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Scottish Sisters #1
A Scandalous Scot
One scandal was never enough . . .
After four long years, Morgan MacCraig has finally returned to the Highlands of his birth . . . with his honor in shreds. After a scandal, all he wants now is solace—yet peace is impossible to find with the castle's outspoken new maid trying his patience, challenging his manhood . . . and winning his love, body and soul.
Jean MacDonald wants to leave her past behind and start anew, but Ballindair Castle, a Scottish estate rumored to be haunted, hasn't been the safe haven she envisioned. Ballindair's ancestral ghosts aren't as fascinating as Morgan, the most magnificent man she's ever seen. Though their passion triggers a fresh scandal that could force them to wed, Jean must first share the secrets of her own past—secrets that could force them apart, or be the beginning of a love and redemption unlike anything they've ever known.
After four long years, Morgan MacCraig has finally returned to the Highlands of his birth . . . with his honor in shreds. After a scandal, all he wants now is solace—yet peace is impossible to find with the castle's outspoken new maid trying his patience, challenging his manhood . . . and winning his love, body and soul.
Jean MacDonald wants to leave her past behind and start anew, but Ballindair Castle, a Scottish estate rumored to be haunted, hasn't been the safe haven she envisioned. Ballindair's ancestral ghosts aren't as fascinating as Morgan, the most magnificent man she's ever seen. Though their passion triggers a fresh scandal that could force them to wed, Jean must first share the secrets of her own past—secrets that could force them apart, or be the beginning of a love and redemption unlike anything they've ever known.
349 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 26, 2012
75 people are currently reading
788 people want to read
About the author
Karen Ranney
100 books947 followersI’m a writer who’s been privileged to have attained the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists.
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 27, 2020
In order to properly appreciate A Scandalous Scot, readers will have to willfully suspend their disbelief and buy into the premise that a wealthy earl would ever marry a scullery maid just because he was concerned about her reputation.
I am not such a reader. Therefore, I did not appreciate this book. Alas.
Here we meet Jean MacDonald, a scullery maid. At one point, she was a member of Scotland’s middle class, but now she serves as a lowly servant in Ballindair, a 14th century castle. The reason for her (and her sister’s) fall from grace? It’s a mystery!
Here we also meet Morgan MacCraig, the lord of the castle. He’s spent much of his time as an influential politician in London, but he’s returned to his childhood home in disgrace. Why disgrace? Because he divorced his unfaithful wife!
Jean and Morgan literally bump into each other, and are both terribly annoyed by the other’s personality. Except after a few weeks of sniping at each other, Morgan manages to compromise Jean, and then he...marries her? Yeah, the author really lost me there.
I don’t care how unconventional or eccentric your earl is, he’s almost 100% not going to marry a scullery maid. This isn’t Cinderella, you guys. I put up with a lot in my romance novels, and I forgive a lot of very strange plot twists. But Karen Ranney really went too far with A Scandalous Scot. Like, way far. 100 leagues beyond the limit of my willingness to suspend disbelief.
So, obviously the main problem is that I didn’t buy the book’s major premise. There were other problems as well—for instance, the book really seems to hate women. See, after how terribly his wife treated him back in London, Morgan now hates all females indiscriminately. It’s your typical “I was wronged by a woman once and now I’m certain you’re all a race of whores and deceivers!” bullshit. The great thing for Morgan (and Jean?) is that Jean is like the antithesis to his ex-wife. Wife was blonde? Jean is brunette! Wife was pretty? Jean is ugly! Wife was stupid? Jean is smart! Wife liked nice clothes? Jean doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her clothes! Etcetera, etcetera. You get the picture.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with being plain, brown-haired, or smart. But there is also nothing wrong with being blonde, pretty, and fashionable. What Ranney does wrong with this book is that she codes all the “villainous” women as beautiful, vapid harlots, all so her protagonist, Jean, can look like a saint. It’s far too similar to the crappy “Not like other girls!” line of characterization that we see often in young adult fiction and on TV.
Also, I have never seen virginity fetishized at such an obscene level as in this novel.
An example:
Follow-up:
And still more:
Like, okay. WE GET IT! Only ugly, brown-eyed virgins are to be trusted; anyone else who identifies female is just a salacious idiot out to steal your money and infect your precious dick with syphilis.
And, honestly, I might have forgiven Morgan for his weird hymen obsession, except for the way the author reinforces his misogyny via Jean’s younger sister, Catriona. Catriona, you must understand, is the miniature version of Morgan’s ex-wife. Beautiful, blonde, and blatantly sexual, she’s just Bad News. A Scandalous Scot is sure to emphasize how “amoral” Catriona is as she manages to ruin everyone’s life with her wanton ways. This, again, just serves to push Jean higher up on that pedestal. (Also apparently in the sequel, Catriona gets “punished” for her lascivious ways by being terribly disfigured? COME. ON.)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you need to tear other women down in order to make your female protagonist look good, you need to stop writing female characters.
So, between the implausible plotline and the misogyny, I really can’t say that A Scandalous Scot was ever going to be a book I liked. I can’t say that it was terrible, but between all the rather offensive/silly nonsense, it was actually quite boring. Morgan and Jean’s wedding night took three chapters and included him stomping out of the room twice, because they were so intent on squabbling, before they finally consummated the damn thing. This book is slow-paced and mundane, and really nothing to write home about. I was not impressed.
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I am not such a reader. Therefore, I did not appreciate this book. Alas.
Here we meet Jean MacDonald, a scullery maid. At one point, she was a member of Scotland’s middle class, but now she serves as a lowly servant in Ballindair, a 14th century castle. The reason for her (and her sister’s) fall from grace? It’s a mystery!
Here we also meet Morgan MacCraig, the lord of the castle. He’s spent much of his time as an influential politician in London, but he’s returned to his childhood home in disgrace. Why disgrace? Because he divorced his unfaithful wife!
Jean and Morgan literally bump into each other, and are both terribly annoyed by the other’s personality. Except after a few weeks of sniping at each other, Morgan manages to compromise Jean, and then he...marries her? Yeah, the author really lost me there.
I don’t care how unconventional or eccentric your earl is, he’s almost 100% not going to marry a scullery maid. This isn’t Cinderella, you guys. I put up with a lot in my romance novels, and I forgive a lot of very strange plot twists. But Karen Ranney really went too far with A Scandalous Scot. Like, way far. 100 leagues beyond the limit of my willingness to suspend disbelief.
So, obviously the main problem is that I didn’t buy the book’s major premise. There were other problems as well—for instance, the book really seems to hate women. See, after how terribly his wife treated him back in London, Morgan now hates all females indiscriminately. It’s your typical “I was wronged by a woman once and now I’m certain you’re all a race of whores and deceivers!” bullshit. The great thing for Morgan (and Jean?) is that Jean is like the antithesis to his ex-wife. Wife was blonde? Jean is brunette! Wife was pretty? Jean is ugly! Wife was stupid? Jean is smart! Wife liked nice clothes? Jean doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her clothes! Etcetera, etcetera. You get the picture.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with being plain, brown-haired, or smart. But there is also nothing wrong with being blonde, pretty, and fashionable. What Ranney does wrong with this book is that she codes all the “villainous” women as beautiful, vapid harlots, all so her protagonist, Jean, can look like a saint. It’s far too similar to the crappy “Not like other girls!” line of characterization that we see often in young adult fiction and on TV.
