Series: Scots of Honor, #2
Traits & Tropes: meddling mamas; soldier; scarred hero; beauty and the beast; marriage of convenience
Publication Date: 07.27.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Scottish Highlands, 1820
Heat Level: 1
Rating: 4/5
Lord Alec Hay, the Earl of Errol, a General of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, has returned from war scarred both inside and out. He has no desire to spend time in the company of society, but his mother is determined to see him married. Alec only wants to hide away from the world and deal with the pain of being unable to save one of his best friends during battle.
Lady Giselle Hepburn has been forced into an unwanted betrothal by her overeager parents. When her mother won’t listen to her complaints about the man’s darker tendencies, Giselle takes things into her own hands and escapes the man’s castle, riding for a neighboring estate during a violent storm. When her horse is spooked by the thunder, Giselle is thrown and nearly sent over a cliff, only to be saved by a handsome highlander she’s nearly certain she’s met before. With her ankle injured, Giselle accepts the man’s help and finds herself ushered right into a new and potentially much happier future for herself.
I really liked that this book had the vibe of a traditional style, old school highlander romance despite being set during the Regency. Giselle was a bit uptight and naïve. At first, I was frustrated by her judgment of Alec as a beast, but thankfully that soon became more of a term of endearment because I was prepared to hate her for picking on something Alec was so sensitive about and chalking it up to him being vain or arrogant. The parents here were just awful with their meddling ways, though Alec’s mother did redeem herself into a rather charming supporting character. I think that some redemption was also intended for Giselle’s parents, but I never bought it or believed that they actually cared about their daughter. I liked that Giselle had a surprising amount of backbone and was willing to fight for the future she wanted. That included fighting for her man when she decided she wanted Alec, not allowing him to misunderstand her feelings about him and not permitting other catty ladies to come between them. I loved that aspect. All too often miscommunication or outside drama is used to create friction between the MCs, and I was so happy to see that plot device bypassed here in favor of the hero and heroine working together to thwart those who would come between them, bringing some detractors over to their side and acting in uncaring defiance of those who could not be swayed. I will always be a fan of the hero and heroine working together toward a common goal and strengthening their bond because of it, so that really worked for me here.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4552147205
bookbub.com/reviews/1815007307
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