Series: Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen (Book 2)
New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell sweeps
readers away with the passion-filled adventures of the MacEnroy brothers, seven
daring Scotsmen who take on America in her most turbulent days -- and capture
the hearts of the ladies each is destined to wed...
With danger closing in from all sides, Abigail Jenson
works tirelessly to protect her small Missouri farm. She doesn’t require saving
-- but a handsome officer appears on horseback just as ruthless marauders set
her cabin ablaze. With nowhere else to turn, Abigail allows the soldier with
the seductive Highlander’s gaze to escort her to shelter in a nearby town.
Matthew MacEnroy was reluctant to join his adopted
nation’s conflict -- until an enemy attack wounded two of his brothers. Bravely
doing battle has its price when a proud, independent beauty comes under his
watch -- no military man can risk the powerful emotions their attraction has
unleashed. But when Matthew himself is caught
in the crossfire, Abigail leads their long journey home to MacEnroy valley ... and her caring touch sparks the promise of
a bold future together.
Good book. Matthew is a Union officer out on patrol when they are attacked by Confederates. Racing to
find a defensible position, they take shelter in a cabin on a small farm,
occupied by a couple and their daughter. Abigail has been working to care for
the farm since the last attack when her
brother was taken, her father beaten, and
her mother assaulted. She quickly realizes that these soldiers are her best
defense, and joins them in defending the cabin.
The opening scene was a real attention grabber. The
danger was obvious and intense, with a real possibility of injury or death.
There is also a quick introduction to Abigail's background and the
circumstances behind her situation. I loved the way that Abbie joined in the defense of the cabin, and Matthew's
reaction. I ached for Abbie when the fight was over, and she had to face the loss of her home and her parents. I liked
Matthew's protectiveness, as he insisted on taking her back to the town they
were based in, to stay with other women in similar circumstances.
I liked both Abbie and Matthew. Abbie is strong and
independent, and also kind and loving. I enjoyed watching her settle in at
Beaton House and make friends with the other women. She also wasn't the kind to
sit back and moan about her circumstances
or ignore things that she thinks are wrong. I especially enjoyed the way that
she took the children under her wing - Noah was adorable. I also liked how she
quickly became the one that the other women looked to during a crisis.
Matthew was a great guy. He joined the army when two of his brothers were injured by Rebel marauders.
He's done his duty, but he's tired of the war and the killing and ready for his
time to be up. He's protective of his men and watches out for their interests.
I enjoyed the development of Matthew and Abbie's relationship.
There were sparks between them from the beginning. Once they arrived in the
town, they began meeting in a fairly traditional way, with Matthew calling on
her at the house and taking her walking. I liked how they talked and got to
know each other. The attraction between them was strong, and Matthew was pretty
quick about making his move on her. I was a bit surprised by how quickly they
became intimate, especially for that time. Abbie falls for Matthew, but isn't
about to be the first one to say anything about her feelings. Matthew waffles
back and forth. He definitely likes being with her, but he isn't sure what he
feels. When he and another man are injured close to the end of their
enlistments, the commander send them, along with Abbie, to Matthew's home. The
journey has its challenges, and also gives Matthew more time to think about
what he wants. I loved their arrival at his home, and how quickly Abbie was
accepted. I was a bit frustrated with Matthew, as he made it clear that Abbie
was with him, but he still couldn't make up his mind about their future. I
liked seeing his brothers call him out on his attitude. I liked that Abbie was
fully prepared to leave him behind and make her own way. I liked their big
moment at the end, especially how Abbie made sure that she got what she needed
to be happy. The epilogue was good, with a great look at their married life.
There was an interesting twist at the end.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, too. My favorite was
Noah, the four-year-old boy who
immediately took a shine to Abbie. Some of the things he said were highly amusing and often made me ache for what he had
been through. Mrs. Beaton was a woman who
was very rigid at the beginning, but as time went on, she loosened up quite a bit. Julia, who was the one that Abbie became
closest to. She was an interesting character, and
I ached for everything she went through. I liked Matthew's friend and fellow
soldier, James. There were some good scenes of him trying to give Matthew
advice.
I really liked the
setting of the Civil War, which doesn't happen often. It was good to see that
the effects of war were not glossed over or romanticized. The frustration of
the soldiers over the frequent skirmishes that didn't have any definitive
result was clear and realistic.
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