After the death of his fiancée, Kai Ramsay left Scotland
to roam distant lands. He has searched ancient ruins, collected priceless
antiquities, and escaped certain death after being imprisoned as a spy during
the Napoleonic War. Ramsay has lived on the edge of danger for years—but
everything changes the day a letter arrives for him from Scotland . . .
Signy Matheson has dedicated her life to the people of
Scotland's remote Thorsay Islands. With a fiery spirit and agile mind, she is a
faithful ally to the aging laird. But now their leader is near death, and Signy
must summon his successor at once. It's time for Kai Ramsay to come home . . .
When Ramsay returns to Thorsay, he's shocked to find that
Signy has blossomed into an alluring beauty, and a force to be reckoned with.
Their complicated past interferes with their unspoken desire as they work
together for their people. Until a wild storm sparks first passion, then
unexpected danger when a treasure trove left by their ancestors comes to light
. . .
Terrific conclusion to the Rogues Redeemed series. From
the time he was a child, Ramsay's fascination with the past infused him with a
desire to travel. Though the heir to the Laird of Thorsay, after the death of
his fiancée Ramsay left Scotland to roam the world, promising to return when
necessary. During his travels, he barely escaped death as a spy in Portugal
(where he met the other Rogues), explored ancient ruins, and served his
government in unnamed ways in Constantinople. It was there that a letter from Thorsay
finally caught up with him and summoned him home. Though sad to leave
Constantinople, he knew it was time and hoped to reach home before his
grandfather died.
Ramsay's arrival home gets off to a rough start when he
is confronted by Signy, his late fiancée's younger sister. Signy harbored some
deep anger toward Ramsay, but they worked through it quickly. Signy spent the
last several years serving as the old laird's assistant, devoting herself to
the health and welfare of the island's people. Intelligent, compassionate, and
a gifted artist, Signy can't wait to turn her duties over to Ramsay and start
living the life she wants. She tells Ramsay it's her turn to travel, and she'll
start with training with a woman artist in London. But first, she'll fulfill
her promise to the old laird to help Ramsay settle into his new
responsibilities.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Ramsay
and Signy. Blown away by her transformation from a gangly schoolgirl to a
Viking goddess, Ramsay can't deny the attraction he feels for her. Encouraged
by his grandfather to marry Signy, Ramsay also realizes that pushing will only
drive her away. Signy also feels the sparks between them, but she has plans and
won't give them up. They haven't seen each other in more than a decade, but
their former friendship grows stronger as they get reacquainted. I loved seeing
them work together to bring Ramsay up to speed.
I loved the scenes all around Thorsay as Ramsay and Signy
carried out his tour. The details of the kelp burning and the people who did it
brought that facet of island life into sharp focus, along with the dangers that
went along with it. The descriptions of the land and the ruins that occupy it
were vivid and made me feel as though I was there. I liked how Ramsay
appreciated Signy's insights and advice when it came to both people and places.
I loved watching their feelings for each other grow while at the same time they
are careful not to rush into anything, but wait until the time is right. There
was no great drama, just the realization that they belonged together.
I ached a bit for Ramsay at the beginning as he gave up
his explorations to fulfill his promise to his grandfather. I loved when Signy
pointed out to him that the islands had enough ruins to keep him busy for a
long time. His excitement leaped off the page when a storm uncovered a Viking
ship and an ancient village. At the same time, Signy is torn between her plans
and her growing feelings for Ramsay. I loved the surprise he planned for her
and how it showed his love for her.
However, trouble looms on the horizon for Ramsay and
Signy. The disasters that rocked Thorsay in the past created tremendous strain
on the laird's finances. Ramsay's grandfather took out a loan that's about to
come due, and Ramsay has no way to pay it. The loan's owner is a particularly
nasty piece of work. I was glued to the pages as I waited to see how it would
turn out, knowing that Ramsay and Signy would manage however it turned out.
In keeping with their promise in that Portuguese cellar,
the book reunited all the Rogues and their ladies. I loved the timing of their
arrival and their words of gratitude for Ramsay. I would have liked to see a
bit more of their time on Thorsay, but overall it was fantastic.
My favorite secondary characters were the animals. The
one-eyed cat, Odin, belonged to Ramsay's grandfather and later attached himself
to Ramsay. Like his namesake, Odin has a strong personality and makes his
presence known in many ways. Signy's dog Fiona is loyal and intelligent and
proves to be a lifesaver at a crucial time. I also loved the horse Thor (the
Fifth) and laughed at the scene where he insisted on visiting Signy.
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