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Besotted Scots #3
For the Sake of a Scottish Rake
After a sheltered upbringing, Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is finally embarking on her first season, eager to experience everything she’s missed. When Lucy realizes that her uncle plans to quickly marry her off in exchange for a slice of her fortune, she begs a favor of a new acquaintance, Ciaran Ramsey. If Lucy remains single until she turns twenty-one, she—and her money—will be out of her uncle’s power. All the charming Scot needs to do is woo her for six weeks, and then jilt her...
The Ramseys don’t need the scandal of a false engagement attached to their name. But Lucy’s older suitor is both distasteful and dangerous, and Ciaran can’t allow his lovely friend to be forced to marry such a man. And besides, the more time Ciaran spends with his new “betrothed,” the more their ruse begins to feel very much like the real thing. Passion like this is impossible to feign, but how much is a rogue willing to risk for love?
The Ramseys don’t need the scandal of a false engagement attached to their name. But Lucy’s older suitor is both distasteful and dangerous, and Ciaran can’t allow his lovely friend to be forced to marry such a man. And besides, the more time Ciaran spends with his new “betrothed,” the more their ruse begins to feel very much like the real thing. Passion like this is impossible to feign, but how much is a rogue willing to risk for love?
252 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2020
81 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read
About the author
Anna Bradley
51 books836 followersAnna Bradley writes Regency and Georgian historical romance with heat, heart, and happily-ever-afters. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, and Library Journal, and her debut novel won the Romantic Times’ award for Best First Historical.
Anna is originally from New England, but now makes her home in Oregon, where she lives with her family, an overgrown English garden and a menagerie of wayward pets. If she isn’t writing, she’s probably hiding in a corner reading, chasing the dog, or herding the cats. Find Anna on the web at www.annabradley.net
Find Anna on the web at www.annabradley.net
Anna is originally from New England, but now makes her home in Oregon, where she lives with her family, an overgrown English garden and a menagerie of wayward pets. If she isn’t writing, she’s probably hiding in a corner reading, chasing the dog, or herding the cats. Find Anna on the web at www.annabradley.net
Find Anna on the web at www.annabradley.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
January 21, 2020
FRIENDS TO LOVERS IN THE BEST WAY! ❤
This book came out of left field. Honestly, I didn't have the highest expectations. Oh boy, how wrong I was! This is definitely among the better historical romances I have read - and I have read quite a few!
Disclaimer - this is the 3rd book in a series where I have not read the rest. This will not affect the following review.
👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍
Romance: The relationship between the two main characters, Lucy and Ciaran, was just adorable! I loved how they started out as friends and built a relationship from there. No insta-love here and I ❤ it!
Lucy: I love strong, female leads and Lucy definitely takes her place amongst those! She was headstrong, brave and brazen - and she didn't need a man to save her! Literally!
Original: Regency romances are hard to make original, I think. There's isn't much variety in the plots or the characters. However, this did feel somewhat original and different. No, it wasn't a genre bending kind of book, but it was a great attempt at a new take.
Read on!: Perhaps the greatest thing I can say, that I take with me after reading this... I want to read the rest of the series!
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book came out of left field. Honestly, I didn't have the highest expectations. Oh boy, how wrong I was! This is definitely among the better historical romances I have read - and I have read quite a few!
Disclaimer - this is the 3rd book in a series where I have not read the rest. This will not affect the following review.
👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍
Romance: The relationship between the two main characters, Lucy and Ciaran, was just adorable! I loved how they started out as friends and built a relationship from there. No insta-love here and I ❤ it!
Lucy: I love strong, female leads and Lucy definitely takes her place amongst those! She was headstrong, brave and brazen - and she didn't need a man to save her! Literally!
Original: Regency romances are hard to make original, I think. There's isn't much variety in the plots or the characters. However, this did feel somewhat original and different. No, it wasn't a genre bending kind of book, but it was a great attempt at a new take.
Read on!: Perhaps the greatest thing I can say, that I take with me after reading this... I want to read the rest of the series!
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
February 9, 2023
This is book 3 of the most recent Anna Bradley series. I haven't read the first one yet (Wayward Bride), but have read the second and loved it! This can be read easily as a standalone. Previous characters are briefly mentioned or make small appearances, but nothing that would affect the story.
Lucinda is with her extended family on a short vacation before the London season when she meets Ciaran. What follows is a sweet and lovely friendship that forms between the two. Ciaran is supposed to be on his way to Scotland to tie up some unfinished emotional business, but he must make sure Lucinda is fairing well during her first season. When he arrives, he finds all is not well, and helps her hatch a plan.
I think you should try this story if
You have tried Anna Bradley and disliked her stories in the past – really! I know people dislike many of her heroes, but Ciaran is totally different. This story was also less angst than her usual work.
- You like friends to lovers
- You like a rescue plot, where not only the does the hero rescue the heroine, but she rescues herself as well
- You like the fake relationship trope
I overall liked Lucinda. She has a sweet, curious, adventurous personality. She wants to see and experience what she can of the world. But she is also aware of the social constrictions of her time and that's something I love about Bradley's books and heroines. They are independent while still knowing they can't just do whatever they want without repercussions. She does make some decisions that irritated me a bit, more so towards the end of the book.
Ciaran I found to be unlike any of Bradley's other heroes. He's such a beta hero. He's oh so sweet. Caring. Responsible for Lucinda once he creates this relationship with her. I really enjoyed him as well.
I adore Bradley's kisses and sex scenes. This was on the lower steam end, tension building slowly throughout the story. A kiss and 1-2 scenes take place after the 60% mark I believe. I love them because they are filled with descriptions and longing and feelings and so detailed. They make me melt.
I think a part of me didn't love this story quite as much as I could have because I just read Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch and the plot was so similar. They are far from the same book, but just very similar feelings with the two characters becoming friends first, the personalities of the heroes, and the fact that the heroines had villain suitors.
I give 4 stars. Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These opinions are my own.
Lucinda is with her extended family on a short vacation before the London season when she meets Ciaran. What follows is a sweet and lovely friendship that forms between the two. Ciaran is supposed to be on his way to Scotland to tie up some unfinished emotional business, but he must make sure Lucinda is fairing well during her first season. When he arrives, he finds all is not well, and helps her hatch a plan.
I think you should try this story if
You have tried Anna Bradley and disliked her stories in the past – really! I know people dislike many of her heroes, but Ciaran is totally different. This story was also less angst than her usual work.
- You like friends to lovers
- You like a rescue plot, where not only the does the hero rescue the heroine, but she rescues herself as well
- You like the fake relationship trope
I overall liked Lucinda. She has a sweet, curious, adventurous personality. She wants to see and experience what she can of the world. But she is also aware of the social constrictions of her time and that's something I love about Bradley's books and heroines. They are independent while still knowing they can't just do whatever they want without repercussions. She does make some decisions that irritated me a bit, more so towards the end of the book.
Ciaran I found to be unlike any of Bradley's other heroes. He's such a beta hero. He's oh so sweet. Caring. Responsible for Lucinda once he creates this relationship with her. I really enjoyed him as well.
I adore Bradley's kisses and sex scenes. This was on the lower steam end, tension building slowly throughout the story. A kiss and 1-2 scenes take place after the 60% mark I believe. I love them because they are filled with descriptions and longing and feelings and so detailed. They make me melt.
I think a part of me didn't love this story quite as much as I could have because I just read Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch and the plot was so similar. They are far from the same book, but just very similar feelings with the two characters becoming friends first, the personalities of the heroes, and the fact that the heroines had villain suitors.
I give 4 stars. Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These opinions are my own.
January 5, 2020
2.5/5. I so wanted this book to be good. I'm fond of the author. Her debut A Wicked Way to Win an Earl was most impressive and she has had a few books since that have been quite entertaining, but this one didn't work for me. Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is a few weeks from reaching her majority and accessing the considerable fortune left to her by her father, the infamous mad Earl of Bellamy. While her father was alive his paranoia resulted in the two of them living in isolation and since she has been under the oppressive guardianship of her odious uncle, her gilded cage has just changed location but remains under lock - until she finds the key to escape the tyranny for an hour or so a day while at Brighton. That is how she finds herself being involuntarily 'rescued' by a well-built Scot, while stealing a swim in the ocean. Ciaran Ramsey might have a reputation as an aimless hedonist but being a Ramsey male, he has big time hero compulsions, so when he spots a slight woman in the waves, he does not hesitate to jump in and ask questions later. Lucy is most put off by this abrupt interruption to her escapade but misunderstanding aside, they soon develop a highly inappropriate friendship over the next few weeks at the beach away from prying eyes and judgements.
Ciaran is still pining for Scotland and the woman he left behind, when scandal drove his family away from their ancestral home. Lucy has her own troubles. Her uncle is aggressively pushing her for a match with a much older and loathsome man prior to her 21st birthday. Unfortunately due to her late father's reputation, no other man is willing to press his suit despite the lure of her money. She persuades the chivalrous Ciaran to pretend to court her to deter the other man, while buying enough time for her to gain control of her inheritance.
So, why didn't it work for me? It's this unrealistic concept of them becoming best friends in a matter of a week or two. Yes, "best friends", "dearest friend", buxom buddies, because the author tediously and repetitively stresses the close nature of their platonic friendship to the point of my eyes risking never seeing the light again from the perpetual eye-rolling. *spoiler alert* There were moments where the two of them showed inappropriate intimacy in public without any concern for impropriety. The ultimate example of the latter was when Lucy stayed with Ciaran unchaperoned without anyone else objecting. She could have gone to her other friend's house . Then there is Lucy's ongoing resistance to a marital union with Ciaran even after they have slept together. Her arguments were weak and made little sense. Another inconsistent moment is after they broke into her uncle's office the second time which resulted in essentially no new information and yet she and her cousin were left shaken and panicked by the degree of her uncle's iniquity, when they had already reached the same conclusion earlier. Her emotional overreaction to finding out about his broken engagement in Scotland was also strange, given that she did not intend to marry him anyway and wanted him to find himself in Scotland even after they had been intimate.
Additionally, there were another two romances developing simultaneously as that of our two protagonists. These were poorly developed, caricatural and just plain silly especially in their neat resolutions.
This is an ARC provided by NetGalley.
Ciaran is still pining for Scotland and the woman he left behind, when scandal drove his family away from their ancestral home. Lucy has her own troubles. Her uncle is aggressively pushing her for a match with a much older and loathsome man prior to her 21st birthday. Unfortunately due to her late father's reputation, no other man is willing to press his suit despite the lure of her money. She persuades the chivalrous Ciaran to pretend to court her to deter the other man, while buying enough time for her to gain control of her inheritance.
So, why didn't it work for me? It's this unrealistic concept of them becoming best friends in a matter of a week or two. Yes, "best friends", "dearest friend", buxom buddies, because the author tediously and repetitively stresses the close nature of their platonic friendship to the point of my eyes risking never seeing the light again from the perpetual eye-rolling. *spoiler alert* There were moments where the two of them showed inappropriate intimacy in public without any concern for impropriety. The ultimate example of the latter was when Lucy stayed with Ciaran unchaperoned without anyone else objecting. She could have gone to her other friend's house . Then there is Lucy's ongoing resistance to a marital union with Ciaran even after they have slept together. Her arguments were weak and made little sense. Another inconsistent moment is after they broke into her uncle's office the second time which resulted in essentially no new information and yet she and her cousin were left shaken and panicked by the degree of her uncle's iniquity, when they had already reached the same conclusion earlier. Her emotional overreaction to finding out about his broken engagement in Scotland was also strange, given that she did not intend to marry him anyway and wanted him to find himself in Scotland even after they had been intimate.
Additionally, there were another two romances developing simultaneously as that of our two protagonists. These were poorly developed, caricatural and just plain silly especially in their neat resolutions.
This is an ARC provided by NetGalley.
March 6, 2020
I adore Anna Bradley and everything she writes, and For the Sake of a Scottish Rake was no different. A fun friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with an exciting plot, I enjoyed every minute of this story.
There were so many tropes to love. Fake boyfriend/girlfriends, predicament rescue, and friends-to-lovers and they all worked. I'm a huge fan of the fake relationship plot device, and so I was immediately hooked. I also liked that Lucy was a girl who beat to her own drum and didn't feel pressured by society's rules. She was quirky and unique, and I love that in a heroine.
The big Scottish character always works for me (natch), and so I was predisposed to like Ciaran, but he won me over more and more as the story went on. Ciaran was just so nice. I think a lot of authors are afraid of writing nice male MCs, so they air towards making them rude or boorish. Ciaran was just a good dude, and I was so happy when he finally realized his feelings for Lucy.
Anna Bradley does a good job with side characters and accessory romances, and I loved that here. I was invested in Lucy's friends and their side plots, and it made the story feel every more exciting.
My one issue, and this is not at all the author's fault, is I had just read Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch and the two books are very similar. I kept mixing them up in my mind a bit, and that maybe affected my enjoyment of this one a tiny bit. I wouldn't recommend reading them back to back!
Overall, a romping good time romance with a fun plot and a very sweet couple. Another win for Anna Bradley.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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There were so many tropes to love. Fake boyfriend/girlfriends, predicament rescue, and friends-to-lovers and they all worked. I'm a huge fan of the fake relationship plot device, and so I was immediately hooked. I also liked that Lucy was a girl who beat to her own drum and didn't feel pressured by society's rules. She was quirky and unique, and I love that in a heroine.
The big Scottish character always works for me (natch), and so I was predisposed to like Ciaran, but he won me over more and more as the story went on. Ciaran was just so nice. I think a lot of authors are afraid of writing nice male MCs, so they air towards making them rude or boorish. Ciaran was just a good dude, and I was so happy when he finally realized his feelings for Lucy.
Anna Bradley does a good job with side characters and accessory romances, and I loved that here. I was invested in Lucy's friends and their side plots, and it made the story feel every more exciting.
My one issue, and this is not at all the author's fault, is I had just read Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch and the two books are very similar. I kept mixing them up in my mind a bit, and that maybe affected my enjoyment of this one a tiny bit. I wouldn't recommend reading them back to back!
Overall, a romping good time romance with a fun plot and a very sweet couple. Another win for Anna Bradley.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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December 21, 2019
"Everything seems do cause a scandal, doesn't it? Everything worth doing, anyway … I'd far rather risk the scandal than just meander along, peeking into the edges of my life as if it doesn't belong to me at all."
I am so happy Ciaran finally met his match. I've been waiting for this day ever since he was first introduced and enjoyed watching his brother fall in love so much. Ever since the brothers were forced to leave Scotland and move to London, he's been moping after what he thought was the love of his life, and barely lived at all. He just existed, and it was so great to see him come back to life and the adorable idiot I knew was in there came back into the light again. I absolutely adored the pairing with the vibrant Lucy, who made him to confront his issues and dragged him out of the shadows. They are an absolutely loveable couple, and I adored watching them going from friends to more.
"People don't marry their best friends!"
Unless they find that perfect person that they can be themselves around, the one person where being with your best friend doesn't feel weird. And it was adorable here. It wasn't rushed or anything, and their struggle was realistic (she thinks he still wants the girl he left behind in Scotland, while he is coming to realize that that girl was his past, but nothing more). I loved watching them work things out.
There was just one thing I really really didn't like, which costs the book a star from me.
Lucy's uncle seriously puts a villain from a gothic novel to shame. I mean it. It was so over the top and dramatic, I did not like it. And even worse, after all that, it was just brushed aside in one sentence in the epilogue. I really don't get the purpose of this much crazy evil, it was just too much for me.
All in all, I really enjoyed this friends-to-lovers story, and Lucy and Ciaran were just adorable. I just wish there hadn't been so much drama.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I am so happy Ciaran finally met his match. I've been waiting for this day ever since he was first introduced and enjoyed watching his brother fall in love so much. Ever since the brothers were forced to leave Scotland and move to London, he's been moping after what he thought was the love of his life, and barely lived at all. He just existed, and it was so great to see him come back to life and the adorable idiot I knew was in there came back into the light again. I absolutely adored the pairing with the vibrant Lucy, who made him to confront his issues and dragged him out of the shadows. They are an absolutely loveable couple, and I adored watching them going from friends to more.
"People don't marry their best friends!"
Unless they find that perfect person that they can be themselves around, the one person where being with your best friend doesn't feel weird. And it was adorable here. It wasn't rushed or anything, and their struggle was realistic (she thinks he still wants the girl he left behind in Scotland, while he is coming to realize that that girl was his past, but nothing more). I loved watching them work things out.
There was just one thing I really really didn't like, which costs the book a star from me.
Lucy's uncle seriously puts a villain from a gothic novel to shame. I mean it. It was so over the top and dramatic, I did not like it. And even worse, after all that, it was just brushed aside in one sentence in the epilogue. I really don't get the purpose of this much crazy evil, it was just too much for me.
