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kristy_k's review
3.0
Romancing the Scot is truly a complete story. There’s romance, friendship, family, suspense, intrigue...it has got a little of everything and it all melds together to create an enjoyable historical fiction romance.
Hugh as the hero was perfect. He's protective while still allowing independence and exudes kindness and mercy even while having a bit of a temper. On the other hand, it did take me a while to warm up to Grace, but she ends up a great match for Hugh. I liked all of the secondary characters, especially Jo (who I was excited to learn will be the main character in book 2!).
The writing is excellent and the story flows. Even though it takes place over a short period of time (around a month) and is fairly short (under 300 pages), I felt that the characters were able to evolve and the plot able to conclude without feeling rushed. I enjoyed the bit of suspense: who was after Grace and who's responsible for her father's death. It made the story into more than just a simple romance.
This was my first book by the writing duo known as May McGoldrick, but it will certainly not be my last. A perfect read for a rainy day under the blankets.
Hugh as the hero was perfect. He's protective while still allowing independence and exudes kindness and mercy even while having a bit of a temper. On the other hand, it did take me a while to warm up to Grace, but she ends up a great match for Hugh. I liked all of the secondary characters, especially Jo (who I was excited to learn will be the main character in book 2!).
The writing is excellent and the story flows. Even though it takes place over a short period of time (around a month) and is fairly short (under 300 pages), I felt that the characters were able to evolve and the plot able to conclude without feeling rushed. I enjoyed the bit of suspense: who was after Grace and who's responsible for her father's death. It made the story into more than just a simple romance.
This was my first book by the writing duo known as May McGoldrick, but it will certainly not be my last. A perfect read for a rainy day under the blankets.
berls's review
4.0
For the most part, I really enjoyed Romancing the Scot. It did take me a little longer to get into - I don't know if it was the way it started or that I just wasn't in the right place of mind... but once things got going (which wasn't very far in) and Grace got trapped in the box (no more details to avoid spoilers!) I was pretty hooked.
It's an interesting setting and I felt like McGoldrick used the historical landscape really well - we see the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars and how that impacts relationships. We see the fairly recent abolition of slavery and how that colors race relations in Scotland. And there's the Irish/Scottish/English relationship which is forever fraught, but particularly at this moment. I really enjoyed reading that.
I also really appreciated the characters of Grace and Hugh - Grace because she's intelligent and strong; Hugh because he's not threatened by that, but actually appreciates it. He lets her criticize him, takes it to heart, and uses it! *gasp* Too great a quality.
I will definitely read more, as I loved the family and I've been told the next book is the sister Jo, who I loved. I listened to this and really enjoyed the narration. Great accents and pacing.
It's an interesting setting and I felt like McGoldrick used the historical landscape really well - we see the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars and how that impacts relationships. We see the fairly recent abolition of slavery and how that colors race relations in Scotland. And there's the Irish/Scottish/English relationship which is forever fraught, but particularly at this moment. I really enjoyed reading that.
I also really appreciated the characters of Grace and Hugh - Grace because she's intelligent and strong; Hugh because he's not threatened by that, but actually appreciates it. He lets her criticize him, takes it to heart, and uses it! *gasp* Too great a quality.
I will definitely read more, as I loved the family and I've been told the next book is the sister Jo, who I loved. I listened to this and really enjoyed the narration. Great accents and pacing.
ezichinny's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
Hugh Pennington, the Viscount Greysteil, found a half dead Grace Ware in a crate and his people nursed her back to health. When Grace was lucid, she feigned temporary amnesia so she can figure out if the Viscount was among the group who attempted to murder. They both began trying to figure out who was after Grace and who could be trusted. One thing that was clear was the chemistry between the Widowed Hugh and the fiery tempered Grace.
The best thing about this book was the kindness and big heart of Hugh and his sister. I found Grace to be almost inhuman. I mean over a week in a crate with no food or water. I don't even want to think about how she used the bathroom considering how the women's attire was so constricting and she was barely able to move around. I do like that she was no wilting flower. She was resourceful and wasn't afraid of physical intimacy with Lord Hugh.
The plot itself wasn't really memorable and I was more curious to see if she would be discovered especially with the jewels hidden in her skirts. In the end, Hugh was able to save Grace and they unmasked the people who murdered Grace's father. The conclusion was satisfying.
