Series: Besotted Scots, #3
Tropes: fake relationship; slow burn; friends to lovers; slow burn
Publication Date: 02.18.20
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England
Heat Level: 3.5
Rating: 3.5 stars
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe has lived a very sheltered life and is now finally about to have a season. As she spends time in Brighton with her aunt and uncle, Lucy embraces freedom and danger, making the acquaintance of heroic Scotsman Ciaran Ramsey, who seems to always be there to save her from a scrape. Lucy doesn't really need saving, but her friendship with Ciaran continues to grow stronger and when she learns of her uncle's plan to sell her off in marriage to a scoundrel in exchange for the forgiveness of his debts and a piece of her fortune, Lucy realizes she does need Ciaran's help. She only needs to avoid marriage for a few weeks until she turns 21 and gains control of her fortune so a fake engagement to Ciaran is just the thing. She plans to have him jilt her once her birthday has passed, but their feelings soon become all too real, only Lucy continues to believe them to be one-sided.
Lucy was ridiculously frustrating. She was stubborn and willfully naive, despite the fact that she was fully aware of just how sheltered she really was. Even after learning of her uncle's scheming, she didn't really think he would stoop to doing such a thing to her, despite the fact that his own wife and daughter hate him. She just never stopped to think about anything, especially Ciaran's feelings, and refused to listen to him; she was happy enough to doubt Ciaran while putting undeserved faith in her terrible uncle's sense of decency. It made no sense.
This one was full of angst, people who have no idea how to communicate, and scheming relatives who are constantly being underestimated. This was definitely a slow burn between Ciaran and Lucy because they started off as friends and because of this stunted communication. The plot was heavily driven by Lucy making stupid decisions and I found myself rapidly losing patience with her. The pace did finally pick up in the last quarter or so, though still plagued with poor decisions and lack of communication, but it did hold my attention and kept me invested. When the communication did finally come, however, it was truly lovely, especially on Ciaran's part and given his struggle with depression and apathy in the previous books of this series. All in all, I enjoyed this one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2934388613
Lucy was ridiculously frustrating. She was stubborn and willfully naive, despite the fact that she was fully aware of just how sheltered she really was. Even after learning of her uncle's scheming, she didn't really think he would stoop to doing such a thing to her, despite the fact that his own wife and daughter hate him. She just never stopped to think about anything, especially Ciaran's feelings, and refused to listen to him; she was happy enough to doubt Ciaran while putting undeserved faith in her terrible uncle's sense of decency. It made no sense.
This one was full of angst, people who have no idea how to communicate, and scheming relatives who are constantly being underestimated. This was definitely a slow burn between Ciaran and Lucy because they started off as friends and because of this stunted communication. The plot was heavily driven by Lucy making stupid decisions and I found myself rapidly losing patience with her. The pace did finally pick up in the last quarter or so, though still plagued with poor decisions and lack of communication, but it did hold my attention and kept me invested. When the communication did finally come, however, it was truly lovely, especially on Ciaran's part and given his struggle with depression and apathy in the previous books of this series. All in all, I enjoyed this one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2934388613
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