The Scottish Duke audiobook

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI just flew through this beautiful book pretty quickly, and quite frankly way faster than I thought I could even read...yep that is how much I truly enjoyed this book. I really have no idea why I waited so long to read this one, but I am so glad that I decided to grab this one up from the library because it was definitely worth it. Our wonderful story begins with our heroine who is a maid in a Duke's home. Lorna isn't your typical maid though. She was a gentleman's daughter, but when her father died, she had to become a maid. And when a masqued ball occurs, she decides to dress up as a mysterious lady of the Ton, to catch the attention of the Duke. Lorna is drawn to him, just like every female is. But on this mysterious night she catches his attention and curiousity, and they share a night of lovemaking and passion. Alex, the Duke of Kinross, doesn't recognize Lorna as his mysterious lady. Now time has passed over six month, and Lorna is heavily pregnant with Alex's child. And when Alex and his mother learn of this development, Alex seeks out Lorna to see that she and his child are taken care of.I honestly didn't see the accidental pregancy angle happening from the beginning, but I honestly felt like it just fit for this story. I did like that Lorna wanted to attempt to take care of the situation on her own, yet at the same time I felt she needed to be honest with Alex. He deserved to know that he was going to be a father. Especially when she is barely making enough to get by, let alone raise a child. Both Alex and Lorna are very stubborn in many ways so their relationship is a bit rocky while they work through kinks. But it was fun seeing them work through these rocky slopes and find the smooth ride down...eventually. Now I will say that Alex's mother was enchanting, I adored every bit of her character, but most especially in the wonderful way she is so accepting of Lorna.What also added a bit more edge to the story, was the mysterious danger element. But I will say this portion of the story was slightly predictable but still added some dynamics to the story. The writing however, was superb. The author just pulled me so quickly into this book and I didn't put it down until I read it. When I can read a book in one sitting, it should tell you how much I truly enjoyed picking up this book. There is something that this author does more for a romance than others do, and she keeps this genre alive for me.  This story was sexy, emotional, dramatic and romantic.  A ENDEARING PAGE TURNER Click To Buy On Amazon [foogallery id="39259"]

