“Walter Scott has three passions: Scotland, poetry, and Mina Stuart. Though she is young and they are from different stations in society, Walter is certain their love is meant to be. For years, he has courted her through love letters. She is the sunshine of his soul.

Though Mina shares Walter’s love of literature and romantic temperament, it’s hard for her to know if she truly loves him or if she has only been dazzled by his flattery. When she meets the handsome and charming William Forbes, her heart is challenged. Who will she choose?

But as every poet knows, “the course of true love never did run smooth,” and on a windy morning in the lake country, Walter meets Charlotte.

At twenty-six, Charlotte Carpenter believes she will never find love. After all, she is a Catholic-born Frenchwoman living in London with a family history shadowed by scandal. Though quiet, practical, and determined to live a life of independence, her heart longs for someone to love her and a place to call home.

Passion and promises collide as Walter, Mina, and Charlotte must each decide the course for their futures. What are they each willing to risk to find love and be loved in return?”

I have always enjoyed a sweet love story, and The Lady of the Lakes is no exception. This story has all the elements that make a good love story: poetry, romance, dedication, heartbreak, suffering, and true love. I love that Sir Walter Scott’s poetry is written throughout the book. As a reader you can just picture him writing his poetry for the love of his life, and also to combat his heartbreak. 

The characters come to life on the page. Josi S. Kilpack did a great job of developing them well and making them realistic. I especially liked Sir Walter Scott’s voice and Charlotte’s voice. Charlotte was one of my favorite characters. Her need for independence and her strong voice make for a great character. It was fun to see her grow and progress throughout the book. There were times when Walter’s character was a little irritating; I just wanted to scream, “Get over it already!!!” Thankfully, his brother and friend were there to help him!

The story flows well, and the transitions from person to person are easy to follow. Josi S. Kilpack does a great job of describing the scene without overdoing it. While reading, I felt like I had been transported back to the late 1700s. Each character sounds and feels different as you’re reading, so you don’t need to keep checking the beginning of the chapter to figure out which character you’re reading about. Reading this book definitely makes me want to go to Scotland and see where it all took place! It’s too bad we can’t all take a Readathon fieldtrip to Scotland; that would be so much fun! I thought this was a sweet love story and I enjoyed it. 

There is no profanity or violence in this book. There isn’t any “intimacy” either, except for some brief kissing and a few romantic moments. I love that it’s clean and you don’t need to worry about what the next page may hold! That’s definitely a benefit to reading the proper romances!