The second book in the clever, sexy Desperately Seeking Duke series from USA Today bestselling and RITA award–winning author Caroline Linden.
An Officer and a Scotsman
Captain Andrew St. James always knew he came from a noble family, but his branch grew far from the wealth and status. Nothing shocks him more than learning that he now stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of … stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle. There is much for Drew to learn and adjust to—but first he goes home to Edinburgh, to tell his mother and three sisters of their startling good fortune.
A Lady and a Temptress
Ilsa Ramsay yearns for some adventure and fun, not another husband. When she discovers the handsome soldier who sweeps her off her feet for a rollicking dance is her friend’s brother, soon to be an English duke, she tells herself he’s not for her, no matter how tempting he is. But one impulsive kiss, then another, and another… says otherwise.
An Irresistible Attraction
Drew means to marry a respectable, dignified Englishwoman—a very proper future duchess. The spirited Ilsa is none of that. Still, when she’s caught in a dangerous scandal, he leaps to her aid without hesitation. And neither family duty nor future obligation can make them ignore what’s in both their hearts.
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I read this as an ARC from the publisher.
In her second novel in The Desperately Seeking Duke series, Linden takes us across the border to Scotland for much of the narrative as Andrew St. James, presumed to be next in line to the Dukedom of Carlyle, returns home to resign his Army commission and break the news to his family that they may well inherit. (In the first novel it was revealed that the present Duke has been mentally incapacitated for 30 years because of a kick to the head from a horse and could never marry or father heirs. His mother, the Dowager Duchess has been running the estate. The Duke’s younger brother has recently died, so now the Dowager Duchess must find the next male relatives in line, a few distant cousins, of whom the hero of the first novel in the series (About a Rogue) Maximilian St. James, is one and Andrew is the other. Andrew has the better claim.)
He has been gifted with a large sum of money and the Duchess has impressed upon him the need to learn to run the Dukedom and to marry wisely, a woman who can rise to the position of Duchess of such an important holding. He plans to return home for a month or so and then go back to Carlyle to learn all the estate managers know. No one is aware of his inheritance and he wants to keep it that way while he’s home, despite conducting some business for the Carlyle estate about its holdings there on the Duchess’ behalf. They are simple enough. Meeting with the Carlyle lawyer and inspecting Stormont Palace, the Dukedom’s largest Scottish holding, near Argyle.
His first night home, however, he goes to an Oyster cellar with his best friend, the lawyer Felix Duncan, where he dances with a mysterious dark-haired beauty and soundly kisses her at the end of the evening. It doesn’t take long to discover that she is his sister Agnes’ closest friend, the wealthy widow Isla Ramsay, daughter of William Fletcher, a prominent cabinetmaker on the town Council. While it is certainly attraction at first sight, Linden builds their relationship from that initial spark with believable skill. Drew and Isla like each other and are attracted before they fall in love. They have fun together and you have fun watching their relationship progress.
I also can’t say enough good things about Isla. She is a terrific heroine. You really get to see her internal struggles attempting to break free from her very overbearing upbringing and innate eccentricity and fun-loving nature. She wants to step out of line, but not that far, and the weight of societal displeasure she endures for doing anything fun is, I think, very realistic, given who she is surrounded by.
And, as usual, Linden’s side characters are well-rounded and believable no matter how much or little you see them. They seem like living, breathing people. I really liked the group we saw in this novel, and I wish we’d see more of them. Especially Agnes and Felix.
But this book isn’t just fun. Drew is faced with real responsibilities and Isla is attempting to get out from under her oppressive upbringing and even more oppressive marriage. But Drew finds a way to make some of his new duties fun by inviting his friends and family to Stormont Palace for one of the most charming house parties I’ve read in some time. That part of the book is entirely delightful.
Other than the romance, this book is, as is usual with Linden, loaded with plot that I don’t want to spoil, but the major other storyline includes the fact that Edinburgh is also being plagued by a string of robberies focused on wealthy merchants of the town, and Drew’s mother and sisters run a high-end fabric shop full of expensive goods. Sure enough, they are eventually victimized and the resolution of the mystery of the thieves brings with it a lot of upheaval for all the main characters.
