<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>***WARNING - THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!***</strong></span>

Emmeline Truelove is a very modern woman - modern for 1906 that is.  Emmeline is a researcher and works with Maximillian Haywood, currently along the Scottish shore.  They are researching an unusual discovery made recently along the Orkney Islands...a suit of clothing, which, according to family legend, belonged to a selkie (a mythological creature that appears to be a  seal when in water and becomes human on land) who came from the sea and married the first laird of the castle.

Truelove and Haywood are joined along the way by their acquaintance/friend, the silky, smooth, Lord Silverton. Silverton shows up just in time to protect Truelove from a curious stranger who follows her aboard a train. This stranger is someone we most likely met in one of the previous books in the series as Truelove recognizes and has some fear of him.

But Silverton is possibly not all he lets on to be.  First, he seems remarkably interested in Truelove - to the point where he might be considered a 'stalker' today. He manages to convince her that he should stay in her room with her, in case he needs to fight off another villain.  The fact that he gets her tipsy certainly helps his case. But when Truelove wakes in the morning, Silverton and the special item she was carrying, are gone. And when Max and Emmeline discover later that Silverton has truly disappeared, Emmeline follows him, through time - a journey that may not have a return trip.

When I requested this book, I thought I was requesting a historical romance - I did not know that this was a historical romance fantasy.  I did not know that time travel would play a crucial role here, until it happened.  There were clues, looking back on it I can see that now.  And perhaps there were more clues in the earlier books - especially centering around the stranger who follows Truelove on the train.

This is the sort of surprise that is neither good nor bad. I enjoy time travel fantasy/sci-fi books just fine - I just usually know what I am getting into when I read one.  Because this took me by surprise, it took me out of the book. I had to stop and go back to re-read a few chapters to make sure I was reading everything right.  Yup.  Traveled through time. Once I accepted that and moved on, I was fine and enjoyed the book well-enough.  I just wish I'd had some sort of clue as to what sort of book I was reading.

Looking for a good book? This historical romance mystery, <em>A Strange Scottish Shore</em> by Juliana Gray, is actually a historical romance mystery <em>fantasy</em>. Be prepared. And then enjoy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Would read this again. Was well written. Enjoyable read from start to finish

WHY DID I LISTEN TO A STRANGE SCOTTISH SHORE?
Initially, my interest was peaked in A Strange Scottish Shore by Juliana Gray by the cover. I love how vintage it feels, like something you would find at a thrift store. It’s weird but the cover really gives a good sense of time and place. I decided to listen to this book based off my interest in Scotland and historical fiction with a romantic twist. At the time, I did not know there was a book that preceded this one. However, I responsibly listened to book one, and here we are at book two which given how long I had to wait for my Overdrive hold to come in, meant I HAD to listen to it.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Emmeline Truelove and her employer Max Hayward are called by a mysterious artifact, a selkie suit. There’s a pretty big legend surrounding the suit. A woman rose from the sea and married the first laird of the castle while wearing the suit. Regardless, Lord Silverton disappears off the street in Scotland. Then, Emmeline travels back in time to like the 1300s if I recall correctly. This is where she reconnects with Lord Silverton who is also in this time. Silverton is now a fisherman. Meanwhile, he and Emmeline must get married to protect Emmeline in this time. Of course, they consummate the marriage. A few times. And well, we learn the truth behind the selkie suit and the myth and about another woman who is in this time period. There’s more time travel and drama.

HOW DID I LIKE A STRANGE SCOTTISH SHORE?
Well, I liked that there’s a wedding. I like that two characters I wanted to get together finally do so. Granted, that was because of the circumstance. However, it is just SO right what happens. In addition, there’s a lot of suspense in this story. AND THERE ARE BABIES which now that I have one, I am actually interested in them. I ended up liking A Strange Scottish Shore a bit more than A Most Extraordinary Pursuit.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
So, in a weird turn of events there is a different narrator for this sequel. Typically that is a thing that annoys me. I think that audiobook series should have the same narrator throughout. However, judging the new narrator on her own merits is something I can do. Gemma Massot narrates A Strange Scottish Shore by Juliana Gray. I think that her voice is less melodic than Nicola Barber. However, she adds a bit more emotion and gravitas. I really enjoyed Massot’s narration overall. I ended up liking this audiobook a bit better and retaining more. So, I would certainly recommend listening to these books. A Strange Scottish Shore is 12 hours and 18 minutes unabridged.

