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MacLeod #2
The Very Thought of You
Alexander Smith had found success in the world of corporate takeovers—but not happiness. That had always escaped him...along with true love. Then, at the MacLeod Keep in Scotland, he found a pirate map that miraculously answered his yearnings—with a journey to another time. And when he was captured in Medieval England by Margaret of Falconberg, a fierce beauty hidden in knight's armor, he rediscovered his own chivalrous—and passionate—heart...
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
91 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kurland
69 books1,566 followersLynn began her writing career at the tender age of five with a series of illustrated novellas entitled Clinton’s Troubles in which the compelling hero found himself in all sorts of . . . well, trouble. She was living in Hawaii at the time and the scope for her imagination (poisoned fish, tropical cliffs, large spiders) was great and poor Clinton bore the brunt of it. After returning to the mainland, her writing gave way to training in classical music and Clinton, who had been felled with arrows, eaten by fish and sent tumbling off cars, was put aside for operatic heroes in tights.
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 12, 2019
Re-reading all my Lynn Kurland books. Ah, bliss! Just as wonderful this third time as it was the first. Onto "My Heart Stood Still."
April 11, 2013
Okay, I officially love Lynn Kurland and her time travel romances.
I want to give a special shout-out to Scottsdale (AZ) Public Library for loaning me this book through the interlibrary loan program. I think it is funny that I am in Phoenix and Scottsdale is an interlibrary loan not just a reserve (same with Glendale Public Library). Okay, that has nothing to do with the review so I will move on.
As you can tell by the 5 stars I loved this book. Kurland makes her characters so real. Some you love and some you hate but I at least felt like I knew them and was vested in their story. I cried some (not as much as her first book in the series but there are a few sniffle spots--or at least if you are a crier). Where the first book takes place primarily in Scotland this one is in medieval England in the 1100s. That is all I will say about it.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I want to give a special shout-out to Scottsdale (AZ) Public Library for loaning me this book through the interlibrary loan program. I think it is funny that I am in Phoenix and Scottsdale is an interlibrary loan not just a reserve (same with Glendale Public Library). Okay, that has nothing to do with the review so I will move on.
As you can tell by the 5 stars I loved this book. Kurland makes her characters so real. Some you love and some you hate but I at least felt like I knew them and was vested in their story. I cried some (not as much as her first book in the series but there are a few sniffle spots--or at least if you are a crier). Where the first book takes place primarily in Scotland this one is in medieval England in the 1100s. That is all I will say about it.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 3, 2015
This is a MOSTLY clean romance novel with two caveats:
1. If the word is in the bible, Ms. Jutland has no issue using it. So if you're opposed to some biblical profanity, you might want to steer clear.
2. While there aren't any sultry sex scenes, there is some blatant innuendo, and a few saucy kissing scenes.
I'm kind of torn between posting this at 3 stars or 4, so I'm just gonna say 3.5, which of course, according to math rules, must be rounded up to 4. Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I mean honestly, who doesn't like a time traveling romantic romp through England/Scotland!
1. If the word is in the bible, Ms. Jutland has no issue using it. So if you're opposed to some biblical profanity, you might want to steer clear.
2. While there aren't any sultry sex scenes, there is some blatant innuendo, and a few saucy kissing scenes.
I'm kind of torn between posting this at 3 stars or 4, so I'm just gonna say 3.5, which of course, according to math rules, must be rounded up to 4. Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I mean honestly, who doesn't like a time traveling romantic romp through England/Scotland!
June 8, 2012
The first half of this time-traveler romance was a little slow for me, but the second half was unpredictable enough that it kept me turning the pages well into the night. Margaret, our heroine, is not your usual damsel in distress. She is a 12th Century tomboy who first tries to kill 20th Century Alex when he unexpectedly "drops" in on her. I thought Kurland developed a great cast of characters, had plenty of attention to historic details, tied it all up nicely at the end, and wrote some of the funniest scenes I've ever read in a historical romance (I especially loved the scene with the chocolates). Fun read!
January 19, 2012
I was hooked with the time travel since "A Dance Through Time". Loved the ending and I believe I already fall in love with medieval England ;-)
September 28, 2014
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Let's start this review by saying I am utterly in love with Alex. So pardon me if I gush over him too much.
Well Lynn Kurland has done it again. I have to admit to reading her books completely out of order, but so far almost all of them have been a complete hit with me. This one just didn't hit 5 again because Margaret - the heroine on this book - has irritated me some when she time and time again broke her promises to Alex.
