To avoid marrying the Earl of Rolland, whom she had come to despise, Lady Clara told a lie. She said she was pregnant by another man and doing so, she caused her own ruin. Resigned to the life of a spinster, Clara travels to Scotland to stay with her brother, the Duke of Autenberry, and his wife. Along the way, she encounters a handsome Scot: Laird Hunt MacLarin. Upon seeing the Sassenach, Hunt begins to wish there wasn't a damnable curse hanging over his head. For generations, the MacLarin men have died upon the birth of their first child. But when Hunt learns of Clara's condition, he offers for her hand. She is a bonny lass, it might keep him alive, and provide him with the family he's always wanted.

THIS SCOT OF MINE has to be this year's most welcome surprise! Absolutely nothing happened as I anticipated, not even when Hunt learns of Clara's deception. Complications arose, and I was as confounded as Clara; I couldn't see how there could be a happy ending, and not because of the usual miscommunication. THIS SCOT OF MINE is very dramatic, a little bit gothic, passionate, and so very moving. It had been quite a while since I had cried so much; those last few chapters had me grabbing tissues frantically.

Hunt is a dream of a hero, and Clara is a very appealing heroine. Her lie is easy to forgive because she had never meant any harm, and the deception is masterfully handled by Ms. Jordan. I still can't believe how fast I breezed through THIS SCOT OF MINE; I wanted the torment to be over, but I didn't want the book to end. How perfectly wonderful that what appeared to be a formulaic story would be anything but! Nothing beats a great romance with original plot twists!