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If Outlander, Karate Kid, Leap Year, Survivor, Brave New World, and Frankenstein had a love child, J.G. MacLeod’s The Once and Future Love would be the result. This final instalment of the MacLeod Scottish Time Travel Rom Com series is an epic mashup of historical romance, action, adventure, science fiction, and satire that is both lighthearted escapism and a prescient SOS call.

Brigid MacDonald leads a mundane existence in Huntsville, Ontario. Her childhood as an orphan in foster care was traumatic enough, so why should she take risks that could cause her more emotional damage? Instead, Brigid thrives on the predictability of her coffee barista job, and being a sensei at the dojo where she teaches karate. The most exciting things that happen to her are hanging out with her BFF, Selma, being adored by fellow black belt, Mark, and finding her neighbour’s cat when he escapes from his apartment.

That all changes when she discovers a strange man, magically transported inside her storage closet one night. He’s ridiculously tall and handsome, wears a blue-and-green kilt, and speaks an ancient dialect that confounds explanation. Where is he from, and how did he get there? None of Brigid’s theories explain his bizarre appearance, nor the fact he doesn’t understand anything about modern society. Worse yet, he’s been gravely injured and reveals that he challenged his elder brother to prevent his clan from marching upon their sworn enemy. What’s a girl to do?

Ferghus MacLeod is equally shocked to find himself in a country he’s never heard of before, in the home of the bonniest lass he’s ever laid eyes upon. Her Canadian accent warms his blood and almost makes him forget he should try to return home. He doesn’t understand why someone so accomplished has been left without the protection of a clan. Despite Ferghus’s commitment to his own people, he can’t deny his growing attraction for this intriguing redhead, which pushes his self control to its limit. It wouldn’t hurt if he stuck around for a few more days, would it?

As Ferghus tries to acclimatize himself to life in the twenty-first century, and Brigid attempts to win the prize money in a survival competition so she can return to university, the pair discovers their chance meeting might not have been as accidental as they once believed. Not only could the star-crossed lovers be in danger, but the rest of humanity, too.

“Naethin’ is certain in yer time; ye’ve cut down the trees, and burned the roots with ‘em.”

Can Brigid MacDonald and Ferghus MacLeod work together to solve the mystery of the time travel and confess their true feelings for one another before forces beyond their control destroy their past, present, and future love?

***This slow-burn romantic comedy combines beloved elements of contemporary romance, historical fiction, sci-fi, romantic suspense, mystery, and social commentary, and promises a fast-paced adventure without heavy politics and absolutely no sexual violence.***

Author’s Notes:
The Once and Future Love contains tropes of the romance genre, as well as carefully-chosen historical inaccuracies to facilitate the plot. While this 3rd book in the trilogy can be read as a standalone, the ‘Easter Eggs’ and humour are enhanced by reading The Future Bride and The Past Love first.

My Review:

What a truly wonderful and pleasurable book to read. I laughed so hard in the beginning, trying to put myself into Ferghus, any coming straight out of the 1500s into 2019. Surely, he was terrified of motor vehicles, let alone planes, cell phones, computers, light bulbs, the whole bit. Fergus remained true to his character from the 1500s and kept Bridgid safe. The mix with non-human DNA was a bit of a stretch, but fit right in with the story. Five shiny gold stars.