Rose Fleming has been presumed dead for the last decade. It required leaving everything–and everyone–she loved behind, including MacAllister Campbell. But faking her death allowed her to stay safe until the threat posed by a mysterious villain had passed. Believing it’s finally safe again, she returns…and runs smack into the only man she ever loved. But Rose was wrong and the stalker she … stalker she escaped years ago still has her in his sights.
Ten years ago, Mac mourned the death of the woman he loved. It’s taken years to heal his heart only to discover that not only is Rose still alive, but still in grave danger. Mac can forgive Rose’s deception, but he’d never be able to forgive himself if he didn’t protect her from the evil still stalking her.
The only thing worse than losing her once would be losing her again… and he won’t let that happen.
Each book in the Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service series is STANDALONE:
* When a Lady Deceives
* When a Lady Dares
* When a Lady Desires a Wicked Lord
* When a Lady Kisses a Scot
more
3.5 Stars
“We all have our secrets…”
Rose Fleming has been in hiding for the better part of her life. After the death of her brother and the threat on her own life, Rose flees her home in Scotland and builds a new life for herself in New York. Finally feeling safe with an ocean between her and the villain that has haunted her dreams, Rose is stricken with fear when she receives an ominous note from her aunt beseeching her help. Without thought to her own safety, Rose rushes to her aunt’s side only to discover she is too late, and was lured back to London for reasons far too sinister to imagine.
MacAllister Campbell is shocked to discover that the woman who ran into his arms as if the very Devil was chasing her is non-other than his lost love, Rose Fleming. Long thought dead these past 10 years, when she clings to him and begs for his kiss, he’s, of course, obliged to come to her rescue. But as the plot of her reasons for fleeing the country and faking her death unravels, MacAllister vows to protect Rose at any cost…even if it’s his own life.
When A Lady Kisses a Scot is my first read by Tara Kingston. What lies within these pages, is not what the shiny cover portrays. Rose and MacAllister’s journey to a happily ever after is filled with a macabre mystery. Once I set the thought of this being a romance to the side and read it as a mystery, I found myself enjoying the story more. This is part of Tara Kingston’s Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service Series, but may be read standalone. There are no cliffhangers. Would recommend to fans of historical reads.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
I absolutely loved that this story did not follow the typical, historical romance ‘formula’. It was a very unique tale that immediately drew me in. The characters were vivid and complex and made the story seem so realistic, that I often felt like I was actually there watching the story unfold.
#WhenALadyKissesAScot #TaraKingston #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Entangled Publishing, LLC in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
When Rose returns to England she didn’t expect to run into the man she left behind ten years ago. Living in America she was safe, returning to London put her life in danger again. MacAlister thought she was dead. The joy is back in his life, but with Rose in danger his only goal is to protect her. Tattoos, an old picture, jewelry and multiple deaths lead Rose and MacAlister on the path of the killers. A who done it with good verses evil and romance. Free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
After fleeing for her life ten years before, Rose Fleming has returned to England to late to save her aunt. Although she is scared, this time she will see justice done. She did not expect to run into an old friend.
MacAllister Campbell is a journalist and an agent for the Crown. When a woman who he believed dead suddenly appears, his whole world is turned upside down.
The bodies soon start to pile up around our heroine. It’s time to take the help of people who know how to help. Our hero will do his best to find the culprits and keep her safe.
A very exciting murder mystery.
This is a Victorian historical romance and part of a series. Each book in the series is connected but can be read alone.
I loved it.
There is so much going on in When a Lady Kisses a Scot–a heroine in hiding, presumed dead; a hero and associates who are part of “Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service;” a secret society with evil intentions; hidden tattoos; mysterious pictures and jewelry; so many characters with probably nefarious intentions–at times it was all a bit much to keep track of, and not having read earlier books in the series, I wasn’t familiar with those characters either. (They play roles here, but you don’t have to have read their stories to read this one; it just would have been easier to keep track of who was who if I’d read the others first.) The pacing also seemed a bit uneven–at times we were hurtling around at breakneck speed, and at other times I found myself checking how much more of the book was left…
Overall it was a decent story–the ending is satisfying, and the bad guys/gals eventually get their due (though I still don’t 100% understand what exactly they were trying to do–their precise motivations were a bit vague beyond the idea of somehow gaining immortality and power). I do like the idea of men and women working together in “secret service” type organizations, especially in a historical romance, so chances are good that I’d pick up another book by this author even if I didn’t totally love everything about this one.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I was granted the privilege to read an ARC of this book not knowing it was number 4 in the series. I was worried when I noticed but this can be read as a stand-alone. You get to meet the other characters from past books as you find out they are together but honestly if you are a romance lover like me, we all know the hero and heroine will get together in the end . I also had no clue how much adventure and suspense I would find with in the pages of this amazing book! Tara Kingston is a new to me author but not anymore! I loved her style of writing; she has created a wonderful world were women and men work together to keep people safe. I loved every page, cried, screamed, and wanted to cover my eyes at parts.
Rose and MacAllister are two headstrong set in their lives people and even though they want to be together it doesn’t look possible. Rose lives in NYC and MacAllister lives in London, not exactly the easiest commute. Not that they get to think about that in the beginning anyway. There is someone trying to keep their happy ever after from becoming a possibility. Rose and MacAllister have to work together to know if a future is even possible. So, what are you waiting for go grab this fantastic book, curl up in your spot an enjoy!
When she fled Scotland for America a decade ago, Rose gave up any hope of seeing MacAllister Campbell, the man she’d loved, in favor of survival. Her life depended on the man hunting for her believing her dead.
Now, she’s back in London, determined to find justice for her aunt, but she’s starting to suspect she’s been lured into a trap. When she runs into MacAllister by chance, she knows he might be the only man in England she can trust – if he’ll forgive her for letting him believe she was dead.
I always get frustrated with this sort of story if the man starts making the deception All About His Feelings, because survival trumps honesty any day, but to MacAllister’s credit he only had one or two moments of resentment about it, recognising very quickly that Rose’s enemies were well-funded and well-connected, and willing to stop at nothing to get her.
There was a lot of belief in the occult during the Victorian era, and the story plays heavily on that, with what amounts to a cult seeking Rose for their own purposes, determined to sacrifice her in an attempt to gain immortality. There’s no actual paranormal events in the book, just people doing what people do for their own selfish reasons, but readers with triggers should be aware there are several murders, some child cruelty and involuntary body modification (her father tattooed Rose when she was young).
I’ve read several books in this series about operatives and associates of the Colton Agency, a secret agency of operatives for the Crown in the late Victorian era, but you don’t need to have read any others to jump right in and enjoy this one. There’s a good solid romance between the two core protagonists, lots of action, women making their own choices and fighting their own battles, and nothing which jumped out to me as anachronistic for the era. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This is the first book of this series that I have read. By looking at the synopsis of the prior books, I can see that the prior characters are making appearances in this book.
The story of Rose Fleming and MacAllister Campbell’s journey to their HEA is one that is full of intrigue, murder and mayhem. The plot was intricately woven with many questions that arose. I was in for a wonderful ride. The highs and lows of the journey were well worth it. I was glued to my e-reader to try and answer some of the questions. Namely who is behind the plot to kidnap Rose!
I was enchanted in the romance between Rose and MacAllister. The back story of these two characters was filled with heart-break and tears. The dual POV format that this book is written in, really brought these two wonderful characters to life. Being in their thoughts, to see their hopes and fears, really humanized them to me.
The author delighted me with just enough detail of information so I could picture the scenes like a movie playing out in front of me. I was almost brought to tears a few times. The characters and plot were well thought out. Also the author did not just end the book when the intrigue was over. No, she brought a few more chapters of these characters to life so I could really get a more complete feel for their HEA.
There were some scenes that may offend some due to the inclusion of a sexual nature BUT they were done in a manner that were not written in much detail, mainly just eluded to.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a wonderfully crafted historical romance that is fully of intrigue.
This was a wonderful second chance at love story. It was a treat to indulge oneself in. Rose Fleming had to flee her home ten years ago and leave her old life and love behind. MacAlister Campbell was shocked to be looking into the eyes of a woman he loved and thought dead. This story is full of suspense, emotional distress, an unknown murderer, a relentless stalker and secon chance at love. I enjoyed reading this. It kept my interest throughout the book. I heartily recommend it and give it five stars. I received this copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing. My opinions are my own.