All in all, I really enjoyed this friends-to-lovers story, and Lucy and Ciaran were just adorable. I just wish there hadn't been so much drama.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
February 4, 2020
Series: Besotted Scots #3
Publication Date: 2/18/20
Number of Pages: 320
This was an enjoyable, but perhaps perplexing read. I enjoy the author’s writing style and I liked the premise of the story, but I didn’t care for the resolution. I LOVED that we got three romances for the price of one. I didn’t feel that the two additional romances detracted from the main romance at all since they mostly took place in the background. You knew they were happening, but they weren’t “in your face”.
We first met the Ramsey family in the final book of this author’s Somerset Sisters, More Or Less A Temptress. Three siblings, Lachlan, Isla, and Ciaran had to flee their home in Scotland when Lachlan was falsely accused of murder. At that same time, their mother told them that they had a brother, Finn, in England – and he is the Marquess of Huntington. As she lay dying, their mother urged them to flee to England and find their brother. Since then, we’ve seen Isla find her HEA in The Wayward Bride, and now, finally, the match I’ve been waiting for, Ciaran.
Of the Ramsey siblings, the one who was most affected by having to leave Scotland was Ciaran. In the year since they left, he has only half lived. He’s been listless, restless, bored and unhappy – especially since his siblings wed and they now have lives of their own. Ciaran longs to return to Scotland and to see if he can reunite with his betrothed who jilted him before Ciaran had to leave. His siblings have just encouraged him to accompany a couple of older ladies to Brighton to assure their safety. Little does he know that his life is about to be turned upside down.
Lady Lucinda (Lucy) Sutcliffe is the daughter of the Earl of Bellamy. Her father developed a neurosis after his wife was killed by a highwayman and everybody thought him mad. Basically, he walled himself and Lucy off from the world. Lucy had lived in isolation until her father passed away and she transferred into the care of her Uncle Jarvis. Lucy isn’t wild, exactly, she’s just exuberant to be out of isolation and to be able to enjoy the world. In her enthusiasm, and naivete, she finds herself in a couple of situations that lead someone else (read that Ciaran) to believe that she needed rescuing. She didn’t, she had a plan, but you can’t argue with someone who is the size of a house. And, actually, she does need rescuing, she just doesn’t know it yet.
I loved their first meeting. It was entertaining and funny and sets the pace for many of their interactions. I loved how smart and resourceful Lucy was – with one minor blip when she did the required TSTL action. However, she soon overcame that and was back to her resourceful self – and rescued herself.
What didn’t I like? Well, as I mentioned earlier, I didn’t like the resolution. There was a very, very, vile villain – I mean despicable (just wait until you read all he does) – and he gets absolutely no, none, nada, zip, zilch punishment. Actually, it felt to me as if he were rewarded. At the very least he could have had to flee to the continent – but – I would have preferred that someone hang him upside down from a tree with his nose in a red ant bed – then dribble him with honey and let the ants take care of the rest. Sorry, did I mention he was vile?
The thing that perplexed me was how Jarvis came to be her guardian. Her father was an earl, and whoever inherited the earldom would have been her nearest male relative. So, why wasn’t he her guardian? Jarvis didn’t inherit the earldom, so how could he be her nearest male relative? Jarvis could have been her mother’s brother I guess, but, still, things just don’t run through the mother’s side. If nobody inherited the title, the estate would have reverted to the crown, so how would she have inherited Bellamy House? Maybe Bellamy house was a smaller, unentailed property, but it was where she and the earl lived, so I can’t imagine it being unentailed. It was just that that particular scenario didn’t make sense to me. No real explanations were provided.
All-in-all, it was an enjoyable read with delightful characters, witty moments, tense moments, and a lovely romance – or three.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 2/18/20
Number of Pages: 320
This was an enjoyable, but perhaps perplexing read. I enjoy the author’s writing style and I liked the premise of the story, but I didn’t care for the resolution. I LOVED that we got three romances for the price of one. I didn’t feel that the two additional romances detracted from the main romance at all since they mostly took place in the background. You knew they were happening, but they weren’t “in your face”.
We first met the Ramsey family in the final book of this author’s Somerset Sisters, More Or Less A Temptress. Three siblings, Lachlan, Isla, and Ciaran had to flee their home in Scotland when Lachlan was falsely accused of murder. At that same time, their mother told them that they had a brother, Finn, in England – and he is the Marquess of Huntington. As she lay dying, their mother urged them to flee to England and find their brother. Since then, we’ve seen Isla find her HEA in The Wayward Bride, and now, finally, the match I’ve been waiting for, Ciaran.
Of the Ramsey siblings, the one who was most affected by having to leave Scotland was Ciaran. In the year since they left, he has only half lived. He’s been listless, restless, bored and unhappy – especially since his siblings wed and they now have lives of their own. Ciaran longs to return to Scotland and to see if he can reunite with his betrothed who jilted him before Ciaran had to leave. His siblings have just encouraged him to accompany a couple of older ladies to Brighton to assure their safety. Little does he know that his life is about to be turned upside down.
Lady Lucinda (Lucy) Sutcliffe is the daughter of the Earl of Bellamy. Her father developed a neurosis after his wife was killed by a highwayman and everybody thought him mad. Basically, he walled himself and Lucy off from the world. Lucy had lived in isolation until her father passed away and she transferred into the care of her Uncle Jarvis. Lucy isn’t wild, exactly, she’s just exuberant to be out of isolation and to be able to enjoy the world. In her enthusiasm, and naivete, she finds herself in a couple of situations that lead someone else (read that Ciaran) to believe that she needed rescuing. She didn’t, she had a plan, but you can’t argue with someone who is the size of a house. And, actually, she does need rescuing, she just doesn’t know it yet.
I loved their first meeting. It was entertaining and funny and sets the pace for many of their interactions. I loved how smart and resourceful Lucy was – with one minor blip when she did the required TSTL action. However, she soon overcame that and was back to her resourceful self – and rescued herself.
What didn’t I like? Well, as I mentioned earlier, I didn’t like the resolution. There was a very, very, vile villain – I mean despicable (just wait until you read all he does) – and he gets absolutely no, none, nada, zip, zilch punishment. Actually, it felt to me as if he were rewarded. At the very least he could have had to flee to the continent – but – I would have preferred that someone hang him upside down from a tree with his nose in a red ant bed – then dribble him with honey and let the ants take care of the rest. Sorry, did I mention he was vile?
The thing that perplexed me was how Jarvis came to be her guardian. Her father was an earl, and whoever inherited the earldom would have been her nearest male relative. So, why wasn’t he her guardian? Jarvis didn’t inherit the earldom, so how could he be her nearest male relative? Jarvis could have been her mother’s brother I guess, but, still, things just don’t run through the mother’s side. If nobody inherited the title, the estate would have reverted to the crown, so how would she have inherited Bellamy House? Maybe Bellamy house was a smaller, unentailed property, but it was where she and the earl lived, so I can’t imagine it being unentailed. It was just that that particular scenario didn’t make sense to me. No real explanations were provided.
All-in-all, it was an enjoyable read with delightful characters, witty moments, tense moments, and a lovely romance – or three.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2019
For the Sake of a Scottish Rake
Besotted Scots Series #3
Anna Bradley
https://www.facebook.com/annabradley472/
Release date 02/18/2020
Publisher Kensington Lyrical Press
Blurb :
After a sheltered upbringing, Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is finally embarking on her first season, eager to experience everything she's missed. When Lucy realizes that her uncle plans to quickly marry her off in exchange for a slice of her fortune, she begs a favor of a new acquaintance, Ciaran Ramsey. If Lucy remains single until she turns twenty-one, she--and her money--will be out of her uncle's power. All the charming Scot needs to do is woo her for six weeks, and then jilt her.
The Ramseys don't need the scandal of a false engagement attached to their name. But Lucy's older suitor is both distasteful and dangerous, and Ciaran can't allow his lovely friend to be forced to marry such a man. And besides, the more time Ciaran spends with his new "betrothed," the more their ruse begins to feel very much like the real thing. Passion like this is impossible to feign, but how much is a rogue willing to risk for love?
My review :
When a young lady needs a friend, one to assist her to go through a scheming kin’s plan ...
After reading the previous book in this series, my first one by this author, I knew I would not be my last read.
And here, Mrs Anna Bradley does not disappoint. I loved how nothing was rushing, how Mrs Anna Bradley introduces her characters and let them grow before they get to know one another.
It was awesome to watch Ciaran and Lucy coming closer, from wary to trusting.
The author took the time to bring her heroes to life before throwing them in the fury of what will become their life once the action is on motion.
Lucy, short for Lucinda has longed for years to leave her gilded cage, sure she was not unhappy but her father’s awkwardness with his peers prevented her to mingle in society. But now he is gone, she hopes to have a taste of freedom, alas her gardian is far from an arranging fellow as he lurks after only one think from her and it is not her welfare.
