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Clan Graham #2
Frederick's Queen
There can be no light without darkness, no hope without despair, no heartache without love...
When the handsome Frederick Mackintosh offers to marry Aggie McLaren, she is certain ‘tis greed or insanity that motivates him. She soon learns nothing could be further from the truth. Hope she thought long lost blooms when her husband’s gentle hand draws her from the darkness into the light.
Aggie McLaren is not Frederick Mackintosh’s image of the perfect wife. She isn’t well-read, vivacious or spirited. Wee, timid, and unable to speak, it is a glimpse of her smile that wins his heart. Frederick swears to do what he must in order to see her smile again and to help her find her voice.
Will love and devotion be enough when dark forces from the past threaten to destroy everything they have started to build?
When the handsome Frederick Mackintosh offers to marry Aggie McLaren, she is certain ‘tis greed or insanity that motivates him. She soon learns nothing could be further from the truth. Hope she thought long lost blooms when her husband’s gentle hand draws her from the darkness into the light.
Aggie McLaren is not Frederick Mackintosh’s image of the perfect wife. She isn’t well-read, vivacious or spirited. Wee, timid, and unable to speak, it is a glimpse of her smile that wins his heart. Frederick swears to do what he must in order to see her smile again and to help her find her voice.
Will love and devotion be enough when dark forces from the past threaten to destroy everything they have started to build?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2014
About the author
Suzan Tisdale
88 books663 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author, storyteller and cheeky wench, SUZAN TISDALE lives in the Midwest with her verra handsome carpenter husband. All but one of her children have left the nest. Her pets consist of dust bunnies and a dozen poodle-sized, backyard-dwelling groundhogs – all of which run as free and unrestrained as the voices in her head. And she doesn’t own a single pair of yoga pants, much to the shock and horror of her fellow authors. She prefers to write in her pajamas.
Suzan writes Scottish historical romance/fiction, with honorable and perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, feisty heroines. And bad guys she kills off in delightfully wicked ways.
She published her first novel, Laiden’s Daughter, in December, 2011, as a gift for her mother. That one book started a journey which has led to more than twenty published titles. To date, she has sold more than 750,000 copies of her books around the world. They have been translated into Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
You will find her books in digital, paperback, and audiobook formats.
Suzan writes Scottish historical romance/fiction, with honorable and perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, feisty heroines. And bad guys she kills off in delightfully wicked ways.
She published her first novel, Laiden’s Daughter, in December, 2011, as a gift for her mother. That one book started a journey which has led to more than twenty published titles. To date, she has sold more than 750,000 copies of her books around the world. They have been translated into Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
You will find her books in digital, paperback, and audiobook formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
June 8, 2018
Frederick's Queen is the second book in the duo series of Clan Graham. This was my first introduction to this author. When I saw that one of my favorite narrators was the narrator and wanted to try some other books he had narrated I knew I had to try this book out here. And boy I am so glad that I did try this author....and for those curious this book is part of the Audible Romance Package, so if you are a member I can't recommend this book enough to you.
I first want to mention the narrator Brad Wills. He is one of the most talented narrators I have EVER listened to. He can handle multiple voices of various characters so very well. His voice is so diverse and can handle different tones and accents. Its like listening to him is being in the middle of a crowd and I love how well he handles these medieval era romances, he just adds the right touch of emotion that is needed and the flow to the story is PERFECT. I honestly don't think I could say enough good things about this man.
Frederick's Queen is quite an emotional roller coaster of a story, and one I wasn't expecting. Of course, I have never read this author before so I honestly didn't know what to expect to be honest. But to be honest, I am wondering why I haven't read her before now because WOWZERS!! I was totally impressed with this book and one of the best highlander romances I have read in a long while. I listened to this book in two days, which its a longer one, 17 Hours....or the ebook is over 500 pages. And I couldn't put this book down folks. What I fell in love with was the storytelling of this author, its so engaging and just pulls you immediately into the story. The historical aspects of the story were so on cue, and I felt like I was swept back into the highlands.
Frederick's Queen begins with our heroine Aggie McLaren. Aggie has suffered tremendous abuse from her father, and has brought her to a neighboring clan to find her a husband. Her father is the chief of the clan, and has no son, and claims that Aggie is unable to take over, so she must marry. And no man in their clan would be willing. But when he brings her to the Graham's, she meets Frederick Mackintosh.
Frederick is a bit of a highland playboy, but has recently been having yearnings for a wife. And when he hears that this intriguing woman's father wants a husband for her who would be the future laird of the clan, he knows that this is a great opportunity for him. He is a younger son and knows that he wouldn't get another chance to be a laird of a clan. So Frederick comes with some of his men to the McLaren's to marry and gain the trust of the members of the McLaren's. Frederick has no idea of what Aggie has gone through, he just knows that she doesn't speak. But he soon learns that she can speak she just has gone years without using her voice. But when a misunderstanding occurs on the wedding night, and Frederick and Aggie don't spend their wedding night together, Aggies' father is furious. And Frederick finds her being whipped to death by her father and is furious that a father could harm his daughter in such a way and nearly kills his new wife's father.
But this is a turning point in their relationship, where Aggie begins to speak because Frederick although he has a temper, makes her feel safe for the first time in her life she feels safe around a man. She has been abused for so many years, that we see Aggie really struggle in the beginning. But with Frederick's help, she becomes stronger and more independent and gets her fighting spirit back. Aggie has had a really rough upbringing. She suffered a horrible rape when she was thirteen years old, and then her mother died and her father was both physically and emotionally abusive to her and the little boy she and her mother "adopted" who was born a bastard. Frederick on the other hand, grew up in a loving family with many siblings and loving parents. Frederick is powerful and a warrior and a true leader, and Aggie soon wins his heart and he soon calls her his "queen". Together they seek out to protect the clan and find a love worth fighting for.
I will warn you that this story isn't for the faint of heart and it deals with some tough issues. We see some abusive scenes, and even a rape scene of the heroine when she is a teenager. These aren't easy to see, and honestly I never knew if I was going to cry or laugh in this book. But what I did like, is that this author doesn't sugarcoast anything. She shows the true consequences that come from rape and abuse and I know that this aspect may not be for everyone, however I truly adored seeing a realistic view on how women were treated back in this time period and sometimes there was no one to save them and sometimes they weren't able to save themselves. Aggie is no doormat, I didn't see her as such. But she is definitely sufferering from PTSD for sure. She is tiny and no one in the clan defends her when she is being abused by her father. Mostly because her father is HORRID. I mean anyone fights him and he uses his whips to fights him. Aggie however, doesn't fight for a certain reason, because she is protecting her younger adopted brother. [spoiler]Now I will say that there is more to Aggie. She becomes pregnant when she is raped, and the "brother" that she protects, is in actuality her son. So you see what she will do to protect her child no matter the cost to herself. [/spoiler] We also see the beginings of the romance between Frederick's brother Ian, and Aggie's best friend Rose. And their antics are pretty entertaining. But we also see the true evil of Aggie's father and how he doesn't care about anyone but himself. And we see the true strength of Aggie when her father's plot almost destroys everything she loves the most. And this is where we see the true test of Frederick and Aggie's relationship, seeing what they go through in the beginning of their marriage and how it only cements the love they have for each other.
The steam level is pretty low in this book but we see the true honor in Frederick that at times I wanted to laugh and cry for Aggie because she just doesn't understand why he won't even kiss her in the beginning. Frederick knows what Aggie has gone through in her past including her rape, and wants to take it slow with her and doesn't want her to ever fear him or the intimacy they share. But Aggie views Frederick as her safety net, he is the one person she knows would NEVER hurt her and wants to kiss him and make love to him but he keeps denying her and so we see them go through this dance of engage and retreat and was pretty funny at times. The humor that this author displays is quite wonderful, this book left me with a smile on my face pretty much all the way through despite all the tough challenges and circumstances that these two are faced with but what a STORY!! This is a full on provoking and emotionally filled romance that will leave you with happy tears and looking up more of this author's work.
I would recommend reading certain books in order First Frederick's Queen and then Ian's Rose and then the Bowie Bride. They are connecting stories a bit, and it works better if you read them in order.
I first want to mention the narrator Brad Wills. He is one of the most talented narrators I have EVER listened to. He can handle multiple voices of various characters so very well. His voice is so diverse and can handle different tones and accents. Its like listening to him is being in the middle of a crowd and I love how well he handles these medieval era romances, he just adds the right touch of emotion that is needed and the flow to the story is PERFECT. I honestly don't think I could say enough good things about this man.
Frederick's Queen is quite an emotional roller coaster of a story, and one I wasn't expecting. Of course, I have never read this author before so I honestly didn't know what to expect to be honest. But to be honest, I am wondering why I haven't read her before now because WOWZERS!! I was totally impressed with this book and one of the best highlander romances I have read in a long while. I listened to this book in two days, which its a longer one, 17 Hours....or the ebook is over 500 pages. And I couldn't put this book down folks. What I fell in love with was the storytelling of this author, its so engaging and just pulls you immediately into the story. The historical aspects of the story were so on cue, and I felt like I was swept back into the highlands.
Frederick's Queen begins with our heroine Aggie McLaren. Aggie has suffered tremendous abuse from her father, and has brought her to a neighboring clan to find her a husband. Her father is the chief of the clan, and has no son, and claims that Aggie is unable to take over, so she must marry. And no man in their clan would be willing. But when he brings her to the Graham's, she meets Frederick Mackintosh.
