This is the second in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series where an American doctor from Seattle, Dr. Emilia McRoy, moved to a small village in ScotlandThis is the second in the Scottish Isle Mysteries series where an American doctor from Seattle, Dr. Emilia McRoy, moved to a small village in Scotland to take on the job of the village doctor. Em loves her new home and office, set in a five-hundred-year-old church. Such an interesting setting! I like Em and her new set of friends, who are fun and like family. I really like Ewan, the laird and constable, who I feel likes Em in a romantic way but they are constantly bickering. When her friend Angie is getting married in a large castle owned by Ewan, Em, her friend Mara, and Jasper head to the castle. What an amazing place and a dream place to have a wedding. What is not great is a body that is found, the body of an ex of Angie's, while a blizzard is going on. He was apparently poisoned. Why is he there? The groom', Damien's father is very much against the wedding. Is this his doing? Or Damien? Or someone else? Then Angie and Mara both show signs of poisoning. This one has a wild cast of characters, including several wives of the bride's father, including the current one. Will the wedding go on? Lots of questions and Em and her assistant Abrigail are kept busy with patients as well all the friends doing some investigating. I enjoyed the new story as I did the first one with the great setting and characters. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts....more
I enjoyed this mystery set in Sea Isle, a small village in Scotland not too far from Edenborough. Dr Emilia McRoy, an ER doctor from Seattle, answeredI enjoyed this mystery set in Sea Isle, a small village in Scotland not too far from Edenborough. Dr Emilia McRoy, an ER doctor from Seattle, answered a request for the small village to escape bad memories and get a fresh start in a place where her DNA showed possible relatives. Her life becomes quite busy and bizarre after discovering the body of an older man who made a scene in a pub yelling at her. She also happens to be the coroner. Then the body disappeared from her facilities where she lives in an old church, complete with medical facilities and brand-new equipment, thanks to Ewan, the laird, mayor, and constable. This has a great mystery with interesting and likable characters, including someone who is out to get her before she solves the crime. I loved the setting and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series....more
This is a story that is rich in history with a lovely, picturesque setting from England to Lowland Scotland in the early 1700's during a time when oneThis is a story that is rich in history with a lovely, picturesque setting from England to Lowland Scotland in the early 1700's during a time when one's religion is determined by the king on the throne. Blythe, daughter of a duke who is against the new king on the throne is sent away from home in England to the home of her godparents in Scotland to avoid danger. Both her godparents are now dead and the new laird, Everard, and the whole household are in mourning for their laird. Times are scary as the whole of Britain is at war with each other over their religious beliefs. This is a complicated story but what is beautiful about this story is how two people of different backgrounds, strong in their faith, come together to worship the same God and find a way to meet each other in friendship and love. The Rose and the Thistle grabs on and touches all aspects one wants in a great read: love, faith, loyalty, family, fear, anger, tenderness, and conflict, all against a rich tapestry of history and emotion. Highly recommended for those who love history and love stories. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only....more
I really enjoyed the Scottish setting with interesting, complicated characters and a rest historical backdrop. When Kate Hamilton traveled from Ohio tI really enjoyed the Scottish setting with interesting, complicated characters and a rest historical backdrop. When Kate Hamilton traveled from Ohio to Scotland at the frantic request of her sister-in-law, she didn't realize what an eventful trip it would be. She was quickly pulled into mystery that she felt strongly she had to solve to help someone out who had tried to help her husband just before he died. She also didn't expect to meet an interesting English detective. Lots of surprises, twists, turns, and danger intersperse this complex mystery. Highly recommended read for those who enjoy suspense with a historical background and a hint of romance....more
Death and Daisies is the second book in the Magic Garden Mystery series and is a continuation of the story of Fiona Knox's new life in Bellewick, AberDeath and Daisies is the second book in the Magic Garden Mystery series and is a continuation of the story of Fiona Knox's new life in Bellewick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She inherited her godfather, Ian MacCallister's cottage, Duncreigan, along with a walled garden that is magical. If the assigned keeper of the garden dies, so does the garden. When Fiona went to the cottage in the first book, the garden, which had died when Ian died, came back to life. Fiona made the move to Scotland from Nashville after her fiance' left her for the cake decorator for their wedding. She is using her Uncle Ian's money that he left her to open the Climbing Rose Flower Shop. Now, her younger sister, Isla, a recent college graduate, is staying with her while she is considers her next move and is helping Fiona out in the flower shop. Minister Quaid MacCullen of the Presbyterian church doesn't like the MacCallister family, including Duncreigan, the magical garden and Fiona. In fact, he ran her off as she tried to attend church. When he was mysteriously murdered, Fiona gets involved in trying to find his killer to prove that she wasn't responsible. Everyone in the small village knows how the minister felt about the Fiona and her home. Chief Inspector Neil Craig, whom we met in the first book, is quite fond of Fiona and encourages her to stay out of the investigation to remain safe. But for different reasons, she can't stay out of it. Things heat up when she gets threatening notes and verbal threats. There is a cast of possible suspects to chose from-locals who have been in trouble before and some underlying tension among church members. This is a good addition to the series with returning characters and an action packed plot filled with danger, suspense, a little romance and some surprise in store for Fiona. I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions stated are mine only....more
Flowers and Foul Play is the first in a new series, A Magic Garden Mystery, by Amanda Flower and takes place in Scotland. Fiona Knox leaves Nashville Flowers and Foul Play is the first in a new series, A Magic Garden Mystery, by Amanda Flower and takes place in Scotland. Fiona Knox leaves Nashville and goes to Scotland when she receives news that she has inherited her godfather's cottage, Duncraigan, near the village of Bellewick on the coast of Scotland near the North Sea. Fiona's dad is Scottish and her mom is American. They met when her mom was at St. Andrews for a summer study abroad. Her Uncle Ian MacCalister was her father's best friend and a career military man who never married. He died in Afghanistan in battle and left his place to Fiona. Fiona's life is in turmoil because her fiance' left her for the cake decorator for their wedding and her own failed florist shop closed. The trip to Scotland is a welcome reprieve from her life right now. The caretaker for her godfather, Hamish MacGregor, meets her at the cottage and helps her get settled. But things get strange right away when they are in the walled garden on the property and find the body of her godfather's solicitor, Alastair Croft. After a call to the police, we meet Chief Inspector Neil Craig, a local boy who works with police in Aberdeen. Neil is a very tall and handsome young man who seems to suspect Hamish of the crime. But there are many villagers who didn't like Alastair. The village of Bellewick is full of colorful locals who are diverse and a little leery of an American in their midst. Why would one of their own, a local war hero, leave his property to an American? This is an entertaining mystery that will keep you turning the pages to figure out who is behind the murder. There is an uproar in the village over a land sale that Alastair was involved in. Maybe someone who was against the land sale killed him. There are other villagers that are suspicious seeming and undercurrents afoot. A very important part of the book with a mystical flair is the fact that the garden on the property is magical and needs to be cared for by a special keeper. Ian was one of a long line and now Fiona is the next one. When she arrived, the plants were dead but came to life soon after. I enjoyed the location and color of the Scottish people and look forward to reading more in the series. I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are mine only. ...more
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