Before I even begin my review, I would just like to thank whoever worked on the cover of this book. Not only is the model swoon-worthy, he looks exactly the way Conner is described. Yum.

This story has a very interesting concept, but unfortunately, it was executed poorly.

I will summarize my concerns below:

Writing:

1. There were too many repetitive descriptions.

For instance, there were many repetitive descriptions of Conner and his blue eyes and how he was the "stuff of fairytale". Theodora, AKA Thea, kept describing how hot he was and how every single woman wanted him. We get it - Conner is HOT and women LOVE him.

The description of grief was so repetitive to the point where it got tedious whenever Anna was mentioned. Every time Conner thought of Anna, "his throat tightened". I don't mind repetitions, but in this case, it felt as if the author had no other descriptors or synonyms to use. This particular description was omnipresent and it got on my nerves.

2. However, my main problem with the writing is that there was too much inner dialogue and not enough action! Practically nothing happened in the first 40% of the book. The characters were stuck at the inn, there were lots of inner dialogues and malicious planning, and repetitive conversations between Thea and Conner. For instance:

"It made no sense unless...was it possible the squire valued Thea not for her specific person but for some sort of abstract, romanticized concept of femininity?"


It was as if the author was writing an essay by analyzing her characters in order to convince the reader that Lance was wrong for Thea and that Conner was the right man for her. It was 100% clear from the very beginning that Lance was only in love with the idea of Thea. I didn't need the author to analyze this and write it out for me. Again, show not tell! This was only one example. There are multiple examples that can be pulled out from the book.

Romance and Characters:

All of this inner dialogue leads me straight to the lack of romance and character development. The characters were so busy being in their own heads that there was practically no relationship development. There was only progress when Thea finally came clean about her feelings...and this only happened in the end! The romance was not compelling at all. The author had a great set up with the friends-to-lovers trope and there were ample opportunities to bring the hero and heroine closer together, but all of that was wasted on excessive inner dialogues and on Jane and Lance. I frankly could not care less about these two.

Plot:

The pacing of the story was slow. The setting was static and because there was a lack of action, everything, including the characters, felt static. A change of setting had no impact on this lack of action. I originally thought the story was going to be more interesting with the addition of Jane, but who was I kidding? That girl was sick throughout the entire book and she brought nothing to the story aside from being Lance's romantic interest.

Inconsistencies:

Maybe I need to read more about Scottish history, but how is it that Anna, the eldest, was the one who had control over the fortune? Would it not be the elder brother?

I also find it hard to believe that Thea's brother and father did not accompany Conner, or at least, did not even attempt to find Thea on their own. Stranger even, they sent no correspondence to Conner to inquire about his chase and vice versa. It was as if Thea's family was non existent.

I may not have enjoyed this story and I am probably in the minority here, but I am intrigued about the other brothers so I may continue the series. I am most especially intrigued by Black Jack.

4.5 stars

I love Ms. Hawkins writing style - funny and light one page and then deep and emotional the next. This book was no exception, Connor and Theodora aka Thea are very likable leads with an undeniable chemistry. There banter was vastly amusing but there was a lot of deep emotion as well.

Connor must marry, his sister has just passed away and has stipulated that if the three brothers do not marry within 3 months, their inheritance will be given to the Campbell's - their greatest enemy! None of the three really need the money, but they will be damned if they let the Campbell's have it!

Connor has the perfect woman in mind for his bride - his best friend's sister, Theodora. They have been friends for ages and she would be the perfect wife for him. She would be no hardship to live with and even less to leave behind when he goes to sea. Thinking she will jump at the chance to marry him, he takes his time setting out for her home. When he finally arrives he learns that Thea is not home - she has eloped! Determined to retrieve his bride, Connor follows them.

Thea is having a really bad day and is wondering if she has made the biggest mistake of her life by eloping with Lance. She is not in love with him, but he will give her a stable home and a family, which is what she longs for after years of moving with her family from one diplomatic post to another. But now sitting in an inn in the middle of nowhere, banged up from a carriage mishap and drenched from being tossed into a ditch - she is rethinking her decision. And to make matters worse - the only man she has ever loved has just walked into the inn. When Connor enters the room, her heart leaps and she has to remind herself that she cannot love him anymore - so imagine her shock when Connor announces that he has decided to marry her!

The tale that follows is a delightful road trip romance of sorts - with Connor scheming to win his lady and Thea neatly deflecting him.

I really enjoyed the story, it is well written and covers just about the entire emotional spectrum - but it did kind of stall a little in the middle, but once you get past the 65% mark, the story gets its second wind and takes off without stopping until the very last page! With an entertaining cast of secondary characters, some passionate kisses and a couple of warmish love scenes this was a delight to read.

