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The Scottish Duke’s Substitute Bride: A Historical Regency Romance Novel
Diana Thornbury has spent years protecting the quiet life she built for herself and her young son. Returning to her childhood home was meant to be temporary, until her sister vanishes on the eve of her forced marriage to an infamous Duke. With scandal threatening to destroy her family, Diana is offered in her sister’s place and steps into a future she could not foresee.
Lachlan MacLeod, Duke of Dunmore, has lived too long beneath the shadow of whispered accusations and the scars left by a devastating fire. He never planned for a bride with a child, a small boy who looks at his face and sees courage instead of darkness. Reshaped by the unexpected tenderness, Lachlan must face a question he has long avoided: can a man branded monstrous ever be worthy of love?
At Castle Dunmore, secrets press in from every shadow as questions about Diana’s sister refuse to fade. As unsettling truths begin to surface, the fragile trust between Diana and Lachlan is tested. With danger closing in and the truth threatening to change everything, they must decide if they can trust one another or risk losing the bond beginning to form between them.
Tropes: Arranged marriage, Bride swap, Widow heroine, Protective hero, Enemies to lovers
"The Scottish Duke’s Substitute Bride" is a historical romance novel of approximately 70,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Lachlan MacLeod, Duke of Dunmore, has lived too long beneath the shadow of whispered accusations and the scars left by a devastating fire. He never planned for a bride with a child, a small boy who looks at his face and sees courage instead of darkness. Reshaped by the unexpected tenderness, Lachlan must face a question he has long avoided: can a man branded monstrous ever be worthy of love?
At Castle Dunmore, secrets press in from every shadow as questions about Diana’s sister refuse to fade. As unsettling truths begin to surface, the fragile trust between Diana and Lachlan is tested. With danger closing in and the truth threatening to change everything, they must decide if they can trust one another or risk losing the bond beginning to form between them.
Tropes: Arranged marriage, Bride swap, Widow heroine, Protective hero, Enemies to lovers
"The Scottish Duke’s Substitute Bride" is a historical romance novel of approximately 70,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
642 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 30, 2026
Where do I begin—a mixed bag…
I struggled with this book. I realize this is a long review, but it was a real journey making my way to the end. Perhaps some readers might want to know what’s in store before investing the time… (no spoilers here).
First, the Kindle version was formatted with double the regular space between paragraphs—this amount of space generally indicates a transition to a new scene, attention to a different character, etc. It was extremely hard not to pause for that change as I read, so the writing felt stilted and choppy for quite a while. (But the book has some merit.)
The style of writing was very unusual: it’s difficult to describe. Sometimes it seems deep and philosophical, but at other times statements the author made left me puzzled—I felt the description or comparisons made no sense.
Generally a writer will provide enough clarification so the reader can follow the plot development, the logic of character interaction, etc., and arrive at a “destination” the author is leading the reader to. That often seemed to be missing.
I’m an avid reader, and I battled a great deal to follow this author’s intent, her direction, her meaning.
The character development is pretty good, but the constantly shifting emotional responses of Lachlan and Diana were draining: fear, doubt, hope, relief, anger, confusion, etc. And very often these feelings rested “deeply in the [character’s] chest—in several different character’s chests; the phrase was greatly overused.
Indeed, many things felt repetitive: a character description might be given for Diana on one page, and then the same description given for Lachlan on the next page.
I was sorry there was no closure between Diana and her parents.
There is a mystery in the story with a villain who comes out of nowhere. There is an unexpected plot twist that takes everyone by surprise, which was presented very well!
The author seems much more adept at describing the actions of groups of people, as opposed to the interactions between two people. This seemed most obvious to me towards the end with the story’s turning point.
The characters are likable, though sometimes perplexing. Sometimes the transformations they go through seem a little unrealistic, but probably worth the benefit of the doubt.
I found it difficult to read the book, but I was interested enough to hang in. As far as the rating, I would probably lean more toward 3.5 stars rather than four. (There were several typos.)
If you can stick with the quirky writing, it may be worth your while to invest the time.
If you are going to read the Kindle version, the story comes to a close well before 100%.
Content: there is no sex; there is no vulgar language; there is very little violence; and the story has a happy ending.
I struggled with this book. I realize this is a long review, but it was a real journey making my way to the end. Perhaps some readers might want to know what’s in store before investing the time… (no spoilers here).
First, the Kindle version was formatted with double the regular space between paragraphs—this amount of space generally indicates a transition to a new scene, attention to a different character, etc. It was extremely hard not to pause for that change as I read, so the writing felt stilted and choppy for quite a while. (But the book has some merit.)
The style of writing was very unusual: it’s difficult to describe. Sometimes it seems deep and philosophical, but at other times statements the author made left me puzzled—I felt the description or comparisons made no sense.
Generally a writer will provide enough clarification so the reader can follow the plot development, the logic of character interaction, etc., and arrive at a “destination” the author is leading the reader to. That often seemed to be missing.
I’m an avid reader, and I battled a great deal to follow this author’s intent, her direction, her meaning.
The character development is pretty good, but the constantly shifting emotional responses of Lachlan and Diana were draining: fear, doubt, hope, relief, anger, confusion, etc. And very often these feelings rested “deeply in the [character’s] chest—in several different character’s chests; the phrase was greatly overused.
Indeed, many things felt repetitive: a character description might be given for Diana on one page, and then the same description given for Lachlan on the next page.
I was sorry there was no closure between Diana and her parents.
There is a mystery in the story with a villain who comes out of nowhere. There is an unexpected plot twist that takes everyone by surprise, which was presented very well!
The author seems much more adept at describing the actions of groups of people, as opposed to the interactions between two people. This seemed most obvious to me towards the end with the story’s turning point.
The characters are likable, though sometimes perplexing. Sometimes the transformations they go through seem a little unrealistic, but probably worth the benefit of the doubt.
I found it difficult to read the book, but I was interested enough to hang in. As far as the rating, I would probably lean more toward 3.5 stars rather than four. (There were several typos.)
If you can stick with the quirky writing, it may be worth your while to invest the time.
If you are going to read the Kindle version, the story comes to a close well before 100%.
Content: there is no sex; there is no vulgar language; there is very little violence; and the story has a happy ending.
May 23, 2026
Harrowing, unforgettable characters, beautiful ending
We come to feel deeply for tormented Lachlan, brokenhearted Diana, and delightful 5-year-old Jeffrey, her son. The stories of their pasts, their slow acquaintance, their tenuous steps as all three forge new relationships and a new life are revealed in the small moments and conversations between them. Shocking revelations rock their relationships with anger, fears, misunderstandings, and hot-tempered actions. The resulting personal disclosures are tense, but lead to real understanding and love within their marriage and family unit.
We come to feel deeply for tormented Lachlan, brokenhearted Diana, and delightful 5-year-old Jeffrey, her son. The stories of their pasts, their slow acquaintance, their tenuous steps as all three forge new relationships and a new life are revealed in the small moments and conversations between them. Shocking revelations rock their relationships with anger, fears, misunderstandings, and hot-tempered actions. The resulting personal disclosures are tense, but lead to real understanding and love within their marriage and family unit.
April 10, 2026
Can exchange ever end well?
An exceptionally well written story that covers guilt, deception, and forced marriage! When Duke Lachlan comes to England to claim his bride, he learns Stephana’s shawl is found in the raging river and the house is in mourning! Diana was summoned home with her young son, widow, and is shocked to be told by her father that she will marry the Duke. She’s terrified as his reputation concerning his deceased sister is scary, can she trust him near her son? Many twists and is well worth reading!
An exceptionally well written story that covers guilt, deception, and forced marriage! When Duke Lachlan comes to England to claim his bride, he learns Stephana’s shawl is found in the raging river and the house is in mourning! Diana was summoned home with her young son, widow, and is shocked to be told by her father that she will marry the Duke. She’s terrified as his reputation concerning his deceased sister is scary, can she trust him near her son? Many twists and is well worth reading!
May 20, 2026
Quiet Warmth.
A delightfully warm, quiet story of a relationship founded on a series of deceptions and mistaken communications. This is a book that I could live in. If my life hadn't kept intruding, I would have read this in one sitting. I savored every word, every paragraph, and every page. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was thoughtfully written, and the story is told simply. Daisy Rosewood is a new favorite!
A delightfully warm, quiet story of a relationship founded on a series of deceptions and mistaken communications. This is a book that I could live in. If my life hadn't kept intruding, I would have read this in one sitting. I savored every word, every paragraph, and every page. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was thoughtfully written, and the story is told simply. Daisy Rosewood is a new favorite!
April 14, 2026
I liked the detail this author gave to her narrative. I enjoyed this novel and read until l fell asleep over it. The plot is similar to that of other regency novels I have read: two people join in a marriage of convenience and learn to adjust to each other. I was concerned that there was much more narrative writing as opposed to dialogue, but the writer's style was interesting. I will read other books by this author.
April 14, 2026
Scottish Duke's Substitute Bride
This was a very well written story. But the ending left a big hole. Did Diana's parents ever find out their daughter was alive, and ran away with a scoundrel who mistreated her? What happened? How did family dynamics change. Their father was a real uncaring sob.
This was a very well written story. But the ending left a big hole. Did Diana's parents ever find out their daughter was alive, and ran away with a scoundrel who mistreated her? What happened? How did family dynamics change. Their father was a real uncaring sob.
April 23, 2026
A Duke/A Bride/Rumors/Deceit by Others..
A sister to marry the Duke, afraid of 5
years of rumors..then an unknown secret admirer & the next day she’s gone..And the father substitutes the widowed sister. But she finds him different & still grieving for his sister.
And then a surprise/& someone in the village asking about The Duchess. And then the deceit…and love…
A sister to marry the Duke, afraid of 5
years of rumors..then an unknown secret admirer & the next day she’s gone..And the father substitutes the widowed sister. But she finds him different & still grieving for his sister.
