I finally finished Caught by the Scot and I have to say that it was pretty fun to read through most of the story. There were parts where it became a little longwinded. Towards the end I wanted Conner and Thea together at a certain point the story carried on with more antics.

Anyway, we have Conner who has found that he and his brother stand to inherit their family lands and stuff, but there is a stipulation they must married and good standing women. Otherwise the stuff will go to a rival clan. Eek! Conner believes he has the perfect girl, Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe . I mean what could go wrong. Basically, he lallygags, and finds out she's decided to elope with a local Squire. Crap. I know. Now he's off to stop that wedding. Thea has decided she's tired of waiting for Conner to actually she her, so she decided to take the next best thing. Honestly, this quite a entertaining. We have Conner trying to convince Thea she's doing the wrong thing, and at the same time offer himself as the better offer. Oh goody.

There are array of characters that beginning to popup as Conner tries to stop this wedding. Picture this as a romantic comedy of errors. I enjoyed the story for the most part. However, I felt that story started to drag a little towards the end, but mostly a good read. I actually like how Conner's ego took a nosedive. It needed to be brought down a peg or two. I liked how decided she wasn't going to wait around for Conner to wake up to see her for real. Overall, Caught by the Scot is a light fun read as they gallivant towards Gretna Green. So, if you are in the mood for a light fun read, Caught by the Scot might be your kind of read.

Copy provided by PocketBooks

After a tragic event, Conner Douglas is being forced to marry a respectable woman. With all of his considerable charm, while he loathes the thought of having a wife, figures this won’t be a problem. He even knows the right woman, his best friend’s sister, Thea. After wasting 6 weeks in a drunken stupor, he finally arrives to find out that strong-willed Thea decided to elope with a local farmer. Determined he can woo her away from her intended, he catches up with the couple and starts to work out his plan.
While the basic plot is one I seem to be finding more and more lately, this book was really good. I loved Thea’s spit fire and determination to not fall for Conner’s charm while discovering passion for the first time. As with many of this author’s books, the side characters and their interactions were some of my favorite parts. Alice, in particular, was hilarious. Loved it. I highly recommend.

The grieving Duke of Hamilton has issued an edict to his late wife's three brothers - 'marry within four months or lose your inheritance to the Campbells'. The brothers Jack, Conner and Declan were raised by their sister Anna who died giving birth to her son. It was Anna's desire to see her brothers settled but they were against all-things matrimony. But not to the detriment of losing their money to the enemy Campbells. In memory of his Duchess, the Duke honoured his wife's will by ordering the three brothers to find decent women to wed.

Privateer Conner Douglas could only think of one, perfect, agreeable, biddable woman to be his wife, Miss Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe, his childhood friend. Thea has waited ages for Conner to return her affections but her hope of winning his love is diminishing. She decided to elope with the esteemed Squire Lancelot Fox and would not be swayed otherwise.

Conner's relentless pursuit of Thea was a challenge he wasn't expecting. How wrong he was about her as being agreeable. But one thing he wouldn't concede to, Conner wouldn't allow any man to have his Thea.

It's a good read.

I received a complimentary eCopy from the publisher. This is my honest review.

Filled with humor and heart, Caught by the Scot is a promising start to what looks to be another winning series from Hawkins. I'm a fan of the "little sister of best friend" trope, especially in this case where the heroine has been in love with the hero forever while he's been sailing the high seas and seducing every woman in sight, completely unaware that the perfect woman for him has been right in front of him all along. When he has to marry a woman of good standing in order to gain his inheritance, of course, he thinks of the heroine. But the heroine has grown tired of hoping he'll one day wake up and look at her as a desirable woman. He arrives at her family home, certain she will fall at his feet in gratitude for his proposal of marriage only to discover she's eloped hours earlier with the local squire, a man who is good and kind, even though there is no passion between them. The hero certainly is aware of her now! Let the chase...and the fun...begin!

<strong>Caught by the Scot</strong> is the first in a new series from Karen Hawkins which features a trio of brothers who are given four months in which to get married if they are to receive their respective inheritances under the terms of their sister’s will.  It’s an undemanding and very readable friends-to-lovers story in which the principal conflict comes from the fact that the hero and heroine want different things from life, and it’s touch-and-go as to whether they are prepared to compromise in order to be together.

In a sombre, almost heart-breaking opening chapter, we learn of the death in childbed of Anna, the Duchess of Hamilton, who has left behind a baby son, a grieving widower and the three younger brothers to whom she was more of a mother than a sister.  One of Anna’s dearest wishes was to see her brothers happily settled with families of their own, and in order to honour that wish, her husband presents Connor, Jack and Declan Douglas with an ultimatum; get married within four months or forfeit the fortune left them by their sister.  The brothers aren’t best pleased and, as each of them is quite secure financially, they aren’t too worried at the prospect of forfeiting the money – until the Duke tells them that he will give it to their family’s greatest enemies, the Campbells, if they do not do as Anna wished.

The brothers agree to the terms and are discussing the sort of wives they want when Conner hits upon the perfect solution to his situation.  Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe, the sister of one of his best friends is <em>well-born, practical and pretty enough, although rather quiet</em> - and, as the daughter of a diplomat, will have no trouble managing his household in his frequent and lengthy absences overseas.  She’s on the shelf and is sure to be grateful for his offer, so Connor confidently expects to be able to do as his sister wanted within the time limit and decides to enjoy the last of his bachelorhood, nonchalantly waving off his brothers’ surprise that he isn’t going to propose to Thea straight away.  But Conner isn’t worried.  Thea’s safely stowed at her father’s house and will be waiting for him when he eventually shows up, right?

Wrong.

When Conner finally emerges from his month long carouse and arrives at Cumberbatch House, it’s to find the place in uproar following Thea’s elopement with a local squire.  Needless to say, Connor is shocked – and furious – that Thea hasn’t been calmly sitting there waiting for him, and sets off in pursuit, determined to bring her to her senses and make her his bride.

Thea has been in love with Conner for years, but knows he has never seen her as anything but his best friend’s little sister.  She also knows that Conner loves nothing so much as his career as a highly successful privateer; he loves the freedom to come and go as he pleases and doesn’t like staying in one place too long, things which are diametrically opposed to those Thea wants from life.  Having spent most of her life travelling with her parents as her father moved from one ambassadorial post to another, she is tired of not having anywhere she can really call home.  So when the handsome and very agreeable Squire Lance Fox starts courting her, she encourages his interest and accepts his proposal of marriage.

For once, Thea is going to do something exciting and unexpected… except she bargains without Lance’s inept driving which lands them in a ditch and their vehicle in need of repair.  This delay enables Conner to catch up with them at the first inn he comes to – and he almost immediately makes Thea the most arrogant, condescending marriage offer ever, to which she, not surprisingly, says an emphatic “no”.

Once Conner has recovered from the shock of being turned down in favour of another man he decides to try to convince Thea to break her engagement by proving to her that there is true passion between them.  But no matter how knee-weakening Conner’s kisses, Thea knows he’s wedded to the sea and is not the man to make her a home and spend his life at her side.  She continues to resist his sensual blandishments, at which point Conner realises he needs to change tack.  Rather than trying to sweep her off her feet, she needs to spend enough time with Lance to see what Conner has already seen – that she and her devoted fiancé are completely ill-suited.  Lance believes Thea to be something she’s not and Conner knows that he’ll drive her barmy within weeks.  Lance has the idea that Thea is a perfect specimen of demure womanhood and will meekly accept his every instruction and suggestion without complaint, whereas Conner knows all too well that Thea has a brain and knows how to use it; she’s not afraid to voice her own opinions and most definitely won’t appreciate being treated like some sort of delicate flower.

Conner’s machinations – which include engaging the most unsuitable chaperone in the history of chaperones – are devious and sometimes amusing, especially when they backfire and only make the likelihood of Thea’s changing her mind even more remote.  I liked that Thea is wise to his game, and also that as the ill-fated elopement continues, she sheds her rose-tinted view of Conner and sees him as the man he really is.  And Conner, well… he starts out seeming like a conceited git; he’s so sure that Thea will fall into his arms and weep with gratitude at the prospect of marrying him, yet it’s telling that she’s the first – and only – woman he thinks of when he learns he has to find a wife.  Of course, it takes the prospect of losing Thea to open Conner’s eyes to the truth of his feelings for her and for him to realise that he wants her enough to consider making some substantial changes to his way of life so that they can be together.

Ms. Hawkins writes with a very sure hand; the relationship between Conner and Thea is well drawn and the dialogue is sharp and often funny, but while I enjoyed <strong>Caught by the Scot</strong>, it didn’t have that certain something that elevated it from the merely “good”, and didn’t really offer anything I haven’t read hundreds of times before.  I also got very tired very quickly of the written out dialect; all the “dinnae”s and “cannae”s and “mon”s and “verra”s that are so often found in stories featuring Scottish characters, and which are completely unnecessary.  It’s not that I found the text difficult to read or understand, it’s just an affectation that annoys me; the author tells us this character is a Scot, so unless I’m told otherwise, they have a Scottish accent which I’m quite capable of imagining for myself.

With that said, fans of sexy Scottish heroes should find much to enjoy in <strong>Caught by the Scot</strong>, which is by turns poignant, sensual and funny.  I may well stick around for the next book to see how the next Douglas brother is <strong><em>Made to Marry</em></strong>.

Caught by the Scot is an excellent read! It's a light, fun and entertaining story. (After the first few paragraphs)

Karen Hawkins is a master at mixing humor and romance with a dash of drama. She’s right up there with Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas in my book. This story is a fantastic start to her new series and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

What a swoony romance! I love books like these. The push and pull between Thea (love that name) and Conner was so unbearable and maddening at times that I couldn't put the book down. I just had to see them together. Add to that amazing, well-developed secondary characters and you've got a positively fantastic read. I loved how well Thea and Conner knew each other. They were perfect for each other even though Thea tried to fight that connection every step of the way so she wouldn't get hurt. The compromise at the end was perfect. With delicious sexual tension and just enough steam to keep you on the edge of your seat, definitely give this sensual historical romance a read! I'm looking forward to Conner's brothers finding their HEAs!

I loved this book. I was in great anticipation for this first book in a new series, and not only was I not disappointed but my expectations were exceeded. This was such a smooth, enjoyable, and satisfying read! Conner and Theodora are likeable and relatable characters, and they are even more fabulous as a couple! I especially liked how they had believable yet significant obstacles to their happily ever after that did not include serious character flaws. It was so fulfilling for me as a reader to experience their story.

The thing that was the greatest for me about this book was how Karen Hawkins managed to both create this completely satisfying book that stands beautifully on its own, while also setting up this new series and making me unbelievably impatient and excited for the next book. I am a fan of this author and this book stands among my favorites of hers. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is one that will satisfy fans of Scottish historical romances while retaining a uniqueness. I absolutely highly recommend this!

Caught by a Scot had me crying in the first pages, smiling and crying again thru the entire book. And I loved every word! Karen Hawkins writes in a manner that transports you directly into the story. This first book in her new series is a must read!

Love Karen Hawkins new series. Connor Douglas has to marry in three months to receive his inheritance.

Connor decides has to marry he should find a lady who wouldn't mind him being most of the time since he is a privateer for English.

Connor decided his friend's sister Theodora would be a perfect fit. Unknown to him, Thea had other plans.

Connor went to offer Thea his hand in marriage only to find out Thea ran away to elope with Squire Lance. Connor wasn't going to let Thea get away. So he chasing down the couple to stop the wedding.
After finding the couple, Connor had to find a way to convince Thea, she should abandon her plans and marry him instead.

Thea was stubborn and refused to even consider changing her plans. She knew if she married Connor he would be traveling most of year and she would be left behind to care for their home and children. She wanted a true marriage and partnership.

Connor and Thea both had to find a way to overcome their feelings and what they wanted in a marriage.

Squire Lance was the safe and comfortable excuse for Thea to not want to marry Connor and be left alone while he lives his life at sea.

Connor decided only way she could have a marriage and life with Thea is if he was willing to make changes in his life. He decided to give his fleet of Privateer ships and buy inti a merchant ship instead.

Only problem was Thea didn't believe he was willing to leave his old life behind.

Great start to a new series. Conner needs to marry soon or risks losing his inheritance. He decides to marry is friend’s sister but she waited long enough for Conner to notice her and has other plans. Can he stop her from marrying another? I loved this historical read, great chemistry plenty of drama and suspense. I am looking forward to more in the series.

'Caught by the Scot' by Karen Hawkins is the First Book in the New Series "Made to Marry". This is the story of Conner Douglas and Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe.
Conner's sister has died and with that has left in her last wishes that her three brothers marry. If they do not marry then their inheritance will go to the Campbell's who they hate. Conner knows he has the perfect 'wife' for him, his best friends sister Thea. Thea has loved Conner much of her life. But she has since given up on him noticing her or making a move toward her. So she has settle to accept Lance's proposal to run off to Scotland to marry. When Conner finally makes it to where home to claim Theo he learns she has left with Lance. So now Conner heads out to claim his bride.
I love Ms. Hawkins writing and so happy for this new series!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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First book in a new The Made to Marry series, Caught by the Scot starts this series off fantastically. Karen Hawkins as usual bring her Historical Romantic Comedy to life. Humorous situations and witty characters it really was good read.

Conner Douglas has to get married if he wants his inheritance or else it goes to the family's blood enemy the Campbells. His sister Anna died after childbirth and left stipulated in her will that her three brothers will be married in three months time or lose it all. Conner can think of only one woman he would want to tie himself to and that is his best friends little sister Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe. Conner foolishly thinking Thea will quickly accept his proposal and be thankful for it takes his time getting to her. But when he arrives at the house he learns she ran off and eloped with a Squire. Conner not one to give up easily runs after her certain that once she learns he wants to marry her she'll change her mind.

Thea has been in love with Conner Douglas as long as she can remember but recently she has come to the conculsion that he will never settle down and stop privateering. She has decided she just wants a house, a home a can settle in and put down roots something she has not been able to do with he r diplomatic father constantly moving the family around. So when Lancelot Fox proposed and suggested they run off to Gretna Green to get married she accepts. She almost immediately starts having second thoughts. But then Conner shows up out of the blue and fully discloses why he wants to marry her she becomes even more resolved that she must marry Lance. Lance while a completely amiable young man is a little too susceptible to suggestion and lets Conner manipulate him. Conner plans to draw out the travel time to Scotland as long as possible to show just how ill suited Lance is for Thea. Along the way they pick up a companion for Thea in the form of a fragile Miss Jane Simmons and a talkative and very forward lady's maid Alice. But the more Conner tries to convince Thea that Lance is all wrong for her the more he falls in love with the woman she has grown up to be and the more resistant Thea becomes even though she still loves Conner. Things get more so complicated when Jane falls sick and the closest doctor would be the ship doctor Conner employes on his vessel, so they travel to Conner's home. Where Conner and Thea finally have it out and Conner realizes just how much he loves her.

Overall, such a fun read. I can't wait for the two other brother's stories.

When I started this book I got into it straight away the death of the duchess and the resulting will made for a great story . I did find the middle a bit hard going but once past that bit it got back to a really great read . I have read all of Karen's books and love the way she writes, this is the first time I have struggled in the middle, but I do recommend it as it is a good story..

A truly delightful read. CAUGHT BY THE SCOT delivers a story full of charm, wit, and love.

Upon the death of their beloved sister, the Douglas brothers are faced with her dying wish to see them all settled and well married. It is a wish her widow, the Duke of Hamilton, plans to see to fruition. He gives each of the brothers mere months to find a respectable bride or lose their inheritance to the Campbells, their arch-rivals.

As a successful privateer and incorrigible rake, Conner Douglas has no need for the income and responsibilities that come with his inheritance, but he will not stand for it to go to their rivals. He needs a biddable, respectable wife that will allow him his freedom… Fast.

And he has the perfect candidate in mind. His dear friend’s sister, Thea.

Secretly in love with Conner for years, Thea Cumberbatch-Snowe has grown tired of being alone and has given up hope that he will one day return her affections. So, when the handsome and friendly local Squire, Lancelot Fox, proposes, she accepts and they elope to Gretna Green.

When Conner arrives at her family home just in time to find her gone, he’s dumbfounded. His one and only option, he races the path to Gretna Green determined to stop her and make her his wife. Only when he finds her, she’s not as grateful as he expected her to be.

It’s here that the fun began for me. I had an expectation of how the book would go and the author surprised me by going in a slightly different direction. The lengths Conner goes to, to achieve his goal of splitting up Thea and Lance while winning her hand, is hilarious. Witty banter between these two is rapid fire and so much fun. And the cast of secondary characters had me in fits of giggles with their antics.

If you are looking for a lighthearted, fast read with loads of wit and charm, grab this book. I’m looking forward to the antics of the other Douglas brothers as they search for their wives in the next books. CAUGHT BY THE SCOT is the first book in the Made to Marry series.

The beginning of a new series is always exciting, meeting new characters and being swept along into their adventures. Karen has written a wonderful start to this new series "The Made to Marry Series".
I am a big fan of "Love and Laughter" and that is what you will always get when you read Karen's books. Also, who doesn't love a handsome, brawny Scot in a kilt?

Connor Douglas is grieving the loss of his only sister, who died in childbirth when he is told that he must marry in three months time or lose his inheritance to his clan's enemies, the Campbells. Since he doesn't really want to get married or take the time to court a woman he comes up with a plan that will get him a wife who will agree to a marriage of convenience. He knows just the woman who will fit the bill. The younger sister of his best friend is a perfect choice, They have been friends for years and he knows that she is responsible and sensible and she is the only woman who won't demand love and fidelity. Only when he arrives at her home to propose he finds out she has eloped with another man.
He sets out after her in the hope he can stop the marriage.

Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe is a young lady who is tired of being sensible and responsible. She wants a home of her own, a husband and children. On a whim, she elopes with a man that she has only known for weeks, She is having second thoughts about the man but she doesn't want to turn around and go home. Then Connor shows up and proposes to her while she is eloping with another man. She has secretly been in love with Connor for years and now he wants to marry her to secure his inheritance. This is where the fun starts. Connor makes friends with the man Thea eloped with to find out how he can sabotage their elopement. As their journey continues to Gretna Green Thea is regretting her decision, but she will not give Connor the satisfaction of knowing that she no longer wants to marry the Squire.

Thea fights the attraction because she knows that if she marries Connor he will sail away on one of his ships and leave her alone for months at a time. She realizes she still loves him but cannot marry him if doesn't give up the sea. Connor wants Thea with a passion that he never expected but he is afraid to love and he doesn't know if he can give up his wandering ways for her.

This is vintage Karen Hawkins. Characters who know each other and assume that they know how each other thinks. Witty dialogue back and forth, and a sexual attraction which is new to both of them. I love Karen's books because her stories are unique and her characters amazing. She makes me laugh out loud when I am reading her books. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

When Connor Douglas and his brothers are given an ultimatum: marry a respectable woman (in the next four months!) or lose their inheritance, Connor looks for a way to have his cake and eat it too. How does a man remain a privateer, travel around the world, keep mistresses, enjoy life, AND marry the right woman to keep his inheritance? Clearly by marrying a plain, manageable, undemanding woman. He instantly thinks of his best friend's sister Theodora, who is 'on the shelf' and therefore will be thrilled to get a proposal from him. By the time he gets to Thea to inform her of her good fortune, she's eloped with another man. Now Connor needs to track the couple down, prevent them from marrying, and convince Thea to marry him instead. But will Thea teach Connor that love is necessary, or will they become two ships passing in the night?

Karen Hawkins (The Oxenburg Princes series) introduces readers to a new series and a new set of rakish Highlanders in Caught by the Scot, the first in her Made to Marry series. Connor and his two brothers have spent their adult lives sailing the high seas, living adventures and raising scandals wherever they go. Coming home at the death of their sister Anna, the brothers learn that Anna has tied their inheritance with a clause: marry respectable women. Her husband gives them four months to do it, or lose their inheritance to the clan's enemies. While they'd be fine if the money went to charity, they aren't about to let the Gordons get their hands on the money! Connor sets himself up from the beginning as an arrogant jerk who needs taking down a few pegs. Given 4 months to marry he choses his best friend's sister, then waits more than two months to go find her and tell her he's decided they'll get married. Being currently unwed and no longer under 20, Thea will of course be thrilled. He'll get his inheritance, then go on with life as usual.

Thea has been in love with Connor forever. He's never seen her as anything other than his brother's kid sister. She finally decides its time to move on with her life, maybe even have a little adventure and romance. So when the local squire proposes to her and suggests eloping because it will be romantic she says yes. But the more time she and Lance spend together, the more Thea starts to wonder if she's making a huge mistake. Connor showing up and asking her to marry him doesn't help matters! What I loved about Thea is that she was determined to be her own person, and she recognized that she deserved a lot more than than Connor's selfish proposal. Even though she'd loved Connor forever, Thea didn't instantly say yes. She didn't assume she'd change him after they got married. She recognized that they both wanted very different things out of life and that she didn't want- or deserve- less than happiness. How Connor thought this strong, independent, and fiery woman would be a meek and manageable wife is beyond me.

Connor and Thea both grew a lot over the course of their adventure, and I loved how Hawkins reminds us that growth (and occasionally compromise) are as important to a happily ever after as love and passion. I liked how, until the very end, you aren't quite sure how Hawkins will get these two stubborn people to work things out. Connor and Thea learn that love doesn't mean changing someone, but sometimes it means they change how they see themselves. And in the end, I think that was what Anna wanted for her brothers when she set the conditions of her will.

Caught by the Scot is a fast-paced, well-written and enjoyable start to a new series. A great read for Karen Hawkins fans and newcomers alike!

Connor has been instructed that he must marry within three months. He’s a man of the sea and a scoundrel with the women when on land so he knows the perfect malleable woman to make his wife. He will continue to live his life as it is and still receive his inheritance.

Thea has loved Connor since she was fourteen. She grew up in a family that was constantly on the move and all she wants now is to settle down and make a home of her own. She knows that home will never be with the man she loves so she accepts the proposition of a squire to elope.

This sets this story up for a wild romp across much of England and Scotland as Connor realizes his biddable friend isn’t so biddable after all. However, as lighthearted as the premise seems, this book never quite carried off the fun adventure of the chase for this couple. I kept waiting for it to pick up in the fun factor, and it’s apparent it’s meant to be, but it never quite hit the mark for me.

The fact that Connor never saw Thea in any kind of romantic way until she chose another man was a disappointment to me. The author shared some of Thea’s memories of him throughout the years and the potential for Connor to have felt more during those times was there but never admitted to or addressed. Yes, that was extremely disappointing. I like my heroes to be all in for their woman and while Connor appeared to be so once the chase began, it is clear he never considered her in any other way prior to his predicament that set him up to require a wife.

This author has always been one of my HR favorites so I was extremely excited to read Caught by the Scot and I will continue to read her work. Unfortunately for me, while this one was an okay read, it never pushed me over into loving it.

This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley

Dual POV which is all mixed in together sometimes making it difficult to remember whose POV we’re reading
Safety – while the h is eloping, there is no true connection between her and her fiancé; no ow drama
No triggers
HEA

I tried hard to finish this one but I found the way the author wrote the hero's dialogue off-putting. I ended up quitting at the 40% mark. I haven't read historicals in a while, and this reminded me why.