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reading_romance19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thenovelbook's review against another edition
3.0
This World War I era novel is a bit Downton Abbey-esque, so fans of the show will find a lot to enjoy here. I enjoyed it myself, though I thought it would have benefited by being shorter. I can easily see it making a fun miniseries for TV, but the reading experience is a bit too strung out.
(I do have to give props for the use of Inveraray as the model for the Scottish castle... Even without paying attention to the cover, I recognized it immediately from the description! Super gratifying to a past visitor :)
An American heiress named Lily is shipped off to England because her mother hopes that some time with the Brits will mend her wild, independent ways. After a year, Lily's English cousin becomes a nurse in the war effort, and Lily goes with her as a nurse's aide to Scotland, to a manor that's been turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers.
Enter the rest of the characters... the stuffy matron, the conniving new-money socialite, the ice-cold dowager of the manor, the sleazy scandal-mongering newspaperman, and most importantly, the Laird... Alec, beset by his father's debts and his own sense of insecurity over not being well enough to fight in the war.
Lily comes in like a breath of fresh air and refuses to act like anyone expects her to. But not only does Alec have to decide whether to let her into his heart or not, he also has to figure out who is behind a series of suspicious circumstances that seem designed to ruin him.
The suspense or mystery of the book was not very compelling. The central characters and their relationship were the stronger part of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this digital review copy.
(I do have to give props for the use of Inveraray as the model for the Scottish castle... Even without paying attention to the cover, I recognized it immediately from the description! Super gratifying to a past visitor :)
An American heiress named Lily is shipped off to England because her mother hopes that some time with the Brits will mend her wild, independent ways. After a year, Lily's English cousin becomes a nurse in the war effort, and Lily goes with her as a nurse's aide to Scotland, to a manor that's been turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers.
Enter the rest of the characters... the stuffy matron, the conniving new-money socialite, the ice-cold dowager of the manor, the sleazy scandal-mongering newspaperman, and most importantly, the Laird... Alec, beset by his father's debts and his own sense of insecurity over not being well enough to fight in the war.
Lily comes in like a breath of fresh air and refuses to act like anyone expects her to. But not only does Alec have to decide whether to let her into his heart or not, he also has to figure out who is behind a series of suspicious circumstances that seem designed to ruin him.
The suspense or mystery of the book was not very compelling. The central characters and their relationship were the stronger part of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this digital review copy.
forestidylls's review against another edition
4.0
Loosely a retelling of beauty and the beast, loved the setting (Scotland in World War 1), grew to like the main character, and the story flowed well.
thistlereads's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
An often painful book to read with Mary Pickford-esque characters. Although Gaidhlig is an endangered language there is ample opportunity to contact speakers to use it correctly. For example, “uisge” does not mean whiskey as the book indicates, but is the word for water. However, it was a nice change to have the stereotypical damsel in distress role filled by a man.
english_lady03's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this title, but I wasn't entirely keen on the narrator. Her accent sometimes fluctuated between something that sounded more like Pakistani or Jamaican than English or Scottish.
Alex, Lily, and their supporting characters were excellent, even Matron proved not to be such a dragon at the end. I can identify with Lily being a little clumsy, getting lost and making mistakes involving her being made to do menial tasks all the time.
I did also appreciate the vague nods to various classic movies and novels in certain details. The geographical setting was realistic and well used too. I don't think there were any wild boars in Britain in 1915 though. Not even in the Highlands. They became extinct in the 1500s and weren't reintroduced until the 1950s.
I did spot a few Americanisms coming from the British characters, and I dunno, I why do all Scottish characters have to be these extreme nationalists? The English and Scottish actually have more in common that Americans like to admit.
An enjoyable historical novel which was little more lighthearted than some of the author's other offerings where the characters are on the front line of the war, or caught up in international intrigues.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for approving my request for this audiobook. I was not required to write a positive review.
Alex, Lily, and their supporting characters were excellent, even Matron proved not to be such a dragon at the end. I can identify with Lily being a little clumsy, getting lost and making mistakes involving her being made to do menial tasks all the time.
I did also appreciate the vague nods to various classic movies and novels in certain details. The geographical setting was realistic and well used too. I don't think there were any wild boars in Britain in 1915 though. Not even in the Highlands. They became extinct in the 1500s and weren't reintroduced until the 1950s.
I did spot a few Americanisms coming from the British characters, and I dunno, I why do all Scottish characters have to be these extreme nationalists? The English and Scottish actually have more in common that Americans like to admit.