OMG! What's going to happen when she puts on the dress?

Juliana Gray has created a truly unusual mystery. I was somewhat surprised at how much her plot made me reflect on the challenges in the lives of her main characters. At times it was a little hard to keep up with references to the previous book in the series, but that was usually a temporary distraction. Gray took on a major challenge in combining historical fiction with a fairly modern description of time travel, and she met that challenge by keeping the reader engaged. I look forward to seeing where she goes in her next book.

Here I go again, starting a series at the second book. This time, I wasn’t aware it was part of a series until I went to enter it in Goodreads as currently reading. In some cases, it being the second in a series doesn’t matter, but if A Strange Scottish Shore sounds appealing to you, I advise that you start with the first Emmaline Truelove book, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit. I might just try to find a copy myself.

A lot is going on here, and it takes a while to figure out all of it. It is 1906, and Emmaline Truelove works for Max, the Duke of Olympia, in charge of some type of foundation. Emmaline is a practical, down-to-earth person, but she is helping Max try to learn about a power he doesn’t understand, the ability to move people through time.

Emmaline is on her way to Scotland with important documents when she meets two different men. A ginger-haired man seems to be stalking her until Lord Silverton comes to her train compartment. Lord Silverton, with whom she has had adventures in the previous book, is a handsome man with a reputation with the ladies, so Emmaline can hardly believe him when he claims to have fallen in love with her. Nevertheless, she spends the night with him, only to awaken the next morning and find her papers gone.

In Scotland, Emmaline and Max are summoned to a castle in the Orkney Islands to view a suit that the owner found hidden in a secret compartment of a chest that hasn’t been opened in centuries. The suit sounded to me like a wetsuit, which of course hasn’t been invented yet in 1906. The castle has a legend of the founder of the family having been married to a selkie, so Emmaline and Max begin calling it a selkie suit.

In the meantime, Lord Silverton has disappeared. Emmaline finds clues that he has been in this castle at another time. She concludes that Max inadvertently sent him back in time, so she talks Max into sending her back for him.

This novel features a redoubtable heroine, a nasty villain, and plenty of action, plus time travel! If this sounds like your thing, you will probably enjoy the combination of historical novel, speculative fiction, action, and romantic suspense.

Not having read book 1, I had no idea time travel was a part of this book. Book starts in 1906 and then goes back in time to the 1300's. Fortunately the characters make the book. 
Goodreads

Miss Emmeline Truelove is on a train journey to Scotland, planning to join her employer, the Duke of Olympia at that man’s urgent request. The train has barely left the station before Truelove has several visitors, all unexpected but not all unwelcome. The stranger, whom she has noticed in the past, is more than a bit unsettling, however, and she’s relieved when Lord Silverton shows up as her unplanned escort.

Truelove and Silverton don’t have much time together before they part ways, and Truelove is left uncertain of when, or in fact if, they will ever meet again. In the meantime, the Duke of Olympia has a mission for Truelove to undertake, and although hesitant, she rises to the challenge and soon finds herself in very different, very difficult circumstances.

To tell any more of the story would give away details too intriguing to spoil, so suffice it to say that Truelove has once again traveled through the cosmos, to a distant time and place. In fact, she’s traveled to “A Strange Scottish Shore,” author Juliana Gray’s second offering in the Emmeline Truelove series. Sparks still fly between Truelove and Silverton, and their repertoire is as witty and captivating as always. The story moves at an unrelenting pace, and is best devoured in as few sittings as is possible! Time doesn’t stand still but sparks fly, swords clash and a darn good story unfolds! This is a unique and well written series, perfect for fans of time travel themed romances or readers looking for something new and exciting.

I haven't read the first in this series, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I enjoyed the time travel aspect and the historical settings. There was more of an emphasis on romance than I am comfortable with, but I will still probably seek out the sequel if there is one! 

* Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

When I first agreed to read and review A Strange Scottish Shore, I had not realized it was Book #2 in this series.  Sorrowfully, I did not realize it until I was halfway into Chapter Two and I was totally confused as to what was happening.  Confused, but also very much intrigued.  So much so, that I immediately purchased Book #1, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit and delved right in.  I had one of those great "Ah ha!" moments!  As soon as I finished that book, I started again with A Strange Scottish Shore with renewed vigor!  And this time, I loved it!!

Juliana Gray has created the most astonishing characters ever!  Not your typical cookie-cutter characters.  No, no, no.  These are the most unique characters to ever grace the pages of a novel and I loved every one of them... except for those you need to totally dislike.  Shocking revelations come to light when Max and Emmaline discover Max's unique abilities and sends Miss Truelove six hundred years in the past to find Lord Silverton.  What all she finds will keep you thoroughly entertained in the mystery and in the romance.  Yes, Book #2 has much more romance in it!  And I loved the way the story was interwoven with mythology.  Beautifully written!  I do hope there will be more books in this series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

A Strange Scottish Shore is the follow up to the first book in the Emmeline Truelove series A Most Extraordinary Pursuit.  Whereas I thought Pursuit suffered from an identity crisis, and I was so unsatisfied with it that I almost did not give this second book in the series a try.  I am really glad that I did as it is a vast improvement.  This time around, all of the elements – Mystery, Romance, Time Travel – all work together to make an exciting adventure worthy of reading.

Emmeline Truelove has resigned her position as secretary for the new Duke of Olympia Max Haywood to be the director of his new Institute for the Study of Time.  When Max is away at a shooting party in Scotland, while there to get to know a potential bride he comes across a strange suit.  Could the legends of a selkie who married the first laird of the area be true?  He beckons Emmeline to join him and, unbeknownst to her, asks his friend Lord Silverton to keep an eye on her and the important papers she carries.  Of course, Silverton has additional instructions, and when he disappears while chasing down the thief of said papers, Emmeline cannot help but believe that something bigger is going on.  When she and Max encounter the redheaded stranger again, he makes some pretty fantastic claims.  This leads Emmeline to believe she knows “when” Silverton has disappeared to, and asks Max to “send” her there, even though neither of them knows how the time travel works.  Emmeline does indeed find Silverton…in the fourteenth century.  Now what to do? How to get back home?  Regardless of the outcome, they are in for one heck of a ride.

Emmeline is a fantastic protagonist written in the same vein as Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody and Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell.  She is a bit bossy, a little know-it-all, but with a huge heart and intellect that makes her wise beyond her years.  This book focuses mostly on her relationship with Lord Silverton, and their chemistry and growing relationship is a lot of fun to watch as it unfolds.  I am a little surprised by the turn things took but pleased.  I cannot wait to see what is in store for them next.  Silverton was my favorite character in Pursuit and he continues to be my favorite here.  Considering he was all glitter and charisma before, here he is sincere, humble, and quite lovely.  We do not see much of Max, but her plays a crucial role.  The supporting characters are varied and interesting, and I love seeing how various people and plot threads are beginning to come together to show the bigger picture.

There are still a lot of questions to be answered about how Max’s abilities and the time travel work, and I am sure they are not easy to write about.  You can tell that Gray has put a great deal of thought into her time travel scenario, and we are just beginning to see how it will all unravel.  Complicated, indeed.

I really enjoyed A Strange Scottish Shore and impatiently wait for the next installment.  Though it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading A Most Extraordinary Pursuit first for better understanding of the characters and events that have led up to book two.  Recommended for fans of Edwardian heroines, time travel, and romance with a bit of mystery.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Max has an unusual ability to send people through time, and Emmeline, his college and Director of the Haywood Institute for the Study of Time, appears to be a catalyst to Max’s ability to time travel. When Hunter, a man claiming to have been born in 1985, arrives then disappears, they learn their good friend Lord Silverton has also disappeared. Are the disappearances connected?  

