I haven't read many books by Caroline Linden, but I'm rethinking that oversight after reading A Scot to the Heart. A sweet story about two middle-class people (although there is the potential of a dukedom thrown in), I enjoyed the chance to read about a dance at an oyster cellar instead of a grand ballroom.

Andrew St. James is a tired army captain when the book opens, but determined to do his duty and provide for his mother and sisters. When his world is upended by the news that he is potentially the heir to the ailing Duke of Carlyle, it's nothing but good news. Drew resigns his commission and goes to meet with the Duchess who informs him that her son (the current duke) is infirm and unable to have children due to an injury. Drew, a distant cousin, appears to be unofficially next in line for the title, and she would like him to learn about estate management before he inherits the position.

Excited by the new opportunities unfolding, Drew returns home to Edinburgh to share the good news with his mother and sisters. For all that he anticipates a new life in England, each day at home reminds Drew how much he loves Scotland - including his first night in town, when he becomes smitten with a woman he meets at a dance in an oyster cellar beneath a tavern. Drew is both surprised and delighted when it turns out that woman is none other than Ilsa Ramsay, a good friend of his sisters.

As a close friend of the family, Ilsa is apprised of Drew's good fortune, and privy to his sisters' many complaints that they do not want to leave Scotland. The family runs a fabric shop in Edinburgh, and it's hard to imagine leaving the income and independence behind to fall in line with Drew's plans. Ilsa deeply understands this - as a widow she is finally getting a glimpse of the autonomy denied to her all her life (although she remains under the judgmental eye of her maiden aunt). Even as she develops feelings for Drew, Ilsa can't imagine being tied down by a husband again, let alone the responsibility of a dukedom.

One of the things I liked best about this book is how normal everyone feels. While Drew is excited by the prospect of having enough wealth to quit the army, he's cognizant of the enormous burden of running multiple estates, and is not particularly eager to take up the title anytime soon. Ilsa, too, is smart enough to view the title as a drawback and not an enticement. So although this is a story about a duke's heir, the characters don't feel like high society (in a good way).

I also truly enjoyed the development of the romance. Drew and Ilsa have terrific chemistry, which is highlighted in the slow build of their relationship. It's very clear what they see in each other, and how they fit together. Drew is particularly good at understanding Ilsa's need for freedom and control of her own life, and shows her in many little ways how he respects her and encourages her spirit of adventure. I also liked how the couple avoids the drama around whether Drew’s inheritance of the dukedom would allow them to marry. Even when Ilsa is dealing with a scandal toward the end of the novel, Drew is confident that they can make a living without the ducal finances, and so there is no need to martyr himself and avoid her for the sake of the title. Such practicality can be rare in an historical romance!

While Ilsa does make some questionable choices in the wake of the scandal I mentioned, Drew's calmer nature balances the story and makes for a satisfying whole. Overall, the characters and relationships in A Scot to the Heart are beautifully developed and a testament to Linden's skill as an author. I will definitely be watching for more from her.

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I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Andrew St. James is a captain in the army when he learns of an unexpected inheritance. Upon leaving the army and traveling home, he meets Ilsa Ramsay who is so full of life that he can't stay away from her. Their connection is easy, but their circumstances are anything but.

I really enjoyed this one. Both the main characters were likeable and fun. I loved their antics and their jokes. It was truly like reading about two best friends in a relationship together. It was sweet. Plus, Ilsa was a great heroine. She was constantly doing what she wanted after her whole life of being told what to do. Her adventurous spirit was so contagious and she just made you smile. His family was eccentric in the best of ways, and I loved all their interactions together, and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Overall, an extremely fun read!

Ilsa and Drew are a couple I wanted to root for.
Ilsa is a wealthy widow learning to make the most of her newfound independence and Drew is a devoted son and brother, who has been in military service for ten years and learns he’s in line to inherit a dukedom.
The story took a number of twists and turns that made me wonder if the author didn’t know how it would end until she wrote it. I also wondered about Ilsa’s unusual pet, Robert, and why the smell and mess he would have created in her home was never addressed.
There are parts of this book that are lovely and entertaining, with some moderately steamy scenes but despite the HEA, it wasn’t a satisfying read for me.

Captain Andrew St James learns that he has the potential to become a Duke. He returns to Scotland to give his good news to his mother and sisters. He runs into the spirited Ilsa Ramsay.
Andrew needs to find the proper lady to be his possible duchess and Ilsa doesn’t exactly fit the bill. They of course are attracted to one another. He helps her when her family is in trouble as well. It’s a delightful book. It’s interesting the way Ilsa feels as if she needs to protect Andrew by not being with him for his future. It’s heartwarming when Andrew decides love is more important. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the characters.

My absolute, utter favorite Caroline Linden book is About a Rogue! A Scot to the Heart is the next in the series and is about the other heir presumptive we heard about in About a Rogue, Andrew St. James. I loved his counterpart, Ilsa. She was fun and relatable and I understood her frustrations with life.

I think that Andrew and Ilsa were well matched and liked the way that they met! The story has an compelling climax and I really enjoyed (in a non masochistic way) the conflict in the latter third of the book. I thought it was a good path to cement the connection between the main characters that I wanted to see!

As to some things I wanted to see a little more of: I wish we'd gotten a little bit more of an introduction to Ilsa. While I loved the way they met, I wanted a little bit more time with Ilsa and her thoughts in the beginning and perhaps more scenes depicting the growth of an emotional connection between Drew and Ilsa.

I have to admit that About a Rogue remains the first in my heart, but I loved seeing Ilsa and Drew grow their love! And I'm eminently excited about the next book and possible Duke! I thought that the way Caroline Linden dropped that mystery at the end was so enticing.

Caroline Linden has long been a favorite of mine, and this new book doesn't disappoint.
With her classic humor and warmth, she crafts characters that feel multidimensional with challenges we can care about.
I recommend this, and any book by Linden for anyone looking for a great historical romance read!

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention.

I really enjoyed this story and start of a new series. This story is about Drew who finds out he is the heir to the duke of Carlyle, who is a distant cousin. He has to return home to Edinburgh to tell his family the good news. Ilsa Ramsay want adventure and not to get married again. Turns out she meets her friend brother at a dance. One thing leads to another. I really like the chemistry between Drew and Ilsa.

Another winner from Caroline Linden. Drew was brilliant. I loved that this story didn't deal with relationship angst. They genuinely liked one another and fell in love in a fun, heartfelt way full of laughter and affection. And when trouble threatened Ilsa, Drew stood by her, without hesitation, just being there for her and helping her do what she needed to do. This book is a perfect example of the sort of relationship we should all strive for and believe ourselves deserving of.

Captain Andrew St. James is shocked to discover he is the heir presumptive to his distant cousin, the Duke of Carlyle. He heads home to Scotland to tell his family of his inheritance. After an unhappy marriage, Ilsa Ramsay yearns for freedom and fun. When she kisses a handsome stranger at a tavern, neither expects a magnetic chemistry to overtake them.

This is the second book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series. The book opens with a brief synopsis of the title succession, but then advances as a mostly stand alone story.

I enjoyed the first book, but this one was even better. It was a glorious story of two individuals who didn't intend to fall for one another. It perfectly captures that feeling of new love, when everything is exciting and one just can't wait to catch a glimpse of the other. I was definitely feeling the butterflies!

Drew is a great cinnamon roll hero, strong and protective but loving instead of overbearing. I loved Ilsa, too! She was sheltered by her father and then isolated by her husband. She was made to feel inferior when she expressed herself, but that didn't stop her. They make a fantastic pair!

Now I can't wait for the novella, How the Scot Was Won, so I can find out what happened between Agnes and Malcolm!

Tropes: Rags to Riches, Widow, Forced Proximity

* I received an ARC (or four) and this is my honest review. #AScotToTheHeart #NetGalley

THIS IS AN ENJOYABLE SERIES. I FIND THAT I AM ENJOYING THE PLOT AND CHARACTERS INTRODUCED. I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF THE SERIES. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FINAL BOOK.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this opportunity.

This book was a treat and a solid read! If you love a good Scottish love story with a kilted hero and a heroine who decides to finally live her own life then this book is for you. This book also falls under "unexpected inheritance" and "falling for your brother's friend" trope. This is the 2nd book to the series "Desperate seeking Duke' but can be read as a standalone.

In this book you get to witness two people Andrew and llsa fall wholeheartedly in love. Although the story is a liitle of a slow burn the romance is definitely heartwarming and reading worthy.

Overall it's a wonderful love story with a little of everything including mystery. This book had great characters with infinite likable personalities, and I look forward to reading to reading the next book.

I am not 100% decided on this book. Did I love it? Did I like it?

I feel like the premise was good. There was a lot of unanswered questions around main characters and supporting characters. No real ending for our two main characters, Isla and Drew are sort of left in limbo. Some of the things in the book were way OTT and others were believable yet not fully fleshed out.

All together the story left me feeling lost and not quite sure if I even care about the next story. However, the romance that was included was heartwarming and earned the 3-stars.

Not a lot of heat in the story either and a very slow building love, the characters didn’t admit their love until 88% of the book was completed.

Add in a mystery, a villain, and some royal titles - and you have the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Stars. I read the first in this series, “About a Rogue” last year and really enjoyed it (review can be found here). I still liked this one but I didn’t love it as much as the first. The book was well written and I enjoyed that it was a Scottish story and not the typical Scot trying to find his way through London society story. This book starts about the same place where “About a Rogue” starts with Drew and Max showing up at the Duke’s estate and learning that they are potential heirs, but this book follows Drew instead of Max on his journey of love after the meeting.

I liked Drew but found that I really liked Ilsa. Drew was a bit bland for me, though not as bland as he appears to be in the firs book. Ilsa however caught my attention instantly and grew on me as the book went on. I particularly loved that Ilsa grew more and more independent and confident in what she wanted throughout the book.

I struggled a little with the pace of the book. It was a slow burn in terms of both heat and the mystery and then both were resolved and wrapped up very quickly at the end of the book. And I knew who the “bad person” was from the moment they were introduced so it felt like that part of the plot dragged until the very end when it went form 0 to 60.

I like that the author kept the ending open enough that there can easily be more books in the series. I will happily read the next one when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Scot to the Heart, the second book in Caroline Linden's Desperately Seeking Duke series, is just as good as the first! Andrew St. James is the presumptive heir to the Duke of Carlyle, but he's just an army captain, and not prepared for the role at all. The Duchess of Carlyle gives him six months to become a respectable gentleman, and he is determined to do just that. When he gets to Edinburgh to tell his family, however, he meets the vivacious widow, Ilsa Ramsay. Ilsa has lived her whole life under the thumb of first her father, then her husband. Now, she's finally free to do what pleases her, and intends to live her life to the fullest. When she meets Drew, her friend's brother, though, all her plans might go out the window.

This book was very fun - the characters are great, both are infinitely likeable and very believable as well. Their path to falling in love is filled with such joy that it's a pleasure to read. The climax of the story is unexpected and very riveting. There is no third-act breakup common in novels, which felt unusual - I kept waiting for it to happen but it didn't - and it didn't need to, which is nice. Because the majority of the conflict was external, they could just be together. I love it.

Overall it's a great story. Great characters, unexpected plot, and a good amount of steam. Also, ghosts! Definitely read this book if you like Linden's other work. I am for sure looking forward to the next book in this series!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A SCOT TO THE HEART: Desperately Seeking Duke - Caroline Linden
Next Duke Up - Book 2
Avon and Harper Voyager
ASIN: B086JYFW98
ISBN-10: 0-06291-364-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-06291-364-7
2021, June 29
Historical Romance Fiction

Scotland, 1787

Captain Andrew St. James is serving at Fort Gorge in Ardersier, Scotland, when his colonel gives him a letter from the solicitor of the Duke of Carlyle. He had been told to personally deliver it. The duke is a distant cousin of Andrew's, whose family has been estranged since the days of Andrew's grandfather. In London, he meets Sophia Marie St. James, the current Duchess of Carlyle who is the mother of the current, disabled duke and the last in his direct family's line. She tells Andrew that he will most likely inherit the title. She tells him he has to change his lifestyle. The Carlyle property is huge and with an equally huge fortune attached. Andrew will also have to learn the responsibility of the duke's duties. She gives him five hundred pounds and three times that per year until he becomes the duke. She also demands he become respectable and find a wife. Six weeks later Andrew returns to Edinburgh, Scotland, to tell his mother and sisters the news and help them out of their penury. His first night back he spends the evening with a friend, Felix Duncan, who takes him to a local oyster cellar where they enjoy the food, the drinks, and the music. Andrew dances with a woman and by the end of the evening, they share a passionate kiss. Andrew feels something for her that he has never felt for any other woman, but he doesn't even know her name.

As a wealthy widow, Isla Ramsay is determined to run her own life, not have the men in her life tell her what to do. She is infuriated when her solicitor refuses her request to withdraw money from one investment to have it placed in another. In her furious exit from his office, she recognizes the man from the oyster bar, waiting to see the solicitor. She ignores him. Later she learns the man is her best friend Agnes St. James brother. Andrew and Isla have a strong attraction for each other, but Isla does not want to leave Scotland, so feels ignoring her desires is for the best. Then she lands in serious trouble making her believe Andrew could never ask for her hand in marriage.
Great characters and interesting situations make A SCOT TO THE HEART a compelling romance to follow the first story in the series ABOUT A ROGUE, but it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy Andrew and Isla's story.

Robin Lee

Trope: Love at first sight
Pro: Interesting characters, original storyline, fun situations
Con: A bit of a cliffhanger ending
Verdict: Enjoyed reading and wondering what was going to happen next. I should read the first book in the series and I look forward to the next one.

What a treat: solid characters with a plausible love story who make mature decisions about their future together. It's a slow start getting them together, and a broad cast of characters interferes at times, but overall, this is a love story that rewards readers.

This begins where About a Rogue does, with two young men from distant branches of the St. James family tree learning that they are the Duke of Carlyle's only living heirs. Max's journey played out in About a Rogue, and A Scot to the Heart is ostensibly Andrew's story. Yet a case could be made that this is not primarily his tale; while he does find a true love match in wealthy widow Ilsa Ramsey, this novel feels more like <i>her</i> journey of self-acceptance and growth.

Widowed relatively recently, Ilsa has decided to live her life on her own terms, even if that means painting murals on her ceiling and housing a small pony in her home. Yet for all her harmless dancing in Edinburgh's oyster halls or solitary walks with Robert the pony, she is still chafing at restraints her family imposes.

Meanwhile, Andrew is rather delighted at what his ducal inheritance will allow him to do for his mother and three sisters. And boy is he charming in a warm-hearted, playful, and generous way. Yes, he wears a kilt, and yes, this is a convenience for the two lovebirds.

I thought the main challenge he'd face would be the obligations of the dukedom vs. the attraction he feels for the somewhat unsuitable Ilsa (wealthy and respectable gentlewoman that she is, she's not part of the ton). Both of them seem aware of this tension, but their romance feels natural and he's very willing to fall in love with her with no unnecessary drama. The conflict driving the latter half of the story is Ilsa's, and how she comes to terms with this conflict and all its reverberations determines the trajectory of their romance.

Both characters are remarkably adult--no silly misunderstandings, petulance, or pointless miscommunications to keep them apart--and make mature decisions about their shared future. At one point, a character is faced with a life-changing decision, one where so often in other books we see them making the wrong choice before they backtrack to make the right one. Not so here; the writing and the characters feel too mature for that kind of plot dead-end.

We get some glimpses throughout the book of why, when Ilsa meets Andrew, she is testing her boundaries, and I wish we'd gotten more. There is much discussion of a court case involving her late husband without any clear explanation of what actually went on there. For much of the story, her beloved but oppressive father seems like a sketch of a character; likewise, for much of the story, her prim aunt seems like a plot device rather than a complex character. A lot was going on with his sisters, including a murky subplot with the eldest and much plot-advancing rambunctiousness from the younger two.

This leaves the book uneven overall, but with two solid central characters and a believable love story, this is a worthwhile read.

I received this arc from NetGalley an exchange for an honest review.

I have been anticipating this book since the first in the series!
There are two potential heirs in line to a dukedom. The first in line is Captain Andrew St. James, this is his story. The second in line was Maximilian St. James, who we saw in find his match in About a Rogue. At the end of his story, we were left wondering where the Captain ended up. Now, we get to find out his path that he took to find his HEA.
To be clear, you do not need to read the first to understand this book, but it is a series that ties together.
The heroine of the story is Ilsa Ramsey, and wild and free, sometimes rebellious widow. I love the slow burn romance of this book as well as the first in the series. It makes it believable that it’s not an insta-love story.
Both characters are very relatable. They had believable chemistry and I loved the steamy scenes. 😊 Definitely one of my favorite authors because she doesn’t add unnecessary drama in her books. Yes, there is conflict but it doesn’t blow up like your typical romance novels. It’s resolved in a real, mature way.

Truthfully, I got so into this novel that I'm a little embarrassed by it. I loved A Scot to the Heart. I haven't read anything else in this series but I didn't feel like that was necessary to enjoy this one. The plot was interesting and the romance just steamy enough without being "too much".

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A full review will be available upon publication