Ciaran is living half a life since he left his birth place, he feels like empty, as if he left a part of him back there. But in close contact with Lucy, she revived the spark he has lost, she shows him there is more to him than just the shell he has become. Why he can’t leave her under the clutch of her greedy uncle, without proposing his assistance.
Their friendship is so sweet and lovely and has no equal than their stubbornness at hiding their deeper feelings.
My only complain is I would have liked them to resolve their differences a bit earlier in the story, I am not fond of couple whose drama lingers until the very end, yet I turned the pages anxiously, so eager to know what would come next.
Their romance is accompanied by two others, a bit less complicated and source of some fun with the bewilderment on the male counterpart.
As for the villains, Mrs Bradley portrayed them as ugly and vile beings, they made me shriver, alas they didn’t get their right reward, but as life is, nor all light or dark.
4.5 stars for this friends to lovers story.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Besotted Scots Series #3
Anna Bradley
https://www.facebook.com/annabradley472/
Release date 02/18/2020
Publisher Kensington Lyrical Press
Blurb :
After a sheltered upbringing, Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is finally embarking on her first season, eager to experience everything she's missed. When Lucy realizes that her uncle plans to quickly marry her off in exchange for a slice of her fortune, she begs a favor of a new acquaintance, Ciaran Ramsey. If Lucy remains single until she turns twenty-one, she--and her money--will be out of her uncle's power. All the charming Scot needs to do is woo her for six weeks, and then jilt her.
The Ramseys don't need the scandal of a false engagement attached to their name. But Lucy's older suitor is both distasteful and dangerous, and Ciaran can't allow his lovely friend to be forced to marry such a man. And besides, the more time Ciaran spends with his new "betrothed," the more their ruse begins to feel very much like the real thing. Passion like this is impossible to feign, but how much is a rogue willing to risk for love?
My review :
When a young lady needs a friend, one to assist her to go through a scheming kin’s plan ...
After reading the previous book in this series, my first one by this author, I knew I would not be my last read.
And here, Mrs Anna Bradley does not disappoint. I loved how nothing was rushing, how Mrs Anna Bradley introduces her characters and let them grow before they get to know one another.
It was awesome to watch Ciaran and Lucy coming closer, from wary to trusting.
The author took the time to bring her heroes to life before throwing them in the fury of what will become their life once the action is on motion.
Lucy, short for Lucinda has longed for years to leave her gilded cage, sure she was not unhappy but her father’s awkwardness with his peers prevented her to mingle in society. But now he is gone, she hopes to have a taste of freedom, alas her gardian is far from an arranging fellow as he lurks after only one think from her and it is not her welfare.
Ciaran is living half a life since he left his birth place, he feels like empty, as if he left a part of him back there. But in close contact with Lucy, she revived the spark he has lost, she shows him there is more to him than just the shell he has become. Why he can’t leave her under the clutch of her greedy uncle, without proposing his assistance.
Their friendship is so sweet and lovely and has no equal than their stubbornness at hiding their deeper feelings.
My only complain is I would have liked them to resolve their differences a bit earlier in the story, I am not fond of couple whose drama lingers until the very end, yet I turned the pages anxiously, so eager to know what would come next.
Their romance is accompanied by two others, a bit less complicated and source of some fun with the bewilderment on the male counterpart.
As for the villains, Mrs Bradley portrayed them as ugly and vile beings, they made me shriver, alas they didn’t get their right reward, but as life is, nor all light or dark.
4.5 stars for this friends to lovers story.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
May 10, 2022
O my! A friends- to- lovers book with a new twist. This is the last in a series and it's a good way to end. I will definetly pick up more from ms Bradley.
Ciaran was all along my favorite Ramsey-brother. The wallflower-hero. I didn't know how anyone could match him but Lucy was just perfect for him.
Their first meeting is just so much fun, a faux drowning-rescue to a faux bethrothal.
What I liked:
both personalities, they were nice and perfectly lovely
Ciaran was just a really nice guy, I kinda wanna hang with him
the descriptions of their environment, this is a talented author
a fake bethrothal
the side-characters stories
What I didn't lik:
No one actually believed that they were such good friends because they were clearly checking eachother out so that was just a little to much of the angst
Steam level 3
Actual rating 4 stars
Ciaran was all along my favorite Ramsey-brother. The wallflower-hero. I didn't know how anyone could match him but Lucy was just perfect for him.
Their first meeting is just so much fun, a faux drowning-rescue to a faux bethrothal.
What I liked:
both personalities, they were nice and perfectly lovely
Ciaran was just a really nice guy, I kinda wanna hang with him
the descriptions of their environment, this is a talented author
a fake bethrothal
the side-characters stories
What I didn't lik:
No one actually believed that they were such good friends because they were clearly checking eachother out so that was just a little to much of the angst
Steam level 3
Actual rating 4 stars
February 16, 2020
Wickedness and romance!
A romantic melodrama, complete with a heroine whose father was rumored to have been mad, a Scotsman languishing from unrequited love, and a tyrannical bully of an uncle who thought nothing of selling his niece to a sinister Lord to pay his gambling debts.
All the ingredients are here for a super read but it just didn't fire for me. Well to honest the first part was great. I was sure I was in for a rollicking read. The second just didn't continue the promise.
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is about to undertake her first season, and hopes to delay any marriage commitment until she turns twenty-one and is able take charge of her considerable fortune. (And who would blame these heiresses given that all properties and monies go to their husbands when they marry). Her uncle has taken a house prior to the season at Brighton. Ciaran Ramsey has joined friends there whilst he mourns his lost love in Scotland. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself in the unlikely position of gaining a woman as a friend, and as it turns out, that woman Lucy, really needs a friend.
Lucy's such a likeable character, as is Ciaran Ramsay, despite his despondency.
The amusing introduction where Ciaran tries to save Lucy who's swimming in a secluded cove at a totally ludicrous time early in the morning, enjoying her freedom, even if it is a stolen moment, is just too funny.
And then at a brawl when Lucy takes a wrong turn and finds herself slap bang in the middle of a bare knuckled fight. Once again Ciaran must save her, even though Lucy was well into saving herself, except Ciaran and fate intervened.
After that, everything devolved. Lucy is whisked away to London by the horrible uncle. Enter the repugnantly sleazy Lord her uncle's s intent on forcing her to marry, and of course just in time (sort of) comes Ciaran. A couple of other romance threads fired up that sort of hung there (probably waiting for upcoming chapters). All too much happened in the last part of the story giving a strong sense of the ending being somewhat rushed.
The magic for me was left behind, confined to that secluded cove at Brighton.
A Kensington ARC via NetGalley
A romantic melodrama, complete with a heroine whose father was rumored to have been mad, a Scotsman languishing from unrequited love, and a tyrannical bully of an uncle who thought nothing of selling his niece to a sinister Lord to pay his gambling debts.
All the ingredients are here for a super read but it just didn't fire for me. Well to honest the first part was great. I was sure I was in for a rollicking read. The second just didn't continue the promise.
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe is about to undertake her first season, and hopes to delay any marriage commitment until she turns twenty-one and is able take charge of her considerable fortune. (And who would blame these heiresses given that all properties and monies go to their husbands when they marry). Her uncle has taken a house prior to the season at Brighton. Ciaran Ramsey has joined friends there whilst he mourns his lost love in Scotland. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself in the unlikely position of gaining a woman as a friend, and as it turns out, that woman Lucy, really needs a friend.
Lucy's such a likeable character, as is Ciaran Ramsay, despite his despondency.
The amusing introduction where Ciaran tries to save Lucy who's swimming in a secluded cove at a totally ludicrous time early in the morning, enjoying her freedom, even if it is a stolen moment, is just too funny.
And then at a brawl when Lucy takes a wrong turn and finds herself slap bang in the middle of a bare knuckled fight. Once again Ciaran must save her, even though Lucy was well into saving herself, except Ciaran and fate intervened.
After that, everything devolved. Lucy is whisked away to London by the horrible uncle. Enter the repugnantly sleazy Lord her uncle's s intent on forcing her to marry, and of course just in time (sort of) comes Ciaran. A couple of other romance threads fired up that sort of hung there (probably waiting for upcoming chapters). All too much happened in the last part of the story giving a strong sense of the ending being somewhat rushed.
The magic for me was left behind, confined to that secluded cove at Brighton.
A Kensington ARC via NetGalley
February 24, 2020
This is the third book in the Besotted Scots series by Anna Bradley, following Ciaran Ramsey, who charmed me in a previous book when he made a habit of asking wallflowers to dance at every ball he attended. His heroine is Lucy, or rather Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe, a beautiful young woman who is the daughter of an earl and a considerable heiress. Lucy absolutely shouldn’t be a wallflower… except that her father was well-known to be mad, and everyone in society knows it. They’ve judged her before even meeting her.
Ciaran meets Lucy far from London, on the beach at Brighton where she’s taking a sneaky - and scandalous - swim in the sea. Intrigued and rather charmed by her unconventional attitude, he finds himself involved in an unlikely friendship. Only, when Lucy disappears unexpectedly, he discovers his feelings for her run rather deeper than just friendship.
Lucy’s uncle is a total villain, and unfortunately the legal status of women in the time period played right into his hands. He could seem a caricature, except I actually think he could have been worse, and a fortune the size of Lucy’s within easy grasp could tempt men a good deal more saintly. The problems Lucy had to deal with were almost certainly those faced by more than one real woman who probably didn’t have a Ciaran Ramsey to help them escape.
There were a lot of things I liked about Ciaran and Lucy’s romance, but I had two big problems with the book. One was the overly-contrived way Lucy kept insisting they were ‘just friends’ when it had already been made clear to her by Ciaran that he thought a lot more of her than that, and she’d already admitted her own feelings to herself. The second was the ‘extra’ romances… I don’t mind one secondary romance, but the fact that there were two here just distracted from the main plot. Both ‘side’ romances could have had their own story, even if just a novella. Stuffing them in here felt like padding the word count.
I couldn’t quite decide whether to give this three or four stars, but in the end I think I’m going to bump it up to four, because I did enjoy the main romance plot and the two protagonists.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Ciaran meets Lucy far from London, on the beach at Brighton where she’s taking a sneaky - and scandalous - swim in the sea. Intrigued and rather charmed by her unconventional attitude, he finds himself involved in an unlikely friendship. Only, when Lucy disappears unexpectedly, he discovers his feelings for her run rather deeper than just friendship.
Lucy’s uncle is a total villain, and unfortunately the legal status of women in the time period played right into his hands. He could seem a caricature, except I actually think he could have been worse, and a fortune the size of Lucy’s within easy grasp could tempt men a good deal more saintly. The problems Lucy had to deal with were almost certainly those faced by more than one real woman who probably didn’t have a Ciaran Ramsey to help them escape.
There were a lot of things I liked about Ciaran and Lucy’s romance, but I had two big problems with the book. One was the overly-contrived way Lucy kept insisting they were ‘just friends’ when it had already been made clear to her by Ciaran that he thought a lot more of her than that, and she’d already admitted her own feelings to herself. The second was the ‘extra’ romances… I don’t mind one secondary romance, but the fact that there were two here just distracted from the main plot. Both ‘side’ romances could have had their own story, even if just a novella. Stuffing them in here felt like padding the word count.
I couldn’t quite decide whether to give this three or four stars, but in the end I think I’m going to bump it up to four, because I did enjoy the main romance plot and the two protagonists.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
March 28, 2020
Slaps them both. Oh ye fools of little faith!
Lucy wants to live after having spent her life in one place. She also has an idiot for an uncle, and a nice cousin.
Kieran has his own troubles. I did read some of the previous books, but I can't really remember why they fled Scotland. Oh well I do not need too, all I know is that he left someone behind who had hurt him.
They meet, they become reluctant friends, cos men and women can be friends! They get the hots for each other, but do nothing cos they are idiots. Are ye blind and stupid!
Then there is the plot with her enormous dowry and her uncle wanting to marry her off. There I lost a bit of trust for her, Kieran is a good man, stop fighting that. Your uncle is a psycho! Think woman!
Suddenly in the plot there were 2 other love stories too, and at those times I feel cheated cos I can't see how it happened and I always feel they deserve their own story.
I did like it, but I also wanted to slap some sense into them. Lucy went a bit too far in her thinking at times, Kieran I can forgive cos he fell for her.
I do like Anthony as the narrator. I have listened to a ton of Scottish romances with him so I do like her Scottish accent ;) he does them well and make them fun listening too. Sadly there were only one Scot, I know, heartbreaking
Lucy wants to live after having spent her life in one place. She also has an idiot for an uncle, and a nice cousin.
Kieran has his own troubles. I did read some of the previous books, but I can't really remember why they fled Scotland. Oh well I do not need too, all I know is that he left someone behind who had hurt him.
They meet, they become reluctant friends, cos men and women can be friends! They get the hots for each other, but do nothing cos they are idiots. Are ye blind and stupid!
Then there is the plot with her enormous dowry and her uncle wanting to marry her off. There I lost a bit of trust for her, Kieran is a good man, stop fighting that. Your uncle is a psycho! Think woman!
Suddenly in the plot there were 2 other love stories too, and at those times I feel cheated cos I can't see how it happened and I always feel they deserve their own story.
I did like it, but I also wanted to slap some sense into them. Lucy went a bit too far in her thinking at times, Kieran I can forgive cos he fell for her.
I do like Anthony as the narrator. I have listened to a ton of Scottish romances with him so I do like her Scottish accent ;) he does them well and make them fun listening too. Sadly there were only one Scot, I know, heartbreaking
March 10, 2025
This started off cute enough. Rather witty with open, likeable characters. They communicated very well, meaning no withholding of secrets and misunderstandings were tackled straight away.
At the 55% point though, this is what I had:
hero was pretty sure that he loved the heroine. He was super caring and sweet with her. BUT he had an old flame that hurt his feelings and betrayed him in the past. So no way could he commit to our heroine in need of rescuing until he goes to Scotland to give the old flame one last shot.
heroine was more than sure that she loved the hero and she was very sweet towards him as well. BUT she has vowed time and again that she will never ever never get married. (one of those heroines).
they participate in a fake courtship to thwart the evil uncle's devious plans to marry her off to an old fart that he owes money to. This should have been a perfect opportunity to kick up the steam level in the story. As of 55% there had been no kisses or anything. Strictly keeping it in the friend zone. All that was mentioned was going shopping on Bond Street once and attending a ball, one in which the heroine refused to dance with the hero (as she is horrible at dancing). But again, this would have been a great opportunity to have them dancing together and slowly build a spark taking them out of the dreaded friend zone!
there were side characters with their own romances going on and they were cute enough as well.
But I abandoned ship once the hero was trying to help the heroine out of a possible dangerous situation and she just got stuck in her stubborn mode of not needing help against her uncle, she can handle it herself and she will NOT marry the hero, etc etc.
I figured they both admitted that they love each other already, no romance going on, stubborn heroine.... so that was enough.
At the 55% point though, this is what I had:
hero was pretty sure that he loved the heroine. He was super caring and sweet with her. BUT he had an old flame that hurt his feelings and betrayed him in the past. So no way could he commit to our heroine in need of rescuing until he goes to Scotland to give the old flame one last shot.
heroine was more than sure that she loved the hero and she was very sweet towards him as well. BUT she has vowed time and again that she will never ever never get married. (one of those heroines).
they participate in a fake courtship to thwart the evil uncle's devious plans to marry her off to an old fart that he owes money to. This should have been a perfect opportunity to kick up the steam level in the story. As of 55% there had been no kisses or anything. Strictly keeping it in the friend zone. All that was mentioned was going shopping on Bond Street once and attending a ball, one in which the heroine refused to dance with the hero (as she is horrible at dancing). But again, this would have been a great opportunity to have them dancing together and slowly build a spark taking them out of the dreaded friend zone!
there were side characters with their own romances going on and they were cute enough as well.
But I abandoned ship once the hero was trying to help the heroine out of a possible dangerous situation and she just got stuck in her stubborn mode of not needing help against her uncle, she can handle it herself and she will NOT marry the hero, etc etc.
I figured they both admitted that they love each other already, no romance going on, stubborn heroine.... so that was enough.
February 18, 2020
Brighton, England 1818
Lucy was determined. She wanted to live life after being closed up with her father before his demise for the last four years. Now in the custody of her uncle, she just wanted to experience everything! Her first experience was going out early in the morning and swimming on her own since her cousin Eloisa would not go in. But she was about to meet her fate, whether she knew it or not in the form on one braw Scot, Ciaran Ramsey who thought she was drowning and pulled her in to the beach!
Thus the adventure begins! Ciaran ends up rescuing her out of a real scape and it seems they are bound to meet again!
Then Lucy's uncle (vile man) is determined to marry her off before she turns twenty one and can access her inheritance and picks a terrible husband. She goes to Ciaran and asks him to pretend to be her betrothed and court her. Well, you know how that could end, don't you?
Everything needed to turn this story into the perfect must read! Adventure, lies, witty banter, amazing characters and a couple who need each other, they just don't know it to begin with! Another truly delightful story by the fabulous Anna Bradley will "Wow" you until the end!
