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Night Lace
NOW...
Seeking a cure for a mysterious new virus, devoted doctor Beth Balfour travels to a far-off Scottish castle to find a remedy described in an ancient text: a delicate, silvery flower called Nightlace. It exists, to her dismay, only in the portrait of a seductive eleventh-century laird. Struck by a sudden feeling of deja vu, Beth reaches out to tough the picture... and tumbles through a rift in time!
THEN...
A conspiracy against his king has loyal subject and Highlander Lawren mac Galloway pacing the halls of his splendid castle, looking every inch the dangerous warlock his enemies whisper he is. But before the night is over, a stunning upstart of a woman claiming to be from another century will call him other things: scoundrel, bully -- beloved....
FOREVER
From acclaimed author Emma Merritt comes a very different kind of love story -- the romantic tale of a woman who journeys back through the mists of time to medieval Scotland, where she has lived before... and will live again.
Seeking a cure for a mysterious new virus, devoted doctor Beth Balfour travels to a far-off Scottish castle to find a remedy described in an ancient text: a delicate, silvery flower called Nightlace. It exists, to her dismay, only in the portrait of a seductive eleventh-century laird. Struck by a sudden feeling of deja vu, Beth reaches out to tough the picture... and tumbles through a rift in time!
THEN...
A conspiracy against his king has loyal subject and Highlander Lawren mac Galloway pacing the halls of his splendid castle, looking every inch the dangerous warlock his enemies whisper he is. But before the night is over, a stunning upstart of a woman claiming to be from another century will call him other things: scoundrel, bully -- beloved....
FOREVER
From acclaimed author Emma Merritt comes a very different kind of love story -- the romantic tale of a woman who journeys back through the mists of time to medieval Scotland, where she has lived before... and will live again.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1996
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Emma Merritt
25 books29 followersPseudonyms: Emma Bennett, Micah Leigh
Emma F. Merritt was born on 12 November 1940 in Texas, USA. She resided with her husband, Paul, in San Antonio, where she wrote long letters to her twin sons, who both served in the Marine Corps. Her romances were published since 1983, she signed her novels as Emma Merritt and under the pseudonyms Emma Bennett and Micah Leigh. She was the first president of the San Antonio Romance Authors. She was widely known in the romance community as a tireless volunteer and mentor.
Emma Merritt passed away on 18 October 1995. Since then, the Romance Writers of America have honored the memory of Merritt by naming their National Service Award after her. The Virginia Romance Writers have also named a scholarship after Emma Merritt, and the San Antonio Romance Authors have named their conference and contest after her: the Merritt Conference and the Award of Merritt.
Emma F. Merritt was born on 12 November 1940 in Texas, USA. She resided with her husband, Paul, in San Antonio, where she wrote long letters to her twin sons, who both served in the Marine Corps. Her romances were published since 1983, she signed her novels as Emma Merritt and under the pseudonyms Emma Bennett and Micah Leigh. She was the first president of the San Antonio Romance Authors. She was widely known in the romance community as a tireless volunteer and mentor.
Emma Merritt passed away on 18 October 1995. Since then, the Romance Writers of America have honored the memory of Merritt by naming their National Service Award after her. The Virginia Romance Writers have also named a scholarship after Emma Merritt, and the San Antonio Romance Authors have named their conference and contest after her: the Merritt Conference and the Award of Merritt.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 1, 2023
Desperate to find a cure for the mysterious 'death-sleep' raging a small town near San Diego, the heroine, a doctor, makes the trek to Scotland in search of a mythical plant said to be the only way to save those infected by the sickness. She's spent vast amount of time researching the Night lace flower and knows that somewhere, somehow, the plant is real. The manuscript from a medieval Wizard documents the success the Night lace has on those infected and she's studied the plant as meticulously as she's studied the man. When she arrives at the beautiful secluded castle she feels like she's coming home A sense of peace and fulfillment spreads through her and she's feels complete. She meets the enchanting housekeeper, the current laird who is an invalid after the trauma of war and his young son. Seeing the portrait of the Wizard, touching his face, the heroine finds herself falling through time. Waking up in the past, she comes face to face with the man who she feels so connected to yet so distant from at the same time. She was right, the Wizard and the Laird are the same man and he is truly feared for his supposed powers and is an outcast from the Church but he is actually just a man. A handsome man who believes her to be the sister of his greatest enemy. He informs her that he's cared deeply for her since their first meeting but their love is forbidden. Indeed, his clan hates her, even though she protests being this other woman and the heroine actually fears for her life within the castle walls.
