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Pretender's Games
Dashing Scotsman James MacLonan must prove his loyalty to the king by marrying a woman with ties to the English throne and he meets Theadora Tilton--an independent and stunning Englishwoman who steals his heart and plunges them both into a world of danger. Original.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 5, 2019
Former Scottish Rebel marries an English lady.
After Cullenden , and after a forced absence in France of several years James McLonan returns to Scotland by a pardon that requires him to marry an English woman. He meets Theodora Tilton and theirs becomes a great love story.
After Cullenden , and after a forced absence in France of several years James McLonan returns to Scotland by a pardon that requires him to marry an English woman. He meets Theodora Tilton and theirs becomes a great love story.
June 24, 2020
Trying to get through my kindle and finally got to this one. I did enjoy the story it was pretty good read and I liked how the couple had to learn to love each other. The only thing I didn’t like was the guys one track mind on revenge. It drove me crazy.
September 18, 2022
History and Love
The history of the times was perfectly woven through the story and it colored the lives and the love of our hero and heroin. The characters were warm and loving as well as hard and practical. Well done.
The history of the times was perfectly woven through the story and it colored the lives and the love of our hero and heroin. The characters were warm and loving as well as hard and practical. Well done.
April 18, 2019
PRETENDERS GAMES : is as much a history story as a romance. Political opponents, our hero and heroine learn to love each other. The story is interesting, however the romance is lacking.
May 6, 2019
Pretenders Game
I was enthralled by this story and it's take on the politics of the era. I bought all three books in this series. So far I haven't been disappointed.
I was enthralled by this story and it's take on the politics of the era. I bought all three books in this series. So far I haven't been disappointed.
October 26, 2016
Pardoned Jacobite rebel marries an Englishwoman to secure his freedom
Jacobite James MacLonan has spent the years since Culloden in exile, fighting in France, wandering the continent and dreaming of his home in Scotland that he thought he would never see again. Now he has been granted a pardon, but the terms rankle. Not only must he honor an oath to King George and steer clear of the Pretender to the throne, he must also marry within four months of his return. And marry Englishwoman with strong family ties to the Whigs, at that! Despite his fierce longing for the Highlands, he is not sure he can fulfill this last stipulation of his pardon until he meets Theadora Tilton. Daughter of the commander of the English garrison in Edinburgh, Thea fits all of the government's requirements for James's bride, but best of all, she sparks his interest and fires his blood like no other woman ever has, and she returns his interest. But are their political, ideological and cultural differences too great to overcome, or can love truly conquer all?
This book does an excellent job of capturing the prejudices and venomous hatred between the English and the Scots, and to a much lesser extent between Highlanders and Lowlanders. It is also a fascinating study of the development of a marriage forged for political reasons and how trust is both built and destroyed. However, given the degree of emotional estrangement early on in the marriage, the heat in the bedroom of the newlyweds doesn't seem authentic. While some conflict can explode into heat, daily fighting over a period of time does not foster sustained sexual tension, but rather promotes estrangement--but this is a romance novel, after all! The plot of this book is entertaining, with some surprising elements. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and finished it in just an afternoon. I am looking forward to continuing on with the next. Installment in this series.
Jacobite James MacLonan has spent the years since Culloden in exile, fighting in France, wandering the continent and dreaming of his home in Scotland that he thought he would never see again. Now he has been granted a pardon, but the terms rankle. Not only must he honor an oath to King George and steer clear of the Pretender to the throne, he must also marry within four months of his return. And marry Englishwoman with strong family ties to the Whigs, at that! Despite his fierce longing for the Highlands, he is not sure he can fulfill this last stipulation of his pardon until he meets Theadora Tilton. Daughter of the commander of the English garrison in Edinburgh, Thea fits all of the government's requirements for James's bride, but best of all, she sparks his interest and fires his blood like no other woman ever has, and she returns his interest. But are their political, ideological and cultural differences too great to overcome, or can love truly conquer all?
This book does an excellent job of capturing the prejudices and venomous hatred between the English and the Scots, and to a much lesser extent between Highlanders and Lowlanders. It is also a fascinating study of the development of a marriage forged for political reasons and how trust is both built and destroyed. However, given the degree of emotional estrangement early on in the marriage, the heat in the bedroom of the newlyweds doesn't seem authentic. While some conflict can explode into heat, daily fighting over a period of time does not foster sustained sexual tension, but rather promotes estrangement--but this is a romance novel, after all! The plot of this book is entertaining, with some surprising elements. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and finished it in just an afternoon. I am looking forward to continuing on with the next. Installment in this series.
June 14, 2016
"Pretender's Games" gefiel mir sehr, weil es nicht nur eine letztlich romantische Liebesgeschichte mit Höhen und Tiefen bietet, sondern auch ein ziemlich drastisches Bild des Lebens in Schottland nach Culloden zeigt.
Vor dem Hintergrund der Willkür der Engländer und den Konsequenzen, die diese für die Jakobiten und deren Familien hatte, entfaltet sich die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Theadora Tilton und James McLonan. Aus einer reinen Vernunftehe entsteht ganz langsam ein wenig mehr und als es hart auf hart kommt und James' Leben in Gefahr ist, wird deutlich, wieviel die Beiden einander bedeuten.
Ich fand es wieder einmal hart, vor Augen geführt zu bekommen, wie wenig das Leben der Schotten damals wert war und wie schwer es war, sich gegen die Engländer zu behaupten, selbst wenn man unschuldig war. Die wackelige Rechtslage, die allgemeine Stimmung und auch die Abgeschiedenheit des Hochlands, trugen viel dazu bei, dass das Militär viel zu oft frei schalten und walten konnte.
Das Buch ist gut und fesselnd geschrieben, auch die Charaltere sind gut entwickelt und sehr komplex. Hinzu kommt eine schlüssige und interessant gestaltete Story, so dass ich das Buch nur ungerne aus der Hand legte, nachdem ich einmal angefangen hatte zu lesen.
Mir gefällt es auf jeden Fall sehr gut und ich kann es empfehlen!
*I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review.*
Vor dem Hintergrund der Willkür der Engländer und den Konsequenzen, die diese für die Jakobiten und deren Familien hatte, entfaltet sich die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Theadora Tilton und James McLonan. Aus einer reinen Vernunftehe entsteht ganz langsam ein wenig mehr und als es hart auf hart kommt und James' Leben in Gefahr ist, wird deutlich, wieviel die Beiden einander bedeuten.
Ich fand es wieder einmal hart, vor Augen geführt zu bekommen, wie wenig das Leben der Schotten damals wert war und wie schwer es war, sich gegen die Engländer zu behaupten, selbst wenn man unschuldig war. Die wackelige Rechtslage, die allgemeine Stimmung und auch die Abgeschiedenheit des Hochlands, trugen viel dazu bei, dass das Militär viel zu oft frei schalten und walten konnte.
Das Buch ist gut und fesselnd geschrieben, auch die Charaltere sind gut entwickelt und sehr komplex. Hinzu kommt eine schlüssige und interessant gestaltete Story, so dass ich das Buch nur ungerne aus der Hand legte, nachdem ich einmal angefangen hatte zu lesen.
Mir gefällt es auf jeden Fall sehr gut und ich kann es empfehlen!
*I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review.*
September 2, 2016
Pretender’s Games by Louise Clark
This was a good story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
A PERFECT WIFE
James MacLoran was in desperate need of a wife. Recently pardoned, the charming Scotsman had to prove his loyalty to the king by marrying a woman with proper ties to the English throne. Given only four months to complete the task, James hardly thought the terms of his pardon feasible, until he met the captivating Theadora Tilton. Thea was the perfect wife: beautiful, witty, and the daughter of an English general. And while she could be as prickly as thistle when it came to her undying loyalty to King George, James found himself longing for her passionate kisses and sweet embrace.
A ROGUE HUSBAND
Thea never thought she would marry a Scot, let alone a Jacobite renegade who had just returned from his years of exile on the Continent. But the lovely Englishwoman found herself drawn to James MacLonan, the handsome Highlander who was the catch of the Edinburgh season, despite his scandalous past. Convinced she couldn't lose her heart to a traitor of the crown, Thea nevertheless found herself swept into his strong arms, wondering if indeed her rogue husband had truly abandoned his rebellious ways for a life filled with love.
This was a good story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
A PERFECT WIFE
James MacLoran was in desperate need of a wife. Recently pardoned, the charming Scotsman had to prove his loyalty to the king by marrying a woman with proper ties to the English throne. Given only four months to complete the task, James hardly thought the terms of his pardon feasible, until he met the captivating Theadora Tilton. Thea was the perfect wife: beautiful, witty, and the daughter of an English general. And while she could be as prickly as thistle when it came to her undying loyalty to King George, James found himself longing for her passionate kisses and sweet embrace.
A ROGUE HUSBAND
Thea never thought she would marry a Scot, let alone a Jacobite renegade who had just returned from his years of exile on the Continent. But the lovely Englishwoman found herself drawn to James MacLonan, the handsome Highlander who was the catch of the Edinburgh season, despite his scandalous past. Convinced she couldn't lose her heart to a traitor of the crown, Thea nevertheless found herself swept into his strong arms, wondering if indeed her rogue husband had truly abandoned his rebellious ways for a life filled with love.
June 14, 2016
Fantastic historical story. I was in a emotional roller coaster ride. I did not if I wanted to cry or laugh. It had lots of adventure in this wonderful story. received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews