Once Upon a Tartan

June 10, 2013
In this charming sequel to 2012’s The Bridegroom Wore Plaid, Burrowes returns to the Victorian-era Scottish highlands for another cross-border romance. Tiberius Flynn, Earl of Spathfoy and heir to the Marquis of Quinworth, has been sent to Scotland to quietly retrieve his young niece, Fiona, from the MacGregor clan and bring her to live in England. Complications ensue when he finds himself reluctantly drawn in by both the delightful girl and her stepfather’s sister, Miss Hester Daniels. Soon he’s caught between competing interests and his own overwhelming sense of duty. Seeking refuge with her brother’s new family after jilting an unscrupulous nobleman in London, Hester believes the unexpectedly kind Tye is the perfect candidate for a harmless dalliance. While she means only to restore her confidence and move on, Tye refuses to accept an unhappy ending. Burrowes excels at intimate banter and seductive love scenes, and elevates her story with refreshing twists. Expert prose, likeable characters, realistic relationships, and believable complications create a pleasant and satisfying keeper. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Literary Agency.

July 1, 2013
The second in Burrowes' strong Scottish Victorian series (The Bridegroom Wore Plaid, 2012) features Hester Daniels as she cares for her brother Matthew's new stepdaughter, Fiona. Matthew and Mary Rose, Fiona's mother, are traveling in Europe on their honeymoon and are not around to stop titled Englishman Tiberius Flynn from coming to claim Fiona as his niece. His deceased brother had handfasted with Mary Rose, but his family never claimed or supported Fiona. Tye's father suddenly wants her back in England. Tye tries to disarm the Scottish group but discovers instead that he is charmed by the young girl and Hester. Hester, fresh from a broken engagement, distrusts but is attracted to Tye. Tye and his parents then grow sympathetic in one of Burrowes' signature character arcs. Readers will enjoy revisiting Burrowes' Scottish cast and following the twisting fate that brings satisfaction to all involved. Warmth, sensuality, and humor infuse Burrowes' writing, and fans of Suzanne Enoch and Sarah MacLean should enjoy this series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)