ARC REVIEW Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch

Wild Wicked Highlanders #2, I'm so glad I didn't miss out on reading this one. I loved this book it's one that had me smiling at the end of it, it made me happy. It was well written and it pulls you in completely; from her details to the sprinkling of Scots Gaelic it's very immersive. The story is about three Highland brothers who were forced to come to London and find English brides before their little sister marries or else lose the family fortune. Which means they can't afford the upkeep of the estate or their lands and tenants. One brother has already fallen in love and married now it's the second brother's turn to fall.

Miranda Harris hates gambling and gamblers. The first thing she heard about Aden MacTaggert was that he was a wagering man and a good one, she takes an instant dislike to him even before she meets him. Then when she finally meets her brother's soon to be brother-in-law he was too good looking for his own good and she hated that she felt an attraction and he had just rescued a stray dog; she would not let herself feel such things for him so she was deliberately mean to him. Unfortunately, it backfired, Aden was intrigued by the green-eyed beauty who seemed to make a rather harsh judgement about him.

Miranda soon finds out her brother is really lousy at gambling and a really easy mark, he loses way more than he could ever pay back to a Captain Vale. Instead of taking the money and completely ruining the family the debt will be paid when Miranda marries the captain. Miranda is livid she in no way will accept her fate of being married to such a villain she does the only thing she can think of she asks Aden for help. Aden doesn't make it easy for her but he does give in and help. Part of his plan is to court her to irk the captain and take his attention away from Miranda and on to Aden and because he's serious about courting her. The more Miranda spends with Aden the more she sees he's not the villain gambler like she thought, he's a good man, a smart man, a man she could see herself with forever assuming Aden can get her out of this mess. Lucky for her Aden is smart much more so than the captain.

Overall, I thought this was such a great book, I loved how everything played out. I am really looking forward to Coll's book, the bigger they are the harder they fall. I love that one by one the brothers stop seeing their mother as a bad person and while they aren't happy with what she did they are willing to forgive her so far all except Coll. 

BLOG TOUR It's Getting Scot in Here by Suzanne Enoch

IT’S GETTING SCOT IN HERE

The Wild Wicked Highlanders Series

Suzanne Enoch

The first in a wickedly seductive new Scottish historical romance series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch, IT’S GETTING SCOT IN HERE (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, February 26, 2019, $7.99) crosses two sweethearts from separate worlds. Readers find out what happens when a headstrong leading lady, who refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love, meets an off-limits ruffian from the barbaric Highlands. London socialite Amelia-Rose Baxter is nobody’s fool. Her parents may want her to catch a title, but she will never change who she is for the promise of marriage. Her husband will be a man who can appreciate her sharp mind as well as her body. A sophisticated man who loves life in London. A man who considers her his equal—and won’t try to tame her wild heart...

Rough, rugged Highlander Niall MacTaggert and his brothers know the rules: the eldest must marry or lose the ancestral estate, period. But Niall’s eldest brother just isn’t interested in the lady his mother selected. Is it because Amelia-Rose is just too. . . Free-spirited? Yes. Brazen? Aye. Surely Niall can find a way to soften up the whip-smart lass and make her the perfect match for his brother for the sake of the family. Instead it’s Niall who tempts Amelia-Rose, despite her reservations about barbarian Highlanders. Niall finds the lass nigh irresistible as well, but he won’t make the mistake his father did in marrying an Englishwoman who doesn’t like the Highlands. Does he have what it takes to win her heart? There is only one way to find out...

 I loved this book! The MacTaggerts are a wild bunch let loose in London against their will with a sister they never got to watch grow up and a mother who abandoned them, at least in their opinion she abandoned them. It is deemed that Coll will marry the woman of their mother's choosing and Aden and Niall can find wives on their own, as long as the are British. Only Coll, who is so angry with his mother for forcing this issue, isn't going to fall in line and takes his anger out on the easiest target the young lady his mother picked for him, Amelia-Rose Baxter. Amelia-Rose isn't as sweet, weak-willed, and clingy as Coll anticipated and she promptly snaps back. Niall falls head over heels for Amelia using his brother's contempt to his advantage and spends as much time with Amelia-Rose as possible and it isn't long before Amelia-Rose falls for Niall in return. With Niall she can be herself a smart headstrong woman who is only trying to please her parents. But Amelia-Rose and Niall have a hard road ahead of them since her mother is dead set on her marrying a man who can give her a title.

Overall, this book was such a fun read. Niall is romantic and sincere and willing to beat up his brother in defence of the woman he loves when he's usually the one breaking up fights and solving arguments. Amelia-Rose (Amy) I loved; she tries so hard to be the dutiful daughter and the pressure of marrying but sometimes she just can't curb her wit and scathing remarks for idiots. I love the MacTaggert family. Coll as surly as he is redeems himself, Aden we didn't really get to know that well which makes me think maybe his book is next. Francesca, their mother, is a powerhouse she manipulated the brothers into this situation but her heart was in the right place. The baby sister, Eloise, she's adorable she's like one of those people who is always so cheery and you may want to hate them for it but you can't help but like them. 

Prologue 

Once upon a time—in May 1785, to be exact—Angus MacTaggert, Earl Aldriss, traveled from the middle of the Scottish Highlands to London in search of a wealthy bride to save his well-loved but crumbling estate. Aldriss Park had been in the MacTaggert family since the time of Henry VIII, when Domhnall MacTaggert, despite being Catholic and married, declared publicly that Henry should be able to wed as many lasses as he wanted until one of them got him a son. Aldriss Park was the newly minted earl’s reward for his support and understanding. 

For the next two hundred years Aldriss thrived, until the weight of poor harvests, the ever-intruding, rulemaking Sassenach, and the MacTaggerts’ own fondness for drinking, gambling, and wild investments (including an early bicycle design wherein the driver sat between two wheels; sadly, it had no braking mechanism and after a series of accidents nearly began a war within the MacTaggerts’ clan Ross) began to sink it into disrepair. 

When Angus inherited the title in 1783, he realized the old castle needed far more than a fresh coat of paint to keep it from both physical collapse and bankruptcy. And so he determined to go down among the enemy Sassenach and win himself a wealthy bride. The English had made enough trouble for him and his over the centuries, so they could bloody well help him set things right.

On his second day in London, he met the stunning Francesca Oswell, the only offspring of James and Mary Oswell, Viscount and Viscountess of Hornford—who had more money than Midas and a bevy of very fine solicitors—at a masked ball where he dressed as a bull, and she as a swan. Despite the misgivings of nearly everyone in Mayfair, Angus and Francesca immediately fell madly in love, and married with a special license ten days
later. 

A week after that, Angus took Francesca back to Aldriss Park and the Highlands, where she found very little civilization, a great many sheep, and a husband who preferred brawling to dancing, and he discovered that her father’s solicitors had arranged to keep the Oswell family money in Francesca’s hands. This made for some very spectacular arguments, because there is nothing more combustible in the world than an impoverished Highlands laird in disagreement with an independently wealthy English lady about his own ancestral lands. 

Over the next thirteen turbulent years the estate prospered, and Francesca gave Angus three sons—Coll, Aden, and Niall—and with each one became more concerned that this was not a life for any civilized person. She wanted to bring the boys back to London for proper educations and to live proper lives, but Angus refused, stating that what had been good enough for him would be good enough for his lads. 

When a fourth child, a daughter, arrived in 1798, Francesca reached her breaking point. No daughter of hers was going to be raised with an uncivilized accent in a rough country where she would be ridiculed by proper Society and unfit to marry anyone but a shepherd or a peat cutter. Angus refused to let his lads go, but he allowed Francesca to take young Eloise and return to London—on the condition that she continue providing for the maintenance of the estate. 

Francesca reluctantly agreed, but given that she controlled the purse strings, she had her own conditions to try to keep some influence with her wild sons: All three boys must marry before their sister, they must wed proper English women, and at least one of them must marry someone of her choosing. She knew Angus would raise them as he pleased, but they were her children, too, by God, and she meant to see to it that they had some semblance of propriety in their lives—she was a viscount’s daughter, after all, and certain things would be expected of her offspring. She refused to allow them to be viewed as unsophisticated wild men by her London neighbors, and she remained determined to have a presence in their lives. 

To enforce her will, she convinced (or rather, coerced) Angus to put his signature to the agreement, which contained this provision: If young Eloise MacTaggert did marry before any of the boys, Francesca would cut off all funds to the estate. If they were to insist on defiance, they would have a heavy price to pay for it—one they and their tenants could not afford.  

Angus had no choice but to agree, and considering that Coll, the oldest, was only twelve at the time of Francesca’s departure and Eloise was but a wee bairn, he was willing to wager that he would have time to renegotiate. Angus and Francesca remained married, but neither would bend enough to visit the other ever again. As far as the lads were concerned, their mother had abandoned them. 

In the spring of 1816 Angus received a letter from Francesca announcing their daughter’s engagement, and he promptly collapsed. He’d hoped his sons would have found themselves Scottish lasses by now and shown their mother she couldn’t control their lives after all, but the lads were defiant and wouldn’t be rushed. Now it appeared to be too late. 

He summoned his sons to his apparent deathbed an confessed all—Francesca funding the estate, the pernicious agreement, and their mother’s grasping claws, which he explained was a symptom of all Englishwomen and their weak, clinging, cloying ways. For the sake of the property and their tenants the young men must go to London. At once. No sense even taking time to put him in the ground, much less mourn him, because Francesca wouldn’t excuse the loss of time, and they needed to marry before their sister. 

The lads—grown men, now—were not at all happy suddenly to learn about the responsibilities and rules foisted upon them by a woman they barely remembered. Being wily, freehearted, and exceptionally handsome men accustomed to doing things their way and certainly not bowing to the demands of a demented Englishwoman, they determined to go down to London not to comply, but to outwit their mother and upend any plans she had for them. And thus, dear reader, begins our story.

One lucky Winner will win a Paperback copy (US only please) of this delightful book. Comment here or on my Instagram post for your chance to win!

SUZANNE ENOCH grew up in Southern California, where she still balances her love for the Regency romances of Georgette Heyer and classic romantic comedies with her obsession for anything Star Wars. Given her love of food and comfy chairs, she may in fact be a Hobbit. She has written more than 35 romance novels, including traditional Regencies, Historical Romance, and contemporary Romantic Suspense. When she isn’t working on her next book she is trying to learn to cook, and wishes she had an English accent. She is the bestselling author of Scandalous Brides series, The Scandalous Highlanders series, and One Hot Scot.

ARC REVIEW A Devil in Scotland by Suzanne Enoch

Book three of the No Ordinary Hero series, it kind of plays out like it's the last one since the antagonist in all three books finally gets his just due. Even though all three books have the common enemy they can be read as standalones; there is very little character crossover and when there is it's only pertinent to this storyline. Suzanne Enoch definitely has a way with words, the characters really came to life for me, and the mystery and the little bit of suspense were very well done, this is probably my favorite of hers so far.

Callum, Ian, and Rebecca all grew up together. Ian the stoic, studious older brother; Callum the fun one and also risk-taker. Rebecca was a neighbor the daughter of a shipping merchant who got rich. Rebecca loved both brother's but when it came time to marry she choose the older not just because the title but because he was who he was and everything Callum was not. Callum was a drunkard who would tup any pretty girl and took nothing seriously. That is until Ian and Rebecca announced their engagement and not only that but a deal between Rebecca's father and the Duke of Dunncraigh. Callum knows Dunncraigh is bad news and after he finished insulting his brother and Rebecca, because how could she want Ian when she can have him, Rebecca insults him back basically saying he's a drunken loser and then Ian kicks him out of the house and the family, but before Callum leaves he tells them what a bad idea it is to get into business with Dunncraigh and if anything bad happens he knows it will be Dunncraigh's fault and he will seek his vengeance. 

Callum left Scotland dejected and heartbroken, he never realized how much he loved Rebecca until he realized she wouldn't be there any more and with the truth of her words ringing in his ears he travels to America to create a new life for himself, and he does with his Kentucky Whiskey. A couple of years into in banishment he starts to receive letters from his brother, Callum never even bothers to read them until almost ten years later he sees the obituary for his brother in a months old newspaper, the latest letter goes unburned and Callum finds himself finally going back to Scotland after all these years because he promised he would get his vengeance.

Rebecca was content with her life until Ian died and suddenly followed her Father. The Dunncraigh's had been nothing but generous with their sympathies and their offers to help with the business. The sudden appearance of Callum a year after Ian's death has her all confused she doesn't know what to think of this brisk and brutish man who use to be the boy she knew and what he wants is his inheritance and to make her life miserable. Callum wants to hate Rebecca for what she said all those years ago, he wants her to be a social climbing vixen who had a hand in his brother's death but it's clear she's not and she every bit a beautiful and headstrong as ever and he loves her all the more for it. Now she just needs to stay out of his way while he proves the Dunncraigh and his son are the reason his brother and Rebecca's father are dead. If only it was easier said than done. 

Overall, it was a wonderful story, very well done nicely paced. Rebecca could be a little annoying with her stubbornness but her entire world got turned upside down I don't blame her for not believing Callum's suspicions in the beginning. Rebecca and Ian's daughter Mags is so adorably precocious and Callum's wolf and that walking mop of a dog of Mags, that's funny. It has a wonderfully satisfying ending, and I look forward to reading more of Suzanne Enoch. 

ARC REVIEW My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch

Book two in the No Ordinary Hero series by Suzanne Enoch, My One True Highlander has a serious undertone to the cliched almost comical storyline. Kidnapped English Lady and the rugged Scottish Laird, what makes this more serious than other stories is the situation behind it. Laird Graeme wants to be loyal to the clan his family swore fidelity to but the chieftain of the clan just wants to make war with the Englishman who inherited the land and refused to sell it. Graeme just wants to live in peace and have his family and his tenants happy and healthy but with the increasing tax and the threat to be thrown out of the clan looming over his head Graeme is just trying to survive. Graeme is the guardian to younger brothers and when they get the idea that kidnapping the Englishman's sister and giving her to the chieftain and be given a reward for her and Graeme is stuck between a rock and a hard place.  He knows giving over the English woman won't solve anything and will endanger her life, but if her brother finds out his life is pretty much forfeited because he will cover for his brothers stupid mistake. He is even more confused by his feelings for the English miss.

Marjorie is tired of being on the sidelines, she went from a ladies companion to a Duke's sister in the matter of seconds and he newfound status didn't win her any friends she in fact lost the few she did have. When Marjorie get a letter from her brother stating he's getting married and will send for her sometime in the spring she makes the decision to leave now. The large age difference between them kept them apart for most of their lives and Marjorie is determined not to miss another major event in his life. Together with the companion she hired to see her into society she travels up to Scotland without incident until they almost get they get within a day's journey of her brothers new estate. Marjorie gets kidnapped. Misconceptions and presumptions between Graeme and Marjorie lead to the initial dislike between them. Marjorie thinking they are a bunch of barbarians and Graeme thinking she is a spoiled London Miss. But over time they learn the truths about each other, especially after Marjorie covers for Graeme and his brother by posing as a tutor for the youngest brother. At that point she stops being a prisoner and becomes a willing guest and Graeme lets her write a note to her brother telling him she's okay. The letter however is intercepted by Sir Hamish Paulk, who is not a nice man and wants to bring about the doom of Marjorie's brother.

Despite the seriousness of the story there is a very cheesy romance feel to the book the Marjorie and Graeme romance, once they get over the whole English Scottish kidnapping thing falls into place fairly easy, but by then Marjorie gets kidnapped again. Overall, it was a good read, I enjoyed it. It's read fine as a stand alone so you don't have to worry about reading book one to understand what's going on.