Enraptured

Secrets of the Loch #3

by Candace Camp

In the enticing new novel from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Candace Camp’s “poignant, sensual, emotion-packed” (RT Book Reviews) Regency romance series, Secrets of the Loch, an unlikely duo discovers love may be the greatest prize of all when they join an exciting treasure hunt through the Scottish Highlands.

When Coll Munro finds himself supervising an archaeological dig on the sprawling Highlands estate of Duncally, the handsome Scot’s only worry is his former crofter friends, who seem to delight in making his job as hard as possible. Little does he know his biggest problem comes in a much smaller package. Gorgeous Violet Thornhill is an exasperating, meddling bluestocking who came to the site to examine the ruins and instead finds herself studying Coll. The unyielding Highlander and the headstrong English beauty clash at every turn. But when a midnight intruder threatens Violet and the excavation itself, these polar opposites must work together to solve a decades-old mystery. As Coll and Violet race to decipher long-buried clues, will they discover riches hidden years ago...or an unbridled passion more precious than gold?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Scotland, Mystery

370 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 19, 2016

About the author

Candace Camp is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty books.

Her first novel, *Bonds of Love*, was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Two pseudonyms (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens)and many books later, Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp and still loves creating stories.

Candace lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and is the mother of Young Adult author Anastasia Hopcus.

Reviews

[Daniella · Rating 2 out of 5]

*An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the writer and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.*

(2.5 stars rounded down to 2.)

Enraptured would have been a likeable story were it not for its two main flaws:

First, the story was too anachronistic to be believable and realistic. You see, the year is 1807, and we're introduced to a heroine who:
1. Did not want to get married because doing so would give her husband too much control over her life
2. Did not care about her reputation (In fact, she said something about letting others think she was a hussy or a whore because she didn't give a damn)
3. Believed that sex can be given freely even without marriage (She called herself "a modern woman")


Maybe I'm touchy about this because I took up Philosophy in college, but this just felt so wrong.

(NOTE: You can skip this if you don't want to get a crash course on Feminist Philosophy.)
Let's get our facts straight. The feminist movement did not take root until the late 1800s. Even the term "féminisme" itself was not coined until 1837, a good 30 years after the supposed events in the book took place.

The writer could argue, however, that Mary Wollstonecraft published her "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" back in 1792, but you see, Mary Wollstonecraft was pushing for men and women to both respect the moral codes (the double standards during those days allowed men to be immoral while woman must remain moral in the eyes of the public). This includes the sanctity of marriage whereas Violet did not believe in marriage. Wollstonecraft was also pushing for equal education and political rights, but she did not particularly see marriage as an institution that is anti-woman.
(NOTE: End of Philosophy lecture.)

And here we have a heroine who's spouting ideas that are basically non-existent during her time. Her stances about marriage, independence and career belonged more to late 19th and 20th century philosophers.

Okay, sorry for the Philosophy lesson, but my point is this: I respect authors who really do research before writing. That's why I love Monica McCarty, because she really makes an effort to do her homework. Making such a basic mistake such as this one bespeaks poor planning. In the end, this story just felt stupid and totally unrealistic.


And you know, the anachronism wouldn't have been such a big issue for me had it not been emphasised EVERY SINGLE FUCKING CHAPTER. It showed every time Violet went all aggressive feminist chick on Coll. Which leads me to my next point.

The story's second flaw is that Violet's character was so unlikeable she makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Really. Could it kill for her to be nice to Coll? Coll was the perfect beta hero, goddammit. He was nice, caring, adorable and NOBLE, and I just HATED how badly she treated him.

This book would have been significantly better if I didn't have to listen to Violet being so fucking defensive about her goddamn independence and rights (which, again, is stupid and unbelievable) to the point that she even TWISTED COLL'S WORDS AND MADE UNNECESSARY DRAMA.


Only Violet Thornhill would interpret an honourable and well-meaning marriage proposal as a threat to her rights as a woman.
Only Violet Thornhill would make a besotted man feel guilty about attempting to marry the woman he loves.
Only Violet Thornhill would make such a blasted drama out of every single fucking thing.

Seriously. I spent 50% of the book getting frustrated on Coll's behalf. And I agree with another reviewer here who said that Violet was too self-centred. It was like everything that mattered were her opinions, her beliefs, her plans. What about Coll?


There are other issues in the story as well: the pacing was too slow, the prose dragged on in some parts, the external conflict (or the mystery element) was too weak to keep you invested, and the dialogue was kind of hard to understand because of the Scottish brogue and burr.

Overall, this is just an okay book. The flaws outweighed its allures but Coll was dreamy enough to make me want to finish it.

[Becca · Rating 1 out of 5]

After really enjoying the second installment in this trilogy, Pleasured, I dove into this story with enthusiasm...and was enormously disappointed.

My friends, I'm sad to say I could not finish this. I thought Cull was a flat character with none of the harsh edges or interesting sarcasm he had in the earlier books. And the heroine...oh did I find her annoying. Now, I should note that I did a buddy read with Midnitillusion and she really liked Violet and her independence so take my opinion as it is: an opinion.

