If you love dark, tortured, emotionally starved heroes who eventually recognize that they’ve fallen HARD for the heroine then may I rec Kerrigan Byrne.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from her latest release, All Scot & Bothered, but I really enjoyed it, barring a couple of reservations. More on that later.

Cecelia Teague is a mathematician, spinster, & Red Rogue. She unexpectedly inherits a school from her aunt & learns that it’s funded by gambling.

Chief Justice Cassius Ramsay, an unforgiving Judgy McJudgerson, believes that the school is actually a front for kidnapping & human trafficking. In his raid of the school Cecelia adopts the disguise of The Scarlet Lady.

Our hero has very reluctant pants feelings for both women, Cecelia & The Scarlet Lady, not realizing that they are one & the same. He’s also been celibate for 7+ years & has no plans of changing that, especially because women are the worst yada yada yada & The Scarlet Lady is the worst of them all.

This book has a few things you might love-


She’s soft; he’s hard (lots of jokes we could make there).

A misogynist hero who comes to some big realizations, though I wanted them to go even further since they’re so tied up to how amazing Cecelia specifically is. What about other women, pal?

A spectacles-wearing, plump heroine who doesn’t like confrontation but stands up for herself w/ him.

The # of times said heroine stares at how his muscles move under his clothes.



But I do think there’s a convo romance could have about how the Italian Count is described, & race & ethnicity in general in this book, my overall reading of which was indirectly informed by a series of Tweets by a romance reader who had issues with a lot of the book, including how it handles the topics of misogyny & race. If you’re thinking about picking this one up I definitely rec that you read reviews written by POC.

With that being said overall for me this is mostly another transporting book written by a master at pulling heartstrings. But is anyone else hoping for a KB book w/ a heroine who goes scorched Earth on the hero for a sec?

4 ⭐️. All Scot & Bothered is out now. Thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC & finished copy. All opinions provided are my own.

Kerrigan Byrne did it again! Page Turner with a lot of romance, Cecelia and Cassius are there to entertain you and make sure you have a good time reading this book. Beautiful romance at its best!

When going into this, the synopsis instantly captivated me. I adore a Scottish historical romance. I love an unconventional pairing. I love a hint of scandal and intrigue!

This just did not tick my boxes. However, it isn't because the book is written badly. Not by any means. This book was so freaking well-written. I loved the historical aspects, the unconventional plays on gender and gender expectations for that time period. However, I didn't enjoy the hero of the story and I guess I just didn't jive with the heroine either. I was really wanting to love this story, but I didn't enjoy the way the steamy scenes were written (they felt far too long and drawn out and I didn't like the terms used in them).

Overall, I just didn't like how the author fleshed out her characters. I'm a very character-focused reader. I love to connect with who I'm reading, but I just couldn't with this book. Ramsey was just not the kind of guy I like.

One quote I liked, however, was:

"She wept because people were so unkind. Because they preyed upon one another in ways she couldn't begin to imagine, and that fact made her feel helpless and afraid."
~@59% of the novel~

That quote just sums up a good portion of my mental state in 2020... if that tells you anything.

There were a lot of good moments in this book, but I just didn't really enjoy the main couple as much as I've enjoyed others.

I do plan on continuing my search for my favorite Kerrigan Byrne novel because I definitely have a couple more queued up for future reading.

OHMYGOD. I love this series. Admittedly, I'm fairly new to all things Kerrigan Byrne but I have read a few of her novels and short stories and I want to read all of her work because it's just so dang engaging.



In the case of All Scot and Bothered and Cecelia and Lord Ramsay, I absolutely adored their push and pull and especially loved how independent Cecilia was. Even knowing the Red Rogues and their desire to be independent women, I found Cecelia's brand of strong woman to be so appealing (while thinking about how far we've come and how glad I'll hopefully never have to fight for my right to be who I want). I also enjoyed how Cecelia and Ramsay were on a collision course of wills and love and we could all see it and knew it was coming and yet there was no way to dream up how much fun it was to read them struggling against each other and for each other. The intrigue of who was behind the misdeeds going on behind the scenes, the involvement of Cecelia and Ramsay and their friends and family, and resolution of that subplot were interesting and well done.



I'm absolutely thrilled that there's at least one more book coming out in this series and I have an idea of who will be coupled up and I CANNOT WAIT. It's going to be so much fun.

