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Tavish was the best boyfriend Kelsey ever had, but seven years ago he disappeared. She coped with her heartbreak by finishing her doctorate in Celtic Artwork, and now her career is taking off. Except Tavish keeps showing up at her job sites and butting into her business—all the while wearing that stupid sexy kilt.

But she's here to see the ruins, not Tavish. So she'll just have to show him who's boss at this site. Because under these cliffs at Dunskey Castle it is rumored lies the ancient palace of the kings of Alba.

Grrr. Why does he seem to know more about it than she does?

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2016

1793 people are currently reading
815 people want to read

About the author

Jane Stain

49 books137 followers
Jane was an actor at Paramount Ranch, California in 1988, doing the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

Los Angeles is her home town.

She is in her fifties and has been influenced by the writing of Diana Gabaldon, Isaac Asimov, Anne McCaffrey, and many more great authors.

Jane Stain is a pen name.

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5 stars
594 (30%)
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530 (27%)
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514 (26%)
2 stars
196 (10%)
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89 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Profile Image for Kathleen Ruggio.
362 reviews3 followers
July 28, 2017
Hard to Believe

I love time travel books. This one had a few parts that were too hard to believe i.e., the dream they walk through and fears of waking up etc. The relationship with Tavish could have been really hot but it was more like High School. I read the whole book but don't feel compelled to read the second book. Good reading for young adults.
Profile Image for Amie.
142 reviews
August 21, 2017
When I saw this book advertised on my Kindle, Time travel Highlander romance, I thought this has got to be good. Sadly upon reading it, I realized that it was fact not good at all. The main female is supposedly this highly educated, head strong woman. She really isn't though. One minute she's acting like an adult and the next she's behaving like a child. All because her ex-boyfriend has more knowledge on somethings that she had to go to "Celtic University" to learn, and he is "just a construction worker" who didn't finish high school. I'm not sure about other people but to me when the love interest is looked down upon because of his lack of education, by the woman who loves him, it doesn't really scream romance. But that is just me. As you go further into the book we find out that she does in fact have more knowledge then him. Which of course validates her self-esteem. As you can see I had a really hard time feeling sorry for her, or even rooting for her to get the hot guy wearing a kilt. The other issue I had was how the Scottish brogue came and went. Sometimes the Scott's had it and sometimes they didn't. Which was really strange. Unless you were a spy/assassin I don't see how your speech will change that much. Honestly, the story was so dull and the main characters were extremely boring/annoying I didn't even finish the beginning. This book was not for me and I truly wouldn't recommend it.
Profile Image for SandyL.
3,734 reviews
May 26, 2017
Kelsey Ferguson is an expert on Celtic history and is in charge of a dig uncovering an old Scottish castle. Her childhood sweetheart, Tavish McGregor, who left abruptly and she hadn't seen in years, is on the construction team. Although this was a pretty short book, it dragged on for me. Tavish has secrets and both Kelsey and Tavish have old hurts about their past. It turns out Tavish is a time traveler and takes Kelsey back to "old times" and the story just got silly.
Profile Image for Claudia.
729 reviews24 followers
August 8, 2017
ARC downloaded from Instafreebe.
A 2.5 star story.
Whenever I can read time travel stories I hope for the best.
Jame Stain shied away from the other authors approach towards time travel.
Clearly her past work at a renaissance fair has influenced her knowledge and approach towards the story.
While both characters, Tavish and Kel were 21st century people during their stay in the past were not as well accommodated as expected. I truly enjoyed this side of things since it brought a much needed realism to the time travel genre. I wondered at times what would be the place for a newly arrived person in the past and Jane Stain did it well. It made more sense for Kel to work as a weaver than land at the laird's table as an honored guest.
I truly enjoyed some of the descriptions of those times.
What it didn't work for me:
- the Scottish brogue abundantly present made me re-read few times to understand. It killed the story, for me.
- Kel and Tavish had really not much to do with each-other. The romance was weak and I felt no connection between them (except being told by their thoughts)
- the story took a lot of time to start. Between Kel patting her own shoulder for her degree and constant past recall and Tavish's continued mysterious attitude, not much happened. I was drawn in a story with a lot of descriptions that while they had some merit for bringing more needed "accuracy" to the overly romanticized past (by other authors), it bored me to no end.
- lack of romance lead to lack of character development
And then the writing...the lengthy paragraphs between the dialog. I hope Jane Stain will learn that the action speaks louder than the words.
I will stop here and say the story held a lot of promise. A lot. I was looking forward to a much needed fresh approach to this genre however, unfortunately, this didn't happen.
I am not sure if I am willing to read more from the series since there's not much that I am looking forward too read from the next characters.
Profile Image for CindiB.
183 reviews4 followers
February 6, 2017
I received a copy of this book free through instaFreebie; from the author.
I can't say that I was captured by this installment. This particular book was something that I just could not seem to connect with. I felt as though I were walking in slow motion while reading; the character development was something that could have used some assistance. The plot moved very slowly and I disembarked from this story long before it could possibly even become overly interesting, moving on to other books all together.
I wish I could have said that I was better satisfied based on the obvious reviews by other readers, but I just could not continue reading after getting about halfway through.
The female character hold onto her past and questions her status and relationship with the main male character when she is suddenly taken to another time by him to save her from those who would harm her. She is instantly approached by a man she does not know and has to dress and conform to the era in which he has transported them to.
The premise has promise, but it was like dragging your feet in order to walk across the room to have anything happen.
I hope many other readers find more connection and are able to appreciate this book more than I was able to.
I will not be recommending this one to others.
Profile Image for April.
3,184 reviews14 followers
May 28, 2017
Skimmed parts