I would be happy to recommend this book and look forward to the rest of the series!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Fans of Karen Hawkins will enjoy this charming tale about a Scottish privateer and daughter of an English diplomat. Conner has known Thea for years since he met her while visiting his school chum. Over the years, he's continued to stay close to the family and even views Thea as a better friend than her brother. When his sister's death forces Conner to marry or lose his inheritance to the family's enemies, he decides that Thea will be a perfect wife for him. He would provide her a home of her own instead of having to spend the rest of her life living with her parents, traveling from one foreign location to another. Conner decides he has time before he needs to propose his plan to Thea and indulges himself in drink and women to drown his grief over his beloved older sister's death. He's waited too long and finds Thea gone and the family at sixes and sevens. Having eloped with a local squire, Thea is on her way to Gretna Green. Connor quickly catches up with the pair, and begins to scheme to slow down their progress and allow Thea time to see how wrong the squire is for her. Connor's attempts are quite hilarious including the addition of a maid, a chaperone, and a convoluted path.

Thea has loved Connor for years, but has decided that they just want different things in life; she wants a home and family and his home is the sea. Land is just a place for him to visit between trips. She finally decided to move on and landed on Lance, a local squire. After their trip gets off to a bad start with a carriage accident, she begins to have doubts about her decision, but Connor's attempts to interfere cause her to dig in her heals. I enjoyed Conner and Thea's path to happily ever after on their meandering road trip. The compromise that Conner comes up with is the perfect happily ever after. I look forward to the rest of the books in this series, especially what I am guessing will be the final book featuring Conner's widowed brother-in-law.

Karen Hawkins once again provides us with an enjoyable story that will make you smile even as you fall in love with it. Caught by the Scot is a twist on the friends to lover troupe. Connor meets Thea via her older brother who is his best friend in school when he visits during holiday break. Her father is a diplomat which results in the family often traveling with him on assignment which can vary in length but rarely leaves them at home more than a couple months at a time between assignments. Unknown to Connor, Thea becomes infatuated with early on and it only grows as Connor often visits the family where ever they are stationed and considers Thea to be a good (if not best) friend. When he's forced to think of marriage, Thea comes to mind as the perfect bride for a marriage of convenience and has no doubt she'll happily agree as it will give her a home of her own and out from her mother's thumb while leaving him free to continue on seas as he wants. Much to his surprise, when he goes to propose the union, not only has she just eloped with someone else, but upon catching up with her, she adamantly refuses. it's enjoyable watching him attempt to slow down the elopement (without being caught) and working to change her mind all the while seeing slowly realize what was before his eyes all along. While they both turn out to want a future together, the question is can they find a way to make it work when how they both envision any possible such future is completely opposite of each other.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

Do you know how happy I was to be able to review this book?? So, so happy. I didn't even wait to read it because I was that excited. I love Karen Hawkins and her Scottish romances. Oh, yes I do. Caught By The Scot did NOT disappoint! There were so many memorable scenes, but my all time favorite happened when Connor meets Thea's fiancé. I'll never forget it and isn't that the true testament of an amazing read??!! I read a lot of books and after a while they somewhat run together. But, to find a book that has that extra something that will make you remember in the future...PRICELESS!

Needless to say, I can't wait for the other books in the series. If I won't be fortunate enough to review those, you bet I'm going to get me a copy. ENJOY!!

Conner, one of three boys in a family, that lost their parents when they were young. Their oldest sister Ann, at eighteen, became more of a Mother than an older sister. Now, all she wants from her three brothers, is to settle down with good, decent wives, and have a home. In fact, their ability to get their inheritance depends upon it. They don't really need the money, they just do not want their families enemies to get it! Those are the terms. Connor knows just the lady, that he can marry for convenience, and be off to sea again!
Theodora, daughter of a diplomat, constantly moving, is now twenty seven, all she wants is a stable home, somewhere to raise her flowers, children, and never leave! The other thing she has determined to do, fall out of unrequited love with Connor!
To this end, she has decided to elope with the local Squire!
Only problem is, Connor shows up, and all kinds of mischief begin to happen!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

I loved this latest book from Karen Hawkins. Caught by the Scot is the first chapter in a brand new Made To Marry series. It was a delightfully charming and witty romance that had me captivated the entire way.

The characters in this promising series endeared themselves to me right away. The three Douglas brothers were charming rogues. They were not happy about being forced to marry if they wanted to claim their inheritances. Conner sets his sights on marrying his dear friend Theodora. The charming rogue believes that because of their friendship Thea would automatically agree to his plan. He showed up at her house only to find out the quiet spinster had already eloped with another man. Not about to have his plan thwarted a stubborn Conner races to catch up with the couple and convince Thea that she belongs to him. Thea was a spirited heroine. She had been in love with Conner for a long time but she wasn't exactly pleased with his proposal. She led him a merry chase and along the way Conner genuinely fell in love with Thea.

This was a very lovely romance. The storytelling was simply fabulous with rich characters who tugged at the heart. Conner was a mischievous rogue. He was funny too. I loved how he conspired to slow down Thea and her Squire and stop the wedding. I was cheering for him all the way. I liked Thea too. She was super smart and called out Conner on his shenanigans. This book was a pleasure to read. I can't wait to read the next book !

I received this book from Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.

So this is far from my first book by Karen Hawkins. I actually really enjoy her writing style that being said. I had some Minor problems with this book. First let me start by saying I loved both MC'S (I actually loved everyone (especially the main 4 people). I loved all the underhanded stuff Capt.(Conner) was doing. I loved how she reacted to him too. It was funny and kept me interested though out. But about 70% and they were still going at it. I was ready for the whole thing to be over. this book was going to be a 5 star for me in only they got to HEA faster. Nothing really was resolved till 95%.

This was still a good book I think a lot of people would love it. I just super impatient
and hate to wait:)

I love the genre and the plot of this book so much. I love unrequited love stories and also Highlander stories. I wanted to love this book so much. In the end, this only gets a 3 from me because I found the dialect too distracting and had a really hard time getting into the story.

Caught by the Scot is a journey begun by a man who finally sees the woman who has been there all along. Connor and his brothers have to marry according to their deceased sister’s will or their inheritance will be given to a rival clan. In what seems to be the beginning of a series, Connor settles on marrying his best friend’s little sister. Instead of going straight to her to share his proposal, he continues to stir his wild oats until she is on her way to Gretna Green to marry someone else.

Although nothing alike, I began to believe I was reading a version of Canterbury Tales with the eloping couple picking up passengers, friends and servants on the way to Scotland. Conner and his servants are trying to keep Thea and Lance from getting married. Connor believes he can convince Thea to marry him. Then, he can go on about his business of sailing the seas as a privateer since he does not believe in love and family. He does not need the inheritance, he just does not want the other clan to receive his portion. Only marrying a proper, young lady will keep that from happening.

Conner, at one point, describes Thea as being stubborn, without realizing he was describing himself. Thea has just plain given up on Conner ever loving her and she will not accept anything less from him. And, he will not give up the sea and his sailing adventures. Thea will not give up her dream of a home and family.

What follows is a laughable, madcap journey. Karen Hawkins is a great story teller with her witty writing and out of the ordinary characters. I love that she made Lance, the fiancee, to be a man’s man and someone able to make Conner jealous. This is a great book to pick up for your weekend read.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Conner Douglas, handsome Scottish privateer must marry to inherit his fortune. The only woman he can think of is his best friends sister. Hoping to get a wife, content to sit at home while he carries on as he always has, Connor is in for a rude awakening.
Theodora has been in love with Conner since she was a young girl. Setting her dreams of love aside she decides to elope with a country squire. What follows is an enjoyable adventure as Connor and seeks to sabotage the elopement and comes to realise that Thea is more than he could have ever hoped for.
This is an enjoyable lighthearted read and I found myself laughing out loud at many scenes, in particular scenes with ladies maid Alice.

Conner really makes a mess of asking Thea to be his wife. But then again I'm not sure if it would have made a difference, she had already made up his mind. It was easy to fall in love with all of the characters. Some were quite memorable.

In Caught By The Scot, we have an entertaining and witty romance that is perfect for kicking your legs up, with a cup of tea and immersing yourself into. Karen Hawkins has delivered another wonderful story that kept me smiling all the way through and left me wanting more from these two.

Our story begins when Connor Douglas, has come home to visit his sister, with a new baby on the way. But when Connor and his brothers arrive, they learn that their beloved sister has passed away in giving birth and has left behind a husband and an infant son. Their emotions are rattled, but then they learn about their sister’s desires for them all, which their brother in law intends on carrying out to honor the woman he loved. They have three months to find a bride or lose their inheritance which will be given to their bitter enemies, a fellow clan. At first, Connor and his brothers are furious, but Connor knows of one woman he could marry. A woman he grew up with, a sister to one of his closest friends. He just knows that she is a spinster and will be grateful for his offer—or that is what he assumes. But upon arriving at her home, he learns that she has eloped with a farmer. So he chases after her and her “fiancee” to convince her his suit is way better than anything she could have with this landowner. Thea has loved Connor for many years, but she is tired of him never seeing her. She craves adventure and to take charge of her own life. And when Lance, a man who is handsome and kind and in love with her, she agrees to marry him. But she never expected the drama, a turned vehicle, or her secret love to be wanting her hand instead. She knows he sees her as a spinster, not a real woman worth of his attention.

Now I won’t say that this is my favorite book from this author, but this book packs a punch in so many ways. At the beginning, I really really shouldn’t read books in public, because I was crying buckets of tears. There was so much emotion that begins the story, seeing how much these brothers loved their sister and seeing the way they are grieving for her. It just broke my heart to see these strong and wild Scots be so humbled and broken. You may think that Connor isn’t your honest and good hero…but think again because I was so on his side during this book. He has a passion for living on the seas, be he also has great admiration for Thea. He has never wanted marriage EVER….but she is the only woman he would ever marry. He respects her and admires her in many ways and they have become good friends over the years. But we see how Connor sees Thea in a different way. We see how it humbles him and he starts to pursue her, to court her and be very devious in various ways. Connor doesn’t expect his competition “Lance” to be so good looking or charming.


I understood Thea’s reaction to Connor at first, about why she was so against him. I mean she wants a home and family, and Connor is a man that lives and breathes the sea. It’s like the fish and the bird falling in love with each other. Even though she does love him, she wants more than just love. She wants a man to rely on, a man who will be there for her and vice versa. She wants a true partnership and won’t take anything less and I LOVED that about her character. She isn’t afraid to go after what she wants even if that means losing a man she loves. I did admire her values for life, and what her goals were. We see some growth and changes in both characters. Connor starts to realize that courting Thea isn’t going to be easy and he may lose anyway. It was interesting to see these two come together. Because both of them have hot tempers and boy do things sizzle between them. I laughed so hard at their antics, and the “creative” ways Connor goes to separate Lance and Thea from each other.

This story just proves why I have fallen in love with this author over the years. She is a marvel at mixing up true depth of emotion with enough lightheartedness and building up characters you want to cheer on. Caught By The Scot is a feisty and lively romance that will keep you fascinated, teary eyed, smiles full of laughter and a love story that proves the fish and the bird can build a nest together!

This another one of Karen Hawkins' best. This is Connor and Thea's story. He must marry or lose his inheritance. He thinks of his best friend's sister. He arrives to find she has eloped. He follows her. There are many twists and turns in their relationship.but Connor comes up with a compromise. True love wins out. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

This is why I love Karen Hawkins’ books, they are full of laughter, sarcasm, fantastic kissing scenes and romance. Conner and Thea are the perfect adversaries. Both are a bit naughty and they feed off of each other with great wit. Conner is such a bad boy in such a good way. Don’t worry, Thea can hold her own. Great story.

Caught by the Scot is a nice easy read. It's fairly predictable, and the characters were good. I really enjoyed this book.


I received this copy from Netgalley

Caught by the Scot caught my eye with the whole unrequited love thing and it was kinda adorable! We've got this Scottish privateer, Connor, who's got to get hitched or else his inheritance is going to be given to a rival family. He doesn't need the money but he sure doesn't want the Campbell's to get their hands on it either. So, Connor decides that he can marry his friend's sister, Thea. Their friends as well, and he figures if he's got to get married, why not her. After all, she's a spinster and will surely be grateful for his offer. Unbeknownst to him, Thea has been in love with him for years and has just recently come to the conclusion that nothing will ever come of it. Not only does Connor not see her in that way, but he's also enamoured of the seafaring life and she wants the stability of a home. So, Thea decides to elope with a nice gentleman, which is when Connor turns up with his proposal. What proceeds is a humorous adventure filled with misunderstandings, setbacks and sneakiness - it was really a delightful little novel!

While I didn't find the romance to be overly compelling; much depth of feeling is assumed based not he long-standing nature of Thea and Connor's existing relationship. It is slightly far-fetched to see Connor do such a switch from friendship to love, but suspend your belief and this is a highly entertaining read, especially when the feisty maid Alice makes an appearance.

Caught by the Scot was a fun start to a new series from the author. It's a light, entertaining read and will appeal to those who are looking for something on lighter side of Romancelandia.

If you like Lisa Kleypas, Sarah MacLean and Suzanne Enoch, you'll love this book! I liked how the relationship between Thea and Conner, while already established in some ways, really developed over the course of their time together - you could see how a friendship became something more, in a believable and heart-warming journey.

Thea was a brilliant character - strong-willed, lively and dry - and Conner fit her perfectly with his cheeky and charming nature. The cast of supporting characters (particularly Alice the ladies maid) added some great moments of comedy.

I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes and how the remaining brothers deal with their own quests for a wife...

Really liked this story. Thou shall I'm not a fan of the man whore, I did end up liking the H, and the h is delightful. The entire story was quite entertaining, with laugh out loud moments. Connor must marry within four months in order to inherit from his si or. He delays seeking out the woman he intends to marry, then find she's eloped with another man. He immediately sets out to stop the marriage and marry her himself. The story follows their convoluted trail and his machinations to stop the fledgling romance. The support characters are fun and well developed. Enjoyed the story overall.

I could not put this book down. A very engaging story. Connor Douglas has to marry and quickly. He knows the perfect woman, the sister of his best friend. All does not go as planned when he finds out that she has already eloped with another man. He goes after them to try and convince her that she will be much better off with him as a husband.