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Hidden Fires
Eden Marlow finds himself pursued by Ramsay Maclean, who must marry her in order to keep his Scottish estate, and although Eden is determined to avoid him, she is gradually drawn to him
1 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1988
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Betina Krahn
60 books312 followersKrahn, born Betina Maynard, is the second daughter of Dors Maynard and Regina Triplett. Krahn learned to read at the age of four, and began making up her own stories when she was only six. In fifth grade she won a silver "Noble Order of Bookworms" pin for her achievements in reading, and the following year she began writing down her stories.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2021
This review is of “Hidden Fires”, a 1988 standalone by Betina Krahn.
The book starts in Scotland, Christmas night, 1810. where Laird Haskell MacLean is demanding two things from his son, Ramsay Paxton MacLean, the hero of the book; one, make Haskell a grandfather. Two, find his ex-lover, Constance, the only woman he has ever truly loved.
Fast forward several months. The scene shifts to London, where Eden Delight Marlow, the heroine of the book, is graduating from a girls school and returning to her home in Boston. She will be brought home via ship by James Marlow, one of her three older brothers. Also on the ship to Boston is Ramsay. The trip is not an entirely pleasant one, especially for Eden, who has to nurse seasick patients and try to dodge Ram’s advances, as he thinks she’s a highflyer. (She’s not).
When Eden arrives back in Boston, she is greeted by her father Adam, mother Constance-yes, THAT Constance-and her other two brothers, Ethan and Chase. Eden’s homecoming is not necessarily a happy one, as rifts develop between her and her brothers, and Ramsay’s pursuit of her-and her attraction to him-lead to them becoming lovers. It also leads to further problems when James finds Eden and Ramsay in flagrante delicto in her room. Afterwards, the Marlow brothers beat Ramsay up mercilessly. Despite the beating, Ramsay gets what he wants, which is to marry Eden, even under questionable circumstances.
Eden and Ramsay’s early married life is not good, however, as he tells her the reason he had to marry her (Haskell changed his will to demand that Ramsay marry Eden, specifically, to gain his inheritance, the family lands, Skyvelt). This revelation, plus many other actions, cause a significant rift in the couple’s marriage.
After their marriage, Ramsay kidnaps Eden and plans to take her to Skyvelt, in Scotland. They both arrive, but not together. When Eden arrives, she meets Ramsay’s licentious father and one of his half-siblings-of which there are many, Carina Graham. Things are difficult for Eden at first, but things improve after she develops a backbone. However, the situation worsens when Ram returns from his absence. However, after a period, Eden and Ramsay reconcile and begin to be happy. Carina also finds a suitor when James arrives. He originally plans to take Eden back to America, but finds love instead.
Things take a turn, however, when Angus Barclay, the MacLean’s neighbor, and his son Ian-who is also Haskell’s son, one of MANY illegitimate children Haskell has fathered-want to take Skyvelt away from the MacLeans. To that end, Ian tries to blackmail Eden, telling her he’ll stop pursuing Skyvelt if she goes away with him. Eden, now very pregnant with Ramsay’s child, responds by running back to her family in Boston.
After coming home to Boston, Eden gives birth to a son. Soon after, Ramsay-poorer after having lost Skyvelt to the Barclays-becomes richer in love as he reunites with Eden and his son and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: It was hard to find one, but I picked Carina, one of Ramsay’s many half-siblings. If she and James, whom she later married, were the hero and heroine of “Hidden Fires”, the book would have been much better. Another option: if the story had been about Constance and Adam. With her background as Haskell's lover, that would have been an interesting book.
Downside: These are much easier to find. Let me start with Eden, who begins the book as an uptight, stuffy, prig. By the middle of the book, she’s a nymphomaniac-for Ramsay only-and by the end of the book, she’s following her brother’s outrageous-for 1812-habits. Those things, however, don’t make her unlikeable. What does make her unlikeable, however, is her falling in love with a male who a male who treats her badly. More on that in the next paragraph.
For two-thirds of the book, Ramsay is a total bastard. He’s arrogant, self-centered, egotistical, and, worse, abusive, subjecting Eden to various forms of emotional, mental and physical abuse. (In the interest of fairness, Eden is abusive to Ramsay, too). Later in the book, Ms. Krahn writes about Ramsay’s childhood, how he grew up with a licentious father and no mother, and how that shaped him. To me, this felt like an effort to defend/excuse/justify Ramsay’s abhorrent behavior. Millions of people grow up in non-nuclear homes and have bad childhoods-I’m one of them-and don’t do the things Ramsay did to Eden. Among his actions: manipulating Eden into marriage, kidnapping her and physical abuse.
None of the characters are well-developed, and most aren’t particularly interesting.
Sex: While there are multiple love scenes involving Eden and Ramsay, all are focused more on the feelings of the act rather than the esoterics of it.
Violence: All of the violence in “Hidden Fires” is of the assault-and-battery variety, and none is graphic. In addition to Ramsay being beaten up by the Marlow brothers, he grabs and shakes Eden twice (yes, that, in my eyes, is physical abuse. Others may differ). Eden slaps Ramsay twice with open hands, punches him once with a closed fist, and knees Ramsay and Ian in the privates on two separate occasions. During the trial for ownership of Skyvelt, a physical altercation breaks out between Ramsay, Ian, Haskell, Angus and many others (yes, this takes place in a courtroom).
Bottom Line: “Hidden Fires” has all the heat of a single match. I'm still waiting to read a good Betina Krahn book.
The book starts in Scotland, Christmas night, 1810. where Laird Haskell MacLean is demanding two things from his son, Ramsay Paxton MacLean, the hero of the book; one, make Haskell a grandfather. Two, find his ex-lover, Constance, the only woman he has ever truly loved.
Fast forward several months. The scene shifts to London, where Eden Delight Marlow, the heroine of the book, is graduating from a girls school and returning to her home in Boston. She will be brought home via ship by James Marlow, one of her three older brothers. Also on the ship to Boston is Ramsay. The trip is not an entirely pleasant one, especially for Eden, who has to nurse seasick patients and try to dodge Ram’s advances, as he thinks she’s a highflyer. (She’s not).
When Eden arrives back in Boston, she is greeted by her father Adam, mother Constance-yes, THAT Constance-and her other two brothers, Ethan and Chase. Eden’s homecoming is not necessarily a happy one, as rifts develop between her and her brothers, and Ramsay’s pursuit of her-and her attraction to him-lead to them becoming lovers. It also leads to further problems when James finds Eden and Ramsay in flagrante delicto in her room. Afterwards, the Marlow brothers beat Ramsay up mercilessly. Despite the beating, Ramsay gets what he wants, which is to marry Eden, even under questionable circumstances.
Eden and Ramsay’s early married life is not good, however, as he tells her the reason he had to marry her (Haskell changed his will to demand that Ramsay marry Eden, specifically, to gain his inheritance, the family lands, Skyvelt). This revelation, plus many other actions, cause a significant rift in the couple’s marriage.
After their marriage, Ramsay kidnaps Eden and plans to take her to Skyvelt, in Scotland. They both arrive, but not together. When Eden arrives, she meets Ramsay’s licentious father and one of his half-siblings-of which there are many, Carina Graham. Things are difficult for Eden at first, but things improve after she develops a backbone. However, the situation worsens when Ram returns from his absence. However, after a period, Eden and Ramsay reconcile and begin to be happy. Carina also finds a suitor when James arrives. He originally plans to take Eden back to America, but finds love instead.
Things take a turn, however, when Angus Barclay, the MacLean’s neighbor, and his son Ian-who is also Haskell’s son, one of MANY illegitimate children Haskell has fathered-want to take Skyvelt away from the MacLeans. To that end, Ian tries to blackmail Eden, telling her he’ll stop pursuing Skyvelt if she goes away with him. Eden, now very pregnant with Ramsay’s child, responds by running back to her family in Boston.
After coming home to Boston, Eden gives birth to a son. Soon after, Ramsay-poorer after having lost Skyvelt to the Barclays-becomes richer in love as he reunites with Eden and his son and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: It was hard to find one, but I picked Carina, one of Ramsay’s many half-siblings. If she and James, whom she later married, were the hero and heroine of “Hidden Fires”, the book would have been much better. Another option: if the story had been about Constance and Adam. With her background as Haskell's lover, that would have been an interesting book.
Downside: These are much easier to find. Let me start with Eden, who begins the book as an uptight, stuffy, prig. By the middle of the book, she’s a nymphomaniac-for Ramsay only-and by the end of the book, she’s following her brother’s outrageous-for 1812-habits. Those things, however, don’t make her unlikeable. What does make her unlikeable, however, is her falling in love with a male who a male who treats her badly. More on that in the next paragraph.
For two-thirds of the book, Ramsay is a total bastard. He’s arrogant, self-centered, egotistical, and, worse, abusive, subjecting Eden to various forms of emotional, mental and physical abuse. (In the interest of fairness, Eden is abusive to Ramsay, too). Later in the book, Ms. Krahn writes about Ramsay’s childhood, how he grew up with a licentious father and no mother, and how that shaped him. To me, this felt like an effort to defend/excuse/justify Ramsay’s abhorrent behavior. Millions of people grow up in non-nuclear homes and have bad childhoods-I’m one of them-and don’t do the things Ramsay did to Eden. Among his actions: manipulating Eden into marriage, kidnapping her and physical abuse.
None of the characters are well-developed, and most aren’t particularly interesting.
Sex: While there are multiple love scenes involving Eden and Ramsay, all are focused more on the feelings of the act rather than the esoterics of it.
Violence: All of the violence in “Hidden Fires” is of the assault-and-battery variety, and none is graphic. In addition to Ramsay being beaten up by the Marlow brothers, he grabs and shakes Eden twice (yes, that, in my eyes, is physical abuse. Others may differ). Eden slaps Ramsay twice with open hands, punches him once with a closed fist, and knees Ramsay and Ian in the privates on two separate occasions. During the trial for ownership of Skyvelt, a physical altercation breaks out between Ramsay, Ian, Haskell, Angus and many others (yes, this takes place in a courtroom).
Bottom Line: “Hidden Fires” has all the heat of a single match. I'm still waiting to read a good Betina Krahn book.
November 11, 2021
This book was lent to me by one of the women who works where I donate blood platelets and I always read books people lend to me. The first couple hundred pages I didn’t know whether this book was the best of the worst or the worst of the best, romantic novels. I mostly stick to Valerie Sherwood and Diana Gabaldon, so I’m spoiled, and this one was kind of a trial for me. I didn’t really like the characters or Eden leading Ram on, even though I didn’t particularly like Ram. First, she thought she liked him, then she didn’t like him, then she thought she loved him, but she really hated him. I read it all the way through, cause by the time I’d read half of it I figured I’d find out what eventually happened. It was okay. The only character who showed any real personality was Haskell McLean, the old reprobate
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March 24, 2018Laird Haskell MacLean had an affair with Constance before she married. He was getting older now and told his son, Ramsey Paxton MacLean, he had to have a child by Constance's daughter before he could inherit Skyelt. Ram was not proud of Haskell who was known for having sex with anyone he wished. p
Eden Delight Marlow was the daughter of Constance and Adam Marlow. She had been sent to a finishing school in London when she was 13. She was now 18 and they had sent James, her oldest brother, to bring her back home to the states. Ram had left Scotland in search of Eden and had seen her with her brother. He made the assumption that she was his mistress.
Ram booked passage on the same ship as James and Eden and everyone got seasick except for Eden. She was left to care for all 6 of the passengers. Ram was the sickest and once he was well enough, he made an attempt to make love to her based the assumption that she would willingly become his mistress. He stopped his attempt when she said that he was forcing her. He expected her to take up with him after James left her when they arrived in port. He didn't believe that James was her brother even though they both told him she was. It took him seeing her with her family who met her for him to accept it as fact.
Eden was met by her parents and her other two brothers, Ethan and Chase, when the ship landed. James had become friends with Ram and didn't understand Eden's reluctance to accept their friendship. The family had missed the daughter they had sent to England and didn't appreciate her trying to clean up their habits upon her return. The boys couldn't drink in the house and their rowdy ways were curtailed. They decided it was time she took a husband to get her out of their house. A party was held and Ram was invited. Eden danced with Ram and they ended up in the garden when she tried to escape from being around him. Ram followed her out of the house in an attempt to apologize for his behavior on the ship but they ended up getting lost in their passion for each other. Eden lost her virginity before she realized what was happening. She was ashamed and avoided him until he left the party.
Before Ram left, he had a conversation with Constance. She found out that Ram was the son of Haskell and Constance told him that her husband knew of her relationship with Haskell before they wed. Eden went to bed and dreamt of Ram.
Ram hadn't given up his plans to marry Eden but he hadn't counted on her getting under his skin. With the help of his friend, Arlo MacCrenna, he used a ladder and snuck into her room. He took off his clothes and got into her bed. She thought she was dreaming when she woke up in bed with him. James brought her breakfast in bed and found them together. He called to his brothers and they beat him up for raping Eden. Ram planned to force her into marrying him by disgracing her.
Her parents took her to their room and put her to bed. The called in their doctor who confirmed she was no longer a virgin and he gave her something to make her sleep the rest of that day. Ram was tied up and brought to see Adam Marlow. Ram told the family that had gathered that he was prepared to marry her and that he loved her. Constance was determined to see things put right and convinced Eden to accept Ram's marriage proposal.
They were married and forced to spend their wedding night in the Marlow house. They made love that night and Ram was passionate and attentive. Eden was convinced that things might work out alright but in the morning, Ram was awful to her. She didn't understand why. He carried her out of her house and threw her into a carriage and took her to a ship. He locked her in a room and they sailed the next day headed for Scotland. Eden was upset at leaving without being able to say good-bye to her family.
On board the ship, Ram and Arlo were sick once again. Eden was determined to stay away from Ram but they seemed to not be able to keep apart. Ram was furious that he was drawn to her as he was. He told Eden that he had married her due to his father's stipulation that he have a child by her within two years before he could inherit Skyelt and the title that was rightfully his. He told her of her mother knowing his father intimately before she was married to Eden's father. Eden called him a liar. Ram continued by telling Eden that he had expected Constance's daughter to be as tempting to a MacLean as her mother was to Haskell and he was not disappointed. Eden was tremendously hurt and he continued to treat her badly. He told her that they had spoken the words but she wasn't his wife and he would only keep her until she had his child. He was angry at his attraction to her and blamed her for bewitching him. He told her that no lady could act as she did when they slept together. He ridiculed her passion.
The ship was boarded a few days later by an English war ship. Ram shouldn't have been impressed into service but his servant, Arlo, had been knocked unconscious. When asked, Eden remembered Ram's words that she wasn't his wife so she told the captain that she had no husband. Ram was taken on board the English ship. They continued the journey toward Scotland and Arlo took Eden with him to Skyelt. Eden didn't know what else to do. The captain of the ship they were on told them that Ram would be fine. He would be home in a couple of months once they found out that he really was a Scottish Laird.
Eden didn't like Skyelt at first. She met Ram's father, Haskell, and quickly figured out that he was a drunk who slept around. The castle was run down and the lands hadn't been kept up. Carina, one of Haskell's illegitimate children, had been dropped off at his place and she was wild. She and Eden got to know each other and Carina told Eden that she carried a knife to protect herself from rape attempts. Men seemed to think she was available since she was not a legitimate daughter. Eden grew to love the place.
Ram eventually returned home and came back to Eden. He tried to avoid her as much as he could and Eden was embarrassed by it. She was drawn to Ram and became determined to get him back in her bed. Ram was made fun of for staying away from Eden.
Ram had been raised by members of the church after his mother's death due to the drunkenness of his father. He had been taught that the way his father was, was very wrong. He had been sent to college and returned home after that. He was an engineer and did what he could to improve Skyelt. He was embarrassed and disgraced by his father. He did everything he could to be the opposite of his father. He refused to drink and slept with no one, until Eden. He was embarrassed that he wanted to have sex with her so badly. He fought it and was determined to stay away. Eden was determined to change his mind once she found out the reason he was staying away from her.
Eden tempted Ram beyond what he could stand and they ended up sleeping together again. Eden met his half-brother, Ian and they became friends. He was everything Ram wasn't in regard to showing his feelings. Eden was drawn to him before Ram came home and she allowed him to kiss her, not realizing yet that he was Ram's half-brother. Ian became determined to take Skyelt away from Ram because he was Haskell's first born son. He also wanted Eden because she was Ram's. He thought that if he owned Skyelt that he would get Eden too. Eden tried to tell Ian that she loved Ram but he refused to believe her.
Eden became pregnant and Ian took Haskell and Ram to court. He told Eden that he would give up the suit for the land if she became his wife. He told Eden that he wanted her because she was Ram's. Eden left Ram because she felt that Ian might give up the suit if she left Ram because ultimately that's what Ian wanted. Ian's goal was to take everything from Ram, both Skyelt and Eden.
James had come to Scotland to make sure that Eden was okay and got to know Ram. He also met Carina and she took an instant liking to him but she was still 16. James tried to stay away from her but he was drawn to her. Carina did everything she could to let him know that she was interested. It frustrated her that he was too much a gentleman to let himself get carried away with her.
Eden and Arlo went back to her home in the States. She was accepted by her family and had her son while she was there. She had made friends with the crew of outlaws that ran the ship and her family was frightened by them when they dropped her off at their house. They came to see her and the baby after he was born. One of the men made a cradle for the baby. She had come back on a ship with these men due to passage being hard to come by with a war going on between England and the States.
Arlo had written a letter to Ram telling him where they were. Ram had no idea where she had gone until he received the note. Ram, James and Carina all eventually came to see Eden. By this time, Eden had convinced Ram that she loved him and he admitted to loving her. He had figured out that loving Eden gave him freedom to release his passion with her and that it was a good thing. He missed her tremendously and had figured out that he didn't feel the same way about other women so what he felt was a good thing.
He found Eden and Andrew Arlan Adam MacLean at her home and took her in his arms. He explained to her that Haskell was given the title while Angus, Ian's father was given the lands to live on. They were going to have to live together at Skyelt if he wanted the lands. It was going to be interesting to see how that worked out. Angus was angry at Haskell because he had married the woman Angus had wanted.
James had married Carina when she turned 17. There were now two MacLean's in the family. Ram was considering looking for land in America for he and his family to live along with others who wanted to leave Scotland and come to America.
Eden Delight Marlow was the daughter of Constance and Adam Marlow. She had been sent to a finishing school in London when she was 13. She was now 18 and they had sent James, her oldest brother, to bring her back home to the states. Ram had left Scotland in search of Eden and had seen her with her brother. He made the assumption that she was his mistress.
Ram booked passage on the same ship as James and Eden and everyone got seasick except for Eden. She was left to care for all 6 of the passengers. Ram was the sickest and once he was well enough, he made an attempt to make love to her based the assumption that she would willingly become his mistress. He stopped his attempt when she said that he was forcing her. He expected her to take up with him after James left her when they arrived in port. He didn't believe that James was her brother even though they both told him she was. It took him seeing her with her family who met her for him to accept it as fact.
Eden was met by her parents and her other two brothers, Ethan and Chase, when the ship landed. James had become friends with Ram and didn't understand Eden's reluctance to accept their friendship. The family had missed the daughter they had sent to England and didn't appreciate her trying to clean up their habits upon her return. The boys couldn't drink in the house and their rowdy ways were curtailed. They decided it was time she took a husband to get her out of their house. A party was held and Ram was invited. Eden danced with Ram and they ended up in the garden when she tried to escape from being around him. Ram followed her out of the house in an attempt to apologize for his behavior on the ship but they ended up getting lost in their passion for each other. Eden lost her virginity before she realized what was happening. She was ashamed and avoided him until he left the party.
Before Ram left, he had a conversation with Constance. She found out that Ram was the son of Haskell and Constance told him that her husband knew of her relationship with Haskell before they wed. Eden went to bed and dreamt of Ram.
Ram hadn't given up his plans to marry Eden but he hadn't counted on her getting under his skin. With the help of his friend, Arlo MacCrenna, he used a ladder and snuck into her room. He took off his clothes and got into her bed. She thought she was dreaming when she woke up in bed with him. James brought her breakfast in bed and found them together. He called to his brothers and they beat him up for raping Eden. Ram planned to force her into marrying him by disgracing her.
Her parents took her to their room and put her to bed. The called in their doctor who confirmed she was no longer a virgin and he gave her something to make her sleep the rest of that day. Ram was tied up and brought to see Adam Marlow. Ram told the family that had gathered that he was prepared to marry her and that he loved her. Constance was determined to see things put right and convinced Eden to accept Ram's marriage proposal.
They were married and forced to spend their wedding night in the Marlow house. They made love that night and Ram was passionate and attentive. Eden was convinced that things might work out alright but in the morning, Ram was awful to her. She didn't understand why. He carried her out of her house and threw her into a carriage and took her to a ship. He locked her in a room and they sailed the next day headed for Scotland. Eden was upset at leaving without being able to say good-bye to her family.
On board the ship, Ram and Arlo were sick once again. Eden was determined to stay away from Ram but they seemed to not be able to keep apart. Ram was furious that he was drawn to her as he was. He told Eden that he had married her due to his father's stipulation that he have a child by her within two years before he could inherit Skyelt and the title that was rightfully his. He told her of her mother knowing his father intimately before she was married to Eden's father. Eden called him a liar. Ram continued by telling Eden that he had expected Constance's daughter to be as tempting to a MacLean as her mother was to Haskell and he was not disappointed. Eden was tremendously hurt and he continued to treat her badly. He told her that they had spoken the words but she wasn't his wife and he would only keep her until she had his child. He was angry at his attraction to her and blamed her for bewitching him. He told her that no lady could act as she did when they slept together. He ridiculed her passion.
The ship was boarded a few days later by an English war ship. Ram shouldn't have been impressed into service but his servant, Arlo, had been knocked unconscious. When asked, Eden remembered Ram's words that she wasn't his wife so she told the captain that she had no husband. Ram was taken on board the English ship. They continued the journey toward Scotland and Arlo took Eden with him to Skyelt. Eden didn't know what else to do. The captain of the ship they were on told them that Ram would be fine. He would be home in a couple of months once they found out that he really was a Scottish Laird.
Eden didn't like Skyelt at first. She met Ram's father, Haskell, and quickly figured out that he was a drunk who slept around. The castle was run down and the lands hadn't been kept up. Carina, one of Haskell's illegitimate children, had been dropped off at his place and she was wild. She and Eden got to know each other and Carina told Eden that she carried a knife to protect herself from rape attempts. Men seemed to think she was available since she was not a legitimate daughter. Eden grew to love the place.
Ram eventually returned home and came back to Eden. He tried to avoid her as much as he could and Eden was embarrassed by it. She was drawn to Ram and became determined to get him back in her bed. Ram was made fun of for staying away from Eden.
Ram had been raised by members of the church after his mother's death due to the drunkenness of his father. He had been taught that the way his father was, was very wrong. He had been sent to college and returned home after that. He was an engineer and did what he could to improve Skyelt. He was embarrassed and disgraced by his father. He did everything he could to be the opposite of his father. He refused to drink and slept with no one, until Eden. He was embarrassed that he wanted to have sex with her so badly. He fought it and was determined to stay away. Eden was determined to change his mind once she found out the reason he was staying away from her.
Eden tempted Ram beyond what he could stand and they ended up sleeping together again. Eden met his half-brother, Ian and they became friends. He was everything Ram wasn't in regard to showing his feelings. Eden was drawn to him before Ram came home and she allowed him to kiss her, not realizing yet that he was Ram's half-brother. Ian became determined to take Skyelt away from Ram because he was Haskell's first born son. He also wanted Eden because she was Ram's. He thought that if he owned Skyelt that he would get Eden too. Eden tried to tell Ian that she loved Ram but he refused to believe her.
Eden became pregnant and Ian took Haskell and Ram to court. He told Eden that he would give up the suit for the land if she became his wife. He told Eden that he wanted her because she was Ram's. Eden left Ram because she felt that Ian might give up the suit if she left Ram because ultimately that's what Ian wanted. Ian's goal was to take everything from Ram, both Skyelt and Eden.
James had come to Scotland to make sure that Eden was okay and got to know Ram. He also met Carina and she took an instant liking to him but she was still 16. James tried to stay away from her but he was drawn to her. Carina did everything she could to let him know that she was interested. It frustrated her that he was too much a gentleman to let himself get carried away with her.
Eden and Arlo went back to her home in the States. She was accepted by her family and had her son while she was there. She had made friends with the crew of outlaws that ran the ship and her family was frightened by them when they dropped her off at their house. They came to see her and the baby after he was born. One of the men made a cradle for the baby. She had come back on a ship with these men due to passage being hard to come by with a war going on between England and the States.
Arlo had written a letter to Ram telling him where they were. Ram had no idea where she had gone until he received the note. Ram, James and Carina all eventually came to see Eden. By this time, Eden had convinced Ram that she loved him and he admitted to loving her. He had figured out that loving Eden gave him freedom to release his passion with her and that it was a good thing. He missed her tremendously and had figured out that he didn't feel the same way about other women so what he felt was a good thing.
He found Eden and Andrew Arlan Adam MacLean at her home and took her in his arms. He explained to her that Haskell was given the title while Angus, Ian's father was given the lands to live on. They were going to have to live together at Skyelt if he wanted the lands. It was going to be interesting to see how that worked out. Angus was angry at Haskell because he had married the woman Angus had wanted.
James had married Carina when she turned 17. There were now two MacLean's in the family. Ram was considering looking for land in America for he and his family to live along with others who wanted to leave Scotland and come to America.
June 11, 2020
I haven't read a Scotland-based historical romance in years - so this was fun. The thing that made this novel interesting/different is the hero - Laird Ramsey - was raised by a family member who was a minister and who was aware that Ramsey's father was a skirt-chaser. So he raises Ramsey to believe sex - especially sexual excess is morally wrong. So when Ramsey finds he can't get enough of his beautiful new wife, Eden, he is disgusted with himself. Kind of funny.
So - this follows the typical she hates, him because she is fascinated by him, she accepts him, he messes up, then she messes up, then she really messes up, but he fights for her because he realizes he loves her and they all end up happily ever after. Fun read.
So - this follows the typical she hates, him because she is fascinated by him, she accepts him, he messes up, then she messes up, then she really messes up, but he fights for her because he realizes he loves her and they all end up happily ever after. Fun read.
January 18, 2023
DNF - and not far from the end, too. It was a struggle. Had to cut my losses. Unlikable hero, no chemistry, the heroine is out of focus, the other characters are also unlikable, and the goals aren't very interesting.
November 17, 2014
synopsis:
ram has been told that in order to inherit the estate that is rightfully his, his lecherous, drunken father has made it a condition that he marry the daughter of a woman whom he still remembers as a spitfire. ram is upset about this, and thinks that the woman was a common or loose woman, like the rest of his father's stable, so he isn't nice to eden. eden has been in england learning to be more refined. she is kidnapped on her way home by ram, although he does deliver her to her family. he compromises her and then takes her back to scotland with him. while there, eden learns to love ram, makes his home inhabitable and even manages his father.
what i liked: eden and ram. they were good together.
what i didn't like: at first, her family, who sent her away to get some polish, was all "oh, no, she's lost her spirit, she looks down on us for being a little wild" and then when eden goes with ram, they are all "you are shaming us now, how dare you act like a hoyden?" honestly, double standards much? the story was wordy and i lost interest several times while i was reading the book.
ram has been told that in order to inherit the estate that is rightfully his, his lecherous, drunken father has made it a condition that he marry the daughter of a woman whom he still remembers as a spitfire. ram is upset about this, and thinks that the woman was a common or loose woman, like the rest of his father's stable, so he isn't nice to eden. eden has been in england learning to be more refined. she is kidnapped on her way home by ram, although he does deliver her to her family. he compromises her and then takes her back to scotland with him. while there, eden learns to love ram, makes his home inhabitable and even manages his father.
what i liked: eden and ram. they were good together.
what i didn't like: at first, her family, who sent her away to get some polish, was all "oh, no, she's lost her spirit, she looks down on us for being a little wild" and then when eden goes with ram, they are all "you are shaming us now, how dare you act like a hoyden?" honestly, double standards much? the story was wordy and i lost interest several times while i was reading the book.
January 15, 2011
Honestly, while I'm not really into the Bodice ripping type of romance novels I have to admit that the story in this one was entertaining. Although the main characters did annoy me with the constant push and pull between love-hate that it was almost too much, it was good to see that they finally got their lines uncrossed to figure out it was because they were, of course, perfect for each other and in love. I found it a good quick read and was glad when all was well and wrapped up in a perfect little sexy bow.
September 12, 2011
Not only is this book full of careless typos, it's badly plotted. Major characters (most of them) randomly switch between being prudes and acting highly sexual, with no basis for the change. It's from 1988 though, so probably no one will ever read it again, right?
March 20, 2008
Didn't like this one as well as I enjoyed "The Husband Test and "The Marriage Test". This was a somebody done somebody wrong and now we need revenge story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2014
This was so strange. It dragged on and on. Lots of rinse and repeat. Stupid moves by hero/heroine for the sake of a plot. Disappointed. Skip this one.
September 1, 2011
i really injoyed reading hidden fires like the scotish historicols romance very good
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