A Garden In The Rain is the latest in the McLeod saga, Ms Kurland's line of time travels. This is a spellbinding tale of two lovers who face modern and medieval obstacles in order to find their one true love.

Madelyn Phillips was as good as left at the altar by a man she thought she loved. Looking back now she sees how life with Bentley Douglas Taylor III would have actually been a life in hell. Madelyn's blind devotion to Bentley caused her not to recognize his distain for everything she was. After he'd managed to get her fired from her job Madelyn finds herself broke and homeless. Bentley convinced her that he'd pay her back for his share of the wedding and honeymoon expenses but Madelyn isn't surprised that he reneges on that promise, like so many others. But she's got her ticket in hand and is determined to see Scotland anyway. It was always her dream. She'd worry about a job and a place to live once she returned home.

Madelyn was sure that things would work out in the end - until she arrives at her prebooked guesthouse to find that none other than Bentley. He's taken the luxury honeymoon suite that she paid for and is demanding that she come back to him. Madelyn is not sure what's more upsetting - the fact that Bentley has shown up and is dogging her, determined that she forget the nonsense of the break up and come home with him, or that a mysterious man in a black Vanquish sports car (who she narrowly missed hitting earlier in the day) has leapt to her defence with a vow to protect her from Bentley.

Patrick McLeod made a great leap forward in his remarkable live nine years ago. Pointedly, he stepped through a time portal, along with other members of his family, and never looked back once he discovered horseless carriages and flying machines. He assimilated well into modern Scottish life - not an easy skill for a medieval warrior. When he meets Madelyn he can't help but jump to her rescue when he sees how Bentley is treating her - and how she's allowing it.
Patrick takes it upon himself to not only protect her but to become her private tour guide around Scotland - which includes an unexpected side trip back in time! Patrick comes to respect Madelyn and against better judgement he finds that he can't help but fall in love with her. He just needs to find her first so that he can tell her.

Lynn Kurland is an expert in the creation of the classic family saga. So believable are her characters and stories that one could almost believe that time travel is possible. In A Garden In The Rain I was at first confused with so many medieval references in the modern world that I wasn't sure where the story was going. I attribute this to the fact that I haven't ready the preceding story that brought the McLeod's into modern Scotland. However once I was on track the story pulled me in so quickly it was like getting sucked into a time vortex myself. I instantly fell for Patrick. Dressed all in black most of the time he presents a formidable character until one gets to know him. That's when we realize there's softer side to this man. As quickly as I grew to like Patrick I could empathize with Madelyn just as easily. She was put through the ringer with Bentley, all for love. Love is blind and Madelyn certainly was to what Bentley was doing to her for so long. But she's a strong woman and not one to let anyone get the best of her twice.

Secondary characters are skillfully included. Bentley Douglas Taylor III was put into the literary world to dislike. He's pompous, arrogant, conceited, a user and inane - all the characteristics in the anti-hero, the kind of guy we love to hate. Patrick's brother and other family members all exhibit the kind of moral fibre that I expect in men of distinction. While this is definitely Patrick's story (many of the other's have had theirs) they show up at the right minute to lend a hand when necessary. Additionally, ghosts from the past show up with messages for Patrick and Madelyn, even though they're not understood immediately. Without them through this story would definitely have an unexplainable gap.

A Garden In The Rain is a remarkable tapestry of color, light and texture so rich that after the last page is turned the entire experience will leave the reader feeling as if they've travelled with Patrick and Madelyn through Scotland, back in time and into love.

Is Ms Kurland going places? You bet! She's leading the pack.