This is a delightful period tale. I enjoyed Josi's writing style and the trip back in time. The characters were enjoyable as well.

"It's 1796 and nineteen-year-old Walter Scott is in love. For the past few years, he has been engaged in a long-distance courtship, writing love letters to his childhood sweetheart, Mina. Though both Walter and Mina are young and from different stations in society, they share the same love of literature, a passionate temperament, and a restless heart. They know their love is meant to be. Walter feels sure Mina is the muse he needs to bring every dream of his life to fruition. But the distance between the two lovers proves too great, and when Mina meets the handsome and charming William Forbes, she is swept away, and the two quickly announce their engagement.

Brokenhearted, Walter takes refuge in the lake country of England where he resigns himself to life of misery and heartache. But then he meets Charlotte, a French girl, who, at twenty-six, has resigned herself to the fact that she will never find love. Despite their age difference, the two become cautious friends, but Charlotte's quiet disposition and keen mind intrigue Walter. She is so different from Mina, yet perhaps, for Walter, it may be that his perfect match is a woman who calms him and helps him keep his feet on the ground. Though wary of risking his heart a second time, he finds himself falling deeply in love with her.

In the end, he is able to forgive Mina, forget his heartbreak, and forge ahead in a new relationship, realizing that there is a vast difference between a man's ''first love'' and his ''true love.''"

It's like this book was written for me!

Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott falls madly in love with Mina when she is a young teenager and he a new adult. Years pass, but never does his determination to marry her wane, despite her higher class, greater wealth, and disapproving parents. But his relentless love is drastically stopped when she announces her engagement to another. Brokenhearted, he finds it impossible to fall in love with another. But perhaps a different, a stronger, more rational kind of love will be what truly makes a marriage. Perhaps French Charlotte Carpenter who is closer to his age will provide that kind of love - if he can ever bear to take that chance.

The Lady of the Lakes by Josi S. Kilpack is the historically accurate story of Sir Walter Scott's love life. According to her notes at the end of the book, the author followed the letters and records left to be found in history to rebuild the story of Sir Walter Scott's journey to marriage. I appreciated the author's attention to historical detail and how accurately this book reflected the real romance.

For the first half of the book, Sir Walter Scott is swept away by his love for Mina, but it is difficult for both him and her to discover if their love for each other is the true, lasting kind or something born of flattery and infatuation. Sir Walter Scott's journey is a difficult one, but it ends happily for him. The lessons he learns about the difference between infatuation and real love are applicable to readers, for which I was grateful.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I especially enjoyed how accurately this book reflected the real events. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in Sir Walter Scott's poetry.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for sharing them.

By this point, I am very familiar with Ms. Kilpack's work. Yet every time I amazed by just how good her stories are. And I have no idea how she turns them out so quickly and yet the quality never drops.

This was a very unconventional love story, which made it all the sweeter.

*SPOILERS* I appreciated the characterization and that, despite Walter's feelings, Mina was not made out to be a monster- just a young girl who hadn't known her own heart yet. I thought her struggles were very realistic and relatable. And I loved Charlotte. I loved the parallel stories. I loved how they were imperfect.

The only thing I had any issue with was the broom closet scene. I just thought there was no way that would happen. Despite Mrs. Nicholson's advice, I don't think she would condone Walter pulling Charlotte into a dark broom closet for a makeout session during intermission. And then to tap on the door and say "You've got an hour." WHAT?!

That small bit aside, this book was phenomenal. And I lOVED all the historical notes at the end. Highly recommend.

Classics live Ivanhoe and Rob Roy fueled my love for history and deep tempestuous romance. Imagine my delight to see the author of such favorites is the hero of this sweet historical romance. I had no idea the man, Sir Walter Scott, had his own unrequited love story only to get a new chance so when I saw this one I just had to read it. It was a lovely story and the author did a fantastic job marrying fact and fiction.

The story begins with young nineteen year old Walter Scott falling in love at first sight with Mina Stuart. She was even younger and was from a class above his own middle class roots. Walter is a romantic and courts Mina with poetry and heart-felt letters for four years. He thinks she is ‘the one’ and is forced to re-evaluated love before he can find the love of his life.

Mina delights in the romantic gestures of Walter and tries to match it, but her feelings are changing as she grows into womanhood. Now that she is older, she can see the differences in their situations and temperaments. Her father wants her to allow another man of her station to court her. Mina is torn between her conflicted desires, her family expectations, and tendres toward two very different men.

Charlotte grows up with the stigma of her nationality, the reputation of a mother run off with a lover, death of her father and care of a guardian. As a Frenchwoman living in an England at war with France, no dowry or status, and reliant on a guardian, she never sees herself being the object of someone’s love and having her own family for her future.

Alright, this is a story told by three different narrators with Walter Scott being the central figure. I thought the attention to historic detail particularly that of Georgian era Edinburgh and the border country to be well-drawn. I liked how the author portrayed the characters. She was sympathetic to Mina, Walter, and Charlotte weaving a plausible tale of how things came to be. I liked how she had her characters grow and come into their own.

The story hits on Walter’s writing talent, but the focus is on his romantic relationships and his incurably romantic personality. He really came alive for me. I liked both the ladies and was glad to see things sort out the way they did.

All in all, this was a lovely sweet romance about a very romantic famous author. Those who enjoy equal parts historical and romance with real-life characters should give this a try.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
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Walter had a muse and her name was Mina she was also his future. Her family had traveled to Edinburgh every winter since Walter had met Mina four years ago. Mina had been away for nearly six months during which Mina and Walter had only grown more attached to each other. Walter was a writer but his father didn’t believe that was good enough for a career for Walter. But with all the time apart save for their letters and his poetry she was apt to wonder at Walter’s devotion. Mina loves Walter’s romantic gestures but as she ages her feelings change. Now she is a woman and she can see the difference in their situation and temperaments. Her father wants Mina to allow another man to court her. Mina is torn between her conflicted desires , her family expectations and her feelings toward two different men.
I liked this story a lot. It seemed very realistic to me. It was fascinating to see a fiction story about Sir Walter Scott. Walter was a real person not just a fictional character. It was interesting to learn more about Sir Walter. This was the story of Walter’s one true love. I did enjoy a lot. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

Josi S. Kilpack has done a very good job at capturing the hearts and minds of the readers. She has taken a plain tale of heartache, romance, and love and turned it into a story worth reading. I was so surprised the the story of Sir Walter Scott could have been written in such a way that you become absorbed within the pages. It was captivating. I do love historical fiction, the way the truth is weaved in with some exaggerations so that the story can flow and Josi did a great job. I look forward to reading the first book about Henry Longfellow.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Josi S. Kilpack's The Lady of the Lakes was an interesting read. Its a literary fiction about Sir Walter Scott's two loves. It's an interesting story and it was interestingly built - the first half of the book was about Williamina and Walter, with some sneak peeks into Charlotte's life and the second half of the book is about Charlotte and Walter.

How much of it is true an how much is fiction is meticulously explained at the end of the book, and from that moment on its not a novel any more, but an study.

It's interesting to read about Scott's youth and about his feelings for Mina and Charlotte, about Mina's thoughts and feeling and about Charlotte's past and her thoughts and feelings. The characters are presented such that readers can see from the start, who are meant to be together. And all those little snippets from the Scottish history, that are inserted into the story are also interesting. The thing that spoiled the reading for me was the ending, the study part. Well I knew from the beginning that its historical fiction and if I want to know more, I should read Wikipedia or biographies, so the end part of the book - this I found in letters, this I made up - spoiled the romantic fantasy. But still it is interesting read!

Having been intrigued by Walter Scott for many years I really enjoyed this book. I have yet to read anything by him but felt this book was a real encouragement to do so. The totally readable chapter notes at the end of the book, explaining what was true and which parts were conjecture were a treasure as it is always good with this type of read to know what you can believe.
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

What a beautiful, swoon worthy book. I love reading fiction based on true stories and this was just that. It was fascinating reading about the life of Sir Walter Scott. This was a true romance story, love was thought to be found,lost and then true,lasting love was found. So glad I got a chance to read this. The Lady of the Lake is a published work by Sir Walter Scott in 1810.
Pub Date 03 Jan 2017

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to get this book because I knew it would be a great read which it was and very hard to put down. I don't know much about Sir Scott from history but after reading this book, I want to understand and hopefully read his literary works especially poetry.
Not knowing much about Sir Scott was actually a good thing because then I was pleasantly surprised about the details of his life and his heartbreak though reading about it brought tears to my eyes. He was a man who felt deeply and often had his heart on his sleeve which is what made him such a great literary figure.
Though his heart was broken by a girl who didn't seem to know what she wanted, was more concerned about pleasing her parents, was on the spoiled side and very young, that experience was fodder for his determination to do something different with his life and try to find things to distract from the heartache.

I really liked the portrayal of Charlotte Carpenter who eventually becomes his wife and how different she was compared to Mina. In the book she was a woman who had realized that she may not find a husband and chose to work towards her independence and just happened to meet Walter when she was on her way to becoming a truly independent woman. I'm so glad though that she gave Walter a chance and chose to take a leap of faith.

There were so many thoughtful points in this book that I found myself highlighting so I could go back and look at them later. Kilpack is a wonderful writer and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.

I wasn't sure if I was going to survive the heartache that I knew was coming. But thankfully, I did. This book is about real people so whatever happens, it hits me a little too close. Ugh. But the pain was so good.

Wonderfully done. This book was full of imagery, and very poetic. I easily found myself picturing what I was reading, and I was rooting for Charlotte.

This book touched my heart in different ways. You have love, lost, found and love again all in one book. Though I enjoyed the book there were a few times when the story line slowed down. Overall it was a good read and I recommend if you enjoy Romance & Historical fiction.

Edinburgh Scotland – 1791

Walter Scott had been nicknamed Wattie by his mother. She was very strict that he attend church and learn the “guid” word. It was difficult for him to keep still as he wanted to to be outside. He learned many stories in his youth and wanted to write about them. One day at age 19, he sees a young lady who totally enthralls him. As he boldly introduces himself, he learns her name is Williamina (Mina) and her mother is Lady Belches. The young lady appears to be only around age 14. The family is in town for the father to attend Session. Walter’s mother and Lady Belches were girls together so Walter is allowed to escort Mina home.

1795

Walter eagerly awaits Mina’s return as they winter in Edinburgh each year. He is now a barrister and she is age 19. Walter had had infantile paralysis when he was a child and was left with a small limp. But he is an athletic man and he has worked hard to reduce the effects of his illness.

Walter is a huge fan of the theater and always enjoys going. This year, Mina is quite popular with the men and enjoys dancing with them. With his limp, dancing is a bit difficult for Walter. While Walter and Mina enjoy being together, he knows it is too soon to declare himself to her. When Mina is told by her father that she is to marry someone more prestigious than Walter, she is crushed.

Charlotte Carpentier, age 25, is enjoying the theater and a Shakespeare play, “The Winter’s Tale.” Charlotte’s guardian is Lord Downshire. She and her brother were originally from France but they were sent to England as children to be cared for by Lord Downshire. Their parents had not lived up to their duty as parents. Her guardian tells her that it time she wed and suggests an older widower with 5 children. She is horrified and turns him down. That is when Lord Downshire tells her that she needs to wed or find a way to support herself so she soon learns about her finances but is determined to stay single.

We then follow Walter as he loses the love of his life, Mina, but finds another woman, Charlotte. It takes a long time for his broken heart to mend but his friendship with Charlotte is one that grows.

This is an interesting story of Sir Walter Scott in his younger years. The author has put a lot of research into this book and makes the story quite interesting.

Connie for b2b

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not aware of Walter Scott's story, but he felt love, lost love and found a love that was better than he imagined. I loved this book, it is very well written. I wrote down many of the quotes of Walter Scott that are included in the book. I will be reading this one again.

Josi S. Kilpack’s ‘Lady of the Lakes’ has strong second half

“THE LADY OF THE LAKES,” by Josi S. Kilpack, Shadow Mountain, Jan. 3, 2017, Softcover, $15.99 (young adult/adult)

I’ve written about Shadow Mountain’s Historical Proper Romance books a couple of times. They’re pretty much a safe bet if you’re looking for a fast, clean read. Josi S. Kilpack’s “The Lady of the Lakes” falls into those categories, although it’s not without its flaws.

“The Lady of the Lakes” tells the story of Sir Walter Scott and the two women he loved — Mina and Charlotte.

Walter meets Mina when she is a young teenager and is immediately drawn to her. They come from different stations, but neither seems hampered by that, at least at first. The two correspond and meet whenever Mina’s family comes to town. Walter is convinced that Mina is his muse, and they are meant to be together.

Mina is flattered by all the attention, but as she nears marrying age, she begins to wonder if she can live without all the comforts she’s accustomed to. When Mina meets William Forbes, a handsome aristocrat, she comes to realize her heart belongs to him instead of Walter.

