Some brides like it wilder…A single lady of birth, beauty, and large fortune should not have this much trouble making a match. Yet after two failed betrothals, Lady Juliana Bernard is in a bind. She must find a husband at once or lose guardianship of her beloved niece. Her childhood friend the Duke of Blackmore is her last, best hope, but once she tracks him down in Scotland, she receives … she tracks him down in Scotland, she receives startling news.
First,the duke is already engaged. Second, it’s his brother Logan’s fault Juliana is now lacking a bridegroom. So, what’s a lady to do when she’s lost her betrothed?Marry his scandalous brother, the Laird of Clan Kinross.
Wooing does not go well at first. But just as Juliana begins to welcome the boisterous but tenderhearted Scot into her life (and her bed), secrets come between themonce more. And it will take a determined husband indeed to ensure that a marriage begun in haste leads not to heartache…but to love.
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We met Lady Juliana Bernard in The Wayward Bride, book one in this series. I really liked her in that book because she was intelligent, caring, and seemed to have her act together. In this book, Juliana seems to be a tale of two people. In the Scottish portion of the book, she is strong, intelligent, caring – stubborn and determined. In the English portion of the book, she seems to shrink as a person. I did enjoy both locations, but the Lady Juliana that we meet and get to know in Scotland is much more relatable than the one we meet in England.
Logan Blair loves Scotland and his clan above all else. He is devastated by the clearances that are happening all over Scotland and does everything in his power to help the people – especially those on his lands. Well, technically they aren’t his lands and technically he isn’t laird, but he was raised to act as laird and to care for the people of the land. Logan has a twin brother who is eighteen minutes older than him and it is that brother who owns the lands and the lairdship. That could all be well and good, but the two brothers were separated shortly after birth – the older brother was raised by his uncle in England and the other was raised in Scotland. Logan’s brother is the heir to his uncle’s dukedom and they haven’t seen each other in all that time.
When I mentioned that Logan would do everything in his power to help his people – that is literally true – and what he does causes harm to others without his meaning for it to do so. When the person who was harmed turns up at his door, he doesn’t feel guilty at all because what he did was for the good of his clan. But then, he comes to understand the real harm he’s caused – not that he is inclined, at first, to remedy the situation.
Lady Juliana is as dedicated to her young niece, Grace, as Logan is to Scotland and his clan. When she acted nobly – in The Wayward Bride – she thought she had another alternative. However, she hasn’t heard from that alternative in months and her time is running out. If she isn’t married soon, before her father dies, she’ll lose custody of Grace to a really despicable character. She absolutely cannot allow that to happen and takes off for Scotland to track down her betrothed.
This story is well-written and well-plotted but I did have a little trouble understanding how Juliana came to Love Logan so quickly. He’d done something that could ruin not only her life, but her niece’s as well, and he showed no remorse for it nor any real intention of making amends. Yes, don’t get me wrong – I LOVED Logan – I just didn’t get how she could become so enamored of him so quickly. On the other hand – I can easily see why he’d come to care for her – she was honest, brave and strong.
I couldn’t give a 5-star rating because there was just too much – misconception, jumping to conclusions, and total lack of communication. They spent more time angry and not speaking than they did actually speaking which is why I came to question the true romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1818
A dying father, a betrothed in Scotland and the desperation to obtain guardianship of her niece keeps one determined English lady on course to Scotland. Only things don’t go according to her plan. It will take her betrothal’s twin brother to save the day, if only he’ll cooperate. Very, very entertaining, laugh out loud, 5 Stars book!!!
A free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Beautifully written with exceptional character development and period atmosphere!!!!! A MUST READ!!!!!
To Wed a Wild Scot is Anna Bradley’s second book in her Besotted Scots series. If you haven’t read the first yet, you’ll get along just fine jumping in here. However, since Juliana appeared in the previous book and was important in that storyline, I recommend reading that first.
Lady Juliana Bernard is going to lose custody of her beloved niece Grace unless she gets married, and quickly. She has written to her best friend Fitzwilliam, the Duke of Blackmore, to whom she has been betrothed since childhood to ask him to marry her; however, she never heard back from him. So she heads to Scotland to find him. Who she does find, however, is Logan Blair, the (former) Laird of Clan Kinross, and twin of Fitzwilliam. Apparently Logan has been intercepting Juliana and Fitz’s mail and destroying it to keep them apart. Logan’s heart is in the right place…after witnessing the Scottish Clearances, he is doing everything he can to save his clan. Since Fitz is now unavailable to marry Juliana, she demands that Logan do the honorable thing and marry her.
Though Juliana and Logan do not like each other, their chemistry is off the charts. Juliana is a strong, stubborn woman. The well-being of her niece is the most important thing in her life. Logan, too, is a strong, stubborn person. His clan means everything to him. The more time they spend together, the closer they become and their feelings intensify. They marry and head to Juliana’s home, hopefully before her severely ill father dies. Juliana struggles with her feelings toward her father, while Logan does everything he can to stop the man who threatens Juliana’s custody of Grace. I really enjoyed this book, but not as much as the previous book. Though their chemistry is intense, the distrust between them began to irritate me. Still, this series and author are not to be missed.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
After two betrothals that didn’t actually end in marriage, Lady Juliana Bernard is rather desperate for a husband. If she doesn’t find one soon she’ll lose guardianship of her beloved niece to a greedy, dangerous neighbor when her ailing father succumbs to his illness. Her friend since childhood, Fitzwilliam Vaughn, the Duke of Blackmore, is her best hope. Juliana hies off to Scotland after him only to be shocked upon her arrival to find that Fitz has fallen in love and become betrothed to someone else. Not only that, Fitz has a twin brother, Logan Blair, who had a large hand in keeping Fitz and Juliana from corresponding, thus leading to Juliana’s detrimentally single state. With no betrothed, Juliana’s best option is to marry Logan, recognized by his people as Laird of Clan Kinross.
Logan has no desire to marry a highborn Englishwoman who’d take him away from his people, but the more time he spends with her the more he comes to truly care for her and she for him. But just as these two begin to find their way, secrets and misunderstandings come between them again and each has to find a way to make things right.
I got so frustrated with these two! It’s like they continually took two steps forward and one step back. So much of their issue could’ve been avoided if they’d simply communicated with each other better, but given the circumstances of their marriage and how quickly it came about, their struggles were realistic and so relatable. Plus they ultimately worked for the good of one another and overcame some serious insecurities together and I loved them as a couple. I’m itching for the next book in this series already.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Scottish clearances were real and to say the least horrible for Scots. This book’s prologue describes one of the terrible instances, giving the reader a look into Logan Blair’s actions several years later. Lady Juliana is a woman with a dilemma. She needs to be married in order to gain custody of her niece, Grace. Her time is running out since her father is very ill and has named Lord Benedict Bowden as Grace’s guardian. Although Juliana knows Lord Cowden’s true nature, her father does not. She will do anything to save her niece from being raised by a cold, calculating villain. And so we find Juliana traveling to Scotland to find and marry her best friend and long time betrothed, Fitzwilliam. Only she did not know Fitz had an identical twin, from whom he was separated from birth unaware of his existence until a short while ago. Logan, the Scot twin brother is all about the clan, and saving them from the clearances. To this end he has destroyed most of Juliana and Fitz’s letters to each other. Desperation has Juliana following Logan after a chance meeting all the way to Castle Kinross and Fitz. What happens when she finally meet up with Fits and finds he is now unavailable? Will she be able to get a replacement husband quickly? And when she does, will she make it back to her father in time to seal Grace’s future? I read several of Anna Bradley’s books. I must say this is my favorite so far and I really enjoyed several of the others. This read has some unexpected twists here and there, along with a little character danger here and there. I received this eBook from the publisher for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Logan & Juliana’s story! He’s a stubborn Scot and she’s a stubborn Englishwoman….put the two together and you get fireworks!! Not liking each other very much when they first meet, it doesn’t take long before their feelings change but due to misunderstandings and various events, neither admits their love to each other until it’s almost too late.
It was also interesting to read about the Highland Clearances and how entire villages and the people in them were destroyed…..not a very proud time in history!!
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Lady Juliana Bernard had to get married quickly so that her beloved niece Grace would not end up with a villain for a guardian. Juliana departed for Scotland, where she would ask her best friend, Fitzwilliam Vaughan, the Duke of Blackmore to marry her. After all, they had been betrothed since childhood. Alas, during the months when she’d had no news from him, Fitzwilliam had found love. In view of everything that happened, Logan Blair, Fitzwilliam’s brother would marry her and set things right, even if it’s the last thing he wants.
Goodness me, where to begin? TO WED A WILD SCOT has one of the most dramatic prologues I have ever read, and crucial in understanding Logan’s motivations. If the prologue doesn’t grab your attention, nothing ever will. Logan hates the English, and it’s entirely justified, but what he did was wrong, and made Juliana’s predicament even worse. I was on the edge of my seat from the first pages, and completely involved in the story. Anna Bradley writes with superlative assurance, her words impart movement, emotions, a feeling of urgency; you’re not reading the story, you’re living it. There are so many splendid scenes, but the reason why Logan had first noticed Juliana is utterly memorable.
The euphoria of a heroine who is not an imbecile! She’s all business, she’s on a mission, and she will do everything to ensure Grace’s well-being. Juliana is simply magnificent, she has to be one of my favourite heroines ever! And she needed her backbone of steel, because Logan is a formidable adversary. And if you enjoy seeing a hero grovelling to atone for his many mistakes, Logan is your man. By chapter six, I was nearly moved to tears because I couldn’t fathom how it would all work out for the better. Neither could I see how the romance would play out, because it seemed like mission impossible.
TO WED A WILD SCOT is a masterpiece of stellar storytelling, with a brilliantly crafted and very intricate plot, and enough twists and turns to make your head spin, and all of them believable. I have seldom seen so many exceptionally complex and well defined characters whose interactions are, at times, painfully realistic. The villain, whom we had met in Book 1, The Wayward Bride, is absolutely perfect; no moustache-twirling ogre with bad breath here, my friends. I had loved to hate him then, and he remained true to himself. I’m not sure how Ms. Bradley did it but, while this story was set up in the previous installment, TO WED A WILD SCOT stands entirely on its own. I could have done – again – with fewer sex scenes, as I started skimming them at some point. Now, this is a personal preference, and I know most readers disagree with me: the Gaelic. I don’t know how to pronounce it, I don’t know what the words and expressions mean, and when they’re not immediately translated, I just stop reading them. There is a Gaelic glossary at the end, but I’m too lazy to go check. I never “penalise” the author, but for me, too much Gaelic constitutes a minus. Still, TO WED A WILD SCOT is a superb, intelligent, exciting, and historically accurate Regency romance. And do read the Author’s Notes at the very end, as they are most enlightening. Ms. Bradley’s dazzling eloquence, her sublime prose, clever dialogues, and supremely compelling characters are the icing on this scrumptious cake.
Logan is a stubborn loyal Scotsman whom, due to guilt, weds himself to Juliana an English heiress. The author clearly portrays the different worlds these two characters come from and how they overcome their differences for love. I received an ARC for my honest review.
One more new-author-to-me discovered today. Well not today, as I preordered this book when I first read the blurb. Even if it is often full of angst what I am not always fond, this enemies to lovers romance was definitively a must-read.
The main couple to reach their happily ever after has a long way stretching in front of them. Nothing will be easy, from their instant dislike to their growing attraction to their acceptance of their sentiments.
It is incredible how misconceptions and miscommunications can cause pain and heartache. Their inability to trust the other and their choice to listen more to side whisperers than their own spouses were cause to lot of hurt they could have avoided if they gave another time to sort their feelings out.
At time I wanted to shake them, put them in a roll, bar all the doors and let them set all the accounts right.
They try to win game points but each time by their incapacity to communicate and keeping secrets from the other, they have the opposite result, only wounding each other.
Juliane will do anything to keep the guardianship of her niece, as she is one to sacrifice everything for those she loves, even cross two countries to meet her promised and even settle for an unexpected choice when things go awry. But for once, she meets a man who sees her, really sees her. For who she is and not the asset she could be if rightly played.
« “I’m afraid if I ask for help too often, I’ll forget how to help myself. It wouldn’t be so surprising, really. I was raised to be decorative, not useful.” »
Logan grew up as the Laird of Clan Kinross but the reappearance of his twin brother, switches the role. Whatever, he will do anything to protect his kin, like preventing the coming of a certain sassenach. So when said lass sets foot on his lands and demands he rectifies what his meddling caused, he thought he would run away.
But during their short time together, the unthinkable occurred, after heated words and verbal sparing sessions, they came to see the other in a whole new way until old doubts come sputter their bitterness in their mind.
Their journey together from Scotland to England and back is the reflection of the turmoils of their heart. They love each other but are unable to convey their feelings without hurting another.
Fortunately their stubbornness and fiery temper will extinguish at time to see them open their eyes.
« It wasn’t weakness to turn yourself over, body and soul, to the person you loved. It wasn’t weakness to trust them to take care of you. His love for her didn’t make him weaker. It made him stronger. »
I was granted an advance copy by Netgalley and the publisher Kensington Books, I purchased my own copy too. It is my true and unbiased opinion.
Loved this Scot/English couple. The inserts of garlic was nice. Logan is a cocky man that needed a sassy women like Juliana. She is a force to mess with. She has a love for little Grace her niece and will do anything to keep her. Up to almost anything but breaking up a love match that is. Which leaves us with Logan lol. This pair wow their fireworks. Both with their joint attraction and their battles of wills with each other.
To Wed a Wild Scot is another wonderful story by Anna Bradley.
What’s a lady to do when she’s lost her betrothed? Why marry his scandalous brother of course, the Laird of Clan Kinross…and in the process finds her perfect match.
Very well written and well paced. Juliana and Logan begun a marriage in haste but along the way the stubborn lady and tender hearted laird found more in each other than they both first thought.
Cute, quick read. A pleasant distraction from an unpleasant world
Review originally published at Romancing Romances.
I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
4.25*
This was my first Anna Bradley’s book – and I loved it!
There’s so much bantering, and funny moments, and love in this book! Yes, there’s also miscommunication, and some moments when the reader is clutching the book, waiting to see what’s going to happen next, but it just made everything more exciting.
Juliana Bernard is a woman that decides to take her future in her hands, not just for herself, but for her sweet niece, and she hopes her friend, the Duke of Blackmore, might help her. But when she reaches him, she finds out he’s already with someone whom he’s in love with, and she does not want to break apart two people who clearly love each other. Juliana feels like she has no other option, and when he suggests his brother Logan.
Logan is a true Scot, and he’s been keeping Juliana (and her letters) from reaching his brother, for reasons he believed were good, but he starts to understand that maybe that wasn’t his best move. He’s a bit of a brute at the beginning, and it’s not very easy to like him right away. But when we get to see more of him with his family, and clan, it becomes easier to believe he’s a good hero.
When he meets Juliana, a proper English lady, he wants nothing with her, even if she intrigues him. Even though he is a Scot, and the last thing he wants is to marry an English lady, he also has the heart of a gentleman, and so, even though they decide not to marry at the beginning of the book, he starts to get to know her, her strong character, her sweetness, how good she is with everyone, how she has the people in his clan ready to marry her and protect her. Maybe an English lady wouldn’t be such a bad idea, after all…
When they start to be better acquainted with each other, and stop hating – not hating, disliking – one another, things start to change. But, as usual, it couldn’t be this easy to fix everything, right?
Miscommunication and past secrets come up, and threaten the peace that had started to grow between our main characters, and they have to fight to stay together. They have huge trust issues, which is a big part of why they don’t get together sooner.
A romance with angst and very different, flawed characters that end up finding love together.
Anna Bradley
So, what’s a lady to do when she’s lost her betrothed? Marry his scandalous brother, the Laird of Clan Kinross.
Anna Bradley writes so beautifully that she makes my heart sing. Add to that her gorgeous heroes and heroines and this is another ‘must’ read.
Misunderstandings abound in Anna Bradley’s To Wed a Wild Scot which lead to some a desperate time for our heroine. But boy does she turn the hero on his head (and steals his heart) with her determination to right a wrong and fight for what she so desperately wants. Add in a villain that I would have liked to climb in the book and give a punch (or two) to and you have a 5 star read.
Loved it!
Loved it
To Wed a Wild Scot finds Lady Juliana Bernard desperately in search of a husband. With her father’s failing health, Juliana needs a husband fast to keep guardianship of the niece she has raised. Chasing down an old childhood friend the Duke of Blackmore, Juliana trapses across Scotland to find out that his twin brother threw away all of her letters and pleas to the Duke. The Duke is newly engaged and that only leaves one option for Juliana’s husband. Logan, Laird of Clan Kinross and brother of the Duke of Blackmore, will do whatever it takes to protect his clan even marry a sassy English miss. A marriage of convenience quickly leads to true love in the entertaining story that is sometimes sweet and sometimes smoking hot with a satisfying HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy form Netgalley.
Lady Juliana Bernard goes to Scotland in the hopes that once there her childhood friend Fitzwilliam, the Duke of Blackmore will let her explain how hard her and her beloved niece’s life was in England and agree to care and protect them by marrying her. But when she finally tracks where he is, she founds out that he is already betrothed. Later she discovers that it was his brother Logan that had kept her letters from him and as it was agreed that her plight was all his fault, an agreement is made
between them that they would marry.
This was a delightful enemies-to-lovers story, Lady Juliana and Logan were perfect for each other, even if it took a while for them to see that. Loved this book!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.