Scotland’s Melody
1813, London: heiress Melody Foster is on the run. The man claiming love, and for whom she has forsaken her family in a bid for independence, only wants her dowry. Desperate to evade him, she jumps into the parked carriage of Cameron Findlay and his sister, Elspeth, visiting from Scotland. When her pursuer tries to manhandle her out again, Cameron intervenes. Melody accepts work in their household, but try as she might, she is an incompetent maid.
Elspeth decides Melody would fare better as a lady’s companion, and the two girls become fast friends. Naturally, the exceedingly handsome Cameron falls in love, but there are some romantic complications, and the mythological weavers of fate have Melody firmly in their grasp.
A character-driven novel relies on its protagonists to move the story, and this falls a little short. There’s a “too good to be true” feel, and I would have liked more plot-building tension. Melody’s high indignation and Cameron’s reactive contrition feel overacted. However, sweet inspirational romances are meant to appeal to those who enjoy reading about love, friendship, and family, and this novel supplies those nicely.
