Series: Devil You Know, Book 2
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: September 29, 2020
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible
They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl—dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees…
He is first and foremost—at everything. A man who’s made his own way 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 a 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?
All Scot and Bothered is capital D Dramatic and I am so here for it! I’m increasingly picky when it comes to heavy angst, but Kerrigan Byrne always manages to sweep me off my feet. I couldn’t put Cecilia and Ramsay’s book down – even going so far as to wake up early before work to read more of it (a mark of a truly addictive read since I am not morning person).
Cecilia Teague had a terrible childhood with an abusive father before she was rescued by a mysterious benefactor. Until she found the Red Rogues, her best friends Alexandra and Francesca, she was a lonely girl and there’s a part of her that is still a bit lonely. She’s a gorgeous, intelligent woman that many have beaten down because of her gender, looks, and incredibly sharp brain. I adored Cecilia and she tugged on my heartstrings more than once. When she finds out she’s inherited a scandalous gambling establishment as well as a school it funds, Cecilia has little time to settle in and take stock before chaos erupts. She’s inherited secrets she must decode along with the building and in order to protect herself and everyone else she has to figure it out quickly. With her life in danger, help comes from the most unlikely of sources: Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court.
Ramsay is large, hostile, and carries deep scars that have made him suspicious of many. He’s a fierce hero who is tempted by Cecilia even as he is determined to take down the gaming hell he’s unaware she has inherited. Sparks fly and Cecelia and Ramsay clash, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. I loved the sexual tension, the push-pull between logic and desire…everything about their love story worked for me. Ramsay can be cold and angry and his walls are miles high, but I loved watching them come down. He’s been hurt so badly in the past that even when I wanted to shout at him to trust Cecilia, I understood why it was hard for him. I also loved that Cecilia doesn’t try to fix Ramsay, but knows he has to change on his own. She is perhaps the only woman who can go toe-to-toe with him. And I loved that he was someone she could lean on. Ramsay has a huge protective streak and even for a woman who is used to solving her own problems, it’s lovely to see Cecilia find someone who will take some of the weight off of her shoulders. The two of them are a fantastic match and it melted my heart to see two such lonely souls find each other. Though their romance is rocky, I was glued to it from beginning to end.
Danger and mystery round out All Scot and Bothered, keeping things moving at a quick clip all the way through. There’s an ongoing mystery that I cannot wait to see resolved in the next book, The Devil in Her Bed. But for now, I was more than satisfied with Cecilia and Ramsay’s story. I loved the angst, the passion, and the chemistry between the two well-drawn, complex leads and Ms. Byrne’s writing had me spellbound from the first page to the very last.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
0 comments:
Post a Comment