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Border Trilogy II #3
Border Moonlight
Lady Sibylla Cavers is ripe for marriage, yet she's rejected the first three suitors her father brought. When one of these suitors, the dashing Lord Simon Murray, rescues both Lady Sibylla and the small child she was trying to pull from the churning River Tweed, Sibylla begins to see Lord Simon in a new light. As he cares for her and the child until both are recovered from their near-deaths, she finds admirable - even lovable - qualities in Lord Simon. But political intrigue surrounding the powerful governor of Scotland will throw obstacles in the path if Simon's and Sibylla's budding love. Simon will fight for his inherited estate, while Sibylla will use all of her wits to protect their future together.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Scott
172 books382 followersAmanda Scott, USA Today Bestselling Author and winner of Romance Writers of America’s RITA/Golden Medallion (LORD ABBERLEY'S NEMESIS) and Romantic Times’ Awards for Best Regency Author and Best Sensual Regency (RAVENWOOD'S LADY), Lifetime Achievement (2007) and Best Scottish Historical (BORDER MOONLIGHT, 2008), began writing on a dare from her husband. She has sold every manuscript she has written.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 12, 2009
I enjoy Amanda Scott's historicals. Not that I'm an expert on Medieval Scottish hsitory or culture, but she appears to have done a great deal of research. At times, I get bogged down in the politics and convoluted intrigues. Otherwise, I really like reading how Scottish/English (hence the "Border" in so many of her titles) nobles lived their day to day lives. And I really, really like that I was born in modern times. :-)
Her books are Romance but very sedate as far as sex scenes go. Scott really seems to writes her characters as people of their time. So her heroes do not fall into the Enlightened Man category and while they may mellow a bit by the end of the book, they still see women as subservient to men and under their control. Scott's heroines are intelligent, often very bold, even pushy women who chafe under society's restrictions but they understand that there are limits to how much they can do as they would like. So they work within those limits to achieve their goals.
In Border Moonlight, gutsy Sybilla (from ages 14 - 16 she refused three marriages her father arranged) ends up getting to know one of her rejected bethrotheds a few years after leaving him at the alter. As she comes to see a different, kinder side to Simon's cold, domineering ways, he begins to appreciate her intelligence and ingenuity. There is give and take as the relationship develops and as they face a variety of threats to their happiness, holdings and even lives.
It was nice to see the two characters grow and change both as individuals and in their interactions with each other. I found Border Moonlight an enjoyable read about two very likable people who build a relationship and strategy for survival in a challenging environment.
Her books are Romance but very sedate as far as sex scenes go. Scott really seems to writes her characters as people of their time. So her heroes do not fall into the Enlightened Man category and while they may mellow a bit by the end of the book, they still see women as subservient to men and under their control. Scott's heroines are intelligent, often very bold, even pushy women who chafe under society's restrictions but they understand that there are limits to how much they can do as they would like. So they work within those limits to achieve their goals.
In Border Moonlight, gutsy Sybilla (from ages 14 - 16 she refused three marriages her father arranged) ends up getting to know one of her rejected bethrotheds a few years after leaving him at the alter. As she comes to see a different, kinder side to Simon's cold, domineering ways, he begins to appreciate her intelligence and ingenuity. There is give and take as the relationship develops and as they face a variety of threats to their happiness, holdings and even lives.
It was nice to see the two characters grow and change both as individuals and in their interactions with each other. I found Border Moonlight an enjoyable read about two very likable people who build a relationship and strategy for survival in a challenging environment.
January 10, 2009
Border Moonlight by Amanda Scott is one of the rare books that will actually make you want to say Yay for the heroine's independence or cringe with embarrassment when she's confronted with her past. They say your past always catches up with you and our heroine finds this out the hard way. LOL!
Lady Sibylla Cavers is without fear, spunky, headstrong and very pretty. She is so independent that when her father arranges to have her married off three times, she jilts her bridegrooms at the alter. Our Lady is bound and determined to stay single and no one person is going to capture her heart or so she thinks.
Simon Murray is the Laird of Elishaw and swears an oath on the day of his supposed wedding to make his was to be bride pay for jilting him no matter how long it takes. Just a lad of eighteen at the time makes the sting of being rejected all that much more painful. Even still, Simon is a man of honor, means and quite handsome. He really has grown into the epitome of the perfect man and his mother as well as the King are determined to have him married off as soon as they can manage it.
Our story starts out with two youngsters trying to escape the peril of a raging river and Lady Sibylla trying her best to save the first of them. Along comes our Laird Elishaw to witness the bravery or is it recklessness of our Lady as the scene unfolds before him. He rushes down the river in time to pull both Sibylla and the first child to safety. They recognize each other immediately but he doesn't let on to Sibylla that he does indeed know who she is.
Our author gives us a delightful story of stubbornness, tenderness, loyalty, deceit and true love. The perilous danger in the beginning only increases with each twist and turn of our novel. Will Lady Sibylla and her sister ever escape the future that their father has set forth for them? Will living on the borderlands of England and Scotland be the cause of treachery and deceit that could cost a child her very life? Will there be a happy ending and love for our estranged couple? Read and find out.
Lady Sibylla Cavers is without fear, spunky, headstrong and very pretty. She is so independent that when her father arranges to have her married off three times, she jilts her bridegrooms at the alter. Our Lady is bound and determined to stay single and no one person is going to capture her heart or so she thinks.
Simon Murray is the Laird of Elishaw and swears an oath on the day of his supposed wedding to make his was to be bride pay for jilting him no matter how long it takes. Just a lad of eighteen at the time makes the sting of being rejected all that much more painful. Even still, Simon is a man of honor, means and quite handsome. He really has grown into the epitome of the perfect man and his mother as well as the King are determined to have him married off as soon as they can manage it.
Our story starts out with two youngsters trying to escape the peril of a raging river and Lady Sibylla trying her best to save the first of them. Along comes our Laird Elishaw to witness the bravery or is it recklessness of our Lady as the scene unfolds before him. He rushes down the river in time to pull both Sibylla and the first child to safety. They recognize each other immediately but he doesn't let on to Sibylla that he does indeed know who she is.
Our author gives us a delightful story of stubbornness, tenderness, loyalty, deceit and true love. The perilous danger in the beginning only increases with each twist and turn of our novel. Will Lady Sibylla and her sister ever escape the future that their father has set forth for them? Will living on the borderlands of England and Scotland be the cause of treachery and deceit that could cost a child her very life? Will there be a happy ending and love for our estranged couple? Read and find out.
December 14, 2008
You could call Lady Sibylla Cavers the original runaway bride. Lady Sibylla had already left three men at the altar, one of the men being Simon Murray, Laird of Elishaw. Sibylla’s feels quickly change for Simon when together they rescue a little girl from drowning in the river. Just because Sibylla sees Simon differently does not mean she is ready to become his wife.
Simon still feels a little embarrassed and his ego bruised from Sibylla’s rejection of him. He won’t admit that to her. The longer Sibylla and Simon keep company with each other, the more intense the passion between them increases. Neither one of them wanting to give an inch but they just might have to band together. A battle may erupt when Border activities arise and could disrupt Scotland’s truce with England.
I found Sibylla and Simon to be very likeable characters. I admire females who are strong and independent like Sibylla. Simon being a Lord could have been stuck up but he wasn’t. He was nice, dashing and caring. Border Moonlight is the second book I have read now by author, Amanda Scott. She writes Scottish novels. She is great at her craft. She brings her characters to life in her books in addition to having the perfect romantic setting…Scotland. You can’t go wrong with an Amanda Scott novel.
Simon still feels a little embarrassed and his ego bruised from Sibylla’s rejection of him. He won’t admit that to her. The longer Sibylla and Simon keep company with each other, the more intense the passion between them increases. Neither one of them wanting to give an inch but they just might have to band together. A battle may erupt when Border activities arise and could disrupt Scotland’s truce with England.
I found Sibylla and Simon to be very likeable characters. I admire females who are strong and independent like Sibylla. Simon being a Lord could have been stuck up but he wasn’t. He was nice, dashing and caring. Border Moonlight is the second book I have read now by author, Amanda Scott. She writes Scottish novels. She is great at her craft. She brings her characters to life in her books in addition to having the perfect romantic setting…Scotland. You can’t go wrong with an Amanda Scott novel.
March 15, 2013
I have just finished the third book in this trilogy, and have to say the author had me fooled, and I thought it would be about Meg & Amalie's youngest sister Rosalie, but such was not the case. I really didn't care for the lead male as he was portrayed in the first two books, but by midway through this one, he had won me over, and I was thoroughly entertained by this story as well. This was a great trilogy, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves medieval romance set in Scotland or England. I will definitely be looking to read more of Ms. Scott's books!!
July 11, 2013
This took place in the Scottish Lowlands rather than in the Highlands but it was an excellent read. The love interest was good with a likeable H and h and a good bit of mystery interspersed with the story. It also was very interesting historically. I also liked the other characters in the book
April 23, 2014
Very good. I liked the part where Simon rescued Sybillia from drowning.
November 9, 2021
Lady Sibylla has walked away from three suitors. Other comments neglect to say she was 14-16 at the time and one was old enough to be her father. The other two showed no interest in her. So good for her for standing up for herself - very unusual for the times.
