I tried and tried for so long to get to the end of this book. I’d put it down and pick it back up really wanting to finish it, but I just couldn’t. I got about 60% through and just didn’t really care about what happened anymore. Despite a Scottish setting it just wasn’t really a book for me.

This was an intriguing story, present & the past. I liked the journal storyline. I felt like I was in Scotland.

I seem to be very much in the minority with my opinion on this one, but I guess everyone has different tastes! And mine are very firmly saying 'no' to this one - I just couldn't vibe with the writing style at all: I found it clunky, overly 'telling' and not 'showing', and full of cliched lines that just rubbed me the wrong way. So glad this one is getting some love, though. Just not from me.

This was a decent read. The overall concept sounded really interesting. I do like the dual story aspect but had a hard time buying into the instalove that took place.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Lara, a Canadian holidaymaker is in Scotland to do some research, meets Iain and during her stay finds some intriguing diaries, written by one of his ancestors, who also knew one of hers. Despite this being one of my favourite genres I didn’t enjoy this novel at all, from the style of writing to the lives of the two couples, which all seemed a bit “contrived”. Probably in the minority with this opinion as it seems a popular book!

The MacInnes Affair is a captivating tale. Lara MacInnes has just gotten out of a relationship and has decided to spend the summer in Scotland researching Clan MacInnes. She meets the handsome Iain Glendenning her first day and finds herself intrigued by the Scotsman. The pair come across several diaries belonging to Elspeth Glendenning, an ancestor of Iain’s, that begin in 1850. When Lara reads the diaries and finds that Elspeth was involved with her ancestor, Lachlan MacInnes. Wanting to know more about Lachlan, Lara with help from Iain begins digging into the past. They soon find themselves embroiled in a hundred and fifty year old mystery. The MacInnes Affair is a story that captured and held my attention from beginning to end. I liked the characters and the rugged landscape of Scotland. Blair McDowell’s descriptions brought the book alive. I enjoy being able to visualize the scenery like Athdara Castle surrounded by the woods and the stone cottage where Lara resided. The dual-time line added depth to the story. The author’s research is evident from the clothing, the food, modes of transportation, and attitudes of the people. The ending of The MacInnes Affair left me smiling. The MacInnes Affair has a dashing hero, a charming lady, warring clans, a Scottish estate, and historical intrigue.

Well this was intense....this reminded me a lot of a book I ready years ago about a woman finding a diary of someone that lived through the war. Intense, a lot heart, and a whole lot of angst.

This is such a heart wrenching but heartwarming story. Lara MacInnes came to Scotland from
Canada. She was staying with her mom's friend, who ran a castle hotel there. Lara was a kindergarten teacher and had come here for her summer vacation and running away from a failed relationship.
Iain Glendenning was the son and a very handsome one too. He raised prized horses and long-horned Scottish cattle. There was a definite attraction between them.
I loved this tale, in the present, they are trying to find out about her ancestors. One, in particular, Lachlan MacInnes. He had started her family's ranch in the 1800s. The book moves from the present to the past as they follow the information they gather. I plan to read this again in the near future. It is well written and moves smoothly. The characters are intriguing and charming. It has so much to offer, mystery, murder, seeing a new country.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The MacInnes Affair is a dual timeline romance, In present day, Lara and Iain stubble upon the story of their ancestors, Elspeth and Lachlan. As they unravel the mystery of their story, Lara and Iain fall in love. Each couple has their own hardships and hurdles to overcome in order to obtain happiness. Sweet romance and a quick read.

The MacInnes Affair is a captivating romance, set in two time periods. I was initially drawn to the beautiful cover and was soon immersed in the doomed romance between Lachlan MacInnes and Elspeth Glendenning, in the mid-1800s. After the Battle of Culloden, the two clans of MacInnes and Glendenning whilst not sworn enemies, were not on good terms. It is only when the present-day Lara MacInnes arrives at the estate of the Glendenning’s for a vacation, that she meets Iain Glendenning, the heir of the Laird of Athdara. What makes for such an enjoyable read is that Lara finds herself drawn to Iain, yet uncertain of his feelings for her. Whilst trying to make sense of her feelings for him, having recently split up from her fiancée, she begins to read the diary of Elspeth and the tragedy of her romance and love for Lachlan, the younger brother to a laird.
Both romances are told alternately, each with their own battles, but whilst Iain and Lara are able to overcome their battles, the heartbreak for Elspeth and Lachlan drives the story. Having said that, I did feel that Iain and Lara’s initial battles kept me engrossed in the storyline. This is an amazing story, that is conveyed with detail for the surroundings and with intensity. Neither of the two romances overshadows the other and I found myself racing through this book yet savouring each moment between the couple. An amazing story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