Also, I have never seen virginity fetishized at such an obscene level as in this novel.
An example:
“I don’t require a wife who’s well-traveled. I would hope you wouldn’t be ‘well-traveled’ until after our marriage.”
“I was speaking of visiting other places, Your Lordship,” she said, mildly affronted.
“I wasn’t.”
Follow-up:
“I’ve never bedded anyone. I don’t know anything about it. You will find me massively inept. I haven’t, in your parlance, traveled excessively.”
“Thank God… Do you think I want you experienced? Do you think I want anyone to have kissed you but me? Do you think I want a harlot in my bed?”
And still more:
“I think you have a great deal of sense,” he said. “Except in the bedroom.”
Her eyes widened. “Would you have preferred me to come to you educated?”
“If anyone is going to educate you,” he said, finishing with her petticoat, “it’s going to be me.”
Like, okay. WE GET IT! Only ugly, brown-eyed virgins are to be trusted; anyone else who identifies female is just a salacious idiot out to steal your money and infect your precious dick with syphilis.
And, honestly, I might have forgiven Morgan for his weird hymen obsession, except for the way the author reinforces his misogyny via Jean’s younger sister, Catriona. Catriona, you must understand, is the miniature version of Morgan’s ex-wife. Beautiful, blonde, and blatantly sexual, she’s just Bad News. A Scandalous Scot is sure to emphasize how “amoral” Catriona is as she manages to ruin everyone’s life with her wanton ways. This, again, just serves to push Jean higher up on that pedestal. (Also apparently in the sequel, Catriona gets “punished” for her lascivious ways by being terribly disfigured? COME. ON.)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you need to tear other women down in order to make your female protagonist look good, you need to stop writing female characters.
So, between the implausible plotline and the misogyny, I really can’t say that A Scandalous Scot was ever going to be a book I liked. I can’t say that it was terrible, but between all the rather offensive/silly nonsense, it was actually quite boring. Morgan and Jean’s wedding night took three chapters and included him stomping out of the room twice, because they were so intent on squabbling, before they finally consummated the damn thing. This book is slow-paced and mundane, and really nothing to write home about. I was not impressed.
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September 13, 2018
Enjoyable and nice read while on my travels.
4-Stars
4-Stars
August 12, 2012
Morgan MacCraig has to skulk home to Ballindair Castle because he's so scandalized London that his political career is over and nobody likes him anymore. Except his boyhood friend Andrew, and it doesn't take long before you'll start wondering if that's a good thing. Andrew accompanies him home to give his gentleman-parts a break from all his sundry mistresses, while Morgan broods about his lost honor and the fact that he'll never measure up to his sainted father.
Jean Cameron a/k/a MacDonald works as a maid at Ballindair Castle. It's a long fall for her and her younger sister, theslutty beautiful Catriona, but their aunt has offered them this work, since the alternative for girls from a fallen family would be to become mistresses. Jean isn't really mistress material--she's a bit of a wren, so we're told frequently through the book, but there were lots of offers for Catriona in Inverness, where they hail from. So Jean throws herself into the work, whatever she's asked to do, and tries to be glad for it, for the sake of her sister's innocence. They use a fake name because if they let on who they were, people would be afraid to drink the tea if they were the ones who brought it.
Jean's hobby, when she's not boiling sheets or cleaning privies (or staring agog at the lord's penis after she barges into his room without knocking)
... is ghost-hunting. She has read about the ghosts of the castle, and she lurks around in the shadows at night trying to catch them haunting. Why? Well, because she reckons she's at least better off than they are. Not sure that explains it, but...
Oh, did I mention she barged in on the lord when he was naked? Well, that was their second meeting. The first one was when she thought he was a ghost and tried to run through him because she was late to work. Let's just say they don't start off on good footing. Morgan doesn't much like anyone right now, especially himself, and this little wren keeps flapping up in his face at the damnedest times.
A fair amount of the book is spent hinting around at Morgan's ruinous scandal and Jean's tragic past without telling us anything. I'll spoil the secrets here so you won't be as frustrated as I was: I suppose it was bad enough at the time, but after all the buildup I really expected something shocking.
The rest of the book revolves around what amounts to a bedroom farce, which results in the wrong sister being "ruined" and Morgan struggling with more issues of honor, while Andrew of the wife-and-five-kiddies-in-the-country-and-a-dozen-or-so-mistresses-in-London shags Ballindair's version of Morgan's ex-wife, mutating a new form of social disease, no doubt. More secrets are revealed, and the population of Ballindair's ghosts expands a bit. If the romance part sounds a little like Cinderella, it's apparently supposed to; at one point Morgan tells Jean about the French version, Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de Verre (I personally like the German version of the name better; Aschenputtel just has a ring to it.)
I picked this one up thinking I'd be getting kilts and capers. Usually Scotty romances are full of clan wars and high adventure. I wasn't disappointed, exactly--there's some really nice dialogue in the story, and I liked Jean quite a lot. Still, I wasn't as emotionally caught up with this tale as I wanted to be, but that's probably me, since I'm not so much into the "loves me loves me not" angsty stories. Nothing to dislike here, though, so it gets a solid "middlin'" rating.
Jean Cameron a/k/a MacDonald works as a maid at Ballindair Castle. It's a long fall for her and her younger sister, the
Jean's hobby, when she's not boiling sheets or cleaning privies (or staring agog at the lord's penis after she barges into his room without knocking)
... is ghost-hunting. She has read about the ghosts of the castle, and she lurks around in the shadows at night trying to catch them haunting. Why? Well, because she reckons she's at least better off than they are. Not sure that explains it, but...
Oh, did I mention she barged in on the lord when he was naked? Well, that was their second meeting. The first one was when she thought he was a ghost and tried to run through him because she was late to work. Let's just say they don't start off on good footing. Morgan doesn't much like anyone right now, especially himself, and this little wren keeps flapping up in his face at the damnedest times.
A fair amount of the book is spent hinting around at Morgan's ruinous scandal and Jean's tragic past without telling us anything. I'll spoil the secrets here so you won't be as frustrated as I was: I suppose it was bad enough at the time, but after all the buildup I really expected something shocking.
The rest of the book revolves around what amounts to a bedroom farce, which results in the wrong sister being "ruined" and Morgan struggling with more issues of honor, while Andrew of the wife-and-five-kiddies-in-the-country-and-a-dozen-or-so-mistresses-in-London shags Ballindair's version of Morgan's ex-wife, mutating a new form of social disease, no doubt. More secrets are revealed, and the population of Ballindair's ghosts expands a bit. If the romance part sounds a little like Cinderella, it's apparently supposed to; at one point Morgan tells Jean about the French version, Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de Verre (I personally like the German version of the name better; Aschenputtel just has a ring to it.)
I picked this one up thinking I'd be getting kilts and capers. Usually Scotty romances are full of clan wars and high adventure. I wasn't disappointed, exactly--there's some really nice dialogue in the story, and I liked Jean quite a lot. Still, I wasn't as emotionally caught up with this tale as I wanted to be, but that's probably me, since I'm not so much into the "loves me loves me not" angsty stories. Nothing to dislike here, though, so it gets a solid "middlin'" rating.
March 15, 2019
No. Just, No. To be honest, I gave up on page 80..... But at that point I was already utterly tired of hearing how plain and unremarkable the heroine was, how beautiful her obnoxious, floozy sister was, how the hero's tag-along BFF had a wife and 5 kids at home in the country but he was always looking for a new girl to partake in, how the heroine kept getting caught by the hero prowling around his huge house at night whispering to supposed ghosts to please show themselves, how ashamed and unworthy the hero feels about himself because he divorced his first shrewish, cheating wife... it just all came across as idiotic and I didn't find myself liking any of the characters at all. The next book in the series features this heroine's bratty, arrogant, light-skirt wanna-be's sister. #iwillpassonthatonetoo
June 30, 2012
Morgan MacCraig had come back to Scotland after a bitter divorce that left him a pariah of London society. Divorce was considered scandalous and all but one of his friends had turned their backs on him. Never mind that his wife would sleep with everyone but him. He had had enough of London society and woman. He decided to go back to Ballindair Castle, his boyhood home.
Jean MacDonald and her sister, Catriona, had fallen on hard times and had come to Ballindair Castle to escape poverty and scandal. The scandal associated with the two sisters was so bad they'd been forced to use a false last name. While they were born to a higher status, they now were working as maids on the estate.
When Catriona devises a plan to elevate her position from maid to mistress, Jean attempts to stop her. The only problem is Jean gets caught in a new scandal with Morgan. That compounded with the scandal she's trying to keep secret could be Jean's and Catriona's undoing or salvation.
___________________________________________________________________
I truly enjoyed this one. Ms. Ranney infused her tale with a little whimsy when she added in a few ghosts which reportedly haunt the Scottish castle. I truly thought it gave us a nice insight into Jean's psyche by letting us know that while things might have gotten rough, she hadn't been completely tainted by the events in her life and has become an avid ghost hunter. As the story progresses, we see she's very loyal and feels responsible for her younger sister. While Jean resigns herself to her new life and position in society, Catriona seems to be rebelling against it and has gone a bit wild, which makes things very difficult for Jean.
Morgan MacCraig, Earl of Denbleigh, has lived in the shadow of his seemingly perfect father. He didn't take lightly the shame he brought to the family name when he divorced and had not done it on a whim. It takes two to make a marriage, and he learned shortly after marrying his wife that she wasn't all that interested in him. It had been his title and fortune she'd been after. Strange how one bad decision can sometimes alter a person's life.
While some stories have a character you love to hate, I thought it unique that Ms. Ranney threw in Catriona and Andrew, each of who I almost instantly disliked and wanted to throttle. They aren't exactly bad guys just a little self absorbed and ignorant as to how their actions affect others or, perhaps more accurately, just don't care how they affect others. They added another dimension to the story as well as some extra drama. Additionally, through their selfish actions they set the romance between Jean and Morgan in motion or, at the very least, sped it up.
One of the fun things about this story is that Jean tries to convince Morgan they shouldn't get married. She tries to debate her way out of it, and with each reason she states as to why they should not get married, she endears herself even more to him. I think it's Jean's reluctance to get married that makes Morgan decide a marriage between them is a good idea. What Morgan doesn't realize is that it is something that lurks in her past that makes her reluctant.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and gave it 3 1/2 roses. It's the type of story that puts a smile on your face and puts you in a good mood. I loved the fact that Jean is not 'perfect' by society's standards, but she's got spunk and is forthright with everyone--two things Morgan truly needs. I liked how Jean had to come clean with Morgan about her past and how he seemed to take it in stride. I admit that I thought the scandal would be more scandalous, but for the day and age this story took place it would have been. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Jean MacDonald and her sister, Catriona, had fallen on hard times and had come to Ballindair Castle to escape poverty and scandal. The scandal associated with the two sisters was so bad they'd been forced to use a false last name. While they were born to a higher status, they now were working as maids on the estate.
When Catriona devises a plan to elevate her position from maid to mistress, Jean attempts to stop her. The only problem is Jean gets caught in a new scandal with Morgan. That compounded with the scandal she's trying to keep secret could be Jean's and Catriona's undoing or salvation.
___________________________________________________________________
I truly enjoyed this one. Ms. Ranney infused her tale with a little whimsy when she added in a few ghosts which reportedly haunt the Scottish castle. I truly thought it gave us a nice insight into Jean's psyche by letting us know that while things might have gotten rough, she hadn't been completely tainted by the events in her life and has become an avid ghost hunter. As the story progresses, we see she's very loyal and feels responsible for her younger sister. While Jean resigns herself to her new life and position in society, Catriona seems to be rebelling against it and has gone a bit wild, which makes things very difficult for Jean.
Morgan MacCraig, Earl of Denbleigh, has lived in the shadow of his seemingly perfect father. He didn't take lightly the shame he brought to the family name when he divorced and had not done it on a whim. It takes two to make a marriage, and he learned shortly after marrying his wife that she wasn't all that interested in him. It had been his title and fortune she'd been after. Strange how one bad decision can sometimes alter a person's life.
While some stories have a character you love to hate, I thought it unique that Ms. Ranney threw in Catriona and Andrew, each of who I almost instantly disliked and wanted to throttle. They aren't exactly bad guys just a little self absorbed and ignorant as to how their actions affect others or, perhaps more accurately, just don't care how they affect others. They added another dimension to the story as well as some extra drama. Additionally, through their selfish actions they set the romance between Jean and Morgan in motion or, at the very least, sped it up.
One of the fun things about this story is that Jean tries to convince Morgan they shouldn't get married. She tries to debate her way out of it, and with each reason she states as to why they should not get married, she endears herself even more to him. I think it's Jean's reluctance to get married that makes Morgan decide a marriage between them is a good idea. What Morgan doesn't realize is that it is something that lurks in her past that makes her reluctant.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and gave it 3 1/2 roses. It's the type of story that puts a smile on your face and puts you in a good mood. I loved the fact that Jean is not 'perfect' by society's standards, but she's got spunk and is forthright with everyone--two things Morgan truly needs. I liked how Jean had to come clean with Morgan about her past and how he seemed to take it in stride. I admit that I thought the scandal would be more scandalous, but for the day and age this story took place it would have been. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
August 26, 2014
Jean is a super plain maid, and Morgan is a super hot Earl. Due to circumstances that are not at all what they seem, they end up married! But don't forget the obligatory secret backstory, scandalous ex-wife history, and a weird religious tint to the text. (Jean is pretty convinced she's a horrible dirty sinner for...a lot of the book.)
1. WOW. I am so glad I read this before The Lass Wore Black because MAN, WAS CATRIONA KIND OF APPALLING OR WHAT. I salute Ranney for doing such amazing things with Catriona's book--I definitely would not have had any inclination to read it after finishing this one.
2. I really don't know what else to say about this one? I just...got too far into it to stop? But I didn't really care about anyone? I wanted more, I guess, about certain things, like Jean's relationship with her beautiful sister and how trust develops between the heroine and hero. I don't know.
1. WOW. I am so glad I read this before The Lass Wore Black because MAN, WAS CATRIONA KIND OF APPALLING OR WHAT. I salute Ranney for doing such amazing things with Catriona's book--I definitely would not have had any inclination to read it after finishing this one.
2. I really don't know what else to say about this one? I just...got too far into it to stop? But I didn't really care about anyone? I wanted more, I guess, about certain things, like Jean's relationship with her beautiful sister and how trust develops between the heroine and hero. I don't know.
March 5, 2016
Really enjoyed this one
September 26, 2012
Good book. Morgan has returned to Scotland, escaping London and the scandal of divorcing his wife. He is looking forward to peace and quiet and instead runs into Jean, a fascinating maid. Jean and her sister are also looking to leave behind a scandal of their own. I really liked both Morgan and Jean. Morgan started out pretty stuffy, trying to live down his scandal by attempting to live up to his memories of his father. He is fascinated by his encounters with Jean, who is unlike any maid he has ever known. She is honest to the point of bluntness and he is immediately attracted to her. Jean is trying to be the best maid she can be. She has accepted her changed circumstances and puts her past behind her. When she is caught in a compromising position with Morgan they marry to satisfy his honor. Their passion is immediate and strong, but they also find that they like each other. Jean isn't comfortable as a countess, feeling that she is unsuited for the job. Morgan thinks she is just fine. There was some good character growth in both Morgan and Jean. I like the way that Jean brings out the best in Morgan, showing him what needs to be done at Ballindair. Morgan shows Jean the respect and trust she needs and eventually the love they both need. I really liked the way that Morgan eventually saw Andrew as the smarmy non-friend that he actually was, and what he did about it. I also liked the way that Morgan dealt with Jean's sister Catriona, another character well worth despising. I really liked the ending.
July 15, 2012
This story is a hoot right from the beginning with a maid that just happens to be in the wrong place at the right time doing the most embarrassing things. A well paced story with plenty of imagination, steamy kisses, Scottish pride and a wonderful romance that will have you dabbing the corners of your eyes with tissues.
Poor Jean MacDonald sure does have the worst of luck. A plain looking thing next to her stunningly beautiful sister that would keep her unnoticed except for her inquisitive nature and wire tipped tongue. Well that and her knack at embarrassing herself in front of her betters.
Morgan MacCraig is a stunning hunk of a man and Laird to Ballindair Castle. Having returned from London after a scandal between him and his ex-wife, Morgan just wants to be left alone and enjoy the peace and quite of his Scottish estates. Unfortunately for Morgan his guilty conscience gets the better of him and his much wanted peace and quite elude him at every opportunity.
I absolutely loved this one by Karen Ranney. This is an author who I have read a few times and always have enjoyed what I've devoured.
Poor Jean MacDonald sure does have the worst of luck. A plain looking thing next to her stunningly beautiful sister that would keep her unnoticed except for her inquisitive nature and wire tipped tongue. Well that and her knack at embarrassing herself in front of her betters.
Morgan MacCraig is a stunning hunk of a man and Laird to Ballindair Castle. Having returned from London after a scandal between him and his ex-wife, Morgan just wants to be left alone and enjoy the peace and quite of his Scottish estates. Unfortunately for Morgan his guilty conscience gets the better of him and his much wanted peace and quite elude him at every opportunity.
I absolutely loved this one by Karen Ranney. This is an author who I have read a few times and always have enjoyed what I've devoured.
September 3, 2012
This started off great. Jean is a maid with a past. She is caught by the Earl in his bedchambers, hunting ghosts. He is enamored by her honesty and innocence. The Earl has returned home after the scandal of divorcing his wife. The two find an unlikely friendship that gets complicated by a scandal. Morgan marries Jean in an attempt to be honorable and he finds that he likes being married to Jean.
I thought that Jean's background story would be a good element to the story but by time the truth was discovered at the end, I could have cared less. The controversy over her past is quickly swept under the rug. Morgan didn't even care.
The small drama from Jean's sister and Morgan's best friend was interesting but they got off too easily. It could have been tighter. Overall, a good story with a few caveats.
I thought that Jean's background story would be a good element to the story but by time the truth was discovered at the end, I could have cared less. The controversy over her past is quickly swept under the rug. Morgan didn't even care.
The small drama from Jean's sister and Morgan's best friend was interesting but they got off too easily. It could have been tighter. Overall, a good story with a few caveats.
March 8, 2017
I wonder why Karen Ranney isn't one of my auto-buy authors.
I don't have an answer to that question; it's just one of those thoughts which go through your mind and then you forget it. So, it appears I purchased some of Karen Ranney's books and never read them - OMG how could I lose track of my TBR pile - evidently very easily. I find it is easier to lose track of my books now that they are electronic than when they used to be an actual paper pile.
So, once upon a time there were two sisters, Jean and Catriona, and they had two books written about them. In fact they are part of the series with the profound title of Scottish Sisters series. A Scandalous Scot is about Jean MacDonald, aka Cameron, the nice sister. The sister who comes within an inch or two of being a martyr but most definitely qualifies as a doormat.
Here's the plot - there are spoilers. Jean and Catriona's father was a Doctor Cameron. His wife was dying, pleading for someone to end her pain - which he did. He was then executed for killing his wife. Now, because of the scandal, his two daughters are hiding away at a Scottish estate - Ballindair Castle. Their aunt Mary MacDonald is the housekeeper of the estate and she is trying to turn the two girls into "good" servants. As we soon find out, she has her hands full. While Jean and Catriona were not born to great wealth, they have had a comfortable life. So, life as a servant is a real setback for them. Jean (our heroine) is trying, she wants to make her aunt proud and she wants to be the best maid ever. Her problem is, she's a bit of a dreamer, a do-gooder and a ghost-hunter. She finds the supposed haunted Ballindair Castle enthralling and is hoping to run into a ghost or two along the way. Which explains why she is often in places she's not supposed to be. I was torn in my opinion of Jean. One moment she was an engaging, funny person, then the next she was a doormat for her sister Catriona. Let's talk about Catriona.
Catriona is a secondary character, but she is also a steals scenes. She's a pretty loathsome character, which is why when I found out she was going to be the heroine in her own book I was somewhat shocked. Each page I turned, the deeper I got into this book, the more Catriona disgusted me. Just the thought that she was going to be a heroine disturbed me enough to lessen my enjoyment of A Scandalous Scot. Catriona also brings up another unanswered issue I have and it concerns siblings. Catriona walks alllll over Jean, and Jean allows it for the longest time. I just couldn't understand why Jean put up with Catriona's capriciousness for so long. If Catriona hadn't been Jean's sister would Jean have let Catriona's meanness continue? Jean stood up to other people in the book, why not her own sister? It was not comprehensible to me. Jean was blind to her sister’s faults and that disturbed me a lot in this story. Just because one is a sibling doesn't mean that one has to put up with crap!
Then there is our hero, Morgan MacCraig. I was also torn with his character. I liked him in the beginning. I liked his stubbornness and his irritation with Jean. But he, like Jean, was blind when it came to his friend Andrew. You see Morgan is also hiding out. He is trying to escape the scandal he left behind in London. That scandal would be: divorce. Divorce was a biiiggggg taboo in in this time period - so there would have been a huge scandal for Morgan. Morgan fell in love and married a woman who liked men - a lot... almost all of England. And, she didn't keep her many affairs a secret. Finally he could stand it no longer and divorced her. This of course means he will never fall in luv again. My irritation with Morgan came with his choice of bestest ever friend Andrew. Andrew tags along to Scotland with Morgan for some reason. Andrew is a real creep, he's a typical upper-crust male of that time period. He is also married. But that doesn't really matter, he has his life and she has hers. So, why this guy is still a friend of Morgan's I don't know. He's everything that Morgan dislikes. He is also the same as every single man Morgan's ex-wife had in his bed. Morgan believes that the slimy Andrew never bedded Morgan's ex. Why he believed this sleazy guy was beyond me. Andrews is a lying, immoral degenerate and why Morgan put up with this guy for so lonnng was also incomprehensible to me.
While I loved the slow-moving romance portion of this story and I like Morgan and Jean as a couple, I found their blindness toward both Catriona and Andrew irritating. It lessened my enjoyment of the story. While I do recommend the story, I cannot give it a glowing recommendation.
KaysBlog
I don't have an answer to that question; it's just one of those thoughts which go through your mind and then you forget it. So, it appears I purchased some of Karen Ranney's books and never read them - OMG how could I lose track of my TBR pile - evidently very easily. I find it is easier to lose track of my books now that they are electronic than when they used to be an actual paper pile.
So, once upon a time there were two sisters, Jean and Catriona, and they had two books written about them. In fact they are part of the series with the profound title of Scottish Sisters series. A Scandalous Scot is about Jean MacDonald, aka Cameron, the nice sister. The sister who comes within an inch or two of being a martyr but most definitely qualifies as a doormat.
Here's the plot - there are spoilers. Jean and Catriona's father was a Doctor Cameron. His wife was dying, pleading for someone to end her pain - which he did. He was then executed for killing his wife. Now, because of the scandal, his two daughters are hiding away at a Scottish estate - Ballindair Castle. Their aunt Mary MacDonald is the housekeeper of the estate and she is trying to turn the two girls into "good" servants. As we soon find out, she has her hands full. While Jean and Catriona were not born to great wealth, they have had a comfortable life. So, life as a servant is a real setback for them. Jean (our heroine) is trying, she wants to make her aunt proud and she wants to be the best maid ever. Her problem is, she's a bit of a dreamer, a do-gooder and a ghost-hunter. She finds the supposed haunted Ballindair Castle enthralling and is hoping to run into a ghost or two along the way. Which explains why she is often in places she's not supposed to be. I was torn in my opinion of Jean. One moment she was an engaging, funny person, then the next she was a doormat for her sister Catriona. Let's talk about Catriona.
Catriona is a secondary character, but she is also a steals scenes. She's a pretty loathsome character, which is why when I found out she was going to be the heroine in her own book I was somewhat shocked. Each page I turned, the deeper I got into this book, the more Catriona disgusted me. Just the thought that she was going to be a heroine disturbed me enough to lessen my enjoyment of A Scandalous Scot. Catriona also brings up another unanswered issue I have and it concerns siblings. Catriona walks alllll over Jean, and Jean allows it for the longest time. I just couldn't understand why Jean put up with Catriona's capriciousness for so long. If Catriona hadn't been Jean's sister would Jean have let Catriona's meanness continue? Jean stood up to other people in the book, why not her own sister? It was not comprehensible to me. Jean was blind to her sister’s faults and that disturbed me a lot in this story. Just because one is a sibling doesn't mean that one has to put up with crap!
Then there is our hero, Morgan MacCraig. I was also torn with his character. I liked him in the beginning. I liked his stubbornness and his irritation with Jean. But he, like Jean, was blind when it came to his friend Andrew. You see Morgan is also hiding out. He is trying to escape the scandal he left behind in London. That scandal would be: divorce. Divorce was a biiiggggg taboo in in this time period - so there would have been a huge scandal for Morgan. Morgan fell in love and married a woman who liked men - a lot... almost all of England. And, she didn't keep her many affairs a secret. Finally he could stand it no longer and divorced her. This of course means he will never fall in luv again. My irritation with Morgan came with his choice of bestest ever friend Andrew. Andrew tags along to Scotland with Morgan for some reason. Andrew is a real creep, he's a typical upper-crust male of that time period. He is also married. But that doesn't really matter, he has his life and she has hers. So, why this guy is still a friend of Morgan's I don't know. He's everything that Morgan dislikes. He is also the same as every single man Morgan's ex-wife had in his bed. Morgan believes that the slimy Andrew never bedded Morgan's ex. Why he believed this sleazy guy was beyond me. Andrews is a lying, immoral degenerate and why Morgan put up with this guy for so lonnng was also incomprehensible to me.
While I loved the slow-moving romance portion of this story and I like Morgan and Jean as a couple, I found their blindness toward both Catriona and Andrew irritating. It lessened my enjoyment of the story. While I do recommend the story, I cannot give it a glowing recommendation.
KaysBlog
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2018
This is the latest historical romance that I completed and I'd have to say that author really lived upto her name again.
I guess don't need to brag about her stellar success in portraying other historical romances before. In the field of Historical romance Karen Ranney is a name which guarantees a very good book,regardless of the theme.
It starts with the misfortune of two sisters and a shameful conduct(according to the British aristocracy) of an Earl.
Jean MacDonald had nothing but the clothes on her back and her sister when her aunt gave them a the job of maid in . Granted the position of maid was anything but luck , still it was better than starving to death.
She loved Ballindair . It's mysterious aura and numerous number of ghosts. Though she had never seen one, other maids had reported of their presence plenty.
When Jean learnt about the homecoming of the Earl, she knew that it was her only chance to see the ghost of nun. She thus sneaked out of her chambers in the late night to go to the Earl's bed chamber to wait for the shy ghost. But as Fate would have it , the ghost never came and she overslept.
When she rushed out of the room she collided with (guess who) of course none other than the 9th Earl in all his dark ,moody , glowering, splendor.
And the adventure of our dear Jean began. Her journey from a maid to a countess.(Far be it for me to say that it was easy)
....
Check out the link below for the full review along with two excerpts .
https://ensnaringlibri.blogspot.com/2...
I guess don't need to brag about her stellar success in portraying other historical romances before. In the field of Historical romance Karen Ranney is a name which guarantees a very good book,regardless of the theme.
