I'm not a fan of Scottish romances even though I like the brogue. This happens in London with multiple marriage schemes. It was easy to put down, especially since the antagonist is sneaky--something I hate. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a complicated romance.

I reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

Wild Wicked Highlanders #2, I'm so glad I didn't miss out on reading this one. I loved this book it's one that had me smiling at the end of it, it made me happy. It was well written and it pulls you in completely; from her details to the sprinkling of Scots Gaelic it's very immersive. The story is about three Highland brothers who were forced to come to London and find English brides before their little sister marries or else lose the family fortune. Which means they can't afford the upkeep of the estate or their lands and tenants. One brother has already fallen in love and married now it's the second brother's turn to fall.

Miranda Harris hates gambling and gamblers. The first thing she heard about Aden MacTaggert was that he was a wagering man and a good one, she takes an instant dislike to him even before she meets him. Then when she finally meets her brother's soon to be brother-in-law he was too good looking for his own good and she hated that she felt an attraction and he had just rescued a stray dog; she would not let herself feel such things for him so she was deliberately mean to him. Unfortunately, it backfired, Aden was intrigued by the green-eyed beauty who seemed to make a rather harsh judgement about him.

Miranda soon finds out her brother is really lousy at gambling and a really easy mark, he loses way more than he could ever pay back to a Captain Vale. Instead of taking the money and completely ruining the family the debt will be paid when Miranda marries the captain. Miranda is livid she in no way will accept her fate of being married to such a villain she does the only thing she can think of she asks Aden for help. Aden doesn't make it easy for her but he does give in and help. Part of his plan is to court her to irk the captain and take his attention away from Miranda and on to Aden and because he's serious about courting her. The more Miranda spends with Aden the more she sees he's not the villain gambler like she thought, he's a good man, a smart man, a man she could see herself with forever assuming Aden can get her out of this mess. Lucky for her Aden is smart much more so than the captain.

Overall, I thought this was such a great book, I loved how everything played out. I am really looking forward to Coll's book, the bigger they are the harder they fall. I love that one by one the brothers stop seeing their mother as a bad person and while they aren't happy with what she did they are willing to forgive her so far all except Coll.

5 Word Review: Family, reputation, society, love, control.

This book was just what I needed, and I don't think I could have enjoyed it more.

Scot Under the Covers is an excellent Regency Romance. It has scandals and intrigue and secrets and a slow burn hate-to-love romance. It ticked all of the boxes for me and by the end gave me the warm fuzzies.

I loved the characters in the story. Miranda was headstrong and knew her mind, but she was also a bit of a paragon of society. She was very proper and mannered and her rebellions were all small subtle things. She really stood out for me among RR heroines. Aden is a swoon worthy romantic interest, and I loved his character. I'd almost say that the story was more about him than Miranda, even though everything happens to her and the plot revolves around her.

Despite being part of the Wild Wicked Highlanders series, this can absolutely be read on its own. I think I'll enjoy the other books if I do read the, but I don't think they'll be able to beat this one for me.

This novel is a great continuation of the Wild Wicked Highlanders series by Suzanne Enoch. I love these characters, even the butler & the decor! I love the back and forth between Miranda and Aden. They have great chemistry. It was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading the next adventures in the series!

🍷🍷🍷.3 #Review of Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch

Kimberly's Thoughts:

Shackled by an agreement that he had no part of, Aden is in London forced to find an English bride before his younger sister gets married. When his soon to be brother-in-law's sister makes her disdain know for him immediately, he is intrigued.
Miranda's brother is in trouble and somehow she is the one who is going to end up paying the price, but she won't go down without a fight.
Two people whose futures are trying to be set by others might just find hope in each other.

They didn't call him the elusive MacTaggert brother for no reason.

Second in the Wild Wicked Highlanders series, Scot Under the Covers starts a couple weeks after the first in the series. New readers might miss some of the MacTaggert family background and dynamics but there was enough rehashing to keep them from totally being lost. I do recommend reading the first however, as I enjoyed it and I think it lays down the foundation for the series. Aden is the middle brother and the most mysterious, he keeps his cards very close to the chest and his emotions contained, no one really knows exactly what he is thinking and feeling. While we were introduced to her brother Matthew in the first, Miranda makes her first appearance here and she comes off snobby as she insults Aden right away. Readers learn that Miranda's uncle had to leave England because of gambling debt and that Matthew has gambling issues too. All Miranda knows of Aden in the beginning is that he likes to gamble, so with all the hurt gambling has caused her family, she wants nothing to do with Aden.

That was her problem now, he realized. She saw a trap, knew it to be a trap, hadn't even stepped into it herself, but now she couldn't find a way out of it.

The crux of the story is that Matthew lost 50,000 pounds to a Captain Vale who threatens to ruin their family unless Matthew promises Miranda will marry him. Miranda is, obviously, upset about this and goes to Aden for help on how Vale thinks and if, as a gambler, he knows of anyway to get Matthew out of the debt. It was a little bit flimsy of reasoning but I went along with it and the story started off sparking with Miranda being cold to Aden, Aden not letting her just get away with her rudeness from the beginning, and then the emotional simmer starting to seep through from the couple. The middle, unfortunately, was too loose and dragging. Aden is constantly portrayed as having a grand plan or scheme but since he is so self-contained, he doesn't want to tell anyone, not even Miranda, his plans. This works for awhile as Miranda and him are getting to know one another but the reader is also kept in the dark. The middle was a constant back and forth of Miranda wanting him to share what was going on and Aden simply saying trust me. What really made dragging through the middle not worth it was the ending, the whole grand scheme Aden was supposed to be working towards, gets thrown away and an extremely simple action is taken instead. It made it feel like the whole middle had no point.

If she genuinely disliked him he'd turn elsewhere, but beneath the sparring between them, perhaps even because of it, he felt...something. A slow, brewing lightning storm that made the hair lift on his arms and had him anticipating things he couldn't yet put a name to.

Miranda and Aden had chemistry, I wished there had been more scenes focused on them together; there was a hallway scene with them alone that simmered and heated up the pages. There were two bedroom scenes, the heat level was lower in this one, in regards to what is currently being published. Aden is constantly wondering if Miranda is pretending to like him to keep him helping or beginning to like him because she feels indebted to him and Miranda isn't sure if Aden likes her or is just helping for his sister's sake. Both of these are credible angst issues but Aden's pretty quick internal “she's my lass” and admitted in love, had me missing some aspect of relationship development. Miranda's growing feelings get lost in favor of the whole grand scheme to get her out of Captain Vale's clutches.

At that moment he looked up and his gaze met hers. He took half a step in her direction before he smoothly altered course and continued with his conversation about wild berries in Scotland. That motion, though---it was the first time she'd seen him make a misstep in...well, in anything. And it had been in reaction to her.

Again, since Aden is more closed off, the two other MacTaggert brothers don't really come into the story until later; I think their relationship shined more in the first. I did think the emotional issues with his mother (she left him and his three brothers in the highlands and took the daughter with her to London, never visiting them because of animosity with husband) had more depth and he makes her work for a first step to rebuilding love and trust, more than was portrayed in the first. Captain Vale gave a very villainy villain, some harsh moments from him, and while not completely rounded out for me, his backstory and reasons gets somewhat rushed at the end, he did his job providing the danger.

Whatever disaster had led her to this point, whatever subsequent madness had seized her, nothing had ever made her feel what she felt right now as she waltzed with Aden MacTaggert.

A stirring beginning and a too loose middle that dragged, giving way to an ending that disregarded all the work of making it through the middle, made this a little bit of a frustrating read. The set-up of the series is still strong though, and I care about the characters and Enoch has the ability to create heat inducing and emotionally stirring scenes. The eldest MacTaggert still needs to find his match and I still definitely want to read about it.

His fingers tightened momentarily on her shoulder, and then his warm mouth brushed against the nape of her neck. “Ye may just undo me, lass. I look forward to that.”

I loved Aden and Miranda’s story , Their love took a bit of work but the journey was worth it, the villain was a nasty piece of work and he really got his comeuppance in the end which kept you on the edge of your seat waiting.

Suzanne Enoch has once again brought the wildness of Scotland to prim and proper England with Aden MacTaggert and his brothers. Miranda, the woman who admittedly likes the rules is drawn to him, especially when she learns that her brother has unwittingly became a pawn in a masterful game by another man to cheat his way through society and have her. The story has great banter and wit, amusing situations, a strong heroine, and a great her. Everything that I love in a good historical romance, plus, the chemistry between and blossoming love between the two is just fantastic. My one issue is a big one. Matthew, Miranda's brother and Aden's soon-to-be brother-in-law is horrible. I want to believe that he's naive and made a mistake when he gambled away Miranda's freedom, but he continues to go through with the plan and is childishly sulky when it looks like it's not going his way. I just wish he'd done more to prove that he's man enough to be part of the MacTaggert family.

Aden MacTaggert finds himself in London to fulfill an agreement between his parents that their sons all marry before their daughter. Miranda Harris, a close friend of Aden's sister, returns to town and finds herself trapped by something she vehemently dislikes: a gambler. Miranda's choices are limited and her future is at-risk, and Aden is drawn into helping her regain her freedom.

Both Miranda and Aden had personalities that shined through their actions. Aden's gambler side is seen in the risks he takes, both with his standing in society and his pursuit of Miranda. A paragon of society herself, Miranda is seen wavering on the edges, deciding between when she can break from the ideals she's held dearly and what's more important: family standing in society or her future. While Aden doesn't change much aside from his dedication to Miranda as he falls in love, Miranda evolves from a perfect miss to a woman who is strong and in-control of her wants.

The plot was enjoyable, if a bit long. One of Miranda's lines that stuck with me the most was: "Then tell me what is going on, for God's sake!". I can't agree more. The reader is left in the dark on Aden's plans, usually not quite sure what his intent is in his actions, as he works to free Miranda. This gets frustrating and pulled me out of the plot every time I was left wondering about why Aden was doing XYZ this time or that.

Scot Under the Covers was engaging, however, thanks to these two characters. We see Aden and Miranda grow in love during their interactions. We seem them take on a shadowy figure haunting London. We see them both prove that love, family, and your future are important, and that it is possible to have it all.

4.5 stars - What a great read! I love the Scottish hero. He is everything you want a hero to be and the heroine is no pushover either. She feels a loyalty to her family, and her brother in particular, that puts her in quite a difficult situation. Thankfully, she has a handsome Scottish hero waiting in the wings. It’s a great read. I highly recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had to restart this book twice to like it. At first it was slow. a lot of back and forth and I was kinda lost, made it to chapter 5 and stopped. I wasnt into it and it wasnt thrilling. So ignored it for a few weeks then tried again, started over. This book and author are really well liked and have great reviews so it must be good, right?
Right! It is good!
I am so glad I went back and started again and read it through cuz it definitely picks up speed and then launches into a great storyline, good characters and good writing. The banter between Miranda and Aden is really entertaining in places.
I would say to anyone to give this book a chance and you'll be rewarded with a great story.
-ARC provided in exchange for review

Miranda Harris is known for her ability to solve any problem, it seems her brother is in deep in gambling debts. Highlander Aden MacTaggert is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance, until Miranda comes to him for assistance he comes up with a proposal they’ll both benefit from. She teaches him about society and she learns about gambling. Miranda has always wanted to marry for love, but her brother’s gambling debts are changing everything. As these two are thrown together Aden discovers Miranda is the perfect bride to meet his deadline to win his inheritance, now to just convince her. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a review.

This is a historical romance story where 3 Scottish brothers must marry English brides per a deal by their mother.
Miranda has found herself in a predicament in which she requires Aden’s assistance.
This story has lots of drama, action, and adventure. You can just picture hot Scotsmen with accents while you read this.
Can’t wait to read about the next brother finding romance.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

<b>RELEASE DAY!!!!</b>
January 28, 2020
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scot-Under-Covers-Wicked-Highlanders-ebook/dp/B07SCRT665">Kindle Link</a>

<i>“People see what they want to see, and that is generally what’s most convenient for them”</i>

When Miranda Harris’s right to marry for LOVE is taken away from her by her brother’s debt and threats of blackmail, she is left scrambling to take back her future. And that means consorting with the worst sort of people - gamblers.
<img src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/xUNd9OzrEVokG14sbS/giphy.gif"/>

In walks Aden MacTaggert with his gambler’s hands, Scottish brogue, kilt, broad chest, strong chin, gray-green eyes, black hair, high cheekbo… yada yada yada He’s gorgeous!
<img src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/4fe10056bdeaf0ddc666ef2ec6e8b6e9/tenor.gif?itemid=5060575"/>

Aden is away from his beloved Scotland because of an agreement between his father and birth-mother. He must find a Sassenach bride to save his family’s inheritance. Having never set foot in London, much less its society, Aden is confronted with the complexities of the ton and their expectations for a gentleman.

What once started as a mutual arrangement, quickly turns into more for Aden. He strangely starts to feel a pull toward the beautiful Sassenach, and finds he wants more than their newfound friendship can provide.

I enjoyed getting to know Miranda and Aden, even though Miranda initially came off as snobby by instantly insulting Aden from the very beginning. They each had a unique past that had clearly defined them and I admit, I enjoyed seeing them both succumb (at different times) to their love for one another. This had some great banter between the two. And Aden was more interesting than the stories introduction would imply.

<b>That wagering-boot-throwing intro was a joke</b>, and made me instantly question my request for this book. There was definitely more to him then what his reputation (gaming halls and womens’ hearts) led one to believe.
ME: (when I read the intro.)
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcREy5YKQnv8nWf_dy3nmJd10LFy549v4-T4tddCMrgcXy-AgcLJuQ&s"/>
https://www.memecenter.com/fun/7250436/play-stupid-games-win-stupid-prizes (click link for above video to play. Pretty hilarious 😂)

This is the second installment in the Wild Wicked Highlander’s series. This was my first time reading a book from this series, let alone this author(I think). There was enough recap into the family’s background for me to quickly catch up.

I enjoyed the writing and the story telling overall, but some things felt off in the finality of Aden and Miranda’s book. Miranda’s need to be involved and Aden’s simple “trust me” responses made me beyond frustrated. The incredible Ocean’s 8 reveal of the creative/cunning plan Aden was suppose to be concocting never came to fruition.
<img src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/l4pTdtrZeHQxRk9s4/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611f4a0cec5b2ae306118f908a9134c1c1247d0156d&rid=giphy.gif"/>
<img src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/ZwDL34qqgXB3M4srVL/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611f4a0cec5b2ae306118f908a9134c1c1247d0156d&rid=giphy.gif"/>
Instead we get a simple half-hazard plan instead of the mastermind conclusion we were promised. It was a buzzkill!
<img src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/5HFmqmOpZBMQXkzB85/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611b53b235e9f874e34010e842eb33cc9edad85325a&rid=giphy.gif"/>

Overall, it was still enjoyable.

<I>"Then I suppose if you bring the black powder, I'll bring the fuse"</i>

Why is that ^^^ romantic to me??? IDK... it just is😍😍😍

Overall Rating → <b>3.5 STARS</b> (rounded up)
Price is Right? → <spoiler> Kindle version $7.99 RN on Amazon. </spoiler>
Would I recommend? → yes
Would I re-read? → maybe
Would I read more from this author? → YES!

<img src="http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/ehafkenscheid/Mobile%20Uploads/63fcd1af-c2b8-4068-bc6d-63a555aa5b75_zpscohx5mzj.jpg">

<i>***Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Suzanne Enoch for sharing this ARC COPY with me in exchange for my honest review***</I>

An entertaining, slightly steamy read although I would have liked a more aggressive editing. I felt there were too many ellipses/pregnant pauses which detracted from my enjoyment. I liked the twist on the HEA! Looking forward to Coll's story.

This book is the second book in the series "The wild wicked highlanders". The book started off a little slow but gathered steam quick enough with amazing characters like Aden and Miranda. This book has a good mix of romance and mystery. Aden and his brothers were called to England from Scotland when their sister Eloise gets engaged and are being forced into marrying English brides by their mother. Initially although resistant to these plans, Aden falls hard for Miranda when she asks him for help. The part of the book that I really enjoyed was that even though Miranda needed help, she was not one of the wilting violets who gave up all the saving responsibility to Aden. She is an equal partner in her own rescue and I was all for it! The person that I really detested in this book was Matthew. I can understand being swindled but the way he went about with everything else makes me wish Eloise had a different hero. But I loved this book and can't wait for Coll's book next.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I just recently started reading historical romance books. They just never seemed to catch my eye before now. I've been binging on them ever since last fall. I don't know what it is lately but they are some of the best books I've read lately. 

Aden and Miranda have that push and pull relationship that just grabs my attention. They bad boy Scot who gets all the ladies, and the one lady who doesn't want him. It's the stuff book crack is made of for me. 

It's a very entertaining book. The beginning took me a minute to get into but after that it was smooth sailing. I am planning on going back and reading the first book in this series, I hope there is more to come after this one as well.

First, I have to say I love the covers of Enoch's books. Now about the story... I am enjoying this series and love the MacTaggert men. When they fall, they fall hard. I liked that Aden stood up for himself in the beginning when Miranda cast him in a disparaging light and he quickly put an end to her petty barbs. After seeking Aden's help, I really liked Miranda Harris and felt for dilemma her brother placed her in. With that being said, I think Matthew was just as much of a villain and in no way was he redeemed in my eyes. I hope we will see Eloise drop him like a brick in her eventual story. I am also still not a fan of the MacTaggert's mother but I am holding out hope that will change soon.
Overall, another win in the series.

While this is the second in a series about a trio of Scottish Highlander brothers taking Regency London by storm when they have to find English brides to save their ancestral home, you don’t need to have read the first to thoroughly enjoy Aden’s story. The middle brother of the three, Aden likes a gamble and a challenge, and Miranda Harris certainly provides a challenge when she tells him bluntly on their first meeting she doesn’t much like him. So when she turns up soon in clear distress asking questions about the mindset of gamblers, he can’t help but be intrigued.

Miranda’s in a hell not of her own making; a villain has targeted her brother, driving him deep into debt and then blackmailing him. The only way out appears to be for Miranda to marry the scoundrel. But she’s not about to lie down and accept her fate without a fight, and one thing she’s pretty sure about Aden MacTaggart is that he would be a good man to have on your side in a fight. Falling for a stubborn, opinionated, slightly wild Scot isn’t really in the plan… but it’s kind of inevitable.

There’s some painful and possibly triggering content in here in light of the way that Miranda is the one who has to pay the price for her brother’s sins, and it definitely bothered me that Matthew never actually had to face any real consequences for his appalling decisions. Miranda calls him on it when she notes that he expects her to trade her future for his mistakes, but he barely expresses any guilt and I really didn’t want him still engaged to Aden’s sister by the end of the book. I couldn’t even understand what Eloise saw in Matthew; he was weak-willed and easily led.

I liked Miranda and Aden and a villain working his way up the social scale in the way Vale did was both plausible and slightly terrifying, but my disgust with Matthew not having to face significant consequences for his actions have me marking this down to four stars.

As always with any Suzanne Enoch historical book, the fast pace and wonderful writing will get you every time.

Lovely romance with great main characters. It was very well-written, a lot of detail put into the plot and secondary characters too, though the pacing was sometimes a little too slow and meandering for my taste.
Miranda was somewhat hasty in her judgment of Aden, but otherwise a likable and strong heroine, who reacts to a horrible predicament with grace and strength and not too proud to ask for help when she needs it. I really liked Aden, who is very much a caretaker, and very cunning and insightful, though he hides it well behind his charming Scottish burr and casual disregard for staid English propriety.
I heartily disliked Miranda’s brother, Matthew, and felt that he got off too easily. I feel that Eloise’s rather easy acceptance of his “error” makes her a less interesting character, not on equal footing with her brother’s, which is a pity.