One Night in Scotland

Hawkins brings back the Hurst siblings (familiar from The Laird Who Loved Me and Sleepless in Scotland) to launch her Hurst Amulet series. Scholarly Mary Hurst seeks out Angus Hay, earl of Errol, to retrieve an artifact for her brother Michael, the unwilling guest of an Egyptian sulfi. Angus distrusts Mary and locks her away until he can corroborate her claim. As Mary noisily disrupts the household from her turret prison, Angus reluctantly comes to find her attractive. Once he frees her, the two engage in entertaining repartee that finally advances their relationship. Hawkins offers only subtle clues about the Hurst Amulet, delivered via letters purportedly from Michael, who also offers clichéd life-lessons from afar ("Knowledge and action combined can win over any adversity"). Mary is charming and witty, but her story mostly comes across as a setup for future books featuring her brothers. (Dec.)