This Scot of Mine: The Rogue Files

Lady Clara Autenberry is ruined by her own hand, with help from a less-than-savory former fiancé. Discovering far too late that her betrothed is not what he seems and not being able to reconcile her soon-to-be life with her own example of love and happiness in her family, she pretends to have strayed and become pregnant, all for him to drop her. Of course, being the age it was, the plan works, but Clara is ruined and the subject of gossip and shunning by the tonne, a group that she had always found judgmental and difficult. To save her family in London from her scandal, she and her former governess, now companion, Marion, set off for her older brother’s house in Scotland, where she is welcomed and will be a help when his wife has their first child. Excited for the change although sad for the separation and chaos she’s leaving behind, they undertake the journey. Unfortunately, not being able to be honest with her own family, in fact only Marion knows of her lies, Clara arrives in Scotland at her brother’s house, warmly welcomed, but it is clear that they are worried for her. And, her first night she is to dine with her brother, his wife and their “friend”, a dashing Scot that she ‘met’ in the midst of a tavern brawl, and she’s not been able to forget her reactions to him. Hunt MacLarin is the Laird of the clan, taking his responsibility for his people seriously without actually ever believing he can find love or father a child due to a curse on his family. But the English lady has captured his interest, unlike any before her, and with his friend Autenberry explaining her reasons for being in Scotland, Hunt thinks he has found the perfect solution. A ready made family if he and Clara should marry, saving her from the disgrace, her child from the ignominy of bastard and allowing him to raise and love a child, despite the curse. This was quick reading, clever and while a bit worrisome with the deception, the oft repeated curse and some out of historic context language, both Clara and Hunt are adorable. He’s so determined to care for his clan and family, and desperately wants to be a father, husband and protector all which conflict with the curse, and Clara is so lacking in self-esteem – being a different “type’ to the norm with her olive complexion and dark hair. Having the example of love and happiness in her own childhood home, and now with her mother remarried and raising young twins, she’s not only intrigued by Hunt but reveling in the quiet surety of his regard. Well, mostly. She meant to tell him the ‘real’ story before their wedding night, and well, she didn’t. And it’s not until the morning after that he knows the real story – one that he and his grandmother – a fearsome believer in the curse is happy with, and several ‘near misses’ serve to reinforce the sense of doom. Clever escapist reading that isn’t highly original and occasionally repetitive, but fitting in with the ‘rogues who really aren’t” theme of the series and providing some laughter and heart along the way. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Her need to get away from the Earl of Rolland was so great, that Lady Clara Autenberry deliberately ruined herself by telling him she was expecting another man's baby. Clara then fled to her brother's in Scotland to live out the rest of her life in spinsterish misery. If only she had not met that brawny Scot, Laird Hunt MacLarin. Hunt is an honourable man, he would have loved to have a family of his own, but there is that curse that has plagued the MacLarins for generations. A MacLarin man does not survive the birth of his first child. But what if it's another man's child? After reading the book description, if you think you know what to expect, think again. It takes a lot for me to really cry, and towards the end, the waterworks wouldn't stop! I could not imagine how there could ever be a happily ever after, and it was achieved with dazzling brilliance! Sophie Jordan has again accomplished the impossible; she found every clever way to turn this type of story around and make it entirely original. There are only a few characters in the novel, but every one of them managed to surprise me several times. Both Clara and Hunt are truly lovely people, and the romance is fabulous. It progressed logically, it was very passionate, there was quite a bit of drama, no silliness, and it was so well done! THIS SCOT OF MINE is such a marvellous story that I devoured it in no time, and it is a full-length novel! What a treat!

Two people who fate has brought together. But will it also tear them apart? Lady Clara refused to marry a terrible man she really did not like. So she makes up a story of carrying another man's babe. Disgraced, she is travels to her brother's home in Scotland. Along the way she sees our hero, Hunt MacLarin, in a violent bar brawl and later finds out he is her brother's close friend and neighbor! Of course they have sparks flying in their attraction to each other but Hunt refuses to marry. There is a family "curse" that all the males die when their first child is born. But Clara is pregnant so he sees a way around the curse. Well, I could see it coming and of course she is not pregnant so what will happen? Will Hunt stay away from her now or will they stay together and face the consequenses? A really great story with some humor, intrigue and of course a romance that cannot be denied!! Although part of a series this can be read as a standalone, but you really want to read them all!