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The Rogue Files #4
This Scot of Mine
A daring deception…
Desperate to escape her vile fiancé, Lady Clara devises a bold lie—that she’s pregnant with another man’s child. With her reputation in tatters, Clara flees to Scotland to live out her days in disgrace, resigned to her fate as a spinster…until she claps eyes on the powerful and wickedly handsome Laird Hunt MacLarin.
She’s the answer to his curse…
Laird of an ancient clan, Hunt needs an heir, but he comes from a long line of men cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. When the Duke of Autenberry approaches him with a proposition—marry my ruined sister—it seems the perfect solution. Even better, the defiant lass stirs him to his very soul.
No escaping the truth...
Except marriage cannot set them free. No matter how much Hunt desires her. No matter how much Clara burns for him. Soon she is falling for her husband, but is love enough to end the curse? Or is the tragic history of the MacLarin Clan doomed to repeat itself?
Desperate to escape her vile fiancé, Lady Clara devises a bold lie—that she’s pregnant with another man’s child. With her reputation in tatters, Clara flees to Scotland to live out her days in disgrace, resigned to her fate as a spinster…until she claps eyes on the powerful and wickedly handsome Laird Hunt MacLarin.
She’s the answer to his curse…
Laird of an ancient clan, Hunt needs an heir, but he comes from a long line of men cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. When the Duke of Autenberry approaches him with a proposition—marry my ruined sister—it seems the perfect solution. Even better, the defiant lass stirs him to his very soul.
No escaping the truth...
Except marriage cannot set them free. No matter how much Hunt desires her. No matter how much Clara burns for him. Soon she is falling for her husband, but is love enough to end the curse? Or is the tragic history of the MacLarin Clan doomed to repeat itself?
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 12, 2019
566 people are currently reading
2465 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
83 books8,992 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
March 22, 2019
I think the author forgot to create an actual plot for this book. I mean, Clara has a fake pregnancy and Hunt has a curse on him and they marry each other without first revealing the truth about either of those things. That isn't a spoiler because it's in the blurb. So what happens next? A whole lot of practically nothing. Then you get an epilogue which is basically just a desperate attempt to interest the reader in reading the next book in the series, focusing on a minor character found in this one. I'm not into it.
April 7, 2021
3 stars
Despite the fact that the whole book is based on a major lie, or actually two lies, and the low ratings on goodreads both things that made me hesitant about reading this do so long, it was actually an okay read. Not good but not bad either
Clara has to fake a pregnancy in order to escape marriage then she went to Scotland in order to live with her brother. Hunt’s family is cursed where the males in the family won’t live to see their first newborn. He thinks that marrying Clara is the perfect solution to escape the curse and he would get to have a child (which is technically not true but yeah)
So yeah this was kinda messy because neither of them revealed anything before the marriage. She didn’t tell him that she’s not really pregnant and he didn’t tell her about the curse and that they won’t be living as a married couple once her child is born.
I really didn’t like how Clara and everyone around her kept convincing themselves that they’re doing the right thing deceiving him just because they don’t believe the curse is real. Like this is not your choice to make!! Overall, this was as interesting and as messy and dramatic as you’d probably expect it to be. It was such an okay fast easy read.
Despite the fact that the whole book is based on a major lie, or actually two lies, and the low ratings on goodreads both things that made me hesitant about reading this do so long, it was actually an okay read. Not good but not bad either
Clara has to fake a pregnancy in order to escape marriage then she went to Scotland in order to live with her brother. Hunt’s family is cursed where the males in the family won’t live to see their first newborn. He thinks that marrying Clara is the perfect solution to escape the curse and he would get to have a child (which is technically not true but yeah)
So yeah this was kinda messy because neither of them revealed anything before the marriage. She didn’t tell him that she’s not really pregnant and he didn’t tell her about the curse and that they won’t be living as a married couple once her child is born.
I really didn’t like how Clara and everyone around her kept convincing themselves that they’re doing the right thing deceiving him just because they don’t believe the curse is real. Like this is not your choice to make!! Overall, this was as interesting and as messy and dramatic as you’d probably expect it to be. It was such an okay fast easy read.
March 6, 2019
ARC provided by Edelweiss and Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Clara creates a scandal to flee her engagement from a man she at first thought was handsome but comes to realize is evil to the core. She lets it be known that she was pregnant (but she's not really) but not with her fiancee baby though.
She flee's to her brothers and sister-in-law's home in Scotland. She meets Laird Hunt MacLarin in an interesting situation just before she arrives at her brothers home (I'll keep you intrigued with that little tidbit 😊). She then is formally introduced, as they never exchanged name previously, at her brothers home and is again aware of her being drawn and intrigued by him. Her brother The Duke of Autenberry and Hunt are friends and he shares with him the situation that Clara is in (her brother is not aware that she not really pregnant). Hunt is interested in Clara and her predicament. And part of his interest is because he might have finally found a way to bypass a curse that's been in his family for generations. The males in Hunt's family are cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn child. He believes he would never truly marry or have a family. But now he thinks he just might have found a way to avoid the curse with Clara.
The two are attracted to each other but of course try to fight their attraction. They begin to get to know each other with a little sparing and some interesting conversation. Hunt proposes marriage, but Clara is unsure. Clara does confess to her brother that she's not really pregnant but he encourages her to marry Hunt anyway to help him overcome this belief he has of the curse. Clara comes to accept Hunts marriage proposal.
Their marriage has a rocky start with the deception that Clara hasn't yet revealed and then Hunt starts having strange "accidents". Clara now questions her decision and begins to realize she is beginning to fall in love with her husband. Clara does tell Hunt the truth and of course at first he's furious. But Clara is determined to fight for her marriage and beat the stupid curse. Hunt comes to realize that he has fallen in love with Clara and wants to live and have a life with Clara.
I thought this was a unique and different story line. I enjoyed the characters as well as the chemistry between the two. It was well paced and engaging.
Lady Clara creates a scandal to flee her engagement from a man she at first thought was handsome but comes to realize is evil to the core. She lets it be known that she was pregnant (but she's not really) but not with her fiancee baby though.
She flee's to her brothers and sister-in-law's home in Scotland. She meets Laird Hunt MacLarin in an interesting situation just before she arrives at her brothers home (I'll keep you intrigued with that little tidbit 😊). She then is formally introduced, as they never exchanged name previously, at her brothers home and is again aware of her being drawn and intrigued by him. Her brother The Duke of Autenberry and Hunt are friends and he shares with him the situation that Clara is in (her brother is not aware that she not really pregnant). Hunt is interested in Clara and her predicament. And part of his interest is because he might have finally found a way to bypass a curse that's been in his family for generations. The males in Hunt's family are cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn child. He believes he would never truly marry or have a family. But now he thinks he just might have found a way to avoid the curse with Clara.
The two are attracted to each other but of course try to fight their attraction. They begin to get to know each other with a little sparing and some interesting conversation. Hunt proposes marriage, but Clara is unsure. Clara does confess to her brother that she's not really pregnant but he encourages her to marry Hunt anyway to help him overcome this belief he has of the curse. Clara comes to accept Hunts marriage proposal.
Their marriage has a rocky start with the deception that Clara hasn't yet revealed and then Hunt starts having strange "accidents". Clara now questions her decision and begins to realize she is beginning to fall in love with her husband. Clara does tell Hunt the truth and of course at first he's furious. But Clara is determined to fight for her marriage and beat the stupid curse. Hunt comes to realize that he has fallen in love with Clara and wants to live and have a life with Clara.
I thought this was a unique and different story line. I enjoyed the characters as well as the chemistry between the two. It was well paced and engaging.
March 9, 2019
Series: The Rogue Files #4
Publication Date: 3/26/19
# of Pages: 352
Lady Clara, sister to the Duke of Autenberry, acted impulsively and ended up betrothed to a cruel man. Her friend, Marian, had tried to dissuade her from the betrothal, but Clara was determined. When Clara came to her senses, she saw only one way out – she told him that she was expecting another man’s child. Now, she is on her way to Scotland to live with her brother and his wife – in disgrace.
Laird Hunt MacLarin is cursed – literally. The Lairds of MacLarin have been cursed for five generations. They will never live to see their firstborn son and heir take his first breath. Hunt is determined to circumvent the curse – he won’t marry and he won’t sire a child. He has been very, very, very careful. His only intimate relations are with a barren widow – though he’s tiring of that and he does long to have a family of his own. He’s thankful when the perfect solution is just dropped into his lap. The sister of his friend, the Duke of Autenberry, has arrived in disgrace – she is unwed and expecting. He can marry her and raise her child as his own. Perfect solution.
Now, there is where all of the trouble begins. He proposes, she refuses. Good for her – because she knows that he believes he is cursed and she also knows that the only reason he’s proposed to her is that he believes she is expecting. Clara thinks the curse is hokum and can’t believe that Hunt firmly believes in it. Then – her family and friend convince her to accept – but she doesn’t tell Hunt the truth – she isn’t pregnant.
She’d show him curses didn’t exist. She’d show him that they could build a life together. And maybe, possibly, they could be happy.
They marry – and then the truth is revealed. Hunt is livid at the deception. Then, when they arrive at Hunt’s castle, Clara meets Hunt’s grandmother, Nana. Nana isn’t happy that they have married and especially not happy that Clara lied to Hunt.
“Ye be the one.” Clara shook her head in bewilderment. “The one . . . who, ma’am?” “The one tae murder my grandson.”
I was really looking forward to reading this story – it had a different spin and seemed as if it would be interesting. Unfortunately, for me, it fell short of my expectations. Here are a few of the things that bothered me.
• Clara NEVER, not once, told him that she loved him. He said it – she didn’t. That was disappointing in a romance. She thought about it, but she never told him.
• The solution to the curse was a little too abrupt. Plus, it is physically impossible for it to have happened as described. Clara is sitting at the table and then announces that her water has broken. Yet, when the birth happens, the birth is within the caul (actually I think her use of caul may be wrong too - she's actually talking about the birth sack). It cannot be both. For the water to break, the caul (birth sack) has to have ruptured.
• Speaking of the curse, it seemed a pretty lame one. You’d think that with a curse like this one, he’d drop dead at the moment of conception, or the earth would open up and swallow him whole, or maybe he’d go up in a burst of flames. Yet, what do we get – a series of benign, non-fatal accidents that could have been fatal, but weren’t.
• It is rife with one of my pet peeves – title/formal address issues. These are so easy to research – there is no excuse for getting them wrong.
• I guess what struck me the most though was Clara, her brother, her sister-in-law, and Marion all being perfectly okay with deceiving Hunt about the pregnancy. They all KNEW that he sincerely believed in the curse, yet, because they believed differently, it was okay to ignore his beliefs. It didn’t bother them in the least that if they were wrong, it was his life in the balance. For that, I never came to really like Clara.
• There are a number of other things, but I’ll not enumerate them here.
I liked the basic story – or at least the idea of it – and I really liked Hunt. He was a really good man. I was rooting for him the entire way through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 3/26/19
# of Pages: 352
Lady Clara, sister to the Duke of Autenberry, acted impulsively and ended up betrothed to a cruel man. Her friend, Marian, had tried to dissuade her from the betrothal, but Clara was determined. When Clara came to her senses, she saw only one way out – she told him that she was expecting another man’s child. Now, she is on her way to Scotland to live with her brother and his wife – in disgrace.
Laird Hunt MacLarin is cursed – literally. The Lairds of MacLarin have been cursed for five generations. They will never live to see their firstborn son and heir take his first breath. Hunt is determined to circumvent the curse – he won’t marry and he won’t sire a child. He has been very, very, very careful. His only intimate relations are with a barren widow – though he’s tiring of that and he does long to have a family of his own. He’s thankful when the perfect solution is just dropped into his lap. The sister of his friend, the Duke of Autenberry, has arrived in disgrace – she is unwed and expecting. He can marry her and raise her child as his own. Perfect solution.
Now, there is where all of the trouble begins. He proposes, she refuses. Good for her – because she knows that he believes he is cursed and she also knows that the only reason he’s proposed to her is that he believes she is expecting. Clara thinks the curse is hokum and can’t believe that Hunt firmly believes in it. Then – her family and friend convince her to accept – but she doesn’t tell Hunt the truth – she isn’t pregnant.
She’d show him curses didn’t exist. She’d show him that they could build a life together. And maybe, possibly, they could be happy.
They marry – and then the truth is revealed. Hunt is livid at the deception. Then, when they arrive at Hunt’s castle, Clara meets Hunt’s grandmother, Nana. Nana isn’t happy that they have married and especially not happy that Clara lied to Hunt.
“Ye be the one.” Clara shook her head in bewilderment. “The one . . . who, ma’am?” “The one tae murder my grandson.”
I was really looking forward to reading this story – it had a different spin and seemed as if it would be interesting. Unfortunately, for me, it fell short of my expectations. Here are a few of the things that bothered me.
• Clara NEVER, not once, told him that she loved him. He said it – she didn’t. That was disappointing in a romance. She thought about it, but she never told him.
• The solution to the curse was a little too abrupt. Plus, it is physically impossible for it to have happened as described. Clara is sitting at the table and then announces that her water has broken. Yet, when the birth happens, the birth is within the caul (actually I think her use of caul may be wrong too - she's actually talking about the birth sack). It cannot be both. For the water to break, the caul (birth sack) has to have ruptured.
• Speaking of the curse, it seemed a pretty lame one. You’d think that with a curse like this one, he’d drop dead at the moment of conception, or the earth would open up and swallow him whole, or maybe he’d go up in a burst of flames. Yet, what do we get – a series of benign, non-fatal accidents that could have been fatal, but weren’t.
• It is rife with one of my pet peeves – title/formal address issues. These are so easy to research – there is no excuse for getting them wrong.
• I guess what struck me the most though was Clara, her brother, her sister-in-law, and Marion all being perfectly okay with deceiving Hunt about the pregnancy. They all KNEW that he sincerely believed in the curse, yet, because they believed differently, it was okay to ignore his beliefs. It didn’t bother them in the least that if they were wrong, it was his life in the balance. For that, I never came to really like Clara.
• There are a number of other things, but I’ll not enumerate them here.
I liked the basic story – or at least the idea of it – and I really liked Hunt. He was a really good man. I was rooting for him the entire way through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 7, 2024
the plot was kinda stupid but i was entertained regardless
March 7, 2019
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This Scot Of Mine is the fourth book in Jordan's "Rogue Files" series and I have had a blast with this book and its my favorite of the series so far. I still need to read book one, (which I have heard is the fan favorite) however, this book really worked for me and I read it a lot quicker than I ever expected. Sophie Jordan is a author I will always be a fan of, I just admire how she writes and she just adds spice to regency that can become a bit boring if you read too much of it. But this book was simply wonderful and it shows how few resources women had to make a good life for themselves and how little rights they had and what strength we see in them. We see it so well in this book.
Our story begins with our heroine, Lady Clara, who had to rescue herself from having to marry a man she didn't like and ruin herself in scandal by claiming to be with child. She is traveling to be with her brother who lives in Scotland. On her way to her brother's home, she and her maid and close friend, take a break at a local inn and they get caught up in a bar brawl between two Scots over a bull. And one of them she finds terribly attractive but she is appalled by the level of violence over a cow. As she arrives at her brother's home, she is stunned when his closest friend and neighbor, is the same Scot she saw at the inn.
Our hero, Hunt MacLarin, never expected to have such a chemistry with Lady Clara. Hunt fears the future and the risk of having a child. His family has been living under a curse for generations. This curse is one where every Laird, will never be alive long enough to see their child born. Fatal accidents have killed both Hunt's father and grandfather and he doesn't want the same to happen to him. When he learns that Lad Clara is pregnant though, its the answer to his prayers. He can have a family without being at risk of dying early in his life. There is a strong attraction between Hunt and Clara, and as they form a connection, they will have to rely on each other to face their fears and embrace the present and not concern themselves over the future and to live in the moment.
This book truly is a test for both of these characters and I was in love with the "curse". I love seeing some of my favorite authors implement curses into their books, especially into a regency historical romance. Now in this book, I wouldn't say the "curse" aspect isn't as strong as what I have seen other authors write in the past, but I really enjoyed how it didn't overwhelm the story. I really adored the sizzles that pass between the hero and the heroine. Its simply delightful and one of my favorite aspects of the story.
From their first meeting, the attraction between these two is heartfelt and what I really appreciated is how even though Clara could have kept the truth from Hunt she chose not to and boy I respected her even more for that. For being upfront and honest, even if that meant Hunt not being willing to marry her. But these two find their way and I really loved seeing how the curse ends here and how Jordan writes it and seeing the importance of not taking the ones you love for granted and also never taking life for granted, to appreciate the precious time we have now. I really loved seeing these characters come together and boy there is so much charm and sensuality in this story. There is a great mix of delightful humor that comes with a Sophie Jordan novel, but some marvelous intrigue too that I was drawn into.
Overall I found This Scot Of Mine to be a sensational romance that delivers in style, poise, and wit!!
This Scot Of Mine is the fourth book in Jordan's "Rogue Files" series and I have had a blast with this book and its my favorite of the series so far. I still need to read book one, (which I have heard is the fan favorite) however, this book really worked for me and I read it a lot quicker than I ever expected. Sophie Jordan is a author I will always be a fan of, I just admire how she writes and she just adds spice to regency that can become a bit boring if you read too much of it. But this book was simply wonderful and it shows how few resources women had to make a good life for themselves and how little rights they had and what strength we see in them. We see it so well in this book.
Our story begins with our heroine, Lady Clara, who had to rescue herself from having to marry a man she didn't like and ruin herself in scandal by claiming to be with child. She is traveling to be with her brother who lives in Scotland. On her way to her brother's home, she and her maid and close friend, take a break at a local inn and they get caught up in a bar brawl between two Scots over a bull. And one of them she finds terribly attractive but she is appalled by the level of violence over a cow. As she arrives at her brother's home, she is stunned when his closest friend and neighbor, is the same Scot she saw at the inn.
Our hero, Hunt MacLarin, never expected to have such a chemistry with Lady Clara. Hunt fears the future and the risk of having a child. His family has been living under a curse for generations. This curse is one where every Laird, will never be alive long enough to see their child born. Fatal accidents have killed both Hunt's father and grandfather and he doesn't want the same to happen to him. When he learns that Lad Clara is pregnant though, its the answer to his prayers. He can have a family without being at risk of dying early in his life. There is a strong attraction between Hunt and Clara, and as they form a connection, they will have to rely on each other to face their fears and embrace the present and not concern themselves over the future and to live in the moment.
This book truly is a test for both of these characters and I was in love with the "curse". I love seeing some of my favorite authors implement curses into their books, especially into a regency historical romance. Now in this book, I wouldn't say the "curse" aspect isn't as strong as what I have seen other authors write in the past, but I really enjoyed how it didn't overwhelm the story. I really adored the sizzles that pass between the hero and the heroine. Its simply delightful and one of my favorite aspects of the story.
From their first meeting, the attraction between these two is heartfelt and what I really appreciated is how even though Clara could have kept the truth from Hunt she chose not to and boy I respected her even more for that. For being upfront and honest, even if that meant Hunt not being willing to marry her. But these two find their way and I really loved seeing how the curse ends here and how Jordan writes it and seeing the importance of not taking the ones you love for granted and also never taking life for granted, to appreciate the precious time we have now. I really loved seeing these characters come together and boy there is so much charm and sensuality in this story. There is a great mix of delightful humor that comes with a Sophie Jordan novel, but some marvelous intrigue too that I was drawn into.
Overall I found This Scot Of Mine to be a sensational romance that delivers in style, poise, and wit!!
August 30, 2024
Lady Clara fakes her pregnancy a little too well and ends up married to a cursed Highlander who can’t have his own children 🌳👒💚 marriage of convenience but with sprinkle of deception
This book was a great Highlander romance but the ETHICAL judgements of these characters were highly questionable. When Lady Clara lets Hunt believe she is pregnant and basically wants to baby trap him with his own baby when he explicitly said he does NOT want his biological children 😬 maaaaaajor yikes! It just left a bad taste in my mouth even if she felt bad about it.
Rare to find a historical romance with the pregnancy trope and this one was lovely! Pregnancy was actually a big part of the story and not just an epilogue chapter. The birth scene was one of the CRAZIEST things I’ve ever read but okay author you do you.
marriage of convenience
superstitious mmc
he falls first
protective mmc
virgin fmc
pregnancy
family curse ⚡️
audiobook recommended!
HEA
This book was a great Highlander romance but the ETHICAL judgements of these characters were highly questionable. When Lady Clara lets Hunt believe she is pregnant and basically wants to baby trap him with his own baby when he explicitly said he does NOT want his biological children 😬 maaaaaajor yikes! It just left a bad taste in my mouth even if she felt bad about it.
Rare to find a historical romance with the pregnancy trope and this one was lovely! Pregnancy was actually a big part of the story and not just an epilogue chapter. The birth scene was one of the CRAZIEST things I’ve ever read but okay author you do you.
marriage of convenience
superstitious mmc
he falls first
protective mmc
virgin fmc
pregnancy
family curse ⚡️
audiobook recommended!
HEA
September 21, 2020
This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It has likable, engaging characters, a Scottish curse, a heart-warming romance, and a happily ever after ending.
It is an excellent addition to Ms. Jordan's outstanding "Rogue Files" series. Each novel can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this wonderful series with great anticipation.
It is an excellent addition to Ms. Jordan's outstanding "Rogue Files" series. Each novel can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this wonderful series with great anticipation.
March 14, 2019
I’ve been reading all of the books in this series and this one was definitely my favorite.
I really liked Clara and Hunt. They’re both so stubborn and so sassy. I was amused by their push and pull and how much they fought being together. It was fun to see Marcus and Alyse and I’m intrigued about Marian.
Plot wise, it was fairly quick moving. There’s a good amount of traveling, but it didn’t feel repetitive. The curse was sort of weird to me; however it really worked for the story and of course I loved how it worked out.
Overall, it was a fun and fast read. I would have liked a bit more at the epilogue, but I’m eager to see what happens with the next book.
**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Clara and Hunt. They’re both so stubborn and so sassy. I was amused by their push and pull and how much they fought being together. It was fun to see Marcus and Alyse and I’m intrigued about Marian.
Plot wise, it was fairly quick moving. There’s a good amount of traveling, but it didn’t feel repetitive. The curse was sort of weird to me; however it really worked for the story and of course I loved how it worked out.
Overall, it was a fun and fast read. I would have liked a bit more at the epilogue, but I’m eager to see what happens with the next book.
**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**
July 31, 2024
⭐
1 star.
👎
DNF @ 55%.
Underwhelming.
Disjointed.
Formulaic.
Very immature and unlikable main characters.
Flat/uninteresting main characters.
Weak/lacking romance.
Zero chemistry.
Underwhelming/thin and nonsensical plot.
TSTL main characters.
1 star.
👎
DNF @ 55%.
Underwhelming.
Disjointed.
Formulaic.
Very immature and unlikable main characters.
Flat/uninteresting main characters.
Weak/lacking romance.
Zero chemistry.
Underwhelming/thin and nonsensical plot.
TSTL main characters.
March 7, 2019
I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss.
I have read other books by this author and so was looking forward to reading this book. I was very disappointed, however. The story was disjointed, the characters were flat, and the plot was weak. I almost did not finish it, but plowed on.
The story begins with Clara headed to Scotland after fleeing London from the scandal of informing her betrothed that she is pregnant with another man's baby. On her way she encounters a Scottish laird who fascinates her. Upon arriving at her brother's house she discovers that this mysterious man is a friend to her brother. The laird, Hunt MacLarin, has refused to marry because his family has been cursed--each laird will die before his first-born child takes its first breath. Hunt decides Clara will be the perfect wife because she is already with child. So he proposes. She eventually accepts...
This book had problems for me from the very beginning. The whole backstory of Clara leaving London because of her nefarious fiancé was glossed over, yet a great deal of the machinery of the plot was devoted to it. Clara's actions in London with regards to her mother and fiancé either needed to be shown (and not told), or much less emphasis should have been placed upon it. I kept waiting for matters to be explained, elaborated upon, or cleared up. But none of that happened.
There were also numerous continuity errors that an editor should have spotted. I am hoping that this is just due to the fact that this was an ARC and the book has not been published yet. Surely these matters will be cleaned up before publication. (But I have read countless ARCs that had no mistakes.) There were times when I wasn't sure if it was morning or night, if people had been introduced to each other or not, or why certain things were even happening.
I also wasn't sure why the hero and heroine had taken each other into dislike after the first few chapters. I didn't get it, and it wasn't explained well.
The pacing was strange, as well. At one point, after about a week had taken place in the book, I thought to myself, "Okay, now the story is really starting. I am ready!" And then I checked and there were only about 60 pages left in the book. I was stupefied. And then a period of six months or more was completely glossed over and took place off of the page. I was stupefied again.
This book was full of missed opportunities. The story needed to be tightened up and the plot was full of holes. I did not enjoy it at all. I would not recommend it unless an editor can get in there and fix the problems.
I have read other books by this author and so was looking forward to reading this book. I was very disappointed, however. The story was disjointed, the characters were flat, and the plot was weak. I almost did not finish it, but plowed on.
The story begins with Clara headed to Scotland after fleeing London from the scandal of informing her betrothed that she is pregnant with another man's baby. On her way she encounters a Scottish laird who fascinates her. Upon arriving at her brother's house she discovers that this mysterious man is a friend to her brother. The laird, Hunt MacLarin, has refused to marry because his family has been cursed--each laird will die before his first-born child takes its first breath. Hunt decides Clara will be the perfect wife because she is already with child. So he proposes. She eventually accepts...
This book had problems for me from the very beginning. The whole backstory of Clara leaving London because of her nefarious fiancé was glossed over, yet a great deal of the machinery of the plot was devoted to it. Clara's actions in London with regards to her mother and fiancé either needed to be shown (and not told), or much less emphasis should have been placed upon it. I kept waiting for matters to be explained, elaborated upon, or cleared up. But none of that happened.
There were also numerous continuity errors that an editor should have spotted. I am hoping that this is just due to the fact that this was an ARC and the book has not been published yet. Surely these matters will be cleaned up before publication. (But I have read countless ARCs that had no mistakes.) There were times when I wasn't sure if it was morning or night, if people had been introduced to each other or not, or why certain things were even happening.
I also wasn't sure why the hero and heroine had taken each other into dislike after the first few chapters. I didn't get it, and it wasn't explained well.
The pacing was strange, as well. At one point, after about a week had taken place in the book, I thought to myself, "Okay, now the story is really starting. I am ready!" And then I checked and there were only about 60 pages left in the book. I was stupefied. And then a period of six months or more was completely glossed over and took place off of the page. I was stupefied again.
This book was full of missed opportunities. The story needed to be tightened up and the plot was full of holes. I did not enjoy it at all. I would not recommend it unless an editor can get in there and fix the problems.
March 3, 2019
2.5*
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
Review will be posted at my blog, Romancing Romances, on March 26th.
Review Link.
This book didn’t start in the best way. I was really excited to read it, since I really like the author, but it just didn’t meet my expectations.
Everything felt too rushed, at the end of the book I would not be able to tell you more than one or two characteristics of the hero, and the heroine, who was supposed to be this strong, fierce lady, just… wasn’t.
I would have loved to see the love between Clara and Hunt develop, but no, we a got a curse, a couple that gets married, and that’s about it.
I loved the idea of the curse, and I wanted to know more about it, and wanted to see how everyone came to believe it, not just “this happens, so it’s the curse”.
And this kind of arranged marriage/forced proximity/insta-love kind of trope, just didn’t work for me. And I really like arranged marriages, when the couples get to know one another, where we start to see who they really are… and that just lacked here.
I want to say good things so… the sexy scenes were quite good! And I liked Marian, Clara best-friend. I’m hoping her book will be much better.
It had a nice premise, but it did not deliver.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
Review will be posted at my blog, Romancing Romances, on March 26th.
Review Link.
This book didn’t start in the best way. I was really excited to read it, since I really like the author, but it just didn’t meet my expectations.
Everything felt too rushed, at the end of the book I would not be able to tell you more than one or two characteristics of the hero, and the heroine, who was supposed to be this strong, fierce lady, just… wasn’t.
I would have loved to see the love between Clara and Hunt develop, but no, we a got a curse, a couple that gets married, and that’s about it.
I loved the idea of the curse, and I wanted to know more about it, and wanted to see how everyone came to believe it, not just “this happens, so it’s the curse”.
And this kind of arranged marriage/forced proximity/insta-love kind of trope, just didn’t work for me. And I really like arranged marriages, when the couples get to know one another, where we start to see who they really are… and that just lacked here.
I want to say good things so… the sexy scenes were quite good! And I liked Marian, Clara best-friend. I’m hoping her book will be much better.
It had a nice premise, but it did not deliver.
March 13, 2019
This Scot of Mine: The Rogue Files by Sophie Jordan is book 4 in The Rogue Files Series. This is the story of Clara and Hunt. I have read (and Loved!) the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Clara faked being pregnant to escape being married to a man she didn't want. Clara is exiled and runs to her brother, The Duke of Autenberry is Scotland. Along the way she meets Hunt who turns out to be her brother friend. Hunts MacLarin feels his family is cursed. Hunt feels that when their first born comes, so does the death for the father. So when his friend ask that he marry his sister who is with child, Hunt thinks he can out smart the curse. Of course Clara isn't for it a first due to her lie but is talked into which causes issues of course when the truth comes out about her non baby status.
Enjoyed their story and this series!!
Clara faked being pregnant to escape being married to a man she didn't want. Clara is exiled and runs to her brother, The Duke of Autenberry is Scotland. Along the way she meets Hunt who turns out to be her brother friend. Hunts MacLarin feels his family is cursed. Hunt feels that when their first born comes, so does the death for the father. So when his friend ask that he marry his sister who is with child, Hunt thinks he can out smart the curse. Of course Clara isn't for it a first due to her lie but is talked into which causes issues of course when the truth comes out about her non baby status.
Enjoyed their story and this series!!
June 14, 2021
1.5
Not enough background on Clara's former betrothed and why he's such a cruel man and that was an underwhelming end to the curse. Some parts were repetitive that I thought the audiobook was defective and replaying previous scenes. I liked how Clara didn't really like Hunt at first (while he was obviously besotted). Afterwards, I'm not sure how to feel about their relationship/marriage. They didn't even profess their love for one another!
I felt some things were left unanswered, like
Similar to books 2 and 3, the epilogue shows a character receiving a letter as a segway into the next book. A cliffhanger, one might call it.
Not enough background on Clara's former betrothed and why he's such a cruel man and that was an underwhelming end to the curse. Some parts were repetitive that I thought the audiobook was defective and replaying previous scenes. I liked how Clara didn't really like Hunt at first (while he was obviously besotted). Afterwards, I'm not sure how to feel about their relationship/marriage. They didn't even profess their love for one another!
I felt some things were left unanswered, like
Similar to books 2 and 3, the epilogue shows a character receiving a letter as a segway into the next book. A cliffhanger, one might call it.
August 31, 2021
usually, the premise set around a lie that the reader knows and waits for the other character to find out gives me anxiety and I don't enjoy reading it..
