Grace Ware is an enemy of the English crown along with her father, an Irish military commander of Napoleon’s defeated army. On top of that, her mother, was an exiled Scottish Jacobite. On a the way to deliver a new message to the wife of Napolean’s brother things went terribly wrong. Her father and his footmen slain and Grace was in the run for her life. While running from her father’s murderers through the harbor alleyways of Antwerp, she hid in a crate never realizing that said crate would then be sealed moved aboard a ship.Grace’s luck went from bad to worse when the crate was delivered to the home of an aristocrat in the Scottish Borders. Baronsford is the last place she could expect to find safety, and Grace feigns a loss of memory to buy herself time while she recovers.

Hugh Pennington—Viscount Greysteil, Lord Justice of the Scottish Courts, and a hero of the Napoleonic wars—is also a grieving widower with a death wish. When he receives an expected crate from the continent, he is shocked to find a nearly dead woman inside. Her identity is unknown, and the handful of American coins and the precious diamond sown into her dress only deepen her mystery.

*** This was an absolutely terrific read with an amazing adventure and truly sensual romance. Grace had spent her entire life caring for her father after her mother’s passing. Bad enough to have seen her father’s murdered bloody body but when trying to escape she had the misfits to hide in a crate, which was then sealed and loaded onto a ship without food or water for five days. When Hugh Pennington discovered her half dead body it was no wonder she wasn’t forthcoming with information about herself. After the many days it took for her to recover, she discovered she was in the home of a man who had every reason to detest her for her father’s actions during the war.

However, there was even more hurdles to overcome when both began to feel the passion that seemed to be brewing in each others hearts and to realize someone out there was still looking to capture and/or kill Grace for the secrets she was carrying without knowing herself what they were.

Truly a great read and one I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Marilyn Rondeau

I recently read a short story by the writing team that makes up May McGoldrick (Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick.) It has in a book called “Christmas in Kilts” and was by far my favorite short story in the book. I was so impressed that I wanted to read the first in their new series, “Romancing the Scot”. I was also pleased to find the writing team has an older series that will ties in as well (previous generations of The Pennington Family.)

The story in this book is beautiful and lyrical, frankly one of the best that I have read in years. There is intrigue and plot points and the romance is lovely. However, there is even more to the story. The writing team has taken the time in blend into this story true events about the time. From the sad deaths on the battlefield to the plight of the deaf/mute and the Irish, there are events that actually took place which are melded seamlessly into the storyline.

I’m looking forward to reading the future books in this series for the love stories (which while not graphic are definitely adult in nature) but also for an education on the events and social conventions of the time.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed Hugh and Grace's story!

Talk about a crazy start to a relationship!! Being delivered in a box nearly dead is a crazy way to start a relationship. Add to that, that Hugh thinks that Grace has lost her memory. Wow!

McGoldrick does a wonderful job of weaving the mystery in with the romance. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

This story had a lot of surprises, secrets, danger, and love. Grace is a fighter, and I loved the emotional journey of hers. She loses a lot, could lose more, but learns to trust in a man and his family. Hugh's fair justice, even when he is forced to take a closer look at his methods, and willingness to admit wrong doing made him a great hero. This story did not stop moving and kept me wanting more. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to the next in the series.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

I have mentioned before that I have a tendancy to become "stuck" so to say on authors in categories that I enjoy. As a result I can sometimes be skeptical of reading someone new. I have to say that not only was I plesantly surprised by May McGoldrick and Romancing the Scot but I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Romancing the Scot was a great late night break from my English paper writing! Once I picked it up it was as if the stresses of teh world just melted away and there I was in the beautiful landscpate May McGoldrick had to offer. My heart sored and was broken, it beat a tousand times and stopped a thousand more. Really this was one of the best books I have picked up recently. I almost do not want to write this review because I refuse to go to much into detail and give out spoilers but I loved it so much I am finding it difficult to do so.




Characters - 5 Grace was written beautifully and all of the details put into the characters really paid off.

Plot - 5 It was daring, adventurous, comical, and the flow was perfect

Addictiveness - 5 I could not go back to my paper until it was over.