I have to admit, I had a small problem following the first two chapters of this novel. Had I read Ms. Gray’s first release, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit, much of the previous relationship between Max, Silverton and Emmeline would be much clearer, as well as the time jumps and Emmeline’s ability to see and converse with the ghosts of her father and the Queen. However, I enjoyed the author’s writing style and descriptions so I persisted and found the remainder of the novel to be entirely captivating and entertaining. The mystery was indeed solid and the ending was an enjoyable surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC to review. I was under no obligation to grant it a favorable review. To read my full review, please visit MyShelf at the link below.

This was good, although I didn't really like where it ended. I am hoping there will be a third book because I am interested in seeing where the story goes next.

A Strange Scottish Shore is a multi-layered story that rewards a perceptive, patient reader. The first of the Emmeline Truelove series, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit, introduced readers to the three main characters: Maximilian Haywood, the heir to the Duke of Olympia; Miss Emmeline Rose Truelove, the recently departed Duke of Olympia’s personal secretary; and the Marquess of Silverton, a “watchful and jovial” aristocrat with an eye for Miss Truelove. 

What makes A Strange Scottish Shore a mystery that embraces the fluidity of time? One element is the excerpt at the beginning of each chapter from A. M. Haywood’s re-telling of the selkie legend The Book of Time, published in 1921. A. M. Haywood, aka the Duke of Olympia. And yet the story opens with Miss Truelove at King’s Cross Station, London, in August of 1906. She is on her way to join the Duke at Thurso Castle in the wilds of Scotland. 

Another feature is Emmeline’s continuing conversation with two ghosts, or visions. The first is Queen Victoria, who joins Emmeline in her first-class compartment to excoriate her for her unconventional choice of profession. She is the director of The Haywood Institute for the Study of Time, a markedly unusual post for a woman at the turn of the century. Why, the Queen wonders, is Emmeline traveling to Scotland at all? Why can’t Mr. Miller, the duke’s new private secretary, fulfill the duke’s “urgent request?” 

“Because—as the duke’s telegram informed me—he has discovered another one of his mysterious objects, and Mr. Miller, for all his admirable qualities, is not especially qualified to assist in that kind of investigation.”

“I don’t see why not. I don’t see why he should require a woman to perform this task, when she lacks the strength and judgment of a man.”

“A quaint sentiment, from a woman who once reigned over half the globe.”

Her Majesty disappears at the appearance of the Marquess of Silverton “like the extinguishing of a light.” Adventure ensues when the pair is interrupted by a mysterious intruder. Silverton gives chase, the two men tussle, but Silverton is not able to restrain him. All of the excitement and delays make the pair “irretrievably late,” and they miss their train connection from Edinburgh to Thurso Castle.

Emmeline’s second spectral companion (dead for six years) makes a visit to her in her “elegant room in the North British Station Hotel, in the splendid shadow of Castle Rock”:

“Good evening,” said my father, folding the book over his thumb. “How do you like Scotland so far?”

“I have scarcely seen it. At least the drizzle has let up.”

“Has Lord Silverton been behaving himself?”

“Does he ever?” I levered myself from the door and walked to the desk in the corner, on which I placed the leather portfolio I carried under my arm. “We meet for dinner in an hour.”

“Do you? I’m glad to hear it. I like the fellow.”

Truelove and the Marquess arrive at the castle the next day. Duke of Olympia is anxious to meet privately with Miss Truelove because he wants her to examine an object he has found. An unnerving aspect of Truelove’s life is that she’s neither fish nor fowl—not a guest of the duke and not a conventional member of his staff. To be a private secretary, like she was for his father, was unusual enough, but for a female to lead a scientific institute is unheard of. Emmeline tries to stay oblivious to the whispers, but it’s difficult.

