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Guardian of Scotland #3
The Time Traveler's Christmas
A man’s life can fall apart in an instant…
Tougher than oxhide, Lachlan Wallace can take about anything except a breakup call from his wife two minutes before competing in the Karate Championship of the World. Arriving home with a loss, he agrees to watch his uncle’s cat over the holidays. Or so he thinks—until he awakes on a fourteenth century battlefield beside a woman fighting for her life.
Never underestimate a woman’s determination…
Taken from her at the age of two, Lady Christina de Moray hasn’t seen her son in thirteen years. While traveling with Robert the Bruce’s army to exchange an English prisoner for the lad, a battle erupts. Losing the fight, Christina is rescued by a mysterious warrior while the English escape with her son yet again.
And never bet against the potency of passion…
Left with no way back to the twenty-first century, Lachlan agrees to help Christina rescue the lad from his English captors. If the heir is not returned by Christmas next, the Bruce will make his decision whom to grant the de Moray lands, including Lady Christina’s hand. Once his duty is fulfilled, Lachlan hopes to discover a way home—as long as he keeps his mind on the goal and ignores his growing love for the spirited woman who gives him her trust—and her heart.
Tougher than oxhide, Lachlan Wallace can take about anything except a breakup call from his wife two minutes before competing in the Karate Championship of the World. Arriving home with a loss, he agrees to watch his uncle’s cat over the holidays. Or so he thinks—until he awakes on a fourteenth century battlefield beside a woman fighting for her life.
Never underestimate a woman’s determination…
Taken from her at the age of two, Lady Christina de Moray hasn’t seen her son in thirteen years. While traveling with Robert the Bruce’s army to exchange an English prisoner for the lad, a battle erupts. Losing the fight, Christina is rescued by a mysterious warrior while the English escape with her son yet again.
And never bet against the potency of passion…
Left with no way back to the twenty-first century, Lachlan agrees to help Christina rescue the lad from his English captors. If the heir is not returned by Christmas next, the Bruce will make his decision whom to grant the de Moray lands, including Lady Christina’s hand. Once his duty is fulfilled, Lachlan hopes to discover a way home—as long as he keeps his mind on the goal and ignores his growing love for the spirited woman who gives him her trust—and her heart.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2016
129 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
Amy Jarecki
113 books1,713 followersKnown for her action-packed, passionate romances, USA TODAY Bestselling Author Amy Jarecki has received reader and critical praise throughout her writing career. She won the prestigious RT Reviewers' Choice award for THE HIGHLAND DUKE and a RONE award from InD’tale Magazine for Best Time Travel for her novel RISE OF A LEGEND. In addition to being a USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Amy has earned the designation as an Amazon All Star Author. She holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and now resides in Wisconsin with her husband where she writes immersive historical and contemporary romance novels.
Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com!
Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 11, 2016
3.5 STARS
I've always enjoyed time travel romance but for some reason haven't read anything from the genre in a long time. So I was pretty excited when I came across Amy Jarecki's new release, The Time Traveler's Christmas. This is the third novel in her Guardian of Scotland series but can easily be read as a stand alone.
In present-day Scotland, Lachlan Wallace is at a crossroads. His wife has left him and he's spending a few weeks house sitting (well, cat sitting) for his uncle and deciding how to move forward. Finding himself in the 14th century on a battlefield is not what he had in mind. Saving Lady Christina de Moray puts him on a path he never envisioned - one that includes danger and political unrest but also a chance at true fulfillment and even lasting love.
First things first, I really loved Lachlan. This was a man with so many admirable qualities. He was honest and loyal, protective without being a caveman, confident without being cocky, and so adaptable and able to handle whatever was thrown at him.
Christina was well portrayed as not only a woman who, as a member of the nobility, had an obligation to the King, but also a heartsick mother who longed for the return of her son. She was strong-willed but the times when she acquiesced made sense considering the station of women during that time.
While there was definitely an early attraction between Lachlan and Christina, the romance itself was a slow burn and all the more satisfying. I enjoyed not only the romance but also the overriding theme of finding and fulfilling your life's purpose.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction and romance with a paranormal twist will surely enjoy The Time Traveler's Christmas.
I've always enjoyed time travel romance but for some reason haven't read anything from the genre in a long time. So I was pretty excited when I came across Amy Jarecki's new release, The Time Traveler's Christmas. This is the third novel in her Guardian of Scotland series but can easily be read as a stand alone.
In present-day Scotland, Lachlan Wallace is at a crossroads. His wife has left him and he's spending a few weeks house sitting (well, cat sitting) for his uncle and deciding how to move forward. Finding himself in the 14th century on a battlefield is not what he had in mind. Saving Lady Christina de Moray puts him on a path he never envisioned - one that includes danger and political unrest but also a chance at true fulfillment and even lasting love.
First things first, I really loved Lachlan. This was a man with so many admirable qualities. He was honest and loyal, protective without being a caveman, confident without being cocky, and so adaptable and able to handle whatever was thrown at him.
Christina was well portrayed as not only a woman who, as a member of the nobility, had an obligation to the King, but also a heartsick mother who longed for the return of her son. She was strong-willed but the times when she acquiesced made sense considering the station of women during that time.
While there was definitely an early attraction between Lachlan and Christina, the romance itself was a slow burn and all the more satisfying. I enjoyed not only the romance but also the overriding theme of finding and fulfilling your life's purpose.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction and romance with a paranormal twist will surely enjoy The Time Traveler's Christmas.
November 23, 2016
4 1/2 Time Traveling Stars!
Definitely a slow burn on the romance, but I still loved it. I think it was very appropriate. The most interesting things about this story for me were the historical aspects. This story feels authentic; though honestly, I have no idea if it actually is. I also loved that it was the hero that traveled back in time rather than the heroine. I enjoyed the characters, the scenery, the politics, and the romance. Be warned, this book paints the English in a very bad light. Now I'm off to go start this series from the beginning because, William Wallace! BRAVEHEART is one of my all time favorite movies!! Talk about romantic... Happy reading!
Definitely a slow burn on the romance, but I still loved it. I think it was very appropriate. The most interesting things about this story for me were the historical aspects. This story feels authentic; though honestly, I have no idea if it actually is. I also loved that it was the hero that traveled back in time rather than the heroine. I enjoyed the characters, the scenery, the politics, and the romance. Be warned, this book paints the English in a very bad light. Now I'm off to go start this series from the beginning because, William Wallace! BRAVEHEART is one of my all time favorite movies!! Talk about romantic... Happy reading!
didn-t-finish
December 9, 2025Got to 11% and had to pull the plug. Either the narrator had no idea how to keep his voice audible or the production was horrible. Either way, I heard maybe one word out of ten while driving for an hour on the highway. I cranked the volume as high as I thought my ears could handle and no dice.
DNF, due to the audio. The book could have been Shakespeare for all I know and it went right over my head.
No stars, as I truly have no idea how good the book was, having not heard any of it.
My suggestion? If you are listening, don’t do so while driving or doing something else that is loud.
Better yet, get a physical copy to read and let me know how it was, lol.
DNF, due to the audio. The book could have been Shakespeare for all I know and it went right over my head.
No stars, as I truly have no idea how good the book was, having not heard any of it.
My suggestion? If you are listening, don’t do so while driving or doing something else that is loud.
Better yet, get a physical copy to read and let me know how it was, lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2017
The Time Traveler’s Christmas by Amy Jarecki was a wonderful surprise. I loved this historical fiction novel and stayed up to the week hours of the morning to finish it.
Lachlan had not only lost one of the biggest karate tournaments of his life, but also his cheating wife. Now…he’s hiding out at his uncles.
His uncle had left him a Christmas gift, a medallion. He put it on, went to sleep, and…
I was immersed in Lachlan’s story early in the book and he never let me go. He is a sexy warrior that believes in doing the right thing, at all costs.
The surprises and action came early and the character’s came to life through Amy Jarecki’s words.
I was curious where she would take the story. Is it possible to straddle both worlds, moving back and forth between them? Would the medallion choose for him? Or would he have to choose?
Lachlan thought he knew and had one year . Come next Christmas, it would be time to go home. But he had this Christmas.
Of course, we have romance and, even though the sexual tension between Lachlan and Christine is almost instantaneous, their relationship develops slowly.
I was invested in their lives from the opening pages. They are strong characters that grow and develop over the pages.
