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| Sourcebooks Casablanca |
Grace Burrowes
2012
The Summary
"His family or his heart--one of them will be betrayed...
"Ian MacGregor is wooing a woman who is 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 intended's penniless chaperone, Augusta, Ian is finding everything he's ever wanted in a wife."
The Good
I'll be honest, Grace Burrowes is quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. I've read several of her novels, but, I think, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid has quickly become my favorite. Not only was I presented with strong heroes, clever heroines, and romance, but I found a fantastically well written novel riddled with little historical details that made it both believable and incredibly satisfying.
Personally, I loved Augusta and Ian as both individuals and as a couple. Augusta, though quiet and reclusive, is thoughtful and clever and, if we're being honest, incredibly brave. Although she suffers unspeakable loss, losing her father, her mother, her fiance, and her home within a year, she doesn't allow her situation to define who she is or keep her down. She manages to make the best of bad circumstances, even when they seem dire.
Ian is pragmatic, honorable, and considerate. He loves his family and he loves his home, and he'll do anything to keep them safe--even if it means marrying a woman he doesn't love. Yet when he does find a woman he loves (Augusta, if that wasn't obvious), he cherishes her. Although he can't dote upon her publicly, due to their precarious positions, he treats her kindly and he is openly honest with her, creating an intimacy between them that is both fragile and precious.
Their relationship is anything but practical, and yet their happily ever after is that much sweeter for the adversity they must overcome. It's incredibly sweet and terrifically real, and I absolutely loved it. I quickly became invested in the characters and their story, and I'm so glad I picked up another of Grace Burrowes' novels. I highly recommend anything she writes.
The Bad
No complaints. I enjoyed The Bridegroom Wore Plaid immensely, and I wouldn't mind reading it again or diving into the rest of the series.
The Ugly
Augusta's uncle, remembered by me as simply "The Baron," was an awful, horrible person. Not to ruin any plot twists, but he's quite literally the cause of all of Augusta's sorrows--and more besides. He is, without a doubt, the most despicable character in the entire book and I wasn't particularly saddened (or surprised) by his comeuppance.
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