I got an ARC on Netgalley, thank you Ms Byrne and St. Martin's Paperbacks

I loved this book and it's so hard to review books that I loved, but I will give it a try! This is the 2nd in the Devil you know series and it takes place a few months after book 1.

The hero and the heroine met before and they kind of like/dislike each other from afar. They are kind of pushed together when Cecelia inherits her aunt's business. She and Ramsey are on different parts of the law... It was fun to see them but heads, but also heart breaking...

This is one of Ms Byrne's lightest books, but don't think it's light. We have murders, tragic pasts, and lots of emotional characters and moments. I can't wait to read the last friend's book, Francesca, and read about her past.

Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by this book. I’m starting to think that Kerrigan Byrne and I just don’t mesh all that well.

There are a couple things that I really enjoyed about this: Cecelia is a tall, plus sized, bookish heroine! Also there was a pretty good plot twist at the end, definitely didn’t see it coming.

Other than that, I think the pacing could have been done better and I feel like there was almost too much angst in the romance? I just got tired of the back and forth between Ramsay and Cecelia after a while. By the 85% mark, I started to skim the book bc I just wanted to get to the end.

**Thabk you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!**

Kerrigan Byrne again had me up way past my bedtime reading her lovely writing. This story was a little sweet, a little sad, and very angsty. Byrne's beautiful lush prose highlights superb character development and depth, along with a ton of sexual tension. Her story lines trend to a darker side, with some violence and serious subject matter. I was pleased in this book for the lead characters to join forces early, with an initial deception not lasting the entire novel. I enjoy the way Byrne pulls in just a tease near the end to set up the next book. 4.5 stars. I read this from a digital ARC, but will buy my own copy in paperback to go with my Kerrigan Byrne collection.

This kinda fell flat for me. I love a good historical romance with strong main characters but these were flawed in a way that didn’t make them more likeable, just annoying. The author tries to be inclusive by having a fat heroine but there’s still fat shaming and body issues. If you’re going to have a big girl be the lead, own it! Give her confidence and love her body, stop shaming her. The love interest felt a bit like a caricature of the typical historical romance male.
I almost missed the POC and queer rep because it happened so quickly, but SPOILER ALERT, they’re the villains.
2 stars, a solid ‘muh’ from me.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I sure do love Kerrigan Byrne's writing.
Cecelia's young life was heartbreaking. I'm so happy that she has her friends Alexandra and Francesca. They have minor roles in this story.
The dynamic between Cecelia and Lord Ramsay was contentious for most of the book. There is a romantic chemistry, but Ramsay denies it for most of the book. A little bit like Darcy to Elizabeth.
Cecelia is a curvy, intelligent beauty. She was beaten down by her guardian and by remarks about her weight and showing her intelligence.
I loved it when Cecelia stood up for herself. She hated the thought of a woman being nothing without a man. She did have some breaks good and bad. She was determined to make a good life for herself.
There are some sweet scenes with little Phoebe. I'd love to see her story when she's an adult.
I'm looking forward to Francesca's (Frank) book.

If you have read any of my reviews, you know my favorite Hs are tall, dark, built, and with a brogue :) Cassius Gerard Ramsay, self-made man and Lord Chief Justice of the High Court hits 3/4 of those (he's blond - not holding that against him) ;) Though he is certainly not without flaws... His childhood was less than ideal in that his mother essentially abandoned him, and his father drank himself to death. His step-father (a duke who fell for his mother's "charms") eventually brought him into the new family fold and sent him to finishing school and on to college; this enabled Ramsay to make good on the promise he made himself: he would be someone important and he would not compromise his very high moral standards in order to achieve his goals. Thus, Ramsay has been nicknamed the "Vicar of Vice" - he is literally all work and no play, at least since he was betrayed nearly 8 years ago by a woman. Since then, he has been on a mission to clean up the streets of London, starting with the Scarlet Lady who runs a "school" that he is convinced is a cover for a house of ill repute that might be guilty of an even more atrocious crime: selling young girls to the highest bidder.

Cecelia Teague has just inherited Miss Henrietta’s School for Cultured Young Ladies with the passing of her benefactor. While it is an actual school, it's connected to a gaming hell that funds the education of women and young ladies who would otherwise not have the opportunity to advance themselves. As a highly educated mathematician, Cecelia is passionate about keeping the school open to help those in need, but one of her best friend's new brother-in-law is dead set on closing it down. Cecelia first met Cassius Ramsay at the wedding of Alexandra to the Duke of Redmayne (the H/h couple from book 1 of this series), who happens to be Ramsay's younger half-brother. She immediately felt a connection to Ramsay unlike she ever had with anyone in the past, but his seemingly cold demeanor and lack of flexibility in life has put her off a bit though she is certain there is more to him than he lets on. And at a recent gathering, he proves it by passionately kissing her. But now he is on a mission to shut down her benefactor's life's work. Can Cecelia convince Ramsay that he does not have to be so black and white about everything? Will Ramsay be willing to trust another woman after his own mother and former fiancee betrayed him? And what will happen when a mysterious group known as the Crimson Council threatens to destroy them both?

Things I liked:
--- The main characters were likeable in general and were a good match
--- I love the "gentle giant" type that goes all alpha protector when his lady is in danger, and Ramsay DEFINITELY delivers there
--- The Red Rogues (the group that Cecelia, Alexandra, and Francesca formed as girls in school) ride again! (It was fun to have both women involved in the story)
--- Mystery & intrigue abound!

Things I didn't like as much:
--- Cecelia was very concerned about her body image throughout the story - I understand that the man who raised her to age 13 was cruel and taunted her about her weight, but her constant worries about it was at odds with her "devil may care/I do what I want" attitude in life and it detracted from the story to an extent --- also a pet peeve of mine that the cover model does not reflect the "curvy/chunky" descriptions of her AT ALL
--- While I liked the mystery going on in the story, when everything came together, it felt really rushed and a little silly that no one knew anything about this group (the Crimson Council) that is supposedly centuries old

Overall, a solid story by a great author with almost all of the elements I enjoy most in my romances! I am looking forward to Francesca's story to conclude this trilogy!

Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 5/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- some (f word)
POV --- 3rd

*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I usually love Kerrigan Byrne’s books, this one however was just not for me. I loved that Cecelia is smart and has had an education. I didn’t like how often Cecelia’s body size was put in a negative light, like about how her arms were so big and she was shocked Ramsay could encircle them with his hand. I loved that she was curvy and not a stick. I don’t think there’s enough books with curvy heroines, but I felt there was a lot of fat shaming by others and also the heroine herself. Ramsay was ok, I didn’t really connect with their relationship. I also felt like the ending was sort of abrupt. There was all this danger and missing girls but the resolution was only a couple pages, and felt sort of rushed.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one -

A hulking Viking/bear/lion of a man - recalcitrant. Angry. Mommy issues. And woman hurt him once so he mistrusts them all.
Meets a shy, awkward, brainiac. He likes her. He resents her. He treats her abominably. But it’s okay! Bc sex! And muscles! And woman have mistreated him so! He cannot be blamed for his actions.
Insert isolated location. Misunderstandings. Oral sex. Danger. A big reveal. And him being an asshole to protect both himself and her.
Oh, you have read it? Once or twice? Or 74 times? Weird.
And, though it’s been done to death, it’s still done a mess here. I’m not sure what was happening. Or why. Nothing seemed necessary. Everyone was vapid and awful. It was, at points, a painful read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.


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This is the second in this series and I throughly enjoyed the first one. When I saw the arc being offered on #NetGalley, I was glad to be one of the first to read it. Kerrigan Byrne’s stories are alway filled with the most interesting characters and non linear plots. Just when you think you have the character figured out, she ads another element. Far from the typical romantic guy you find in many romance books, these guys come from barbaric, gritty, Scottish ancestors. And the female characters are just as interesting.
Cecelia Teague is a mathematician, unheard of for a woman in that day and age. Her beginning in life is dark and painful, but it doesn’t affect her positive attitude. She is part of the longtime school chum threesome of Lady Francesca and Lady Alexandra. The three women have been inseparable for decades.
Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court, is a man of mysterious origin, strict principles, and zero indulgences. He is large and rough-hewn man and the brother-in-law of her friend, Alexandria.
And strange circumstances brings the two of them together as enemies and as allies.

Kerrigan Byrne's All Scot and Bothered (The Devil You Know 2) is a lovely historical romance. Cecelia Teague, the second book of a trio of friends who call themselves the Red Rogues, finds herself wrapped up in a possible scandal upon the death of her aunt. To make things worse, she finds herself drawn to Cassius Gerard Ramsy is spearheading the investigation into her new inheritance.

Cecelia and Ramsy are a wonderful couple. Their insecurities equally get in their way at times, but their friendship and passion for each other help to balance that out. Any story has a certain amount of conflict for the couple, but it did not get drawn out to the point that I was questioning the characters' intelligence.

I love Ramsy's sense of duty. He seems a bit stuffy at first, but it quickly fades away. Cecelia was a woman with her own mind, which is refreshing, and I honestly appreciated she was voluptuous.

There was a great mystery also present in All Scot and Bothered, one that I did not fully suss out before the reveal. I appreciate when there is something else going on in a romance other than an internal struggle with the characters.

I would highly recommend All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne for any historical romance fan. I cannot wait for the next adventure of the Red Rogues.

Cecelia Teague was born into a loveless home with a self-righteous vicar who regularly abused her. Rescued by a mysterious benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past, Cecelia finds herself with opportunity and friends she never imagined. When a shocking inheritance comes her way, she finds herself with not only opportunity, but grave danger. Cassius Gerard Ramsay is the Lord Chief Justice of the High Court and has made it his personal mission to solve a mystery that leads him right to Cecelia’s door. What happens when the truth comes to light? What happens with the rigid and disciplined Ramsay lets himself want? Trust? When the kindhearted, generous Cecelia has to fight? Will they fight for love and justice?

Hello, my name is Eliza and I have a thing for grumpy, shouty, giant Scotsmen. It has been 2 days since my last swoon. Truly, friends. This is a grumpy/sunshine of EPIC proportions. Ramsay is so grumpy, so cranky, so shouty, so HUGE that I was like Michael Jackson eating popcorn at the beginning of Thriller while I read this. If Michael had then started squealing and upended the popcorn bucket all over himself from the swoon. Tragic backstory + slow to trust + quick to love + giant protect = SWOON. I am done.

As for Cecelia? I would like to say thank you to Kerrigan Byrne for writing a curvy heroine who is not only quite curvy, but also bespectacled. AND THE HERO IS HERE FOR IT. None of this bullshit about corseting or removing the spectacles to “see her face.” Nope. He thinks that she’s pretty much a wet dream just the way she is (spoiler alert: she is). This is not to say that all of society is as enlightened. There is fat-shaming in this book from certain members of Cecelia’s life and past but they are given zero credence. Cecelia is brilliant (a mathemetician), funny (a true wit), caring and kind (so, so kind), and doesn’t give a flying fuck what society has to say about her or what she does. BRAVA.

I devoured this book, friends. It is rompy without feeling trite, has a hint of danger throughout, and a whodunnit that I frankly did not see coming. Not to mention, the cast of supporting characters are truly divine. If you like a Victorian romance that is sexy and a bit suspenseful, check this one out.

Kiss and tell:
Oh, buddies, does this book have some steam. Kissing, hand play, oral, and p&v penetration, each with Cecelia driving the train with all that sexy autonomy of hers. Get it, girl. GET IT.

I have mixed feelings about the Kerrigan Bryne I've read, but I absolutely adored <i>How to Love a Duke in 10 Days,</i> which broke my heart and put it back together in the sexiest way possible. I was very excited for the next in the series, but <i>All Scot and Bothered</i> didn't quite hit the mark for me.

There's a lot to love in the actual relationship. Once Bryne had Cecelia and Ramsay holed up together talking about feelings, things start to flow.

To get there, though, you have to wade through quite a mess. The dangers and mysteries that surround Ceceila are convoluted and distracting. There's just too much going on, and the characters feel crammed into circumstances that don't fit them. Bryne has to work so hard to force Cecelia into her perilous double identity that the poor woman doesn't have any agency in the first half of the book. I'm still unclear about some basic aspects of Cecelia's life. I don't really understand what she was up to before this book or how everything was set in motion.

Also-- I wish Bryne could figure out another way to write romance with a fat girl than to pair her with the stereotypically brawny, lusty, primitive, near-monstrous Scot. Bryne certainly isn't alone in this, and there's only so many times I can read this same pairing before I wonder why the curvy girl can't land someone that couldn't toss her over his shoulder.

