What do you think?
Rate this book
Scotsman
Follow this extraordinarily talented writer into a wild, romantic land of mists and mountains, where a rebellious Scots lord and a defiant English beauty surrender to a reckless passion that could destroy them both...
SHE WAS HIS SWORN ENEMY - AND THE WOMAN HE DARED TO LOVE
Proud and fierce, Alexander Fraser fights for the lands and title the English stole from his family - and for the Scots dream of freedom. Now he's lost what's closest to his heart: his younger brother Jamie, captured by the ruthless earl of Warfield. Determined to free Jamie, Alex boldly takes a hostage - the earl's daughter Catherine. But the delicate maiden he locks in his craggy castle has more mettle than many men...and more passion than any woman he has ever known. Even as Alex and Catherine risk scandal and insurrection to indulge their desire, he knows he must someday give her up...or forfeit his brother's life.
SHE WAS HIS SWORN ENEMY - AND THE WOMAN HE DARED TO LOVE
Proud and fierce, Alexander Fraser fights for the lands and title the English stole from his family - and for the Scots dream of freedom. Now he's lost what's closest to his heart: his younger brother Jamie, captured by the ruthless earl of Warfield. Determined to free Jamie, Alex boldly takes a hostage - the earl's daughter Catherine. But the delicate maiden he locks in his craggy castle has more mettle than many men...and more passion than any woman he has ever known. Even as Alex and Catherine risk scandal and insurrection to indulge their desire, he knows he must someday give her up...or forfeit his brother's life.
388 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 14, 1998
7 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Juliana Garnett
13 books21 followersAKA Michelle Brandon, Micki Brown. Virginia Brown, Emma Harrington and Virginia Lynn.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 11, 2012
I was very pleasantly surprised with this Scottish medieval romance. I really enjoyed the story, strong characters and the romance. The book manages to show realistic historical details of the time period but still include a very romantic love story.
Alexander Fraser is a Scottish lord fighting for Robert the Bruce along the Scottish/English border during the fight for Scotland's independence. His younger brother is taken hostage by the English during a border fight by the cruel Earl of Warfield. Alex knows his brother will die unless he can convince Warfield to ransom his brother or allow an exchange of prisoners. Fate smiles upon Alex when he stumbles upon Catherine, Warfield's daughter, alone outside her family's keep. He kidnaps Catherine and takes her back to his lands in Scotland, intending to ransom her back to her father in exchange for his younger brother.
Catherine is a nice young woman who was always sheltered from the harshness of life. Her father was a hard, cold man who saw her only as a means to acquire more influence with a strategic marriage. Catherine wanted more for herself than to be wed to some man she had never met, but she has no say over her life. The only real bright spot in her life is her brother Nicolas, as her mother is also a cold person. When Alex kidnaps her, she is scared to death but faces her captor with courage. He does not harm her but she doesn't trust him because she knows how the Scots hate the English. She is also certain her father will not trade valuable hostages for her, a mere daughter.
Alex and Catherine slowly get to know each other as she stays in his keep. There is an instant attraction between the pair that grows during the story. Nothing about their situation is easy. Alex is fighting the English and faces death constantly. He cannot keep Catherine forever because she is the only leverage against his brother's life. His people hate the English after losing many relatives to English battles and raids. Catherine's father is especially hated for his brutality, so that hate extends to Catherine. Yet somehow, these lovers are able to overcome all of the obstacles against them but not without some heartbreak and loss of people they care about.
The story was very realistic but still a very enjoyable to read. Alex was a good man who never mistreated Catherine. He loved her strength and courage, while she came to admire him as an honorable and just man. She had more freedom at his keep as a captive than she ever had at her father's castle, which gives her the ability to grow into a stronger person. Their love grows despite all the odds stacked against them and we see a very satisfying ending. The historical facts and setting were very accurate and blend seamlessly into the story. You feel like you are truly in 1300's Scotland and not just reading a history lesson.
If you enjoy Scottish historical romance, I very highly recommend you read this book to enjoy a great romance!
Alexander Fraser is a Scottish lord fighting for Robert the Bruce along the Scottish/English border during the fight for Scotland's independence. His younger brother is taken hostage by the English during a border fight by the cruel Earl of Warfield. Alex knows his brother will die unless he can convince Warfield to ransom his brother or allow an exchange of prisoners. Fate smiles upon Alex when he stumbles upon Catherine, Warfield's daughter, alone outside her family's keep. He kidnaps Catherine and takes her back to his lands in Scotland, intending to ransom her back to her father in exchange for his younger brother.
Catherine is a nice young woman who was always sheltered from the harshness of life. Her father was a hard, cold man who saw her only as a means to acquire more influence with a strategic marriage. Catherine wanted more for herself than to be wed to some man she had never met, but she has no say over her life. The only real bright spot in her life is her brother Nicolas, as her mother is also a cold person. When Alex kidnaps her, she is scared to death but faces her captor with courage. He does not harm her but she doesn't trust him because she knows how the Scots hate the English. She is also certain her father will not trade valuable hostages for her, a mere daughter.
