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Devereux Family #1
Highland Belle
Lord Iain MacArthur pursues his beautiful, headstrong, and rebellious new bride, Brigette Devereux, from the wilds of Scotland to London's back alleys, after the unwilling young lady flees Dunridge Castle and her dashing husband
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
10 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Grasso
63 books156 followersI'm a dog person. Who lives with 10 cats. Get the picture?
My first brush with the romance genre happened in my high school junior year. I discovered Gone With the Wind and hid it behind my American history book to read during class. (The Civil War is American history.) The ambiguous ending left me dissatisfied, though. Rhett and Scarlet needed a happily-ever-after. Believing in happily-ever-afters positively screams romantic-at-heart.
On the other hand, I love murder and mayhem as much as happily-ever-after. My usual television fare is fiction and nonfiction crime shows, not love stories. Which accounts for the mysteries I sneaked into my historical romances. Now I'm trying my hand at writing a humorous mystery, sans historical and sans emphasis on the love interest. I even prepared for my mystery-in-progress by attending the local NRA's Pistol School. Shooting pistols is great fun. I adore the .22 semiautomatics.
After graduating from high school without distinction, I earned both Bachelor and Master degrees at a state college. Again, without distinction. I held several part-time jobs during my college days: file clerk in an insurance company, long-distance telephone operator, kimono-wearing waitress in a Japanese restaurant.
And then I began my teaching career, eighteen years in the eighth grade and thirteen years at the high school. Weary with the same old routine, I decided I needed a creative outlet. So I decided to write a romance novel but only managed to talk about writing one. After five years of listening to me, a friend said to stop talking and start writing.
So I did.
I made every mistake known to man. Blunder would be a more appropriate word, but I did learn using the trial and error method. As well as studying the works of authors I admired.
After five years of writing for nothing but love, I sold my first novel. Since then, I've sold eighteen novels and won several awards--- National Readers' Choice Award New England Readers' Choice Award, Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice and KISS Awards, B. Dalton and Bookrak Awards for best-selling author. My novels have been translated into fifteen languages and sold in twenty countries.
If I had my life over, would I become a writer? Nope. I would enjoy being a Victoria Secret model. Perhaps in my next incarnation I won't be too old, too short, or too unphotogenic.
My first brush with the romance genre happened in my high school junior year. I discovered Gone With the Wind and hid it behind my American history book to read during class. (The Civil War is American history.) The ambiguous ending left me dissatisfied, though. Rhett and Scarlet needed a happily-ever-after. Believing in happily-ever-afters positively screams romantic-at-heart.
On the other hand, I love murder and mayhem as much as happily-ever-after. My usual television fare is fiction and nonfiction crime shows, not love stories. Which accounts for the mysteries I sneaked into my historical romances. Now I'm trying my hand at writing a humorous mystery, sans historical and sans emphasis on the love interest. I even prepared for my mystery-in-progress by attending the local NRA's Pistol School. Shooting pistols is great fun. I adore the .22 semiautomatics.
After graduating from high school without distinction, I earned both Bachelor and Master degrees at a state college. Again, without distinction. I held several part-time jobs during my college days: file clerk in an insurance company, long-distance telephone operator, kimono-wearing waitress in a Japanese restaurant.
And then I began my teaching career, eighteen years in the eighth grade and thirteen years at the high school. Weary with the same old routine, I decided I needed a creative outlet. So I decided to write a romance novel but only managed to talk about writing one. After five years of listening to me, a friend said to stop talking and start writing.
So I did.
I made every mistake known to man. Blunder would be a more appropriate word, but I did learn using the trial and error method. As well as studying the works of authors I admired.
After five years of writing for nothing but love, I sold my first novel. Since then, I've sold eighteen novels and won several awards--- National Readers' Choice Award New England Readers' Choice Award, Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice and KISS Awards, B. Dalton and Bookrak Awards for best-selling author. My novels have been translated into fifteen languages and sold in twenty countries.
If I had my life over, would I become a writer? Nope. I would enjoy being a Victoria Secret model. Perhaps in my next incarnation I won't be too old, too short, or too unphotogenic.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 15, 2025
Read: 11/14/25
Setting: 1564 Scotland, England
Trope: arranged marriage
3.5 stars for plot, 1 star for the humor
What an absolute delight this book turned out to be!
plot: Flamed haired Brigitte is wed by proxy to Lord Iain and sent to the wilds of Scotland. When she overhears why Iain failed to show up to meet her on the road, Brie decides to runaway. It doesn't take her long to figure out what stupid idea that was but it's too late. Brie is rescued by a gorgeous Scotsman, who helps hide her. They slowly fall in love and make love. The next day, she learns the truth. Her handsome, dark lover is really her husband, Iain. 😲
Lord Iain has his hands full with his beautiful, headstrong, rebellious, new bride. While more level headed than most, when pushed Iain's temper is fearsome. He expects obedience. Boy, did he marry the wrong girl! Brie will lead him on a merry chase but it will be worth it.
liked:
1. Brie was hard for me to like at first. She was described as headstrong and impulsive. I call it stupidity. She runsaway twice in the book, without thinking of the consequences. It was idiotic and ridiculously foolish. I almost stopped reading because of it. Luckily, maturity tempers down some of her rebelliousness and I was able to enjoy the other quirks to her personality.
2. Iain 🥰. I loved him! He had his flaws, but he was a good man with a wicked sense of humor.
3. The romance was the best part! I could spend all day with this couple. They complemented each other well. Their interactions were priceless! 😂
4. Glenda (Iain's niece) and Sly (Brie's apoted fox) were wonderful additions to the story. I looked forward to their appearances.
5. All the other charming secondary characters that enriched the story. There are too many to name.
disliked:
1. Brie running away to London was ridiculous and unbelievable! I'm suppose to believe that she came to no harm on the road (one man with her) or working at a tavern. 🙄. Luckily, this was the last time she pulls such an outrageous stunt.
2. The villains aren't that pivotal to the plot until the end. Iain's ex SIL, Antonia, is the biggest threat to the couple. She wants to be a countess and is determined to get rid of Brie. Iain can barely hide his disgust and hate towards Antonia. He tolerates her for his niece. So why does she think he'll marry her if Brie is gone? 🤔. It didn't make much sense but then some women are delusional
3. Iain slaps Brie. He did it once and she deserved it. I know that will bother some readers.
Conclusion: This story has numerous flaws but I still loved it! I had a smile through most of the book.
Setting: 1564 Scotland, England
Trope: arranged marriage
3.5 stars for plot, 1 star for the humor
What an absolute delight this book turned out to be!
plot: Flamed haired Brigitte is wed by proxy to Lord Iain and sent to the wilds of Scotland. When she overhears why Iain failed to show up to meet her on the road, Brie decides to runaway. It doesn't take her long to figure out what stupid idea that was but it's too late. Brie is rescued by a gorgeous Scotsman, who helps hide her. They slowly fall in love and make love. The next day, she learns the truth. Her handsome, dark lover is really her husband, Iain. 😲
Lord Iain has his hands full with his beautiful, headstrong, rebellious, new bride. While more level headed than most, when pushed Iain's temper is fearsome. He expects obedience. Boy, did he marry the wrong girl! Brie will lead him on a merry chase but it will be worth it.
liked:
1. Brie was hard for me to like at first. She was described as headstrong and impulsive. I call it stupidity. She runsaway twice in the book, without thinking of the consequences. It was idiotic and ridiculously foolish. I almost stopped reading because of it. Luckily, maturity tempers down some of her rebelliousness and I was able to enjoy the other quirks to her personality.
2. Iain 🥰. I loved him! He had his flaws, but he was a good man with a wicked sense of humor.
3. The romance was the best part! I could spend all day with this couple. They complemented each other well. Their interactions were priceless! 😂
4. Glenda (Iain's niece) and Sly (Brie's apoted fox) were wonderful additions to the story. I looked forward to their appearances.
5. All the other charming secondary characters that enriched the story. There are too many to name.
disliked:
1. Brie running away to London was ridiculous and unbelievable! I'm suppose to believe that she came to no harm on the road (one man with her) or working at a tavern. 🙄. Luckily, this was the last time she pulls such an outrageous stunt.
2. The villains aren't that pivotal to the plot until the end. Iain's ex SIL, Antonia, is the biggest threat to the couple. She wants to be a countess and is determined to get rid of Brie. Iain can barely hide his disgust and hate towards Antonia. He tolerates her for his niece. So why does she think he'll marry her if Brie is gone? 🤔. It didn't make much sense but then some women are delusional
3. Iain slaps Brie. He did it once and she deserved it. I know that will bother some readers.
Conclusion: This story has numerous flaws but I still loved it! I had a smile through most of the book.
June 12, 2020
2 Estrellitas. No sabía qué esperar de éste libro porque es lo primero que leo de la autora, pero ha ido en contra suya un planteamiento de historia y personalidad de los protagonistas muy chapucero. Sí, estamos ante una novela escrita hace treinta años, pero no ha sido muy distinta de otros libros que se publicaban veinte años antes, así que como suele pasar, ha envejecido mal.
La historia en sí es un cliché. Ocurre en la Escocia del siglo XVI. Brigette es una dama inglesa cuya familia ha llegado a un acuerdo con un conde escocés para que la despose su heredero. Sabemos que es un cliché que como mujer pelirroja es hermosa, voluntariosa, arisca, caprichosa y desobediente, lo que la convierte en egoísta y sin pizca de inteligencia. Os juro que lo que le pasa a éste personaje en el libro es de chiste, escapa cuarenta veces, la mayoría le sale mal, y otras bien, y aún así, siempre se soluciona ¡Venga! No hay quien se lo crea.
Por otro lado, Iain MacArthur es el heredero de un conde escocés y primo de los famosos Campbell. Como guerrero de su época, tenemos a un guapo bruto que está de rechupete y por eso y ser quien es se le pueden perdonar sus faltas... pues no, Iain es un bruto arrogante y creído que dice amar a la protagonista y en cuanto lo desafía no duda en sacudirla a guantazos y soltarle que el hombre manda y la mujer obedece.
Que sí, que sé que las cosas antiguamente así eran, pero en el siglo XVI y hasta en el siglo XX. Por desgracia es un libro escrito en una época donde el machismo imperaba mucho todavía, pero aún así el machismo y la violencia son cosas que no me gusta leer en las novelas, y por eso le ha restado puntos.
Pues bien, la historia empieza cuando Iain manda a su hermano menor a Inglaterra para casarse por poderes con Brigette. Imaginaréis que esta entra en cólera cuando su futuro esposo no tiene la decencia de venir personalmente. Una vez en Escocia y ante tamaña afrenta, Brigette escapa, se encuentra con un zorro al que adopta como mascota (y se convierte en un personaje más), y también se encuentra con Iain, su marido, aunque ninguno de los dos confiesa quién es en realidad, pero Iain sí sabe quién es ella y se la lleva unos días a una cabaña dispuesto a enamorarla.
El libro tiene una serie de conflictos entre sus personajes que pasarán desde las típicas disputas de pareja, como machismo imperante, desobediencia y posteriores desgracias por no obedecer, pero admito que con una buena ambientación histórica, pues Patricia Grasso nos da unas pinceladas de los problemas a los que tuvo que enfrentarse María Estuardo como reina de Escocia.
Para rematar la novela, no solo tendremos a los protagonistas y su "idílica" historia de amor, si no que habrá otro personaje dispuesto a meter cizaña y es siempre lo que más se aborrece y se odia en estas novelas, una tercera en discordia, y es Antonia, la viuda del hermano mayor de Iain, que no parará de insultar, maquinar y meter cizaña entre Brigette e Iain, pues su única ambición es ser condesa y tener a Iain, porque estuvo a punto de tener el título y Malcolm murió.
En fin, una novela de idas y venidas, de ahora te quiero y ahora te odio. Confieso que ha tenido buenos puntos, en unos me he reído y en otros he soltado de todo por mi boca, pero en el fondo es una historia absurda, inverosímil y ridícula, que no hay por donde cogerla ni creérsela, sobre todo por el personaje de Brigette, que de moderna e independiente no tiene nada.
