Blurb:
A young widow puts her sexy suitors to
the test in New York Times bestselling author Julia London's scintillating
return to the idyllic Scottish Highlands.
Widowed
and forced to remarry in three years' time or forfeit her son's inheritance,
Daisy Bristol, Lady Chatwick, has plenty of suitors vying for her hand and her
fortune. But a letter from a long-lost love sends Daisy and her young son to
her Scottish Highland estate to buy time for his return. Along the way she
encounters the powerful Cailean Mackenzie, laird of Arrandale and a notorious
smuggler, and she is utterly and unwillingly bewitched.
Cailean
has no use for any Sassenach in his glen. But Daisy's brazen, flirtatious
nature and alluring beauty intrigue him. When her first love appears
unexpectedly at her estate, Cailean knows that a passionate woman like Daisy
cannot marry this man. And to prevent the union, Cailean must put his own life
at risk to win her heart.
Themes: historical
Rating: 3.75 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
Returning to the Highlands, amid the
treachery, scandal, and dangerous time of Rebellion, Julia London brings us the
second in her Highland Grooms series.
This story comes many years after the ending of the first story and actually
follows the oldest son of the couple from book one, Cailean Mackenzie. I was a bit surprised when I realized this
would be Cailean’s story, but it was a happy
surprise in the end. I enjoyed getting
to know Cailean, even if a good majority of the time he was being a typically
stubborn Scottish ass and seeing Daisy find herself despite all the weights on
her shoulders, whiel the expectations of society reminded me that some women just can’t
be kept down. Daisy and her son, along with some extended family, have come to Scotland
to escape the money grubbing suitors that have graced her halls ever since her
late husband put her on the marriage block upon his death. She waits for her first love to return to her
and in the meantime has no use for the men that surround her, until she meets
the riveting and sensual Cailean Mackenzie. Cailean is beyond irritated that an
Englishwoman has encroached on his solitude in his little corner of their
family lands and wants nothing more than to see her gone, especially since the
last Englishwoman he gave his heart too obliterated it. Cailean tries to stay away from the slightly
crazy but stunningly beautiful and sweet Daisy, but the pull is too strong and
he soon finds himself facing the truth that he will have to release the woman
he has come to love if they are either to have a chance at happiness. Cailean was a bit of an ass through a good
bit of the story, but then again most stubborn Scottish men share that trait—even
to this day—and the alpha males are even worse.
As he slowly began to lose his heart to Daisy, the walls he built around
himself made me feel sorry for him, knowing that he was letting past hurts and
fears keep him from claiming the woman he loves—not to mention the little boy
that has stolen his heart. Daisy has
done everything she can to make a decision that will allow her some happiness
at the same time as giving her son what he needs to be happy and to
thrive. She thought her long lost love
was the answer to that hope, until she meets Cailean and begins to wonder if perhaps
the brash and bold Scot is the man of her dreams.
I
loved getting to know Daisy and Cailean, even if I was exasperated with their
stubborn unwillingness to see what was right in front of them the whole
time. Daisy was definitely a woman well
before her time, asserting her independence in a time when women the world over
(for the most part) were treated simply as property of the men in their lives.
She was once forced into a marriage of
duty, instead of marrying her love, but now that she is older and wiser there
is no way she will marry anyone that doesn’t love her. But in the meantime there’s nothing to keep a
young, vital widow from having a little fun with a big burly Scot, now is
there? Daisy has a passionate nature and
refuses to hide it from herself or Cailean, determined that he will be her
lover, but she certainly never planned to fall in love with him. Cailean likewise is taken aback by the
passion and sensuality of this wild English flower and her sometimes
inappropriate behavior. He knows that
she is trouble, but the more time he spends with her and her son, the deeper he
finds himself sinking into the quicksand he saw around them but was unable to
avoid. He wants nothing more than to
take Daisy to his bed, especially since she seems to understand it can never be
more than physical between them; however in the end he is sunk and gives his
heart to her. Even their love doesn’t
seem to be enough to overcome the dangers and obstacles surrounding them, until
some sage advice from his father finally brings Cailean to the conclusion that
the matters of the heart will always be more important than any others he faces
and only with the love of his life by his side will he ever be happy.
Duty
or Love seems to be the common problem that faced both Cailean and Daisy, much
like other couples during that time in our history. The Scottish Rebellion was a long-fought and
bloody battle, that left many families without their men as well as without
their lands, but stories like these remind us all that even in the bloodiest
and most tragic of times, there was still love and life went on for these
people despite the trauma and tragedy. London’s
skill at bringing these histories back into the minds and hearts of readers and
showing us the sweeter side of those times, is nothing short of amazing and an
important task for a writer to undertake.
So many authors gloss over the darkness of history, focusing simply on
the frivolousness of the society and ignoring the soldiers, warriors, and common
men that were the most important of that time, but London brings everyone back to
the most important realization—history was made by the people, all the people,
that lived through those times, and none should be made to be forgotten or ignored.
Daisy and Cailean had a rough time
finding their footing together and building a life was sure to be even more
difficult, but their love was strong enough to overcome everything and give them
a chance to truly become a family. Cailean was a protective, sexy, and sweet
warrior that needed only to be reminded that sometimes love comes in the most unlikely
of packages and if you overlook it, your life will never be a filled with color
or vibrancy as if you had given your heart away. Daisy was a kickass heroine,
once she finally came to see the men around her for what they truly were and
stood up to them for the sake of her son and also for her own heart. Love Cailean was no easy trail for Daisy, but
the joy at the end when he finally gave his heart to her made all the pain and
sadness along the way worth it. I cannot
wait for the next story in the series, Hard-Hearted Highlander, which will
revolve around Cailean’s younger brother Rabbie and his own bumpy road to
happiness. If you like a good historical
romance, with some subterfuge, danger, and passion, Sinful Scottish Laird is
the perfect way to get your next fix.
Thanks for the magic Julia.
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.
by Paige Tyler 