Frederick is a bit of a highland playboy, but has recently been having yearnings for a wife. And when he hears that this intriguing woman's father wants a husband for her who would be the future laird of the clan, he knows that this is a great opportunity for him. He is a younger son and knows that he wouldn't get another chance to be a laird of a clan. So Frederick comes with some of his men to the McLaren's to marry and gain the trust of the members of the McLaren's. Frederick has no idea of what Aggie has gone through, he just knows that she doesn't speak. But he soon learns that she can speak she just has gone years without using her voice. But when a misunderstanding occurs on the wedding night, and Frederick and Aggie don't spend their wedding night together, Aggies' father is furious. And Frederick finds her being whipped to death by her father and is furious that a father could harm his daughter in such a way and nearly kills his new wife's father.
But this is a turning point in their relationship, where Aggie begins to speak because Frederick although he has a temper, makes her feel safe for the first time in her life she feels safe around a man. She has been abused for so many years, that we see Aggie really struggle in the beginning. But with Frederick's help, she becomes stronger and more independent and gets her fighting spirit back. Aggie has had a really rough upbringing. She suffered a horrible rape when she was thirteen years old, and then her mother died and her father was both physically and emotionally abusive to her and the little boy she and her mother "adopted" who was born a bastard. Frederick on the other hand, grew up in a loving family with many siblings and loving parents. Frederick is powerful and a warrior and a true leader, and Aggie soon wins his heart and he soon calls her his "queen". Together they seek out to protect the clan and find a love worth fighting for.
I will warn you that this story isn't for the faint of heart and it deals with some tough issues. We see some abusive scenes, and even a rape scene of the heroine when she is a teenager. These aren't easy to see, and honestly I never knew if I was going to cry or laugh in this book. But what I did like, is that this author doesn't sugarcoast anything. She shows the true consequences that come from rape and abuse and I know that this aspect may not be for everyone, however I truly adored seeing a realistic view on how women were treated back in this time period and sometimes there was no one to save them and sometimes they weren't able to save themselves. Aggie is no doormat, I didn't see her as such. But she is definitely sufferering from PTSD for sure. She is tiny and no one in the clan defends her when she is being abused by her father. Mostly because her father is HORRID. I mean anyone fights him and he uses his whips to fights him. Aggie however, doesn't fight for a certain reason, because she is protecting her younger adopted brother. [spoiler]Now I will say that there is more to Aggie. She becomes pregnant when she is raped, and the "brother" that she protects, is in actuality her son. So you see what she will do to protect her child no matter the cost to herself. [/spoiler] We also see the beginings of the romance between Frederick's brother Ian, and Aggie's best friend Rose. And their antics are pretty entertaining. But we also see the true evil of Aggie's father and how he doesn't care about anyone but himself. And we see the true strength of Aggie when her father's plot almost destroys everything she loves the most. And this is where we see the true test of Frederick and Aggie's relationship, seeing what they go through in the beginning of their marriage and how it only cements the love they have for each other.
The steam level is pretty low in this book but we see the true honor in Frederick that at times I wanted to laugh and cry for Aggie because she just doesn't understand why he won't even kiss her in the beginning. Frederick knows what Aggie has gone through in her past including her rape, and wants to take it slow with her and doesn't want her to ever fear him or the intimacy they share. But Aggie views Frederick as her safety net, he is the one person she knows would NEVER hurt her and wants to kiss him and make love to him but he keeps denying her and so we see them go through this dance of engage and retreat and was pretty funny at times. The humor that this author displays is quite wonderful, this book left me with a smile on my face pretty much all the way through despite all the tough challenges and circumstances that these two are faced with but what a STORY!! This is a full on provoking and emotionally filled romance that will leave you with happy tears and looking up more of this author's work.
I would recommend reading certain books in order First Frederick's Queen and then Ian's Rose and then the Bowie Bride. They are connecting stories a bit, and it works better if you read them in order.
June 13, 2018
I can imagine that many will have problems reading this because there're many things that are very raw here: rape, reducing in slavery, whippings... so be aware of all that before strating it!
I liked this story very much! It was slow, but it couldn't be any other way!
Aggie, is a particular kind of mistreated (and that's a very weak way to describe her treatment!) heroine. She doesn't speak, she does anything that she's forced to do, she's not allowed to eat with all the others of her clan, she's insulted by everybody...
Whan Frederick sees her the first time, he deosn't know anything about her and he just suppose that she's mute and he's sorry for how her father and clan treats her, but he doesn't know! he only assumes.
But where Aggie is afraid of evrything, first of all her father and then her new husband, Frederick is not an ogre and he really tries to treat her fairly and gently, but when she doesn't react like a normal person would do, he reacts wrongly and Aggie is punished because of that!
Witnessing that punishment is what opens his eyes to Aggie's true life with her clan and he's appalled! That kind of treatment of women is something he's not used to! Still he doesn't understand why Aggie is not reacting and keep making wrong assumptions with the best intentions!
Aggi, on the other hand doesn't know how to react to Fredrick's kindness or is she should trust it. She too makes wrong assumptions but because she doesn't know better!
Their falling in love with each other is slow, step by step. First starting with Fredrick's gentleness, his patience with Aggie, with trust that is slow to come...
But Aggie is not stupid, and when she begins to trust that Frederick is totally different from her father, she realises that he's her salvation and she opens up.
When that happens, eveything Fredrick believs is shaken! He starts to see Aggie's strenght, her kindness and her force.
They both have to fight against some very big difficulties. They have to make some really big compromises. But above that all their confidence in each other is only strengthen by all that!
A beautiful story. A difficult to read story. A heart warming hero who can admit his mistakes and make allowances that are not common to the men of that time. A strong heroine who's ready to overcome her, very real, fears and traumas and take a chance to love!
I have a really minuscule complaint: Aggie acting the warrior while saving Frederick. I could understand it, but it was little abrupt. Still it did not detract from my liking of this book!
I liked this story very much! It was slow, but it couldn't be any other way!
Aggie, is a particular kind of mistreated (and that's a very weak way to describe her treatment!) heroine. She doesn't speak, she does anything that she's forced to do, she's not allowed to eat with all the others of her clan, she's insulted by everybody...
Whan Frederick sees her the first time, he deosn't know anything about her and he just suppose that she's mute and he's sorry for how her father and clan treats her, but he doesn't know! he only assumes.
But where Aggie is afraid of evrything, first of all her father and then her new husband, Frederick is not an ogre and he really tries to treat her fairly and gently, but when she doesn't react like a normal person would do, he reacts wrongly and Aggie is punished because of that!
Witnessing that punishment is what opens his eyes to Aggie's true life with her clan and he's appalled! That kind of treatment of women is something he's not used to! Still he doesn't understand why Aggie is not reacting and keep making wrong assumptions with the best intentions!
Aggi, on the other hand doesn't know how to react to Fredrick's kindness or is she should trust it. She too makes wrong assumptions but because she doesn't know better!
Their falling in love with each other is slow, step by step. First starting with Fredrick's gentleness, his patience with Aggie, with trust that is slow to come...
But Aggie is not stupid, and when she begins to trust that Frederick is totally different from her father, she realises that he's her salvation and she opens up.
When that happens, eveything Fredrick believs is shaken! He starts to see Aggie's strenght, her kindness and her force.
They both have to fight against some very big difficulties. They have to make some really big compromises. But above that all their confidence in each other is only strengthen by all that!
A beautiful story. A difficult to read story. A heart warming hero who can admit his mistakes and make allowances that are not common to the men of that time. A strong heroine who's ready to overcome her, very real, fears and traumas and take a chance to love!
I have a really minuscule complaint: Aggie acting the warrior while saving Frederick. I could understand it, but it was little abrupt. Still it did not detract from my liking of this book!
May 30, 2022
Yet another book that I went into with really high expectations, and was disappointed. Even though I was dissatisfied, this is a really great overall redemptive story. Yes, it's very brutal, but it has such a beautiful message underneath all the brutality.
There are two or three fade-to-dark love scenes and that was super disappointing after reading pages after pages of physical and emotional trauma. I'm still giving it four stars even though I was seriously disappointed by the lack of steam (it would have made this story that much more beautiful!) because these two main characters were so fabulous and they have such a wonderful character arcs. Frederick is a perfect example of a true hero.
There are two or three fade-to-dark love scenes and that was super disappointing after reading pages after pages of physical and emotional trauma. I'm still giving it four stars even though I was seriously disappointed by the lack of steam (it would have made this story that much more beautiful!) because these two main characters were so fabulous and they have such a wonderful character arcs. Frederick is a perfect example of a true hero.
August 30, 2015
5++ stars
Frederick's Queen was a wonderful masterpiece of a romance. An absolute jem hidden amongst the rubble and sincerely as unique as it was unforgettable.
As soon as I finished it (after an almost obsessive compulsion to continue reading no matter what), my reaction was instantaneous.
I felt like I had struck gold. Really, how often is it that you find a book that fulfils and exceeds all expectations and desires? Not often enough. This book possessed a rare quality many lack. Within me I felt a deep stirring of empathy and emotion flicker and grow.
"a man’s words are a reflection of his heart."
I felt a great tide of anger wash over me with a strong sense of injustice. I was annoyed and upset and these were an omnipresent backdrop in every melancholic image in my head that Tisdale painted. I was her puppet, my emotions rising and falling at her whim. There was frustration and elation, love and hate, and I felt them all along with the characters.
1. setting/atmosphere
There were so many aspects that thrilled me. The author really took time to build the atmosphere and setting. The vibe I got was nearing an almost gothic feel. The description of the McLaren keep transported me to another time, a whole other world.
The crumbling keep and the terrible shape it was left in due to the horrific chief McLaren (we'll get to him) seemed the stuff of nightmares. Suffice to say, the clan had fallen into dark times and it was reflected in all their surroundings. With it's leaky roof, cold drafts and poor foundation, Frederick was taken aback by his new wife's home.
