Scotsman of My Dreams

Written by Karen Ranney

Narrated by John Lee

In New York Times bestselling author Karen Ranney's second novel in her breathtaking series, an unconventional woman and a former scoundrel embark on a daring mission of desire

Once the ton's most notorious rake, Dalton MacIain has returned from his expedition to America during the Civil War— wounded and a changed man. Instead of returning to his old haunts, he now spends his time at home. But Dalton's peace is disturbed when Minerva Todd barges into his London townhouse, insisting he help search for her missing brother Neville. Though Dalton would love to spend more time with the bewitching beauty, he has no interest in finding Neville, whom he blames for his injury.

Minerva has never met a more infuriating man than the Earl of Rathsmere, yet she is intrigued by the torrid rumors she has heard about him . . . and the fierce attraction pulling her toward him.

Dalton does not count on Minerva's persistence, or the desire she awakens in him, compelling him to discover her brother's fate. But when danger surrounds them, Dalton fears he will lose the tantalizing, thoroughly unpredictable woman he has come to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Aug 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062423306

Karen Ranney

Karen Ranney wanted to be a writer from the time she was five years old and filled her Big Chief tablet with stories. People in stories did amazing things and she was too shy to do anything amazing. Years spent in Japan, Paris, and Italy, however, not only fueled her imagination but proved she wasn't that shy after all. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, she prefers to keep her adventures between the covers of her books. Karen lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Reviews for Scotsman of My Dreams

[Carol Halpin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After five chapters board to tears. Time to move along.

[addictofromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scotsman of My Dreams was a charming and sweet romance with a sparkle of angst in here. I have really enjoyed what Karen Ranney has done with her books, and Scotsman of My Dreams was no different. I honestly don’t know how to express what this story did for me. Now there were times I was in and out of the story (but I have been dead tired all day, so that might have something to do with it). It begins with out heroine searching for her missing brother, and so she goes in search of the one man that should know where he is at. Only the infamous rake who went to the America’s to help fight in their Civil War has returned scarred and blind. Needless to say both Dalton and Minerva have a difference of opinions on this subject, because Dalton believes its Minerva’s brother that caused his injury, so he isn’t all that eager to aid the man that shot him, however, he is fascinated by Minerva. Minerva isn’t your average lady, she lives her own life, has had a lover, wears breeches when the need strikes her, goes in search of old objects. Hates balls and parties or even dressing up, she prefers dressing down. Dalton technically is Scottish, but has spent much of his life in England so he comes off as more of a London rake who has gone through some rough patches. Despite his torrid past, he is a character that you just reach out for, because he is emotionally traumatized and you don’t see the rogue in him much despite the “rumors”. The banter between these two is quite energetic and they definitely have some sparks flying between them.What was most interesting about this one, was the hint of danger you sense from the very start of the story and it builds and builds gradually until the end. It also doesn’t detract from the romance, it tends to even out in the end. Quite a lovely romance that had spark and flare and I had quite a time seeing these characters come alive off the pages. SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!

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

****Full Review****

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Suffering from ennui and arrogance, Dalton traveled to America to join in their Civil War. The men that followed him were quickly coined MacIain's Marauders. However, instead of finding the glory and honor of battle, they discovered the hell of war. Dalton survives Manassas only to be brought low by one of his own Marauders, he is shot in the face. With the loss of his right eye and almost completely blind in his left, he returns to England only to find his older brother died in a hunting accident and he is now the earl. Trying to acclimate to his new reality and fighting his memories of war, he is somewhat unprepared for Miss Minerva Todd. Minerva's brother, Neville, followed Dalton to America and she demands to know what happened to him but when the earl states that her brother is the one who shot him, she can't believe it. As they search for Neville more questions, clues, and feelings arise, a believed simple assassination attempt may involve more than one MacIain brother and two people who thought they were destined to be alone may just find out they were wrong.

Due to their condensed nature, sometimes romance stories fall into the insta-love trap, this book is the complete opposite of insta-love. For the first 20% or so we have a very gradual leading into our characters, they are very separate at this point as we learn about Dalton and Minerva individually. It creates a bit of a slower start but also a richer one as the reader gets more flushed out leading characters. I had a good foundation for who Minerva and Dalton were and how they would probably attract and challenge one another, which made the anticipation sweeter. After the 20% mark when our leads meet, their verbal skirmishes and battles were fun to read along with.

Minerva was a matter of fact and level headed character that at times came off a bit unemotional and clinical. She is in her late twenties and having decided she will never marry, decides a liaison with her driver will provide her with the opportunity to experience passion. When her driver starts to wish it to be more, she breaks it off. Now, I'm not saying women can't be up for no strings attached sex, we completely can be, I'm just saying this particular character came off somewhat cold in this particular instance, when her overall personality didn't seem that way. (My feelings on this could also be due to how extremely forward thinking Minerva was for the time period she was living in) We the reader, get told Dalton was a rake but we come into the scene during his metamorphosis from easy breezy lad to life is a hell of a teacher man and his character is so much more interesting because of it. His having to depend on people has opened his eyes to how he has never noticed or appreciated the people in his life and with every name he learns and show of gratitude he delivers to his staff or people in his life, Dalton becomes a man worthy of being called a hero.

She startled him continuously, amused him endlessly, forced him to reassess himself, and made him want to be a better man. No woman should have that power.

Dalton and Minerva's romance is gradual, building, and has a bit of the devil is in the details quality. As I mentioned, there is no insta-love here but rather two individuals who slowly but surely come together as their similarities, personalities, minds, and differences become the flint for their fire. The author doesn't knock you over the head with "he got lost in her eyes" but rather has Minerva, without pomp or circumstance, say she knows balance could be a problem for Dalton because she blindfolded herself and then have the reader pop into Dalton's head to see what Minerva trying to experience what he lives does to him. These little devastating emotional moments are what make this couple shine; romance is all in the details.

Minerva and Dalton and their battles, were the star of the show for me. I felt the murder mystery and the romance parts weren't quite in sync or flowed together. The villain was fairly obvious and at times this storyline felt ignored only to also feel dragged on. I didn't read the first in the series, so maybe there was more connection to Dalton fighting in America I missed that could explain why I didn't care about this aspect but I also never felt lost starting the series here. Secondary characters were strong in that they didn't try to steal the show (the neighbor Covington sisters who “watch” over Minerva came very close) but were sketched out enough to create more breadth and depth to our lead's world.

Scotsman of My Dreams was a breath of fresh air with its unconventional characters, not a shy virginal miss or afraid of marriage because of reasons spy to be seen. If looking to indulge in a historical placed in England in the 1860s with nary a ballroom visited, a more grown up feel, and leads that visibly grow to love one another, you'll want to pick this one up.

[julied2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a very enjoyable read for me. It was my first book by this author so I'd not read the first story from this series but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of this novel as it is a standalone.The hero, Duncan Maclain, used to have a reputation as a renowned rake, but since his return from America were he'd decided to go and join the Civil War, he's been a recluse in his own home where he's been recuperating from injures to his face and trying to cope with the loss of his sight.Minerva Todd is looking for her brother Neville. The last she heard of him was that he had followed Duncan to America to fight in the war, so she wishes to speak with him to ask him where Neville is now. Duncan swears he has no idea.....and privately he'd like to find him himself.....This is an intriguing story, emotional and with a little fun it was a great read. Minerva very tenacious in her search for her brother and would turn up any where and at any time, which could be a bit of a shock. And she wasn't backward at coming forward so to speak, she soon had Duncan where she wanted in the bedroom. Duncan was a very courageous character, the war had changed him in many ways. Ms.Ranney's descriptions of his ordeal with his loss is very well done. I loved both the characters, Minerva and Duncan, they complimented each other very well even though they were very different. I highly recommend this story. 5/5