A Scot in the Dark by Sarah Maclean: Review

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean
Pages: 400

Series: Scandal and Scoundrel #2
Genres: Historical Romance
Also in this series: The Rogue Not Taken, The Day of the Duchess
Also by this author: The Rogue Not Taken, The Day of the Duchess, Wicked and the Wallflower, Brazen and the Beast, Daring and the Duke, Bombshell

Goodreads

Lonesome Lily Turned Scandalous Siren
Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn't hesitate...until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to the one man who might save her from ruin.
Highland Devil turned Halfhearted Duke
The Duke of Warnick loathes all things English, none more so than the aristocracy. It does not matter that the imposing Scotsman has inherited one of the most venerable dukedoms in Britain—he wants nothing to do with it, especially when he discovers that the unwanted title comes with a troublesome ward, one who is far too old and far too beautiful to be his problem.
Tartan Comes to Town
Warnick arrives in London with a single goal: get the chit married and see her become someone else's problem, then return to a normal, quiet life in Scotland. It's the perfect plan, until Lily declares she'll only marry for love...and the Scot finds that there is one thing in England he likes far too much...

A Scot in the Dark
Sarah Maclean

Sarah Maclean is the author who got me back into historical romance with The Rogue Not Taken. I was impatiently waiting for A Scot in the Dark!

This story brings us “Lovely Lily” and the “Diluted Duke”. Lily is a ward of the Duke of Warnick. No one really cares for her. She isn’t noble, so she doesn’t receive much attention. That changes when she meets Derek, an artist who wants to use her as his muse. Being his muse leads to her ruination. Alec, the Scottish Duke who is her guardian, comes to London from Scotland (and he HATES London) to help salvage Lillian’s reputation.

I liked Alec. He is an interesting character because he obviously never planned to be a Duke. He was 17th in line for the title! He hates London, and really, all things British. He was Duke for 5 years before he even learned of Lillian’s existence. Once he meets her though, he is intrigued. She is beautiful yet unmarried. She is willing to go toe to toe with him verbally, yet also so ashamed of her scandalous behavior. He is attracted to her but has his own shame and self recrimination. I really liked his first meeting with Derek. And his second…

Lillian is a dichotomy. I struggled to believe someone as strong willed as her would fall for someone as annoying and pompous as Derek. But, then you get glimpses of how lonely she was. She had no friends, no family, and no one was courting her. So, I guess its easy to see why she would fall so quickly for the attention Derek gives her. And its hard not to feel badly for her ruination. She was taken advantage of and it was so sad! When she explained that she chose the room under the stairs so she could hear people, my heart broke and I totally cried. She was so alone.

I loved that the “Soiled S’s” make an appearance. If anyone can understand and befriend Lily, its the Talbot sisters. I loved them in book 1, and their interaction with Lily made me love them all over again.

Bottom line? This is another winner for the very talented Sarah Maclean! She sucks you in with characters who have more depth than you expect, a story that is deeper than it appears, and some witty one liners that give you a chuckle!

• POV: 3rd
• Tears: yes
• Trope: regency
• Triggers: none
• Series/Standalone: standalone
• Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »No « Hide Spoiler
• HEA:

Luck is no Lady by Amy Sandas, Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas, The Virgin and the Viscount by Charis Michaels…then you will probably like A Scot in the Dark!

 

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