Scot on the Run

American PhD student Bella is house-sitting on Scotland's Isle of Skye for her brother, Finley, while he is on his extended honeymoon. She is supposed to be working on her dissertation, but her secret desire is to write a historical romance. She is shocked when good-looking Scottish engineer Ian Larrimore barges in, being chased by paparazzi. It turns out her brother had offered the house as a sanctuary for Ian, who has been named the second most eligible bachelor in the UK. Bella and Ian are both withdrawn and equally awkward at conversation. It doesn't help that Bella has a huge chip on her shoulder as most of her life has been spent pretending she's not as smart as she is in order not to bruise men's egos. Maynard does the refreshingly unusual here, writing about an unsatisfying first sexual experience (well, at least for one of them). Once these protagonists get past this hurdle, the sex is great, but what about the future and the whole geography issue? A romance featuring two shy types makes for engaging reading, although Bella's contrariness grows wearisome.