A need to belong drives her. A longing to forget compels him. Fate may send them into each other’s arms, but only love can mend their hearts. An Outlander Raised by a tyrannical father, Marion de Lacy yearns for the comfort of belonging to a loving family. So when her father announces her betrothal to an evil knight in exchange for his help to overthrow the king, she concocts a desperate scheme … desperate scheme to avoid the marriage: feigning her own death and then fleeing England. But when her plan goes terribly awry and she’s captured by the knight, not even her careful preparations could ready her for the Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he’s to marry her by edict of her king. Certain her father will defy the king’s orders and wed her to the knight if she refuses the Highlander’s hand, Marion agrees to marry the strangely compelling but obstinate laird of the MacLeod clan.
A Highlander
After the death of his beloved wife, Iain MacLeod has no desire to marry ever again. Yet when he finds himself obliged to do so to secure the freedom of his childhood friend and king, he reluctantly travels across England to collect his unwanted bride, expecting to find a cold Englishwoman. Instead, he discovers a fiery, bold beauty who is fiercely loyal, protective of those she loves, and defies him at every turn, challenging his certainty that his heart is dead.
Ensnared
Following a hasty marriage and perilous journey to Scotland, Marion harbors no illusions that her new husband loves her. Still, her heart cannot resist the noble, brave warrior, and she cannot suppress the hope that she has finally found where she belongs. However, the harder she tries to fit in with the clan and gain Iain’s love, the farther away her dreams drift. Iain is more than willing to give his respect to his courageous wife—her kisses and caresses even ignite his blood and demand his passion—but he refuses to give up his heart. That is, until enemies near and far threaten to take Marion from him. Now the demons that haunt him can only be conquered by surrendering body and soul to Marion, if only it’s not too late…
“WHEN A LAIRD LOVES A LADY by Julie Johnstone is the first book in the Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts series, and I cannot wait for the second instalment. With beautiful imagery, the author transports the reader to a whole new world. Both Marion and Iain are meaningful and emotional characters, who I became deeply invested in. I could not put this book down. With plenty of danger, excitement and passionate encounters, WHEN A LAIRD LOVES A LADY by Julie Johnstone has got it all, and I now have a new favourite author.” ~ Fresh Fiction
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I really loved the characters in this book and have read it several times. All the books in this series are great but this remains one of my favorites.
As I am reading I am loving the language. It draws me deeper into another place and time and doesn’t slow me down!
This is a perfect escape read.
Written about a time when women had no value and were still priceless.
Marriage to Marion de Lacy was much sought after for the land and allegiant ties that come with her. Her father, a cold, cruel man intends to marry her off to a possibly more cruel and heartless man strictly for his political and power hungry self centered plans.
Knowing this, Marion decides her only choice is death and she fakes her own.
Iain MacLeod, a Scots laird, is fair and reasonable, also not bad to look at, but ends up being ordered to marry Marion as part of political negotiations towards the release of Scottish King David who is being held prisoner by English King Edward.
Don’t worry – this is not a political thriller. This just sets up the dilemma.
This is an excellent historical adventure romance with something for everyone.
Betrayal, exciting adventure, a mystical seer, bickering females – it isn’t as simple as knowing who can’t be trusted!
Ian has been married and finds no need to marry again. He agrees, only to aid his king.
He has no intentions of giving his heart to anyone, especially an English woman.
Marion, on the other hand, has no intentions of marrying for anything other than love.
The characters are beautifully complicated. The relationships, even between siblings and friends, are well developed and altogether draw you right into the action.
Reading about Marion’s introduction to the physical side of a marriage will have you experiencing it as if it is your first time. I can not recommend this strongly enough. Pick it up and enjoy!
I am anxiously awaiting to read more about Bridgette’s adventures.
If i could give it more than 5 stars I would.
Great beginning to a great series!
Mending A Broken Heart
England 1357. Adult Romance.