2. characters
Well, I have absolutely no clue where to start. There were so many wonderful and charming characters I fell in love with at every encounter. And of course, there were the villains (yes, unfortunately plural.) Really it comes down to a toss between the good news and the bad. And since it makes more sense to hear the good before the bad (lest the good is ruined first by the bad) we'll start with our H/h. Alrighty, now that's sorted...
Aggie
I could cry just thinking about the injustice her life had amounted to. It broke my heart to know how much she suffered. To read about it and feel it along with her was so difficult because her situation was so terrible, so absolutely grim to the core that I am both broken yet in awe of how she preserved her goodness at the hands of such evil. Evil, dear reader, who took cowardly refuge within her father.
“Yer scars tell a story, Aggie, of where ye’ve been. They do no’ have to determine where yergoin'.”
With a father who continued to beat her into muteness and break her spirit, it is a true miracle that she stayed so strong within. Although outwardly it may seem that she was meek by not putting up a fight, yet I found this story so raw and realistic. And I can promise, Aggie is anything but weak. I adored her. She was strong and new herself. She put others first and protected them with a loyalty and passion so fierce that it warmed my heart. Life had been so cruel to her but she picks herself up time and time again. Even when her clan and father shun her, a woman slowly begins to blossom with the aid of Frederick, who helps her see past scars and old wounds to the beauty of her soul.
"“I see a woman who has walked through much darkness in her life, yet she still shines."
Frederick
Frederick and Martin Luther King have an important thing in common. They both have a dream. This is possibly one of the most essential motivations behind ol' Freddie here. He has a dream. And that dream is to become the chief of a clan one day. He wants to make a change and be a leader. He believes he has what it takes and so sets his sights on this dream. However, he can't ignore the persistent voice in his head urging him to get a wife. Quelle surprise, this happens, naturally, in the form of Aggie- he will inherit her father's place as chief when he passes (he has a lung disease so we can anticipate it will be imminent). Why this is perfect Freddie!!
On arrival, he sees the horrific state of the McLaren keep. He then endeavours to gain his wife's trust (a huge feat considering all she's been through) and rebuild the clan to it's former, proud state. He was so honourable and kind. It is through this patience- although he is very hot tempered (something that Aggie helps him conquer)- and gentleness that Aggie's walls crumble akin to those in her crumbling keep.
"He had rescued her from muteness, from a life filled with fear, pain
and suffering. He was more than her champion and protector. He was her everything."
He was perfect for Aggie, he had such a warm spirit and was a warrior to the core and yet a gentleman as well. I loved him, he was an endearing character and I loved that whilst both were flawed - Aggie physically where Frederick had a tendency to assume (yes, the misunderstandings were a ball), they worked on these issues and overcame them :)
Minors
Mermadak, Aggie's father, was a vile excuse of a human being. In fact, I am so disgusted by him that I find he is not worthy of my thoughts or time. The english language lacks the necessary words to express my hatred.
There was a side romance budding between Aggie's best friend Rose and Frederick's brother Ian and I found it adorable. I almost wanted to know more (when I wasn't swept up by all the crazy whirlwind emotions the leads had me trapped in).Ian was a typical rogue reformed when he saw Rose, a widow who kept her heart guarded.
Also, I HAVE to mention how much I LOVED the Mackintosh clan <3 so much love for them, so warm and welcoming. I feel like I know them which is crazy but I'll put it down to Tisdale's brilliant writing.
plot
The plot was interesting, there were so many twists and turns. There were a lot of revelations as you read, complications you never foresaw. Some were, I concede, fairly obvious and others had me blindsided. Personally, I'm not such a big fan of books that reveal things as the reader reads on but at the same time, I can experience the same surprise that the other character does when learning about something, so I suppose it makes it all worth it. I also liked the issue of faith woven nicely in, really enjoyed it. The plot, in it's simplest form (bear in mind the betrayal and revenge complicate it further) surrounds a man who wants to be a chief and a woman who was the subject to a vicious and sadistic father. Fate throws them together and they slowly but surely fall in love and overcome the obstacles and conflict thrown at them. But of course, it's never that simple ;)
romance
Love for this pair was no easy feat. It was difficult, misunderstood (no big one's don't worry), complicated, guarded, angsty and ABOVE ALL...so very very worth it.
I felt like this, this right here, was true love. It was being there for each other when times got hard. It was about sharing burdens and secrets. Helping each other grow and be the best possible person they can be. Sharing love, making love, just pure and unequivocal love. And that's what I loved.
It was very mild in terms of steamy scenes and they finally consummated their relationship like 2/3 of the way through. But I think that is honestly part of the charm. They fell in love with their souls, not bodies.
One thing I particularly appreciated-actually make that two. First, I loved that I was able to witness the love grow. I could see (read, rather) the love blooming and it was so delicate and fragile at first but soon became so strong it was an unstoppable force against all the evil after them. No insta love here friends. Secondly, I loved how the conflicts in the first half of the book were about themselves- understanding each other and their new emotions etc. And yet the second was external conflicts. Personally, I liked that they were very much a team, there was no fighting or antagonism between them but rather a "you and me against the world" feel.
Overall, this was a delightful read. Absolutely superb and dealt with true human issues and emotions, a fantastic romance and beautiful H/h, couldn't put it down or fault it!
To end on a lighter and happier note, here are some quotations to enjoy!
And on that ominous, yet no less thrilling and yes girlish-me-is-squeeling note, I hope you give this book a definite try. I want to end with a final note that the author shared at the end of the novel-
“There is great joy in writing, but an even greater joy in sharing what you’ve written.” —Suzan Tisdale
Thank you, Suzan Tisdale, for sharing with us this incredible book. It will never be far from my mind.
Frederick's Queen was a wonderful masterpiece of a romance. An absolute jem hidden amongst the rubble and sincerely as unique as it was unforgettable.
As soon as I finished it (after an almost obsessive compulsion to continue reading no matter what), my reaction was instantaneous.
I felt like I had struck gold. Really, how often is it that you find a book that fulfils and exceeds all expectations and desires? Not often enough. This book possessed a rare quality many lack. Within me I felt a deep stirring of empathy and emotion flicker and grow.
"a man’s words are a reflection of his heart."
I felt a great tide of anger wash over me with a strong sense of injustice. I was annoyed and upset and these were an omnipresent backdrop in every melancholic image in my head that Tisdale painted. I was her puppet, my emotions rising and falling at her whim. There was frustration and elation, love and hate, and I felt them all along with the characters.
1. setting/atmosphere
2. characters
3. plot
4. romance
1. setting/atmosphere
There were so many aspects that thrilled me. The author really took time to build the atmosphere and setting. The vibe I got was nearing an almost gothic feel. The description of the McLaren keep transported me to another time, a whole other world.
The crumbling keep and the terrible shape it was left in due to the horrific chief McLaren (we'll get to him) seemed the stuff of nightmares. Suffice to say, the clan had fallen into dark times and it was reflected in all their surroundings. With it's leaky roof, cold drafts and poor foundation, Frederick was taken aback by his new wife's home.
2. characters
Well, I have absolutely no clue where to start. There were so many wonderful and charming characters I fell in love with at every encounter. And of course, there were the villains (yes, unfortunately plural.) Really it comes down to a toss between the good news and the bad. And since it makes more sense to hear the good before the bad (lest the good is ruined first by the bad) we'll start with our H/h. Alrighty, now that's sorted...
Aggie
I could cry just thinking about the injustice her life had amounted to. It broke my heart to know how much she suffered. To read about it and feel it along with her was so difficult because her situation was so terrible, so absolutely grim to the core that I am both broken yet in awe of how she preserved her goodness at the hands of such evil. Evil, dear reader, who took cowardly refuge within her father.
“Yer scars tell a story, Aggie, of where ye’ve been. They do no’ have to determine where yergoin'.”
With a father who continued to beat her into muteness and break her spirit, it is a true miracle that she stayed so strong within. Although outwardly it may seem that she was meek by not putting up a fight, yet I found this story so raw and realistic. And I can promise, Aggie is anything but weak. I adored her. She was strong and new herself. She put others first and protected them with a loyalty and passion so fierce that it warmed my heart. Life had been so cruel to her but she picks herself up time and time again. Even when her clan and father shun her, a woman slowly begins to blossom with the aid of Frederick, who helps her see past scars and old wounds to the beauty of her soul.
"“I see a woman who has walked through much darkness in her life, yet she still shines."
Frederick
Frederick and Martin Luther King have an important thing in common. They both have a dream. This is possibly one of the most essential motivations behind ol' Freddie here. He has a dream. And that dream is to become the chief of a clan one day. He wants to make a change and be a leader. He believes he has what it takes and so sets his sights on this dream. However, he can't ignore the persistent voice in his head urging him to get a wife. Quelle surprise, this happens, naturally, in the form of Aggie- he will inherit her father's place as chief when he passes (he has a lung disease so we can anticipate it will be imminent). Why this is perfect Freddie!!
On arrival, he sees the horrific state of the McLaren keep. He then endeavours to gain his wife's trust (a huge feat considering all she's been through) and rebuild the clan to it's former, proud state. He was so honourable and kind. It is through this patience- although he is very hot tempered (something that Aggie helps him conquer)- and gentleness that Aggie's walls crumble akin to those in her crumbling keep.
"He had rescued her from muteness, from a life filled with fear, pain
and suffering. He was more than her champion and protector. He was her everything."
He was perfect for Aggie, he had such a warm spirit and was a warrior to the core and yet a gentleman as well. I loved him, he was an endearing character and I loved that whilst both were flawed - Aggie physically where Frederick had a tendency to assume (yes, the misunderstandings were a ball), they worked on these issues and overcame them :)
Minors
Mermadak, Aggie's father, was a vile excuse of a human being. In fact, I am so disgusted by him that I find he is not worthy of my thoughts or time. The english language lacks the necessary words to express my hatred.
