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Betrayed
First published 1996 · 426 pages
A heartwarming, classic Scottish romance where a betrayal of the past paves the way for an unexpected, fiercely loving found family.
What it feels like
Reading this classic historical romance feels like wrapping yourself in a warm, familiar tartan. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, balancing the dramatic sting of family secrets with the cozy, chaotic charm of an orphanage setting. The prose is lively and earnest, driven by sharp banter and a deeply felt emotional core that never takes itself too seriously, thanks to a cast of genuinely funny and endearing children. It is a story steeped in the comforting tropes of nineties romance, where a hero's initially mercenary motives are quickly dismantled by a fiercely capable heroine. Fans of sweeping Scottish settings and stories about forging your own family out of heartbreak will find themselves thoroughly delighted by this comforting, romantic escape.
- Mood
- heartwarming
- cozy
- sweeping
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- dramatic
- humorous
- romantic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- found family · healing from betrayal · hidden motives · the meaning of family · redemption through love
- The writing
- Lively and character-driven, balancing emotional earnestness with sharp, entertaining dialogue and warm descriptions.
- The arc
- Moves from the sting of familial betrayal and disillusionment through a guarded courtship, blossoming into deep trust and the joyful creation of a found family.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave classic nineties historical romances featuring spirited heroines, charmingly chaotic children, and heroes who abandon their mercenary schemes for true love.
Content notes
- parental betrayal
- illegitimacy
- gambling addiction
About the book
Sarah MacKenzie has always known that she is the bastard child of Lachlan, Duke of Ross. That's why it comes as quite a shock when Lachlan tells her that Neville Smithson, the local sheriff, was in fact her father. Betrayed and brokenhearted, Sarah sets off to Edinburgh, in the hopes that her efforts to open an orphanage will ease her pain. Feisty Sarah has other problems as well, for she had promised to wed Henry Elliot, that is, before he was jailed for gambling debts. Lady Emily Elliot, Henry's mother, simply can not abide losing Sarah or rather the substantial dowry the Elliots need so desperately. So, when Lady Emily's handsome second son, Michael, returns home after years with the East India Company, Lady Emily charges him with wooing and winning the stubborn but most attractive Sarah. Michael finds himself not only drawn to her, but aiding in her plans for the orphanage. Some authors use small children as devices to fill gaps in weak plots, but Lamb's young secondary characters are entertaining, endearing and comic. Nominated for two Romantic Times awards, Lamb is an author whose star is said to be on the rise. In fact, her star has already risen and continues to shine brightly. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description from Open Library.
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