Autumn in Scotland: A Passionate Castle Romance Where Mistaken Identity Becomes Dangerous Love

by Karen Ranney

Abandoned by a Rogue

Betrothed to an earl she had never met, Charlotte Haversham arrived at Balfurin, hoping to find love at the legendary Scottish castle. Instead she found decaying towers and no husband among the ruins. So Charlotte worked a miracle, transforming the rotting fortress into a prestigious girls' school. And now, five years later, her life is filled with purpose—until . . .

Seduced by a Stranger

A man storms Charlotte's castle—and he is not the reprehensible Earl of Marne, the one who stole her dowry and dignity, but rather the absent lord's handsome, worldly cousin Dixon MacKinnon. Mesmerized by the fiery Charlotte, Dixon is reluctant to correct her mistake. And though she's determined not to play the fool again, Charlotte finds herself strangely thrilled by the scoundrel's amorous attentions. But a dangerous intrigue has drawn Dixon to Balfurin. And if his ruse is prematurely revealed, a passionate, blossoming love affair could crumble into ruin.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Scotland, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 28, 2006

About the author

I’m a writer who’s been privileged to have attained the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists.

Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)

I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.

Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
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Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney

Reviews

[Monique Takens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : De eenzame echtgenote - Candlelight Historische roman 744 .
Charlotte is na 1 week huwelijk verlaten door haar man George en het vreemde is , niemand heeft ooit nog iets van hem gehoord of gezien . Maar dan , na 5 jaar staat hij opeens weer op de stoep . Waarom is hij terug ? is de bruidsschat op die hij meegenomen had en wil hij weer geld ? Charlotte heeft namelijk een succesvolle meisjes school opgezet in het ooit vervallen kasteel van George .
George lijkt wel in zijn voordeel verandert te zijn in die 5 jaar afwezigheid , hij is veel attenter en is hij nou nog gegroeid ? hij lijkt langer te zijn dan Charlotte zich herinnerde !
Al meteen in het verhaal wordt het de lezer duidelijk gemaakt dat de terug gekeerde George eigenlijk zijn veel op hem lijkende neef Dixon is maar hij houdt dat om een voor mij onduidelijke reden verborgen voor Charlotte . Dit bedrog nam wat leesplezier bij mij weg .

[GigiReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the Terrible Lost Husband Comes Back with a Glow Up plot. This one has an unhappy wife abandoned by her new husband. She renos his old crumbly castle, starts a girls school and is living her best life. Until he makes his comeback and she's like I don't remember you being this nice. Or this hot. That's because he's the better looking cousin of the a-hole husband and for Romance Reasons they look enough alike that no one can tell them apart.

I was hoping for a Lisa Kleypas Stranger in My Arms type of bonkers secret identity but sadly this was too slow. Which was weird because there were sooooo many side plots. There was the mysterious husband, a bunch of Dr. Ruth sex therapist type of old ladies, a mysterious prophecy and buried treasure. Somehow though the pace was glacial and there was so little romantic tension. I also didn't see why the hero kept his identity a secret for so long. There needed to be way more groveling too.

⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥/5

Tropes
Mistaken Identity
Second Chance

[J.W. Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough togetherness. Like 90% courting. 10% love and fun. But not a bad book. Loved Dixon.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story and characters, for the most part. I enjoyed how independent and resourceful the heroine was in making a living for herself. She was quite an interesting character that really grew on me.

The hero had his good points, too. He was a kind man, and gracious to the heroine. However, I just couldn't get my head around his deception -- throughout the whole story. For that I am knocking off a star because I really thought, after talking sense with himself, that the reveal was coming soon, but it didn't.

Anyway, I enjoy this author, but I don't think this one will be on my keeper shelf.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Karen Ranney's books, especially since most are always flavored with all things Scottish - :-) This book has the same or similar setting. It includes a strong, honorable, heroine with a complimenting hero. Plot did keep my interest, but not as dramatic or exciting as some of Ranney's other books. My only complaint about the hero is the expectation of a more aggressive, alpha-type hero to add a little more spice to the dish. I don't regret reading it, but I wouldn't put it at the top of my "to-read" list.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll admit it, I picked this book up because of the title, and because I was feeling homesick for Scotland. Sadly, Autumn in Scotland was only a very small part of the setting, and certainly not important enough to the story to warrant being the title. And also, the back cover with the leaves and the bare-chested man? Clearly the artist has never actually been to Scotland in the autumn, because hello, COLD.

But all that aside, my main problem with the book was that the plot was really not at all my thing. I like mistaken-identity plots, but I didn't get why Dixon was posing as Charlotte's husband when clearly nobody, including Dixon himself, actually liked Charlotte's husband. I didn't really buy the premise for the plot, as I didn't believe that a guy shown to be as nice and polite as Dixon would sleep with Charlotte while still posing as her husband.

On the other hand, it was well-written, with decent prose and an amusing secondary cast. I would have liked to have seen more of the school, but other than that... very nice.

[Lilly Canaday · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seemed to take forever.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent plot ruined by asinine behavior on the part of the hero and the abysmally poor dialogue of absolutely everyone.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't usually rate DNFs. However, I would be remiss if I didn't explain why I ditched this one.

Admittedly, I picked it up because I wanted something cozy and autumnal an literally searched "autumn" in Libby. I grabbed this one based on the cover and my love of Scotland. Ach! I wish I hadn't. Here's why:

First, the writing is belabored, yet boring at the same time, and I found myself skim reading.
Second, while the suggested plot has promise, the characters lack depth, and I find myself not caring what happens to them. The basic premise is explained, and we're "talked" or explained through thoughts and feelings, but even when the characters themselves are revealing them, there is a lack of depth of feeling.
Third, while #2 is particularly true of the MCs, I find that I know more about Maisie (FMC's lady's maid) and Matthew (MMC's secretary) than I do the actual MCs. Also, I find myself pulling for a romance between those two more than the MCs. And though I refuse to finish the book, I will hold out in my heart that Maisie packs up from Scotland and returns to Penang with Matthew. (I'd say he stays with her in Scotland, but he seems miserable, and I take Maisie to secretly have wanderlust deep in her heart.)
Fourth, OK... and here is what got me. We get halfway through the book with FMC still thinking MMC is her estranged husband... and him saying NOTHING ABOUT IT... though he has plenty of chances. And even though they are just warming up to each other, if they get so much within arms' distance and think about a kiss... even JUST a kiss, not to say anything of further physical contact... with her thinking he's her husband when he knows good and damn well he isn't... as Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White would say, "Flames!"
Fifth... and this cannot be stressed enough... there is an entire incredibly WEIRD chapter dedicated to these old women the FMC doesn't actually know BARGING into her bedroom to explain how to have good sex to her. ... I don't have the proper emoji here that I want. :^| ...so yeah... I definitely skim-read that as well. Ugh! *shudders*

So, yeah... usually for a DNF I'm like... meh. But this one just... yeah. Sent that book right back to the library. On to the next.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 1 out of 5]

ชื่อบลอกนี่ใช้บรรยายความรู้สึกที่แม็กซ์มีต่อหนังสือเล่มที่กำลังจะพูดถึงได้เป็นอย่างดี

เรื่อย ๆ มาเรียง ๆ แสนจะเอื่อยเฉื่อย

"ฤดูใบไม้ร่วงในสก๊อตแลนด์" ของคาเรน เรนนี่ย์ นักเขียนที่ขึ้นชื่อว่าเขียนเรื่องบีบหัวใจได้เจ็บจี๊ด มือตกกับหนังสือเล่มล่าสุดของเธอ

โอเคแม็กซ์น้ำตาตกกับตอนจบ (นิดหน่อยค่า) แต่กว่าจะถึงฉากกินใจนี่ มันช่างงงงงงงน่าเบื่ออออออออเหลือออออออออเกินนนนนนนนน

คิดว่าน่าจะเข้าใจความรู้สึกของแม็กซ์นะค้า

เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้เลวร้าย ในเวลาเดียวกันมันก็ไม่มีอะไรที่น่าจดจำ

หนังสือที่ใช้พล็อตที่แสนจะคุ้นเคย สามีที่กลับมาหลังจากการจากกันไปหลายปี เรื่องก็คือ ผู้ชายที่กลับมา กลับไม่ใช่สามีของชาร์ล็อตต์น่ะสิ เขาเป็นลูกพี่ลูกน้องของสามีของเธอ แต่ด้วยความเข้าใจผิด (เพราะหน้าตาดันคล้ายกัน) ทำให้เธอเข้าใจผิดคิดว่าเขาเป็นสามีของเธอ และดิกสัน (โคตรเกลียดผู้ชายชื่อนี้เลย) ก็ถูกใจเธอพอที่จะไม่แก้ความเข้าใจผิดนั้น

บอกอะไรให้ไหมคะ (ถึงไม่อยากรู้ แม็กซ์ก็จะบอกค่ะ) อ่านเรื่องนี้แล้ว ทำให้เกิดแรงฮึดอยากไปหาหนังเรื่องซัมเมอร์สบี้มาดูอีกรอบค่ะ มันซึ้งและกินใจกว่ากันเยอะ แม้ว่าเรื่องนั้นพระเอกจะตายก็ตาม

กลับมาเข้าเรื่อง สรุปง่าย ๆ แฟนของคาเรนก็จงอ่านต่อไป มันไม่ได้เลวร้าย เพียงแต่น่าเบื่อมากกกกกกกกกเท่านั้นนนนนนนนนน

ส่วนคนที่คิดจะอ่านคาเรน แนะนำด้วยความหวังดีว่า อย่าเริ่มต้นที่เล่มนี้ เพราะคุณอาจจะผิดหวังแล้วก็จะพลาดโอกาสได้อ่านงานของนักเขียนที่ดีที่สุด ถ้าอยากอ่านคาเรน เรนนี่ย์ แม็กซ์แนะนำให้ไปอ่านเรื่อง Upon a wicked time หรือว่า After the kiss จะเวิร์กกว่าค่ะ

[ShyAnn64 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abandoned by a Rogue

Betrothed to an earl she had never met, Charlotte Haversham arrived at Balfurin, hoping to find love at the legendary Scottish castle. Instead she found decaying towers and no husband among the ruins. So Charlotte worked a miracle, transforming the rotting fortress into a prestigious girls' school. And now, five years later, her life is filled with purpose—until . . .

Seduced by a Stranger

A man storms Charlotte's castle—and he is not the reprehensible Earl of Marne, the one who stole her dowry and dignity, but rather the absent lord's handsome, worldly cousin Dixon MacKinnon. Mesmerized by the fiery Charlotte, Dixon is reluctant to correct her mistake. And though she's determined not to play the fool again, Charlotte finds herself strangely thrilled by the scoundrel's amorous attentions. But a dangerous intrigue has drawn Dixon to Balfurin. And if his ruse is prematurely revealed, a passionate, blossoming love affair could crumble into ruin.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Karen Ranney’s storytelling. Any time I picked up the novel, I was entranced and felt like I was in Scotland with our two main characters. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. With that being said, I couldn’t give this book more than two stars. The fact that Dixon does not tell Charlotte who he is until the last 20 pages of the book really rubbed me the wrong way while I was reading, especially since he took her to bed knowing she didn’t know who he truly was. It really soured me towards our hero and of course, while I’m reading a romance, I want to enjoy both of our main characters as the story entirely revolves around them. The heroine, on the other hand, was great. I loved reading from her point of view. She was strong headed and passionate about making something of herself. There was also some questionable language used to refer to a side character who came to Scotland with Dixon but who was originally from Malaysia. Though this was written in 2006 so I did take that into account with my rating and the use of these outdated terms. Overall, I’d be interested in picking up more from this author but this novel in particular was a miss for me as far as my enjoyment was concerned.

[Rebecca K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The whole story was very slow. The MFC changed her whole attitude about her "husband" way too easily. The MMC never gave a good, believable explanation for assuming a false identity. Between the two love scenes and the old women, it felt explicit for the sake of just being explicit.

The side characters, meh. They too changed their principles rather non-compellingly. Was it even Autumn in Scotland?

[Coral · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t that bad - the plot was full, the characters had some development, there was some dramatic conflict. However the pacing just killed it. The leads didn’t really spend any time together until nearly page 100. And the whole rouse went on way too long. Also, I really wanted a ghost to show up.

[Pat Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yea! More plot and character development than sex! I found this book stuck in with the "Youth Bibles" at a church where I was at a twelve step meeting. Happy accident. I really enjoyed it and expect to read more by this author.

[Wadeana Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winter in Scotland

Very little of this book actually took place in the autumn in Scotland. I'm quite disappointed. It was winter more of the time. Cute read but not what was expected.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book!

I thought the storyline was unique. Ms. Ranney is a new author to me and I am thankful that I discovered her. I look forward to getting caught up on her many books.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5.

[Alda Delicado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original story, good writing.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was too short.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun fast romantic read. Got a little taste of Scotland.

[Jaynie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Peasy, summer breezy! Easy, simple but just a little different from other light romances. Good.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 100 pages

Lots of weirdly r*cist comparisons/fixations and the writing was kind of lacking. :/

[Gina Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It's been a long time since I've read a novel set so far in the past. I think when it all comes out it's very well done.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised, this story was a bit of intrigue and mystery with a small touch of romance.

[Maureen Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

[Sara Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistaken identity is a favorite trope, so combined with a strong FMC and a hidden treasure, this one was a win for me. I was initially scared off by the lower rating, but it was a solid 4 for me!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

my first foray into adult romance and i have been quite taken!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because it was set in Scotland. I did find some background of the British/Scottish differences. The story line was ok...a school for girls...a person posing as someone else...a bit of plot twists.

[Tori - Novel Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars - Historical Romance

Didn’t enjoy this book at all. Not sure since this is an older historical, but I didn’t enjoy the writing style. It made it hard for me to concentrate on characters.

Way too wordy.