This story does wrap up the mystery, but I had gotten so annoyed with the characters that I stopped caring how it ended. I stopped reading at 52%. At that point in the story, both characters constantly misinterpreted each other, Violet acted like a modern woman, and none of the lovely characters from the previous books had made any substantial appearances. Midniteillusion and I debated about whether Violet was anachronistic or not. Her feeling was that Violet was an odd duck ahead of her time and struggling against the constraints of her society. Used to disappointment, she acted outrageously and no longer cared what others thought because her family had disowned her anyway. Obviously, Midniteillusion is more forgiving than I am ;) I thought Violet first acted foolishly with how she handled a dangerous situation, then I thought she was reckless for how she let everyone believe she was sleeping with Cull, and then I HATED how she jerked Cull around because she needed her independence and wanted no man to tie her down. Now, I'll be honest, the "I'm independent and will never marry" trope in men or women is one of my least favorite plot lines in romance. Love is all about compromise and trust and building a life with your partner--if characters don't understand that simple concept, I have a hard time believing the HEA because they are missing the point of commitment entirely.

Needless to say, this book didn't work for me because of the development of the core romance. The Prologue was brilliantly done and my heart broke for how the mysteries about Cull's grandmother were revealed. I really liked how the mystery stretched through time. I also loved Camp's descriptions of Scotland. I think if Violet had been a bit less rigid in her "independence", there had been more involvement with secondary characters (as in Treasured and Pleasured), and Cull had a little more edge that Violet wore down, I probably would have enjoyed this one. Nevertheless, at this time, I'll just be sticking with re-reading Pleasured, which I thought was lovely and can still be read as a stand-alone story.

[Desi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weirdly obstinate heroine with no care for her precarious position in life and a straight up stupid attitude towards marriage for someone with so few alternatives. Such careless disregard for her own reputation made no sense for someone trying to be taken seriously in a male field.

They even managed to make a treasure hunt boring, who’dathunkit?

Hero was too obsessive and anxious a character for my taste. Propriety flouting was also a little too blatant. She literally just moved into someone’s home, had not yet met the hosts, he moves in too and they proceed with shagging? How very tasteless.

I gave one extra star for the stellar opening that drew the reader in and gave hope for a much better story. And on the plus side, the book taught me a new fact about Julian vs Gregorian calendars. So it wasn't a total wash.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit I was a little skeptical when I first started this book. With it being based in the Scottish Highlander time, during the 1800's, the author chose to include some conversation using the language of the time. It was a little difficult to read that in the conversations which did slow me down as I had to figure out phonetically what was being said. However, I was happy to find that as I got into the first chapter and onward, the amount of that language was reduced and didn't show up in great amounts until the last bit of the book.

There are parts of this book that I really loved and then there are parts that I didn't care for very much, I have to say.

Love the main hero, Coll! He was very kind and a gentleman. You just knew that he would treat his woman right. I just loved the descriptions of him being so attached and falling for the heroine, Violet. It was sweet and funny and really made the story for me. There is a bit of heat going on between these two that made the romance more interesting too!

The heroine, on the other hand, really annoyed me. I understand the fact that she was a young lady with no encumbrances, had no family, plus had to learn how to stick up for herself. But but the author, I think, took it a bit too far with some her feminist thoughts and hard ass feelings towards Violet's independence and men in general. It became a detriment, in a way, to the story and also made me not feel overly warm and fuzzy for her.

The author did bring in an interesting storyline with a lot of fun mystery to it plus the uniqueness of the story really made it interesting to read. The story is also part of a series and I felt a little bit lost with some parts of the backstory, however, I was able to follow along better the more I got into the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story, the history of the area, and I especially enjoyed Coll's character. A solid 3 star read for enjoy-ability and the sweet heat these two found together.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in Candace Camp's Secrets of the Loch trilogy and it is wonderful, as were the first two. It can be read on it's own, but you might have a little more background into the hero if you've read the first two. The heroine, Violet, is a very independent antiquarian who travels to Scotland to look at some newly discovered ruins. She is ahead of her time in how she wants to live her life and is estranged from her parents.

The hero, Coll, manages his brother-in-law's estate where the ruins are located. There is also a lost treasure believed to be hidden somewhere on the estate or the estate across the loch. Coll and Violet are a fun, feisty couple.

I do not write plot spoilers but I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC as I couldn't wait to read this. I will however be buying the paperback (release date 1/19)so I have the entire series on one of my keeper shelves. If you have read the first book and wonder whatever happened to the "bad" brother, you can find out in the author's novella in "What Happens Under the Mistletoe".

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Perché era così ossessionato da quella donna? Sì, aveva gli occhi da cerbiatto, grandi, luminosi, i suoi seni pieni e rotondi erano perfetti nel palmo della mano e le sue labbra carnose sembravano fatte apposta per essere baciate. Tuttavia, esistevano tante altre donne belle quanto lei e più dolci, più accondiscendenti. Ma nessuno lo attirava come Violet. L’asprezza del suo carattere gli faceva venire ancora più voglia di assaggiare il suo sapore dolce. L’idea di vederla accendersi di calore e di piacere era irresistibile. Coll desiderava disperatamente soddisfare l’istinto potente di risvegliare le sue parti più nascoste…. Era come se Violet custodisse gelosamente dentro di sé uno scrigno segreto che solo lui aveva la chiave per aprire."
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Nel 1807 Malcolm Rose ritornò di nascosto in Scozia portandosi dietro un tesoro sottratto ai francesi in oro e gioielli. Lo consegnò alla persona di cui si fidava di più, Faye Munro, la sua amante, e la donna che portava in grembo suo figlio. Il suo destino era però segnato, non appena giunse a casa venne ucciso dalla moglie tradita e dal fratello minore. Neanche Faye fu fortunata morì pochi giorni dopo il parto, lasciando degli indizi per quella che si rivelò essere una bambina: un diario in cui aveva scritto le ricette delle sue medicine e l’ubicazione dell’oro francese. Ma nessuno è ancora riuscito a trovarlo.

Anche qui si racconta la leggenda del tesoro e delle guaritrici Munro che fa da filo conduttore nei tre libri di questa miniserie, ma viene trattata la storia dell’ultima donna della famiglia, Meg, divenuta la moglie del Conte di Mardoun rompendo la tradizione che voleva che nessuna di loro si sposasse. Ora Meg è in viaggio con il marito, lasciando la proprietà del conte in gestione al fratello Coll, che si trova alle prese con un ospite imprevisto, Violet Thornhill una donna assolutamente originale per la sua epoca. Un’archeologa giunta in Scozia per scavare le rovine che Meg e il conte hanno scoperto nel libro precedente “Il tesoro più prezioso”. Violet si è presentata al posto del defunto zio, che lei ha sempre aiutato nel suo lavoro, è una donna forte che non intende perdere l’occasione di dimostrare al mondo il suo valore e la sua competenza. In un primo momento fra i due è guerra aperta, ma quando qualcuno si introduce nottetempo nella casa del conte, convinto di trovarvi il tesoro, e Violet viene aggredita le cose cambiano. Decidono di comune accordo di seguire gli indizi che la nonna di Coll ha lasciato, e cercare il tesoro mettendo fine alle incursioni notturne, e pian piano le loro dispute diventano passione. Ma se Coll intende fare la cosa giusta, Violet non ha nessuna intenzione di concedere ad un uomo alcun potere su di lei.

Ho sempre amato Candace Camp ma questo libro lo salvo solo per i dialoghi brillanti e divertenti che si instaurano nel primo periodo fra Violet e Coll, per il resto devo ammettere con dolore che mi sono annoiata. Questo libro soffre di grandi rallentamenti nella trama, neanche le sporadiche escursioni dei cattivi di turno riescono a ravvivarla, e non parliamo poi del personaggio femminile. Se Violet fosse una nostra contemporanea andrebbe tutto bene, ma siamo nel 1807 e ci troviamo di fronte una Lady, figlia di nobili che se ne va in Scozia in carrozza, senza cameriera e tantomeno chaperon, che quando si trova di fronte dei banditi che attaccano la sua carrozza scende armata di un ombrello e li attacca. Trova Coll affascinante e decide di diventare la sua amante, non solo, non si fa nessun problema se la gente lo sappia, e qui sorgono i primi dubbi. Nel libro veniamo a conoscenza che non è più la benvenuta nella casa di suo padre, quello che non si capisce però, è se sia dotata di una rendita o se viva del suo lavoro di archeologa, perché in questo caso la sua noncuranza delle convezioni sarebbe tragica. Il lavoro per un archeologo donna, sarebbe già molto scarso di per sé, ma quale mecenate sarebbe mai disposto a finanziare lo scavo di una donna dalla dubbia reputazione? In quale casa sarebbe ricevuta? Non le importa neppure della possibilità che i suoi figli vengano considerati dei bastardi, e questo nonostante Coll, che da sempre ha sofferto per questa condizione, le offra il matrimonio e le assicuri che non le impedirà di proseguire la sua carriera. Se da una parte questa donna, così decisa, potrebbe suscitare ammirazione essendo anche un bel personaggio, mal si colloca nel periodo della nostra storia, e diventa davvero petulante nel suo continuo rimarcare le proprie idee di libertà ogni cinque minuti.

Coll Munro, al contrario, è un bel personaggio maschile, sempre pronto a farsi carico dei problemi di tutti, ama davvero Violet e si sente ferito quando capisce che pur amandolo anche lei, non lo sposerà comunque, ma riesce ad accettare ciò che lei è disposta a dare, compreso il fatto che i suoi figli non saranno legittimi, e questo per un romanzo storico è davvero qualcosa di molto originale. Candace Camp scrive molto bene, ma questo non è un libro che mi sia particolarmente piaciuto, ci sono stati momenti in cui ho stentato ad andare avanti nella lettura e anche se i personaggi sono davvero ben tratteggiati non sono riusciti ad entrarmi nel cuore. A tratti noioso è un libro che nonostante sia scritto da una delle mie autrici preferite si è rivelato una delusione.
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Lucia63 - per RFS

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Really struggling with the rating. The truth is I probably would have DNF'd it if I hadn't received it as an ARC (I always feel a responsibility to finish the books in full before reviewing them). That should make it seem like a no-brainer, but the truth is also that I really enjoyed the first half or so; Violet is a spunky heroine and it was a nice change to have the hero, Coll, be the proper and concerned one. I started it in May though and then proceeded to leave it alone and dread picking it up again for several months. Don't think it's objectively bad, just all in all, was not my ideal cup of tea.

What I Liked. For at least the beginning, I really enjoyed Violet; she's one of my favorite types of heroine: book-smart, kind of unusual, opinionated and a bit of a spitfire. It also seems like Camp did the research necessary to make her a believable archeologist, which I always appreciate.

