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A Scot in the Dark

(Scandal & Scoundrel #2)

Sarah MacLean (Goodreads Author)

3.74 · Rating details · 13,472 ratings · 1,433 reviews

Lonesome Lily Turned Scandalous Siren
Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn't hesitate...until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to t ...more

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Hardcover, 342 pages

Published August 30th 2016 by Avon

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Historical Guardian/Ward Romance Novels

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Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

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Feb 09, 2016 Sarah MacLean rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance, mine

I mean, it's mine. So, of course I like it, but here's a little more about why.

Here's a little teaser for those of you who are waiting so patiently! As you can see, the Duke of Warnick (the titular Scot in the Dark) has opinions:

He raised a brow. “It's a children’s love story.”
Lillian gaped at him. “It’s Romeo and Juliet.”
“Babes without any sense. Killing themselves over infatuation.”
“It’s considered one of the greatest love stories of all time.”
He lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “Unless ...more

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Sep 10, 2016 Zoe rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Warning: if you do not want to read a piece of my mind, this is the time to leave. All opinions are exactly what they are: my personal opinions. I will not defend them, nor do I expect to convince anyone. My opinions are strictly my own. It has no bearing on the quality of the book, Sarah MacLean's caliber as a writer or whether one should or should not read this book.

I have made 2 decisions after reading this book:

1. Sarah MacLean and I must part our ways, citing irreconcilable differences.

2. ...more

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Nov 11, 2015 Esther rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-edelweiss, arc, non-virgin, hero-rich

ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review.

1.5 Rating Revised.

I want to start off by saying I love Sarah MacLean's books and she never disappoints,. Well almost never, but this one time. Yes, this is a first, I found this one Historical to be lacking.

I'm not going into the synopsis of the story as it's pretty self explanatory on the blurb. But I'll just say what I like and what I didn't in this review.

Liked:
First of all Sarah Maclean can write and she does it well as always. The flow of the book a ...more

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Aug 30, 2016 Geri Reads rated it really liked it

4.5 stars!

Don't be fooled by the historical setting of this book because the things that the heroine went through felt very current. The idea of someone going through a very public humiliation like what Lillian went through in this was heartrending. This is a book that challenges your notion about scandals, slut-shaming, forgiveness, and redemption.

Ms. MacLean made Lillian a very sympathetic character to me. I normally would have a problem with a heroine who professed to love someone else durin 4.5 stars!

Don't be fooled by the historical setting of this book because the things that the heroine went through felt very current. The idea of someone going through a very public humiliation like what Lillian went through in this was heartrending. This is a book that challenges your notion about scandals, slut-shaming, forgiveness, and redemption.

Ms. MacLean made Lillian a very sympathetic character to me. I normally would have a problem with a heroine who professed to love someone else during the first chapter of the book and then promptly falls in love with the hero. But as a I reader, I understood her motivation. I understood why she acted the way she did. Her actions were consistent with her motivation, which is why what happened to her in this book made such an impact on me.

But it's not just Lillian who has issues with humiliation, private or otherwise. The hero, Alec, was known as the Diluted Duke, the 17th in line to the title. He inherited the dukedom after a spate of bad luck befell the previous dukes. Alec some things in his past which made him into the man he is today. He came to England after his ward, which he knew nothing about at first, was embroiled in a scandal. He wants to solve the problem and then go back to Scotland.

But his ward, Lillian, wants nothing to do with his plan of restoring her tattered reputation. She just wants to be free and leave all her troubles behind. As they spend more time with each other, the attraction, the sexual tension builds between them. I just loved the push and pull between them. The banter was glorious.

Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, Ms. MacLean pulled a fast one on me. I knew something was up with Alec but I was unprepared for what he was actually hiding. I should have known it. It's quite obvious in a way but not really? Probably because I was so focused on Lillian's plight that I didn't pick up on the clues as to why Alec had this aversion to England in the first place.

Overall, I liked the pacing. Loved the characters and that ending was so satisfying, I wanted to go and re-read it again immediately.

ARC provided by Avon in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 Caz rated it liked it

I’ve read and enjoyed Sarah MacLean’s previous two series and I enjoyed the previous book in this one (The Rogue Not Taken), so I suppose she’s allowed a dud, and that is, I’m sorry to say, my overall impression of her latest book, A Scot in the Dark. The romance seems to come out of nowhere, the heroine’s actions often don’t make sense, and while it was a refreshing change to read of the hero having body-image issues, I really dislike that whole “I am not worthy” trope in romance, and it’s done I’ve read and enjoyed Sarah MacLean’s previous two series and I enjoyed the previous book in this one (The Rogue Not Taken), so I suppose she’s allowed a dud, and that is, I’m sorry to say, my overall impression of her latest book, A Scot in the Dark. The romance seems to come out of nowhere, the heroine’s actions often don’t make sense, and while it was a refreshing change to read of the hero having body-image issues, I really dislike that whole “I am not worthy” trope in romance, and it’s done to death here. Worst of all, I didn’t really like either of the protagonists. I didn’t hate them, but neither of them grabbed me and as a result, I couldn’t root for them as a couple.

Lillian Hargrove has made the mistake of falling in love with a complete and utter bastard with an ego the size of the planet and was persuaded by him to pose for a portrait in the nude, believing he wouldn’t show it to anyone else. She realises her mistake some months later at the opening of the Royal Academy’s Exhibition of Contemporary Art, when it is announced that his painting of her is the highlight of the exhibition and will be unveiled in a month’s time amid all due pomp and circumstance. Lily is naturally and immediately the subject of all sorts of horrid gossip and her reputation is in tatters.

Enter her hitherto absentee guardian, Alec Stuart, the twenty-first Duke of Warnick, who has, during the five years since he acceded to the title (owing to the utterly improbable fact that the seventeen people who stood between him and the dukedom all managed to die without issue), managed to avoid London and remain on his lands in Scotland. Having had no idea until now that he even had a ward, Alec realises that he needs to rescue Lily from certain ruin and heads off to London in order to do so.

Lily doesn’t want to be rescued –she just wants to run away, but Alec isn’t having it. He decides she should get married straight away, as having a husband will protect her reputation. Lily doesn’t want to get married either, and most of the book is spent with them not agreeing to disagree on the way to deal with the scandal that is going to get even bigger once the painting is unveiled.

Ms. MacLean has tried to do something interesting with her protagonists, which is why the book gets 3 stars and not less. We’re told that Lily is the most beautiful woman on the planet, but it’s clear that her beauty has not brought her a happy life. Lily was orphaned young, passed from pillar to post and never really cared for with the result that she has spent most of her life being ignored, in spite of her exceptionally good looks. I found it a little difficult to accept that she has never, ever had a friend, but given the fact that young women had such limited choices and that Lily was so overlooked, it’s just about within the realms of possibility that she really had spent her life alone.

Alec is six and a half feet of big, brawny Scotsman whose mother pretty much rejected him for being too big and too coarse before she died when he was a child. Large hints are dropped throughout the story that the women who find him attractive want him only for one thing – he’s good for a night of raw, lusty sex, but not good enough for anything long-term – which means he’s not good enough for Lovely Lily.

I didn’t connect with either of the principals or feel a connection between them, either. For the first forty percent of the story, Lily is standing up to Alec, defying and running away from him – until suddenly she’s all over him and they’re sucking face and fondling each other in a carriage. There’s no build up or sexual tension beforehand and their verbal exchanges are flat and devoid of any spark or chemistry.

And then there’s the fact that Lily was utterly in love with the bastard who deceived her, but ten days later is in love with Alec. Naturally, she didn’t really know what love was before. And Derek Hawkins –the cad – is such an over the top, one dimensional character that I found myself questioning Lily’s intelligence for falling for him. What we see of him is so ridiculous it’s difficult to understand how she was so taken in by him.

And – I can’t put this off any longer, but the amount of English-bashing in this book got on my nerves very quickly. Alec hates the English – his mother was English and didn’t like Scotland. She abandoned him. All the women who humiliated him were English. England is horrible, it has no redeeming features whatsoever and he hates it. I got the message early on; I didn’t need to be continually beaten over the head with it.

Ms. MacLean writes with her customary skill, and I am still intrigued by the parallels she is drawing in this series between the scandal sheets of old, and today’s celebrity culture; I liked meeting West and Georgiana again, and there’s a very much appreciated cameo from Cross. But otherwise, A Scot in the Dark was a big disappointment and I was so disconnected from it and the characters that I struggled to finish it.
...more

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Jan 24, 2022 Warda rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

The first half was close to perfection.

The second half and the third act conflict was beyond repetitive and long-winded. They were more or less having the same conversation for about 50-70 pages.

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Oct 21, 2016 Shawna rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: author-sarah-maclean, hh-resist-cause-im-no-good-for-you, story-repetitive-too-much-filler, historical-romance, heroine-beautiful-bombshell, hero-black-sheep, angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama, highlanders-hunks-in-kilts-scots, hh-big-constant-misunderstandings, heroine-bad-reputation-fallen

2.5 stars - Historical Romance

My complete and utter frustration with both the heroine and hero and all their unnecessary drama and self-denial ruined this for me.

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May 31, 2016 Naoms rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, disappointing, nook, dukes-earls-viscounts, do-not-recommend, netgalley-edelweis, arc, review-copy, read-in-2016, new-nook

Originally Posted: Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek

This book is a broken promise between the author and me. The prologue and opening chapters of this book were so good. I was charmed and enraged and determined to follow these two characters to the ends of the world and hopefully a happily ever after. Somehow, I went from there to simply skimming. Bored. I was bored.

The painting is at the heart of the drama. It’s Lily’s ruin and Alec’s failing and these freaking people spend most of the bo

Originally Posted: Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek

This book is a broken promise between the author and me. The prologue and opening chapters of this book were so good. I was charmed and enraged and determined to follow these two characters to the ends of the world and hopefully a happily ever after. Somehow, I went from there to simply skimming. Bored. I was bored.

The painting is at the heart of the drama. It’s Lily’s ruin and Alec’s failing and these freaking people spend most of the book moaning and suffering from self doubt instead of coming up with a plan to get and destroy the painting.

I just don’t get it. They have a novel sized pity party and I’m like “people we have a mission.” At least we should! You know get back the freaking painting.

I have read so many historical romance novels that I know that simply marrying Lily off would not redeem her reputation! It’s an asinine plan beneath Sarah MacLean.

The reason that marrying works in other scandals is that if you’re caught in a compromising position and you’re engaged people can just say “oh, they couldn’t wait to be together” or you marry to save the child that may come of it from being a bastard. A naked painting cannot be saved by marrying not when all of the world can see her naked!!!!! Especially if she is not married to the artist.

I just couldn’t comprehend their mental state in this book. Lily is so busy trying to show Alec her independence and Alec is so worried about not deserving her that I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. These character are not unique, but they’re in a unique situation and they don’t act according to the situation. They act according to type which was very disappointing.

The way the book ends is supposed to be some kind of act of rebellion or of a woman who would not be shamed or some other nonsense. But it’s stupid. No one in their right mind would ever do it and I rolled my eyes and literally cursed because I felt like I wasted my time on this book and this story and these characters.

The reason this is a 2 star review and not 1 star is because the author did a wonderful job of explaining and showing us loneliness. I got it. I understood why Lily made the mistakes she made, why Alec is off in Scotland though most of his titles and lands are English. Unfortunately all of that was before the book started. Still, I got it and that part was so well written.

I usually love this author but this series is not for me. ...more

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Jul 13, 2016 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lol, historical

4.5 Scottish Knees Stars!!!!!!

This book basically consisted of gleeful giggles while slapping my kindle on my knees.

And dreaming about Scottish knees. And drooling over Scottish knees. Why oh why do men wear pants when they could be wearing kilts?! I mean, it’s a reasonable request….from most women (and some men). The Scots know what they’re doing to us, right?! Killing us with their sexy knees!

When all else fails, a real man says… | 12 Reasons Women Love Men in Kilts:

When all else fails, a real man says… | 12 Reasons Women Love Men in Kilts:

Her gaze traveled to the edge of the fabric, drinking in the curves and dips of his knees. She swa ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, historical-romance, own-have-read, author-sarah-maclean, format-ebook-for-edelweiss, avon-addict-reads, 2016-reads, series-scandal-scoundrel

Englishwomen were supposed to be meek and biddable.

No one had told Lillian Hargrove such a thing, apparently.

4.5 stars

I so adore Sarah MacLean's storytelling! A Scot in the Dark has all the humor, all the romance, and all the passion I crave, and know I'll get, when reading one of her books. In all of her stories, especially this series, Ms. MacLean puts a historic twist on modern scandals, but her twists seem so much more delectable and entertaining because of 'proper society's' ridiculous rea ...more

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Mar 27, 2017 Holly rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, historical-romance, 2017-read, kilts

This book is absolutely ridiculous. Lily and Alec spend basically the entire time denying their feelings for the other person, then denying their own worthiness for marrying the other person. They even have sex and STILL they persist with this stupidity. I don't mind a little bit of that overused trope, but when it takes over the whole book it's too much and quite frankly it's lazy writing.

It also took way too long for Lily to come up with the bright idea of trying to find the nude painting of h ...more

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Jul 26, 2016 Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hot-and-bothered, broody-heroes, i-hate-to-love-you, historical, angst-in-my-pants

A woman on the verge of scandal, and a duke shunned by society.