Loved it, loved it, loved it! I have read all of their historical romances and have loved all of them. This book is no exception. The heroine is super intelligent, and spunky, while the hero is strong, fair and caring. Hated to see it end; am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I loved "Borrowed Dreams" by May McGoldrick, which is one of my All-time-favorites and I seriously can't tell you how often I've read and re-read that book. "Romancing the Scot" is the first book in the series about the Pennington Family, the book about the next generation.
Everything that I loved about "Borrowed Dreams" and its wonderful characters, can be found in this book again. You can feel Lyon and Millicent in their children and their children's actions and values. Their pursuit of justice and of what is right, their compassion and their love for those around them, are the perfect mixture of their parents' qualitites that I loved so much. And of course, we get to meet Lyon and Millicent as well.

If you read "Borrowed Dreams", you might remember Jo, sweet little Jo, whose birth we witnessed and well, there's also Hugh, Lyon's and Millicent's son. We meet those two in "Romancing the Scot" at a time, when Hugh slowly starts to open up to the possibility of loving again after having suffered a terrible loss during the war. Enters Grace, a young woman who is saved by Hugh and nursed back to health by Hugh and Jo. Grace has lost everything but she might just have found the one place where she finds a purpose and maybe even a place for her to stay. If she can avoid being killed or being convicted as a traitor, of course.

Right from the start this book felt so right that I already knew that this would become another favorite of mine. This is a book that I'll definitely read again and again and again and that I'll simply have to buy in print as well.

I loved this. This is the story of Hugh and Grace. Grace is on the run and hiding from the English. Her father was part of Napoleon's army who had just lost the war. Her mother a Scottish Jacobite. She meets Hugh in time of need. If you love historical romance then give this ago. Really enjoyed the writing style of this author duo.

This story hooked me from the beginning and was fast paced all the way through. Loved the romance and suspense intertwined throughout the book. Hugh and Grace were perfect for each other and I loved that they healed one another. They had wonderful chemistry and this story had the perfect amount of steam. Great start to this series and I can't wait to read Jo's story.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

If you like regency romances with a bit of danger, intrigue and suspense then this book fits the bill nicely. I found it exciting and romantic. The characters were well written and the spy business plausible.
The cover of the book isn't my cup of tea and normally would be enough for me to pass it by if I saw in a shop. However, the blurb drew me in and I couldn't put the book down once I'd started it. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series when it is published.

This was a fun one to read. Hugh Pennington knows loss. He's lost his family and he served in the wars. For him his home in scotland is where he belongs, and he enjoys the quiet and his family. When he receives an unexpected addition to his cargo....well his life will never be the same again.

I loved Grace's character. She's strong, smart, and knows how to care for herself. On top of that she cares about those closest to her. Being locked in a crate isn't quite what she expected when she and her father left America. But hey things happen right?

There is mystery, love, and friendship in this one. One of the better historical reads i have read in a while.

Romancing the Scot wasn't the first book by May McGoldrick I'd read and reviewed. I was previously asked by St Martin's Press to review Christmas in Kilts, a short story anthology which had a story by May McGoldrick. Christmas in Kilts is part of my SMP Christmas Blog Blitz post as part of a blogging event that the publisher was running on October 17 2017.

Romancing the Scot was a very interesting historical romance which pulled me right into the story as its so atmospheric. It's full of tension, suspense and romance. I'm glad it's part of a series and want to read more.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and May McGoldrick for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

One hallmark of a superior author is the ability to write interesting storylines that occur in different eras. The author duo, May McGoldrick is this type of author. Most of their previous offerings take place in medieval Highlands, however their newest book is set in the post Napoleonic era. Like their previous books, it is full of danger, intrigue, great characters, and a fast paced storyline. Grace Ware's father was a Napoleon supporter, having served in his army. Hugh Pennington, Viscount Greysteil is a Lord Justice in Edinburgh, having served in the British army. They are a very unlikely couple, but do find each other and love. Since I do not like to give spoilers, you must read this book to find out how it happens. It will be well worth your time. I have ever read a May McGoldrick book I have not liked. It is so easy to get lost in the pages of their stories. The best part is this book is the beginning of a new series about the Penningtons. Since there are quite a few of them, it bodes well for a lot of good reading in the future.