Lucy was determined. She wanted to live life after being closed up with her father before his demise for the last four years. Now in the custody of her uncle, she just wanted to experience everything! Her first experience was going out early in the morning and swimming on her own since her cousin Eloisa would not go in. But she was about to meet her fate, whether she knew it or not in the form on one braw Scot, Ciaran Ramsey who thought she was drowning and pulled her in to the beach!
Thus the adventure begins! Ciaran ends up rescuing her out of a real scape and it seems they are bound to meet again!
Then Lucy's uncle (vile man) is determined to marry her off before she turns twenty one and can access her inheritance and picks a terrible husband. She goes to Ciaran and asks him to pretend to be her betrothed and court her. Well, you know how that could end, don't you?
Everything needed to turn this story into the perfect must read! Adventure, lies, witty banter, amazing characters and a couple who need each other, they just don't know it to begin with! Another truly delightful story by the fabulous Anna Bradley will "Wow" you until the end!
February 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this story. It is a friends to lovers story with very engaging characters.
Lucinda Sutcliffe lived a rather repressed life due to her eccentric "mad" father. After her parents are gone she goes to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Lucy's adventurous spirit is determined to explore and experience new things, which gets her in trouble. An attractive Scottish stranger rescues and befriends her. Evil forces threaten Lucy's ability to choose her own path, but her friend, Ciaran Ramsey shows up to assist her.
This is a very likable story, however, it was a little slow, especially at the beginning. Lucy and Ciaran's relationship developed over a series of little events. The pacing was necessary to show the growth of the friendship, but it seemed a little hard to get to the meat of the story. Nevertheless, I found this to be a strong story with an exciting ending.
Lucinda Sutcliffe lived a rather repressed life due to her eccentric "mad" father. After her parents are gone she goes to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Lucy's adventurous spirit is determined to explore and experience new things, which gets her in trouble. An attractive Scottish stranger rescues and befriends her. Evil forces threaten Lucy's ability to choose her own path, but her friend, Ciaran Ramsey shows up to assist her.
This is a very likable story, however, it was a little slow, especially at the beginning. Lucy and Ciaran's relationship developed over a series of little events. The pacing was necessary to show the growth of the friendship, but it seemed a little hard to get to the meat of the story. Nevertheless, I found this to be a strong story with an exciting ending.
March 16, 2020
I liked this better than the second book in series but that’s not saying much. I don’t think I am going to remember much about this in future. It didn’t standout much.
Ciaran and Lucy formed a bond through spending crack-of-dawn moments at the beach swimming. Nice, if implausible. They’re friends first. Then it comes to a point when Ciaran and Lucy need to runaway to keep her safe and things move to the next level. There’s quite a bit of other craziness going on, plus two other peripheral romances (maybe they will have their own stories?).
Bradley is a compelling writer. Pages turn easy and quickly when reading. The connections between the leads are usually convincing and there’s enough character development for a reader to care. But the plots are starting to be a problem for me. I think each I have read has had some glaring plot holes. This is no exception.
All in all, this was a diverting romance but it’s not going down as a favorite.
*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ciaran and Lucy formed a bond through spending crack-of-dawn moments at the beach swimming. Nice, if implausible. They’re friends first. Then it comes to a point when Ciaran and Lucy need to runaway to keep her safe and things move to the next level. There’s quite a bit of other craziness going on, plus two other peripheral romances (maybe they will have their own stories?).
Bradley is a compelling writer. Pages turn easy and quickly when reading. The connections between the leads are usually convincing and there’s enough character development for a reader to care. But the plots are starting to be a problem for me. I think each I have read has had some glaring plot holes. This is no exception.
All in all, this was a diverting romance but it’s not going down as a favorite.
*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2024
4/5
A cute romance but the first half was much better than the latter half unfortunately, the miscommunication was driving me crazy
A cute romance but the first half was much better than the latter half unfortunately, the miscommunication was driving me crazy
February 18, 2020
ARC from Netgalley
Anna Bradley has been a favorite of mine since I read A Wicked Way to Win an Earl. I find her books to be so much fun, and filled with romance. For the Sake of a Scottish Rake should have been a shoo-in for me. And for the first ¾ it was. But then, sadly, things fell apart.
Right off the bat, it took me a while to get invested in this story. For a large chunk of the beginning, we only see Lucy and Ciaran together, and it felt like I didn’t get to see them reflect on their relationship much. Because they always met on the mornings in the beach, it felt long and repetitive, and I wanted to see them out and about. How did they act with other people, and how often did they think of each other when they weren’t together? I did finally get that, and that’s really when I started to enjoy the story. I liked Lucy’s cousin, Eloisa. She was a voice of reason for Lucy, and it took her a while to warm up to Lucy’s escapades. As I would expect from a woman who was raised among the nobility. I also really enjoyed Ciaran’s friends, though I find the male groups in Historical Romance do tend to be more interesting simply because they’re able to carouse.
Along with Lucy and Ciaran’s story, there are two other romances that are playing out in this book, but they’re both in the background. I found them to be a bit superficial and rushed, and because it was three female friends with three male friends, it gave this story more of a fantasy (not the genre) feel that I would have enjoyed more when I was younger, I think. What really made my love for this book lessen was the end, and how it became even more modern. For one, Lucy talks about ‘her truth,’ which, in that time period, felt so silly to me. Though, if I’m being honest, it feels silly to me today, as well, as truth is absolute. But the fact is, this is a modern concept, and to see the words put right out there in an Historical was incredibly jarring. And then we have the fact that Lucy won’t marry Ciaran because, #1, she made up her mind that she never wanted to be married, and #2, he doesn’t love her. Good reasons, I guess. Except that the man her guardian has promised her to is suspected of killing his first young wife. And she and Ciaran were, according to both of them, the best of friends. If you thought you’d never get to choose your husband, but now you have the option of marrying your best friend and escaping marriage to a murdering noble, wouldn’t you take it? Well...obviously. Unless you’re in an Historical Romance that no longer cares about the restrictions of the time period.
So, in the end, For the Sake of a Scottish Rake was entertaining enough, but there were parts that dragged and made it feel too modern for my tastes. Leaving it as a middle of the road read for me. I’m not ready to give up on Anna Bradley yet, because she has written some of my very favorite books. But I’ll be going into the next book I pick up by her with some caution.
Anna Bradley has been a favorite of mine since I read A Wicked Way to Win an Earl. I find her books to be so much fun, and filled with romance. For the Sake of a Scottish Rake should have been a shoo-in for me. And for the first ¾ it was. But then, sadly, things fell apart.
Right off the bat, it took me a while to get invested in this story. For a large chunk of the beginning, we only see Lucy and Ciaran together, and it felt like I didn’t get to see them reflect on their relationship much. Because they always met on the mornings in the beach, it felt long and repetitive, and I wanted to see them out and about. How did they act with other people, and how often did they think of each other when they weren’t together? I did finally get that, and that’s really when I started to enjoy the story. I liked Lucy’s cousin, Eloisa. She was a voice of reason for Lucy, and it took her a while to warm up to Lucy’s escapades. As I would expect from a woman who was raised among the nobility. I also really enjoyed Ciaran’s friends, though I find the male groups in Historical Romance do tend to be more interesting simply because they’re able to carouse.
Along with Lucy and Ciaran’s story, there are two other romances that are playing out in this book, but they’re both in the background. I found them to be a bit superficial and rushed, and because it was three female friends with three male friends, it gave this story more of a fantasy (not the genre) feel that I would have enjoyed more when I was younger, I think. What really made my love for this book lessen was the end, and how it became even more modern. For one, Lucy talks about ‘her truth,’ which, in that time period, felt so silly to me. Though, if I’m being honest, it feels silly to me today, as well, as truth is absolute. But the fact is, this is a modern concept, and to see the words put right out there in an Historical was incredibly jarring. And then we have the fact that Lucy won’t marry Ciaran because, #1, she made up her mind that she never wanted to be married, and #2, he doesn’t love her. Good reasons, I guess. Except that the man her guardian has promised her to is suspected of killing his first young wife. And she and Ciaran were, according to both of them, the best of friends. If you thought you’d never get to choose your husband, but now you have the option of marrying your best friend and escaping marriage to a murdering noble, wouldn’t you take it? Well...obviously. Unless you’re in an Historical Romance that no longer cares about the restrictions of the time period.
So, in the end, For the Sake of a Scottish Rake was entertaining enough, but there were parts that dragged and made it feel too modern for my tastes. Leaving it as a middle of the road read for me. I’m not ready to give up on Anna Bradley yet, because she has written some of my very favorite books. But I’ll be going into the next book I pick up by her with some caution.
