A Scot to Wed by Callie Hutton – a Review

A Scot to Wed by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

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Description:
Highlander Laird Evan MacNeil cannot believe Mistress Katie Sterling just shows up at the MacDuff castle with this faded piece of parchment laying claim to the lands he just legally inherited. Not that he really wants to be here in the lowlands, but he has responsibilities to his clan and the exasperating Katie has uprooted the remnants of her father’s clan and moved them across the country to live here. There’s no way he can leave to go back home now.

Katie has nowhere else to go and she refuses to bow down to the arrogant yet undeniably handsome Highlander. She’s had enough with men trying to control her and she is quite capable of handling herself.

Now that Evan must spar with a beautiful lass for the rights to the lands, he will fight to the end. This battle is nothing like the ones his ancestors fought with crossbows and boiling oil. They never wanted to bed the enemy.

 

 

Review:

A Scot to Wed, book 2 of Callie Hutton‘s Scottish Hearts series, was a battle of wills over the true owner of an inherited castle. Too bad squatter rights don’t apply here, but then again, Evan and Katie would still be at a dead heat.  Both have nebulous petitions, his by “some intricate web of family ties”, a stretch to be sure, while she clings to “proof of ownership”, and discretely escaping from the clutches of a vile man claiming her as his betrothed.  If only these two could compromise ?, surely there’s a mutually beneficial arrangement? 

A laird in his own right, Evan tours the castle grounds with Katie to inspect its maintenance, sans land steward.  While engaging the tenants, Evan is in effect vetting Katie, observing her approach, how she resolved matters and assisted with local concerns/issues.  Truth is, Katie is running circles around Evan, she’s so capable.  Before long, Katie is the logical choice, amenable, considerate, and a healer to boot!  Now if there was only something Evan could do about his sudden fierce attraction to the lass, he could be on his way back home.  Katie’s matched interest had “verra” good potential to explore.

This was hardly a cat and mouse pursuit, lol.  Evan gave in to desire and a protest from Katie “didna” part her lips.  Sure, a few misunderstandings and heavy-handedness stymied their connection, but I was surprised by how straightforward and sweet this was.  Tenant squabbles and personality clashes, indeed, but I always found their mindset of an even keel.  A Scot to Wed?  Yes, as a matter of fact, it happens.

I’m a fan of Ms. Hutton, already eager for her next offering, but this story just wasn’t the exciting, give-me-more-details-now storytelling of its predecessor.  A bump on the road to HEA will rear its ugly head with insidious motives, but is Evan invested enough to intervene or too willing to return to his own clan?  Will Katie face the challenge unaided, to finally prove herself?  The answers are all in here to discover!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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His Rebellious Lass by Callie Hutton – a Review

His Rebellious Lass by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

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Description:
He wants to marry her off quickly. She says absolutely not.

When the Marquess of Campbell inherits a fiery, red-headed Scottish beauty as his ward, it’s his job to marry her off. No problem. She comes with a fortune. Lady Bridget MacDuff will have suitors falling all over themselves to wed her.

Not so fast. Lady Bridget has plans for that fortune and they involve helping unfortunate women. And she has no intention of helping her devastatingly handsome guardian in his quest to get her off his hands. He doesn’t plan to marry, either. Why should she?

Bridget and Cam are now on opposite sides of a war that neither one plans to lose. Even if Cam’s rakish presence throws Bridget’s heart into turmoil and the marquess can’t deny that his ward sets his heart afire. And then Cam makes a bold proposal…

 

Review:

“Ok, so you don’t like me, or this situation, any more than I do…let’s resolve the matter expeditiously”…is what Lord Campbell SHOULD be saying to his unexpected ward, Lady Bridget, but her impertinence and quick wit have intrigued him beyond measure. All of a sudden, Cam is extolling the virtues of “guardianship” and thoroughly securing her place in society. Yeah right! :D. If only Cam had considered Bridget for himself from the onset, all of the folly surrounding Bridget’s would-be-suitors would have been unnecessary. Then again, Cam yields to no one on the notion of marriage, and it was rather scandalous to fall for your ward. Callie Hutton spins yet another spicy Regency for us to love with her new Scottish Hearts series introduction, His Rebellious Lass. Charming to no end!

Cam is inherently accustomed to respect and deference as a peer, and member of Parliament, but this notorious rake is saddled by a ward that challenges and upends his life of aristocracy. Although in complete synchronicity with Cam regarding marriage, a means of lawfully subjugating a woman’s autonomy if she were to tell it, Bridget is ambitiously working on a project for battered women. While noble as all get out, Cam’s plans to simply marry off Bridget have taken a serious turn. The more Cam exposes her to society soirees, as is his obligation, the more Bridget digs her heels in to reveal an even more fascinating layer of character. Her beauty and bountiful dowry are worthy of a few bachelors, though Cam’s standards are getting more and more stringent, who is going to indulge Bridget’s idealism and foster that spirit he finds so attractive?! Complicated indeed.

The banter between Bridget and Cam was gregarious and sharp. I howled with laughter at Bridget’s unwavering opinion towards marriage — the same one Cam purported to share! 🙂 Their sparring stemmed from genuine discourse, never petty or contrary, and it was rewarding as it engendered compromises to mutual satisfaction. The passion built as their relationship developed and it was described exquisitely. The situation was a delicate one, can they resist crossing that boundary, and Ms. Hutton strategically inserted plot twists to express varying POVs. Don’t underestimate misunderstanding and angst to complete the gamut of emotions.

Will Cam succumb to a natural call of love or will he be forced to surrender Bridget, as is his duty? Praise to Ms. Hutton for not downplaying the superficiality of the ton and the innovation, despite the time, to protect and empower women. So well done. I just loved this book!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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