Cover Image: The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away

The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

My favorite book in this series. I feel an instant attraction to Geordie’s wanderlust to visit the ocean for peace and tranquility. This is a beautiful slow burn romance. Geordie and his family have captured my heart in this series and I am sure it will continue with the remaining brothers. Geordie and Belle are such a wonderful couple.

Was this review helpful?

Another great read by Hannah Howell! She is always a great read, love revisiting friends from her series. This is a book about family and how you stick together. Once you have read one you will be buying more of her books. I was given this book to read by netgalley, and i was lucky enough to get to read it!

Was this review helpful?

I have read numerous books written by Hannah Howell and this one left me feeling like it wasn't written by the same author I have previously enjoyed so much. It was rather slow and anticlimactic. I liked both Geordie and Belle but I never really felt the romance between them. I did enjoy the perspective on the aftermath of the Civil War and its effect on the men who survived as well as envisioning the country as it began to enter the Industrial Age. That was very interesting. A good book, just not up to what I have come to expect from Ms. Howell.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away is the third book in Hannah Howell's Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen series. Can it stand alone? A bit, but I recommend reading the first two installments before this one. I didn't, and I feel I missed a lot of major storylines and family dynamics. This is one huge family, and you may have trouble figuring out who belongs to whom.

Geordie MacEnroy is one of seven brothers who moved to the U.S. when they were displaced from their tenant farm in Scotland. They now live in the Ozarks, dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War. Geordie, feeling restless, decides he wants to see the ocean again, so he and younger brother Robbie - who received crippling injuries in a previous book - head to the east coast with relative James aboard the railway. When they reach their destination and look for a place to stay, they see the beautiful Belle Ampleford confronting a neighbor who wants her property. After helping her out they rent rooms from Belle, who luckily for Robbie was taught healing by her father. They quickly become friends with Belle and her young brother, especially Geordie...

This book started off very slowly and didn't pick up speed until a quarter of the way into the story. The romance between Geordie and Belle was...pleasant. I really didn't feel any passion between the two. I enjoyed the relationships between Belle and her aunt, and Geordie and Robbie. There was some suspense and tension with her horrible neighbor, plus a bit of a story regarding a little girl they met on the train. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the first two. However, the MacEnroys are a lovely family and I look forward to spending more time with them.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away is a great continuation of the Seven Brides/Seven Scotsman series. This is Geordie’s turn to meet his bride in Belle or Mehitabel. Beginning with Geordie and Robbie wanting to see the Atlantic Ocean, they start their travels with James. The book is a little slow in the beginning but stick with it as the it will get better.

Mehitabel, also known as Belle, lives on the coast. The Scotsmen assist her during a confrontation with neighbor trying to take her home and lands. Geordie and Robbie stay on while James goes on to see his mother. Geordie seems drawn to Belle although unsure of her at first. Belle is concerned he or others believe she comes with the rooms she rents out in her home as a bed and breakfast. She, too, has an extended family living around her. Belle owns her land due to her family heritage and a will that cannot be broken.

I loved the gentle, slow development of the relationship between Belle and Geordie. There are several sweet and several laughable moments during their growing love, especially from Belle’s brother Abel

This is an enjoyable, somewhat light-hearted romance that takes place following the Civil War. Ms. Howell includes the difficulties from that period helping combine the era within the romance to life as it was then.

Was this review helpful?

The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away is the third book in Hannah Howell's Seven Brides/Seven Scotsmen Series. I haven't read the first two books in the series so it took me several chapters to become engrossed in the period romance. Once I was hooked, I couldn't put it down. Geordie MacEnroy leaves his large family to travel from the Ozarks to the coast of Maine with his brother Robbie and friend James because he craves time by the Atlantic Ocean. They happen upon Mehitabel, Bella, Ampleford and her Bed and Breakfast. They soon find out she is much more than an innkeeper and due to an injury Robbie suffers Bella and Geordie have plenty of time to fall in love. The bigger question is can Geordie leave his family home in the Ozarks and can Bella leave her oceanfront home in Maine? If you enjoy stories with Scottish accents, independent women and twists and turns you will love this novel. I plan to read the first two books in the series pronto!

Was this review helpful?

Typically I have loved each book in this series. This one however, was a little slow for me. I did like Geordie and Belle, but there just didn't seem to be enough chemistry between them. I did enjoy the book, just kind of slow.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 stars rounded up.

Geordie MacEnroy yearns to see the ocean and sets out with his brother Robbie and James, a family friend who is heading home to Maine. Geordie isn’t sure Robbie is up to the trip, he was beaten badly and has yet to fully recover, but he insisted on joining Geordie, so they are taking their time traveling.

On one leg of their journey they step in when they see a woman with a young girl being harassed and learn that the widow is heading back to Boston, they befriend her and her daughter Morgan and then part ways in Boston. Where they spend a few days resting and sightseeing before heading out on the last leg of their journey.