It starts with the misfortune of two sisters and a shameful conduct(according to the British aristocracy) of an Earl.
Jean MacDonald had nothing but the clothes on her back and her sister when her aunt gave them a the job of maid in . Granted the position of maid was anything but luck , still it was better than starving to death.
She loved Ballindair . It's mysterious aura and numerous number of ghosts. Though she had never seen one, other maids had reported of their presence plenty.
When Jean learnt about the homecoming of the Earl, she knew that it was her only chance to see the ghost of nun. She thus sneaked out of her chambers in the late night to go to the Earl's bed chamber to wait for the shy ghost. But as Fate would have it , the ghost never came and she overslept.
When she rushed out of the room she collided with (guess who) of course none other than the 9th Earl in all his dark ,moody , glowering, splendor.
And the adventure of our dear Jean began. Her journey from a maid to a countess.(Far be it for me to say that it was easy)
....
Check out the link below for the full review along with two excerpts .
https://ensnaringlibri.blogspot.com/2...
July 12, 2012
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 3.5/5
They were a pair, weren’t they? The earl who’d divorced his wife, and the maid who hid her past. Perhaps they deserved each other.
Two scandals provide the backdrop for the relationship between a maid, Jean and Morgan, the Earl of Denbleigh. Jean and her sister Catriona are maids under their Aunt’s eye at Ballindair castle. They were the center of a scandal surrounding their father, a once respected physician. The girls are left with nothing and find a little bit of hope when their Aunt finds them positions as maids. Catriona does as little as possible to get by. She’d much rather be a mistress and be taken care of instead of trying to make the best of a bad situation, like Jean is. Jean is an easy character to feel for. She’s “plain” Jean, nothing about her stands out physically, but she’s sharp, inquisitive and kind. Those things don’t help her find friends among the other servants at the castle and she always feels on the outside. But she does her job well, works hard and in her spare time, she hunts for the ghosts in the castle. She’s read up on the history and the belief that ghosts are roaming around. For as scared as she is to actually see one, she still believes that maybe it’s possible. It’s during one of her late night adventures that she, literally, runs into Morgan.
Morgan is back in Scotland, leaving London and his own scandal behind. He was married to a woman that he gave his whole heart to. She manipulated him and made no secret that was she was having an affair, many affairs with men Morgan had once called friends. Morgan divorces her, something that’s not all that common, but he can’t stand the thought of being married to someone so dishonorable and with the divorce, of course, comes scandal. He leaves London and all the pitying looks getting thrown his way, and goes home for the first time in years.
The story almost had a Cinderella feel to it, Jean, the overlooked maid, falling in love with the handsome Earl. It doesn’t go quite that smoothly though. Jean and Morgan butt heads early on. Jean is constantly worried about doing something (or saying something) wrong and losing her position, having nowhere else to go. Morgan also brings his friend, Andrew, with him and Andrew fixates on Catriona. Andrew is scum…more on him later. Jean and Morgan get caught in a compromising position and it doesn’t take much for a woman to be ruined. Morgan will either be forced to send her away to another of his estates or marry her. They marry, and Morgan starts to see a different side to Jean, one that challenges him and makes him open his eyes to the people and his land around him. He never took pride in handling the day to day tasks of running things and Jean helps him put things in perspective. He learns about the people he employs, he finds out things that his father did that weren’t all that honorable and he works to make things better. Jean’s influence on him was subtle at times and definitely for the better.
“Have you heard the tale of Cinderella?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre,” he said. “’Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper,’ written by Charles Perrault nearly two hundred years ago.”
“I don’t speak French,” she said.
“Pity. It’s the tale of a girl who was forced into being a maid by circumstance. She ends up attracting the attention of a prince.”
“Did he marry her?”
“I believe he did, and they lived happily ever after.”
“What rot.”
His laughter surprised her.
Jean was the star for me in this one. She’s a quiet character, never really sure where she fits in, especially after she marries Morgan. She’s no longer a maid, but that’s all she knows how to do. She’s now a countess, but has no idea how to act in that capacity. So she just starts doing whatever she sees that needs to be done. Whether it’s caring for their longtime steward who’s dying, or handling the numbers involved with running the home, I enjoyed seeing her grow from a maid into someone with more confidence.
Where the story lost me a little was with the scandal surrounding Jean’s father. It’s meant to be something for she and Morgan to work around, but by the time the truth comes out, the resolution happens so quickly between she and Morgan, I thought ‘what was the point?” I enjoyed watching their romance grow, they have nice banter that’s charming and fun to follow. The small amount of angst between them which results from her coming clean about her past, didn’t have a big impact.
I love to hate nasty best friends, and Andrew is this man. He’s smarmy and we know that fact immediately when we learn that he’s married with five children, but keeps mistresses and his bed warm every night with women who are not his wife. What a guy. He becomes involved with Catriona (who’s a piece of work herself) and his true colors come out as the story goes. He’s a jerk, plain and simple and it’s satisfying to see Morgan call him out for it.
This was overall a good read, but there wasn’t anything that blew me away about the story. The romance between Morgan and Jean was engaging and I liked seeing Morgan let himself start to trust again. There isn’t much drama aside from what Andrew and Catriona tried to stir up, but for a nice, romantic read, this fits the bill.
Blog rating: 3.5/5
They were a pair, weren’t they? The earl who’d divorced his wife, and the maid who hid her past. Perhaps they deserved each other.
Two scandals provide the backdrop for the relationship between a maid, Jean and Morgan, the Earl of Denbleigh. Jean and her sister Catriona are maids under their Aunt’s eye at Ballindair castle. They were the center of a scandal surrounding their father, a once respected physician. The girls are left with nothing and find a little bit of hope when their Aunt finds them positions as maids. Catriona does as little as possible to get by. She’d much rather be a mistress and be taken care of instead of trying to make the best of a bad situation, like Jean is. Jean is an easy character to feel for. She’s “plain” Jean, nothing about her stands out physically, but she’s sharp, inquisitive and kind. Those things don’t help her find friends among the other servants at the castle and she always feels on the outside. But she does her job well, works hard and in her spare time, she hunts for the ghosts in the castle. She’s read up on the history and the belief that ghosts are roaming around. For as scared as she is to actually see one, she still believes that maybe it’s possible. It’s during one of her late night adventures that she, literally, runs into Morgan.
Morgan is back in Scotland, leaving London and his own scandal behind. He was married to a woman that he gave his whole heart to. She manipulated him and made no secret that was she was having an affair, many affairs with men Morgan had once called friends. Morgan divorces her, something that’s not all that common, but he can’t stand the thought of being married to someone so dishonorable and with the divorce, of course, comes scandal. He leaves London and all the pitying looks getting thrown his way, and goes home for the first time in years.
