I enjoyed this historical romance that captivated me immediately and had me hanging onto every word until I finished the book with complex characters , drama, danger and so much more. I loved strong, independent Cecilia Teague and her dynamic with the other characters, especially the other two Red Rogues and Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. If you enjoy smartly written historical romance with strong characters, don't miss "All Scot and Bothered" by Kerrigan Byrne. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Wonderful! Characters had a genuineness that made the story so relatable. Both the hero and the heroine had felt rejection in their lives, and this made them appreciate each other even more. I loved that the misconceptions and misrepresentations were quickly resolved and didn't bog down the story. Great writing. I experienced heart pangs and tears.

ARC provided through Netgalley.

This is a book I have been waiting a year for and wow it was so worth the wait. I cannot tell you how much I loved Cecelia!

Cecelia Teague is the second of the three Red Rouges to get her HEA and I have to say for a while there I was wondering if it was actually going to happen because Cassius Gerard Ramsay AKA Lord Chief Justice of the High Court was someone that I really had my doubts about.

Cecelia's Aunt has passed away and left her a gaming hell (a brothel) and a boat load of secrets and one sweet little girl, Phoebe, to care for. Cecelia was always the odd duck, the plump girl that was great with numbers so she was always made fun of, but it was the way she was treated by her father that broke my heart.

Cassius Ramsay was a hard man for me to like at first but that was because I love Cecelia so much and he was trying to close down her business, although he didn't know she was the owner. There were also crimes against children going on and he thought said owner was the cause of them. UGGHHH sometimes men cannot see what is right in front of them. And Kerrigan Byrne did a great job of showing just that LOL

This was a wonderful addition to the trilogy and I cannot wait for Francesca's story, thankfully I don't have to wait a year for that one...just until March.

If you enjoy Historical Romances that have as much steam as suspense this one is for you!

Happy Reading!!!

Kerrigan Byrne returns to her sublime Devil You Know series with another breathtaking love story that is ripe with intrigue, sexual tension, and feminist strength. By consistently delivering tales that are anchored by fiery, resilient, unapologetically brazen heroines, Byrne continues to reach new depths in her portrayal of women who are unwilling to let anyone else dictate their own destiny, and this book is no exception. It’s the story of a young mathematician whose scandalous inheritance makes her the target of a man who’s made it his mission to close down all of London’s most notorious dens of vice, but their attraction burns far brighter than their immediate differences, and as danger begins to stir, they must work together to bring their enemy into the light. Byrne infuses her characters with self-awareness and agency, gently probing questions of patriarchy and internalized misogyny in them, thus delivering a tale that remains true to its characters while also dazzling with its romantic plot and sensuous writing. A real treat!

READ FULL REVIEW » https://natashaisabookjunkie.com/2020/10/02/review-all-scot-and-bothered-by-kerrigan-byrne/

All Scot and Bothered is the second title in the Devil You Know series, and it certainly swept me off my feet and into a sensuous, funny, intriguing romance.

Everything you really need to know can be found in the cover description of All Scot and Bothered. What you won’t find there are the emotions this story will bring out in you – anger at times, sadness at other times, laughter at the bantering, annoyance at the shaming moments, and complete bafflement at certain actions by both Cecelia or Cassius. Add to that the sexy steaminess that just pours from these two and you find a funny, sexy, involved romance with a lot of unknowns or outside influences taking place.

I do have to admit that as much as I enjoyed this romance there were moments of inconsistencies with the actions of characters. I went past it, but I did stop a few times and think, “They did what?!”

I enjoyed the times with Cecelia’s friends the Red Rogues, although they came very close to ousting themselves – close call. I liked Cassius, he’s rough, opinionated, always right (at least in his mind), but when faced with a woman who meets all of his desires then he can turn into mush (for a bit) – but he’s always a proud man, and definitely one sexy man. I adored Cecelia for many reasons but probably mostly because she is secure in who she is a curvy, voluptuous woman, she might question other’s reactions to her but she knows her own worth (most of the time). She’s trying desperately to walk in two far different worlds all the while falling in love with the one man who could ruin her life. I liked her, but I loved them together.

In all, I had a good time with All Scot and Bothered, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next story in the Devil You Know series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

ALL SCOT AND BOTHERED by Kerrigan Byrne is book Two in the Devil You Know Series. This is the story of Cecelia Teague and Cassius Gerard Ramsay. I have read the previous book which did add to my enjoyment of this one, but you can read it as a standalone book. Cecelia had a terrible start in life but along the way she able to go move past her questionable start and has moved forward to be a lady who now in her present day has secrets. Cecelia has been given a inheritance that includes a Gambling Hall. Now she is living a dual life of being the proper young women and owner of a gambling hall. Ramsay is her best friends brother in law, along with being the Lord Chief Just of the High Court. There attraction to each other runs hot but Ramsay out to take down the owner of the gambling hall unknown to him that the women he is so taken with is the owner. I am such a fan of this author's writing. I do recommend this book along with her others.

I enjoyed this second installment in the Devil You Know series. This is Byrne at her best. There's a gothic quality to her work, with mystery and suspense and atmospheric settings. In All Scot and Bothered, the story ranges from London to Scotland; from a ball to a gambling hell to an isolated cottage in Scotland. I love this perfect blend. It's not overly suspenseful but enough to keep the reader's interest. The darkness that is so prevalent in of some of Byrne's work, does not overtake either the plot or the characters in this one and I loved that. There is an old school quality to this, with an alpha hero, but the heroine is a Victorian woman who is dealing with the misogyny of the age. It's not perfect but it worked for me.

Ramsay is big and imposing and strongly believes in his positions of right and wrong. There is little grey in his world and he is inflexible in how he seeks justice. Cecilia Teague knows all about the grey. She is part of the a trio of women who've supported each other since school days (introduced in Book 1). She has seen the dark side of the world but radiates her own light. The attraction between them is instant and we go on a great journey to see them both learn to trust and love. The blurb makes note of a hidden identity twist but that is not a long lasting plot point, which I think is a good thing.

Sexy times are hot and on the page. The mystery is wrapped up satisfactorily. And of course we get our happy ever after at the end. Pacing is very good. This wasn't quite "can't put it down" for me but I was fully invested and enjoyed it all the way through.

I think historical romance fans will enjoy this. Byrne fans will be happy with this. Anyone who thought book 1 was overly dark (that's me), will be happier with this one. This also works as a standalone. Anything needed from Book 1 backstory, is included.

CW: rape of a side character (covered in book 1); child abuse; parent who deserts her children; death of a parent

While I wanted to like the characters, after the initial introduction it all got too complicated (and unnecessarily so). I ended up skimming quite a bit.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing a free copy to read and review.

Cecilia was such a kind and tender hearted person, inspite of her horrendous childhood. Cecilia and Ramsey had both suffered from loneliness, albeit in a different way. Ramsey and Cecilia had an attraction but there were events that caused Ramsey to doubt Cecilia. This was such an entertaining read with a mystery to solve and some dangerous situations. There are some heartfelt and tender moments. Phoebe, Cecilia’s ward, was a little gem and old beyond her years. I’m looking forward to reading about the last of the Red Rogues, Francesca. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All Scot and Bothered is the second story of three school friends, each with a dark secret, and all sworn to keep the confidences and protect each other. Both main characters had traumatic childhoods, but the result of the experiences are vastly different. Cecelia Teague was physically and emotionally abuse by her vindictive Vicar father. After her rescue, she was educated, made friends, and grew to be a kind and caring young woman. On the other hand, Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court, and half-brother to the Duke of Redmayne, is a harsh, closed minded, seemingly unfeeling jerk. His treatment of Cecelia after she inherited her aunt’s gaming hell is abominable. Does he really believe Cecelia capable of the disgusting crimes he accuses her of? If not her, who? How on earth can these two fall in love?