Aunque no puedo decir que me ha gustado, tampoco ha terminado de disgustarme, es probable que en el futuro me anime a leer más de Patricia Grasso, pero a lo mejor en otro género romántico distinto. Si lo queréis leer, no puedo decir que la recomiende porque hay historias mejores, pero por curiosidad, que no quede, estáis advertidas.
La historia en sí es un cliché. Ocurre en la Escocia del siglo XVI. Brigette es una dama inglesa cuya familia ha llegado a un acuerdo con un conde escocés para que la despose su heredero. Sabemos que es un cliché que como mujer pelirroja es hermosa, voluntariosa, arisca, caprichosa y desobediente, lo que la convierte en egoísta y sin pizca de inteligencia. Os juro que lo que le pasa a éste personaje en el libro es de chiste, escapa cuarenta veces, la mayoría le sale mal, y otras bien, y aún así, siempre se soluciona ¡Venga! No hay quien se lo crea.
Por otro lado, Iain MacArthur es el heredero de un conde escocés y primo de los famosos Campbell. Como guerrero de su época, tenemos a un guapo bruto que está de rechupete y por eso y ser quien es se le pueden perdonar sus faltas... pues no, Iain es un bruto arrogante y creído que dice amar a la protagonista y en cuanto lo desafía no duda en sacudirla a guantazos y soltarle que el hombre manda y la mujer obedece.
Que sí, que sé que las cosas antiguamente así eran, pero en el siglo XVI y hasta en el siglo XX. Por desgracia es un libro escrito en una época donde el machismo imperaba mucho todavía, pero aún así el machismo y la violencia son cosas que no me gusta leer en las novelas, y por eso le ha restado puntos.
Pues bien, la historia empieza cuando Iain manda a su hermano menor a Inglaterra para casarse por poderes con Brigette. Imaginaréis que esta entra en cólera cuando su futuro esposo no tiene la decencia de venir personalmente. Una vez en Escocia y ante tamaña afrenta, Brigette escapa, se encuentra con un zorro al que adopta como mascota (y se convierte en un personaje más), y también se encuentra con Iain, su marido, aunque ninguno de los dos confiesa quién es en realidad, pero Iain sí sabe quién es ella y se la lleva unos días a una cabaña dispuesto a enamorarla.
El libro tiene una serie de conflictos entre sus personajes que pasarán desde las típicas disputas de pareja, como machismo imperante, desobediencia y posteriores desgracias por no obedecer, pero admito que con una buena ambientación histórica, pues Patricia Grasso nos da unas pinceladas de los problemas a los que tuvo que enfrentarse María Estuardo como reina de Escocia.
Para rematar la novela, no solo tendremos a los protagonistas y su "idílica" historia de amor, si no que habrá otro personaje dispuesto a meter cizaña y es siempre lo que más se aborrece y se odia en estas novelas, una tercera en discordia, y es Antonia, la viuda del hermano mayor de Iain, que no parará de insultar, maquinar y meter cizaña entre Brigette e Iain, pues su única ambición es ser condesa y tener a Iain, porque estuvo a punto de tener el título y Malcolm murió.
En fin, una novela de idas y venidas, de ahora te quiero y ahora te odio. Confieso que ha tenido buenos puntos, en unos me he reído y en otros he soltado de todo por mi boca, pero en el fondo es una historia absurda, inverosímil y ridícula, que no hay por donde cogerla ni creérsela, sobre todo por el personaje de Brigette, que de moderna e independiente no tiene nada.
Aunque no puedo decir que me ha gustado, tampoco ha terminado de disgustarme, es probable que en el futuro me anime a leer más de Patricia Grasso, pero a lo mejor en otro género romántico distinto. Si lo queréis leer, no puedo decir que la recomiende porque hay historias mejores, pero por curiosidad, que no quede, estáis advertidas.
October 27, 2016
This was a total soap opera! I loved it! The only thing that grated on my nerves was how free the dudes were with the slapping. WTH? I understand that there were medieval times, but could you just stop?
Otherwise I'm def starting book 2 :D
Otherwise I'm def starting book 2 :D
July 23, 2016
Sólo por lo que me divertí con esta novela se merece una estrella extra. La historia no es nada del otro mundo, pero la disfruté mucho (y eso que no me aburren las tramas de escoceses). Personajes entrañables y una trama muy entretenida.
November 14, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ Me gustó muchísimo, tanto que le dí 5 estrellas de primera, pero luego recordé que quedaron detalles inconclusos y bajé media estrella.
Brigitte es una inglesa que está comprometida con el escocés Ian MacArthur. Quien manda a su hermano Percy como representante para los votos matrimoniales. Furiosa, la joven por la desfachatez de su marido, escapa en el trayecto hacia su nuevo hogar.
Para sorpresa de la joven se encuentra con el futuro conde, quien con otra identidad trata de ganarse su corazón. Ambos hacen clic al instante y tienen que lidiar con los diferentes enemigos que acechan a su nido de amor.
Brigitte es una jovencita de armas a tomar, fuerte, decidida, siempre dice lo que piensa y noble con los demás. Me gustó que a pesar de los líos en los que se encuentra, busca soluciones y enfrenta al más fuerte sin ningún temor. Aparte de que con sus diálogos me reía muchísimo.
Ian un hombre temperamental, queda deslumbrado con la belleza e inteligencia de la inglesa y tiene que lidiar con sus emociones para ganarse su corazón.
Ambos personajes me enamoraron. Incluyendo los personajes secundarios, que hacen de esta historia aún más amena y divertida.
Brigitte es una inglesa que está comprometida con el escocés Ian MacArthur. Quien manda a su hermano Percy como representante para los votos matrimoniales. Furiosa, la joven por la desfachatez de su marido, escapa en el trayecto hacia su nuevo hogar.
Para sorpresa de la joven se encuentra con el futuro conde, quien con otra identidad trata de ganarse su corazón. Ambos hacen clic al instante y tienen que lidiar con los diferentes enemigos que acechan a su nido de amor.
Brigitte es una jovencita de armas a tomar, fuerte, decidida, siempre dice lo que piensa y noble con los demás. Me gustó que a pesar de los líos en los que se encuentra, busca soluciones y enfrenta al más fuerte sin ningún temor. Aparte de que con sus diálogos me reía muchísimo.
Ian un hombre temperamental, queda deslumbrado con la belleza e inteligencia de la inglesa y tiene que lidiar con sus emociones para ganarse su corazón.
Ambos personajes me enamoraron. Incluyendo los personajes secundarios, que hacen de esta historia aún más amena y divertida.
December 13, 2014
The book was so horrible, I created a new shelf for such books in the future.
The writing was awful. The author uses so many modern words it gets to the point where I don't even feel like I'm reading a historical, (minus all the scots burr, which was just as atrocious).
The h is TSTL. If TSTL had a baby and the father was an airhead, this would be the result of those two genes merging. And thats about all in her corner.
The H is a somewhat more meatier than TSTL, but not that far off. His character fits the time better since most of the time he's having Jekyll and Hyde problems. One minute he's so angry that he's slapping the heroine and the next he's sorry he ever hit her. This happens more than once. Although I can't blame him for some of those beatings because h is TSTL.
Overall, do yourselves a favour and avoid this garbage.
January 13, 2014
This was Patricia Grasso's first book. And it's pretty good. But DESERT EDEN is her best ever. Oh, and the fox on the cover is not just there for decoration -- he's an important part of the story. Foxes are my favorite animals aside from frogs and deer. They're sexy!
October 3, 2019
I WAS SORELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS. GRANTED IT WAS BETTER THAN A BODICE RIPPER STORY WITH A TERRIBLE HERO AND A GRATING ON NERVES HEROINE, BUT IT WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER.
DNF at 70% because it bore me without a proper plot and the MC's chemistry just fizzled right from the start.
HERO is a barely a man's man. I mean come on...to dupe his wife into thinking he was someone else and then seduce her, and then being angry because she lied to him too. These two had issues. Even if they talk things out, it only ends with one of them being angry and then it begins all over again. The hero and heroine were vastly immature, and even if Iain calls himself the adult here, he barely acted like a sane man. I don't condone to the fact that he calls his wife 'bitch' and raises his fist against her in the midst of anger. I get that it's a historical book...but it was too much for me. He didn't respect her much as his wife or a woman even if he didn't rape her.
HEROINE is annoying sometimes but not close to bipolar. When she's wedded by proxy to her husband, she's irate that he didn't even bother to show up. Now the heroine is simple minded to me. Why? She takes off and thinks that running away can solve all her problems and that's what she does...like twice in this story. Whenever Iain says something that offends her, she become ruffled and weepy. Thank God she wasn't hysterical. But she jumps to conclusion too easily and OMG their relationship was a mess.
OVERALL it was a repetition of fight, make up and then fight...make up and then the cycle goes on and on. The plot was completely non-existent. I mean there was no drive to the story and the while there was passion, it seemed almost pointless when the MC's always end up fighting again.
DNF at 70% because it bore me without a proper plot and the MC's chemistry just fizzled right from the start.
HERO is a barely a man's man. I mean come on...to dupe his wife into thinking he was someone else and then seduce her, and then being angry because she lied to him too. These two had issues. Even if they talk things out, it only ends with one of them being angry and then it begins all over again. The hero and heroine were vastly immature, and even if Iain calls himself the adult here, he barely acted like a sane man. I don't condone to the fact that he calls his wife 'bitch' and raises his fist against her in the midst of anger. I get that it's a historical book...but it was too much for me. He didn't respect her much as his wife or a woman even if he didn't rape her.
HEROINE is annoying sometimes but not close to bipolar. When she's wedded by proxy to her husband, she's irate that he didn't even bother to show up. Now the heroine is simple minded to me. Why? She takes off and thinks that running away can solve all her problems and that's what she does...like twice in this story. Whenever Iain says something that offends her, she become ruffled and weepy. Thank God she wasn't hysterical. But she jumps to conclusion too easily and OMG their relationship was a mess.
OVERALL it was a repetition of fight, make up and then fight...make up and then the cycle goes on and on. The plot was completely non-existent. I mean there was no drive to the story and the while there was passion, it seemed almost pointless when the MC's always end up fighting again.
January 28, 2018
A bela espevitada, sem-papas-na-língua e esperta Brigette tem seu casamento arranjado com o Escocês Iain MacArthur, que por conta dos seus deveres como herdeiro, já que o irmão mais velho morreu, envia seu irmão Percy para representá-lo e ela se sente indignada e se casa de luto e é a partir daí que essa tumultuada relação se desenvolve. A caminho para a Escócia, ela foge e é encontrada por seu marido, que dá nome outro nome e logo se veem envolvidos em uma louca paixão. E ele, exercendo seus direitos de macho "Highlander" cobra seus direitos. E quando Brigette descobre quem é ele e que a enganou, é um Deus nos acuda.
A mocinha pode receber uns tapas, mas não se abaixa para homem nenhum. Revida na mesma hora, ou na linguagem e nas ações físicas.
É um livro engraçado, estilo entre tapas e beijos, e a mocinha é uma louca de pedra, por ser impulsiva demais. Se ela sentir raiva do marido por algum motivo, isso é motivo de fuga. Ela está sempre fugindo, e sempre correndo perigo e com resultados de receber umas bordoadas do marido que quer forçá-la a obedecê-lo. Mas o amor entre eles é inegável. Se declaram abertamente, se enfurecem e depois estão aos beijos e abraços com direito a cenas bem picantes.
Destaque para os personagens Black Jack (que me comoveu demais), Glenda - a menininha encantadora, entre outros. Alguns personagens sinistros tem seu bem merecido fim.
A mocinha pode receber uns tapas, mas não se abaixa para homem nenhum. Revida na mesma hora, ou na linguagem e nas ações físicas.
É um livro engraçado, estilo entre tapas e beijos, e a mocinha é uma louca de pedra, por ser impulsiva demais. Se ela sentir raiva do marido por algum motivo, isso é motivo de fuga. Ela está sempre fugindo, e sempre correndo perigo e com resultados de receber umas bordoadas do marido que quer forçá-la a obedecê-lo. Mas o amor entre eles é inegável. Se declaram abertamente, se enfurecem e depois estão aos beijos e abraços com direito a cenas bem picantes.
Destaque para os personagens Black Jack (que me comoveu demais), Glenda - a menininha encantadora, entre outros. Alguns personagens sinistros tem seu bem merecido fim.
December 27, 2018
Love this series. Patricia Grasso was my Junior High School literature teacher. I was so excited when this book came out. I love all her books though I may be a bit biased. Great historical romance.
July 19, 2025
Surprisingly this was nice.
The MCs talk dirty. lol.
The h keeps escaping and H keeps saving her and bringing her back.
Loved the chemistry.
I hate the evil ow drama. I didn’t understand why the h keep on letting her stay inspite of she doing evil things. I would have kicked her ass a long ago. If not for the evil ow the book would have been 4 star.
First half was good. Second half lagged and I skimmed.
Also the characters in this book are very physical….. When the h runs away, she gets help from om who is also on the way to her destination. She easily accepts his help. He kisses her on lips and they sleep cuddling together for almost 2 weeks. Also the wives are easily slapped by their husbands.
Strange.
The MCs talk dirty. lol.
The h keeps escaping and H keeps saving her and bringing her back.
Loved the chemistry.
I hate the evil ow drama. I didn’t understand why the h keep on letting her stay inspite of she doing evil things. I would have kicked her ass a long ago. If not for the evil ow the book would have been 4 star.
First half was good. Second half lagged and I skimmed.
Also the characters in this book are very physical….. When the h runs away, she gets help from om who is also on the way to her destination. She easily accepts his help. He kisses her on lips and they sleep cuddling together for almost 2 weeks. Also the wives are easily slapped by their husbands.
Strange.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2024
Es un buen libro, no el mejor del mundo pero para pasar el rato está bien.
Se nota que es un libro viejo ya porque algunas cosas de la trama envejecieron para mal aunque esté narrado en siglos pasados
Se nota que es un libro viejo ya porque algunas cosas de la trama envejecieron para mal aunque esté narrado en siglos pasados
July 2, 2025
no pase del capítulo 5 de lo machista que me ha parecido.
April 30, 2016
Adventures in 16th Century Scotland
This is one of those books that begins rather well with a heroine betrothed to a man she does not want to wed and the prospect of Scotland was a plus but this heroine was troubling and the story dragged in places. I put it down several times.
First published in 1991, this is the first in the Devereux family series. Set in 1564, when Mary Queen of Scots was engaged in some controversial behavior, this is the story of Brigette Devereux, daughter of an English earl betrothed by Queen Elizabeth to a Scot. (I know, go figure.) When her betrothed sent his brother to wed her by proxy, Brigette (“Brie”) was disgusted. But being the dutiful daughter, she travels north with the brother to Scotland. Before they reach the castle, she escapes into the arms of a man who is supposedly her husband’s cousin.
Iain MacArthur thought himself clever, tricking his bride into falling for him, disguised as his cousin, even consummating the marriage with her knowing she had fallen in love with said nonexistent cousin. But when he brought her back to Dunridge Castle, where she learns the truth, she was outraged. From there, the adventures continue.
Brie’s sister-in-law, now a widow, wants Brie dead so she can take her place. The comely widow keeps trying for Iain’s attentions and fails but she does stir up a lot of mud.
Brigette shows spunk at times, even intelligence on occasion, but at other times, she acts rather stupidly. (A woman riding alone from Scotland to London in the 16th century with no food, no weapon, no cloak and no plan is not just foolish; it’s plain stupid.)
There are some charming characters, a young girl named Glenda and a fox named Sly. The hero is pretty much a demanding guy throughout the story, occasionally given to unreasonable bouts of temper, but he is ever smitten with the heroine.
