Disclaimer: I was sent an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Book Blurb (from the publisher)

The first in a wickedly seductive new Scottish historical romance series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch!

HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
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…

IN THE HIGHLANDS
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.

JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HOTTER.
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…

Do you enjoy a historical romantic romp?  Then this is the book for you!  This is the first novel by Suzanne Enoch that I have read, and I must admit that as I found the cover a little “corny” I did wonder how I was going to find the book!  I needn’t have worried though as once I started reading I was hooked and wanted to follow the story of the MacTaggart brothers in London.

This is an easy to read story with everything that you want in a historic romance novel.  From the handsome, yet rugged hero to the misunderstood, headstrong heroine and the beautifully described period surroundings and clothes, the author has packed this book to bursting.  The action is fast paced and the characters will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

The MacTaggart clan is dysfunctional at best, yet loving, loyal and supportive and very likeable.  The descriptions of some of the antics of the brothers had me laughing out loud and I loved Rory the deer (stuffed!) that they placed on their mother’s landing to rile her, yet the whole family ended up “dressing” him in finery.  Niall is the perfect romantic hero – tall and handsome, yet rugged, tough yet fiercely loyal and loving with a soft heart.  The older brothers Coll and Aden have started to show their characters in this book – but I have a feeling that their own stories might be in the pipeline.  Their mother is someone to be disliked at the beginning, yet as the story unfolds Lady Aldriss shows herself to be a tiger mother merely fighting for her children – no  matter that they are estranged from her and return as great, hulking young men from the Highlands “gracing” her London residence!

I love the main female character Amelia-Rose – better known as Amy to her friends.  She is a young lady who is underestimated by nearly everyone around her, and she is expected to conform to the social expectations of a young lady of a certain standing.  In other words she must not have own opinions, should definitely not speak out of turn and always do as her parents or husband see fit – a young woman of her time.  But Amy is a young lady with a strong character who struggles to comply with these social niceties and has earned herself a reputation for having a sharp tongue as she will speak out.  Although I know that it happened,  I still found myself a bit baffled by the way in which the aristocracy traded their near adult children in order to make better family alliances through arranged marriage – and parents would pay huge sums, as dowries, for more eligible suitors with titles.  It would be easy to feel sorry for Amy – indeed I felt for her having such a scheming mother – except she shows remarkable spunk throughout the novel.

This will not be seen as a great literary classic, but it is well written and most importantly thoroughly enjoyable.  It is a romance and it does have a couple of sexual scenes (I know that some readers like to be forewarned), but it also is fast paced and action packed so should not be underestimated.  I loved the fact that it was easy to read and provided some escapism – something that will appeal to my many spoonie pals out there.

This might not have been a book that would have jumped off the shelves at me, but I must admit that it became a guilty pleasure and I really look forward to a series with the other MacTaggart brothers tales!  Meanwhile I’m off to find some of Ms Enoch’s other Highland flings!

4 Stars

Publication Date: February 26, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1-250-29637-5
St. Martin’s Paperbacks

The book is currently available here:

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Macmillan books

 

About the Author

A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne Enoch loves movies almost as much as she loves books, with a special place in her heart for anything Star Wars. Given her love of food and comfy chairs, she may in fact be a Hobbit. She has written more than forty Regency novels and historical romances, which are regularly found on the New York Times bestseller list.
When she is not busily working on her next book, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months. Suzanne 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.

Find Suzanne:

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Thanks to St Martin’s Press and the author for giving me the opportunity to be on this blog tour.