Scotland Books

Perdita Miggs, seventeen years out of university, considers herself "not unhappy" and looks on her absent-minded professor husband, Perry, with a mixture of love and despair. Perry, who has barely achieved tenure at a small college, has--amazingly--obtained a major grant to study the fauna of Loch Ness in Scotland. And so, the couple pack their things and prepare to go. Then, by further amazing coincidence, the guide he hires for their explorations turns out to be Andrew Macgruer, Perdita's old flame and one true love from her university days. Andrew was once a promising academic but has left wife and career to roam about the highlands, taking yankee "monster hunters" on memorable tours. Well, that's the apparent plot, but there is another, hidden plot, which I won't reveal, of course. You'll have to read the book. Let's just say that nothing is as it seems.

As the apparent plot and the real plot unfold, many more characters are introduced including the Loch Ness "monster" herself--the dinosaurian creature who lives below the surface of the loch and who makes brief appearances but only to those who are prepared to see her. All the characters have their own painful dilemmas to resolve, their own struggles with love and loss, and the reader must suffer with all of them as they work out their own redemption, or at least, resolution.

I wanted to love this book. I really tried. I must confess it was a difficult read. Author Corrigan writes in a high-flown literary style with long, rambling sentences, basketfuls of adjectives, stilted dialogue and a smattering of Scots dialect--all obstacles to easy reading. The characters talk to each other in long acadmic speeches about the nature of love, loss, memory and the possibility of redemption. It took me the first half of the book to get hooked into the story. Still, it's a profound book and worth reading. Don't consider it a romance novel, but an extended meditation on the real meaning of love. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

I tried real hard to get through this slow and meandering story but was not able to get past the half way point. The book starts out promising, the story appeared intriguing and the characters also seemed interesting. I think the problem I found with the book is that it had way too many characters with their own side-line stories going on in the background. If the author had stuck to the story of Perdita and Perry, bringing in the love triangle twist with Andrew and for added fun the loch ness monster quest, it would have been plenty. But to add in all the other stories of the other smaller characters, it made it too busy and meandering. Some parts were interesting, some parts written very beautifully and these points made you want to continue, then a slow part or a lot of little boring parts came and they seemed to overwhelm and take over the rest. I felt the book was losing focus by the time I got midway. At the halfway mark I was so bored and I felt that I simply didnt care about any of the characters, they were lifeless and very flat, and I found the story going so slow it wasnt going to be worth the journey. Plus you'd think that a Loch Ness monster story would be a little riveting and exciting...sorry folks. this book falls short of the mark and falls rather quickly.

Did I read the same book as everyone else? Five solid stars? This book alone has made me rethink my reliance on the review system. The only reason I even finished it was to find out if I was right about the husband's motives. I was. This book was predictable, and I never cared much for Perry or Perdita, and only mildly for the other characters. I wanted to care about these relationships, I just didn't. It was flat, and boring, and another reviewer was right when they said there was too much literary fluff. Towards the end when I was only skimming for the important parts, I could skip pages at a time. Scotland is pretty and "home" for Perdita, we get it. I was excited to read this book, it just didn't pan out the way I wanted. It was NOT similar to Outlander, which is one of my favorite books. It did not have the intricacy of storyline, nor did it evoke the same response with its characters. I believed the love in Outlander, and while I can appreciate what the author here was trying to do, he just didn't really make any of it believable. I will say the writing was pretty, but that only counts for so much. Somewhere in there should be a plot and characters that the reader cares about.

The Poet of Lochness was an absorbing read, with rich prose, romance, and several layers of mystery underlying the basic love story. To fully appreciate the outcome, it is necessary to "suspend disbelief" regarding several plot lines along the way. If you can do that, I think you will be best able to appreciate the heartwrenching beauty in the message of this novel.

Now you know -- I write comments in the margins of books. The books I like, that is. My copy of THE POET OF LOCH NESS is filled with jottings that I wrote the second time I read it. The first time I was far too engrossed to waste time writing "Exquisite" (page 94), "Integrity, simply stated" (page 112), an exclamation point on page 158 (next to the underlined phrase "with the dour disapproval of two Presbyterians watching a church burn").

Brian Corrigan shows an uncanny ability to get into the mind of a woman. If you don't believe me, see Chapter 32. When Perdita admits to never having tried to understand men, Meg repies, "I consider that verra wise. It's a bit like making up your mind no' to disembowel yourself."

Wit tempered with compassion. Insight peppered with humor. Corrigan is a real winner.

I used this book to plan my golf trip to Scotland for my brother and I, along with help directly from Mr. Ferguson himself. You really need to read this book over and over again to reap the full benfit of all the info in here. He covers so much important information. I planned my own unique trip, choosing golf courses and places to stay, plus rental car and when to go and what to bring. Our trip came off with no problems, all tee times, rooms, travel, directions, etc were all right on target. We even met other golfers who were using the book as well. I know we saved money using this book as apposed to going through a agancy. I will be using his service again on my next trip as well.

Take some good advice from a guy (Ferguson) who has been there and done that. Very easy reading with some greats tips for planning your trip. You'll pay for the book just by following his car rental recommendation.

You can scroll down to other reviews of this book, I would simply be repeating the praises that others have for this golf/travel guide.

I devoured this book in almost one sittting. The advice is sincere, genuine and as helpful as travel advice gets.

There is no mystery why everyone has rated this book five stars: it IS that good.

I am planning a trip to Scotland in 2009 for our regular foursome. With this book I have a good idea what our group needs to decide on before we go.

(E.g., Is playing at St. Andrews the major reason for our trip? Do we want to stay in a hotel/a B&B/a self-catering location? Do we want to stay in St. Andrews town itself or are we willing to pack up and re-locate to other locations? Do we want to spend $350 to play one fantastic course or 4 lesser-known links?)

This book is practical and I recommend it WITHOUT any reservation!

I have been to Scotland with tour operator, but this book is excellent if you want to save money and plan the trip yourself. Great review of golf courses and good ideas of lodging and traveling. Highly recommended. If you can find a better book, let me know.

Another great book I got my boyfriend who is going to Scotland and going to check out some of these courses

A friend of mine gave me this book because my fiancee is a member of the St. Andrews' Society in Philadelphia and she thought the setting would be of interest to him. I picked up "When Europa Rode the Bull" walking out the door to take a plane to San Francisco. I'm glad I did.
This is a big book--more than 600 pages but a real "page turner," making its length irrelevant. I became quickly absorbed in the story of Annie, the weight of Andrew's "responsibilities," and university life in the magical Scottish town of St. Andrews. Berot's sequel, "The Rape of Europe" is on my Christmas wish list. Nice job, Barbara. I hope to meet you someday!

Loved both her books, and am waiting for the third one. I would like to read Barbara Berot enery day for the rest of my life.

I really can't believe how glowing all of the reviews of this book are. I found this book to be predictable and trite, with plot lines that are ridiculously overused (lovers separated by wealth/family and letters that are never received - but are discovered years later???).

I also did not like the characters much at all. Annie is not a great heroine; she is a serial cheater and home-wrecker. Also, she leaves her son indefinitely to "find herself" - I don't think this is OK in any circumstance. Her only "bright" spot was her relationship with Tom Keegan.

The only thing that I agree with in the other reviews is that I've become more curious about St. Andrews.

"When Europe Rode the Bull" is an amazing story. It is written by Barbara Berot and I was extremely impressed to find out this is her first novel. This is the most engaging book I've ever read and you can literally lose yourself in it. I have read other reviews and other readers have said they were tempted to take off a day of work to read this book, it was that good! I totally agree and could not put it down for a second. And the best part is, there is a sequel! I ordered it the day I finished reading "Europa." It is also an amazing read. I would HIGHLY recommend both of Barbara Berot's books and I have a feeling she is going to go on to become very famous!

I really enjoyed reading this book...great characters and exciting to the end. Looking forward to the next one.

Hi again, friends;
THis little review is to let you all know,( not that you really care) what i am reading, now. I have purchased about 20 books the last half-year, and have read approximately 11 of them. From Dostoevsky (2), Dumas(3), Tolstoy (1),Joel C. Rosenberg (2) Margaret George (1), B. Cornwell (1) now N. Tranter's "Bruce Trilogy"( is that 1 or 3 ??). I am 2/3 of the way through it and it is very exciting. The Battle of Bannockburn at the end of Book 2 was so real, it seemed Mr. Tranter was actually there. The characters are well-drawn and come in and out of the story at just the right times. Robert the Bruce comes across as a truly very human person who was humble and wise. Yes he did terrible things that we could not stand for in our time, but they couldn't be helped. The King Edwards' ( pere & fils ) were vicious to the extreme in regards to there Scottish subjects( ahem ).

If there is a flaw in the book it's the archaic Scottish dialect that grates on our modern ears. some of the terminology of the landscapes were hard to figure out, at first, but I think ive got the meaning of them If someone does a new edition of this work in the future, maybe a glossory of terms or footnotes would be helpful to those not familiar with the Scottish dialect.

In the future, I may look into Diana Galbaldon's "Outlander" series and the "Outlandish Companion" to get some of these straight in my mind.

I'm going to try and finish the 3rd book of the Trilogy by the weekend, then I think I'll tackle the "Tales of Genji" or " A Suitable Boy" ( or maybe something heavier, heh, heh ).

Keep reading, everyone and enjoy your favorite authors and books.

I recommend this book, highly!

This book greatly exceeded my expectations. I had read a 'similar' book by Sharon Kay Penman, which was excellent also by the way, and had hoped to find books of similar quality by other authors. Nigel Tranter met my hopes and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

The Bruce Triology is an oustanding work detailing the life and times of Robert the Bruce. Fictionalized or not, it creates for the reader a real place in time and the reader shares the atmosphere of time and place. The terrain, the battles, the people, all come alive in this book. A great book that leaves several of the other books by Tranter lacking. If this book is truly based on historical facts and events, then the movie Braveheart is an interesting tool to compare and contrast for they have little in common.

Containing three books originally published under separate titles, this trilogy tells the story of Robert the Bruce, who became King Robert I of Scotland. It begins with THE STEPS TO THE EMPTY THRONE, which portrays an impetuous strong-willed young man who agrees to co-govern the country with his personal enemy in an attempt to win its independence from England. The effort soon fails and Bruce steps down, but then he makes a separate move to unite Scotland under his sole leadership. Amongst much internal fighting, he makes great strides.

The second book, THE PATH OF THE HERO KING, reveals a passionate, courageous leader who has learned to win over some of those who would oppose him through a mix of diplomacy and cunning. The winning doesn't come easily, though. Bruce is excommunicated as well as harassed by Edward I's efforts to keep Scotland under England's control. This story culminates in the Battle of Bannockburn, which was an amazing win for the Scots.

THE PRICE OF THE KING'S PEACE, the third book, tells of the years of struggle to obtain a peace treaty from England after Bannockburn. During this time, Bruce's brother takes Scotland's fight into Ireland in a blatant ploy for power. Bruce's dealings in this treachery reveal a savvy leader, whose goals ever are to strengthen Scotland's independence. The story ends with his death.

All told, the trilogy covers about 1296 to 1328. Tranter is at his best when describing the history while the interaction between characters is sometimes stilted. Nonetheless, lovers of historical fiction will enjoy the action and adventure as well as a story that sticks close to the facts. I enjoyed books 2 and 3 the most.

The Bruce Trilogy is actually a set of three separate novels written by Tranter about Robert the Bruce of Scotland, and I think enough previous reviewers have stated the basic outline of the novels that I don't need to restate it again. This was a fascinating story of an honorable, courageous man and an incredible military tactician, and his battle for freedom and peace for Scotland from the English, and most especially Edward I and II. The author did a marvelous job bringing not only Robert to life, but the secondary characters as well. I did find the third book, The Price of the King's Peace to be a bit slower than the first two, but in the end culminating into a spectacular finish as Scotland and Robert find peace at last.

Well worth taking the time to read this for anyone interested in this period in history, I found it both fascinating and educational at the same time, and isn't that what historical fiction is for after all? And I loved the epilogue with James Douglas as he made his final battle cry, "Lead on Brave Heart". Although I am probably the only person on the face of the planet who hasn't seen the movie. Highly recommended.

This book is captivating and has the one of the best first lines I have ever read. The vocabulary and the imagery transports the reader to historic Scotland and provides an interesting combination of magic, intrigue, adventure and friendship. I read very few books more than once, but this is one of them. I love a good story teller, and the author is a rare find.

Dense writing, with a good plot that deepens along the way. The title does not describe the book, as it is more about the relationships that Meg forges with people, rather than about actually questing for Marie. Note for people that do not like historical fiction in general: the historical notes and flavors do not intrude on the story. Ever read a historical fiction novel that continually interrupts the story line with mini-lectures on history? Doesn't happen in "Quest for a Maid." Note 2 for other folks that read poetry... it is delightful to see Sir Patrick Spens come alive.

I just finished reading this book although it has been on my shelf for several years. I'm really sorry now that I waited so long to read it! I loved the characters and the language, although younger children might have a little trouble with it.

It is told from the point of view of Meg, daughter of a scottish shipwright. She grows up very close to her oldest sister, Inge, who everyone believes is a witch. Then, when she is about ten, she saves a little boy from drowning. He is actually the son of her father's friend, Patrick Spens (the boy's name is Davie) and she becomes engaged to him and goes to live at his house to learn how to manage it. Soon they become close friends.

One day, in town she sees the boy who pulled her and Davie out of the water that day being chased through the town as a runaway serf. She quickly comes up with a lie to save him and he becomes her friend and servant. His name is Peem.

The next part of the book is devoted to how they grow up together. Then Master Spens is called to take his ship to bring the Maid of Norroway to England so she can wed the ship. Meg comes along to be the Maid's attendant, and Davie and Peem follow in their own boat. On their return voyage, they encounter a ferocious storm which tears the boat to shreds and drowns many people on board including Master Spens. Davie, Peem, and Meg save the Maid and take her on board their own boat.

However, their problems are not over, many people are pursuing them and they may have to leave the country to be safe. The ending is excellent, a few good plot twists and some feel-good moments. I loved it. :)

I first read this book back in gradeschool but it is one that has always stuck with me and I have looked forward to sharing this with my younger cousins.
The tale of Meg pulls you in as you watch her grow up with all these huge events happening and discovering what it means to idolize someone who may not be worth that kind of respect. Meg's innocent love of her family and friends is what sticks out to me and their love and loyalty in return.
It's a great book for young girls to read, I wish there were more out there like this.

I loved this book! its great it has hard vocabulary but i really enjoyed it!

Hamish Macbeth is one of my favorite characters. MC Beaton is always a great read!

I have enjoyed M. C. Beaton's books on Agatha Raisin, but this is a whole different book. The star is a smart policeman that lives out in the sticks and has the gift of solving crimes. He is up for promotion from time to time, but he would have to move and leave the small town...and he can't leave. Usually M. C. Beaton doesn't develope a lot of characters, but in this book she does! We have suspects everywhere. So it is fun to read this mystery and let in unfold before you. I like this mystery!

Death of a Poison Pen represents a new high in the Hamish Macbeth series in terms of integrating a number of different story lines in neat and interesting fashion. Long-time fans of the series will find this book to be one of their favorites.

Jenny Ogilvie is jealous of her London colleague, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. Priscilla is engaged to be married while Jenny has just lost her boy friend when she mentions marriage. Yet Priscilla seems obsessed with her old friend (and former unofficial fiancé) from Lochdubh, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth, and the cases they've worked on solving together. Jenny decides she would like to disturb Priscilla's cool exterior by attracting Hamish's attention. Feigning illness, she heads for Lochdubh.

Once there, Jenny is disappointed to see that Hamish doesn't fit her idea of a handsome Highlander . . . and is engaged in speaking with Elspeth Grant, a local reporter and astrologer. A lot of funny scenes follow as Jenny chases Hamish and ends up being paired instead with new reporter, Pat Mallone, who had fancied Elspeth until Jenny arrived.

But Jenny remains obsessed with the idea of solving a crime . . . even if Hamish ignores her. In the background, Jenny's London-based ideas of how to live keep getting her into trouble with the Highlanders.

Elspeth, in the meantime, finds her interest in Hamish to be dwindling as he continues to avoid becoming involved. But she recognizes Jenny as a rival and finds he competitive juices stoked.

There are also some goofy poison pen letters being received in Lochdubh and Braikie. Mrs. Wellington, the minister's wife, got one accusing her of having an affair with Hamish. Well, hardly! Hamish holds a meeting in Braikie to get copies of the notes and signatures on a petition so he can get the police in Strathbane to spend the money for a handwriting expert.

In the middle of this comedy of errors, the atmosphere turns dark when Miss Beattie, who ran the post office in Braikie, is found dead with a poison pen letter under her body. As usual, Hamish is soon disputing with Detective Chief Inspector Blair whether Miss Beattie's death is suicide . . . or murder. Before the book is over, the bodies start to pile up.

Hamish finds himself in the middle of trying to solve mysteries without earning promotion, fending off women who want him, and keeping naive people from getting into trouble. You'll enjoy the mysteries and the twists in the book.

At her best, M. C. Beaton has a fine talent to exploring irony. She draws deeply on that talent in this fine book. Enjoy!

This story grabs you quickly and is a good read. There are suspects aplenty, and as usual Hamish the constable of the small village has his share of girls trouble.

I must admit to being rather addicted to the "cozy mystery" genre. They are a source of relaxation for me. These, the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton, are some of my favorites. As other reviewers have pointed out, each of the twenty or more books are much the same. Same plot, same characters, same locations, etc. etc. That is okay though. I find this rather comforting. The various characters in Beaton's stories sort of become friends as you keep reading her books and this is always nice.

In this offering, quite a number of the resident's of Hamish's village are recipients of poison pen letters, some which are wild accusations, some with a grain of truth and some, hitting quite close to home. Suddenly Officer Macbeth has two murders on his hands and an endless list of suspects to sort through. The plot though, is actually sort of secondary to this particular series. For me it is the characters, the description of the Scottish Country Side, the almost dark humor and the interaction between the many characters that make the book.

M.C. Beaton is certainly a story teller and is able to articulate her stories through her writing quite well. The humor is dry, and as I said, can be a bit dark at times, but can be hilarious at the same time. Hamish Macbeth, the rather bright and likable police officer is, throughout this work, as with the others, absolutely mystified with the females in his life, and his somewhat quaint love life. As one reviewer put it, he does not have a clue! I love the author's description of the towns, food, country side, people and of course, Hamish's relationship with his dog.

The author tells a simple story which is easy to read (no great thought is required, which is very nice) and the stories are quite fast moving. I find the author's syntax to the quite smooth and a pleasure to read. This is one series I will no doubt stick with and look forward to more. Highly recommend this one if this is your sort of cup of tea.

This is the third book in a series which you will either love or hate. It is also one of those multi-book series which must if at all possible be read in the right order, which is

1) The Game of Kings
2) Queen's Play
3) The Disorderly Knights
4) Pawn in Frankincense
5) The Ringed Castle
6) Checkmate

The disordely knoights of the title are the knights of St John of Malta. This book also features a battle of wits and intrigue betweem the central character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, and his great enemy Gabriel.

There are two reasons why this series, and indeed the author's similar "Niccolo" series, should be read in chronological order. The first is that the plots are incredibly complicated and if you read them out of sequence you have no chance of understanding what is going on. The second is that many of the characters meet their deaths in ways which are exceptionally unpleasant both for themselves and for the characters who survive them. If you read one of the later books first, advance knowledge of how characters are going to die, and the effect it will have on surviving characters can have an impact on the pleasure you would otherwise have had in reading about them for the first time.

Like the books, the central character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is brilliant, violent, and extremely complicated. Unlike the books he is very flawed. Lymond is a mercenary with particular interests in Scotland and France, and gets involved in nefarious deeds all over the world as 16th century Europeans knew it. Dunnett brings the splendour, cultural ferment, and violent cruelty of the Renaissance world splendidly to life.

If you are at all squeamish, or do not like having to make your brain work overtime to follow a book, leave this series alone. Lymond's story is neither "chewing gum for the brain" nor a comfortable read. And even if you prefer flawed heroes to knights in shining armour, Lymond may infuriate you from time to time. But if you can put up with these features, these books will richly reward the effort you make in reading them.

There is no middle ground: you will either hate the Lymond series or recognise these books as one of the greatest works of historical fiction ever written. Or very possibly both !

If you are considering this third in the Lymond series, it is fairly similar to the first two. I came to the series having very much enjoyed Dunnett's House of Niccolo series. Having read the first three Lymond books, I do not think they are as good. Mostly, we are constantly being told how brilliant, deep, and charming the protagonist is. Niccolo is supposed to be very talented as well, but Dunnett demonstrates that through the plot, rather than force it down our throats as she does here. It makes it much harder to like or admire Lymond as a character.

There are some other irritating quirks in the writing. In the first of the series, for example, we hear way too many times about the Crawfords' "cornflower" eyes. I wanted to put needles in them by the end. In this book, characters are always saying things "grimly."

Unfortunately, the story-telling is pretty good, so I have to mutter under my breath as I read. Without spoiling the plot, by this point you know to look for the villain, who is pretty obvious. On the other hand, I thought there were more clever bits to the summing up than in the first two books, some of which I had certainly missed. But if you have fantasies about horrible deaths for the hordes of competent, sensible women, the high-strung protege du jour, etc., I sympathize.

The Lymond Chronicles (I've read the first three, have not read any other Dorothy Dunnett - yet) are not for everyone. I have both volumes of the Dorothy Dunnett Companion by Elspeth Morrison, and refer to them often to look up the many allusions to historical events and figures, to music and literature, many of which are unfamiliar to any but the most learned reader. That said, they are incredibly rich and never bog down. As with any operatic work (and these stories are!), one must suspend disbelief (no human being, especially one as young as Francis Crawford, could be so accomplished in so many areas). Reading these books is a roller-coaster ride through great swashbuckling, dark intrigue, hilarity and sometimes tenderness. I am amazed that Dunnett never leaves something dangling, no matter how unimportant it seemed when first mentioned -- except, of course, that The Disorderly Knights ends with two important characters tied to the tracks. I have to go out and buy the next book in the series this afternoon.

I envy you if you are just about to read this book because there are 6 in this series and I have read them all! By this book I felt that I knew Francis Crawford (the hero) intimately. I worship him for being the kind of person we all secretly want to be: incredibly smart, strong mentally and physically, kind (although not apparently so), poetic, musical...basically your Renaissance ideal, yet with enough flaws in him to make him endearingly human. In this third book of the series he meets someone who is seemingly his equal, which brings out his character even more. I can't categorize this book as an "adventure" or "historical" novel because it is all that and much more. Read it carefully (although the urge to flip the pages to find out what's next is strong, it's a real page-turner) and you will be as hooked on Dorothy Dunnett as I am.

Francis Crawford of Lymond is sent by the French King to the Island of Malta where the Knights Hospitallers are threatened by an invasion from the Turks. While there Francis is caught up in the politics of the Knights, in particular one Graham Malett who the reader will discover is not at all what he and his convent raised sister are what they appear to be on the surface. As Dunnett slowly peels back the layers of her story, the reader is taken from Malta to embattled Tripoli and then back again to Scotland as Francis intrigues to discover Graham's hidden agendas. To say much more would give away the whole plot, but be prepared for some memorable moments that will stick with you for long after the book is finished. The scene with the sheep (LOL), the nail biting suspense in Tripoli as they try to defuse the flame before Tripoli is blown to bits and of course the final climax during the sword fight between Lymond and his greatest enemy.

Throughout, Francis Crawford is a fascinating hero, and is as suave, debonair, flawed and fascinating as only a 16th Century version of James Bond could be. This is a complicated tale, and one that a reader has to pay close attention to, if you let your mind wander you may have to back track occasionally as I did. Dunnett is also very subtle (sometimes too much so!) and you do have to wait until the very end when all is revealed during a heart stopping sword fight in an Edinburgh cathedral, and a big surprise for Francis that will have you scrambling for the next book in the series, Pawn in Frankincense: Fourth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles. Five stars.

Long novel about the life of Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon (Scottish), born in 1749; died in 1812. Book was fictional romance of her life and times - heavy on the romance! Sexual scenes were almost laughable in Ware's studied avoidance of any hard terms - just skirted porn. But story was good - 529 pages - if somewhat overwritten to keep it going. Very romantic.

I read romance novels all the time, and usually finish them within a day or two. With this one, I couldn't put it down, and I read it faster than any other book I own. This is the first book I've read by Ciji Ware, and I loved it. Not only was the romantic story line grat, but the history was great too. After reading it, I couldn't wait to find out more about Jane Maxwell, Alex Gordon, and Thomas Fraser. Unfortunately there isn't alot out there to be found about Thomas Fraser, but there is tons about Jane and Alexander. My only wish is for Ms. Ware to write a sequel and let us all know where Jane, Alex, and Thomas go from the end. Definitely a must read for anyone who believes in love lost and rekindled!!!

Great storytelling; I wonder how much of it is true and how much of it is romantic fiction. Still, it was fun reading. There are some "sexy" parts", so dont read if you mind explicit descriptions of sex. Too bad she didnt make a sequel.

I adored this book up until the ending. Like other reviewer's comments there was no real closure. This did not bother me because the factual history of the Duke and Duchess is rather disappointing and not at all in harmony with the potential for love this author has imbued in her telling. Knowing the history of Jane Maxwell and Alex Gordon and still spinning a beautiful fantasy of the posibilities in that relationship takes unparralelled imagination and a true romantic heart.

It's a very emotional tale of being torn betwen duty and love and settling for what you can have or reaching for what you really want. The conflict was very realistic and I may be the only person who understood Alex's complex feelings of love and jealousy and insecurity. But he was truly unlikable at the end and this disappointed me.

This book made me laugh and cry and stay up all night to finish it. My only wish is that the ending where either more conclusive or the very opposite of what it was. I had a soft spot for Alex. But Ms. Ware's ending is hamronious with the history as I understand it.

It's a great journey even though the ending sort of halts abruptly and leaves you wishing for more.

What a great book this was. I never expected such meat from a romance novel, but I was enthralled with the tale. From start to finish you get a real feeling of real people. The heroine, Jane, is flawed, not perfect like most cookie-cutter romance novel heroines.
I liked the ending. It was enough to know for me that they found each other.
As I read the pages of Island of the Swans, I was reminded of Wuthering Heights and Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber, as well as the triangle between Rhett, Scarlet & Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind. But Jane is much more a woman of honor than Scarlet O'Hara ever was, and Thomas Fraser more of a man than Ashley Wilkes. Although Thomas Fraser is not quite as dramatic a love interest as Healthcliff, he is sweeter and definitely manly.
I will being running out to get more Ciji Ware novels! I stayed up well into the night to read the ending of this one and I haven't done that in a LONG time.

Well done Ms. Ware!

Within the first few pages, the main character (and the reader) are swept up into a mysterious new world. There's intrigue and plot aplenty -- some of it pretty serious stuff -- but what makes the book particularly great for youngsters and adults alike is the sense of discovery. The book is an exploration, an adventure -- and with bits of magic, mystery, mythology and lore thrown in, "Through the Eyes of a Raptor" opens itself up to a rather broad audience.

The inevitable question -- "Wait, you said magic? Is this a Harry Potter ripoff?" -- is easily deflected. This goes both deeper and broader than the first Harry Potter book, but it's still evokes the same sense of discovery and awe.

This book was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and it inspired many thoughts and ideas for me. This is one of the books that is good for almost anyone: it has suspense, mystery, fantasy, myth and lore, adventure, discovery, and an outstanding plot. Even though it is fantastical, it was realistic in a way that it almost felt that everything in the book really could happen, and I could easily relate to the main character. I strongly suggest that everyone at least try reading this book, for there is so much in it that you will love!

Julie Hahnke has begun a new series of fun, imaginative books. My grand daughter and I finished this book and are begging for a sequel. Julie's descriptive text has the reader, young or old, wrapped up in the story and becoming the characters themselves.
The author has done her research for this book's setting and characters, encouraging learning and making it fun.

I am well over 13 *won't say how much over :-)* and enjoyed this tremendously, as well did my 21 year old daughter and 15 year old son.
You've got magic, mystery, drama and so much more in one book.
I've been an avid fan of Harry Potter and have been looking for a new series to sink my teeth into.
This is it!!!
Well written, great Scottish folklore *something I love, being a scot* with a very readable and enjoyable plot.
I met this author at the Highland Games in Brunswick, ME and purchased this book there from her, which she signed, and got a chance to talk with her. She was tremendous, as is her book.
Can't wait for the second part, hope it isn't too long in coming.
Only three in the series??? Definately need more!

It has been a long time since I last read a book from beginning to end without putting it down. I enjoyed Kelly, a real girl that is thrust into a new life with many surprises to come from unexpected places. It's fast paced, has great imagery, and intelligent mystery. Being of Celtic heritage it does bring you back and makes you believe there is more to come. When is the next book coming out? Thank you Julie Hahnke for adding this gem. Disney or someone should look at this as one of their next movies.

Terrific book, excellent book on fair isle, Scotland and well written. Would recommend it for anyone's knitting library.

I have this book on audio & knit while I listen. The knitting/listening process actually concentrates my attention on both. This is a five-star book!

This is my first book on Fair Isle, and I'm very happy and satisfied with my purchase. The book covers a great deal of history on the art of Fair Isle and the section on color selection is marvelous.

I'm fairly new to Fair Isle Knitting and this book is one I'm glad I purchased. The directions are easy to understand and the book is beautifully laid out and full of color suggestions.

This book is an essential resource for anyone contemplating or doing Fair isle type kintting. For beginners it is detailed and easily understood, for experienced fair-isle knitters it is inspirational and will lift your knitting into another class.