Alex and Catherine slowly get to know each other as she stays in his keep. There is an instant attraction between the pair that grows during the story. Nothing about their situation is easy. Alex is fighting the English and faces death constantly. He cannot keep Catherine forever because she is the only leverage against his brother's life. His people hate the English after losing many relatives to English battles and raids. Catherine's father is especially hated for his brutality, so that hate extends to Catherine. Yet somehow, these lovers are able to overcome all of the obstacles against them but not without some heartbreak and loss of people they care about.
The story was very realistic but still a very enjoyable to read. Alex was a good man who never mistreated Catherine. He loved her strength and courage, while she came to admire him as an honorable and just man. She had more freedom at his keep as a captive than she ever had at her father's castle, which gives her the ability to grow into a stronger person. Their love grows despite all the odds stacked against them and we see a very satisfying ending. The historical facts and setting were very accurate and blend seamlessly into the story. You feel like you are truly in 1300's Scotland and not just reading a history lesson.
If you enjoy Scottish historical romance, I very highly recommend you read this book to enjoy a great romance!
November 22, 2009
[“The Scotsman” by Juliana Garnett:]
England/Scotland (Battle of Bannockburn) 1313
This is your classic knights of old/damsel in distress romance novel set in times of war on the England/Scotland border. Anyone who enjoys both a good historical accounting with a little embellishment thrown in for the sake of creating the main romantic characters and keeping them “close to” the actual historical figures, will enjoy this tale. When I first started reading, I felt that Garnett drew the characters a bit with a “Julie Garwood” flavor, but then they were quickly distinguished away from Garwood’s overall style, as Garnett writes neither the whimsical humor that Garwood sprinkles into her early historicals, nor tampers with history as much as Garwood has been known to do. However, don’t take that as a criticism, as Garnett’s flare for writing characters and setting that are spot-on historical romance, is some of the best I’ve read.
Alexander Fraser is much embroiled in the tug-of-war for Scotland between the English and Scots, as a steadfast supporter of Robert the Bruce and the retention of Scotland’s independence from England. Having been stripped of his Scottish family’s baronial titles by King Edward, Alex has wrested back his familial lands and holdings during this particular Scottish uprising in history, but unfortunately has lost his young 12-year old brother, Jamie, (. . . yes, “Jamie Fraser,” who can resist that name! ;), whose been taken hostage by the Earl of Warfield while disobeying Alex’s orders to stay put and out of the fray. Hoping, without much success for a ransom deal that could gain Jamie’s release, Alex and his men venture stealthily onto Warfield’s lands to case the place and assess a possible rescue. With great timing and luck, he happens upon Catherine, the Earl’s daughter, having snuck away from the ruthless and suffocating confines of her father’s cold and calculating attentions for a moment of solitude in a favorite childhood haunt in the forest outside the castle gates. Alex quickly nabs Catherine, and their battle of both detraction and attraction to each other begins.
Alex is no pushover when it comes to staying on focus with his plan to use Catherine as an “exchange” hostage for his little brother’s release, and does a nice job of resisting his inherent attraction to Catherine. However, he feels it’s only lust in the long run, and, as it becomes apparent that Catherine’s stay in his castle may be more long term than he anticipated due to her cold and heartless sire’s lack of value placed on her, he begins to convince himself there would be no harm in sampling Catherine’s charms. Although Garnett creates the historically accurate scenario of Alex deflowering Catherine as a normal event/right of her being his “hostage and prisoner,” Alex never comes off as ruthless or heartless in his ravishment of her which is truly more of a seduction. Catherine clearly has her own ideas and motivations with regard to submittal to Alex when he acts on his attraction to her, so Garnett never puts the modern-day reader in an emotional vice that makes us have to overlook a “rape” type taking of the heroine and romanticize it. She does a good job of walking the historical reality versus the preferred reading fantasy that all good romance novelists should aspire to when it comes to that type of subject matter.
Catherine is strong willed, but I had no trouble seeing her vulnerabilities, as right away we are clued in to the loveless home she has been brought up in and the view by her quite ruthlessly unemotional father as property for barter and trade to the highest titled ally. With the exception of her brother Nicholas to champion her, she’s quite ignored as a valued “child” by either of her parents. Although her mother clearly “cared for” her, her mother’s own traditional upbringing and loveless/arranged marriage never allows her mother to focus on anything “better” for her children. All those who reside in the Earl of Warwick’s household bow to his ruthless dictates or suffer the consequences at their peril.
The book has great pacing and carries the reader along in a nice gradual romantic arc. Love scenes between Alex and Catherine make sense, and have a great passionate rise and fall to their timing. There are plenty of fleshed out secondary characters that, while not taking the focus away from the lovers, make for a well-rounded story and keep the reader clearly “seeing” the scenes and setting of the times. The battle scenes are quite graphic, so if you’re a bit squeamish in those historical details, this may put you off of this book. For me it was a great balance of all the elements I like in a great historical romance without the “bodice-ripper” elements that either put a reader off, or tread on ideological principles for a lot of us, leaving just the good stuff -- a truly romantic feel.
5-star read. Recommended for those who love well respected history with their romance, across the board.
K.