Sibylla meets one of these suitors again when rescuing a child from the River Tweed. Simon ends up rescuing the two of them. His knights rescue an additional child. Simon swore revenge on Sibylla when she walked away at the wedding ceremony but let's remember he was only 21 and had not yet got his temper under control. It takes time for a relationship to form and Sibylla constantly questions his sincerity (which got a bit old after awhile).
The plot centres around a missing heiress who runs away from her forced intended. There is no ending to this plot so I'm assuming there will be another book.
I liked Simon and, for the most part, Sibylla who was definitely born in the wrong century.
Unfortunately, I don't like the writing style. It feels stilted to me.
Sibylla meets one of these suitors again when rescuing a child from the River Tweed. Simon ends up rescuing the two of them. His knights rescue an additional child. Simon swore revenge on Sibylla when she walked away at the wedding ceremony but let's remember he was only 21 and had not yet got his temper under control. It takes time for a relationship to form and Sibylla constantly questions his sincerity (which got a bit old after awhile).
The plot centres around a missing heiress who runs away from her forced intended. There is no ending to this plot so I'm assuming there will be another book.
I liked Simon and, for the most part, Sibylla who was definitely born in the wrong century.
Unfortunately, I don't like the writing style. It feels stilted to me.
June 8, 2020
This disappointed me, because I hoped Sybilla would have as good if a story as Amalie’s.
The whole Simon keeping Sybilla captive to humiliate her was ridiculous and contrived. But once they ended up in Edinburgh together things developed more naturally.
I like that Simon stood up for her for rescuing his sister. He was honest with Sybilla about his feelings several times, and she made assumptions too quickly. That seemed out of character for an otherwise insightful, wise, patient, and generous woman.
But still an enjoyable story.
The whole Simon keeping Sybilla captive to humiliate her was ridiculous and contrived. But once they ended up in Edinburgh together things developed more naturally.
I like that Simon stood up for her for rescuing his sister. He was honest with Sybilla about his feelings several times, and she made assumptions too quickly. That seemed out of character for an otherwise insightful, wise, patient, and generous woman.
But still an enjoyable story.
October 18, 2019
Not very steamy and full of Scottish politics.
January 14, 2024
Lady Sibylla jumps into the river to save an innocent girl. Simon has to save both! After some interesting events, Sibylla and Simon marry and promise the border safety
January 16, 2025
Just okay.
February 24, 2025
This book was awful and boring. Don’t waste your time
February 18, 2013
I read this book over the weekend. I love anything Amanda Scott writes,and I was not disappointed. Sibylla meets up with Simon Murray while rescuing a child in the river Tweed. She had rejected him at the alter 3 years earlier, so meeting again brought back unpleasant memories for both Simon and Sibylla. Simon rescues her also from the river after she saves the child, and brings her back to his holding. Each is as stubborn as the other and they match wits quit nicely which only serves to stir restless passions.
There is much mystery about the 2 rescued children, but no clues to their identities are forthcoming before Simon is called to Edinburgh by the earl of Fifthe whom he has pledged his loyalty too, and must go. Circumstances fall into place that permit Sibylla, her father and sister, Simon's mother and his sister to accompany him to the royal court.
There is the typical romance and scandal at court and the story moves along nicely. The last 100 pages is filled with the intriege of fulfilling the romance and the accurate history of the true Characters and time frame. At times I would have liked to have rewritten a few scenarios, but all in all the book was a wonderful pleasant read. There is an emotional pull between the main characters that reels you in, there is romance a plenty but nothing graphic or in great detail. Definitely a book you could pass on t your grand ma and not feel guilty for reading it, ( or church group.)
There is much mystery about the 2 rescued children, but no clues to their identities are forthcoming before Simon is called to Edinburgh by the earl of Fifthe whom he has pledged his loyalty too, and must go. Circumstances fall into place that permit Sibylla, her father and sister, Simon's mother and his sister to accompany him to the royal court.
There is the typical romance and scandal at court and the story moves along nicely. The last 100 pages is filled with the intriege of fulfilling the romance and the accurate history of the true Characters and time frame. At times I would have liked to have rewritten a few scenarios, but all in all the book was a wonderful pleasant read. There is an emotional pull between the main characters that reels you in, there is romance a plenty but nothing graphic or in great detail. Definitely a book you could pass on t your grand ma and not feel guilty for reading it, ( or church group.)
January 19, 2009
Border Moonlight
Written By: Amanda Scott
Published By: Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, 2009, First Edition, 432 pages
ISBN 978-0446541350
Border Moonlight is a historical romance novel that gives you a fairly realistic sense of border life. The Author’s attention to detail and the authenticity of the time period is a nice treat. I have to admit that the use of Scottish some language and their way of speaking is a significant interruption to the flow of the story and I found it necessary to stop frequently and re-read sentences so that I could figure out a particular word’s meaning. The pacing is fairly good, other then the ‘language’ issue. The characters are...
