The pacing of this story really picks up after the first third, so stick with it - it's worth it. I enjoyed Colin as one of Burrowes' outsider military heroes - he's not out to impress anyone, and is more comfortable talking to kids than members of the Ton. Anwen is that dangerous combination of an intelligent other-than-marriage-focused young woman of the period. Their slow burn relationship was fun.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Too Scot to Handle is now one of my favorite books! I truly enjoy reading this story from start to finish. The character's are amazingly unique and I felt that I was actually right there living their story with them. This author has a rare gift of story-telling and I can't wait to read more from her. I highly recommend Too Scot to Handle to all lovers of romance!

The Windham and MacHugh families were oddities among the other families of the ton.. They cared about the least fortunate, and each other. Very few members of society truly care about the poor, the orphans, or even other family members. Anwen Windham and Colin MacHugh have an interest in the House of Urchins, for the.most altruistic reasons. Although their siblings are married, orphanage business brings them closer together., especially the antics of us four older orphans. It doesn't take long for the two to call for each other. The course of love does not run very smoothly. There are elements trying to keep them apart. One in the person of Win Montague, a pseudo friend of Colin's, another with the theft of monies earmarked for the orphanage. This is a very nice read. There are two types of characters introduced in the book, those who are very likeable, and those who are not. Although the not so likeable characters are not true nasty villains, they are rather rotten.. Among the very likeable characters are the four orphans, their personalities show why Anwen is so devoted to them. In particular, I loved that the author let the readers know what happened to them as adults. This is a must read for fans of Grace Burrowes.

I really enjoyed Colin and Anwen's story!

Anwen has always been coddled by her family because of a childhood illness. Everyone is always trying to protect her, so when Colin is the only one to see the fire inside her, she is very intrigued. Anwen is helping to run an orphanage for young boys and Colin ends up running the committee that is in charge of it. Because of this, they end up spending quite a bit of time together. I loved watching them fall in love while they worked out all the issues of the orphanage.

This was a great addition to the Windham Brides series and I can't wait to see what Burrowes comes up with next!

Grace Burrowes has returned to her popular Windham family for her latest series, the Windham Brides, which follows the romantic fortunes of four sisters, the nieces of the Duke and Duchess of Moreland. The ladies are in London for the Season and are residing with their uncle and aunt while their parents – the duke’s brother and sister-in-law – have taken an extended holiday-cum-second honeymoon in Wales. As is the case with all Ms. Burrowes’ books, regular readers and listeners will welcome cameo appearances from other characters from both this series and some of her other books, but newcomers need not be too worried, as these are usually secondary characters whose presence is easily explained and knowledge of their stories is not usually essential to the understanding of what is happening in this one.
In the previous book, The Trouble with Dukes, Megan Windham, the third youngest sister, met her match in the big, braw, brooding Hamish MacHugh, a former army officer and the newly minted Duke of Murdoch. In Too Scot to Handle, the author turns her attention to his younger brother, Lord Colin, also formerly of His Majesty’s army and who has remained in London so that his sisters can continue to enjoy the Season while Hamish and his new bride have decamped to Scotland. Like Hamish, Colin, though resourceful and more charming than his brother, is somewhat uncomfortable in the world of the ton and finds the process of learning its ins and outs and dos and don’ts rather trying. Even though he is the brother of a duke, a Scottish dukedom doesn’t rank quite as highly with the snobby sticklers of London society, so Colin is having to tread carefully to make sure of his acceptance. He is being helped in this endeavour by the advice of Winthrop Montague, a man who is invited everywhere, knows everyone and, in spite of not being wealthy, is regarded by all as an arbiter of excellent taste.
Anwen Windham is tired of being molly-coddled by her over-protective sisters. She’s the youngest of the four and, having suffered a serious childhood illness, is still thought of as being weak and somewhat delicate, while in reality she’s strong, tenacious and determined. The focus of these things is currently the Home for Wayward Urchins, an orphanage for young boys from the streets; she is absolutely dedicated to improving the lot of the boys currently in residence, but the home is rapidly running out of funds, and due to the indolence of most of the committee members – and its chairman, Winthrop Montague – Anwen is having to sit by and watch things go from bad to worse. As a woman, she cannot be on the board of directors of the home, merely on the ladies’ committee, and they have no influence over the business side of the venture. Frustrated yet again by the committee’s failure to act, she storms out of a meeting with the headmaster only to run smack into Colin MacHugh, who has arrived to escort Montague’s sister home. Lady Rosalind, however, didn’t bother to turn up to the ladies’ meeting just as her brother didn’t bother to turn up at the committee meeting and Anwen is furious. Colin, whose familial connection means he now sees quite a lot of the Windham ladies, is rather taken with this hitherto unseen side of Anwen, and he escorts her home instead, along the way discovering much about the source of her anger, and then offering his help in whatever way she feels will be most useful.
Colin and Anwen bond over a shared vision for the orphanage, and with Colin’s army background and his own particular talent for organisation and getting what he wants out of people, he’s the perfect mentor for the four older boys we meet regularly during the course of the story; they’ve grown up on the streets as thieves and pickpockets and have never had a decent male role model until Colin takes them in hand. He’s the sort of man they don’t wish to let down; not because they fear punishment, but because he makes them want to do and be better.
Bonding over a shared vision leads to other sorts of bonding as Colin and Anwen develop a strong friendship at a sensible pace that slowly turns into something more. The romantic chemistry between them bubbles along nicely and I liked that they are honest with each other about how they feel and what they want from life. Colin may have been trying to avoid the matchmaking mamas, but when the right woman comes along, he’s not at all shy about making his feelings known to her.
Naturally, however, not everything in the garden of romance is rosy, and the snake in the grass in this instance is Montague, who, while purporting to be Colin’s friend, has in fact made him the subject of a rather nasty “prank”, whereby he and many of his cronies have run up bills at various places –tailors, bootmakers, watering holes – in Colin’s name and left him with rather an enormous tab. Not surprisingly, Colin is furious and begins to realise that Montague might not have been such a good friend after all – a fact borne out by later events when Montague levels some unfounded and unpleasant accusations at Colin which could have very serious consequences indeed.

