The Rival

Marry the Scot #0.5

by Jolie Vines

Resigned to marry a man she despises in order to save her family's farm, Marianne McKenzie can't let one point lie. If she's going to lose her virginity anytime soon, it'll be on her terms. But when she propositions a stranger, she can't predict that the sweet, generous, super sexy man will turn out to be her betrothed's relative.

And fierce rival.

Lachlan McRae will one day be chief of his clan, but right now, he's happy to rest on his laurels. Until he encounters a fiery lass who won't take no for an answer. Then loses her on the same day. The worst of all? It's to his black-hearted cousin. No way can he be beaten by the man. Especially in love.

Let the Highland Games begin.

The Rival is a snappy and steamy PREQUEL in the Marry the Scot world. It is entirely standalone, though you may recognise one or two names from the main series.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Smut, Scotland

91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2019

About the author

JOLIE VINES is a romance novelist who lives in the South West of England with her husband and young son.

From an early age, Jolie lived in a fantasy world and is never happier than when plot dreaming. Jolie loves her heroes to be one-woman guys. Whether they are a huge Highlander, a touch starved earl, or a brooding pilot, they will adore their loved one until the end of time.

Her favourite pastime is wrecking emotions then making up for it by giving her characters deep and meaningful happy ever afters.

Want to contact Jolie? Drop her a line at jolie [at] jolievines.com, or find her in her Facebook Fall Hard reader group. She loves hearing from her readers.

Sign up to her newsletter to be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and promotions. https://www.jolievines.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Анастасія ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Взагалі не зачепило нічого, крім Лаклана. Хеміш мені не сподобався.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐|3🌶|3🥵

Oh, it's been such a long time, since I last read a book by Jolie Vines.
I read the second series first without knowing that it is the second generation 🙈 It's not that that would be a problem, because they are standalones, but they are still connected.
One of my goals this year is to read as many books by my favorite authors I haven't read yet. So I finally got to Jolie's books 🤩
It took me a few pages to get into the Scottish language, but it isn't that difficult. Even for me as a German 😎

This is "just" a novella, but the story is so cute. Insta lust turns into insta love but with a "love" triangle. But without cheating.
L is so cute 😍 And X is such an a$$hole 🤬
But L is also such an idiot... 🙈
Again it's so hard for me to write a review for a novella 🙈 so, I keep it short and say I can't wait to read the next books in this series.


Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...

[Elle Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and full of heat!

If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a hot Scot. I doubt I'm alone. We can all thank Jamie from Outlander for that one, can't we? And this book is just the beginning of a whole series full of hot Scot's, but set in a contemporary setting. So if you love the accent, but not so much the historical side, Jolie's your girl.

Lachlan and Marianne's chemistry steamed up my kindle from the first time they met. But they have one very big problem standing in the way of their HEA. Lachlan's cousin, Hamish. Undeterred, Lachlan is willing to fight for his woman, and I was more than happy to be along for the ride. Marianne is smart and sassy. Lachlan, completely swoonworthy.

Highly recommend picking this free novella and get a sneak peek at this new series. You won't be disappointed.

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, fun, witty, and romantic love story!

Lachlan and his cousin Hamish are beyond competitive, especially when it comes to love. Lachlan meets the beautiful Marianne and is instantly smitten, only to find out that she's promised to Hamish. The plot may be simple, but the execution is brilliant!

There's so much more to Marianne than meets the eye, and she's a suitable adversary for both Lachlan and Hamish. She may have her secrets, but she knows what she needs to do to take care of her family. She couldn't care less about the rivalry between these two hard-headed cousins. Except, she's just as smitten with Lachlan as he is with her.

This romance is anything but predictable, and the author's talent for conveying emotional nuances with humor is a rare and beautiful thing. I devoured every bit of this book, and was impressed by how it laid such a strong foundation for the first full-length book in this series, Storm the Castle. This is an author to watch, one who has secured a place on my must-read list.

[Linda ( Clary_Starfall ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

@jolievinesx #therival 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
.
Soooooo this book was as much hot and steamy and fun to read as storm the castle.
.
Book description;
THE RIVAL (MARRY THE SCOT, #0.5)
💙
Resigned to marry a man she despises in order to save her family's farm, Marianne McKenzie can't let one point lie. If she's going to lose her virginity anytime soon, it'll be on her terms. But when she propositions a stranger, she can't predict that the sweet, generous, super sexy man will turn out to be her betrothed's relative. 💙
And fierce rival.
💙
Lachlan McRae will one day be chief of his clan, but right now, he's happy to rest on his laurels. Until he encounters a sweet lass who won't take no for an answer. Then loses her on the same day. The worst of all? It's to his black-hearted cousin. No way can he be beaten by the man. Especially in love.
💙
Let the Highland Games begin.
💙
.
I can’t say it enough but Scotland is in my blood and I love to read about it, Jolie writes about it perfectly 💕💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, you think you are right there and the Lads, ohh gosh I’m hooked on her books 💕🤗
.
I can really recommend this book 💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
.
#romance #scotland #highlanders #love #highlandgames #hotguys #kilts #meninkilts #bookstagram #books #book #ebook #bookreview #adventure #wiskey #scotch #revenge #rancune #relatives #surprises #photography #creative #jolievines

[Angela's Book Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.5 Stars ***

The Rival (Marry the Scot #0.5) by Jolie Vines is a contemporary highlander novella and the prequel story to the upcoming Marry the Scot series.

I learned about this book after reading an ARC of Storm the Castle (Marry the Scot #1) which is scheduled for release on March 14, 2019. [You can see my review for Storm the Castle HERE.] Having enjoyed the ARC so much, I immediately wanted more so I was very excited to find this free prequel.

Marianne and Lachlan were great characters with amazingly hot chemistry. Their story was steamy, full of family drama, and ended in a HEA. Sexy, short and sweet - I can't wait to read the upcoming books in this series!

[Ally.Always.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a short but good read.

I’ve been IG pals with Jolie for quite a while and I’ve been dying to dive into her books. I wanted to start with this prequel (even though it’s not totally necessary) because I wanted to familiarize myself with the written dialect of the scots.
I’m not a historical romance reader (which this series isn’t... it’s set in the modern day) and I haven’t read a lot of books with scots in them so I found it a little tough to understand in parts... just with the written dialect and the slang. But I think I figured most of it out!

I’m ready to dive into the rest of the series!
TBH, I thought it would follow Lachlan’s kids but Storm the Castle is Hamish’s son, Callum. Color me surprised before I even start! LOL

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good prequel insight into a family feud: all for love?💘

After reading author Jolie Vines' Marry the Scot series about the McRae brothers, the Fitzroys, and their loves, this is a good, brief insight into the previous generation and the intense rivalry between the McRae patriarch Hamish and his neighboring cousin. And, of course, a woman (or two!) to exacerbate their rivalry into feud.

Quality writing that made it a very enjoyable read. I read it after the other books in the series. It really did not matter and fits in as extra knowledge whether read first or later.

I read a complimentary copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest review and opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marianne & Lachlan

So we see the rivalry between Lachlan & Hamish. Nice quick story. I HATE Hamish...lol well I hated him before this by reading about his grown kids & his he treated them. I love how strong Marianne is and how their insta love started and I loved seeing them get their happily ever after.

[Jennifer Wertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rival is a novella and the prequel story to the Marry the Scot series. I liked the characters and their story. I really enjoyed this book. It is a great introduction to the series and the early lives of the characters and their families. The book is well written and the characters are detailed and interesting.
Their romance is sweet and hot! A must read! I can't wait for more in this series!

[Donna Sutay-Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read after finishing the series, but this is a great little story that sets up the family relationships between the two castles and gives insight into the jacked up relationship the boys end up having with their father in the series. Very good job setting the table or tying up loose ends.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read

I've read the series and loved it, it's nice to know why there was an IOU and how it come about. Really enjoyed this series.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5: “The way you look at me…” “Is the way you should be looked at every day for the rest of your life,” I finished for her.

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved seeing the younger version of Lachlan. It was also getting more background on Marianne. This was a short read but really sweet and fun.

[Laura Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a great introduction to a new series. I want to read them all. Love me a good scottish highlander mountain man. This starter book catches you and takes you on a romantic rollercoaster. The characters are well written and awesome. A must read!

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to see how Callum and the other brothers father and family were prior to them being around and good lord Hamish is a complete douche canoe!! I was captivated by Lachlan and Marianne's instant connection especially with the period of time it was set where things were more conservative and reminded me of Callum and Mathilda when they first met. I just wish it was a smidge longer so there could have been a bit more character development, but it was still a perfect read to finish the box set and definitely best to read further into the series and not at the start so you really get the feel for everyone.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Is It About A Man In A Kilt?

Well thought out, well paced, and intriguing prequel to the series. Perfect intro to Lachlan and Hamish's contentious friendship. Can't wait to get started on Callum's story!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and fun prequel to the series. I enjoyed the story and the smooth flow of the plot.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am volunteering to leave a review of this ARC book. What a fantastic enticement to the series! Lachlan and Marianne are wonderful together! Hamish, you don't stand a chance! Jolie is a new author for me, and she's writing in a genre I love. Cannot wait for more!

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rival is a prequel novella in the Marry The Scot series by Jolie Vines. I've read Storm The Castle and Love Most, Say Least. This being a novella it was only 130 odd pages but I enjoyed this far more than Love Most, Say Least (Storm The Castle is still my fav). We already knew a little about these characters but not their back story so it was kind of neat to see how Lachlan and Marianne came to be together!

Even though this was short, it managed not to be too ridiculous or unbelievable and was light hearted and entertaining.

Given that this was a quick read there isn't an awful lot to say about it, other than it starts off on a rather raunchy note which I wasn't expecting haha.

