Highland Scandal

The Scandalous Series #2

by Julia London

On the run from the wrathful Prince of Wales, Jack Haines, Earl of Lambourne, is taken prisoner by a Highland laird who makes him an unusual if Jack handfasts his niece, then his life will be spared. The old Highland custom -- a marriage lasting only a year and a day, unless both partners agree to make it a lifelong vow -- sounds preferable to Jack to being dragged to London in chains, and when he meets lovely Lizzie Beal, his dilemma starts to seem positively enjoyable. Until the hellion vents her fury...on him! Detesting the scandalous match that will end all her chances of making a respectable marriage, Lizzie can't abide living intimately with a fugitive nobleman bent on seducing her and then running off. But in teaching her the pleasures of a wife's duties, Jack sparks within them both a passion that will make him wish he could stay with Lizzie for much longer than a year and a day.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

370 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon

Reviews

[Miranda Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got bogged down halfway, what with all the "when the year is up I'm outta here talk between H/h. Background, discussed in depth elsewhere I'm sure, the H/h are by hook and crook hand-fasted for a year and forced to live as man and wife to satisfy her father for his own nefarious reasons. There was plenty of mutual antagonism between H/h, tho' he was less inflexible than she, but neither really rang my bells. And the chemistry felt off somehow.

I've read other Highland stories by JL and recall liking them so it could be this premise and how the 'romance' unfolded or failed to. H/h are working at cross purposes. Her goal was to marry well in London but after hand-fasting, she's damaged goods in the marriage mart; he's trying not to have his neck stretched by a vengeful Prince Regent convinced he might've had an affair with his wife (not true but others under suspicion have been hung for treason already). Her father holds his life in his hands. Hero has the incentive and pressure to fulfill the father's demands that the hand-fasting be real, she doesn't give a shit who she hurts, she's not going to cooperate.

Sigh. Hero's not that big a shit to deserve her attitude. How they end up in love I'll never know because there wasn't a hint of it halfway into the damned book. And I didn't much like the heroine. I did like the heroine's paralyzed sister and her guard Newton. That was a sweet, sincerely touching romance. But very tertiary.

[Patty Ventola Donoso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanto. Me gustó todo, los personajes, las intrigas, el romance por supuesto, con la justa medida de sexo. Y esta ambientada en Escocia! Amo todo lo que sea de ahi. Tal vez no soy muy objetiva, lo se.


I loved. I liked everything, the characters, the intrigues, the romance of course, with the right measure of sex. And it's set in Scotland! I love everything that comes from that place. Maybe I'm not very objective, I know.

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jack the Earl of Lambourne is fleeing England because his name has been listed in the Book of Scandals. This book list the names of possible lovers of the Princess of Whales and her husband the Prince of Whales is hunting these men down and prosecuting them for treason. Bounty hunters are in hot presuit after Jack , Jack has fled to his native homeland Scotland where he is caught by a Scottish Laird Carson Beal. He promises Jack that if he will Hand fast with his niece Lizzie Beal; which is to be bond to each other for a year and a day, at which time they can separate or legally marry. Jack agrees to keep himself from being return to England and hanged. Of course Lizzie does not agree and she is a hellion!! anyway they Hand fast and are bond together. Lizzie comes off a silly hot tempered women (not girl) who does not think things through. Their is no real passion or romance between them just the back and fourth arguing and her trying to run away; they disconnect instead of coming together but eventually they do, at the very end of the book. Lizzie is a Virgin, but no particular care is taken when Jack finally gets around to deflowering her. The way its written is not a true life experience the way a women would feel or a man who loves her would be more loving and passionate. This was written in a cold and indifferent kind of way their was nothing to mark this as a special event in a persons life. No sensual heated passion it just seems to happen. If Authors such as London write about virgins than please for the sake of the female race please take responsibility to write it with caring love and sensual passion. I have read most of Julia London's books, but this one wasn't worth the read or the money spent to buy it!!!!!

[anieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what people's problems are with this book. I've looked at some of the reviews here, and feel as though others must have read an entirely different book from the one I did. It was great. Really, really great and warm and loving. Yes, it was in the tradition of all those tales wherein a group of people are thrown together, detest each other and then grow to be each others biggest fans after a remarkably fortuitous shift in the social circle, but who cares? Julia London did it well, with almost cinematic descriptions, or at least highly visual ones that I could see a director thanking her for if a movie were ever made. There's enough in life to moan about. Why moan about a genuinely good book? Sorry. I have no patience for silly criticisms.

[Angelc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. The plot could have been cute, but unfortunately, I felt like I never really got to know the characters. Complete strangers, Jack Haines, the Earl of Lambourne, and Scottish Lizzie Beal are locked into a handfasting agreement against their wills. The ancient Highland handfasting is a type of trial marriage for one year and one day, at the end of which the couple can part ways if they aren't satisfied with the match. Lizzie and Jack are forced into the same suite in the same small house together, but no sparks really fly between them.

Jack was supposed to be a lazy earl from London, but he didn't come across that way. He seemed like a Highland man, through and through. I had to keep reminding myself of the couple's different backgrounds. I wanted more struggle from Jack between the man he could be in Scotland and the man he used to be in London. Lizzie didn't have much of a personality at all besides the weight of her responsibilities. My favorite characters were Lizzie's sister, Charlotte, and her guard, Newton. Charlotte was confined to a wheelchair after a riding accident, which caused her to be snappish and rude. Newton had endless patience and love for her and opened her eyes to the world. Those two had more chemistry in their entirely too few and brief scenes together than Lizzie and Jack did in the entire book.

I did like how Jack brought life and vitality to the ladies' somber house. I also enjoyed the sparring between Jack and Mr. Gordon, Lizzie's intended groom. Overall, this was a sweet story and I appreciated its lightheartedness, but I would have liked to know the characters better and why they really fell in love with each other.


Reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is quite a shame. Even my appreciation of Julia London's style could not have saved this book.

I have 2 problems with the book:

1. Characters: Jack and Lizzie are boring characters. Jack was not to be taken seriously. He just seemed like a bored playboy who had too much money and time but didn't know what to do with his life. I didn't find him attractive in the least. He seemed unreliable and had little depth. Lizzie was just one angry woman who seemed childish and rude. Granted, nobody would have been happy were they Lizzie. But I thought Lizzie was too indignant and self-righteous. Jack was not to be blamed for the handfasting. I thought Lizzie was not being fair. The women in this book, Lizzie and her sister Charlotte, were not exactly what I aspire to be as a woman. Both were too immature and acted rather rashly and unkindly.

2. The plot line: or the lack thereof. Well into 40% we are still reading about how Lizzie did not want to be married to Jack. and Lizzie and Charlotte were trying to get Jack out of the house, when Jack did not really have a choice to leave. I was thinking, man, Julia London did not have a lot going on in this book, did she? This charade of handfasting, just how long are we supposed to follow it? Jack and Lizzie had little chemistry and all the time they spent together was just meaningless bickering, which did not allow them to develop any feelings for each other.

Uninteresting characters, no real plot lines to speak of, no shared experiences to bind them, this book was sadly lacking in depth. As much as I like Julia London's style, I could not take this book seriously. The best adjective I could use to describe this book would be bland. The worst, well, I shall not go that way.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book vastly improved towards the end. The hero being willing to give up his life for the heroine was probably what saved this book, though. The romanticism of that part could have possibly been played up a little more, although this may not have fit well with the rest of the book. The only real grievance I have about the latter part of the book is the phrase 'She wept with angels and her tears were drops of pure joy'. Seriously. I'm sure I've read books with even more dubious phrases, but this one somehow annoyed me, perhaps because the rest of the book is quite pragmatic in tone and this seems off. A good read, but probably not something I would read again.

[Natascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me realize how much I don't like it when the hero and heroine are not fond of or hate each each other until the end of the book where their love is finally realized. I find it SO tedious. Julia London did a good job with her writing.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in the mood for books set in Scotland and somehow I missed this one when it first came out. As soon as I started reading it, I realized the hero, Jack Haines, was the brother of the heroine, Fiona, in the novella "Snowy Night with a Highlander" in the anthology "Snowy Night with a Stranger". At the end of that story, Jack was told to hide in the highlands as he is wanted by Prince George.

This book starts with Jack being captured by Carson Beal who forces him to handfast with his niece, Lizzie, for an year and a day or be handed over to the Prince's men searching for him. Carson threatens Lizzie, who has a crippled sister, with their debts. Neither are happy about this, but they agree. Jack moves into her home, with her sister Charlotte, and the two guards the uncle sent, Dougal to watch Jack and the other, Newton to help Charlotte.

Jack tries to figure out why the uncle is acting like this and assumes there is something on the sisters' property he wants. Jack and Lizzie, along with Mr. Gavin Gordon, who has come at her summons to help her discover why and set off for London to make things right. Jack assumes he will end up in jail or hung, but pleads with the king to make it clear to Carson that Charlotte and Lizzie own the land and what's been discovered on it. By this time, Lizzie loves Jack but can't see him loving her back or moving from England to his Scottish estate. Jack believes she loves Gavin. With a little help from his friends and the King he is only jailed for a few weeks.

I hate plot spoilers so this is very basic. A lot goes on while he is living with her. There is a very nice secondary romance between Charlotte and her "guard" Newton. I really enjoyed this book.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never liked the heroine, Lizzie. From the start she came across as an unreasonable shrew who might, if she had just stopped to think for two seconds, have made far better decisions. I also didn't like her instant dislike of Jack, and her failure to empathize with his situation. Possibly for that reason, I never found the passion between these two to be particularly believable. It felt forced to me.

[Amy Strizic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Romance for vacation. A little combative/argumentative for my taste, but enjoyed the spice

[Nora Griswold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This is a very touching book with deception and two very stubborn individuals. The bad guys are many and our hero makes the ultimate sacrifice for love.

[Kartika Kurniati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aku beli karena tertarik baca cover di belakangnya. Eh ternyata agak kecewa karena ku rasa ini buku lambat di part depan.

Lizzi itu anak penguasa kastil, punya kakak cacat dan ayahnya udah meninggal. Lizzie dipaksa nikah kontrak sama buronan princes of wales yang bernama jack alias earl of lambourne.

Wah dua orang yang terpaksa nikah dan hidup satu atap. Apa yang terjadi? Mereka kayak kucing sama anjing, berantem, sindir-sindiran, bahkan beberapa kali si jack hampir di sambit lizzy. Anehnya kalau ama Lizzie, jack baik gak jadi bangsawan brengsek kayak rumor yang beredar. Jack mau ikutan ngrawat ternak, benerin atap rumah, masak, nyangkul, pokoknya pekerjaan kasar yang gak mungkin dilakukan seorang earl. Lizzie ku rasa perempuan yang beruntung banget sekaligus gak tahu diri. Heranku Jack gak nyentuh lizzie, kalau si perempuan kagak mau padahal dia jadi buron karena berbuat mesum.

Ditambah lagi pacarnya lizzy malah datang dan sok berlagak pahlawan. Pada akhirnya cinta muncul tapi juga disertai pengorbanan

Kenapa kasih bintang 3? Karena si lizzie resek, udah dari kampung, yatim piatu, Mas kawin kecil, dapat earl yang hartanya banyak. Kan beruntung. Lizzie malah marah terus ngomongnya kasar ama Jack. Padahal udah dibantuin juga ngurus rumah. Mana ada bangsawan yang baik goreng telur terus ngambil telurnya sendiri di kandang.

[Elsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

No acordaba que ya había leído este libro hasta pasado la mitad del libro. Estan predecible y aburrido como vagamente recordaba.

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Since I've read Wicked Angel and Summer of Two Wishes I expected Julia London to deliver a great book with this one. Unfortunately, I didn't. But since I have great imagination, I still liked (barely) it.

Jack and Lizzie have been handfasted, meaning they're married for a year and a day. I would have thought that there would be saucy, sharp-tongue, witty quarrels between the two but somehow I just got frustrated with Lizzie's hard headedness.

Jack. I imagined him soooooo hot in my mind. He could have been written more sensually. I don't know why JL failed to do that. Nevertheless, I liked his traits. He was definitely a rogue but he doesn't even try to kiss Lizzie much during the first times. I had hoped that they would have a blazing first time but you know, again, it was not delivered by JL.

I also find it weird to read about the involvement of the Prince of Wales but apparently, the series runs around him.

So, this book was just ok for me.

[Readitnweep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack, the Earl of Lambourne, is taken prisoner and forced to hand fast to Lizzie, the niece of his captor, or face certain death. Lizzie planned to wed another and fights the hand fasting. Yet why does her uncle force them both together in the first place?

Jack was likeable enough. I liked how he didn't immediately fall for Lizzie; in fact, he was ready to hand her over to the man she'd hoped to wed. The building of their relationship was well paced. I did find Lizzie and her sister both annoying at times. There were signs of what I find a lot in romance books: forced strength in the female character that comes off as annoying instead of strong. I didn't mind her climbing out the window to escape, but her constant badgering at Jack was over the top, as was Charlotte.

In the end, Jack proves his love by giving Lizzie wealth for the dowery she needs to marry someone else, who Jack believes she wants, while he gives himself over to the gallows EXCEPT the prince changes his mind and let's Jack go free. Why? This last bit came a bit too easily and the ending was too neat and tidy.

It was an enjoyable read if not a memorable or intriguing one.

[Dawn Kunda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t help but pick up a novel by Julia London when I’m in the mood for a lot of Scottish kilt and gown mixing.
Jack Haines, Earl of Lambourne, is on the run from a false accusation amongst the London nobility.
Lizzie Beale remains unwed and waiting for her knight in the highlands.
When Lizzie’s uncle captures Jack, Jack thinks he’s done for, and so does Lizzie. Her uncle forces Jack and Lizzie into a hand-fasting for a year. In other words, a pretend marriage for her uncles benefit.
From this decree, a pot-pouri of trouble begins…Lizzie challenges Jack’s “rights” as a husband, Mr. Gordon arrives to take Lizzie away, and the most challenging situation is a secret.
The uncle has a reason for uniting his niece and a strange man.
Lizzie and jack quarrel, butt heads, and argue as they try to uncover her uncle’s devious endeavors.
Lizzie and Jack really get to know each other during this long and arduous time. It’s tantalizing to follow their relationship and to watch the blunders and accidental camaraderie.

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story once you get past the idiocy of Lizzie in the beginning. It moves quickly and there are some very passionate moments. There are some really lovable characters and the ending was hilarious and heartwarming. It was great to see Nathan and Evelyn finally having their HEA and to even get to see more about Fiona, Jack’s sister. I am looking forward to the series finale and to finding out more about Christie. In the meantime just knowing that Lizzie and Jack finally found their own HEA will keep me happy. A great read and worth all the annoyance of dealing with a not very likable character until she grows up.

Full review at:
http://romancewitchreviews.blogspot.c...

[Ilze · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a keeper, unfortunately. The story and the characters are very appealing, but the story lacks flow and the characters are undeveloped. I didn't feel emotionally connected with any of the characters at any point, but this could and should have worked so beautifully given the raw materials of the story. The book could use a lot of revision and editing to tighten it up and deepen the characters.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really cute! I liked the fast paced beginning, and the ending was happy.

[C JM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant book, couldn't put it down, really good series. Can't wait for Declan O'Connor's story with the new quartet series - The Secrets of Hadley Green coming up.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would be great, but it didn't meet my expectations. I thought the best part of the whole book was the end (last 3-4 chapters)

[Mahareni Sukadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geregetan ama terjemahannya, buku yg harusnya bagus jadi rusak!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, forgettable read.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story started out rather boring and kept that theme throughout the entire book. In the beginning I was getting really claustrophobic with them being locked up in a room together in her uncle Carson’s castle. I needed a change of scenery, but the author insisted on keeping them locked in the room with no way out, and when they did go out it was only briefly and then they were right back in that room together. Claustrophobia can still be experienced in a novel and I wish authors would realize that.

I disliked Lizzie immediately. I mean it was instantaneous, and when I don’t like a character in the beginning I will never come to like them. It’s ruined for me for the rest of the book or the rest of the series, especially if the author has them acting the same way for a great length of time. And Lizzie stayed the same for much of the book. Idk if the author wanted her to be headstrong and stubborn, strong-willed and independent, but it came off as blustering, brash, unlikable and forceful, straights I cannot stand.

Lizzie is one of those stupid women that associate the man with either women of his past or current women and then get mad at him for it. She suggests he seduce the chambermaid into getting her to send word to her sister Charlotte that she’s okay. Granted, she says she doesn’t mean take her to bed, just entrance her enough to do it, smile at her and all that. So Jack does it, and Lizzie spends the whole time glaring and being disgusted and gets mad at him about it. So stupid. She’s just one of those idiotic women that ask the man about his sexual past and then get jealous about it. She asks what he knows of corsets, which was a dumb question to ask in my opinion, and he says they’ve lain about most of the boudoirs he’s had the pleasure of occupying. How gross.