Romancing the Scot is not your typical Highland novel. There are no kilted barbarians wielding swords defending clan honor. This is a sophisticated historical filled with intrigue, secondary characters that steal your heart, and main characters that make you long for their happy ending. May McGoldrick has combined history with fictional characters to end in one great story! Don’t miss this one!

I found this book to be intriguing and it kept me spellbound. It seems Grace literally landed in Hugh's life. But with the mystery surrounding Grace. I wasn't sure they were going to make it. But it seems true love won out in the end. I love happily ever afters and this book surely doesn't disappoint. Great plot, full of love, mystery and of course history. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved the originality of this story. Imagine opening a shipping crate and finding a woman inside... and a half-dead one, at that! This unique tale and its cast of wonderful and heartwarming characters was thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next installment in the Pennington series.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this story from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Romancing the Scot is a great book filled with action and romance! Grace Ware takes care of her father who is an Irish military commander. When he is murdered, she escapes and hides in a basket within a crate. When the basket is shipped to Scotland, it is opened by Hugh Pennington, Viscount Greysteil. When he opens the crate, he finds Grace barely alive. He and his sister, Jo, tenderly nurse Grace back to health. Grace knows she is in a place that would oppose her if they knew of her father and her heritage so she pretends to have no memory.

She does however have a brilliant mind and memory for written words. She challenges Hugh on some of his practices and prejudices as a Lord Justice. Hugh realizes she is right and works to rectify some of the mistakes he has made. Grace and Hugh realize they have strong feelings for one another. Hugh is a widow and has been grieving the past eight years, but Grace makes him realize what love it. But can he protect her? When she is attacked and almost abducted, he realizes she is in danger and he formulates a plan to protect her and to get her to stay by his side.

Romancing the Scot is well written and I look forward to reading more about the Pennington family. I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of people who are on opposites side of the law.
Grace and her father are couriers except she doesn't know what she is really carrying. When trouble hits she escapes.
Hugh is waiting on a delivery but when he opens it he gets the shock of his life. It is a women not what he is waiting for.
Grace is lucky she ended up where she did and is cared for until she is well. She just has to hope her secret doesn't come out when she realizes who saved her.

Hugh and his sister help to heal Grace and she finds a place in their hearts. When trouble comes her way while under their care she has to decide if she should come clean or not.
In the end it all works out for the best.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is the first story in a new series focussing on the Pennington family and, in this book, the hero is Hugh Pennington, who is Viscount Greysteil and Lord Justice of the Scottish Courts. He lives on the family estate at Baronsford in Scotland after serving the Crown in the Napoleonic Wars during which his wife and son tragically died.

Grace Ware travelled incognito from America to Antwerp with her very ill father, an Irish military commander of some renown in the defeated army of Napoleon, at the behest of Napoleon’s brother. On their arrival she endeavours to get her father to safety but they are attacked. She escapes and hides in a crate in a warehouse, only to be sealed into it, unable to escape and transported, without food or drink, across the sea.

When Hugh opens the crate, he discovers Grace near to death. With no idea who she is or how she got into the crate, Hugh and his sister are determined to do all in their power to save her. Grace is unsure where she is or who she is staying with and, when she realises she is in Scotland she is reticent to confess her own identity and past for fear of being charged with treason. She has a eidetic memory but pretends she doesn’t know who she is or what has happened to her. However, as the attraction between Grace and Hugh grows, her dilemmas grow - should she confess and risk being charged with treason or escape to remove any blame being placed on Hugh and his family? When someone who knows her from Napoleon’s court visits, dangers mount and pressures increase, how can she resolve everything? Will love find a way?

Wow, from the very beginning of this story it is an action packed start to this new series. The intrigue, secrets and mystery are paramount throughout the story which has well developed characters with whom it is easy to empathise. Hugh has a tragic past and Grace has a markedly positive impact on him. She is feisty, knowledgeable and speaks her mind, sometimes revealing more than she meant to! I liked how she gets Hugh to reevaluate his attitudes to the Irish and helps him investigate matters to help a case involving a lady who is both deaf and mute. The relationships are realistically portrayed and it is a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more about the Penningtons in future books in this series.

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.