The Maclean Groom

November 15, 1999
When sea captain Rory MacLean captures a pair of notorious traitors and turns them over to the Scottish Crown for punishment, he has no idea that he will eventually be "rewarded" with not only the castle of one of the traitors but also the hand of his granddaughter. Unfortunately, the intended bride, Joanna MacDonald, isn't about to marry the enemy and in an effort to thwart the marriage disappears--in the guise of a serving boy. But Rory has sharp eyes, and when he realizes Joanna's ruse, he perceptively alters his tactics and sets about changing his bride-to-be's attitude toward him. Harrington's appealing characters, witty dialog, and lively style have much to recommend, and although this story is slightly too late (1490s) to be considered truly medieval, its setting and themes provide enough of an "early historical" feel to appeal to fans of Scottish and medieval romances alike. This work is the first in the projected "Highland Lairds" trilogy. Harrington (Enchanted by You, Avon, 1998) is a veteran writer of well-received historicals and lives in Hacienda Heights, CA.

Copyright 1999 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.