There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

Englishwoman Margot Armstrong always resented the fact that she was used as a bargaining chip by her father and married off to a rugged and wild Scotsman named Arran Mackenzie. It’s why she fled the highlands and returned to England as soon as she could. But two years later, she returns to Arran, claiming to be remorseful and hoping to make amends. Arran is rightfully suspicious of her motives. As it turns out, Margot is once again following her father’s orders and spying to see if Arran is loyal to the throne.

I really wanted to like this book. I had loved Julia London's The Devil Takes a Bride, and while this book didn't hold up for me, I still wanted to read more from her. The premise intrigued me (an arranged marriage, a runaway wife). The book begins with chapters alternating between the past and present, a technique I really enjoyed as it slowly revealed what had gone right and wrong between Margot and Arran. The stories quickly converge, and the remainder of the book takes place in the 'present' as the two attempt to reconcile. As the book went on, my interest faded. Margot is helplessly naive and woefully immature. Arran admires the changes in her as the book goes on, but I rarely felt it was earned—it felt like an adult being praised for finally acting like an adult.

Like I said, Kirkus and PW loved this. Other reviews are loving this. If you're intrigued, I definitely think it is worth picking up—especially if you've enjoyed London's books in the past.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

Guest Review by Barb
Spoiled, wealthy and English, Margot Armstrong, always felt she didn't belong in Scotland married to a chieftain. As her father forced her into marrying the Scottish Chieftain, Arran McKenzie when Margot was only 18 years old. As Margot was English and not used to the Scottish Highlands.

Plus being so young she was home sick plus his clan did not make her feel welcome. Most likely her being English but Margot was a bit snobbish too. As she felt she was too good and above everything in the Scottish holdings. She had to admit her husband was rather attractive when he upkept his looks and bathed. Plus he was rather good sexually in the bedroom but it was not enough.

Margot missed home too much and it wasn't long that she ran away to her home and never looked back. Three years later her father returns her to her husband. Her father had no feelings for her marriage but wanted his daughter to spy on her husband and find out if he was Jacobite.

Arran McKenzie was hoping his wife had missed him and Scotland. He was hoping she wanted to heal their marriage and make it work. Then he finds out her father forces his daughter back to her husband. To Arran this was not what he was hoping for at all.

Then the funniest thing happens she develops feelings for her husband. Margot does not want to betray Arran finding he's a good man. Plus she is between a rock and a hard place as the Crown will accuse her father of being a traitor if he doesn't come up with Jacob ite evidence. Plus Margot believes both men are innocent and her husband is investigating why her father sent her back. Arran does not believe it is to heal their broken marriage.

If Arra digs and finds out the truth will he kick Margot out and find her devious and untrusting. Plus how will this couple ever mend their broken fences!

Another wonderful fast paced riveting adventure that readers will absolutely love. Readers won't be able to put it down and it's a book you won't forget.

I loved it from beginning to end I absolutely loved it and looking forward to rest of the series! It is totally brilliant!

I voluntarily reviewed this book which was given to me by the publisher through netgalley.com. All words and ideas and thoughts are my own.

I have always loved a second-chance romance and Julia London does not disappoint. Arran McKenzie is a Scottish Laird who sees the advantages of taking an English bride and Margot Armstrong sees no reason she should be removed from her beloved England to marry this unpolished Scot. After several months of tumultuous wedded bliss, Margot flees Scotland. But fate isn't done with Margot and Arran yet. Two years later intrigue is the in air and Margot is back in Scotland with a secret mission, her father has sent her to woo her husband while looking for proof of his treason. But no man's plan can take into account what the heart wants. Margot and Arran must not only learn to overcome and accept what has happened in the past, but decide how to move forward, either alone or with each other.

Wild Wicket Scot was my first Julia London read, and I was so excited to finally read a title by someone in the genre who had been there many years. I don't know why, but I had difficulty getting into her writing. I attempted to read the title a couple of times with space in-between to see if it was a mood issue or a book funk causing me to not fall into the story, but unfortunately it happened each time. Hopefully it's just this title so that I can try others of hers.

One of the best Historical Romance books I've read since Outlander! The characters were so well developed that I couldn't help wondering what happened to them after the story ended!

This is the first story in Highland Grooms series and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it.

I liked the trope of the convenient marriage and second chance at romance, but constant jumping from present to past had me enjoy this story much less.

On the other hand, I really liked the hero and truly wished he married someone else. I had a very hard time liking of the heroine.

And then there's the setting and the Scottish burr that had me enjoy the story.

In the end, I stuck it out only because I do enjoy this authors work and will give this series a chance.

Melanie for b2b

I adore Julia London's historical romance novels! Especially if there are hot scots involved. This book was no different, another hit in my readers' eye.

The hero of this story, Arran McKenzie, is fiercely handsome, loyal and easily heartbroken. The heroine, Margot Armstrong, is beautiful, outspoken and spoiled. Margot's persona didn't catch my attention as much as the plot did, and whether or not she was going to be loyal to Arran or the crown. But, Arran...passionate and proud, had my heart from the beginning.  Through the turmoil and chaos and secrets, the two just may get through it all together. And that's what kept me turning the page...not knowing until the end, what was going to happen. 

I do recommend Wild Wicked Scot to all historical romance fans, especially those who love to read about strong highlanders with a lot of love to give.

I really enjoyed this book even if I didn't like Margot for most of it. I must admit that I skipped the prologue and went straight to the first chapter. The reason why? I disliked Margot from the first two pages of the book. She was acting like most of the kids at her age, but I still couldn't stop not liking her. To me, she was a spoiled and selfish brat and I knew there was no way I would ever like her. 356 pages later and I still don't like her. I don't dislike her either, so I can say that I don't have any feelings for her. If I had gotten the chance to see what Arran did and made her cry during the months they were together I might have felt differently. I believe that he truly wanted to do something nice for her when he hosted the ball. I loved him. He is a good hero in my opinion. He knows that Margot is hiding something, but he is still trying to get her back to him and continue their marriage. The letters were the thing that sealed the deal for me.

I liked the flashbacks because it gave us a chance to see what went wrong between Arran and Margot. They were placed in the right spot and the first one was a great parallel to the current events. I loved the epilogue. It was a great end to the story. I want to read Knoxs story. I liked him a lot and I hope the author will plan a book for him. Wild wicked Scot is the first book I had the chance to enjoy in a while. I loved the highlands. I am not sure why I cannot give it 5 stars, but it's a solid 4 for me. The book is great and I am sure the readers will enjoy it as much as I did.

I usually enjoy Julia London's work. Unfortunately, this one failed to grab my attention, and I never made it through the entire book. Since I didn't finish it, I didn't post my review online.

I was delighted by this story. The characters were wonderfully drawn and the dialogue was just as
insightful. The story may seem typical, but it was far from it. It was full and richly crafted. I was surprised by the ending and that hardly ever happens! Both the Hero and the Heroine were larger than life and the secondary characters were just as fully realized. I did not want this book to end.
Well Done!!

I have always been a fan of a well-written and exciting highland romance and Julia London’s Highland Grooms series is the beginning of a new wonderful world. London has been a favorite author of mine, especially for her historicals, for several years now, so when I was offered the chance to read an advanced copy of Wild, Wicked Scot there was no way I was going to miss out. I was a tiny bit disappointed initially thinking that we wouldn’t get to know the characters and see their original romance, but London shows us glimpses of the lovers in the beginning of their relationship as well as in the current timeline where the lovers are coming back together after a long separation. If you are a fan of truly interesting and sometimes trying Scottish hotties, this story is going to bring you immense joy. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the next in the series. I was surprised that Julia was able in the end to give the couple their HEA, but it was hard won and earned with blood, sweat and tears to be sure.
Arran and Margot had a tumultuous first few months as husband and wife, with glimpses into the possibilities they would have a wonderful, loving relationship—if only they could both let go of their preconceived notions of what their spouse should be. Margot is much too young when they are first together, leaving her floundering as she is trying to find a way to make her marriage into what she thinks it should be. Arran is clueless when it comes to young women and has no notion of what he should be doing to aid his young wife in her transition. Finally fed up with being alone so much, Margot decides to flee her husband and new home, in favor of returning to her childhood home. But when rumors begin to spread there is no way for her to hide out any longer. Arran and Margot come back together with all the fiery passion and sweet sensuality that was there in the beginning, but the anger and frustration is new. Can Arran find a way to make his wife happy enough to stay with him? Or is he destined to see her walk away from him again?
Margot is an interesting character. While she’s not exactly the damsel in distress she is definitely a woman trapped between a rock and a hard place…err person. Margot ran from her husband, mainly due to her inexperience in dealing with men, especially big, alpha Scots. Now that she is faced with returning to her husband in order to keep her family’s honor intact there is no doubt she will have to brazen her way through the entire process. While there were certainly times I wanted to smack her in the head to wake her up to the truth around her, her naiveté was one of the reasons the story was able to move along. I enjoyed seeing her find her footing with Arran and his people and of course in the end she is the hero, which made me immensely happy. I can safely say in the end I really liked Margot and was glad to see her and Arran find their happiness and balance. Arran is the quintessential Scotsman of his time. Rugged and brash, brave and honorable, and of course sexy as all get out. Arran had no idea what he was in for when he fell for the sweet and beautiful Margot, but what man really knows how to handle love at first sight, after all. When she left him, he assumed she would return to him quickly, but years later the anger and frustration has made him in to a bitter man and there is no way he will allow himself to fall under her spell again. I liked Arran, even though at times he seemed unforgiving and uncompromising, mainly because he stands up for his principles and even though he still loves her he will not allow her to damage their clan any further. Trust is not something he will ever allow Margot to break again, but when she ultimately earns his love and trust back, he moves on from the past and embraces their love wholeheartedly.
This return to the wild and sensual Scottish Highlands came at just the right time for me. I was in a rut to be sure, but with this novel my love of reading was reignited. Arran and Margot’s tumultuous story of deceit, betrayal, honor, and love is one that kept my interest every second the story was in my hands and pulled at me even when I had to put it down. Margot is a young woman that was thrown in the deep end and she lost her footing in the beginning, but when she blossoms and comes in to her own, the woman is a pistol and certainly fits right in with her new crazy highland clan. Arran is the type of man that makes any woman melt for him, even if his gruffness and lack of female experience might have left him stumbling with his new bride on a few occasions. When they both finally start communicating and trusting one another the relationship between them turns into the type of long-lasting love that can build not only a family or even a mighty clan, but an entire world of love for the future generations. The heat between these two was undeniable from the first moment they set eyes on each other again and only sizzles hotter as they interact. I was thrilled to see these two finally find the love that would sustain their marriage and find a way to overcome the dangers facing them. Full of laughs, sparks, and danger Wild Wicked Scot will take you on a thrill ride through the untamed highlands and even into the borders of England where the danger is boiling over as the Scots and English quarrel again over their borders and lands. I loved this story and am dying to find out who’s story comes next. Another masterpiece from Julia, but honestly, I would expect nothing less!

Love julia and love this book! The mackenzie clan is back!

Julia London is one of those authors for me who always has MUST reads. She never disappoints with a good story and I can honestly say I have never disliked any of her books.

This one is the first in a new trilogy and as usual she doesn’t disappoint.

Arran and Margot are the two main characters in this.  Her father forced her into a hasty marriage with a stranger (Arran) and she was thoroughly miserable when she had to move to Scotland with her new husband. Eventually she leaves him and heads back to London.

This pretty much starts with Margot (after 3 years) returning to Scotland and telling Arran she wants to begin again with their marriage. Obviously she has ulterior motives but its not long before she’s falling in love with him again.

For the first half of the books its goes between the past and present to pretty much catch us up on the early days of their marriage.

Margot was one of those characters I went between liking and really disliking. The present Margot I actually quite liked. The past Margot was a spoilt brat who needed a clip around the ears. She basically made up her mind that she was miserable and there was no talking her out of it. Granted, she was only 18 but I feel usually most 18 year olds in these books are more mature.

Arran, honestly, as a hero I can’t fault him. The only thing he didn’t do was wear his heart on his sleeve and tell her verbally his feelings. I feel he showed her how he felt but unfortunately not everyone gets that.

I really enjoyed meeting all of the other characters of the clan and the ending did feel kind of perfect.

For me, the only real issue I had was the fact I didn’t understand why Margot just didn’t ask Arran the question outright. He didn’t ever lie to her so its not like he would have lied if true. She also didn’t even believe he was actually guilty. Obviously there would be no book if she had just asked him, and it’s hard to describe why, I just feel like she should have actually talked with him and asked about it, rather than all of her non-subtle hints etc.

Overall though this didn’t distract from how much I loved this. The writing as usual was excellent and Julia really is a brilliant storyteller.

I have already started the next one and am loving it already too.

A solid 4 star book with an intriguing plot line and great chemistry between the hero and heroine of the story.

Wow! I can see why this has earned a starred review! I did not want this book to end.

I usually love Julia London's books, and while I liked this, and found it interesting, I didn't love it.

Margot Armstrong is a young, naive, spoiled English woman who is being used by her father further his wealth and land holdings. He marries her off to Arran, a Scottish chieftain in search of a wife, who's world was rough and tumble, very different from the refined ballrooms of England. Though treated well, she flees home to her father. Arran's pride keeps him from going after her.

The saving grace in all of this is that the story between Arran and Margot is really a love story, even thru all the trials and interference from all of the outside players. It's an enjoyable read.

*3.5 Stars*

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of Margot, an incredibly spoiled Englishwoman and her husband, Arran, a Scottish chieftain. Margot's father marries her off to Arran for financial and political gain at the age of 16. She does not like this situation, and flees to England, leaving Arran alone for several years. She returns 3 years later and does not get a warm welcome. Her father has ordered her to return and spy on Arran, but she finds herself falling for him instead. With alternating POV's and a timeline that jumps around, it quickly becomes apparent that they are both keeping secrets, but are also falling for each other.

The timeline of this book is a little confusing, and Margot is annoying for much of the story. That being said, it is captivating, and it is a nice little love story.

This story is about rebuilding a marriage alongside a traitorous plot. Margot left her husband in Scotland three years before and has now come back to him to uncover if he is a traitor or not. Arran immediately suspects that Margot has not returned because she wants to give their marriage another try. Both suspicious of each other, can their marriage survive?

This book has more history and politics in it than most historical romances I read but I liked the idea that there was a secret plot bubbling that greatly affected our characters. This book is more than just romance. Then the romance came in and out of the story as we see through the present day and flashbacks of how their marriage is taking this long separation and the struggles it was before, and now really. Margot left a spoiled and lonely child but returned a strong woman on a mission. Arran can automatically see a difference in her. They have both suffered but until they open up to each other more they would never see how much they care for each other and they would only see how their marriage is dangling from the edge of a cliff. Margot doesn't believe Arran is a traitor but she needs proof one way or another to satisfy her stupid as-her suspicious father and brother. (Honestly, both can just go to hell.) Moving on, when Margot returns she has change and has made it her separate mission to try to find some balance in her marriage and really try to fit into the highland lifestyle which is quite different from her English upbringing with gowns and society parties. She struggles, A LOT, but she is very determined to change.

There were some slow parts in the first half of the book but there were also some incredibly wonderful moments between our main characters. I was even questioning if this marriage was really going to work. You can see they do care about each other but there are secrets, lies, betrayal and deceit. The whole traitorous plot goes right up until the very end. I wasn't even sure for a little while if the book would end in a cliffhanger but it doesn't, thank god for that. The uncertainty of their lives and marriage kept me on my toes until the very end and I absolutely loved the last chunk of the book. When times seem so bleak, they had each other for strength and eventually love and understanding.

I truly love Margot and Arran. They suit each other so well and even with all of their problems they oh so slowly rebuild something that was once lost and broken. The epilogue was perfect and I was ecstatic that they were in each other's arms once again.