The hero may say one thing but he acts another. He tells her he cares for her yet all she sees is him belittle her in front of his people and the Church. He tells her it's for her own safety that he pretends to be indifferent to her but it obvious to everyone he favors her. The hero is currently walking a very thin line. Because he won't renounce his mother (a known witch) he is in disfavor with the Church. As a result, his enemy has taken advantage by claiming him to be a wizard and in league with the devil. This enemy wishes to use this fear and hatred for the hero to see the hero's brother, the future laird killed, and his entire clan wiped out. During this quiet war, people are dying by the sleep-death illness and the cure, the Night lace is being destroyed. Together, the hero and heroine seek what little of it is left to save those infected. The hero begins to trust the heroine more and more and soon, he can no longer hide his feelings for her. The heroine in turn confides the fact that she's been in love with the Wizard for years. But never can they be together. Not only can they not be married legally, the heroine's evil brother would quickly murder the heroine and any children she should have just to protect his authority. Their love seems hopeless and destined to fail if they can't find a solution.
I struggled to read this book for a few reasons. The wording was odd, medieval in nature and yes that is the time frame but it made it hard for me to find a rhythm. Secondly, I didn't completely engage with either of the characters. I found it extremely odd how a woman from California, who is tossed back in time to Scotland, suddenly has the same manner of speech as an historical Scotswoman. Yes, it's explained that she magically speaks their language but speaking words is much different from suddenly adapting to all their mannerisms. I found it hard to believe that they are so suddenly in love with one another. Maybe I believe the hero but defiantly not the heroine who imagines herself in love with a faceless man from a manuscript. There were some parts I enjoyed. The heroine's gift for medicine and her willingness to save anyone no matter how badly they treat her. I Liked the hero's willingness to believe the best of her even though she resembles the sister of his enemy. But these things were not able to save the book from deserving a 1-star rating. It wasn't bad per say. It wasn't horrible. But it wasn't good. I can't say I much enjoyed it but yes, I did manage to read it from start to finish (only skimming a little). Safe to say it's not the best time travel romance ever written.
The hero may say one thing but he acts another. He tells her he cares for her yet all she sees is him belittle her in front of his people and the Church. He tells her it's for her own safety that he pretends to be indifferent to her but it obvious to everyone he favors her. The hero is currently walking a very thin line. Because he won't renounce his mother (a known witch) he is in disfavor with the Church. As a result, his enemy has taken advantage by claiming him to be a wizard and in league with the devil. This enemy wishes to use this fear and hatred for the hero to see the hero's brother, the future laird killed, and his entire clan wiped out. During this quiet war, people are dying by the sleep-death illness and the cure, the Night lace is being destroyed. Together, the hero and heroine seek what little of it is left to save those infected. The hero begins to trust the heroine more and more and soon, he can no longer hide his feelings for her. The heroine in turn confides the fact that she's been in love with the Wizard for years. But never can they be together. Not only can they not be married legally, the heroine's evil brother would quickly murder the heroine and any children she should have just to protect his authority. Their love seems hopeless and destined to fail if they can't find a solution.
I struggled to read this book for a few reasons. The wording was odd, medieval in nature and yes that is the time frame but it made it hard for me to find a rhythm. Secondly, I didn't completely engage with either of the characters. I found it extremely odd how a woman from California, who is tossed back in time to Scotland, suddenly has the same manner of speech as an historical Scotswoman. Yes, it's explained that she magically speaks their language but speaking words is much different from suddenly adapting to all their mannerisms. I found it hard to believe that they are so suddenly in love with one another. Maybe I believe the hero but defiantly not the heroine who imagines herself in love with a faceless man from a manuscript. There were some parts I enjoyed. The heroine's gift for medicine and her willingness to save anyone no matter how badly they treat her. I Liked the hero's willingness to believe the best of her even though she resembles the sister of his enemy. But these things were not able to save the book from deserving a 1-star rating. It wasn't bad per say. It wasn't horrible. But it wasn't good. I can't say I much enjoyed it but yes, I did manage to read it from start to finish (only skimming a little). Safe to say it's not the best time travel romance ever written.
August 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Confession: I stole this book from my high school boyfriend’s mom’s stack before a test one day because I knew I’d get bored. I didn’t care what it was about. I just grabbed the first thing I saw.
And that’s how I stumbled into my first Scottish time travel romance.
Was it perfect literature? Absolutely not. Are there parts that make me side-eye to this day? Definitely. But teenage me ate this story up, and adult me has read it at least 18 times since.
Night Lace is my comfort read. It’s the book I pick up when I want something familiar, easy, and just a little bit ridiculous. It’s not the best book ever written, but it’s carved out a permanent spot on my shelf and in my heart.
Confession: I stole this book from my high school boyfriend’s mom’s stack before a test one day because I knew I’d get bored. I didn’t care what it was about. I just grabbed the first thing I saw.
And that’s how I stumbled into my first Scottish time travel romance.
Was it perfect literature? Absolutely not. Are there parts that make me side-eye to this day? Definitely. But teenage me ate this story up, and adult me has read it at least 18 times since.
Night Lace is my comfort read. It’s the book I pick up when I want something familiar, easy, and just a little bit ridiculous. It’s not the best book ever written, but it’s carved out a permanent spot on my shelf and in my heart.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews