WHITNEY AWARD FINALIST 2019 FOR BEST HISTORICAL ROMANCELady Jane Everard cannot abide the new Earl of Hadley. The unmannered Scot is a menace to genteel ladies everywhere, what with his booming laugh and swishing kilt and endless supply of ‘ochs’ and ‘ayes.’ Jane wishes Lord Hadley would behave as an earl should and adhere to English rules of polite conduct.Andrew Langston, the new Earl of … conduct.
Andrew Langston, the new Earl of Hadley, knows that the English aristocracy think poorly of his lowly Scottish upbringing. This is hardly new. History is littered with the English assuming the worst about Scotland. By living up to their lowest expectations, he is simply fulfilling his civic duty as a Scotsman.
Jane sees Andrew as an unmannered eejit. Andrew considers Jane to be a haughty English lady. But, as the saying goes, . . . opposites attract.
And what if beneath his boisterous behavior and her chilly reserve, Andrew and Jane are not nearly as different as they suppose? Can Scotland and England reach a harmonious union at last?
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Enjoyed the exposure of prejudices and the humor involved in exposing them.
This story just kinda stopped rather than ended trying to have the reader purchase the next book in the series . I did not appreciate that . But other wise it was a wonderful book .
I thoroughly enjoyed “Suffering the Scot!” Andrew and Jane were great, multifaceted characters. I am always a sucker for Scottish/Irish stories anyway and this one stole my heart. Such a great romance which often had me laughing.
There’s also a mystery which is Central to the story line, and which has some truly sad elements included. I hope to read more of Andrew and Jane, as well as some future romance for the supporting characters of this book, including Rafe, Kieran, Ewan, and possibly even Peter.
A very good read. The characters were well developed. The story was unpredictable and hard to put down. I love this authors writing and have read many of her books and she never disappoints. Please keep writing.
When Andrew MacKenzie’s grandfather dies, he finds himself in possession of an English earldom. But what will his stiff English relatives make of his uncouth Scottish ways? Irritated by the prejudice surrounding him, the new Lord Hadley dons a kilt and makes himself as Scottish as can be. Will his outragous behavior crack the brittle exterior of the prim and proper Lady Jane?
Jane Everard has been schooling her “baser nature” into submission ever since she was young girl. No one wants a high-spirited filly for a wife–or so she has been told by her mother and elder brother ad nauseam. But when the ungentlemanly and unattractive Lord Hadley takes up residence at the country estate, Jane is sorely tempted to forgo propriety and ring a peal over his head. Will the broad-shouldered interloper never stop plaguing her? And why does he have to be so competent, so kind, and the only one who really sees her for who she really is?
This clean Regency romance was full of well-drawn characters. A dashing, self-made man plays the hero and a beautiful but wronged heroine finds herself very much in need of rescue. Though much of the story is lighthearted, the subplot surrounding the death of one of Andrew’s friends adds a darker cast to the story, and the mysterious elements of the plot build up the drama in this enjoyable read. Nichole Van has a talent for creating intriguing premises in her novels (see my review of her novel Seeing Miss Heartstone), and her plots are not easily forgotten after the book is finished.
When I want to read and not put down a book it is a five-star rating for me. Dirty dishes can wait!
Andrew has just come into his inheritance. Now he has to deal with an unfriendly extended family and put some English Lord’s in their place. The way he and his friends go about it is entertaining. They choose to give a show of the misconceptions of Scottish behavior. There were many moments that had me laughing.
While some parts of the book are lighthearted there is a very serious side to the characters. Andrew and his Scottish friends are determined to discover who is behind the death of their friend and sabotaging what should have been a scientific discovery voyage for them. His inheritance in England is fortuitous for them. It gives them a “home base” to investigate. I was shocked at the discovery of the perpetrator. Nichole Van does a very fantastic job at laying the groundwork for the big reveal. The way she handles the incident is exemplary.
This book is not only a book about revenge, but it is also a love story. Jane has been told to live her life as a lady should. Her family suppresses who she is and force her to be who they want her to be. Andrew sees her potential and encourages her to be her true self. In the process, love blooms.
This is a book that is well written and a delight to read.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book but by just a few pages I was getting sucked right in. The Scot was something of a caricature which made him a little humorous. There is a great lesson to be learned about stereotypes, gossip and pre-judging people. There were also some lessons on mercy vs justice that were rather thought provoking and for a while I couldn’t see how we could have a satisfactory ending because of the difficulty of satisfying both mercy and justice.
Most of the English characters in this book were insufferable snobs, at least in the beginning. There had to be some growth and changes or this book could not have progressed. They were all awful.
There was some intrigue in the story and I thought I had the villain picked out right off but it didn’t turn out exactly how I thought it would which only added to the intrigue.
It is a long book so unless you are a super fast reader this isn’t one you are going to get through in an afternoon. I rather expected the story to begin dragging due to the length but it didn’t.
I know I have a limited vocabulary and maybe other people wouldn’t have the same experience but there were a lot of words in the book that I only understood by context. Some were Scottish but some were just big words or old words not commonly used among my peers. The author may have been trying to educate me. I could use it. She did spend a great deal of time educating the reader about the conflicts between the English and Scots so we could understand the story better.
Overall I thought it was a good read.
Sex: no
Language: yes
Violence: a bit
One of Nicole’s better books. Looking forward to the next
A really delightful read. I loved the introduction of Andrew the Scot into the aristocratic household where the people were used to getting their own way, at other people’s expense. The frustration of Jane, living in such a confined role in spite of the luxurious setting. I enjoyed the easy to read writing style the author used to weave an intriguing story. I thoroughly recommend this great read.
I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review.
The only other book by Van that I’ve read is “Seeing Miss Heartstone” and I really enjoyed that. This book obviously involves a Scottish man, who inherits an earldom in Sussex and his English relatives aren’t happy he’s there.
It was confusing trying to figure out the family, the new Earl’s grandfather was married to Jane’s mother? I’ve heard that there was a family tree on a page but I had an ebook and it opened right up to the first page of the book. So if it was at the beginning I didn’t see it.
I liked the enemies to lovers trope but I felt like this book took too long and the pacing too slow before anything came of it. It wasn’t until 50% in that it really started to get interesting and it shouldn’t take that long. I understand the author wanted to help readers understand the long running feelings between English and Scots and adding in some Scottish brogue and that’s okay. I appreciate that but it was drawn out way too much at the beginning.
Once I finally got into the interesting bits about 70% onward, I couldn’t put it down. This is going to be a series following the band of brothers. It’ll be interesting to learn more about them and to get glimpses of Jane and Andrew. I think if Jane really loved Andrew, why would she have waited a month to go to him? And I don’t know Scottish customs very well but wouldn’t it be an insult to Andrew’s Scottish family to be wearing a different tartan?
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Also, enjoyed learning more about the history of England and Scotland. It made me laugh out load in many places. Couldn’t put it down!
First, all my reviews are honest to the core. If I don’t like a book, I will tell you, no matter what or who the author is.
Suffering the Scot was by far an amazing book. The kind that kept me reading well past my time to go to sleep and kept me glued to what was going to happen next. OH the humor intricately intertwined in the story was sooooo good. Seriously loved the chemistry happening as well as the in your face moments that had me laughing out loud. Nichole Van successfully had a movie playing in my head, start to finish, without the interruptions that often happen in stories. THANK YOU for never causing me to push the “pause” button. The story flowed smoothly, sizzled where it needed to, and just had some really good down to earth character builds.
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Romance, clean; Period; Series, but stand alone read
Andrew and Jane’s story intermingled in family drama and machinations, along with crimes and subterfuge, was a lush, gorgeous read. Andrew was a great H, his intelligence, wit, and subtleties as a character were a pleasure to read. Jane’s dilemma, with all the nuances of her life as others tried to control her, her finances, her family, was heartbreaking and so sad as she tried to have peace, hope, happiness and bit of fun and normalcy in an otherwise controlled and manipulated existence. She sought the comforts of the one person who loved her, and knew her for who she was.
This was really lovely read. So many times it is easy to guess the outcomes in a light novel. This wasn’t the case. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the twists and turns this novel had. I have always enjoyed this author, but this cemented my firm following of her work. I can’t wait to read the rest of the novels in this series. It deserves to be widely read. While I would still categorize this as light romance, the characters are well-drawn, the secondary characters supporting the story-line well, and the setting was rich. I loved how it all pulled together and the ‘out’ at the end. The end notes were a nice touch to the novel. Wanting to take a dive into Scottish history after this! I will say I am a fan of this author and their writing to be fair.
I can’t wait for more in this series. I loved the H and his friends. They were each fun characters. The way the romance grew between the H & h was fun and nice. I felt it. This author always has great dialogue and the ability to draw you into the story and keep you there. A few good twists in the story. Some good food for thought on mercy and justice. I hope there’s a future book on the h’s brother. I found the H witty and funny. I thought the h was feisty and the way the author helped her grow was well done.
