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Hurst Amulet #4
The Taming of a Scottish Princess
New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins pits a world-renowned explorer against his strong-willed assistant as they pursue a long-lost treasure.
When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination—the mysterious Isle of Barra. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant transforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
Once her clan’s princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton—the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets…including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time to solve two the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?
When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination—the mysterious Isle of Barra. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant transforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
Once her clan’s princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton—the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets…including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time to solve two the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 22, 2012
54 people are currently reading
1073 people want to read
About the author
Karen Hawkins
59 books2,978 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, follow her at:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 28, 2012
I've read 11 books by Karen Hawkins to date and though my memory is a bit fuzzy I recall thinking that all of them were better than average; more than worthy of recommendation. One in particular Scandal in Scotland I really liked. This, the final book in the Hurst Amulet series is a good enough finale. Plot wise it isn't as good as any of the other books I've read. Maybe I'm having an off reading day since I seem to be in the minority opinion but I found this book very unsatisfying and though not boring, a chore to read.
Through previous Hurst Amulet books, I very much enjoyed reading snippets of Michael and Jane's relationship. In fact, they were so fascinating as a potential couple that theirs was the story I most looked forward to. I suppose Michael and Jane stayed true to the characters they were in previous books but I just didn't connect with them anymore. I expected fireworks since they had that sort of dynamic but they were extremely staid and so oblivious that I could never quite gauge the emotions and tone in the novel. It was playful and light, sassy at times and the banter between Jane and Michael was cute (though not as fiery as I hoped) but the whole relationship and plot felt drawn out and dull. There was too little enticement when "it" final happened and "it" took a really looong time. I had hope for a true villain or some sort of daring rescue and without that the story fell flat. Instead of an adventure, in the end all I got were a few slips on mud and ledges and minor family drama. I guess for as long as the novel was, nothing seemed developed and in the end made for a disappointing read.
Hawkins is quite good at descriptiveness. The opening scene with Mary and Michael is very animated and well written. Mary's reaction to Jane's arrival is amusing and you really get a sense of who Jane and Michael are however, at least in Michael's case, he gets lost/mysterious after that and it's hard to feel connected to him (and Jane really). The winks and grins are great but he didn't talk to the reader near enough to let us know what is going on in his head. Things, important things just suddenly hit him (and the reader) with their importance making then seem, well less important actually. That is, if the important stuff hit Michael at all. I could never tell and he didn't come off as very passionate. When he had more amorous moments they felt contrived and out of place. There was little build up, no tension and little incentive for the reader to want this couple to find each other. Even less reason to care if they did or didn't which is surprising since Hawkins' other books skillfully build upon tension and excitement at every turn. I don't offer this opinion lightly and I do highly recommend you try Karen Hawkins' books, particularly the Hurst Amulet and MacLean Curse series. This book is a good enough finale it just doesn't have the fullness or romance of her others.
Through previous Hurst Amulet books, I very much enjoyed reading snippets of Michael and Jane's relationship. In fact, they were so fascinating as a potential couple that theirs was the story I most looked forward to. I suppose Michael and Jane stayed true to the characters they were in previous books but I just didn't connect with them anymore. I expected fireworks since they had that sort of dynamic but they were extremely staid and so oblivious that I could never quite gauge the emotions and tone in the novel. It was playful and light, sassy at times and the banter between Jane and Michael was cute (though not as fiery as I hoped) but the whole relationship and plot felt drawn out and dull. There was too little enticement when "it" final happened and "it" took a really looong time. I had hope for a true villain or some sort of daring rescue and without that the story fell flat. Instead of an adventure, in the end all I got were a few slips on mud and ledges and minor family drama. I guess for as long as the novel was, nothing seemed developed and in the end made for a disappointing read.
Hawkins is quite good at descriptiveness. The opening scene with Mary and Michael is very animated and well written. Mary's reaction to Jane's arrival is amusing and you really get a sense of who Jane and Michael are however, at least in Michael's case, he gets lost/mysterious after that and it's hard to feel connected to him (and Jane really). The winks and grins are great but he didn't talk to the reader near enough to let us know what is going on in his head. Things, important things just suddenly hit him (and the reader) with their importance making then seem, well less important actually. That is, if the important stuff hit Michael at all. I could never tell and he didn't come off as very passionate. When he had more amorous moments they felt contrived and out of place. There was little build up, no tension and little incentive for the reader to want this couple to find each other. Even less reason to care if they did or didn't which is surprising since Hawkins' other books skillfully build upon tension and excitement at every turn. I don't offer this opinion lightly and I do highly recommend you try Karen Hawkins' books, particularly the Hurst Amulet and MacLean Curse series. This book is a good enough finale it just doesn't have the fullness or romance of her others.
June 15, 2012
I did really enjoy this book; the only thing that I found I didn't care for was; there seemed to be more action than actual romance.
First, the dialogue between Micheal and Jane was so entertaining! I loved how they interacted with each other. The story was great too and it was a nice conclusion to the Hurst Amulet series. I found I devoured the book because it was highly entertaining as they were on the search for the amulet and they ended up on an island that has something to do with Jane's past.
For all of that the book was perfect...but I love my romance and love scenes and there just was not much.
All in all though it was a great read; just wish it had more romance and steam!!!
First, the dialogue between Micheal and Jane was so entertaining! I loved how they interacted with each other. The story was great too and it was a nice conclusion to the Hurst Amulet series. I found I devoured the book because it was highly entertaining as they were on the search for the amulet and they ended up on an island that has something to do with Jane's past.
For all of that the book was perfect...but I love my romance and love scenes and there just was not much.
All in all though it was a great read; just wish it had more romance and steam!!!
April 19, 2012
I had the pleasure of previewing Karen Hawkins' latest novel, The Taming of a Scottish Princess. A few things up front: I rarely give 5 stars to any book or product and I can count all of the historical romances I've ever read on one hand.
So why in the world did I pick up this book? Well, admittedly, I'm partial to the color teal and that's the prominent color on the cover. Which made me look at the title. I'm always up for a "taming" story. But the back cover blurb sealed the deal for me.
It reads:
A DETERMINED EXPLORER
When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination—the mysterious Isle of Barra. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant transforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
A DAUNTLESS PRINCESS
Once her clan’s princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton—the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets . . . including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
A PERILOUS PLEASURE
Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time to solve two riddles: the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?
This sounds very much like The Mummy, which I adored. And while the setting of this book is a little more dreary than sun-bathed Egypt, I still enjoyed every second of it.
I could write a lengthy review about everything I enjoyed, or I could just tell you this:
This is the first Karen Hawkins novel I've ever read and she is now (and the only historical author) on my auto-buy list. Enough said.
So why in the world did I pick up this book? Well, admittedly, I'm partial to the color teal and that's the prominent color on the cover. Which made me look at the title. I'm always up for a "taming" story. But the back cover blurb sealed the deal for me.
It reads:
A DETERMINED EXPLORER
When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination—the mysterious Isle of Barra. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant transforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
A DAUNTLESS PRINCESS
Once her clan’s princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton—the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets . . . including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
A PERILOUS PLEASURE
Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time to solve two riddles: the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?
This sounds very much like The Mummy, which I adored. And while the setting of this book is a little more dreary than sun-bathed Egypt, I still enjoyed every second of it.
I could write a lengthy review about everything I enjoyed, or I could just tell you this:
This is the first Karen Hawkins novel I've ever read and she is now (and the only historical author) on my auto-buy list. Enough said.
September 16, 2023
3 stars. Book was ok, it got better in about the last third, but overall just ok. I read the three previous books in the series and really enjoyed them. Then I got to this one….I made it through about the first 100 pages and I just totally lost interest. To be fair that may have been partly just due to me I’m not sure? (I have read numerous other books and several from another series since I lost interest in this) The build up to what I thought would be a great final read, Michael’s story, was a little disappointing. It didn’t grab me like I thought it would. Having said that and being the end of the year I thought I’ve got to finish it so I picked it up this morning and I finished it. I have a few more of Karen H. books and I will read them, she’s a good writer of easy fun books and I liked this series, but probably done for awhile.
April 3, 2019
Karen Hawkins wraps up her four-book Hurst Amulet series with this anticlimactic entry, The Taming of a Scottish Princess. The story features Michael Hurst, adventurer, and his personal assistant, Jane Smythe-Houghton. The imprisonment of Michael and Jane in Egypt was the catalyst for the series, sending his siblings on quests to acquire an artifact to secure his release, so that he could continue his quest for the long-lost Hurst Amulet. Throughout the other three books, chapters were headed with excerpts from Michael’s letters and personal diary, so that readers had a feel for his character and relationship with his assistant Jane before their introduction in this book.
Unfortunately, the snippets of Michael’s letters were more revealing, and seemingly at odds with his actual persona and own internal dialogue. The picture painted of this exciting world-traveler didn’t align at all with the hero of this book. Earlier excerpts showed him to be devoted to his family and in awe of the wonders of the world, but when he is given a chance to actually interact with his family he does so with near-contempt, and treats the people who share their world and make his travels possible with disdain. Jane, previously described as industrious and level-headed, comes across as impulsive and lacking in true depth.
Interactions between the hero and heroine felt forced, which was very disappointing, since the established frame of their relationship should have lead to an epic romance. Instead it felt predictable and unsatisfying. Too much remained unaddressed, and it felt like there should have been more conversations, rather than banter.
The driving plot of the series, the Hurst Amulet, turned out to be little more than a McGuffin, and the storyline was concluded within a single chapter. The “adventure” never really felt very dangerous or that there was very much at stake. The unanswered questions from previous books were never addressed, and instead new characters with inconsequential problems were introduced.
In all, a disappointingly lackluster conclusion to a series that started with a great premise.
Unfortunately, the snippets of Michael’s letters were more revealing, and seemingly at odds with his actual persona and own internal dialogue. The picture painted of this exciting world-traveler didn’t align at all with the hero of this book. Earlier excerpts showed him to be devoted to his family and in awe of the wonders of the world, but when he is given a chance to actually interact with his family he does so with near-contempt, and treats the people who share their world and make his travels possible with disdain. Jane, previously described as industrious and level-headed, comes across as impulsive and lacking in true depth.
Interactions between the hero and heroine felt forced, which was very disappointing, since the established frame of their relationship should have lead to an epic romance. Instead it felt predictable and unsatisfying. Too much remained unaddressed, and it felt like there should have been more conversations, rather than banter.
The driving plot of the series, the Hurst Amulet, turned out to be little more than a McGuffin, and the storyline was concluded within a single chapter. The “adventure” never really felt very dangerous or that there was very much at stake. The unanswered questions from previous books were never addressed, and instead new characters with inconsequential problems were introduced.
In all, a disappointingly lackluster conclusion to a series that started with a great premise.
February 12, 2013
Another book loses stars to the infamous inability of historical authors to use the language of the setting and not modern Americanisms. If you hear the term "Scotch" used for whisky (NOT whiskey), you most certainly are not in Scotland. Also, given that Scotland had its own royal family, before the kings and queens of England became Scotland's monarchs too, to call a laird's daughter a princess is a mighty far reach. Like the term "Scotch" is protected, I might start a campaign that only those north of the border can write something called a 'Scottish romance'.
It's a shame, because I loved the concepts of the story and of both main characters. They all sounded so exciting.
Unfortunately in execution, I found the hero annoying, without enough charm to pull him back to likeable. The heroine is much better - I love the independent bluestockings - but I found it surprising that in a book where the hero describes her as blending in anywhere in the world, it would make her introduction to the reader one where she wears exactly the wrong clothes to a ball and causes a scene. Later she comments on her friend's clothing as highly fashionable, so she either knows or she doesn't. The colour of her skin also changes from tanned brown to "milky white" (albeit more personal areas) to tanned again. Yet if she was wearing full length dresses to neck and wrists as mentioned in her introduction, only her hands and face would be tanned, but the term is used more generally in the book. Confused? I was.
I was so ready to enjoy the adventure of this book, but there are no surprises, other than how willingly the antagonist rolls at the end, with everything resolved in a ten-minute meeting between all parties. An anti-climax for sure, especially, I imagine, to those who have read the whole series.
It's a shame, because I loved the concepts of the story and of both main characters. They all sounded so exciting.
Unfortunately in execution, I found the hero annoying, without enough charm to pull him back to likeable. The heroine is much better - I love the independent bluestockings - but I found it surprising that in a book where the hero describes her as blending in anywhere in the world, it would make her introduction to the reader one where she wears exactly the wrong clothes to a ball and causes a scene. Later she comments on her friend's clothing as highly fashionable, so she either knows or she doesn't. The colour of her skin also changes from tanned brown to "milky white" (albeit more personal areas) to tanned again. Yet if she was wearing full length dresses to neck and wrists as mentioned in her introduction, only her hands and face would be tanned, but the term is used more generally in the book. Confused? I was.
I was so ready to enjoy the adventure of this book, but there are no surprises, other than how willingly the antagonist rolls at the end, with everything resolved in a ten-minute meeting between all parties. An anti-climax for sure, especially, I imagine, to those who have read the whole series.
May 28, 2013
Famous Egyptologist Michael Hurst has spent years traveling the world and Egypt in search of treasure. Finally, Michael believes he knows where the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden - not in Egypt where they thought, but in Scotland. Normally, his trusted assistant, the very resolutely dauntless Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, seems surprisingly upset by the news that they would be traveling to the mysterious Isle of Barra. Michael is totally intrigued by Jane’s unusual attitude of dismay bordering on fear and is determined to discover just what makes his Jane so mysterious and vulnerable.
*** I think what I really enjoyed most about THE TAMING OF A SCOTTISH PRINCESS was the final awakening of Michael in realizing that Jane was so much more than a mere assistant. As I read this I kept humming to myself the theme song from My Fair Lady - “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”. This really hit home when the poor dolt finally took a good look at Jane’s face, without the blinders that just saw Jane as his efficient assistant. He finally was able to look at her with ‘eyes of love’.
In the meantime Hawkins used Michael’s awakening to allow him to become concerned at Jane’s apparent secretiveness and he became more determined to discover what was going with Jane so that he would be better able to protect her. The closer they got to discovering the amulet and it’s supposed magical qualities the more danger they would be in.
Bottom line: All in all - there was a slight twist of who the villain was and what was really going happening on the Isle of Barra. In my opinion, Hawkins closed off the chase for the Hurst Amulet in grand style and I fully recommend THE TAMING OF A SCOTTISH PRINCESS.
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
*** I think what I really enjoyed most about THE TAMING OF A SCOTTISH PRINCESS was the final awakening of Michael in realizing that Jane was so much more than a mere assistant. As I read this I kept humming to myself the theme song from My Fair Lady - “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”. This really hit home when the poor dolt finally took a good look at Jane’s face, without the blinders that just saw Jane as his efficient assistant. He finally was able to look at her with ‘eyes of love’.
In the meantime Hawkins used Michael’s awakening to allow him to become concerned at Jane’s apparent secretiveness and he became more determined to discover what was going with Jane so that he would be better able to protect her. The closer they got to discovering the amulet and it’s supposed magical qualities the more danger they would be in.
Bottom line: All in all - there was a slight twist of who the villain was and what was really going happening on the Isle of Barra. In my opinion, Hawkins closed off the chase for the Hurst Amulet in grand style and I fully recommend THE TAMING OF A SCOTTISH PRINCESS.
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
July 15, 2012
OK, not so sure what "taming" has to do with anything, but this is still a fine ending to the Hurst Amulet story.
Hero: Michael Hurst, the Egyptologist who has been Indiana Jonesing all over the world for a few years. He's back in England, trying to get backers for his next expedition and he's got some news regarding the amulet. If he's right he'll have the thing in his hot little hands by next week. His assistant, Jane Smythe-Haughton, has been his right arm, his helper, his companion and to some degree his friend for years, but until he sees men fawn over her in London it's never really occurred to her that she's a woman. The fact befuddles him and makes him act the idiot for awhile.
Heroine: Jane. She's loved her life as a traveling adventurer, but this time the amulet search is taking her home to the Island of Barra, where everybody thinks she's dead.
Hurst begins to realize that Jane's keeping things from him, and being a mystery lover he decides to figure it all out. He wastes no time cultivating island gossips to find out about her. Meanwhile Jane sees some things have gone amiss on the island since she ran away, and she resolves to sort things out, retrieving funds stolen by her greedy uncle, without much resistance from his wimpy son. Meanwhile as they close in on the amulet they begin to realize that someone wants to find it first...
This gets a four star just because it's a very satisfying ending to the series.
Oh, and because it has a line that may go down as an all-time favorite: No matter how often I leave London, I cannot wait to leave it again. I've known a town that I felt that way about...
Hero: Michael Hurst, the Egyptologist who has been Indiana Jonesing all over the world for a few years. He's back in England, trying to get backers for his next expedition and he's got some news regarding the amulet. If he's right he'll have the thing in his hot little hands by next week. His assistant, Jane Smythe-Haughton, has been his right arm, his helper, his companion and to some degree his friend for years, but until he sees men fawn over her in London it's never really occurred to her that she's a woman. The fact befuddles him and makes him act the idiot for awhile.
Heroine: Jane. She's loved her life as a traveling adventurer, but this time the amulet search is taking her home to the Island of Barra, where everybody thinks she's dead.
Hurst begins to realize that Jane's keeping things from him, and being a mystery lover he decides to figure it all out. He wastes no time cultivating island gossips to find out about her. Meanwhile Jane sees some things have gone amiss on the island since she ran away, and she resolves to sort things out, retrieving funds stolen by her greedy uncle, without much resistance from his wimpy son. Meanwhile as they close in on the amulet they begin to realize that someone wants to find it first...
This gets a four star just because it's a very satisfying ending to the series.
Oh, and because it has a line that may go down as an all-time favorite: No matter how often I leave London, I cannot wait to leave it again. I've known a town that I felt that way about...
July 15, 2012
I've read all of the Hurst Amulet series and i just thought it was the worst one out of the series. I'm not saying that the book was bad, but for the series that just kept building up I didn't think it meet it's standards. I'm in love with the series and i'm quite sad that it's over, but this book just put a damper in the series. I thought the novel lacked the romance that was there in the other from the series and the type of love that said they were meant to be together. i also didn't think that the book had a very good ending to the series and kept me wondering would or has happened to the rest of the family as some of there were so scarcely mentioned in the epilogue.
I also thought the minor characters in the novel had left me wondering what had happened to them. Although it seemed that the love Elspeth and Jaimie was quite a waste over the long years they spent together. And what happened to David and Lindsee?
As I said before I'm not saying that this was a bad book. i enjoyed te adventure and historical parts of the book, as well as the fact that his book kept me on my toes at times. Don't get me wrong i love Karen Hawkins and her writing, i only think the final book in the series had me at higher expectations and to my dismay I was sadly let down.
I also thought the minor characters in the novel had left me wondering what had happened to them. Although it seemed that the love Elspeth and Jaimie was quite a waste over the long years they spent together. And what happened to David and Lindsee?
As I said before I'm not saying that this was a bad book. i enjoyed te adventure and historical parts of the book, as well as the fact that his book kept me on my toes at times. Don't get me wrong i love Karen Hawkins and her writing, i only think the final book in the series had me at higher expectations and to my dismay I was sadly let down.
May 18, 2012
Asher's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
Let me first say I am a picky historical romance reader. Normally I stay away from them because its the same ole same ole. Girl gets in trouble, needs brawny guy to rescue her, blah blah.
While this book was along those lines, it captured my interest in that the heroine was on the run with her dead husbands two sons. I had never seen that aspect before, and it was truly engaging. Her concern for the boys, and their well being even though they were not her own children was truly astonishing.
Now add to that intrigue, action and a steamy romance and you have the makings of a truly remarkable historical romance novel.
BRAVA Karen Hawkins! I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!
Let me first say I am a picky historical romance reader. Normally I stay away from them because its the same ole same ole. Girl gets in trouble, needs brawny guy to rescue her, blah blah.
While this book was along those lines, it captured my interest in that the heroine was on the run with her dead husbands two sons. I had never seen that aspect before, and it was truly engaging. Her concern for the boys, and their well being even though they were not her own children was truly astonishing.
Now add to that intrigue, action and a steamy romance and you have the makings of a truly remarkable historical romance novel.
BRAVA Karen Hawkins! I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!
December 27, 2016
So, we have an explorer, Michael Hurst, and his assistant, Jane. They have been traveling around the world, enjoying amazing adventures together. In all that time, Michael has never noticed Jane as a woman (but then, he doesn't notice much other than his work).
That changes when they arrive Barra, an island in Scotland. They are looking for an old treasure, The Hurst Amulet, that belong to Michael's family like two centuries ago. However, as soon as they arrive Barra, Michael realizes that his efficient assistant has secrets of her own, and has no interest in sharing them.
I liked the adventurous side of the story. However, I found the romance lacking, as it didn't develop as one would have hoped.
Also, I hated most of the characters. Elspeth, David, Jaimie and Lindsee were an awful bunch of people, only caring for themselves. I really liked Ammon and his silent ways.
That changes when they arrive Barra, an island in Scotland. They are looking for an old treasure, The Hurst Amulet, that belong to Michael's family like two centuries ago. However, as soon as they arrive Barra, Michael realizes that his efficient assistant has secrets of her own, and has no interest in sharing them.
I liked the adventurous side of the story. However, I found the romance lacking, as it didn't develop as one would have hoped.
Also, I hated most of the characters. Elspeth, David, Jaimie and Lindsee were an awful bunch of people, only caring for themselves. I really liked Ammon and his silent ways.
June 24, 2012
Great ending to the series! Michael Hurst and Jane haughton -Smythe travel o the isle of Barra in search of the Hurst Amulet, but Michael soon becomes engaged in a mystery surrounding Jane at the Sam time finding himself more and more attracted to her . Michael is at first troubled by his attractionandwonderingwhy after 4 years of traveling with Jane o kiss should suddenly cause it al to tart changing,
I loved this book and the whole series for that matter sorry to see it end!
I loved this book and the whole series for that matter sorry to see it end!
December 4, 2013
I thought this book was really good. I loved Jane and Michael and their interplay. It was satisfying to see Michael realize how wonderful Jane really is. The only reason I gave this book four instead of five stars was that I found I wasn't as interested in the uncle and some other secondary characters--I started to skim a bit. Overall, I really liked it and will buy more of Ms. Hawkins's books.
June 30, 2012
At first, I really enjoyed the tale and the pace kept me entertained. Then about partway through it dragged. AND then the resolution felt both absurd and anticlimatic. Despite that I admired the way it was written and enjoyed Michael and Jane as characters and a couple.
February 8, 2017
I've always read Karen Hawkins from day one. I love her books, and this does not disappoint. Good storyline and characters, especially Michael.
4****
4****
July 13, 2017
Well that one went a bit off the rails.
September 1, 2021
I LOVED IT!!
Dont ask me why it took me so long to finish i have no clue but i enjoyed every page. 100% re-readable.
Dont ask me why it took me so long to finish i have no clue but i enjoyed every page. 100% re-readable.
October 1, 2022
„Das Amulett der Highlands: Das Rätsel der Schottin“ ist der vierte und abschließende Band der abenteuerlichen Reihe von Karen Hawkins.
Die jahrelange Suche nach dem verschollenen Hurst-Amulett scheint endlich erfolgreich zu sein, denn der Ägyptologe Michael Hurst besitzt nun alle drei Teile der Schatzkarte. Das verschwundene Artefakt ist wahrscheinlich näher als gedacht, denn alle Hinweise deuten auf eine kleine schottische Insel hin. Samt seiner unerschütterlichen Assistentin Jane Smythe-Haughton macht sich Michael auf den Weg, denn die Zeit drängt. Doch ausgerechnet Jane verhält sich auf einmal äußerst seltsam, je näher sie Schottland kommen. Und Michael muss erkennen, dass Jane offenbar jede Menge Geheimnisse hat und er sie plötzlich mit ganz anderen Augen sieht.
Es ist sicherlich von Vorteil, wenn man die Vorgängerbände gelesen hat, in denen jeweils ein Fragment der dreiteiligen Schatzkarte gejagt wird. Im Finale geht es nun um das geheimnisvolle Hurst-Amulett selbst und den abenteuerlustigen Ägyptologen Michael, der bisher nur in seinen Briefen zum Anfang eines jeden Kapitels zu Wort kam.
Michael ist typischer Wissenschaftler, der sich in seine Forschungen und Ausgrabungen vertiefen kann, während er alle weltlichen Dinge um sich herum vergisst. Dafür hat er seit vier Jahren seine unersetzliche Assistentin Jane, die sich um alle Belange kümmert und für reibungslose Abläufe sorgt. Zurück in London realisiert Michael erstmals, dass Jane auch als Frau ihre Reize hat, die offenbar vielen anderen Männern auffallen. Bisher faszinierte ihn nur ihre professionelle Effizienz und ihre amüsanten Schlagabtausche, mit denen er sie liebend gern provoziert.
Jane liebt ihr unabhängiges Leben und ihren gutbezahlten Job. Doch in Schottland muss sie sich ihrer Vergangenheit stellen und dem auf einmal unübersehbaren Interesse ihres attraktiven Arbeitgebers.
Jane und Michael haben eine großartige Dynamik und es macht Spaß, den beiden bei ihren witzigen Kabbeleien zuzusehen. Von allen vier Geschichten hat mir diese am besten gefallen, was wohl an den unterhaltsamen Dialogen und dem humorvollen Erzählstil liegt.
Mein Fazit:
Das Finale schließt die wilde Schatzjagd perfekt ab und ich gebe sehr gern eine Leseempfehlung!
Die jahrelange Suche nach dem verschollenen Hurst-Amulett scheint endlich erfolgreich zu sein, denn der Ägyptologe Michael Hurst besitzt nun alle drei Teile der Schatzkarte. Das verschwundene Artefakt ist wahrscheinlich näher als gedacht, denn alle Hinweise deuten auf eine kleine schottische Insel hin. Samt seiner unerschütterlichen Assistentin Jane Smythe-Haughton macht sich Michael auf den Weg, denn die Zeit drängt. Doch ausgerechnet Jane verhält sich auf einmal äußerst seltsam, je näher sie Schottland kommen. Und Michael muss erkennen, dass Jane offenbar jede Menge Geheimnisse hat und er sie plötzlich mit ganz anderen Augen sieht.
Es ist sicherlich von Vorteil, wenn man die Vorgängerbände gelesen hat, in denen jeweils ein Fragment der dreiteiligen Schatzkarte gejagt wird. Im Finale geht es nun um das geheimnisvolle Hurst-Amulett selbst und den abenteuerlustigen Ägyptologen Michael, der bisher nur in seinen Briefen zum Anfang eines jeden Kapitels zu Wort kam.
Michael ist typischer Wissenschaftler, der sich in seine Forschungen und Ausgrabungen vertiefen kann, während er alle weltlichen Dinge um sich herum vergisst. Dafür hat er seit vier Jahren seine unersetzliche Assistentin Jane, die sich um alle Belange kümmert und für reibungslose Abläufe sorgt. Zurück in London realisiert Michael erstmals, dass Jane auch als Frau ihre Reize hat, die offenbar vielen anderen Männern auffallen. Bisher faszinierte ihn nur ihre professionelle Effizienz und ihre amüsanten Schlagabtausche, mit denen er sie liebend gern provoziert.
Jane liebt ihr unabhängiges Leben und ihren gutbezahlten Job. Doch in Schottland muss sie sich ihrer Vergangenheit stellen und dem auf einmal unübersehbaren Interesse ihres attraktiven Arbeitgebers.
Jane und Michael haben eine großartige Dynamik und es macht Spaß, den beiden bei ihren witzigen Kabbeleien zuzusehen. Von allen vier Geschichten hat mir diese am besten gefallen, was wohl an den unterhaltsamen Dialogen und dem humorvollen Erzählstil liegt.
Mein Fazit:
Das Finale schließt die wilde Schatzjagd perfekt ab und ich gebe sehr gern eine Leseempfehlung!
October 7, 2023
A secret identity done right.
June 13, 2025
I think I enjoyed it the most out of all the books in the series. It started a bit slow but when they got to Scotland, I was locked in.
December 30, 2015
I am an action movie kind of girl, so when a book blurb creates a set-up of the quest for a lost treasure with a tomb raiding hero paired with a noble born woman hiding her identity, I immediately hoped the book will be the romance equivalent of National Treasure or Indiana Jones. In Karen Hawkins' book The Taming of a Scottish Princess all of those great elements were present, but everything was written in a more subdued style with good character development, but a little less romance and adventure.
The mystery of the Hurst Amulet has been a personal quest for Egyptologist Michael Hurst, leading him to the far reaches of the empire tracking down clues to its final resting place. In the previous books of the series, three puzzle boxes were collected and revealed to form a map of the amulet's whereabouts. Michael returns to England just long enough to have the map translated before the search quickly moves to the island of Barra off the coast of Scotland. The mystery get more intriguing for Michael when he learns his assistant Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton has a deep connection to the island and that he may not have known her as well as he thought.
There was a lot of time spent in the story building up Jane's character from mild-mannered assistant to a woman of independence and intelligence. Her journey to Barra becomes a journey into the choices she has made in her life; where she has made her mistakes and how she has become the stronger for them. I appreciated that Jane understood how some of her youthful choices had consequences for her adult self, and how she makes a commitment to repair that damage. The family dynamics that unfold on Barra were interesting, and while there were villains in Jane's life, they seemed to have realistic motivations. She made the choice to forgo her attraction to Michael and keep a business only friendship between them. However, watching her take care of him, hearing their conversations and the sharp repartee they have, it's clear that there is a much deeper connection that both are reluctant to acknowledge. The fun of the story is watching the blinders come off both of them so they finally see how much they value the other.
Not having read the previous books I'm not sure how much of Michael's character had been established before his own story. In this title it was hard to like him as his manner toward Jane is very distant, to the point that he's barely aware that she is a woman. He ignores the many small things that she does to keep his life and livelihood from falling apart, lumping all her actions into the employer/employee relationship. It bothered me how Michael disregarded Jane's discomfort in returning to Barra, how he just kept chipping at her resolve to keep her past private as if she were any other excavation. Only when Jane starts giving into his digging and lets him see her vulnerabilities does he also start seeing her as a woman, an equal, and someone he is attracted to. By the time Michael's epiphany came, a lot of the damage was done and I was never fully invested in his happiness.
While The Taming of a Scottish Princess may have not have been a summer blockbuster, it was enjoyable reading about intelligent characters solving puzzles, reconciling the past to the possibilities of the future, and unlocking the mysteries of their own hearts.
The mystery of the Hurst Amulet has been a personal quest for Egyptologist Michael Hurst, leading him to the far reaches of the empire tracking down clues to its final resting place. In the previous books of the series, three puzzle boxes were collected and revealed to form a map of the amulet's whereabouts. Michael returns to England just long enough to have the map translated before the search quickly moves to the island of Barra off the coast of Scotland. The mystery get more intriguing for Michael when he learns his assistant Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton has a deep connection to the island and that he may not have known her as well as he thought.
There was a lot of time spent in the story building up Jane's character from mild-mannered assistant to a woman of independence and intelligence. Her journey to Barra becomes a journey into the choices she has made in her life; where she has made her mistakes and how she has become the stronger for them. I appreciated that Jane understood how some of her youthful choices had consequences for her adult self, and how she makes a commitment to repair that damage. The family dynamics that unfold on Barra were interesting, and while there were villains in Jane's life, they seemed to have realistic motivations. She made the choice to forgo her attraction to Michael and keep a business only friendship between them. However, watching her take care of him, hearing their conversations and the sharp repartee they have, it's clear that there is a much deeper connection that both are reluctant to acknowledge. The fun of the story is watching the blinders come off both of them so they finally see how much they value the other.
Not having read the previous books I'm not sure how much of Michael's character had been established before his own story. In this title it was hard to like him as his manner toward Jane is very distant, to the point that he's barely aware that she is a woman. He ignores the many small things that she does to keep his life and livelihood from falling apart, lumping all her actions into the employer/employee relationship. It bothered me how Michael disregarded Jane's discomfort in returning to Barra, how he just kept chipping at her resolve to keep her past private as if she were any other excavation. Only when Jane starts giving into his digging and lets him see her vulnerabilities does he also start seeing her as a woman, an equal, and someone he is attracted to. By the time Michael's epiphany came, a lot of the damage was done and I was never fully invested in his happiness.
While The Taming of a Scottish Princess may have not have been a summer blockbuster, it was enjoyable reading about intelligent characters solving puzzles, reconciling the past to the possibilities of the future, and unlocking the mysteries of their own hearts.
August 5, 2018
Famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst has no desire to be stuck in London society’s ballrooms, courting investors. He’d much rather be off on his next adventure – particularly if that adventure involves finding the Hurst Amulet, a long-lost family heirloom. His quest to locate the amulet is finally coming to an end: Michael’s discovered that the treasure is hidden on a small Scottish isle. If this were any normal expedition, Michael’s unflappable assistant, Jane Smythe-Haughton, would be raring to leave London with him. Strangely, Jane is reticent about travelling to the Isle of Barra. And Michael soon discovers why. It seems his organized, unassuming assistant is the “deceased” daughter of Barra’s former laird. In fact, she’s the clan’s “princess.” Their trip to Scotland makes Michael see Jane in a whole new light. And the more layers he uncovers, the less likely it is Michael will ever be able to think of his assistant as “just Jane” again. For the first time in his life, Michael may have found something – or rather, someone – more fascinating than buried treasure.
Forget sparks; the banter that flies in Karen Hawkins’s final Hurst Amulet book is even better. The Taming of a Scottish Princess is an utterly charming story that will surely hook readers from the very beginning.
Michael is a handsome, intelligent explorer who’s quite used to getting his way and not at all happy when he has to adhere to societal conventions he deems silly. He is what a friend of mine would call “unmanageable.” Jane, of course, manages him perfectly. She runs his life – and him, when necessary – with perfect aplomb, which I loved. Though they hit some bumps in the road as they begin to see each other as more than employer-employee, it’s clear that Michael and Jane are ideally suited to one another; they’re both bright, adventurous souls and it’s clear they only needed that extra nudge to fall in love. Even with the search for the Hurst Amulet coming to a close, that highly-anticipated event pales in comparison to Jane and Michael’s relationship. Their lighthearted bickering had me smiling and laughing all the way through The Taming of a Scottish Princess. Quite simply, I adored them and thus I didn’t want to put their story down.
The Taming of a Scottish Princess is the fourth installment in Ms. Hawkins’s Hurst Amulet series, but it can be read as a standalone. That being said, part of the enjoyment I derived from Michael and Jane’s story came from reading Michael’s letters in the previous books (One Night in Scotland, Scandal in Scotland, and A Most Dangerous Profession). In the first three books, Ms. Hawkins set the stage (and my expectations) high for the final Hurst sibling’s match. Happily, The Taming of a Scottish Princess was all that I’d hoped it would be.
The Taming of a Scottish Princess was pure pleasure to read. Fans of Ms. Hawkins old and new are sure to be delighted by this entertaining, romantic, jewel of a book!
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Forget sparks; the banter that flies in Karen Hawkins’s final Hurst Amulet book is even better. The Taming of a Scottish Princess is an utterly charming story that will surely hook readers from the very beginning.
Michael is a handsome, intelligent explorer who’s quite used to getting his way and not at all happy when he has to adhere to societal conventions he deems silly. He is what a friend of mine would call “unmanageable.” Jane, of course, manages him perfectly. She runs his life – and him, when necessary – with perfect aplomb, which I loved. Though they hit some bumps in the road as they begin to see each other as more than employer-employee, it’s clear that Michael and Jane are ideally suited to one another; they’re both bright, adventurous souls and it’s clear they only needed that extra nudge to fall in love. Even with the search for the Hurst Amulet coming to a close, that highly-anticipated event pales in comparison to Jane and Michael’s relationship. Their lighthearted bickering had me smiling and laughing all the way through The Taming of a Scottish Princess. Quite simply, I adored them and thus I didn’t want to put their story down.
The Taming of a Scottish Princess is the fourth installment in Ms. Hawkins’s Hurst Amulet series, but it can be read as a standalone. That being said, part of the enjoyment I derived from Michael and Jane’s story came from reading Michael’s letters in the previous books (One Night in Scotland, Scandal in Scotland, and A Most Dangerous Profession). In the first three books, Ms. Hawkins set the stage (and my expectations) high for the final Hurst sibling’s match. Happily, The Taming of a Scottish Princess was all that I’d hoped it would be.
The Taming of a Scottish Princess was pure pleasure to read. Fans of Ms. Hawkins old and new are sure to be delighted by this entertaining, romantic, jewel of a book!
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
May 14, 2015
Author: Karen Hawkins
First published: 2012
Length: 375 pages
Setting: Barra, an island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, 1822
Sex: Explicit. Once.
Hero: Archaeologist/Explorer.
Heroine: Assistant to Michael Hurst, amateur archaeologist, long-lost Laird of Barra.
Includes: excerpt from How to Capture a Countess, Book 1 of The Duchess Diaries by Karen Hawkins.
And so the search for the Hurst Amulet comes to end.
After a well-paced, interesting saga, Michael, the mysteriously imprisoned Hurst brother, finds his way to it's resting place. Hawkins continues with her light humour and gentle romance, weaving a nice history of Barra into the tale, but fails to truly engage the reader. Michael and Jane are 1-Dimensional, lacking any real interest and depth. The surrounding story has no oomph with large plot holes and disappointing secondary characters.
It just doesn't hit the mark.
Which is disappointing given how much I enjoyed the rest of the series.
Hurst Amulet:
Prequel Much Ado About Marriage - Fia MacLean and Thomas Wentworth
Book 1 One Night in Scotland - Mary Hurst and Angus, Earl of Erroll.
Book 2 Scandal in Scotland - William Hurst and Marcail Beauchamp
Book 3 A Most Dangerous Profession - Robert Hurst and Moira MacAllister
Book 4 The Taming of a Scottish Princess - Michael Hurst and Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton
The Hurst Sisters:
Sleepless in Scotland (MacLean Curse) - Catriona Hurst and Hugh MacLean
The Laird Who Loved Me (MacLean Curse) - Caitlyn Hurst and Alexander MacLean
One Night in Scotland (Hurst Amulet) - Mary Hurst and Angus, Earl of Erroll.
References:
Author's website: http://www.karenhawkins.com
(ISBN 978-1-4391-7595-8)
-CR-
First published: 2012
Length: 375 pages
Setting: Barra, an island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, 1822
Sex: Explicit. Once.
Hero: Archaeologist/Explorer.
Heroine: Assistant to Michael Hurst, amateur archaeologist, long-lost Laird of Barra.
Includes: excerpt from How to Capture a Countess, Book 1 of The Duchess Diaries by Karen Hawkins.
And so the search for the Hurst Amulet comes to end.
After a well-paced, interesting saga, Michael, the mysteriously imprisoned Hurst brother, finds his way to it's resting place. Hawkins continues with her light humour and gentle romance, weaving a nice history of Barra into the tale, but fails to truly engage the reader. Michael and Jane are 1-Dimensional, lacking any real interest and depth. The surrounding story has no oomph with large plot holes and disappointing secondary characters.
It just doesn't hit the mark.
Which is disappointing given how much I enjoyed the rest of the series.
Hurst Amulet:
Prequel Much Ado About Marriage - Fia MacLean and Thomas Wentworth
Book 1 One Night in Scotland - Mary Hurst and Angus, Earl of Erroll.
Book 2 Scandal in Scotland - William Hurst and Marcail Beauchamp
Book 3 A Most Dangerous Profession - Robert Hurst and Moira MacAllister
Book 4 The Taming of a Scottish Princess - Michael Hurst and Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton
The Hurst Sisters:
Sleepless in Scotland (MacLean Curse) - Catriona Hurst and Hugh MacLean
The Laird Who Loved Me (MacLean Curse) - Caitlyn Hurst and Alexander MacLean
One Night in Scotland (Hurst Amulet) - Mary Hurst and Angus, Earl of Erroll.
References:
Author's website: http://www.karenhawkins.com
(ISBN 978-1-4391-7595-8)
-CR-
January 21, 2015
Good conclusion to the Hurst Amulet series. Michael and Jane have been searching for the amulet for four years and have finally tracked it down to the Scottish island of Barra. Jane has been his unflappable assistant for all of those four years, but she now seems to be bothered by their destination. This glimpse under the surface has Michael noticing more than her capability, he is seeing her more as a woman. Once they arrive ob the island, Michael discovers that she used to live there, and was their laird's daughter. After her father's death her uncle tried to marry her off to her cousin. She didn't love him and wanted only to leave the island and strike out on her own adventures. So they hatched a plan and she left to live under an assumed name. When they arrived on the island she discovered that things had not gone the way they were planned and she had some things to fix. She and Michael also discovered there was someone else looking for the amulet, and had to hurry to find it. I liked both Jane and Michael. Their working relationship had been wonderful. Jane had enough self confidence and backbone of her own not to be intimidated by his moods. She was very intelligent and organized and did a great job of keeping his life running smoothly. She seemed to know exactly what to do at any time to get him to do what was necessary. The ball he attended at the beginning of the book was a prime example of the way she worked. That whole scene made me laugh. She had planned her departure from Barra very well for a sixteen year old and had planned to never return. Michael had begun noticing her as a woman at the time they headed for Barra. He couldn't understand this sudden fascination, and it only intensified the closer they got to Barra. While they were there he learned more about her and became even more fascinated by her. I loved the way they were so comfortable with each other, after having worked together for so long. I could see in their conversations and teasing how much they cared, though neither seemed to be able to see it until after they were on the island. I loved how Michael was so intent on getting to know her secrets. He also knew her well enough to be able to figure out how to get her to tell them. He was a typical man in that he didn't seem to understand what his feelings were until it was almost too late. I did love the final confrontation and the way things worked out for everyone. There were a couple of twists that I didn't expect. While there was passion between Jane and Michael, this was a slower developing romance than in the other books.
August 21, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. I have watched Braveheart a few days back and I was inspired to read something about Scotland. The setting was beautiful and interesting. I found the whole story fascinating and I believed it would be more of an adventure then it truly turned out to be. But in fact as I moved passed the chapters I kept forcing myself to read on, the story became boring, tedious and predictable.
Our hero is a dunce, he is so socially awkward he seemed mentally retarded to me. And the way he didn't pay attention to Jane until he noticed that other men were paying attention to her. And then he realizes shes a rich Scottish princess so no wonder he takes advantage and wants to get her, and since our heroine is kinda silly herself she falls for him. There was a lack of chemistry between the characters in my opinion, and the whole story revolved around tedious conversations about the Amulet, Jane's past in Scotland. Her talking to people she knows in Scotland. Plain, simple and boring just like our Jane.
Our Jane was another super annoying character. Instead of enjoying her wealth and living as a princess, she runs off and begins working for our self-fish dunce hero. Whom she adores. And in fact she is nothing but a simpleton. She is plain, she is not ugly nor beautiful. Which the author reminds us constantly whether Jane herself puts herself down, or our hero goes on about how simple of a Jane she is. She is also supposedly very smart, hard worker she does everything for him even takes care of her hero's food and socks and carries his pillow. Yes she is a super hero already. On top of that she wants to save Scotland from her evil uncle. Give me a break she is nothing but an annoying simpleton I just can't like a heroine who pretends she can do some many good things while at the same time putting herself down. Beside no woman at that day and age with common sense would leave her home and work for an explorer. This is a feminists dream.
Our hero is a dunce, he is so socially awkward he seemed mentally retarded to me. And the way he didn't pay attention to Jane until he noticed that other men were paying attention to her. And then he realizes shes a rich Scottish princess so no wonder he takes advantage and wants to get her, and since our heroine is kinda silly herself she falls for him. There was a lack of chemistry between the characters in my opinion, and the whole story revolved around tedious conversations about the Amulet, Jane's past in Scotland. Her talking to people she knows in Scotland. Plain, simple and boring just like our Jane.
Our Jane was another super annoying character. Instead of enjoying her wealth and living as a princess, she runs off and begins working for our self-fish dunce hero. Whom she adores. And in fact she is nothing but a simpleton. She is plain, she is not ugly nor beautiful. Which the author reminds us constantly whether Jane herself puts herself down, or our hero goes on about how simple of a Jane she is. She is also supposedly very smart, hard worker she does everything for him even takes care of her hero's food and socks and carries his pillow. Yes she is a super hero already. On top of that she wants to save Scotland from her evil uncle. Give me a break she is nothing but an annoying simpleton I just can't like a heroine who pretends she can do some many good things while at the same time putting herself down. Beside no woman at that day and age with common sense would leave her home and work for an explorer. This is a feminists dream.
February 6, 2015
A very satisfying conclusion to the Hurst Amulet mystery as adventurer Michael Hurst and his trusty assistant, Jane, finally track down the amulet and find out its mysteries.
Michael and Jane have a wonderful relationship. After 4 years working together, they are comfortable in each others presence and able to say what's on their mind. My favorite part about them is their banter. They poke fun at each other but right from the start, it's in a very loving way. Even when Michael is in a ballroom with his sister, Mary, he doesn't relax until Jane hits the scene and makes her way through society towards him. That's evident from the start until he finally begins seeing Jane as more than just his assistant and realizes her value is more than the treasures they've hunted.
One downside is that I was not as pleased with the fact that Jane's BFF, Lindsee, got her own HEA. In her part, Lindsee told her love David, who at that part was the villain (and Jane's uncle), to help her get to the amulet first so she could test it's magical powers to see the future. In doing her bidding, he cut the rope to their boat and left them in cave that was filling up with water at high tide. If that wasn't bad enough, David had burned down Jane's former home AND basically stolen all the monies that belonged to the people of Barra. I'm not sure what part of the fact that he was in love with Lindsee makes that all forgivable and he was able to scurry off to get his HEA. I would have preferred to see him shunned by Lindsee as well as the son he bullied and cast out rather than happy.
But that's just me. Aside from that, I was happy to read all the good news from the Hursts and their expanded families to end the series. Another very satisfying Karen Hawkins novel.
Michael and Jane have a wonderful relationship. After 4 years working together, they are comfortable in each others presence and able to say what's on their mind. My favorite part about them is their banter. They poke fun at each other but right from the start, it's in a very loving way. Even when Michael is in a ballroom with his sister, Mary, he doesn't relax until Jane hits the scene and makes her way through society towards him. That's evident from the start until he finally begins seeing Jane as more than just his assistant and realizes her value is more than the treasures they've hunted.
One downside is that I was not as pleased with the fact that Jane's BFF, Lindsee, got her own HEA. In her part, Lindsee told her love David, who at that part was the villain (and Jane's uncle), to help her get to the amulet first so she could test it's magical powers to see the future. In doing her bidding, he cut the rope to their boat and left them in cave that was filling up with water at high tide. If that wasn't bad enough, David had burned down Jane's former home AND basically stolen all the monies that belonged to the people of Barra. I'm not sure what part of the fact that he was in love with Lindsee makes that all forgivable and he was able to scurry off to get his HEA. I would have preferred to see him shunned by Lindsee as well as the son he bullied and cast out rather than happy.
But that's just me. Aside from that, I was happy to read all the good news from the Hursts and their expanded families to end the series. Another very satisfying Karen Hawkins novel.
August 9, 2022
I read this book as a stand-alone. The title is totally irrelevant to the book. Our h (Jane) was not "tamed" in any way and she was not a princess. She is the former laird's daughter. The hero has blue eyes, but the guy on the cover is gorgeous!
I really enjoyed this book (4 stars) up until the very end (2 stars). The ending was ridiculous.
*****************SPOILER ALERT****************
Jane/Jennet left the island of Barra and her title of "laird" because her cousin Jaimie's father/Jane's uncle, David, was trying to force her to marry Jaimie (at 14?) and she wanted to see the world. Jaimie wanted to marry Elspeth but Elspeth wouldn't marry him unless he had a title. So Jane concocted a plan: she left the island at 16 and designated her cousin Jaimie laird at the age of 14. Unbeknownst to her, their plan went terribly wrong for Jaimie.
David (Jaimie's father/Jane's uncle) has been stealing from Barra, causing strife in Jaimie's marriage, and stranded Jane and Michael in a cave at high tide. And what is his punishment? He's going to marry Lindsee, ugh! she's Jaimie and Jane's childhood friend. He will live a rich and happy life and, according to the Hurst Amulet, have two children. So villainy pays off in this book. I hate that.
And then we have Elspeth, who has been portrayed as a shrew towards Jaimie through the whole book. She finally tells Jaimie she does, in fact, love him but he hasn't shared his worries or asked her for her opinions so she thought he didn't love here. It only took her more than a decade to tell him that! Communication people.
AND, we never find out what the future holds for the island of Barra and who will be laird.
I really enjoyed this book (4 stars) up until the very end (2 stars). The ending was ridiculous.
*****************SPOILER ALERT****************
Jane/Jennet left the island of Barra and her title of "laird" because her cousin Jaimie's father/Jane's uncle, David, was trying to force her to marry Jaimie (at 14?) and she wanted to see the world. Jaimie wanted to marry Elspeth but Elspeth wouldn't marry him unless he had a title. So Jane concocted a plan: she left the island at 16 and designated her cousin Jaimie laird at the age of 14. Unbeknownst to her, their plan went terribly wrong for Jaimie.
David (Jaimie's father/Jane's uncle) has been stealing from Barra, causing strife in Jaimie's marriage, and stranded Jane and Michael in a cave at high tide. And what is his punishment? He's going to marry Lindsee, ugh! she's Jaimie and Jane's childhood friend. He will live a rich and happy life and, according to the Hurst Amulet, have two children. So villainy pays off in this book. I hate that.
And then we have Elspeth, who has been portrayed as a shrew towards Jaimie through the whole book. She finally tells Jaimie she does, in fact, love him but he hasn't shared his worries or asked her for her opinions so she thought he didn't love here. It only took her more than a decade to tell him that! Communication people.
AND, we never find out what the future holds for the island of Barra and who will be laird.
September 1, 2022
"A DETERMINED EXPLORER
"When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination -- the mysterious Isle of Barr. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant t5ansforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
"A DAUNTLESS PRINCESS
"Once her clan's princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton -- the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets . . . including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
"A PERILOUS PLEASURE
"Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time ot solve two riddles: the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?"
~~back cover
Bodice rippers are not generally my cup of tea, but of course I got roped in by the book taking place in Scotland. And I got so wrapped up in the story that I read the whole book in one day. Dear me (fans herself)! It was a lot of fun ... hair-raising adventure, stumbling, fumbling lust and budding love between Jane and Michael, and well done characters to complete the picture.
I can't wait to read the next in the series: Scandal in Scotland
"When famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst discovers that the infamous Hurst Amulet is hidden in Scotland, he insists his trusted assistant, Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton, accompany him north. Strangely, the usually unflappable Jane seems perturbed by their destination -- the mysterious Isle of Barr. A fascinated Michael watches as his staid assistant t5ansforms, revealing intriguing layers of mystery and vulnerability. Could he be about to uncover not one, but two, precious treasures?
"A DAUNTLESS PRINCESS
"Once her clan's princess, Jane fled Barra years ago to avoid a forced marriage. Since then, she has made her living as efficient Miss Smythe-Haughton -- the perfect (and highly paid) assistant. Now she must confront her secrets . . . including her feelings for her irascible employer, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Michael Hurst.
"A PERILOUS PLEASURE
"Others are also searching for the missing amulet, however. Can Jane and Michael learn to trust each other in time ot solve two riddles: the location of the Hurst Amulet, and the meaning of the vivid passion flaring between them?"
~~back cover
Bodice rippers are not generally my cup of tea, but of course I got roped in by the book taking place in Scotland. And I got so wrapped up in the story that I read the whole book in one day. Dear me (fans herself)! It was a lot of fun ... hair-raising adventure, stumbling, fumbling lust and budding love between Jane and Michael, and well done characters to complete the picture.
I can't wait to read the next in the series: Scandal in Scotland
May 31, 2012
This novel reminds me why I love historical romances. They're whimsical, engrossing, and tend to leave us feeling good at the end. In this novel, The Taming of a Scottish Princess (the conclusion to the Hurst Amulet series- though it's a great stand alone), Michael Hurst and his long time assistant Jane Smythe-Haughton find that the Hurst Amulet (the Hurst family's ancient inheritance) might lie in a small Scottish isle.... a small isle that Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton may have connections to.
Michael, up until the beginning of this book has never seen Jane as anything but a competent assistant who handles his day-today affairs while he's on expedition; but suddenly he takes note that men are noticing her. What is it about calm and collected Jane that they find so compelling? Is it her larger than average eyes? Her pert-almost too small nose? Well, Michael finds out and what he finds leads him to needing to know her . And where better to learn than the place she was born, while at the same time looking for the Hurst Amulet.
The author's writing, as always, is beautiful. The pages went by faster than I knew. If you're into romances that tell of times gone by, but aren't too series- this ones for you. ;)
Michael, up until the beginning of this book has never seen Jane as anything but a competent assistant who handles his day-today affairs while he's on expedition; but suddenly he takes note that men are noticing her. What is it about calm and collected Jane that they find so compelling? Is it her larger than average eyes? Her pert-almost too small nose? Well, Michael finds out and what he finds leads him to needing to know her . And where better to learn than the place she was born, while at the same time looking for the Hurst Amulet.
The author's writing, as always, is beautiful. The pages went by faster than I knew. If you're into romances that tell of times gone by, but aren't too series- this ones for you. ;)
May 21, 2012
This was my first Karen Hawkins book. I have to say I really enjoyed this book. The Taming of a Scottish Princess started out a little slow and Michael came off as a pompous ass, but as the story goes on I grew to love Michael's character. Michael may still be single minded but by the end of the book what he has his mind set on has changed. He finally learns what is truly important to him.
Jane.
While you might think she a mouse type of character you would be very wrong. Jane is a very strong, determined and can put her boss in his place any time kind of girl. But when their latest adventure takes them back to Jane’s birth place, her future will forever be changed.
Michael & Jane were a fun, witty and determined couple to read about. I loved their batter. The sassy mouths that both have. The name calling, oh the name calling. But their adventure to a small island in Scotland will make them realize that the ultimate treasure has been in front of them the whole time.
If you are a fan of Karen Hawkins’ books you will enjoy The Taming of a Scottish Princess. If you are new to Karen, I believe you will enjoy the adventure and trouble the Michael and Jane get them self into.
Jane.
While you might think she a mouse type of character you would be very wrong. Jane is a very strong, determined and can put her boss in his place any time kind of girl. But when their latest adventure takes them back to Jane’s birth place, her future will forever be changed.
Michael & Jane were a fun, witty and determined couple to read about. I loved their batter. The sassy mouths that both have. The name calling, oh the name calling. But their adventure to a small island in Scotland will make them realize that the ultimate treasure has been in front of them the whole time.
If you are a fan of Karen Hawkins’ books you will enjoy The Taming of a Scottish Princess. If you are new to Karen, I believe you will enjoy the adventure and trouble the Michael and Jane get them self into.
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