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Written By: Amanda Scott
Published By: Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, 2009, First Edition, 432 pages
ISBN 978-0446541350
Border Moonlight is a historical romance novel that gives you a fairly realistic sense of border life. The Author’s attention to detail and the authenticity of the time period is a nice treat. I have to admit that the use of Scottish some language and their way of speaking is a significant interruption to the flow of the story and I found it necessary to stop frequently and re-read sentences so that I could figure out a particular word’s meaning. The pacing is fairly good, other then the ‘language’ issue. The characters are...
**Please follow the link to read the whole review:
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....
October 31, 2014
Lady Sybilla Cavers is not keen to marry. In fact, she's scarpered on not one, but three weddings arranged by her father.
One of the grooms she left at the altar, humiliated and angry, was Lord Simon Murray.
Sybilla comes upon a child floundering in a raging river. In the process of trying to help the child, she herself ends up in the soup. And Simon fishes them out…
He has plans for her.
Meanwhile, Simon's old master, the evil Earl of Fife, has plans of his own…
4 stars, for another great story by Amanda Scott.
One of the grooms she left at the altar, humiliated and angry, was Lord Simon Murray.
Sybilla comes upon a child floundering in a raging river. In the process of trying to help the child, she herself ends up in the soup. And Simon fishes them out…
He has plans for her.
Meanwhile, Simon's old master, the evil Earl of Fife, has plans of his own…
4 stars, for another great story by Amanda Scott.
June 10, 2013
This book can hardly be classified as a romance... There was so much political nonsense it completely overwhelmed the story...
Sibylla turns away three suitors that her father picks for her and is now a companion to the princess. One of the suitors, Simon Murray, swears revenge on her for leaving him at the altar. Years pass and finally the two meet up again when the heroine attempts to rescue a child from the river.
Unfortunately, the hero never even comes close to getting revenge let alone trying to beyond a mediocre attempt of calling upon her father and having a servant take her clothes.
The romance was slow and there was no heat to it at all. I wouldn't recommend this book unless political intrigue is what you like...
Sibylla turns away three suitors that her father picks for her and is now a companion to the princess. One of the suitors, Simon Murray, swears revenge on her for leaving him at the altar. Years pass and finally the two meet up again when the heroine attempts to rescue a child from the river.
Unfortunately, the hero never even comes close to getting revenge let alone trying to beyond a mediocre attempt of calling upon her father and having a servant take her clothes.
The romance was slow and there was no heat to it at all. I wouldn't recommend this book unless political intrigue is what you like...
July 6, 2013
Scottish politics/intrigue abounds or should I say aboooonds in Border Moonlight. An intelligent strong female character Lady Sybilla who appeared in book 2 of the trilogy has a strong history of rejecting suitors. Although allowed to make a decision by Scottish law regarding her choice of spouse, it is still looked upon as being disobedient. The old, the bad and the stern, were her choices and she said "No". Sybilla wisely plots to become a lady to Isabella to avoid being relegated to spinster status. Her wisdom, curiousity, and temper all combine to have her considered witch -like. When she encounters one of her rejected suitors, she begins to know him and respect him. Their story unfolds with a rescue of a child, moonlight walks, tempers and passion.
January 29, 2009
This book was painful. If I had the ability to put a book down without finishing it, I would have done so with this one. All politic, no deep character developement. It was painful to read and I can't wait to get it out of my possession.
October 12, 2009
It was okay, but am I the only one to not understand why Scott didn't tie up all story lines in this book? What happened to Kit? Did they find Lady Catherine and Kit's mom? I felt we were left hanging here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 31, 2009This was a DNF for me. I got to about page 230 (out of 387) and just couldn't read any longer.
March 5, 2016
Excellent Scottish mystery/love story. Amanda Scott does this so well. If you like Scottish historicals, you'll love this one. If not -- not.
December 24, 2009
it was ok. was expecting much more tho.
August 28, 2010
Good story and kept me interested. I've learned that I like historicals but sometimes the language from the time can be a little difficult to put into context in the story. Overall good story.
June 17, 2012
I really liked this story. Perhaps it was just the influence of being in Scotland, but I tore through this book.
November 23, 2014
I enjoyed the book but there were chunks that felt like the story was reaching or being forced along. Not my favorite.
January 1, 2017
I liked...
The continuation of these characters stories. The many names get confusing but the plot was interesting. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
The continuation of these characters stories. The many names get confusing but the plot was interesting. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews