Collection
Series
Publication
New York, New York : Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2015.
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML: On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shy, 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.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Read for Review (Avon)
Overall Rating: 5.00
Story Rating: 5.00
Character Rating: 5.00
First Thought when Finished: When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare just landed at the top of my favorite reads of 2015!
Quick Thoughts: I will be rereading this one (listening actually )again. Such a fantastic read!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Will update the review with the audiobook thoughts after it releases
Overall Rating: 5.00
Story Rating: 5.00
Character Rating: 5.00
First Thought when Finished: When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare just landed at the top of my favorite reads of 2015!
Quick Thoughts: I will be rereading this one (listening actually )again. Such a fantastic read!
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Everything hits: Humor, Love, Romance, Sassy, Brassy, Smart, Clever, Swoon-worthy, and Emotional. I fell in love with almost everyone in this book. So much that I would like a spin-off series for the guys (someone make that happen). Maddie and Logan proved that there can be connection even when there isn't a "connection" (that will make more sense after you read it). I highly recommend this story. You don't even have to read in order (though books 1 and 2 were really good too)!Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
Will update the review with the audiobook thoughts after it releases
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
This book has a really cute premise. A shy English girl, Madeleine, who is of age to enter the marriage market, invents a Scottish highland Captain/lover. She corresponds regularly with him for ten years before "killing him off" in a battle. She goes into mourning in a remote Scottish castle and is
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astonished when the "dead" captain, Logan MacKenzie, turns up at her door one day to claim his bride, her letters in-hand. After that, all of the action centers around him bedding her, and it is quite graphic. So, it starts uniquely and ends up in a standard fashion for a mass-market paperback. Show Less
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
Painfully shy, academically inclined Madeline Gracechurch dreads her first season, so she invents a Scotsman she "met" while at finishing school in Brighton and who subsequently proposed to her. She uses the existence of this suitor, Captain Logan MacKenzie, to convince her parents that she needn't
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attend the season and keeps up the fiction of MacKenzie by writing him letters and pretending she's receiving letters from him from the front in France for years. Eventually she claims he's been killed, goes into mourning, and retires to a castle in Scotland gifted to her by her godfather to pursue a quiet life as an illustrator. But one day, a real Scotsman named Captain Logan MacKenzie shows up, determined that they will marry. The story then follows Maddie and Logan as they navigate their desires for their lives and begin to fall in love. Fun, funny, and sweet. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
When a Scot Ties the Knot- Castles Ever After- by Tessa Dare is a 2015 Avon Publication.
Tessa Dare does it again! What a terrific story. I laughed, I cried, got angry a few times, but closed with the book with a smile and a dreamy sigh.
Madeline, at sixteen, wishes to avoid her first ‘season’,
Naturally, there is a catch. Logan needs Madeline’s land for his men, and so blackmails her into marriage. But, Madeline, as mortified as she is, continues to postpone the consummation, frustrating Logan to no end.
While determined to make the marriage valid, doing so without the emotional attachment that usually comes with that, is making things more and more complicated as time goes on. The more Madeline learns about Logan, the deeper she falls for him, but Logan is the most single minded man alive! Why does he deny his feelings for Madeline? Why is he still so angry with her for making a youthful mistake? Is the situation doomed or true love bring them to their senses?
I loved both Madeline and Logan, so I wanted them to make it. Madeline is a person I could really relate to, as she suffers from social anxiety, and Logan will bring out all your nurturing instincts. But, I began to have my doubts as they continued to miscommunicate, misunderstand each other, argue, and hurt each other, although there were several very humorous predicaments too. But the sexual chemistry is certainly there and these two sure knew how to create tension. I loved the delayed gratification and the tantalizing build between this couple. It was almost perfect.
I appreciated the authenticity, the wonderful Scottish Gaelic, the banter, humor, and awesome storytelling. This is a very sweet story with a heartwarming happily ever after.
Tessa Dare does it again! What a terrific story. I laughed, I cried, got angry a few times, but closed with the book with a smile and a dreamy sigh.
Madeline, at sixteen, wishes to avoid her first ‘season’,
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so she makes up a pretty tall tale about having met a Scottish Captain- Logan MacKenzie. She is betrothed to Logan, and stays true to him for many years, writing to him faithfully, until one day she decides this has gone on long enough and kills him off. But, to her utter shock, out the clear blue sky, a very real Logan MacKenzie shows up and insist he is the man Madeline has been writing to all these years and that he intends to marry her! Naturally, there is a catch. Logan needs Madeline’s land for his men, and so blackmails her into marriage. But, Madeline, as mortified as she is, continues to postpone the consummation, frustrating Logan to no end.
While determined to make the marriage valid, doing so without the emotional attachment that usually comes with that, is making things more and more complicated as time goes on. The more Madeline learns about Logan, the deeper she falls for him, but Logan is the most single minded man alive! Why does he deny his feelings for Madeline? Why is he still so angry with her for making a youthful mistake? Is the situation doomed or true love bring them to their senses?
I loved both Madeline and Logan, so I wanted them to make it. Madeline is a person I could really relate to, as she suffers from social anxiety, and Logan will bring out all your nurturing instincts. But, I began to have my doubts as they continued to miscommunicate, misunderstand each other, argue, and hurt each other, although there were several very humorous predicaments too. But the sexual chemistry is certainly there and these two sure knew how to create tension. I loved the delayed gratification and the tantalizing build between this couple. It was almost perfect.
I appreciated the authenticity, the wonderful Scottish Gaelic, the banter, humor, and awesome storytelling. This is a very sweet story with a heartwarming happily ever after.
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LibraryThing member niaomiya
This was my first Tessa Dare book, and I was absolutely enthralled and charmed by "When a Scot Ties the Knot"! Ms. Dare has excellent writing skills, infusing her characters with wit and emotion. I laughed out loud, I cried, I swooned.
At the age of 16, as her first London season looms, Madeline
I loved this premise and was curious as to how author Dare was going to make it work. I was absolutely delighted at the plot. The book has excellent character development; I just loved all the characters - not just the H and h, but also the secondary characters. Dare writes with the perfect balance of romance and sex, with just the right amount of conflict thrown in. I felt the tension without frustration, and it was a very satisfying ending.
Now I'm going to read all of Tess Dare's other historical romance books. If they're all this good, I'll have a new favorite historical romance author!
At the age of 16, as her first London season looms, Madeline
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Gracechurch invents an imaginary suitor, the dashing Captain Logan MacKenzie, in order to avoid her social obligations. She has no desire to marry, and invents someone who adores her but who is conveniently away at war. Maddie devotedly writes and mails him letters and then mourns his imaginary death when he is killed in battle. Throughout all of this, Maddie is pleased that she has managed to avoid all the social pressures of London society. Then a flesh-and-blood Captain Logan MacKenzie shows up on her doorstep nearly a decade later, very much alive, mysteriously in possession of all her letters, and determined to make Maddie keep all her promises, including marrying him. What is a shy, socially averse woman to do, especially after 10 years of deceiving her family and friends?I loved this premise and was curious as to how author Dare was going to make it work. I was absolutely delighted at the plot. The book has excellent character development; I just loved all the characters - not just the H and h, but also the secondary characters. Dare writes with the perfect balance of romance and sex, with just the right amount of conflict thrown in. I felt the tension without frustration, and it was a very satisfying ending.
Now I'm going to read all of Tess Dare's other historical romance books. If they're all this good, I'll have a new favorite historical romance author!
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LibraryThing member scoutmomskf
This is the first book I've read by Tessa Dare, but it won't be the last. It was a fun book with a quirky heroine and a wounded hero. At sixteen, Maddie is set to be launched in Society, which terrifies her to no end. She is shy to the point of panic attacks and dreads the thought of all it
Happy in her solitude, with just her aunt and her pet lobsters, working as a nature illustrator Maddie is stunned when an all too real Logan MacKenzie shows up. Not only does he have the letters she wrote, he insists that she marry him for real. If she doesn't, he will give the letters to the scandal sheets.
