The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman

Title: The Return of Black Douglas
Author: Elaine Coffman
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5074-3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market paperback
$7.99
Release Date: April 2010
How I Read It: Mass Market ARC from publishers

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? FOLLOW THIS LINK
The Return of Black Douglas Giveaway


HE’LL HELP A WOMAN IN NEED,
NO MATTER WHERE SHE CAME FROM…

Alysandir Mackinnon rules his clan with a fair but iron fist. He has no time for softness or, as he sees it, weakness. But when he encounters a bewitching young beauty who may or may not be a dangerous spy, but is surly in mortal danger, he’s compelled to help…


SHE’S ALWAYS WONDERED IF SHE WAS
BORN IN THE WRONG TIME…

Thrown back in time to the tumultuous, dangerous Scottish Highlands of the sixteenth century, Isobella Douglas has a lot to learn about her ancestors, herself, and her place in the world. Especially when she encounters a Highland laird who puts modern men to shame….

Each one has secrets to keep, until they begin to strike a chord in each other’s hearts that never been touched before……

MY REVIEW:
As soon as I received this book in the mail, I devoured it! I was hooked from the moment I read about Alysandir wearing his shiny chain mail.

The character of Isobella Douglas was a brilliant read, and I understood her connection with her Scottish ancestors as I too feel that strong connection with my Scottish roots, so in a way I truly connected with her character. Isobella is on a mission to enrich her connection with her Douglas ancestors as well mend a broken heart, thus she has dragged her twin sister, Elisabeth on a journey to the Scottish Highlands. Seeing the tomb of the Black Douglas, Isobella allows her emotions to take over and in doing so she has evoked the ghost of the Black Douglas who is intent on tormenting her (that how she views it). Now she and her sister find themselves transported to the 16th century, Isobella runs straight into the arms of Alysandir, as a feuding Laird takes her sister captive. As the story progresses we see this modern historian blend into a world that seems she was she was meant for, yet will she be able to conceal the secrets she brings with her while trying to get through the cracks in the armor that surrounds Alysandir’s heart?


Alysandir’s character was so well defined and brilliantly portrayed those qualities you would expect a Highland Laird to portray that it was truly an enjoyable experience to read him. He is The MacKinnon in every sense of the word, putting his clan’s needs and safety above all else, ruling with iron fist, that is fair and balanced. While we see this strong, sturdy Highland Laird, we also see the man that lays beneath the chain mail, the man whose heart has been crushed ands it is those actions that cause him leery of Isobella. We also see that Alysandir is hiding a few secrets of his own.


Isobella never imagined that her search for her Mr. Darcy would lead her to the 16th century.

My Thoughts:

The main characters were very well portrayed as were the secondary characters, and that added a solidness to the plot that made this book a truly enjoyable read. I loved every aspect of this book and the plot was extraordinary. Elaine Coffman brought 16th century Scotland to life with the amazing details that went into this book, each page held something wonderful. I also enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, transplanting Isobella and Elisabeth into another time and they way that they each brought a bit of the modern world along with them. Vividly composed, rich in detail, this is the type of historical romance that stays with the reader.

This was my first encounter with Elaine Coffman’s writing, and I have to say I am hooked, I will definitely give her other books a go!