I also really loved Coll—he was such a big sweetie, how could anyone NOT like him??? He's a total good guy, still marked by his illegitimacy and so very upstanding and proper, very cute and protective when it comes to Violet. The chemistry between them was good and I definitely enjoyed how attracted he was to all her different facets. He really struggled with his feeling of shame, and that he wasn't doing right by her, and it really made my heart go out to him. He wants to be honorable, doesn't want society to scorn her, but he is also sensitive to her strong feelings of independence and her fear of marriage.

What I Didn't Like. The mystery subplot was pretty blah; moved the plot along in certain ways that it needed to do and led to some fun exchanges between Violet and Coll, when he would get very protective and she just reacted on instinct, but still ... kind of annoying. Similar to some other reviewers, I found Violet's insistence on not getting married a bit annoying. One reviewer was super annoyed by the historical inaccuracy of Violet's persona in that day and age, and frankly that didn't bother me—there are always odd ducks, out of place and time—though I do admire her extensive knowledge and can appreciate why that annoyed her.

For me, what really grated was that I felt like Violet wanted all of the compromises to be on Coll's end. It was all about how she felt, and what she wanted, and how this was contrary to what she believed and wanted. Well, umm, hello, all of those things also apply to Coll! He doesn't want to marry her to own her, he wants to marry her because he loves her and also to protect her and be able to legitimize any children they have. Now her feelings are valid as well, and I'm not saying they should be subordinate, but there was absolutely no willingness on her end to even discuss compromising or try to understand why Coll felt the way he did.

I'm also trying to remember what made me finally put the book down for several months and take a pause, and I'm pretty sure it was that I felt their attraction started being a big thing too much too soon. Can't swear by that, and frankly don't feel like going back through and rereading portions to determine for sure.

Bottom Line. I don't think it's objectively bad—granted, books are art and art is always subjective (providing for some nonfiction exceptions, but let's not get too literal), but I mean this in the sense that things that annoyed me might not annoy another reader. Camp writes well, the heroine wasn't TSTL, the hero wasn't being abusive but it's made to be romantic, there weren't really stupid characters or plot ploys, things that made no sense, etc. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would though, so I definitely felt disappointment, and know for sure it won't be a reread.

Funny Exchange.

She shivered involuntarily at the memory of that shadow slipping silently along the hall. "It scared me."
"Scared you so much you gave chase to him."
"I couldn't just let him get away, could I?"
"Aye, you could. A sensible woman would have. He could have hurt you—worse than he did."
"I didn't have time to think. I yelled at him and he ran, so I went after him. He ran down the stairs and out to front door."
"So you took off into the night after an intruder? Unarmed? Wearing naught but your night rail?"
"I told you, I didn't stop to think about it! Would you have sat there twiddling your thumbs and let him get away?"
"No, of course not, but—"
"I know, I know, you're twice the size I am and you're a man, so it's all right for you to want to thwart a thief, but not a weak woman like me."
"I would never call you weak."
"Anyway, I wasn't unarmed. I grabbed a candlestick from one of the tables."
A short bark of laughter escaped Coll. "A candlestick!" He sat back, crossing his arms, and regarded her with a blend of amusement and exasperation. "All right, so you ran after the fellow, wielding your fearsome candlestick ..."
"And when I stepped out the door, he hit me from behind." Violet sighed. "I should have thought of that."
"Ah, but your blood was up."
"I realize that you derive a great deal of amusement from my mistakes," Violet began tartly. "But I fail to—"
"Nae, not that!" Coll took her hands. "I have no joy at seeing you injured. You must know that. It is your spirit I enjoy." He glanced down as if surprised to see her hands in his.

*This review is of an ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher

(Written November 25, 2016)

[Mary23nm · Rating 2 out of 5]

It feels somewhat unfinished, even though the hero & heroine find the gold.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

I am torn over this book. While I thought Coll was everything you could want in a hero - I found Violet somewhat lacking. That is not to say I didn't like her, I did, but she was a bit too stubborn and self centered.

Violet is on her way to Duncally to investigate the ruins Meg & Damon discovered in the last book. Damon actually invited Violet's uncle to come and check them out, but he has passed away and Violet has decided to come in his stead. As she is approaching the house, her carriage is held up by highwaymen. Coll comes to her rescue and steals a kiss as his reward. Violet is both furious and turned on by this rough highlander. She gives him a piece of her mind and takes off to Duncally. When she arrives, she finds out that the earl is on his honeymoon and won't be back for months. Unwilling to let the opportunity to investigate the ruins pass her by, she insists that she was invited and demands to stay. The housekeeper summons Coll who is the estate manager to come and settle this matter.

Violet is shocked to find her impertinent rescuer is the estate manager. Determined to stay, she brazens it out.

Coll is intrigued by Violet. He is no stranger to strong, independent women and decides to let her stay.

The chemistry between these two is evident - the pages fairly sizzle with the sexual tension they are emitting. At first these two go back and forth - seemingly misunderstanding the tension and reactions between them. But when they finally come clean with their feelings with the other - they are HOT together.

Violet finds out about the treasure of the loch, when someone breaks into the house. Coll tells her about the treasure his grandmother hid over 60 years ago and shows her the journal she left for them. Together they begin searching for clues in the journal that will lead them to the treasure. They uncover several important clues and begin to search for the treasure. They also begin a clandestine affair - much to Violet's delight and Coll's dismay.