Who the devil was that? asked one, and Olympia’s secretary, I believe, said another, and yet another one began, No, no, haven’t you heard, she’s his—

By then I was out of earshot, my skin aflame, turning down a succession of corridors without any consciousness of where I was going, only that I had to get as far away as possible from those voices, from those eyes that had stared at me with such unnatural, avaricious curiosity.

Emmeline calms herself by looking out at the sea, “now turned gray and pink in the gathering sunset,” until the duke calls her name. They go to his Chinese library where they examine a mysterious life-sized, rubberized object.

I laid it carefully down on the table and straightened it out into the shape of a human being, minus head and hands and feet, almost perfectly formed, about the size of a tall adult female. The smell was strong, almost overpowering, a queer mixture of seawater and rot and rubber.

A twentieth-century wetsuit in Edwardian Scotland? It’s yet another example of Juliana Gray’s deft ability to insert modern or medieval objects into the plot. It’s impossible to stop speculating about how and why. 

No stranger to the study of anachronisms in archeological digs, Haywood is nevertheless puzzled by the artifact: a suit of clothing, which, according to family legend, once belonged to a selkie who rose from the sea in ancient times and married the castle’s first laird.

More surprises—the intruder of the train, Hunter, appears at the castle and holds the Duke and Truelove at gunpoint. He rattles off an improbable story that stuns the duke.

“And how did you come to know that story?” Max asked.”

“Because you wrote a book about it duke-man. That story and others like it.”

“I haven’t written any books. Not about what happened on Naxos, anyway. I haven’t told a soul.”

Would it come as a surprise that the book is called The Book of Time? Hunter snarls, “You wrote it in 1921, my man. Nineteen hundred and twenty-one.” Is Hunter a villain who has traveled back in time—to what purpose? Modern-day artifacts, stories from ancient times, danger and mystery—Juliana Gray’s A Strange Scottish Shore weaves all these elements into a compelling tale.

I very rarely pick up books out of order in a series but since time was short and I really wanted to read this, I took a chance and dove right into the somewhat murky waters that is this series. 

Being that I at the time was craving the historical setting of Scotland, it was hard to resist such a story. I can say without a doubt that while I don't like just diving into a series, I did so with this one with relative ease and little discomfort. 

What I didn't expect was this not to be your typical historical mystery. Oh no, not by a long shot. With the added supernatural theme, a romance that is every bit as swoon worthy as you would expect from this time, and an unexpected time traveling element, this book kept me on my toes in a very good way. 

Overall it was a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This review is going to contain spoilers for the first book in the series, A Most Extraordinary Pursuit, previously reviewed here. If you haven't read it and intend to, unspoiled, then stop reading right now because this review will VERY quickly reveal the big secret of that book (and the series). Really, if you're at all interested in reading it you probably already know the twist, but just in case...

All good? Ready to jump in? Are you sure? Okay, here we go.

A Strange Scottish Shore front cover (Berkley/Penguin Group)

THE PLOT: Emmaline Truelove and her employer, Max, the new Duke of Olympia, are traveling to Scotland as the Duke courts a young lady. Of course, they are also investigating the strange chest that was found containing a "selkie suit," which feeds into her family's legend. Because more than just a Duke and his former secretary, Max and Emmaline comprise the Haywood Institute for the Study of Time.

After the adventure on the island of Skyros, it's apparent that Max has some sort of ability to cause time travel, but it's unclear (at least to the younger Max) how these powers work. He doesn't understand them and has very little control. But when Emmaline's kind-of love-interest Lord Silverton disappears, she realizes she'll take any risk to get him back—even having Max send her whenever Silverton is.

MY TWO CENTS: These books really don't give you a lot to describe if you want to avoid spoilers! But here's the big one: This is a time-travel book. Everything that goes on in this book (and the first one) is based on Max's time-travel powers.

