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a_verthandi's review against another edition
3.0
If only it had been about a Scottish duke, I would have had historical romance bingo.
Anyway, it's just fine. Not mind-blowingly good, but not "I just want to finish this book to be done with it, augh" either.
Anyway, it's just fine. Not mind-blowingly good, but not "I just want to finish this book to be done with it, augh" either.
witandsin's review
3.0
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2015/11/review-how-to-seduce-scot-by-christy.html
How to Seduce a Scot is a sweet romance from beginning to end. Christy English’s first Broadswords and Ballrooms book is filled with nice, likeable characters, but the overall story may have been better served if it were novella-length.
Alexander Waters is a proud Scotsman who yearns to be at sea…or in the Highlands…or pretty much anywhere but a London ballroom. But he’s promised his mother he’d see his wild sister married to an Englishman, so Alex is stuck among the foppish members of the ton until Mary Elizabeth finds a husband. The last thing Alex expects is to fall in love at first sight when he spies Mary Elizabeth talking to an angel, better known as the very proper Catherine Middlebrook. Catherine is gentle, sweet, and perfect – everything Alex didn’t know he wanted. But he’s determined to return to sea and is not ready to take a wife. For her part, Catherine needs to marry – fast. In the wake of her father’s death and her mother’s uncontrollable spending, Catherine knows she needs to marry a wealthy man who will take care of her family before they lose everything. She can’t afford to be tempted by her new friend’s brother, especially since he makes it clear he has no plans to wed. Only putting Alex out of her mind is impossible when the man seems to be everywhere she looks...
Aside from the hero and heroine’s stubbornness leading to a number of push-pull situations, there are very few obstacles in How to Seduce a Scot. Alex and Catherine fall in love in a heartbeat, but their romance is slow to build because they both have a picture in their head of their futures and neither of them planned for a sudden tumble into love. I liked Alex and Catherine, but she was a bit too perfect and he was a bit too indecisive, and both of them were overshadowed by the more energetic personalities around them. And as much as I wanted to be swept away by their love story, I never was. There wasn’t enough “meat” to the plot or the characters (neither of whom really changed over the course of the story) to keep the book moving at a decent pace, which is why I think the story may have been better served being trimmed down to novella size.
How to Seduce a Scot isn’t the most memorable story, but it’s light, sweet, and enjoyable. I finished Catherine and Alex’s story wishing it had a bit more depth to it, but at the same time I liked it well enough to be looking forward to the next Broadswords and Ballrooms book, How to Wed a Warrior.
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.
How to Seduce a Scot is a sweet romance from beginning to end. Christy English’s first Broadswords and Ballrooms book is filled with nice, likeable characters, but the overall story may have been better served if it were novella-length.
Alexander Waters is a proud Scotsman who yearns to be at sea…or in the Highlands…or pretty much anywhere but a London ballroom. But he’s promised his mother he’d see his wild sister married to an Englishman, so Alex is stuck among the foppish members of the ton until Mary Elizabeth finds a husband. The last thing Alex expects is to fall in love at first sight when he spies Mary Elizabeth talking to an angel, better known as the very proper Catherine Middlebrook. Catherine is gentle, sweet, and perfect – everything Alex didn’t know he wanted. But he’s determined to return to sea and is not ready to take a wife. For her part, Catherine needs to marry – fast. In the wake of her father’s death and her mother’s uncontrollable spending, Catherine knows she needs to marry a wealthy man who will take care of her family before they lose everything. She can’t afford to be tempted by her new friend’s brother, especially since he makes it clear he has no plans to wed. Only putting Alex out of her mind is impossible when the man seems to be everywhere she looks...
Aside from the hero and heroine’s stubbornness leading to a number of push-pull situations, there are very few obstacles in How to Seduce a Scot. Alex and Catherine fall in love in a heartbeat, but their romance is slow to build because they both have a picture in their head of their futures and neither of them planned for a sudden tumble into love. I liked Alex and Catherine, but she was a bit too perfect and he was a bit too indecisive, and both of them were overshadowed by the more energetic personalities around them. And as much as I wanted to be swept away by their love story, I never was. There wasn’t enough “meat” to the plot or the characters (neither of whom really changed over the course of the story) to keep the book moving at a decent pace, which is why I think the story may have been better served being trimmed down to novella size.
How to Seduce a Scot isn’t the most memorable story, but it’s light, sweet, and enjoyable. I finished Catherine and Alex’s story wishing it had a bit more depth to it, but at the same time I liked it well enough to be looking forward to the next Broadswords and Ballrooms book, How to Wed a Warrior.
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.
emmylux7's review against another edition
dnf: 40%
besides the insta-love, there was a lot of problematic sentiments said or felt by the male mc alex. which basically consists of him wanting to claim her (catherine)as his own despite only knowing her for a wk? he also refers to her multiple time as a girl/child; not creepy at all. all culminating in their first kiss which consisted of catherine being drunk *red flag #1*. no asking for consent from either parties (despite alex knowing he should but claiming her kiss 'made his morals slip away' -groans; *red flag #2*. the final red flag was after the kiss, when alex is telling himself that he should've stopped the kiss he thinks 'she wasn't even that drunk' 3 red flags & YOU'RE OUT!! doesn't matter that she kissed him, she was drunk & a minor, he knew it & didn't stop it. so to answer you're question alex, no you're not a gentleman.
besides the insta-love, there was a lot of problematic sentiments said or felt by the male mc alex. which basically consists of him wanting to claim her (catherine)as his own despite only knowing her for a wk? he also refers to her multiple time as a girl/child; not creepy at all. all culminating in their first kiss which consisted of catherine being drunk *red flag #1*. no asking for consent from either parties (despite alex knowing he should but claiming her kiss 'made his morals slip away' -groans; *red flag #2*. the final red flag was after the kiss, when alex is telling himself that he should've stopped the kiss he thinks 'she wasn't even that drunk' 3 red flags & YOU'RE OUT!! doesn't matter that she kissed him, she was drunk & a minor, he knew it & didn't stop it. so to answer you're question alex, no you're not a gentleman.
akmargie's review against another edition
1.0
Yeah, no. I was prepared to be generous and give two stars and chalk it up to not my taste until I got to this line. "She's just a headstrong woman with no man to guide her." Yeah, no.
Before that I was already unimpressed with the stilted yet overblown writing and the worst sin of all, boring. There is zero plot or real conflict besides the hero being an jerk who would casually throw out misogynistic lines like the one above. No. Just no.
Before that I was already unimpressed with the stilted yet overblown writing and the worst sin of all, boring. There is zero plot or real conflict besides the hero being an jerk who would casually throw out misogynistic lines like the one above. No. Just no.
beckymmoe's review
5.0
Loved it! How is it that I've never read anything by Christy English before? By the time I got to the 75% mark, I'd already added her entire backlist to my TBR--and I absolutely cannot wait until book 2 in the series ([b:How to Wed a Warrior|25382874|How to Wed a Warrior (Broadswords and Ballrooms, #2)|Christy English|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449996407s/25382874.jpg|45132129] is out! Not to mention Mary Elizabeth's book.... (fingers crossed that it will be out soon:)) Heck, I even want to see "his Lordship of Love" find his HEA...
I really enjoyed Ms. English's style of writing--she took us right into Catherine and Alex's heads. Alex's especially was so much fun--the way he referred to Catherine's mother as "Mrs. Angel" for the entire book (Catherine being the original "angel" of course) and his nicknames for Lord Farleigh, Catherine's other suitor, made me smile. "Lord Somebody-Or-Other", "Lord What's-It", "Lord Whose-It", "Lord MambyPamby", "Lord Loverboy" to name a few--just too funny! Underneath it all, though, he was such a great guy. There for his family, protective of Catherine, her mother and sister...
This quick, romantic, charming story is just what I needed to celebrate the end of the semester!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Ms. English's style of writing--she took us right into Catherine and Alex's heads. Alex's especially was so much fun--the way he referred to Catherine's mother as "Mrs. Angel" for the entire book (Catherine being the original "angel" of course) and his nicknames for Lord Farleigh, Catherine's other suitor, made me smile. "Lord Somebody-Or-Other", "Lord What's-It", "Lord Whose-It", "Lord MambyPamby", "Lord Loverboy" to name a few--just too funny! Underneath it all, though, he was such a great guy. There for his family, protective of Catherine, her mother and sister...
"I thought you were apologizing," she said.Sigh.
"I was apologizing," he said, sounding like someone else altogether. "I am apologizing."
Catherine felt his weakness as he leaned against her. It seemed he was fighting himself. No doubt he wanted to kiss her again, as much as she wished him to, if not more. For the first time in her life, she felt a heady sense of power. She was not the only one brought low by her obsession with him. It seemed that her hulking Highlander was just as obsessed with her.
"Then why did you stop?"
"I am reminding myself that I am a gentleman."
This quick, romantic, charming story is just what I needed to celebrate the end of the semester!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
pavi_fictionalworm's review against another edition
2.0
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The chemistry (read: antagonism) between a English and Scottish is legendary and by that i mean, Historically proven, so when you read a blurb that hints at a Highlander not interested in English customs but would fall for a English Lady, it should have been sparkling with embers and the chemistry should have set even my electronic reader on fire!
But did that happen? Nope. This book fell flat on almost counts, except Alexander - that man was the epitome of a Scottish Highlander and pretty much was on point as a character. But his Lady? nope. Catherine was perfectly lovely but that's all she was! The epitome of an English Lady, she had no hidden depths except a fierce loyalty to her family and that somehow made her character 2-dimensional.
The writing also lacked the spark, the dialogues were lacking in wittiness and humor and somehow that made it all the more impossible to actually connect with the characters in the story!
For more book recommendations and reviews, check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds
The chemistry (read: antagonism) between a English and Scottish is legendary and by that i mean, Historically proven, so when you read a blurb that hints at a Highlander not interested in English customs but would fall for a English Lady, it should have been sparkling with embers and the chemistry should have set even my electronic reader on fire!
But did that happen? Nope. This book fell flat on almost counts, except Alexander - that man was the epitome of a Scottish Highlander and pretty much was on point as a character. But his Lady? nope. Catherine was perfectly lovely but that's all she was! The epitome of an English Lady, she had no hidden depths except a fierce loyalty to her family and that somehow made her character 2-dimensional.
The writing also lacked the spark, the dialogues were lacking in wittiness and humor and somehow that made it all the more impossible to actually connect with the characters in the story!
For more book recommendations and reviews, check out For The Love of Fictional Worlds
bandherbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Virginal lady meets wild Highlander, both really like each other but face the seemingly insurmountable ire of society which seems driven to keep them apart. I don't enjoy romances where the leading lady is seen as an "angel," but at least a few secondary characters kept this pleasing enough to finish. Nice touch with the leather gloves *wink*.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC.
bethandhertea's review against another edition
4.0
I was charmed by the characters right away and kept loving them throughout! I'm most invested in one of the side characters, but luckily for me she gets her own book! :D
bookkoookie's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75