There was a side romance budding between Aggie's best friend Rose and Frederick's brother Ian and I found it adorable. I almost wanted to know more (when I wasn't swept up by all the crazy whirlwind emotions the leads had me trapped in).Ian was a typical rogue reformed when he saw Rose, a widow who kept her heart guarded.
Also, I HAVE to mention how much I LOVED the Mackintosh clan <3 so much love for them, so warm and welcoming. I feel like I know them which is crazy but I'll put it down to Tisdale's brilliant writing.
plot
The plot was interesting, there were so many twists and turns. There were a lot of revelations as you read, complications you never foresaw. Some were, I concede, fairly obvious and others had me blindsided. Personally, I'm not such a big fan of books that reveal things as the reader reads on but at the same time, I can experience the same surprise that the other character does when learning about something, so I suppose it makes it all worth it. I also liked the issue of faith woven nicely in, really enjoyed it. The plot, in it's simplest form (bear in mind the betrayal and revenge complicate it further) surrounds a man who wants to be a chief and a woman who was the subject to a vicious and sadistic father. Fate throws them together and they slowly but surely fall in love and overcome the obstacles and conflict thrown at them. But of course, it's never that simple ;)
romance
Love for this pair was no easy feat. It was difficult, misunderstood (no big one's don't worry), complicated, guarded, angsty and ABOVE ALL...so very very worth it.
I felt like this, this right here, was true love. It was being there for each other when times got hard. It was about sharing burdens and secrets. Helping each other grow and be the best possible person they can be. Sharing love, making love, just pure and unequivocal love. And that's what I loved.
It was very mild in terms of steamy scenes and they finally consummated their relationship like 2/3 of the way through. But I think that is honestly part of the charm. They fell in love with their souls, not bodies.
One thing I particularly appreciated-actually make that two. First, I loved that I was able to witness the love grow. I could see (read, rather) the love blooming and it was so delicate and fragile at first but soon became so strong it was an unstoppable force against all the evil after them. No insta love here friends. Secondly, I loved how the conflicts in the first half of the book were about themselves- understanding each other and their new emotions etc. And yet the second was external conflicts. Personally, I liked that they were very much a team, there was no fighting or antagonism between them but rather a "you and me against the world" feel.
Overall, this was a delightful read. Absolutely superb and dealt with true human issues and emotions, a fantastic romance and beautiful H/h, couldn't put it down or fault it!
To end on a lighter and happier note, here are some quotations to enjoy!
Something indefinable, something he’d not ever before experienced, a spark, deep within his heart flickered and flared and came to life.
...
holding on to Frederick Mackintosh as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling into a wide, deep chasm.
...
“Aye, the thought of ye leavin’ me scares me senseless, it haunts me dreams!” her voice rose and cracked. Tears flowed freely and she made no attempt to hold them back.
“I could survive anythin’ but that, Frederick! I could survive livin’ with nothin’ but bread and water all the rest of me days. I could live without fine dresses, or boots in the winter! I could survive da beatin’ me each and every day for the rest of me life and I’d rather have than to have ye leave me!” she said, her body wracked with pain and anguish.
“I could survive all those things Frederick,
but I could no’ survive ye leavin’ me!”
...
When the storms come in across the water, crashin’ against the crags Aggie, ye’d swear God Himself was playing the drums and dancin’ with the lightnin’!
(okay this one's in here because I love the image)
...
“Aye, Aggie. Ye be the answer to many prayers. Ye may no’ have prayed fer a man like me, but I hope that someday ye can look upon me as a blessin’.”
A blessing? He was far more than a blessing. He was her salvation.
...
Her soul was laid bare, naked and raw before him, offered up like a pagan sacrifice, in a fit of gut-wrenching sobs. He now knew it all.
...
’Twas an exorcism and baptism all at once.
Frederick exorcized the demons that had been haunting her for years. His tender kisses and gentle caresses washed away the years of torment and darkness.
...
“Ye be the stuff dreams are made of lass,”
sighhh
...
"I came fer ye because yer mine.”
...
And on that ominous, yet no less thrilling and yes girlish-me-is-squeeling note, I hope you give this book a definite try. I want to end with a final note that the author shared at the end of the novel-
“There is great joy in writing, but an even greater joy in sharing what you’ve written.” —Suzan Tisdale
Thank you, Suzan Tisdale, for sharing with us this incredible book. It will never be far from my mind.
Read
July 3, 2014DNF at 41%
- Too much 'tell' and not enough 'show'
- too much psycho-babble to immerse into 1300's Scotland
- I could not connect with the characters
- secondary characters (Rose and Ian) were the best part of what I read; although, even they were too modern for the time
No rating. : /
- Too much 'tell' and not enough 'show'
- too much psycho-babble to immerse into 1300's Scotland
- I could not connect with the characters
- secondary characters (Rose and Ian) were the best part of what I read; although, even they were too modern for the time
No rating. : /
December 3, 2020
Tacco12 - per RFS
.
La speranza è un lusso che non ti puoi concedere se hai un padre come Mermadak, un essere malvagio, crudele, odioso e avido oltre ogni immaginazione, che rende la vita della povera Aggie un vero incubo.
Violata, sfruttata, derisa da colui che l’ha generata e dallo stesso clan di cui è la signora, la povera ragazza è costretta a rispettare il volere del suo aguzzino e acconsentire a un matrimonio che proprio non desidera.
Frederick Mackintosh invece, dopo una vita vissuta all’insegna di alcol e donne, decide di porre fine ai suoi giorni da scapolo e di prendere moglie. La sua scelta cade sulla povera Aggie, perché tramite lei, riuscirebbe a coronare il suo desiderio di diventare capo di un clan.
Ma i suoi piani si dimostrano da subito di complessa realizzazione: i McLaren sono un popolo davvero molto povero, la moglie Aggie cammina con lo sguardo basso, evita le persone e non parla, mentre Mermadak è completamente disinteressato al benessere della sua gente.
L’uomo non demorde, e con il tempo, inizia a conoscere maggiormente la donna che ha sposato: come è possibile che una giovane così minuta sia riuscita a sopportare anni d’inferno senza perdere l’uso della ragione? Ammirazione, compassione e riverenza per questa sopravvissuta aumentano di giorno in giorno.
Grazie alle attenzioni del marito e alla sua dolcezza, Aggie, la ragazza che aveva paura della sua stessa ombra, rifiorisce, inizia a camminare a testa alta e a esprimere le sue idee. Ma soprattutto inizia a fidarsi di un uomo, lo stesso in cui trova la pace, la sicurezza, il conforto e la gioia.
Lascio a voi scoprire se finalmente la vita inizierà a sorriderle.
Bella la storia, ho apprezzato che finalmente tra i protagonisti non ci fosse la solita bellezza ma una donna vera, con tanto di cicatrici.
È il terzo libro che leggo di questa autrice ormai, e ancora una volta confermo di adorare la capacità di dare spessore ai personaggi dei suoi racconti… soprattutto quelli femminili.
La mia amata Scozia è la meravigliosa cornice di una bella storia d’amore che regala tante emozioni ed è stata scritta con uno stile davvero scorrevole.
Assolutamente consigliato!
.
La speranza è un lusso che non ti puoi concedere se hai un padre come Mermadak, un essere malvagio, crudele, odioso e avido oltre ogni immaginazione, che rende la vita della povera Aggie un vero incubo.
Violata, sfruttata, derisa da colui che l’ha generata e dallo stesso clan di cui è la signora, la povera ragazza è costretta a rispettare il volere del suo aguzzino e acconsentire a un matrimonio che proprio non desidera.
Frederick Mackintosh invece, dopo una vita vissuta all’insegna di alcol e donne, decide di porre fine ai suoi giorni da scapolo e di prendere moglie. La sua scelta cade sulla povera Aggie, perché tramite lei, riuscirebbe a coronare il suo desiderio di diventare capo di un clan.
Ma i suoi piani si dimostrano da subito di complessa realizzazione: i McLaren sono un popolo davvero molto povero, la moglie Aggie cammina con lo sguardo basso, evita le persone e non parla, mentre Mermadak è completamente disinteressato al benessere della sua gente.
L’uomo non demorde, e con il tempo, inizia a conoscere maggiormente la donna che ha sposato: come è possibile che una giovane così minuta sia riuscita a sopportare anni d’inferno senza perdere l’uso della ragione? Ammirazione, compassione e riverenza per questa sopravvissuta aumentano di giorno in giorno.
Grazie alle attenzioni del marito e alla sua dolcezza, Aggie, la ragazza che aveva paura della sua stessa ombra, rifiorisce, inizia a camminare a testa alta e a esprimere le sue idee. Ma soprattutto inizia a fidarsi di un uomo, lo stesso in cui trova la pace, la sicurezza, il conforto e la gioia.
Lascio a voi scoprire se finalmente la vita inizierà a sorriderle.
Bella la storia, ho apprezzato che finalmente tra i protagonisti non ci fosse la solita bellezza ma una donna vera, con tanto di cicatrici.
È il terzo libro che leggo di questa autrice ormai, e ancora una volta confermo di adorare la capacità di dare spessore ai personaggi dei suoi racconti… soprattutto quelli femminili.
La mia amata Scozia è la meravigliosa cornice di una bella storia d’amore che regala tante emozioni ed è stata scritta con uno stile davvero scorrevole.
Assolutamente consigliato!
December 22, 2014
I have give this book a 3 and 1/2 star rating. I wanted to rate it higher but I just couldn't because of some of the inconsistencies before all that though let me say I love a story with an evil villain. This book definitely fit the bill. Aggie life fell apart ten years before this story takes place. Her mother tried to help put it back together but then passed away 4 years later. She is living with her father who shows her no affection.
