Sandy M’s review of A Dash of Scot (Distinguished Scots, Book 2) by Eliza Knight
Historical Romance published by Knight Media 13 Aug 24
This is my first book by Eliza Knight. From the outside, the title to the cover, I liked the idea of this book. Even once I started reading, enjoying the characters and initially their plight, I became invested. But my investment didn’t reveal any more results once Poppy and Dougal met up again a year after their stolen time together.
For me, the main reason that happened is there’s just too much negativity within the story – mean characters, wrong assumptions being tossed around, which causes misunderstandings, and a hero and heroine who won’t talk to one another to figure out what the hell went haywire between them. I like characters to talk things out, work together, make a relationship work instead of being doubtful all the time.
Of course, Poppy is doubtful when Dougal returns a year after their interlude. She still has a bit of hope they might have something together, but Dougal, despite being an earl, has a difficult time getting his feelings across, once he realizes he still wants her. Poppy is pretty much the same, always asking herself the wrong questions when faced with Dougal’s near ineptness.
On top of that, after her father’s death Poppy, her mother and her sister now live with Poppy’s brother, who is married to Dougal’s sister, and that woman is a menace. No one can shut her up or make her seem nice. Then Poppy learns Dougal is engaged. And his supposed betrothed has returned to make good on his promise. The story really went whacky with this plot. I didn’t enjoy that one bit.
Of course, because it’s a romance, all does eventually get straightened out and a happily ever after is guaranteed. But it took too long to get there in such convoluted ways. I ended up skipping so much description of things that just aren’t interesting and have nothing to do with the characters or the story.
Thus, I’m not sure I’ll be reading Ms. Knight again any time soon, despite the pretty covers and fun titles.
Grade: C-
Summary:
Sensible Poppy Featherstone has always known that her duty would be to marry well, for her younger sister Anise is capricious and romantic. Yet Poppy longs for a happy ever after, a true union of like minds. She thought she’d found just that in Dougal Mackay, the Earl of Reay, a relative of her sister-in-law. Yet after he scandalously kisses her in a private garden, he flees, leaving her alone with no explanation for a year. Then, the sudden death of their father forces Poppy and Anise to rely on the charity of family members, moving them to the townhouse of their half-brother. Grief-stricken, Poppy prepares to endure the change as she has everything else in life: with grace and logic.
When Dougal finds out that Poppy is staying at his sister’s house, he rushes there. He’s never been able to forget her, and he vows to help Poppy and her family through this difficult time. Except when Dougal was nineteen, he entered into a fool’s bargain: if he were not married by twenty-nine, he would wed the young lass he’d just met in the drinking hall. Dougal never thought the woman would take him seriously—until he gets a letter that she’s coming to Edinburgh and expects him to honor the terms of their drunken agreement. Dougal’s heart belongs to Poppy, but his honor may force him to wed another.
Just as Poppy discovers Dougal’s apparent engagement, her family is forced to relocate again, this time to a small country village. Dougal is determined not to let her go. They might still have a chance if he can convince Poppy to wed him before his twenty-ninth birthday. Ultimately, it is not sense that may save their romance, but sensibility.
Other books in this series:
