Sold to a Laird

Douglas is a woman's dream man. He is strong yet tender, commanding yet vulnerable, clever yet questing...and sensitive too! The book's cover depicts it all: Douglas as supporting and seducing and Sarah as awakening to her own sensuality, strength, and identity. I am a die-hard Karen Ranney fan. I read other historical romances just to fill the time between Ranney's novels. I like that her main characters are not perfect; and I appreciate that the characters' attitudes, traits, personalities, manners, values, and personal observations remain true to the era in which they live -- unlike some writers who often lace their characters and their novels with contemporary values and viewpoints. In this novel, I especially enjoyed Ranney's attention to detail describing the various tasks Sarah supervises, the transportation, the architecture, the fashions, and the decor. Against a backdrop of England, Scotland, secrecy, and honor, Douglas and Sarah share a journey of exploration that takes them through tragedy, grief, discovery, adventure, and love...especially love.

I have only recently began reading Karen Ranney, the first being Devil Wears Tartan. And since that book, two more have released and I've rushed out to buy both...A Scotsman in Love (which by the way, is one of my top historical reads. Loved that book!) and now this one, Sold to a Laird. In Sold to a Laird, Lady Sarah is the daughter of a Duke. Her father raised her with fierce strictness and no love at all. She is forced by her father to marry a stranger, Douglas Eston, in order to spare her dying mother from a trip to her homeland of Scotland. Lady Sarah appears cold and emotionless, but Douglas Eston warms her bit by slow bit. It's a sensual game that Eston plays with Sarah, and one that undoubtedly left me in awe of the amount of emotional intensity some of their scenes are filled with. Sarah struck me as an honest, innocent young woman. Her fears and emotions towards Eston didn't feel like they were coming from a naive woman, but an unknowing, inexperienced one. I've read books where the heroine had no clue what took place between a man and a woman or the desires that could rise up and consume them and they seemed a bit much. A bit over the top. Not very believable. But in this book, I found myself saddened by, and wholly believing Sarah's lack of knowledge and her fight to deny the passions Douglas begins to fill her with. This book, as with the previous two books I've read, has such a somber mood that really makes your heart ache for the characters. Douglas was the epitome of heroes for Sarah, holding her and comforting her when she most needed it, simply being there for her, understanding her. He took into consideration her upbringing and accepted her for who she was. And Sarah, I loved that she never grew angry with the liberties Douglas took, the way he, at times, pushed her. He did it in just a way that gave her time to think through the turmoil of feelings swirling through her. Another fantastically done, heartfelt and moving romance between two people that need each other, especially Sarah. And Douglas Eston is her perfect match. The two meld together beautifully. This is another book that I'll look back on with a warm heart remembering the gentle, soothing touches Douglas bestowed on his Lady Sarah.

If I could I'd give this book a six-definitely a keeper!!! One of Ranney's best yet!

The biggest complaint I have lately with Karen Ranney books is the cheesy covers she allows the publisher to put on them. The one on SOLD TO A LAIRD was almost enough to turn me off but I like Karen Ranney enough not to judge a book by its cover. No, the heroine is not cold, but rather repressed by her upbringing and the hero is to die for. Sensitive and a hunk. What more could you want? The author develops the romance and love slowly with none of that unrealistic immediate sex in a closet kind of situation. Ranney makes you feel the love developing and it is romantic, not just lustful. And she writes far better than the majority of romance novelists.

I disagree with the above review. I also love Karen Ranney and there are a few of her books that did not click with me. I really loved this one. The heroine was not cold, she protected herself by reining in her emotions. She was vulnerable and she needed a hero who could break through that shield and get to the person beneath. Douglas was a great hero. The Duke was a bit of a caricature, but it still worked.