I'd like to say that is all to that story but it gets worse. Her father is the clan leader but there is no respect given to her by him or any member of the clan. Still it gets worse. She is forbidden to talk to anyone. Her only friend is named Rose and a she cares for a bastard boy that her mother had brought home. She cares for him as a brother. The plan her father has in store is to marry her off to any man who will take her. That is what makes him appear at the Macintosh keep. Fredrick Macintosh bares witness to the cruelty and insults Aggie endures. You may have already figured out that before a word between the two are spoken Fredrick offers for her.
Whether it is in sympathy or just because he knows it is time is unclear but the contract is drawn and signed. Aggies father is ecstatic to have reached such a prospect. It is because he has heard rumors the Macintosh clan are ruthless men and the idea of his daughter being broken brings a smile to his face. This still does not give you the full picture of how evil this man is. It brings you closer to the truth but it is not until after the wedding takes place. Fredrick feels as though Aggie purposely is trying to embarrass him and so he confronts her on their wedding night.
My eyes watered as I felt the pain Aggie was going through. This misunderstanding was horrible. The next day we see what you will suspect but it was still hard to read. The love that begins to develop is slow but believable and enjoyable to read IMO. I loved the additional relationship that develops between Rose and Fredrick's brother Ian as well. The problems I found began with a miscommunication between H/h. She gives him permission to take what is his and he is mortified because it makes him feel lecherous. It was a misspoken phrase that went on far too long to be believable for me.
The inconsistencies were started at the beginning when Fredrick is introduced to Airig (the bastard brother). He tells him he has five sisters and three brothers. Later you meet Seamus, Comnell, Andrew, Edmund, James, counting himself and Ian that made 7.
There is only one sister who is introduced. There are four younger siblings after Fredrick. Which confused me because there is an earlier declaration he is 7 out of 9. I feel ST must have got confused at one point and lost track and this plus my earlier complaint took away some stars for me. I will tell you though there is another neighboring clan called the Bowie and they are very ruthless. It is a member of the clan that had a part in Aggies misery. He is given the opportunity to ruin everything Aggie holds dear, but it is how Aggie takes control over the situation that is totally awesome!
**************SPOILER**************
The best part of the story was when Aggie kills the SOB. Oh the description is so great and I loved every minute of it. I really wish we could have enjoyed the same with her father because he was one evil tyrant. The love scenes are brief and left to the imagination. There is also another minor villain named Clair and to me she was a complete waste. After the main sleaze bucket was killed the story drug on a bit for me and with the other problems I found leaves this story with a 3 and half star rating. It was a step in the right direction for this talented author. Wee Williams story made me stop with the series but I am intrigued now. She would really benefit from an editor to put her books over the top. Enjoy!!
I'd like to say that is all to that story but it gets worse. Her father is the clan leader but there is no respect given to her by him or any member of the clan. Still it gets worse. She is forbidden to talk to anyone. Her only friend is named Rose and a she cares for a bastard boy that her mother had brought home. She cares for him as a brother. The plan her father has in store is to marry her off to any man who will take her. That is what makes him appear at the Macintosh keep. Fredrick Macintosh bares witness to the cruelty and insults Aggie endures. You may have already figured out that before a word between the two are spoken Fredrick offers for her.
Whether it is in sympathy or just because he knows it is time is unclear but the contract is drawn and signed. Aggies father is ecstatic to have reached such a prospect. It is because he has heard rumors the Macintosh clan are ruthless men and the idea of his daughter being broken brings a smile to his face. This still does not give you the full picture of how evil this man is. It brings you closer to the truth but it is not until after the wedding takes place. Fredrick feels as though Aggie purposely is trying to embarrass him and so he confronts her on their wedding night.
My eyes watered as I felt the pain Aggie was going through. This misunderstanding was horrible. The next day we see what you will suspect but it was still hard to read. The love that begins to develop is slow but believable and enjoyable to read IMO. I loved the additional relationship that develops between Rose and Fredrick's brother Ian as well. The problems I found began with a miscommunication between H/h. She gives him permission to take what is his and he is mortified because it makes him feel lecherous. It was a misspoken phrase that went on far too long to be believable for me.
The inconsistencies were started at the beginning when Fredrick is introduced to Airig (the bastard brother). He tells him he has five sisters and three brothers. Later you meet Seamus, Comnell, Andrew, Edmund, James, counting himself and Ian that made 7.
There is only one sister who is introduced. There are four younger siblings after Fredrick. Which confused me because there is an earlier declaration he is 7 out of 9. I feel ST must have got confused at one point and lost track and this plus my earlier complaint took away some stars for me. I will tell you though there is another neighboring clan called the Bowie and they are very ruthless. It is a member of the clan that had a part in Aggies misery. He is given the opportunity to ruin everything Aggie holds dear, but it is how Aggie takes control over the situation that is totally awesome!
**************SPOILER**************
The best part of the story was when Aggie kills the SOB. Oh the description is so great and I loved every minute of it. I really wish we could have enjoyed the same with her father because he was one evil tyrant. The love scenes are brief and left to the imagination. There is also another minor villain named Clair and to me she was a complete waste. After the main sleaze bucket was killed the story drug on a bit for me and with the other problems I found leaves this story with a 3 and half star rating. It was a step in the right direction for this talented author. Wee Williams story made me stop with the series but I am intrigued now. She would really benefit from an editor to put her books over the top. Enjoy!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2014
I will say that Suzan Tisdale is another of favorite authors and I absolutely love this series!!!! From the very first page this Highland Warrior tale grabs the reader and will not let go. This story keeps the reader enthralled and anxious to find out what happens throughout.
The reader takes an emotional heart-felt journey of tears, laughter, love, with the hero and heroine as they get to know and learn from each other, neither being what the other expected. This book is very intense with highland warriors and lassies.
This is one book you will not want to even begin unless you can set aside enough time to finish it completely. I drive a lot in my job and I found myself wanting to pull over at every rest stop I passed just to read another chapter or even a few more pages. The stages of meeting, learning each other and feeling trust from one to the other is very well written and the reader will be cheering and rooting for them as they journey toward happiness.
There are sufficient twists and swerves to keep the reader almost biting nails and anxiously waiting to see what happens next. Secrets, revenge, heroes, and villains are all included in this book of the series.
“….no light without darkness, no hope without despair, no love without heartache…..” What more needs to be said as it definitely stand up to it.
I definitely recommend this book and think it is one for the keeper shelf. The book can be read as a standalone but you will want to read the rest of the series. This is one purchase you will not be sorry to make.
There can be no light without darkness, no hope without despair, no love without heartache
Some scars can’t be seen
When the handsome Frederick Mackintosh offers to marry Aggie McLaren she is certain ‘tis greed or insanity that motivates him. Besides land and a chance at a chiefdom, she believes she has nothing else to offer. She soon learns nothing could be further from the truth. Hope she thought long lost, blooms with her husband’s kindness, his honor, and fierce determination to make their marriage and their clan a success.
Sometimes, perfection is imperfect
Aggie McLaren is not Frederick Mackintosh’s image of the perfect wife. She isn’t well-read, vivacious or voluptuous. Wee, timid, and unable to speak, it is a glimpse of her smile and the chance to be chief of his own clan that propels him to offer for her hand. Frederick will do whatever he must in order to see her smile again and to help her find her voice.
The reader takes an emotional heart-felt journey of tears, laughter, love, with the hero and heroine as they get to know and learn from each other, neither being what the other expected. This book is very intense with highland warriors and lassies.
This is one book you will not want to even begin unless you can set aside enough time to finish it completely. I drive a lot in my job and I found myself wanting to pull over at every rest stop I passed just to read another chapter or even a few more pages. The stages of meeting, learning each other and feeling trust from one to the other is very well written and the reader will be cheering and rooting for them as they journey toward happiness.
There are sufficient twists and swerves to keep the reader almost biting nails and anxiously waiting to see what happens next. Secrets, revenge, heroes, and villains are all included in this book of the series.
“….no light without darkness, no hope without despair, no love without heartache…..” What more needs to be said as it definitely stand up to it.
I definitely recommend this book and think it is one for the keeper shelf. The book can be read as a standalone but you will want to read the rest of the series. This is one purchase you will not be sorry to make.
There can be no light without darkness, no hope without despair, no love without heartache
Some scars can’t be seen
When the handsome Frederick Mackintosh offers to marry Aggie McLaren she is certain ‘tis greed or insanity that motivates him. Besides land and a chance at a chiefdom, she believes she has nothing else to offer. She soon learns nothing could be further from the truth. Hope she thought long lost, blooms with her husband’s kindness, his honor, and fierce determination to make their marriage and their clan a success.
Sometimes, perfection is imperfect
Aggie McLaren is not Frederick Mackintosh’s image of the perfect wife. She isn’t well-read, vivacious or voluptuous. Wee, timid, and unable to speak, it is a glimpse of her smile and the chance to be chief of his own clan that propels him to offer for her hand. Frederick will do whatever he must in order to see her smile again and to help her find her voice.
December 21, 2014
A Sweet Story with a happy ending
I was in love with the characters in this book by the end the first page. Aggie is yet another traumatized heroine, with an abusive father who basically wants her dead. Frederick is way down the line in terms of ever being in charge of anything. And of course, he is a gentleman, and can't stand by while someone mis-treats Aggie.
The majority of the story is these two learning to love each other, and to communicate. Frederick has been raised in an environment where manners are polite, and gentility prevails. When he interprets Aggie's actions through that glass, he is as likely to get the wrong impression as the right, and when he does get the right idea, he tends to discard it as too uncivilized. In the meantime, Aggie is operating under the assumption that all men behave in the same manner as her father, so she spends a lot of time waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it were.
Only when things are pushed to a definite breaking point does their relationship begin to change, at which point the author switches to a new main story. Instead of a row, we now have a suspense/mystery. Not until all the situations she creates have been resolved (and she has a knack for inserting another!) does Ms Tizdale end the book.
I especially enjoyed the flow of one story to the next, and the quite logical overlap in roles was definitely a pleasant experience. I also liked the way the two main characters were used to "narrate" the book, although it was all presented as if by an observer in their heads.
This book is very clean, with no cussing, no overt sex. However, it does contain relatively graphic references to rape, and torture, which could be disturbing to some people.
I was in love with the characters in this book by the end the first page. Aggie is yet another traumatized heroine, with an abusive father who basically wants her dead. Frederick is way down the line in terms of ever being in charge of anything. And of course, he is a gentleman, and can't stand by while someone mis-treats Aggie.
The majority of the story is these two learning to love each other, and to communicate. Frederick has been raised in an environment where manners are polite, and gentility prevails. When he interprets Aggie's actions through that glass, he is as likely to get the wrong impression as the right, and when he does get the right idea, he tends to discard it as too uncivilized. In the meantime, Aggie is operating under the assumption that all men behave in the same manner as her father, so she spends a lot of time waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it were.
Only when things are pushed to a definite breaking point does their relationship begin to change, at which point the author switches to a new main story. Instead of a row, we now have a suspense/mystery. Not until all the situations she creates have been resolved (and she has a knack for inserting another!) does Ms Tizdale end the book.
I especially enjoyed the flow of one story to the next, and the quite logical overlap in roles was definitely a pleasant experience. I also liked the way the two main characters were used to "narrate" the book, although it was all presented as if by an observer in their heads.
This book is very clean, with no cussing, no overt sex. However, it does contain relatively graphic references to rape, and torture, which could be disturbing to some people.
July 6, 2014
This was by far the most wonderful, heart warming, Joyful Stunning Read.
Frederick ( sorry Rowan) stole my heart Aggie was a joy to watch Blossom Battle her demons Become the woman she was meant to be with the man who loved her by her side.
I can not wait for Ian & Rose to come to life , The fact that Suzan gives you a wee taste of whats to come in future books by the Strength of her secondary characters Is what I love Because I know the story does not end.
Suzan Tisdale Is a writer I adore A keeper I Look forward to reading her Amazing work for YEARS to come.
Psst Suzan Tisdale LOVE YOU MORE LASS <3
Frederick ( sorry Rowan) stole my heart Aggie was a joy to watch Blossom Battle her demons Become the woman she was meant to be with the man who loved her by her side.
I can not wait for Ian & Rose to come to life , The fact that Suzan gives you a wee taste of whats to come in future books by the Strength of her secondary characters Is what I love Because I know the story does not end.
Suzan Tisdale Is a writer I adore A keeper I Look forward to reading her Amazing work for YEARS to come.
Psst Suzan Tisdale LOVE YOU MORE LASS <3
October 29, 2014
Love Frederick and Aggie. Aggie is such a strong woman and of course Frederick was exactly what she needed . Cant wait to read more from Suzan Tisdale.
April 25, 2015
This Book Blew Me Awaaaaay!
Wow! This book is amazing! Ms. Tisdale has certainly honed her writing skills since she wrote Laiden's Daughter and has now officially become a master of her craft!! The book is extremely well written, with a dynamic plot, and amazing characters, which are so realistically portrayed that they fairly came alive within the pages of the book. Aggie's character in particular, is a masterpiece. Ms. Tisdale uses a deft hand when creating the perfect tragic heroine, one who has endured years of physical, mental, and emotional abuse. Again, wow! The story that unfolds is compelling and thoroughly engaging. It captivated me from start to finish.
Aggie's father is an evil monster. He is beyond cruel to Aggie, and for some unknown reason (one which is later revealed) harbors a deep-seated hatred towards his only offspring. When he finds out that he is dying he becomes obsessed with the idea of finding a husband for Aggie, a husband who will take over as laird upon his death. He hates his daughter so much that he is determined to find a man who will be just as cruel and abusive towards Aggie, as he is himself. When Frederick first lays eyes on Aggie, he sees her from afar and witnesses one of her rare smiles. He is immediately captivated by the wee beauty. When he discovers that Aggie's father is looking for a husband for her, Frederick immediately volunteers to marry her. Not only will marrying Aggie will grant Frederick his greatest desire, the chance to be chief of his own clan, but also, in some strange way, Frederick feels drawn to the quiet, comely lass.
Aggie is terrified at the thought of having to marry Frederick. She is sure that he will prove to be as cruel and abusive as her father. Aggie's worst nightmare is to be put at the mercy of yet another man. In reality Frederick is an honorable man; a powerful warrior, brave, determined, and fiercely loyal. He is appalled by the manner in which Aggie's father talks to and treats his daughter, but remains clueless as to the depths of the evil bastard's depravity until after he and Aggie marry. The events that occur on her wedding day, only enhances Aggie's belief about her husband will be every bit as barbaric as her father. She resigns herself to a life of torment and pain, with the only bright spots being her childhood friend, Rose, and her adopted brother, Ailrig (I hate that name too!) Truthfully, the humiliation and despair that Aggie suffers on her wedding day had me in tears. Due to the manipulation and machinations of an mean-spirited third party, Frederick is the unwitting catalyst that leads to Aggies' humiliation. I couldn't wait until he got clued in to the reality of Aggie's situation.
Fortunately, very soon Frederick learns the truth about Aggie's existence within her clan. He witnesses firsthand the disrespect and insults to which she is treated, at the hands of her fellow clan members--behavior which is encouraged is encouraged by her malicious father. Once Frederick is made aware of the truth, he then becomes the fierce protector that Aggie is so desperately in need of. Frederick is so patient and gentle with Aggie, it is a joy to read! Aggie, however, is extremely distrustful of Frederick, no matter how nice he may seem. However, with time and effort, slowly and painstakingly Frederick wins Aggie's trust, and eventually her love. This is an extremely poignant story. Although this is no rush to love story, Ms. Tisdale manages to produce a perfectly paced story, expertly traversing the line between reality and fiction...she makes it slow enough to seem real, while not being too slow as to make the story boring. There are some who complained about the length of time it took before the couple consummate their relationship, but personally I thought the timing was perfect! There is also a secondary romance between Frederick's younger brother, Ian, and Aggie's best friend (indeed her only friend) Rose. It was a point of amusement for me that both Frederick and Ian, both acclaimed man-wh*res, became involved with women who were not quickly and easily bedded. LOL
Over time, Aggie's character develops, and we see her blossom into the strong-minded, intelligent, witty, independent woman she was always meant to be. Wow! I absolutely loved this story. As much as I loved it; however, I did have a couple of issues with it. Those issues specifically related to editing. There were the usual editing issues, namely some minor grammatical errors and the like--the typical stuff you see with e-books nowadays. Besides that there were a couple of significant faux pas. For one thing, in the beginning of the story we are told that Frederick is the seventh of nine sons. At first we meet his younger brother Ian, who is prominently featured in the story. Later we met at least two other brothers, both of whom are younger than Frederick--if Frederick has three younger brothers wouldn't that mean he's a little higher up in the ranking? Furthermore, the scene where we meet the other younger brothers, I was confused as to how many there actually were. At first Frederick introduces Aggie Seamus and Andrew, ages thirteen and fifteen respectively. But then there was mention of a Comnell--I couldn't figure out if he was yet another, younger brother or if there was some mix-up with the names. I'm one of those crazy, obsessive, attention to detail people, so of course I had to go back to the beginning to make sure that I was remembering correctly--specifically that Frederick was supposed to be number SEVEN of nine brothers. Alas I was not mistaken.
Another big faux pas was where a secondary character, of whom I was rather fond, was said to be among of Frederick's men who had been attacked and killed while out hunting. The problem is that earlier in the story, that same character was said to be one of the men who Frederick had left behind to guard Aggie. If that was indeed the case, there's no way he could've been among the dead. Even though this was a secondary character or minor importance, I was particularly fond of him and was devastated when he turned up dead. Not to mention that the who situation was confusing and jarred me out of the story for a moment.
Another minor issue I had was the fact that there is no resolution to the romance between Ian and Rose. I would have liked it if the story ended with the two of them married, or at the very least, betrothed. Anyhow, aside from those issues, I thought this story was just about perfect. I loved it and would highly recommend it as a worthwhile read. Did I say worthwhile? I meant fabulous! LOL As a matter of fact, I loved this book so much, that immediately after reading it, I purchased the first book in the series, Rowan's Lady: The Clan Graham Series. FYI, this is fairly clean romance. There is sex, but no details. Oh and for readers who may be sensitive to violence of any kind, you should know that there is one scene where Aggie is beaten by her father with a whip, which is brutal and quite graphic. Happy reading!
October 8, 2020
3.5 stars
August 18, 2015
An exciting, powerful and beautiful story.
You will absolutely fall in love with Frederick Mackintosh. A tall, handsome, brawny highlander has the chance to be chiefdom of his own clan, if he marries Aggie McLaren. Aggie isn't Frederick's ideal woman. She is in fact the exact opposite of Frederick's voluptuous dream for a wife, but Frederick see's something in Aggie the moment he first glimpse her smile. Maggie lives in constant fear of more physical abuse from her father, Murdoch McLaren. He has forbidden Aggie to speak because he can't stand the sound of her voice, but there is so much more to Aggie. With her body scarred from years of beatings and whips taken to her, and a scar on her face, Aggie believes she isn't worthy of love. Why shouldn't she believe this, when her own father constantly belittles her and expresses through verbal and emotional abuse, how unworthy he finds her. Frederick and Aggie are married and Frederick immediately notices how Aggie's entire clan treat her. Frederick must be patient with Aggie because she is terrified of men. Aggie finally confides in Frederick that she was raped at the young age of thirteen. That statement, along with the physical and emotional abuse by her father, gives Frederick insight, wisdom, patience and compassion for his wee wife. This is such a powerful story of love, acceptance and one woman's journey to find her voice, her courage and her confidence to live life and accept love. Author Suzan Tisdale touches on heart wrenching topics with grace and sensitivity, in this beautifully written romantic story. Every once in a while, I find a book that doesn't just take me on a journey, but touches my heart and soul. This is such a book.
