Charlotte Haversham is
a lovely, strong, intelligent young woman who just happens to have been
abandoned by everyone. Her husband, the Earl of Marne, who married her
for her money and then left with it all after only one week of
marriage, and her family who wrote her off for good when she drove off
to the wilds of Scotland to live in his ruin of a castle. Her
grandfather just happens to have left her a bit of money, so she
invests it in remodeling the run down castle and starts the Caledonia
School for the Advancement of Females. Five long years she works to
make a life for herself in a land where the people still think of her
as a crazy English lady coming to invade and change their land. Just as
she finishes the first successful year and the graduation ceremony and
ball is about to begin her long lost husband, George, shows up. The
deception begins as this is not really George, but his cousin Dixon
MacKinnon, who has been in the far east making his fortune and has
returned to make amends with his cousin George and family. He is
surprised at the changes, the missing of George, but most of all is
immediately taken with with Charlotte. He continues the deception and
begins a seduction so passionate that all culminates in one night and
one phrase to Charlotte, "come to my bed." Charlotte is confused by
this "new" George that she doesn't remember being so tall, more
handsome and more passionate. She has hated him for years, but now
finds herself in love with him and this new passion he has brought out
in her and she knows he will leave again and this time break her heart
for good. The story is well-written and the secondary characters are
all interesting. Matthew, Dixon's oriental companion and his
relationship with a lame maid Maisie is heartwarming. The group of
ladies involved in the group called "The Edification Society," who feel
they need to start meeting at Charlotte's estate in order to help
Charlotte along in her sexual response to her husband are hilarious.
There is a surprise ending with more confusion and a little bit of
heartache, but I won't give it away! Autumn in Scotland is an
entertaining story that is enjoyable with strong characters and a bit
of mystery that holds the reader's interest from beginning to end and
is yet another book to add to the long list of Karen Ranney Scottish
Historicals to romance collections.
Publisher: Avon
(December 2006)
Reviewed
by Beverly,
Beverly Romance Books
