Member Reviews
The story was good, but the ending felt like it was just too rushed. It was like the author was too ready to reach the end to properly explain things ot a bit better.. If that was changed, I'd go up at least a star.
Solid historical romance. Conkle is becoming a favorite with her swoony hero’s and strong female leads. I enjoyed this one, sometimes the male leads drive me crazy but here I didn’t mind him so much. I was wanting to read this and keep turning the page which is a great change from others I’ve read recently. Also I love this cover! Give me this any day over those bland headless woman in ugly dresses!
This is the third book of the Scottish Treasures series and my first by this author. As this book continues the search for the lost Treasure of Arkaig, I believe this series would be best enjoyed in order. Mary is an independent woman with her own business and learned from her mother to make her own destiny and never rely on a man. She takes care of her sister, while also continuing the work of her fellow league members in search of the lost treasure. Thomas and Mary were already acquainted, it seems, from the previous books, and he comes to her rescue when she finds herself in trouble. He continues to protect her as they work together to find the treasure and in the process grow more and more fond of each other.
The story was filled with intrigue, drama, adventure, and romance and kept my interest till the end. The characters were well-developed and interesting and I enjoyed following their story.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I think this should've been longer, the ending felt a little bit rushed. When you have a very uptight character, it's a fine line to have them relax towards the end and I don't think that enough time was spent on that, it was like a switch flipped for the FMC and I wanted to see more about her changing. There was a lot that happened "off page" that was pretty important for the plot that happened towards the end.
For a Scot’s Heart Only (Scottish Treasures #3). By Gina Conkle. 2023. Avon (ARC eBook).
A satisfying conclusion for the Scottish Treasures series. As a member of a Scottish league looking to reclaim lost Jacobite gold, corset maker Mary Fletcher becomes embroiled in a mystery and heist that brings back an old enemy and introduces a new one. Thomas West decides to act upon the feelings he has been harboring for Mary, but finds his attempt at courtship entangles himself in adventure that could ruin, or save, his whaling company. Overall, For a Scot’s Heart Only, and the previous two books connect a story full of swoon-worthy heroes, adventurous heroines, and a plot that intrigues.
I liked this story, but not all the parts.
This review may contain spoilers.
The story opens with how the heroine came.to live in Edinburgh in Scotland.
She and her mother and younger sister were living in squalor, her mother dying and her mother told her to take her younger sister and go to the heroine's father or to her mother's clan in Aristaig. The heroine is not interested in seeking out her father because he is a silversmith, who taught her some of the craft, but is focused on his heir, her half brother. So she takes her sister to the clan and joins a secret woman's order who is looking for a lost fortune in gold from a scottish king. She is now almost 30 and her little sister is almost of age to be married and on her own. The heroine owns a corset shop and lives above it. She is a successful business owner and supports her and her little sister. One night, she and another woman from the secret order, go to a brothel with a gaming room. She is dressed in a totally different manner and she meets up with a man who provides her with whale bone for her corsets. He is the hero.
The hero owns a few ships and is in the shipping and exotic trade business. His friend owns the brothel, not the woman who is a front as the head of the brothel. The hero was responding to an invitation from his friend and is in the gaming room when he sees the heroine. He is in shock that she is dressed as she is because she normally wears drab clothing. He saves the heroine from a drunk and escorts her out.
The heroine has been attracted to the hero for sometime. She was never sure how to approach him, or even if she could since they have a business relationship. But she sees the interest in his eyes and make a daring decision. She will rent a room at the brothel for secret assignations and invite him to be a temporary love partner. He actually agrees and amidst the undercover search for the missing gold and a murderess that the order has been chasing for 3 books now, they fall in love.
This story kept my attention the whole time. My one complaint was the way they spoke and act was very contemporary. I always thought the people in that time period spoke and acted more formal. The women seem to have more freedom than usual. And they are more outspoken. Otherwise, I like the characters, the story contain action, adventure, intrigue, drama and a few laughs. There were a few surprises also. I give this book 4 stars for a solid story. It could have been improved upon because the way the people spoke and acted was not in line with what I have read in other authors. I recommend reading it, but it was just a little wanting in my opinion.
This is my first Gina Conkle book and I am hooked. For A Scots Heart Only was such a fun adventure. Let's just say this was a great combination of sexy, hot romance, loyalty to family, passion, art & humor.
Mary Fletcher is a corset maker on the hunt for lost treasure to help her league. Thomas West has set out to save his family's legacy & to collect debt from the league. Now their world's have come together & they love must help each other when passion & loyalty is tested.
You will love this adventure. It is so fun. Her writing is wonderful with great attention to detail makes you feel like your part of the story.
This conclusion to the series is packed with intrigue, steamy romance, and plays out like a chess game with pieces moving all over the board! I love books written by intelligent women, they're so complex and fun. The story kept me engaged the whole way through. Will they find the last of the Jacobite gold? Will Countess Denton come back to hurt the League? What team is Lord Ranleigh playing for?
Will Mary and Thomas get their happily ever after? This was such a full and great story!
Mary Fletcher is 29 and owns Fletchers House of Corsets and Stays. Her clientele isn't the upper crust but the housekeepers and governess's for them. She and her 10 year younger sister are all the family they have left in the world. Mary raised her sister after their mother died when Mary was twelve. She is an intelligent woman and her shop is doing well. Mary buys her boning from Mr. Thomas West, a whaler and owner of West and Son Shipping. She is also the one left in their league to track down the last of the gold for their Clan after four years of hunting. She and Cecelia MacDonald check out Maison Bedwell, a brothel rumored to be where a secret society meets about the gold and Jacobites. There she meets Lord Julian Ranleigh. This starts the adventure seeking the trail of the gold.
Thomas West was struck by Mary Fletcher the first time he saw her. When he finds her at Maison Bedwell's he decides to further their acquaintance. He warns her to stay away from the powerful Lord Ranleigh. Their relationship quickly turns hot. He quickly finds there's more to Mary than corset making and eventually the secrets come out. Then Lord Ranleigh steps in and wants Mary to steal some papers from his cousin Countess Denton's lock box. He also wants her to join him in his clandestine work for the crown. Things get complicated with Ancilla, Countess Denton kidnaps Mary's sister Margaret. Watching these people maneuver and try to drag secrets out of each other is quite a chess match of intrigue. This book was delicious!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the heroine and hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
% which mains are first on page together: 7%
Should I read in order?
Yes! I started with this one and I felt like their story was already started before I opened the book so I recommend starting at the beginning of the series.
Basic plot:
Mary serves in the league of Highlanders that took her in years ago, searching for the lost Treasure of Arkaig.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian time period – 1753
- Jacobite plotline
- bit of a mystery – heroine is on the hunt for gold
- corset making heroine
- whaler hero
- working class romance
- plenty of spy/mystery dialogue and some political intrigue
- second chance romance
- lower steam – I could be off on this but I think it’s just 1 full scene
Ages:
- I think the heroine is 30? (There’s ages mentioned in the prologue and time passes so I’m unsure if I have this correct)
My thoughts:
Sadly, I didn’t get into this one much. Second chance isn’t my jam and here the two mains have already met and been intimate and I felt like I missed all of my favorite parts of romance.
Much of the plot revolves around some mystery/spy work feel regarding Jacobite gold. There’s some scenes of danger and political intrigue and none of this is really my thing either.
I think if you like a faster paced mystery based romance with light steam, this will be more your thing, but read the series in order as I think it will flow better.
This was my first by Gina Conkle and even though I was disappointed in it I definitely will try another by her and see how I feel :)
I really had a hard time finishing this book. I didn't get a good understanding of the plot and it wasn't well written. Mary Fletcher is a Scottish commoner who belongs to a secret society who is looking for a lost shipment of gold. I really couldn't understand how the characters all came together to complete the story. There were villains in the story but the plot in my opinion was not developed well enough to explain why they were villains and how they contributed to the storyline.
I received this story as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
DNF'd
This book had all of the makings of a great story with imaginative backgrounds for the main characters. Unfortunately, it fell flat. The story was disconnected, not well developed, had excessive tangents in some places and left other areas with holes and extremely vague backstories. I was unable to finish the book and DNF'd at 47%.
Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #ForaScotsHeartOnly by Gina Conkle in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Gina Conkle so I went into this book blind. While I wish I had read the previous books in this series before reading this one, I wasn't completely lost so they can be read out of order but I do think I would have had a better idea of the over-arching story had I read them in order. That being said, I really enjoyed the mystery/thriller aspect of this book. I was very intrigued by that storyline. I would have preferred a little more romance between the MCs but their story was believable and I can definitely see the HEA for them. I am hoping Margaret will get a story and also I'd like to see what happens to Lord Ranleigh next - maybe he gets his own HEA.
Book:For a Scot’s Heart Only
Author:Gina Conkle
Series:Scottish Treasures, Book #3
Publisher:Avon and Harper Voyager
Release Date:April 25, 2023
Overall Rating:5 Gold Stars
Blog Rating:5 Saltire Flags
England 1753
The Scottish Treasure saga continues in the third and final book of this epic series. Therefore they continue looking for the last part of the lost Treasure of Arkaig, also known as the missing Jacobite gold.
In this book it centers around Jacobite Mary Fletcher, who cares for her younger sister Margaret, although their age difference is very great, so she is more a mother than a sister in many ways. Mary is now a corsetière who is a proprietress and owns “Fletcher’s House of Corsets and Stays” where her dying mama taught her to be an independent woman and never rely on a man ever! Mary lives a life of commitment and allegiance to her sibling, The Scottish league she belongs to, plus the Highland clan that took her and her sister in long ago. Mary pursues the service of previous league members, where they search for the gold that was stolen by Cumberland’s soldier’s during the uprising after the battle of Culloden.
Therefore these women aid the Scottish people who are living in England against their will. The league helps them by getting them any of the needed supplies like clothing, food and medical supplies which helps these suffering Scottish men, women and children. The treasure of Arkaig, gold was originally sent by the French to support Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebels. Mary and her friend Cecelia’s search a brothel looking for clues for the missing Jacobite gold. While searching, she reunites with whaler Thomas West, who saves Mary from being accosted by a drunken sea captain.
Thomas West, also known as the Sea Wolf-Whaler originally we met in “The Scot Who Loved Me.” It was obvious that previously Thomas and Mary had an immediate attraction to each other. Now Thomas has troubles of his own with his family’s inheritance being in serious jeopardy! Therefore Thomas is thrilled when he is reunited once again with the bonnie lass-Mary Fletcher, plus it is the one person who owes him a wee favor as it couldn’t happen at a more convenient time! However Thomas soon gets involved in Mary’s dangerous escapades which were no easy tasks with even sneaking illegally into a lord’s home! However their attraction soon becomes something much more. Furthermore the black hearted Lady Denton reappears where her cruelty and deception knows no bounds!
Who will win this game of cat and mouse with danger at every corner? Will these Scottish female treasure hunters seek the missing treasure they desire? Is Mary and Thomas’s love a fleeting thing or a love that lasts forever? Read and find out the conclusion of this spectacular series finale!
Readers won’t be disappointed with this riveting action packed, page turning romantic mystery! It kept me glued to my seat. A book I absolutely loved! This is my third consecutive book in this magnificent series and another I absolutely loved. It has all the elements readers love. Furthermore it blends true historical facts with a fictional romantic adventure that will touch readers hearts.
The Complete Scottish Treasures Series
1. The Scot Who Loved Me
2. A Scot Is Not Enough
3. For a Scot’s Heart Only
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Avon and HarperCollins Publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through Netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
For a Scots Heart Only is a captivating historical novel that promises a thrilling adventure filled with a stolen treasure, a courageous heroine, and a handsome man in a kilt. The characters are charming and relatable, and their internal struggles are sure to tug at your heartstrings. This satisfying romance not only explores the joys of companionship but also delves into the challenges that come with it.
This was an exciting new book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Conkle is established in her field writing highland themed adventures in historical fiction. I just love to read her stories which held my interest from start to finish. Even though this is in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own.
Mary Fletcher is a corset maker and owner of Fletcher Corsets and Stays in London. Her business supports her sister and herself. She also is searching for a lost treasure. Through the network of spies, she is helping Scotsmen who are displaced and needs the treasure.
Mr. Thomas West is owner of a whaler who finds Mary attractive and is smitten. She didn't know until they grow closer together in their mutual respect and admiration of each other.
There is a violent Lord Julian Ranleigh and his nasty cousin Lady Denton are out for themselves.
Mary and Thomas find their love for each other and if the fates allow, they will get a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.
The cover looks great, description, however it took some getting into. Loved the profession and the adventure.
I think that reading this book took years off my life. The writing was so bad and it made me so angry. The plot didn't fully make sense and I don't think it was explained well. The characters felt very flat to me and I want my time back.
I received an arc through netgalley.
Okay I am going to be superficial here for a moment, look at that cover, it is so beautiful and Thomas West, aka the sea wolf, woof!!! Now about the story. Another great adventure for more of the lost treasure this time by Mary and Thomas. I love their occupations – a corset and stays maker and a whaler. Throw in another baddie, Lord Ranleagh, along with evil Lady Denton and you have a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Mary is searching for a lost treasure. Thomas needs her help to save a family legacy. The chemistry between them is combustible. Can they help each other before it all goes down in flames?
I enjoyed the author's writing style, Mary and Thomas are interesting characters—I enjoyed the flirtation between them.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Mary Fletcher, her sister Margaret, watched their mother have adventures that finally resulted in her death from the French Fever. Their father worked as a silver smith with his son from his first marriage. on her deathbed, Mary promised to take care of Margaret and go to her family in Scotland, at Arisaig, home of clan Clanranald MacDonald.
Now 15 years later, after listening to all the stories from Aunt Flora, and Aunt Maude, and Cecelia MacDonald, they were all in London search for the lost treasure. Mary started Fletcher House of Corsets and Stays to support them, while Cecelia formed a network of spies to help locate the information about the treasure and help displaced scotsmen.
While out on an exploration to locate more of the treasure Mary finds aide in the unusual person, Mr. Thomas West, owner of a whaling concern. He has been smitten with Mary for a while unbeknownst to Mary.
As Mr Thomas West tries to woo Mary, while also trying to help and protect her, the two end up working together to locate the last of the treasure. The find a stumbling block in Lord Julian Ranleigh, who is in a battle with his cousin, Lady Denton, A cruel violent person.
As with any Gina Crinkle book you get such a variety of drama, adventure, suspense, intrigue, and love/romance. Interwoven together in such a blend to keep you riveted read until the end. I was so engrossed in the tale that I could not wait to see if all turned out or if someone would not see their happy ending. Such masterful crafting is a thrill to read.
Thank you Gina!