I enjoyed this romance. I liked the characters, storyline, and steaminess. This is a great Scottish read. I will definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to read a Scottish romance.

This book was so good! Loved it even better than the first in the series. The hero and heroine had great banter and even better chemistry!

One of my favorite trope is best friends sister and this one hit all the marks! Highly recommend!

This historical romance breaks from some expected molds by having merchant class characters who must grapple with the hero, Captain Andrew St. James, finding out he is an heir to a duke. This means that he can completely change the life of his mother and sisters. But it also means that falling for an outrageous middle class widow is likely not a good idea. Oops.

I really liked that we got to see them interact in different places in Scotland, and halfway through the book it goes a little crazypants, but it worked. There is a bit of a mystery, lots of charm, and great secondary characters. It is definitely worth the read.

I have read the series in order, but I think you can still enjoy this book on its own. It also has a great companion novella about the hero's sister Agnes and his friend Felix Duncan that happens at the same time. I recommend reading it once you finish this one.

I can't wait to see what comes next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

I found this book quite charming :) I found all the characters likeable, except Ilsa's male relatives, for reasons that will become apparent. I liked the strong female representations, both subtle and more defined, and the interactions amongst the characters. Nice little plot twist in the end and not too much of the "but I CAN'T marry the duke, even though I love him" that you often find in a period romance.

3.5 stars

I mean, I want to tell you I loved this because I'm a big fan of Caroline Linden, I'm a big fan of historical romance, and I liked the first book in the series (mostly). Unfortunately, I can't tell you I loved it. I liked it? It was okay?

If you read the first book (which, well - you need to), you know that there are 3 men in the running to become the next Duke of Carlyle. They're "in the running" because the current duke isn't going to sire any children, and his mom is dead set/determined on ensuring that the next duke is prepared for the job. All the other kids are dead, and these three schmucks are next in line.

In the first book, we met our first contender - a gambling Cassanova with some super crazy family dynamic shit. Turns out he was actually sexy AND super smart, and is currently loved up/married to a ceramics superstar. He could give a shit about the dukedom - well, maybe that's overstating it. But he isn't eager to inherit. In this book, we get to know Captain Andrew St. James. St. James appeared to be thrilled with his potential change in fortune when he learned about it. Unlike the first guy, he appears eager and ready to prove himself.

When next we meet up with Andrew it's in a flashback to BEFORE THE DUKE THING. He's miserable as a soldier, treated poorly by his superior officer, and saving all his pennies for his mom and sisters after their beloved father left them deeply in debt. The family has survived by penny pinching, mysterious gifts of food from a secret benefactor, and Andrew's earnings as a soldier. But the discovery he MIGHT be the next duke comes with it property, cash, and an opportunity to prove himself and offer a new and better (?) life for him and his family.

Andrew travels home to Edinburgh from his meeting with the dowager full of concerns about how The Family will greet his good fortune. But before he heads home to mom, he drops his things with a friend and heads out on the town for a good time. And while he's enjoying oysters (yuck) and beers, he spies a pretty girl at another table. So when the dancing begins, he asks her to dance. Wowsers. She's hot. He has the hots. These two LIKE each other. A lot. But then the party comes to an abrupt end, she gives him a kiss, and disappears. He vows to find her...<i>after</i> the whole <b>Tell Your Family You Might Be A Duke</b> thing.

Ilsa grew up loved and spoiled by her widower father. He's a big time cabinet maker in town, and as his only daughter, he was a wee bit overprotective. But little did he know that the slightly aloof, actually <i>kind of a dick</i> aristocrat he married her off to was overprotective, too. Basically, he didn't let her do anything fun. So when he died (yes!) Ilsa decided she was tired of missing out on all the fun things and decided to move a tiny horse into the house and start living it up. Rich, beautiful, and a genuinely nice person, Ilsa is besties with Agnes WHO IS ANDREW'S SISTER! She's just enjoyed a night out at in an oyster cellar party thing (is this a thing? who knew!), and flirted with a handsome stranger, and the next day she's casually painting and wondering how to kill her aunt and mooning over the man she met, when Agnes visits and tells her her older, annoying brother Andrew is in town and she's got to go to some mysterious meeting he wants to have. Oh boy.

