Autumn in Scotland (Avon Romantic Treasure)

When her new husband, George, disappears along with her dowry after only a week of marriage, Charlotte makes the decision to travel to Scotland to take up residence in her husband's castle, Balfurin. She hadn't anticipated finding it in ruins and a few elderly servants left to care for the crumbling estate. Her parents insistthat she return with them to England but Charlotte has other plans and uses her inheritance to transform Balfurin into a school for the advancement of females. Dixon MacKinnon has returned to Balfurin after more than a decade abroad. He'd been raised by his uncle George there after the untimely deaths of his parents. He fully expects to find the crumbling castle that he remembers from his youth. Instead he finds a completely transformed castle missing some sections and a new building nearby. Dixon arrives at Bulfurin in time to witness the first graduation ceremony of Caledonia School for the Advancement of Females. He's stunned by all the changes that have been made to his former home, but more importantly where is his uncle and why would he allow his home to be made into a school for a bunch of girls. Imagine his surprise when upon being introduced to the gathering as the Laird of Bulfurin he's approached by the proprietor of the school and informed that she hasn't been able to divorce him, and maybe she should kill him instead. Dixon quickly realizes that she's mistaken him for her missing husband, but how is it she doesn't recognize the differences between him and his uncle? Where did George disappear to after abandoning Charlotte? Karen Ranney's AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND is a delightful read about a young woman who opts to make her own way in life instead of continuing to live with her parents after her husband's abandonment. I found that I had a lot of respect for her and her determination to make something out of the pile of rocks that belongs to her husband. I had to laugh at Dixon's reaction to Charlotte's hostility and could fully understand why he chooses not to divulge his true identity after her initial tongue-lashing. It's a battle of wills fraught with sexual tension between the two of them that will entice readers to delve further into this storyline. There are several secondary characters whom I was delighted to read about and eagerly anticipated every scene where any of them might appear. Dixon's friend, Matthew, and the ladies of the Edification Society are especially delightful and add a humorous edge to the storyline. AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND is a fun-filled book which I'm sure many readers of Scottish romances will thoroughly enjoy! Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

In 1833, wealthy Charlotte Haversham in an attempt to please her title hungry parents agreed to marry the Scottish Earl George MacKinnon. Not a love match the Earl came to her bed the first night and later discovering he'd rather tumble the maids, Charlotte didn't care that he didn't return. In fact, after a week or so of marriage, George collected her dowry and abandoned Charlotte altogether. After Charlotte traveled to Scotland to Castle Balfurin, her husband's ancestral home, the once amenable Charlotte defied her parents in determining she would live there, amongst the rack and ruin. She saw the structure as a culmination of a dream of turning it into a respectable School for Young Women. Five years later with the first graduating class Charlotte's dream is about to be realized until the latest guest is announced - none other than George MacKinnon, her long missing husband, the Laird MacKinnon. Dixon MacKinnon has arrived to find the once cold and ruined castle he grew up in warm and inviting, a beautiful woman in charge who takes his breath away who obviously abhors his very presence, and thinks he is her husband - his cousin George. Not quite sure why he doesn't `fess' up to the mistaken identity, Dixon stays on trying to discover what happened to his cousin and to lay to rest rumors of a hidden treasure supposedly hidden away on the estate. During that time, Dixon finds himself falling deeply in love with Charlotte, torn between telling her the truth of his identity and risk losing the real treasure not even all of his immense wealth could buy - Charlotte's love. Some authors have the ability to entertain, some to amuse, some to enthrall - for me, Karen Ranney has the ability to take my breath away! AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND is everything and more that I expect from a story by this amazingly talented author. The lead couple are a vibrant pairing with Charlotte showing a strength of character in her determination to succeed that makes you want to stand up and cheer. Dixon was a perfect foil for her and his witty innuendoes and his passionate pronouncements made for some delightful dialogs. Add to this mix one of the schools benefactors, Lady Eleanor and her `Ladies Edification Society' and you will find yourself rolling on the floor as this group of `ladies' take it upon themselves to begin the school mistress Charlotte's `real' education. There is mystery, and a lovely secondary love story between Charlotte's lame maid and Dixon's oriental servant that will warm your heart. In short, Ranney pulls out all the stops in offering once more a completely compelling and highly entertaining story I can highly recommend. Brava! [...]