I was surprised how much I loved The Time Traveler’s Christmas. Not about the time travel itself, because I love to read the genre, but because of the time and dialogue. Lachlan had been transported from the twenty first century to medieval times, and to Scotland to boot. I thought it might be tough reading, but I worried for nothing.
There was so much more to the story than I anticipated.
Sprinkled with truths of history, the Guardian of Scotland stand alone series is one I want to continue.
To see more visit fundinmental
Lachlan had not only lost one of the biggest karate tournaments of his life, but also his cheating wife. Now…he’s hiding out at his uncles.
His uncle had left him a Christmas gift, a medallion. He put it on, went to sleep, and…
I was immersed in Lachlan’s story early in the book and he never let me go. He is a sexy warrior that believes in doing the right thing, at all costs.
The surprises and action came early and the character’s came to life through Amy Jarecki’s words.
I was curious where she would take the story. Is it possible to straddle both worlds, moving back and forth between them? Would the medallion choose for him? Or would he have to choose?
Lachlan thought he knew and had one year . Come next Christmas, it would be time to go home. But he had this Christmas.
Of course, we have romance and, even though the sexual tension between Lachlan and Christine is almost instantaneous, their relationship develops slowly.
I was invested in their lives from the opening pages. They are strong characters that grow and develop over the pages.
I was surprised how much I loved The Time Traveler’s Christmas. Not about the time travel itself, because I love to read the genre, but because of the time and dialogue. Lachlan had been transported from the twenty first century to medieval times, and to Scotland to boot. I thought it might be tough reading, but I worried for nothing.
There was so much more to the story than I anticipated.
Sprinkled with truths of history, the Guardian of Scotland stand alone series is one I want to continue.
To see more visit fundinmental
August 31, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
I’ve got the older copy of this called Time Traveler’s Destiny , either way it was brilliant.
I adored Lachlan and Christine, and I loved one particular line in the book , where Robert the Bruce says , “I do believe our two offspring look rather fine together “. Of course if you look back in the history books they do in fact marry.
Amy has included so much genuine information into this book and I adore that .
Excellent book
💋💋
I’ve got the older copy of this called Time Traveler’s Destiny , either way it was brilliant.
I adored Lachlan and Christine, and I loved one particular line in the book , where Robert the Bruce says , “I do believe our two offspring look rather fine together “. Of course if you look back in the history books they do in fact marry.
Amy has included so much genuine information into this book and I adore that .
Excellent book
Read
October 3, 2016DNF. Not my style of writing. I couldn't get into this at all.
November 3, 2016
I won this book as a giveaway through Goodreads. I hadn't checked the (very) many giveaways I entered as I never win, so was really surprised when a package from Amazon arrived unexpectedly. So, thank you Amy Jarecki!
I have never read anything from this author before, so obviously have not read the other books in this series. No doubt there is some continuation of plot/ characters, but I found this book easy to read as a stand alone. This is a bit of a mixed review. One of my favourite genres is time slip between modern and hundreds of years in the past, which is probably why I entered the giveaway from the small amount of info about the book. There were things which I loved, and things which let it down so badly that it started bleeding star ratings (something I'm actually really sad about).
The positives first. It's well written/ easy to read. The historical aspects were not info dumps and were just enough to create a scene but leave more to the reader's imagination. I loved that Lachlan was a martial art expert extraordinaire going back to a highly militarised time. I also loved his name, but I always thought Lachlan was a more Irish name than Scottish?? Doesn't matter, I liked it and it suited his character.
The star-robbing problems:
1. It's a bodice ripper/ pants splitter. I do love historical romances, but just because the lady wears a bodice, doesn't mean that it adds to the plot or the 'romance' when bodice seams and trew ties come apart on account of uncontrollable lust. I found it really difficult to accept that Lachlan being a karate/ martial art expert/ trained soldier didn't have the ability to overcome and control his hormones.
2. Slightly weak stylised female lead. Don't get me wrong, I hate it when 21st centuary strong females masquerade in historical novels, men and women acted very differently in the past and guess what, that's OK! However, Lady Christina de Moray seemed to be a throw back to the pre-90's historical female lead who was forever clasping her hands to her head/ mouth/ throat/ heart. Of course she was limited in her own time as to the control in her own life, but for a woman who was under house arrest for the better part of a decade, one would have thought she would have had a bit more grit. She didn't stand out as a female lead for me, I didn't connect with her at all.
3. Bad language. In the first few chapters I lost count of the f-bombs. Ok, I understand that Lachlan has been treated badly by his wife and that might cause anyone to feel the need to curse, but the problem was that the f-bombs continued to explode (with a smattering of other words for good measure) throughout the rest of the book. Admittedly, there are fewer towards the end, but I wonder whether those four letters on the author's computer simply wore away from over use. Now, I understand that there are many people who swear like troopers (men and women), and Lachlan in an earlier time was in the army, but I don't swear. 95% of the people who I am friends with manage not to swear either, even when they find themselves in crappy situations. If I were single and out on the prowl for a hero like Lachlan in my own life, it would be a major turnoff if he started spouting such bad language. No matter how tall, broad his shoulders, chiseled his jaw, deep blue his eyes, expert in being manly...if he can't control his vocabulary choice then I'm afraid it would be a deal breaker.
4. Too perfect male lead. Ok, I loved the physical description of Lachlan. No doubt if such a man existed and walked by me I would feel a heat to my cheeks and a big smile on my face. I don't mind reading about male physical perfection in books, even though I know it's not possible (that's why it's fiction and we like to escape occasionally!); but I didn't understand why Lachlan's evil wife would actually cheat on him with another man who the reader knows can't be perfect because he's not Lachlan. Maybe the author actually explained why Lachlan's relationship went south with his evil wife, but I can't remember it so it was either confined to less than twenty words or wasn't explained.
5. Editing errors and historical accuracy. I'm not sure who the publishing house for this book is, but they need to get a new editor/ proofreader, preferably with some sort of actual historical background. Glaring examples were the interchanging use of mom/ mum. It was explained that Lachlan spent some time in the US but that doesn't explain the odd use of the Americanism mom. This novel is set 100% in Scotland. I have several Scottish friends, parts of my family are Scottish. Not one of them calls their female parent mom. It's mum. The author switched between the two even on the same page, I found this distracting. The same could be said when referring to Lady Christina's galloway pony. Galloways were ponies, yet while Lady Christina was described riding it (with Lachlan behind her), it went from a pony to a horse then a pony again. Ponies and horses are catagorised through size, and the only exception to an animal who is actually pony size being called a horse is the Arabian. Get it right, and stick to it. Lady Christina was also described as riding on a 'ladies seat'. I think the author was actually talking about a side saddle, which wasn't really invented as a recognisable side saddle until Queen Elizabeth I's reign (where there was only one horn for the leg to loop over). Any earlier than that, ladies either rode pillion or astride like men. Pillion is where the saddle was an actual seat facing 90 degrees away from the horse's neck. A woman riding pillion had no control over the horse at all, she was lead either by someone else on horseback, or more usually, a stable boy walking beside the horse's head. Doing anything more than a sedate walk would have been impossible and not for any great distance (and certainly not Kelso to Edinburgh). Lady Christina would have been riding astride and no one would have batted an eye over it. It does get my goat a bit when people mention riding and horses in novels without any proper understanding and they get it wrong.
Other editing mishaps were turns of phrases that were incorrect. Example being someone was given 'free reign'. That's wrong. It's free REIN, an equestrian term meaning giving the horse a loose rein (no contact between the hands and the bit via the reins) and letting the horse have its head and generally do what it likes. REIGN being a homophone of rein, means for a monarch to rule over people. I know this is harsh picking like this, and no doubt the author does know the difference (and of course when one is typing thoughts and ideas quickly, mistakes are made), but this SHOULD have been picked up by the editing team.
Ok, my very last nit pick (I promise!). Towards the end Lachlan estimates the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Oops. The only people in the UK who still talk in Fahrenheit rather than Celsius are people over about 50, that's because the accepted measure of temp was changed from F to C in the 1960's. Lachlan we're told is 30. He would not be thinking of temp in F.
So overall, I did like the plot and story. I've outlined what let it down. If you don't mind lust masquerading as love, bad language and sloppy editing, you're going to love this book! I would perhaps give the author another go, just in case the problems in this novel are stand alone.
Again, thank you Amy for the book.