Sexual content mild to medium in graphic depiction/tastefully presented; Violence somewhat graphic in depiction/historically accurate feel; No graphic language; Generally recommended for ages 15 and above with specific parental review/discretion as applicable; . . . Not drowning in Scotish brogue, but enough to give it a nice flavor and remind the reader of the setting!
England/Scotland (Battle of Bannockburn) 1313
This is your classic knights of old/damsel in distress romance novel set in times of war on the England/Scotland border. Anyone who enjoys both a good historical accounting with a little embellishment thrown in for the sake of creating the main romantic characters and keeping them “close to” the actual historical figures, will enjoy this tale. When I first started reading, I felt that Garnett drew the characters a bit with a “Julie Garwood” flavor, but then they were quickly distinguished away from Garwood’s overall style, as Garnett writes neither the whimsical humor that Garwood sprinkles into her early historicals, nor tampers with history as much as Garwood has been known to do. However, don’t take that as a criticism, as Garnett’s flare for writing characters and setting that are spot-on historical romance, is some of the best I’ve read.
Alexander Fraser is much embroiled in the tug-of-war for Scotland between the English and Scots, as a steadfast supporter of Robert the Bruce and the retention of Scotland’s independence from England. Having been stripped of his Scottish family’s baronial titles by King Edward, Alex has wrested back his familial lands and holdings during this particular Scottish uprising in history, but unfortunately has lost his young 12-year old brother, Jamie, (. . . yes, “Jamie Fraser,” who can resist that name! ;), whose been taken hostage by the Earl of Warfield while disobeying Alex’s orders to stay put and out of the fray. Hoping, without much success for a ransom deal that could gain Jamie’s release, Alex and his men venture stealthily onto Warfield’s lands to case the place and assess a possible rescue. With great timing and luck, he happens upon Catherine, the Earl’s daughter, having snuck away from the ruthless and suffocating confines of her father’s cold and calculating attentions for a moment of solitude in a favorite childhood haunt in the forest outside the castle gates. Alex quickly nabs Catherine, and their battle of both detraction and attraction to each other begins.
Alex is no pushover when it comes to staying on focus with his plan to use Catherine as an “exchange” hostage for his little brother’s release, and does a nice job of resisting his inherent attraction to Catherine. However, he feels it’s only lust in the long run, and, as it becomes apparent that Catherine’s stay in his castle may be more long term than he anticipated due to her cold and heartless sire’s lack of value placed on her, he begins to convince himself there would be no harm in sampling Catherine’s charms. Although Garnett creates the historically accurate scenario of Alex deflowering Catherine as a normal event/right of her being his “hostage and prisoner,” Alex never comes off as ruthless or heartless in his ravishment of her which is truly more of a seduction. Catherine clearly has her own ideas and motivations with regard to submittal to Alex when he acts on his attraction to her, so Garnett never puts the modern-day reader in an emotional vice that makes us have to overlook a “rape” type taking of the heroine and romanticize it. She does a good job of walking the historical reality versus the preferred reading fantasy that all good romance novelists should aspire to when it comes to that type of subject matter.
Catherine is strong willed, but I had no trouble seeing her vulnerabilities, as right away we are clued in to the loveless home she has been brought up in and the view by her quite ruthlessly unemotional father as property for barter and trade to the highest titled ally. With the exception of her brother Nicholas to champion her, she’s quite ignored as a valued “child” by either of her parents. Although her mother clearly “cared for” her, her mother’s own traditional upbringing and loveless/arranged marriage never allows her mother to focus on anything “better” for her children. All those who reside in the Earl of Warwick’s household bow to his ruthless dictates or suffer the consequences at their peril.
The book has great pacing and carries the reader along in a nice gradual romantic arc. Love scenes between Alex and Catherine make sense, and have a great passionate rise and fall to their timing. There are plenty of fleshed out secondary characters that, while not taking the focus away from the lovers, make for a well-rounded story and keep the reader clearly “seeing” the scenes and setting of the times. The battle scenes are quite graphic, so if you’re a bit squeamish in those historical details, this may put you off of this book. For me it was a great balance of all the elements I like in a great historical romance without the “bodice-ripper” elements that either put a reader off, or tread on ideological principles for a lot of us, leaving just the good stuff -- a truly romantic feel.
5-star read. Recommended for those who love well respected history with their romance, across the board.
K.
Sexual content mild to medium in graphic depiction/tastefully presented; Violence somewhat graphic in depiction/historically accurate feel; No graphic language; Generally recommended for ages 15 and above with specific parental review/discretion as applicable; . . . Not drowning in Scotish brogue, but enough to give it a nice flavor and remind the reader of the setting!
December 7, 2009
I have to admit that, while I liked a lot of this book, I was also compelled to skim in a few places. And now comes the confession ... I skimmed the sex scenes. I know! What's wrong with me?
I found the historical elements and the story of the conflict to be more engrossing than the rest. The hero and heroine started out pretty good. They were enemies and the way they acted toward each other made perfect sense. I wondered how they would get over it. And I guess that's why it felt so inorganic when they did. They just ... did. It was odd. But, eventually it stopped feeling forced to me and I went with it, which is why I give it 4 stars even.
