The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels – a Review

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Description:
Constance Campbell, the Duchess of Kilmaine, once believed that all she needed in life was a duke. But everything unraveled when she realized her perfect husband was a perfect monster. Now broken beyond repair, she hides her misery behind a perfect Society mask…even from her childhood friend, Alec.

Dr. Alec McGuiness reluctantly finds himself back in Scotland, and checking up on the only woman to ever get under his skin, Connie. After she spurned him many years ago, he knows his humble life as a doctor could never be enough for her. But when the Duke of Kilmaine is murdered in cold blood, with Connie sleeping right next to him in bed, Alec knows he must protect Connie at all costs from those who would frame her for the duke’s murder.

Now on the run, Connie feels a freedom she only ever dreamed about before, and an unexpected attraction to the man who is keeping her safe. But even if they can win her freedom and clear her name, could she ever open her heart up to someone again?

Review:

The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels is the third book in her “Saints and Scoundrels” series. They don’t need reading in order. It’s told in the third person. A well thought out book, touching on a few subjects that a few readers might find hard to read about. 

Connie is use to putting on a show. For years now, she’s acted the dutiful wife, even when her husband beat her, even when he abused her mind and body. The only time she tried to escape, she almost lost her life. So now she’s resigned to her fate. Her life is in her husbands hands, and as he get a monthly allowance from her inheritance, he’s not going to end her life just yet. 

But life has its twists and turns, and fate throws her a lifeline…..

Alec has always remembered Connie, but he knew she’d never be happy as a wife of a doctor, so he moved away, but circumstances bring him back to Scotland, and into Connie’s life. He’s under the false impression (like everyone else) that she’s a spoilt woman, who wanted a Lady title, and would do anything to get it …… 

The death of her husband should have her mourning him, but all Connie feels is numb at his death. But it’s not a natural death, it was murder, and the finger is pointing firmly at Connie. But did she do it? She doesn’t remember.

A few things I found a little hard. Connie and Alec getting together, if she’d been that badly abused, wouldn’t it take longer to get over all that violent abuse? Romance books can survive without the sex, if the story is strong enough, then it doesn’t need the sweaty bodies writhing around. I would have preferred the story to concentrate on Connie’s road to recovery.  So is she guilty? Will she be able to escape the Duke and the legacy he left her with? And who was the murderer? 

I liked Connie because although brow beaten, she still had thoughts of other people. Her stepdaughter, and her household. I liked Alec but only when he realised her character is only a facade. A murder mystery book, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure…

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher