Girl in the Castle: Henriette’s Highland Hideaway by Lizzie Lamb @lizzie_lamb #TuesdayBookBlog

  • Author: Lizzie Lamb
  • Published: April 2017 by New Romantics Press
  • Category: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Book Review, Books, Reading.

Her academic career in tatters, Dr Henriette Bruar needs somewhere to lay low, plan her comeback and restore her tarnished reputation. Fate takes her to a remote Scottish castle to auction the contents of an ancient library to pay the laird’s mounting debts. 

After a show of justified outrage with unfortunate consequences, Doctor Henriette Bruar with the help of Professor Maddie Hallam, has secured a job cataloguing the library at Castle Tèarmannair. She is hopeful of finding some valuable books; to secure funds for restoration of the castle and, hopefully, in the process also help her career. Her position as an academic and possibly furthering that position at St Guthlac’s is now in jeopardy and time away, giving Henri chance to try and repair the damage, is just what she needs.

Employed by Sir Malcolm MacKenzie, and assumed to be the latest in a long line of the flighty young women Sir Malcolm is attracted to, Henri gets a less than welcoming reception from the castle staff, Alice and Lachlan. However, the estate is all but insolvent and so, against his better judgement, Keir MacKenzie, Sir Malcolm’s son and heir, agrees to Henri’s inventory. 

Sir Malcolm and Keir have been estranged for years, in the wake of a tragedy when Keir was a young boy, which haunts them both. Sir Malcolm’s complete lack of money management hasn’t helped their relationship.

There it was, again – a lament; the kind played from the parapet of a castle high above a loch, the piper hidden by swirling autumn mist and fading light. Unable to ignore it any longer, Henriette Bruar ended the podcast – Five Historic Hauntings for Hallowe’en – and, ears straining, glanced half-fearfully over her shoulder in case some madman had got on at the last station, hell bent on making it plain that here was no place for Sassenachs.

No place for lone, female travellers either, come to that. However, the train was empty, as it had been for the past half an hour. For who, in their right mind, would take the last train out of Fort William on a wet autumn afternoon and travel up the line to MacKenzie’s Halt?

Lizzie Lamb’s descriptions of the Scottish Highlands and the castle on the loch are vivid and atmospheric. That, together with the history, authentic dialect, occasional Gaelic and well fleshed out characters of Henri and Keir, creates a wonderfully evocative read. The dialogue is realistic and, as always, the characters are distinctive and strong with back stories that develop with the storyline. Secondary characters are just as enjoyable;  lovely Aunt Alice, the chatelaine, who soon realises she was wrong about Henri, and irascible Lachlan, Sir Malcolm’s ‘man.’ 

Castle Tèarmannair is a character in its own right and who doesn’t love a romantic castle on a loch, not to mention a dark, brooding, Gaelic speaking Scotsman in a kilt. The romance between Keir and Henri is a slow burner which works well within the framework of the story. Both grow and develop as, initially they tolerate each other, then as time passes their relationship evolves. Great characterisations, romance, humour and a hunt for Jacobite treasure all combine to make a very enjoyable read. This book arrived just as I was ready for a change of pace, I enjoyed my visit to the Scottish Highlands very much.

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US

I chose to read and review Girl in the Castle based on a copy of the book supplied by the author/publisher. 

About Lizzie Lamb

After teaching my 1000th pupil and working as a deputy head teacher in a large primary school, I decided pursue my first love: writing. I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, wrote Tall, Dark and Kilted (2012), followed a year later by Boot Camp Bride. Although much of my time is taken up publicising Tall, Dark and Kilted and Boot Camp Bride, I published a third novel SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS in July 2015. It achieved Best Seller status within two weeks of appearing on Amazon. I am a founding member of an indie publishing group – New Romantics Press and in November 2014 were invited to hold an Author Event at Waterstones High Street, Kensington, London. The icing on the cake, as far we are concerned, and a fitting way to celebrate our achievements. March 2016 saw Scotch on the Rocks shortlisted for the prestigious Exeter Novel Prize and in November 2016 I held an author talk in London, at Aspinalls. I plan to return there in Spring 2017 with my new novel – GIRL IN THE CASTLE. I live in Leicestershire with my husband David (aka Bongo Man) and our naughty parrot, Jasper.

Author links ~  Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Website

SaveSave

35 thoughts on “Girl in the Castle: Henriette’s Highland Hideaway by Lizzie Lamb @lizzie_lamb #TuesdayBookBlog”

  1. Dear Cathy, thank you for such a fabulous review of Girl in the Castle. I always find it interesting what readers/reviewers take away at the end of the story. I really enjoyed writing this novel and I was contemplating writing a romance with a non-Scottish setting but my heart is in the highlands. So, number five here I come, fire up the computer and polish up my Gaelic phrasebook.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. Brilliant review, Cathy! I love all of Lizzie’s books, yet the romance in this one felt really special, beautifully done and steeped in mysticism and history. I went back and reread the last quarter I so didn’t want it to end! X

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    2. That is a lovely thing to say, Adrienne. I could have gone on for another 5k or so, but I knew it was time to type the magic words: THE END.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  5. It’s been an amazing day for #TuesdayBookBlog. I’ve never had so many retweets in my life. Thanks to Cathy and all her supporters who came out in force this morning. And Rosie Amber’s blogging and reviewing team for coming up with the idea. Fabulous

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  6. High on my TBR list, and after this tantalizing review, Cathy, can’t wait to become immersed in the magical world of Castle Tearmannair.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. Thanks for commenting, June. And for leaving a review on Amazon. I’m so glad you liked all the ‘mystical’ elements in the book. I love writing it.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  10. Reblogged this on Lizzie Lamb and commented:
    Many thanks to Cathy Ryan for this fabulous review of Girl in the Castle. I get a real buzz when people read and enjoy my writing. POsetive feedback makes slaving away in the long, dark watches of the night worth it,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Thanks for visiting...feel free to share your thoughts...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.