When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare

When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After, #3)

by Tessa Dare

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.

Reviewed by stacey_is_sassy on

4 of 5 stars

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Verra...verra...verra good

So, panic attacks were written off as extreme shyness back in the day...who'd have thought? When a Scot Ties the Knot, is the story of a young lady by the name of Madeleine who creates an extremely dramatic tale to avoid having a season. She knows she wouldn't cope being around so many people, so makes up a story. Maddie says she met Captain MacKenzie on holidays, they fell in love and he will be back to claim her after the war. She keeps the story going for years by writing fake letters to and from him. Knowing that her deception can't go on forever, she kills him off in battle.

Imagine her surprise when the real Captain MacKenzie rocks up to her joint to claim her as his wife.

Captain Logan Mackenzie is on a mission. He and his platoon have fought and survived the war to return to nothing. Logan comes up with the brilliant plan of chasing down the woman who had sent him letters for years and telling her she had to marry him. From the letters he'd received, he knew she had inherited a castle for them to live in when he returned from war. His plan is to create a sanctuary and a way for him and his men to live a meaningful life again. All of them have had it rough, but they stay together like a family. Grant's story broke my heart and the way the men looked after him showed me the love they have for each other.

Logan and Maddie come to a mutual agreement to marry. Neither want love, but need each other to achieve their goals. Logan wants the land and Maddie wants the freedom to keep on drawing her naturalist pictures. Their agreement gets tested the more time they spend with each other. They've got the hots for each other. I loved watching them fight the attraction, but felt it was drawn out a little too long.

I really enjoyed this story and loved the way it was written. I laughed and cried with them and at them. Logan was a fierce Scotsman in a kilt who saves the damsel from the bog, plans the strategic maneuvers to find the elusive Fluffy the lobster and learns that loving someone is a gift and not a burden. Maddie was a quirky but intelligent lady who realises her dreams don't have to stop if she loves someone. Logan and Maddie are a great couple and I loved watching them come together. I love Tessa Dare's stories and can't wait for more.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 August, 2015: Finished reading
  • 29 August, 2015: Reviewed