I'll be continuing the main series and hopefully it's as enjoyable as Storm The Castle!

If you enjoy modern day romance and Scotland then I recommend this series.

[T. Rosado · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I love a good contemporary Scottish romance. One would say that Scottish heroes are my weakness. So, I've been very interested in this new series and anticipating its debut. This free novella, that gave a little back story to the series, was the perfect introduction to a debut author and her writing style.

I enjoyed the beginning of The rival and was highly intrigued when introduced to Lachlan and then Marianne. It opened with what I thought would be a compelling and fun little romance between two strong and feisty leads. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with their character transformation as the story progressed. Lachlan was this honorable and protective hero initially, but became rather unattractive in his immature competitiveness. Also, Marianne never felt fully developed. This made the insta-love aspect, often found in novellas, problematic. In the end, this was a short prequel to a series that has great potential to improve with the advantage of story length.

[T.L. Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rival is a stand-alone novella that works as the prequel to an upcoming series of seriously hot Highlanders. This short book packed a huge punch. It has it all: great characters, hot romance, snappy writing, and a swoony HEA. It's really the perfect little story to devour in one night. The only problem is that it left me wanting the entire series right now!

[Zoe Ashwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jolie Vines takes us to the Scottish Highlands in this novella, and the hero is just as swoony as you'd imagine! Lachlan and Marianne have incredible chemistry. There's family drama, there are sacrifices made, and some very, very sexy times. I flew through this - my only complaint was that it wasn't a full-length book! Be on the lookout for Vines' series of hot Scots, it's a good one.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super quick read with just enough backstory to hook the reader.

I loved that the characters were fleshed out enough to make them relatable but also just giving us a a peak into the very beginning of these family lines.

However since this is such a quick read, the plot moves equally fast while giving just enough details to advance but no more.

Can't wait to read the rest!

[Liz (LoverOfBooks80) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jolie packs the heat in this novella!

Great to find out how the IOU came about, Lachlan is the perfect Hot Scot and great to read about his HEA.
Marianne is a perfect feisty strong lass.
All the feels, steam and hot Scot’s.

Loved it 💜💜

[Lightly · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's no explaining how reading this was. Every change of events was as shocking as someone spitting in your face and slapping you with a piss wet hand. I can't name one good thing about this. I'm so sorry but just... no.

[Rachel Isaacs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just want to point out, the three stars doesn't mean this was bad. I just... rarely ever rate books that are this short any higher than that.

This was good. At the beginning, I thought maybe the Scottish dialect and wording would through me off. (Because at the beginning, it kind of did.) But it doesn't take long for that feeling to go away and you kind of forget that you were a bit thrown off in the first place.

Not gonna lie... this didn't do much for me. Not because it wasn't steamy (because it is), and not because it wasn't good. The closer it got towards the end though, the more it felt like stuff was happening without any explanation as to why. Like Marianne saying, after they'd searched through ledgers for a while, that she suddenly had all she needed (even though she didn't), and calling off the wedding. Or how Lachlan just stopped racing Hamish without bothering to try and explain to Marianne that his castle was now on the line. (I mean, I get that she might've asked him to stop racing anyway, but in my mind, it doesn't make sense for him to not have at least attempted explaining that it wasn't just her he was trying to race for anymore.)

That being said, I still want to read the other books. Sometimes prequels don't reflect as well on the rest of the series as we'd like them to. And while this didn't do a whole lot for me, it was still good, so I'd like to see what the author can do with a full-length novel instead.

[Erin Darnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marry the Scot Box Set
Book 0.5 The Rival

This is a short novella, going back to when Lachlan and Marianne were young, in the mid 1990s. This made me feel old- I would have been near the same age as Lachlan during this time period. These characters are the uncle and aunt to Callum and Gordain McRae, who the first couple of books cover.

This is their story and how they met and fell in love. At this time, Callum is a toddler and his father is still alive, and already an a- hole. Hamish, Callum's father, wants to wed Marianne, but she wants Lachlan, which brings their constant rivalry to a head. I could have done without this one, but it gave you some insight into the type of man Callum's father was and why.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am doing a little back tracking with Jolie Vines series when I read this one. I started with the Body Count Series instead of the Marry the Scot series. So I continued reading her books with this book, and loved it. I actually don't think it matters which order you read them in but we shall see. I loved this, and wanted more. So short in reading but so spicy just the same. Loved it. I look forward to reading and continuing on. The characters in this story with their rivalry was funny to watch in real life. I would recommend.

[Pauline Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better to read this first !!!

A bright and sparkling intro to this Fabulous Series.....!
Sadly, a T'internet snafu lost me this Prequel and one new kindle later had me sorted out beautifully.
This was a really interesting, zest-ful read that sets the scene, personalities and pace perfectly. I'll do a re-read very soon and then resume my way through the rest of the Marry the Scot Series......Perfect !!