I picked up Julia London’s hot off the press release, Highland Scandal, the second in her Scandal series. It’s the story of Jack Haines, an Earl on the lam in Scotland who finds himself handfasted to Lizzie, a feisty laird’s daughter. Neither are happy about the arrangement. Needless to say, hilarity and sizzling sexual tension ensue.
I’ve always been intrigued with the whole handfasting tradition. It’s sort of a “try before you buy” marriage that lasts for a year and a day, and at the end the participants can say “it’s been fun, but gotta run” or “till death do us part”. It’s like shacking up with an ironclad one year lease and you’ve either got to renew or get your own place. And there’s none of the lingering, torturous death of the relationship that happens after the inital 3 to 6 month sex fest is over and you’re picking up his holey tighty-whiteys off the bathroom floor day after day but you’re too lazy or broke to put down utility deposits somewhere else. But I digress…
If you’re a fan of lyrical, evocative writing in historical romances, Julia’s your lady, and she’s especially at her best with stories set in the Scottish highlands (my favorite is Highlander in Love).
Congrats, Julia – wishing you NYT vibes on this one.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: handfasting, Highland Scandal, Julia London