This is a fast paced and suspenseful story packed with action, intrigue, danger, secrets, and betrayal. There are lots of interesting characters here. Some are friends and protectors, some dangerous and deceitful. Phoebe is a surprise and a sweet thing. She is shy and a little fearful at first, but blossoms with Cecelia. The villain is somewhat a shock. Tragedy finally wakes Ramsay up. By the end of the story, he is becoming a reformed jerk. This one is exciting and unpredictable. It’s a good one, and I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne is the second in the Devil You know series. This book is an entertaining and delightful read that stands well on its own. I have not (yet!) read the first book and understood everything going on just fine, the author definitely included enough backstory. All Scot and Bothered is full of passion, humor, and charm, how could it not with the cover art! This is a great book for a weekend away or when you want to lose yourself in some fluff.

Great book! I love grumpy heroes although Ramsey was an ass at times in the beginning, it was quickly evident that he had a thing for Cecelia, whether he realized it or not. Some of the greatest heroes are the taciturn grumpy guys who to turn to absolute mush for their heroine (only one - except when kids come along).

Cecelia is one of three Red Rogues, formed in boarding school after being rescued from horrible circumstances. These girls saved each other and became lifelong friends who are fiercely loyal and protective. They join together to protect her from the Lord Chief Justice (Ramsey) who detests crime in any manner and thinks the owner of the gaming hell/school is trafficking young girls. Why? Cecelia just inherited it.

I also adore kids in books.

This book took me over two weeks to finish (I had to pick up some other ARCs in between and life just got in the way), but I loved every second of this historical romance!

From the start, I loved Cecelia's character. As usual for Kerrigan Byrne, this one has a pretty dark start and there is a trigger warning for abuse. Cecelia is a plus-size heroine and is condemned for that as a child, but she embraces her body as an adult and just wants to live a happy life. I really love her friendship with her two best friends and how we saw the couple from book one so much in this book! It was also adorable how close Cecelia was to the little girl and the father-like figure in her life.

The premise of this book was so fun. Cecelia and Ramsay were falling for each other as themselves, but Ramsay detested Cecelia as her persona that has inherited a gaming hell that may be hiding something dark. Ramsay has no idea the two people he interacts with are the same and is falling for the very woman he claims to detest and want to bring down. Talk about angst! The romance had me swooning. While some of the steamy scenes included some cheesy descriptions, I still enjoyed their romance. There was also quite a bit of suspense in here, which I always love in my romances.

I cannot rave any more about this series! And with the ending of this book, I'm already dying for book three!

This book was absolutely delectable! A plus size heroine that was so brave and selfless and a grumpy, giant Scottsman completely stole my heart. This author's writing is SO beautiful! She just has a way with words that just capture your heart and you are guaranteed to swoon!

Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court was a crotchety, self rightous man who did not partake in pleaures of the flesh and lived with a motto that women should not be trusted. He really is not a character I should have loved but of course every brooding hero has a tragic past and his will pain your heart. He was also SO, SO sexy!
He was built like a conqueror put on this earth to shame and dominate lesser men. He might have been a warlord in days past."


Ramsay and Cecelia meet in the most peculiar way and there is a bit of an enemies to lovers and hidden identity trope in the beginning of the book. Ramsay is WILDLY attracted to Cecelia's soft body and voluptuous curves but has convinced himself that she is a deceiver and not to be trusted. Ramsay was so stubborn minded and his obnoxiousness blinded him to the truth.

Meanwhile kindhearted yet strong willed Cecelia has been entrusted to care for a group of women and children after inheriting a "gambling" establishment. I loved her strength and her willingness to do everything to protect her charges. She was also highly intelligent and particularly gifted in mathematics. This was frowned upon in a world where women should not have such talents.

Once Ramsay comes to his senses and he gives in to his attraction to Cecelia, there is so much steam and incredible chemistry. I loved watching this surly brute of a man begin to soften. He was strength personified when he was protecting Cecelia but he was so tender and loving with her by the end.

There is a mystery unraveling throughout the story filled with suspense. There are also a few shocking moments that added to the overall enjoyment of the story. Cecelia and the other Red Rogues are such amazing women who are bold, intelligent and particularly stand out in their time. Alexandra's book is the first in the series and I highly recommed and I am eagerly awaiting Francessca's book!

4.5 Stars
Historical Romance
Interconnected Standalone (Devil You Know #2)
POV: Dual
Heat Level: Moderate
HEA: Yes

Kerrigan Byrne is giving readers a reason to pre-order with this second installment in the Devil You Know trilogy! Romance, sisterhood, a proper lady business owner, and scorching romance will make the pages of this novel fly by as you read. I was fully invested in the first book and can't wait to finish the trilogy. These books will have a permanent spot on my shelf because I already want to re-read them!

Danger, intrigue, fierce female friendships, an alpha-hole hero, a full figured heroine, and chocolates.

There was a lot going in in All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne, and even with a busy book, it didn't fully capture my attention.

Lord Chief Justice, also known as the Vicar of Vice, Cassius Gerard Ramsay, is playing the 'bad cop' role investigating missing children and has his sights focused on a gaming hell, that just coincidently has come into ownership by the heroine, Cecelia Teague. Lots and lots of story about a mysterious benefactor, unknown relatives, a school for young women, a brothel. See, a lot going on that I felt my attention was being torn into too many directions.

The book starts off with a bang, exploring a small slice of the horrors that Cecilia faced in her childhood. I liked that Cecelia was still full of hope as an adult given the atrocities she went through at a young age. I like that she allowed herself little pleasures in life, like her beloved chocolate truffles. Ramsay, who looks down on anyone who gives into vice and temptation, falls hard for Cecelia. There's definitely an insta-lust component to the book. The sex scenes were hot, but I didn't feel an emotional connection between the two. Ramsey and Cecelia did have some good dialogue (though the descriptions were often venturing into purple prose), Cecelia often held her own, even when I felt Ramsey was being emotional abusive towards her. I just didn't like Ramsey at all, and didn't really feel he was redeemed properly.

You know right away this book isn't going to be roses and butterflies. It's dark and gritty. There's a lot of violence, deaths, abuse, child trafficking. Like other reviewers have pointed out, the only representation of diversity in this book are characterized as the villains, an "Indian man" who is nameless and gets very little page time and a queer woman.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Cecelia right from the start, her strong, intelligent and curvy and not ashamed of it character endeared her to me right from the beginning of the story. It was Cassius who was difficult to love as I didn't like how he treated Cecelia but I understood him better as I read the book and understood his difficult upbringing. He definitely grows on you as you read about him. I loved the angst and the sexy chemistry between the hero and heroine and found it really difficult to put this book down after started reading it. I would definitely recommend this book. This is book two in The Devil You Know series and although it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading it as part of the series.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Are you intrigued by that book blurb? I was and knowing Kerrigan Byrne I knew it would be a good story. Yes, the story had merit. A very proper lawman, Lord Ramsay, trying to shut down what he perceived as an immoral and unlawful blot on the moral, upstanding British society. He was up against a very independent woman, Cecilia Teague, who was not about to give in or give up, no matter the sexual attraction. What let me down were the characters. Ramsay was a bully. Okay, poor man, he had a rough childhood and managed to rise above, but he just didn't endear himself to me. Cecelia, was trying to keep open her inherited gaming hell/ school for young ladies/ questionable brothel. I can't wrap my head around such a place to begin with and why on earth she wanted to keep it all going. Add an orphan, Phoebe, but why? I'm afraid that making Cecelia so stubborn and independent when she shouldn't have been such was really putting me off. So, no, I cannot recommend this book. However Ms. Byrne has many other books certainly worth your read.

Cecelia and Ramsay’s story in All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Bryne, book two in her Devil You Know series, is an amazing story with all the feels and emotions. Cecelia Teague was being raised by an abusive vicar who was her father in name only, not by blood, until a secret benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past removed her from the awful situation. She was sent to a prestigious boarding school, where she met her best friends and formed the Red Rogues, and then to university. Cecelia thought she was on the brink of high society when she discovered that she inherited a gambling establishment, and a young girl to be her ward. Now Cecelia finds herself playing two roles, one as a proper lady who finds herself drawn to Lord Ramsay and then a savvy gaming hall owner trying to save her business from the same man. Cassius Gerard Ramsay, the Lord Chief Justice of the High Court, is a strong and commanding Scot who can be charming but refuses to be made a fool. He is determined to investigate and shut down London’s most notorious gaming hall as well as shut down on child sex-trading. Ramsay found himself attracted to Cecelia, especially in their shared social settings, but could not understand why he was intrigued and desiring the new owner of the gaming hall he was determined to shut down. As Ramsay tried to work through the system of law to prevail other evil doings are destroying the hall; anonymous calls to the law, parts of the hall being blown up and destroyed. Cecelia finds herself being attack and is forced to flee from London with Ramsay and her ward. Traveling to Scotland and spending time together, Ramsay and Cecelia learn so much more about each other; the hurts, the wounds, the loneliness. As they pass their time they find themselves falling in love, learning to compromise, as well as the answers to a few secrets and mysteries. In their case, love refuses to be bounded by rules.

