Search - The Scottish Companion

I didn't much care for this book overall. I thought the plot was almost ridiculously predictable; I knew immediately the "blood disease" was poisoning - even before it's revealed that Grant suspects this. I think I knew in the first few chapters who the culprit was, and by the time the reasons behind it are revealed, I really didn't care. There were no surprises here, and nobody in this story whose actions were truly admirable, which made them exceedingly hard to identify with and care about.

I read some good reviews on this book before I bought it, but ultimately failed to see what the hype was all about. The scientific aspects of the story were certainly an interesting sideline, but couldn't really do much to carry a boring and predictable plot. The romance was only just acceptable. There is some good tension building between the hero & heroine, and the love scenes were steamy enough, but I think the author's attempt to portray a friendship between Grant and Gillian before they become lovers was mostly a failure; their relationship was very sexually charged from the beginning, and I didn't get the impression that they would have spent much time together as friends, had they not had a keen sexual interest in each other. That being said, it didn't make much sense for them to continually seek each other out, given that they both had very good reasons to avoid each other altogether. I think the story could have benefited greatly from more external forces that constantly threw them together while they were developing an emotional bond, rather than have them constantly behaving in ways that were apparently against their will, and before they had developed that bond.

Grade: C-
Sensuality Rating: R

Ranney writes lovely prose and creates memorable characters, but somehow this book just doesn't quite work. It has the sort of plot that makes me want to bang people's heads together for being such idiots.

Not my favorite. The setting is 1850 in Scottland, which I normally really enjoy, but this book's heroine lacked strength of character. The story line is pretty good with some suspense in outcome, but the jealousy of the heroine (Gillian) was enough to turn me off. Although it is more realistic of a true person, I like books with happily ever after. I read because I aspire to see good traits of people magnified. It just makes me happy that way.
That being said, there were other interesting perspectives going on. Arabella was living a form of feminism before its time as she apired to become a doctor. Grant (hero) is performing "electric" experiments which was also unique to this era.
If you're a Ranney fan, it's worth the read, but not (in my opinion)her best.

I usually enjoy Karen Ranney's Scottish novels but this one is terrible...way too predictable and boring. Grant needs an heir and sight-unseen chooses the doctors daughter, Arabella. He has absolutely no intention of having a real relationship with her just a sexual one to beget heirs...asshole. But it is a good thing as Arabella wants nothing to do with him either (or any man for that matter). She's too absorbed in medical learning and has no interest in feminine pursuits or manners. Her companion, Gillian, however, is a wild child and immediately falls for Grant though to her credit, she does try to resist. Grant, of course, wants her too but with none of the complications of marriage. Yada yada yada. Next!