This series is three books and two novellas and I find it just delightful. I found gentle humor and a touch of mystery in this series and I can't wait for the third book to finally find out who gets to be the new Duke of Carlyle. I did find that I wasn't a fan of how the narrative was written. I found myself somewhat disconnected from both the plot and the romance. I liked all the characters, especially the St. James sisters, but found it difficult to fall in love with the hero and heroine. I didn't feel like I got down to the core of their characters. The author told me plenty about them, but I don't feel like I actually got to see who they were.

The elderly Duchess of Carlyle has a problem. Her son, the current Duke, cannot have children and is in ill health. An heir will come from some other branch of the family tree and there are three prospects. Captain Andrew St. James appears to be the closest relative and he, and another distant relative, have been summoned. To say this is a shock to him is an understatement. He has much to learn and big adjustments to make. Upon arrival at his home in Edinburgh with his news his family are stunned and delighted at the prospects this opens up for them. The have been living off the income from a small fabric shop and what ever Drew could send them from his Army pay.

Ilsa Ramsay is a young widow and the best friend of Drew's sister, Agnes. She is also a free spirited woman who is just now finding her way in the world on her own. A chance meeting with Drew leaves her wanting to know more of the young Army Captain. When she finds out about his prospects, she decides that life can never be for her. But, fate has thrown them together and neither one can deny the power of that stolen kiss.

When Ilsa's family is caught up in a terrible scandal, Ilsa sets out to right the wrong all on her own, as she has always had to do. But Drew is not willing to let her face this trial alone, even if it means he may displease to Duchess.

"a swoony, Scottish military captain meets an independent, adventure-seeking widow"

Scot to the Heart is the second book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series but the plot takes place concurrently, so really could read this as a standalone. (But there are a few references to Max from About a Rogue that you might enjoy better with the insider knowledge.) About a Rogue was probably my favorite read book from 2020 (at the very least in my top 5 when I'm being indecisive), so I was super excited for this continuation of Desperately Seeking Duke.

Same as with AAR, the story starts with the unexpected death of the heir to a dukedom, and there is no immediately apparent spare. The duke himself is ailing, so his mother begins a search for possible candidates among their distant relations. Her search produces several options including Andrew St. James, a Scottish military captain. Drew has a lot to learn about running a dukedom, so he's set to resign his commission, but first, he has to head home to Edinburgh to tell his mother and sisters the unexpected news.

•••

Andrew & Isla are each really likable characters. As much as the duchess is unsure of Drew because he hasn't been brought up to be a duke, if she only knew him, she'd know he's really well-suited for the job. Since his father's death, he's been helping care for his sisters, and he even sacrificed his own dreams about the future and instead joined the military because it provided a steady income. He's a doting brother and son, and duty and honor are virtues he values and possesses. I enjoyed his interactions with his sisters as well as his childhood Edinburgh friends, especially Felix Duncan, who you can read more about in the novella, How the Scot Was Won.

Isla is (finally) a strong, independent woman. She was raised by her father and eventually married a controlling man who kept her pretty isolated from people and society. He's since died in a duel that caused some unwarranted rumors and scandal for Isla, but she's embraced her widowhood and now refuses to let other people bully her or tell her what to do. She's doing what makes her happy - whether that's dancing at a tavern, owning an unusual housepet, or repainting every all the walls in her house.

•••

The first part of the book is great. Drew & Isla have great chemistry, the secondary characters (family and friends) are just developed enough to be interesting but not overpowering, and I love a good country house party with games! For me, where this one gets a little off track is in the last third. There's a mystery to be solved that unnecessarily takes over, and the conflict that keeps Drew & Isla temporarily apart is weak. Overall, Max & Bianca are still my favorites, but this was a fun, enjoyable read, and I can't wait to see how all of this wraps up in All the Duke I Need.

ARC provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story so much, that I found it difficult to put down and ended up reading into the early hours. The main characters of Drew and Ilsa were very engaging. What more could you want from a hero than Drew gave? He was caring for his family, protective of those he loved and a handsome, skilled lover. Ilsa had been restricted for most of her life and now she was a widow, she intended to live her life as she wanted. Drew and Ilsa had been attracted to each other before they really knew who the other was. However, Drew needs to marry an English lady and can Ilsa give up her freedom and be able to trust a man again. There are a few surprises and the beginnings of another romance. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. However, I did preorder my own copy.

A Scot to the Heart is a delight to read from beginning to end, thanks to the utterly endearing characters Caroline Linden has created. I was so charmed by Isla and Drew that I hated to put their book down.

Drew is an appealing mix of roguish charm and honorable soldier. He’s been providing for his family ever since the death of his father and being the heir to a dukedom gives him a chance to give his mother and three sisters the lives they deserve. The real Drew is a far cry from the stiff, subservient captain we briefly met in the first Desperately Seeking Duke book and his actions make sense once you get in his head. Drew is fun with a wicked sense of humor that comes out when he’s around his family and friends. He’s honorable to the core and has a good heart.

Isla has lived much of her life lonely and restricted, first from the oppressive rules of her aunt after the death of her mother and then under her husband who essentially imprisoned her. As a widow she has freedom even if her family tries to curtail it. She’s boisterous and fun when there’s no one judging her and I loved seeing her joy when she was free and uninhibited. She and Drew are instantly attracted to one another and had such good chemistry I was delighted to be along for the ride. Their romance is a lot of fun and Linden blends humor, heart, and heat extremely well. As this book shows, Isla and Drew are a couple who will be able to stand together and take on whatever life throws at them and that makes their romance incredibly satisfying.

A Scot to the Heart is the second book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series but you do not have to have read About a Rogue in order to follow along (although it is just as charming). I loved Drew’s family and friends and hope to see them all get stories of their own. I cannot wait to see what’s to come in the next Desperately Seeking Duke book for the meager hints that have been dropped have me intrigued.

Drew St. James is the distant cousin of a duke. Without a direct heir, the dukedom will pass to one of the cousins, with a considerable fortune attached to the estate. Drew is the most direct candidate for the succession. He has a short period of time to establish himself as the person capable of preserving the dukedom’s legacy and to find a suitable bride.

I liked the main characters, as a couple, these two are a perfect fit: good-natured, likeable Drew and seemingly prim Ilsa who is trying to change her life after being widowed. She has never been free to do what she wants and she craves a little adventure. What I liked most about Drew is his high sense of loyalty to those he cares for. He is duty-bound, he has gone into the army when his family was faced with penury. He is willing to step into the responsibilities and duties of the position and follow the dictates of the Dowager Duchess of Carlyle because he recognizes what the dukedom will allow him to do for his family.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the vivid interactions between Ilsa and Drew and the emotional moments Caroline Linden created. The secondary characters were great too. The hero’s sisters are pretty interesting characters that make the story more complete and delightful, the Duchess remains a unique character and I would like to know more about her. There is a small mystery subplot but it didn't add much to the main story. The book loses some steam towards the last quarter, the ending was satisfying, but somewhat lacking in emotional punch. There are still many things unresolved as far as the dukedom is concerned, and I can’t wait for more in this series.

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was fun and charming, held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book very much. This is a must-read author for me.

I am a character-driven reader, and I adored how well all of the characters meshed in this book. Drew and Isla's wild romp takes them all over Scotland, and it's a fun ride the entire way.

I love how all of the characters have distinct motivations spurring their interactions and conflicts. Drew is driven to handle his unexpected inheritance to the best of his abilities and sees it as a way to take better care of his mother and sisters. On the other hand, the St. James ladies are proud of the life that they've built in Edinburgh and leery of the changes the English Duchy would bring to their lives. The family clearly loves each other, but they still argue and bicker.

The visit to Stormont Palace was the highlight of the book. Drew is not a hero who is immediately amazing at his new responsibilities, but he sees his duty through while enjoying time with his family, friends, and Isla. I appreciated that time was taken to show Drew and Isla becoming friends alongside diving into their blossoming romantic relationship.

The pacing works well as scenes flit from light-hearted to reminiscent and sorrowful. There is an underlying tension in the spate of robberies occurring in town that builds until it explodes in the book's latter half. Some of the resolutions are bittersweet, but that adds to the realism.

I thoroughly enjoyed the second entry in the Desperately Seeking Duke series. It can easily be read alone, but those who have read the first book will appreciate how the interactions with the Dowager Duchess change with a different narrator.

Having met Captain Andrew St James in the first book of the series, I was delighted to read his story. I found the first half of the plot enjoyable and Drew did not disappoint me. His meeting with the seemingly wild Ilsa Ramsay boded well for the future until her family got in the way. Ilsa brought humor to the story, but her inability to stand up for herself disappointed me. As a series of crimes take place, making Drew's own family victims of a thief, it upends all Ilsa's expectations for the future. Drew's steadfastness in the face of incriminating evidence makes him a real hero, but I was unsettled by the eventual outcome of this novel. It is nevertheless well written and I loved the descriptions of Scotland, bringing back memories of my travels in the area. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I have to say, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get with A Scot to the Heart. I liked the first book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series, About a Rogue, but I didn’t love it and the story wasn’t particularly memorable. However, A Scot to the Heart was a delightful story that I felt I instantly connected to and ended up really loving!

Captain Andrew (Drew) St. James has always known he was a distant heir to the nobility. However, fate gets in the way and he unexpectedly becomes the heir apparent to the Duke of Carlyle, an incredibly distant cousin he’s never met. When he learns of his turn of fate, he’s able to resign his commission in the army and returns to Edinburgh to let his family know the good news…only for them to not be as overjoyed at the prospect as he expected.

Part of Drew becoming the Duke’s heir means he needs to maintain respectability and marry a member of English nobility to uphold the Carlyle legacy – a stipulation made by the Dowager Duchess to the three potential Carlyle heirs. Enter Ilsa Ramsey – the complete opposite type of woman Drew should fall for. Ilsa is a widower who is a strong, independent woman who just wants to be accepted for who she is and have the freedom to be who she is. Of course, Drew and Ilsa can’t help being thrown together – especially since Ilsa is friends with his sister – and the chemistry and attraction grows. When Ilsa’s father gets caught up in a massive scandal, Drew needs to choose between his heart or his duty.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the characters. I greatly enjoyed both Drew and Ilsa. Drew was the perfect, lovable hero. I genuinely loved how much he cared about his family and friends. The interactions he had with them always put a smile on my face. He was a genuine good man, but it didn’t feel like he played the “nice guy” role. I also felt like I instantly connected with Ilsa. I loved her personality – she was such a strong independent woman despite everyone around her trying to dampen her spirit and put out that spark. Honestly, her father and aunt were the worst and I was amazed at her resiliency after everything she faced, particularly as more of her past with her dead husband was revealed. It seemed like everyone was trying to lock her up and tamp her down, and I loved that Drew was the complete opposite of everyone in her life and encouraged her to be herself. He could see her, and appreciate her for who she is and not want to change her even if it would be what’s best for the Dukedom.

Drew and Ilsa’s relationship also brought a massive smile to my face while reading. It felt like a real relationship. My favorite part of the two of them being together was that they could make eachother laugh and genuinely liked talking to each other and being in each other’s company. It wasn’t just lust – it was a real, deep connection. It felt different from a lot of romantic relationships I’ve been reading recently and I really appreciated that.

Caroline Linden also did a fantastic job with the secondary characters in A Scot to the Heart. I fell in love with Drew’s family and his friend Duncan. I loved all the interactions and scenes we got with them. Linden also managed to weave in a secondary plot line with Felix Duncan, Drew’s best friend, and Agnes, one of Drew’s sisters, that I got incredibly invested in. There is history and chemistry between Duncan and Agnes, but we don’t get the full story of what went down and I NEED to know. Luckily, Linden has a novella focused on the two of them coming out in early July that I am so looking forward to!

I will say, while I enjoyed the majority of the story, the plot went a little off the rails for me around the 75% mark of the book. Up until that point, I found the story worked really well, the pacing was great, the romance was unraveling at a pitch-perfect pace and the drama was relatively low since it centered more on Drew’s role as the Duke’s heir and if he’ll take Ilsa as she is.

At around the 75% mark of the story, Ilsa’s father gets accused of a string of thefts happening around Edinburgh, including at the shop Drew’s family owns. Her father decides to run away, making him look incredibly guilty. All eyes turn to Ilsa as she was the last person to speak to him before the police came looking for him and he ran away. I honestly did not care for this plot line at all. I didn’t really understand Ilsa’s die-hard devotion to her father considering how he treated her throughout the course of the whole novel. He treats her like she knows nothing and doesn’t listen to her or respect her wishes, yet she’ll do anything and everything for him. That didn’t really click for me with Ilsa’s character the whole book. I feel like Linden tries to redeem her father a bit in the end with the revelation of his big secret and why he kept it hidden, but it didn’t work for me. I did like that Drew had no doubt in his mind that he’d stand by Ilsa’s side during the ordeal. However, it felt like unnecessary drama and threw me off a bit while reading and I ended up wanting to skim the last 25%.

Despite not really caring for the final act of the book, I still really enjoyed this book a lot! I definitely think this is a significantly stronger story than About a Rogue thanks to strong characters Linden created for this story. They really drive the plot forward and made this story so enjoyable!

I cannot wait to see how this series wraps up as we have one more heir out there for the Duke of Carlyle and he’s the most mysterious one yet!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Give me a highlander hero and I'm in!
Andrew is a soldier who just inherited an English title. He doesn't let his newfound fortune get to his head though. Andrew was such a nice guy. He always thought of his family and others first. Ilsa is a Scottish widow not looking for another husband but can't seem to resist Andrew. Ilsa could get on my nerves sometimes with her inner conflict. Her conflict created most of the will they/won't they plot in the book.
The beginning was great and totally sucked me in. I liked seeing the way Andrew and Ilsa were drawn to each other and they had angst for days. The end left me feeling like there was something missing, the story didn't seem finished yet. Perhaps it will wrap up in the next book.

A marvelous story. Andrew is a loving brother who would sacrifice anything for his family. Getting a surprise inheritance is the opportunity for him to make their life even easier. Ilsa is a widow who wants nothing more than to be able to enjoy the freedom she has been denied previously. The story shows how plans can change when you meet the right person. It also underscores how important the support of family and be. The characters are magnificent. The author shows how strong women can be and allows for the men to play an important supportive role that makes them a great partner. There is hilarity and witty conversations throughout. Truly beautiful.

3/5 Stars

I'll be honest and say this was an average read for me. It didn't feel like anything super special. I liked the character's okay and the storyline was alright. There just wasn't anything actively grabbing my attention. The writing was pretty good, I will have to look more into this author and read some other books. I am a sucker for any type of scot romance so that kept my attention. The romance wasn't bad, I did like the two characters Drew and Ilsa together but I would've liked more as far as the romance is concerned. Overall it was just okay. It was quick and easy to read. Perfect for passing the time.

Due to his distant cousin's untimely death, Scotsman Drew is shocked to discover that he's the heir to a dukedom. His first order of business is to tell his family. HIs second is to resign from the army. And his third is to find a proper English wife to help him fulfill his responsibilities.

But when he meets merry widow Ilsa, his sister's best friend in Edinburgh, he's smitten. Could she be the wife he needs? Or could her family's scandal endanger his freedom, and even his life?

I loved this book. Drew and Ilsa were interesting characters individually and adorable as a couple. The romance developed naturally and organically, with a strong attraction that grew into love and respect. The scandal didn't really hit until the second half of the book, testing the couple's devotion. This is, unbelievably, my first Caroline Linden book. Now I can't wait read through her backlist.

While this novel stands alone, you might enjoy the series more if you read it in order. The first book, ABOUT A ROGUE, is just as much fun.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I always enjoy Linden’s books and this one was no different, though it’s not my favorite. I did read it in one sitting though so it certainly captured and entertained me! I’ve been eager to see what happens in this series and await the third installment with even more eagerness. For this book I enjoyed both characters but felt they could both use a bit more development, especially Drew. To be honest there wasn’t much to him that interested me, he was a bit of a Mary Sue…. Kind of too perfect the whole time? Isla was more interesting but I wish her “wildness” and history was explored a bit more…. I could have used more bring “shown” who she was rather than told. Their relationship happened pretty quickly and easily, I’m more partial to slow burns myself but I know not everyone is. The first 70% was solid and I’d give that 4/5 stars but in the last 30% things went a bit sideways and the story suddenly veered off into a sudden, bizarre, and random direction. It felt like a separate story almost since the foreshadowing didn’t really lead to what actually happened. With all the focus on everyone in Isla’s life trying to keep her restricted I really thought there was going to be a reason for that revealed but that plot point never became anything. Instead something else entirely developed snd I felt a bit perplexed and uninterested by it. The last 20% felt like uninteresting filler, it didn’t lend anything to the story that I needed. Those pages should instead have been given to developing the characters.

Also I’m not sure why we don’t get closure on Duncan and the sister. I hope they are getting their own story because if not then that loose end is completely unacceptable.

Overall it was satisfying though not great. I will be reading the next one though and hope for a bit more attention to character and romance development and less random suspense plot thrown in haphazardly at the end in books going forward.

The book starts with Drew is to inherit the title of a Duke after years of serving in the army to help his family survive. After returning home he meets a mystery women in an oyster bar after a shared dance she gives him a kiss. He's intrigued and must find out who kissed him. Ilsa is a widow who's over protective aunt lives with her. Her best friend happens to be one of Drew's sisters. I very much enjoyed Drew and Ilsa's story. I can't wait to find out more in the next book.
Big thank you to Avon for allowing me to review this book through NetGalley.

Reading this book was a delight and completely exceed my expectations!
I enjoyed so much this book that is the second book in the series Desperately Seeking Duke, that you can read totally read as a standalone.
Everything, since the prose, the characters, the setting and the pace was perfect. The story was super entertaining, fun and engaging, I didn't want to stop reading.

I adored Ilsa and Andrew and their chemistry was noticeable from the moment they meet.
I loved how independent and open minded was Ilsa, a young widow that desires to enjoy her life despite the societal stereotypes for women of that time, her character was refreshing and fun.
And Andrew... omg, he is one of the sweetest heroes I've read lately and I loved how charming he was.
Getting to know the St James family and how the main characters interacted with them was also a lovely surprise, the relationship that the have gaaaahhh, awesome!

I look forward to read more books by Caroline Linden soon (Yes, I'm talking about Agnes and Felix book 😜), in the meantime, I'm going to read this author's backlist.

Thank you Avon for this free copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was the first time I've read a book by this author and I don't believe it will be the last! It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did it was so hard to put it down after that! I loved the main characters and their personalities and how well they suited each other. I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author in the future

I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters of Drew and Ilsa. I couldn't help but hope that they got their happy ever after and I read the book. I found this a wonderful historical story, it kept me interested and engaged as I read it.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and hoped to love this one just as much! Captain Andrew St. James is a distant cousin to the duke who is not able to have children. He learns that he is the next closest heir to the dukedom. He leaves the army, and goes back to Edinburgh to share the news with his family. Here he meets his sister’s best friend, Ilsa. It turns out that Ilsa was the mysterious woman who had kissed him at the tavern the night before and then disappeared.

I really enjoyed the romance in this book. I loved Drew and Ilsa’s instant connection, and how much they tried to steal moments together. However, I wanted a lot more of the romance. This book has a huge other plot line that kind of took over the second half of the story.

There have been robberies in town, and Drew tries to find out who the thieves are after his family’s story is robbed. This causes lots of drama, road trips, and other secrets to come out. Then at the very end of the book, Drew and Ilsa are left in limbo not know what the future will hold for them. Even though I loved the romance, this book really started to fall apart for me in the second half.

3.5 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

Captain Andrew St. James has been in the English Army since he was eighteen. He is the head of his family and sends most of his pay home for his mom and three sisters. One day he is summoned to his colonel's office and told he needs to go to Carlyle Castle. When he gets there he finds out he is the heir presumptive. He goes to Edinburgh to tell his sisters and mother the good news and to see if he can talk them into moving to England. He meets Ilsa Ramsay at an Oyster Bar. They danced and even a kiss was exchanged. But he does not know her name.
Ilsa lost her mother when she was four. Her father was not around much. Then she married her father's choice of husband and was not allowed to do anything. Even her aunt who came to live with her father after his wife died was strict about manners and society.. She had never been free or allowed to do much. But since her husband had been shot dead in a duel, she was free. She thought Drew was an excellent man, in about all things.. He was tall and good-looking and kind.
It was fun to read their bantering and joking between them and their siblings. Even his friends were fun to be around.. The author wrote an amazing story and your interest is fully engaged. The characters were just like your own friends and companions. There are also some surprises coming and they will shock you. It does have a little sex but that does not take away from the plot. It is a fun and happy novel but there are so sad spots. I highly recommend the book and hope you liked it as much as I did.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.