January 13, 2020
Well realistically I couldn't have continued a streak of books that I enjoyed, right? I mean I guess on a good week I probably could have been on my merry own way of "darn that's a good book" lane, however my streak has come to and end...ahhhhh it saddens me so.. Ok let me stop with all the drama just to say that I did not enjoy this book, sadly it bored me and that pisses me off, Because I hate, hate being bored especially when I chose you (this book) out of my list of (I have to catch up on) pile..But by the middle I couldn't care less if these two Ciaran and Lucy wanted each other if they even spent time with each other, couldn't have cared less. Then they to do a buy one get two free scenario, what am I talking about well they had three couples all seemed to have the same situation, I mean if you are going to give me three for the price of one, change it up a bit..Ok no more, bad mouthing...
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author...(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author...(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
February 17, 2020
For the Sake of a Scottish Rake by Anna Bradley
Besotted Scots #2
Quick easy to read historical romance. It was not my favorite book by this author and I am sad to say that as I have truly enjoyed other books by this author.
What I liked:
* Lucy was not predictable
* Three romances in one
* The friendships
* The thwarting of the bad guys
* That everyone had a HEA
What I didn’t like
* Lucy’s behavior was more than a bit over the top and not in keeping with the times.
*The time being rung in days and weeks and even times on the clock and spelled out repetitively
* Falling back on the gambling relative using the heroine to pay his debts...to a less than admirable holder of those debts
* The predictability
* The lack of a true backstory for the main characters
* Wondering how Uncle Jarvis became her guardian
Did I enjoy this book? Not so much
Would I read another book by this author? Maybe
Thank you to NetGgalley and Kensington-Lyrical for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
Besotted Scots #2
Quick easy to read historical romance. It was not my favorite book by this author and I am sad to say that as I have truly enjoyed other books by this author.
What I liked:
* Lucy was not predictable
* Three romances in one
* The friendships
* The thwarting of the bad guys
* That everyone had a HEA
What I didn’t like
* Lucy’s behavior was more than a bit over the top and not in keeping with the times.
*The time being rung in days and weeks and even times on the clock and spelled out repetitively
* Falling back on the gambling relative using the heroine to pay his debts...to a less than admirable holder of those debts
* The predictability
* The lack of a true backstory for the main characters
* Wondering how Uncle Jarvis became her guardian
Did I enjoy this book? Not so much
Would I read another book by this author? Maybe
Thank you to NetGgalley and Kensington-Lyrical for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
February 18, 2020
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe had a very restricted background due to her father’s ill health. Now she was in Brighton and was seeking new experiences, nothing was too daring for her. I like Lucinda’s energy and joy of life. During her stay in Brighton she met Ciaran Ramsey and they became friends through some unlikely adventures. Ciaran had problems of his own but he was determined to be there for Lucinda. Unfortunately, her Uncle Jarvis has plans for Lucinda that she would not like. There were a number of interesting secondary characters, all friends of either Ciaran or Lucinda. This was an engaging tale of friends who may become to mean more to each other, some very dangerous moments and a villain who could have had more of a comeuppance that he did! I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 19, 2022
It was an alright read, quick and pretty easy.
But i expected more from the character, their development and their chemistry.
I got this eARC from Netgalley
But i expected more from the character, their development and their chemistry.
I got this eARC from Netgalley
March 2, 2020
3.5 stars
February 2, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this awesome, witty, story of Ciarin and Lucy. Lucy was a strong willed heroine and Ciarin was a hero in need of saving. He thought Lucy needed rescuing from the sea, but she was just having a morning swim. She kicked him for his efforts. This is a delightful friend to lovers story. Soon their friendship turns into more. Her evil uncle plans her marriage to an evil old man to get him out of debt. You must read this to find out what happens. You won’t be sorry. It is wonderful with well thought out characters. Fall in love with Lucy and Ciarin on the path to a HEA. I highly recommend this book and any by this author. I give it five stars.
December 21, 2019
Brighton, England, May 1818
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe - Lucy - is being very daring. For once she has some freedom, and goes for a swim, all alone before sunrise, without a bathing machine and attendants. How very scandalous! But surely nothing bad could happen; she's careful in her recklessness. And this is how tiny Lucy came to meet huge Scotsman Ciaran Ramsey. They're both bored, he's been depressed for some time, and is itching to return to Scotland. But Ciaran is a born protector, so he'll protect his new friend, who seems bent on achieving her own ruination; the road to hell and all that... Lucy is a few weeks short of turning 21, then she'll inherit her considerable fortune and she will be free from her tyrannical guardian, her despicable Uncle Jarvis, who desperately wants her money.
I absolutely adored the two previous installments in this series and I was eagerly waiting for this book. Unfortunately, I didn't find FOR THE SAKE OF A SCOTTISH RAKE as sparkling as Anna Bradley's works. It had a pleasant beginning but I thought it was a bit slow to get started; on the other hand, this allowed Ciaran and Lucy's relationship to develop properly. But however charming Lucy and Ciaran were, the story continued to drag as other romances develop, villains multiply, and the drama goes into overdrive. At times it felt like elements were added to make the book last longer. My favourite parts are those featuring Sebastian, the charismatic and flamboyant Lord Vale; he is simply magnificent and he stole the show, as far as I'm concerned.
The nefarious Jarvis almost steals the show as well, and not in a good way. I felt he was too present in the story, and that it created unnecessary unpleasantness. It just took so very long for anything to progress, there were so many repeated thoughts, too many rehashed conversations, and it took forever to conclude while a crucial matter was dealt with rather too swiftly. Ms. Bradley's prose is impeccable, as always, the characters well developed, and she creates such wonderful visuals that the story unfolds like a movie. But it took so long to reach the end, with all the melodrama that only got worse as the unappealing villains took too much space. I love Anna Bradley but FOR THE SAKE OF A SCOTTISH RAKE didn't entirely work for me. Pity.
I volontarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe - Lucy - is being very daring. For once she has some freedom, and goes for a swim, all alone before sunrise, without a bathing machine and attendants. How very scandalous! But surely nothing bad could happen; she's careful in her recklessness. And this is how tiny Lucy came to meet huge Scotsman Ciaran Ramsey. They're both bored, he's been depressed for some time, and is itching to return to Scotland. But Ciaran is a born protector, so he'll protect his new friend, who seems bent on achieving her own ruination; the road to hell and all that... Lucy is a few weeks short of turning 21, then she'll inherit her considerable fortune and she will be free from her tyrannical guardian, her despicable Uncle Jarvis, who desperately wants her money.
I absolutely adored the two previous installments in this series and I was eagerly waiting for this book. Unfortunately, I didn't find FOR THE SAKE OF A SCOTTISH RAKE as sparkling as Anna Bradley's works. It had a pleasant beginning but I thought it was a bit slow to get started; on the other hand, this allowed Ciaran and Lucy's relationship to develop properly. But however charming Lucy and Ciaran were, the story continued to drag as other romances develop, villains multiply, and the drama goes into overdrive. At times it felt like elements were added to make the book last longer. My favourite parts are those featuring Sebastian, the charismatic and flamboyant Lord Vale; he is simply magnificent and he stole the show, as far as I'm concerned.
The nefarious Jarvis almost steals the show as well, and not in a good way. I felt he was too present in the story, and that it created unnecessary unpleasantness. It just took so very long for anything to progress, there were so many repeated thoughts, too many rehashed conversations, and it took forever to conclude while a crucial matter was dealt with rather too swiftly. Ms. Bradley's prose is impeccable, as always, the characters well developed, and she creates such wonderful visuals that the story unfolds like a movie. But it took so long to reach the end, with all the melodrama that only got worse as the unappealing villains took too much space. I love Anna Bradley but FOR THE SAKE OF A SCOTTISH RAKE didn't entirely work for me. Pity.
I volontarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 6, 2020
2.5 Stars
The premise was intriguing, but this romance ultimately fell flat since there was nothing to believably support the relationship of the main characters. Nothing.
Instead of showing the reader that Ciaran and Lucy were getting to know each other and developing a bond, the author choose to simplify these interactions to "One week later - They talked every day and now they are best friends" which does zilch for my emotional investment. Show don't tell.
The majority of the story happens in London - mundane interactions at balls with the evil villain publicly being evil and the band of insta-friends who are conveniently paired up. Every couple seemed to be experiencing the exact same romantic problems at the same time. Ciaran and his friends are incredibly insightful about each others emotional state, but are in denial about their own. It's maddening!