Every woman who has ever been victim to the cruelties of a man, deserves a Frederick Mackintosh to come along, accept them, love them and heal the brokenness inside. I laughed, I cried and then I started the book all over again. It's that amazing.
An absolute breath taking story and a definite must read.
You will absolutely fall in love with Frederick Mackintosh. A tall, handsome, brawny highlander has the chance to be chiefdom of his own clan, if he marries Aggie McLaren. Aggie isn't Frederick's ideal woman. She is in fact the exact opposite of Frederick's voluptuous dream for a wife, but Frederick see's something in Aggie the moment he first glimpse her smile. Maggie lives in constant fear of more physical abuse from her father, Murdoch McLaren. He has forbidden Aggie to speak because he can't stand the sound of her voice, but there is so much more to Aggie. With her body scarred from years of beatings and whips taken to her, and a scar on her face, Aggie believes she isn't worthy of love. Why shouldn't she believe this, when her own father constantly belittles her and expresses through verbal and emotional abuse, how unworthy he finds her. Frederick and Aggie are married and Frederick immediately notices how Aggie's entire clan treat her. Frederick must be patient with Aggie because she is terrified of men. Aggie finally confides in Frederick that she was raped at the young age of thirteen. That statement, along with the physical and emotional abuse by her father, gives Frederick insight, wisdom, patience and compassion for his wee wife. This is such a powerful story of love, acceptance and one woman's journey to find her voice, her courage and her confidence to live life and accept love. Author Suzan Tisdale touches on heart wrenching topics with grace and sensitivity, in this beautifully written romantic story. Every once in a while, I find a book that doesn't just take me on a journey, but touches my heart and soul. This is such a book.
Every woman who has ever been victim to the cruelties of a man, deserves a Frederick Mackintosh to come along, accept them, love them and heal the brokenness inside. I laughed, I cried and then I started the book all over again. It's that amazing.
An absolute breath taking story and a definite must read.
October 27, 2014
4 stars.
I really liked it. I think this may be my favorite so far.
It was darker than the previous books, more realistic in a way.
We met Fredrick in Rowan's Lady, he was Rowan's second in command.
Fredrick's dream, to have his own clan, arrives in the form of marrying a mute and terrified young girl, Aggie McLaren (the laird's daughter)
Since her mother's death, more than 10 years ago, Aggie is severely abused by her father and her clan.
She is beaten, starved, and mocked by them all.
Fredrick and Aggie's relationship starts with all kind of misunderstandings and a really rough start, but they manage, eventually, to find their happy spot.
I liked the way their relationship made both of them better: Aggie managed to get out of her shell, and Fredrick learned to control his temper.
I can't wait for the next one :)
I really liked it. I think this may be my favorite so far.
It was darker than the previous books, more realistic in a way.
We met Fredrick in Rowan's Lady, he was Rowan's second in command.
Fredrick's dream, to have his own clan, arrives in the form of marrying a mute and terrified young girl, Aggie McLaren (the laird's daughter)
Since her mother's death, more than 10 years ago, Aggie is severely abused by her father and her clan.
She is beaten, starved, and mocked by them all.
Fredrick and Aggie's relationship starts with all kind of misunderstandings and a really rough start, but they manage, eventually, to find their happy spot.
I liked the way their relationship made both of them better: Aggie managed to get out of her shell, and Fredrick learned to control his temper.
I can't wait for the next one :)
December 10, 2014
SENSUALITY RATING: No profanity; No “graphic" depictions of sex or sexual situations (inferred rather than descriptive)
FINALLY ROMANCE "written" around a great plot rather than emphasis on romance with body parts.
GENRE: Historical romance
SETTING: 14th century Scotland
SYNOPSIS: Ugly Ducking meets Romeo. Aggie's father is a hateful man. He is forcing his daughter to get married because he hates her. Frederick lately hears a voice saying, "ye need to take a wife".
CENTRAL FEMALE CHARACTER: AGGIE McLAREN has been permanently scarred. She cannot talk, holds her head down and cowers.
CENTRAL MALE CHARACTER: FREDERICK MACKINTOSH loves the ladies. Behind his Romeo personality is a patient, caring and compassionate man.
WHAT I LIKED: For a fiction romance, the plot is touching. Expect to cry some. Romance about two souls coming together rather than body parts coming together.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: “repetition” of saying, "his perfect shiny white teeth. You can write it but so many times.
(5) stars. A "I will read over and over" book
FINALLY ROMANCE "written" around a great plot rather than emphasis on romance with body parts.
GENRE: Historical romance
SETTING: 14th century Scotland
SYNOPSIS: Ugly Ducking meets Romeo. Aggie's father is a hateful man. He is forcing his daughter to get married because he hates her. Frederick lately hears a voice saying, "ye need to take a wife".
CENTRAL FEMALE CHARACTER: AGGIE McLAREN has been permanently scarred. She cannot talk, holds her head down and cowers.
CENTRAL MALE CHARACTER: FREDERICK MACKINTOSH loves the ladies. Behind his Romeo personality is a patient, caring and compassionate man.
WHAT I LIKED: For a fiction romance, the plot is touching. Expect to cry some. Romance about two souls coming together rather than body parts coming together.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: “repetition” of saying, "his perfect shiny white teeth. You can write it but so many times.
(5) stars. A "I will read over and over" book
July 17, 2014
Suzan's Best Yet...what is wonderful about her books are always the relationship that comes through trials and heartache into the big red bow. However, the story in this book... the heroine who arises from the depths of despair (that you feel so vividly yourself) into a courageous and proud woman is a sight to behold that you can clearly imagine and root for. The brave 2nd in command, who yearns to lead like his amazing father and takes on his greatest battle yet, gives hope when all is lost. The wonderful cast of supporting characters that enrich the story line are colorful and endearing. I don't remember the last time I was so drawn into a story, into the wee hours night after night, tears and laughs, smiles and frowns in this grand tale.
I especially found the topic of faith refreshing and uplifting throughout. An award worthy effort from this gifted author. I canna wait for the audio version to enjoy again!
I especially found the topic of faith refreshing and uplifting throughout. An award worthy effort from this gifted author. I canna wait for the audio version to enjoy again!
June 17, 2014
I have been a fan of Suzan Tisdale ever since I read her first book. Frederick’s Queen is book two in The Clan Graham series and I loved it from the beginning to the end. I fell in love with Frederick and Aggie. I cried for all the suffering Aggie had to go through by the hand of her father and her clan and I really wanted to strangle Mermadak. Aggie is nothing like the woman Frederick prayed for to god. She doesn't talk, is shy and tries not to be noticed. She captures Frederick’s attention though, simply with a smile. I loved their journey of getting to know and trust each other and ultimately find love. This is an awesome book and I had a hard time putting it down. It has some nice twists and turns and is a definite must read if you love historical romance with brawn, honorable highlanders and strong heroines.
June 19, 2014
Loved it...WOW,powerful and compelling...
A dark tale of abuse,secrets,sacrifice and love. I was an awe at the breathtakingly strong spirit of this Bonnie lass,Aggie,who suffered so much at the hands of someone who called himself her father. The hero, Frederick is so much more than a brawny hero, he brings out the courage of Aggie and her true self. What bravery she processes to survive the horrors of her childhood and life. I loved Frederick, his clan and the strong men who sacrificed all to save one woman,her friend and a small boy. A must read. A page Turner and a keeper. Well written with enduring, engaging and strong characters. An intriguing storyline. I can hardly wait for the next Clan Graham installment. Well done!
Personal buy.
AprilR
Rating:5
Heat rating: sweet
A dark tale of abuse,secrets,sacrifice and love. I was an awe at the breathtakingly strong spirit of this Bonnie lass,Aggie,who suffered so much at the hands of someone who called himself her father. The hero, Frederick is so much more than a brawny hero, he brings out the courage of Aggie and her true self. What bravery she processes to survive the horrors of her childhood and life. I loved Frederick, his clan and the strong men who sacrificed all to save one woman,her friend and a small boy. A must read. A page Turner and a keeper. Well written with enduring, engaging and strong characters. An intriguing storyline. I can hardly wait for the next Clan Graham installment. Well done!
Personal buy.
AprilR
Rating:5
Heat rating: sweet
June 16, 2014
Frederick's Queen is the second book in the Clan Graham series by the fabulous Suzan Tisdale. I can't tell you enough how much I loved FQ. I cried happy tears, sad tears and every tear in between. The emotional in-pack is what every reader craves to read and after reading a few of Suzan's books,I knew there would be a HEA for Frederick and Aggie. FQ is beautifully written with a twisting plot. There's no doubt, you will fall in love with Aggie and Frederick and Suzan's amazing talent of story-telling.
If you love a true Historical Scottish romance, then FQ is a must read!
If you love a true Historical Scottish romance, then FQ is a must read!
May 5, 2020
I struggled to concentrate on this one and it took me a long time to finish. Entirely my own fault, due to being unwell, which meant it felt very bitty and I just couldn’t get into the flow. I did still really enjoy it. Very glad I found this author.
April 19, 2017
IF I COULD I WOULD GIVE THIS STORY (0) STARS!! This story is so disturbing it made me what to throw up!! I couldn't help but cry as the Herione of the story Aggie McLaren suffered horrific abuse at the hands of her Father and her Clan. The Hero was smart enough to ferrite out what was and still was happening to his new bride Aggie. But Frederick's kindness and love was not enough to overcome the horror of what Aggie had endured. Shame on Suzan Tisdale!!