Kelsey is in Scotland to find an ancient castle underground. Tavish is there too. He was her boyfriend all through high school,but then he stopped returning her messages.
Tavish is a time traveler with a responsibility to find treasures for a group identified as "they". He takes Kelsey back to the old time with him.
I skimmed parts because some of the descriptions and sequences went on longer than held my interest.
Profile Image for Ms. Cyn.
1,544 reviews
June 29, 2018
Very mysterious

I really enjoyed Tavish and Kelsey's story. Falling in love as teens and then ripped apart for no apparent reason, only to meet again through work, is a great romance story all on its own. To add to it is the mysterious rings, time traveling, and Druids.

So much is left unanswered which is frustrating, but I love that the story goes on and hopefully more enlightening.
Profile Image for Leslie Pleake.
10 reviews
February 5, 2017
Good but predictable.

The story had an easy pace and a good premise. I found myself liking both main characters as well as the side character, Seamus. The only real complaint I have is that our female lead isn't too shocked at all about the predicament she finds herself in. I don't car how educated or passionate you is about Celtic history, if you suddenly find yourself in that period, there will be a freak out moment. I didn't get that from her, instead it was instant adjustment for story arc purposes that kind of left the story feeling a bit flat. There was very little build up and what little action there was, was resolved in a way that suspended belief. That's saying something when,you consider that this is a time traveling romance novel...
321 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and will probably read some of the others. Tavish and Kelsey, the main characters are modern day people who can travel back in time with the help of a magic ring Tavish wears. The historic references seem realistic, I looked up some of the historic places and found them.

I have read some other time travel/Scottish books including the Outlander series and the Celtic Brooch series. This series is equally engaging and well written. As a control freak, I like that these characters have some control and understanding of time travel rather than suddenly being forced to figure it out on their own.

This is a quick read, I think about 250 pages.
159 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2017
Time travel!

I love time travel books and what's not to love about Scotland ...right?
Although the writers style is slow paced and the scenes and dialogue jump around a bit, I enjoyed book #1. I believe she has a great start on a series and will certainly look at more from this author. A simple and pleasant story.
Profile Image for Erica Eppler Miller.
71 reviews
May 21, 2017
Iontach!

This was a wonderful book to start this series. I love the dream casting as well as time travel. The characters are so easy to imagine through the writers descriptions. I look forward to continue the tales in the next book of the series.
55 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2017
The Story Pulls The Reader In

A bit confusing at first, but eventually the storyline pulls together and coaxes the reader in. By the conclusion the reader is left wondering what comes next.
Profile Image for Shannon.
718 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2018
Didn't live up to its potential!

As a child, Kelsey participated in Renaissance Fairs and fell in love with all things Celtic. She also had a friend she got to see every summer, and in high school they seemed to even date - staying in contact over text while the school year was in full swing. When Kelsey went to college she thought everything would stay the same but Tavish basically ghosted her; she was "heartbroken" and poured herself into her education eventually earning a prestigious doctorate from Celtic University seven years later. Now a Doctor, she is in Scotland at the site of an ancient ruin attempting to authenticate any artifacts found. Instead, she find her ex - Tavish, bare chested and wearing a kilt while acting as the construction foreman.

Kelsey wavers between a head strong female, confident and sure, to a immature pouty child when she doesn't like something or isn't getting her way. When Tavish is trying to protect her from "them" - a group he refuses to talk about, and thus transport her back in time by 700 years, she is completely fine with it. She doesn't freak out and just rolls with the punches... like it's the most normal thing in the world. She also learns how to walk into other people's dreams and just does so, again without any freak out or introspection.

And Tavish - we never get a great description of him. And even though some chapters are written from his perspective, he feels flat and one dimensional. Apparently he is working for "them", and they control him because of a pledge an ancestor made generations ago. Maybe this will be fleshed out in other books, as it appears each book builds on the last, but I'm not sure reading more of this would be worth my time.
Profile Image for J.P. Lundstrom.
Author 4 books5 followers
January 15, 2018
I wasn't sure what to expect with this time travel series, but I'm pretty pleased. I do have one note here, though. I followed the recommended reading order I found in the blurbs for these books, but after getting halfway through the series, I think the first book to read should be 'Kilts at the Renaissance Faire.' It sets the stage for all the rest.

ABOUT THIS BOOK:

A little early confusion about the characters was quickly cleared up and the adventure caught and held my attention all the way to the end. All that detail about castles, scots and druids felt authentic, and was presented simply, as part of the story, without long lectures and explanations. Which is a very difficult thing for a writer to do.

The story held my attention, characters were well-drawn. Especially Tavish--my oh my, what a primitive, handsome, gallant man! Reading this, I remembered my high school English teacher, an older lady who also taught my mother, telling the class that these tough fighters were the people who invented chivalry. And then she giggled.

The author has captured that fighting spirit and blended it with a romance. It works.

If there is anything negative to say, it's that the writing at times seems immature. But the amount of research that must have gone into the creation of the book is evident throughout.

This is the first of three, and you need to read them in order for the best effect. A second series follows this one, continuing the saga.
Profile Image for Glenda Parker.
Author 14 books21 followers
October 14, 2020
My review today is on the Medieval Romance, Tavish. This is a Time Travel Romance. I really enjoyed this book. Usually Medieval stories are full of graphic sex but this one is clean with an awesome story line. It's well written and full of twists and turns. I know you are going to love it.

Dr. Kelsey Ferguson is a graduate of the Celtic University. She is hired to document antiquities in the 15th Century Dunskey Castle. The construction former is a man from her past. A man she had loved but just disappeared from her life. They had spent summers together doing a Renaissance faire. It had been cause of her interest in anything Cletic. Her boss had to leave but told her that Tavish would give her a tour. On the tour she was able to open secret doors. She soon finds she has powers of her own.

Tavish MacGregor was caught up in a time travel situations. Druids control him and force him back in time to find artifacts they want. They control him and his family. He can't involve Kelsey in this life so he drops out of her life but now they are drawn together. He needs her help to find what "they" want. Can he keep her safe in the "old world"? Can he get them back?

A journey back in time to find what the druids want but a journey that would change their lives forever.
Profile Image for CA Portnellus.
289 reviews5 followers
May 13, 2021
Very rough writing. Poorly edited and quite disappointing. Someone suggested this series for Outlander fans. Not even close in caliber or story. The author fails at keeping the time consistent, (1300s, 1400s vs 14th century and 13th century). Big difference in details and how people act. While this is a “chick romance time traveler novel” it falls flat.
The main characters from modern times are supposed to be highly educated and respected historians and archeologists, instead the women are teen goofballs. Falling for the kilt wearing guys of another age is fun, but not realistic the way the author intended. Blah. The Scottish banter is fun but too modern. The characters’ attitudes and mores are inconsistent with the varying time periods.
The author has dropped in modern traditions, meals, and foods that were not a part of 1300s daily life, especially among the peasants and workers.
After so many mistakes I no longer could enjoy this book.
Its companion book “Seamus” fell short too with the same spoilers and concerns. Although I liked that one better.
162 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2020
Tavish:A Time Travel Romance

I have always be intrigued by time travel stories. This one is excellent! It is the story of an archeologist who is on a work project in Scotland at the site of an old castle. She is Kelsey Ferguson and has a doctorate degree in ancient Scottish antiquities and languages. She also speaks galic. Then , a man from her past shows up as head contractor at her dig site. She hasn't seen him for the past 7 years. Together they find some rooms in the underground castle and things get really interesting....she finds Secret doors and rooms and encounters an ancient druid. There is time travel,mystery, murder,magic and romance. This is a wonderful book and I recommend it highly. I give it 5 stars.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,633 reviews28 followers
October 25, 2021
Tavish (Dunskey Castle #1), my second read from author Jane Stain, an author I've wanted to read since I began acquiring her books back in 2017, I own 21 of them. I got this book back in May of last year & am just now getting around to reading it. Well-written and entertaining. I'm going to read the Dunsky Castle series in its entirety. I look forward to the next book from her, Seumas (Dunskey Castle #2). I'll read more from this author & in this series, but what really got me going was narrator Andrew McDermott, I love his Irish brogue. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Profile Image for Susan Kelley.
242 reviews14 followers
February 7, 2019
Kelsey has had enough of her ex Tavish MacGregor. Every single archaeological dig she has worked in Scotland. He undermines her at every turn. And how does he know so much about artifacts from 13th Century Scotland? He's a construction worker, not a scholar! Most importantly, where has he been for the last 7 years?! Before she can get the answers she seeks, Tavish has drug her on a time-travelling adventure through a Scottish castle.