When a Lady Kisses a Scot by Tara Kingston is book 4 in the Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service. This is the story of Rose Fleming and MacAllister Campbell. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Rose had to leave everything behind about 10 years ago due to someone out to get her. Now in their present day she has returned to England only to find things aren’t safe still. Rose ends up running into MacAllister who thought she had died. MacAllister and Rose had been friends along with having feelings for each other. It took MacAllister a long time to come to terms with the loss of Rose now to only find that she is in danger. MacAllister vows to protect her which leads to their feelings starting back up.
Loved their story.
This book opens with family members running for their lives, especially Rose. In fact the whole process of running is to protect her. No one is exactly sure why someone will kill anyone in their path to get to her, they just know that they exist.
Rose managed to remain hidden from those evil people for 10 years but they have not been easy years. But she still has to be careful because they haven’t given up the hunt and they are on her trail. But as one person later observed she has a trail of people who keep dying around her. Especially when she shows up in England. She definitely does NOT want MacAllister to one of them.
MacAllister was always a pretty skilled man when he was younger but he’s just gotten more skilled and tougher with age. As the story unfolds the reader gets a better view of the resources he also has now. It also helps introducing some good secondary people.
It’s pretty clear that neither of them ever forgot the other.
There is action and a cat and mouse chase in the story. But on the down side it felt like it kind of stalled a time or two. It also felt like several issues were gone over and over a few more times than I would have liked. It slowed the story. But other than that it was a pretty decent story.
How about that eBook cover? That was attention getting!
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
London 1894 “It was not every day that a man looks into the eyes of a dead woman. All things considered, the imposing Scot who’d once broken Rose Fleming’s heart was taking it rather well.”
MacAllister Campbell’s jaw seemed to drop as he looked at her. Of course he would see through her disguise and recognize her, oh and the villian was on her trail and about to catch her. So she decided kissing Mac would make the man walk by and not know it was her. Oh not a bad idea at all!
A wonderful story full of suspense, intrigue, murder, heartfelt emotions and a second chance at love. Everything I look forward to in a historical romance. Plus a sigh worthy hero in Mac who had mourned the death of Rose ten years ago and really never gotten over her. But the surprising news is, she is not dead and she just appeared before him!
Rose had to escape ten years ago when her brother was killed and a villan was on her trail. She came back to England to find the out about her aunt’s death and runs into the man of her heart. What she doesn’t know if that Mac is part of a group of spies and there is a lot more going on and that he is determined to keep her safe.
What will happen to these two? An engaging story that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can!!
This author is excellent at taking us on one that has our heart pumping and fan going from the romance with it all being back in the day. Also in this one it is a Scot who are so yummy I do believe their conversations are like music on the ear. She gives us double pleasure also in this one with intrigue and suspense that curls the toes. Rose and MacAllister head this one having us follow closely. You know he has a big heart by his actions which makes him even more delectable. As this weaves around you they will carry you away until the conclusion leaves you in awe.
Rose Fleming fled for her life a decade ago & was presumed dead to throw those out to kill her off the trail. It required leaving everything she loved behind, including MacAllister Campbell. She makes a new life for herself in America but a letter from her Aunt has her crossing the Atlantic to come to her Aunt’s aid but she’s too late & Rose finds she’s still being chased. Mac mourned the death of the woman he loved & can’t believe his eyes when Rose ends up in his arms outside a theatre. Mac can forgive Rose’s deception, but he’d never be able to forgive himself if he didn’t protect her from the evil still stalking her.
This is the fourth book in the series but could be read on its own. Strong characters & a fast paced story had me once again burning the midnight oil. I loved Mac & Rose their love had withstood everything that had been thrown at them so I was a bit perplexed about how their future would be resolved. An intriguing, engrossing read with plenty of mystery & suspense as well as romance, it was good to ‘catch up’ with characters from earlier books
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A story that explores the opportunity to see the love of your life after you thought they were dead. Rose stumbled into McAllister as she is running from someone following her. He thought he was seeing a ghost. After a decade apart fate has brought them back together. The author takes us on a tale of desperation and intrigue as someone tries to kill Rose and Mc. and his friends fight to protect her. Tense moments ensue on the path to their happy ending.
This was such a great book to read, I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know what would happen next! lol This story is filled with mystery, intrigue, murder, betrayal….and best of all, romance and love.
Rose Fleming and MacAllister Campbell are given a second chance at love when years after he had thought her dead, she’s suddenly standing right there in front of him! Her life is in danger, someone is out to get her and MacAllister will do everything in his power to help her. Every time I thought I had figured out who was after her, there would be a twist in the story and then I was left guessing again! lol Wonderfully written and it sure kept me on the edge of my seat. Never a dull moment!!
I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up
In order to save herself from her father’s enemy, Rose Fleming faked her death and began a new life in America, leaving behind everything in Scotland, including the man she loved, MacAllister Campbell. Now, 10 years later, she’s returned to Scotland to help her aunt, only to find that she’s too late: her aunt been murdered and the threat against Rose herself is far from over, especially now that her mysterious stalked has confirmed she still lives.
Mac has mourned the death of the woman he loved for the past ten years. He’d recognize her anywhere, so when she runs into him in London he demands answers. It becomes immediately clear that Rose is in danger and this time Mac is determined to protect her. He plans to be sure he won’t lose her again, even if she’s less than enthusiastic about accepting his help.
**There may be what some consider to be spoilers in my personal commentary from here on.
I understand Rose’s unwillingness to put MacAllister in danger, but once it was clear he was already in danger, more than capable of handling it, and that she really did trust him, I wish she’d have stopped harping on about doing everything on her own. Her dialogues really became rather repetitive. Sometimes it felt as though I were rereading parts of the book I’d already read. In fact a couple of exchanges between Rose and Mac were nearly identical.
Though the romance itself took a backseat here, there was never any doubting their remaining feelings for each other. However, one of my biggest pet peeves was brought into play here: the separation. As if they hadn’t already been separated long enough, Rose and Mac were apart again for six months before their eventual HEA. It wasn’t believable to me that MacAllister would ever let Rose out of his sight again and for her part, Rose was totally unwilling to make any compromises; despite how lonely she frequently complained she’d been in America, she still insisted she must return and wouldn’t entertain any alternatives. At this point I was pretty much done with her and wondering why Mac was putting up with her.
I greatly enjoyed the plot itself and loved the suspense of it, but the villain’s motives needed more fleshing out for me that we never really got in the end. Despite their obvious chemistry and connection, everything from Rose just seemed contrived and rather fake, but despite not being convinced by or thrilled with her, I enjoyed this read overall. I will definitely be seeking out the other installments of this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As this is my introduction read to Mrs Tara Kingston’s work, and the forth in a series, I do wondered if I would not be a bit lost as some of the previous books protagonists took part in this one’s action. But the author did a great job, the side characters were perfectly integrated with reasonably details to not derail the storytelling and not enough to need me to read their stories.
It was a very different read from the Historical romance I do read.
I did not questioned the romance part as despite the prologue which sucked me in the story, the first chapter rekindling the main couple left me few things to wonder. Sure, the very last part of the book kept me a bit on edge of how they would be able to make it work with an ocean separating them from their own established life.
I had no doubt about their love, time didn’t tempered their feelings, their passion is still there only waiting to be reawakened.
Now about the whole plot, it felt like reading a suspense novel, wondering when will occur the next betrayal or murder as corpses seem to follow each step of the heroine.
My only reserve is about the motive of the vilain, what did he really expected from Rose, sure some explanations were given by the end but it was quite a crazy scheme concocted by a mad man, but it did not diminished the entertainment of the full narrative.
A 4.5 stars read
I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Entangled Publishing, and I purchased my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
The book is part romance and part mystery. After believed dead for ten years, Rose returns only to realize someone is still trying to kill her. MacAllister is the last person she expected to run into but it happened and he is stunned to see that she is alive. His love for her has never died and the old feelings between them begin to resurface and grow stronger. The only problem appears to be that someone is trying to kidnap her and they want her dead. The book is well written and entertaining. I would recommend it as a great read.
When a Lady Kisses a Scot is the fourth book in Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service series. I haven’t’ read the other books in the series and felt that it could be read as a standalone. Rose Fleming fled to America when her life is in danger, but when she receives word that her aunt needs her she returns. She is trying to solve the mystery of why she is in danger when she runs into MacAllister, the man she loved and had to leave behind. MacAllister works for the Secret Service and is convinced that the investigation he is working on is somehow connected to Rose’s mystery. As they work together to solve the mystery their love for one another grows, but there are mysteries to solve and obstacles to overcome before they can have their HEA. The book was well written and full of twists. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinion are my own.