The story almost had a Cinderella feel to it, Jean, the overlooked maid, falling in love with the handsome Earl. It doesn’t go quite that smoothly though. Jean and Morgan butt heads early on. Jean is constantly worried about doing something (or saying something) wrong and losing her position, having nowhere else to go. Morgan also brings his friend, Andrew, with him and Andrew fixates on Catriona. Andrew is scum…more on him later. Jean and Morgan get caught in a compromising position and it doesn’t take much for a woman to be ruined. Morgan will either be forced to send her away to another of his estates or marry her. They marry, and Morgan starts to see a different side to Jean, one that challenges him and makes him open his eyes to the people and his land around him. He never took pride in handling the day to day tasks of running things and Jean helps him put things in perspective. He learns about the people he employs, he finds out things that his father did that weren’t all that honorable and he works to make things better. Jean’s influence on him was subtle at times and definitely for the better.
“Have you heard the tale of Cinderella?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre,” he said. “’Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper,’ written by Charles Perrault nearly two hundred years ago.”
“I don’t speak French,” she said.
“Pity. It’s the tale of a girl who was forced into being a maid by circumstance. She ends up attracting the attention of a prince.”
“Did he marry her?”
“I believe he did, and they lived happily ever after.”
“What rot.”
His laughter surprised her.
Jean was the star for me in this one. She’s a quiet character, never really sure where she fits in, especially after she marries Morgan. She’s no longer a maid, but that’s all she knows how to do. She’s now a countess, but has no idea how to act in that capacity. So she just starts doing whatever she sees that needs to be done. Whether it’s caring for their longtime steward who’s dying, or handling the numbers involved with running the home, I enjoyed seeing her grow from a maid into someone with more confidence.
Where the story lost me a little was with the scandal surrounding Jean’s father. It’s meant to be something for she and Morgan to work around, but by the time the truth comes out, the resolution happens so quickly between she and Morgan, I thought ‘what was the point?” I enjoyed watching their romance grow, they have nice banter that’s charming and fun to follow. The small amount of angst between them which results from her coming clean about her past, didn’t have a big impact.
I love to hate nasty best friends, and Andrew is this man. He’s smarmy and we know that fact immediately when we learn that he’s married with five children, but keeps mistresses and his bed warm every night with women who are not his wife. What a guy. He becomes involved with Catriona (who’s a piece of work herself) and his true colors come out as the story goes. He’s a jerk, plain and simple and it’s satisfying to see Morgan call him out for it.
This was overall a good read, but there wasn’t anything that blew me away about the story. The romance between Morgan and Jean was engaging and I liked seeing Morgan let himself start to trust again. There isn’t much drama aside from what Andrew and Catriona tried to stir up, but for a nice, romantic read, this fits the bill.
August 15, 2018
Wonderful read. I love a story with a strong, female underdog. Jean and her family hide a terrible secret. Her and her sister, Catriona, had to escape from Inverness in order to start a new life. Unfortunately, that life was to be that of a maid. Morgan, Laird McCraig, has returned to his home Ballindair Castle running from scandal. Jean loves Ballindair with its ghost legends and that is how she met her laird. This story is compelling, and I enjoyed each layer of secrecy that was revealed.
July 1, 2020
Several chapters in, I almost gave up on this one. I didn’t like Jean, I didn’t like the earl, and didn’t believe that the housekeeper didn’t keep the earl’s bedchamber clean at all times.
But, once Jean & the earl starting talking to each other, it got more interesting. Then, after they got married, it got steamy hot.
Jean became the heroine that she didn’t seem to be at first, and the earl finally realized that he needed to step up and take care of his people & property.
But, once Jean & the earl starting talking to each other, it got more interesting. Then, after they got married, it got steamy hot.
Jean became the heroine that she didn’t seem to be at first, and the earl finally realized that he needed to step up and take care of his people & property.
December 29, 2017
Okay I know the cover looks cheesy. But the writing is amazing. I love Karen Ranney's writing. Apparently I bought a few more books of hers that I can't wait to devour. But I loved Jean she was just so charming and strong. No wonder Morgan fell for her. This was one I didn't want to finish so I took my time reading it.
September 7, 2017
Excellent
Funny, Wit, romantic,
All things and more of a great highlands romance
Couldn't put the book down
Must read !
Funny, Wit, romantic,
All things and more of a great highlands romance
Couldn't put the book down
Must read !
August 25, 2018
Nothing wrong with this romance. I just wish there was more action.
December 8, 2018
September BOTM 2018 Theme Scandal
January 8, 2019
Poignant
A truly classic love story with great characters and a picture of abiding unconditional love and of course ever after
A truly classic love story with great characters and a picture of abiding unconditional love and of course ever after
January 29, 2019
I enjoyed reading.
August 11, 2019
2.5 stars
May 26, 2024
Oh I absolutely loved this book!!
July 16, 2024
3.5 stars
May 26, 2025
Meh!😑
The story was too much like the 2nd in the Dukes trilogy. The ghost hunting was a novel plot twist that was well written and I enjoyed that aspect of the book.
The story was too much like the 2nd in the Dukes trilogy. The ghost hunting was a novel plot twist that was well written and I enjoyed that aspect of the book.
September 5, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5
December 30, 2015
Lord Morgan MacCraig and Jean MacDonald are both living lives shadowed by the moral attitudes and perceptions of Victorian society. For Morgan, he has lost the respect of his peers and his standing within the House of Lords all for the crime of divorcing his wife rather than turning a blind eye to her indiscretions. Sadly, so much of Morgan's sense of self was wrapped up in his political aspirations that being cut by the London elite causes him to retreat back home. Jean's secrets are kept secret from the reader for much of the story, but how they affected the lives of her and her sister Catriona is plain from page one. She was born into an affluent family from Inverness but has been lowered into service at Ballindair Castle as all her friends abandoned her in the wake of scandal.
After reading an excess of historical romances I've somehow created in my mind's eye an idealized version of 19th Century England; one that allows for many types of modern ideas to exist without the characters even raising an eyebrow. In A Scandalous Scot, author Karen Ranney tries to keep the attitudes, behaviors and choices of the characters as period appropriate as possible. It was fascinating to watch Morgan rebuild a life after divorce when everyone around him is too scared to even talk about it or acknowledge what he had done. Morgan's main support is a childhood friend who himself lives outside of society's opinion, but he quickly turns out to be the worst person Morgan could associate himself with.
The scandal that touched Jean is still taboo even in our modern culture so I could empathize with her attempt to escape that stigma, however unfairly it was given to her. What I felt was an interesting dichotomy within the story was how the two sisters handled their personal demons. While Jean dedicated herself to proving how wrong society had judged her, her sister made the choice to live to the very worst of that opinion.
I was torn about the level of chemistry that I felt develop between Morgan and Jean outside of a strong friendship. Neither character was written with an overwhelming or passionate nature, but I feel that their romance would never have happened if the story was allowed to leave the setting of the castle. Jean's reluctance to enter into the relationship with Morgan was perfectly logical and once again appropriate to the times she lived in, but when I'm reading a romance actions like hers become more of an annoyance than an amusing quirk. I did like how Jean was portrayed as pretty but plain and that her appearance didn't end up changing to suddenly make Morgan fall in love with her. His feelings towards Jean were a slow progression from putting all women into the category of “betrayer” through to the point that he can see that one woman's actions cannot taint the gender as a whole.