I wanted to like this book. I love archaeology. I love Scotland, and castles, and even time travel. But the book feels like everything was thrown together haphazardly. This is only the first in the series, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave the story here.
Profile Image for Amy.
500 reviews7 followers
December 8, 2019
Interesting Book

It started out a little slow and some things didn't make sense but then it got good. It was very interesting to read about the history and the different ruins. There are still a few things I don't understand but that might be answered in the other books.
I loved the way that Tavish and Kelsey understood each other and how they still cared after all the years of being apart with no answers. I liked the other people we met in the story and hope their story still will be told in the otger books. This book did keep my interest and I very much enjoyed reading it.
472 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2022
Simple, sweet story with interesting interplay between present and past

Likeable, straightforward main characters, Tavish and Kelsey. Believable in the archeological dig context and in their time travel to the 13-1400s. Also believeable secondary characters in both present and past.

Enjoyed the vivid portrayal of Scottish life in the 13 or 1400s. Look forward to learning more about Tavish's family commitment between the two time periods we are shown. There is an interesting history (fictional) involving Druids and a second past period at least a 1000 years before the 13-1400s that Kelsey and Tavish visit together.
477 reviews4 followers
August 31, 2021
This had so much potential but fell into a hurried swirl. The on/off modern woman attitude, the relationship, then an older man had to remind him of her achievements before he would give them any weight, minus points. The druids, time travel, castle life, the personalities of the castle folk, those were good points. I felt the story was rushed and sections were not integrated smoothly. More time could have been spent on the castle life and the sea voyage could have been totally skipped because it didn't add to the story.
441 reviews14 followers
March 29, 2021
Kelsey with a doctorate in history is working at an ancient Scottish castle where she clashes with an old flame, Tavish who works in construction on the site. He seems to be very knowledgeable about the artefacts that have been found and Kelsey soon finds out why when she is transported back with him to the fourteenth century. Tavish protects her from discovery as a time traveller, while she assists him in finding an artefact he has been instructed to bring to the twentieth century.
Profile Image for Jordan.
60 reviews
October 18, 2021
A little wonky, but well written. Normally changing perspectives works for me, but this time it just kinda messed with my understanding of the world the author was creating. The dream sequences didn’t help to be honest. Still it was a different perspective on a time travel romance. I don’t know if I’ll want to read book two, but for anyone tired of the normal time traveler scenario I would recommend this one.
Profile Image for Jo Pilsworth.
Author 15 books194 followers
June 30, 2018
‘Nice’ story, but lacking colour

The idea behind the story grabbed my interest when I read the blurb, but the writing didn’t seem to deliver. There were several scenes which could have highlighted the history of the period, but were just airbrushed. It may be a ‘clean’ story, but it left too many questions.
Profile Image for Ashley.
11 reviews
February 11, 2020
Enjoyable

I love the topics of this book with the
Celtic, castle, lore, time travel, and adventure. It is very sweet and innocent. Not a steamy romance but a rekindling of a relationship from the past. There are moments I got lost during the story bc not very detailed in setting the scene. I still enjoyed it though.
891 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2020
Tavish

When I find a time travel novel I become excited about indulging in the fantasy of returning into a different ere of time. This Dunskey castle series first novel has a lot of promise between the pages. The readers will be on a storyline of mystery and some of Indiana Jones. Worthy read.
Profile Image for Terry Segan.
Author 6 books30 followers
September 22, 2021
Fun Dual Timeline

I enjoyed the differing POVs of the main characters, as well as the Scottish setting. The female lead could have shown more emotion or reaction at the discovery of being transported in time and her other ability. Beyond that hiccup, this book kept me reading long past my free time. Can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Profile Image for Kayla Hammons.
55 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2022
Escaping to the old times….

This fun, easy read is filled with lots of Scottish verbiage in a modern setting. Romance rekindled while time traveling provides for a unique plot with many twists. I really enjoyed this book during my “late night, I can’t sleep” reading sessions and can’t wait to start book 2 of this series!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews

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