Tamed by a Laird
Set in 14th-century southern Scotland, this langorous series opener features a plucky heroine and an obstinate but caring leading man. Lady Jenny Easdale sneaks away with a group of traveling minstrels to have a final adventure before her wedding. When her betrothed's brother, Sir Hugh Douglas, catches up to her, they discover a plot involving stolen jewelry as well as a passion for each other that cannot be ignored. Hugh's efforts to control the headstrong Jenny are amusing, though at times her naïveté is more annoying than charming. Scott (Border Moonlight) creates a lovely, complex cast of secondary characters and has a deft touch with thorny period language, but when the jewelry theft conspiracy is resolved as quickly as Jenny's robe is removed, it's hard to justify the long buildup.(July)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.