In the rolling lowlands of eighteenth-century Scotland, Isabel Nicol is known for her fiery spirit, hot temper, and striking beauty. But when her father is accused of trespassing and theft by the occupant of a mysterious castle, Isabel’s fortitude is tested as never before. Desperate to save her father from debtors’ prison and her sisters from certain ruin, she strikes a daring her freedom for her father’s release.
Luke Maxwell has fled his home in England in a hasty bid to outrun the dark magic that has made his life a misery. Confined within the ancient walls of Caerlaverock Castle, his only hope is to marry a woman who has made a sacrifice of love—a requirement that Isabel has now fulfilled. Convincing her to accept his hand should be an easy task for an English gentleman with means. Unfortunately, Luke’s resolve to break the curse can be rivaled only by Isabel’s determination never to marry. As they navigate their complicated arrangement, an unexpected friendship grows, but opening their hearts to a future they never thought possible will require that they first put their trust in God and heal from the shadows of their pasts.
My Review:
Whoa! What an amazing debut novel! I’m left a little addlepated after reading Crawford’s reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. Sheer brilliance about sums it up and I am an avid retelling fan so I don’t take these reinterpretations lightly. I’m always amazed at the way an author can blend folklore traditions with their own unique plotting and this author has meshed the two into an amazing historical romance with emotional depth and light (but significant) touches of faith.
Setting the tale in the Scottish lowlands adds an extra thrill and the way Isobel winds up prisoner at Caerlaverock Castle is cleverly crafted. And oh my, but Luke is definitely type-cast for the role of Beast! I wasn’t sure what to make of him at first. Luckily Isobel’s fiery temper helps her match wits with Luke despite having spent the last few years striving to honour her mother’s memory by living up to the admonishment to strive to ‘be kind.’
There’s such a delicious push/pull between Luke and Isobel. Mostly because Luke keeps getting everything wrong! Sometimes it’s laugh out loud funny, while other times I found myself cringing. Silly man! But there are tender moments too. And awkwardly sweet ones. The kind of romance that tugs at a reader’s heartstrings.
And the whole story plays out in an unhurried manner, with captivating secondary characters to add to the heartwarming ambience of a classic fairy tale. Crawford’s exquisite storytelling invites a reader to settle in and savour every artfully crafted scene. In fact, I stopped listening several times just because I didn’t want my time with these characters to be over!
And yes, that means this is another audible ‘read’ for me, narrated by the fabulous Noah Wall. She always delivers an exceptional listening experience.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
US – ebook
Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice
International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Under the Scottish Sky, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 13 2025
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