When a Scot Ties the Knot: Castles Ever After

Written by Tessa Dare

Narrated by Carmen Rose

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Aug 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062423313

Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen historical romances. A librarian by training and a book-lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kittens.

Reviews for When a Scot Ties the Knot

[kaethe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[Paola Hernandez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was sweet and funny.

[Rebecca Shearer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's everything you want in a love story and more!!!!

[Lissa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice story enjoyable characters the narrator was good perfectly predictable what’s not to love

[ccusuma1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Adored Logan. Loved Maddie's letters in the beginning. She was lovable from those alone. She didn't jump off the page as much once she was 26 but maybe I'm wrong. Love that it wasn't rushed

[Yasmine Abed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just loved this book! Tessa Dare is one of my favorite authors. Her books are never to disappoint:) highly recommended

[Seven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely novel! It was very fun and entertaining. Started it after seeing mentioned on an Instagram ad.

[Lindy Bob · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just lovely... Wacky plot that worked, a lobster called Fluffy, lots of plaid and getting stuck in a bog. Gotta love Tessa Dare :) ?

[addictofromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary Madeline Gracechurch, is talented and pretty, but is awkward in social situations. She suffers from panic attacks whenever she is around a big group of people. She knew that she could never survive the Ton, and the numerous parties and balls. So she concocts a story of being engaged to a soldier that she met in bath. She creates letters, and mails them knowing that the person she has created is not real. Its been five years and she has just informed everyone that he is dead so that she can move on with her life and get past the lies she has had to say. She has just been gifted a piece of land and a castle in Scotland. But then a stranger shows up on her front door and claimed to be her Scottish sweetheart, Captain Logan Mackenzie. Logan MacKenzie is determined to save his men. The men he fought for and battled with and when they returned home to have either their families killed or driven off by English Lords who took advantage while most of the men were away fighting their war. He has a group of men, who need a home and after receiving letters for five years…he knows just the place and Miss Madeline Gracechurch is the way…he will marry her and will have a home for his men, he owes them that much. But what beings as a practical arrangement, soon turns into something more real….zesty passion and true love.Plot and Story Line When A Scot Ties The Knot is a wonderful love story and I really loved the tangles and the web these two try to work their way towards. This is the third book in the series, but I have to say its probably my least favorite. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy this book and how events play out, but for the first half I had a challenge getting myself into the story. It just didn’t really connect with me, until I got about half way. Which was a bit disappointing, because I adore Tessa Dare, and this is the first time I have had such troubles getting into one of her books. But once I got halfway into the book, then I was hooked. I will say that there were quite a few memorable moments in this one. The soldiers that Logan has brought with him for one. I loved them all, they are all wounded in some form and have come home to learn that most of their loved ones are gone, their ship to Canada having been sunk. Logan even though he is forcing Maddie’s hand, will do anything to provide a safe environment for them. I really admired that dedication and see how much he respects those men under him. But Logan isn’t just any Captain…he worked hard to get to Captain when he started as a foot soldier. Logan has never known family or what it’s like to love. So you see how he is very much out of his element when it comes to Maddie. Now Maddie, I truly wanted to like her character but had a hard time, especially in the beginning however I grew to like her as we learn more about her past and the reasons behind her shy nature. I liked how tenacious and stubborn she is, and quite the creative sort. She is super smart especially when it comes to animals and insects. And oh boy her pets….the two lobsters and the whole mating ritual, quite fascinating. I really enjoyed seeing these two battle it out at times. Both of them go into a bout of denial into what they feel for each other. But boy did this story have some lively scenes, and once these two started to open up to each other than it just came together quite well.I’d have to be dead in my grave before I stopped fighting for you, Madeline. Even then, I’d move six feet of earth to find a wayThe Cover It has such a sweet and romantic tone to it, with a hint of playfulness. I love the tone of colors, with the teal and pinks. And isn’t that male just gorgeous….love a man in a kilt right? And with the added castle backdrop….simply gorgeous!Overall View When A Scot Ties The Knot is a charming love story that brings two souls together with a bout of surprises and romantic delights!!

[Victoria Friedheim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it! Really good story and perfect ending!

[ladypembroke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Kellie Lantry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of Tessa Dares best stories. I loved the Maddie and Logan.

[diana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1st reading — july 2021
i think that what keeps bothering me in tessa dare's books is the fact that each woman who's accomplished in a scientific field gives up on her dreams of being recognised (see minerva in a week to be wicked, now maddie). it's very frustrating and a message that i do not agree with.
do i still love tessa dare? yeah, a lot.
am i still suffering that i have to go to thru her backlist while waiting for the bride bet? yeah, a lot.


2nd reading — december 2021
it seems like a new tradition has been born and i am reading this for every historical romance readathon. while i still agree with my first review and that women in tessa dare's books tend to abandon their dream careers for their husbands because ✨love✨ i guess, i also disagree with the suffering part. this was so much more fun than i remembered. and sweet and lovely.
now back to my actual hrr tbr.

[lydia1879 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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 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:

[Hope Brennan Parnell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite enjoyable and well narrated. I do recommend this one.

[michel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love Tessa Dare so much. One of the best historical writers

[Rene Shaul · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Some of the chapters was missing. Lost plot of the storie

[whatalicesaw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[samnreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[rebecca ordway · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The person who is reading it was easy to listen to

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

2nd read- an original premise, sweet, and humorous. The relationship and feelings are well developed. And it's all around enjoyable.

[whiskeyinthejar-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[Venus Hoover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good story! This is this first book I've listened to by her and I enjoyed it!

[Talluah Harper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a Lovely story with an excellent premise. Original and very enjoyable

[Emily Thomas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fun, not too serious. Good smut. Would have liked to see more growth in beaver for the female lead Maddie, but it was a good quick read.

[Bronwen Martin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice book to listen to but I fell asleep and don’t remember much

[pnrlist · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 pretty confident so it was more nagging doubts than woe & grovelling). But still, I liked this quite a bit!

[readingbeader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a funny one. I loved it and read it too quickly.

[Shira Harel · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The story is nice, the reader was bad!! Sound like a computer

[tanya8dogearedcopy · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

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 Madeline has... There are some funny lines; and wasn't as ludicrous as the first-in-series.