An enjoyable historical novel which was little more lighthearted than some of the author's other offerings where the characters are on the front line of the war, or caught up in international intrigues.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for approving my request for this audiobook. I was not required to write a positive review.
farmfreshlisa's review against another edition
4.0
This was a new to me author. And I really liked her style! The book kept my interest and had a good story. We saw changes in the characters from beginning to end. She reminds me almost of a Pollyanna or Josephine March kind of person.
Solid story.
Solid story.
cari1268's review against another edition
**DNF at 67%**
I wanted a good fluff book and thought this would fit the bill. What can beat a romance novel set in Scotland? Yum.
Nope. No. Nuh-uh. I did not like the hero of the story. The hero, Alec, put blinders on in regards to his problems and it drove me crazy. His temperament could be described in one word: sullen.
It's a shame because I really liked Lily. The author gave her a great personality. Although she was sometimes annoyingly over-perfect. Her only fault was trying to help people too much? Come on.
Because Lilly was so great and Alec was a curmudgeon, I couldn't cheer for them to get together. That pretty much kills any enjoyment of a romance I might have. I ultimately decided to stop reading when I realized I was actively rooting for the two not to be together.
One situation in particular actually made me mad. I need my females leads to have a backbone and stand up for themselves.
I might have been able to finish this if it weren't so overly long. This is slow-paced book. At least a hundred pages could have been shaved off.
2 Stars.
I wanted a good fluff book and thought this would fit the bill. What can beat a romance novel set in Scotland? Yum.
Nope. No. Nuh-uh. I did not like the hero of the story. The hero, Alec, put blinders on in regards to his problems and it drove me crazy.
Spoiler
For YEARS he sold off art work to pay debts. It's apparent in the book that he can't do this forever but no plan is in place to save his estate. Years with this problem and no solution. Uck. My Type A personality was in pain.It's a shame because I really liked Lily. The author gave her a great personality. Although she was sometimes annoyingly over-perfect. Her only fault was trying to help people too much? Come on.
Because Lilly was so great and Alec was a curmudgeon, I couldn't cheer for them to get together. That pretty much kills any enjoyment of a romance I might have. I ultimately decided to stop reading when I realized I was actively rooting for the two not to be together.
One situation in particular actually made me mad. I need my females leads to have a backbone and stand up for themselves.
Spoiler
Alec verbally lashed out at Lily. He said a lot of unfair and not true things. Lily was willing to KISS him without any of this addressed. His behavior was not okay. But I get it. We're humans and sometimes we say thing we don't mean. Plus, he's a grump and I expected no less from him at that point. Lily's willingness to ignore the situation was just terrible. Demand to be treated better, girl. Ugh!!! When the problem is finally addressed, Lily stated that she deserved what he said. Huh? No, sis, ya didn't.I might have been able to finish this if it weren't so overly long. This is slow-paced book. At least a hundred pages could have been shaved off.
2 Stars.
morgangiesbrecht's review against another edition
3.0
Scotland, WW1, and a hint of mystery? This book had major selling points for me, but in the end didn’t quite deliver as I had hoped.
Lily and Alex gave me major Beauty and the Beast vibes. Sunshiny woman waltzes into a crumbling castle with a broody injured lord, and they proceed to fall in love.
My favourite characters were Guthrie the butler (seriously this man is a gem!), Bertie, and Viola. As for those I didn’t like… that list could go on for a while because there are many “villains.” ;)
The romance was a bit intense for my personal tastes. Lily definitely went too far at times with some of her “efforts to be helpful,” but the mystery itself was interesting although not altogether shocking.
I loved the whole aspect of a convalescent nursing home setting; unique angles into wartime life are always appreciated. I felt this to be well done and honestly one of the best parts of the book!
Lily and Alex gave me major Beauty and the Beast vibes. Sunshiny woman waltzes into a crumbling castle with a broody injured lord, and they proceed to fall in love.
My favourite characters were Guthrie the butler (seriously this man is a gem!), Bertie, and Viola. As for those I didn’t like… that list could go on for a while because there are many “villains.” ;)
The romance was a bit intense for my personal tastes. Lily definitely went too far at times with some of her “efforts to be helpful,” but the mystery itself was interesting although not altogether shocking.
I loved the whole aspect of a convalescent nursing home setting; unique angles into wartime life are always appreciated. I felt this to be well done and honestly one of the best parts of the book!
tschonfeld's review against another edition
4.0
Took me a little while to get into this, but I quite enjoyed it once I did . It was an unusual setting for a romance. There were a few lost plot threads, but overall I didn’t mind it so much. I met the author at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and she was lovely! Rounded up from 3.5 stars.