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England & Scotland, 1667: Jason Chase, the Marquess of Cainewood, is out to bring a blackguard to justice when he crosses paths with a woeful Scottish lad. When the lad turns out to be a lovely Scottish lass, he realizes she must be the notorious bounty hunter Emerald MacCallum. Convinced they're after the same man and her very life may be in danger, Jason decides he must keep Emerald close...

In Caithren Leslie's view, there couldn't be enough distance between her and the handsome but overbearing Englishman. She's searching for her wayward brother, but Jason won't let a little thing like the truth interfere with his absurd conviction that she's living under an assumed identity. Mindful of the dangerous traveling conditions, Cait grudgingly accepts his protection. Until, that is, she begins to suspect that mistrust isn't the only emotion between them...and their mission for justice just might turn out to be a quest for love...

416 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2000

1300 people are currently reading
632 people want to read

About the author

Lauren Royal

73 books520 followers
FALL IN LOVE WITH A HISTORICAL ROMANCE BY LAUREN ROYAL!

LAUREN ROYAL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance. Her “truly enchanting” novels have won many awards including Booklist's “Top 10 Romance of the Year,” and they’ve earned raves from reviewers including Publishers Weekly, who calls her “an impressive talent.”

All of Lauren's books are complete, stand-alone stories, and yet they are also all connected—because they all feature her beloved “outrageously funny, loyal, compassionate, and unconventional” Chase family!

Lauren writes steamy historical romance on her own and sweet/clean historical romance with her daughter, Devon Royal. Lauren lives in Southern California with her family, two constantly shedding cats, and a stupendous collection of fuzzy socks. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys singing along (off-key) to Hamilton, dancing (badly), and (wasting time) watching HGTV.

Want great free and 99¢ books sent to your inbox on select Fridays? Sign up for Lauren's Book Club newsletter at http://royall.ink/Newsletter

Become an honorary Chase cousin (and get a FREE historical cookbook)! Join Lauren's Chase Family Readers Group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders

Visit Lauren’s website at LaurenRoyal.com, where you can learn about the real people and real places in her books, enter a contest to win jewelry, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree.

Join Lauren on Facebook...

Readers Group: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Facebook Page: facebook.com/LaurenRoyal

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5 stars
714 (42%)
4 stars
610 (36%)
3 stars
302 (17%)
2 stars
60 (3%)
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8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Mahima.
472 reviews125 followers
December 30, 2019
OMG!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've been a great fan of Lauren Royal. 💞
This story is very close to my heart as it's one of those family drama that I've read full heartedly ❤️
Well I've not been reading it in a synchronised way but still I have grasped each and every detail very closely.
Jason is a typical alpha cum family-head sort of a guy who meets his perfect half in the face of Catherine who is equally witty and strong headed💞
Their chemistry is worth reading and all the twists are very well described.

Halfway to the novel I was sure that this will definitely get 5 stars due to all banters, love, emotions and genuinety of the characters. I just love this Chase family ❤️
Profile Image for Annii .
244 reviews3 followers
August 29, 2013
This book, taking place in 1667, is Restoration, not Regency, but I'm putting it here anyway. I'm quite excited, actually, to see a book taking place in the Restoration time period. It's a period not generally covered by romance novels and it's an exciting period.

On top of the interesting time period, this is simply a good book. A bit on the long side (although this is not a problem), this book takes the time to develop the relationship between Jason and Cait. She also does quite a good job with the language and customs of the Restoration era. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, and it's an enjoyable and unique read.
Profile Image for Heather Button.
1,744 reviews17 followers
November 19, 2020
3.5⭐️

I’m enjoying the Chase family very much. They are so close and good humored for aristocracy.