I was okay with it here.. an enjoyable read..
but I am still looking for my favorite in this series..
I was okay with it here.. an enjoyable read..
but I am still looking for my favorite in this series..
March 2, 2019
The Lairds of the MacLarin clan are cursed - doomed to love but not to live. And for five generations this curse has held, all the previous lairds have died before their firstborn child took it's first breath.
Laird Hunt MacLarin has spent his life avoiding the curse - he will not marry and will not father a child - but his carefully laid plans turn to dust when a chance encounter brings Lady Clara, sister of the Duke of Autenberry into his life.
Lady Clara is ruined, she has escaped an unwanted betrothal, but the price was exile. She leaves London with her governess/companion Marian and travels to Scotland to live with her brother Marcus and his wife Alyse. She "meets" Hunt when he starts a brawl in the inn she stops at on the way to her brother's house. She is intrigued by the handsome highlander, but at the same time appalled. He is equally taken by her, but puts her out of his mind, as they will never cross paths again.
But fate has other plans for these two, they meet again at her brother's home - and when Marcus tells Hunt that Clara is ruined and with child, Hunt thinks he has found a way around the curse - he will marry Clara and raise her child as his own without any danger to himself! But there is a catch - Clara lied, she is not, nor has she ever been, pregnant. She refuses Hunt's offer, but after her family and Marian press the issue, she reconsiders.
They marry and truths are revealed - Hunt is angry and tells Clara she has killed him. Clara thinks the curse is nonsense - but is it?
I liked this book, but I feel like it could have been so much better, there were a lot of things left unsaid that I think could have added to the story. Hunt and Clara are both likeable leads and have an immediate chemistry, but sadly, I felt like that fizzled out a bit by the end and she never tells him she loves him, which was disappointing. On the upside, there was quite a bit of amusing banter, some warm to steamy love scenes and wonderful secondary characters that helped the story along. I must note that there were a lot of title/formal address errors and some inconsistencies in the story, but this was an uncorrected arc, so it is possible that those will be corrected by publication and therefore, I didn't take them in to consideration while rating this book. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone with no problem.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher.*
Laird Hunt MacLarin has spent his life avoiding the curse - he will not marry and will not father a child - but his carefully laid plans turn to dust when a chance encounter brings Lady Clara, sister of the Duke of Autenberry into his life.
Lady Clara is ruined, she has escaped an unwanted betrothal, but the price was exile. She leaves London with her governess/companion Marian and travels to Scotland to live with her brother Marcus and his wife Alyse. She "meets" Hunt when he starts a brawl in the inn she stops at on the way to her brother's house. She is intrigued by the handsome highlander, but at the same time appalled. He is equally taken by her, but puts her out of his mind, as they will never cross paths again.
But fate has other plans for these two, they meet again at her brother's home - and when Marcus tells Hunt that Clara is ruined and with child, Hunt thinks he has found a way around the curse - he will marry Clara and raise her child as his own without any danger to himself! But there is a catch - Clara lied, she is not, nor has she ever been, pregnant. She refuses Hunt's offer, but after her family and Marian press the issue, she reconsiders.
They marry and truths are revealed - Hunt is angry and tells Clara she has killed him. Clara thinks the curse is nonsense - but is it?
I liked this book, but I feel like it could have been so much better, there were a lot of things left unsaid that I think could have added to the story. Hunt and Clara are both likeable leads and have an immediate chemistry, but sadly, I felt like that fizzled out a bit by the end and she never tells him she loves him, which was disappointing. On the upside, there was quite a bit of amusing banter, some warm to steamy love scenes and wonderful secondary characters that helped the story along. I must note that there were a lot of title/formal address errors and some inconsistencies in the story, but this was an uncorrected arc, so it is possible that those will be corrected by publication and therefore, I didn't take them in to consideration while rating this book. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone with no problem.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher.*
January 28, 2019
This was a quick and satisfying historical romance read. I feel like I know what I am getting with a Sophie Jordan book and she delivers the story with a feel-good factor. The story was a twist on the normal Scottish Laird with a bunch of chemistry and superstitions thrown in to meddle.
Clara was in disgrace and sent to her brother, the Duke in the highlands. Except her disgrace wasn't what it seemed and somewhat of her own making. Lies turn into deceit with some hoodwinking on the way and what you get is a big mess. Hunt was a pleasant character, rough-hewn, a little broody but loyal and a straight talker. Clara seemed a bit superior at first but I could see their chemistry and their slow burn towards a deep affection was a great read.
The story isn't unique, I've read something similar before but that did not quash my enjoyment and escapism reading about these two. In fact, it was a perfect distraction.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Clara was in disgrace and sent to her brother, the Duke in the highlands. Except her disgrace wasn't what it seemed and somewhat of her own making. Lies turn into deceit with some hoodwinking on the way and what you get is a big mess. Hunt was a pleasant character, rough-hewn, a little broody but loyal and a straight talker. Clara seemed a bit superior at first but I could see their chemistry and their slow burn towards a deep affection was a great read.
The story isn't unique, I've read something similar before but that did not quash my enjoyment and escapism reading about these two. In fact, it was a perfect distraction.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
January 4, 2022
I didn't care for the heroine and it made it difficult to care about anything in the story. I don't fully understand why she never told her family about why she called off her engagement in the first place. The plot holes in the story were too much to ignore.
October 8, 2020
3,5 - Giunta al quarto libro, posso dire che questa serie si conferma di livello medio, anche se non del tutto esaltante.
In particolare, ogni volta ho avuto la medesima impressione: l'autrice parte da un'idea iniziale azzeccata e pure singolare (se avete letto i precedenti, tra fidanzati smemorati e moglie comprate all'asta, sapete di che parlo), con una prima parte molto appassionante; però poi man mano che prosegue la narrazione lascia un po' andare la tensione e conclude con finali abbastanza frettolosi, che personalmente continuano a lasciarmi insoddisfatta.
In questo quarto volume, ad esempio, lady Clara si presenta come una protagonista interessante e con una storia tutta da scoprire, così come l'incontro con lo scozzese in kilt risulta altrettanto piacevole. Ci sono il duca e sua moglie, coppia già conosciuta.
E anche la maledizione che grava sulla famiglia di Hunt, comprensiva di matriarca senza peli sulla lingua, costituisce un ingrediente saporito per la trama.
Poi però c'è uno sbrodolamento istant love/incomprensione/dubbi che poteva essere gestito un pochino meglio. E dai, ragazzi, pur con tutte le attenuanti del caso, tentate di venirvi incontro in modo più graduale e non perché il finale (e il lieto fine) incombe...
Quindi: sì, piaciuto, e completerò senza dubbio la serie.
Tuttavia, con così tanta carne al fuoco, e un highlander che poteva essere sfruttato in modo intensivo, c'era la possibilità di un romanzo più corposo (questa è una di quelle volte che cinquanta pagine in più non avrebbero guastato).
In particolare, ogni volta ho avuto la medesima impressione: l'autrice parte da un'idea iniziale azzeccata e pure singolare (se avete letto i precedenti, tra fidanzati smemorati e moglie comprate all'asta, sapete di che parlo), con una prima parte molto appassionante; però poi man mano che prosegue la narrazione lascia un po' andare la tensione e conclude con finali abbastanza frettolosi, che personalmente continuano a lasciarmi insoddisfatta.
In questo quarto volume, ad esempio, lady Clara si presenta come una protagonista interessante e con una storia tutta da scoprire, così come l'incontro con lo scozzese in kilt risulta altrettanto piacevole. Ci sono il duca e sua moglie, coppia già conosciuta.
E anche la maledizione che grava sulla famiglia di Hunt, comprensiva di matriarca senza peli sulla lingua, costituisce un ingrediente saporito per la trama.
Poi però c'è uno sbrodolamento istant love/incomprensione/dubbi che poteva essere gestito un pochino meglio. E dai, ragazzi, pur con tutte le attenuanti del caso, tentate di venirvi incontro in modo più graduale e non perché il finale (e il lieto fine) incombe...
