Usually I really like novels by Virigina Brown and I had this like forever on my kindle but I couldn't finish it at all. It just didn't work for me.

Book: The Scotsman
by Virginia Brown

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook of
1. Tartan Book Reviews
2. Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3. Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
4.Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog

Overall Rating: 5 Stars and 5 Kilts

Scottish Borderlands, October 1313

The hero of the story of Scotman is Alexander Fraser. He is a man mentally and physically thrashed by the English. He is at his rock bottom of the barrel with nothing left. So when he hears a the cruel, English Earl of Warfield has his brother and he has nothing to offer as payment for his release! As he is poverty stricken by the Sassenach dogs too! He is desperate and does what any red blooded highlander would do, he kidnaps the Earls daughter! Expecting a docile English Rose except this is the furthest from the truth.

Earl of Warfield’s daughter Catherine Worth is the heroine of this story. This English beauty is headstrong, ornery tenacious and relentless at first as captive. Until she starts to feel things for Alexander that she has never felt for any man. She knows her father feels nothing for her. Just something to use to gain wealth and gold in a marriage contact, no matter how old or cruel her future jailer would be! She has been in the dark how brutal and sadistic her father actually is. She soon opens her eyes to this fact and readers will find out her true reaction!

As these two star crossed lovers will they stay together or forced apart? As it seems Alexander’s brothers life is to be forfeited if he does not return his daughter. Yet it is not out of love, only selfish evil purposes. What will Alexander and Catherine do?


I hadn’t read a Viginia Brown book in over a decade. Oh my goodness I forgot how beautifully she writes. I totally got lost and absolutely loved The Scotsman and hope she continues on her Scottish journey. This book includes non stop action, drama, mystery, abduction, betrayal, treachery,?? suspense, hatred, emotional, trust, love and a page turning riveting adventure. In addition, a breathtaking setting, brilliant dialogue, awe inspiring plots and unforgettable characters!

My favorite story ingredients are true factual history weaved into a fictional historical romance! I absolutely loved this book so much! What a phenomenal read! I absolutely loved The Scotsman by Virginia Brown!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Buy Links

The Scotsman eBook by Virginia Brown - 9781611947571 ... - Kobo.com

https://www.amazon.com/Scotsman-Virginia-Brown-

https://books.google.com/books?id=d6EsDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Scotsman+by+Virginia+brown&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVrrHnn7LgAhWHd98KHUfCAScQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=The%20Scotsman%20by%20Virginia%20brown&f=false

Bookbub.com the Scotsman by Virginia Brown

This book was long and drown out. It was more of a historical account than the love story that I was expecting. Just could not get into it had to put it down twice and then try and get through it.

I am unsure why I keep reading these Scottish historical romances.
I always end up feeling really sorry for the Scots and how the English treated them.

Anyhow this is a new author for me and I have to say I actually really enjoyed this.

Scotsman Alex Fraser kidnaps Catherine when his brother is taken hostage by her father. His enemy.
From the start sparks fly between the two of them and I found the dialogue between the two to be quite funny.
Obviously (because that’s how the English were/or seem to be in these books) Catherine’s father didn’t give two hoots about her and leaves her to be prisoner/hostage.
I thought the love story very sweet. The secondary characters were all interesting to.
My only real complaint was how quickly Catherine switched sides. But I suppose that was the point.

It was a reasonably good read, entertaining storyline with characters you do care about.
I enjoyed it and would try other ones from this author in the future.

My first by this author. What a great surprise it was well written and captivating. I love the love story between Alexcander and Catherine and can recommend this book

I loved the story, the love between enemies. The characters share good chemistry.

Enjoyable book! Revenge turns into love. This book has good characters, nice plot and good style and pace!

This is the storey of Catherine and Alex. He is a Scottish laird and she the daughter of an English border lord. They are on opposite sides of the war. When Catherine s father takes Alex's brother hostage, Alex kidnaps Catherine, wanting to exchange her for his brother. But what Alex doesn't realize is that as a girl, Catherine holds no value to him. He valued his prisoner more than his daughter. From there the war and the relationship continue to progress. Eventually Catherine has to choose between her captive and get family. Wick way will she choose?

I am going to be completely honest..I could not get into it..Too much info, dialogue

I received a copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Amongst the bloody fighting between Scotland and England, Alex Fraser's younger brother is taken hostage with another by the Earl of Warfield. Alex knows that their future is not looking good. He decides he needs a bargaining tool and kidnaps the Earl's daughter Catherine, thinking to exchange her for his brother.

Catherine tries to tell Alex that her father doesn't value her as a daughter but he doesn't believe her of course. Even when Catherine's brother comes for her and tries to negotiate her release, Alex refuses.

Catherine is not afraid to speak her mind, much to Alex's dismay and soon the attraction grows between them. Catherine feels that she would rather give herself to Alex, whom she cares about, then some man her father wants an affiliation with.

Will Alex return Catherine to her father? Will his brother live? Can an Englishwoman survive in Scotland?

I loved this story! Catherine was never allowed to be around when politics were spoken about so her feelings towards Scots were just dirty beasts. She wouldn't really listen to Alex when he would explain issues at first but as she got to know him, it changed. The way he did it was great, between he and his friends it was explained and not forced on her. She had the chance to absorb the information.

Her decisions will be a permanent split between her and her family, would she give that up for love?
Can she and Alex survive if his brother doesn't come home?

The writing was done very well and the story had a great flow to it. If you love your Scotland men, this is a must read.

The Scotsman

By Virginia Brown

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ great story line, the heroine Catherine makes the story enjoyable. The hero Alex makes it believable.

Passion, love, war and victory.

Alexander’s brother has been taken hostage by the Earl of Warfield and having no money to pay the ransom he takes the Earl’s daughter, Catherine. I really liked this historical read. Alexander and Catherine have great chemistry and the story really draws you in. An entertaining read.

Alexander Fraser must fight for Scotland any chance that he can. The English Earl of Warfield kidnaps his younger brother, Jamie Fraser! (swoon for all Outlander fans!) Catherine Worth is the Earl's daughter. She runs away from an impending marriage and right into the arms of Alex Fraser. She is rushed away to Scotland where she is held as ransom for the return of young Jamie. Alex is a tall, handsome and brooding fellow. Catherine is determined to hate her captor, even though he is so darn handsome! Will Alex keep her or trade her for his brother? I love romance and Scottish romance and found this story to be rather enjoyable! The plot was interesting and well-written. I loved the characters and think that it is a great addition to the historical romance genre.

The Scotsman by Virginia Brown is now available from Bell Bridge Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

'The Scotsmam' by Virginia Brown is the story of Alexander Fraser and Catherine Worth.
Alexander is a Scottish fighter whose younger brother Jamie was taken by the English Lord, Earl of Warfield. Alexander wants to get him back. Since he has no money he knows a hostage exchange would be his only choice. When they spot Catherine who is the Earl's daughter they take her. But she isn't the easy going hostage you would want.
Catherine knows her father is awful and he plans to marry her to just as awful person and is really is only her father's pawn. But when she is taken by Alexander she struggles at first but he brings out feelings she hasn't had before.
Exciting read!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

a totally smashing historical romance. Loved it. Good plot and romance.

Nice read. It dragged on a bit in the middle but all in all i liked the story and the characters. Catherine is a headstrong and witty woman who quickly falls for Her dashing Scottish kidnapper.

Solid writing by an author previously unknown to me. Lots of historical details but unfortunately I find myself not too fond of this era, 14th century border country, where the Scots united under the Bruce fought against the domination of the English. The Scottish hero, in an attempt to get bargaining leverage to obtain his brother's freedom, took the daughter of a vicious English earl hostage. It started with some uncomfortable allusions to sexual violence against the resisting heroine that appeared to turn the hero on. I thought, it had the feel of a bodice ripper (not a surprise since it is a re-release of a 1988 book apparently), and I wasn't too sure whether to keep going. Luckily, it got over the non-PC rapey undertones quickly, and the writing was good so I stuck with it. I thought, that the heroine capitulated too fast - betraying her country and family ties without a backward glance. And how did a supposedly clever girl find herself 20 miles in the wrong direction as she couldn't tell East from West? There was a bit too much gore and war crimes for my liking, which I guess was a reflection of the unrest of the era.

This novel was a good read and a nice blend of history and romance. During this time, especially in England, women were controlled by men and they preferred obedience. They dictated to women and would even take without permission. Some women were able to read and increase their knowledge, but to their gender, were limited it what they could accomplish.
Catherine Worth, daughter of Warfield, knows she is just a pawn to her father and how he can increase his wealth. She defies him when she can, but has lived a sheltered life. The only person that means to care for her is her brother Nicolas. Catherine does not know all the cruelty her father has committed but will soon learn.
Scotsman Alexander Fraser has been fighting the English for too long. He knows what war does to people, but he tries to be a good leader to those in his protection. When he brother is taken hostage, Alex will do anything to get him back, which results in the abduction of Catherine. He is surprised at her beauty and more so of her stubborn nature.
Catherine tries to resist Alex, but does not want to continue to be a pawn to her father either. She realizes she has the opportunity to make her own choices, even though she is a hostage. Catherine begins to learn about Alex and the Scots as she waits for the ransom exchange. Her brother, Nicolas works endlessly trying to save Catherine, but her father is a different matter. When she discovers the true cruelty of her father, Catherine realizes several things. As she begins to fall in love with Alex, she tries not to confuse love and lust. Misunderstandings happen between Alex and Catherine, which led to unforeseen troubles. Alex has never understood what it truly means to love a woman, until he realizes what his life would be without Catherine, after seeing what happened to his mother. With war looming over their heads, the choices they make will not only affect them, but the ones they love as well.

Yikes, where do I start? First off, before reading this book, I checked out Goodreads and found out this is not, in fact, a new book but actually a 're-release from the 90s. Had I known this, I would not have requested it, because romance books in the 90s still had bodice ripper qualities that do not appeal to me.

How this can even be labeled a romance is beyond me. The "hero" kidnaps Catherine, forces himself on her in a kiss (delighting in the fact that she's fighting back) and proceeds to drag her back to his horse. Then at the keep, he forces her to strip naked in front of him and ogles her. Not long after, maybe a week or two, he starts seducing her, going so far as to have sex without breaching her hymen. Oh, what a prince! Meanwhile, we have her brother who seems like the only one in this book with a realistic, emotional reaction to the situation. That is, until Catherine loses her virginity to Alex, and then the brother tells her he would rather she were raped. Nice. To top THAT all off, she is now STILL locked up but sharing a bed with Alex regularly. He's got her locked up as his own live-in prostitute, and yet he thinks she should call his keep him home. Let's reiterate - she is still locked in a room, unable to move about freely, and is used for sex each night. Willingly but still - if she is a captive, she doesn't really have a choice.

I found nothing about this book romantic. It just got more and more appalling, and I had to put it down once I got a little past the halfway mark. Too misogynistic and Stockholm Syndrome for my tastes.

The story was okay. It was the language I found too much, if it's too authentic I find it hard to read this is just my personal opinion, others may not agree. I have not left a review on good reads as I feel this is just a personal preference and I didn't want to reflect badly on the book.