Thank you Netgalley, Alison B Hanson and Dragonblade Publishing for this arc.

This is my second read by Alison B Hanson, but in my mind this is better than her first book.
Not that "The lady Reckless abandon" was bad, far from it.
I loved Thea and Shay as a couple, and as characters on their own.
Reading about people who loves books is always a big pluss, and here both main characters love to read, Thea even is an author.
I loved the mystery that is the backdrop,you know from the vstart that Shea has secrets.
The twist in the last chapter felt a bit soap opera ish, but still I enjoyed it.

I loved every aspect of this book, would highly recomend it.

I look forward to reading the last book in this series.

Our heroine in this historical romance is an author who is keeping her identity a secret from everyone, especially her brother. When she finds out that home is no longer safe, she runs away.
Our hero has lived a lie for most of his life. Now his conscience is troubling him.
This is an amusing story with great characters. There are more than a few twists especially the big one at the end.
This is part of a series but you can easily read each book on its own. They are only linked by the hero's being friends.
Great fun.

Stories based on friendship and similar interests always grab my attention more than ones that start out with physical wants. That said, the story of Thea and Shay was right up my alley. The twists and turns in the book will hold the readers attention yet the true meat of the plot deals with getting to know each other, becoming friends then building a lasting relationship on that solid foundation. Well done.

A lovely romance evolves out of pain and suffering as both main characters are hiding their origins. Shay, as he is now known, has deep, dark secrets, and Thea only has to get her next novel completed so that she can be free of her brother with his gambling sickness. Overhearing a conversation saves Thea's life and causes her to flee to the one place she hopes her brother will never find her. She does not expect Shay to return earlier from his business in London than anticipated, and finding a strange woman in the dower house has him stomping off to demand answers. Finding that she is the author of books that he enjoys, as well as being the sister of a man he knows will not protect her, has Shay siding with her and keeping her safe. However, nothing goes to plan. In parts, the novel moves a little slowly, but it is worth carrying on as it comes to a wonderful conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

What an excellent story. The plot has twists and turns, the characters seem like real people with fears, pain, and a desire to be loved. Seamus has a tragic past that leads to an inability to trust. Thea has a sadness from losing her parents and mistrust towards her brother. Together they work to trust each other which is not easy at all for them. You will enjoy this book!

I previously read The Highland Heir by Alison B. Hanson and knew that she held great potential. I adored the Scottish brogues, stolen kisses, and the solid friendship that provided the rocksteady foundation for the couple's relationship. All those elements were present in The Lady's Great Escape and our characters were even aged up to a respectable number befitting their intense circumstances. That was my main qualm with the previous book because the couple were barely out of their teens engaging in very mature activities. I hate the word spinster, yet our heroine Thea was well out of the school room ready to take on the world. This was a massive upgrade from my previous reading. I was thoroughly impressed by the increase in quality between the two books.

One of my favorite features that was thankfully repeated was our couple's friendship. Shay and Thea were so sweet together before they even engaged in their carnal appetites. They trusted each other and had similar hobbies. She was his favorite author and he loved reading her new manuscript, practically kicking his feet on the chaise while he read. We really need to incorporate more genuine friendship in romance novels instead of just basing relationships on mere physicality. The absolute best part of this book was the kissing lessons. I couldn't stop smiling when Shay insisted on different methods to "research" for her new book. They couldn't stop snogging and I loved every second. It was the cutest thing I've read in a while and earned an extra star rating from me.

The Lady's Great Escape was a sweet little "kilt-ripper" and I'm glad I gave this another chance. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Safety in Scotland series. I'm positive it will include Hanson's signature friendship lovingly interlaced with romance. This was a darling story and I wish I could mirror The Lady's Great Escape into a marriage as cute as this one.