Guess who is thrilled to discover Agnes is best friends with the woman he can't stop thinking about? ANDREW. And guess who else is thrilled to discover her handsome dance partner isn't the grown up bully Agnes might have suggested he was? ILSA!!

They like each other! In the sexy way! And in the 'they're nice and would be nice as a couple' way! It's meant to be. Well, not so fast my pretty. The Family isn't feeling the duke-thing. Quell surprise.
Ilsa has some self-confidence issues - for legit reasons, my friends. Legit. No one wants to move to London. And some other stuff. Andrew is overwhelmed - with the possible duke-thing, quitting, Ilsa, his kinda annoying family, a possible romance/rift between Agnes and his friend....And then Ilsa's dear old dad just might be a villain. I'm not going to tell you if he is or isn't, but I will say that his storyline is distracting and not all that interesting and it takes up way tooooooooooooo many pages.

I'd rather read about Andrew and Ilsa and the friends and their hijinks but that isn't this story. Reader, YOU WOULD TOO. I liked him, I liked her. I liked them. Unfortunately, they're trapped in a sort of meh story. Recommended with reservations.

Also PS.
LINDEN STARTS THESE BOOKS OUT GANGBUSTERS. And then they get messy in a bad way. Why CL? Why???!! Stick with the couple. They're compelling. We don't need the other bullshit.

If you are looking into reading books with Scottish heroes without them getting overwhelmingly Scottish (with lingo, clan wars, etc.), if you are tired of romances with unnecessary third act conflicts, or if you are looking for a simple palette cleanser, this is the book for you! It is a perfect mix between a Regency and Scottish romance. I would especially recommend this book to you if you are a beginner to the genre.

Tropes:
- Scottish Captain hero
- strong heroine who does not want to get married
- sexy, honorable gentleman hero
- steamy, unexpected kiss leads to something more
- hero fighting for dukedom and needs a wife
- best friend's brother

Summary:
While running home to figure out how to claim his dukedom, Captain Andrew St. James has a passionate encounter with Ilsa Ramsay. Ilsa didn’t mean to impulsively kiss her best friend’s brother, she was yearning for adventure and fun after being freed from the captivity of marriage. She tells herself he’s not for her, no matter how tempting he is. But one impulsive kiss leads to another, and another. Spirited Ilsa is none of the things Drew needs in a duchess. Still, when she’s caught in a dangerous scandal, he leaps to her aid without hesitation. And neither family duty nor future obligation can make them ignore what’s in both their hearts.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! If you are tired of reading unnecessary third act conflicts, want to start reading books with sexy Scotts without throwing yourself in the deep end, or want a good pallet cleanser, this is the book for you!

This book definitely helped me slowly get out of my reading slump. It had a great mix of adventure, mystery, and romance 🙌🏼

Both main characters were so refreshing, and I loved watching them fall in love with each other. I will admit, I wanted more romance and intimacy from the book, but what we did get was really good. I loved the dynamic and the chemistry between the main characters. I loved watching the two of them be their own person outside of their relationship all while falling so sweetly in love with each other. Ilsa was super independent and fun, I loved her as a heroine. I also love a good sexy, honorable, gentleman hero; Drew was a great hero. You know that sexy, abiding-by-his-moral-code, honorable knight-in-shinning armor vibe? Drew was giving me that the whole time. We don't see heroes that like often enough!

As I said earlier, I do wish that we had gotten more intimate moments and more scenes of them falling in love. The subplot was well developed but it did come in the way of their relationship around the end of the book. It was clear that the subplot of the book was definitely taking priority at many points in the book. I honestly didn’t mind it too much. There was crazy fun adventure, mystery, criminals, pillaging, and ghosts! So I was actually very happy with the subplot for most of the book because I was not expecting it at all. I will admit though that the sub-plot did start to lose its spark at the 75% mark; it was mostly written well and weaved nicely into the romance.

But I am super pleased to report that there is no unnecessary third act conflict! The conflict in the book was all external. I am so glad we are seeing books that are straying from the unnecessary third act conflict. I root for a couple all the more when they want to be together but their situations are stopping them from being together. It is so much more impactful! This book did a great job with the conflicts and building a believable external barrier in their relationship.

Though I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the first one, I really did enjoy myself and am excited to read the next installment in the series 😍 (If you liked The Viscount Who Loved Me, you have to read the first book in the series!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 stars | 🌶🌶/ 5 steam

Thank you Avon, NetGalley, and Caroline Linden for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

*3.5 stars*

I enjoyed A Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden, though not as much as the first in the series, About a Rogue.

Though the book has a villain and some interesting plot elements, I found the pace to be a bit too slow to hold my full attention. I read this book in bits and pieces over the course of a week or so, and though I liked it while I was reading, I had a hard time focusing on the story. Granted, since Covid my mind has trouble staying on task, but I think this book struggles with pacing a bit.

I have a horrible weakness for Scottish MCs, but I kept forgetting Drew was Scottish. The Scottish castle details and the relationship with his sisters was nice, but Drew was more dutiful and less interesting than the MCs in the previous book in the series.

I really enjoyed Isla a ton, and I liked her independent spirit. I thought that she was the more interesting character, and I liked her chemistry with Drew, even if the relationship moved a little too slowly for my tastes. The two MCs don't really get together until almost the end of the story. It was like the author struggled a bit with how to get these two together and what stood in their way, and had a hard time navigating their story arc.

I'm sure I'll continue on with the series, and I have high hopes for book three.


*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

His family’s distant nobility is no surprise to Captain Andrew St. James, but his father was disowned by the ducal branch of the family, and he’s never known or expected anything from them. Drew is shocked to learn that he is now the heir to his distant cousin, the current Duke of Carlyle. With his simple soldier’s life upended, Drew has a stiff learning curve to face with all these new expectations and responsibilities, but first he’s taking a trip home to Edinburgh to visit his mother and three sisters and tell them the news.

Widowed Ilsa Ramsey is ready to seize her independence and have a little adventure, not settle down into a second marriage. When she learns that the handsome soldier she danced with at a raucous tavern is in fact her friend’s brother and heir to an English dukedom, she reminds herself of all the reasons she could never be with him, despite their strong mutual attraction. But as Ilsa’s friendship with his sister puts her in the same orbit as Drew more and more frequently, they struggle to stay apart.

Drew knows the Duchess expects him to marry an Englishwoman with a sparkling reputation and training befitting the title, and lively Ilsa if far from that expectation. Even so, when Ilsa finds herself embroiled in scandal, Drew steps in to help her even as she attempts to push him away. Soon neither of them is willing to forsake their feelings for any duty or expectation.

It took a while for me to really get into this book, but I did wind up enjoying it. I loved the Scottish setting as well as the fact that Ilsa and Drew’s relationship begins fairly early on in the book and develops with a fair amount of open honesty and not much game playing. Andrew was a great hero as he seemed to just be a genuinely good man, devoted to his family, and trying to do right by Ilsa, his newfound responsibilities, and his own heart. He was easy to root for. I also found myself cheering Ilsa on, but this was a source of great frustration for me when she refused to stand up for herself and truly assert her status as an independent woman to her aunt and father. I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give anything away, but I wanted more vindication for her and more comeuppance for the villain. I liked that the conflict was mostly external, but Ilsa said some awful things to Drew that she could’ve done a better job of apologizing and making up for, especially after everything he was willing to sacrifice for her. I also thought that the final conflict was cleared away rather quickly and in a manner that wasn’t wholly satisfactory for me, especially after how much of a big deal it was made out to be. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story and both the main and supporting characters, and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

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

I really enjoyed Drew and Ilsa's story! They both find themselves attracted to the other, but know that nothing can come of it since Drew is the heir to a dukedom and Ilsa doesn't have the pedigree to make her a suitable bride. But they can't seem to fight their attraction, so they eventually give into it. When Ilsa finds herself in the middle of a scandal, Drew doesn't run. He does what he can to help her. They soon decide that love trumps all :).

This historical is one of those books where the romance suffered for the plot.
I loved the dynamic of our couple a lot, and the time that they had on page together was lovely! It just wasn't enough for me. We got caught up more in the politics and the family dynamic than in the romance. I was so sad that this couple didn't get more of the spotlight, because that's why I pick up this kind of book.

*** A Father's Love ***

Con: The ending felt like a cliffhanger although it was not. The reader has to decipher what is actually happening and what will happen.

PRO: I loved reading this book. From the very beginning I was intrigued, deeply absorbed and intent on finishing this book in one sitting. The storyline was original, tense, confusing, shocking, freeing, romantic, principled and noble. The main characters Drew and Ilsa were amazing. Ilsa's personality was eccentric but after years of unhappiness following society's dictates, she freed herself and lived the way she wanted to. To her aunt's dismay. She proved herself fiercely loyal and loved unconditionally. I liked her honest approach to life. She was true to herself and to others. Drew did not spurn his opportunity to become heir. His first thought was not for himself but of his mother and sisters and what he could do for them. When Ilsa entered his life, he felt a connection and let things unfold as they may. Soon it became abundantly clear Ilsa meant more to him than any other woman.

CONCLUSION; An excellent book, well written, with enough drama and suspense to satisfy. The unpredictable twists and turns in the story took me off guard and really surprised me. A must read. I highly recommend it.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed
Inspirational
Page-turner
Romantic
Realistic
Steamy
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters

I love family-oriented stories. Andrew really loves his family and falls for Isla. This is a nice story and who can resist a Scot.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of A Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden.

I loved that the story was set in Scotland. Andrew and Ilsa are likable characters and it’s clear from the start that they are meant to be together. Andrew’s loyalty toward Ilsa is steadfast even when he has doubts regarding a situation. The romance between them is built up over time which Is something I feel Caroline Linden has always done well.

Andrew’s sisters and his friends are interesting characters and I’m looking forward to reading the next story in this series.

Captain Andrew St. James may be a distant relative to the Duke of Carlyle, but he has never expected to inherit the title until one day he gets the news that after some unfortunate accidents he is now the heir to the dukedom.

After receiving this astounding news, Drew goes home to inform his family of their new elevation in status. On the first night home, Drew is drawn to a beautiful and vibrant stranger, Ilsa Ramsay, whose unexpected kiss ignites a passion in him that he has never experienced before. Drew only comes to find out that she is his sister, Agnes’s, best friend, and a widow. She is completely unfit to be his duchess. If only he could get her out of his mind.

“Fate.” The duchess looked at Ilsa. “This is your explanation, I suppose. An affair of the heart.’

“No,” said Ilsa calmly. She had shown no sign of being intimidated or cowed. “It was more than that. It was the meeting of two souls meant to be together, and all efforts to deny it were in vain.”

Heartwarming. Entertaining. Special. Those are what I would use to describe this book. I think Linden did a fabulous job bringing these characters to life. Are they characters that you have seen before? Probably. It is just something about the way Linden crafted these characters that made their relationship seem so effortless. I felt like I was watching them grow into each other’s best friend during the course of the story. The other thing that was so exceptional about this book is that there was never any doubt from either one of these characters that when they got into an intimate relationship that they would end up together.

There were no dramatic internal monologues about how the hero did not believe in love or want to get married. Drew wanted Ilsa and he was going to make her his wife because he loved her fire and her spirit. Nothing was going to get in the way of that. I never had any doubts about this couple or believing it was true love. However, there were some outside forces that were really pushing them apart. This story had a shocking end. I never expected it. It was a page turner and a delightful read all the way through.

Fans of Tessa Dare’s humorous historicals or Vivienne Lorret’s fun-loving characters may want to check this one out.

~ Michelle

A delightful read! Andrew and Ilsa’s journey was engaging and enthralling to the very end. I loved watching them circle each other, dealing with their mutual attraction, and I could not put the book down once the intrigue began! Will definitely be recommending this book and series to friends and patrons!

from a noble family, but his branch grew far from the wealth and status. Nothing shocks him more than learning that he now stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle.

Drew needs to adjust to life and learn about his new life as the future Duke of Carlyle after years of serving in army.

Going home to Edinburgh to tell his family his good fortune as heir apparent to Carlyle dukedom.

Drew has to learn to deal with everyday life and learn to manage part of the estate in Scotland and find a suitable Duchess to help hi

Ilsa wants adventure and fun, not another husband. When she discovers the handsome soldier who sweeps her off her feet for a rollicking dance is her friend’s brother, soon to be an English duke, she tells herself he’s not for her.
After years, living with her submissive husband who controlled her life.

Ilsa and Drew met the Oyster club and were instantly attracted to each other.
Ilsa knew she didnt want a relationship like her marriage.

When Drew went to check out the estate in Scotland he took family and friends along to give them a holiday.

While traveling Drew's family business was robbed. Drew was determine to find out who responsible.

Unknown to Ilsa, her father disappeared and was blamed for the string of robberies in town.
Drew and Ilsa left Edinburgh to find out how her father disappearance was contracted to the robbery. Her father was protecting his son who he knew was responsible.


Captain Andrew St. James always knew he came from a noble family, but his branch grew far from the wealth and status. Nothing shocks him more than learning that he now stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle.

Drew needs to adjust to life and learn about his new life as the future Duke of Carlyle after years of serving in army.

Going home to Edinburgh to tell his family his good fortune as heir apparent to Carlyle dukedom.

Drew has to learn to deal with everyday life and learn to manage part of the estate in Scotland and find a suitable Duchess to help hi

Ilsa wants adventure and fun, not another husband. When she discovers the handsome soldier who sweeps her off her feet for a rollicking dance is her friend’s brother, soon to be an English duke, she tells herself he’s not for her.
After years, living with her submissive husband who controlled her life.

Ilsa and Drew met the Oyster club and were instantly attracted to each other.
Ilsa knew she didnt want a relationship like her marriage.

When Drew went to check out the estate in Scotland he took family and friends along to give them a holiday.

While traveling Drew's family business was robbed. Drew was determine to find out who responsible.

Unknown to Ilsa, her father disappeared and was blamed for the string of robberies in town.
Drew and Ilsa left Edinburgh to find out how her father disappearance was contracted to the robbery. Her father was protecting his son who he knew was responsible

When Captain Andrew St. James learns that he is heir to the Duke of Carlyle, the Duchess gives him and his cousin six months to settle and prove they are worthy to inherit. Following several weeks of instruction from the duchess and her solicitor, Drew goes to Edinburgh to tell his family the news. They are shocked, but start planning for the future they hope to have. He meets Ilsa Ramsey, a young widow. Ilsa has always been controlled by her family, including her rake of a husband. Out of mourning, she is testing her freedom for the first time. There is a strong attraction between Drew and Ilsa. They are a little uncertain, but enjoy spending time together. Before long, they fall in love. When a scandal involving a string of burglaries threatens Ilsa’s family, Drew will not let her face it alone. When he presents her to the Duchess, she is skeptical (it’s her way), but Drew and Ilsa convince her that the best way for Drew to take up his responsibilities is to do it together. Before they leave the Carlyle Castle, Mr. Edwards hints that there might be another possible heir. Nothing certain, just a possibility? He also tells him that the Duchess has a wonderful surprise for him, as a wedding gift. I really enjoyed this story. The romance was funny, sweet, and a little sexy. The characters were great. I look forward to the next story.

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

I wish A Scot to the Heart had been better. It's a shame, especially because this is the second of Caroline Linden's books that kind of disappoint me. Everything is... fine, but I didn't think there was anything special about this book. It was honestly kind of dull. I liked both main characters, but most especially the hero, he was sweet.
2.5 stars

An heir to a dukedom.

Is most definitely in want of a wife. I really enjoyed Drew, an army captain, who has suddenly become an heir to a dukedom. He's responsible. decent, takes care and supports his mother and three sisters. I liked that his first thought was what a most unexpected change in fortune would mean for his sisters' futures. First item on the list? Find a suitable wife.

One kiss later, he's smitten with IIsa, who is a mystery to him, first her identity and then her character.
Recommend.


4.5

I enjoyed this book. If I'm brutally honest here that was really all do to the characters, which I truly loved. I thought Drew and Ilsa were amazing. Skillfully crafted layers and connections made them and the secondary characters incredibly easy to bond with and fall for. The chemistry between this couple burned brightly and I as the reader found it as impossible to resist as the main characters themselves did. The romance, friendship and the familial relationships are strong and compelling and I found myself consumed by them. For the most part I found the story fun and quite delightful. This is my frank, freely posted review.