Devastated by Mina’s betrayal, Walter leaves Scotland for the comforts of England’s lake country. There, he meets Charlotte, a 26-year-old French woman who has made plans to live on her own.

Walter and Charlotte quickly become friends and plan to remain just that. But Walter can’t get Charlotte out of his head. Her sharp intellect and unassuming disposition make him begin to question whether Mina was his true love or a mere infatuation.

“The Lady of the Lakes” is told in third person but divided into Mina, Walter and Charlotte’s points of view. This, for the most part, works quite well. Kilpack does an excellent job of getting into each of her characters’ heads, making you want to know more about them.

My problem came halfway through the novel when Mina just disappears. It feels almost as if she dies. Perhaps this was the author’s intention. Mina is essentially dead to Walter after she gets engaged to Forbes. But going from three points of view to two almost makes “The Lady of the Lakes” feel like two separate novels.

And if I were going to choose one of those two novels, I’d definitely choose the second. This choice doesn’t come because the romance works out; it comes because the writing is much stronger. Early on, “The Lady of the Lakes” feels a little bit stiff. At times I felt as if Kilpack was reporting on Walter instead of becoming him. His language is stilted and I found myself rushing through some areas to move the story forward.

Kilpack redeems herself in the second half, where her prose flows freely and her characters become infinitely more interesting. Kilpack has obviously done her research and that’s a strength throughout.

Edinburgh Scotland - 1791

Walter Scott had been nicknamed Wattie by his mother. She was very strict that he attend church and learn the “guid” word. It was difficult for him to keep still as he wanted to to be outside. He learned many stories in his youth and wanted to write about them. One day at age 19, he sees a young lady who totally enthralls him. As he boldly introduces himself, he learns her name is Williamina (Mina) and her mother is Lady Belches. The young lady appears to be only around age 14. The family is in town for the father to attend Session. Walter’s mother and Lady Belches were girls together so Walter is allowed to escort Mina home.

1795

Walter eagerly awaits Mina’s return as they winter in Edinburgh each year. He is now a barrister and she is age 19. Walter had had infantile paralysis when he was a child and was left with a small limp. But he is an athletic man and he has worked hard to reduce the effects of his illness.

Walter is a huge fan of the theater and always enjoys going. This year, Mina is quite popular with the men and enjoys dancing with them. With his limp, dancing is a bit difficult for Walter. While Walter and Mina enjoy being together, he knows it is too soon to declare himself to her. When Mina is told by her father that she is to marry someone more prestigious than Walter, she is crushed.

Charlotte Carpentier, age 25, is enjoying the theater and a Shakespeare play, “The Winter’s Tale.” Charlotte’s guardian is Lord Downshire. She and her brother were originally from France but they were sent to England as children to be cared for by Lord Downshire. Their parents had not lived up to their duty as parents. Her guardian tells her that it time she wed and suggests an older widower with 5 children. She is horrified and turns him down. That is when Lord Downshire tells her that she needs to wed or find a way to support herself so she soon learns about her finances but is determined to stay single.

We then follow Walter as he loses the love of his life, Mina, but finds another woman, Charlotte. It takes a long time for his broken heart to mend but his friendship with Charlotte is one that grows.

This is an interesting story of Sir Walter Scott in his younger years. The author has put a lot of research into this book and makes the story quite interesting.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE LADY OF THE LAKES by Josi S. Kilpack is the emotional, heartfelt, and true love story of Sir Walter Scott in the Eighteenth Century. Packed with beautiful description, the Scottish landscape and society at that time, springs to life and really makes the reader feel like they are there witnessing it all. But the most important and compelling part of this tale is Walter and his romantic ideals of love. Smitten at first sight with Mina, he plans his whole future with her at the centre, even though they had barely spent any real quality time together over their friendship. While his ardour grows stronger by their separation, Mina doubts what she feels for him, and when another, more suitable suitor is presented to her, she realises that she cares about Walter but not in the way that he wants. Devastated, Walter's romantic heart suffers greatly. But when he meets Charlotte Carpenter she opens up his damaged soul and shows him light in the darkness. Charlotte has had her own trials throughout her life and is content to live a life of independence and solitude. But when Walter enters her world, the possibility of love and a family are within her reach. But she will be second in no man's heart. Can Walter really leave his past behind him? Can they discover a deep and everlasting love together? THE LADY OF THE LAKES by Josi. S. Kilpack is a beautiful story of self-discovery and the real meaning of love, and I highly recommend it to all romance and historical fiction fans.