4.5 Stars
Shaemus Buchanan preferred being alone. He had secrets to protect and isolation was his respite from his carefully constructed reputation. But then he finds Thea Rockledge in his guest house and despite his good judgment, can’t turn her away. Running from her brother, Thea made her way to Scotland, seeking refuge in an empty dower house. She only needs a few months to finish her novel, and she’ll have enough to buy her own home, but Shay returns.
The second book in the series but it’s easily read on its own. I loved both Shay & Thea & was drawn into the book from the beginning & left with a smile on my face at the end. There were plenty of secrets & surprises as well as strong characters & sizzling chemistry. There’s also some angst, guilt, shame & also forgiveness, understanding & humility. Both Shay & Thea are not whom they seem but a deep love helps them face the truth & I loved that they actually talk to each other. A well written engrossing romance
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is an enjoyable story with a heroine who writes mystery novels and a hero who lived on the streets and was plucked from the rubble to inherit a marquessate. Thea is a spinster and a successful novelist writing under an assumed (man's) name in order to support herself through her addict brother's mindless frittering of their family fortune. When she overhears her brother planning to sell her off to settle his enormous debt, she flees to Scotland where she meets the hero, Shay, who also happens to be the biggest fan of her novels. Their banter is fun and natural, and they form an easy friendship centered around her writing. However, when Thea's brother suddenly shows up and threatens to take her away, Thea and Shay must quickly marry, yet neither is actually upset by the turn of events. The rest of the story is about Shay's secrets and the unfolding of the pair's growing feelings. I loved reading about the creative, ambitious heroine, and the hero who was a very supportive partner. There are some open-door sex scenes, but they are brief and not very detailed. Overall, an enjoyable book I would recommend, between 3 and 4 stars for me.

I really liked Thea as a character - she is smart, resourceful, and takes action rather than waiting to be saved. Shay is an interesting character himself, he had a rough upbringing and carries a doozy of a secret (there is also a surprise twist involving him that I did not see coming). I really liked that these two characters start as strangers and are given the opportunity to develop their relationship slowly. Shay immediately proves to Thea that she and her secrets are safe with him which was why I was a little disappointed with Thea when she does not give him an opportunity to explain everything after she finds out about his business in London and allows herself to think the worst of him. This was an easy read because I found myself pulled in right from the start and the pacing kept me interested at every turn.

Thea Rockledge has a secret life as a successful writer. Unfortunately most of the money she's made is to pay off her brother's gambling debts. He's sold everything in the house for more money. In fear of what her brother will do next, she flees to Scotland. Shay Buchanan wasn't expecting a lady using his cottage separate from the castle. Once he learns who she is, he can't let her go. When her situation becomes desperate, the only solution is to marry. But Shay carries a lot of guilt and secrets. Full of angst, nightmares and unexpected revelations. Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Her escape from a dire situation landed her into a friendship that turned into something more. He is a man full of secrets but is kind, generous and supportive. I love how the two found each other and then some!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and leaving my enthusiastic review voluntarily.

Thea has to run away from her brother or she would be sold off to pay her brother's debt. She had to quickly form a plan to get away from her brother and the only chance possible is to flee north. Thea I would say, a bright and intelligent woman for sure. She knew her brother was not in her right mind so she came up with the idea to find her own funds and manage it without her brother knowing. For sure, she would be able to survive without the need of the support of any gentlemen. Thus, marriage has never come to her mind with her age and situation on hand. Getting to know Shay, she might ponder her decision to marry. And that's not her conflict alone, Shay thought the same upon meeting Thea.

I feel like some little conflict feels unnecessary (as an outsider) but I get it sometimes people in love have the weirdest conflicts in mind. But overall, I enjoy their love encounter and I absolutely love the tiny details of them slowly falling in love with each other. When they show instead of realizing they both fall deeper to each other.

And I like to give credit to Allison because I think it's not easy to write as an author. Okay, maybe you can write about an author but convey it as a good plot story is not easy. The way she goes all the way to experience things to write is just an author thingy but Allison putting this one characteristic into the plot makes the story even better. And Thea definitely can write. Maybe I don’t read enough of author main character, but they just don’t convey as well as this story did (to my standard at least).

Thea is an author but her brother is a dedicated and poor gambler.
He plans to sell her off to pay his debts so she flees to Scotland to the dower house of Shay the Marquess.
As she quietly writes to finish her book, Shay returns home to find this stranger in his house.
They bond over her story and writing and fall in love.
Some secrets are revealed which affects their future.
A beautiful love story, wonderful epilogue.
Enjoyable read.

Thea has been fending for herself by secretly writing novels, whilst her brother sells off everything of value to feed his gambling habit. But what happens when the only thing of value he has to sell is his sister? Overhearing a conversation between her brother and his friend, Thea flees as far from London as she can, taking up temporary lodging in a furnished but unoccupied dower house. She doesn’t expect the Marquess at the nearby Castle to return before the end of the Season when she will be long gone. Her information is incorrect but when Shay meets the unknown woman who has appropriated one of his properties, he finds himself letting her stay…
An enjoyable story with an unexpected twist at the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With twists and turns aplenty, and a good deal of romance, this story is a delight from start to finish.