Ms. Byrne provides amazing stories with at least one main character having been through something horrific and heartbreaking. She provided an outstanding tale that was the perfect balance of sweet, sexy, and suspenseful giving Cecelia and Ramsay a chance for happiness, love and a future together. I definitely recommend All Scot and Bothered to other readers and look forward to the next novel in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Cecelia, the heroine, stays all hot and bothered whenever she’s around or even thinks about this handsome, Scotsman, Jekyll & Hyde type, law career climbing hero. That feeling was definitely mutual. Sure, he’s good looking, means well as a crusader for justice, but his hot and cold, reluctant to love yet jealous/possessiveness, quick to judge and push her away temperament got under my skin. Even if he ended up being right about a pivotal, important point Cecelia should have checked into more closely, I still thought a time or two she’d been justified to throat punch him. However, I’m not sure the “I can’t believe he just said and/or did that” moments combined completely counterbalanced the fact “dang, he was right” about something seriously important. I’m thinking there was more of the first aspect than the latter one.

As far as she goes, Cecelia was obviously verra smart but not always thinking clearly and too trusting. Yeah, I’m referring to when she didn’t connect the dots or investigate more. There was a lot of assuming going on here, folks, especially that we’d buy into whatever was thrown at us or Cecelia, for that matter. Inheriting a gaming hall frequented by all types of society with a school for vulnerable girls/women on the floor right above was stretching credibility and logic, IMHO. A hodge podge of coincidences regarding scheming people and circumstances had me wondering if more than one person threw ideas into the plot pot here.

Finding out just how career obsessed Ramsey was to the point he chose himself over Cecelia a time or two didn’t look good on him either. The very unwelcome, unnecessary “surprise, you’re a baby daddy” from a deceased former lover he’d tossed out of his life long ago was certainly a fly in this literary soup. Cecelia’s connection to it didn’t make me feel any better about it. I swear it seemed it was thrown in to give it a “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” element.

As a lover of relationship angst, I’m not sure if I was served that or relationship rage. You see, this heroine put up with a lot from this back and forth hero, who seemed angry at himself for wanting her. At the end of the day, I’m struggling to convince myself if he was totally worth it. He did physically rescue her a time or two. That was manly and admirable. We are also led to believe he’s a good guy walking around with family drama emotional baggage. Thing was she was, too, but she was always kind, quick to see the world through others’ eyes, and not judgemental.

Did I read to the end? Yes …. Did the writing flow? Mostly, yes, however, it did feel overly long by the end due to being weighed down with frequent mental musings and monologues. .. Were there elements I wish had been left out? ..Yes, at least two to be precise.

In summary, this was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed Cecelia’s tenacity and resilience. She seemed to have a good heart and tried to see the silver lining in everything. Ramsy really needed to realize he needed to stop judging the world based on what his deceased mama and papa did or didn’t do in their past lives. Of course, we also learn good people are actually bad here, as well. Ah, ha...Like that isn’t always routinely done.

The next book will be The Devil in Her Bed (featuring Francesca and a dashing, devilishly handsome spy like law man introduced early on in this book).

Title: All Scot and Bothered, Series: Devil You Know (Book 2), Author: Kerrigan Byrne, Pages: 416, pub date: 9/29/20, stand-alone but part of a series, brief acquaintances to enemies to lovers, some violence, disturbing trigger content side element.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author, publisher, NetGalley, or PR firm.)