The turbulent time setting was really diverting. Robert the Bruce is the unrecognized (by England) king of Scotland. England is killing Scots, Scots are killing English. It's bloody and, like the conflict between the hero and heroine, I couldn't fathom it being peaceful enough even to end the book with a satisfying HEA. It's pretty rough all the way until the end, but I ultimately believed in the potential for a long life together for this couple.
A couple of things that bothered me and nearly pushed this into the three-star range. Insta-recovery from effects of torture. Uh ... no. If we have the time to see the details of the excruciating act, then there's time to explain the recovery or to make allowances for lack of ability. It's in the story line already so it's true. Now you have to work within the truth you, the author, have laid down. No skipsies.
So I guess I wasn't romantically overwhelmed, but I did like the story overall. The settings were interesting and there was no pulling back from tragedy. I usually can't abide character death but it was fitting in this scenario even as it was very heart-breaking.
I remember someone (K, I think) describing this as a dark version of Julie Garwood. That's a very apt comparison, IMO. The historical elements are more in depth and seem mostly accurate, and the heroine isn't nearly as quirky, but the hero is a Garwood Special if ever there was one.
Now, if only the Kindle edition didn't have so dang many typos (grrrr). It took me until the third time I saw it to finally figure out that "Ufe" was supposed to be "life". I thought it was some gaelic something or other. And was the boy's name Tam or Tarn? I know Mairi's name wasn't Main, but the Kindle didn't. Sheesh. There were even symbols in place of some letters. It was quite the challenge at times, I tell ya.
Anyway, just go for it. ;^)
I found the historical elements and the story of the conflict to be more engrossing than the rest. The hero and heroine started out pretty good. They were enemies and the way they acted toward each other made perfect sense. I wondered how they would get over it. And I guess that's why it felt so inorganic when they did. They just ... did. It was odd. But, eventually it stopped feeling forced to me and I went with it, which is why I give it 4 stars even.
The turbulent time setting was really diverting. Robert the Bruce is the unrecognized (by England) king of Scotland. England is killing Scots, Scots are killing English. It's bloody and, like the conflict between the hero and heroine, I couldn't fathom it being peaceful enough even to end the book with a satisfying HEA. It's pretty rough all the way until the end, but I ultimately believed in the potential for a long life together for this couple.
A couple of things that bothered me and nearly pushed this into the three-star range. Insta-recovery from effects of torture. Uh ... no. If we have the time to see the details of the excruciating act, then there's time to explain the recovery or to make allowances for lack of ability. It's in the story line already so it's true. Now you have to work within the truth you, the author, have laid down. No skipsies.
So I guess I wasn't romantically overwhelmed, but I did like the story overall. The settings were interesting and there was no pulling back from tragedy. I usually can't abide character death but it was fitting in this scenario even as it was very heart-breaking.
I remember someone (K, I think) describing this as a dark version of Julie Garwood. That's a very apt comparison, IMO. The historical elements are more in depth and seem mostly accurate, and the heroine isn't nearly as quirky, but the hero is a Garwood Special if ever there was one.
Now, if only the Kindle edition didn't have so dang many typos (grrrr). It took me until the third time I saw it to finally figure out that "Ufe" was supposed to be "life". I thought it was some gaelic something or other. And was the boy's name Tam or Tarn? I know Mairi's name wasn't Main, but the Kindle didn't. Sheesh. There were even symbols in place of some letters. It was quite the challenge at times, I tell ya.
Anyway, just go for it. ;^)
April 26, 2013
Superb Story of a Highland Chieftain who followed Robert the Bruce and the English beauty he loved!
What I immediately liked about this book was the history is so well woven into the story, it swept me into the minds of the Scots who followed Robert Bruce in their fight for freedom from the English rule. Set in 1313-1314 when the Bruce and his men retook Stirling Castle and eventually gained military victory over King Edward, it tells the story of Sir Alexander Fraser, laird of his clan and avid Bruce follower, and Lady Catherine, daughter of the cruel English Earl of Warfield.
To free his brother and another of Bruce’s men taken captive by Warfield, Alex abducts Warfield’s beautiful daughter who is betrothed to a man she doesn’t know. Catherine is an intelligent independent woman who resents her father’s cruel indifference to her wishes not to wed. At first she finds the Scot Alex Fraser to be a crude barbarian and then discovers he is as educated as she and a wise leader of his people. And he is so taken with the red-haired, violet-eyed beauty, though he knows he risks his brother’s life, he cannot resist her.
Garnett (aka Virginia Brown) includes wonderfully rich descriptions of life in both the English castle and the Scottish keep and adds meaningful dialog and well-developed characters for an enthralling story. Her action scenes are amazing (Chapter 25 had me biting my lip!). The chemistry slowly builds between Catherine and Alex in this well told tale. Her love scenes are truly well done and from the male perspective, too! What a great author! Needless to say, I highly recommend this one and I’ll be buying more of her medievals.
What I immediately liked about this book was the history is so well woven into the story, it swept me into the minds of the Scots who followed Robert Bruce in their fight for freedom from the English rule. Set in 1313-1314 when the Bruce and his men retook Stirling Castle and eventually gained military victory over King Edward, it tells the story of Sir Alexander Fraser, laird of his clan and avid Bruce follower, and Lady Catherine, daughter of the cruel English Earl of Warfield.