Quindi: sì, piaciuto, e completerò senza dubbio la serie.
Tuttavia, con così tanta carne al fuoco, e un highlander che poteva essere sfruttato in modo intensivo, c'era la possibilità di un romanzo più corposo (questa è una di quelle volte che cinquanta pagine in più non avrebbero guastato).
March 22, 2020
A very average read. Everything happened very quickly and was hard to believe their love for each other. Also, the curse is... Something I don't believe in so it makes it hard for me to even be worried that it'll come true.
March 12, 2023
This Scot of Mine has an interesting premise that takes the secret baby trope and changes it to the secret no-baby trope. Let me explain. In order to break off her engagement, Clara ruins her reputation by announcing that she's pregnant with another man's baby. In actuality, Clara is not pregnant. This lie is a last resort to get out of her engagement. She goes to live with her brother Marcus in Scotland, where Laird Hunt MacLain proposes marriage to her.
Why would a man want to marry a woman who's supposedly pregnant with another man's baby? Because the men in Hunt's family are cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. So...if Clara is pregnant with someone else's baby, then Hunt can get an heir without the curse killing him off. Wild, right?? Hats off to Sophie Jordan for such a fun and unique premise.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but the resolution of the curse was a bit anticlimactic. I think I was expecting the author to lean more into the supernatural. It was a unique external conflict and I really liked the perilous situations that Hunt found himself in because of the curse. I also really liked the fatalistic introspections that Hunt was forced into and how that pushed him to live as much as possible. But I was also expecting the curse to be a bit more dramatic, with more depth, especially during the climax. I love that this series doesn't take itself seriously and that it's unpredictable and zany. Since the curse was already there, I just wanted more emphasis on the supernatural aspect, with a more interesting and dramatic resolution.
Why would a man want to marry a woman who's supposedly pregnant with another man's baby? Because the men in Hunt's family are cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. So...if Clara is pregnant with someone else's baby, then Hunt can get an heir without the curse killing him off. Wild, right?? Hats off to Sophie Jordan for such a fun and unique premise.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but the resolution of the curse was a bit anticlimactic. I think I was expecting the author to lean more into the supernatural. It was a unique external conflict and I really liked the perilous situations that Hunt found himself in because of the curse. I also really liked the fatalistic introspections that Hunt was forced into and how that pushed him to live as much as possible. But I was also expecting the curse to be a bit more dramatic, with more depth, especially during the climax. I love that this series doesn't take itself seriously and that it's unpredictable and zany. Since the curse was already there, I just wanted more emphasis on the supernatural aspect, with a more interesting and dramatic resolution.
October 18, 2020
I liked this book, it was a nice continuation of the series and I like the family. I really feel like I've read these books before...
Maybe that's just the curse of reading too many historical romances. 😂
Maybe that's just the curse of reading too many historical romances. 😂
February 8, 2021
3.5 stars
In order to get out of an engagement to a cruel and violent fiance, Lady Clara tells everyone she's pregnant with another man's child then flees to her brother's home in the Black Isle of Scotland. Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry wants to help his sister and mentions her situation to his friend, Laird Hunt MacLarin, who immediately offers to marry her. The men of Hunt's family are all cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn child, so marriage has always been out of the question for him, but a wife who is already pregnant would give him a way to cheat the curse. Even after Clara confesses the truth, that she's not actually pregnant, to her brother and sister-in-law, they still encourage her marriage, bot to save Clara's ruined reputation and to help Hunt see that curses are not real. But as accidents befall Hunt and their marriage gets off to a rocky start, Clara starts to question her own beliefs, and her feelings about her husband.
I had some mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed it, but some of it got just a little bit repetitive towards the middle/end. It's all about Clara's pregnancy and their surety of Hunt's impending demise. I was invested in the story at this point, so it was okay in the long run. This book was really a bit disjointed and could use some more editing for continuity, which I'm sure it'll get since this was an ARC. It would've been nice to hear or be shown more about exactly why Clara's previous fiance was so vile, and more development of the actual relationship between Hunt and Clara; she just seemed to wishy-washy to me for most of the book. Overall this was an enjoyable read that I'd recommend to others.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
In order to get out of an engagement to a cruel and violent fiance, Lady Clara tells everyone she's pregnant with another man's child then flees to her brother's home in the Black Isle of Scotland. Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry wants to help his sister and mentions her situation to his friend, Laird Hunt MacLarin, who immediately offers to marry her. The men of Hunt's family are all cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn child, so marriage has always been out of the question for him, but a wife who is already pregnant would give him a way to cheat the curse. Even after Clara confesses the truth, that she's not actually pregnant, to her brother and sister-in-law, they still encourage her marriage, bot to save Clara's ruined reputation and to help Hunt see that curses are not real. But as accidents befall Hunt and their marriage gets off to a rocky start, Clara starts to question her own beliefs, and her feelings about her husband.
I had some mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed it, but some of it got just a little bit repetitive towards the middle/end. It's all about Clara's pregnancy and their surety of Hunt's impending demise. I was invested in the story at this point, so it was okay in the long run. This book was really a bit disjointed and could use some more editing for continuity, which I'm sure it'll get since this was an ARC. It would've been nice to hear or be shown more about exactly why Clara's previous fiance was so vile, and more development of the actual relationship between Hunt and Clara; she just seemed to wishy-washy to me for most of the book. Overall this was an enjoyable read that I'd recommend to others.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
March 19, 2019
**3.5 Stars**
What would we call this trope? The reverse secret baby trope? Idk but it was a unique premise that I enjoyed! One of the best parts of any Sophie Jordan novel is how readable her writing is. I would sit down with THIS SCOT OF MINE, and before I knew it, I was at 25%.
The book follows Lady Clara who has had to uproot her whole life and move to Scotland to live with her brother after a scandal in England. On the way, she meets a rowdy Scottish man who brawls over cows. He turns out to be the laird of the neighboring estate.
Sophie Jordan writes good characters; that’s just a fact. I liked Clara. She was way over dramatic, but I think that was purposeful and it usually made me laugh instead of annoying me. Hunt was adorable, besides his weird obsession with superstition. I liked his sly sense of humor and the way he provoked Clara. Plus, we all know that Ms. Jordan’s love scenes are steamy and super fun.
I wish there had been additional on the screen interactions between Clara and Hunt. I felt like a lot of their life together took place off the page, so it was hard to understand their connection besides an instant connection first meeting. I also thought the build up of Clara’s backstory was interesting, but I wanted more from it. There was a lot build-up but no follow through with a character I thought would be more of a villain.
Overall, this was a quick and fun historical romance about two stubborn people falling in love in spite of themselves. I am excited to read the next book in the series about Clara’s companion!
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Find/Follow me on Twitter Instagram and my blog !!
What would we call this trope? The reverse secret baby trope? Idk but it was a unique premise that I enjoyed! One of the best parts of any Sophie Jordan novel is how readable her writing is. I would sit down with THIS SCOT OF MINE, and before I knew it, I was at 25%.
The book follows Lady Clara who has had to uproot her whole life and move to Scotland to live with her brother after a scandal in England. On the way, she meets a rowdy Scottish man who brawls over cows. He turns out to be the laird of the neighboring estate.
Sophie Jordan writes good characters; that’s just a fact. I liked Clara. She was way over dramatic, but I think that was purposeful and it usually made me laugh instead of annoying me. Hunt was adorable, besides his weird obsession with superstition. I liked his sly sense of humor and the way he provoked Clara. Plus, we all know that Ms. Jordan’s love scenes are steamy and super fun.
I wish there had been additional on the screen interactions between Clara and Hunt. I felt like a lot of their life together took place off the page, so it was hard to understand their connection besides an instant connection first meeting. I also thought the build up of Clara’s backstory was interesting, but I wanted more from it. There was a lot build-up but no follow through with a character I thought would be more of a villain.
Overall, this was a quick and fun historical romance about two stubborn people falling in love in spite of themselves. I am excited to read the next book in the series about Clara’s companion!
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Find/Follow me on Twitter Instagram and my blog !!
March 29, 2019
This is my second pregnant lady marries a Scot this year!
But this one is different. She told her fiance she was preggers to get away from him. Maybe you should have run away instead of ruining yourself and your family. Women! But Clara did have a good point for getting away cos he was not a nice man. So hide in Scotland with her brother is the answer.
Hunt was all Scot. I liked that. But he also deathly afraid of a curse, and from what I saw, that curse is real. Which makes me think of the idiot that made the curse. Arghh, it really made me hate that woman. Ok so sure make that first man suffer, but all the rest?! That is a lot of families torn apart. Ok so yes there is this curse that will kill him if he fathers a child...
But she is already pregnant! Marry her
Curses are silly, sheesh these Scots, marry him!
There will be tension as truths are told. And they do marry since they are attracted to each other so lots of passion too.
Sure the curse is there, but this that is the only suspense thing. And then at the end there is some drama that will lead to another couple, and it did make me somewhat curious.
Scots, fake pregnancies and curses! I enjoyed it
I think this was my first by this narrator, and she did a good job. A good Scottish accent is everything. There are so many way to play it and she did well.
But this one is different. She told her fiance she was preggers to get away from him. Maybe you should have run away instead of ruining yourself and your family. Women! But Clara did have a good point for getting away cos he was not a nice man. So hide in Scotland with her brother is the answer.
Hunt was all Scot. I liked that. But he also deathly afraid of a curse, and from what I saw, that curse is real. Which makes me think of the idiot that made the curse. Arghh, it really made me hate that woman. Ok so sure make that first man suffer, but all the rest?! That is a lot of families torn apart. Ok so yes there is this curse that will kill him if he fathers a child...
But she is already pregnant! Marry her
Curses are silly, sheesh these Scots, marry him!
There will be tension as truths are told. And they do marry since they are attracted to each other so lots of passion too.
Sure the curse is there, but this that is the only suspense thing. And then at the end there is some drama that will lead to another couple, and it did make me somewhat curious.
Scots, fake pregnancies and curses! I enjoyed it
I think this was my first by this narrator, and she did a good job. A good Scottish accent is everything. There are so many way to play it and she did well.
March 13, 2019
Original review on Julalicious Book Paradise
All the books in the Rogue Files are standalone, but really, it helps to have read the first books in the series to get a bit of background.
So let’s get started on this review.
I won’t lie; I think that this book was my favourite of the series so far. It was quite different from what I had read so far and I found it quite refreshing.
Clara has run to her brother’s estate in Scotland after the scandal she created with her lie; a fake pregnancy. Her reputation ruined, she has accepted her fate that she will end her life alone but she hadn’t counted on her meeting with Hunt, a man who will turn up in her life more often that she had first presume upon meeting him.
Hunt had never expected to be so intrigued by some woman. He was content with his life though he can’t deny the want of an heir but the curse stops him to pursue that dream. But upon hearing about Clara’s pregnancy, it comes to him that this was exactly what he needed; an heir without needing to go through his family’s curse.
After some convincing, Clara accepts his proposal without telling him the truth about her, but following this deception, their future is no longer certain. They are both feisty people and their arguments can be quite entertaining. Also the two of them have easily adapted themselves to their situation not knowing which of them would end up being right.
The chemistry between the two of them is hard to miss and as they navigate towards their uncertain future, both of them are giving a second chance that neither of them ever thought was in their cards.
I don’t read many historical romances beside Sophie Jordan’s so I don’t know if adding curses to this book is often done, but I think it added to the story a lot.
I’m trying to be evasive because I feel like I’m already spoiling this book, but hopefully not. So much happens between the first page and the last that you just get hooked into the book and you can hardly stop to do something else.
I’m really looking forward for the next book because I think that it’s going to be quite interesting too. I loved the character Sophie has chosen for her next book and I’m so intrigued about what story she has given her.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
All the books in the Rogue Files are standalone, but really, it helps to have read the first books in the series to get a bit of background.
So let’s get started on this review.
I won’t lie; I think that this book was my favourite of the series so far. It was quite different from what I had read so far and I found it quite refreshing.
Clara has run to her brother’s estate in Scotland after the scandal she created with her lie; a fake pregnancy. Her reputation ruined, she has accepted her fate that she will end her life alone but she hadn’t counted on her meeting with Hunt, a man who will turn up in her life more often that she had first presume upon meeting him.
Hunt had never expected to be so intrigued by some woman. He was content with his life though he can’t deny the want of an heir but the curse stops him to pursue that dream. But upon hearing about Clara’s pregnancy, it comes to him that this was exactly what he needed; an heir without needing to go through his family’s curse.
After some convincing, Clara accepts his proposal without telling him the truth about her, but following this deception, their future is no longer certain. They are both feisty people and their arguments can be quite entertaining. Also the two of them have easily adapted themselves to their situation not knowing which of them would end up being right.
The chemistry between the two of them is hard to miss and as they navigate towards their uncertain future, both of them are giving a second chance that neither of them ever thought was in their cards.
I don’t read many historical romances beside Sophie Jordan’s so I don’t know if adding curses to this book is often done, but I think it added to the story a lot.
I’m trying to be evasive because I feel like I’m already spoiling this book, but hopefully not. So much happens between the first page and the last that you just get hooked into the book and you can hardly stop to do something else.
I’m really looking forward for the next book because I think that it’s going to be quite interesting too. I loved the character Sophie has chosen for her next book and I’m so intrigued about what story she has given her.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
November 9, 2020
Comfortable but not outstanding romance, 2.5 stars
This is one of those books that makes me wish this site did half stars. This book is not quite bad enough to be 2 stars but not quite good enough to be 3 stars either. It’s a pleasant read and I liked it, but not one that will linger in my mind past finishing it.
1. Plot. I wish there was more to it. The book centers around this mysterious curse that affects the hero’s family. My first problem with this curse is it isn’t well explained. The how’s and the why’s of it are vaguely skated over and then never touched on again. I was left feeling out of loop on what was involved and why this was such a dire situation. I needed there to be more to it so I could buy into the fear and worry this caused.
The second problem with the curse plot line was it lacked active, forward momentum. The characters could do absolutely nothing to break this curse besides just hoping for the best. Unfortunately, this meant most of the book is the hero and heroine passively waiting around for the curse to either kill him or not. Besides this nothing much happens. Which is odd as I feel like there were several missed opportunities for side plot points in this book that just never got tapped into. The former mistress, the former fiancé, or even the hero’s cousin... any or all could have been developed into gripping storylines but they weren’t featured outside of their single plot moving scene in the beginning. Sadly, this lack of plot made me feel like an observer to the story and the romance. My emotions were never sparked. So while I idly enjoyed the pleasant scenes, I wasn’t in it and experiencing it alongside the characters.
2. Writing. There were a couple areas where sentences or parts of the conversation/paragraph seemed to be missing. Otherwise no major problems. An easy read.
3. Romance. They had great sexual chemistry but lacked relationship depth. They had some very steamy scenes together, especially their wedding night. I believe I’ve said this before of this author, they are skilled at knowing how to write a sex scene. However, that’s all this relationship was to the reader. All their coupledom moments happened off-page so I didn’t get to see why they fell in love. It would have been better if the time spent waiting around for the curse to resolve itself one way or the other had been utilized to deepen their relationship. As this wasn’t the case, I found it hard to believe in their love for each other.
4. Likable characters. I did like both Hunt and Clara. However, I can’t say much more about them other than that as they really needed more dimension and backstory to get a better feel for them. I also appreciated that the author didn’t have them avoid difficult and necessary conversations through the whole book to create angst (although, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe the author should have just to add more interest to the plot).
I keep using the word “pleasant” to describe this book and I think that’s accurate. It’s not too stimulating or too boring. Just a middle of the road, comfortable read. It’s one that might be good for an easy, quick, and relatively enjoyable palate cleanser or if you’re feeling a historical but don’t want to focus too hard on it. It’s not one by which people will probably be “wowed”. Happy reading!
This is one of those books that makes me wish this site did half stars. This book is not quite bad enough to be 2 stars but not quite good enough to be 3 stars either. It’s a pleasant read and I liked it, but not one that will linger in my mind past finishing it.
1. Plot. I wish there was more to it. The book centers around this mysterious curse that affects the hero’s family. My first problem with this curse is it isn’t well explained. The how’s and the why’s of it are vaguely skated over and then never touched on again. I was left feeling out of loop on what was involved and why this was such a dire situation. I needed there to be more to it so I could buy into the fear and worry this caused.
The second problem with the curse plot line was it lacked active, forward momentum. The characters could do absolutely nothing to break this curse besides just hoping for the best. Unfortunately, this meant most of the book is the hero and heroine passively waiting around for the curse to either kill him or not. Besides this nothing much happens. Which is odd as I feel like there were several missed opportunities for side plot points in this book that just never got tapped into. The former mistress, the former fiancé, or even the hero’s cousin... any or all could have been developed into gripping storylines but they weren’t featured outside of their single plot moving scene in the beginning. Sadly, this lack of plot made me feel like an observer to the story and the romance. My emotions were never sparked. So while I idly enjoyed the pleasant scenes, I wasn’t in it and experiencing it alongside the characters.
2. Writing. There were a couple areas where sentences or parts of the conversation/paragraph seemed to be missing. Otherwise no major problems. An easy read.
3. Romance. They had great sexual chemistry but lacked relationship depth. They had some very steamy scenes together, especially their wedding night. I believe I’ve said this before of this author, they are skilled at knowing how to write a sex scene. However, that’s all this relationship was to the reader. All their coupledom moments happened off-page so I didn’t get to see why they fell in love. It would have been better if the time spent waiting around for the curse to resolve itself one way or the other had been utilized to deepen their relationship. As this wasn’t the case, I found it hard to believe in their love for each other.
4. Likable characters. I did like both Hunt and Clara. However, I can’t say much more about them other than that as they really needed more dimension and backstory to get a better feel for them. I also appreciated that the author didn’t have them avoid difficult and necessary conversations through the whole book to create angst (although, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe the author should have just to add more interest to the plot).
I keep using the word “pleasant” to describe this book and I think that’s accurate. It’s not too stimulating or too boring. Just a middle of the road, comfortable read. It’s one that might be good for an easy, quick, and relatively enjoyable palate cleanser or if you’re feeling a historical but don’t want to focus too hard on it. It’s not one by which people will probably be “wowed”. Happy reading!
April 15, 2019
This Scot of Mine may be the 4th book in The Rogue Files series but it is a first one for me. I am a huge sucker for rugged Scottish Lairds especially paired with unconventional brides. So basically without realizing this was an established series I picked this baby up, which I am so grateful for because now I have a new series AND author to follow. Sophie Jordan writes a great story that is easily to follow, especially if you did not start with book one. The characters were well developed and full of sass which made for fun, quick read that can be read in one sitting.
Lady Clara's past has her running north to escape the shame of bad decisions in picking a husband. While on the way up to her brother's estate where she is resolved to spend her remaining years as a spinster she runs into a complete brute that is Hunt MacLarin. With instant attraction and chemistry that has a potential of breaking her plan she is happy to escape far, faaaar away from him. Except fate has something else in store for her as he is exactly the person she runs into at her brother's dinner table.
Hunt is living it day at a time believing that his family is cursed. Curse that has all the males in his line dying before even getting to see their first child's birth. So what a perfect wife Lady Clara will make when her brother approaches him to marry his disgraced already pregnant sister. Thinking he found a loop-hole to the curse and growing attraction to her makes him agree to the proposition readily.
The book has the suspense factor of whether the curse will strike or not... especially when all the cards are on the table. I loved reading through all the trials and tribulations that they both go through once they are married. Their attraction only grows stronger as Hunt fully accepts Clara as his wife even when there is general pushback from his people to accept an English bride especially with the looming 'curse'.
I loved this book so much and will be finding time to go back and read the first three books in the series for sure!
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Lady Clara's past has her running north to escape the shame of bad decisions in picking a husband. While on the way up to her brother's estate where she is resolved to spend her remaining years as a spinster she runs into a complete brute that is Hunt MacLarin. With instant attraction and chemistry that has a potential of breaking her plan she is happy to escape far, faaaar away from him. Except fate has something else in store for her as he is exactly the person she runs into at her brother's dinner table.
Hunt is living it day at a time believing that his family is cursed. Curse that has all the males in his line dying before even getting to see their first child's birth. So what a perfect wife Lady Clara will make when her brother approaches him to marry his disgraced already pregnant sister. Thinking he found a loop-hole to the curse and growing attraction to her makes him agree to the proposition readily.
The book has the suspense factor of whether the curse will strike or not... especially when all the cards are on the table. I loved reading through all the trials and tribulations that they both go through once they are married. Their attraction only grows stronger as Hunt fully accepts Clara as his wife even when there is general pushback from his people to accept an English bride especially with the looming 'curse'.
I loved this book so much and will be finding time to go back and read the first three books in the series for sure!
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May 1, 2020
Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
2.5 stars
This book should have been better. There is absolutely no reason it should have been boring. Sophie Jordan writes great Historicals, the plot sounds fantastic-He believes he’s cursed, she couldn’t get out of an engagement with an abusive pig, so she faked a pregnancy that isn’t her fiance’s, and they get together. Why isn’t this better?
By the halfway mark, not much is happening. I’m mad at her brother for allowing all this to happen on her first day there. She hasn’t even been there a few hours and he’s like “Oh you can stay forever, we love you, but by the way, MacLarin offered to marry you and I think you should do it.”
About halfway through it picks up, but then Hunt is awful to Clara. Truly awful. And then months pass and no apology, no explanation, no conversation, nothing. But they’re sleeping together. I felt like we were missing a few chapters. It was like…wait, they’re okay now? What’s going on? I actually flipped back to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped something.
The “curse” was real which kind of irritated me. I didn’t want Hunt to be right. I think it was meant to be funny, but it really just comes off as frustrating. Also his Nana was terrible. Clara was just treated awfully by everyone. Did no one else care that the laird got married and his wife was pregnant? Anyone? At least anyone who wasn’t irrationally angry at Clara?
This book didn’t work for me. If you’ve read it, let me know down in the comments if you had the same issues I did, or the opposite!
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via edelweiss
2.5 stars
This book should have been better. There is absolutely no reason it should have been boring. Sophie Jordan writes great Historicals, the plot sounds fantastic-He believes he’s cursed, she couldn’t get out of an engagement with an abusive pig, so she faked a pregnancy that isn’t her fiance’s, and they get together. Why isn’t this better?
By the halfway mark, not much is happening. I’m mad at her brother for allowing all this to happen on her first day there. She hasn’t even been there a few hours and he’s like “Oh you can stay forever, we love you, but by the way, MacLarin offered to marry you and I think you should do it.”
About halfway through it picks up, but then Hunt is awful to Clara. Truly awful. And then months pass and no apology, no explanation, no conversation, nothing. But they’re sleeping together. I felt like we were missing a few chapters. It was like…wait, they’re okay now? What’s going on? I actually flipped back to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped something.
The “curse” was real which kind of irritated me. I didn’t want Hunt to be right. I think it was meant to be funny, but it really just comes off as frustrating. Also his Nana was terrible. Clara was just treated awfully by everyone. Did no one else care that the laird got married and his wife was pregnant? Anyone? At least anyone who wasn’t irrationally angry at Clara?
This book didn’t work for me. If you’ve read it, let me know down in the comments if you had the same issues I did, or the opposite!
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via edelweiss
May 12, 2020
This was good....but where's the rest of it? We never got the full story of Clara's fiance and why he's so awful and the curse on Hunt just disappears. I thought it would at least be an enemy trying to take his land or something. And where's the prize bull?!?!?!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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