I recently was able to reacquaint myself with an old friend... Years by LaVyrle Spencer. I find Spencer's writing to be so thoroughly engrossing that even after finishing a novel, the story of the leads cling to you. In this particular novel, set near the end of WWI in the middle of American farmland, the cast of characters are motley but endearing.

The hero is a young man of 33 years of age.  He has been a farmer and has been content to be a farmer since the age of a young boy. When he was merely 17 or 18 he met and married a young girl of similar age passing through the Midwest on a political campaign. The girl was bipolar and not at all suited to life without constant stimulation. After the birth of their child her despondent mood increased until she up and vanished to the west coast. After the passing of several years, Theodore heard of her passing, but even had he wanted to remarry ninety percent of the women where he lived were related to him.

His son is 17 years old and is anxious to see part of the world and yet perversely content to be a farmer. Kristian's restlessness is not released until after the new schoolmarm arrives to Alamo, North Dakota. His grandmother, Nissa, lives with Kristian and Theodore in their farmhouse and his Uncle John comes by for every meal. John is slow, but not stupid. He's singularly incurious and doesn't feel the need to question things. John by the way is just one of many uncles.

The heroine, Linnea, is a young vivacious woman of just 18 years. She's earned her teacher's certificate and has set her heart on being a teacher (on her own and away from her family.) Little did she know that she was hired because the school board thought she was a man. Theodore is most surprised at finding a girl still wet behind the ears at the train station. His house has always been offered to the teachers because of its close location to the school. Immediately he rebels at the thought of hosting a female in his home - he's had enough heartache and feminine wiles to last him a lifetime. For being a grown man - he still caters to his ma so when Nissa declared Linnea was staying he had no choice but to let her.

To his dismay, Teddy is drawn to Linnea's freshness, spirit, and innocence. His old soul is given new life around her, but he knows his attraction is wrong. He may not be able to read, and he may not know half the words Linnea throws at him when they argue, but he can count... at nearly twice her age, he's old enough to be considered her father. On top of that his son is just a year younger than the pretty schoolmarm, wouldn't it be more accepted to see them pair off? Teddy throws in the path to love as many obstacles as possible because Linnea has an uncanny ability to see to the heart of a matter.

Can love bridge the age gap? This question is met and answered in a timeless story that entwines joys and sorrows.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Years

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Originally posted 2009-02-03 15:00:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Highlander in Love is one of the sweetest, most delightful romances I have had the pleasure to read. Julia London spins a masterful tale that weaves the magic of Scotland into your heart. The intimate scenes between Payton and Mared are thrillingly sensual and are on a scale of not to hot, super hot. Highlander in Love combines all of the genre’s standard plots in a delightful new way.

Payton Douglas, Laird of Eilean Ros, has two hobbies: sheep raising, whiskey brewing. He has been in love with Mared Lockhart for years, the vibrant young woman from the castle Talla Dileas on the other side of the mountain. She does not hold any affection for him at all as he’s a Douglas, the enemy, the man she believes who brought destitution down on the heads of her family.

Mared has a curse upon her, one that has lived in the family for hundreds of years with devastating consequences. No daughter of a Lockhart will ever marry until she looks into the belly of the devil. Those that try to wed find themselves dead or their lovers dead. Separated from the rest of the lochs because of this curse, Mared grew into a young vivacious woman with a lot of sass. Payton finds her irresistible.

However, the Lockharts’ are in dire straights. With the introduction of sheep to the lochs, cows were not bringing in the money they’d used to bring. A large loan of 3,000 pounds was extended by Payton to Mared’s father with her hand in marriage as collateral should they fail to pay the loan back in a year.

Then the scoundrel Hugh MacAlister stole the beastie from the Lockharts, leaving them without a way to repay Douglas. But Mared won’t marry a Douglas! Determined to bring Miss Beitris Crowley into Payton’s esteem, Mared hopes that he’ll offer for Beitris instead. But Payton won’t be deterred, and in desperation Mared breaks off the betrothal.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Wounded by her refusal, Payton lashes out and demands that the loan be paid, as agreed upon the collateral of Mared’s promise. He forces Mared into his house as a housekeeper. But she vows to never serve him.

Packed full of wonderful dialogue and scenes, this is just the tip of the iceberg with Highlander in Love. Payton is the new Mr. Darcy; composed, misunderstood, passionate, wealthy, and desperately lonely. How will he overcome Mared’s hate of the Douglas clan and see his way to a future built on the glimmering foundation of dreams?

Rating: 5 Stars

Buy: Highlander in Love

Originally posted 2008-12-02 14:44:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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