All Scot and Bothered is the second book in the stunning Devil You Know series by USA Today bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne! They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl–dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees… He is first and foremost–at everything. A man who’s made his own way through ruthless … everything. A man who’s made his own way through ruthless cunning and sheer force of will. A strong and imposing Scot who can turn on the charm but does not suffer fools. His title: Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. His name: Cassius Gerard Ramsay. His mission: To investigate the goings-on at London’s most notorious gaming hell, owned and operated by one of the most intriguing and desirable women he’s ever met.
IN THIS GAME OF LOVE, THE RULES DO NOT APPLY
Cecelia Teague was an orphan facing a rather dire future–until a secret benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past swept into her life. Sent to a prestigious boarding school and later to university, Cecelia believed high society was at her fingertips…Then, from out of nowhere, she became the inheritor of a gambling establishment. Now Cecelia must live two lives: one as a proper lady who finds herself undeniably drawn to Lord Ramsay and the other as a savvy gaming hell owner trying to save her business from the very same man. He has no idea she is both women…and Cecelia would like to keep it that way. But what happens when consuming passion and escalating danger threaten to reveal the truth?
“With the Devil You Know series, Byrne once again delivers the beautifully nuanced characters and seductive storytelling her readers have come to expect.”–Booklist
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“The only man who even growled in a Scottish accent”….that describes Ramsay perfectly! When I first started reading this story, I wasn’t too sure about it because it was a bit confusing but once I really got into it, I couldn’t stop reading!!
Ramsay is the type of hero you can rely on and even though he can be cold and brutal, he really does have a heart. When you read about his childhood, be ready to have tissues nearby….the same with Cecelia’s childhood. These are two lost souls who don’t realize they’re lost and it isn’t until they come together that they realize they complete each other. So much stands in their way, though….danger, murders, child trafficking, etc. Lots of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes as well!
The only thing I really didn’t like was the fact that it was mentioned over and over again, in fact throughout the story, how fat, thick, chubby, Cecelia is. There really was no reason to keep reminding the reader of it, I found all it did was put her down.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
“When you grow, you are going to devastate men.”
Cecelia Teague’s early days broke me. I cried for her – like ugly cried for her. I could feel her fear and loneliness, her anguish and self-doubt. Thank God for the woman who swooped in and saved her, a woman Cecelia never met, but one who’d been friends with her mother. Cecelia was sent to a boarding school, which nurtured her penchant for math and her love of learning. There she met her life-long friends and other members of the Red Rogue. Soon after graduating, Cecelia learned her benefactor had willed her a gambling hall. But it’s not just a gambling hall, there are secrets within its walls that yearn to destroy her, and the women she desires to protect.
“She’d an air of softness he’d never before witnessed, and it boggled the mind how he could be both aroused and comforted by her all at once.”
Ramsey’s character is not easy to love at first sight. He’s arrogant, condescending, and sanctimonious. His honor and image are so important to him that they sometimes cloud the truth. When we learn of his childhood, everything made sense; his trust issues, his need to be viewed as respectable and worthy. When he met Cecelia, his brain scrambled right from wrong. All he could think about was her and being with her. Any time she was in danger, he was there. He was her savior and protector. Even though he felt doing so was against his morals. He fought so hard to maintain his view on the world that he almost lost Cecelia to the truth.
“She haunted him. Nay, she possessed him like a demon that refused to be exorcised.”
The chemistry between these characters was dynamic. Their push and pull created great banter and sexual tension.
I appreciated the growth both of these characters experienced. Ramsay learned to be vulnerable and trust, and Cecelia, while she’d always been caring, learned to trust herself and fight for herself and others. Her ‘take me as I am’ attitude was honorable.
I’ve not read a book by this author that I didn’t love. She writes about strong women and redeemed men. Her stories are always romantic and always hope-filled.
All Scot and Bothered, was passionate, dynamic, and inspiring.
Let me say this: I’ll keep picking up whatever Kerrigan Byrne keeps putting down.
I absolutely loved All Scot and Bothered. I didn’t know whether to tear through this like mad or savor everything slowly. I did both.
Cecelia Teague was another of the amazing women of the Red Rogues. She was a mathematicial genius; she was a sweet, kind, generous woman in spite of the way she’d been treated in the past. She was the light for Cassius Gerard Ramsay’s darkness.
Ramsay also had a heart-breaking past, and he’d become a grumpy, stern, rigid man. He had devoted his life to justice and protection, and he was just the protector Cecelia needs.
These two together were fire: instant chemistry, sexual tension galore and slow-burn romance/desire that just about killed me.
Phoebe was an adorable addition to this story, and as usual, there was the perfect combination of romance and mystery. I’m definitely looking forward to Francesca’s story.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***
Pride and Perfectionism
Right from their first scene together, you can feel the palpable heat between Ramsay and Cecelia. He’s instantly drawn to her yet knows he shouldn’t:
“A living sin, was Cecelia Teague. A wicked brew of both innocence and indulgence. The female equivalent of a truffle.”
But their next meeting is when everything threatens to explode in passionate fury! The fire between these two is like poetic chemistry, yet the secrets between them prove nearly insurmountable.
The story unfolds at a fast pace, leaving the reader almost as breathless as the characters who are trying to figure out who they can trust and just how far they’ll have to go for answers. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book, due in equal parts to the outside threats against them and the inner turmoil they felt for each other.
The writing is filled with heartbreaking emotive scenes, deliciously bawdy humor, triumphant stand-up-and-cheer moments, and gut-wrenching honesty that leads to a realization that neither of them should have to give up their essential purpose in life to be together, making their HEA all but impossible to believe in.
These characters truly came to life in unexpected ways. I adored Cecelia’s scientific approach to learning everything, and I cheered for her indomitable spirit even when faced with losing everything dear to her. I swooned for Ramsay when he demonstrated that even though he couldn’t understand why he felt so drawn to her, he wouldn’t hesitate to burn the whole world down to protect her from everything and everyone who is threatening her.
The surprise twist at the end had me close to tears, and searching back through the book for clues that might have prepared me for such a revelation. The scene describing how his own heart nearly broke at the realization of how close he came to destroying everything he could ever want was written with such sensitivity that it was pure literary magic. The bigger they are, the harder they fall indeed.
While this book is a complete standalone with a tremendously satisfying HEA, reading it is enriched by having read the first book (How to Love a Duke in Ten Days) which gives a much more detailed account of the three Red Rogues, what ties them together, and why they’re so fiercely loyal to each other. Observant readers will also be able to piece together clues in both this and the previous book to gain a few insights into the third book’s characters and history.
I love this story, love this series, and will read anything written by this talented author. If you’re a fan of historical romances, you don’t want to miss this one. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
“All Scot and Bothered (Devil You Know Book 2)” by Kerrigan Byrne
A never a dull moment historical romance with some suspense-filled didn’t see that coming surprises. There are some spicy scenes, well per my personal spice/non-spice gauge. If you are not in the market for spice in your reading; you can easily skip those parts, just as I have a tendency to do. I did thoroughly enjoy my time in this story which can be read as a stand-alone. And, if you have not read book 1 (How to Love a Duke in Ten Days) that too can be read as a stand-alone story. Meanwhile, I think this is a worthy read. Happy Reading ! !
Note: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher this is my honest review.
Received in exchange for a honest review.
Lord Ramsay when I first read him didn’t particularly get my fancy. I thought he was a bit high handed. He seemed to look down on people if they weren’t just as he thought they should be. That changed as we see him change and learn to adapt and love. Cecelia is the reason for this. He sees that there is more than meets the eye with her and when they are both on the same side and want to learn the truth, they grow closer and he begins to see that not everyone and everything is black and white but shades of grey and colour. As he sees beyond the black and white and falls in love, you see the gentle and passionate man he is and fall in love with him.
Cecelia is smart and resilient. I love how she cares passionately and isn’t one to back down from what she believes in and she believes in the program her aunt set up. Her aunt she didn’t really know. Her past is a mystery to her so to suddenly come into all that she did shocks her. To come into all she does and have Lord Ramsay as an adversary and mysteries to figure out really does invigorate and stress her at the same time.
Cecelia and Ramsay have some interesting chemistry. They exasperate each other yet they are attracted to one another. They respect each other but are on opposites side of the coin when it comes to the gambling and what is really going on at the establishment. There is some heavy handed dealings that slowly come about and have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what will happen next and who is behind it all.
The danger is like the romance a slow burn that ignites and has you go wow just wow. There is so much happening and unraveling that you don’t have time to question the motives just go with it and be thoroughly engrossed in the story of blackmail, murder and finding your way. So many twists and turns that you don’t want to put it down because you don’t want to miss anything. Cecelia and Ramsay have some great banter and respect for one another. Their relationship isn’t easy sailing and it is more fulfilling at the end because of the journey to one another. Cecelia has to learn to be more patient and understanding when it comes to Ramsay and why he is how he is and Ramsay learns to open his eyes and heart and let go. They learn to love openly and without reservation while solving the mystery of what is really going on. A great story from beginning to end and you love the main characters and their journey.
What an absolutely amazing read!!!
Cecelia lived her life alone, hated and despised, tortured for being what she could not control. Years later her life has changed, but those things that were damaged still hover in the background of her psyche. I loved that she was fiercely independent, so sweet and kind, and yet to know her no one would ever recognize that she was broken. Her interactions with Ramsay had me cheering her on as she stood up to him without ever faltering.
Ramsay was a grumpy, stern, and intractable hero. He’s got a past that has left its own mark and has created the man that refuses to yield to anything that does not stand up to his moral high ground. Watching him with Cecelia had me experiencing pretty much every emotion. Having his point of view and reading exactly how her presence affected him was spectacular as it fed my own love for a strong hero who can only see the heroine.
This has a plot with twists and turns as the mystery is revealed which left me gasping with surprise. The growth of this couple’s relationship was actually quite beautiful as they each find a form of healing in the process. Add in that their chemistry was absolutely off the charts and even them adding to their characters, and I was completely enthralled.
A perfect enemies-to-lovers read with characters that will win your heart!
This enemies to lovers/age-gap had me hooked from the very beginning! The storyline was well written and the characters were so well defined that I was totally glued to my kindle until the very last page!
All Scot and Bothered (Devil You Know, #2) by Kerrigan Byrne ..Love this series.. This one has it all .. the damaged hero and heroine, danger, deception, intrigue, tears, laughter, close friends, love/hate and lots of steamy stuff all getting us to a very HEA.
Cecelia Teague has always been extremely smart and has no family to speak of, raised from early childhood by Vicar Josiah Teague she spent most of her early years paying for the sins of others. Plucked from his awful abuse by Genevieve Leveaux, Cecelia is swept up into a comfortable life where she can be herself and is sent to the best schools. That life is exponentially complicated by the untimely death of her aunt and inheritance of Miss Henrietta’s School for Cultured Young Ladies. Enter Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. His job is to investigate all activity at the most notorious gaming house in London, owned by the one woman who’s stirred any feeling in him in 8 years.
I absolutely adored this book, it has a little bit of everything, super tragic backstories, age gap, enemies to lovers, suspense, mystery, a grump who turns soft for the smart one. I love that Cecelia is intelligent and excels at math, she’s curvy, not afraid of a challenge, and her main goal wasn’t to get married. Ramsay, what can I even say about him? Initially, I hated him, he was a self-righteous jerk, a little more than halfway through, it hit me “oh my gosh, I actually love him”. There were a couple of twists that I probably should have seen coming, but I was so swept up in the story-telling that I was caught off guard. I can not wait for the third book to see where this series goes.
Loved the second installment to this series. It has been a while since I read How to Love a Duke in 10 Days, so it took a little bit to get back into the plot as it continues. Loved Cassius and Cecelia! He is the Chief Justice and she is the new owner of a gaming hell that may deal in prostitutes on the side— oh my! Get ready for some more intrigue too! 5 amazing stars
Enemies to Lovers.
Cassius Ramsay, the Lord Chief Justice is a man of impressive control, hard and unyielding until he meets Cecelia Teague and finds himself unraveling. Whilst Cecelia discovers and loses a relative, gains a ward, inherits a fortune, a gambling hell, a school plus deadly enemies all in one day. To my mind the storyline was compressed into too short a period and felt rushed. Getting to understand her inheritance, become closer to Phoebe and develop feelings for Ramsay could have taken place over a period of weeks rather than days. It didn’t hold my attention as much as Book 1 (which I highly recommend) but I still want to read the next book in the series.
Can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another amazing story in the Devil You Know series! This time it is about Cecelia Teague, the buxom mathematician and one of the three “Red Rogues”. We first met Cecilia in How To Love a Duke in Ten Days where it was revealed that a wealthy and anonymous benefactor has been financing her education and providing her with an allowance. She has long wondered who it is, and she finally founds out who it is.
Ramsey, the Vicar of Vice and Lord Chief Justice, has dedicated his life to cleaning up the streets of London and eradicating it of its dens of inequity. He allows himself no pleasures or vices, with a reputation for having the highest of moral standards. That is, until he meets Miss Cecelia Teague, and his iron veneer and wall of ice around his heart start to crumble.
Ms. Byrne as usual delivers us an exciting story full of mystery and intrigue, with plenty of surly Scotsman thrown in. It was so much fun seeing the grumpy Lord Chief Justice melt when it came to Phoebe, and to see him slowly lower his guard when it came to Cecilia.
I knew Cecilia’s past was a tragic one, and I wanted so much for her to finally feel like she was loved and accepted just as she was. She’s inherited something unique from her benefactor that she commits to wholeheartedly, but it puts her at direct odds with Lord Chief Justice Ramsey. With the loyal Jean Yves with her and the Red Rogues, she has finally found something that makes her feel fulfilled and excited about the future. But will it come at the cost of no future with Ramsey? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out!
I have truly been loving these historical romances!! Cecilia and Ramsey together are pure perfection, and I feel like Ms. Byrne has left enough little clues in the first two books to clue me in as to who will star in book three with Francesca. I can’t wait to read it!
All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne is an enjoyable and entertaining historical romance that is the second book in the Devil You Know series. I have to confess that I have not read the first book (although I just purchased it as an ebook today) and I feel that this could easily be a stand alone novel. I look forward to reading the first to see if it has any character crossovers.
This is also the first book I have read by this author, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoy her style of writing. It is very descriptive, opulent, dramatic, flamboyant, and passionate. I thought it matched the plot, pacing, and characters nicely.
I enjoyed the relationship between Ramsay snd Cecilia. A classic opposites attract that then by being together, they seem to appreciate and improve one another. I liked the intricate plot and the combination of the storyline and the chemistry between the two main characters allowed me to fly through this gem in no time.
I look forward to more from this series and this author.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
All Scot and Bothered, by Kerrigan Byrne, is available at booksellers on 9-29-2020. Book 2 in the Devil You Know series is, to me, another hit. The series revolve around 3 boarding school friends who share a secret about a horrible situation. They’ve kept in touch and kept quiet.
Cecelia’s life is a horror movie come to life. It’s awful and will break your heart. She perseveres and somehow manages to keep a fairly good attitude and remains a nice person. She has more backbone than I do. Circumstances change, and how, putting her in the headlights of the Vicar of Vice, Lord Chief Justice, Cassius Ramsey. This guy is all messed up, straight laced to infinity. He’s difficult to like at first, well for quite a bit of the book. He’s torn between being righteous and lusting after the wrong woman. It takes him quite awhile to come to terms with his feelings but in the end love conquers all & there is a lovely HEA. Hurry up book 3.
#KerriganByrne #DevilYouKnow #AllScotandBothered #Netgalley #StMartin’sPaperbacks #historicalromance #romance
This book got me from the moment I start reading it.
Loved Cecilia, she is an awesome character in the book. When someone murder her aunt, she inherits all her possession, which is not that great and bring trouble and danger to her door.
Ramsey is another story, he is total opposite of Cecilia.
They are enemies….
Great enemies to lovers story.
Where’s the 6 star option when you need it? Yes, it’s that good! All Scot And Bothered is a fantastic historical romance by Kerrigan Byrne. Ms. Byrne has provided readers with another well-written book. The characters in this story….oh my! Spectacular. And who wouldn’t want a little Phoebe of their own? Cecelia was whisked away from the man that abused her. She was sent to school where she met her two best friends. Ramsay is the brother-in-law of one of her friends. Ramsay and Cecelia’s story is packed with drama, humor, sexy bits, action and suspense. I loved every page of this book and look forward to reading more from Kerrigan Byrne soon. All Scot And Bothered is book 2 of the Devil You Know Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cecelia Teague was rescued from a horrible life by an unknown benefactor. As an adult she finds out her benefactor was her mother’s sister, who owned a gaming hell with games of chance and prostitution. It’s not all that it seems. The money from this hell supports training for woman to get an education to make an honest living. Cassius Gerard Ramsey, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court suspects this place kidnaps young girls and sells them. It’s not true, but Ramsey is determined to prove that it is, until Cecelia breaks down his defenses. A coded book, a bomb, near death and on the run to Scotland. Never a dull moment.
A free copy of this book for an honest review.
The second book on the Devil You Know series follows the story of Ms. Cecelia Teague and Lord Chief Justice, Cassius Gerard Ramsay.
Lord Ramsay has been attracted to Cecelia since he first saw her at his brother’s engagement party, but he has avoided overindulgence for the best part of a decade and doesn’t plan to be tempted by the fiery redhead.
When Cecelia learns she’s the recipient of her aunt’s inheritance, which includes a gaming establishment, she’ll find herself in Lord Ramsay’s sights and not for the right reasons.
This was another entertaining read by this author filled with solid characters that have very interesting backstories and good secondary characters. There were a few truly unexpected surprises which made the experience even better.
IMO, the only downfall is, that once again, I found the book too long for my taste and feel it could have been done with a little less embellishment. In all it was a nice read and I can’t wait to read about the last Red Rogue.
3.75 stars
My Recommendation
All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne WONDERFUL book ( I received this book through NetGalley)
England’s Chief Justice is an overly principled Scot who meets his match in the owner of a famous gambling, and according to the hero, prostitution house.
I stayed up all night to finish reading this book. Once I began reading I never put it down !!.
I’m totally convinced that Ms. Byrne is one of the most gifted authors of the romance genre. I had read and immensely enjoyed her work previously and was interested in seeing how she is developing as a writer.
To say I was pleasantly surprised by this work is beyond an understatement. It was absolutely fantastic!!
As a retired librarian who has read extensively of contemporary, futuristic but primarily historical romance, I can’t express just how talented this author is.
If you haven’t discovered Ms. Byrne yet, I encourage you to read her work.
If you have, keep reading. You won’t be disappointed.