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shryanayak's review
3.0
This novel was first published in 1996, which was like over two decades ago. Not sure about others, but I tend to keep an open mind before delving into any story. If you're not easily offended by how Beth has no backbone or how she's in love with a brute of a man who's yet to come around and treat the lady with some respect, then you probably won't find this read jarring.
dragon_lion64's review
3.0
This book should have been titled “The Taming of the Caveman” because the protagonist didn't act much better than a neanderthal for most of the book.
Elizabeth Smith dreamed of a Scottish man. Then she was transported back in time to medieval Scotland where she was taken to the MacLeod keep. The laird, Jamie MacLeod thought she was a witch so he immediately threw her into a pit where all kinds of slithering things crawled all over her. He left her there screaming for hours.
When Jamie decided against burning her as a witch, he pulled her up and threw her in the lake to get the critters off of her. He threw her a blanket to sleep in the filthy great hall with all his men but when some of them tried to rape her, he let her sleep in his chamber on the floor or in a chair while he slept in his bed. He continued this kind of behavior for a while.
I was captivated by the story even though and probably because of Jamie's atrocious behavior. It was probably more true to life back then than some of the historical romances I read but it still bothered me. What bothered me more was how Elizabeth was so patient and accepting of his behavior and even thought it was cute. It was not okay.
I couldn't help but love some of the secondary characters who I hope I will see in the next book which I will definitely be reading.
Elizabeth Smith dreamed of a Scottish man. Then she was transported back in time to medieval Scotland where she was taken to the MacLeod keep. The laird, Jamie MacLeod thought she was a witch so he immediately threw her into a pit where all kinds of slithering things crawled all over her. He left her there screaming for hours.
When Jamie decided against burning her as a witch, he pulled her up and threw her in the lake to get the critters off of her. He threw her a blanket to sleep in the filthy great hall with all his men but when some of them tried to rape her, he let her sleep in his chamber on the floor or in a chair while he slept in his bed. He continued this kind of behavior for a while.
I was captivated by the story even though and probably because of Jamie's atrocious behavior. It was probably more true to life back then than some of the historical romances I read but it still bothered me. What bothered me more was how Elizabeth was so patient and accepting of his behavior and even thought it was cute. It was not okay.
I couldn't help but love some of the secondary characters who I hope I will see in the next book which I will definitely be reading.
nicolesnook's review
3.0
This was my first Kurland novel. Even though it's second in a series, it's fine as a stand alone novel. Elizabeth Smith finds herself transported to a 14th century castle and finds her way into the heart of the Jamie MacLeod, the grumbling laird. It's a sweet love story, that doesn't go into a lot of explicit sexual details.
michellereese47's review
2.0
Personally, I found many faults with this book. It felt outdated, fell heavily into gender roles and stereotypes, and at times was downright problematic.
While I can see why it sparked a series - the time travel was intriguing and her descriptions rang with historical accuracy - for me the romance was not there.
Jamie as a love interest is boarish, misogynistic to the point of abusive, and arrogant, with very few positives to counterbalance his character. Even the way the heroine Elizabeth referred to herself and her body reflected very archaic views on beauty and confidence. There were a few brief moments that truly felt sweet and engaging, but then some other passage would come along and shatter it.
It is one thing to start with a stubborn and unlikeable love interest and have him mature into someone both the heroine and the reader love (still not my favorite trope, but I understand it). It is quite another that even after 300 pages, a marriage, and proclaiming to love this woman, he still lies and betrays her trust.
While I can see why it sparked a series - the time travel was intriguing and her descriptions rang with historical accuracy - for me the romance was not there.
Jamie as a love interest is boarish, misogynistic to the point of abusive, and arrogant, with very few positives to counterbalance his character. Even the way the heroine Elizabeth referred to herself and her body reflected very archaic views on beauty and confidence. There were a few brief moments that truly felt sweet and engaging, but then some other passage would come along and shatter it.
It is one thing to start with a stubborn and unlikeable love interest and have him mature into someone both the heroine and the reader love (still not my favorite trope, but I understand it). It is quite another that even after 300 pages, a marriage, and proclaiming to love this woman, he still lies and betrays her trust.
thatbookishbish_90's review
Writing wasn’t great and I just did not like the characters
bookstuff's review
Borrowed this because it is a time-travel romance.
I don't know if I'll finish it. It's barely chapter two and the Hero has dropped the Heroine in a horrible dungeon intending to burn her as a witch, and changed his mind and fished her out, noting that she now has a broken wrist. That she is going to fall in love with him is rather sickening.
I don't know if I'll finish it. It's barely chapter two and the Hero has dropped the Heroine in a horrible dungeon intending to burn her as a witch, and changed his mind and fished her out, noting that she now has a broken wrist. That she is going to fall in love with him is rather sickening.
gwynt's review
1.0
wow, this book was terrible.... I have no idea who is rating it so highly but GOOD GOOOOOOD was it awful. I made it about 200 pages in and decided life is too short for a book this bad. I want those 200 pages of my life back.
jkcantwell's review
3.0
Ennpyable, although reading itbatraight after the Outlander series made me aware of the differences in sophistication of the writing in the latter.
queenalice97's review
2.0
This was a cute read. This is something that my mom would have okayed me to read when I was a teenager.
belladonna_loves_to_read's review
3.0
2.5 Stars
I liked that the author didn't pull punches about the late medieval period. It was smelly, dirty, and there was rampant misogyny. And, of course, it's the start of the "witch" era. So, naturally, by modern standards the men treat Elizabeth horribly. And, tbh, I didn't understand why she was so quick to forgive some of the stuff that happens to her.
Jaime was an ass... A gruff, grumbly ass. But, I found some of his reactions and interactions with Elizabeth to be totally hilarious. He was the only character that I was invested in. He was also the only character that was dynamic.
I liked that the author didn't pull punches about the late medieval period. It was smelly, dirty, and there was rampant misogyny. And, of course, it's the start of the "witch" era. So, naturally, by modern standards the men treat Elizabeth horribly. And, tbh, I didn't understand why she was so quick to forgive some of the stuff that happens to her.
Jaime was an ass... A gruff, grumbly ass. But, I found some of his reactions and interactions with Elizabeth to be totally hilarious. He was the only character that I was invested in. He was also the only character that was dynamic.