Too Scot to Handle (and honestly – who comes up with these dumb titles?) is pretty much standard Grace Burrowes fare: a gently moving, sweetly sensual romance without too much conflict in which the protagonists’ wider family circle play an important part. Colin and Anwen are perfect for each other, their conversations are honest, flirtatious and sometimes revealing, and the listener is left in no doubt as to the strength of their feelings for each other.

As a captain in the army, Colin MacHugh led men, fixed what was broken, and fought hard. Now that he's a titled gentleman, he's still fighting-this time to keep his bachelorhood safe from all the marriage-minded debutantes. Then he meets the intriguing Miss Anwen Windham, whose demure nature masks a bonfire waiting to roar to life. When she asks for his help to raise money for the local orphanage, he's happy to oblige.

Anwen is amazed at how quickly Lord Colin takes in hand a pack of rambunctious orphan boys. Amazed at how he actually listens to her ideas. Amazed at the thrill she gets from the rumble of his Scottish burr and the heat of his touch. But not everyone enjoys the success of an upstart. And Colin has enemies who will stop at nothing to ruin him and anybody he holds dear.



* * * * *



TOO SCOT TO HANDLE has everything that I look for in a historical romance. There is a very intelligent and feisty heroine, a hero that prizes her for her individuality and a villain that is determined to get his way. This book has the added benefits of some interesting orphans and Anwen's family who have appeared before.


I really enjoyed this book and was more then willing to get up some sleep to race to the satisfying conclusion. Ms Burrowes has done her usual superb job with both the characters and taking her reader back to an earlier time in England's history. I really feel that my readers who enjoy a historical romance with a bit of heat and heartwarming characters will love this book.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Anwen is tired of being coddled. As a child, she had a health scare and her family still watches over her. She loves helping out the boys at the orphanage and is frustrated when finances are strained to the point that it may have to close. No one seems to take her concerns seriously except for Colin, her sister's husband. Colin is in town as a recent military man now learning his place in society and not liking it at all. Anwen asks for his help and he is more than happy to help with the boys. As they get to know each other and work out ideas to help the orphanage's finances a romance blossoms. The obstacles they have to overcome are aided by the boys. As always the author delivers an entertaining story, a strong heroine, an understanding hero with humor, action and a HEA. Look forward to Elizabeth's story.

This is the second in the Windham Brides series which explores four sisters, cousins to the original Windham’s.

Lord Colin MacHugh misses Scotland. He is escorting his sisters while they finish the London season because his older brother Hamish got married and is currently on his honeymoon. While trying to stifle his boredom Colin encounters Anwen Windham at the orphanage she is passionately trying to save. When she asks for his help to raise money he is happy to oblige. As they spend time together Anwen and Colin begin to fall in love. But as they try to save the orphanage, Colin discovers enemies who will stop at nothing to ruin him.

I found that I liked Colin and Anwen’s story better than Hamish and Megan. Anwen gives the perception of being calm and retiring but she is very passionate about her boys. Colin gets the know that part of her pretty quick and I enjoyed that he encouraged her to be that bonfire. I found both Colin and Anwen to be smart about things. Although I figured out the villain way before them, but that was because they were so wrapped up in each other. I enjoyed the boys of the orphanage and watching their parts. I enjoyed seeing more of Charlotte and Elizabeth and well as their cousins.

I liked this book and I look forward to Charlotte’s book.

This is a very robust story filled with a variety of learning experiences and examples of people with integrity as well as those who have none.

Lord Colin is truly a unique character. There are parts of him that are naive but it is only in certain circumstances. Since he comes from a military background he sees situations in a clear, concise manner which allows him to share his thoughts in a way that connects with Anwen. Also, he is a thinker and works towards resolutions that cause the least impact to people. These things led to a powerful male character that is enjoyable to

Female characters with a strong backbone have always interested me but Anwen is caring, kind, and hiding her true self. Her persistence on saving her boys is refreshing for women in that generation and this part of her character makes this a very interesting and refreshing story. The author's portrayal of her thinking process in doing this is well written.

The heat between these two characters adds to their mutual respect for each other.

I give this 4-1/2 STARS for how the author uses integrity to solve all the issues.

A fun romp in the highlands and a great addition the Grace Burrowes shelf!

A quiet young English lady underestimated by everyone and a lively Scottish ex-soldier turned aristocrat who is trying to find his way in London Society are an unlikely pairing. More Windham fun and just enough villainy to make for an interesting story had me very delighted.
Review

Too Scot to Handle is the second of the Windham Brides the spin-off series to the older Windhams series. One could get away with reading it out of order since the plot is standalone, but it makes better sense when read in order so the surrounding characters and their past stories won’t make the reader curious.

I hate to admit it but I am enjoying this spin-off series more than most of the earlier Windham series. There is just something about these female cousins and the MacHugh family that make for a good story and engaging characters.

Anwen and Colin met in their older siblings’ story which was the previous book and I liked them. It was great to get to know them better in their own story here. Colin is Scottish gentry now nobility as well as an ex-soldier. His life was simple and now its not. He’s floundering while trying to fit into the world of English society where the rules are all different. He doesn’t relate to or get the idle younger men that his old army friend mentors him through. Anwen knows society well, but she is on the outskirts too because her family always treated her like the sick younger sibling and never noticed that she is hearty and well and quite able to make her own way which she does through her work at a boys’ orphanage.

The orphanage creates the conflict in the story as Anwen works to keep it open and give the boys a chance at a better life when others are indifferent or seeking to use the orphanage for their own ends. Anwen draws Colin in for her campaign and both learn that there is more to one another than they thought. I loved seeing them develop a friendship and then their romance that smoldered rather than sizzled. There was some excitement and suspense to make it extra interesting along with peek-ins with a few of the Windham family.
I can’t wait to get Elizabeth’s story next.

All in all, this was a fantastic story and I can definitely recommend it to those who enjoy a slightly spicy, slow burn historical romance and a very likeable pair.

My thanks to Forever for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent addition to the Windham family saga. Anwen and Colin are a delightful couple.

Grace Burrowes does it again!

Oh the comfortableness that eventually comes between those who are matched in Burrowes' historical romances. This trope of the strong quiet man coming to know a woman who has been underrated is once more is in ascendancy. Burrowes excels at this mix!
These men wrap their loved ones in ease and warmth. They want to protect their women and do so without confining them. Burrowes has a wonderful way of giving us this.
This story was interesting in many ways.
The plight of the destitute orphans is part of the story.
The treatment that young women could look for at balls by insipid, entitled young male heirs of little sense was was appalling, exposing the ingrained habits and the right to bad behaviour and stupidity that many of the ton felt was owed them.
Burrowes nicely contrasted them with men of the Windham stamp, who took their duties seriously and did not suffer fools gladly. The fight the newly minted Lord Colin, previously an army captain, has to enter the ranks of the ton is hampered by the self serving Lord who had decided to introduce Colin to the ways of the ton. A less than stellar character.
Colin runs across the intelligent and vastly underrated, Anwen Windham and life takes on a whole new hue for both of them.
Colin makes Anwen see sparkly rainbows. I love that!
Put that together with a lively bunch of orphans Anwen is caring for and there is plenty of opportunity for intriguing situations Colin and Anwen find themselves in.

A NetGalley ARC
(July 2017)

Colin was such a great man - single-minded in his pursuit of the lady, a role-model and caring father figure to the boys in the home for urchins, and trying to be a proper gentleman on top of it all. I loved this story and the small elements of intrigue and suspense added a lot to a wonderful romance.

Another wonderful novel from Grace Burrowes. I loved that Anwen is a strong young woman who takes on responsibilites that most young woman would not dream of doing. She is also flexible and takes advice when she needs to. Colin is a Scotsman who is practical, honorable and finds himself fascinated by Anwen. He is torn because he wants to return to Scotland but knows that he will be miserable without Anwen in his life.

Adventures and mystery abound in this delightful Regency Romance. I love Grace's writing. I enjoy the calmness and the deep character development. I do not get antsy and skip pages when I read Grace's novels. I especially love the Windham Series and now I have to go back and buy the stories that I have not read yet. I truly enjoyed every word of this book and know you will too.

There are a lot of Windhams running around, and this series is about the Windham cousins. Sure people are mentioned but you do not need to have read about all those siblings finding love to enjoying this new series. Of course the more Windham the merrier and they are fun to read.

I liked Anwen. Not one thing wrong with her. A good head on her shoulder, sweet and she good with her orphans.

Colin, well nothing wrong with Colin either. Two really nice people who fitted each other perfectly! And they knew it and they went for it.

Now I am not saying everything was trouble free. The orphanage that Anwen helps out with is in trouble. Money is needed and she wont leave them on the street.

But between that these two fall in love. There is some drama. There is this asshat. And then they live happily ever after.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed it, and the next one looks to be really good. I am a sucker for a Duke book.