Another wonderful story by Ms. Van.
Well edited.
Set entirely in the early 1800’s, this one deals with one of the members of the Brotherhood of the Black Tartan. Andrew, Kianan, Rafe, Alex, and Ewan are bound by a tragedy. They are looking for the culprit, and have not made much headway in the last three years. In the meantime, Andrew has inherited an Earldom. Jane, her mother, and her brother, Peter, are all under the impression that Andrew is an uneducated Scot. Andrew is anything but – well except for the Scot part. Jane has been repressed, belittled, and berated since age 12. She is also a duke’s sister, and expected to show her best self at all times. Her older brother, the Duke has plans. Will Andrew be able to win Jane’s heart and set her real self free? Will Jane ever follow her heart? Who orchestrated the tragedy that befell Andrew and his friends? What is going on with the Duke and his plans?
So many threads and all are tied at the end. Looking forward to the stories of the rest of the Brotherhood. Enjoy!
I have a list of favorite authors who never fail to write a wonderful story. Nichole Van is right at the top. Another winner, I devoured this book from beginning to end. Delightful characters, swishing kilts, laughter and tears, mystery and villains all combined into a thoroughly engrossing tale. But the best part is the message of being true to yourself, accepting yourself, flaws and all, and finding the one who loves your wild, fiery side. Lady Jane Everard’s perfectly ordered life is upended the moment she meets Lord Andrew Langston. “She adored being known, loved, and accepted, just as she was.” This barbaric Scot leaves disasters in his wake and threatens the security of his English relations. Watching Jane blossom after having been “so thoroughly silenced” and controlled was gratifying as I witnessed the emergence of Jane of Rosehearth. So many funny scenes and quotable moments as Andrew determinedly breaks down Jane’s barriers with his crude behavior and boorish manners. I delighted in the wicked “tea prank” and the scandalously naked knees. The Scottish dialect added authenticity to the story, as did the cultural menu items. The plot twist really took me by surprise. I did not expect that turn of events. “When one can control so very little about one’s life, you take your victories where you can. Rocks never change. There is a comfort in knowing that something in this world is ever constant.” There is also an intelligent, informative side of this book as Andrew and Jane discover what they have in common. In the end, Andrew’s charm won my heart. I love a man with a sense of humor and honor. He and his “Brethren of the Black Tartan” shined in this book. I look forward to reading their stories.
*I received a free copy of this story. All opinions are uniquely my own.
All his life, Andrew has been groomed to be the Earl of Hadley. Whether or not his English family ever saw him as such, he never knew. But when his grandfather passed away and left everything to him, he knew he needed to step up and take his place as Earl. He knew the task would not be easy, but he was not one to shirk his responsibilities.
All her life, Jane has been viewed as a pawn. It’s like her sole purpose on the earth was for the betterment of her family’s station in life. She must bow down to their wishes. She must always be in control of her emotions. She cannot let wild Jane out for the world to see.
Jane and Andrew couldn’t be more different, yet they were completely perfect for each other. From the moment they set eyes on each other, sparks started flying and they both knew that their lives would forever be changed.
Andrew knew that he wanted this fiery, feisty woman in his life but that it would have to be on her terms. He did not want to force her to do his bidding. He wanted to be the one to set her free and let her live the life of her own choosing. Her happiness was all that mattered to him. And for the first time ever, someone saw the real Jane. The Jane that she kept hidden away. To receive encouragement to let the real Jane shine was just what she needed to blossom into the person she was meant to be.
But as life goes, things are thrown into their path that will test them, have them doubting what they should do, who they should be. They just need to find the strength to keep pushing forward and know that, in the end, things will be as they should be.
Oh my gosh! You guys! I absolutely adored this book! Once I started reading, I had an extremely hard time putting it down! I found myself getting irrationally angry when I had to stop reading and be an adult. I love a book that can give me all the feels and Suffering the Scot did just that! From laughing out loud (chamomile tea anyone?), to feeling angry on several occasions, getting teary eyed a time or two and letting out little dreamy sighs throughout the book. I loved every minute of reading! I struggled between wanting to hurry up and finish so I would know what happened and wanting to read slowly so I could savor every minute of Jane and Andrew.
I can already tell that this series is going to be AMAZING! I can’t wait for the next book to be released!
Ms. Van has quickly climbed my favorite authors list. I have loved every book of hers I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!