To free his brother and another of Bruce’s men taken captive by Warfield, Alex abducts Warfield’s beautiful daughter who is betrothed to a man she doesn’t know. Catherine is an intelligent independent woman who resents her father’s cruel indifference to her wishes not to wed. At first she finds the Scot Alex Fraser to be a crude barbarian and then discovers he is as educated as she and a wise leader of his people. And he is so taken with the red-haired, violet-eyed beauty, though he knows he risks his brother’s life, he cannot resist her.
Garnett (aka Virginia Brown) includes wonderfully rich descriptions of life in both the English castle and the Scottish keep and adds meaningful dialog and well-developed characters for an enthralling story. Her action scenes are amazing (Chapter 25 had me biting my lip!). The chemistry slowly builds between Catherine and Alex in this well told tale. Her love scenes are truly well done and from the male perspective, too! What a great author! Needless to say, I highly recommend this one and I’ll be buying more of her medievals.
December 30, 2016
I read this book because:
1. It is medieval.
2. It is in Scotland.
3. It is a Romeo and Juliet kind of story, only it is not a tragedy. The prince and princess lived happily ever after.
There, I have summarized the story. I wish I would stop summarizing stories like this but most of them, well, a summary will do.
I liked this book, first of all. I didn't want to stop. I was not overly impressed but it kept my interest. Alex Fraser needed to rescue his younger brother Jamie. He happened upon Catherine, the daughter of his enemy and abducted her as a hostage to ransom his brother. They fell in love, Catherine's father and brother swore a lot and threatened Alex. At the same time Robert the Bruce was calling all Scots to fight his war against Kind Edward. In the end all was well that ended well.
There are a few things that kind of appalled me about this book. One of them was Alex's children. He had 2 children from his relations with 2 women in the village. He acknowledged them and they lived with him. They were little but I was thinking, poor boy was going to grow up knowing that he was first born but a bastard. I mean I suppose what was described in the book was probably what happened in the 14th century. These heroes who acknowledged their bastards and treated them as fairly as they would their "legitimate" children were probably just fantasy. So I don't really know what my complaint is. I cannot begrudge the book for being more truthful to historical facts. So I will leave it at that. But later in the book, the writer killed those kids! Whatever for!? I don't get it. Now I found that hard to bear. Children dying in wars just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It does not have an impact on my rating but I was troubled by the fact that Alex's children died. It didn't help that Catherine became pregnant at the end of the book and Alex was so overjoyed by it. I cannot help it. I felt bad for those 2 kids.
A few other things that kept me from rating this 4 stars: Catherine and Alex were not really special. They had a ok relationship, nothing extraordinary. It wasn't bad, just wasn't very special. But I was entertained enough by the book for a few hours, so I am rating this book 3 stars.
1. It is medieval.
2. It is in Scotland.
3. It is a Romeo and Juliet kind of story, only it is not a tragedy. The prince and princess lived happily ever after.
There, I have summarized the story. I wish I would stop summarizing stories like this but most of them, well, a summary will do.
I liked this book, first of all. I didn't want to stop. I was not overly impressed but it kept my interest. Alex Fraser needed to rescue his younger brother Jamie. He happened upon Catherine, the daughter of his enemy and abducted her as a hostage to ransom his brother. They fell in love, Catherine's father and brother swore a lot and threatened Alex. At the same time Robert the Bruce was calling all Scots to fight his war against Kind Edward. In the end all was well that ended well.
There are a few things that kind of appalled me about this book. One of them was Alex's children. He had 2 children from his relations with 2 women in the village. He acknowledged them and they lived with him. They were little but I was thinking, poor boy was going to grow up knowing that he was first born but a bastard. I mean I suppose what was described in the book was probably what happened in the 14th century. These heroes who acknowledged their bastards and treated them as fairly as they would their "legitimate" children were probably just fantasy. So I don't really know what my complaint is. I cannot begrudge the book for being more truthful to historical facts. So I will leave it at that. But later in the book, the writer killed those kids! Whatever for!? I don't get it. Now I found that hard to bear. Children dying in wars just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It does not have an impact on my rating but I was troubled by the fact that Alex's children died. It didn't help that Catherine became pregnant at the end of the book and Alex was so overjoyed by it. I cannot help it. I felt bad for those 2 kids.
A few other things that kept me from rating this 4 stars: Catherine and Alex were not really special. They had a ok relationship, nothing extraordinary. It wasn't bad, just wasn't very special. But I was entertained enough by the book for a few hours, so I am rating this book 3 stars.
June 8, 2014
Originally Posted At Addicted To Romance
Alexander Fraser has learned that his younger brother has been captured by the English, and he knows he has little time to save him. So Alexander does the only thing he can, he kidnaps the daughter of the man who is holding his brother hostage. Catherine has always felt oppressed by her father, who only sees her as a way to gain fortune with planning her upcoming marriage with a man twice her age. But while out taking a breath of fresh air, Catherine finds herself kidnapped by A fierce yet handsome Scottish warrior. He takes her to his home, and plans on trading her for his brother. Catherine knows that she means little to her father, she knows her brother will try, but she doesn't see her father trading her for his valued prisoners. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love with her captor, a man who offers her respect and gentleness and...desire. She has only ever wanted to find a place in life, and she knows that in her heart her place is by Alexander's side.
