Megan McNabb would do anything to get out of marrying a man she does not love—even handfasting for a year and a day with an English stranger.
A mysterious letter draws Lord Kit Rossington to Scotland in search of a lost treasure. But the marriage-minded females he avoided in England follow him to the Highlands, and he'll do anything—even a temporary marriage with a Highland lass—to keep his freedom while he solves a mystery that's haunted Glen Dorian for almost a century.
Legends say a curse lurks among the shattered stones of Glen Dorian Castle. Will the love that is beginning to grow between Megan and Kit be able to withstand fate? For only the living, those with bold hearts and true love, can restore peace to Glen Dorian at last.
MY REVIEW:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once Upon a Highland Autumn by Lecia Cornwall is a 2014 Avon Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This novel was a surprise for me. I see this author has written quite a few books, but this is the first book I have read by Lecia Cornwall. I had no idea what to expect going in, but I found myself totally engrossed in the story.
Lord Kit Rossington discovers an unopened letter and upon reading it finds there is perhaps some valuable treasure to be had in Scotland. So, off he goes in search of it. It never occurs to him the lassies of Scotland would find him so fascinating... all but one... Megan McNabb.
Meagan has one of THOSE mothers, who is all set to have her daughters marry a titled Englishman with a certain amount of wealth. So, despite the fact Megan fancies herself in love with another man, she finds herself being paraded before Lord Kit. The two mix like oil and water.
In the background of this drama is an old legend concerning a curse on the Glen Dorian castle, the very place Kit needs to search for his treasure. It seems the place might be haunted by a woman who waited patiently for years for her lover to return to her from war, but never made it back.
In the meantime Megan and Kit find themselves in an unusual predicament and wind up agreeing to a handfasting, mainly to avoid being pursued by marriage minded ladies and titled Englishmen. A year and a day is all they have to endure and then if they wish the arrangement can be broken. It's a solution that will allow Megan to wait for the man she loves to return to her and will keep Kit from having to marry, something he is loathe to even consider at the moment.
Naturally, things don't go quite the way they had planned....
This was a wonderful tale of history, mystery, a touch of the supernatural and of course romance. Megan is the victim of her time with a mother who could rival Mrs. Bennett. Kit is a man who is ruled by the women in his life whether he admits it or not. His mother and sister for starters. It's no wonder he's in no hurry to marry. But when he meets Megan he finds himself rethinking marriage. The story behind the old castle was so sad and I confess to almost doing the ugly cry at one point. But, in the end the story turned out so sweet and endearing, you just know this was all meant to be.
From the first page to the last the pace was pitch perfect, which sharp dialogue, humor, and irony, with a touch of ghostly magic blended in to put the cherry on the cake.
This one is 5 stars.
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Highland-Autumn-Season-ebook/dp/B00FJ3CJYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418407838&sr=8-1&keywords=once+upon+a+highland+autumn