The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

by Grace Burrowes

Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca

My Rating: 

In an effort to preserve the family estate, Ian MacGregor, the Earl of Balfour, must marry for money. When a promising match emerges in the form of Genie Daniels, a rich English heiress, Ian begins devising a strategy to woo her. When he meets Genie’s poor cousin Augusta, he discovers a new avenue to Genie’s heart. But after spending time with Augusta and falling for her charms, Ian begins to question whether or not he’s willing to forfeit his heart to save the family name…

My Review:

Grace Burrowes has become an auto-read author for me.  I always enjoy the characters, the setting, and the romance in Grace Burrowes books and I loved the Scottish element in this newest release, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid.

Ian MacGregor is a reluctant Scottish Earl who must marry into money to take care of his family and clan. Ian’s older brother disappeared to Canada, leaving him with the title and a clan barely scraping by.  Enter Genie Daniels, rich English heiress whose father wants her to marry into a title quickly.  Genie is adamantly opposed to an arranged marriage and makes her feelings quite clear.  Ian finds an ally in Augusta, Genie’s cousin and chaperone.  Where there is no chemistry between Genie and Ian, there is an abundance of attraction and connection between Augusta and Ian.  Ian is torn between his own emotions and duty, and something about these English visitors is not quite right.

The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is a very enjoyable historical romance.  I instantly liked Ian and felt for him.  He had obligations to his family and clan and had to put his own desires on the back burner.  I did not like Genie at all.  She is stubborn, selfish, and placed blame and judgement on Ian when he didn’t deserve it.  I really liked Augusta though, she had been through hard times in life and become a better person because of it.  She understood both sides of the situation and tried to help.  Genie’s father is up to no good, and it becomes clear that there is more to the situation than meets the eye.  Meanwhile, Ian’s brothers and sister develop feelings some of the other people in the English party, making for some fun side romances.

With an honor-bound Scottish groom, illicit romances, and hidden secrets, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is a book historical romance fans will not want to miss.

I fully enjoyed this novel with the colorful characters, the romance, and the Victorian highland setting.  The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is the first book in the MacGregor trilogy and I am very excited to continue reading this series in the future.  Grace Burrowes sets foundations for future books with the brother’s complicated personalities and backgrounds and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for this family.  I recommend this book to historical and Highlander romance readers.

The Bridegroom Wore Plaid releases December 4, 2012.  You can find it at: