{Book Review} OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon

Book Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
Publishing Date: June 1991
Length: 870 pages
Source: Borrowed from my mom

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Why did I wait so long to read this? Years ago my friend, Jen, told me to read this. I said, YES YES I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO! I even checked out the first three books from the library. But I never got around to picking it up. She reminded me again and again, and I went and bought the first three books. I gave them to my mom who raved about them and asked why I hadn't read them yet. *shrugged* I had a huge TBR and was going through them. Wasn't feeling a long series. I dunno.

*slaps self repeatedly*

So, since the show is coming out and the premier was offered for free, I decided to watch the premier. Hold the phone. God this sounds good! I should read it!

I don't have Starz, so I'm not going to be able to watch the rest until the first season is up and on netflix or something so NOW IS THE TIME. Called mom, picked up book, opened to the first page. Hissed, clawed, and growled at anyone who tried to interrupt me.

Claire Randall neé Beauchamp is on a second honeymoon of sorts, getting to know her husband again after six years apart due to the war. It's 1945. Claire worked as a nurse while her husband was abroad. To say that the war has changed them would be an understatement. As Frank's passion is genealogy, they are in Scotland tracing the route of his ancester Black Jack Randall when he was a dragoon commander in the highlands, two hundred years ago. And so the story begins. When Claire and Frank discover a stone circle and witness a druid ceremony, they are enchanted. Claire is interrupted before she can discover what that flower she saw was. She goes back the next day, touches one of the stones, and falls through time. She is at first convinced that she is watching a re-enactment or a movie being shot. But it becomes more and more clear that she is no where near 1945.

And so this tale revolves around Claire in the 18th century. She finds herself hostage/a guest of a scottish clan and inexplicably drawn to one James Fraser, nephew to the chieftain and a laird in his own right. Circumstances require that she marry him and suddenly she now has two husbands.

Let me tell you, ladies. From the brief description and interactions with Frank, from the get go you want her to choose Jamie. And I was SO frustrated with how she kept being a wishywashy about returning to Frank, returning to Frank, returning to Frank, when Jamie has done nothing but demonstrated that he puts her first. Not to mention, Jamie is very alpha, Frank is very not. This may be unfair to Frank as we haven't explored his character much in this book, but I'm one of those "it happened for a reason." I was so incredibly happy when she makes her decision. But then there is more heartache and danger and turmoil lurking about in the form of Frank's ancestor, Black Jack Randall.

Oh, he's hideous. He makes your skin crawl. He's vile. And you'll be brought to tears when Jamie comes to the rescue, and again when Claire comes to the rescue, and again when Claire understands and helps with the internal healing.

Wonderfully written, no grammatical errors, prose that flows, language that is salty and appropriate to both time periods, laughter as you read this romance and Jamie is asking things like "Who is John Wayne?" and Claire answers, "You." With a plot full of action and tension and anticipation, with betrayals and romance, with adorable conversations between characters, this is immediately on my favorites list, my re-readable, my kindle-bruiser, and one I look forward to reading again...after I finish the series of course. 

{Book Review} MacLaurin's Lady by Julie Tetel Andresen

MacLaurin's Lady
by Julie Tetel Andresen
Publisher: Harlequin
Publishing date: 1995
Length: 354 pages
Source: Review copy from tour organizer

Intrigue and adventure beckoned all who dared to enter the enchanted Castle Cairn . . .

But little did Elizabeth Cameron suspect that its winding passages also guarded the secrets to her own mysterious past. And would lead her to her one true love.

Ian MacLaurin had come to the Highlands to put to rest the demons of his youth. But the great stone walls of his ancestral home seemed unwilling to cooperate, until they drew him into the embrace of a most unlikely siren . . . the bewitching Elizabeth Cameron

 This was a fun, Scottish tale involving many aspects well known to the romantic novel. Although its formula can be called typical, its details were uncommon, fun, mysterious, and intriguing! The great big, old, stone castle with all its accoutrements - the secret passages leading into all kinds of rooms, the great admirable library stacked with volumes and volumes of leather-covered tomes reaching high into the vaulted ceiling, the endless halls of the castle covered in dark old wood panels, the wealth of memories of its past printed permanently by its occupants for centuries, the highlands and fields and moors and meadows and lochs of old Scotland...all made my heart go pitterpat. I've a soft spot for descriptions such as these and for Scotland in general!

After such rich setting details, there are the well-developed characters that you feel as if you know them, that they may just be people you know set into this fantasy setting, as they are lively and realistic.

This tale focuses on the old unrequited love and mistimed union scenario --a union that will never become reality due to jealous rivalry. The children born of these ill-fated unions often bear the brunt and brutal consequences of a society's well-entrenched prejudices and are often at the mercy of malicious characters who look to benefit from this secret knowledge, motivated by greed and vengeance without a care as to the innocents whom they will harm.

The lady in this tale is Elizabeth Cameron who decides to defy her father's wishes and attend the Royal Historical Society's summer meetings. Always a strong-willed and independent woman in nature, she defies her father following her compelling desire to attend the function; she learns much more than she bargained for and it all begins with a bundle of old love letters she received from an anonymous sender.  Elizabeth had hoped the historians at the summer society meeting could help unravel the mystery shrouding these love letters, perhaps even assisting to find the counterparts in some way.

There at Cairn Castle she encounters the disinherited son of the castle, MacLaurin himself. She learns that his presence, after ten years of absence, is to retrieve a letter buried among the books being sent to MacLaurin's uncle, the castle's new owner whose passion revolves around books, the history of Scotland, and the genealogy of Scottish clans.

Elizabeth decides to assist MacLaurin in locating this letter which can harm her charge, Allegra, her cousin's illegitimately conceived child by her lover, MacLaurin's own friend ,Bev. Maclaurin's friend wishes to keep his love child's identity a secret, for the child's sake as well as his own reputation, and they must retrieve this letter which had inadvertently ended up among the castle's many tomes. What should've been something simple, turns into anything but as these two are constantly thrown off their path by various events. Elizabeth discovers her own birth is not as she knew, derailing all that she knows and throwing her world off her axis. She begins to connect the oddities in her life. A strong woman, she is surprised and shocked, but ultimately decides to uncover the whole truth about her mother and MacLaurin's father.

With ghosts in a castle, intrigue, mystery, and what looks to be like a heartbreaking end, MACLAURIN'S LADY is a well-developed tale that is full of wit and fun, love and love lost, and much more. If you like reading about a hero, a damsel, a rescue, adventures, and need an escape for a few hours to a lovely bit of romance in a Scottish setting, pick this up! 

BLOG TOUR with Review & Giveaway: THE GUARDIAN'S WITCH by Ruth A Casie

The Guardian’s Witch

Ruth A. Casie

 Genre: Historical Fantasy

 Publisher: Carina Press

Date of Publication: July 1, 2013

ISBN: 978142689577

ASIN: B00CC68G88

Number of pages: 360 pages

Word Count: 71,000

Cover Artist: Angela Waters - Millennium Promotions, Inc

Amazon  BN

Synopsis:

England, 1290

Lord Alex Stelton can’t resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it’s his. Desperate for land of his own, he’ll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she’d never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can’t get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they’ll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.

Excerpt- Chapter One

Northumberland, England, 1290

“You won the wager with His Majesty,” said Lord Bryce Mitchell astride his Arabian. He cantered down the forest trail with Alex Stelton, the newly minted Lord of Glen Kirk Castle.

“The entire court placed odds on whether I would succeed.” The two men slowed their horses to a walk. Alex glanced at Bryce. “Did you lose much?” He refocused his attention on the trail ahead. “You should have put your coin on me. I only wager when I’m certain of the results.”

“After one year of holding the old stones against the Scots, he actually gifted the castle and his ward to you.” Bryce shook his head.

The ring of surprise in Bryce’s voice and evident disbelief on his face amused Alex. “His Majesty is a man of his word. Did you have any doubt?” asked Alex, his head cocked to the side with one eyebrow raised. His face split into a wide grin.

“About the king being a man of his word or of you holding off the Scots?” Bryce colored his smooth retort with a smirk.

The two friends looked at each other, exploded into laughter, and continued on until they reached the crossroads where they brought their horses to a halt. The tower of Glen Kirk Castle, bathed in the setting sun, peeked through the trees still some three miles to the north. Alex surveyed his new holding. His chest swelled with pride. Mine.

“Though Edward did make you pay.”

Alex was peeved by Bryce’s patronizing tone. He masked his emotions until they were as unreadable as stone.

“Yes, you could say that.” Alex tried his best dismissive tone. Best he forget the king’s retribution for now. There would be time enough to deal with it later.

“Could? Surely you knew if he lost the wager he would find some way to make you pay. He doesn’t lose gracefully at anything, but to actually marry you to his ward by proxy. I can still see the apoplectic look on your face.”

“Yes, Bryce— what about the look on my face?” demanded Alex. His voice sounded strident even to him.

Bryce turned all shades of purple trying to conceal his mirth but he said not one word more. Instead he diverted his attention and polished the gold clasp, embossed with the Mitchell coat of arms, on his cloak.

Alex bristled at being the center of anyone’s jest. He didn’t take it well from his brothers, although the six of them only teased to vex him. Even though he was the youngest, his brothers deferred to him. They knew his worth and, it appeared, so did the king.

His teeth clenched at the thought of his proxy wedding and his humiliation. He knew he had to take a wife. He had to make his own way in the world. The Stelton holdings were extensive but not enough to provide him with an income. He’d have done anything to prove himself worthy of a holding of his own. Maybe even marry. Perhaps even Lisbeth. He never thought he would marry on the whim of the king. He had tried to argue, but there was no arguing with Edward. Faith, the king all but patted him on his head and sent him off like a new page. A page. He raked his hand through his hair.

With a nod of his head, Bryce motioned toward Glen Kirk in the distance. “Marrying Lisbeth does secure your claim to Glen Kirk.”

Lisbeth. He had lived at Glen Kirk for a year and hardly saw her. The only way he knew she was near was the little charms she left or the serenity that surrounded them. She kept herself in the forsaken hunting lodge and managed to elude him at almost every turn.

On odd twinge of disappointment hung round him. She hadn’t been like that years ago when they encountered each other at court. She had laughed and didn’t have a care in the world. Four years later he wouldn’t have known it was her if she hadn’t presented herself at the castle. The impish girl had grown into a poised beauty. Dark hair fell in long waves down her back. Her slender body was punctuated with soft curves that couldn’t remain hidden by the black mourning gown. Large green eyes stared at him from under a fan of long dark lashes. Even with her dour expression her full lips tempted him. He moved uncomfortably in his saddle. How things change. How people change.

“You do know you’re the envy of everyone. Not because the king gave you Wesley’s treasured Glen Kirk or daughter.” Bryce turned serious. “You inherited Wesley’s brewer and ale recipe. That should give you some compensation. I understand it’s a long-held family secret. Wesley was all about family.”

Family. He let his mind wonder. It landed on memories of his early days at court with his parents and siblings. He enjoyed the candor and tumult around the table in their assigned apartment. How he would appreciate that safety and security today in the midst of a court filled with politics and intrigue.

“I intend to leverage our close friendship,” said Bryce, “I’ll sample each batch and make certain it retains its high standards.”

Alex grinned at his friend’s declaration. Lord Wesley and Lady Darla Reynolds had been close friends of his parents. They didn’t bring their daughters to court often but Richard, their son, was always with them and became close to the tight-knit band of Stelton boys. Richard’s death on the Welsh battlefields had been a shock to them all. He and Wesley had spent a good deal of time together consoling each other over a good many tankards of ale.

It was only a short time after Alex left for the Welsh Wars himself that he heard of Wesley and Darla’s fatal accident. He felt their loss deeply. Now in a twist of fate their beloved Glen Kirk and daughter were his.

“Have you sent word to her?” Bryce’s question hung heavy in the air.

Alex broke away from his musings. “No, I will tell her when the time comes.”

A_TiffyFit's Review: I'm a total sucker for historical romances set in this time frame, especially when it's in Scotland. I don't know if it's because I am half-scottish or if it's because I so fell in love with the country and its people when I was there, but I'm a sucker for it. This was a lovely read: strong lead characters, great story about the seventh son of a seventh son (I'll eventually remember what other series I read a few years ago that centered on this myth; I loved it), and a despicable pair of villains. I wish that the book were longer, however. I would have loved to seen more of the magic Lisbeth wields as well as Alex's as he seems to have visions himself. I would love to see more of the obvious friendship and camaraderie the Steltons have with the king. That's me being selfish as I enjoyed my time with Alex and Lisbeth. A lovely read.

About the Author:
Ruth A. Casie is a seasoned professional with over twenty-five years of writing experience but not necessarily writing romances. No, she’s been writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation. Over the past years, encouraged by her friends and family, she gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical fantasies. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, with her husband. They have three grown children and two grand-children.

Discover strong men and empowered women as they face unexpected challenges. Watch their stories unfold as they encounter magic, danger, and passion. Join them as they race across the pages to places where love and time know no bounds. Ruth hopes they become your favorite adventures.

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