Mehitabel “Belle” Ampleford has another run in with her neighbor Charles Bennet, but this time he seems more agitated and not only has he brought several men with him, he also has a gun. She tries to defuse the tension, but he seems bent on violence, she is not sure what she is going to do when three strangers arrive and effectively send Bennet on his way. Belle rents rooms and is happy to accommodate the men and notices Robbie in particular might need some nursing.

I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as the previous books in the series, it was for the lack of a better word – dull. Geordie and Belle are both likeable, smart, interesting characters, but there is nothing keeping them apart and there is no drama moving the story along, anytime something came up it was rectified quickly and relatively easily. I also felt that the romance seemed to come out of nowhere and they progressed quickly to lovers again without any tension or obstacles. Everything just moved slowly and worked out perfectly, even when Morgan reappears later in the book, the events leading to that were treated like it was no big deal and glossed over. It was just strange, and the story felt a bit choppy and disjointed. I kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. I was not unhappy with the book, just underwhelmed. But if you are looking for sweet, uncomplicated story that is easy to read and easy to put down and pick up later – this is the book for you. It is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone with no problem.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately ‘The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away’ could not hold my attention. I really wanted to like this book as I’ve read the first two in this series. But this one I just couldn’t get into. I found the beginning very slow and it took a good number of chapters before we even met the heroine. Just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third book in the Sven Brides for Seven Scotsmen series. I've read the others and I really enjoy this author. This book wasn't my favorite in the series but it was still very enjoyable, I would recommend it! It's a nice historical romance.

Was this review helpful?

Off the New England coast, courageous Mehitabel Ampleford wields a rifle to protect her home from a brutish band of men who are after her land, just as their latest confrontation threatens violence, a bold stranger appears out of the ocean mists to send the raiders packing.
Geordie MacEnroy has seen the ravages of war in his mountain town—and in the injuries suffered by his youngest brother Robbie; now, his restless soul is calling him to find sanctuary by the sea. His long journey to the beautiful coastline of his adopted homeland feels like a new beginning as lovely Mehitabel, so wise and self-sufficient, offers blessed hope for healing his brother’s wounds.
This is the third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own there are references to other characters from earlier books so it could take a little while to realise who everyone is. I thoroughly enjoyed the book once I reached a quarter of the way through, as up to that point the pace was slow. However bear with it as things do hot up. I'm loving the MacEnroy siblings' stories also Scots in America is a different setting & makes an enjoyable change. I really liked Geordie & Mehitabel & the road to their HEA but it's Robbie who steals my heart & I eagerly await his story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Was this review helpful?

With the Civil War finally at an end, Scottish immigrant to the U.S. Geordie MacEnroy decides to ease his wanderlust and a craving to see the ocean by indulging in a trip to Maine with his brother, Robbie. He finds a seaside haven at the home of the lovely Mehitabel Ampleford when he helps her chase off an increasingly violent group of men after her land. Belle skillfully treats injuries Robbie sustained as a result of the war and which never healed and Geordie begins to grow more and more attracted to her. But Geordie's life and family is in Missouri and after fighting so hard for her home and land, Belle is unlikely to leave it behind, even for love.

I try to be very lenient and understanding in reviews and to never leave a book unfinished, especially knowing how difficult the writing process is, but this one was a struggle. I skimmed quite a bit of it after awhile, looking for improvement, and found none. To be fair, this is the third book in a series and I haven't read the fist two, so I expected some confusion with regard to the characters, but even new characters didn't make much sense to me because the storyline and writing was so all over the place and made little sense at times. I've read this author before and while those stories weren't all time favorites or anything, they were enjoyable reads. It's almost as if this one wasn't even written by the same person. Even if it hadn't been so disjointed, the pacing was slow and rather tedious, with numerous scenes that didn't really fit and did little to advance the story. There was a distinct lack of dialogue and even interaction between the hero and heroine; it is simply stated that there is an attraction between them and bam, several pages later they're in bed. It took a quarter of the book before the heroine even appeared on the page.

Beyond all that, the writing itself also threw me because of the distinct lack of pronouns. I'm not sure why this choice was made but it was so prevalent it must have been intentional. This may not bother anyone else, but reading things like "Should be able to do it myself soon." or "Heavy decision to make." (this last in reference to whether or not to keep an old pan), annoyed me. Yes, the subject is clear enough, but this is a pet peeve of mine and just made conversations between characters seem even more disjointed and the characters flat. It was also hard to keep track of what was going on because some scenes mentioned it being morning, then afternoon, then morning again in the same scene. It seemed like there was a lot of filler to add not much substance. There were other storylines brought together sporadically that also served to add some confusion and make the story feel convoluted, but there was just so much potential here it makes me sad to write such a review.

To be fair, I read an ARC, so some of this may be much better in the final published version, but I think there are too many issues with the plot itself to be wholly resolved. It's not up to Ms. Howell's usual standards.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I was so excited when I realized this was the next book in the series of the MacEnroy;s! I was also glad that we learned to use Belle's nickname as I could not figure out how to pronounce her name, Mehitabel, and it would have been harder for me to read the book!

These are not quick romances but longer stories where we spend time learning about the characters and their lives. When the book starts, Geordie is going to head east as he wants to see the ocean, so his brother, Robbie, goes along, and they join their friend, James, who is headed that way so that they can all travel together.

On the train, they meet a widow and her daughter, and a tragedy causes them to meet the daughter later in the book. Lots of drama going on in this book with a neighbor that causes trouble for Belle, and I was so glad that we did not see the sheriff as the paid lackey! Then, Belle's poor Auntie, Mary, gets booted from her home.

Each tragic event actually works out for the benefit of each person, from Robbie's fall where he breaks his leg, Auntie getting kicked out, and the barn fire. The death of the widow was kind of both as Geordie and Belle welcomed Morgan into their care which was great but it was pretty sad and traumatic for Morgan.

It was also nice to see the previous couples make an appearance in the book. Looking forward to the next MacEnroy who will meet his mate.

Was this review helpful?

Gordie MacEnroy came from Scotland with his family to find a new life in America. Along they way other people became a part of their group and established a fortress in the Ozarks. It's several years after The War Between the States and Gordie wants to see the ocean, but not on a ship. Traveling by train and wagon with his handicapped younger brother and a friend from the war, they make it to the ocean not far from Boston. Their first encounter is with Mehitabel Ampleford holding off her pesky neighbor. A total surprise from Hannah Howell, this is pretty low-key as far as conflict. A not so slow romance with passion and the eventual bonding of more families.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

More MacEnroys, please! Unlike some of Hannah Howell's other series, this one is set in 1860's America and not Scotland. However, there be Scots! The MacEnvoys are quite the family of very talented Scots who have made a living in the Ozarks. The need to see the East coast ocean hits Geordie, a need that will change his life and that of his younger brother, Robbie. Unlike other of the author's books, this one is not filled with end to end danger, intrigue, and action. However, it is a wonderful commentary on the growth of this country in the post Civil war era. As Geordie, Robbie, and their friend, James travel the train to Boston and beyond, the reader can feel the growing pains of the nation as well as unfortunate fem we of so many young men in the war. As James continues on to his home I Maine, Geordie and Robbie find a place to stay by the ocean. Mehitabel (Belle) Ampleford runs what now would be called a bed and breakfast, with most of her staying customers coming in the summer. Belle is a woman of many talents, one as a doctor or sorts having learned healing from her now deceased father. The attraction between Belle and Geordie is almost instantaneous. Being from very different parts of the country, can they make a life together? Will the villain, Bennet get his way and the Ampleford's property? What happens to Robbie that is life changing? I love these characters, they are genuinely decent, hard working people. There are more brother so I expect more books in the series. More MacEnroys, yeah!

Was this review helpful?

Geordie is longing to see the ocean. He takes his younger brother and another friend and they head north. Geordie comes from a large family.. On his way he runs into a lovely young woman named, Meithbel, who runs an inn
Some of the book made me laugh and some cry
It can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend reading others in the series

Was this review helpful?

The writing of this book was less than admirable. There were so many plot holes and it just jumped from scene to scene without any real flow. This was my first book by the author and in the series and I do not think I would read any others.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the eARC.

Was this review helpful?

The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away is a heartwarming story with endearing characters. It had an engaging, character driven storyline. The vivid descriptions of the different places make it easy to visualize and helps pull you into the story and keeps you turning the pages. I would definitely recommend this wonderful book and any other books that this talented author writes.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book of the series but I didn’t have too much problem understanding what was going on. I probably would have a better understanding of who certain people in his family are but I don’t feel it's necessary to read the first two books to understand this story.

This story starts off slowly with Geordie MacEnroy deciding if he wants to make the trip to see the ocean. He is doubting his choices of going because he doesn't want to leave his brothers and their families. He changes his mind when an old friend, James, stops by on his way home to Maine and decides to travel back with him. Once by the sea (about 25% in) he meets Mehitabel “Belle” Ampleford who is being harassed by a neighbor to sell her lands. She refuses. Geordie and Robbie decides to stay at her B&B while they are at the sea.

I really liked Belle. She was smart, snarky, and stood up for herself. Belle and Geordie were a sweet and cute couple. I loved how flustered he would get when talking about his feelings. This was a wonderful, slow building romance. I will probably try to read the next one when it comes out, hopefully it will be Robbie's story.

Was this review helpful?

I have read most of the stories by this author. This one was different and at times seemed a little disjointed. But, all-in-all, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Geordie had a hankering to see the ocean. Not in the west, but in the east. He isn't sure why he needed to see it, but just felt the urge. His brother decided to go with him. They had an adventure on the train east and when they finally arrived, they helped a woman who was being threatened. As Geordie and company stayed with Mehitabel, they help her and she helps them. Geordie and Mehitabel grow closer and then they have to make a decision. Do they stay by the ocean or go to live by Geordie's family?

Was this review helpful?