I loved loved loved this book. Mostly because I loved loved loved Isabella. She might be one of my favorite main characters. I just loved (to many loveds I know) how she handled the whirlwind of an arranged marriage and settling into this new role she found herself in. I thought she was spunky and sweet and so forgiving. I also just ate up this world. Ugh all the other characters were just perfect. Like Anse?? And Noah??? I need MORE. I feel like that is my one complaint that it seems like this series is going in the other brides/highlanders (and okay I am excited for that broody highlander) BUT I want to stay here!! I want more of this cute little clan and I DON't WANT TO LEAVE.

Okay and Declan. I loved how their romance started and how they both handled being forced together. Then Declan does some 180 and is like oh no I don't want to help my bride anymore peace out. And well I didn't love that. Where did my knight in shining armor go?? But he does redeem himself and Isabella is happy so I'm fine. This is definitely an open door romance so warning if you aren't looking for that.

Overall I will probably devour any book Kara even if Anse isn't in it (BUT COULD HE BE PLEASE!!) because I could not get enough of this highland writing.

ARC Review of Bride Takes A Scot by Kara Griffin
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A fantastic historical romance read for those loving Outlander and want a highland lord to ravish them! Arranged marriage, murder, conspiracy, and a blooming family.

Declan was rotting in prison when the king gave him an out: marry a boarderland woman and he's right to go home with his charges dropped. He planned to take a wife, what he didn't plan for was a woman like Isabella.
Isabella is no push over. She loves her knowledge of healing, she's stubborn and has always wanted to be a wife and mother. It's quite difficult thought when her new husband is distant...on a few matters it would appear. Such as his estate...his family...his traumatised son...his murdered late wife...as well as the reason why he was locked up in the first place!
There is danger in the keep.
The truth is going to be dug up, and the threat hiding in the shadows is bound to leap out ready to strick!

Fantastic start to the series and am eager to read the rest! Love me a highlander!
Both FMC and MMC are fantastic! Stubborn and pushy and just begging to tear each other's clothes off!
We have our mystery. We hav ethat one guy and one chick we want to punch. We have the sweet angel who needs hugs and to heal. We have an arguement that leads to an AWESOME hot scene.
5 stars!
Loved it!

Usually not a historical romance reader but was so excited about this one! I found it so easy to emerge myself in the world Kara Griffin weaved and was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll convert into a historical girl!

Fun Scottish historical romance. A bit of mystery (I guessed half of it) and a bit of sweet family moments, with plenty of spice and Highland Scottish warrior moments thrown in. Arranged marriage, single dad, mysterious plots against the hero and more.

I enjoyed this historical romance. The story was engaging and the characters were interesting. I will need to check out other works by this author.

A first read of a new author for me. I was not disappointed as there was an actual plotline to go along with the romance. The characters were intriguing and though I had my suspicions of Declan's foe, but I was still thrown a curve ball! Isabella is a strong female character which I appreciate. She had just the right amount of tenacity and vulnerability for a Highland Laird. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

3.5 I will preface this by saying I don’t love mediaeval time period books but I did enjoy this one. I liked both main characters. The MMC was kind of refreshing, he felt a little unsure as he didn’t go around entertaining women after his wife’s death so when he is forced to remarry he is a little unsure of himself. And our MFC she was horny, love this. Get it girl. It was very slice of life but avoided the machoism that I feel is typical told in this time frame books. I didn’t really understand why she didn’t tell her husband some of the weird things his stepmom and brother did and said. And I think the ending was a little messy. My fav character is Anse, I’ll take one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Challenges, Mystery, Tragedies, Finding and Admitting Love:
A lovely highland story from a new author for me and I was thrilled with the mystery plot, the interesting large cast of sub characters.
Declan the handsome hero, Isabella the beautiful bride and Noah the little boy who was certainly such an intriguing part of the story.
The story is quite involved with daily living in the highlands, conquering family grievances, clan disputes, finding treasure, plus falling in love.
All in all, the mystery part was most interesting, but when it began to unravel it got a little choppy and rushed.
I enjoyed this passionate love story enough that I would certainly like to read more from this author and more of the series
💖Special Mention: The cover is outstanding where you can see the beauty and handsomeness of both characters.
💋 Favorite Character: Anse💪

Whenever I browse the NetGalley catalog, I can sniff out Highlander romances like a truffle pig. They're my favorite subgenre and I will never get tired of reading them. All I saw was Bride Takes a Scot and I immediately hit the request button. I really loved the first half of the book. Great writing, exciting plot, and a strong female lead. I also gobble up Marriage of Convenience plots, so it looked like we were headed towards success. I was having a great time until the hero didn't seem like he was into his new bride. He requested separate sleeping arrangements, grudgingly offered her the warmth of his kilt, and his cousin was nicer to the heroine than Declan himself. Did I pick up the wrong book?

The lack of emotional availability from Declan was really disappointing. I know he was a widow with a mute son, but he wasn't present for his new bride. Isabella seemed strong and sweet, but I pitied her begging for her husband's affection. My biggest beef was Declan's cousin, Anse. He was so nice and cared more about Isabella than her actual husband. Justice for Anse. Somebody wife him up, for real! He better be next in the series or I may not pick up the sequel.

Bride Takes a Scot had a great beginning, but lost me in the second half. I loved the author's writing, as it was very pleasant to read without the typical flowery prose you encounter in romance novels. I did get my Scottish fix, even if the couple had a rough start. I may continue with the series, but only if my man Anse is front and center. The Bride Took Her Scot, but why can't it be that one?

"Bride Takes a Scot" by Kara Griffin is an enjoyable read for any fan of historical Scottish romances. This book has it all: a dashing laird, an enchanting maiden, and an intense conflict between rival clans.

Laird Declan MacKendrick, wrongfully imprisoned in King Alexander’s dungeon, is offered his freedom with one stipulation―that he marry a border baron’s daughter. is determined to uncover the identity of his accuser and exact his vengeance. Meanwhile, Isabella Forrester is far from pleased with the king's decision to force her into an unwanted marriage.

This gripping tale is the first instalment in the "Highland Vows & Vengeance" series, and it's a must-read for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a world of passion, intrigue, and adventure.

An arranged marriage becomes something more than a political alliance for Isabella and Declan. He is motivated by revenge for his false imprisonment, she is just lonely, an English woman in the Highlands. Slowly and steadily Isabella worms her way into hearts of her clan starting with Anse and Declan and then Noah and Marian. But the real threat of Declans accuser is still out there and harm to Isabella is what it takes to come to light.

So I liked the theme, I liked the characters even, but the writing style was very very choppy. The language was not period appropriate with tons of modern phrases included in descriptions / dialogues. Some scenes like her liking it rough seem a little contrived.

This was a really enjoyable story about the Scottish Highlands. It reminds me of the Julie Garwood books I stole from my mom, but with a more refreshing update to the typical tropes those types of books had. The storyline was also entertaining. I look forward to more in this series.

It was a little insta lust for my personal taste, but I enjoyed it just the same! I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!

This is another enjoyable highland story that you will not be able to put down. Isabella is tired of the life she is leading and ready for a change. Her parents are trying her patience. When news comes that the king has arranged for her to marry she is thrilled but also nervous. Declan never planned to remarry but when he is ordered to by the king there isn’t much he can do about it. He never dreamed that this bride would be so beautiful and outspoken and he loves it. They get married and things start to happen that targets his family, including his new wife. Will he be able to find the culprit before anyone is killed? This book was a great story with a strong female who is not going to be taken as a damsel. I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you like highlander clan stories with a strong romance, you'll enjoy this! It actually reminded me a bit of Lynsay Sands Highland Brides series.

Declan and Isabella were a great pairing. I really liked their chemistry and how their relationship developed. I liked that Isabella was a healer, as well as opiniated and smart. She reminded me a bit of Claire from Outlander. Declan is trying to solve a murder mystery and figuring out who is attempting to frame in for it. Plus he has a young son. I thought Declan was an interesting character too. Both characters have a lot going on but Griffin does a fantastic job of blending everything. I never felt overwhelmed with the storylines. The romance here is great and I enjoyed the setting.

Would recommend for fans of Lynsay Sands!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Bride takes a Scot by Kara Griffin is a third person dual-POV historical romance set in the Highlands of Scotland in the thirteenth century. Laird Declan MacKendrick has been falsely accused of murdering the father of his deceased wife. While King Alexander recognizes that Declan couldn’t have committed the murder, he still forces Declan into choosing a bride from among four noble women from the Scottish-English border. Isabella Forrester is the bride he chooses and she chooses him in return, joining him in the Highlands and becoming part of his family.

Isabella has a lot of preconceived notions of Highlanders that match a lot of the tropes that often exist in Scottish romances coming from American publishers, namely that Highlanders are barbarians. She initially comments on his long hair as if it’s less civilized, how large he is, that he seems like a brute. Over time, she understands that is not the case and she does walk back those opinions. Declan has his own opinions about her initially, but nothing in the same vein that Isabella had towards him.

Declan and Isabella’s marriage is initially a political one and both are fine with that. Isabella is quite practical and doesn’t believe in concepts such as love at first sight and Declan has already lost one wife and views this marriage as more of a speed bump so he can return home. It is that practical nature and how withdrawn they are from everything else around them that attracts them to each other and helps make them a good fit. They’re both fairly no-nonsense but also try not to make a big fuss in public and are aware of how other people view them. There’s still heat and passion in their relationship, but it’s built on that meeting of their personalities.

Content warning for attempted sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of historical romance looking for a romance that critiques specific tropes relating to Scottish historical romance and readers looking for two practical leads in a romance

Laird Declan MacKendrick accused for murdering his dead wife father and is inprisoned . The King Alexander believes that he is innocent but he must marry a young lady between the 4 that he will meet in a month . From the four only Lady Isabella is able to gain his attention . Isabella is a very opinionated and smart lady and also is a healer , she does not believe in love but she is willing to marry the Scot . Declan is determined to clear his name and find the killer will protecting his new wife . Isabella at first is not welcomed from his family but with determination she wins them all . She even taking care of Declan's son Noah who is mute . Will Declan find who wants him dead and finally be happy with his family ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .