My first Sophie Barnes book and I will say she shows promise. Interesting premise with a lady novelist in secret who needs a bodyguard.. Suddenly this book is moving at rapid pace with many plot points going on. We have a marriage proposal, a fake fiancé, a missing manuscript, past secrets, attempted murder. It is a lot to fit into a single story. Charlotte is a bit wishy washy for me. She doesn't want to listen to her parents but will not defy them, then suddenly she moves out on a notice, moves back in. Blayne was nice, but I felt we didn't really get to know him it felt always at a distance. The many issues the couple face in this book it felt like things were solved with a little too much ease. I would have preferred just a couple issues that took longer to figure out than an issue being solved in one chapter for another problem to arise. Great tension with the couple as their story progressed. It is a fade to black, or more of a very brief wedding scene. I wanted to know more about Blayne's mother and would have preferred to see some of that future they kept talking about thought I am sure we see some of that in the next book in the series. I think it is a fun story that I would pick up between some favorite historical romance authors' releases.

This is the story of Charlotte Russell, a society miss who writes scandalous novels, under a pen name, of course, and Blayne MacNeill, the owner of a tavern, and a man with a dark secret. When accosted one night on the way home from her publisher, she hires Blayne to be her bodyguard. This is where their story starts. It is an adventure with twists and turns
There is the theft of Charlotte’s latest manuscript and the danger of Blayne being recognized and tried for a twenty-year-old murder. From London to Scotland and back, they chase the truth about the murder. When they return to London, Avery, Charlotte’s publisher has a shocking bit of information. Can Charlotte and Blayne clear everything up and find their HEA? It will be a rocky road to travel, but the destination is worth it. Interesting story, great characters, great read. I enjoyed it.

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

Well written. Great story characters are engaging and the dialogue is great. Would definitely read more by this author

London - 1821

Blayne MacNeil is dining with his friends, the duke and duchess, Valentine and Regina Sterling. Valentine was formerly known as Carlton Guthrie, Scoundrel of St. Giles. With the help of Blayne and others, they worked for years to rid areas of crime. Blayne is secretly fearful of being recognized as he has been on the run for years for murder.

Charlotte Russell, 27, is the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Elkins. She is writing her third book which is ready for editing and then publishing. When visiting her editor on the fringes of a bad area of town, she is robbed. Determined to live as she wants, she hires a bodyguard none other than Blayne, drawn to accepting the job as he likes the money she is offering.

Charlotte’s father informs her that a wealthy American he knows is coming to London and he wants them to meet and hopefully Charlotte will marry him. She prefers to stay single and continue to write. So, she introduces Blayne as her fiancé as they enter into a false engagement.

Sophie Barnes has penned a good plot and I’m sure many readers will enjoy it. For myself, I prefer a Regency romance novel without the references to the St. Giles area of London and all of the violence that goes along with it. That is not my cup of tea.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ahhhh, everything I could want and more!
This has everything a romance reader salivates over: bad guy with a heart of gold, bodyguard romance, feisty & independent heroine, danger, intrigue and fake dating.
I was never bored or disappointed with the story, romance or characters. So happy I gave this a try despite never reading the other books in the series. This read fine as a standalone so don’t like the series aspect intimidate you.

This was a charming story with interesting, bold main characters.
Charlotte was easy to root for and hope that she gets her hearts desires. Her parents really had no idea of who she really is but they sure do manage to put roadblock after roadblock in her way. Her father for want of a better word was a bully. He's a former military man accustomed to using strategy and sometimes manipulation to get what he wants. He says he knows best basically but it often is what benefits him first. I think her mother really can't understand why Charlotte isn't all in for marrying for wealth and prestige. Charlotte is also one clever woman who is also quite brilliant when it comes to strategy. And she's bold enough in a determined way to get where she needs to go. One person in her corner is her maid and friend, Daisy.
Blayne has led quite the life and it's been painful in many ways. But he also has people in his corner too. Especially a person who has been with him through thick and thin for years. Guthrie was someone who has know Blayne and his secrets for years. Just more recently Guthrie has become somewhat more "respectable" But their friendship still remains solid.
There is humor as well as dangers in this story. Although it was well written and I liked the ending I just wish I had liked it more.

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

Ironically, they both want the same thing....

A quiet cottage in the country. Charlotte so she can write in peace, as she is firmly on the shelf at 27. Blayne, because he's getting older, running the Black Swan tavern isn't the same anymore, he has an interest in plants. Oh, and he's on the run for murder.
So there's that.

I was very glad that Blayne got his own story and its most welcome. He and Charlotte make an interesting couple and their road is well, not easy, but it sure was fun to read about.
Recommend.

Charlotte is a heroine we just love right away. She's holding her own in the olden days when a woman had to use a pen name to successfully publish a book. However, she's doing it and making money. She's famous. She suffers an attack and decides to protect herself from future incidents by hiring a bodyguard. That would be a hunk of a bodyguard... a Scottish one with a burr. Yum! When she burst upon the scene to hire him, he agrees without even knowing how it happened--it's totally against his will. That's when we know he's done for! He even goes to break it off right away and gets himself further entangled as her fake fiancé. Now, we just sit back and watch the romance unfold. We know it's coming, even if these 2 do not. Loved it! The right mix of mystery, crime, and romance. Still feel the warm and fuzzies! Don't miss this one!

I received an advanced copy of Her Scottish Scoundrel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first time I have read anything by this author and I have added her other books in this series to my reading list.

This is book 7 in the Diamonds in the Rough series however, I believe this book can be read as a standalone without requiring any previous knowledge of other characters.

Charlotte Russell never intends to marry, she is happy to live a life as a spinster focusing on her secret life as an author under the pen name Charles Cunningham. Visits to her publishing house in a seedier part of town lead to her being assaulted and subsequently hiring a man for protection.

Blayne MacNeill, St Giles ruffian and tavern owner is taken with Charlotte when she visits his establishment to hire a man for protection. He finds himself agreeing to take on the role however, when attending at her home the following day he is amazed to find his role is now that of fake fiancé to scupper the plans that Charlotte’s father has made to marry her to an American businessman without her knowledge. Blayne won’t let himself fall in love with Charlotte as his past is much more dark and violent than she knows and he would never allow that to ruin her.

This story had everything I was looking for. A forbidden romance, some mystery and suspense, violence, betrayal, love and loyalty. It captured my attention with the strong main characters and their interactions from the beginning. I also enjoyed the brief glimpse into the life of Guthrie and Regina who I hope feature in an earlier book in the series and Daisy and Claus.

I have rated this 4⭐️ as I would have liked a little bit more steam in the romance however this is purely a personal preference. There are stolen intimate moments which would still have been scandalous at the time of the books setting.

I’m happy that I got to read a story with an entertaining and enjoyable plot and that I now have a new author to read more of.

Publication date: 25th May 2021

#HerScottishScoundrel #NetGalley

Amazingly complex, deeply moving love story!

What starts as a simple bodyguard-for-hire relationship quickly turns into so much more for Charlotte and Blayne. This is a surprisingly complicated story, with a fake engagement followed by a forced engagement, secret identities that completely blow up in their faces, manipulative parents, murder charges, and even a book pirating scheme. Nothing gets lost in the weeds, though. This well-crafted tale seamlessly connects all the dots while never losing focus on the tender, heartwarming story of two people falling in love.

I could feel the intense chemistry between these two right from the start, and I really appreciated how the author allowed that chemistry to build slowly between Charlotte and Blayne, saving the payoff for the very satisfying HEA. Charlotte's relationship with Mrs. Callanach was especially poignant and very sweetly resolved. This romance was a joy to read from start to finish, and I couldn't have loved it more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Reading this book was an adventure in itself. I really enjoyed this exciting book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Barnes writes highland romance like nobody's business. This book had me at first chapter and never let go. I do love those Scots who talk the talk and walk the walk. Hmmm, delicious man who turns this reader into a lass even if I'm not. But, when Blayne MacNeil agrees to be a bodyguard for Charlotte Russell who is a Lady, he then finds himself playing the fiancee, He can't believe the gall of this opinionated woman who suddenly enters his life not knowing his circumstances. Blayne is hiding out because his life is forfeit if someone recognizes him.
Charlotte only wants to write her books to maintain her independence, that's why she told a little white lie about being engaged.
Blayne is a handsome scoundrel who finally meets his match in Charlotte. He will do anything to keep her safe, but will their love survive his being charged with murder? Please read and find out if they will get their happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

You might remember Blayne from The Forgotten Duke (my favorite book of Sophie’s) and that he has a secret. A Scottish guy, secrets, St. Giles, and an independent woman – I’m on it. Sophie knows how to keep you interested in the story and characters through her fantastic writing. Now mind you the elements of this story are well-liked by me but if they are not your forte, give this story a try. It has a lot going on between Blayne’s secret to Charlotte’s pseudonym. You heard that right, she is an acclaimed author or gothic stories. How Charlotte reacts when Blayne’s secret is out and what she does is nothing short of the power of love and what it does to you. It is also great to see Carlton and Regina again. Another amazing story from Sophie. Also, a little sneak park at Marcus’ (Regina’s brother) story.

Her Scottish Scoundlel follows the love story of Charlotte, an author that after being robbed, hires Blayne, a tavern owner to be her bodyguard. After finding out that her parents want to marry her with an American, Blayne becomes her fake fiancee to avoid the wedding.
Charlotte and Blayne start to fall for each other between secrets and an adventure.
It was a really entertaining book and I have felt engaged since the beginning. I enjoyed how all the story was developed and the pace of the book was good. This was my first book by the author and I'm looking forward to read more of this series.
This book is ideal for people looking for low 🔥 historical with lovable characters and great banter.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the free copy.

