Brides/Seven Scotsman series is my favorite series so far. The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away is the third book in the series. This story is focused on Geordie, who has a need to sit by the ocean. When James, brother to his sister-in-law, stops to visit on his return to Maine, Geordie and Robbie join him. Robbie needs to test himself after the crippling injuries he received during the war. The journey is eventful and the three travelers end by driving off bullies intent on taking over the farm of a young lady. Belle becomes the love Geordie has been looking for and is instrumental in healing Robbie’s injuries. Add in the events leading to another orphan to be absorbed into the MacEnroy family and you have a great tale with a happy ending.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from NetGalley.
As I landed in this series through the third installment, I needed at first some times to understand the situation outside of the one brother staring in this book, glad the author managed to resume the history of some of the other brothers.
This is a slowly conducted story as it first focused on the hero of the book.
Geordie is the one brother who has a sea call, he feels an urge to go the coast and misses the ocean and he knows in his guts he has to see it again. Why he embarks in this trip to the east.
It has been decades since I read a book setting during the Civil War (probably the North and South Series), well this one here is set after and shows the devastation it caused.
Plus, as a coincidence, I read just two days ago, a book talking at a time of the ravages caused by the violent eviction of the Scottish tenants, some escaping to America in hope of a better future.
It was a very unhurried paced read, the heroine is introduced at the quater mark of the story.
Mehitabel is no damsel-in-distress, she has full control of her land but deals nearly every day with a neighbor who does not understand the word no. And his threats become more and more urging.
Geordie and Belle’s romance was a quiet affair, no sizzling lust, just them enjoying another’s presence and their closeness helping to bring them together.
It is a lovely tale with a lot of descriptions about Geordie’s journey with his brother and friend, then the care of Belle’s land and the healing of Robbie, Geordie’s brother.
Outside the romance, the storyline has many ramifications and side characters, each branch finds its resolve. The author is very talented to have crafted such a very detailed story with the hardship and struggles the people had during this period, it is not my favorite style of reading, a bit too sluggish at time, with not enough sparkles between the couple, it felt short outside the bedroom scenes, more an historical fiction than romance with a lot of informations about the way of life during these times. But if you like your reads full of details, with aplenty of characters, this is one for you.
But as I came to love Robbie, the wounded brother, I am curious about his fate.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington Books, I purchased my own copy too. It is my true and unbiased opinion.