Veena’s review of Sleepless in Scotland (Pennington Family, Book 3) by May McGoldrick
Historical Romance published by Swerve 07 Aug 18
I have gradually lost a lot of my love for old Scottish romances, but the Pennington family series by May McGoldrick has rekindled some of my love for Scotland and historical romances. Having said that, this particular story in the series is my least favorite. It’s a bit thin on the plot, but nevertheless I rejoiced in the happy ending and catching up with some of my favorite imaginary people.
Phoebe comes from a family where each member has been encouraged to follow their beliefs and dreams, sometimes heedless of danger as on the night she barely escapes with her life and ends up being rescued by Captain Ian Bell. Captain Bell wanders the underbelly of the city, ceaselessly searching for his sister’s murderer. One night he is in the position of rescuing a young woman who appeals to him on so many levels and helps allay some of his guilt at not being able to keep his sister safe. As it turns out, Phoebe was his sister’s best friend and she’s always had a crush on him. Clearly romance is in the air as Ian tries to keep Phoebe safe as he couldn’t save his sister.
Ian and Phoebe team up together in more ways than one to pursue Phoebe’s story while searching for what turns out to be a serial killer haunting the underbelly of Edinburg. This is an interesting story, a little thin on plot as I said earlier, and not my favorite in the series, but I do look forward to more stories from the author.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Captain Ian Bell is a tortured man fighting through grief and guilt over the loss of his sister. When she went missing, he searched for months until he found her remains. Now, three years later as the Deputy Lieutenant of Fife, Ian still hunts for her murderer in the dangerous criminal underworld of Edinburgh. He is the ‘Night Watch’ bent on revenge even as he saves others from the same violent fate that claimed his sister. Then one night, a young woman narrowly escapes death and lands at his feet…his late sister’s best friend, Phoebe Pennington.
Lady Phoebe Pennington—dreamer and storyteller to her family—is a committed reformer writing articles anonymously for an Edinburgh newspaper. One night, in an effort to acquire documents embarrassing to the city’s political leaders, Phoebe descends into the corrupt and seething netherworld known as the Vaults. When she tries to save a street urchin from an assailant, she becomes the target of a violent attack, only to be saved by the one man she has desired for years.
Ian’s attraction to Phoebe is as undeniable as it is unexpected, and she awakens in him passions he thought long dead. Fearful that she doesn’t understand the dangers of this criminal world, he is determined to save her from the risks she takes. Phoebe’s blood burns for Ian, but when she learns that he may be implicated in the scandal she is set on exposing, she finds herself torn between love and truth. But even as they strive to find the meaning of trust, fate is taking a hand. For Phoebe is the only one who has seen the face of the killer, and the sinister shadows of evil are closer than they imagine.