As much as I did like A Scot In The Dark I feel like my dislikes are going to overwhelm what I liked about it, I'll try to keep this review balanced. While I enjoy angst as much as anyone else, I have a certain level of dislike for angst that comes with self loathing... From both characters. Self loathing can turn what was was a deliciously torturous romance filled with unfulfilled longing to a frustrating story about two characters ...more

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Oct 06, 2016 Alyssa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-releases

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean
Book Two of the Scandal & Scoundrel series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 30, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lonesome Lily Turned Scandalous Siren

Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises a ...more

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May 17, 2018 Stacey is Sassy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cats-and-dogs, tear-jerker, douchewaffles-galore, angry-fix, cranky-hero, historical-series, steamy, the-good-guy-hero, if-this-guy-was-real, sweet

I'll take this Scot in the Dark...or the light...

I love my historical romance reads, but sometimes, I just want to jump into my book and punch a few aristocrats in the nose. The gentlemen thrive on the power they wield by making women dependant on their good nature. Then, we have ladies who use their wiles to manipulate, intimidate and discombobulate her opponents to achieve her place in society. A title holds power, money helps you stand out in a crowd and if your witty barbs hit before the ret ...more

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Mar 22, 2016 Daniella marked it as to-read · review of another edition

After the mess that was The Rogue Not Taken, I guess people can understand why I'm not too excited about this.

But hey, it's a new book, and it has a fookin' Scottish hero. Let's see if there's a way to resurrect this series.
...more

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May 26, 2020 Somia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: highlander-hotness, historical-romance

An enjoyable enough one time read that had the potential to be super tantalising and compelling, but there was just something missing, that being said it did do wonders when it came to helping me escape from my reality of never ending assignment marking!

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Aug 24, 2016 Christie«SHBBblogger» rated it liked it

Shelves: advanced-copy, mr-money-bags, snarky-heroine, part-of-a-series, historical-romance

Title: A Scot in the Dark
Series: Scandal & Scoundrel #2
Author: Sarah MacLean
Release date: August 30, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEA(view spoiler)

Historical romance fans, I have a confession: this is my first book by Sarah MacLean. I know, I know. Shocking! I've really moved away from the genre for the most part, but I was looking for an author that I could explore and get me more integrated into reading it more. My first impression was a good one. While I didn't love this particular ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016, historical, highlanders-are-hot-in-kilts

3.5 stars
I didn't like this as much as the previous book and I'd thought I'd love this one. I think it was the nonstop way the Duke, Alec, kept leaving Lily and telling her no to her feelings. He was one big tease.

Lily is the ward of the Duke of Warnick and she's caused a scandal by being the gf of a douchey artist guy who is about to show a nude painting of her to the world. Problem is the douchey artist has reneged on his promise of marriage and she never gave permission for her nude portrait 3.5 stars
I didn't like this as much as the previous book and I'd thought I'd love this one. I think it was the nonstop way the Duke, Alec, kept leaving Lily and telling her no to her feelings. He was one big tease.

Lily is the ward of the Duke of Warnick and she's caused a scandal by being the gf of a douchey artist guy who is about to show a nude painting of her to the world. Problem is the douchey artist has reneged on his promise of marriage and she never gave permission for her nude portrait to be exhibited. It doesn't help that Lily is common born with no family or title to protect her.

Enter Alec, the Duke of Warnick, who's just learned he has a ward, Lily, and needs to save her from scandal and ruin. His solution is to marry her off. She's not feeling that plan having just been betrayed by her lover and former fiancé. But Alec insists and sets about forcing her to go on dates and out to balls, etc. Just what a girl living in shame that everyone is gossiping about wants to do, be in public with people talking about her behind her back. I found Alec to be nice, but annoying in how he kept saving Lily from different events, saying super nice and sweet things and then abruptly leaving her. He's all you're the greatest, blah blah blah, you're the hottest let's make out, blah blah blah, but you're not for me, I'm outta here. It's like Prince Charming telling Cinderella he can't marry her after going through the search to find her with her missing glass slipper. It's retarded how often Alec does this to her. He's a giant tease with his affections and keeps pushing her to marry someone else. Yeah, it's all because he feels unworthy, but it's shitty how he engages with Lily and then leaves her. And this is a girl who's an orphan and has been neglected and ignored for a decade. Not cool, not cool at all.