While this novel absolutely has a very HEA, I didn’t find the resolution of the robbery plot very much to my liking, though it was very realistic. I don’t fault the author for her choices in plot or writing, but it was not what I wanted and made my enjoyment of the ending of this book not nearly as thorough as some of her others. That said, it is a very strong entry in this series and the house party alone makes it well worth reading, but you’ll love these characters as well.
I can’t wait until the next one!
I have been looking forward to reading Drew St. James’s story since finishing the first book in the series. Drew is the distant cousin of a duke. Without a direct heir, the dukedom will pass to one of the cousins, with a considerable fortune attached to the estate. Drew has a short period of time to establish himself as the person capable of preserving the dukedom’s legacy and to find a suitable bride.
I liked the main characters, as a couple, these two are a perfect fit: good-natured, likeable Drew and seemingly prim Ilsa who is trying to change her life after being widowed. She has never been free to do what she wants and she craves a little adventure. What I liked most about Drew is his high sense of loyalty to those he cares for. He is duty-bound, he has gone into the army when his family was faced with penury. He is willing to step into the responsibilities and duties of the position and follow the dictates of the Dowager Duchess of Carlyle because he recognizes what the dukedom will allow him to do for his family.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the vivid interactions between Ilsa and Drew and the emotional moments Caroline Linden created. The secondary characters were great too. The hero’s sisters are pretty interesting characters that make the story more complete and delightful. The Duchess remains a unique, elusive character and I would like to know more about her. There is a small mystery subplot but it didn’t add much to the main story. The book loses some steam towards the last quarter, the ending was satisfying, but somewhat lacking in emotional punch. There are still many things unresolved as far as the dukedom is concerned, and I can’t wait for more in the series.
A Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden is a lovely historical romance about putting love first.
It is book #2 in the Desperately Seeking Duke series but can be read as a standalone.
Andrew St. James unexpectedly became heir to a dukedom. As a captain in the army, he was used to a hard life of duty and was always hard-pressed to make ends meet with his mother and sisters’ help.
Becoming heir made all those troubles disappear, but, at the same time, brought expectations of behavior, social standing, and even a move from Scotland to England.
Drew was ready to do it all until the lovely Ilsa crossed his path.
Tired of a constrained life and finally free of a lackluster marriage, Ilsa wanted to live and enjoy herself.
Obviously, there were stones in the couples’ path, which became even more complicated to overcome when the constable got involved.
Drew was such a lovely hero. He was every woman’s dream: sweet, caring, and not afraid of embracing his feelings. Ilsa was his perfect match. I loved her zest for life.
A Scot to the Heart is a story full of romance, family love, and a bit of adventure. Another great read by Caroline Linden.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
Another winner from Caroline Linden. Drew was brilliant. I loved that this story didn’t deal with relationship angst. They genuinely liked one another and fell in love in a fun, heartfelt way full of laughter and affection. And when trouble threatened Ilsa, Drew stood by her, without hesitation, just being there for her and helping her do what she needed to do. This book is a perfect example of the sort of relationship we should all strive for and believe ourselves deserving of.
I love Caroline Linden as a writer. However, I was not quite as enamored of this story as I was with most of her others. It may have just been my mindset to be honest though as I have been leaning more toward modern day romances over the COVID quarantine than historical.
That being said, I absolutely love that the characters have a past. I feel bad for Ilsa Ramsay as her first marriage was not ideal. I was hoping to see her evolve to take action to lead her life as she wanted sooner in this book. Unfortunately, it took a while for her to break out of the mindset of letting others dictate her surroundings. As for Captain St. James, I thought he would have been a bit different based on his meeting with the dowager duchess when he was informed of his possible inheritance. I did like that he had a playful side. The mystery of who the third possible heir to the dukedom is will have me coming back to read the next book as well.
This was a good afternoon read overall.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I am a character-driven reader, and I adored how well all of the characters meshed in this book. Drew and Ilsa’s wild romp takes them all over Scotland, and it’s a fun ride the entire way.
Read my full review:
https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-caroline-linden-a-scot-to-the-heart
4.5 Stars
Captain Andrew St. James always knew he came from a noble family, but his branch grew far from the wealth and status. Nothing shocks him more than learning that he now stands as heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle. First he goes home to Edinburgh, to tell his mother and three sisters of their startling good fortune. Ilsa Ramsay yearns for some adventure and fun, not another husband. When she discovers the handsome soldier who sweeps her off her feet for a rollicking dance is her friend’s brother, soon to be an English duke, she tells herself he’s not for her.
Drew means to marry a respectable, dignified Englishwoman. The spirited Ilsa is none of that. Still, when she’s caught in a dangerous scandal, he leaps to her aid without hesitation. And neither family duty nor future obligation can make them ignore what’s in both their hearts.
This is the second book in the series about the heirs to the Duke of Carlyle, who has never married & was injured years ago leaving him incapacitated. A well written book with strong characters & a well paced story. I loved both Andrew & Isla he’s the upright, honourable caring man & she’s the widow who only wants to be loved not censured, their attraction was electric. Their road to an HEA made for an enthralling read. I don’t like the manipulative Duchess who quite honestly couldn’t lie straight in bed. There’s still another heir to make an appearance or did he at the end of the book?
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was fun and charming, held my interest and I didn’t want to put it down. I enjoyed this book very much. This is a must-read author for me.
Having met Captain Andrew St James in the first book of the series, I was delighted to read his story. I found the first half of the plot enjoyable and Drew did not disappoint me. His meeting with the seemingly wild Ilsa Ramsay boded well for the future until her family got in the way. Ilsa brought humor to the story, but her inability to stand up for herself disappointed me. As a series of crimes take place, making Drew’s own family victims of a thief, it upends all Ilsa’s expectations for the future. Drew’s steadfastness in the face of incriminating evidence makes him a real hero, but I was unsettled by the eventual outcome of this novel. It is nevertheless well written and I loved the descriptions of Scotland, bringing back memories of my travels in the area. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
A marvelous story. Andrew is a loving brother who would sacrifice anything for his family. Getting a surprise inheritance is the opportunity for him to make their life even easier. Ilsa is a widow who wants nothing more than to be able to enjoy the freedom she has been denied previously. The story shows how plans can change when you meet the right person. It also underscores how important the support of family and be. The characters are magnificent. The author shows how strong women can be and allows for the men to play an important supportive role that makes them a great partner. There is hilarity and witty conversations throughout. Truly beautiful.
Due to his distant cousin’s untimely death, Scotsman Drew is shocked to discover that he’s the heir to a dukedom. His first order of business is to tell his family. HIs second is to resign from the army. And his third is to find a proper English wife to help him fulfill his responsibilities.
But when he meets merry widow Ilsa, his sister’s best friend in Edinburgh, he’s smitten. Could she be the wife he needs? Or could her family’s scandal endanger his freedom, and even his life?
I loved this book. Drew and Ilsa were interesting characters individually and adorable as a couple. The romance developed naturally and organically, with a strong attraction that grew into love and respect. The scandal didn’t really hit until the second half of the book, testing the couple’s devotion. This is, unbelievably, my first Caroline Linden book. Now I can’t wait read through her backlist.
While this novel stands alone, you might enjoy the series more if you read it in order. The first book, ABOUT A ROGUE, is just as much fun.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story so much, that I found it difficult to put down and ended up reading into the early hours. The main characters of Drew and Ilsa were very engaging. What more could you want from a hero than Drew gave? He was caring for his family, protective of those he loved and a handsome, skilled lover. Ilsa had been restricted for most of her life and now she was a widow, she intended to live her life as she wanted. Drew and Ilsa had been attracted to each other before they really knew who the other was. However, Drew needs to marry an English lady and can Ilsa give up her freedom and be able to trust a man again. There are a few surprises and the beginnings of another romance. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
I enjoyed this book. If I’m brutally honest here that was really all do to the characters, which I truly loved. I thought Drew and Ilsa were amazing. Skillfully crafted layers and connections made them and the secondary characters incredibly easy to bond with and fall for. The chemistry between this couple burned brightly and I as the reader found it as impossible to resist as the main characters themselves did. The romance, friendship and the familial relationships are strong and compelling and I found myself consumed by them. For the most part I found the story fun and quite delightful. This is my frank, freely posted review.
Captain Andrew St. James has been in the English Army since he was eighteen. He is the head of his family and sends most of his pay home for his mom and three sisters. One day he is summoned to his colonel’s office and told he needs to go to Carlyle Castle. When he gets there he finds out he is the heir presumptive. He goes to Edinburgh to tell his sisters and mother the good news and to see if he can talk them into moving to England. He meets Ilsa Ramsay at an Oyster Bar. They danced and even a kiss was exchanged. But he does not know her name.
Ilsa lost her mother when she was four. Her father was not around much. Then she married her father’s choice of husband and was not allowed to do anything. Even her aunt who came to live with her father after his wife died was strict about manners and society. She had never been free or allowed to do much. But since her husband had been shot dead in a duel, she was free. She thought Drew was an excellent man, in about all things. He was tall and good-looking and kind.
It was fun to read their bantering and joking between them and their siblings. Even his friends were fun to be around. The author wrote an amazing story and your interest is fully engaged. The characters were just like your own friends and companions. There are also some surprises coming and they will shock you. It does have a little sex but that does not take away from the plot. It is a fun and happy novel but there are sad spots. I highly recommend the book and hope you liked it as much as I did.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance readers copy of this story.
A Scot to the Heart is book 2 in Ms Linden’s Desperately Seeking Duke series. The basis of the series plot is a dukedom with a terminally ill duke who has no direct heir. His mother, the dowager duchess, starts a search for the next closest male relative and a couple of spares too. In this book we have Drew, a military man who’s actually a cousin of the dying duke. He has to feel his way around being a civilian again and possibly a duke too. It’s rough and has his doubts but as a good military man he knows how plot strategic maneuvers and it gives him some comfort as he settles in. While he’s struggling with all this he meets a woman so beautiful she stops him in his tracks. They have an unusual meet cute but it works. Ilsa’s not sure she wants to give up her newfound freedom but Drew is a temptation she finally gives in to. I can understand Ilsa and her concerns, being on her own for the first time is liberating and scary, and wonderful. They wind up as a power couple, together they map out the future in a way that keeps them together but keeps a little self identity too. They’re lovely characters and I’m glad they had such a nice HEA.
#CarolineLinden #Netggalley #AScotToTheHeart #DesperatlySeekingDuke #Avon #historicalromance #HunkyScot #romance
After years of serving in the army to support his family, Andrew “Drew” St. James’ life takes an unexpected turn when he learns that he is the heir presumptive to his distant cousin the Duke of Carlyle. The Duke is an invalid and has been for years, but when his younger brother dies, his mother, the duchess, has her solicitor, Mr. Edwards to find the duke’s heirs. The duchess wants Andrew to move to England and learn about the dukedom, but gives him six months to get his affairs in order and asks that since he plans to go to Scotland to see his family, Mr. Edwards asks that he inspect Stormont Palace, one of the duke’s estates in Scotland that they might want to sell. Drew agrees to everything and even suggests that when he returns, he would like the duchess to help him find a wife, someone who would be the perfect duchess.
He returns home and spends his first night with his friends, they go out for dinner and that is when he meets and dances with an amazing woman. They share a moment and she kisses him before leaving him stunned and smitten. The next day Drew learns that his mystery woman is his sister’s dear, widowed friend. He knows Ilsa Ramsay is not duchess material, but he cannot stop thinking about her. He spends time with her and begins to wonder if he will be able to walk away. In an effort to decide, he invites her to join his family when they visit Stormont Palace.
Ilsa thought she was done with marriage, after marrying the man her father chose and enduring a cold marriage and then a horrific scandal when her husband was killed in a duel, she thinks she will be happier as a widow. But meeting Drew makes her wonder if maybe marriage with the right man could bring the joy she has been trying to find. The time they spend at Stormont Palace confirms their feelings and when they return he makes it clear that he wants to court her. But their return to Edinburgh is plagued with one problem after another, problems Ilsa is sure will destroy any chance for HEA.
This was a well-written, interesting, nicely paced read. I loved Drew, he was such a great hero, and even though he was not perfect, he gave his all for those he loved. The book held my attention from the first page to the last, it was filled with wonderful characters, a little bit of mystery, some warm love scenes, a couple of surprising twists, including a whammy at the end that may change everything for our lovers as they start their HEA. There was also the hint of a secondary romance featuring Drew’s sister Agnes and his friend Felix that will be followed up in the novella: How the Scot was Won which is releasing a week after this book!! I enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it, and while it is the second book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
I find this story has intriguing things about it. Such as the story is based around a Scottish family who has been suddenly placed in the English aristocrat world. The male character, Drew is surrounded by a number of women who are a major influence in his life. And there is Ilsa, the love interest for Drew. Her character is a strong, intelligent and determined woman who wants nothing, but to control her own destiny. I think that the book offers a good plot, which leaves me excited to read how Drew and Ilsa come together. Their story I thought was a slow burn. I liked the dialogue among the characters. The entertainment was a little mellow.
Caroline Linden has been on my radar for years, but for some reason, I had never actually read one of her books. So, when I saw the request for a review of A Scot to the Heart, the fact that Ms. Linden wrote it was partially why I chose to read it. But it was primarily due to the title… I’ve been looking for a good romance set in Scotland.
A Scot to the Heart is the second book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series. The book totally stands on its own. In fact, until I went looking at the first book in the series, About a Rogue, I didn’t realize how this series fits together. So, this series follows the St. James family. This book is about Drew, a captain in the Scottish army and finds out that he’s now the heir to a distant cousin, who also happens to be a duke. Suddenly Drew has many new responsibilities and heads home to tell his mother and sisters the interesting news… and meets Ilsa, who turns his world even further upside down.
I found that I really enjoyed both Ilsa and Drew and was cheering them on. Ilsa is a widow who feels like she can finally breathe. She’s no longer under her father’s watchful eye or her uncaring husband. Isla longs for a bit of freedom and perhaps adventure. She’s friends with Drew’s sisters and keeps getting thrown into his path. There’s a definite attraction between the two that just can’t be denied. I genuinely preferred those moments in the book when Ilsa and Drew were interacting rather than just getting through the book to get them back together. Not that the other parts were bad, I just found them together to be more satisfying, and the rest primarily filler to round out the story.
The plot was interesting. I liked the idea of a mere mister finding out that he’s a ducal heir and needing to learn what he can before the title is thrust upon him. I actually could have used more of this plot than was given. About halfway through the book, the central conflict to tear Drew and Ilsa apart came into play and took the story off track a bit, and threw me for a loop.
All in all, I found A Scot to the Heart to be a solid read. I’m curious enough about the St. James family to read more in the series. I was sucked into the story and, except for a slight hiccup near the end, found myself glued to the page until I reached “The End.”
My review originally posted at Novels Alive.
Captain Andrew St James learns that he has the potential to become a Duke. He returns to Scotland to give his good news to his mother and sisters. He runs into the spirited Ilsa Ramsay.
Andrew needs to find the proper lady to be his possible duchess and Ilsa doesn’t exactly fit the bill. They of course are attracted to one another. He helps her when her family is in trouble as well. It’s a delightful book. It’s interesting the way Ilsa feels as if she needs to protect Andrew by not being with him for his future. It’s heartwarming when Andrew decides love is more important. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the characters.
I received a copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. I like that this takes place in Scotland. I enjoyed both Drew and Ilsa. Their path to falling in love is a pleasure to read. One oi my favorite scenes is the house party at Stormont Palace. It was so fun. I like that there was no unnecessary drama or misunderstandings between Drew and Ilsa. I loved Drew’s devotion to his family.
I am looking forward to reading Agnes and Felix’s book as well.
I have always enjoyed Ms Linden’s work. She has such a way of writing characters that you want to get to know them, and care about their stories and think about them when the story is over. I am very looking forward to the next book in this series and who the mysterious 3rd gentleman is. Definitely read this book if you like Ms Linden’s other works.
The only part i didn’t care for is a part near the end of the story. I can’t say more without spoiling the ending.