Welcome to Litsy!

This book was a pleasure to read set in the early Scotland Era with Lairds and Kings. #GarwoodReadAlong with @StayCurious I loved the chapter a day concept.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.21: a great way to end the book with all the loose ends tied up satisfactorily. I was happy that Raulf got what was coming to him. And it was great to see Johanna stand up to him. I do think this book held up over time. Was it a bit sappy at times? Of course, but I remember why I loved it the first time I read it.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.20: Clare‘s father arrives and demands a son in law. Nicholas, in a show of chivalry, gives himself up. They get married but before they can celebrate, an English army approaches. Johanna knows that it‘s up to her to stop Raulf and King John so she sneaks off to confront her past.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.19: After Johanna tells about John and Raulf conspiring to kill John‘s nephew, Gabriel goes off to confront King John and Johanna is terrified for him. Nicholas is left behind to protect his sister and Clare and the MacBain holding. Things are about to heat up as we near the end.

#GarwoodReadAlong Since I fell behind a bit, I‘m going to try to post a couple times today and tomorrow to finish up. Ch.18: Johanna has a problem: her horrible first husband has come back from the dead! Luckily she had that annulment- although no one has remembered that little detail. Nicholas came back to deliver the news. And Clare has caught his attention.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.17: Finally, the MacBains and the Maclaurins are coming together. Gabriel and Johanna have put their feet down and their decree is relatively easily accepted. It‘s about time. Johanna decides that Clare needs to marry to save her situation and she sets about matchmaking. Watch out everyone!

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.16: Johanna has had enough with wearing different plaids on different days. She has a plan to bring her two clans together. But will it work? Or will she be causing a riot? Also, She finally gets to the bottom of Clare Mackay and promises to help her. Clare‘s father is on the way - can the two women stand up to him?

Sorry I‘ve been MIA! Was on 12 hr road trip & I wasn‘t allowed to listen to audiobooks - no, anything other than The Wiggles sent my son into a tailspin🤪. Ch.15: Johanna trying to get a word in when those warriors wouldn‘t keep quiet was funny, and a bit frustrating, to read. They made plans to snatch a noser to test their wine - and finally were convinced not to kill him afterwards. Johanna tells Gabriel her news and realizes he loves her.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.14: Johanna is overjoyed to have Alex returned to her; Gabriel is overwrought to find he loves Johanna and cares deeply for his family; Johanna is suffering from some strange disease - which surprise! Turns out to be a baby! But she‘s barren…isn‘t she?

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.13: Johanna tries to get her household in order but boy, those Maclaurins don‘t make it easy! Can‘t everyone just get along? Hopefully before Johanna runs out of crockery to break.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.12: Clare Mackay won‘t name the man she was with which annoys and frustrates Gabriel. Meanwhile, Johanna is making progress - she makes headway with the leader of the catty Maclaurin women, and speaking to Father MacKechnie, she comes to an understanding that not all priests and men are evil. And Highlanders are better than the English 😜

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.11: A woman has been beaten for being with a man (other than her dreadful fiancé) and a Macbain has been accused of compromising her. Gabriel is certain none of his men are responsible - which only leaves one person: Johanna‘s brother. Was Nicholas the culprit?

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.10: Johanna goes against Gabriel‘s “Rest” edict and goes hunting - for rabbits, and the mysterious cave that houses the liquid gold. She finds it and finds herself in a spot of trouble, with hungry wolves circling her. Luckily all ends well and Johanna once again proves herself to be a strong woman. Later, visitors from a neighbouring clan come bearing a gift - a poor woman beaten and Johanna takes matters into her own hands.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.9: Gabriel and Johanna grow closer and Johanna grows stronger and more assured of herself. She‘s annoyed at the separation that still exists between the MacBains and the Maclaurins. But how can she make changes when no one wants to listen to her? Also, I found this meme that is for something completely different but it totally works here!

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.8: when Dumfries is injured, we see that Johanna has some guts for sure - taking care of a wounded animal is no joke and I think she gained respect from the clan.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.7: We learn a bit more about what Joanna knows about King John and why he wants her gone. Gabriel has his suspicions about the secret but can‘t quite get the full story from his wife. My thinking is, if the English Baron who wants to speak to her has come all this way to Scotland, he‘s not going to be deterred from his goal easily.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.6: I liked this chapter because we learn more about Johanna‘s new home - how the Maclaurins and the MacBains are still at odds, and Johanna discovers a friend and a love of golf. We learn a bit more about Gabriel and his expectations for Johanna - which are unrealistic but it‘s nice that he wants the best for her, in theory.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.5: Gabriel sends Nicholas away which is really sad. I‘m curious to learn more about his reasonings as to why Nicholas had to go. Gabriel and Johanna end up having a very nice wedding night. Where typically I prefer when lovemaking is held off in favour of sexual tension in a book, I felt it worked well here.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.4: What an interesting wedding! Not sure I‘d know what to think if the bride kept walking away - But good for Johanna for standing up for herself. And good for Gabriel for having patience (let‘s not forget this was a very different time - we‘re looking at it through modern lenses).

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch3: The first meeting and we learn there‘s more to Macbain that we can like. He doesn‘t want Johanna to fear him and he appreciates her honesty, even if he finds their pre-marriage discussion pointless (sigh…men😜). I found their back and forth interesting to read and look forward to the romance to come.

#GarwoodReadAlong Ch.2 We meet the fierce warrior Laird Macbain and Johanna‘s brother Baron Nicholas. Nicholas convinces Macbain to marry Johanna - she‘ll get protection as his wife and Macbain will gain the land he needs in Scotland. It‘s a win-win - so Nicholas thinks. Haha I enjoyed the relationship between these two men. They seem like decent, honourable guys. And I‘m intrigued over the secret John wants kept hidden.

#GarwoodReadAlong Prologue & Ch.1: Baron Raulf is dead. At first we‘re led to believe that he‘s a good and just man and a beloved husband to the young Lady Johanna. But when she thanks God for his demise, we realize something doesn‘t quite add up.

An interesting start - I liked how we were taken right back to the Medieval England ruled by Bad King John. Garwood definitely knows how to bring you back in time.

Repost for @StayCurious

Since we recently lost Julie Garwood, I‘ve decided to go back and read through her catalogue. She was such an influence on my reading growing up and I have so many happy memories of her books. I‘m starting with one of my favourites Saving Grace, one of her Scottish historical romances. Let me know if you‘d like to join in - you can duck in and out depending on the book and your schedule.

Since we recently lost Julie Garwood, I‘ve decided to go back and read through her catalogue. She was such an influence on my reading growing up and I have so many happy memories of her books. I‘m starting with one of my favourites Saving Grace, one of her Scottish historical romances. Let me know if you‘d like to join in - you can duck in and out depending on the book and your schedule.

For the publishing year 1993 I‘ve yes, once again pulled out an old favorite to see if I still felt the same way about this book. And yes, yes I did. Inhaled it in one sitting. Great characters. It‘s really about about that with this one. #romantsy #19822022 @Librarybelle

I completely devoured this entire book!! It quickly became one of my top 5 books of all time. I‘m so in love with romance novels right now and this one takes the cake. I thought the story was well thought out and the relationship between the two characters was just fantastic. They said all the right things and I just truly fell in love with the words on the page.

Highly highly recommend for romance lovers and lovers of Outlander!