Logan is a rough and gruff soldier who is accompanied by several of the men he served with. Though welcomed as heroes at war's end, they returned to Scotland to find their families dead or displaced by the same English whose war they just fought. Logan is determined to make a home for them, and the land of this English miss will do just fine. He doesn't expect to find someone very different than the spoiled debutante he believed her to be.
What happened next was a boatload of fun. Maddie is independent and spunky, and not about to cave in easily. If she is going to marry him, he'll have to give a little also. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. Maddie feels at a disadvantage at first, because she revealed so much of herself in the letters she wrote. But as a keen observer of nature, it didn't take long for her to see past Logan's shell to the man underneath. Their conversations were fun, as both are very intelligent and quick witted. I loved the way that they used quotes from the letters to ease the way into some of their conversations.
Though they had agreed on a marriage of convenience, Maddie worried that she would fall in love with Logan. Logan is a man who has never known love and has no interest in it. All he claims to want is a place for him and his men. I loved seeing how Maddie starts to understand Logan and the fears he tries to hide. Though she really resists losing her heart to him, his kindness towards his men starts the crack in her determination. Then his understanding of her fear of crowds and the way he tries to help her finishes the job. I also loved the way she came to see his vulnerability. Though Logan initially came across as a less than pleasant man, I quickly changed my mind. I loved his devotion to his men and how determined he was to take care of them. It was fun to see his bewilderment as Maddie turned out to be different than he expected. I ached for him as more of his background was revealed, and I could see how much he needed Maddie's love. I also liked the way that he was so patient as the heat between them built. The ending was really sweet, as both of them had to let go of their fears before they could open their hearts to each other. I loved seeing Maddie take charge and go after what she wanted.
The secondary characters were really good also. I loved Maddie's aunt, especially at the end when she had so much to say about their choices. Each of Logan's men had their own personality and role in the story. I loved their advice to Logan when they thought he was having trouble with Maddie.
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entails. So instead, she invents a beau that she met and fell in love with, one who is a soldier away at war. To keep up the deception, she writes him letters, an effort that goes on for several years. Then, feeling guilty about the deception, she kills him off and goes off to mourn in private at the Scottish property she was given.Happy in her solitude, with just her aunt and her pet lobsters, working as a nature illustrator Maddie is stunned when an all too real Logan MacKenzie shows up. Not only does he have the letters she wrote, he insists that she marry him for real. If she doesn't, he will give the letters to the scandal sheets.
Logan is a rough and gruff soldier who is accompanied by several of the men he served with. Though welcomed as heroes at war's end, they returned to Scotland to find their families dead or displaced by the same English whose war they just fought. Logan is determined to make a home for them, and the land of this English miss will do just fine. He doesn't expect to find someone very different than the spoiled debutante he believed her to be.
What happened next was a boatload of fun. Maddie is independent and spunky, and not about to cave in easily. If she is going to marry him, he'll have to give a little also. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. Maddie feels at a disadvantage at first, because she revealed so much of herself in the letters she wrote. But as a keen observer of nature, it didn't take long for her to see past Logan's shell to the man underneath. Their conversations were fun, as both are very intelligent and quick witted. I loved the way that they used quotes from the letters to ease the way into some of their conversations.
Though they had agreed on a marriage of convenience, Maddie worried that she would fall in love with Logan. Logan is a man who has never known love and has no interest in it. All he claims to want is a place for him and his men. I loved seeing how Maddie starts to understand Logan and the fears he tries to hide. Though she really resists losing her heart to him, his kindness towards his men starts the crack in her determination. Then his understanding of her fear of crowds and the way he tries to help her finishes the job. I also loved the way she came to see his vulnerability. Though Logan initially came across as a less than pleasant man, I quickly changed my mind. I loved his devotion to his men and how determined he was to take care of them. It was fun to see his bewilderment as Maddie turned out to be different than he expected. I ached for him as more of his background was revealed, and I could see how much he needed Maddie's love. I also liked the way that he was so patient as the heat between them built. The ending was really sweet, as both of them had to let go of their fears before they could open their hearts to each other. I loved seeing Maddie take charge and go after what she wanted.
