A Scot to the Heart by Caroline Linden is a lovely historical romance about putting love first.

It is book #2 in the Desperately Seeking Duke series but can be read as a standalone.

Andrew St. James unexpectedly became heir to a dukedom. As a captain in the army, he was used to a hard life of duty and was always hard-pressed to make ends meet with his mother and sisters' help.

Becoming heir made all those troubles disappear, but, at the same time, brought expectations of behavior, social standing, and even a move from Scotland to England.

Drew was ready to do it all until the lovely Ilsa crossed his path.

Tired of a constrained life and finally free of a lackluster marriage, Ilsa wanted to live and enjoy herself.

Obviously, there were stones in the couples' path, which became even more complicated to overcome when the constable got involved.

Drew was such a lovely hero. He was every woman's dream: sweet, caring, and not afraid of embracing his feelings. Ilsa was his perfect match. I loved her zest for life.

A Scot to the Heart is a story full of romance, family love, and a bit of adventure. Another great read by Caroline Linden.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 06/29/2021*

I loved the first book in this series, About a Rogue, so I was super excited to receive an ARC of this book. Thank you Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Captain Andrew (“Drew”) St. James has found out that he is the presumptive heir to the Duke of Carlyle and stands to inherit a vast fortune. He returns to share the news with his family in Edinburgh, where he meets the lovely and free-spirited widow, Ilsa Ramsay. Drew and Ilsa cross paths many times, intentionally and unintentionally. But just as they are coming to terms with what they mean to each other, a scandal erupts that could jeopardize any hope they have for a future together.

I loved how the characters came alive in this story, subverting expectations but also feeling really relatable. Ilsa, despite her minor rebellions, just wants love and acceptance, but on her own terms. And Drew, despite feeling weighed down by responsibility, comes alive in Scotland, and especially around Ilsa. Most importantly, Drew steps up and the way he understands and nurtures Ilsa’s emotions is VERY sexy. Ultimately, they both feel like lived-in characters you can empathize with and root for.

I also really enjoyed that 99% of this book is set in Scotland. And it’s not the typical drafty Scottish castle (although don’t worry, there is a vacation in such a castle), it’s mostly set in Edinburgh, with oyster cellars, golf courses and its own assembly rooms. It’s not just interesting to see new locations, but the setting also helps to round out the characters and make their Scottishness feel vivid and authentic.

This was just a solid genre read that has everything romance readers love, with some important twists. The soon to be Duke hasn’t grown up in the ton and the English romantic interest is anything but a hothouse flower. Through these characters the classic tropes of “unexpected inheritance,” “wallflowers,” and “kilted hero vs. fancy maiden” get a makeover with the added bonus of some mystery and intrigue. My only quibble is that the whole plot, both the romance and the mystery, get neatly tied up in what feels like two seconds. Yes, the clues are there, and yes, the slow burn is fun stuff, but this could have been a little more artfully resolved. Nonetheless, fans of kilt-clad historicals will find a winner in this book. Lots of room for more books in the series, which I eagerly await.

Captain Andrew St. James has always been distantly related to a ducal family, but no one in his family has has anything to go with them since his grandfather left the family and moved to Scotland. When Andrew finds out he is next to apparent he knows his world is about to change. All he wants to do is resign his commission and see his mother and sisters and tell them the news. He'll be able to look after them in his new role as the Duke and introduce them to London society as he tries to find a wife.

His family isn't interested in becoming English and as Andrew meets a local widow, Isla Ramsay, he's captivated by her, and so begins their attraction and burgeoning relationship. Isla is finally free after her husband's death. She's accountable to no one's decisions but hers and she doesn't want to give that up for Andrew. He needs an English wife and she knows she can't be that for him, but she's attracted to him and she can't stay away. Isla and Andrew are adorable and I love them together despite their problems.

The secondary story of Isla's family is interesting but kinda comes out of nowhere and distracts from the ducal storyline with Andrew and his family. The ending also brings up a whole new plot with the heir to the Duke of Carlyle and nothing is resolved and it just feels out of place.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read and loved the first installment in the series (About a Rogue) and this one was even better than I expected. I had this image of Andrew as a very low key, subservient individual but he is everything but. He is fun, he is straightforward, he doesn't beat around the bush about his feelings and what I love most is that he is absolutely dedicated to his family and loves his sisters and his mother enormously. Ilsa, on the other hand, seemed a bit wild at first and I am not a fan either of unconventional women or of widow romances but she grew on me. The two make a marvelous couple, the chemistry is there and the love scenes are steamy enough and now I am dying to know what transpired with Agnes and Duncan in the side story. I really hope there will be a novella or a short story like it was the case with the previous book. Wonderfully written, I absolutely recommend.

A quick romp with a strong female heroine and a male hero who doesn't fit into the main romance tropes of being a rebel in need of reformation or a man with a horrible past.