Special Thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook given in exchange for an honest review.
Hugh Pennington, the Viscount Greysteil, found a half dead Grace Ware in a crate and his people nursed her back to health. When Grace was lucid, she feigned temporary amnesia so she can figure out if the Viscount was among the group who attempted to murder. They both began trying to figure out who was after Grace and who could be trusted. One thing that was clear was the chemistry between the Widowed Hugh and the fiery tempered Grace.
The best thing about this book was the kindness and big heart of Hugh and his sister. I found Grace to be almost inhuman. I mean over a week in a crate with no food or water. I don't even want to think about how she used the bathroom considering how the women's attire was so constricting and she was barely able to move around. I do like that she was no wilting flower. She was resourceful and wasn't afraid of physical intimacy with Lord Hugh.
The plot itself wasn't really memorable and I was more curious to see if she would be discovered especially with the jewels hidden in her skirts. In the end, Hugh was able to save Grace and they unmasked the people who murdered Grace's father. The conclusion was satisfying.
Special Thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook given in exchange for an honest review.
whiskeyinthejar's review
4.0
Authors holding $100 Visa gift card giveaway to celebrate new series! Click Giveaway for chance. Ends Nov. 26
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Napoleonic Wars are over but the political maneuverings are far from, Grace and her father are traveling with messages from Joseph Bonaparte to his wife Julie. They are attacked and Grace ends up hiding in a crate that gets shipped off to Scotland. As the daughter of a French cavalry officer with Jacobite ancestors, Grace finds herself in a perilous position when she awakens in the home of a former English cavalry officer and current judge.
Hugh still blames himself for not being able to rescue his wife and son during the war; he therefore likes dangerous hobbies such as ballooning. When an unconscious woman is found in the new basket he had delivered, he can't help but be drawn to her.
Grace and Hugh may have been on opposite sides of the war but their serendipitous meeting will have them joining together.
"I shouldn't have kissed you," she finally managed to whisper.
"No, it was I," he said, his gaze still setting her body aflame even from two steps away. "But I don't regret it, and I don't think you do, either."
First in the new Pennington Family series, Romancing the Scot is a rich and intriguing tale. Hugh is our viscount, former cavalry officer, and current judge hero, whose parents you might remember from the authors' Scottish Dream Trilogy. I greatly appreciated the authors' attention to Hugh as a judge. We don't get a courtroom scene but instead an engaging look at how he approaches his cases, specifically through a case involving a deaf and mute woman accused of murdering her child (in the author's note, the case is said to be based on a real one). This approach not only allowed Hugh and Grace to bond through solving how to work the case, showing how Hugh appreciated Grace's mind and abilities, it also added unique details to an often written about time period.
While Hugh provided the calm and commanding demeanor, Grace gave us the action and compelling components. She at first claims amnesia because she fears that her father fighting for Napoleon and her Jacobite ancestors might land her in trouble but can't keep lying as she grows closer with Hugh. Grace was a wonderful heroine who didn't need to be dramatically overwritten to show her brilliance in strength living the everyday life she was placed in. She traveled with her French cavalry father, fighting sicknesses, helping wounded, and marching in the muck like many of the women in her time did; she's utterly capable but also so human in her vulnerability. The story's drama comes from Grace running from men who killed her father and her thinking they're after a huge diamond she didn't know until later she was transporting. There are English and French spies and some machinations.
The story started off right away at a bit of run and it did jolt me a bit as I had to attempt to place the characters and what exactly was going on but it does level off fairly quickly. The middle slowed a bit as I thought more of a focus on the romance between Grace and Hugh could have sparked vivacity but I also greatly enjoyed the feel of history in this historical romance. There's a mention of the Spa Fields riots, the workings of the law I mentioned, and a focus on the Scottish Clearances. If you read a fair amount of Scottish historicals from the 1800s, you've probably run across this historical event, what made this feel different was instead of just reciting what the Clearances were or did, the authors' focused on the actual people and effects, it felt more intimate. The historical components in this story felt true and woven in a way that immensely added to the feel and created a richer story tapestry.
