Amanda Scott
Scott, Amanda - DANGEROUS LADY (Zebra - 2/99) (4)
Lady Letitia "Letty" Deverill visits her father's solicitor in London to find out all she can about her unexpected inheritance, a house in Mayfair that was left to her by Mr. Benthall, a man she barely knew. She has arrived from Paris to assume her duties as a maid of honor in-waiting to the young Queen Victoria and is accompanied by her chaperone, dresser, and pet monkey, Jeremiah. As she enters the solicitor's office, she bumps into a tall, dark-haired handsome man, who apologizes and goes on his way. Letty soon discovers that he is Viscount Justin Raventhorpe, the new lord in-waiting to the queen and the other beneficiary of Mr. Benthall's estate.
Letty and Justin meet again at Queen Victoria's court and they clash immediately. Due to court politics, they are on opposite sides—Justin is a Whig, whose party is in power, and Letty is the token Tory in attendance. He finds her outspoken, much too independent, forward and spirited, and not at all like a maid of honor should be. So why is he fascinated with her? Letty finds him arrogant, dogmatic, and very overbearing; but decides that if he had the proper manners, she could come to like him rather well!
It turns out that Letty's inherited house has two elderly tenants, Mrs. Linford and Miss Frome, who are Justin's relatives. On a visit to the house, Letty's pet monkey gets loose and runs to the second floor, with our heroine chasing close behind. What she discovers there could totally ruin the reputations of many people—and turn Queen Victoria's court upside down!
Amanda Scott has written a superb Victorian love story filled with dangerous court intrigue and humor. The hero and heroine are so authentic and believable that I felt I knew them as friends. (You may remember that Letty appeared as a child in Ms. Scott's DANGEROUS ANGELS.) There are also numerous secondary characters, including Wellington and Queen Victoria, which add much interest to the plot. The author has done a great deal of research into the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, and her attention to detail makes this story quite fascinating. DANGEROUS LADY will bring about several chuckles and leave the reader with a warm, contented feeling. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Scott, Amanda - HIGHLAND SPIRITS (Zebra - 10/99) (4+)
On several occasions during her childhood, Penelope "Pinkie"
MacCrichton saw a ghost on her brother's Scottish estate.
The figure was that of a young, angry, handsome man wearing
a kilt and dirk with a giant charcoal-gray deerhound at his
side. She only told her brother of this aberration, and
over the years her imagination deemed the ghost her perfect
man.
Pinkie and her brother Chuff are off to their first London season along with their guardian, Black Duncan Campbell, and his family, hoping to find loving marriages despite the dubious background of their parents. One day as she is returning to their London residence, Pinkie nearly collides with a tall, familiar-looking stranger who is just leaving the house—Scottish earl, Michael Mingary. Michael, who is haunted by dreams of seeking but never being able to reach a Scottish castle, is in London with his temperamental sister, Lady Bridget, to arrange a marriage contract between her and the wealthy Chuff, the Duke of Argyll. Michael is desperate for money as he only has a few weeks to pay off his late father's debt.
After confronting Duncan Campbell unsuccessfully about the arranged marriage, he encounters Pinkie both at her home and at several dinner parties and dances. He is drawn to her, as she is to him, but because of his financial situation he can't even contemplate love or marriage. Then one evening, Michael confides in Pinkie about his situation and she comes up with an unexpected, outrageous idea that will solve all his problems. But there is evil lurking close by and their happiness may be short-lived.
Talented storyteller Amanda Scott has added another exciting Scottish historical romance to her Highland series. It was wonderful revisiting old friends from the previous books: HIGHLAND SECRETS, HIGHLAND TREASURE, and HIGHLAND FLING; but if you haven't read them, HIGHLAND SPIRITS stands well on its own. The two main characters, Michael and Pinkie, are very likable and vividly portrayed, and both are haunted by Highland spirits which help bring them together and save them from danger. There are many secondary characters that add depth to this spirited tale, and Ms. Scott's extensive research brings to life eighteenth-century Georgian London and also the beautiful Scottish countryside. A wonderful novel through and through! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Scott, Amanda - HIGHLAND TREASURE (Zebra - 1998) (4)
Mary Maclaine's beloved Ian Campbell is murdered, and she vows to never love again. However, because she is dependent on her aunt, she decides to accept the marriage proposal of Lord Ewan MacCrichton. She travels with him to his castle to be married, but finds he has plans to use her for his own evil purposes. It seems that he needs her gift of second sight to help him find his family's wealth, which was buried years before. Mary refuses to help him and he becomes abusive, but she is saved by the arrival of Ian's brother, Black Duncan Campbell. Mary escapes with the help of a servant, and when Ewan catches up with Mary at her home, Duncan shows up to rescue her. He takes her to his father's castle, Balcardane, where they await Ewan's next move. Duncan then offers Mary a proposal that surpises them both. She must put her destiny in Duncan's hands, hoping he won't die trying to protect her.
Amanda Scott has created a wonderful, enjoyable read in HIGHLAND TREASURE. The main characters are so lifelike that they could walk right off the pages of the book. The secondary characters: Chuff and his sister, Pinkie, Duncan's parents, and Serena (who has her cap set for Duncan) also add greatly to the story. Through her wonderful writing, Amanda Scott makes 18th-Century Scotland come alive. The reader will laugh out loud (especially when reading the challenge Mary gives Duncan), chuckle, and cry. Although HIGHLAND TREASURE is the sequel to HIGHLAND SECRETS, this book stands alone. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a feel-good read! ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
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