ALL SCOT AND BOTHERED

Series: Devil You Know #2

Author: Kerrigan Byrne

Genre: Historical Romance

 

He is first and foremost—at everything. A man who’s made his own way in the world through ruthless cunning and sheer force of will. A strong and imposing Scot who can turn on the charm but does not suffer fools. His title: Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. His name: Cassius Gerard Ramsay. His mission: To investigate the goings-on at London’s most notorious gaming hell, owned and operated by one of the most intriguing and desirable women he’s ever met.

IN THIS GAME OF LOVE, THE RULES DO NOT APPLY

Cecelia Teague was an orphan facing a rather dire future—until a secret benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past swept into her life. Sent to prestigious boarding school and later to university, Cecelia believed high society was at her fingertips…Then, from out of nowhere, she became the inheritor of a gambling establishment. Now Cecelia must live two lives: one as a proper lady who finds herself undeniably drawn to Lord Ramsay and the other as a savvy gaming hell owner trying to save her business from the very same man. He has no idea she is both women…and Cecelia would like to keep it that way. But what happens when consuming passion and escalating danger threaten to reveal the truth?

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5 ‘Ye Give Me Life’ Stars

 

Oh Lordy! ALL SCOT AND BOTHERED is the PERFECT title for this deliciously sensual and captivating Historical Romance! This enemies to lovers, wrapped up in mystery, love story instantly enraptures our attention with the dichotomy between sweet and caring Cecelia and the grouchy and law stickler Ramsay. With a palpable magnetism, exquisite banter, heart squeezing emotional charge and a sexy slow burn, Ms. Byrne creates one of 2020 must reads, and leaves as begging for the last of the Red Rogues!

The setting of this series on itself alone enchants me to no end. This premise of three women that are are devoted to one another as Cecelia, Alexandra and Francesca, and all they have been trough in the past, I couldn’t wish to see anyone get their HEA more than these ladies. 

And HEA it is, here, for Cecelia and Ramsay, but boy oh boy it was a journey to get there! Ramsay, oldest brother of the previous H, Chief Justice, Vicar of Vice, is a absolutely uncompromising, unyielding, prejudice filled mountain of a man, that wars such a tremendous internal battle with himself, that we could feel every single second of his scorn, and self hate, his struggle to balance the person he was deep down, with the person he wanted to portray to others. And when Cecelia Teague came into his over disciplined life, and made him crave her like nothing else, well, you can very well imagine how that went, lol.

On a plus side, though, that Scottish brogue, my oh my… Lord Chief Justice Ramsay deliciously raspy Scot’s accent did things to me, lol, I could seriously picture and feel each and every single one of his low key sexy rumbles, specially when he was all growly with Cecilia. And when it was to intone sweet words… Swoon….

“Your smiles are genuine. Rare. Something to be treasured. Like diamonds.”

Cecelia was as darling, sweet and caring as I expected her to be, and I loved every facet of her, such a pure and tender soul, it was impossible not want to protect her, even though she was strong and independent. There was just something so utterly captivating in her, in her insecurities, her broken past and self doubts, that it’s a wonder, like Ramsay mentions at some point, how she is still unwed, there should be flocks of men courting her, not bullying her, like it seemed to happen in her past, and present reality. I adored her, and was so, so joyful for her when after Ramsay FINALLY came to his senses, after the longest of slow burns by Ms. Byrne so far, and showered her with all the love and appraisal she so deserved.

So yes, I spent a big portion of the book disliking Ramsay and his callous treatment of Cecelia, though his inner thoughts helped soothe it some, but I so wished he had come to his senses much sooner in the story so we would have more true ‘couple’ time, but in the end he made up for it with a good grovel, and his loved filled declarations. 

These characters are so deeply developed, that even the secondary characters take a life of their own, and color even brighter the already beyond interesting main couple. Every scene in which the core cast was present, I soaked up every once of their interactions, so interesting and entertaining they are, not only the Red Rogues – I can never get enough of these ladies -, but their men, as well as Jean-Yves  and here the adorable little Phoebe. I can never get enough of these 

Full of twists and turns that surprised me and delighted at the same time, All Scot and Bothered shows us once again Kerrigan Byrne’ masterful historical romance story telling, so rich, emotional, complex, passionate and suspenseful with just the right amount of dark, that leaves me always craving the next book, and in this case begging for Francesca’s tale. I can NOT wait to see how the most fierce of the Red Rogues is going to deal with her match!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

Cecelia, ye are my happiness. If I have ye and Phoebe, I need nothing else. If ye think well of me, then I’ve achieved the perfection I’ve striven for so long.”

 

ARC kindly provided by the publisher ST. Martin’s Press for an honest review

 

 

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