I have never read anything from this author before, so obviously have not read the other books in this series. No doubt there is some continuation of plot/ characters, but I found this book easy to read as a stand alone. This is a bit of a mixed review. One of my favourite genres is time slip between modern and hundreds of years in the past, which is probably why I entered the giveaway from the small amount of info about the book. There were things which I loved, and things which let it down so badly that it started bleeding star ratings (something I'm actually really sad about).
The positives first. It's well written/ easy to read. The historical aspects were not info dumps and were just enough to create a scene but leave more to the reader's imagination. I loved that Lachlan was a martial art expert extraordinaire going back to a highly militarised time. I also loved his name, but I always thought Lachlan was a more Irish name than Scottish?? Doesn't matter, I liked it and it suited his character.
The star-robbing problems:
1. It's a bodice ripper/ pants splitter. I do love historical romances, but just because the lady wears a bodice, doesn't mean that it adds to the plot or the 'romance' when bodice seams and trew ties come apart on account of uncontrollable lust. I found it really difficult to accept that Lachlan being a karate/ martial art expert/ trained soldier didn't have the ability to overcome and control his hormones.
2. Slightly weak stylised female lead. Don't get me wrong, I hate it when 21st centuary strong females masquerade in historical novels, men and women acted very differently in the past and guess what, that's OK! However, Lady Christina de Moray seemed to be a throw back to the pre-90's historical female lead who was forever clasping her hands to her head/ mouth/ throat/ heart. Of course she was limited in her own time as to the control in her own life, but for a woman who was under house arrest for the better part of a decade, one would have thought she would have had a bit more grit. She didn't stand out as a female lead for me, I didn't connect with her at all.
3. Bad language. In the first few chapters I lost count of the f-bombs. Ok, I understand that Lachlan has been treated badly by his wife and that might cause anyone to feel the need to curse, but the problem was that the f-bombs continued to explode (with a smattering of other words for good measure) throughout the rest of the book. Admittedly, there are fewer towards the end, but I wonder whether those four letters on the author's computer simply wore away from over use. Now, I understand that there are many people who swear like troopers (men and women), and Lachlan in an earlier time was in the army, but I don't swear. 95% of the people who I am friends with manage not to swear either, even when they find themselves in crappy situations. If I were single and out on the prowl for a hero like Lachlan in my own life, it would be a major turnoff if he started spouting such bad language. No matter how tall, broad his shoulders, chiseled his jaw, deep blue his eyes, expert in being manly...if he can't control his vocabulary choice then I'm afraid it would be a deal breaker.
4. Too perfect male lead. Ok, I loved the physical description of Lachlan. No doubt if such a man existed and walked by me I would feel a heat to my cheeks and a big smile on my face. I don't mind reading about male physical perfection in books, even though I know it's not possible (that's why it's fiction and we like to escape occasionally!); but I didn't understand why Lachlan's evil wife would actually cheat on him with another man who the reader knows can't be perfect because he's not Lachlan. Maybe the author actually explained why Lachlan's relationship went south with his evil wife, but I can't remember it so it was either confined to less than twenty words or wasn't explained.
5. Editing errors and historical accuracy. I'm not sure who the publishing house for this book is, but they need to get a new editor/ proofreader, preferably with some sort of actual historical background. Glaring examples were the interchanging use of mom/ mum. It was explained that Lachlan spent some time in the US but that doesn't explain the odd use of the Americanism mom. This novel is set 100% in Scotland. I have several Scottish friends, parts of my family are Scottish. Not one of them calls their female parent mom. It's mum. The author switched between the two even on the same page, I found this distracting. The same could be said when referring to Lady Christina's galloway pony. Galloways were ponies, yet while Lady Christina was described riding it (with Lachlan behind her), it went from a pony to a horse then a pony again. Ponies and horses are catagorised through size, and the only exception to an animal who is actually pony size being called a horse is the Arabian. Get it right, and stick to it. Lady Christina was also described as riding on a 'ladies seat'. I think the author was actually talking about a side saddle, which wasn't really invented as a recognisable side saddle until Queen Elizabeth I's reign (where there was only one horn for the leg to loop over). Any earlier than that, ladies either rode pillion or astride like men. Pillion is where the saddle was an actual seat facing 90 degrees away from the horse's neck. A woman riding pillion had no control over the horse at all, she was lead either by someone else on horseback, or more usually, a stable boy walking beside the horse's head. Doing anything more than a sedate walk would have been impossible and not for any great distance (and certainly not Kelso to Edinburgh). Lady Christina would have been riding astride and no one would have batted an eye over it. It does get my goat a bit when people mention riding and horses in novels without any proper understanding and they get it wrong.
Other editing mishaps were turns of phrases that were incorrect. Example being someone was given 'free reign'. That's wrong. It's free REIN, an equestrian term meaning giving the horse a loose rein (no contact between the hands and the bit via the reins) and letting the horse have its head and generally do what it likes. REIGN being a homophone of rein, means for a monarch to rule over people. I know this is harsh picking like this, and no doubt the author does know the difference (and of course when one is typing thoughts and ideas quickly, mistakes are made), but this SHOULD have been picked up by the editing team.
Ok, my very last nit pick (I promise!). Towards the end Lachlan estimates the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Oops. The only people in the UK who still talk in Fahrenheit rather than Celsius are people over about 50, that's because the accepted measure of temp was changed from F to C in the 1960's. Lachlan we're told is 30. He would not be thinking of temp in F.
So overall, I did like the plot and story. I've outlined what let it down. If you don't mind lust masquerading as love, bad language and sloppy editing, you're going to love this book! I would perhaps give the author another go, just in case the problems in this novel are stand alone.
Again, thank you Amy for the book.
October 13, 2016
Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe not, but this reviewer did not realize this book follows the release of Rise of a Legend and In the Kingdom’s Name, which both featured William Wallace and Eva MacKay, as the main couple. Yes, it is book 3 of that same series. Though it is a stand-alone, due to a different main couple taking center stage, there are hints of past events from the previous books that had me wondering what I’ve missed by not reading them first. Of course, most people know William Wallace’s tragic fate, so it really is Eva MacKay, his time traveling love interest and the mother of Lachlan, book 3’s hero, that has me somewhat left in the dark, right along with Lachlan himself. Fortunately, she does not play a prominent role in this book’s storyline, so you absolutely don’t have to read the previous books to enjoy this one.
Why was Lachlan left in the dark, you ask? Well, one minute he is napping on his uncle’s bed clutching a mysterious medallion, the next he’s been transported back in time right into the throngs of a traitorous English ambush that was supposed to be a peaceful prisoner exchange with the Scotts. With said prisoner the 15 year old son of widowed Lady Christina, she’s there and Lachlan quickly comes to her aid as she’s being attacked and almost raped. With his modern day Olympic karate skills, Lachlan’s body becomes a lethal weapon that sure becomes quite handy on the battlefield. I can’t resist saying this, folks. Even Mel Gibson would have been proud to see such a brave hearted, William Wallace descendant lad fighting to defend honor and freedom in Scotland.
It was a little humorous how Lachlan kept looking for tell tale signs this was all an elaborate hoax/modern society (i.e., cell phone towers, jet contrails in the sky, etc.). He even thought the people around him were crazy or simply lying to him. That didn’t seem to quite fit though, because he was the one who knew he had been asleep in a bed one minute and then transported somehow to this strange time/location.
Honestly, I’m not going to mention very much about the plot, so as not to give away spoilers. If you’ve been reading this series, you’ve likely enjoyed it enough to want to continue. The book synopsis is very well-written and accurately describes the storyline. It pretty much tells you exactly what you need to know and what you are in store for.
The only thing I was confused about was why Lachlan is still legally married to a schoolteacher named Angela, who recently left him for another man and is filing for divorce. He felt extremely betrayed, because he saw no warning signs and was in love with her. Honestly, I’m not sure why that was added to the storyline. Sure, it caused him to be leary of trusting women, but, hey, a bad girlfriend would have done that just as well, don’t you think? (raising my eyebrow)
Lady Christina, the heroine, has been held captive the past 13 years within her own castle walls, courtesy of the king, awaiting the return of her son. Her deceased husband was a close friend/associate of William Wallace, btw, and she briefly even knew Lachlan’s mother during Eva’s secret time traveling jaunts to this era. She wants nothing more than to have her now teenage son returned to her.