Lizzie’s speech and very mannerisms irritated me to no end. She was banging on doors to be let out, yelling out names, ordering Carson’s men to open the door, ranting and raving and practically crying over an inadequate dress that Carson supplied (which was surprising because she spent nearly the entire novel wearing heavy, ugly, plain gowns that Jack always commented on—and another thing, having the man point out her ugly bonnets and ugly dresses isn’t earning him any points. A little word to the wise there.) She would hurry through the halls, way ahead of Jack and he’d have to hurry to catch up. I pictured this girl in a drab gown just throwing her weight around and acting like an untutored, unsophisticated country bumpkin that has no manners or class. She must have had no upbringing at all to go around acting like that in front of people. She also had an attitude the entire time with Jack, getting rude, getting smart with him, putting him down about not helping her, finding fault with everything and just being an annoying pain in the butt. I honestly don’t know how he fell in love with her.

The author wasted no time at all getting down to his sordid past. On page 2 she’s saying Jack had participated in more than one vulgar activity in the princesses’ home. How disgusting. It was only slightly better that he hadn’t slept with her, but not by much. He dropped comments like all his female acquaintances call him Jack.
Whenever I tried to forget about his past and put it out of my mind, the author would once again bring up that he had had an extensive past with women. He toyed with young women and played with their emotions when he was younger, he did vulgar activities in the Princess of Wale’s home, he told bawdy stories about his experiences, and thought back on his sexual encounters. I was so fed up with it to be reminded of it every so often like the author didn’t want us to forget that he had pleased women. Enough already. It was disgusting the first time I heard it, and only became more so each time it was stated afterward. You don’t need to beat a dead horse. And I can’t freakin stand for the man to be comparing her to other women after he’s been with her, and he kept referring to his courtesans and other lovers almost to the end of the novel.

I hate when authors use another language and then not even tell us what the characters are saying. It’s like watching a movie in another language, you have no idea what’s going on or how to react, and it loses all meaning. So thanks, Julia London, for not bothering to put in a dictionary or anything to help us along. Jack and Lizzie would say words in Gaelic all throughout the book, and the author wouldn’t even explain what it was.

The romance was sorely lacking. Just when I thought their relationship was progressing, the author suddenly wants to play mystery and gets sidetracked on a side plot that should never have happened. Nothing at all happens between Jack and Lizzie as he searches for the reason why her uncle Carson wants Thorntree so badly. Talk about boring. When you spend so much time waiting for the characters to sleep together, and it gets dragged out for almost 300 pages, you don’t really care anymore if they do or not. And carelessness is probably not the emotion you want to bring out in your readers. The back of the book did not hint in any way that a majority of the book, at least the last 30% or so would be spent trying to get to the bottom of things. In fact, the summary was misleading and only talked about Jack trying to seduce Lizzie.
I guess it was more realistic this way and natural for their love to develop, because I really hate when characters jump into bed together and it’s way too premature for it to happen. They finally have sex though, and it’s not what I was expecting, and certainly not worth the wait. It wasn’t really romantic and lacked enough details. They were on the floor against the wall, which for her first time was inconsiderate of Jack. I think a comfortable bed is in order. Then London divests of all reality and has Lizzie just act like an experienced woman, something she was not. She unties his neckcloth and undressed him with no trouble, hesitation, or shyness, and then takes him into her hand and just goes right for it, and is kissing him on his stomach. She does all that the first time. Can I go with a yeah right? How would she know to do that the first time having known nothing about sex before? That’s a lazy author taking the easy way out instead of taking the time to write it out naturally and address the issues that should come along with a virgin. It was a copout.
I also had no respect at all for her, because she had just been promising Gavin, who was in the house while all this was going on, that she would marry him and actually wanted to do so, and then goes and has sex with another man. That is a betrayal and it made me dislike her even more. And she didn’t display the proper amount of guilt or shame for it either, like sleeping with someone while you’re engaged to someone else wasn’t wrong at all.

In typical romance novel fashion Jack acts like an a-hole to Lizzie, hoping to turn her away forever, which I’m really sick of. Lizzie is kind of hurt, but is still trying to talk to him right after he says what they had was temporary and they knew it wasn’t going to last and all that. I hate a woman without enough self-respect or pride to just get mad and walk away. Then the next day she’s complimenting his home, and telling him he looks handsome. What a freakin idiot. But then, all of a sudden, she comes to the conclusion that Jack was doing it all on purpose and didn’t mean what he said and cared for her. There again, the author just makes these things happen miraculously, out of the blue, just to save time instead of having her find it out in a factual way.

The whole scene with the king was a complete joke. Idk how this guy was in real life, but he was rubbing his knee which I think had gout or something, which I assume he suffered with for real, but as for the rest, it was a laugh riot. I scoffed and my incredulity meter hit the mark. Jack manipulated the king and got him to do what he wanted so easily it was laughable, even more so because of the way he said it:
“She…she has a heart as deep as an ocean and a countenance as bright as a starry night, Your Majesty. Moreover, she possesses a determination that would put most men to shame. She is the essence of Scotland,” he said.

Who in the history of this world has ever said anything remotely close to that? That is the most idiotic, unrealistic speech I’ve ever heard. I can’t believe she had someone say that to the king of Scotland. And what’s worse, the king grants him his wish to protect her property and keep it in her family. Granted, it wasn’t after that gem of a speech but after Jack lied about Carson being a Jacobite. It was laughably easy to sway the king.

The ending was so nauseating; like all romance authors she had to have marriage and kids thrown in, like that’s the only way to end a book. The characters do a complete 360 and don’t even act like themselves. Jack in the carriage with his friends saying his final words about his estate and Lizzie were supposed to be funny, but it was dramatic and Jack was talking way out of character. “Lizzie lit something inside me that I was no’ even aware could fire, and I believe I will miss knowing her most of all.” How Wizard of Oz of you. As the woman he loves, I think he should have something more romantic to say then “I believe I’ll her the most.” You dang well better miss her the most.
“Aye, she filled my heart to the point of bursting,” he said, tapping himself on the chest, “and it is my dearest wish that the lot of you might know that sort of love one day. That, gentleman, is what makes this life worth living. Pity I discovered it far too late, aye?”

