Lost Secrets of the Scottish Castle
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley July 22, 2026
Author Jane Lovering
Distributor: Amazon
ISBN: 978-1835332801
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Release Date: 19 July 2026
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Told in the first-person Lost Secrets of the Scottish Castle from Jane Lovering uses a time slip scenario to head back into to time between 2026 and 300 years prior, 1720, when Lennox (Lenny) and Pax, (Perdita), buy what was their family Castle, Dunaire Castle, now a ruin perched on the edge of a crumbling cliff, built in the fifteenth century by the McKell family.
Pax is not amused by what she has gone and done; Lenny is overjoyed at finally owning what was once the family stronghold. He has grand plans for creating a wonderful Hotel from the ruins and she can only see disaster looming.
Seeking shelter from a torrential downpour, she stands under the remains of an old staircase and finds herself sliding uncontrollably down a seep incline, only to come to her senses in another place, another century, entirely, being observed by what she assumes must be members of the missing Archaeological team that vanished from the Archaeological dig at the Castle ruins several months ago.
What she is doing there, and more importantly why are they all here, three hundred years ago, trying to survive, trying to return home and trying to understand what exactly is going on is something Pax does not feel up to coping with or understanding.
As the storyline unfolds each member of the team, Pax included seem to be forced to face their demons, work out what is going to happen once Earl George McKell arrives and is readying the men of the household to go to War, to support James, the man Scots truly believed should be King.
Jane Lovering has taken a fascinating concept, wrapped it in modern trappings, woven a plausible tale based in the history of Scotland, which while entertaining falls a little short. Issues, both relating to the personal life of the tiny community are often laboured over with the finale, as that is what it is, becoming almost one step too far.
For readers who enjoy generalised, somewhat quirky historic fiction Lost Secrets of the Scottish Castle will be an enjoyable read.