Flower of Scotland

by Emma Blair

In the idyllic summer of 1912, all seems rosy for Murdo Drummond and his four children. Charlotte is ecstatically in love with Geoffrey; Peter prepares for the day when he will inherit the family distillery, while Andrew, gregarious and fun-loving, is already turning heads and hearts. Nell, the youngest, contents herself with daydreams of a handsome highlander. The Great War, however, has no respect for family life. As those carefree pre-war days fade, with death and devastation brought in their wake, the Drummonds are plunged into the horrors of the trenches in France. Yet those who survive discover that love can transcend class, creed, and country.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Romance, Scotland

569 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Iain Blair was born on 12 August 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, married with the also writer Jane Blanchard. Initially he wrote plays for theatre and television, but later began to write novels. He started out writing suspense novels as Iain Blair, but after being unsuccessful with this genre, switched to writing popular historical romance fiction sagas. But according to his Web site, Iain Blair's publishers decided he'd sell far more books simply by being published as a woman because is a women's fiction genre. "I was given absolutely no choice in the matter. They'd decided on a sex change and even the name. So that was that. Emma I became and Emma I've stayed." His true identity remained a secret until 1998 when his novel Flower of Scotland was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, which required him to admit to being the author. He passed away on 3 July 2011 in Torquay, Devon, England.

Reviews

[MasterSal]

Mar 2021

I’ve been looking for men who write romance novels and found this one. The publisher wouldn’t let the author publish under his real name ... so even though he has passed, I thought I’d give this a shot as a posthumous hello

[Dafydd · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just amazing! I couldn't put it down, so haven't even noticed how came to the end!

At the beginning it seemed to be one of those historical romance books where everything is just too perfect. But it wasn't as WWI started and young boys joined the army which changed everything.

I think that deaths (Murdo and Peter's) should've given more impact as it seemed that Charlotte managed very well (too well). Also, it's a shame that suicide was mentioned at the back of the book because while reading it was obvious who it would be, so I was just kind of waiting for it and there was no surprise.

A wonderful book about love, war, business and life in Scotland in 1910's.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so not my usual kind of book - it was donated at my Book (swap) Club when no one else wanted it, and has been sitting on my shelf for ages (and I do mean years). I took it away on holiday with me mainly so that if I saw a book I wanted in a hotel swap library I could exchange it with a clear conscience, but figured I might as well start it... and I was pleasantly surprised, so it came back home with me!

Beginning in 1912, this is the story of the Drummond family from rural Perthshire (Scotland). Patriarch Murdo has spent his life running the successful family distillery, but his health is deteriorating and he needs to make way for his eldest son Peter to take over. His beautiful daughter Charlotte has just fallen in love with dashing army officer Geoffrey, while son Andrew is only really interested in the good life, and Nell, the youngest, experiences vivid but inexplicable images of a handsome Highwayman from the 1700s. Unfortunately, the Great War is on the way and will change all their lives forever.

This is a not a romance (which is probably why I liked it) but rather a family saga, rather like Penny Vincenzi’s, spanning several years. There’s love, betrayal, dishonour, disabilities, social class angst, sexual hypocrisy, revenge and redemption, and above all the horrors of World War 1. We follow the family members to both the trenches and hospitals of France and the author doesn’t shy away from describing the senseless losses, although it’s not hugely gory or gratuitous. There are some mild sex scenes and a few swear words but nothing especially offensive. The writing was fine - there’s a lot more dialogue than scene descriptions, and the pacing was just right.

I wasn’t sure about the faint supernatural element of Nell’s supposed husband from a past life - this was published a few years after Outlander/Crosstitch so possibly influenced by the popularity of that book. It felt a little out of place but certainly didn’t spoil it for me. I liked the ending - especially the way certain characters redeemed themselves, and that it finished on a happy note.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Blair was a pseudonym for a male writer, and the story several times moves to a male perspective as it follows the family members who own a distillery in Scotland. The father Munro is getting on, and on being warned about heart issues, he decides to take it easier and let his sons do more work. He never thinks of admitting a daughter to his office, though the ladies have little else to do than gossip and buy clothes.

With the outset of the Great War life changes and both family and distillery staff are signing up for duty. Men and women both make changes and sacrifices. Any book on this topic must include tragedy; we see the flower of Scotland is lost in the trenches. Also, as my husband said, "there had to be a cad."

I have read other social histories about this period, recently Cornish Harvest by Rosemary Aitken, in which the whole village had to accept rationing and shortages, and if rich people ate better it was because they could afford black market foods or hotel prices. This never arises in Flower of Scotland, and I thought it should; the butchers were called up first to feed the army, while farm labour and estate labour lost workers, so there just wasn't the food. I don't think Scotland would have been different. This whole tale revolves around the wealthy and we see less well off characters only in a serving capacity with little of their lives. A side light is cast on Ireland of this time, with revolution in the air.

I recommend the read for adults and rather for social history than romance.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The uninspiring cover and title does not do justice to the usual good story within as always delivered from Emma Blair. A diverse story of a family and their business, interacted with tales of family members in Ireland and France during the Great War. I found it very disconcerting for the reader as the author darts about with random paragraphs, continually switching between locations and characters. Otherwise another good novel from Emma Blair.

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found my eyes glazing over at times. It was terribly boring, but I managed to finish it. I deserve a pat on the back for that. Here is what I'd like to say to the characters. Dear Jack and Hettie: No one cares about your stupid play. Get married already. Dear Geoffrey: Stop being so beastly to your wife. Dear Nell: Where is he?! Dear Wonky: You are being an idiot. Don't let go of Dale. Figure something out. Dear Andrew: It's a pity the Irish failed to put a bullet through your brain.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing book.. fantastic story believable characters I could not put it down

[Emma Brooks]

Read this years ago and it's still really good need to read the sequel now

[Susan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than first time. You got an idea of the characters and could really empathise with them. I liked the way Emma Blair intertwined all the different story lines of each character and “history” as well. However, again, when it came to the “sex scenes” you could tell they had been written by a man (well she is a male writer!). Also a little to much padding near the end but liked the way each character had their “happy ending”.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Saga about the Drummond family. It starts well, but there was too much sex and violence for my tastes, early on in the book. The plot seemed to focus on prostitution, betrayal, and rather cardboard characters. Eventually I gave up and read the last few chapters. It was easy to see what had happened, so I didn't bother to read the middle. Unimpressed.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

[Josie Rideg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story which demonstratesd how the Great War (wwi)affected and transformed everyday lives of families, especially womenb, and how it transformed a whole generation's attitudes and way of life.

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story set around the First World War and a Scottish family. Believable characters, really enjoyed it.

[Mousie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to put this book down! Would highly recommend it

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and easy Women's type fiction. Easy to read, easy to forget but enjoyable all the same.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. Beautiful written. It was a page turner that kept me in suspense. I call this a master piece. I loved it.