Due to pecuniary woes, Lorna Gordon had to seek a position, and she has been a maid at Blackhall Castle for the past two years. All that time, she has been lusting after Alex Russell, the duke of Kinross. She contemplates him in secret, and Lorna is quite enamoured of the very handsome duke, as are every female of the staff. She has been saving her money to attend a masked ball that will be held at the Castle, in hope of meeting and getting acquainted with the duke, and hope no one discovers who she is. Her best friend Nan, also a maid, had advised Lorna against doing such a foolish thing Alex is angry because he felt he should have earned a medal from the Scottish Society for Scientific Achievement for his work with fingerprinting, but it was not to be, and so the surly duke intends to get thoroughly soused. He’s well on his way to oblivion, when he sees a gorgeous woman dressed as Marie Antoinette, and he saunters her way. And they get much, much better acquainted indeed!And THE SCOTTISH DUKE did not go as expected, but not at all! Ms. Ranney has penned a most extraordinary romance, that has more to do with the classics – except for the sex scenes – than with most historical romances on the market. Alex and Lorna are both extremely interesting characters: Lorna is fearless, accept the consequences of her actions – good or bad; she goes with the flow, and I, just as Nan, thought Lorna was quite foolish, but it’s her strength of character that made her so captivating. Alex brandishes his title as a weapon, he hides behind it as if it were a shield. Lorna is brave, while Alex is self-absorbed, aloof, and rather unsympathetic at first glance; let’s be honest: he’s a coward. Alex is especially afraid of feeling, of truly living, while Lorna wants to feel, need to feel, and what a couple they make! THE SCOTTISH DUKE is rather slow-paced, but by no means is it slow: the author takes the time needed for the relationship to evolve, for the characters to grow, and I thought it wonderful that both characters were intellectuals, as Lorna is working on a book by her late father. When I saw the blurb, and at the very beginning of the book, I thought THE SCOTTISH DUKE was be a pleasant and somewhat mindless piece of enjoyable froth, and it is anything but. It’s somewhat of a Victorian twist on a one-night stand, and so, so much more. THE SCOTTISH DUKE is a wonderful story about being human, about letting oneself live, and accepting the consequences of one’s follies. THE SCOTTISH DUKE is a mesmerising story, superbly told, I was thrilled with the care Karen Ranney treated the subject, and made familiar tropes gloriously new and realistic.If Lorna and Alex are exceptional characters, they are not the only ones: Nan, Lorna’s friend is wonderful, the Dowager duchess of Kinross is superb, as are Mary – Alex’s sister-in-law, and Matthews, Alex’s valet, and let’s not forget Thomas, Alex’s uncle, whom I seriously hope to see again in a future book. In turn, every character surprises us. THE SCOTTISH DUKE is an exceptional book that should be read by anyone who enjoys historical romance that is strongly anchored in facts, and Karen Ranney did an admirable job of entertaining me, and making me think at the same time. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Good book with an unusual plotline. Lorna is the daughter of a gentleman who has fallen on hard times since her father's death. She takes a position of a maid at Blackhall Castle where she becomes intrigued by the Duke. She takes advantage of a costumed ball to dress up and meet him, and maybe have a chance to dance with him. Alex is in a rotten mood the night of the ball. He has just suffered a professional disappointment and is well on the way to drowning his sorrows when he spots Lorna. There's something about her that immediately draws him to her.Neither one expects the desire that hits them, and they are helpless to resist the passion that overtakes them. But Alex has been burned by passion before and his ability to trust women severely damaged. He accuses Lorna of using her innocence to trap him. She flees, but not before telling him exactly what she thinks of him. Alex is unable to forget her, and spends a fair amount of time looking for her, never noticing that she lives under his roof. However, their encounter has consequences, and when Lorna discovers she's pregnant, she leaves Blackhall, determined to raise her child on her own.Lorna is very stubborn and independent. Her life after leaving Blackhall is not easy, especially as she is not married. I loved her friend and fellow maid, Nan, who worries about Lorna's safety. I loved how she took matters into her own hands and ratted out Lorna to Alex's mother. The scene between Alex and his mom was hilarious, as she takes him to task. He doesn't want to believe what he's told but eventually, goes to see Lorna. It doesn't go well for him, and I loved how Lorna stood up to him, his attitude, and his accusations. But she is also guilty of a bit too much pride and doesn't want to admit she needs help. That becomes especially obvious when she runs afoul of the more puritanical townspeople. Alex arrives just in time to save her from danger.I loved the development of their relationship. Alex's fascination with her has not abated, and it has him rather freaked out. He moves her into a cottage on the estate grounds to take care of her. He can't stay away from her and finds himself spending more and more time with her. He's intrigued by the way her mind works, her independence, and the talent he sees in her artwork. He discovers that he likes spending time with her and wants to share so much of his life and thoughts with her. What disturbs him the most is that the emotions he had walled off since his late wife's betrayal and death are starting to resurface. Lorna also finds that her feelings for him are changing. Before she had been infatuated, but what she feels now is deeper and stronger. When Alex's mother convinces them both that they should marry for the sake of the child, they agree.I got a bit frustrated with Alex here because as soon as the wedding was over (just in the nick of time), he runs away. He can't handle the torrent of emotions that he's experiencing and leaves to bury himself in his work. This leaves Lorna to deal with her new circumstances without his support. I loved that she had his mom and her maid thoroughly on her side. She spends the next several weeks settling in, and I loved the changing and maturing that she experienced. I completely enjoyed that Alex was miserable. He redeemed himself a little with his reaction to what his gossipy valet told him. The surprise arrival of his uncle was an additional motivator.There are great changes once he arrives back at Blackhall. I loved seeing Alex become enchanted by his son. There are several really sweet moments between the two of them as Alex's emotions continue to reassert themselves. He and Lorna grow closer as he begins to accept the way she makes him feel, though he still refuses to put it into words. I also liked that Lorna lets him know that disappearing again isn't an option.But there is someone at Blackhall who isn't happy about Lorna's place there. Someone destroys her supply of herbs and so on, and later tries to poison her. Alex is determined to discover who it is. There are several possibilities. Could it be Thomas, angry that he is no longer Alex's heir? Maybe Matthew, Alex's valet, who has made no secret of his disdain for the maid turned duchess? Or could it be Mary, sister of Alex's late wife, who was hoping to snag Alex for her own? Things get very intense when the baby disappears, and they must find him before it's too late. The final confrontation was the catalyst that opened Alex's eyes at last.The secondary characters were all very well done. Thomas was an interesting character that kept me guessing as to his real intentions. I love to see him get a story of his own. I loved Alex's mom, Louise. She was a such a warm-hearted woman, and her immediate acceptance of Lorna was great. I also liked the way that she had of straightening Alex out. Mary was a straight up bitch of the first order. She was selfish, mean-spirited, and ultimately quite vicious. Definitely a character I loved to hate. Lorna's friend and fellow maid Nan was wonderful. She was a good balance to Lorna at the beginning, trying to keep Lorna out of trouble. She also proved herself to be a true friend when she overrode Lorna's wishes and informed the duchess of Lorna's pregnancy.

Plot: 4/5Characterisation: 4/5Prose: 3/5How much I enjoyed it: 4/5

Posted on What I'm Reading"I knew I needed to start this book soon, but when I started it I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! The only reason I had to stop reading was NYQIL kicked in and that stuff knocks me. Had my cold not been a hindrance I would have read this in a day. Yes, it was that good. The Scottish Duke is probably my favorite book Karen has written. Seriously, she had me at page one. I was a little worry about the story, because I thought it was going to be a Cinderella story. I'm not a big fan of Cinderella stories. There are a few that I do love, like EverAfter. The one with Drew Barrymore. In someways, The Scottish Duke reminded me of that movie.Anyway, Lorna is a dreamer and she never really thought she would catch the duke's attention however she did and lets say it didn't go according to plan. Yes, there were consequences, but she was willing to live with the consequence of her action. Good thing she has a good friend, Nan, who decided to make her realize she needs more help. Anyway, Alex has been burned before, so he doesn't know if he could trust Lorna. Yet, he's taken aback by Lorna reaction to him. He believes she's after his money, but she's stubborn and refuses to take his help. All right, The Scottish Duke is filled with characters that you will grow to love as they help Lorna. We have Alex's mom, Louise. She's super kind and develops a friendship with Lorna. There is Uncle Thomas. He's something else, but I do like how he grows in the story. Mary. You always have one crazy relative. A beautiful written that has you wanting to continue. The pace of the story seemed just right. Overall, one of my favorite reads of the year. Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

This plot captivated me from the very beginning. I absolutely LOVE a good Cinderella trope so this turned out to be the perfect read for me :)Lorna Gordan is a servant at Blackhall Castle and she's been smitten by the dashing Duke of Kinross for years. She knows he's out of her reach, but wouldn't it be nice if he'd at least notice her for once? Dressed in an old gown and wig, she attends the costume ball that he's hosting. There, she finds herself engaged in a passionate tryst which goes completely awry when the duke finds out that he's bedded a virgin. This eventful evening will determine Lorna's future as she decides that the duke is not the man whom she thought him to be, and that she must make a new life for herself somewhere far away from his castle.Alex Russell is convinced that Lorna was trying to entrap him. Why else would an innocent young woman lure him with sensual kisses and more? But when she vanishes from his life without a trace, he cannot seem to stop thinking about her or the insults that she threw his way when they parted. What he hadn't counted on was the possibility that he might have gotten her with child, so when news of her pregnancy reaches him, he sets out to find her, offering her a cottage on his estate so he can ensure her well-being. The only problem is that Lorna doesn't want anything from him and she certainly doesn't want him to take care of her.Alex's inability to trust and Lorna's stubborn demand for independence, made this an interesting read. Throw in a villain for intrigue and you have a story that is well worth diving into. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Originally posted on http://sophie-barnes.blogspot.com/

4 Stars!

I was totally excited to see that Karen Ranney was starting a new Victorian-Era historical romance series. This is a rag-to-riches love story for our heroine who transcends classes to find true love with a princely duke.Lorna Gordon was forced into service by circumstances after the death of her beloved father. Having become fascinated with the Duke of Kinross, Lorna risks her position for one night at a costume ball to get closer the duke. That decision has unexpected and long-reaching consequences for Lorna, the duke, and everyone in the Kinross household. Lorna was a great heroine... she was a hard worker and determined to be independent and not take anyone's charity. She was dedicated to her father even after his death when many would have given up his work as a lost cause. I really liked that she was able to keep her head and demonstrate quick thinking in a crisis, and she wasn't an annoying heroine in any sense.Alex Russell the ninth Duke of Kinross is jaded and untrusting after his late wife's infedility and a seeming betrayal from the scientific society who reviews his work. Uncharacteristicly, he is drawn to Lorna in her guise as Marie Antoinette and he quite loses his head. The effect that encounter has on Alex's life does nothing to allay his suspicious nature, and he makes a muddle of things with Lorna. I enjoyed watching the closed-off duke start living in the light and realizing that its okay to trust some people. He had a penchant for escaping when things got tough, so that was an interesting turn of the tables as its usually the heroine that's running off. The duke was a decent hero... he just had a few bad habits. In addition to being a runner, he also did nothing to curb the toxic people in his life. As a autocratic member of the nobility, I was surprised at what he tolerated in his household. But everyone deals with conflict differently I suppose.I was happy with the plotting of this romantic entanglement. I liked that the marriage came about unconventionally, and that the dowager duchess played such a big part. She was a great secondary character. This one did make me teary eyed a few times, mostly that came from Lorna's situation and things she encountered, so I think I had a pretty good connection to her character. The antagonist was also developed really well... she was such a vile and annoying person! I am definitely looking forward to future books in this series.I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Avon.

This was the first title I've ever read by Karen Ranney, and I've already preordered the next title. Forced to become a maid after her father's death, Lorna Gordon has admired Alex Russell, the Duke of Kinross from afar. When he hosts a ball in his home, Lorna grabs a chance to sneak into the ball and have a scandalous encounter with Alex that leads to even more scandalous consequences. Alex has had trouble trusting others his entire life. When he learns of the results of his night with a beautiful stranger he assumes she only wants money or his title. He soon learns, however, that Lorna wants neither and that she is an enigma he desperately wants to understand. Each will have to learn that sometimes a little trust in another is required for a happy ever after. I really enjoyed this title. I wasn't bothered by the early sex scene but I was quite happy that the rest of the book was not spent with Alex not knowing who Lorna was. I'm reading another title with a similar beginning and the hero still doesn't know who the heroine is. It would get tiresome reading two books like that at once. Lorna was a fantastic heroine. Sure, she had a TSTL moment at the beginning but she ended up paying for it and it was her only moment like that. I loved her independence and spirit. I really appreciated the fact that she didn't just fall into being a duchess like she was born to do it like you sometimes see in historical romances. Alex was a bit harder to get to know, which was appropriate because he was harder for Lorna to get to know too. He was capable of being quite a jerk when he wanted but who isn't? Happily, his turnaround wasn't a whiplash inducing quick one at the very end. His coming to care for Lorna was slow and believable. I found this title to be very entertaining and am looking forward to the next!

Histoire toute mignonne même si pas toujours très réaliste pour l'époque il me semble. J'ai aussi aimé les personnages. Pas de malentendus qui durent des plombes entre les héros.

This story, set in the Victorian era, is a character-driven romance in which the aloof, wounded hero meets a daring and sweet heroine who will change his life. It also depicts in a realistic manner the class relations and the distant relationship between aristocrats and servants. Although the plot may not be considered overly original, I found myself engrossed in this story. It is centered around Lorna Gordon, the daughter of a well-respected botanist, who has been forced into service by circumstances. A maid at Blackhall Castle, residence of Alex Russel, the Duke of Kinross, she has been admiring him from afar. Playing Cinderella at the castle’s masquerade ball will change her life forever. Lorna is attracted to Alex like a moth to a flame and after a passionate, forbidden tryst, she finds herself with child. Independent and strong-willed, she intends to raise the child on her own and wants nothing from Alex. But when the Dowager Duchess is informed of Lorna’s condition, she confronts her son with Lorna’s allegations. Although he considers the whole thing as a ploy, he intends to provide for Lorna and their child. Alex is not a bad man or even a rake, but he has a sorrowful past and huge trust issues. He is a loner and tends to live in a virtual ivory tower, surrounded by servants he hardly sees. He is a scientist in his own right, though, and is passionate about his study of fingerprints.Although an unlikely pairing, Alex and Lorna have a lot in common and I enjoyed the slow burn building of their relationship. Alex definitely grew on me as he discovers parenthood and starts to let his guard down, encouraged by his lovely mother. But some evil-minded castle hosts will put their relationship to the test.This book grabs you from the first page and the author did a great job of tying up all loose ends and giving me the happily ever after I wanted for the characters. This book is the first in the author’s new series and can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy sexy and twisty historical romances, this novel is a great pick.An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher, via Edelweiss.

The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney is a wonderful historical romance. The story of a beautiful maid, Lorna Gordon, who disguises herself as Marie Antoinette in a fancy ball to dance with the Duke of Kinross. But the night doesn't end with the dance......Alex Russell, the Duke of Kinross, still can't forget the mystorius seductress several months after her disappearance. When he encounters her again, he must prove himself that he is not an arrogant, heartless duke. The Scottish Duke is absolutely a delightful and enjoyable love story with a great plot.Thank you Karen Ranney