This story follows Jason, Marquess of Cainewood, on his mission to find justice for one of his tenants and her daughter who were hurt by a pair of bad brothers. On the way he encounters a Scot, Caithren, who he mistakes for a famous bounty hunter named Emerald. He’s on a mission to capture Gothard and protect Cait and ends up finding himself along the way.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1,069 reviews
January 7, 2016
I read Amethyst a lonnnng time ago, and I loved it. Since then this has been on my stop-being-cheap-and-buy-the-damn-book-already list. Glad I finally did. The author has this way of storytelling that fully immerses you in the world she paints. Not to mention the story itself was great, with likable characters that you pull for the whole time. Cait was lovely- she was independent and strong willed, but not annoying about it like you get in a lot of books with the chanted refrain of 'I don't need a man, I can't let myself care.'
Looking forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,428 reviews
October 21, 2012
The characters seemed flat; from the mistaken identity thing to the hero's overly "responsible" trait. Quite a disappointment after the 1st book Amethyst which was really good
244 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2019
Jason Chase, the Marquess of Cainewood is hellbent on justice and he is not going to let anything or anyone stand in his way. His heart is heavy with guilt and he feels as if he has let his father down, as he was always an honourable man and Jason just wants to follow in his footsteps.
So, he sets out on his quest, handsome, chivalrous, heroic, with a sharp sense of humour and runs accidentally into a young woman that he takes to be someone else... And so their passionate adventure begins.
The lovely Caithren Leslie is an intelligent, strong, brave, honest young woman who must find her brother, so she travels from Scotland to London to find him. But their chance meeting turns both their worlds upside down.
This is such an amusing, enchanting and vivid book with plots abounding, left, right and centre.
You feel completely ensconced in this Renaissance Stuart world.
Lauren Royal's writing beautifully captures the era of Charles II. She brings to life the hardships, cruelty and the lavishness of the time with her descriptive writing. I especially love the research given at the back of the book, explaining landmarks and their history.
Jason and Cait are wonderfully believable and strong characters and I cannot wait to read more about Cameron and Clarice as this lovely romance also begins to unfold.
Profile Image for Julia Wharton.
134 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2017
Wonderful Story!

I loved Emerald! I liked it even better than Amethyst! In it, Jason, the Marquess of Cainewood, is on the hunt for Geoffrey Gothard, a scoundrel who has hurt two people close to him. While out, he runs into Caithren Leslie, a Scottish woman looking for her brother. Jason however, believes her to be Emerald MacCallum, the famed bounty hunter. Jason makes her go with him to find Gothard. However, will love enter into the mix?

The Rest Contains Spoilers:

In the first book, Jason is the responsible eldest brother who is unhappy when Colin is having relations with Amy outside of marriage. Therefore, I loved seeing Jason get hit with Cupid's arrow! Also, I loved seeing him finally come to terms with his father's memory and realizing that he doesn't have to be perfect. I also loved Cait! Can't wait to read Cameron's story and Kendra's!
Profile Image for Jess | The_Book.Dragon.
265 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2023
Even better than the first one, this second book in the Chase Family series was *chefs kiss*
Caithren Leslie is leaving Scotland for the first time, on a quest to find her brother. A woman with no intention of marrying, she is determined to have her brother sign over the Leslie land to her. Jason Chase, Marquess of Cainewood, is after justice. After two brothers severely injured one of his tenants and murdered an innocent man, Jason decides to take matters into his own hands. When Cait and Jason become entangled on the same journey, what follows is an adventure of love that forces them both to question everything they thought they knew about themselves.
The perfect romance of mistaken identity, opposites attract, and the flare that only historical romance can achieve. You won’t want to miss this one.
Profile Image for Pamela.
1,825 reviews40 followers
July 6, 2019
This book drug a bit for me, in the beginning. I was at chapter ten and Jason still would not believe the girl he practically kidnaps Plus the evil bad guys were more fumbling, than competent. Plus the mistaken identity went on a bit long. I did like them as a couple by the end though , and it did bring everyone together it never explained how Jason seemed to have a lot of money, and property, but was later described as cash poor, yet he was giving money out to people right and left Cait, being Scottish, and Jase being from England caused a few raised eyebrows, but it got better as the book went on. Surprise at the end. Sizzling kisses, but a clean romance. Rounded off to 4 stars, since when it got going it kept my attention.
Profile Image for Lynda Lavoie.
725 reviews
December 22, 2023
Très bon

J’ai beaucoup aimé cette suite du tome un. Celui-ci est consacré à Jason, l’aîné de la fratrie Chase. Les premiers chapitres sont un peu long, ça prend du temps avant que l’histoire de coeur commence. Aussi le fait que Jason persiste à croire que Cait est Émeraude, la chasseuse de prime, cela dure sur la moitié du livre. J’aurais aussi beaucoup plus apprécié que Colin et Amy soient plus présents dans le livre, Kendra et Ford le sont plus, mais eux aussi m’ont manqué. Ce sont les seuls bémols que j’ai à reprocher à ce livre. Pour le reste, il se lit bien, l’histoire est bonne. Je l’ai tout de même beaucoup apprécié malgré ses longueurs du début. Je vais lire la suite avec Cameron, le cousin de Cait et Clarice, la veuve qui a adoptée la petite Mary.
Profile Image for The Book Coyote.
584 reviews8 followers
April 25, 2022
This book, taking place in 1667, is Restoration, not Regency, but I'm putting it here anyway. I'm quite excited, actually, to see a book taking place in the Restoration time period. It's a period not generally covered by romance novels and it's an exciting period. On top of the interesting time period, this is simply a good book. A bit on the long side (although this is not a problem), this book takes the time to develop the relationship between Jason and Cait. She also does quite a good job with the language and customs of the Restoration era. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, and it's an enjoyable and unique read.
308 reviews
May 26, 2020
Solid Romance