On holiday in Scotland, Lara MacInnes stays with the friend of her mother & in a trunk discovers the journals of Elspeth Glendenning a woman who loved Lara's own great-great grandfather, Lachlan MacInnes, in the mid-eighteen hundreds. With the help of Iain Glendenning, a handsome Highlander, Lara traces the path of this long-ago romance. Their research unearths mystery and murder.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it won't be the last, I loved how the book spanned two eras & having two romances too, one of which was straight forward where the other was quite the opposite. The pace of the book was very good & as it hurtled to the climax I was almost breathless awaiting the result. Strong characters of depth too, I love Lara, Iain, Lachlan & Elspeth & all their trials & tribulations, the ending had me in tears.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

💕Really captivating story, both past and present😍
🤗 4 and a half 🌟stars
What an enjoyable and captivating read, from start to finish! I love a good romance and I adore all things Scottish. Author Blair MacDowell takes a terrific, tragic love story from Victorian days and connects it to the young current day couple from the same unfriendly clans and the result is a story I could not out down. The touches of Scottish history, food and culture made me nostalgic for my last visit to Scotland.

Compared to the Victorian-era Lachlan and Elspeth, present-day couple Iain and Lara have fairly smooth sailing as their initial spark of attraction and dramatic meeting progresses to coupledom, though one or two dramatic surprises are thrown their way. For me, the earlier couple's story was the more compelling, including some heartbreaking decisions.

The plot drew me in from the start, the writing was clear and easy to read, and the pace was good. My only issues were minor, related to Lara and Iain's investigation into the past and the mentions of hair styles and dress for the 1850's part of the story. The descriptions of high-waist dresses and men's hair pulled back in a ribbon do not jive with this time period. The descriptions sound more like Regency era fashion which ended at least a generation earlier. And I never really understood why Lara and Iain's curiosity did not drive them to read Elspeth's diaries faster. But neither issue ultimately reduced my enjoyment.

All in all, a lovely romance that I heartily recommend.

Thanks to Wild Rose Press and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

I enjoyed this book from the start. It has got two story lines, one in the present and one in the past. Both are love stories, but not everything goes smoothly to say the least. The book is well written. What I didn't like was that both story lines were a case of instant-love. I am always a bit annoyed when that happens. The ending came a bit too sudden to my liking. All in all I did enjoy this book.

A double romance, set in Scotland and ranging between the present-day and mid 19th century. Lara MacInnes, a Canadian rancher's daughter, visits Scotland in search of peace and recovery from a non-starter romance. Staying with old friends of her mother, who live in a magnificent castle from which they cater for discerning tourists, she rapidly becomes smitten with their son, Iain Glendenning, and he with her, and their somewhat bodice-ripping romance forms the present-day aspect. Whilst clearing out the old cottage they discover the diaries of Elspeth Glendenning from the 1850s. Hers is the more interesting romance, with Lachan MacInnes, yes, Lara's umpteenth great grandfather, as their families fought on different sides during the somewhat earlier Jacobite Rebellion. There's the death of her father, the apparent murder of Lachlan, not to mention political intrigue, the death of her first husband and her trial for that murder. In the meantime Lachlan has lost his memory and eventually emigrates to Canada and gets married. We then jump back to present-day with Lara and Iain having misunderstandings but fortunately we get over that fairly quickly and they start delving into the archives to find out what happened to both Elspeth and Lachlan. Much more interesting. How the two stories come together is of course satisfying as is the end. The description of the Scottish landscape and social aspects is well done and I felt at home most of the time and in both time periods. Mostly the use of the language was ok and read easily to me. I do have two niggles - one, Lara has a 5 hour drive from Balmoral to Nairn I seem to remember - na, hour and a half, perhaps two as on 'wrong' side of the road, otherwise a highly scenic route somewhere; two, I'm beginning to wonder whether it is how Americans hear what Scots say, as it's a frequent occurrence I'm finding in similar settings.. Iain, in particular, is always using "ye" - we don't or we dinna - and I'm afraid it just feels contrived to me. I even listened very carefully to other folk in the local supermarket on Thursday and heard nairy a one "ye". Ach weel, a lovely little story with interesting facets. Thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lara MacInnes travels to Scotland to search her family history. While staying with the Glendennings she discovers that there is a strong history between the two families. An old feud going back to the time of the Jacobites. However her very great grandfather Lachlan MacInnes fell in love with Elspeth Glendenning. The past and the present mirror each other as Lara falls in love with Iain Glendenning. The stories of present day as well as from the 1800 unfold as you turn the pages of The MacInnes Affair.

Blair McDowell writing will have you falling in love with the mists and moors of Scotland as you follow both pairs of MaCinnes and Glendennings. Scotland is as much of this story as the characters are. The work the author has put into this book is obvious through her descriptions of the land, the clothing, language, traditions and the overall setting of the stories. Quite an enjoyable escape, I thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read The MacInnes Affair and offer my feedback.