Whew, this was a steamy, fun romp! This was the first book I have read by Evie Dunmore, and now that I have finished I'm off to read all the others. If you like your romances historical, filled with simmering sexual tension, and scattered with drool-worthy Scots and rebellious young women, look no further.

Portrait of a Scotsman
by Evie Dunmore
• historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Hattie Greenfield- suffragist, heiress, artist, and Oxford scholar finds herself suddenly in a compromising position with Lucien Blackstone- broody, relentless businessman, and feared Scotsman.
* enter unexpected marriage *
To Lucian, the nuptials are a shrewd business move. To Hattie, it’s scandal prevention. To both it’s the beginning of their romantic undoing.

Thoughts: Evie Dunmore is a genius. Her books (The League of Extraordinary Women) are the perfect balance of accurate historical events, smoking sexual tension, and romance. The forced marriage trope is one of my faves so I enjoyed this book so much! The simmering attraction between the two main characters and barely contained passion really had me flipping the page. Lucien was just the perfect tortured, brooding love interest!
We get a slight tease with the possible direction of Hattie & Lucien’s sexual proclivities. I thought we were progressing to a spicy submission scene. It was but a whisper. Still plenty of hot scenes, as per her (panty-melting) usual, so please ignore me….I read dark romance so sometimes my dominant bar can be a little high.

Things to Note: 3rd book in a series. Can be read independently, but spoilers for the first two books. Enemies to lovers, forced marriage, only one bed, forced proximity.

Interest: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Heat: 4/5
Stand-alone: mostly
Cliffhanger: no
Would I recommend: YES


*** I was given a copy of this book for an honest review by the author/publisher through Net Galley.

While I read Portrait of a Scotsman in about 2 sittings, the book didn't completely work for me. I'm trying to figure out why, but I think it's because Hattie was an inconsistent character. She is forced into marriage with Lucian Blackstone to prevent a scandal and is infuriated, which is completely valid, but I couldn't quite figure out why she was surprised - she and her friends have been fighting for women's suffrage and know how unfair Victorian society is to women. (The father-selling-off-daughter storyline in this book was similar to The Heiress Gets a Duke; I found that book more successful.) I did like her growth as she learns about the issues facing Scottish miners, but I grew tired of her. I did really like Lucian's arc and backstory, and just wanted a stronger one for Hattie. I also wanted more with Hattie and her friends! They've been such a strong support system for each other (especially in the first book), and I was sad they were barely in this one. Likewise, I wanted more closure with her family (i.e. her standing up to them), but they disappear from the book after her marriage. Hattie talks about her need to paint, and while her pivot to photography was super interesting, I wanted more of that as well and was upset when it took her a very long time to fulfill a promise. The entire ending was a bit odd and felt out of place. Evie Dunmore is a compelling writer, I just wanted more from this one.

I honestly thought I had burned myself out on Romance Novels, I read so many last year. Evie Dunmore proved me wrong. I needed a story with heart, characters with facets and goals that didn't center around each other but didn't diminish how they felt about each other. This book delivers in a big way and I can't wait to see what Evie Dunmore comes out with next.

Hattie, an English woman who studies art at Oxford and is a radical bluestocking, accidentally stumbles into Lucien, a Scotsmen who is a self-made man in the face of polite English society who hates “new” money. She knows nothing good can come of their interactions, and yet is deeply intrigued by his handsome, brooding face and quick wit. Lucien knows she is the daughter of a business rival, and it would only benefit him if he can hold a trump card over the Greenfield family.

A forced marriage, an assumed affair, and a trip north to Scotland bring about multiple revelations between the couple. Hattie must define what is important to her, especially the more she learns about just how few rights she has a married woman. Lucien discovers what ultimately is important to him, through social improvement and access to wealth. An open-door romance that only grows spicier as the novel continues, Hattie and Lucien learn to define what is important to both their emotional and sexual relationship throughout.

I would absolutely recommend this novel, not to mention this series, to any reader of both historical novels and romance. Dunmore does an incredible job of weaving in important political and historical issues that impacted women throughout their personal and professional lives, and directly affected how they were forced to navigate their relationships. Other historical romances acknowledge the times that they are set in, but often do not investigate just how intensely it would have affected the woman in the relationship. Here, Dunmore allows Hattie the space to realize just how boxed in she is and pursue different opportunities than most would have with the support of both her husband and friend. I cannot recommend this story enough!

Oooh I can't believe Hattie got with BLACKSTONE! This is a tricky one for me to rate. I loved MOST of it. I really felt for Lucian throughout and thought he really underwent the most change and was such a dynamic character after everything he'd been through. It also points out accurately how much a woman's reputation can fall after being seen kissing a man - she's ruined! SCANDAL! Hattie & Lucian had some fantastic dialogue of big ideas, and it really allows Hattie to grow after leaving the strict confines of her parent's ideas, and being able to evolve as a suffragette and wife. One has to grant her though, that she's still young. She tried to be petty to Blackstone and treat him pretty poorly after she learned how her marriage was set up, which I allowed her. I loved their chemistry and am glad it was a slow-burn and at her pace. Without revealing too much, I wasn't sure on the ending. I don't think she would have done that honestly - she found out what she was wondering about and I think they were so much stronger for it. However I LOVE this series and was so happy to read it early!

PORTRAIT OF A SCOTSMAN is a deep woven tapestry of women's rights, romantic entanglements and risky, suspenseful adventures. It stars Hattie Greenfield, a beautiful London banking heiress, whose goal is to become an acclaimed artist. It wouldn't hurt also to wed a virile, handsome lord. Although, unconventional Hattie is found in a compromising position with none other, Lucian Blackstone, a rakish Scottish rogue with a foul temper. He is decidedly handsome and very wealthy. His muddled past and upbringing, eh, not so great. What then is Hattie thinking when she is seen kissing Lucian in his home?

Lucian is quite taken with the fiery beauty and kissing those voluptuous lips is one of his top priorities. However, their moment of passion is viewed by many unfortunately and the only way to salvage Hattie's reputation is to quickly wed. Hattie bristles at having to marry Lucian, not her top pick for a husband, and she quickly tests his patience by setting boundaries. Hmm...this is not what Lucian expected but his ulterior motive for really wedding her is putting all the pieces together quite nicely. Now, if he can quit touching her and kissing her senseless, he can complete his top priority, revenge. What dangerous web has Lucian woven?

A complex plot and a captivating romance, PORTRAIT OF A SCOTSMAN is scandalous, scintillating and super sensuous! This is the last book in, The League Of Extraordinary Women, series. Lucian and Hattie make an ideal couple, albeit an unconventional one. I absolutely loved feisty beauty, Hattie, and her suffragist friends with their loyal determination to their cause. Lucian is a dangerous cad mixed up with bloodshed, shady politics and emotional dilemmas. Ms. Dunmore pens an excellent mix of intelligent characters, smart dialogue, risky escapades, and crackling passion. I was bowled over by the intense plot and its chilling undertones. What an interesting look at historical facts in eighteenth century England. A huge round of applause to Ms. Dunmore's research into the suffragist movement, which I found very fascinating. Hattie and her friends are great fun! I would love to be a part of their group! PORTRAIT OF A SCOTSMAN is like a fine bottle of wine. Refined, rich and very robust!

This book is everything. Swoony and steamy, with characters who push and pull, the tension between them palpabale and honest. It’s romantic and character driven, beautifully written and I seriously can’t wait to read what the author writes next.

I really like Evie Dunmore’s books, but this one wasn’t my favorite. Hattie & Lucian could have been a favorite couple, but man does she get mean. Her actions toward the end of the book rang false to me. I’ll continue reading Dunmore’s work, but this one was not for me.

Evie Dunmore continues her reign as queen of historical romance! This book is a lovely addition to her Victorian England League of Extraordinary women series- a fiercely smart blend of swoonworthy romance, detailed history, and engaging plot. I fell in love with Hattie and Lucian's chemistry but also the author's way of presenting this period of time and the importance of women's rights. I truly enjoyed how well developed and thought out the characters and plot are- you can tell the amount of research and time the author spent into creating this authentic story. I can't get enough of this series! Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

ARC/Netgalley

The 3rd installment of this series continues to be an enjoyable breath of fresh air in the romance world. Setting the League of Extraordinary Women during the fight for Women's Suffrage provides a unique framework and an opportunity to naturally address issues of women's rights, masculinity and consent in a non preachy way that doesn't derail the flow of the story.

I think the thing that I love most about this series is the depth of story that the reader receives. Not only does the reader get a traditional historical romance but the reader also gets a complex picture of the worldview at the time. They get information about art, and suffrage, and the peerage, and the working poor. They get information about other women's issues (like essentially being sold off by your parents) and all that that entails. The reader gets a thorough story that brings the readers imagination in many directions - allowing a curious reader to form questions for further exploration on the topic while at the same time reading through a satisfying romance towards a HEA. Historical Romances tend to be the ones with the bad labels by non-romance readers (fluff or bodice rippers etc etc) but these are just so much more and so much more satisfying than that!

3.5 STARS

The third book in The League of Extraordinary Women Series and one that I was thrilled to get my hands on!

This installment features Harriet, an artist and banking heiress. She is strong willed and feisty. She meets the handsome, brooding financier Lucian. They end up in a compromising situation and find themselves in a sticky situation.

Things steam up quickly in the second half and a bumpy road is ahead for these two as they discover how matters of the heart are complicated.

This installment lacked the charm and fun romance of the first two that I've come to expect. It also took awhile to become invested in the characters, but I'm already anticipating the next in this loved series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest, I haven't read much historical romance, but The League of Extraordinary Women series is by far my favorite I've ever read and this third installment was no exception.

If you're looking for tropes like marriage of convenience, dark Scottish rogue with a rough past falls in love with a literal ray of sunshine, *there was only one bed*, and plenty of brooding and miscommunication this is the romance for you.

Besides being everything I could want in a romance I love how Evie Dunmore always incorporates important topics and discussion into her books. Big themes like socialism, equality, women's rights, human rights, and more are written into the story so seamlessly that these easily become more than romance but commentary on issues still plaguing us today, that's why I love this series so much.

I don't know if there will be another (someone please let me know) but if there is I'll be waiting eagerly to get my hands on it.

Another gem in the "League of Extraordinary Women" series. This series is sexy, feminist historical romance at it's absolute best.

"Portrait of a Scotsman" follows another strong female protagonist, banker's daughter and blue-stocking Hattie Greenfield, as she gets trapped into marriage with an alluring, damaged, yet very rich Scottish business man, Lucien Blackstone. From the first moment, sparks fly but the tender love story that unfolds is as therapeutic for both characters as it is surprising for the reader. I honestly had no idea if they were going to be able to make this work or go their separate ways.

Steam level is high! It doesn't lack in the passion and romance department. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find any way that Dunmore's books lack at all. The main plot is the love story but this one had a few subplots that were interesting as well. Basically, seeing how the lovers deal with the obstacles together and find their way back to each other will keep you engaged as a reader.

You've got the one hotel room/one bed plot device (which is always a fave of mine) and two people from two different worlds opening up to each other (which is another). You really can't help but be swept away by this series and these remarkable couples. Read all three ASAP.

Gah I really adore this series. I love how this one was a forced marriage and how they grew to love each other. The steam in this book was amazing as well, I was living for it. The forced proximity, the hate to love and all during the women's suffrage movement.
I still can't decide which book in this series is my favorite but I throughly enjoyed this one.

Another exceedingly excellent book from Evie Dunmore. I'm not sure anyone mixes real, grounded history with such beautifully realized characters quite as well as she does. So much of the book could be highlighted for its gorgeous prose. And I especially appreciate how feminist her books are, without sacrificing time-period believability. All of her heroines could easily be real Victorian women, because Evie does her research and bases them on the sensibilities of real Victorian suffragists. Some detractors of books like this like to claim that women weren't staunch feminists, or that the book is attempting to be "woke," but a true historian knows that women have been crusading for their rights for centuries, if not millennia. Evie crafts her characters so well, from their interiority to their arcs. So many times during my reading I felt close to tears from the sheer emotion she manages to pack into simple sentences. Bravo, Evie! Cannot wait for Catriona's story!

I'm going to round the rating up to 5 stars, but it's really a 4.5 stars. This is the third book by Evie Dunmore that I've read, and this one did not disappoint.

It's no secret that my love for Evie Dunmore's first two novels Bringing Down the Duke and A Rogue of One's Own runs deep and wide. So naturally, Portrait of a Scotsman was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. Did it live up to the others? Heck yes, it did. It was brilliant. My heart will never be the same.

Once again, Dunmore takes us deep into the British Women's Suffrage movement and gives us a glimpse of what our favorite lady suffragists (Annabelle, Hattie, Lucie, and Catriona) have been up to in their fight for women's equal rights. We've followed Annabelle and Lucie thus far. This one is Hattie's story.....

"At first sight, they were still an unlikely match; opposites in looks, upbringing, and temperament. But on the artists color wheel, two opposite colors were considered complimentary. Their high contrast caused high impact, and they looked their brightest when placed next to each other."

This book has it all. Forbidden (albeit unwanted?) love, fight for rights, adventure, art, and let us not forget some amazing steam. But all that said, I think what struck me most about this book and I mean deep down in my little feminist soul - was the writing - such absolutely brilliant writing. Dunmore handles the topics of love and equality the way Monet handled his brush strokes - with stunning precision.

This book was another stellar read for me. I have grown to love this group of strong minded women. This particular story follows Hattie Greenfield, an artist. And the romantic interest is this dark and broody Lucian Blackstone. I loved the "meet cute", the ups and downs of the main dramas (mostly due to a lack of communication) and the strong message that these books hold. Highly recommend!