Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch
Wild Wicked Highlanders #2
Historical Romantic
St. Martins Press | January 28, 2020
About the Book:
Miranda Harris is known for her charm, wit, and ability to solve any problem she encounters. But when her brother lands neck-deep in gambling debt to a crafty villain and Miranda is subsequently blackmailed into marrying him, she must enlist the help of the devil himself to save the family honor―and herself.
Devilishly handsome Highlander Aden MacTaggert knows next to nothing about the ways of the ton, but he most certainly knows his way around gaming halls and womens’ hearts. Still, Aden is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance. When his almost sister-in-law Miranda comes to him for assistance, he proposes a partnership: She will help him navigate London society and he’ll teach her everything about wagering…and winning back her freedom. The beautiful, clever lass intrigues Aden―but is she playing her own game, or are the sparks between them real? He is accustomed to risking his pocket. But betting on Miranda’s love is a game he can’t afford to lose. . .
Suzanne Enoch is a really good historical author. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t read the genre much, but I feel like she brings a fresh perspective.
For what that’s worth.
There’s this new thing authors are doing, where they modernize historical romance novels. In general, I prefer to read them when they are mostly true to life. Women’s rights didn’t exist. They were pawns. Realistically, there were women who fought it in ways they could, and men who respected their wives. That wasn’t the norm.
With that said, there’s a way that Suzanne Enoch writes historical romances, threading them with a more present day heartbeat, but keeps the realities of history. I don’t feel like it’s a historical “fantasy”. It’s more like a historical romance with guts.
Miranda had guts.
Unlike Amelia Rose from the previous book, she has a family who loves and adores her and that makes all the difference. She knows she can choose to marry for love, or even not marry at all if she’d rather grow into a spinster. When the freedom that love has given her becomes threatened, she decides to fight back. I have to believe there were some young women of the times who had a similarly beloved family. I believe “love matches” were real.
Brave Miranda was the perfect balance for Aden MacTaggert. He was clever, wily, and highly intelligent. He need a partner who was equally bold, and he got her. While reading the first book, It’s Getting Scot in Here, I’d had my eye on another young lady for Aden, but I actually think the story we were given far exceeded anything I’d created in my imagination.
I was so happy with Scot Under the Covers, I haven’t even thought about where I think the final book in the trilogy will go. My guess is what Ms Enoch gives us will be perfect.
The only minor critique I have would be Matthew. My worry is that this story did too much damage to his character than can be made up for in the last book. He’s become a villain to me, and I don’t want my MacTaggert’s wee sister to marry the fiendish wastrel I believe him to be.
Humph.
Birdie Bookworm 