Although women disguising as men is a common plot in historical romance, it isn't really my favorite storyline. I think the concept has such a narrow margin of originality, it doesn't give an author a big leeway to make the book unique and distinctive.
Fortunately, the writing and characters in this book definitely made up for the common plot. I simply loved them, Julia, or Jules, and Martin were such a fetching couple. They both had a sense of humor, and the situations Martin put Julia through, thinking she was a male, were so funny and kind of adorable.
I also liked how the author didn't let Martin feel attraction toward Julia when she was in character, he was mostly confused by her femininity. When he actually met her as a woman, he immediately felt the pull, which was written so beautiful it felt magical.
The whole dilemma with the moneylender needed a little bit of tweaking, some details should've been clearer and less ambiguous.
The last 20% was rushed, as soon as the romance started, their scenes revolved mostly around intimacy and they lost some of the depth and warmth their characters had in the beginning.
The ending was truly anticlimactic, suddenly everything was so tidy and perfect which made it quite irritating.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely read more by the author.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Oh, heavens! My first book of this author and I’m already looking up all the books she ever wrote! She’s fabulous! Witty, hilarious, emotional, everything I want in a romance book. I laughed and suffered with Julia and her struggles as a woman posing as a man with a gorgeous employer. Martin is a big, sweet cinnamon roll of a Scottish duke, even if a bit dumb maybe, for not seeing through Julia’s deception earlier. And Julia is lovely, strong, capable, brave and passionate. I loved Martin’s family (and his servants as well!) and I’m determined to read all the next books about them. Charity was the surprise of this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an amusing, entertaining and romantic story. Julia is a strong, smart and determined lady who is doing her best to care for herself and her father. Martin is generous, stubborn and caring. The whole MacGalloway family supplies much of the comedy and I loved the ones who played bigger parts of the storyline. This is a very well written and engaging story that I enjoyed reading very much.

A sweet, witty romance by Amy Jarecki. I was extremely excited after reading the blurb for this book and luckily I was not disappointed. It was the perfect quick read that kept me smiling the entire time. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something light but still exciting!

This book is entertaining but so far fetched that you need to give in to the ridiculous plot. I really liked both characters. They were both strong and caring. I found my mind wandering to the preposterousness of a woman in the 1800's pretending to be a man.

Julia is employed as the Duke's steward, but has disguised herself as a man because a woman would not be accepted for this type of employment during her time. I found her witty, somewhat reclusive, a bookworm, and she had a unique vision for the future. The only problem she's having is the feelings that are developing for her employer and a loan shark that cornered her into doing deliveries to keep her secrets.

Martin (The Duke) has met the most captivating woman at this ball he was dragged to. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was a vision in yellow and he insisted on getting to know her. He had no idea just how close to her he already was.

It was a delightful read. I would rate this 4.5 * but rounded up. I was gifted with an ARC and wanted to post a review. It's a unique story I think anyone would enjoy.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 1 in a new series. I have to say I did enjoy the story and the characters looking forward to more from the series.

An historical romance inspired by Mulan? Yes please. I loved the aspect that the heroine dressed as a man and took a job. Of course I knew what the drama would be, but I really enjoyed the way author wrote it. I’m also happy that she did not drag the conflict out more than she did.

Lady Julia St. Vincent has no choice but to dress up as a man and accept the position of butler to the Duke of Dunscaby.

This novel tries to continue the cliché of marrying rebellious dukes, but wanting to respond to feminism, with an enterprising female character who, despite being a lady, also works to support her indebted and sick father.

The result is, however, improbable because not even with much benevolence could I believe that this man would not be able to perceive that woman and man, without any disguise, were the same person.

I liked the book, but I did not love it.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

3.5 stars

A bit too "och the Noo" for me.

I couldn't see how Martin wouldn't spot that Jules was actually Julia. A few nice comedic parts and as it's the start of the series introduction to other would be heroines. Not sure I'll perserve but it was quite entertaining.

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

This historical romance was soo good! I have read some girl disguised as man-books and very few is good. But this one is easy, fun and romantic. Julia/Jules is funny, interesting and not the typical annoying damsel in distress type of woman. Martin is interesting too, have a bit impure awkward thoughts sometimes which makes me laugh. The story was overall very nice, funny and romantic.

This book was read thanks to NetGalley.


I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Sorry I really did, I requested it because it gave me Mulan vibes, but at the same time I am fool for the moments when the women realize that they love the other person and do something to get them. This book served the whole story, the characters and the story is so good that I really enjoyed it.

I received “A Duke By Scot” e-book from NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t realize I needed a Scottish historical romance until I read “A Duke by Scot”. Now I really want a Scotsman as a husband… maybe a former rake Scottish Duke.

Amy Jarecki forms this wonderful story that gives us romance, intrigue, laughter, and joy all in one. She gives us characters you can’t help but love, situations you either laugh at or swoon, and a romance that I fell in love with. She does a fantastic job of building this love that’s so magical.

Centered around two characters, Martin MacGalloway, the new Duke of Dunscaby, and Julia St. Vincent, an Earl’s daughter who is struggling to get out of the financial ruin her father has put them under. She finds herself disguised as a man and working as the Duke’s steward. Julia feels an instant connection to him and feels herself pulled towards him. But, when they share a stolen kiss (Julia not disguised as a man, and Martin not knowing who she was) Martin will stop at nothing to find out more about the woman he kissed, and Julia will stop at nothing to keep up her ruse.

The characters are fantastic, and I loved seeing a female character who is brilliant, and smart in a position of steward- even if she was disguised as a man. Meanwhile we have this large Scottish family who loved each other immensely. They were charming, witty, funny, and all together just wonderful.
It was a little slow in the beginning, but around the middle, the story started coming together and I loved it.

Overall, a well written and well formed story with fantastic characters and a fantastic romance.
(P.S. - there is a ball scene, and I adored it.)

I loved this story! So hilarious the different situations she ends up in due to posing as a man! As a steward she wasn't expecting to interact with anyone much but she was in for a rude awakening. From hunting to fighting to drinking in a tavern, she was introduced to all manner of things she never imagined doing. I found it equally hilarious when he was instantly enamored with her dressed as a woman and didn't recognize her at all. The happy ending was still hard won after the obligatory conflict, but it really was an enjoyable read. #netgalley #adukebyscot

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet, smart historical romance about an Earl’s smart spinster daughter pretending to be a man in order to gain employment and save her home from disaster. Her sick father had a gambling problem, that he made worse by borrowing money from the wrong man.

This was both sweet and frustrating, because although I really loved the second time meet cute (masquerade ball) Martin was frustratingly dense and blind to major plot points in the book, though seemingly his sister realized the gender switch faster than he. I guess though I enjoy this trope, some of the details always seem to frustrate.

Delightfully entertaining, full of humor and even laugh out loud moments (which I love!) as Amy Jarecki pens another fabulous story!

She is desperate to earn money and her only option is to dress as a man and land a job as a stewart. After all, she had been her father's steward for the last few years as the debt piled up.

Recently taking the title of Duke after his father's death, he knows he has to bring his estate back up to being profitable and try to refill the coffers. It seems the new stewart, although small in stature will help that happen quicker!

But he thinks he needs to take his small stewart to London and help him "man" up. Let's just say, let the shenanigans begin! Such fun and loved to see her masquerade as herself and of course, the attraction begins!

Lady Julia St Vincent is penniless and soon to be homeless if she doesn’t find a way to pay her dying Fathers gambling debts. In desperation Julia has no choice but to dress like a man and take a job as a steward to Martin the Duke of Dunscaby.

The more time Julia spends with Martin the more she falls in love with him. Resigned to the fact that nothing can happen between them Julia struggles on pretending to be a man so she can keep her job.

The premise of this book was interesting and I was excited to read it however I did not end up loving this book. The story was very slow but the ending where Julia is discovered is very rushed. Julia dressed as a man dragged on and I don’t know how she was not discovered sooner all I can say is Martin must of been blind.

Lady Julia St.Vincent, daughter of the Earl of Brixham whose father has gambled it all away and left his daughter in dire straights, and finds herself seeking employment as a steward for Martin MacGalloway the Duke of Dunscaby. I love this cat and mouse game as Julia aka Jule now in disguise as a man, doing a man’s job but falling for her employer. When he decide to take Jules to the city with him things really start to heat up, especially at the masquerade ball where Martin meets the mysterious Julia. This is a captivating story that I know you’ll enjoy and a great beginning to a new series. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this great book with a story so intricately woven to find a love of a lifetime.

This book was too much fun! It's the desperate daughter of an Earl trying to save her father and household by whatever means she can. She disguises herself as a man because a woman cannot take employment as a steward. What follows is the difficult time a petite young woman threads with an intelligent and observant Scottish family while doing a very fine job of caring for their estate. There are hilarious moments when she's trying so hard to be manly with a strong brawny highlander who sees a scrawny little man who needs to be taken under his wing. His younger sister Charity has a scientific bent and she is very observant and picks up on clues quicker than her Duke brother.

Lady Julia St. Vincent knows how to take care of the steward's duties as she's been doing it for her father for over 5 years. Her father has drowned his grief of losing his beloved wife in dissipation and gambling and is now bedridden, owing an unscrupulous moneylender. Silas Skinner holds the title to their home and the earl owes him money that he's charging an usurious interest on. She's made a deal with him to make payments and she must work to make those payments. She goes to work for the new Duke of Dunscaby in Scotland. Martin is trying to put the family's affairs in order now that he's inherited and it's not easy. He finds the diminutive Jules Smallwood efficient at the job. Jules appears sheltered and has spent too much of his young life tending to the books so Martin decides he must teach the young gentleman some manly pursuits. Life is not all about work you know. So off they go on a hunting and do some boxing when back in town. Julia even finds herself having to help with the young sister's dancing lessons doing the part of a man while waltzing.

After a disastrous visit with Silas Skinner she runs into an old finishing school friend and ends up at a masquerade ball dancing with Martin. Martin is enthralled and tracks down who she is not knowing her alter ego is Jules. And so starts her double life, with the help of Martin's sister Charity that leads to her unveiling by Skinner.

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