There were many other things that kept this book an enjoyable read: watching Jean realizing her own personal strengths but also finally seeing the weaknesses in her own sister, Morgan's journey away from the shadow of his Father's legacy to become his own man, both characters accepting that the scandals of their past shouldn't define them but have helped shape who they are now. I came away from A Scandalous Scot happy to have watched these characters find themselves and content that they would weather any storms from their scandals as a unified front.
After reading an excess of historical romances I've somehow created in my mind's eye an idealized version of 19th Century England; one that allows for many types of modern ideas to exist without the characters even raising an eyebrow. In A Scandalous Scot, author Karen Ranney tries to keep the attitudes, behaviors and choices of the characters as period appropriate as possible. It was fascinating to watch Morgan rebuild a life after divorce when everyone around him is too scared to even talk about it or acknowledge what he had done. Morgan's main support is a childhood friend who himself lives outside of society's opinion, but he quickly turns out to be the worst person Morgan could associate himself with.
The scandal that touched Jean is still taboo even in our modern culture so I could empathize with her attempt to escape that stigma, however unfairly it was given to her. What I felt was an interesting dichotomy within the story was how the two sisters handled their personal demons. While Jean dedicated herself to proving how wrong society had judged her, her sister made the choice to live to the very worst of that opinion.
I was torn about the level of chemistry that I felt develop between Morgan and Jean outside of a strong friendship. Neither character was written with an overwhelming or passionate nature, but I feel that their romance would never have happened if the story was allowed to leave the setting of the castle. Jean's reluctance to enter into the relationship with Morgan was perfectly logical and once again appropriate to the times she lived in, but when I'm reading a romance actions like hers become more of an annoyance than an amusing quirk. I did like how Jean was portrayed as pretty but plain and that her appearance didn't end up changing to suddenly make Morgan fall in love with her. His feelings towards Jean were a slow progression from putting all women into the category of “betrayer” through to the point that he can see that one woman's actions cannot taint the gender as a whole.
There were many other things that kept this book an enjoyable read: watching Jean realizing her own personal strengths but also finally seeing the weaknesses in her own sister, Morgan's journey away from the shadow of his Father's legacy to become his own man, both characters accepting that the scandals of their past shouldn't define them but have helped shape who they are now. I came away from A Scandalous Scot happy to have watched these characters find themselves and content that they would weather any storms from their scandals as a unified front.
December 18, 2024
Better than the cover would imply!
July 25, 2012
Jean MacDonald and her sister, Catronia, find themselves employed as maids at Ballindair in Scotland. Their aunt Mary, housekeeper at Ballindair, has been instrumental in getting them these jobs. Not used to the work involved, Jean finds herself concentrating hard on her assignments while her sister is more lax in doing a good job. There are old rumors where people have reported seeing several ghosts at Ballindair. Intrigued by this, Jean often explores the castle late at night hoping to catch site of one of these ghosts. Inadvertently, she runs into a man one night who turns out to be Morgan MacCraig, 9th Earl of Denbleigh and Laird of Ballindair, who after a five-year absence, has returned unexpectedly to the castle. He is escaping the scandal in London resulting from his divorcing his wife, Lillian, for her many infidelities. He is a very scarred and angry man vowing to never marry again. To his dismay, Morgan discovers that his faithful steward, William Seath, is ill yet continuing to work every day in many capacities. In the execution of her duties, Jean and Morgan continue to find themselves in one another's company which leads to conversations and interest between the two. While searching for her willful sister late one evening, Jean encounters the Earl. With both of them in less than full dress, they are then discovered by the housekeeper. To keep Jean's reputation from being ruined, Morgan agrees to marry Jean. However, Jean wants love from a marriage not simply a marriage of convenience. With Jean's insight, the work of the rapidly failing William Seath falls more onto her shoulders and she proves her worth as the next Countess. In addition, with Jean's love and compassion, Morgan learns to open up to love again.
Karen Ranney has once again proven herself to be the amazing storyteller that she is. Her characters and situations in this novel are real and believable. I would highly recommend "A Scandalous Scot" for terrific reading pleasure.
Karen Ranney has once again proven herself to be the amazing storyteller that she is. Her characters and situations in this novel are real and believable. I would highly recommend "A Scandalous Scot" for terrific reading pleasure.
June 10, 2012
Jean MacDonald and her sister, Catriona, were brought by their aunt to Ballindair Castle from their home in Inverness to be maids in the Castle. Jean wasn’t raised to be a maid, but is determined to embrace her new station and be the best maid she can be. Catriona, the pretty sister, feels she should skate by on her looks alone, unfortunately for everyone else, she usually does.
Morgan MacCraig hasn’t seen his ancestral home in 5 years. He has been in London, with his wife, doing all the things an Earl should do. But when scandal and censure become too much to take he returns to his castle and his Laird duties. The first thing he stumbles upon and into is the plain Jean. She has been in his rooms waiting to see the Castle’s ghosts.
Usually in romances one character has a secret past they keep hidden. In this case both Jean and Morgan have pasts marred by scandal that neither wants to face. Jean is plain in looks but complex in mind. She’s inquisitive and smart, hard working and caring. It isn’t long before Morgan starts seeking her refreshing company. Then the two share in a scandal…
I have never read a book by this author so I didn’t know what to expect. I really liked the storyline and the characters she created. I really had to fight myself not to skim through to figure out what scandal Jean was hiding. It was driving me nuts. I loved her and Morgan together, I loved how honest and straightforward Jean was and how she caught Morgan off guard so often.
The author created two of the most annoying and murder inducing characters on the planet with Andrew and Catriona. It’s been a while since characters have roused so much hate from me. I was immensely disappointed that neither of them died a painful death.
This was a charming historical romance. It had enough originality to make me want to seek out more of this author’s work.
Cherise Everhard, June 2012
Morgan MacCraig hasn’t seen his ancestral home in 5 years. He has been in London, with his wife, doing all the things an Earl should do. But when scandal and censure become too much to take he returns to his castle and his Laird duties. The first thing he stumbles upon and into is the plain Jean. She has been in his rooms waiting to see the Castle’s ghosts.
Usually in romances one character has a secret past they keep hidden. In this case both Jean and Morgan have pasts marred by scandal that neither wants to face. Jean is plain in looks but complex in mind. She’s inquisitive and smart, hard working and caring. It isn’t long before Morgan starts seeking her refreshing company. Then the two share in a scandal…
I have never read a book by this author so I didn’t know what to expect. I really liked the storyline and the characters she created. I really had to fight myself not to skim through to figure out what scandal Jean was hiding. It was driving me nuts. I loved her and Morgan together, I loved how honest and straightforward Jean was and how she caught Morgan off guard so often.
The author created two of the most annoying and murder inducing characters on the planet with Andrew and Catriona. It’s been a while since characters have roused so much hate from me. I was immensely disappointed that neither of them died a painful death.
This was a charming historical romance. It had enough originality to make me want to seek out more of this author’s work.
Cherise Everhard, June 2012
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