WHAT HE NEEDS MOST… David Murry, Earl of Kinloss, never wanted to be the laird. But the title is thrust upon him, and now the well-being of his clan weighs heavily on his shoulders. He has never felt so alone, until a beautiful healer from another time is brought to the Black Isle… IS WHAT SHE DOES BEST… When Dr. Elisabeth Douglas is thrown back into time to sixteenth-century Scotland, she decides to use her modern medical knowledge to save lives. In a time when a healer may be accused of witchcraft, she must keep her secret closely guarded, especially from David, whose uncanny curiosity could destroy them both.
The latest in Elaine Coffman’s enchanting time travel series, Lord of the Black Isle, takes us right back to the two twin sisters, Isabella and Elizabeth, sent back in time to the 1500’s by their ancestor, Black Douglas. This is the third book in the Mackinnon-Douglas series. The previous book (The Return of Black Douglas) focused on Isabella, the archaeologist, who marries Alysandir, Chief of the Clan Mackinnon, and we joined the family at their home, Marrach Castle. This book starts with the family happy and planning Elizabeth’s wedding when the joyous atmosphere abruptly changes with the arrival of a king’s degree, leaving Elizabeth heartbroken.
Elizabeth decides to work through her sorrow by focusing on her first love, medicine, when the opportunity to use her skills as a doctor arises. She travels to a monastery to learn with the friars and help with an epidemic raging the Scottish countryside. While there, an old foe returns in the shape of Angus MacLean, sent to achieve his own goals that were foiled in the previous book and get Elizabeth married to his son. Strong minded Elizabeth is left wondering if Black Douglas’ promise will come true for her.
It was refreshing to see a historical book that focus on the new main characters instead of revisiting the previous characters and including them. Isabella is mentioned, of course, but not with unnecessary detail that would make the book seem too long. I like the direction that the author has taken instead where we get only the stories of the characters instrumental to Elizabeth’s story. I have to give this book 4 stars.