He just went on and on getting deep and philosophical about love and the Jack in the beginning of this book would not talk like that. I know he’s changed because of her, but I don’t like when characters act like a completely different person with no traits of their former selves.

The epilogue was overkill. Charlotte got with Newton, and is pregnant. Imagine that. And he’s voted the new laird. And those legendary skills of Lizzie shooting finally come out, and Jack is upset that she beat him in a shooting contest. It wasn’t the best idea to have them be in a tiff at the end of the book. It wasn’t that bad, but I would have liked them to be in a loving moment. They ended up smoothing it over as she begs him to make her weep.
“Punish me, Jack. Make me weep.”
He kissed her hard on the mouth, then lifted his head, brushed the rogue curls from her face. “If only I could make you weep with happiness as I do every day.”
Oh, but Lizzie wept. She wept with angels and her tears were drops of pure joy.”

Wow. She wept with angels and her tears were drops of pure joy. As far as mushy, fluffy, flowery speech goes, this takes the cake.

There were quite a few sayings that seemed sharply out of place, historically inaccurate. Lovebirds, the last straw, glared daggers, out of the blue, topsy-turvy, grasping at straws, ogling, willy-nilly, aye-aye, captain as an insult, corkstrew curl, show true colors and thugs.

The writing wasn’t that good either. I wasn’t impressed once with the way something was said. It take a lot to write a novel, but it takes something more to write beautifully, and this author just didn’t have it. Idk how many times she said “Jack said low.” Not Jack said in a low voice, not his voice was low, or he spoke in a low tone or any other myriad of terminology that would have sounded better, but “Jack said low.” She’s trying to say Jack said something in a low voice, I know that, but that’s not what she said.

I don't think I'd ever read this again. It wasn't really bad, but it wasn't good either. There's nothing that would entice me to read it again though. And I don't think I'll like any other books by this author.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘adultery. Jack snorted as he rubbed the mare’s neck. Imagine, takin the Princess of Wales to his bed! It was preposterous to believe he’d do such a thing! Yet Jack couldn’t help the wry smile that curved his lips as he spurred the mare up onto the road.
He’d never taken the princess to his bed, to be sure--but he was guilty of participating in more than one vulgar activity at her residence.’ Ok this isn’t a good way to start the book off. Literally, this is on like page 2.
Princess of Wales. I have Lady Diana Spencer Princess of Wales beside me right now!! How crazy!
A problem I realized early on was that I just didn’t like the storyline. The fact that the guy is running from a supposed crime, adultery to be exact, was just distasteful. Not to mention the guy’s past. He wasn’t a good hero to me because of it. &I didn’t like the reasons they became handfasted.

A Scot that doesn’t know how to wield a claymore. This is truly heartbreaking. &not what I wanted out of this book. I wanted a real Scot!

‘“Corsets? They’ve lain about most of the boudoirs I’ve had the pleasure of occupying.”
The image of him lying in a woman’s bed, completely bare--as bare as he surely was beneath the kilt--suddenly towered before her in her mind’s eye.’ That doesn’t repulse you? They’re so focused on their lusty thoughts that they’re not even hearing what he’s saying. He’s saying he’s slept around a lot. Does that appeal to you?

Why would that freakin maid smile at Jack after he’s been freaking hand fasted? Back up, you trash!

‘Contrary to what little Miss Lizzie might believe, Jack was not in the habit of seducing young maids for nefarious purposes.’
Why make him sound like a good guy here, when we know he’s slept with scores of women. I’m not impressed that you wouldn’t use the maid.

‘He did not answer at first but continued to look at her with that thing burning in his eyes.’ That wasn’t written well.

There were some modern sayings in here, which always take away from a book. ‘darned if I do, darned if I do not.’
‘circus.’

She tells him to seduce the maid, then complains to him about touching her arm & talking to her too long. Idk how it could have taken too long, when he only exchanged a few sentences with her. That was really irrational of her.

They go to her sister Charlotte & Charlotte is way too overbearing with Jack there. Newton is grabbing him& holding a knife to his throat and through all of this long, dramatic scene Lizzie doesn’t speak up to say they’re hand fasted and he has to be there. So he gets locked in a shed. I can’t comprehend why Lizzie didn’t speak up to say they were hand fasted, to say that Carson ordered them to stay together, and with an escort at all times.
Charlotte came off as a boar, frankly, constantly coming across as crotchety and overbearing. She was hostile towards Jack, who was innocent in the hand fasting, and for being at their home. I don’t understand her instant hostility as to a man showing up at their house, along with her sister. So obviously they traveled together. It was frankly exhausting getting through the whole scene of them arriving, her yelling at Jack, Newton physically assaulting him, him being locked up like a criminal, and until Charlotte thawed towards Jack.

Master suite was incredibly modern.

‘But I can assure you without equivocation that I did not participate in his wretched scheme.’ You did agree, though!

‘He normally kept the company of women who were looking for a match or a lover, and he was, he recognized, a rather desirable match and a desirable lover.’ Match? What kind of match?

‘But Jack had made it quite clear too that, in spite of his reputation, he was not in the habit of bedding proper young women for the sake of it. Only once or twice. Perhaps thrice. All right, so he had. But that had all been long ago, before he’d realized how untidy those situations could become.’ Omg. You rarely read ones where the guys sleep with virgins! That’s despicable!

‘The prince would lose interest in him as soon as the social season started in London and there were other, more diverting persons--namely women--to capture his attention.’ If George gets with women, why is he hunting all these men down that his wife supposedly slept with?

That tale of that woman asking the Prince if she could show him something is disgusting. Who does that to a prince? Who’s married? Better yet, what author writes this trash?

‘A scoundrel of the first water.’ Water?

‘One quadrille quite different from what you might expect. When called upon to repeat a pattern of steps, one was required to remove an article of clothing.’ Please stop with these tales. I’m so sick of this scandalous, sordid, trashy, smutty crap from Jack’s past and the freaking Prince and Princess of wales. &naked dancing, really? I doubt that would look good.

Beal men cannot inherit land.
‘There are many Beals who still hold a firm grudge against the king today, and I can assure you a Beal will no’ hand you to a royal bounty hunter.’ Well that finally explains that, because this plot really wasn’t making any sense.

“Your heart leads all else. It is life, it is instinct, &it is the essence of a woman, aye? What you are feeling is quite normal. But when your heart moves, it causes mine to move. When it beats so quickly, it warms your skin,&I…I must touch it. You lick your lips, &I canna resist kissing you.”
“But you can no’ stop yourself, aye? The power you hold over me excites you& makes you mad with desire. You can no’ stop because you take pity on my need to bring your release; and by your kiss, you show me mercy.’
All of that sounded bizarre.

‘He treated Gavin’s concerns about the recklessness, the impropriety, and the potential reflection on the Gordon’s lightly.’ So does that mean Gavin was worried about how the hand fasting would reflect on him?

‘Granted, Gavin was 3 years her Junior, but nevertheless, when he thought of conjugal felicity,& he thought of that quite a lot, Lizzie seemed perfectly suited to him.’ can you think of another way to sex besides ‘conjugal felicity.’ I’ve heard that at least once before in here. &3 years her junior, Jack is 7 years older than she is!

Gavin seems like such a good guy! This sucks that he’s going to end up heart broken, and that Lizzie doesn’t love him&is cheating on him!

Jack is always speaking “low.” There’s a lot of ‘he said low.’ Which sounded weird. It should say ‘he said in a low voice’ or something.
Sometimes the Scottish brogue can be annoying or a bit much to read. I like it when only the guy is Scottish and not the female MC, too. Especially because most of the ppl in the book were Scottish and talked the same way.
There’s a lot words after sentences that don’t really fit. Like this: “what are you doing, then?” it didn’t really make sense to say then there.

‘So Lizzie posed the unthinkable: could Jack, by virtue of being hand fasted to her, seek redress on her behalf?’ What is a redress? How could you not explain that?? I looked up the definition but it still didn’t make sense in the context and time period it was used.

The word “tetchily” was used twice, as in ‘he said, tetchily.’ I’ve never heard that word before.

‘grasping at straws’ is modern.

“or the comfort of passing a winter’s night in the warmth of our husband’s bed.” That didn’t sound like something she’d say. Because earlier in the book when she made a mention of women in Jack’s bed, she could barely say it& blushed. She’s come off as too maidenly to say stuff like that.

‘raw emotions chafed beneath the surface of his skin, making him entirely vulnerable to her.’ Emotions chafed under the skin.

I’m really disappointed in her for sleeping with Jack, after Gordon has been so good.
We understand why you’d stick by Gordon, and that he’s obviously a good choice& has stood by you, but that’s no reason to lie. Whatsoever. He deserves the truth, not your outright lies, since he’s the good guy you say he is. I absolutely don’t agree with her here.

‘Her heart warned her, pleaded with her not to lie, but Lizzie could not look at the man who had pledged himself to her, who had ignored the worst of scandals and promised to be with her yet and say otherwise.’ That’s very noble and moral of you; however, you might have not slept with Jack in the first place, thereby not having to lie to him.

“I am to travel to London with two gentlemen?”
“Lizzie--leannan--you are hand fasted to the earl. It is perfectly acceptable.’ So why was anyone worried about her reputation in the past! &I’m surprised he sounds so clam while saying she’s handfasted to the early, seeing as how he’s hated it and Jack the whole time.

Why would she ride on horseback with Jack and not Gavin?

‘But Jack did not regret returning to London. Aye, he was surprisingly thrilled to be in the one place he felt he truly belonged, particularly after a long absence.’ A scot that feels at home in London. Insert disappointed sigh.

‘Lizzie had attempted to assure him she did not require a lady’s maid, but Mr. Winston seemed fairly determined that she would have one.” All of His Lordship’s lady guests have them,” he’d said firmly.’
And she doesn’t even react. That seemed to imply that he’d had lots of women over at his house.

‘Apparently Wilkes had tried to kill the Countess of Lindsey. It was impossible to believe…Jack knew that Wilkes was disgruntled, but he’d never believe him capable of murder.’
‘The note was from Gavin, telling her he’d accepted an invitation to see a bit of London. From whom, Lizzie wondered idly, but didn’t care enough to inquire. She really didn’t care about anything at all except one thing: Jack. She had to see him.’ that was rude, considering how good Gavin’s been about everything. &who would he be seeing in England? How does he know anyone?

‘Aye, this one was quite pretty, with a lovely figure.
“You’ve been out,” she said, smiling. “Is it your first time to London?”
Aye, he’d been out, all right. “It is indeed. I’ve seen many wondrous things today.”’
What is this??

‘His shock over Wilkes was not diminished when Lindsey told him all who had been involved in the failed plot to murder Princess Caroline so that when George ascended the throne, he did so without the haze of the awful scandal hanging over his head. Evelyn, Lady Lindsey, had been targeted when they suspected her purported lover might have told her about the plot.
The men--they called themselves the Prince’s coterie--included some of the most prominent men in England.’
I’m confused. I feel like we’re thrown in the middle of a story with character’s we don’t know. Idk about any of this, and it isn’t being explained properly. &his friend Lindsey has a wife, who cheated on him? wth!! Why didn’t he say it was Lindsey’s wife? Is it true?
Something I’ve realized after finishing this book: &oh yes, killing the princess before George took the throne would certainly take care of her cheating scandals, if that’s the scandals you mean. Killing someone certainly wouldn’t create a new scandal.

“Mr. Gordon was quite animated and engaging. I do believe Lady Gilbert’s sister, Miss Handlesman, was quite taken with him. And he with her.” Wtf is going on! He’s almost engaged to Lizzie! He loves her, wth!

‘Miss Handlesman told me they were spectacular and offered to show them to me. Will you join us, Lizzzie?”
You’re almost betrothed to Lizzie, said you wanna marry her. You don’t go out to see the sights with some woman, and ask Lizzie if she’d like you join them. You &Lizzie should be going out, and that lady would join you guys, not the other way around. Making plans with some woman while you’re almost engaged to Lizzie! Why are you acting like this?

Lady Lindsey, who was earlier mentioned to have a purported lover, who is the wife of Jack’s friend, suddenly shows up at the house, being “prettier than Lady Fiona.”--Yes, always love authors that refuse to have characters less than pretty. No ones ugly, some are simply prettier than others.--says she’s pregnant& is all nice. I’m sorry, I thought we were supposed to hate her. So I’m guessing she didn’t actually have a lover. Which is a wild rumor if it wasn’t true.

‘Gavin looked almost relieved’ when she tells him and Jack’s sister to go to the ball without her. &btw, why is Fiona going alone with him? that isn’t proper at all. idk what’s happening, but this is crazy.

I can’t believe the King is the one responsible for letting Fiona borrow his carriage to get word to Jack that he should flee London!

Jack can see the Tower Green, where Bonny Prince Charlie was beheaded. That’s awful!

Breath taking was split into two words, which was weird.

I was laughing, about to crack up, as Jack said his final words, &his 3 friends let him go on& on, knowing he wasn’t going to hang. Lindsey turns his head to the window, O’Connor pulls his hat low,&Christie looks right at him and says “you were saying?” He prompted Jack. Lindsey coughed.
Omg I wanted to crack up!
‘Lindsey couged again and sank into his seat. O’Connor surged forward, propping his arms on his knees and dipping his head between his shoulders. Christie covered his mouth as he quietly contemplated what Jack had said.’
Hahaha!
‘It is my dearest wish that the lot of you might know that sort of love one day.’ If Lindsey is married, why would Jack say that?

Pg 333-‘Jack found himself missing his own little Highland scandal, which seemed almost laughably sedate in comparison to what he was hearing.’ I always like the inclusion of the title in the book!

The Gavin that left Scotland is not the one that arrived in London. He was acting entirely uncharacteristic. He claimed to love Lizzie, was a good guy. &you turn him into a rake, just to make things easier for Lizzie to be with Jack.
Yes, you might not have wanted to hurt Gavin. We didn’t want that. I was dreading that. But this is too convenient.
I’m so tired of authors going the easy way out, because something might be too messy to write about.
-“Lambourne?” he said. “He’s locked away.”
“And my heart with him,” she said sincerely.
Gavin smiles. “I can hardly claim no’ to have noticed it,” he said with a weary sigh. “I am sorry for it, for I’ve always been right fond of you, Lizzie, I have indeed. But I will wish you the best.” He shook his head, looked at his hands. “Perhaps this is just as well, aye? For I think I have fallen in love with London and the friends I have met here.”
The ladies he’d met here--Lizzie knew very well what Gavin had been up to, thanks to Fiona.
Gavin spent the fortnight of Jack’s captivity taking a lease on a smaller but suitably situated town home. He intended to stay on in London indefinitely, and wrote his father, asking him to look after the Gordon estate in his absence.’

No one that’s worked that hard trying to create a sheep business, who seems wholly content, happy, and devoted to his country, estate and people, would hie off to London and fall in love, seemingly within a few hours of being there.

The last page of the book, before the epilogue, she finally tells us the Scottish meaning of the word he uses. “Alainne” means beautiful.

‘Newton was a loyal man, but his loyalties had shifted to his wife, Charlotte, and the baby she carried in her belly.’ My gosh, that hit like a slap to the face. What a change!
I wanted to see more of the romance unfold. They needed their own book! &they said a doc said he didn’t know if she’d be able to have children and all of a sudden she’s pregnant!
Newton&Charlotte took over Castle Beal, and Carson takes over Newton’s small plot of land. Lizzie gives Newton &Charlotte Thorntree, because they don’t want to run a castle.
Jack&Lizzie name their son James after Newton. Why in the world would they do that? That’s bizarre!
&Douglas is James’ nurse!! Are we forgetting nurse’s are women? How the heck is he a nurse?
The epilogue was frankly messy, and could have been a lot better. It also could have ended better. Should have given us the sex of Charlotte’s kid.