Kurland's writing style really pleases me, and all in all I really enjoyed this book.
Let's start this review by saying I am utterly in love with Alex. So pardon me if I gush over him too much.
Well Lynn Kurland has done it again. I have to admit to reading her books completely out of order, but so far almost all of them have been a complete hit with me. This one just didn't hit 5 again because Margaret - the heroine on this book - has irritated me some when she time and time again broke her promises to Alex.
Kurland's writing style really pleases me, and all in all I really enjoyed this book.
March 1, 2010
Alexander Smith, is tired of corporate piracy and take-overs, he needs a vacation - hopefully somewhere sunny and warm. Alex finds a "treasure map" in his brother-in-laws office, with a X marked Barbados, hopeing to take a time gate to Barbados, Alex steps inside a fairy ring that takes him to medieval England instead. There Alex is kidnapped by Margaret of Falconberg, who hopes to hold him for ransom. Margaret has been keeping the rest of the nobility at bay from her lands by keeping secret the death of her father for over six years. She trains as a knight and can best any man who dares to try against her.
This is not my favorite Kurland novel, but still an enjoyable read. I just didn't love the characters like I usually do.
This is not my favorite Kurland novel, but still an enjoyable read. I just didn't love the characters like I usually do.
February 22, 2012
So, I didn't love this one... It was slow, and I lost interest several times... It might just be my mindset, I took a short break from historical and was reading modern and it was hard to get back there... That being said, Alex was hysterical, he was a great character, funny, charming and witty... Margaret had her moments as well... I didn't feel invested with them though...
May 17, 2014
I love these time travel romance stories by Lynn Kurland and this one did not disappoint. The characters are richly developed and strong. It did not end as I thought it would which had me on the edge of my seat(or bed) at points but ended with a good feeling. I am ready for another.
March 22, 2013
I was disappointed in the amount of language and also innuendo in this book. Not a fan I'm afraid:(.
November 22, 2016
Rocky start. Hit the ground running when we're introduced to Margaret. BAM! She's kickass.
This book has one of the best marital consummation scenes I've read. Fun and worth the read.
This book has one of the best marital consummation scenes I've read. Fun and worth the read.
April 6, 2020
Relatively nice and clean time-travel romance.
I liked very much that the heroine Margaret of Falconberg was one heck of a strong (and beautiful) heroine. She beats every man in court duels.
I didn’t so much like the hero Alexander, who describes himself as a corporate pirate. He had become very rich in the process, but didn’t like what he saw when looking back upon his life. In my view, the simple fact of being sorry for what you have done is a bit like overloading the victims of mass shootings with thoughts and prayers. That doesn’t really help any of the victims. Of course, the hero later redeems himself by his actions in the novel, but that still does not help any of his previous victims.
The intensity of the feelings of the MCs for each other was very convincing. This novel is a perfect example that you don’t need explicit graphic sexual details for a convincing romance with strong chemistry between the MCs. I also found the medieval parts of the story very well executed: the world really came alive in my imagination.
The time-travel, going there and back several times with multiple characters, was a bit less convincing for me. There was also a three year old child, who has just had his parents murdered and has been able to escape to Alexander. He instantly bonds with Alexander, and a few days later with Margaret without even once asking for his murdered parents. What the heck? I know that in a time-travel romance you should not be too critical of the reality aspect, but a three year old child instantly bonding with new parents? I don’t have any real-life experience with this, but it seems very far-fetched to me.
I liked very much that the heroine Margaret of Falconberg was one heck of a strong (and beautiful) heroine. She beats every man in court duels.
I didn’t so much like the hero Alexander, who describes himself as a corporate pirate. He had become very rich in the process, but didn’t like what he saw when looking back upon his life. In my view, the simple fact of being sorry for what you have done is a bit like overloading the victims of mass shootings with thoughts and prayers. That doesn’t really help any of the victims. Of course, the hero later redeems himself by his actions in the novel, but that still does not help any of his previous victims.
The intensity of the feelings of the MCs for each other was very convincing. This novel is a perfect example that you don’t need explicit graphic sexual details for a convincing romance with strong chemistry between the MCs. I also found the medieval parts of the story very well executed: the world really came alive in my imagination.
