Scan barcode
planetarypan's review against another edition
4.0
I figured out what the scheming grandfather was up to rather early on, but I still couldn't wait to have everything resolve. Honestly, I would have loved more scenes with the grandmother. She seems like a force to be reckoned with, as does Aunt Joan. I hope Burrowes turns a few novellas to that family. Could be fun reads.
gonturans's review against another edition
5.0
Grace Burrowes puts so much non sexual intimacy into this book while both the hero and heroine are unclothed… I was actually struck by how natural and sweet it was. Wowowow, just really wonderfully done imo
loverofromance's review against another edition
4.0
Tiberius has been sent on a serious mission by his father up to the highlands. As much as Tiberius despises himself for what he will have to do, he reminds himself that he doesn't have a choice. Hester Daniels has been taking care of Fiona, a relative, a little girl that is in need of mothering and someone to watch over her. Fiona's mother has recently gotten married and has gone on a honeymoon, so Hester has taken it upon herself to take care of this feisty little girl who has her wrapped around her finger. Hester will do anything for Fiona. When a stranger arrives on her doorstep, insisting that he is Fiona's uncle, she is more than a little suspicious. She has never met the man, and she feels as if he is hiding something very important from her. But as the three of them spend time together, she starts to soften, seeing a side of Tye she didn't imagine she would when she first met him. A powerful passion starts to build between Hester and Tye, and before Hester realizes it, she knows that she could very easily give up her heart to this virile man that heats her blood.But there is a secret Tye is hiding from her and she can't fully give him her heart until she know him body and soul.
Once Upon A Tartan is the Second in the series, and is set up in Scotland. and this trilogy is part of the MacGregor clan. It starts out with a sweet scene between Tye and his niece Fiona. I enjoyed seeing the connection they instantly make, and having a weakness for charming and adorable little runts, I couldn't help but fall in love with Fiona instantly. She has such a curiosity and open trust that is heartwarming. The story then begins when Tye and Hester meet for the first time, which isn't exactly smooth sailing. Fireworks explode, because Hester has little trust in men, but especially strangers that bring Fiona home, a little girl who is everything to Hester. Hester has suffered through a scandal and has been hurt in the past, but you see she can't help but be drawn to Tye. Tye alone is sexy as sin. As the reader, you see a glimpse of what he is dealing with internally, but you don't see the full scheme of things till much later on. I liked the tension between Tye and Hester heat up, and I loved how Hester doesn't care about consequences, she is bold and daring, but protects her heart fiercely.
Once Upon A Tartan was a savorful story that makes your mouth water. There were times I had to force myself to keep reading, I think either I was letting myself get distracted from reading, or sometimes I feel like this is the style of Burrowes writing at times. Doesn't fully captivate you 100% of the time. But I felt the plot was full of a few twist and turns, not overdoing it at all, but I also wished there had been a bit more to the story. I felt at the end that it was a fully satisfying read, but part of me wished that there had been a bit more of a conflict involved. I did love the aspect of adding a child into the story. It always add a certain sense of innocence and playfulness to it. It was fun seeing Tye and Fiona connect and go on adventures together, the descriptions were so well done, I almost felt like I was actually there. I felt the characterization were well done for the most part, I don't have any complaints on Tye or Hester. They were a fun and exciting couple to see get attached to each other. We also see the involvement of Ian and Augusta (the couple from the first book for those of you who haven't read this series yet), which was fun to see them again and their connection to Hester.
I enjoyed this story much more than I imagined I would in the beginning. It did take me quite a few pages, before I got fully drawn into the story. But that tends to happen with Grace Burrowes. I feel like you really have to give her books a chance, you can't just quit after a few pages. For me, it takes a couple chapters, before I find myself finding true fun in the story. I do want to say that one of my ultimate favorite things about Burrowe's books, are the covers. They are so exquisite and slightly erotic, but not overly much too, just enough to entice anyone to pick it up. They have a certain quality about them, that is full of color and goes along with the theme of the story or the series. A wonderfully written love story, that is bursting with a sensuality and a certain polish to it that brings forth a vibrancy to the story. A Richly emotion filled tale that will capture your heart!!
Once Upon A Tartan is the Second in the series, and is set up in Scotland. and this trilogy is part of the MacGregor clan. It starts out with a sweet scene between Tye and his niece Fiona. I enjoyed seeing the connection they instantly make, and having a weakness for charming and adorable little runts, I couldn't help but fall in love with Fiona instantly. She has such a curiosity and open trust that is heartwarming. The story then begins when Tye and Hester meet for the first time, which isn't exactly smooth sailing. Fireworks explode, because Hester has little trust in men, but especially strangers that bring Fiona home, a little girl who is everything to Hester. Hester has suffered through a scandal and has been hurt in the past, but you see she can't help but be drawn to Tye. Tye alone is sexy as sin. As the reader, you see a glimpse of what he is dealing with internally, but you don't see the full scheme of things till much later on. I liked the tension between Tye and Hester heat up, and I loved how Hester doesn't care about consequences, she is bold and daring, but protects her heart fiercely.