This is a solid book. In this story, Jason meets Caithren, but thinks she’s Emerald Maccallum. Emerald is a bounty hunter who is after a reward for capturing a man who tried to kill some villagers of Jason’s.

The storyline is solid and entertaining. I could stop and start this book as I pleased, but it was very enjoyable to read.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to Cameron’s story next. Happy reading y’all!
12 reviews
September 7, 2021
Slow paced book. Too much of the book was them traveling to London. I thought it was odd that they would wake up early to “beat the Gothards” then leisurely stop at gypsy camp… effectively letting Gothard catch up to them.

A plot hole hole for me was how did Kendra, Ford, and Cam know what Inn the Gothards brought Cait to? Although the author said, Gothard would send a note to the Chase house, I don’t recall those characters finding out where Cait was… they just kind of showed up.
25 reviews
March 1, 2020
History Personified in an Imaginative and Gratifying Story

An intrguing story with a plethera of really interesting historical facts about the time period being depicted and the characters. Most interesting to me was the clever story created by the author which was interesting, humorous at times and always informative. By J. A. Montgomery

1,290 reviews5 followers
November 8, 2020
An amazing continuation of the series

This is an amazingly written continuation of the series. The plot is full of suspense and emotional passages. The characters are brilliantly crafted, with the necessary strength to overcome their foes. This is a great book that will suit anybody who loves steamy historical romances.
542 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2023
A historical romance with a hero, who permanently doubts himself and his ability to live up to his late father’s perfect behavior. The heroine, too, has low self-esteem, always questioning whether the hero could love her or not….

The main characters‘ inferiority complex was really annoying and distracting
293 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2019
I enjoy Lauren Royal books but I could not get pass the first chapter. When the book starts out with a sword fight, an innocent bystander being killed and one of the fighters being shot within the first chapter, I won't read any farther.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
226 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2020
Romance,mystery, kidnapping,intrigue!

Lauren Royal has written a book with all of these events. Caithlen had more than she bargained for in her search for her brother.There were several surprises as she wove this story.
Profile Image for Gail Abramowicz.
60 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2020
Wonderful series

This story was as great as the first. It is filled with humor and romance but the historical references are the best ever . I liked the author's note too and should not be skipped! On to Book 3!


Profile Image for Courtenay.
41 reviews
December 28, 2020
I made it less than a quarter through and had to quit. I found the back and forth between Jason and Cait irritatingly incessant. The whole concept of him believing Cait was Emerald was ridiculous. I know it's fiction, but the plot is thin and the dialogue is bad.
600 reviews1 follower
Read
April 29, 2021
Adventure and love

Cait leaves Scotland in search of her brother thought to be making merry in England. What she found was an Englishman who things she is a bounty hunter. Their road to finding love was very rough.
Profile Image for Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams.
2,705 reviews5 followers
April 9, 2023
How to Undress a Marquess (Chase Family Series Book 1)

The love story of Jason and Caithren. Jason is on the trail of a killer. He meets Caithren who is looking for the same person. This was a hard and slow read. Will they find him?
Profile Image for Tracella.
107 reviews4 followers
March 18, 2018
I liked this book despite how absolutely thick-headed Jason is and how whiny Cait can be. I did find the villain sort of intriguing.
Profile Image for Linda K. Cole.
70 reviews
March 23, 2020
Great story line

Great romance. Full of action and twists and turns and a really surprise ending. Would recommend reading. Great book

.
393 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2020
Jason & Cait's story was beautiful. He was out to avenged a criminal act & ended up falling in love instead. Wonderful!!!!
Profile Image for Marjorie.
2,099 reviews4 followers
June 15, 2020
Beautiful love story

I really love reading this book, I never thought that Jason had a step brother but it is sad so much hate was caused. It is still a beautiful story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews

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