Violet has decided that she will never marry, she doesn't want to be "owned" by a man or give up her name, she has no care for her reputation and doesn't care what people say about her. This is the part of the book which didn't make sense to me. If she wants to be taken seriously as an archeologist in regency England - she would have to have a spotless reputation. If she becomes known as a fallen woman, no one will hire her to excavate ruins or support her research. She also went on and on about keeping her name - I didn't understand this either - it isn't her name, it is her father's name, she has a courtesy title, she owns nothing on her own and her family has all but disowned her. I am not exactly sure what she thinks she would lose by marrying, other than her personal freedom. I also thought she was very insensitive to Coll's point of view. He grew up illegitimate and witnessed his parents nontraditional relationship. He heard the whispers and saw the disapproval. He wants to marry Violet and have an honest relationship - while she wants no part of marriage. She is perfectly content "shacking up" and "sneaking around" and gets angry that Coll is concerned for her reputation. They both twist the others words and willfully misunderstand each other. This was frustrating to me.

When Violet refuses Coll's demand that they marry, he ends their affair. Both of them are miserable and unhappy, but neither is willing to make the first move towards compromise and reconciliation. When Violet is attacked on the way back from the ruins and Coll finds out days later, they have a reconciliation of sorts. She still doesn't want to marry and he still doesn't want to sneak around. They form a truce of sorts and become determined to find the treasure. First they plan an elaborate trap for Violet's attacker and when they capture him, they begin searching in earnest.

They do find the treasure, but more importantly, they find middle ground in their relationship. Both decide that loving the other and being together is more important than their own personal wants. The scene where they finally give in to each other was beautiful. It was really well done and I got a little choked up.

While I was hoping for something more traditional, I think the ending was pretty close to perfect.

This book is the final book in the Treasure of the Loch series and everything comes together wonderfully, all the questions and mysteries of the treasure are resolved and there are happy endings all around. This book could easily be read as a stand alone title - but to get thee full effect of the series, they should be read in order.

I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to Ms. Camp's next series.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was worried that with this being the last book of the Secrets of the Loch trilogy that I would be completely lost. Thank goodness I wasn't. It centered around Violet Thornehill a new character and Coll Munro, an already established character. I didn't feel like I had missed out on the something in the story, it really felt like it could be a stand alone. The story was delightful, I love that Candace Camp always writes an unconventional female lead; in this case Violet is, basically, an archaeologist. Coll Munro is the the estate manager for Duncally, the property own by his brother-in-law.

At one point in the last book ruins were found and they sent a letter to a known antiquarian. Violet was following in her uncle's footsteps and when he died she need to find a place she could prove that she knew what she was doing. It was just her luck that she found the letter to her uncle about the ruins in Duncally. Everything you need to know about the previous books is explained, with Violet being a new character it makes sense for it to be explained. I enjoyed the humor and the hardheadedness of both characters and the plot was really enjoyable. Regency Indiana Jones but more romance than action, who doesn't like a good old fashioned treasure hunt.

Coll and Violet dance around each other at first, both aware of the attraction but when it becomes clear that the rumors of the lost gold being found puts Violet in danger. Coll goes out of his way to keep her safe even if it means being around her all day; that is when she actually gets around to telling him. As excited as Violet is about uncovering the ruins she knows the danger will not stop until the rumors are proven untrue or the lost gold is finally found. Together Violet and Coll try to solve the mystery and the riddle of where the lost gold was hidden so long ago. The problem with Violet and Coll is that they don't know what's going to happen in the future. Coll has never left Scotland and has no aspirations to leaving Duncally; while Violet wants to continue uncovering ruins wherever it may take her. So while they can they steal moments with each other.

Overall, even as the last book in the series it was completely ok to read as a stand alone and I really liked it. Candace Camp has a way of writing that just makes me happy to read.

[Ermione Pickwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say...I gave myself some time to think about this romance, I haven't been particularly sure about my opinion in its regards. Enraptured is overall a good romance, there are extremely (no misused superlatives here) engaging and, even new, aspects, it's not predictable, with uncommon traits, it made me smile a lot and I liked the connection and interactions between the protagonists but also between all the characters. Moreover is quite sweet and fascinating, especially in its surrounding events and developments, the background in which the love story is settled is much mysterious and beguiling.

However, the author has a problem, in my opinion and for my experience with some of her works, when it comes to reduce the story cutting out not particularly relevant descriptions or intermissions. Quite often they are too long and they unnecessarily overburden the storyline making the reading slow and difficult.


Nevertheless I liked the novel, I loved both the protagonists, they are very well calibrated in their personalities and interactions, the hero, Coll Munro, is very sweet and caring, I enjoyed very much all his internal fights and tribulations, I liked his strength and his loyalty. He is probably the strong point of this romance but he is also undoubtedly supported by a very strong and confident heroine, Lady Violet Thornhill; her personal story is quite touching itself, all the difficulties she had and still has to demonstrate her amazing capacities as an archeologist, followed by the struggles to have people accepted her ambitions, all this make the story rich.


Concluding, this is a good novel, that had the potential to be much better if less seasoned. I have to prise the prologue, very moving, and it opens the story marvellously.



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**I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book on courtesy of NetGalley and Threshold (Pocket Books) in exchange for an honest review, thank you for the opportunity**

[Leone (She Reads too Much Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that Camp's, Secrets of Loch, is a series that has not thrilled me, until now. Enraptured was well worth the wait and I will confess to having a deep love for the story. In many ways this book was like the perfect romance. It had deeply moving chemistry, a grand adventure and a sharply-witted heroine. Basically the book had everything I have been dying to see in a romance this year.

The heroine, Violet, made the book for me personally. I immensely enjoyed seeing a woman such as Violet standing on her own two feet willingly. This is extremely rare to find in any historical romance. For once a heroine was with the hero because she had decided herself that he was the man for her without outside interference. Violet defined the laws of published historical romances and I loved every minute of it. I would highly suggest that more authors create heroines such as Violet.

As for the romance in this book I wasn't expecting the love exchanged between the characters to be as charming as it was. Coll, the hero however was fetching and yet another complete surprise to the book. I wouldn't mind having Coll at my side throughout the danger that he and Violet were forced to face.

My only complaint about the story was that some scenes tended to drag onward more than they should have. Selective scenes continued way past their time when perhaps other scenes should have been written in.

-Copyrights of this review belong to Night Owl Reviews. To read more of my review please click on the link that has been provided.
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...

[Minna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am having a definite run of bad luck on these ARCs. This one was not a hit, either. It was boooooooooooring. I remember Candace Camp as being an author that I enjoyed, so perhaps this one was an anomaly?
The two main characters were flat and unsympathetic. Violet was an anachronistic termagant. Coll was an over-the-top stereotype of a Scotsman who never met a dinna, nae or aye he could not work into a sentence (no matter how stilted it would sound). The two of them were continuously (awkwardly) antagonizing each other and then (even more awkwardly) apologizing to each other about it. Violet - of course - immediately develops a powerful attraction for Coll even though she Hates Marriage and Doesn't Need A Man and Is Better On Her Own (seriously, she went on and on about it). Coll, of course, wants her desperately despite her being a terribly bossy and rude woman who acts ridiculously.

I could have cared less if the two of them got together and, in fact, skimmed most of the last half o the book rather than read it. Meh. If you are already invested in this series, I would imagine you'd want to read it, but as a standalone book I can't recommend it.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley (thanks NetGalley!). I have some good ones queued to read so I have high hopes that this is the last lukewarm ARC review I'll publish in a while :)

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet is a little spitfire and Coll I think just doesn't know what to do with this little lady:
“Really, Mr. Munro, are you going to parrot everything I say?”
“But you— I was not saying that you were—”
“There is no need to soften the blow.” Was he being purposely difficult ? “Clearly you cannot make yourself want to— well, engage in, um . . .”
“Are you daft? What are you saying?”
Violet bristled . “I am saying that I acted out of character. I assure you, it will not happen again. And it is time this conversation ended. Good day, sir.”
Coll is whipped like seriously if his woman wants it he'll get it, she wants to explore his body he has no complaints, “come. Do what you will with me.” He flipped back the cover, exposing the very long, very naked length of his body. “I’ll not protest.” I really enjoyed this book.

[Alda Delicado · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story could be told in 50 pages. The dialogues were long, the lack of communication between hero and heroine was infuriating and the intimate scenes boring, long and mostly unnecessary.

[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the back cover copy suggests, this is mostly about a treasure hunt. Naturally, someone is watching and causing the occasional problem. The mystery isn't all that mysterious, but this is a decent conclusion to the series, with likable main characters and a checkin with the protags of the previous installments. 3.5 stars.

[WTF Are You Reading? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coll Munro!
That man is delicious in every way!
Violet Thornhill is no wilting English rose. She is unafraid to give the hulking Scott a piece of her mind and more.

Review pending!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Candace Camp novel & I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love Highlanders they are my favorite hero with their Scottish brogue and I'm not at all surprised that Coll swept me off my feet.

Violet is an archeologist who has been invited to Duncally to study the ruins that an earl discovered on his land. Upon her arrival she discovered that the earl is not in residence he has left for his honeymoon and she is left to deal with the caretaker of the castle and the earl's brother in law Coll. Violet is very strong willed and after a bad first meeting between herself and Coll she vowed to not let him interfere with her work.

But the sparks flying between the two of them is hard to resist and she soon finds herself drawn to him. While excavating the ruins she stumbles upon something extraordinary and that led to Coll telling her of the legend of his grandmother. His grandmother hid three sacks of gold sixty years ago or so the legend says and everyone in the village has been trying to find the gold to get rich. Coll neither his family does not know if the gold even exists but someone in the village thinks that Coll's family has the gold. One night the castle was broken into and the intruder hit Violet and escaped.

With the passion between Coll and violet rising and danger lurking about,Coll and violet set out on the path to find the gold with the help of Coll's grandmother journal that she left.

The suspense, mystery,twists and turns and the sizzling attraction between Coll & Violet this book has kept me on my toes. Each page is a delight and no matter how hard I tried I just could not decipher the clues which is what really excited me about this book. Not knowing what is going to happen gives me such a rush of excitement. Also Ms. Camp writing is flawless. I love the way she portrayed violet as a head strong lass. I also love the attention to details. I like when a book describes everything so in depth. I like to think outside of the box and the words she used to describe people, things, gives me a feeling of not reading a book with words that is monotonous and that is very refreshing.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet sappy story.

I just got done reading a book in the outlander series so the Scottish terms were a sight for sore eyes. Coll Munro, is the manager per se for the estate of Earl of Mardoun. Violet Thornhill is coming to discover the ruins the Earl has written her uncle about. So, she arrives one day and throws everyone into a tizzy. The Earl is on his honeymoon and there is Coll. All 6-foot handsome Scottish man that he is.

Violet is captured but so is Coll by her beauty. They try to say no but we all know they will and boy do they.