The secondary characters were really good also. I loved Maddie's aunt, especially at the end when she had so much to say about their choices. Each of Logan's men had their own personality and role in the story. I loved their advice to Logan when they thought he was having trouble with Maddie.
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LibraryThing member JudithProctor
Why does romance have such low standards of historical (or anything else) realism?
This isn't a bad book, but it was spoilt for me on the first page. The heroine, in the early 1800s, living many miles from the sea, has a tank in which she keeps lobsters. Marine tanks are the devil to maintain even
That, plus access to ready to wear clothing about a century ahead of when it became available, greatly reduced my ability to believe in the rest of the story. Which is a shame, because the premise was an entertaining one.
This isn't a bad book, but it was spoilt for me on the first page. The heroine, in the early 1800s, living many miles from the sea, has a tank in which she keeps lobsters. Marine tanks are the devil to maintain even
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with modern equipment like water filters. The salinity has to be kept correct, as well as keeping the water clean. Without access to seawater to exchange the water every few days, our heroine's lobsters are doomed to an early death.That, plus access to ready to wear clothing about a century ahead of when it became available, greatly reduced my ability to believe in the rest of the story. Which is a shame, because the premise was an entertaining one.
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LibraryThing member Kaethe
This book exemplifies what I enjoy so much about modern historical romances, as opposed to those of the mid-twentieth century. Most of the story is set in 1817. The romance is a forced-marriage plot between an English woman who now owns a Highland castle and a Scot, Captain Logan MacKenzie. It's
So there's a traditional sort of romance plotline, but the characters have rather more modern insight into the lives of those around them. It isn't enough to create a happy ending for just one couple: Dare is giving a happy ending to her whole group of characters, like Oprah, bestowing gifts on her audience: "Happy Endings for Everyone!"
Library copy
About the cover: this is why women love their electronic readers. I refuse to believe that the most popular genre of books is in any way inferior because it is by women for women. But I cannot take that book out of the house without blushing.
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not always played for laughs, but it is a comic set-up. Madeline Gracechurch is a woman with both a private income and work she loves, so she doesn't really have to marry him except to avoid some embarrassment, plus, he's handsome. But there's more to him. The Clearances have left some of his men with no home to return to, these are the ones who've suffered the worst injuries and the greatest personal losses. It's not as much of an anachronism as calling their trouble PTSD, but MacKenzie recognizes that these particular men will require more care of many kinds, and if marrying a pretty young woman is the easiest way to achieve it, well...So there's a traditional sort of romance plotline, but the characters have rather more modern insight into the lives of those around them. It isn't enough to create a happy ending for just one couple: Dare is giving a happy ending to her whole group of characters, like Oprah, bestowing gifts on her audience: "Happy Endings for Everyone!"
Library copy
About the cover: this is why women love their electronic readers. I refuse to believe that the most popular genre of books is in any way inferior because it is by women for women. But I cannot take that book out of the house without blushing.
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LibraryThing member Tanya-dogearedcopy
In this Regency Romance, Madeline Gracechurch creates a fictitious suitor, writing letters to a Captain Logan MacKenzie, on the presumption that the letters would end up in a dead letter bin somewhere. And, yes, you guessed it, there really is a Captain Logan MacKenzie! And he wants something that
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Madeline has... There are some funny lines; and wasn't as ludicrous as the first-in-series. Show Less
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
What a great premise for a romance! Maddie invents a fiance, a Scottish captain, who is conveniently at war so she doesn't have to produce him. She writes his letters for the imaginary warrior and goes into mourning when he dies a well-timed death. She even inherits a castle as a means to assuage
She's shocked when Captain Logan McKenzie shows up on her doorstep ready to complete marriage vows. Logan only wants to use the bold English lass and her property to provide for his battle-weary men. He wasn't counting on falling in love with her.
Maddie is painfully shy but a wonderful artist who does illustrations for naturalists. Logan grew up without any advantages and spent the last ten years at war. They don't have an instant connection and must work to let their romance grow by learning about each other. I liked that their love grew naturally without any scheming or ruses to further it along.
It's a wonderful and charming love story of two people who don't think they suit each other, but find they are perfect for each other.
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her grief. She's shocked when Captain Logan McKenzie shows up on her doorstep ready to complete marriage vows. Logan only wants to use the bold English lass and her property to provide for his battle-weary men. He wasn't counting on falling in love with her.
Maddie is painfully shy but a wonderful artist who does illustrations for naturalists. Logan grew up without any advantages and spent the last ten years at war. They don't have an instant connection and must work to let their romance grow by learning about each other. I liked that their love grew naturally without any scheming or ruses to further it along.
It's a wonderful and charming love story of two people who don't think they suit each other, but find they are perfect for each other.
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LibraryThing member Karla.Brandenburg
I love this Castles Ever After series!
What would you do if the letters you wrote to someone you made up actually found someone? Maddie desperately wants to avoid a debut into society. Painfully shy, she has done just that, and found her free pass. As time wears on and she needs to produce this
For Logan MacKenzie, the letters give him focus. A ne'er do well, he finds a purpose, motivation to make something of himself in the eccentric rambling missives that are misdirected to him. And then she kills him off, as if his life hasn't followed that same pattern from the beginning, people abandoning him, leaving him. But he's not letting her off so easy. He takes his band of misfits determined to give THEM a home, even if he never finds one of his own.
Funny, spirited and touching, I loved this book (but then it's hard to ignore a determined Scot in a kilt). Highly recommended.
What would you do if the letters you wrote to someone you made up actually found someone? Maddie desperately wants to avoid a debut into society. Painfully shy, she has done just that, and found her free pass. As time wears on and she needs to produce this
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imaginary hero, she decides to kill him off, a noble, hero's death. Imagine her surprise when he turns up on her doorstep years later!For Logan MacKenzie, the letters give him focus. A ne'er do well, he finds a purpose, motivation to make something of himself in the eccentric rambling missives that are misdirected to him. And then she kills him off, as if his life hasn't followed that same pattern from the beginning, people abandoning him, leaving him. But he's not letting her off so easy. He takes his band of misfits determined to give THEM a home, even if he never finds one of his own.
Funny, spirited and touching, I loved this book (but then it's hard to ignore a determined Scot in a kilt). Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
When a Scot Ties the Knot
3 Stars
Miss Madeline Gracechurch is pretty yet shy and uncomfortable around large numbers of people. To avoid the pressures of a social season, Maddie's only recourse is to invent a sweetheart - one who is handsome, honorable and very far away. Unfortunately for Maddie, her
Very disappointing. The basic setup has incredible potential, but is consistently undermined by weak characterization and a lack of chemistry between the romantic leads.
Logan is a war hero and an honorable man who cares about each and every man in his unit. Thus, the fact that he resorts to the morally questionable act of blackmailing Maddie into marriage undercuts his character and makes it difficult to empathize with him.
Maddie starts out as an intelligent and resilient heroine whose method of coping with her social anxiety is utterly ridiculous. It is virtually impossible to believe that her family would accept a fiancé whom they have never met. This is exacerbated by the fact that once Logan arrives, Maddie's apparent backbone melts away and she allows him to walk all over her.
The rest of the cast isn't much better. Logan's men are interchangeable, Maddie's family are non-existent and the sudden appearance of a villain makes no sense.
All in all, not one of Dare's better stories.
3 Stars
Miss Madeline Gracechurch is pretty yet shy and uncomfortable around large numbers of people. To avoid the pressures of a social season, Maddie's only recourse is to invent a sweetheart - one who is handsome, honorable and very far away. Unfortunately for Maddie, her
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imaginary lover, Captain Logan Mackenzie, is all too real and expects Maddie to keep every one of the promises outlined in the letters that found their way to him. Very disappointing. The basic setup has incredible potential, but is consistently undermined by weak characterization and a lack of chemistry between the romantic leads.
Logan is a war hero and an honorable man who cares about each and every man in his unit. Thus, the fact that he resorts to the morally questionable act of blackmailing Maddie into marriage undercuts his character and makes it difficult to empathize with him.
Maddie starts out as an intelligent and resilient heroine whose method of coping with her social anxiety is utterly ridiculous. It is virtually impossible to believe that her family would accept a fiancé whom they have never met. This is exacerbated by the fact that once Logan arrives, Maddie's apparent backbone melts away and she allows him to walk all over her.
The rest of the cast isn't much better. Logan's men are interchangeable, Maddie's family are non-existent and the sudden appearance of a villain makes no sense.
All in all, not one of Dare's better stories.
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LibraryThing member PNRList
My rating may be somewhat inflated based on loving the audiobook format, which is how I "read" this one. Great narrator, and the pacing was really good for me. I also very much loved the main characters! So complex and interesting. Not a whole lot of angst really (just a touch, but the MCs are both
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pretty confident so it was more nagging doubts than woe & grovelling). But still, I liked this quite a bit! Show Less
LibraryThing member WhiskeyintheJar
3.3 stars
I've already gotten on my soapbox about modern characters in historicals this week, so I'm just going to say, if you want to write a contemporary, feel free to do so. Anyway, I ended up liking this one more than I was anticipating, I've not had luck with this series previously. What sold
I've already gotten on my soapbox about modern characters in historicals this week, so I'm just going to say, if you want to write a contemporary, feel free to do so. Anyway, I ended up liking this one more than I was anticipating, I've not had luck with this series previously. What sold
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it for me was the relationship between our two leads and hey, isn't that what we read these books for? They were ooey gooey sweet and my little girl princess happily ever after side quite enjoyed it. My cranky butt adult side noticed how it didn't really feel like a historical, the winks and nods to cliche scenes in romance books had more of a nervy tone than cheeky, and how the whole thing felt like the author was going through the motions. It almost seemed like Dare created a good romance despite herself. I would recommend this for individuals looking for a cute and light romance because like I said, this couple was cute. Show Less
LibraryThing member lydia1879
This was pretty enjoyable!
I feel like Tessa Dare writes her characters with a little more subtlety and humour than most, and that was a really nice surprise.
I liked Madeline as a character, she felt plausible. I won't say realistic because this genre isn't really about realism, but I liked her
There was still quite a bit of tropey-jealousy but the whole backstory and background was a really nice fit, I thought. Some things wrapped up too quickly, though, and I would've preferred more detail but that's just a personal preference.
I read this to get me out of a reading slump, and it did just that, so I can't complain. A solid effort and one of my favourite books in the genre to-date. I'm excited to read more books from Dare.
3.5 stars from me. c:
I feel like Tessa Dare writes her characters with a little more subtlety and humour than most, and that was a really nice surprise.
I liked Madeline as a character, she felt plausible. I won't say realistic because this genre isn't really about realism, but I liked her
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because she diverted a little bit from the usual fiery-vixen-but-totally-still-virginal heroine. There was still quite a bit of tropey-jealousy but the whole backstory and background was a really nice fit, I thought. Some things wrapped up too quickly, though, and I would've preferred more detail but that's just a personal preference.
I read this to get me out of a reading slump, and it did just that, so I can't complain. A solid effort and one of my favourite books in the genre to-date. I'm excited to read more books from Dare.
3.5 stars from me. c:
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LibraryThing member samnreader
That was a quick read. It was all Tessa Dare flavor and fantasy and fun ...
I think the above sentence really sums it up--I did enjoy this more than many other Dares, but I hesitate to give it above a 4 because it's simply a bit inconsistent. Logan was clearly goo from the get go, and I get that he
And, really, I don't mind if they didn't love each other from the letters. Generally though, this book gave me lots of swoons, some great rain kissing, and I absolutely adored "Remember when..." games. I really enjoyed the final part of the book, when the longing of Maddie and Logan was clear--and the sexual tension warring with the emotional tension was just perfect.
I think the above sentence really sums it up--I did enjoy this more than many other Dares, but I hesitate to give it above a 4 because it's simply a bit inconsistent. Logan was clearly goo from the get go, and I get that he
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might come across as creepy if he'd not been presented as a shell of a man from then. But still, he was goo. It didn't any time to establish. To me, that's a bit of a bummer. I like a tough-turned-tender hero. And, really, I don't mind if they didn't love each other from the letters. Generally though, this book gave me lots of swoons, some great rain kissing, and I absolutely adored "Remember when..." games. I really enjoyed the final part of the book, when the longing of Maddie and Logan was clear--and the sexual tension warring with the emotional tension was just perfect.
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LibraryThing member Narshkite
A nice story. This one is creeping toward a 3.5 but not quite there. I really liked the characters, but Maddy was a little too fast to fall, a little too fast to give up everything including her "room of one's own" given the way Logan marched in all threat and bluster. From the start he had nothing
I liked Logan's men, and was happy to see a book address "shell shock" with compassion and respect.
Side note: Fluffy and Rex are the best names for a lobster couple, ever.
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to lose and she had everything, and it felt like that should have mattered.I liked Logan's men, and was happy to see a book address "shell shock" with compassion and respect.
Side note: Fluffy and Rex are the best names for a lobster couple, ever.
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LibraryThing member readingbeader
Such a funny one. I loved it and read it too quickly.
LibraryThing member ladypembroke
I was completely prepared to hate both of these characters. I am glad I ended up loving them. Mostly. I'd like to see some side stories for the Captain's men, though.
LibraryThing member whatalicesaw
Hey! I liked a historical! I won’t say it’s because of the Heaving Bosoms podcast...but it was totally because of the Heaving Bosoms podcast.
LibraryThing member thewestwing
3.5 stars - I liked the plot in this book but for some reason I didn’t love the characters in the book.
LibraryThing member yonitdm
Such a fun premise! Maddie, socially awkward and avoiding her season has made up a fictional beau, a highland Captain, named Logan McKenzie. Who goes off to war leaving her free from social obligations. Until he shows up at her door.
LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
2nd read- an original premise, sweet, and humorous. The relationship and feelings are well developed. And it's all around enjoyable.
LibraryThing member Okies
Since there is no entry in Description, here is the blurb from Audible:
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shy, 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
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.
As you can imagine, this imaginary lover turning up in the flesh is a great premise for a romantic comedy. A typical fun ride by Tessa Dare. I've enjoyed everything of her's that I've read, and this is my 6th I think.
Carmen Rose knows just how to narrate the material.
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shy, 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
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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.
As you can imagine, this imaginary lover turning up in the flesh is a great premise for a romantic comedy. A typical fun ride by Tessa Dare. I've enjoyed everything of her's that I've read, and this is my 6th I think.
Carmen Rose knows just how to narrate the material.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
At the age of sixteen, painfully shy Maddie Gracechurch, to avoid a London season, lied to her family and invented a Scottish fiance she purportedly met on a trip to Brighton. Thus began years of sending letters to the fictitious Captain Logan Mackenzie serving in the wars against Napoleon until
Tessa Dare is at the top of my list of favourite historical romance authors. This novel is from the mid-2010s and while there's the really fun central concept and the occasional dash of humour and swoon, it's not quite as sparkling as her later work. Maddie and Logan's romance is a bit uneven but I did adore the background Dare creates for Maddie as a scientific illustrator. It's a solid historical romance but not where I'd recommend starting if you're exploring Tessa Dare's works for the first time.
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finally Maddie made the decision to kill off her imaginary fiance. So it is with a great deal of surprise when a living, breathing, Captain Logan Mackenzie arrives in her drawing room several years later with the avowed intent of marrying her. Maddie isn't certain she wants the marriage of convenience that Logan is offering her but the more time she spends with him the more she thinks there may be more between them.Tessa Dare is at the top of my list of favourite historical romance authors. This novel is from the mid-2010s and while there's the really fun central concept and the occasional dash of humour and swoon, it's not quite as sparkling as her later work. Maddie and Logan's romance is a bit uneven but I did adore the background Dare creates for Maddie as a scientific illustrator. It's a solid historical romance but not where I'd recommend starting if you're exploring Tessa Dare's works for the first time.
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