And then a surprise/& someone in the village asking about The Duchess. And then the deceit…and love…
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of drama in the Scottish highlands and no sex. I recommend it to anyone interested in clean reading that is a page turner. A couple of kisses make it worth a sigh or two.
April 14, 2026
Almost There....
I finished the book and it kept my interest but didn't fully work for me. The pacing felt uneven, and the MFC reactions were often inconsistent and hypocritical, which made the story frustrating.
I finished the book and it kept my interest but didn't fully work for me. The pacing felt uneven, and the MFC reactions were often inconsistent and hypocritical, which made the story frustrating.
April 19, 2026
This is the first book this author, but it won’t be the last! I enjoyed the story of their developing respect and eventually love for each other. The story also had enough intrigue and twist and turns to keep me interested.
May 2, 2026
This is the dumbest book I’ve read in a while. Even the formatting is dumb. And, I swear, if she used the word ‘shifted’ once she used it 1,000 times.
I gave this book two stars only because it was in the Scottish highlands.
I gave this book two stars only because it was in the Scottish highlands.
May 6, 2026
The Scottish Duke's Substitute Bride
The story was good but the writing was bad. There places where it repeating the same paragraph over and over again. It belonged in one place but not the others. But I enjoyed the story.
The story was good but the writing was bad. There places where it repeating the same paragraph over and over again. It belonged in one place but not the others. But I enjoyed the story.
May 10, 2026
lovely story
This lovely story was well written with great characters. The dialogue was authentic and had me feeling the true emotions of each scene. Daisy Rosewood is a very good writer not a typical romance novelist.
This lovely story was well written with great characters. The dialogue was authentic and had me feeling the true emotions of each scene. Daisy Rosewood is a very good writer not a typical romance novelist.
May 11, 2026
Should severe introverts marry?
All through the book, both were presented as people who live in their own heads. Most of their problems stem from both thinking their own thoughts and not communicating to each other.
All through the book, both were presented as people who live in their own heads. Most of their problems stem from both thinking their own thoughts and not communicating to each other.
May 22, 2026
Truly a great read
This is the 1st time That I'm reading Buy this author. It was time consuming and I loved it Couldn't put it down. I truly enjoyed the entire story right to the end and I'm looking forward to Another couple of Books from this author.
This is the 1st time That I'm reading Buy this author. It was time consuming and I loved it Couldn't put it down. I truly enjoyed the entire story right to the end and I'm looking forward to Another couple of Books from this author.
May 23, 2026
I'm think 3.5 stars. This book really isn't a 600+ page book. There are large spaces between the paragraphs and a ton of extra material at the end. I would say it's really a less than 300 page normal, so don't let that 600 number put you off.
May 23, 2026
I interesting storyline
The way the story progressed was enough to keep reading for. However quadruple spacing in order to extend page count was unnecessary and annoying! It disrupted reading flow for me.
The way the story progressed was enough to keep reading for. However quadruple spacing in order to extend page count was unnecessary and annoying! It disrupted reading flow for me.
June 2, 2026
moves slowly
The two central characters were interesting at the beginning of the book. However, it moved very slowly, and then it seemed like the last third of the book was written by a different author entirely. Would not recommend.
The two central characters were interesting at the beginning of the book. However, it moved very slowly, and then it seemed like the last third of the book was written by a different author entirely. Would not recommend.
April 19, 2026
Very Readable
A good story, clean and well-told. There is no lewdness or lascivious behavior, no graphic descriptions of sexual activities, and no coarse, crude language.
A good story, clean and well-told. There is no lewdness or lascivious behavior, no graphic descriptions of sexual activities, and no coarse, crude language.
April 19, 2026
Interesting
Starts as a sad tale but quickly changes to a bit of a mystery and a discovery of feelings. Loved Jeffery!
Starts as a sad tale but quickly changes to a bit of a mystery and a discovery of feelings. Loved Jeffery!
April 30, 2026
Story line
This book read more like a storybook. Great descriptions but not enough communication. Many thoughts but not enough dialogue between characters.
This book read more like a storybook. Great descriptions but not enough communication. Many thoughts but not enough dialogue between characters.
May 2, 2026
AI?
This reads and looks like an AI generated work. The spacing, choice of language and plot all reveal it's artificial origin.
This reads and looks like an AI generated work. The spacing, choice of language and plot all reveal it's artificial origin.
May 3, 2026
3 1/2⭐️
May 7, 2026
The story was captivating but the writing style seemed abrupt and didn’t as naturally as it could have.
May 22, 2026
Enjoyable!
Daisy Rosewood is a new author for me. I really liked this book. The mystery, angst, chemistry all combine to make one entertaining read!
Daisy Rosewood is a new author for me. I really liked this book. The mystery, angst, chemistry all combine to make one entertaining read!
May 27, 2026
heaven sent
You never know what could happen, being forced into a marriage. Your sister has died, but to find that she was taken. Read this wonderful book, it’s truly amazing
You never know what could happen, being forced into a marriage. Your sister has died, but to find that she was taken. Read this wonderful book, it’s truly amazing
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews