Series: Rogues Redeemed, #6
Traits & Tropes: friends to lovers; scholarly hero
Publication Date: 10.26.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Northern Scottish Isles
Heat Level: 1
Rating: 3/5
When he learned of his fiancée’s death, Kai Ramsey set out to roam in search of interesting archaeological sites rather than return home to the isle of Thorsay after completing his studies at the University of Edinburgh. He’s spent the past ten years as a scholar, antiquities collector, and sometimes spy, spending much of his time in Constantinople and even facing imprisonment a time or two. He’s enjoyed the danger and adventure of his life, but when he learns his grandfather, the old laird is dying, he immediately responds to the letter summoning him home, somewhat reluctantly returning to the island.
Signy Matheson has spent her life caring for the people of her remote island, working as the laird’s right hand. She’s strong and capable, and she knows the people well and that knowledge will be indispensable for Kai as he relearns his home and takes over the role of laird. Kai is shocked to find Signy has become a beautiful woman, but she’s resistant to his courtship even though the desire between them is clearly mutual. But with Kai’s persistence and their need to team up against forces working to their detriment, that spark between them is harder and harder to deny.
Though I haven’t read every single book in this series, I think this was a gratifying conclusion, having all the Rogues together at the end, even if that ending was slightly abrupt. I enjoyed this story well enough, but I have to say it was rather lacking in romance and that aspect definitely felt undeveloped, especially when compared to the rich detail and clear research behind the descriptions of archaeological finds and Signy and Kai’s travels around their fictional island. I was entertained by that description, and it made me long to visit the Scottish isles again, but I didn’t much care about Signy and Kai’s relationship. Her resistance to him went on for a long time and after a while, it just didn’t make sense. I also think I was a bit hung up on him having originally been with her sister and that just felt a bit icky, though thankfully enough time had passed to make it less so. This was definitely a slow burn with much more focus placed on the reasons Signy and Kai shouldn’t be together as well as on the adventure and tedium of him taking over the lairdship than on their romance. There was some intrigue introduced fairly on in the book that had me excited, but nothing ever really came of it, and I think that suspense angle could’ve been included a bit more, perhaps. Overall, this was a fine read with a likeable hero, a decent heroine, though she fell into the category of ‘the lady doth protest too much,’ and a nice reunion scene, but I’ll not likely reread this one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and its audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2309807084
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4164256720
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