The underlining story is uncovering a treasure from the battle of Culloden. The money that was used to buy armies for Charles. They uncover riddles and Coll’s past in searching for it and if that means they spend time together over candlelight in the library is that so bad?

It was a complete fluff story but I did like the Scottish heritages and rituals in this book. The imagery was wonderful to read and Violet’s character is not shrinking violet. She’s a spitfire and Coll has angry issues worthy of a Scottish man.

[Midniteillusion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was my second favorite in the series behind Pleasured. I loved the heroine though my buddy read partner didn’t not. She’s educated and use to having to fight for certain this in this time period that women weren’t “suppose” to have or do. I enjoyed her and even at the end she didn’t fully give in to the hero’s “demand” and they found a good compromise which I felt showed good character growth in both of their parts especially the hero’s.

The prologue was heartbreaking and if you’ve read the other books you know the grandparents did not get their HEA and this book in a way drives home that point. However other relationships are made stronger or repaired that weren’t great relationships in the previous books so it’s good to see more family happiness.

I did feel like the end was a little rushed and none of these books go super deep into the mystery to really make it feel suspenseful which I would have liked (and probably given more stars for).

[Dottiebears · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really liked the first two books in this series, this one falls short. The storyline was fine and I liked most of the characters, but the main person, Violet was revolting. What an unpleasant woman. I know she was supposed to come across as assertive and independent but she seems to me to be rude and uncompromising even when it didn't cost her anything.

Coll was lovely as he was in the first two books but sort of flat at the same time. And he sure could have done better than Violet!

[Barbara Bland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read but I’m not much on Scottish books! Candace Camp is one of my favorite authors( this is why I read it) but too me it was just a mediocre read! I may go back and reread it just to see if I change my mind.

[Liz Clappin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the fact that the solution to the mystery was pretty clearly laid out right at the beginning, taking the thrill of solving the mystery away it was an interesting love story with non-traditional gender roles and a satisfying push-pull of emotions.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t get past the ridiculously anachronistic depiction of the heroine.

[Hayzbaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Candace Camp for ages. This book was a let down. It didn't grab me, I found it difficult to get into and I just didn't love it.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Secrets of the Loch trilogy. Enraptured was the 3rd book and I thoroughly enjoyed the HEA. I hope you will too.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 better than the prequel but still a bit tame

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Coll Munro finds himself supervising an archaeological dig on the sprawling Highlands estate of Duncally, the handsome Scot’s only worry is his former crofter friends, who seem to delight in making his job as hard as possible. Little does he know his biggest problem comes in a much smaller package. Gorgeous Violet Thornhill is an exasperating, meddling bluestocking who came to the site to examine the ruins and instead finds herself studying Coll. The unyielding Highlander and the headstrong English beauty clash at every turn. But when a midnight intruder threatens Violet and the excavation itself, these polar opposites must work together to solve a decades-old mystery. As Coll and Violet race to decipher long-buried clues, will they discover riches hidden years ago...or an unbridled passion more precious than gold?"

My Thoughts:

Last year I didn't read hardly any historical romances which is a shame since there are so many great books out there in this genre. This year I'm changing that statistic and books like this are exactly why. I enjoyed this book so much and found it to be a pleasurable read from beginning to end. One of the things that really made this book stand out for me were the two main characters. Oh but how I loved the two main characters in this book! Violet Thornhill is one of the most independent and unique female leads that I have come across in a book like this. She is an archaeologist and committed to never being married as she doesn't want anyone to have control of her or anything she does. Then you have Coll Munro who is much more conventional in that he plans on getting married and settling down one day. The two of them clash from the very beginning and I just adored it. I am all for romances where the happy ever after doesn't come too easily - sometimes the friction between the protagonists is the very best part! I was completely content to read about these two butting heads while also trying to avoid the growing attraction between them. Be still my heart! If there is a romance "trope" that I love the most, this is probably it. I found myself wrapped up in their relationship hoping that they would be able to work it all out.

One of the other things that I loved about this book was that the author didn't make it easy for these two. They were so completely different in the way that they viewed marriage. They were also so different when it came to worrying about what others would think and about how to handle the chemistry between them. I fully admit that there were times where I just didn't see how this author was going to make it work. I felt like they were too different and head strong on certain points that they were never going to be able to come together. You'll have to read the book yourself to see how it all plays out but I can tell you that it is completely worth the ride. I also really enjoyed the mystery of the missing treasure story line that came into play. It added a layer of suspense to this book that I wasn't expecting but really liked. I had a hard time setting this book down and managed to read it in a matter of days. I didn't realize that this book was part of a trilogy at all and honestly don't feel like it took away from my enjoyment of this book at all. Now I just need to go back and read the other two books since I liked this one so much.

Overall, a really great read and a new author for me to follow. I loved the chemistry between Coll and Violet so much which gives me very high hopes for the rest of the books in this trilogy. This book was really entertaining and left me completely satisfied by the end. What more could a girl ask for? I also have to tell you that the chemistry between these two was hot, hot, hot! Easily recommended for fans of historical romance- check this one out!

Bottom Line: A book that reminded me exactly why I love this genre so much! A great read!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.

[Swanangel15's Book Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Candace Camp books and this book was not, in my opinion, one of her best work but it was still fascinating to read.

Violet Thornhill is fed up with being a woman in a man's world and she does everything in her power to gain even ground with any man she comes across. This is a hard thing to accomplish seeing as how she is on the short side, but this does not stop Violet from trying.