Marion, the daughter of a Duke, is Being used like a pawn in a chess game and is to be wed against her will to his henchman. She’s expendable and nearly helpless. But She hatches a plan with the Scottish stablemaster at her father’s castle, to be borne away to safety by some men in his clan.
Iain is her savior and the Laird. His wife died a few years ago and he vowed to never feel for a woman again. The only way he can think of to keep Marion from the clutches of his enemy is to marry her, even though his heart is closed.
Being the second wife of a Laird in Scotland isn’t exactly what Marion had in mind when she ran away, but Iain is a wonderful lover and protector, even if he will never let her into his heart.
Marion’s father and his henchman keep sending men after her to kidnap her throughout the book. Marion also has to win over Iain’s broken heart and also win the approval of his clans people.
If you like Scottish stories OR English – this is for all of us. It’s fun and the characters are fleshed out (no pun intended) so you feel like you know them.
I really like the books by Julie Johnstone and will continue reading her future books in the series.
Forced to marry the daughter of a distrusted Earl by the King of England, a Laird of Scotland finds passion and love. Very sensual with an interesting political background.
Action, Adventurous & Romantic
This Book was Well written & very hard to put down.
There are twists & turns in the Story that are Absolutely Wonderful. Marion is a Loving, Obstinate & Determined to have a family or better yet a husband that will Love her & to be accepted & loved.
Iain the Laird of The MacLeod Clan was to marry Marion even though he never wanted to be married again after his wife’s passing. He felt guilty & vowed to himself that he would never Love any woman.
After meeting Marion & marrying her they set off to Dunvegan Castle & along the way there many obstacles & threats that has Iain questioning his emotions.
The Story was Great, albeit the ending felt rushed & something just didn’t click for me. 1 thing that really had me gritting my teeth was how the words A Ghràidh was repeated what seemed like every other paragraph. Just my opinion
I loved the Hero-kind, caring, considerate, honorable. The heroine was spunky, brave, determined. Great story and read!
A woman has reached her shirts end and fakes her own death to get swag from an arranged marriage to a horrible man and by a cold hard man. Do they find her? Or does the man the king sent to marry her get there first?
I love this entire series. It has really kept me hooked from one book to the next!
Wonderful historical medieval romance with mild political undertones and action. The main characters are well described, well developed and full of life. I loved Marion and Iain and their process to their personal realizations. The other supporting characters were also very interesting and dynamic to this moving tale that takes you from England to Scotland’s Isle of Skye. There are hints of Outlander, but this was still an original story that kept me reading late into the night and next day till the end. Highly recommend!
Loved the book stayed up late to finish
Warning: read this book and you will immediately want the rest of the series! I am now a Johnstone fan with a lot of great reading to look forward to.
Fun and engaging, with a little bit of mystery. No real editing speed bumps.
In a time when marriage was more about political advantage than love, Marion longs for the latter and not the former. However, her heartless father has promised her to a really nasty guy in exchange for land and support. The English king has other ideas, and promises Marion to the Scottish laird Iain. Well, the king more strongly suggests than promises, but whatever. Iain doesn’t really want a wife, but he does want to help his Scottish king gain his freedom. Iain has loved and lost, so he doesn’t particularly want to go down that painful road again – especially with some simpering, pampered English miss. Marion isn’t expecting to get married, and Iain, well he isn’t expecting Marion. Together they learn to open their hearts and fight for what matters most.
This is a well paced story with a feisty heroine and a heartbroken hero. Intrigue on many fronts, battles, and a twisty path to HEA. Enjoy.
This book was great and provoked me to buy others in the series v
Wonderful!
Very entertaining and well written. Kept my interest even though I figured out a few of the twists ahead of time. Good character development for the key figures.
Predictable
I don’t remember a lot about this book but I know that I had enjoyed it. I remember getting swept up in the time period and characters and was slightly melancholy once it ended.
good read