What's wrong with anyone who can write such horrific abuse inflicted on a women or anyone.
Warning the Abuse is descriptive and extremely violent!!
Frederick's Queen should come with a Warning!! So Normal people who want to read romance, love an joyful stories don't purchase this Sadistic Garbage!!
What's wrong with anyone who can write such horrific abuse inflicted on a women or anyone.
Warning the Abuse is descriptive and extremely violent!!
Frederick's Queen should come with a Warning!! So Normal people who want to read romance, love an joyful stories don't purchase this Sadistic Garbage!!
May 14, 2017
My copy of this book was part of Kilts & Claymores: Eight full-length novels from the stars of Scottish historical romance bundle
This heroine is has been so badly violated, abused & cowed that she's stopped speaking. The hero prays for an educated tall, slender wife, family & opportunity to become clan chief.
The fearful, ostracized yet courageous slip of a woman must learn to overcome catatonic inducing fears to learn trust & the charismatic, virile warrior must learn patience. Together, to protect her people, they have to negotiate several pitfalls that a vengeful unhinged psychopath orchestrates.
Great charaters, emotionally invested in story, several twist & turns, real page turner. Looking forward to more adventures.
This heroine is has been so badly violated, abused & cowed that she's stopped speaking. The hero prays for an educated tall, slender wife, family & opportunity to become clan chief.
The fearful, ostracized yet courageous slip of a woman must learn to overcome catatonic inducing fears to learn trust & the charismatic, virile warrior must learn patience. Together, to protect her people, they have to negotiate several pitfalls that a vengeful unhinged psychopath orchestrates.
Great charaters, emotionally invested in story, several twist & turns, real page turner. Looking forward to more adventures.
April 20, 2017
I really enjoyed this story; it was a real tear-jerker that sucked me in from the very beginning. The portrayal of Aggie as a battered woman living in a state of constant fear of her father really packed a wallop. Though the author goes a bit overboard at times, Aggie's desperation bled off the page and absolutely made for some heart-wrenching reading, especially in the first 50%. I also liked Frederick and the way he interacted with Aggie; the misunderstandings between the pair showed just how different their lives had been up to that point. I liked the contrast of their inner thoughts - his sane yet self-absorbed, and hers riddled with low self-esteem and paranoia - and how they came to recognize their own shortcomings.
What I didn't like was the constantly shifting, third person, points of view. But other than that, this is definitely worth reading.
What I didn't like was the constantly shifting, third person, points of view. But other than that, this is definitely worth reading.
April 18, 2017
I've laughed, I've cried, my hearts broken
I've only read thru to 38% and I've cried my eyes out, laughed, and had my heart broken to bits. Suzan Tisdale has written a emotional tale. I can't remember the last book I was so enthralled with.
I will write more after I finish, but my gosh. Truly a great book so far.
I've only read thru to 38% and I've cried my eyes out, laughed, and had my heart broken to bits. Suzan Tisdale has written a emotional tale. I can't remember the last book I was so enthralled with.
I will write more after I finish, but my gosh. Truly a great book so far.
May 3, 2017
A wonderful way to get lost in a good book!
This isn't a story - it's an epic saga! I don't recommend anyone starting it if you have anything important to do, it is a true page turner. The book includes intrigue, treachery, jealousy, valor as well as a truly beautiful love story. This is one of those stories that will remain with you for a long time and will have you searching for more of Ms. Tisdale's books to read.
This isn't a story - it's an epic saga! I don't recommend anyone starting it if you have anything important to do, it is a true page turner. The book includes intrigue, treachery, jealousy, valor as well as a truly beautiful love story. This is one of those stories that will remain with you for a long time and will have you searching for more of Ms. Tisdale's books to read.
October 3, 2014
"Catherine Cookson meets Victoria Holt"
I grew up reading both Cookson and Holt from a young age. I have literally read all of their books, some twice. They were, without a doubt (and along with Phyllis Whitney) my favorite authors as a high school teen and beyond. Holt’s ability to create a world of gothic suspense is unparalleled, and Cookson’s ability to transform her character’s, both male and female, is equaled only by a few.
I picked up Suzan Tisdale’s Frederick’s Queen fresh on the heels of having read Rowan’s Lady. Both are part of her Clan Graham Series. I read the first page and couldn’t put the book down. The torment of heroine Aggie McLaren at the hands of her father, the physical abuse and scars she has endured by the time the book opens, and her transformation from weakness to strength, was reminiscent of Cookson’s writing style. And Frederick Macinktosh’s change of heart at the beginning of the book, and the subsequent path he travels in his new found quest to change his life, is endearing, especially as he finds exactly what he is looking for but not in the ways which he had hoped. I truly have not had the pleasure of feeling as if I was reading a Cookson book in years until I opened this one.
Holt is known for her gothic romance and for immersing readers so thoroughly in the story that you feel as if you are there. No one could use settings better than her, from dark forests, to creeping fog, to old houses. Tisdale’s gothic tone is reminiscent of Holt’s, from the run-down McLaren castle, to the Bowie clan’s dungeon, to the hidden passageways of medieval castles and on to the affluent Mackintosh estate near the end of the novel. I literally felt as if I was there.
While the first 1/3 kept me on my feet, there was a time in the middle 3rd that the book seemed to lag. However, this slower time was necessary to the growth of both Frederick and Aggie. Had they not had this “slowing” time within their story, I’m not sure they would have become as strong as they needed at the end to fight the battles towards lasting happiness. Aggie simply has so much she has to overcome and Frederick has to work so hard to earn her trust. It takes time to do that. Besides, throughout this middle 1/3 the reader is well aware everything is about to explode in their faces, and the new found intimacy and friendship between Frederick and Aggie will be threatened when it does.
As I always warn my readers, since I have many of you who read very “clean” fiction, this one has some intimate interplays between Frederick and Aggie. Nothing overly specific, but certainly suggestive. There is also more violence in this book than in Tisdale's previous ones, but I would not say it is unnecessary. Aggie begins as a very tragic figure, and her character motivation is driven by the excessive violence of her father. Without the violence, her extreme distrust would make no sense. Additionally, before the book begins, she was raped by a man of another clan when she was thirteen years old. Tisdale treats the subject delicately, and Aggie's ability to confront the young man later, as Frederick helps her heal from the trauma, is remarkable.
Now that I’ve read all of Tisdale’s books, it might be time to go read Holt and Cookson again. That will keep me busy for a while. By the time your are my age, it will be like reading them all over again for the first time!
I grew up reading both Cookson and Holt from a young age. I have literally read all of their books, some twice. They were, without a doubt (and along with Phyllis Whitney) my favorite authors as a high school teen and beyond. Holt’s ability to create a world of gothic suspense is unparalleled, and Cookson’s ability to transform her character’s, both male and female, is equaled only by a few.
I picked up Suzan Tisdale’s Frederick’s Queen fresh on the heels of having read Rowan’s Lady. Both are part of her Clan Graham Series. I read the first page and couldn’t put the book down. The torment of heroine Aggie McLaren at the hands of her father, the physical abuse and scars she has endured by the time the book opens, and her transformation from weakness to strength, was reminiscent of Cookson’s writing style. And Frederick Macinktosh’s change of heart at the beginning of the book, and the subsequent path he travels in his new found quest to change his life, is endearing, especially as he finds exactly what he is looking for but not in the ways which he had hoped. I truly have not had the pleasure of feeling as if I was reading a Cookson book in years until I opened this one.
Holt is known for her gothic romance and for immersing readers so thoroughly in the story that you feel as if you are there. No one could use settings better than her, from dark forests, to creeping fog, to old houses. Tisdale’s gothic tone is reminiscent of Holt’s, from the run-down McLaren castle, to the Bowie clan’s dungeon, to the hidden passageways of medieval castles and on to the affluent Mackintosh estate near the end of the novel. I literally felt as if I was there.
While the first 1/3 kept me on my feet, there was a time in the middle 3rd that the book seemed to lag. However, this slower time was necessary to the growth of both Frederick and Aggie. Had they not had this “slowing” time within their story, I’m not sure they would have become as strong as they needed at the end to fight the battles towards lasting happiness. Aggie simply has so much she has to overcome and Frederick has to work so hard to earn her trust. It takes time to do that. Besides, throughout this middle 1/3 the reader is well aware everything is about to explode in their faces, and the new found intimacy and friendship between Frederick and Aggie will be threatened when it does.
As I always warn my readers, since I have many of you who read very “clean” fiction, this one has some intimate interplays between Frederick and Aggie. Nothing overly specific, but certainly suggestive. There is also more violence in this book than in Tisdale's previous ones, but I would not say it is unnecessary. Aggie begins as a very tragic figure, and her character motivation is driven by the excessive violence of her father. Without the violence, her extreme distrust would make no sense. Additionally, before the book begins, she was raped by a man of another clan when she was thirteen years old. Tisdale treats the subject delicately, and Aggie's ability to confront the young man later, as Frederick helps her heal from the trauma, is remarkable.
Now that I’ve read all of Tisdale’s books, it might be time to go read Holt and Cookson again. That will keep me busy for a while. By the time your are my age, it will be like reading them all over again for the first time!
April 8, 2017
I love this author!!! Never have I had a book by her that took more than one day to read - although it is always a sad moment when I get to the last page!
August 3, 2019
Romantic Suspenseful Historical.
I keep getting sucked into these books. Not wanting to put it down. The story is so riveting. It has action, adventure,suspense, and mystery. The romance is what every romantic craves. From a True Fan... Pam James.
I keep getting sucked into these books. Not wanting to put it down. The story is so riveting. It has action, adventure,suspense, and mystery. The romance is what every romantic craves. From a True Fan... Pam James.
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