When a Scot Ties the Knot
(Castles Ever After series)
by Tessa Dare
HarperCollins, Aug. 2015
Genre: Regency historical romance

Painfully shy Miss Madeline Gracechurch invents a fiance in order to avoid the London marriage mart. She tells her father and his new bride that she met Captain Logan MacKenzie on a visit to Brighton where the fell in love and became engaged before he was (conveniently) sent to the Continent to fight the French. To keep up the pretense, Maddy writes him letters, which she assumes will end up in a dead letter office. Unbeknownst to her, there is a Captain Logan MacKenzie, who receives her letters. After she inherits a Scottish castle and become independent of her father, she “kills off” Captain MacKenzie.

Much to her surprise, two years after the war, he arrives at the castle and insists on marrying her. He needs the property so he can build cottages for those of his men who have nowhere to go. They are handfasted but Maddy puts off consummating the marriage in hopes of getting out of it. Silly girl.

When a Scot Ties the Knot is a delightful story, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Maddy’s letters to her mythical captain are quite hilarious. She’s a talented artist and every letter has a small drawing in it. The book is funny and touching and sensual. Tessa Dare is one of the best writers of Regency historicals today, and she has the Rita awards and nominations to prove it.

Disclaimer: Tessa is a member of my local RWA chapter and a personal friend. However, I bought the book of my own volition, and received no recompense for writing this review.

As always, click on the graphic below for more great reviews in Barry Summie’s Book Review Club.

Linda