I was distracted by the author’s quick point of view changes (“head hopping”) and using the omniscient point of view to tell us things. If you don’t mind all that, you will find the heroine’s antics entertaining. But for me, the book was a long shot.
This is one of those books that begins rather well with a heroine betrothed to a man she does not want to wed and the prospect of Scotland was a plus but this heroine was troubling and the story dragged in places. I put it down several times.
First published in 1991, this is the first in the Devereux family series. Set in 1564, when Mary Queen of Scots was engaged in some controversial behavior, this is the story of Brigette Devereux, daughter of an English earl betrothed by Queen Elizabeth to a Scot. (I know, go figure.) When her betrothed sent his brother to wed her by proxy, Brigette (“Brie”) was disgusted. But being the dutiful daughter, she travels north with the brother to Scotland. Before they reach the castle, she escapes into the arms of a man who is supposedly her husband’s cousin.
Iain MacArthur thought himself clever, tricking his bride into falling for him, disguised as his cousin, even consummating the marriage with her knowing she had fallen in love with said nonexistent cousin. But when he brought her back to Dunridge Castle, where she learns the truth, she was outraged. From there, the adventures continue.
Brie’s sister-in-law, now a widow, wants Brie dead so she can take her place. The comely widow keeps trying for Iain’s attentions and fails but she does stir up a lot of mud.
Brigette shows spunk at times, even intelligence on occasion, but at other times, she acts rather stupidly. (A woman riding alone from Scotland to London in the 16th century with no food, no weapon, no cloak and no plan is not just foolish; it’s plain stupid.)
There are some charming characters, a young girl named Glenda and a fox named Sly. The hero is pretty much a demanding guy throughout the story, occasionally given to unreasonable bouts of temper, but he is ever smitten with the heroine.
I was distracted by the author’s quick point of view changes (“head hopping”) and using the omniscient point of view to tell us things. If you don’t mind all that, you will find the heroine’s antics entertaining. But for me, the book was a long shot.
March 23, 2022
Full of improbabilities and a lazy plot. Brigette or Brie is a reckless headstrong character and annoyingly stupid with sado~masochistic tendencies. After her misadventures on the road to London and in a London tavern... then back to Scotland with Iain awaiting the time to give birth to her first child, this lactating mother who had to be near her baby when he needed feeding, had to go out from the castle without an escort despite the danger from the Menzies and other marauders... got herself captured... successfully drowned her kidnapper... yet still marooned on a legendary rock for disobedient wives to die at high tide... got rescued by Magnus and a greedy pirate... had a fever... taken back by her husband to his castle... got stupidly captured again, this time by lecherous Menzies, and be rescued in time by Iain before being raped after the hunt for which she and Antonia were the prey. This is like a badly done assignment for compliance's sake and deserving an F. Even Antonia as a villain and her motives do not make sense... for there was no guarantee that Iain would ever marry her and make her Countess even after the death of Brie. This is the final insult to Iain's intelligence as well as to the reader.
July 5, 2015
There was just so much going on in this book that it became unbearable. It could have been so good, but the writing just wasn't there. The heroine was a spoiled brat who's personality changed like the wind. The entire plot was basically her running away and getting caught by enemies every other chapter. You would think she would learn the first few times.
Her husband hits her numerous times,(which growing up on 1980's romances, doesn't bother me, its just a book for crying out loud) but even I felt that is was a little over the top and unbelievable.
I read this because it is part of a series that Desert eden is in, (which is a better book) so I wanted to read about the other sisters. Compared to that story you would be hard pressed to realize it is the same author or story line.
Her husband hits her numerous times,(which growing up on 1980's romances, doesn't bother me, its just a book for crying out loud) but even I felt that is was a little over the top and unbelievable.
I read this because it is part of a series that Desert eden is in, (which is a better book) so I wanted to read about the other sisters. Compared to that story you would be hard pressed to realize it is the same author or story line.
July 16, 2014
one of my favorites
August 20, 2014
I wasn't sure about this one at the begging but in the end I liked it very much.
October 17, 2014
good read
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