I thought the middle could have used more romance between our couple but I also believed in them when they made love, the writing sometimes veered toward flowery/purple, the plot was weaving and intriguing, and the historical components highly enriched the story. Hugh's sister Jo was a touching character in her own right and with the set-up (adopted, broken engagement) the authors' have alluded to, I can't wait to read her book. Romancing the Scot was just an all around interesting read and a strong beginning to the Pennington Family series.
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Napoleonic Wars are over but the political maneuverings are far from, Grace and her father are traveling with messages from Joseph Bonaparte to his wife Julie. They are attacked and Grace ends up hiding in a crate that gets shipped off to Scotland. As the daughter of a French cavalry officer with Jacobite ancestors, Grace finds herself in a perilous position when she awakens in the home of a former English cavalry officer and current judge.
Hugh still blames himself for not being able to rescue his wife and son during the war; he therefore likes dangerous hobbies such as ballooning. When an unconscious woman is found in the new basket he had delivered, he can't help but be drawn to her.
Grace and Hugh may have been on opposite sides of the war but their serendipitous meeting will have them joining together.
"I shouldn't have kissed you," she finally managed to whisper.
"No, it was I," he said, his gaze still setting her body aflame even from two steps away. "But I don't regret it, and I don't think you do, either."
First in the new Pennington Family series, Romancing the Scot is a rich and intriguing tale. Hugh is our viscount, former cavalry officer, and current judge hero, whose parents you might remember from the authors' Scottish Dream Trilogy. I greatly appreciated the authors' attention to Hugh as a judge. We don't get a courtroom scene but instead an engaging look at how he approaches his cases, specifically through a case involving a deaf and mute woman accused of murdering her child (in the author's note, the case is said to be based on a real one). This approach not only allowed Hugh and Grace to bond through solving how to work the case, showing how Hugh appreciated Grace's mind and abilities, it also added unique details to an often written about time period.
While Hugh provided the calm and commanding demeanor, Grace gave us the action and compelling components. She at first claims amnesia because she fears that her father fighting for Napoleon and her Jacobite ancestors might land her in trouble but can't keep lying as she grows closer with Hugh. Grace was a wonderful heroine who didn't need to be dramatically overwritten to show her brilliance in strength living the everyday life she was placed in. She traveled with her French cavalry father, fighting sicknesses, helping wounded, and marching in the muck like many of the women in her time did; she's utterly capable but also so human in her vulnerability. The story's drama comes from Grace running from men who killed her father and her thinking they're after a huge diamond she didn't know until later she was transporting. There are English and French spies and some machinations.
The story started off right away at a bit of run and it did jolt me a bit as I had to attempt to place the characters and what exactly was going on but it does level off fairly quickly. The middle slowed a bit as I thought more of a focus on the romance between Grace and Hugh could have sparked vivacity but I also greatly enjoyed the feel of history in this historical romance. There's a mention of the Spa Fields riots, the workings of the law I mentioned, and a focus on the Scottish Clearances. If you read a fair amount of Scottish historicals from the 1800s, you've probably run across this historical event, what made this feel different was instead of just reciting what the Clearances were or did, the authors' focused on the actual people and effects, it felt more intimate. The historical components in this story felt true and woven in a way that immensely added to the feel and created a richer story tapestry.
I thought the middle could have used more romance between our couple but I also believed in them when they made love, the writing sometimes veered toward flowery/purple, the plot was weaving and intriguing, and the historical components highly enriched the story. Hugh's sister Jo was a touching character in her own right and with the set-up (adopted, broken engagement) the authors' have alluded to, I can't wait to read her book. Romancing the Scot was just an all around interesting read and a strong beginning to the Pennington Family series.
abbythompson's review
2.0
Best parts of the book: ballooning, a thoughtful hero who doesn't have his head too far up his bum, a heroine with an eidetic memory, Scotland
Less great parts of the book: spies/intrigue, obvious sequel bait
I think I really enjoyed this book, but because it's been a couple weeks since I finished it before I'm getting the chance to sit down and record my thoughts .... I can't remember all that much outside of the "YAY! Ballooning!" and feeling like the whole plot around the spies/intrigue felt boring.
Less great parts of the book: spies/intrigue, obvious sequel bait
I think I really enjoyed this book, but because it's been a couple weeks since I finished it before I'm getting the chance to sit down and record my thoughts .... I can't remember all that much outside of the "YAY! Ballooning!" and feeling like the whole plot around the spies/intrigue felt boring.
andreaway's review
4.0
***ARC Review, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions and reviews are my own***
I loved this. This is the story of Hugh and Grace. Grace is on the run and hiding from the English. Her father was part of Napoleon's army who had just lost the war. Her mother a Scottish Jacobite. She meets Hugh in time of need. If you love historical romance then give this ago. Really enjoyed the writing style of this author duo.
I loved this. This is the story of Hugh and Grace. Grace is on the run and hiding from the English. Her father was part of Napoleon's army who had just lost the war. Her mother a Scottish Jacobite. She meets Hugh in time of need. If you love historical romance then give this ago. Really enjoyed the writing style of this author duo.
ladywithaquill's review
5.0
This was an enjoyable romance with an intriguing historical element that I don't often read in historical romances! Sure, many authors bring into play the political struggles of the time period, but May McGoldrick went the extra mile and really intertwined the politics with the plot of the story. I loved it! As a history enthusiast, I always enjoy learning more while reading my romances. I have actually won several history-focused games due to what I read in romance novels, so take that, romance critics!
Grace Ware is traveling with her father, carrying a secret message from Joseph Bonaparte (brother of the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte) to his wife, Julie, in Brussels, when they are attacked and Grace must flee for her life. Hidden in a basket and thought to be dead, Grace is surprised to find herself rescued days later by Hugh Pennington, Viscount Greysteil. She quickly discovers that he is the Lord Justice in Edinburgh and has much reason to put her in jail if he knew of her allegiance to the Bonapartes. Fearful for her life, she pretends amnesia and soon grows close to Hugh and his family. As her heart grows fonder of Hugh, the danger in her life gets closer, and she must decide if following her heart is worth the risk.
I really enjoyed both Grace and Hugh, particularly in their interactions with each other throughout the book. Hugh has a fascinating background - he fought in the war against Bonaparte, and while fighting overseas, his wife and son contract a fever and die. He has been in mourning for the past eight years and has a deep animosity towards the French, whom he blames for his family's death. So it was surprising to me that he took Grace's identity so well! It was bit too clean-cut to be totally believable, but I still enjoyed their relationship once everything was out in the open. I particularly liked Hugh's sister, Jo, and her friendship with Grace was lovely. Grace was a great heroine, with her strength of character and her selflessness in sacrificing her safety to ensure the safety of her new friends. I don't mind when the hero does the saving, but it's nice to see a heroine who can save herself if she so chooses.
I greatly enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read Jo's story next! I hope May McGoldrick continues to insert much history in her books, as it makes the book all the more enjoyable. Well written and rich with history, I loved every minute of it!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Grace Ware is traveling with her father, carrying a secret message from Joseph Bonaparte (brother of the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte) to his wife, Julie, in Brussels, when they are attacked and Grace must flee for her life. Hidden in a basket and thought to be dead, Grace is surprised to find herself rescued days later by Hugh Pennington, Viscount Greysteil. She quickly discovers that he is the Lord Justice in Edinburgh and has much reason to put her in jail if he knew of her allegiance to the Bonapartes. Fearful for her life, she pretends amnesia and soon grows close to Hugh and his family. As her heart grows fonder of Hugh, the danger in her life gets closer, and she must decide if following her heart is worth the risk.
I really enjoyed both Grace and Hugh, particularly in their interactions with each other throughout the book. Hugh has a fascinating background - he fought in the war against Bonaparte, and while fighting overseas, his wife and son contract a fever and die. He has been in mourning for the past eight years and has a deep animosity towards the French, whom he blames for his family's death. So it was surprising to me that he took Grace's identity so well! It was bit too clean-cut to be totally believable, but I still enjoyed their relationship once everything was out in the open. I particularly liked Hugh's sister, Jo, and her friendship with Grace was lovely. Grace was a great heroine, with her strength of character and her selflessness in sacrificing her safety to ensure the safety of her new friends. I don't mind when the hero does the saving, but it's nice to see a heroine who can save herself if she so chooses.
I greatly enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read Jo's story next! I hope May McGoldrick continues to insert much history in her books, as it makes the book all the more enjoyable. Well written and rich with history, I loved every minute of it!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**