A Garden In The Rain (MacLeod series Book 8)

Ms. Kurland has written a number of stories of the MacLeod/de Piaget families that involve time travel romances between the 20th/21st centuries and the 13th century in England and Scotland. To say it can be confusing is putting it mildly – they WERE NOT published in genealogical order. In later books there is a helpful family tree for both families, with front cover illustrations of those MacLeods/de Piagets/et.al. who have completed novels.Laird Jamie MacLeod, his cousin Ian, and Jamie’s younger brother Patrick are all from 14th century Scotland. Patrick arrived first in the late 20th century, but although he made a life for himself in the Future, tragedy has made him turn away from any thoughts of risking his heart by marrying again.Jamie finally arrived in the Future to marry Elizabeth Smith (“A Dance Through Time”). He took over as Laird and restored MacLeod Castle. Jamie also discovered there are numerous time gates around his lands, and by the time Ian finally emerges in the Future (short story “The Groom Wore Tulle”), Jamie has even made a map of the gates he’s discovered. Jamie loves adventuring through them. Some lead to specific places and times, but many are amorphous – a place, but not necessarily a specific time.Patrick isn’t interested in time travel. He’s finished with all that, and good riddance to the days of no hot water on tap and meals of rotted foods. Well, he doesn’t mind a bit of sword practice with his brother and cousin – their earliest memories are of having a sword in one’s hand – but he doesn’t believe in ghosts or predestination, as does the rest of his family.Madelyn Smith is having an absolutely terrible time in Scotland. Her ex-fiancé Bentley is dogging her, determined to ruin everything, just for spite. He’s gotten her canned from her job, stolen her luggage, canceled her room reservations and credit cards.When she and Patrick find themselves visiting Culloden at the same time, they are both shocked by a feeling of connection between them. Surely it’s just hormones...or curiosity – isn’t it?Patrick has a vindictive and obsessed enemy, one who wishes him dead. It isn’t safe to let a woman into his life. He’s only helping this Yank out of a misplaced sense of Scottish hospitality. Wouldn’t want to leave a tourist with a bad impression of his beloved homeland, after all. He absolutely has no intention of falling in love with anyone, let alone a Seattle lawyer bedeviled by a git of an ex-boyfriend.How Patrick reluctantly comes to grips with the demons of his past, and saves Madelyn from not just one but two villains, makes for a very good MacLeod story. It isn’t perfect – Patrick’s reluctance to deal with his enemy gets annoyingly drawn-out, and of course the heroine has to break down into weeping several times.But the hero’s dilatory behavior allows for several amusing scenes, some of which involve the living and some of which definitely involve those who are not. And the plot is such that the heroine has solid reasons for a couple of breakdowns (which is not true of her sister’s story, alas – “With Every Breath”), from which the h recovers quickly.So the enjoyable good outweighs the minor bad, and I’ve rounded the rating up to 5 stars. This is one of the MacLeod/de Piaget stories that remains on my permanent shelf, and I recommend it.Note there are several side characters who appear only briefly in this story, but they do have their own romance stories. You’ll find them listed in the Family Tree charts which Kurland puts on the back pages of the later books, in genealogic order.

Again a Great story by Lynn Kurland, all her Time Travel Series are Great !!! I love each and everyone of them and this on is just the same entertaining and enjoyable Story as all the others . From the De Piaget Family to the MacLeod Series they are all Terrific !!! I love each and every one of them !!! And this one is just as much my favorite Story as all the others I recommend this Book .If you love Time Travel Romance with lots of good action , suspends , and falling in love with handsome Hero's and interesting Ladies you won't be disappointed reading these Books by Lynn Kurland.

Loved the story, characters and ending, it had great twists in it that were unexpected. But I feel like the same story could have been told by leaving done parts out. It was a little wordy for my taste, sometimes there were also things I would have to re read several times before grasping what she meant. The other thing that bothered me was the development of their relationship. I feel like it should have been more detailed in the beginning and not so much at the end because it made their relationship less believable at first.

This book was one of my favorites of Lynn Kurlands' fun time travel books! Lynn has a way of making you connect with the characters in this book and many other of her books. I really enjoyed the love story and the adventure to go along with it! Also you could feel the chemistry between the two but didn't get to racey! I did enjoy the book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves, love stories and adventure books, and if you don't usually love time travel stories you should really give this a try it may just change your opinion!

I have read all the books by Lynn Kurland. I am so glad I left this one for last as, had I read it first, I would not have bothered with all the others. This was so unlike the rest of her novels that I can hardly believe she wrote it. I usually read a book in a day to a day and a half; this one took nearly a week. I shall buy her next book and hope it is back to what she usually produces. I really feel the character of Patrick was not given a good storyline. Poor Madelyn was just that: poor. She had no business going anywhere on her budget and that she let her exfiancee take such advantage of her with no reprisal is just unbelievable. She should have taken him to court first and when she got reimbursement for his obvious unlawful use of her and her life, she could have then taken the trip to Scotland if that was her dream. She came across as stupid not needy...what a shame. I hope for more in future books by Ms. Kurland.Sara Jane Turner

I've read and re-read this book many times now. I still enjoy it and turn to read it again when I get restless of reading poorly written books. Lynn Kurland's characters, plot development, and romance are first rate! I love her humor which shows through the characters. I also love the romance development and the fact the book is a clean read, which is another thing high on my list of what constitutes a great read. The romance develops naturally and is not forced or artificial just to sell a book. A Garden in the Rain is my favorite Kurland's book, but I suspect that is true because it was my first read of all her books. I gobbled up the rest of her series quickly. Who needs to sleep at night when there is such a great book to read?

Lynn Kurland never disappoints, this is one my favorites. I like Madeline a lot, and love to hate Bentley, could he be any more disgusting? Loved the pit with him in it, putting more vermin in the hole, inspirational! I would, and do, recommend this, and all other, Lynn Kurland books to my friends. I read all her books over and over again, but this one will be treasured, along with "A Dance Through Time". Patrick has always been one of my favorites, he and Jamie.

I love Lynn Kurland's books of the De Pagiet family. They are books that you can't put down and can hardly wait for the next one to come out. The family in these books are so real and they are written so that you feel as if you know all of them as if they were real people that you would like to know.

Lynn Kurland is a good author, who brings the future events well with the historical events through time travel! Well done! Love her books!

I had first found this book at my local library, a couple of years ago. It sounded good, so I took it out and read it. Since then, I had taken it out a FEW more times. Finally, I figured, I might as well buy it, I love it so much!This book touches me deeply. It's all about Scotland, Highland magic, time travel, and fighting for what you love. Lynn Kurland knows how to bring you right in there with her characters. She has become one of my "Top List Authors".

I have lived reading this series, but this book is way below standard. I think the author really disliked her heroine. Too many loose ends, a heroine who does nothing other than cry and be a wimp, hero who does nothing other than run from himself....waste of money to buy this one

Dieses Lynn Kurland Buch war für michdas spannendste das ich bis jetztvon ihr gelesen habe. Ich hoffees kommen noch mehr solche!

I have the entire series. I read all of them every year