Charlotte Russell needs someone who is burly and can protect her on expeditions into the bowels ofLondon. Blayne MacNeil needs extra funds and he fits the bill. However, things don’t quite turn out the way they think they are going to. Before you know it Blayne is a fiancé to Charlotte and Charlotte is being forced by her parents to choose another!
Both these individuals have secrets and now they are having to face these issues and neither are prepared for the sparks that are about to strike between them.

This book is definitely a great beach read and it will definitely keep you entertained and turning the pages to see what happens next. I can’t wait to read the next book about our wonderful doctor! But first read this one because he has a part to play!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

4.5 Stars
Miss Charlotte Russell needs a bodyguard after she's mugged & who better than Blayne MacNeil, he doesn't expect her to expand the job description to fake fiancé. After twenty years in hiding, announcing his engagement to a viscount's daughter could prove fatal. For if anyone were to recognize him, he'd be charged with murder. Determined to keep her independence in order to safeguard her writing career, Charlotte must avoid marriage. After all, no respectable gentleman would ever permit his wife to pen outrageous adventure novels. But when her most recent manuscript disappears, the roguish Scotsman posing as her fiancé becomes her closest ally and the greatest threat to her freedom.
The seventh book in this lovely series & another well written page turner, which for 97% of it was easily a five star read, I loved both Blayne & Charlotte & their road to a HEA was highly entertaining & I loved the obstacles in their journey, I didn’t like the outcome of Blayne's journey to Scotland whilst the reason for the outcome was very clever I felt he was cheated. I loved the chemistry between Blayne & Charlotte & how their relationship changed & developed. I disliked Charlotte’s parents & I certainly wouldn't have been so forgiving. A lovely slow burn romance.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Her Scottish Scoundrel is the seventh book in the Diamonds in the Rough series. I have not read any of the other books and series and did not feel as if it took away from the overall story or that there were too many spoilers that would create issues.
The story follows an intrepid woman, Miss Charlotte Russell's, who is ready to embrace her spinsterhood despite the fact that her parents still have hope that she will get married. Of course they don't know her secret that she pens stories under a assumed name and is biding her time to acquire a cottage in the countryside. She has no desire to marry and give up her independence to a man. When faced with a dangerous situation she decides to hire a bodyguard.
Blayne MacNeil agrees to be her bodyguard but quickly realizes that it won't work to the secrets he's keeping. Of course all that goes out the window when Charlotte informs him of a plan to thwart her parents. When he realizes that he cannot walk away from her and taking the steps to protect her could uncover his secret. He is intrigued by Charlotte and determined to protect her even if it's from himself.

The Scottish Scoundrel is one of the first books I have read by Sophie Barnes and I must say that I truly enjoyed the story overall. I was intrigued about how Blayne and Charlotte would reach their HEA.

I am trash for the heroes that feel they are unworthy of the heroine and that is Blayne for sure. Charlotte is a solid heroine but I struggled with her a little. I don’t know that I truly connected with her as much as I would have liked to through her story. I would have liked more deeper character development from her but she was still a strong heroine.

Overall, the characters were interesting and the story was captivating. I did have a moment where I didn’t buy the direction of the plot but for romance reasons, I accepted it and moved on. Also, I wasn’t sure how I should feel about Charlotte’s family throughout the story either (but that is just me being picky).

I can’t wait for the next story (Marcus & Louise)! I plan to see if I can go back and read the previous books to help me since I love a series! 😇


** I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheScottishScoundrel #NetGalley**

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3935488098

Blaine MacNeil owns a tavern in St. Giles. He has a very dark secret. He is tall, handsome, Scot, and had caramel eyes. She had just hired him to protect her when she had to go out on errands.
Miss Charlotte Russell is the daughter of a viscount. Her two younger sisters are married and gone from home. She wants to buy a small cottage and have women of like mind join her. No men needed.
Neither wish to marry. She is also a writer of mysteries and believes no man would allow her to write. There are some surprises in this story. It is enchanting and has excellent characters. There are some distinct bad guys. But it has enough excitement and entertainment enough to keep it interesting. It is really hard to put down. The author has done a great job of engaging your mind.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I just love this series! One just can’t wait for the next book. This time back in the Black Swan, Blayne. has taken running of the tavern since Guthrie the new Duke of Windham has gotten married. In walks a beauty who takes his breath away. Seeing that one of his customers getting overly friendly with her, Blayne comes to her rescue only to realize she can take care of herself. Charlotte has come to the seedier part of London looking to hire a bodyguard and the man in front of her has potential.
Both have secrets, both are not what the Ton think they are, both feel a attraction. A page turner with mysteries involved. One was predictable, the ending surprising.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

A marvelously written story. Charlotte wants to be an independent woman. She is trying to earn her own money and has no intention of losing her independence by getting married. She is strong will and witty. Blayne is a man trying to survive. He is trying to envision a new life for himself. Sophie Barnes writes stories that you can lose yourself in. Her characters pack a lot of punch as they are solid and well developed. They are fierce and loyal to the people they care about. Despite all the odds stacked against them, they can rise up and make the best of the situation. This makes them relatable and memorable.