Title: When a Scot Ties the Knot
Series: Castles Ever After, Book 3
Author: Tessa Dare
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: August 25, 2015 by Avon
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.
A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.
Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
Reviewed by: Sara
Why I Read This Book: Highlanders and Tessa Dare. No, seriously. I have a thing for Highlanders and Tessa Dare writes some of the most fantastic, light and funny Historical Romances I’ve ever read. If you haven’t tried her books you need to get on that. Like, right now. After you read this.
In a Nutshell: Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Also, Highlanders and lobster mating habits.
What I Liked: When a Scot Ties the Knot has a really unique story. I really liked that Tessa Dare could take a plot like an invented (but real!) fiancée and make it believable. Yes, if you picked over this story with a fine toothed comb you could probably find historical inconsistencies and see that it would take a string of miracles for something like this to happen in real life, but then you probably wouldn’t be someone who even enjoys Historical Romance anyway.
I for one enjoyed the whimsy and sheer absurdity of Maddie’s invented sweetheart and Logan’s showing up on her doorstep years later. It was fun and made When a Scot Ties the Knot different from the myriad of other Historical Romances on the market and my bookshelf.
What Else I Liked: Maddie is a great female character! She is equal parts awkward, intelligent, bold and fiercely caring. She is easily cowed by Logan in the beginning, but by the end of the novel has grown a spine of steel and refuses to be moved by Logan’s attempts to push her away. Maddie struggles not only with her relationship with Logan, but with extreme social anxiety and in trying to make a name for herself in the male dominated field of academia. Her growth as a character is believable, very moving and more than a little bit inspiring.
What I Didn't Like: There’s a fine line between an alpha male and an asshole male and sometimes Logan was an asshole. I’m kind of nitpicking here because I overall liked Logan’s character and understood his motives and character flaws. When a Scot Ties the Knot does a great job describing the horrors of the Peninsular War and Logan’s childhood, but like I mentioned it’s easy to cross the line and on several points I felt like Logan did. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but it made liking his character and wanting to see him end up with Maddie a little more difficult.
Overall Impression: When a Scot Ties the Knot is a great Historical Romance with a unique plot, fantastic, (usually) likeable characters and hot, Highlander romance. To learn more about lobster mating habits you’ll have to buy the book.
Sara’s Rating:
So many books, so little time. I have a few Tessa Dare novels in my Kindle that I'm dying to read!
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