Series: Wild Wicked Highlanders, #1
Tropes & Traits: arranged marriage
Publication: 02.26.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Rating: 3.5 stars
When a seventeen year old agreement between their estranged parents comes to light the three MacTaggert brothers, Coll, Aden, and Niall, must journey from the Scottish Highlands to the London home of the English mother they don't even remember. In order to ensure continued use of their mother's funds, which support their estate, Aldriss Park, and all of its dependents, they must play by Francesca's rules. The daughter of an English viscount herself, Francesca has determined that her sons will marry English women and at least one of them will marry a lady of her choosing, although she also determines that this will be Coll, the eldest and titled Viscount Glendarril, heir to the Earl of Aldriss. Naturally the brothers balk at being dictated to, by a stranger no less, but they must do what is necessary for their people, so they determine to go through with quick marriages and leave the ladies in London. This arrangement worked for their father, so it will do for his sons; whatever gets them back to the Highlands as quickly as possible and away from the hell that is London.
Miss Amelia-Rose Baxter is no simpering miss, she's quite the opposite in fact and her quick wit and sharp tongue often get her into trouble with potential suitors. This one is no exception when she quickly judges the highlanders to be slow and stupid brutes. When she almost immediately angers Coll, Niall steps in to save face with her before Francesca can find out. As he covers for his brother, Niall finds himself having not so proper thoughts about his brother's betrothed. Amelia-Rose and her family, especially her mother, are determined to have a title, so Niall would never do, even if Francesca would agree to substitute him for his brother. Niall has always been the peacemaker of the trio and especially with so much at stake now, he knows he must step in when Coll makes himself scarce. But as Niall winds up filling in more and more for Coll and getting to know Amelia-Rose, he begins to wonder how he'll ever step aside and let his brother have her. These two have a ton of issues to overcome, some created by their own behavior, and it's clear their happy ending will be hard won indeed.
These two meet with preconceived notions of what the other should be and both are fed up with their mother's machinations. For me Amelia-Rose's sharp wit just came off as rudeness much of the time. She is determined that Niall and his brother are barbarians and is surprised by the simplest courtesies. She may be thrilled to be able to be herself and not hide her quick with with Niall, but she is consistent in trying to change and mold Niall into her expectation of a proper gentleman. Amelia-Rose complains of being manipulated by her mother and yet she engages in the same sort of manipulation with Niall and his brother. She also claims to want someone who she can converse with about important topics but really she's mostly concerned with having freedom from her overbearing mother while still being able to enjoy London society. Even admitting her attraction to Niall, she still doesn't think he's good enough for her since he's still a highlander with no title, plus she hates the Highlands and knows she could never be happy there, even though she's never actually been there.
I absolutely hated Francesca and her constant attempts to shirk any responsibility for the situation she put them all in. She was nothing but rude and high-handed to her sons, the had the gall to be offended when they didn't react well to her scheming. She takes no responsibility for their seventeen year separation and lack of communication even though she's the one who instigated it, then she doesn't understand why her sons won't call her mother, and somehow thinks she should get credit for trying to have a relationship with them now. Nevermind that this relationship comes about through manipulation. Much of this for me was just a farce of unlikable female characters, right down to the chaperone. Of course, Francesca improved a bit towards the end, like most of the characters, but it was a bit too late for me to develop any liking for her.
I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I finally got into it about four chapters from the end, but by then it was like Amelia-Rose had done a total 180 from her behavior and thinking for the first half of the book; not exactly believable perhaps, but it made me like her more. I was much more a fan of the three brothers and their antics and banter, as well as their loyalty toward each other.
Even with all the things that annoyed me with this one, I found the three brothers to be delightfully charming and will look forward to the others' stories. This book was humorous and well-written, though it took me a long time to get into it. This was my first from this author, but the quality of this writing, even if it some of the characters weren't my favorite, makes me want to read the rest of the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Miss Amelia-Rose Baxter is no simpering miss, she's quite the opposite in fact and her quick wit and sharp tongue often get her into trouble with potential suitors. This one is no exception when she quickly judges the highlanders to be slow and stupid brutes. When she almost immediately angers Coll, Niall steps in to save face with her before Francesca can find out. As he covers for his brother, Niall finds himself having not so proper thoughts about his brother's betrothed. Amelia-Rose and her family, especially her mother, are determined to have a title, so Niall would never do, even if Francesca would agree to substitute him for his brother. Niall has always been the peacemaker of the trio and especially with so much at stake now, he knows he must step in when Coll makes himself scarce. But as Niall winds up filling in more and more for Coll and getting to know Amelia-Rose, he begins to wonder how he'll ever step aside and let his brother have her. These two have a ton of issues to overcome, some created by their own behavior, and it's clear their happy ending will be hard won indeed.
These two meet with preconceived notions of what the other should be and both are fed up with their mother's machinations. For me Amelia-Rose's sharp wit just came off as rudeness much of the time. She is determined that Niall and his brother are barbarians and is surprised by the simplest courtesies. She may be thrilled to be able to be herself and not hide her quick with with Niall, but she is consistent in trying to change and mold Niall into her expectation of a proper gentleman. Amelia-Rose complains of being manipulated by her mother and yet she engages in the same sort of manipulation with Niall and his brother. She also claims to want someone who she can converse with about important topics but really she's mostly concerned with having freedom from her overbearing mother while still being able to enjoy London society. Even admitting her attraction to Niall, she still doesn't think he's good enough for her since he's still a highlander with no title, plus she hates the Highlands and knows she could never be happy there, even though she's never actually been there.
I absolutely hated Francesca and her constant attempts to shirk any responsibility for the situation she put them all in. She was nothing but rude and high-handed to her sons, the had the gall to be offended when they didn't react well to her scheming. She takes no responsibility for their seventeen year separation and lack of communication even though she's the one who instigated it, then she doesn't understand why her sons won't call her mother, and somehow thinks she should get credit for trying to have a relationship with them now. Nevermind that this relationship comes about through manipulation. Much of this for me was just a farce of unlikable female characters, right down to the chaperone. Of course, Francesca improved a bit towards the end, like most of the characters, but it was a bit too late for me to develop any liking for her.
I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I finally got into it about four chapters from the end, but by then it was like Amelia-Rose had done a total 180 from her behavior and thinking for the first half of the book; not exactly believable perhaps, but it made me like her more. I was much more a fan of the three brothers and their antics and banter, as well as their loyalty toward each other.
Even with all the things that annoyed me with this one, I found the three brothers to be delightfully charming and will look forward to the others' stories. This book was humorous and well-written, though it took me a long time to get into it. This was my first from this author, but the quality of this writing, even if it some of the characters weren't my favorite, makes me want to read the rest of the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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