With writing that flowed and a slow build to a trusting/very steamy relationship, this main couple faces several obstacles revolving around Christina’s son. All, of course, ends well, after quite a bit of planning/drama, and their HEA is pretty much served up like a Christmas gift, all wrapped up with a bow. Since I found this couple to be quite likeable, that worked for me. Here’s to hoping you’ll feel the same or that my review will give you enough insight you can decide for yourself if you want to spend your time on this romantic tale.
Title: The Time Traveler’s Christmas, Series: Guardian of Scotland (Book 3), Pages: 325, Author: Amy Jarecki, stand-alone but part of series, hero is a modern day karate champion whose wife just left him so he’s still legally married, heroine is a widow who wants her son back, more violence, one attempted rape scene, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, good guy hero, beautiful heroine.
Book 1 - Rise of a Legend (William Wallace & Eva MacKay), 11/5/15, Pages: 346
Book 2 - In the Kingdom’s Name (William Wallace & Eva MacKay), 2/4/16, Pages 313
Book 3 - The Time Traveler’s Christmas (Lachlan Wallace & Christina), 10/4/16, Pages: 325
(These comments are based on a free advanced reader copy ebook provided via NetGalley in exchange for a fair/unbiased review. No compensation was given/made to the reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
Why was Lachlan left in the dark, you ask? Well, one minute he is napping on his uncle’s bed clutching a mysterious medallion, the next he’s been transported back in time right into the throngs of a traitorous English ambush that was supposed to be a peaceful prisoner exchange with the Scotts. With said prisoner the 15 year old son of widowed Lady Christina, she’s there and Lachlan quickly comes to her aid as she’s being attacked and almost raped. With his modern day Olympic karate skills, Lachlan’s body becomes a lethal weapon that sure becomes quite handy on the battlefield. I can’t resist saying this, folks. Even Mel Gibson would have been proud to see such a brave hearted, William Wallace descendant lad fighting to defend honor and freedom in Scotland.
It was a little humorous how Lachlan kept looking for tell tale signs this was all an elaborate hoax/modern society (i.e., cell phone towers, jet contrails in the sky, etc.). He even thought the people around him were crazy or simply lying to him. That didn’t seem to quite fit though, because he was the one who knew he had been asleep in a bed one minute and then transported somehow to this strange time/location.
Honestly, I’m not going to mention very much about the plot, so as not to give away spoilers. If you’ve been reading this series, you’ve likely enjoyed it enough to want to continue. The book synopsis is very well-written and accurately describes the storyline. It pretty much tells you exactly what you need to know and what you are in store for.
The only thing I was confused about was why Lachlan is still legally married to a schoolteacher named Angela, who recently left him for another man and is filing for divorce. He felt extremely betrayed, because he saw no warning signs and was in love with her. Honestly, I’m not sure why that was added to the storyline. Sure, it caused him to be leary of trusting women, but, hey, a bad girlfriend would have done that just as well, don’t you think? (raising my eyebrow)
Lady Christina, the heroine, has been held captive the past 13 years within her own castle walls, courtesy of the king, awaiting the return of her son. Her deceased husband was a close friend/associate of William Wallace, btw, and she briefly even knew Lachlan’s mother during Eva’s secret time traveling jaunts to this era. She wants nothing more than to have her now teenage son returned to her.
With writing that flowed and a slow build to a trusting/very steamy relationship, this main couple faces several obstacles revolving around Christina’s son. All, of course, ends well, after quite a bit of planning/drama, and their HEA is pretty much served up like a Christmas gift, all wrapped up with a bow. Since I found this couple to be quite likeable, that worked for me. Here’s to hoping you’ll feel the same or that my review will give you enough insight you can decide for yourself if you want to spend your time on this romantic tale.
Title: The Time Traveler’s Christmas, Series: Guardian of Scotland (Book 3), Pages: 325, Author: Amy Jarecki, stand-alone but part of series, hero is a modern day karate champion whose wife just left him so he’s still legally married, heroine is a widow who wants her son back, more violence, one attempted rape scene, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, good guy hero, beautiful heroine.
Book 1 - Rise of a Legend (William Wallace & Eva MacKay), 11/5/15, Pages: 346
Book 2 - In the Kingdom’s Name (William Wallace & Eva MacKay), 2/4/16, Pages 313
Book 3 - The Time Traveler’s Christmas (Lachlan Wallace & Christina), 10/4/16, Pages: 325
(These comments are based on a free advanced reader copy ebook provided via NetGalley in exchange for a fair/unbiased review. No compensation was given/made to the reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
October 3, 2016
What a glorious tale this is!
Just before an important karate competition, Lachlan Wallace’s wife tells him she’s getting a divorce, and he lost the match. Dejected and now homeless, Lachlan goes to see a close family friend whom he calls Uncle Walter, an archaeologist. Walter asks Lachlan to cat sit for two weeks, and just before retiring Walter gives Lachlan a medallion. When Lachlan awakens, he finds himself right in the middle of a very realistic re-enactment of some medieval battle. Only he sees a woman in real danger, and he rushes to her rescue, she is Lady Christina de Moray, and after thirteen years, she thought she might finally bring her son home. Lachlan and Christina can barely understand each other, and when Lachlan tells the lady his name, she pales. Whether he believes it or not, Lachlan is now in 1314 Scotland.
I’m not much a fan of time travel, but the blurb intrigued me. My problem with time travel is that too often I ask myself very early on: “Why, how”, etc. And it was not a problem here because we land right into the action, and just as Lachlan, we don’t have time to wonder about what happened, but what will happen. I was involved in the story right from the start, and I felt comfortable; I immediately had the feeling I was in good hands. Ms. Jarecki is confident in what she writes, and it’s obvious that hours (months?) of painstaking research went into this book. Ms. Jarecki weaves fictional characters seamlessly along with historical personages. I marvelled at tiny details that added to the authenticity of the story, such as clothing and food. Ms. Jarecki is also very mindful of the customs, the language; no subtlety escapes her. The blend of medieval and contemporary is perfectly achieved, and I loved to hear Lachlan’s thoughts in today’s vernacular.
Although Lachlan and Christina have problems to grasp what has happened, I loved how matter-of-fact, in spite of the circumstances, they look at the situation. They do have more important things to take care of, and there was no idiotic silliness with regards to the time travel issue. Lachlan and Christina are superb characters, and I could picture them clearly, the same way medieval Scotland appeared in all its majestic and violent grandeur. THE TIME TRAVELER’S CHRISTMAS is much more than a romance: there is political turmoil, existential questions, a wonderful history lesson, and what it means to belong.
THE TIME TRAVELER’S CHRISTMAS is a marvellous experience, a thrilling voyage through time; the plot is cleverly and meticulously constructed, and the writing is exquisite. An absolute delight for any fan of Scottish historical romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Just before an important karate competition, Lachlan Wallace’s wife tells him she’s getting a divorce, and he lost the match. Dejected and now homeless, Lachlan goes to see a close family friend whom he calls Uncle Walter, an archaeologist. Walter asks Lachlan to cat sit for two weeks, and just before retiring Walter gives Lachlan a medallion. When Lachlan awakens, he finds himself right in the middle of a very realistic re-enactment of some medieval battle. Only he sees a woman in real danger, and he rushes to her rescue, she is Lady Christina de Moray, and after thirteen years, she thought she might finally bring her son home. Lachlan and Christina can barely understand each other, and when Lachlan tells the lady his name, she pales. Whether he believes it or not, Lachlan is now in 1314 Scotland.
I’m not much a fan of time travel, but the blurb intrigued me. My problem with time travel is that too often I ask myself very early on: “Why, how”, etc. And it was not a problem here because we land right into the action, and just as Lachlan, we don’t have time to wonder about what happened, but what will happen. I was involved in the story right from the start, and I felt comfortable; I immediately had the feeling I was in good hands. Ms. Jarecki is confident in what she writes, and it’s obvious that hours (months?) of painstaking research went into this book. Ms. Jarecki weaves fictional characters seamlessly along with historical personages. I marvelled at tiny details that added to the authenticity of the story, such as clothing and food. Ms. Jarecki is also very mindful of the customs, the language; no subtlety escapes her. The blend of medieval and contemporary is perfectly achieved, and I loved to hear Lachlan’s thoughts in today’s vernacular.
Although Lachlan and Christina have problems to grasp what has happened, I loved how matter-of-fact, in spite of the circumstances, they look at the situation. They do have more important things to take care of, and there was no idiotic silliness with regards to the time travel issue. Lachlan and Christina are superb characters, and I could picture them clearly, the same way medieval Scotland appeared in all its majestic and violent grandeur. THE TIME TRAVELER’S CHRISTMAS is much more than a romance: there is political turmoil, existential questions, a wonderful history lesson, and what it means to belong.
THE TIME TRAVELER’S CHRISTMAS is a marvellous experience, a thrilling voyage through time; the plot is cleverly and meticulously constructed, and the writing is exquisite. An absolute delight for any fan of Scottish historical romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2023
'Desearía tener más control, desearía poder mirar mi propio destino, pero no puedo. Solo puedo ofrecerte mi espada y mi amor hasta que me desvanezca en el polvo.'
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
The Time Traveler's Christmas de Amy Jarecki serie Guardian of Scotland libro 3
Argumento:
La vida de un hombre puede desmoronarse en un instante...
Más duro que la piel de buey, Lachlan Wallace puede soportar cualquier cosa excepto una llamada de ruptura de su esposa dos minutos antes de competir en el Campeonato Mundial de Karate. Al llegar a casa perdido, acepta cuidar el gato de su tío durante las vacaciones. O eso cree él, hasta que despierta en un campo de batalla del siglo XIV junto a una mujer que lucha por su vida.
Nunca subestimes la determinación de una mujer…
Lady Christina de Moray, arrebatada de ella cuando tenía dos años, no ha visto a su hijo desde hace trece años. Mientras viaja con el ejército de Robert the Bruce para intercambiar a un prisionero inglés por el muchacho, estalla una batalla. Al perder la pelea, Christina es rescatada por un misterioso guerrero mientras los ingleses escapan con su hijo una vez más.
Y nunca apuestes contra la potencia de la pasión...
Sin poder regresar al siglo XXI, Lachlan acepta ayudar a Christina a rescatar al muchacho de sus captores ingleses. Si el heredero no regresa para la próxima Navidad, Bruce tomará la decisión de a quién conceder las tierras de Moray, incluida la mano de Lady Christina. Una vez cumplido su deber, Lachlan espera descubrir un camino a casa (siempre que mantenga su mente en la meta e ignore su creciente amor por la enérgica mujer que le brinda su confianza) y su corazón.
Mi humilde opinión:
Me gustó la idea de la historia, el héroe concebido en el pasado y nacido en el futuro. Este es un romance ambientado con algunos datos reales en la época de William Wallace fundido con la fantasía de viajes en el tiempo me pareció interesante.
Me gustó que para variar fuera el héroe que hace el salto al pasado. Lachlan es un famoso campeón de karate que salva a una dama escocesa de ser violada y asesinada por ingleses. Me pareció totalmente loco y tuve que reírme al imaginarlo luchar estilo artes marciales contra hombres con armaduras. También me pareció gracioso que hablara de mantenerse en forma en una época dónde no tenía los recursos necesarios y a los que estaba acostumbrado. Me hubiera gustado verlo entrenar a los soldados según su filosofía. Hubiera sido divertido. A lo largo del libro se nota el crecimiento del héroe y como pasa de querer regresar a apreciar la vida escocesa de ese siglo.
Me sorprendió que no supiera quién era realmente su padre y principalmente que su madre no se lo dijera. Entiendo no decirle la verdad de su nacimiento, hijo de un héroe de Escocia y una madre capaz de viajar en el tiempo, shockeante para un niño, pero a los 30? Cómo su madre no le dijo antes?
Christina, la heroína, era viuda de uno de los hombres de Wallace que quiere recuperar a su hijo de manos de los ingleses secuestrado cuando era un niño. Ella me pareció fuerte pero por momentos indecisa en cuanto a Lachlan. Después de que la salvó y todo lo que hacía por ella debió tenerle más fe y confianza.
Creí que el romance sería el centro de la historia, dos personas de diferentes épocas con distintas experiencias de vida enamorándose pero todo eso pasó a un segundo plano. Tomó más importancia el hijo de Christina, Andrew, un chico de 16 enojado con su madre y rechazando todo lo que tenga que ver con sus orígenes. Este chico me frustraba, quería sacudirlo para hacerle ver lo equivocado que estaba y que su madre no lo abandonó. Menos mal que los entrenamientos y enseñanzas de Lachlan funcionaron, hace entender lo importante a Andrew. El conde inglés trae algo de riesgo y creí que Andrew estaba perdido pero el chico lo enfrenta por fin y no se deja manipular.
En el año en fue Lachlan y Christina deben hacer entrar a Andrew en razón para que jure lealtad al rey escocés, la pareja se va acercando y enamorando. Sin embargo debo decir que aunque su historia de amor estaba bien, no me emocionaba tampoco. Esperaba más conexión y pasión, más.
La historia me mantuvo intrigada, aprecié los momentos de fantasía como también las descripciones de los lugares, comidas, vestimentas típicas de la época. Además me dieron una navidad medieval para recordarme que estaba leyendo una temática de fiesta.
Me encantan los romances medievales, los escoceses, los viajes en el tiempo y los choques culturales así que disfruté la aventura de Lachlan Wallace.
December 21, 2018
After reading the first two books in this series I was very excited to go back to Scotland (1314) with Lachlan Wallace to see what kinds of adventures he would get into.
October 1, 2016
The Time Traveler’s Christmas by Amy Jarecki
Guardian of Scotland #3
What a wonderful book to take me away today! I was able to go to Scotland in the early 1300’s, think about what it would be like if *I* instead of Lachlan had made the trip through time and escape from my own world for the timespan of reading this delightful book.
Lachlan Wallace was dealt a heavy blow as he went in to a martial arts competition. Cuckolded, losing the bout and unsure of his future he makes a trip to his uncle’s to regroup while cat sitting and it has a major impact on his life. A medallion, left by his uncle with a note, put on before sleep leads to a trip to the past where he saves a damsel in distress, becomes her champion and finds his life turned upside down.
Who was the damsel in distress? Christina de Moray. Widowed over a decade ago, her two year old son snatched from her arms and then finding herself imprisoned in her own home for many years her burning desire is to have her son with her again. When the political situation changes and a prisoner exchange is arranged she is on the spot to receive her son BUT nothing goes as planned and with her life at risk she is happy to have Lachlan come to the rescue.
Things are not perfect for Lachlan at first but with time he begins to find his way, becomes involved in the rescue of Christina’s teenage son, is instrumental in the reverse brainwashing of Christina’s son and determines where his place in history really lies.
I have to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
5 Stars
Guardian of Scotland #3
What a wonderful book to take me away today! I was able to go to Scotland in the early 1300’s, think about what it would be like if *I* instead of Lachlan had made the trip through time and escape from my own world for the timespan of reading this delightful book.
Lachlan Wallace was dealt a heavy blow as he went in to a martial arts competition. Cuckolded, losing the bout and unsure of his future he makes a trip to his uncle’s to regroup while cat sitting and it has a major impact on his life. A medallion, left by his uncle with a note, put on before sleep leads to a trip to the past where he saves a damsel in distress, becomes her champion and finds his life turned upside down.
Who was the damsel in distress? Christina de Moray. Widowed over a decade ago, her two year old son snatched from her arms and then finding herself imprisoned in her own home for many years her burning desire is to have her son with her again. When the political situation changes and a prisoner exchange is arranged she is on the spot to receive her son BUT nothing goes as planned and with her life at risk she is happy to have Lachlan come to the rescue.
Things are not perfect for Lachlan at first but with time he begins to find his way, becomes involved in the rescue of Christina’s teenage son, is instrumental in the reverse brainwashing of Christina’s son and determines where his place in history really lies.
I have to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
5 Stars
September 26, 2016
The Time Traveler's Christmas is the third book in the 'Guardian of Scotland' series by Amy Jarecki. I have had the pleasure of reading the other books in this series, but this book can easily be read as a stand alone one.
This is the story of Lachlan Wallace. We first learn about him as a modern day man. A man whose wife is divorcing him, and one suffering his first defeat in a martial arts championship because of only just finding out about his pending divorce.
His uncle, knowing how jaded Lachlan is feeling, and also knowing that he has nowhere to live, asks him to look after his cat while he goes away. It is more than just cat sitting duties though. His Uncle has a much bigger plan in mind, a plan that has Lachlan falling asleep in the 21st century, and waking up in the 14th. It's quite the awakening too, he wakes up in the midst of a battle, where we first meet our heroine of the story Lady Christina De Moray. She is being assaulted by the enemy, and if Lachlan didn't come to her rescue she would undoubtedly have been raped. Being a martial arts expert it doesn't take long for Lachlan to dispatch the man, and all the others that attack him. Christina is in awe of his talents, and his strong physique and good looks of course.
Christina had her son stolen from her 13 years ago, and for most of that 13 years she was held captive and unable to try to get her son back. Since her release she has done everything in her power to find him. An arranged exchange of prisoners is where the battle takes place that Lachlan is thrown into. The man who was supposed to hand over Christina's son, double crossed her, he had no intention of handing the boy over.
So the story continues where Lachlan has to prove his fealty and trustworthiness to the clan heads, and the King. Once he does, he is trusted to find and rescue Christina's son. During all this time there is an obvious attraction between Lachlan and Christina. She learns of his time travel and the fact that he could disappear at any moment. The more she finds she cares about him, the more she tries to fight it because nothing can come of it. As for Lachlan, he isn't sure what he wants, he misses home, mainly his mum and dad, but the thought of being dragged from Christina and a time when things were much simpler in a lot of ways doesn't stop him wanting to become intimate with her.
Will Christina get her son back, and after so long away from her, will he be happy to be home, or will he be resentful of being rescued. If Lachlan rescues him, will that be the reason he arrived in that century, will he then be whisked back through time? What of Christina, can she risk giving her heart to a man who has no right to be in her time?
This was a really wonderful story, one that I couldn't read quickly enough to find out what happened. Lachlan was a wonderful hero, taught to defend himself with martial arts rather than kill with it. His love for Christina develops beautifully, and when they finally give in to their attraction, the love making was written really well, with the love they feel for each other making the sex a really intimate occasion. Of course apart from the romance, there is the hunt for Christina's son. There's some fabulous fighting scenes, and not only in battle, but where Lachlan shows Christina's men how to fight too.
Another part of the story which I adored was hearing about the Christmas preparations. As I read about the 'greening' of the castle I quite fancied doing something traditional like that here at Christmas. Amy's descriptions were wonderful and really set the scene, and of course the suggestion that Lachlan gives Amy about a Christmas tree is just perfect.
All in all this is a perfect story, and I loved every minute of it. I definitely recommend it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the story of Lachlan Wallace. We first learn about him as a modern day man. A man whose wife is divorcing him, and one suffering his first defeat in a martial arts championship because of only just finding out about his pending divorce.
His uncle, knowing how jaded Lachlan is feeling, and also knowing that he has nowhere to live, asks him to look after his cat while he goes away. It is more than just cat sitting duties though. His Uncle has a much bigger plan in mind, a plan that has Lachlan falling asleep in the 21st century, and waking up in the 14th. It's quite the awakening too, he wakes up in the midst of a battle, where we first meet our heroine of the story Lady Christina De Moray. She is being assaulted by the enemy, and if Lachlan didn't come to her rescue she would undoubtedly have been raped. Being a martial arts expert it doesn't take long for Lachlan to dispatch the man, and all the others that attack him. Christina is in awe of his talents, and his strong physique and good looks of course.
Christina had her son stolen from her 13 years ago, and for most of that 13 years she was held captive and unable to try to get her son back. Since her release she has done everything in her power to find him. An arranged exchange of prisoners is where the battle takes place that Lachlan is thrown into. The man who was supposed to hand over Christina's son, double crossed her, he had no intention of handing the boy over.
So the story continues where Lachlan has to prove his fealty and trustworthiness to the clan heads, and the King. Once he does, he is trusted to find and rescue Christina's son. During all this time there is an obvious attraction between Lachlan and Christina. She learns of his time travel and the fact that he could disappear at any moment. The more she finds she cares about him, the more she tries to fight it because nothing can come of it. As for Lachlan, he isn't sure what he wants, he misses home, mainly his mum and dad, but the thought of being dragged from Christina and a time when things were much simpler in a lot of ways doesn't stop him wanting to become intimate with her.
Will Christina get her son back, and after so long away from her, will he be happy to be home, or will he be resentful of being rescued. If Lachlan rescues him, will that be the reason he arrived in that century, will he then be whisked back through time? What of Christina, can she risk giving her heart to a man who has no right to be in her time?
This was a really wonderful story, one that I couldn't read quickly enough to find out what happened. Lachlan was a wonderful hero, taught to defend himself with martial arts rather than kill with it. His love for Christina develops beautifully, and when they finally give in to their attraction, the love making was written really well, with the love they feel for each other making the sex a really intimate occasion. Of course apart from the romance, there is the hunt for Christina's son. There's some fabulous fighting scenes, and not only in battle, but where Lachlan shows Christina's men how to fight too.
Another part of the story which I adored was hearing about the Christmas preparations. As I read about the 'greening' of the castle I quite fancied doing something traditional like that here at Christmas. Amy's descriptions were wonderful and really set the scene, and of course the suggestion that Lachlan gives Amy about a Christmas tree is just perfect.
All in all this is a perfect story, and I loved every minute of it. I definitely recommend it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 30, 2016
Well, it is a story about christmas and as christmas has its own magic, I won't think too long about some of the (very rare, admittedly) slightly mystic parts. Considering the fact, that this is a book about timetravel no further thinking is necessary, I guess, especially as the mystic parts make some things right that I have had a big problem with in other books, soooo.... Alright, I won't tell more, you'll just have to read and see for yourself!
I really really liked this book and couldn't put it down. Its story is rather different, well plotted and captivating. The characters are multi-layered and not just intersting but they are also amazing and very authentic. You can see Llachlan, trying to adept to life in the 16th century and somehow fitting in, adapting to it and building a life there. And of course, you can but feel with Lady Christina whose son was taken from her as a wee child of two , growing up far from her among their enemies while she herself was a prisoner in her own home.
I also loved Andrew, her son, dearly who has to fight the devils of his childhood, his feelings of loss and loneliness.
Usually I like Robert the Bruce but I didn't like him that much in this book, I must admit. He is more ruthless and a wonderful example of a male member of a society that had no problem in marrying women of like cattle. At least, in this case, when it comes to kings, the men don't have that much to say either when it comes to marriage. But, back to business or better - back to the book.
Falling asleep while cat-sitting at his Uncle Walter's place, Llachlan never expected to wake up in the middle of a battle in the 14th century. Right in the middle. Right on the battlefield. That's one of those occasions where being a martial arts expert comes in really handy especially when there's a beautiful woman to rescue.
Helping Christina to get her son back, Llachlan never thought that he'd learn so much about himself and his own history in a place or rather a time like this. Actually it all comes down to one question: Who was Eva? Or ist it - "when" was Eva?
Falling in love is never easy when you don't know how much time you have left or who might be granted your hand the other day...
I really enjoyed this beautiful and captivating Yuletide story!
I really really liked this book and couldn't put it down. Its story is rather different, well plotted and captivating. The characters are multi-layered and not just intersting but they are also amazing and very authentic. You can see Llachlan, trying to adept to life in the 16th century and somehow fitting in, adapting to it and building a life there. And of course, you can but feel with Lady Christina whose son was taken from her as a wee child of two , growing up far from her among their enemies while she herself was a prisoner in her own home.
I also loved Andrew, her son, dearly who has to fight the devils of his childhood, his feelings of loss and loneliness.
Usually I like Robert the Bruce but I didn't like him that much in this book, I must admit. He is more ruthless and a wonderful example of a male member of a society that had no problem in marrying women of like cattle. At least, in this case, when it comes to kings, the men don't have that much to say either when it comes to marriage. But, back to business or better - back to the book.
Falling asleep while cat-sitting at his Uncle Walter's place, Llachlan never expected to wake up in the middle of a battle in the 14th century. Right in the middle. Right on the battlefield. That's one of those occasions where being a martial arts expert comes in really handy especially when there's a beautiful woman to rescue.
Helping Christina to get her son back, Llachlan never thought that he'd learn so much about himself and his own history in a place or rather a time like this. Actually it all comes down to one question: Who was Eva? Or ist it - "when" was Eva?
Falling in love is never easy when you don't know how much time you have left or who might be granted your hand the other day...
I really enjoyed this beautiful and captivating Yuletide story!
December 8, 2016
I can never get away from one of Amy Jarecki’s stories without ending up crying buckets. She knows how to tell a story, making all impossible so very possible, you can’t not be but pulled into one of her stories without truly leaving something with you.
If you are able to read the first two books of this series, it will make this one centered around Christmas time even more stunning. So, for those of you are interested in a great Christmas read, make sure to partake of this one.
This heart-string pulling, sometimes humorous tale is fast-paced with main characters who have pasts that have devastated them. Lachlan Wallace is such a strong centerpiece to this story – his talents are many, but he comes to the 14th century not believing in himself because his wife announces she’s divorcing him and takes a few stabs at his manhood. One thing you must keep in mind, Lachlan is not only a modern man, but his father is from the 14th century. It sounds crazy, but believe me, the author will have you flipping those pages so fast, nothing is more important than knowing how it all turns out.
Christine has spent some 13 years being held by the English and just recently as been released. Her son was taken from her when he was two. Again, the English are the culprits.
Andrew, Christine’s son is a mess. Lachlan is able to kidnap him from the English, but received a nice cut on the chest from Andrew. The boy wanted to stay in England. He is promised to be a knight. He no longer sounds Scottish, or thinks of himself a Scot. Brainwashed by the English, he doesn’t accept his mother—it’s breaking her heart. But Lachlan knows a lot about kids and his studies prove invaluable when dealing with Andrew on many levels.
I enjoy the notes the author leaves us. She sticks very close to historical events, breathing living color into the relic pages of history. Thank you, Amy Jarecki, for letting me tag along to Scotland with you at Christmas, in this memorable tale. A Merry Christmas to you, too!
If you are able to read the first two books of this series, it will make this one centered around Christmas time even more stunning. So, for those of you are interested in a great Christmas read, make sure to partake of this one.
This heart-string pulling, sometimes humorous tale is fast-paced with main characters who have pasts that have devastated them. Lachlan Wallace is such a strong centerpiece to this story – his talents are many, but he comes to the 14th century not believing in himself because his wife announces she’s divorcing him and takes a few stabs at his manhood. One thing you must keep in mind, Lachlan is not only a modern man, but his father is from the 14th century. It sounds crazy, but believe me, the author will have you flipping those pages so fast, nothing is more important than knowing how it all turns out.
Christine has spent some 13 years being held by the English and just recently as been released. Her son was taken from her when he was two. Again, the English are the culprits.
Andrew, Christine’s son is a mess. Lachlan is able to kidnap him from the English, but received a nice cut on the chest from Andrew. The boy wanted to stay in England. He is promised to be a knight. He no longer sounds Scottish, or thinks of himself a Scot. Brainwashed by the English, he doesn’t accept his mother—it’s breaking her heart. But Lachlan knows a lot about kids and his studies prove invaluable when dealing with Andrew on many levels.
I enjoy the notes the author leaves us. She sticks very close to historical events, breathing living color into the relic pages of history. Thank you, Amy Jarecki, for letting me tag along to Scotland with you at Christmas, in this memorable tale. A Merry Christmas to you, too!
October 4, 2016
I absolutely loved this book!! Amy has entertwined a modern day hero into Medieval Scotland and has done it beautifully.
Lachlan has always wondered who his dad was. Not that he doesn't love his step dad. But when his life and marriage fall into shambles and Uncle Walt leaves him a certain medallion he finds more than he bargains for.
Lady Christina has waited for this moment for 13 years. To be able to hold her son once again is her greatest wish. But the English can't be trusted and when all falls apart a new champion she finds. Although a rather peculiar one.
Lachlan can hardly believe he's back in the past. But everything points to his mother time traveling and the more people talk about his resemblance to the great William Wallace the more it all makes sense. And now he must find his way back home. Is he here to rescue Lady Christina's son, make him remember his birthright or is it something more. And with his growing attraction to Christina he must find a way back soon or else risk losing all.
Christina must believe her son will love her again. But he is proving insolent and stubborn. With Lachlan working with him maybe she has a chance. And what of Lachlan. She has never felt the things she feels with him before. She must not forget that he says he's from the future and is leaving soon but she can't seems to tell her heart that.
Can these two find love only to lose it in time or will there be a way they can be together? Or will Lachlan lose his love like his mother and be forced to live centuries apart from her?
Lachlan has always wondered who his dad was. Not that he doesn't love his step dad. But when his life and marriage fall into shambles and Uncle Walt leaves him a certain medallion he finds more than he bargains for.
Lady Christina has waited for this moment for 13 years. To be able to hold her son once again is her greatest wish. But the English can't be trusted and when all falls apart a new champion she finds. Although a rather peculiar one.
Lachlan can hardly believe he's back in the past. But everything points to his mother time traveling and the more people talk about his resemblance to the great William Wallace the more it all makes sense. And now he must find his way back home. Is he here to rescue Lady Christina's son, make him remember his birthright or is it something more. And with his growing attraction to Christina he must find a way back soon or else risk losing all.
Christina must believe her son will love her again. But he is proving insolent and stubborn. With Lachlan working with him maybe she has a chance. And what of Lachlan. She has never felt the things she feels with him before. She must not forget that he says he's from the future and is leaving soon but she can't seems to tell her heart that.
Can these two find love only to lose it in time or will there be a way they can be together? Or will Lachlan lose his love like his mother and be forced to live centuries apart from her?
January 17, 2021
An author's imagination mixed in with real life historical events makes for a very exciting story! I've always loved anything to do with William Wallace or Robert the Bruce so this story was right up my alley....add in the fact that I love time travel stories as well:) Imagine being sent back to the medieval era, I don't think many of us would survive it! lol
I really adored both Lachlan and Christina's characters. Lachlan makes the perfect hero (I admit I swooned a few times! HA!), he's so strong, compassionate and loyal. When he finds himself in the medieval era, he thinks it's all an act but once he realizes it's real, he shows he can hold his own. As for Christina, she has gone through so much and all she wants is to hold her son again after not seeing him for over 13 years. While Lachlan helps her get her son back, the attraction between them is very strong but her fear that he will one day go back to the future has her unsure how to handle the attraction. Amidst all of this, it's the Yule season and I so enjoyed all the preparations, especially the Christmas tree:) All in all, a wonderful story to read!!
I really adored both Lachlan and Christina's characters. Lachlan makes the perfect hero (I admit I swooned a few times! HA!), he's so strong, compassionate and loyal. When he finds himself in the medieval era, he thinks it's all an act but once he realizes it's real, he shows he can hold his own. As for Christina, she has gone through so much and all she wants is to hold her son again after not seeing him for over 13 years. While Lachlan helps her get her son back, the attraction between them is very strong but her fear that he will one day go back to the future has her unsure how to handle the attraction. Amidst all of this, it's the Yule season and I so enjoyed all the preparations, especially the Christmas tree:) All in all, a wonderful story to read!!
dnf
May 2, 2018DNF at 30%. (I did skim ahead some to see what I missed)
It's just not my cuppa.
Kind of William Wallace fan fiction.
There's some good research into the history and what it was like back then, but the characters themselves came across as kinda silly and frivolous. There's a dash of violence here and there which almost clashes against the quieter parts of the story when Lachlan's remains empty-headed for the most part, and Christina giggles over his braw chest.
The time travel was glossed over but I expect that in time travel stories. Nobody wants to read about the MC being burned at the stake!
I did like reading about Lachlan karate chopping medieval English butt but that's not enough to keep me reading.
I think it's just me and I don't get into this author's writing style.
It's just not my cuppa.
Kind of William Wallace fan fiction.
There's some good research into the history and what it was like back then, but the characters themselves came across as kinda silly and frivolous. There's a dash of violence here and there which almost clashes against the quieter parts of the story when Lachlan's remains empty-headed for the most part, and Christina giggles over his braw chest.
The time travel was glossed over but I expect that in time travel stories. Nobody wants to read about the MC being burned at the stake!
I did like reading about Lachlan karate chopping medieval English butt but that's not enough to keep me reading.
I think it's just me and I don't get into this author's writing style.
October 13, 2016
What a fantastic series Amy has done. The time traveller's Christmas was pure magic! Wonderful hero in Lachlan and a brilliant idea adding that he was a master in marshal arts and working with this in 13th Century Scotland, loved it!! I also loved the other characters. Highly recommend this book not to be missed.
May 3, 2020
I read this as "The Time Traveler's Desire" in the collection "More Dangerous Heroes."
I was surprised by how quickly and completely I was caught up in this story. As historical fiction, it captured my imagination and carried me into the past. I loved the characters: Lachlan, Christina, Andrew, Sir Boyd, Hamish. All of these characters, with the exception of Hamish, were multidimensional and intriguing. As the hero, Lachlan was the most compelling of all. The relationships he developed with Christina and Andrew were nuanced and relatable. I cannot find any fault with this book, neither in the writing nor in the plot.
I was surprised by how quickly and completely I was caught up in this story. As historical fiction, it captured my imagination and carried me into the past. I loved the characters: Lachlan, Christina, Andrew, Sir Boyd, Hamish. All of these characters, with the exception of Hamish, were multidimensional and intriguing. As the hero, Lachlan was the most compelling of all. The relationships he developed with Christina and Andrew were nuanced and relatable. I cannot find any fault with this book, neither in the writing nor in the plot.
October 5, 2016
Brilliant adventure that I couldn't put down.
Lachlan Wallace is sent back in time and awakens in the middle of a battle in which he rescues Lady Christina. Calling him her champion she asks him to get her son Andrew back from the English who have held him prisoner for thirteen years, since the age of two.
Can he rescue Andrew? Does Andrew want to be rescued, having grown up with the English? What will happen to Lachlan? Can he get back to his own time? Does he want too?
Read this and find out.........
Lachlan Wallace is sent back in time and awakens in the middle of a battle in which he rescues Lady Christina. Calling him her champion she asks him to get her son Andrew back from the English who have held him prisoner for thirteen years, since the age of two.
Can he rescue Andrew? Does Andrew want to be rescued, having grown up with the English? What will happen to Lachlan? Can he get back to his own time? Does he want too?
Read this and find out.........
Read
October 8, 2016Be careful!
Be very careful if you read any Jarecki books! She will turn you into a lover of history! She takes the true events of past and mixes them with her imagination to make truly incredible stories. This one is worth the read!
Be very careful if you read any Jarecki books! She will turn you into a lover of history! She takes the true events of past and mixes them with her imagination to make truly incredible stories. This one is worth the read!
Want to read
December 6, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/1/2021)! 🎁
November 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Lachlan Wallace is transported in time to 15th century Scotland through the wearing of a magical pendant. What he doesn't know if that his mother took the same journey before him and his father is actually the Scottish hero William Wallace.
He doesn't know why he's there, but speculates that he's supposed to help Lady Christina rescue her son who was abducted by the English when he was a toddler. As he becomes more and more enmeshed in medieval Scottish life, he starts to wonder if he ever wants to return to the 21st century. He is 1/2 of the middle ages, after all.
This is the 3rd volume in the series. I didn't read the first two, and although I'm curious about how the author handled them, they're not crucial in the enjoyment of this volume. The book begins shortly before one Christmas and ends at the next one, and although the word 'Christmas' is in the title it's not really a Christmas book per se.
Cover: Interesting
Narrator: Nicely done!
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: I think they're both Gryffindors.
Themes: 15th century Scotland, Robert the Bruce, time travel, William Wallace, family, war, teenager, h older than H
Lachlan Wallace is transported in time to 15th century Scotland through the wearing of a magical pendant. What he doesn't know if that his mother took the same journey before him and his father is actually the Scottish hero William Wallace.
He doesn't know why he's there, but speculates that he's supposed to help Lady Christina rescue her son who was abducted by the English when he was a toddler. As he becomes more and more enmeshed in medieval Scottish life, he starts to wonder if he ever wants to return to the 21st century. He is 1/2 of the middle ages, after all.
This is the 3rd volume in the series. I didn't read the first two, and although I'm curious about how the author handled them, they're not crucial in the enjoyment of this volume. The book begins shortly before one Christmas and ends at the next one, and although the word 'Christmas' is in the title it's not really a Christmas book per se.
Cover: Interesting
Narrator: Nicely done!
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: I think they're both Gryffindors.
Themes: 15th century Scotland, Robert the Bruce, time travel, William Wallace, family, war, teenager, h older than H
July 28, 2022
I read this book back in 2016 and just finished it again in 2022. The romance of Christina and Lachlan Wallace is one written with a lot of twists and turns. Lachlan time traveled from modern day back to the time of William Wallace. He meets an old friend of his mother's when she had traveled back and married William Wallace and after his death carried their child into the future. Christina DeMoray was a widow at 34 she felt washed up from ever finding love again when she is saved by Lachlan Wallace as prisoner exchange is taking place to get her son back after being kidnapped when only two years old and was now 15. All the history you can imagine is in these three volumes and romance mixed in. Amy Jarecki writes a wonderful story.
December 18, 2016
The Time Traveler's Christmas -
Amy Jarecki has the wonderful gift of being able to weave together characters and time, allowing the reader to not only get to know the characters but to feel their emotions and experiences traveling through time and finding their heart's true path. Dave Gillies provides a 5 star narration bringing the stories to life. What a gift to be able to make us laugh and cry in the same chapter. This 3rd book in the trilogy does not disappoint. I would whole heartedly recommend each of these books alone, but reading or listening to the entire trilogy itself is amazing. A wonderful and inspiring read at any time of the year.
Amy Jarecki has the wonderful gift of being able to weave together characters and time, allowing the reader to not only get to know the characters but to feel their emotions and experiences traveling through time and finding their heart's true path. Dave Gillies provides a 5 star narration bringing the stories to life. What a gift to be able to make us laugh and cry in the same chapter. This 3rd book in the trilogy does not disappoint. I would whole heartedly recommend each of these books alone, but reading or listening to the entire trilogy itself is amazing. A wonderful and inspiring read at any time of the year.
July 4, 2021
Such an AMAZING Read
This author definitely knows how to capture your interest and keep it until the end. You'll not want to put this book down from start to finish.
When I completed this book I wanted to read more of Amy Jarecki's books. I wanted to LEARN more of Scotland and its History.
When reading this book I could FEEL the love and respect the characters had for William Wallace, The Bruce and one another. Amy Jarecki does not just write a story with words, she writes a story you will FEEL and LIVE.
I thoroughly enjoyed all about this book and so look forward to reading the complete Guardian of Scotland Series
This author definitely knows how to capture your interest and keep it until the end. You'll not want to put this book down from start to finish.
When I completed this book I wanted to read more of Amy Jarecki's books. I wanted to LEARN more of Scotland and its History.
When reading this book I could FEEL the love and respect the characters had for William Wallace, The Bruce and one another. Amy Jarecki does not just write a story with words, she writes a story you will FEEL and LIVE.
I thoroughly enjoyed all about this book and so look forward to reading the complete Guardian of Scotland Series
July 17, 2021
What a bitter sweet moment for me when this ended I was hoping Eva and bill would turn up and visit for the Christmas. I am a bit disappointed that Eva and bill wasn’t in this story much but then again this story is about their son Lachlan.
That being said I did thoroughly enjoy reading it Lachlan is amazing I can’t say there is one thing I didn’t like about him he is a sexy braw Scottish warrior who can kick major butt. I love how he helps Christina with her lad he is a obnoxious little #hit but can you blame him what he went through I think anyone would feel that way. It is a great read I absolutely loved reading this series I highly recommend
That being said I did thoroughly enjoy reading it Lachlan is amazing I can’t say there is one thing I didn’t like about him he is a sexy braw Scottish warrior who can kick major butt. I love how he helps Christina with her lad he is a obnoxious little #hit but can you blame him what he went through I think anyone would feel that way. It is a great read I absolutely loved reading this series I highly recommend
March 7, 2017
This is an awesome read and such a great collection of stories in this series. Having to adapt to being thrown back 700 years has Lachlan thrown is for a loop and he wonders what he has to do and when he will go back. However, he meets Christina and he is entranced. This is an amazing adventure story and a lovely love story that is so enjoyable. I listened and read this book and the audible version is fantastic. Absolutely loved this story!!
July 11, 2017
Another exciting time travel adventure
Lachlan, son of Eva MacKay and William Wallace, is now 30 years old in the 21st Century. By a strange twist, he is swept back to 1314 into the midst of a skirmish where he rescues Christina de Moray.
Christina, widow of Sir Andrew de Moray, is trying to get her son back. He was abducted by an English earl when he was two and has been held for 14 years. She asks Lachlan to steal him back from the earl.
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Lachlan, son of Eva MacKay and William Wallace, is now 30 years old in the 21st Century. By a strange twist, he is swept back to 1314 into the midst of a skirmish where he rescues Christina de Moray.
Christina, widow of Sir Andrew de Moray, is trying to get her son back. He was abducted by an English earl when he was two and has been held for 14 years. She asks Lachlan to steal him back from the earl.
34
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