Review: The Lady and the Laird (Scottish Brides #1) by Nicola Cornick
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Series: Scottish Brides #1
Author: Nicola Cornick
Published September 6th 2013 by Harlequin Mira
Goodreads Synopsis
An Indecent Proposal.
Bluestocking darling and secret scribe Lady Lucy MacMorlan has no interest in marriage. Putting herself second to a man is definitely not for her. Instead, she makes a profit from matchmaking others and her clandestine love letters are the hushed talk of Scottish society.
Except now her talent is causing distress—one of Lucy’s more provocative letters has just cost Robert, Marquis of Methven, his much-needed betrothal. It doesn’t help that Robert is a bitter enemy of the MacMorlan family with a personal vendetta against Lucy. His revenge? She must marry him or he will wage war on what is left of her good reputation...
Goodreads
Review
In The Lady and the Laird, Lady Lucy MacMorlan is a self confessed bluestocking, and after her twin sister died following heartache and suffering, she vowed never to marry, and, luckily, the death of her elderly fiancee before their wedding day has proven to be a great excuse. She spends most of her time writing these days, and is quite prolific at the art of penning erotic love letters, but one such letter lands her in hot water. Thinking only to help her brother woo his love, away from her own fiancee, she doesn't think of the consequences, and when Robert, the Marquis of Methven, is jilted on his wedding day, he wants his revenge. Because of his family's history with the neighbouring Caldross family, and especially Wilfred Cardross, and his inheritance rules, he needs to marry a descendant of the Caldross, of marriageable age, under 30, and never married. His bride who jilted him was one of the last suitable woman, so Robert is facing losing part of his estate, but luckily, Lucy just happens to be on the list. Robert convinces her she owe's him, and after being rescued from the clutches of her evil cousin, Wilfred, who wants her for himself, she agrees to marry. Will they fall for each other, and can Lucy overcome the trauma of her past?
I've heard so much about Nicola Cornick since becoming a little obsessed with historical romances, and luckily my library had a few copies of her books in. I love books set in Scotland, and this book was no different. The scenery, and world building, especially once our couple had arrived on the Golden Isle, was lyrical, and picturesque. Lucy was one of my favourite heroines, and I loved how she embraced her love of books, and learning, and had found herself a community of other 'bluestockings', and wasn't ridiculed for it like you might expect. She was definitely haunted by the past, and being the only person who really knew the truth about Alice and her death had cost her much. Robert was similar in this way. They first met years ago at Lucy's family home, and shared a kiss, but shortly after, Robert quarrelled with his grandfather, lost his own brother, and fled to Canada to make his fortune, along with his cousin, Jack Rutherford. This shared loss and anguish was perfect to bring the couple together, and their witty banter and back and forth's just proved they were made for each other. The secondary characters, including Lucy's other sisters, Lady Mairi & Lady Christina MacMorlan, and evil cousin, Wilfred, added to the story, and I'm so glad to see that other books in this series will follow their stories. Hopefully I'll be able to read these books soon enough!
Dates Read:
August 25-26, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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