The Bridegroom Wore Plaid and Once Upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes -a review

5 out of 5 for this reader folks! I have to say, I REALLY REALLY love Grace Burrowes writing. She is quickly becoming on of my ABSOLUTE FAVE authors. I am currently on summer vacay and it is killing me that I have to put my book down as often as I am, because she writes page turning stories. These two books are the first two books of her MacGregor Trilogy (note .. there is a novella in between book 1 and 2 but I have yet to read it). Our genre is regency/historical/Victorian romance with a serious dash of yummy “trying to be proper, but serious are so much yummier when they aren’t” highlanders.

The stories revolve around the MacGregor family and the English folk that they seem to hate in one second and take a fancy to the next. These families all seem to link into one another and create hilarious, action packed, angsty, HEA stories full of lust, bad guys, traditions and LOTS OF WIT!

Let’s meet them shall we??

BOOK 1 – THE BRIDEGROOM WORE PLAID
The MacGregor Trilogy #1
by Grace Burrowes
Release Date: December 2012

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DESCRIPTION

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes keeps winning reader awards for her gorgeously imagined books. If you’re already a fan, you’ll devour her new characters and if you haven’t yet discovered the richly drawn worlds of Grace Burrowes, you’re in for a treat….

“Memorable heroes. Intelligent, sensual love stories. This author knows what romance readers adore.”-RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

His Family or His Heart – One of Them Will Be Betrayed…

Ian MacGregor is wooing a woman who’s wrong for him in every way. As the new Earl of Balfour, though, he must marry an English heiress to repair the family fortunes.

But in his intends penniless chaperone, Augusta, Ian is finding everything he’s ever wanted in a wife.

“Historical details enrich Burrowes’s intimate and erotic story, but the real stars are her vibrant characters and her masterful ear for dialogue. Burrowes is superb at creating connections that feel honest and real.”-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

REVIEW

I swear this book should of been called “The Highland Hookup”! LOL While we do have a main love story, there are quite a few other love stories that are going on that keep it exciting. This is definitely a case of two families made for each other!

Our main character is Ian MacGregor. He is an assumed Earl as his oldest brother has gone MIA and thus declared deceased. With this comes the responsibility of being the head and provider of his family. He is also assuming responsibility of removing the MacGragor family from ruin by agreeing to marry an English heiress.

Enter the Daniels family. Eager to marry his daughter Genie to a titled man, Baron Atstax (AKA CREEPOID) moves his entire family in for a long visit with the MacGregor family. Part of this family is Augusta who is the Baron’s niece and chaperon to Genie. It is Augusta who Ian takes a shine too though. Don’t feel bad for Genie though, she has her eyes set on Ian’s brother Gill. Ian’s other brother is hooking up with another Daniels member as well, and Ian’s sister is falling in love with the Baron’s son. Have you processed all that?? LOL

A slow simmering relationship (which comes to a serious hot, steamy boil), between Augusta and Ian begins. These two are clearly made for each other. They embark in a physical and emotional relationship believing that they only have this short time to treasure before saying goodbye. In the midst of this budding relationship, the ugly Baron Alstax is plotting Augusta’s murder as he is a devious, selfish and harbouring a secret that could land him in some serious hot water. Ian begins to slowly put the pieces together and between his family members, some of the Daniels family and his smart, beautiful Augusta, weave together a terrific climax of this story.

The bad guys NEVER win in a Grace Burrowes novel, but she can seriously make you sweat! LOL

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BOOK 2 – ONCE UPON A TARTAN
The MacGregor Trilogy #2
by Grace Burrowes
Release Date: August 6, 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

DESCRIPTION

Hester MacDaniel is recovering from an engagement gone awry by summering at her brother’s holding in the Highlands, and looking after her brother’s young step-daughter, Fiona. Tiberius Flynn, heir to the English Marquis of Quinworth, appears on Hester’s doorstep claiming he’s Fee’s paternal uncle, and he’s been sent by her English relations to make the girl’s acquaintance. Tye believes his brother’s dying wishes compel him to take Fee south with him, but he doesn’t plan on Hester capturing his heart, even as she fights him tooth and nail for custody of Fiona

REVIEW

This was a fantastic continuation of this trilogy. In the first book we met our heroine of this book. Hester Daniels in book one was a easy going, full of life young lady coming into her own. Between these books, Hester is involved in a scandalous affair that she has taken to heart and has come back to Scotland to take care of her niece and properly hide from society. My heart really broke for Hester in this book.

One day, in trots this English, arrogant, aristocratic, pompous man named Tiberius Flynn (Tye), Earl of Srathroy and future Marquis of Quinworth who is claiming to be a paternal uncle to Hester niece Fiona. Fiona just adores this man from the beginning while Tye is a little taken back by the little girl who one minute has impeccable manners and the next minute can be found singing in tree branches and mucking around horses. However, little Fiona is known to take her Uncles hearts and wrap them around her finger, and soon Uncle Tye is in this position.

Hester and Tye really dislike each other at first and go at it with their words, bantering back and forth. Soon enough though they begin a friendship which develops into a fierce lusty and loving affair. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place though as they stand across from each other on opposite sides of a dilemma. Tye is very much a mutli-layered character and I loved seeing some of these layers peeled back. He is put into a horrible position by his family, to claim custody of a niece the family took no interest in. He is also finding a much needed peace in this country and in Hester’s arms. Hester has issues she is working out and it’s wonderful to see her come back into the strong beautiful woman she is. She is extremely loyal to her niece and she was just overall an easy leading lady to adore.

Like all of Grace Burrowes stories, she develops situations that you know will work out, but shock you with the amount of thought and creativity it takes to get there. I was so happy with this book and while there are some similarities to the first book, there was so much more to be had here! Sorry .. no spoilers .. WINK! LOL

You can read these as stand alones but you would enjoy the second book so much more with the first book read. We see many of the characters return and get a continuation of their story. If you love the highland settings and a good regency romance, I highly recommend this series. Grace Burrowes always delivers a thorough well thought out stories with some depth to her characters. She writes the steamy classy but hot too! LOL

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

Copy supplied by Netgalley