Her newest quest in gaining even footing is by arriving ahead of the rush to examine newly discovered ruins at an estate in Duncally.

On her way there, her carriage was attacked by highwaymen. Violet was so angry she attacked her attackers with an umbrella. But her umbrella was not enough and Violet finds herself saved, by a man.

Her rescuer's form of payment was too high in the form of a kiss, and Violet slammed the carriage door in his face and continued on her way. When she arrived at the Estate, she met with none other than her so called "savior".

Coll Munro had no idea that the lady that he saved and aroused him to no end with only a kiss would be staying in the estate he was left in charge of. Coll tried to absorb himself in different tasks to stay away from her, but something always has him gravitating towards the meddling bluestocking.

Her sharp mouth, intelligent mind, and her stubbornness, he finds that they can't say two words to each other without starting a fight, yet Coll can't deny his attraction to her. But when someone attacks Violet and threatens her extraction of the ruins, Coll finds himself joining forces with Violet to uncover a family secret and treasure.

Can these work together without fighting at every turn, or would the both of them succumb to the unmistakable attraction between them? Find out in the third installment of the Secrets of Loch Series, Enraptured.

This was one book, in a way, did not conform to the rules of society. Violet wants to be free of any man's hold on her. She vows never to marry and have everything of hers taken away and given to her husband. Also, she loves her job. A job that calls her to different parts of the world, and what husband would allow their wife to travel by themselves? With this in mind, Violet stands firm in her 'no marring' rule.

There is an exception to her rule. Even with her not wanting to marry, Violet is not against having some bedroom fun. Especially if her bed partner is Coll.

Coll would like nothing more than to accept Violet's invitation, but with him and his sister both being bastards, Coll tries not give in. Coll's parents never married but that did not stop them from loving each other. Coll grew up being stared at and whispered about. He could of taken it, but what made his blood boil was when others spoke negative about his sister and his mother.

So Coll decided that he would protect Violet's reputation for her and try to resist her advances, which is hard to do since he's the one making almost of the advances. His only option was to avoid her at all cost, and he did this by staying away from the house doing various jobs for people.

Passion is not to be denied and Coll and Violet were forced into a situation that has the both of them working closely together. And that's when everything turned really amazing.

I had fun reading this book, but it was not the best Candace Camp book I've read. Violet and Coll were just being difficult and that's a good base to start a book, but Coll's character overdid it a little.

I'm sorry to say, but for me, I just wanted the book to be over. I think that it was stretched out a little and I kept hoping that the book would pick up and be like her other books, but to no avail. Also the villain in the story was quite obvious. Ms. Camp tried to make it a surprise but I knew who the true villain was all along.

I liked the story and hope to read more of Candace Camp's work as I am not judging her writing just based on this book.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets of the Loch series is about three couples and a legendary treasure that takes each on adventurous searches. So far, the quest has not produced real proof anything of worth has been concealed, and I was really hoping the third book would finally resolve the countless questions needing answers. One puzzle after another has kept me intrigued, and the final story certainly gave me clues which lead to many guesses. Candace Camp adds numerous twists to her enthralling novel where nothing is assured until every unknown is cleverly revealed. ENRAPTURED captivates with compelling escapades and engaging characters.

When Violet Thornhill ventured into the Scottish Highlands, the English woman’s purpose is to study ancient ruins located at Duncally, the estate of an earl. Though most men do not approve of a woman doing such a task, she is determined to show her abilities are just as efficient as any male. Coll Munro is the man overseeing the area where Violet hopes to discover artifacts by digging, and his attitude regarding her seems like most other men at first. But there is no way she is going to be kept from excavating the site where possible relics might be hidden.

Though Coll agrees to let Violet stay at the estate, she knows confirming her expertise will help ensure her the right to remain. There are several disagreements between them as she keeps on working, so both are secretly shocked when they find themselves entranced with the other. Happily, most of her visit goes well until a disturbing event occurs. To stop additional dangerous situations from happening, Violet and Coll need to learn whether there is any truth to the supposed treasure buried on the property. While trying to find evidence related to its location, their desire for each other continues to mount.

While many women in England during the early 1800’s would have been thinking about parties or finding a husband, Violet was exploring the past by reading and going on archeological digs. She is often unyielding when it comes to her opinions, as she knows giving control to a man never goes well when it comes to any aspect of her life. Though she has no desire to marry, there is an intense attraction to the estate manager and getting intimate with him lets her know what she has been missing. While Violet does not worry about her reputation, Coll realizes how much their secretive relationship could affect her, making the story unusual in that it is the male who frets over their affair, not the female. There were a few times I really felt for him when he was trying to do what he thought was best for her, yet she rejected his advice. These clashes definitely made for attention-grabbing scenes filled with plenty of emotional conflicts often fueled by sexual tension. While the verbal battles were frequent, there is also some witty teasing between Coll and Violet from time to time.

With the ongoing mystery concerning the lost riches, ENRAPTURED was a story I eagerly wanted to read. What I discovered is sometimes astonishing, as the details were very fascinating and not expected. Several characters from the earlier books make appearances, and it was great to see what was presently taking place in their lives. Coll had been met before, and I was so happy that he got his own book. He is truly a wonderful hero who wants what is best for everyone around him. ENRAPTURED is enjoyably interesting, as Candace Camp makes every episode in the entertaining historical romance come to life.

Copy received from publisher for a Single Titles review - 4 Stars