Series: Lochmore Legacy (Book 3)
Lost in the Highlands
Found by the laird!
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 has been searching for can be found with
this rugged warrior…
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.
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