And, of course, the fastest way to guarantee I won't be purchasing my own copy of this book is to have a slim model on the cover when the character is curvy or plus-size on the page. It's 2020-- so hugely disappointing.

It’s no surprise, given the rating, that I was all hot and bothered by Kerrigan Byrne’s latest addition to the Devil You Know. Unlike the first book, All Scot and Bothered leans toward the lighter side of the angst spectrum while still giving both characters complex personalities and heart-wrenching backstories. I was so pleased with both our hero and heroine. I looked forward to both POVs equally, each voice giving all the feels, smiles, and more than a bit of squirming in my seat at times.

Cecelia was a delightful character; voluptuous, warm-hearted, intelligent, and a fiercely loyal friend. Exactly the sort of character I could identify with, root for, and wish she was among my friends. Even when inheriting a gambling establishment proves to be an interesting complication for Cecelia, she steps up to the plate without a second thought.

Cassius was the perfect blend of grumpy, protective, and utterly smitten with Cecelia’s soft-heart and luscious curves. The sexual tension was red hot! Heart pounding, thigh squeezing, blush inducing thoughts from Cassius in the beginning set an enthralling stage for their romance. I had no issues imagining not only the physical attraction between Cassius and Cecelia, but their growing respect and love for one another.

A perfect blend of mystery and romance, Kerrigan delivers another couple that I adore. I can hardly wait to get my greedy paws on book three! While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading book one (How to Love a Duke in Ten Days) so you have more background for Cecelia and her beloved friends.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I might be a little unorthodox by reading the 2nd book in the Devil You Know series, but I didn't find any issue picking up on the characters and references from the first book, making All Scot and Bothered a very excellently structured book.

I read this accompanied by the audiobook on Scribd, and it was my first time listening to a historical romance read by a man, which made it a unique experience. I really liked the narrator, and this is coming from someone who listens to audiobooks in x2 speed. It was expressive and very good in emphasizing the right emotions in the proper scenes. I was extremely taken in by the narrator's style.

The book picks up with lady Cecilia receiving news that she's inherited a gambling establishment that's also a school for girls, except there are many layers to this inheritance and Cecilia must fight not only enemies trying to snuff the school out of existence, but also her. There's danger to her life and to a young girl named Phoebe who Cecilia intends to raise as her own.

I was immediately taken in by the writing, as it was engaging and fast paced, just as I prefer my historical romance. There's also an extremely moving character arc for Cecilia, of her determination in pursuing her own happiness and her dreams of keeping the school despite every adversary coming in her way; even if it's the man with whom she's falling madly in love.

There were a couple of instances where the writing veered towards cissexism, talking of "feminine" and "masculine" attributes that I didn't care for, but they weren't extremely jarring enough to take me out of the flow of the novel.

Aspect of the intimacy I enjoyed: That Cecilia was a virgin but not "virginal" in a way, how she approached it as not something to "be given" or "lose" it was refreshing to read, actually. Also, Ramsey was gentle without being patronizing.

I don't read a lot of historical romance but what I am reading appeals to me a lot. I'm interested in more of Byrne's backlist.

I adore this author’s books and writing. I struggled a bit with this one. I am not sure if it was the pacing of the story or the hero. Cecilia made the story for me. I adored her. I was impressed that I never guessed the true villain of the story. The redemption of the hero was a but quick for me and I felt the book needed an epilogue.

I don't know what it is, but, there is little I love more than watching a big, strong, scary, I'm-always-right kinda man fall. And Ramsey falls hard.

Ramsey has been burned by love and women and life, so he's tough and strict and generally shuts himself off from anything that might bring him any enjoyment. Until he meets Cecelia Teague. This is a classic sunshine and grump story and I'm a huge sucker for those. Cecelia has also been burned by life, but she's has this ultimate positive personality. The second they meet, they are both drawn to the other. Him with mistrust, her with intrigue.

There's a lot of mystery and danger surrounding their love story, which leads to an eye opening, and at times sexy, getaway to hide out. They also take Jean-Yves, whom I love, with them, and he's definitely able to provide both with reason when they need it. Also, Phoebe, I just love Phoebe so freaking much. She's so cute and has such a strong personality, I just adore her.

I love how hard Ramsey falls and how he lets down all his walls, to allow room in his life for love and happiness.

I love the ladies in this book so much and I cannot wait to read Francesca's story!!