The problem with this particular book, for me, was that I've read an almost identical version of it before. Almost the entire book was a replica of a book I read in the late 90's. The differences between the two were so slight that I actually thought I might have been re-reading the book. However, there were just enough differences (plus the proof of publishing dates) to prove to me that it was, indeed, a different book. I love Veronica Wolff books but honestly, I think this one might be rather plagiarized. I highly doubt it was intentional. Authors don't just write books, they also read them. She probably thought she was writing something original and inspired but rather than being inspired from her own creativity it had to have been inspired by the other book that I read more than 10 years before this one was published.I really wish I could remember the title of the other book I am referring to but it was one of the first time-swept books I had ever read and something I picked up at a used book store.Some differences between the two books, for example1. In the other book I read, the female was the only time traveller whereas in this book there is another named Robert.2. In the other book, the son liked the governess/heroine but the evil wanna-be wife convinced him to turn against the heroine3. In this book, the star chart is different 4. The means of time travel, via a mysterious garden/hedge maze in this book is different and unique5. The laird was tougher on the son because he reminded him of the wife he loved and lost. In this book the hero ignored his son's art projects but the fact that they both excelled in these random art projects was identical.Very little else was different. While I liked the story, I just could not give it a higher rating simply because it is almost a complete carbon copy of that other book written long before this one was released. I could go into far more detail but I'm not going to bother. It was a disappointment to read something I'd read before from a different author. I've had this book plus three others by Veronica Wolff. They got shoved behind some other books and I recently unearthed them. I had never read anything by this author, so I read a few reviews of this book. I was disappointed to see so many lukewarm reviews. But, I decided to read a few chapters, then decide if it was worth continuing. It didn't take long before I found myself absorbed in the story.Lily, finds a maze while on vacation in Scotland. She got lost in the maze, and panics. The earth began to shake and Lily thinks it's an earthquake. Instead, she wakes up in 1654. She is found by Ewen, a Scottish Laird. He and his family allow Lily to stay with them. Ewen agrees to help her return to her own time, but until they figure out how to do that, Lily takes the job of teacher for the Laird's son. Ewen is baffled by Lily and her independent ways. Ewen was married once, but it wasn't a love match. She died in childbirth. So, Ewen has his heir and believes he has no need for a wife. This series was touted as comparable to veteran Highlander romance authors such as Karen Marie Moning . Whoever decided to make that comparison was misleading readers, ( this book is not the same style or type, nothing wrong with the writing), thus causing the mediocre reviews. This was a sweet romance. It didn't have much humor and the sensuality was low key. But, the story had depth and emotion. It is light reading for sure, but I am now ready to see what the other three novels are like. Overall a B.
What do You think about Mein Schottischer Ritter (2009)?
A quick read. Liked the time travel romance and the characters.
—charley
Ewen, Chief of the Clan Cameron & Lily Hamlin
—SmittyKitty92