Once Upon A Tartan was a savorful story that makes your mouth water. There were times I had to force myself to keep reading, I think either I was letting myself get distracted from reading, or sometimes I feel like this is the style of Burrowes writing at times. Doesn't fully captivate you 100% of the time. But I felt the plot was full of a few twist and turns, not overdoing it at all, but I also wished there had been a bit more to the story. I felt at the end that it was a fully satisfying read, but part of me wished that there had been a bit more of a conflict involved. I did love the aspect of adding a child into the story. It always add a certain sense of innocence and playfulness to it. It was fun seeing Tye and Fiona connect and go on adventures together, the descriptions were so well done, I almost felt like I was actually there. I felt the characterization were well done for the most part, I don't have any complaints on Tye or Hester. They were a fun and exciting couple to see get attached to each other. We also see the involvement of Ian and Augusta (the couple from the first book for those of you who haven't read this series yet), which was fun to see them again and their connection to Hester.
I enjoyed this story much more than I imagined I would in the beginning. It did take me quite a few pages, before I got fully drawn into the story. But that tends to happen with Grace Burrowes. I feel like you really have to give her books a chance, you can't just quit after a few pages. For me, it takes a couple chapters, before I find myself finding true fun in the story. I do want to say that one of my ultimate favorite things about Burrowe's books, are the covers. They are so exquisite and slightly erotic, but not overly much too, just enough to entice anyone to pick it up. They have a certain quality about them, that is full of color and goes along with the theme of the story or the series. A wonderfully written love story, that is bursting with a sensuality and a certain polish to it that brings forth a vibrancy to the story. A Richly emotion filled tale that will capture your heart!!
lumbermouth's review against another edition
3.0
Yes, I read a book called Once Upon a Tartan. What are you gonna do. These things happen.
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one more than the first in the series. However, I do think the resolution could have been more developed as well as the secondary romance.
sheltzer's review against another edition
3.0
I did not like this one as much as I enjoyed the Regency series. I appreciated that Fiona was a well-rounded character instead of being a mere plot moppet. It was a nice summer read.
lisajo85's review against another edition
3.0
ONCE UPON A TARTAN by Grace Burrowes is a great addition to the MacGregor trilogy. Unique and quirky characters along with an uplifting romance make this a compelling historical romance you won't want to miss.
All Hester Daniels wants is a quiet life in the Highlands taking care of Fiona, her brother's stepdaughter, and recovering from a promising engagement that ended in disaster. Things are going smoothly until Fiona's long-lost Uncle Tiberius Flynn, English Marquis of Quinworth, rides in to spend time with his niece. Hester is immediately suspicious since Fiona's paternal relations have barely acknowledged her since her birth. Something is amiss, and Hester is bound to figure it out...even if it means spending a large amount of time with Tye. Armed with a fierce conviction, Tye knows what he must do. He will do whatever it takes to make sure Fee lives in London permanently, while attempting to avoid losing his heart to the inspiring Miss Daniels who stands in his way.
It took a little time to warm up to the hero. The classic first impression is that Tiberius is a cold, unfeeling English Marquis. He was quite boring for a bit and you do question why Hester is so fascinated with him. I found myself questioning his motives throughout this novel and wondering why his decisions were so complicated. The moral dilemma he endures as a result of his actions, or even intended actions, took far too long for him to figure out in my opinion. Eventually though, you do warm up to his character and have a better understanding of his personality.
Hester was a great match for our hero. She was shy and innocent in many ways, but she was never afraid. She was an intelligent lady always seeking out more knowledge and information where she could find it. Of course, above all she was protective and placed extreme value on the important things in life such as her family. Tye made her realize she could live life to enjoy the moment and let go of her troubled past. She certainly kept Tye on his toes, but ultimately they brought out the best in each other.
In this novel, ONCE UPON A TARTAN, Grace Burrowes has again displayed the elegance her writing can achieve. There is a subtle quality in her stories that easily allows readers to be transported and experience another time rather than just letting you read about it. The descriptions and dialogue lead you to become completely immersed in the lives of these characters even if the visit is only temporary. As if that isn't enough, Ms Burrowes creates two characters in this novel that light up the pages with their fabulous chemistry. The developing sensual relationship they share will keep you turning the pages eagerly anticipating more and not wanting it to end.
Which leads me to my biggest complaint. The ending wrapped up far too quickly for me. A few pages and a mere paragraph that served as an unofficial "epilogue" wasn't enough for me. I wanted a little more "fluff" in the ending. By the time I finished the last page, I could look back and see there was plenty of buildup, but the ending felt rushed.
Should you read this if you haven't read the first installment in the MacGregor trilogy? You can, but sticklers for reading a series in order might want to use caution. Ian and Augusta from book one play a pretty large part in this story so it may mean a lot for some to read this in order. It's not impossible to read this without the other book because it flows easily as a stand-alone, but you would have a better understanding of the family if you read them in order.
Overall, I enjoyed ONCE UPON A TARTAN immensely. I can't say it is my favorite Grace Burrowes novel, but it still contains the high quality storytelling fans have come to expect from her historical romances. There are some great secondary characters in this novel that will delight you and will literally make you laugh out loud. The occasional doses of humor only add more beauty to this story and succeed in fully engaging readers. Historical romance fans should not let any of Grace Burrowes' work go unread, ONCE UPON A TARTAN included.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
All Hester Daniels wants is a quiet life in the Highlands taking care of Fiona, her brother's stepdaughter, and recovering from a promising engagement that ended in disaster. Things are going smoothly until Fiona's long-lost Uncle Tiberius Flynn, English Marquis of Quinworth, rides in to spend time with his niece. Hester is immediately suspicious since Fiona's paternal relations have barely acknowledged her since her birth. Something is amiss, and Hester is bound to figure it out...even if it means spending a large amount of time with Tye. Armed with a fierce conviction, Tye knows what he must do. He will do whatever it takes to make sure Fee lives in London permanently, while attempting to avoid losing his heart to the inspiring Miss Daniels who stands in his way.
It took a little time to warm up to the hero. The classic first impression is that Tiberius is a cold, unfeeling English Marquis. He was quite boring for a bit and you do question why Hester is so fascinated with him. I found myself questioning his motives throughout this novel and wondering why his decisions were so complicated. The moral dilemma he endures as a result of his actions, or even intended actions, took far too long for him to figure out in my opinion. Eventually though, you do warm up to his character and have a better understanding of his personality.
Hester was a great match for our hero. She was shy and innocent in many ways, but she was never afraid. She was an intelligent lady always seeking out more knowledge and information where she could find it. Of course, above all she was protective and placed extreme value on the important things in life such as her family. Tye made her realize she could live life to enjoy the moment and let go of her troubled past. She certainly kept Tye on his toes, but ultimately they brought out the best in each other.
In this novel, ONCE UPON A TARTAN, Grace Burrowes has again displayed the elegance her writing can achieve. There is a subtle quality in her stories that easily allows readers to be transported and experience another time rather than just letting you read about it. The descriptions and dialogue lead you to become completely immersed in the lives of these characters even if the visit is only temporary. As if that isn't enough, Ms Burrowes creates two characters in this novel that light up the pages with their fabulous chemistry. The developing sensual relationship they share will keep you turning the pages eagerly anticipating more and not wanting it to end.
Which leads me to my biggest complaint. The ending wrapped up far too quickly for me. A few pages and a mere paragraph that served as an unofficial "epilogue" wasn't enough for me. I wanted a little more "fluff" in the ending. By the time I finished the last page, I could look back and see there was plenty of buildup, but the ending felt rushed.
Should you read this if you haven't read the first installment in the MacGregor trilogy? You can, but sticklers for reading a series in order might want to use caution. Ian and Augusta from book one play a pretty large part in this story so it may mean a lot for some to read this in order. It's not impossible to read this without the other book because it flows easily as a stand-alone, but you would have a better understanding of the family if you read them in order.
Overall, I enjoyed ONCE UPON A TARTAN immensely. I can't say it is my favorite Grace Burrowes novel, but it still contains the high quality storytelling fans have come to expect from her historical romances. There are some great secondary characters in this novel that will delight you and will literally make you laugh out loud. The occasional doses of humor only add more beauty to this story and succeed in fully engaging readers. Historical romance fans should not let any of Grace Burrowes' work go unread, ONCE UPON A TARTAN included.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
leahr711's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
schomj's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Charming Victorian-era Scottish romance with none of the fake-Scots dialog that usually keeps me away from this sort of thing. I'd totally read more Burrowes the next time I'm in the mood for light-but-smart historical romance.
Charming Victorian-era Scottish romance with none of the fake-Scots dialog that usually keeps me away from this sort of thing. I'd totally read more Burrowes the next time I'm in the mood for light-but-smart historical romance.