The Scotsman is another single title by Juliana Garnett, but takes place in the same time frame as The Laird, which I recently read and reviewed. After recently discovering this author, I am amazed that this is the first time I have read her. Her storytelling is inspiring, passionate, and full of depth with each page. The Scotsman is a story that takes place in Scotland, with the waring between Bruce and the English king. There is something awe inspiring about this time period and the passion and determination of the Scots. With The Scotsman we see how far men and women are willing to go for what they believe in, even at the cost of their lives.
The story starts with Catherine being kidnapped by Alexander who hopes to ransom her. While Catherine is residing with Alexander, we start to see a slow burning passion build between these two characters who try to resist it knowing it could never go anywhere. I love how much emotionally driven this story is and I loved this love story. There was so much intensity in this story, and it definitely carries through until the end. When you finally think that you have the plot figured it, it throws a curve ball and you better watch out or you might get slammed.
Overall a intense and passionate story to burn in your memory. A tale that takes place in a time of war, grief, and loss but also passion and a fierce will to survive. A stunning romance to worm its way into your heart!! REMARKABLY WRITTEN and I LOVED IT!!
Alexander Fraser has learned that his younger brother has been captured by the English, and he knows he has little time to save him. So Alexander does the only thing he can, he kidnaps the daughter of the man who is holding his brother hostage. Catherine has always felt oppressed by her father, who only sees her as a way to gain fortune with planning her upcoming marriage with a man twice her age. But while out taking a breath of fresh air, Catherine finds herself kidnapped by A fierce yet handsome Scottish warrior. He takes her to his home, and plans on trading her for his brother. Catherine knows that she means little to her father, she knows her brother will try, but she doesn't see her father trading her for his valued prisoners. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love with her captor, a man who offers her respect and gentleness and...desire. She has only ever wanted to find a place in life, and she knows that in her heart her place is by Alexander's side.
The Scotsman is another single title by Juliana Garnett, but takes place in the same time frame as The Laird, which I recently read and reviewed. After recently discovering this author, I am amazed that this is the first time I have read her. Her storytelling is inspiring, passionate, and full of depth with each page. The Scotsman is a story that takes place in Scotland, with the waring between Bruce and the English king. There is something awe inspiring about this time period and the passion and determination of the Scots. With The Scotsman we see how far men and women are willing to go for what they believe in, even at the cost of their lives.
The story starts with Catherine being kidnapped by Alexander who hopes to ransom her. While Catherine is residing with Alexander, we start to see a slow burning passion build between these two characters who try to resist it knowing it could never go anywhere. I love how much emotionally driven this story is and I loved this love story. There was so much intensity in this story, and it definitely carries through until the end. When you finally think that you have the plot figured it, it throws a curve ball and you better watch out or you might get slammed.
Overall a intense and passionate story to burn in your memory. A tale that takes place in a time of war, grief, and loss but also passion and a fierce will to survive. A stunning romance to worm its way into your heart!! REMARKABLY WRITTEN and I LOVED IT!!
September 26, 2024
Ughhhh this was irritating. I was actually really into the initial concept and Catherine’s rebellious character but it quickly devolves into not much of anything. Catherine gets nothing to do. The Scotsman isn’t even that sexy. The *spicy* scenes are all the same to the point where Catherines brother gets a sex scene with a maid and it reads exactly the same as Catherine’s sex scenes with the Scotsman…. Which is weird. Like, I already thought the relationship between Catherine and her brother was a bit incesty, but the fact they basically have sex the same way confirmed it. Are we sure this takes place in the UK and not Alabama?
Also there is somehow too much plot and yet not enough: so much talk about English-Scottish politics, but the romance doesn’t really grow or evolve. I don’t feel like these two have any reason to care about each other, they’re basically just fuck buddies, and I didn’t have a reason to care about them either. I only kept reading to see if one of them would die, which would’ve made things interesting, but alas, everyone lives. Where is the plague when you need it?
So if I had a nickel for every time a Scottish romance let me down, I would have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Also there is somehow too much plot and yet not enough: so much talk about English-Scottish politics, but the romance doesn’t really grow or evolve. I don’t feel like these two have any reason to care about each other, they’re basically just fuck buddies, and I didn’t have a reason to care about them either. I only kept reading to see if one of them would die, which would’ve made things interesting, but alas, everyone lives. Where is the plague when you need it?
So if I had a nickel for every time a Scottish romance let me down, I would have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
July 15, 2009
Good love story. The love between Alex and Catherine grows in a believable way. It is not full of the hatred that often passes for chemistry in a romance. Neither is lust passed off as love. The two main characters are caught up in the circumstances of their time and the story is allowed to develop from that.
October 2, 2017
THIS WAS OKAY, BUT IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEET ANY 5 STARS STANDARD...NOT IF YOU HAVE READ HIGHLAND ROMANCES BY AUTHORS LIKE MAYA BANKS OR KINLEY MACGREGOR.
OUR HERO is a Laird whose brother has been captured by the enemy and in order to get Jamie back, he kidnaps the daughter of the man responsible. Sadly he didn't peg that our heroine's father doesn't love his daughter or put her of any importance in their lives. I had a tiff with Alex's behaviour...he just felt kind of overly self-righteous (mildly) sometimes...especially when it comes to sex. He has two illegitimate children with two different women, and tries to justify his actions, because he felt guilty...LOL WHAT?
OUR HEROINE is a beautiful woman caught between her brother's and lover's love. Her father doesn't love her, and couldn't much care that she is used as a pawn by his own enemy. Despite her situation, our heroine makes the best of her problems and stands up for herself.
OVERALL the story was quite simple, its a cliche but classic troupe of a laird falling for his own captive. What made me rate it at just 3 stars, is because while there was romance...there lacked the heart-wrenching or self sacrifing kind of romance...and the passion was not scorchingly genuine. You know how some characters when pit together just have a natural flow of chemistry and sexual tension? Well, this one lacked that BIG OOMPH.
OUR HERO is a Laird whose brother has been captured by the enemy and in order to get Jamie back, he kidnaps the daughter of the man responsible. Sadly he didn't peg that our heroine's father doesn't love his daughter or put her of any importance in their lives. I had a tiff with Alex's behaviour...he just felt kind of overly self-righteous (mildly) sometimes...especially when it comes to sex. He has two illegitimate children with two different women, and tries to justify his actions, because he felt guilty...LOL WHAT?
OUR HEROINE is a beautiful woman caught between her brother's and lover's love. Her father doesn't love her, and couldn't much care that she is used as a pawn by his own enemy. Despite her situation, our heroine makes the best of her problems and stands up for herself.
OVERALL the story was quite simple, its a cliche but classic troupe of a laird falling for his own captive. What made me rate it at just 3 stars, is because while there was romance...there lacked the heart-wrenching or self sacrifing kind of romance...and the passion was not scorchingly genuine. You know how some characters when pit together just have a natural flow of chemistry and sexual tension? Well, this one lacked that BIG OOMPH.
February 22, 2022
Good..
Entertaining..
Liked the characters..
Beautifully written..
Good story ..
Enjoyed the way love blossomed between the leads, not just lust.. but emotions and feelings.
Entertaining..
Liked the characters..
Beautifully written..
Good story ..
Enjoyed the way love blossomed between the leads, not just lust.. but emotions and feelings.
February 11, 2014
"I love you catkin. God help us both, but I love you far more than I ever thought 'twas possible for a man to love a woman. You are my world, and I pray that I do not slay you by daring to love you." Alex, the hero.
Oh, swoon. This was one of many moments that I loved about this book!
I will admit when I read the names of the main characters I was immediately like WAIT!
The hero Alex and his heroine Catherine eerily remind me of one of my all time favorite couples: Alex and Catherine. Yep, but that couple is from a book by Marsha Canham called Blood of the Roses. That book has remained with me since I first read it a couple of years ago.
Anyway, back to this book. I really enjoyed it. This book takes place during one of Scotland's fights for independence. Alex's brother is captured in battle and will be turned over to the king for execution. Alex seeks to do something about it. He ends up kidnapping the daughter of the man who has imprisoned his brother.
At first, Catherine is not a very good hostage. While waiting for a ransom, she slowly learns not to judge people by stereotypes. The hero begins a gradual thaw towards her as well. Together, they discover true love.
There's lot of tension, action, and battle scenes to keep the pace rolling.
It was a great story. Sigh! Moved to my all-time favorite shelf!
Oh, swoon. This was one of many moments that I loved about this book!
I will admit when I read the names of the main characters I was immediately like WAIT!
The hero Alex and his heroine Catherine eerily remind me of one of my all time favorite couples: Alex and Catherine. Yep, but that couple is from a book by Marsha Canham called Blood of the Roses. That book has remained with me since I first read it a couple of years ago.
Anyway, back to this book. I really enjoyed it. This book takes place during one of Scotland's fights for independence. Alex's brother is captured in battle and will be turned over to the king for execution. Alex seeks to do something about it. He ends up kidnapping the daughter of the man who has imprisoned his brother.
At first, Catherine is not a very good hostage. While waiting for a ransom, she slowly learns not to judge people by stereotypes. The hero begins a gradual thaw towards her as well. Together, they discover true love.
There's lot of tension, action, and battle scenes to keep the pace rolling.
It was a great story. Sigh! Moved to my all-time favorite shelf!
November 9, 2018
A keeper!!
This is the only Juliana Garnett book I have read. I LOVED it. So rich, warm and wonderful. Alex is a near perfect hero. Strong, loyal, calm, brave, understanding, patient, sexy, and a warrior on top of it all.
Catherine is a heroine I love because she really changes over the course of the book, becomes more mature, and understands how all she learned about "the enemy" was distorted, and/or outright lies.
I don't understand how the other reviewers could say it's not very romantic. I found their story and actions to be quite romantic. The loves scenes were not garish or crude, but tender and just enough 'oomph' in them.
This is truly a historical romance book. I loved reading about The Bruce and both sides in this story, as well as the battles. I could picture everything in my mind. She is an excellent writer.
The way they both grow to love and care for each other is a story I will want to read a few more times in my life so it's going on my 'keeper' bookshelf.
This was a very tight story, with no extraneous words nor filler. No repetition, no fluff!
Highly recommended!
This is the only Juliana Garnett book I have read. I LOVED it. So rich, warm and wonderful. Alex is a near perfect hero. Strong, loyal, calm, brave, understanding, patient, sexy, and a warrior on top of it all.
Catherine is a heroine I love because she really changes over the course of the book, becomes more mature, and understands how all she learned about "the enemy" was distorted, and/or outright lies.
I don't understand how the other reviewers could say it's not very romantic. I found their story and actions to be quite romantic. The loves scenes were not garish or crude, but tender and just enough 'oomph' in them.
This is truly a historical romance book. I loved reading about The Bruce and both sides in this story, as well as the battles. I could picture everything in my mind. She is an excellent writer.
The way they both grow to love and care for each other is a story I will want to read a few more times in my life so it's going on my 'keeper' bookshelf.
This was a very tight story, with no extraneous words nor filler. No repetition, no fluff!
Highly recommended!
November 17, 2014
synopsis:
catherine is expected to be a good daughter and marry who her family picks out for her. alex is out to get leverage to get some of his men returned to him. what he doesn't realize is that catherine isn't really high on her father's list of priorities. although catherine is now safe from the marriage that she didn't want, she is now in the clutches of the hated scottish.
what i liked: the time period. alex and catherine were well drawn characters.
what i didn't like: yet another very popular book that had me scratching my head and wondering why. there are lots of historical details, but i read audrey howard and rosalind laker and diana gabaldon, and they are definitely NOT short on the historical details side of things. the story should have been interetsing, but i just couldn't get into it.
catherine is expected to be a good daughter and marry who her family picks out for her. alex is out to get leverage to get some of his men returned to him. what he doesn't realize is that catherine isn't really high on her father's list of priorities. although catherine is now safe from the marriage that she didn't want, she is now in the clutches of the hated scottish.
what i liked: the time period. alex and catherine were well drawn characters.
what i didn't like: yet another very popular book that had me scratching my head and wondering why. there are lots of historical details, but i read audrey howard and rosalind laker and diana gabaldon, and they are definitely NOT short on the historical details side of things. the story should have been interetsing, but i just couldn't get into it.
March 31, 2010
I finally read this one! I kept putting it off because the first chapter was just way over descriptive. However, all the times I tried to start it were at night, so I picked it up yesterday morning.....and got sucked in! lol
I really liked this story because of the authors ability to keep the story realistic! I felt like I was reading an amazing historical from the 1300's.
It was a great non-paranormal Highlander novel!!!
I really liked this story because of the authors ability to keep the story realistic! I felt like I was reading an amazing historical from the 1300's.
It was a great non-paranormal Highlander novel!!!
May 15, 2009
This was a good read, but not a great read for me. I didn't 'feel' it, if you know what I mean. The story was enjoyable enough, and the love scenes were good, but I just didn't feel depth in the characters and their relationship wasn't 'believable'. It didn't evoke any feelings or investment from me, is probably the best way I can put it.
August 21, 2010
I am constantly looking for a good highland romance novel and of late it has been a real hit and miss. Juliana Garnett's "The Scotsman" ticked all of the boxes for me. It was a great balance of history and romance. A book that I found hard to put down and at the end felt that warm and fuzzy feeling after reading a good romance.
March 4, 2020
Classic enemies to lovers set up in the Scottish highlands. You've probably read this trope a million times before, but this version is done quite well. Though The Vow by the same author is actually even better done.
July 25, 2009
4.5 stars. Great read, wonderful story and surprisingly steamy for a book written in 98. :-)
February 11, 2010
I really liked the characters in this book, but I still found myself skimming a lot. The history was kind of boring to me, but I still loved the story.
April 17, 2018
oldish romance, purple prose - couldn't finish it
November 21, 2011
The storyline is a bit cliche, but I thought the writing was good, and kept me interested the whole way through.
March 27, 2017
BAHAHA romance novels...
February 27, 2013
One of my favorite Scottish period pieces.
February 27, 2013
Very nice Scottish medieval romance. I enjoyed the story, enjoyed the way characters are portrayed and enjoyed the romance with very realistic historical details.
December 18, 2013
amazing
October 22, 2014
Awful.
April 4, 2014
Gag me with a dull spoon...this one was pretty bad.
Read
June 5, 2018The WORST heroine (Catherine) ever. She is spoil brat. When she was a prisoner she said "I can not eat brown bread". She was lucky that she got good foods and warm bed to sleep.
Hero is a LAZY person. The moment he got that spoil English brat in his bed, all he thoughts his penis. He did not even bother to rescue his own brother. When village burned down and his two children died because of Catherine's foolishness, I thought, Lazy hero will finally wake up but NO. I did not finish it because I could not stand it anymore.
Hero is a LAZY person. The moment he got that spoil English brat in his bed, all he thoughts his penis. He did not even bother to rescue his own brother. When village burned down and his two children died because of Catherine's foolishness, I thought, Lazy hero will finally wake up but NO. I did not finish it because I could not stand it anymore.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews