The Laird

The story is about an English widow Juliana who was unwanted by her dead husband's family and her own family and how she found love with a Scottish Laird ... the only one who ever wanted her. It's a beautiful, touching story, I've read this book a dozen times and I never tire.

I am not generally a romance reader, but do like a good novel with well-written historicals, characters, and plot. Garnett is a satisfying read if you like the same, and enjoy a reasonably realistic love story interwoven. Garnett's plots are intelligent, her female characters strong and realistic, and the relationships and events she writes are a good read. In broad terms, this is the story of a child heiress who is abducted in the 12th (?) century, her aunt (a young woman) taken with her, as a means to satisfy a political grudge between lairds and castles. The primary goal of the young woman is to protect her niece, and when she is accused of being a witch, must escape without the girl, with the help of the laird's son, to another keep. As the story unfolds, the laird's son (laird of another keep) and the young woman come to love one another. The characters, plot, and events are well written, and an enjoyable read.

This author never disappoints! Loved the characters and the rich historical detail.

It is 1327 at Lochawe, Scotland. Robert Campbell, the laird of Glenlyon pleads his misguided father Angus to retract his fealty to Lord Arygll and jettison the notion of assisting him in capturing the Claddel child-bride to his rival. He thinks his son a traitor and leads Robert's brothers to a scheme that went awry. Lady Judith and Mairi are captured at the expense of his brothers' lives and thus the recipents of his frustrations. Yet Lady Judith is surprisingly clear-headed and virtuous, and equally as fiery and passionate to summon Rob's ineffable attraction. When the Lochawe populace and his father Angus suspects that Lady Judith practises witchery, Robert is spurred to rescue her to Glenlyon and secures her to a handfasting marriage to keep her safe.The romance blossoms in the midst of the throes of war between Bruce the COnqueror and King Edward. Told with painstaking historical details, the fable becomes grippingly real with the robust battles and political machinations. The highland romance is atmopherically structured with clan clashes and raid as well as treasonous enemies who threaten the transcient happiness of Judith and Rob. Ms. Garnett weaves her sterling characters in dilemmas to explore their strengths. Lady Judith is courageous to defy her destiny and Rob is hardened by betrayal and later softened by her love. They compliment each other in passion as well as wits. The Laird is as authentic as it gets and is a vicarious visit to premordial Scotland. Even the language Ms. Garnett uses is thickened with Scottish brogue. The Laird is a splendid account of fiction and true historical tableau, complete with smoldering passion and memorable characters that will grow on you like fine Scottish ale.

In 1327 the war between the Scottish and English monarchy heats up and impacts everyone in both lands. Robert Campbell knows how deadly the fight is becoming, having lost family members to his dangerous foes. Still he successfully captures Mairi, the child-fiancee to a powerful rival. In addition to his young prisoner, Robert also incarcerates Mairi's guardian, her widowed aunt by marriage Judith Lindsay.Robert quickly finds Judith an exciting, intelligent, and brave person protecting her charge like a lioness would with a cub. He knows he should feel contempt for her, but instead is gentle towards both of his prisoners. As Robert and Judith fall in love and war creeps closer, one must wonder if their feelings are simply the Stockholm Effect that will end if she returns home.Though this era is most likely one of the five most written periods in romance novels, fans will enjoy and admire THE LAIRD for its clever blending of numerous historical tidbits and people within a cross-starred lovers' story line. The characters bring to life the early fourteenth century as a background to Robert and Judith growing need for one another. The support cast augments the plot by providing the reader with deep insight into the protagonists and a microscopic look back at a bygone era. Though structured like many other fourteenth century novels, Juliana Garnett furnishes a jewel of a book that will gratify historical romance readers immensely.Harriet Klausner