Sandy M’s review of Bride of a Wicked Scotsman by Samantha James
Historical Romance published by Avon 24 Feb 09

My first thought just a chapter or so into this book was that it’s going way too slow, even for me. But I’m happy to say that it picked up with the appearance of the hero and I ended up really enjoying this story. It is a theme we’ve read a lot of over the years, hero is tricked into marriage, though usually it’s not the heroine. In this case it is and her reasons are different enough to keep things interesting. And I liked these two characters together, even when things weren’t going that well for them.

Maura makes a deathbed promise to her father to bring home the Circle of Light, an enchanted relic that held her family’s prosperity in its own mystical way. A man known as the Black Scotsman stole the Circle from the family generations before and their lives and property have never been the same, dwindling down to near nothing. There is a current Black Scotsman about and Maura puts her plan in motion to gain entry to the man’s home for her search for the Circle to make her family prosperous once again.

What she doesn’t expect is the unexplained and instant attraction she has to Alec McBride, Duke of Gleneden. Their banter and sensual teasing is exciting and leads her right where she needs to be to trap the man, making him think he’s bedded her and then conveniently having her pseudo-Uncle Murdoch discover them in a most compromising position, thus demanding Alec marry her. Things couldn’t have gone any better.

Alec is furious and confused at the sudden turn of events in his life. He can’t even remember what happened between himself and Maura and now he’s being forced into marriage to save her reputation, this from a man who prides himself on his restraint and level-headedness. But he does his duty and immediately takes his bride to Scotland, where he’s determined to exact his pound of flesh. Alec finds he can’t do what he plans, however, because he wants this woman as he’s wanted no other, no matter what she’s done. His revenge turns into seduction, but he could never have guessed the full extent of his bride’s deceit.

Even though this is the third book in a series, I felt I didn’t really miss anything by not having read the first two. This story is fully self-contained; if someone from a previous book shows up, it didn’t matter a bit.  Though Maura takes her courage a bit far and goes full steam ahead with her plan, she isn’t without guilt when it comes to Alec and her feelings for him, and Alec pushes her to the limit when it comes to their attraction and finally their love for each other. I liked how the author continued to use their nicknames for one another, Scotsman and Irish, throughout the book even after their initial meeting when those names are decided on between them. They’re used in different ways to reflect particular moments and it’s done very well.

This is my first book by Ms. James and I look forward to more. In fact, I just came across my copy of The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell in the TBR pile and pulled it out. Simon is mentioned only once in Bride, but I’m curious now to read about him. I hope he’s just as engaging as Alec.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
Lady Maura O’Donnell swore to her father that she would recover the Circle of Light, an enchanted Celtic relic that had brought the family prosperity—until it was stolen two centuries earlier by a notorious pirate. Now the pirate’s descendant, the Duke of Gleneden, holds this rare treasure, and Maura will do anything to get it back
.
Alec McBride knows when he’s been had. Lady Maura tricked him into marriage, and now she’ll pay. He’ll tempt her, tame her—until she sorely wishes she’d never heard of the Duke of Gleneden. Caught up in their game of revenge, Alec and Maura never notice what is happening in their hearts—until it’s too late.
.
Read an excerpt.

Other related books:

Limecello’s review of Seduction of an Unknown Lady by Samantha James
Historical Romance released by Avon 25 Mar 08

I really like historicals, and tend to enjoy books by Samantha James. While I wasn’t absolutely blown away by this book, I liked it. I still can’t remember or tell if this is part of a series… I know there will be more books dealing with the family, but as to already published books, I am unclear.

Fionna Hawkes is an independent on the shelf woman at age twenty six. She’s smart, witty, capable, and has the means to live how she wishes, and she does. She’s a writer of horror novels. However, as a woman, she has to keep her identity secret, especially due to the content of her stories, so she writes under the pseudonym F.J. Sparrow. (Her name is Fionna Josephine Hawkes – clever, no?) Lord Aiden McBride is newly back from the Punjab, and sorely in need of distraction. By chance, he happens upon Fionna during one of her solitary walks at midnight, which leads to a series of events that tie them together.

Some of the characterizations were a bit much. While Fionna had her head on straight, at times I felt like she needed a girlfriend to smack her. There were some times that I felt Fionna was being foolish – but she never reached TSTL proportions, and I appreciate that she was a very levelheaded heroine with a brain. Aside from that and a few scenes that seemed unnecessary, used to build tension and conflict but actually felt patronizing, I have no complaints.

I liked this book, and was extremely impressed with the fact that I was kept guessing the identity of the stalker until the end. I narrowed it down to two characters, but Ms. James had me guessing/switching until the end. As someone who figures out plots in both books and movies too quickly, this was a novel experience. Thank you for that, Ms. James! I really liked how Aiden realized he was in love, then went after Fionna full tilt. I love when the hero pursues the heroine, rather than the woman eating her heart out over a man and generally acting pathetic.

I’d say this is one of the better Samantha James novels – I liked A Perfect Groom and The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell. And the McBride family! I can’t wait for Alec’s story. Also – who is the McBride cousin?! Did she have some previous story? (And their sister Annie?) Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book!

Grade: B

     Blurb: 

     Seduction is something Fionna Hawkes knows nothing about. So when she encounters a sexy stranger on a moonlit street, her first instinct is to defend herself against her darkly handsome suitor. But letting go of suspicion and allowing herself to fall for Lord Aidan McBride brings even greater danger. In his eyes, she glimpses a powerful passion she longs to fulfill. In his arms, she aches with the secret she longs to unburden. A secret that could cost her livelihood-and her life.

     Aidan McBride could never resist a mystery, especially one as mesmerizing as the lovely Miss Hawkes! Drawing her into the shelter of his embrace, he won’t rest until he convinces her to reveal everything. Braving the danger that stalks Fionna at every turn, Aidan is determined to defend her-and just as determined to claim her as his own.

     Read an excerpt here.