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A review by emmalb1984
A Runaway Bride for the Highlander by Elisabeth Hobbes
5.0
“I do not care about hardship. I will sleep under the sky and walk the whole way across your mountains if necessary.”
The third instalment of the Lochmore Legacy mini-series takes the reader back to the immediate aftermath of the battle of Flodden when clan leaders gathered at Stirling Castle to discuss the future of Scotland, and it is here that Ewan Lochmore, newly titled Lord Glenarris, first encounters Marguerite Vallon; a meeting which will ultimately change both their lives.
Readers of the first two books in this series will be familiar with Ewan and Marguerite from the mentions made, and here Elisabeth Hobbes skilfully tells the story of how Marguerite escapes an unwanted betrothal to Duncan McCrieff, and finds herself falling in love with both Ewan and the Highlands.
Having been intrigued by Ewan and Marguerite’s story from the outset of this series, it was nice to finally meet them and discover just how perfect the two were for each other, even though neither is quite willing to admit that at first, and watching them fall in love is a delight. Elisabeth Hobbes has created two intriguing and likeable characters who you immediately become invested in, and, as the story progresses, you really do root for them to find their happy ending amid the threat of Duncan McCrieff’s plan for revenge.
I cannot enthuse enough about the author’s descriptions of the Scottish backdrop, and the strong sense of history, from the atmospheric opening scenes at Stirling Castle, to Ewan and Marguerite’s trek across the Highlands to Lochmore Castle, all the while evading a pursuing Duncan McCrieff (an excellent villain, and you really do want to cheer when Marguerite contrives to escape him). There is also a nice nod to the other books as we explore Lochmore Castle with Marguerite, and feel familiarity with its crypt, tunnels and shoreline as also experienced by Flora and Joane.
As the reader will already by aware, the Lochmore/McCrieff feud has been rumbling for centuries, and here we are given more background to the strained relations between the clans, and discover that it has been going on so long that Ewan has to admit that “I don’t even know how the hatred between the Lochmore’s and McCrieff’’s started.” It would spoil the plot to reveal more about this, but questions are answered here about the mystery posed in the previous books, and provide intrigue into what will unfold in the upcoming fourth and final book.
Ultimately though, this book is an excellent romance which is believable and entertaining, and, in the end, quite emotional as Ewan and Marguerite forge a path towards the future. There are some excellent and well written scenes which demonstrate the vulnerable side of both Ewan and Marguerite, and their fears for the future, and it is because of these scenes that you really do realise just how happy the two could be together, and Ewan’s choice between Marguerite and learning just why the McCrieff’s stole a body from the crypt at Lochmore castle is an excellent romanic moment which proves that love conquers all.
Special mention must also go to the wonderful epilogue which shows us Ewan and Marguerite decades into their marriage. It is emotional, passionate, romantic and simply the perfect end to this wonderful book.
Over to you Nicole Locke for book four…
Thank you to Elisabeth Hobbes for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The third instalment of the Lochmore Legacy mini-series takes the reader back to the immediate aftermath of the battle of Flodden when clan leaders gathered at Stirling Castle to discuss the future of Scotland, and it is here that Ewan Lochmore, newly titled Lord Glenarris, first encounters Marguerite Vallon; a meeting which will ultimately change both their lives.
Readers of the first two books in this series will be familiar with Ewan and Marguerite from the mentions made, and here Elisabeth Hobbes skilfully tells the story of how Marguerite escapes an unwanted betrothal to Duncan McCrieff, and finds herself falling in love with both Ewan and the Highlands.
Having been intrigued by Ewan and Marguerite’s story from the outset of this series, it was nice to finally meet them and discover just how perfect the two were for each other, even though neither is quite willing to admit that at first, and watching them fall in love is a delight. Elisabeth Hobbes has created two intriguing and likeable characters who you immediately become invested in, and, as the story progresses, you really do root for them to find their happy ending amid the threat of Duncan McCrieff’s plan for revenge.
I cannot enthuse enough about the author’s descriptions of the Scottish backdrop, and the strong sense of history, from the atmospheric opening scenes at Stirling Castle, to Ewan and Marguerite’s trek across the Highlands to Lochmore Castle, all the while evading a pursuing Duncan McCrieff (an excellent villain, and you really do want to cheer when Marguerite contrives to escape him). There is also a nice nod to the other books as we explore Lochmore Castle with Marguerite, and feel familiarity with its crypt, tunnels and shoreline as also experienced by Flora and Joane.
As the reader will already by aware, the Lochmore/McCrieff feud has been rumbling for centuries, and here we are given more background to the strained relations between the clans, and discover that it has been going on so long that Ewan has to admit that “I don’t even know how the hatred between the Lochmore’s and McCrieff’’s started.” It would spoil the plot to reveal more about this, but questions are answered here about the mystery posed in the previous books, and provide intrigue into what will unfold in the upcoming fourth and final book.
Ultimately though, this book is an excellent romance which is believable and entertaining, and, in the end, quite emotional as Ewan and Marguerite forge a path towards the future. There are some excellent and well written scenes which demonstrate the vulnerable side of both Ewan and Marguerite, and their fears for the future, and it is because of these scenes that you really do realise just how happy the two could be together, and Ewan’s choice between Marguerite and learning just why the McCrieff’s stole a body from the crypt at Lochmore castle is an excellent romanic moment which proves that love conquers all.
Special mention must also go to the wonderful epilogue which shows us Ewan and Marguerite decades into their marriage. It is emotional, passionate, romantic and simply the perfect end to this wonderful book.
Over to you Nicole Locke for book four…
Thank you to Elisabeth Hobbes for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.