When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare

September 10th, 2015 Kimberly Review 65 Comments

10th Sep
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
When a Scot Ties the Knot
by Tessa Dare
Series: Castles Ever After #3
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart. A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely. Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.

2015 FAV ADDICTIVE ROMANCE smartfunny

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare is the third novel in the delightful Castles Ever After series and it gave me an incredible book high. I DEVOURED this in one sitting. Seriously, I was lost to the outside world and swooning in the highlands of Scotland.

Coffee dates with When a Scot Ties the Knot

  • First date: From the very first page, Miss Madeline Gracechurch and I became friends. She is a bookworm and prefers collecting seashells to attending balls. Her father and stepmother want to see her married and settled. She is determined to avoid the season and all of its trappings. Therefore, she claims to have fallen in love. To avoid questions she claims he is Scottish and a Captain in the service. She even gives him a name and oh, how this little fib escalates. Elated her stepmother has her write him and thus begins the charade. Each week she writes him and lord her letters brought tears to my eyes as I laughed aloud. Truthfully, I already know what is going to happen but the anticipation of watching all of itunfold has me going back for a second coffee date.
  • Second date: *snickers* Madeline’s sweetheart sadly lost his life and died a hero. She mourned him and still wears grey. Her Uncle bequeathed her a property in Scotland and there she happily resides. She spends her days drawing, reading and maybe feeling a little guilty for the charade. That is until Captain MacKenzie shows up at her door in full uniform (a sexy kilt) along with his men. What ensued was delightful and Logan made my heart flutter. He has her letters and intends to see them married. Madeline’s response to her fictional sweetheart appearing  was positively wonderful, well for me, she is quite flabbergasted! Perfectly paced with delicious banter, snark and sexual tension the pages practically read themselves. Secondary characters particularly Logan’s men added depth to the story and I was rather fond of a few of them.
  • Third date: We really get to know both Madeline and Logan as they dance a tango filled with attraction, fears and humor. Dare has this wonderful gift for creating strong characters who are flawed and allows them to grow. Logan has issues stemming from his childhood, but his loyalty to his men and his treatment of Madeline made him a swoon-worthy hero. I loved the growth, and the slow building romance that developed. Their conversations had depth and I loved the bit about their “remember when”. Each time my heart dipped. Dare brought out the feels, added a little drama/suspense before concluding this date. She then gave us a little dessert providing readers with an epilogue that truly satisfied.

When a Scot Ties the Knot was my favorite book in Dare’s Castles Ever After series. All of the books can be read as standalone but I recommend coffee dates with them all.

Quotes

She didn’t swoon or crumple. She simply sat down, hard. Her backside hit the settee, and the air was forced from her lungs. “Oof.”

The Scotsman stared down at her, looking faintly amused. “Are ye well?”

“No,” she said honestly. “I’m seeing things. This can’t be happening.”

This really, truly, could not be happening.

Captain Logan MacKenzie could not be alive. He could not be dead, either.

He didn’t exist.

When Maddie prepared for bed behind her screen that night, she emerged to find the most terrible sight yet.

“Oh, really, Logan. That’s just unfair.”

He looked up from his reclined pose in her bedroom chaise longue, his face partly hidden behind a book bound in dark green leather. “What?”

“You’re reading Pride and Prejudice?”

He shrugged. “I found it on your bookshelf.”

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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65 Responses to “When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare”

  3. Jennifer Bielman

    Yaaaaaa! I totally have this one. Hist-Rom is my fav right now. So happy it was that good.

    Hey, what plug-in do you use for the “confirm you are not a spammer.” I think I need it. wordpress is letting so much spam go into my comments lately.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I bought Comment Luv premium when it was on sale. He does it about once a year,.but it has GASP (which I think you can get for free) It does the little check box confirm you aren’t a spammer and it really works!

  5. Lorna

    In a first for me, I bought it before I had even finished your review. You made it sound so good! Thank you!

  6. Cyn

    Yay! Glad you loved this, too! I thought this one was sooo sweet! I think this one is tied with Romancing a Duke for me, haha. Great review, love the teasers you picked!

  7. Nise'

    Books that are devoured in one sitting, or that keep you reading long into the night always grab my attention!

  8. Adria

    I have yet to catch up on this series which bugs me like you wouldn’t BELIEVE! Great review too. I can only imagine the Madeline’s response when her “dead” love shows up on her doorstep.

  12. Elizabeth the Evil Overlord

    I’ve been “off” romance for awhile, and this cover wouldn’t make me grab it, but your review has put the whole series on my GR TBR. I like that you found it funny and adventurous, and the heroine seems like my kind of girl. Great review.

  15. Katherine

    If this book wasn’t already on my TBR it would be now. I think I’m more interested in this one than any of the previous (not that I’m not planning on reading them as well). Something about the characters in this one really just clicks with me.

  17. Ramona

    Oh, those quotes…! And how can you not love an author who concerns herself with the growth of her characters? I must try her too, this sounds delightful.

  18. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)

    Ohh, I would love Madeline a lot! This isn’t something I would pick up on my own and I think the title is absolutely hilarious, but with such high praise from you and another blogger just recently, I should give them a try.

  19. kindlemom1

    So many people have been reading this and loving it. *sigh* I think I’m going to have to add this one to my never ending, always growing pile. 😉

  22. Rita

    Sounds great and I’m reading good buzz on this everywhere. As I branch out from contemporary romances to historical ones I’m definitely wanting to give this one a try! Thanks for an informative and persuasive review, Kim.

  23. Stormi

    I enjoy this author and I have the first one in the series but just not got to it yet. It’s on my tbr ebook stack though…lol.

  24. Angela

    Normally I’m super strict with myself about reading series in order, but I’m just so interested in this book that the other Castles Ever After books will just have to wait!

  27. Nick

    Aww! Yay for loving it as much as I did. This review is making me want to go re-read it, Kim! I adored Maddie and of course, Logan! SWOON! <3 I'm sad this series is over but I can't wait to see what Tessa Dare comes up with next.
    Lovely review, Kim!

  28. Wattle

    This novel sounds delightful 🙂 it is definitely going on my TBR, sounds like the perfect book for a long haul flight I have coming up in a couple of months 😀 great review Kim, thank you for sharing!

  29. Kristin

    BEST idea for a story EVER!!!! My husband’s eyes are going to roll into the back of his head if he sees this book come across our shared Amazon account – I think I MUST get it!!!! This will be my first highlander book, too!! 5 cups, baby!!! (you’re seriously killing my TBR, girlie!)

    Thanks for the giveaway, too!!!

  30. Quinn's Book Nook

    I’m so glad you have started reading historical romance. I love HRs so much and Tessa Dare is one of the best writers out there! This one was adorable. I just love Maddie so much.

  31. Nelle

    I LOVE your review! It’s how I felt to a T. Now I don’t have to write mine! lol How adorable is a man who reads!! 🙂 I, too, devoured it in one sitting. My book club on FB is reading it and I can’t wait to discuss it. 🙂

  33. Melliane

    Oh yes I’m sure I would love Madeline as well she sounds like a great woman! I don’t know if I have already read a book by the author but I’ll take a look, I keep hearing about her.