Now people might be asking how this series compares to Outlander, and here's what I can tell you: I really don't know. I've never read nor watched Outlander. I know that it involves time travel, which is why I bring it up. I know it's a very popular romance. I wouldn't say this series is primarily about romance, so that's one difference. There are also different eras represented, and from what I can tell, the Outlander characters only travel between the 1940s and 1700s? I know I'm not being a whole lot of help here. If you're all out of Outlander and want something similar, I'm not sure if this will meet your craving.

I love the framing device in the form of a book written by an older Max who presumably has control of his powers and understands what has gone on in the stories being unveiled in the novel. The story is told in a way that doesn't quite give away what was going on, but gives you enough of a hint so say, "So WHEN was this selkie lady from, really? And WHEN did she end up?"

Also, although I say this is not primarily a romance (at least not in the way the romance genre is typically formulated), the relationship between Emmaline and Silverton moves forward despite some hemming and hawing in the beginning  and her continued reservations that SOMETHING will go wrong and separate them.

Emmaline still talks to ghosts, specifically the ghosts of Queen Victoria and Emmaline's own stepfather. I'm assuming at some point we'll learn why Queen Victoria has an interest in Emmaline, but not yet. I suspect it has something to do with biological father. 

As far as the pacing goes, I felt that the beginning chapters were slow; it took me a little while to get into it. But once the story was in full swing, it was very difficult to put down. You can't imagine how this is really going to resolve in any way that is good for the characters. And does it, really? I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

COVER NOTES: Love that the cover matches the style of the first book and the e-prequel. I also love that it doesn't reveal the majority of the book's setting.

BOTTOM LINE: I'm loving this series and can't wait to see what happens next. Although this entry seemed a little slow right out of the gate, it really moved the series along.

TEACUP RATING: Four out of five teacups.

ON SALE DATE: Available now in paperback and eformats.

NEXT UP IN SERIES:  No announcement that I know of, but hopefully the next entry in the series will be available in Fall 2018 (although sooner would be good!)

Note: Review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Strange Scottish Shore
Emmeline Truelove #2
Juliana Gray
Berkley, September 2017
ISBN 978-0-425-277089
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

Scotland, 1906. A mysterious object discovered inside an ancient castle calls Maximilian Haywood, the new Duke of Olympia, and his fellow researcher Emmeline Truelove north to the remote Orkney Islands. No stranger to the study of anachronisms in archeological digs, Haywood is nevertheless puzzled by the artifact: a suit of clothing that, according to family legend, once belonged to a selkie who rose from the sea and married the castle’s first laird.
 
But Haywood and Truelove soon realize they’re not the only ones interested in the selkie’s strange hide. When their mutual friend Lord Silverton vanishes in the night from an Edinburgh street, their quest takes a dangerous turn through time, which puts Haywood’s extraordinary talents—and Truelove’s courage—to their most breathtaking test yet.

After Miss Emmeline Truelove sets off by train to Scotland to join her employer and colleague, Max Haywood, the late Queen Victoria appears, not an unusual occurrence, to warn her that she’s being followed, no surprise to Emmeline. Then, her friend and would-be suitor, Marquess Frederick Silverton, boards the same train and chases after the stranger who jumps off. Clearly, we’re off on an adventure.

An odd man named Hunter Spillane later disappears after attacking Emmeline and Max at a house party in Scotland. When James Magnusson, Earl of Thurso, shows them a box found in a castle’s ruins, the mystery deepens and yet holds a hint of their own recent past. Affairs of the heart and Emmeline’s visions of her deceased father and the late Queen add to the mystery they must solve without undue attention from others.

In a blend of mystery and fantasy, people literally come and go through centuries in a time-traveling kind of vortex as the puzzle begins to come clear and a beautiful woman named Helen tells an incredible tale. The story itself is highly entertaining but it’s the various characters who really engaged me and kept me turning pages. Now, I need to find the first book and do some catching up.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, September 2017.

To begin with, note that there is a selection from an old tome, The Book of Time, before each chapter, telling the tale of a Scottish selkie, who rose from the sea in ancient times and married the Lord of a Castle, had two lovely children but who was swayed to return to her former marine life. Each section parallels the unfolding action in this tale in which it is 1906 which begins with a selkie suit being found. Maximilian Haywood and Emmeline Truelove have traveled to the past to solve other mysteries. Now they discover that their friend, Lord Silverton, has disappeared as well as another mysterious, very suspicious character.
The majority of the action in this novel takes place in the 1300s in a small Scottish country town with a man named Max and of course, Lord Silverton and Emmeline who are transported to that error. It turns out that Silverton has already been there for three years. Emmeline, on the other hand, has quite a period of adjustment to the language, dress, food, and Silverton’s acceptance that he will never return to his former 20th Century life.
Emmeline is quickly accepted and her initial balking at Silverton’s declaration of undying love is slowly eroded and their fiery romance takes off like a rocket. Emmeline, however, believes she has been sent here to complete a mission and that is what gradually evolves. It’s a grand tale indeed (no spoilers here) involving a past legend resembling one of the many selkie legends floating in Scottish folklore. The tension and surprising scenes of violence are inserted in all of the right places, and Silverton, Emmeline and Max the new Lord, conspire to prevent a travesty occurring that would make a past legend fleshed out in the present turn disastrous. The care and concern these characters share is what solidifies a unpredictable, quick-paced plot.
This is a stand-alone novel but there is a prequel to this tale which this reviewer knows readers will want to read after finishing this exciting, romantic, mysterious, adventurous work of historical fiction mixed with paranormal qualities. Nicely done, Beatriz Williams!

I am a sucker for anything Scottish, so obviously this title hooked me right away! I do like the cover, though it puts me more in mind of a cozy mystery, and other readers on Goodreads have shelved it in mystery, so I spent most of the book thinking it was a mystery, and I'm pretty sure that it showed up in that genre to me on Netgalley, even though they considered it Historical Fiction and Romance in the write up. Be that as it may, there IS a mystery to be solved, and a very interesting one at that!

First off, this is the second in a series, but that didn't give me too much trouble, other than making me want to go back and read the first one!  It has several of my favorite touchstones, time travel, archaeology, mysterious artifacts and Scotland, and it didn't disappoint!  I found Truelove to be a bit like Amelia Peabody in my favorite Egyptian mystery series by Elizabeth Peters, which is to say, she must be in the middle of everything and she will satisfy her curiosity, even at great danger to herself! I'd like to see the development of her friendly/working relationship with Max which I believe happens in the first book, as we don't see much of him here.  It seems like a very close friendship, which causes more than a few misunderstandings for them,   The main focus of the story is on Truelove and Silverton (also an enigma as we get to see two very different versions of his personality).

There are many twists and plenty of action!  I expected the ending to work out differently than it did, and I'm interested to see where the series goes from here, because the premise can't just end there!  I definitely recommend this one to the Scotland/Ancient Scotland romance and time traveling fans, this wasn't your typical historical romance in my opinion, as my notion that it was a mystery really never ended.  I felt there was just as much focus on that, as on the romance, and I'm interested in more!

It all starts with call to her boss about a mysterious object found at an old castle.  He goes to see what it is and asks her to follow him with paperwork.  As she's getting on the train, she sees a man following her.  She knows she's in danger.  Then a friend from her past shows up, saying the duke sent him for her protection.  She's a bit worried about her heart needing protection but what can she say?  When the man tailing her gets off the train in mid-trip, she's hoping it's over.  No, it's just beginning...

Berkley sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

This is a very interesting time travel tale.  Truelove's present time was in 1906.  When Lord Silverton goes missing, she wants to travel back in time to find him.  She manages that but then she can't figure out how to get back.  The man who follows her like a bad penny is from the future.  And when the past and the future collide, it produces very interesting results.

One thing I especially loved about this book is that the relationships were all real love.  There's no farce, no half-heartedness about it at all.  That's what carries the story and helps right wrongs.  This was a fascinating read and I really enjoyed it.

I'd tell you more but it might spoil the story.  There's an old legend involved.  And I'm not sure that they've seen the last of Haywood, her boss.  But we'll just have to see what the next book brings.