Abandoned by her husband after only a week of marriage, Charlotte, Countess Marne goes to Scotland to find him. Arriving with her parents, Charlotte does not find her husband, George, instead she finds the ruins of a castle and a few starving servants. Determined to stay in Scotland, Charlotte stays behind despite the fact that her parents refuse to give her funds and return to England. To survive, Charlotte fights for her inheritance and uses it to restore the castle and open a school for girls. Returning home to find peace within himself, Dixon MacKinnon arrives at the castle during graduation ceremonies. Mistaken for his cousin, the Earl of Marne, Dixon doesn't correct the mistake. Intrigued by Charlotte, Dixon wants to get to know her better while trying to find out what has become of his cousin, George. With Charlotte hesitant to give the man she considers her husband a second chance, Dixon must carefully woo the reluctant Countess, avoid being discovered an imposter and discover the whereabouts of the real Earl of Marne. I found Autumn in Scotland delightfully engaging. I understood Charlotte's pride hampered longing for Dixon and Dixon's over long guilt. I wanted very much for the pair to have a second chance at love. I found their tale very romantic and sigh worthy. If you enjoy historical romances with a hint of mystery, you'll want to read Karen Ranney's Autumn in Scotland. Annmarie Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Charlotte Haversham is a lovely, strong, intelligent young woman who just happens to have been abandoned by everyone. Her husband, the Earl of Marne, who married her for her money and then left with it all after only one week of marriage, and her family who wrote her off for good when she drove off to the wilds of Scotland to live in his ruin of a castle. Her grandfather just happens to have left her a bit of money, so she invests it in remodeling the run down castle and starts the Caledonia School for the Advancement of Females. Five long years she works to make a life for herself in a land where the people still think of her as a crazy English lady coming to invade and change their land. Just as she finishes the first successful year and the graduation ceremony and ball is about to begin her long lost husband, George, shows up. The deception begins as this is not really George, but his cousin Dixon MacKinnon, who has been in the far east making his fortune and has returned to make amends with his cousin George and family. He is surprised at the changes, the missing of George, but most of all is immediately taken with with Charlotte. He continues the deception and begins a seduction so passionate that all culminates in one night and one phrase to Charlotte, "come to my bed." Charlotte is confused by this "new" George that she doesn't remember being so tall, more handsome and more passionate. She has hated him for years, but now finds herself in love with him and this new passion he has brought out in her and she knows he will leave again and this time break her heart for good. The story is well-written and the secondary characters are all interesting. Matthew, Dixon's oriental companion and his relationship with a lame maid Maisie is heartwarming. The group of ladies involved in the group called "The Edification Society," who feel they need to start meeting at Charlotte's estate in order to help Charlotte along in her sexual response to her husband are hilarious. There is a surprise ending with more confusion and a little bit of heartache, but I won't give it away! Autumn in Scotland is an entertaining story that is enjoyable with strong characters and a bit of mystery that holds the reader's interest from beginning to end and is yet another book to add to the long list of Karen Ranney Scottish Historicals to romance collections.

In 1833 London Charlotte Haversham married Scottish Earl George MacKinnon, but except for that first night he never came to her bed. Soon afterward he abandoned his wife all together, but not before he collected her dowry. So being a paragon of behavior, Charlotte travels to her husband's home Castle Balfurin to live amidst the falling apart edifice and ruined land though he is not there. She finds the cold dark and damp abode inviting and plans to renovate the castle and invigorate the estate. Five years later, Dixon MacKinnon arrives at the family home Balfurin expecting ruins, but finding a warm home instead. The woman running the castle, Charlotte insists she is his wife, but he realizes she has confused him with his cousin George who has vanished without a trace; he fails to correct Charlotte's error though he is not sure why except that he wants her. As he investigates what happened to that wastrel George and searches for rumored treasure hidden on the estate, he falls in love. However Dixon knows he owes his beloved the truth, but fears he will lose the treasure he has found, Charlotte. AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND is a charming historical romance with a touch of the gothic and a bit of a mystery to enhance the prime plot of the growing attraction between the lead couple. Charlotte is a delightful person who keeps her head high though George took her dowry, her virginity, and her dignity when he left her. Dixon is caught in the classic web of deceit as he knows the truth must be told, but the cost could destroy him as he knows his beloved does not trust men especially MacKinnon males. Karen Ranney provides a heated nineteenth century Scottish romance that her fans will treasure. Harriet Klausner