The time-travel, going there and back several times with multiple characters, was a bit less convincing for me. There was also a three year old child, who has just had his parents murdered and has been able to escape to Alexander. He instantly bonds with Alexander, and a few days later with Margaret without even once asking for his murdered parents. What the heck? I know that in a time-travel romance you should not be too critical of the reality aspect, but a three year old child instantly bonding with new parents? I don’t have any real-life experience with this, but it seems very far-fetched to me.
July 19, 2023
Second in the MacLeod Family historical paranormal romance science fiction genre series and revolving around members of Jamie MacLeod’s family. (It's sixth in the combined DePiaget/MacLeod series.) The couple focus is on Alexander Smith and Margaret of Falconberg.
My Take
Time travel. I've always thought it would be cool to go far back in the past and then fast forward and see how the earth changes — like a flipbook . . . Alexander certainly thinks time travel would be fun, as he heads for a faery circle for his own adventure.
This was a fun story with some drama and some tension. For the most part, I suspect it would be a good beach read.
The characters are, okay, mellow isn’t the right word. Ralf and a few others are the only bad guys; most of the others are quite honorable.
Margaret is something else. She would fit right in with today’s women. She’s strong. She’s determined. And Alex’s courtship is a treat. He makes some missteps — he is a man and one from the future.
It helps that Kurland uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Alex’s and Margaret’s perspectives, so we experience everything they think, feel, and experience with a wee touch of global subjective when Lord Odo and a few others react to the moans and groans from Alex and Margaret’s marriage bed — and wait’ll you discover what really causes them *more laughter*.
Alex has a better chance than most at surviving medieval England, as Jamie is his brother-in-law. No one can escape swordplay at the MacLeods. Alex also has a better sensibility about marriage and partnership than any other in medieval England. It’s a shocker for Margaret.
Kurland has Jamie making an interesting point about Jamie’s tie to the gates. It’ll be interesting to see how this theory works out in future stories.
There are a few customs that Kurland has fun with. Medieval bathing was one!? Poor Margaret has to cope with windows, cars, books, TV, stairs, and a modern kitchen — all of which leads to great guilt.
The action keeps moving along and Alex will have some great memories as he witnesses history in the making.
The Story
An enemy, Ralf de Brackwald talks Prince John into giving him Margaret of Falconberg as wife. A deal that Margaret will resist with everything in her.
Alex is considering a family, starting one. He was rich, owned half of Jamie’s Lear, and could cook. Still he does hanker after an adventure, in Barbados, where the sun is warm and the women are almost naked . . .
The Characters
1998
Alexander Smith is a lawyer who intended to save the world but became a pirate doing corporate raiding. Beast is his horse. Zachary is Alex’s slob of a brother. Robert Smith, their father, is a pediatrician, and he has three other brothers besides his sister.
Elizabeth, Alex’s sister, is married to Jamie MacLeod ( A Dance Through Time , 1), and they have a son, Ian. Patrick MacLeod is Jamie’s younger brother. Jessie had been Jamie’s son in his distant past. Megan had been Jesse’s wife. Joshua MacLeod is Jamie’s minstrel. And good at desserts.
Antony “Tony” DiSalvo is a corporate raider who employed a fresh-faced Alexander Smith. Roddy MacLeod keeps an inn.
1194, medieval England
The tall Margaret of Falconberg rules, keeping William of Falconberg’s, her father’s, death secret for ten years. She had three brothers who all died. Because she’s a woman, her peers won’t help her, although she can defeat any in Odo’s tournaments. Which is part of her problem. Sir George, formerly of York, is her captain; Sir Henry of Blythe is his second-in-command. Timothy is her page. The daft Baldric is her bard. Alice and Frances are maids (whom Kurland confuses when we first meet Alice). Master Jacob is a healer. Joel, an orphaned kitchen lad, becomes Alex’s squire. Amery is a toddler who belongs to Brackwald.
The bold Edward of Brackwald encounters Alex out of the time gate. A raider, he helps himself to Margaret’s sheep. The vicious, brutal Ralf de Brackwald, his brother, prefers to attack Margaret with insults and petty thievery. Haslett is a scribe. Sir Walter of Brackwald is a comrade-in-arms of Edward’s.
Lord Odo of Tickhill will hold a tourney. Lydia is his yippy wife. Prince John rules England while King Richard is held for ransom by Leopold. Queen Eleanor is Richard and John’s mother.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a pale pink background with a tapestry border at top and bottom, taken from the leafy tapestry with a lion rampant in the center that hangs to the right below the author’s name and to the right of the title, which are both in a script font. The author’s name is at the top in a purplish blue with an info blurb in black to the right. Below her name is a testimonial in black. Below this is the title in the same purplish blue.
The title is what’s in Alex’s and Margaret’s minds, for The Very Thought of You is what drives them.
My Take
Time travel. I've always thought it would be cool to go far back in the past and then fast forward and see how the earth changes — like a flipbook . . . Alexander certainly thinks time travel would be fun, as he heads for a faery circle for his own adventure.
This was a fun story with some drama and some tension. For the most part, I suspect it would be a good beach read.
The characters are, okay, mellow isn’t the right word. Ralf and a few others are the only bad guys; most of the others are quite honorable.
Margaret is something else. She would fit right in with today’s women. She’s strong. She’s determined. And Alex’s courtship is a treat. He makes some missteps — he is a man and one from the future.
”’Tis my experience that a body cannot come home until his task in the past is finished.”I do feel for Margaret, as she does not fit in with her time period. Her tenants and vassals are so very uncooperative. As for “Lady” Lydia and her women, jesus, what a bunch of vicious cats.
It helps that Kurland uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Alex’s and Margaret’s perspectives, so we experience everything they think, feel, and experience with a wee touch of global subjective when Lord Odo and a few others react to the moans and groans from Alex and Margaret’s marriage bed — and wait’ll you discover what really causes them *more laughter*.
Alex has a better chance than most at surviving medieval England, as Jamie is his brother-in-law. No one can escape swordplay at the MacLeods. Alex also has a better sensibility about marriage and partnership than any other in medieval England. It’s a shocker for Margaret.
Kurland has Jamie making an interesting point about Jamie’s tie to the gates. It’ll be interesting to see how this theory works out in future stories.
There are a few customs that Kurland has fun with. Medieval bathing was one!? Poor Margaret has to cope with windows, cars, books, TV, stairs, and a modern kitchen — all of which leads to great guilt.
The action keeps moving along and Alex will have some great memories as he witnesses history in the making.
The Story
An enemy, Ralf de Brackwald talks Prince John into giving him Margaret of Falconberg as wife. A deal that Margaret will resist with everything in her.
Alex is considering a family, starting one. He was rich, owned half of Jamie’s Lear, and could cook. Still he does hanker after an adventure, in Barbados, where the sun is warm and the women are almost naked . . .
The Characters
1998
Alexander Smith is a lawyer who intended to save the world but became a pirate doing corporate raiding. Beast is his horse. Zachary is Alex’s slob of a brother. Robert Smith, their father, is a pediatrician, and he has three other brothers besides his sister.
Elizabeth, Alex’s sister, is married to Jamie MacLeod ( A Dance Through Time , 1), and they have a son, Ian. Patrick MacLeod is Jamie’s younger brother. Jessie had been Jamie’s son in his distant past. Megan had been Jesse’s wife. Joshua MacLeod is Jamie’s minstrel. And good at desserts.
Antony “Tony” DiSalvo is a corporate raider who employed a fresh-faced Alexander Smith. Roddy MacLeod keeps an inn.
1194, medieval England
The tall Margaret of Falconberg rules, keeping William of Falconberg’s, her father’s, death secret for ten years. She had three brothers who all died. Because she’s a woman, her peers won’t help her, although she can defeat any in Odo’s tournaments. Which is part of her problem. Sir George, formerly of York, is her captain; Sir Henry of Blythe is his second-in-command. Timothy is her page. The daft Baldric is her bard. Alice and Frances are maids (whom Kurland confuses when we first meet Alice). Master Jacob is a healer. Joel, an orphaned kitchen lad, becomes Alex’s squire. Amery is a toddler who belongs to Brackwald.
The bold Edward of Brackwald encounters Alex out of the time gate. A raider, he helps himself to Margaret’s sheep. The vicious, brutal Ralf de Brackwald, his brother, prefers to attack Margaret with insults and petty thievery. Haslett is a scribe. Sir Walter of Brackwald is a comrade-in-arms of Edward’s.
Lord Odo of Tickhill will hold a tourney. Lydia is his yippy wife. Prince John rules England while King Richard is held for ransom by Leopold. Queen Eleanor is Richard and John’s mother.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a pale pink background with a tapestry border at top and bottom, taken from the leafy tapestry with a lion rampant in the center that hangs to the right below the author’s name and to the right of the title, which are both in a script font. The author’s name is at the top in a purplish blue with an info blurb in black to the right. Below her name is a testimonial in black. Below this is the title in the same purplish blue.
