When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare

Description: On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.

A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.

Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.

Review: I love Tessa Dare books. There, I said it. There hasn’t been a single Tessa Dare book that I didn’t adore. And this book lives up to expectations. I bought and devoured this book the day it came out. The entire premise for her Castles Ever After series is intriguing. Her heroines share a godfather who left them each their own castle. In this book, like the others, the castle is one of the focuses. For Dare’s heroines, the castles are freedom and independence for women, an escape for an oppressive society, where they can be their eccentric selves.

This Dare heroine is Maddie Gracechurch. I found myself reminded a lot of Minerva from Dare’s A Week to Be Wicked. She’s a naturalist artist who draws insects, lobsters mating, etc. She creates a fictitious beau to avoid entering London society, due to her terror of crowds.  I adored the shy Maddie who became adventurous when faced with Logan.  Even though she created a fiancée out of fear, she never once backed away from Logan. Tessa Dare heroines are always smart and a little quirky. They’re eccentric and unique. And the heroes support them and allow them to grow.

Logan is a flawed hero. He swoops in and forces Maddie to marry him but yet is trying to do the right thing and support his men. While he is initially mad at Maddie for her deception, he realizes that by calling him Captain in her letters, Maddie gave him a goal to push towards. Logan is seems in like an overbearing hero, demanding she marry him, threatening to expose her lies to society and yet he quickly changes from the bash, overconfident hero to an injured warrior who is just looking for a home and a place to belong for himself and his men. Dare also shows the sad result of war in Logan and his men. They are the unsupported, wounded veterans returning home to find their families and loved ones have died or moved on.

Quite simply, this book is humor mixed with heart.

Favorite Quotes: 

“This ruthless, kilted stranger she’d married might be the closest thing on earth Maddie had to a true friend.”

“I love you Logan. Somehow… It began before I knew you.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published by SomewhereLostInBooks

I’m Melisa! I’m an avid reader. I love romance novels and decided, hey, why not write about what I love and hate about the genre. And my favorite books. And when I get to meet authors. And all round why romance novels are awesome. Expect a lot of fan-girling, laughter, and some tears. View all posts by SomewhereLostInBooks