Set in a time when marriage is a means to title or wealth, THE BRIDEGROOM WORE PLAID is a heartwarming story about being torn between your heart and the responsibilities to family. Scotsman Ian MacGregor has fallen into his title of Earl of Balfour; a position that he feels leaves him no choice but to marry for money in order to take care of the MacGregor family and lands. In Ian's eyes, selecting a bride based upon her wealth and tolerating that she is of English decent is a small price to pay for security. When his prospective bride and entourage arrive at Balfour, Ian puts his attention on one of the chaperones, Miss Augusta Merrick, with hopes befriending her will get him one step closer to the altar.

Poor and labeled a spinster by the family, Augusta Merrick has accepted her role as chaperone in a journey to further her uncle's ambitions for a title. Despite her best intentions, she is drawn to the handsome and honorable Scotsman that is unsuccessfully attempting to court her cousin. Although aiding him will most likely cause her turmoil in the end, she will forever have the memories of their time spent together.

THE BRIDEGROOM WORE PLAID is a touching story of the struggle between duty to one's family and the sacrifices some will make to uphold that commitment. I found the characters in this book to be very well written although at the beginning some of the secondary storylines felt a bit too convenient. The younger MacGregor brothers threaten to steal the show more than once and I hope the author continues to keep them around in the series. To my elation, this book is the first installment of the author's new Macgregor Trilogy and I will be watching closely for the future installments!