The quest to discover the villain's devious plan wasn't that exciting because rifling through his office in secret really didn't reveal any new information. The faux discovery and the over-the-top reactions of the heroine and her friends didn't jive since they already had the information. And this happened TWICE. The London scenes became recycled filler that didn't add much to the story.
I wish there were more time spent with the main characters in Brighton as they got to know one another and the sinister motives of the Uncle could have been woven into the background instead of recounted after the fact.
The heroine's objection to marrying the hero - that she was in love with - was baffling. Little about this story made sense.
The premise was intriguing, but this romance ultimately fell flat since there was nothing to believably support the relationship of the main characters. Nothing.
Instead of showing the reader that Ciaran and Lucy were getting to know each other and developing a bond, the author choose to simplify these interactions to "One week later - They talked every day and now they are best friends" which does zilch for my emotional investment. Show don't tell.
The majority of the story happens in London - mundane interactions at balls with the evil villain publicly being evil and the band of insta-friends who are conveniently paired up. Every couple seemed to be experiencing the exact same romantic problems at the same time. Ciaran and his friends are incredibly insightful about each others emotional state, but are in denial about their own. It's maddening!
The quest to discover the villain's devious plan wasn't that exciting because rifling through his office in secret really didn't reveal any new information. The faux discovery and the over-the-top reactions of the heroine and her friends didn't jive since they already had the information. And this happened TWICE. The London scenes became recycled filler that didn't add much to the story.
I wish there were more time spent with the main characters in Brighton as they got to know one another and the sinister motives of the Uncle could have been woven into the background instead of recounted after the fact.
The heroine's objection to marrying the hero - that she was in love with - was baffling. Little about this story made sense.
February 10, 2020
For The Sake Of A Scottish Rake, by Anna Bradley, is available at booksellers on 2-18-20. Rake is book 3 in Ms Bradley's Besotted Scots series. I've been a fan of Ms Bradley's since her first book in 2015. I discovered that book by accident, it had a hot cover, and have followed every series since then. I've given Rake a rare, for me, 5 stars. It's the most entertaining book I've read in some time. I was invested in the characters, their journey, and HEA. I liked Lucy and Ciaran and rooted for them from page 1 to the very end (which is good).
Lucy is a free spirit, finally set, kinda, free. She takes advantage of opportunities for adventures, trying not to get caught & ruin her reputation. I could believe her frame of mind and wish for something more. She meets Ciaran on her 1st big adventure and her lust for life brings Ciaran out of his funk. He's had to leave his home & start over & hasn't taken it well. He's a kind man, handsome too, Scottish with a sexy accent, and drawn to Lucy like a moth to a flame. They start as friends but in reality the relationship was more from the moment they met. Takes them an entire book to finally fess up and admit what we already knew. The journey is fun, witty, and sweet. The secondary characters are terrific and were fleshed out enough to make their love stories interesting too. Watching 3 bachelors taken to their knees is fun. Between the 3 couples there's a plethora of emotions flying around making for an interesting read. I really loved this book. Already looking forward to Ms Bradley's next offering.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#AnnaBradley #ForTheSakeOfAScottishRake #BesottedScots #netgalley #KensingtonPress #LyricalPress #historicalromance #romance
Lucy is a free spirit, finally set, kinda, free. She takes advantage of opportunities for adventures, trying not to get caught & ruin her reputation. I could believe her frame of mind and wish for something more. She meets Ciaran on her 1st big adventure and her lust for life brings Ciaran out of his funk. He's had to leave his home & start over & hasn't taken it well. He's a kind man, handsome too, Scottish with a sexy accent, and drawn to Lucy like a moth to a flame. They start as friends but in reality the relationship was more from the moment they met. Takes them an entire book to finally fess up and admit what we already knew. The journey is fun, witty, and sweet. The secondary characters are terrific and were fleshed out enough to make their love stories interesting too. Watching 3 bachelors taken to their knees is fun. Between the 3 couples there's a plethora of emotions flying around making for an interesting read. I really loved this book. Already looking forward to Ms Bradley's next offering.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#AnnaBradley #ForTheSakeOfAScottishRake #BesottedScots #netgalley #KensingtonPress #LyricalPress #historicalromance #romance
January 31, 2020
Lady Lucinda "Lucy" Sutcliffe has come to live with her uncle, aunt and cousin. Although her uncle is a jerk, so far things haven't been so bad. She has met and made a friend, Ciaran Ramsey. Lucinda has even recently found out that she will get to have a season, which is exciting. What's not exciting is that her uncle arranges her marriage to an absolute lecher.
Ciaran never would have believed men and women could be just friends, but Lucy has shown him it's possible. He is all set to leave for Scotland until he learns Lucy is being forced to marry a man not of her choosing. Ciaran decides to stay and court her himself, on the condition that after six months, they'll go their separate ways as Lucy will come into her inheritance. Easy enough, right?
I give FOR THE SAKE OF THE SCOTTISH RAKE by author Anna Bradley 3.5 stars. It got off to a great start, but Ciaran kind of put me off with his hemming and hawing around whether he had feelings for Lucy or not. I really liked that they had so a strong friendship and how it slowly led to more. This is the third addition to Ms. Bradley's BESOTTED SCOTS series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Ciaran never would have believed men and women could be just friends, but Lucy has shown him it's possible. He is all set to leave for Scotland until he learns Lucy is being forced to marry a man not of her choosing. Ciaran decides to stay and court her himself, on the condition that after six months, they'll go their separate ways as Lucy will come into her inheritance. Easy enough, right?
I give FOR THE SAKE OF THE SCOTTISH RAKE by author Anna Bradley 3.5 stars. It got off to a great start, but Ciaran kind of put me off with his hemming and hawing around whether he had feelings for Lucy or not. I really liked that they had so a strong friendship and how it slowly led to more. This is the third addition to Ms. Bradley's BESOTTED SCOTS series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
February 18, 2020
I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. For The Sake Of A Scottish Rake by Anna Bradley is the third book in her Besotted Scots series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it is an excellent series, and I enjoyed reading the first two books. Lady Lucinda Sutcliffe has lead an extremely sheltered life, her father suffered from social anxiety, and he became more and more isolated from society. With his death, she is now under the care of her aunt and uncle, and about to embark on her first season Lucinda longs to experience adventures and a trip to Brighton seems like the perfect time. Despite a rocky start where Lucinda bloodies the nose of Ciaran Ramsey when he mistakenly assumes she is drowning and attempts to rescue her, they become friends, and she turns to him when she realizes that her uncle is selling her hand in marriage to a nasty villain whose first wife died mysteriously. This is a lovely friends to lovers story with a fake engagement, a dastardly guardian and there’s only one bed. I enjoyed reading this book and do recommend it. Light to Medium Steam. Publishing Date February 18, 2020. #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #ForTheSakeOfAScottishRake #AnnaBradley #HistoricalRomance #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #kissingbooks
January 13, 2020
"A gasp broke from Lucy's lips. She pressed her face to the glass, her heart pounding. She could have sworn she saw something -"
A young woman, who's father passed away, is taken in by her self-indulgent uncle. When she meets a man at the beach one morning, Lucy proposes they be friends. Society might deem it improper, but when has she ever listen to society, Looking to survive life with her uncle until she turns twenty one and can gain her independence proves to be a bit trickier than one would have thought. She might need to help of a friend.
I really enjoyed this book. Lucy made me think about what I would have been like had I been born in the same era. Her spirit and gumption were inspirational. Ciaran was a bit of a lost soul needing to be saved. I enjoyed the writing and all the characters. The story had lots of twists and turn.
For the Sake of a Scottish Rake will be published February 18th, 2020. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the ARC. All opinions are my own,
A young woman, who's father passed away, is taken in by her self-indulgent uncle. When she meets a man at the beach one morning, Lucy proposes they be friends. Society might deem it improper, but when has she ever listen to society, Looking to survive life with her uncle until she turns twenty one and can gain her independence proves to be a bit trickier than one would have thought. She might need to help of a friend.
I really enjoyed this book. Lucy made me think about what I would have been like had I been born in the same era. Her spirit and gumption were inspirational. Ciaran was a bit of a lost soul needing to be saved. I enjoyed the writing and all the characters. The story had lots of twists and turn.
For the Sake of a Scottish Rake will be published February 18th, 2020. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the ARC. All opinions are my own,
February 20, 2020
3.5. I really liked Ciran, and Lucy for the most part. Friends-to-lovers and fake-relationship are two of my faaaaavorite tropes, and I especially loved their friendship. For me, the drama here with the villain was a little too melodramatic, and I felt like, either the subplots and the characters need to be trimmed back a bit or the book needed to be a little longer to give them all the space they deserved.
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