Evie Nicholson is an assistant to Max who owns an antique shop in London. While Max's interest is the cash, Evie's is entirely the history of the antiques. Her sister Alice's boyfriend, Fraser, is family to the McAndrews family who owns Kettlesheer, a castle near the Scottish border. The family, struggling financially, invites Evie to appraise the wealth of the heirlooms at Kettlesheer in hopes of selling some to pay expenses.
Evie appraises more than the antiques when she meets the future heir, Robert, with all his moodiness and reluctance regarding the eventual inheritance. Coerced into filling in for her sister by attending the annual Scottish Reeling Ball with Fraser, learning the traditional dance draws Evie and Robert closer. Finding the notebooks of the late Violet McAndrews, the history completely intrigues Evie and her love of the past consumes her. Expecting Robert to follow tradition and propose to a local woman at the gala, Evie hides her broken heart and goes back to London. Evie is again pining for that perfect and romantic love.
The history Evie reveals from the notebooks left behind by Violet are very meticulous and completely absorbs Evie in the past. A gangly, tall woman, Evie comes across as insecure and clumsy until she is transformed at the gala event by being caught up in the music and dancing. Evie lives in total chaos and clutter with her prized possessions from the past, and this lends a humorous side to the story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The steps of a charmingly complex danceβScotlandβs famous reelβare at the heart of Hester Browneβs enchanting contemporary novel of two very different sisters whose dreams may come true at a romantic Scottish ball. Evie Nicholson is in love . . . with the past. An antiques appraiser in a London shop, Evie spins fanciful attachments to Victorian picture frames, French champagne glasses, satin evening gloves, and tattered teddy bearsβregardless of their monetary value.
Alice Nicholson is in love . . . with Fraser Graham, a dashing Scotsman whom Evie secretly desires. As crisply neat and stylish as Evie is cheerfully cluttered, Alice is a professional organizer determined to pull her sister out of her comfort zoneβand who presents her with an irresistible offer.
As a favor to friends of Fraserβs family, Evie jumps at the chance to appraise a Scottish castle full of artifacts and heirlooms. What could be more thrilling than roaming the halls of Kettlesheer and uncovering the McAndrewsβ family treasuresβand dusty secrets?
But crossing paths with moody heir Robert McAndrew has Evie assessing what she wants the most . . . and at an upcoming candlelight gala, a traditional dance will set her heart reeling.
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