The title is what’s in Alex’s and Margaret’s minds, for The Very Thought of You is what drives them.
March 8, 2023
This is the second book in the Lynn Kurland MacLeod time travel series, and concerns Alex Smith our 20thC hero and Margaret of Falconberg our 12thC Heroine. Margaret has been defending her lands and people for 10 years since the death of her father. This has made her: strong; stubborn; wary of men; tenacious; and lonely. Alex, finds himself back in the 12thC, after walking away from a career as a “corporate pirate”. He is: determined, strong, restless; and lonely. They clash loudly and often, however, they do come to recognise the strengths in each other and as being worthy of loving.
This was a good well written book: the plot was balanced between our heroine and hero; the secondary characters added depth to the story and a contrast to Margaret and Alex; and the action was well paced, it didn’t fell rushed nor di it drag. The ending was fun and aptly suited to both Margaret and Alex.
I enjoyed this when I first read it many years ago and I enjoyed it again.
This was a good well written book: the plot was balanced between our heroine and hero; the secondary characters added depth to the story and a contrast to Margaret and Alex; and the action was well paced, it didn’t fell rushed nor di it drag. The ending was fun and aptly suited to both Margaret and Alex.
I enjoyed this when I first read it many years ago and I enjoyed it again.
October 13, 2024
Another timeless time travel tale...
To be sure, it’s more of a continuation of the previous book, with plenty of Jaime & Elizabeth making appearances throughout. The plot is different in that it is Elizabeth’s brother, Alex who does the time travelling to the 12 century and meet Margaret of Falconberg.
The humour of what a modern man might miss were such travel a reality makes for an engaging, romantic novel.
To be sure, it’s more of a continuation of the previous book, with plenty of Jaime & Elizabeth making appearances throughout. The plot is different in that it is Elizabeth’s brother, Alex who does the time travelling to the 12 century and meet Margaret of Falconberg.
The humour of what a modern man might miss were such travel a reality makes for an engaging, romantic novel.
January 17, 2025
Lynn Kurland has become one of my favorite authors. I can always count on her for sweetness, clean romance, impossibly perfect heroes, and some sword fighting action that spans the centuries or fantasy worlds. This one left me feeling so satisfied and I cannot wait to read her next story in the series.
March 21, 2019
Wonderful story! Loved the plot. Loved the strong but feminine heroine character. Adorded the hero especially since he was not in the least bit intimidated by the heroine. Just a really wonderful book.
December 6, 2020
Another great read
I’ve enjoyed almost all of Kurland’s historical novels, though I haven’t yet read any of her Kingdom ones. So many great characters, and we get to see them again in other books.
Definitely recommend her MacLeod and dePiaget books. Read and enjoy.
I’ve enjoyed almost all of Kurland’s historical novels, though I haven’t yet read any of her Kingdom ones. So many great characters, and we get to see them again in other books.
Definitely recommend her MacLeod and dePiaget books. Read and enjoy.
September 3, 2021
Amusing
I enjoyed the story of a woman who can fight with swords as well as a man if not better. The interaction between the main characters was amusing and romantic. I would recommend this book.
I enjoyed the story of a woman who can fight with swords as well as a man if not better. The interaction between the main characters was amusing and romantic. I would recommend this book.
January 13, 2024
I really liked all the characters and the story. This had the makings of a five star book but I just found it too long and drawn out. It did not keep me rivetted throughout the book. There were some wonderful scenes, however; some were hilarious. My favourite was the consummation scene.
April 30, 2025
Loved Alex’s character. The story started out great but ultimately i found myself rather bored. Increasingly bored as the story progressed. I got sick of Margarets attitude and i just couldn’t bring myself to read the last 50 or so pages. Bummer cause Alexander was the hot brother
October 7, 2025
Just recently found this book at a thrift store and I don't regret getting it! It was a really enjoyable read and perhaps one of the better time travel romance books I've read so far. Will be on the hunt for more of this author's books!
August 1, 2017
Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.word...
June 21, 2018
Hilarious. I really enjoyed it.
May 23, 2019
I love these books!!
March 24, 2020
Love Lynn Kurland! I love her story lines, character development and love stories.
October 5, 2021
Typical romance, same plot as most of the other Lynn Kurland historical romance books. Good fast read for once in a while.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews