I really wanted to read the first one in the series, but wasn’t able to fit it into my review schedule at the time. But when I saw this one pop up, I immediately signed up and fit it into my schedule. And I will now have to go back and read the first one since I really enjoyed this. 

Of course my Outlander obsessed self loved that this took place in Scotland for a lot of the story. I mean, yes, I definitely want my own Scottish Earl with a castle, lol. However my brain/tongue kept stumbling over how to pronounce Strathrannoch every time it came up in the story. I enjoyed both characters, Arthur’s grumpy, not shy – but not a perfect flirty smooth gentleman, and Lydia’s shyness/social awkwardness, yet wanting to be able to make her own way. I loved seeing the two of them fall in love, and how her family took him in almost straightaway. Being around her big, boisterous family was so much fun, and it was heartwarming to see how they accepted him. 

There was a lot of intrigue along the way to figuring out exactly why Arthur’s brother Davis had been writing to Lydia. Was he really a bad guy, stealing Arthur’s invention for nefarious purposes? And then there was Lydia’s brother’s appearance at a gathering, but he was calling himself by a different name. What was he up to? Was he in cahoots with Arthur’s brother? And could it all be culminating in a plan to assassinate someone? I also am wondering if Lydia’s friend Georgiana snuck off to find her brother Jasper, and if that might be a future story in this series. 

The story was really fun, totally what my brain pictures as a historical romance type of story, including all the very steamy scenes with our couple. A few times I was a bit irritated with both Lydia and Arthur doubting the other one for very minor things. That’s what kept it as a 4 star read for me. But still this is worth a read for anyone who enjoys a good spicy historical romance with some funny bits along the way!