Review: Scot Under the Covers (Wild Wicked Highlanders #2)

Scot Under the Covers (Wild Wicked Highlanders #2)

by Suzanne Enoch

Blurb:

When a resourceful English lady and a hot-blooded Highlander join forces to trick a scoundrel, every rule will be broken!

Miranda Harris is known for her charm, wit, and ability to solve any problem she encounters. But when her brother lands neck-deep in gambling debt to a crafty villain and Miranda is subsequently blackmailed into marrying him, she must enlist the help of the devil himself to save the family honor―and herself.

Devilishly handsome Highlander Aden MacTaggert knows next to nothing about the ways of the ton, but he most certainly knows his way around gaming halls and womens’ hearts. Still, Aden is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance. When his almost sister-in-law Miranda comes to him for assistance, he proposes a partnership: She will help him navigate London society and he’ll teach her everything about wagering…and winning back her freedom. The beautiful, clever lass intrigues Aden―but is she playing her own game, or are the sparks between them real? He is accustomed to risking his pocket. But betting on Miranda’s love is a game he can’t afford to lose. . .

Themes:  Historical, Scotland

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

The MacTaggerts are back and wilder than ever…

Suzanne Enoch returns to the world of the MacTaggert bachelors with a unique story of two people that come together for an interesting challenge and ultimately find their connection too much to resist. I stumbled across this author with her previous series and have fallen in love with her writing, with this new addition to my bookshelf being no exception to her skill.  Enoch began the series with an ultimatum bringing the brothers to England to be reunited with their long-estranged mother and sister. They are all required to find English brides, before their sister marries her fiancé, or they will forfeit their home and the purse-strings that their mother holds.  The youngest brother has found love despite his best intention to resist their mother’s rules, but now the other two brothers are fighting against the rules in their own way.  Middle brother Aden is enjoying his time in London to the best of his ability when he is confronted with the instant dislike of Miranda Harris, his soon to be sister-in-law.  Miranda dislikes Aden on principle, having heard all the stories of his prowess with both women and gambling, and now that she finds herself in a situation beyond her control caused by another gambler she hates him even more. But she will beg for his help if she must, despite that dislike, and when he reluctantly agrees they set out to thwart a blackmailing villain. As they work together the attraction becomes more than either can deny and the connection blooms into something that neither ever imagined, soon becoming a love that is impossible to refute or relinquish.  Can they defeat their enemy’s plans and find a way to be together and build their future based on the love that has developed or will the lose the battle for Miranda’s freedom? Aden was an amazing character to get to know.  In the beginning you think he is just another lazy bachelor that is working his way through women, drink, and gambling hells, but we slowly learn just how deep he is right alongside Miranda.  His sweetness and dedication to his family and those less fortunate make him a truly great man, though I imagine in his home environment he would be an even better man. I loved seeing the way his brain worked and how he thinks 5 steps ahead of everyone around him, while at the same time he is a humble and down to earth man.  He shows Miranda the sweeter and more sensual sides of his nature in the dark of the night and she slowly gives up her resistance and finds herself falling deeply in love with him.  Miranda on the other hand was a little bit of a snappy and irate character to those around her, which was understandable a lot of the time because of her situation, but not all of the time.  Once she sees a light at the end of the darkness thanks to Aden’s help, she loosens up and he gets to see the softer and sexier side of the sassy woman that captured his attention.  The dichotomy of her truly is what I think made her such a draw to this thoughtful and complicated man, the passion between them obvious whether they were arguing, planning their encounters with the villain, or falling in love.  I am dying for the last story in the series where the oldest son will find his own love and hopefully in time to meet their mother’s demand and save their fortunes, though I will be sad to see the series end.  Another great read in a series that has definitely become one of my favorite historical reads in a while.

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.