The constant arguining of Lzzie& Jack, Jack&Charlotte, Jack&Newton, and Jack& Carson, Lizzie, Carson&Charlotte was too much. It was tiresome.
Carson literally showed up what felt like weekly, made threads, demands, and yelled, then left. I wish there was more to this plot
It really didn’t make sense until the slate scheme comes out well over halfway through the book. &How did Carson know he was a Beal, so the estate could stay in the family? How did he know about a Scot fleeing treason in England? How did they know he was running through Scotland near their estate? Why not hand fast Lizzie to a Beal on his estate?
Just thought of this a day after finishing the book, when more of the plot hit me as irrational. Why hand fast her to a criminal who has some vague, seemingly minute Beal heritage, who I repeat is a suspected criminal. it doesn’t matter that he wasn’t actually criminal. Why would you want Lizzie married to a man who at any time could be hauled away to jail? &the flimsy excuse we get is that if they appear happy and in love, no Beal, not one person who claims the heritage of a Beal will turn Jack in, even though you’d receive a huge bounty from the prince? But oh oh, wait, that’s right, Carson will match the price that a prince puts out on a bounty. Now, I imagine a Scottish laird is the equivalent of an English prince, or earl, and is quite rich. But I don’t know that he’d be able to match the wealth of a prince, whose father is the king. I imagine they could put out a price he couldn’t match. &what if someone outside the Beal family catches wind of Jack and decides to cash in? what then? Because the author seems to have forgotten there’s people in Scotland who don’t bear the last name Beal. This plot can be easily picked apart, and you’re left with a plot that isn’t holding up. There again, this plot could be much better. I wish it wasn’t about slate, an evil uncle, and a forced handfasting for a reason that isn’t good enough.
I didn’t love these characters, but they were mostly good. Jack could have been much better without his disgusting past, Lizzie could have been if she hadn’t been yelling, exclaiming, ranting& blaming Jack, when he was innocent. The same goes for Charlotte. I found her transformation to happen way too quickly, as well as her feelings for Newton. I didn’t like the insta-lust between Jack&Lizzie. So tired of hearing he’s never desired anyone like he has her--please stop that, authors.
Also, the time frame of the book seemed to happen over the course of a month. I was amazed to hear jack had been locked up for a fortnight. It seemed to be overnight. The whole book could have lasted over a large time frame. Everything seemed to happen quickly. Besides in the beginning, being stuck in that room and with Carson. I wanted them to hurry up and leave. Then when they did, they stayed with Charlotte and that got old. I wish they had went to Jack’s home. And saw more places. The book didn’t have much scenery. Oh&something else,Carson wanted Thorntree to stay with Beals, but how can Lizzie truly keep it if she’s off living with Jack at his estate?

[Soleil · Rating 2 out of 5]

2

Trate les juro que trate de que me gustará sin embargo como iba avanzando la trama yo cada vez estaba más enojada con algún personaje, lo cual me había enojar más ya que yo aún principio siempre decía la trama, el problema de por sí, lo odiare, pero el romance junto a los personajes los amaré, serán preciosos, sin embargó todo me enojó no fue una cosa de si entre capitulos se mejora aunque el porcentaje de que a mí me aburriera era mayor, realmente fue como ver caer una rama en un acantilado, nunca sube porque siempre caerá más hondo.

En comparación a otras opiniones en este libro no puedo decir este punto me gustó, o este otro no me gustó, dando realmente el porque me gustó o no, porque nada lo salva, y tengo mucha decepción como para decir cuantas cosas no me gustaron, está autora tiene buenos libros, pero este no :⁠-⁠(.

Reseña.

Lizzie junto a su hermana Charlotte han sido separadas luego de unos meses de la muerte de su padre por parte de su tío, quien cree que Lizzie hará un sacrilegio al querer casarse con un hombre del clan "enemigo", asi que hará todo lo pueda para casarla con el primer hombre que encuentre por otro lado tenemos a Jack quién injustamente ha sido envuelto en un escándalo y como consecuencia piden su cabeza, como única de salida decide escapar a Escocia pero no sabía que mientras escapaba se encontraria con un hombre capaz de engañarlo para casarse con su sobrina o mandarlo devuelta a Inglaterra. Aún principio tanto Lizzie como Jack no se soportan, aunque saben que deben de unirse para poder salir de la cárcel que el tío de ella ha construido pero no sabían que al escapar cosas aún peores se encontrarían cómo el deseo de ambos al mismo tiempo con el deber de los dos, no saber que hacer en las peores situaciones son el perfecto ingrediente para encontrar la mejor solución

[Jamie Waring · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but I gave up on this one. Lizzie was so ridiculously obnoxious and unlikable, and almost halfway through the book, she wasn't getting any better. I could help but feel bad for Jack--he had done nothing to her--he'd been forced into the handfasting just as she had been, yet she acted as though it were all his fault, and treated him like complete crap....having meals served when he wasn't around, forcing him to 'earn' some crappy food by telling the cook stories....making him sleep on a pallet in her unheated sitting room.... ugh, what a bitch! Her wheelchair-bound sister, Charlotte, wasn't much better, though I did find the story between her and the Newton (the dude her uncle sent to stay and watch over her) more interesting. Perhaps if they had been the focus, it would have been a less tedious tale.... Either way, life is too short to waste on bad books, and I don't feel like devoting another 100+ pages to reading about Lizzie be a total jerk toward Jack. Moving on!

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like the kind of enemies-to-lovers stories in which the two main characters fight like cats and dogs until they are suddenly in love, then this book may appeal to you. Other romance tropes included in this book are forced marriage, an inheritance in question, and an escape/pursuit adventure.

Personally, I am never a fan of reading romance novels that are overloaded with fighting and constant bickering between the love interests. I don’t find these storylines romantic, I find them tediously annoying.

As far as the rest of the story outside of the romance, it was very predictable. You’ll have the mystery figured out long before the characters do, which is also annoying waiting for them to catch up. The author tries to convince the reader that there is a chance of Lizzie ending up with someone else instead of Jack, but it felt forced and not at all believable. I really just felt like this story has been told a hundred times and there was nothing unique or special about it.

[Margaret Garten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it very much. It was nice to see a decadent earl who lived to party with all those who you could party with in London is suddenly thrown into the farthest reaches of the highlands and live it in the rough, kind of. Very nice. He may have run from the highlands and the nightmares they held for him, but how to live in them, the smell of the snow, the evergreens, even the smell of peat burning were still a part of him he'd forgotten he missed. His desire to feel helpful at Thorntree. Yes the Earl Lambourne, Jack, wasn't so lost to the decadent London society as he thought. This is the only one of this series I have. I'll have to see if I can find the others.