Betting the Scot by @jltrethewey #Review #Romance #Series #Historical #Suspense #BlogTour

Title: Betting the Scot

Series: The Highlanders of Balforss 

Author: Jennifer Trethewey

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Published: April 23rd, 2018

Pages: 360

Rating: 5/5

 

My Review:

This is a highly entertaining read, a brilliant historical story with humour, suspense and romance, one that was a real page turner that I really enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending. It is the second book in a series and I haven’t read the first but still found this a superb read and have to say it works well as a standalone.

Caya Pendarvis has been brought to Scotland by her brother who has arranged for her to marry someone she’s never met, a sailor who has agreed to pay him enough to settle his gambling debts. They stay in a Inn to await the arrival of her husband to be and, whilst dining there one of the other diners keeps looking at her and is obviously discussing her with his two compatriots. They both find the other attractive, but haven’t even spoken. The man is Declan Sinclair, a Highlander who has dreams which usually foretell what will happen – and little does she know that she has featured in his recent dreams, dreams in which she becomes his wife!

When she retires for the night, her brother challenges the three Highlanders to a game of cards. He accrues a decent pot but then loses it all. Desperate, he gambles his sister – and Declan wins. Now, winning Caya like this was easy but now he needs to win her heart and this is something he has no experience of, he’s going to need to learn to court Caya for his dreams to come true. However, what will her brother do when her husband to be turns up to collect his bride? How will he repay his debts now?

My advice is go grab yourself a copy of this book and get ready for a story with a plethora of great characters, plenty of action, full of twists and turns, accusations of witchcraft, kidnapping, whisky, peril and so much more! There’s even another rival for Caya’s hand in marriage! There are plenty of misunderstandings and danger along their journey to their HEA and Declan is an endearing, hard working, reticent but determined suitor and a real sweetheart, too. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by this talented author in future!

I requested and was given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Synopsis:

Declan Sinclair is a Highlander who believes his dreams never lie. When he spots Caya at a public house, he knows instantly she is the woman in his dreams—his future wife. Though her brother had promised never to gamble again, he engages Declan in a card game—and the prize is the lovely Caya.

Caya Pendarvis has no time for childish things like dreams or fairy-tales or love. She’s the sacrificial lamb on her way to the far north of Scotland to wed a wealthy merchant in exchange for settling her brother’s gambling debts.

Winning at cards is one of the many things Declan Sinclair does well. Unfortunately, the ability to court a woman—a talent he lacks—is the only skill he desperately needs to win Caya’s heart.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39119103-betting-the-scot

Purchase Link: https://entangledpublishing.com/betting-the-scot.html

 

Excerpt from BETTING THE SCOT:

She smiled. “I live here now. I’m your wife.”

His mouth hung open. Did he not believe her? Did he not understand her? Or had he changed his mind? “You do still want me to be your wife, don’t you?”

An odd look appeared on Declan’s face. One she couldn’t interpret. “Well now,” he said. “That all depends.”

“Depends on what?” Oh, God. Was he changing his mind? Did he wake up and realize she was a fool for trying to save her brother?

“I ken you love me, but I need a wife who will trust me,” he said and took a step closer. “I ken it’s a hard thing for you to trust given all the lies your brother had told you. And me, I was wrong to take you from him the way I did. I gave more thought to my daft dreams than I did for your happiness and I’m sorry for that, but…”

“But what?” Hot tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

“When I thought you were lost to me, when I thought I’d never see you again, I knew that I loved you more than my own life. I was ready to toss my life away to save you. That’s how much I want you, need you, love you.” He held out his hand just like that fateful morning in front of the Crown Tavern. “So, I’m asking you, do you trust me?”

 

About Jennifer Trethewey:

Jennifer Trethewey is an actor-turned-writer who has moved her performances from the stage to the page. In 2013 she traveled to Scotland for the first time, where she instantly fell for the language, humor, intense sense of pride, and breathtaking landscape. Her love for Scotland was translated into her first series of historical romance novels, the Highlanders of Balforss. The sexy, adventurous first book of the series, Tying the Scot, released in November 2017.

Trethewey’s primary experience in bringing the imaginary to life was working for one of the oldest women’s theaters in the nation, where she was the co-founder and co-artistic director. Today she continues to act, but writes contemporary and historical fiction full-time. Her other loves include dogs, movies, music and good wine. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband.

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