Lillian, hmm, I liked her verbal sparring with Alec, and her eagerness to be loved, but I didn't like her choice at the end. The ending choice she made was dumb, sure, it was all I'm an independent woman, blah blah blah, but the first solution would've been funnier and more revenge exacting. There was no good revenge on Hawkins and that makes me unhappy. I also wish she'd hit Alec over the head a few times for being an ass who kept leaving her. His "it's not you, it's me" speech got old. He also said some things that were basically slut shaming which is not cool, not cool at all. I understood why Lily was so desperate to be loved, or even simply have a friend and it shows in her behavior with Alec. It was quite sad really how she was with him because she's so neglected by everyone. I do still wish she'd kicked him a few times.

Liked this one, but I got tired of Lily having to chase Alec for his affection. Too much back and forth and no good revenge in the end. ...more

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Aug 30, 2016 Natalie rated it it was ok

Shelves: redheads-for-sam, alpha-males, 2016, canoodling-in-carriages, victorian-era, heroes-i-want-to-slap, i-didn-t-buy-the-romance, disappointments

2.5 stars

This book had all the ingredients that should spell a good romance, but unfortunately it was executed poorly. I love the concept of this series by taking modern day scandals and adapting them for the Victorian era, and I have generally loved Sarah Maclean's series concepts and characters a lot. But unfortunately I've really found the two books in this series lacking.

The positives:
It was a fun book. It had really fun supporting characters like the Talbot sisters, I liked seeing West and ...more

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Dec 12, 2015 Sissy's Romance Book Review rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hero-slow-to-come-around, series, 5-star, overdrive-library

'A Scot in the Dark' is book two in the "Scandal & Scoundrel" series by Sarah MacLean. This is the story of Miss Lillian Hargrove and Alec The Duke of Warnick.
Lillian has been alone most of her life and has been handed down by each Duke of Warnick that took over her Guardianship. So when a flirty man takes interest in her she falls for what he is saying and ends up letting him make a nude portrait of her. Which after he does it he pretty much done with her and plans to use it to make his work k ...more

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Nov 16, 2015 ☕️Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A Café au Drambuie review of A Scot in the Dark
A Café au Drambuie is a Scottish coffee. To prepare you will need a heated wine glass. Add 3 dessertspoons of Drambuie Whiskey and stir in one level dessertspoon of light brown sugar. Add fresh strong coffee leaving about an inch of glass exposed below the rim. Stir until sugar dissolves. Next place teaspoon upside down over glass and slowly pour double cream over spoon so that it floats on the surface. Enjoy! Today I am breaking my review down into A Café au Drambuie review of A Scot in the Dark
A Café au Drambuie is a Scottish coffee. To prepare you will need a heated wine glass. Add 3 dessertspoons of Drambuie Whiskey and stir in one level dessertspoon of light brown sugar. Add fresh strong coffee leaving about an inch of glass exposed below the rim. Stir until sugar dissolves. Next place teaspoon upside down over glass and slowly pour double cream over spoon so that it floats on the surface. Enjoy! Today I am breaking my review down into these ingredients. Like the beverage MacLean has mixed the perfect blend.

Drambuie Whiskey: A scandal surrounding a scandalous portrait involving one Miss Lillian Hargrove has the Duke of Warnick, a Scot unwilling traveling to London to set things right. Ooo MacLean creates the most colorful characters and from the very first pages, I was quite smitten with both. The tale that unfolds brings laughter, banter, snark, and an attraction that befuddles them both. It was exquisite.
Light Brown Sugar: The thread regarding the painting and the pompous painter added some suspense and the twist MacLean delivered made me grin. I loved the added notes from the author sharing what inspired this story.
Strong Coffee: Warnick seeks to marry of Lily and resolve himself of this pesky problem only Lily has other ideas. As these two butted heads, and began to tango, I found myself laughing aloud. Even Warnick’s dogs seem to be betraying him. While I never had any doubt how this tale would play out, MacLean added twists, discoveries, and games to keep me flipping the pages. Friends of the Duke and characters from previous books offer advice and befriend Lily. Of course they also had great fun watching these two fall.
Double cream: A Scot in the Dark had all the elements I love in a romance. First, the characters were flawed, strong, and clever .As MacLean revealed their flaws, I fell completely. The romance had a slow build as watched them struggle with passionate thoughts. Stolen moments led to heated moments that melted my kindle. I loved that Lily knew what she wanted and seeing our Scot fall was sinful.

Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer ...more

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Feb 12, 2022 Laura Tenfingers rated it did not like it

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

Really disappointing. No vicarious fun to be had. Excessively damaged main characters. She has no guts and wants to run away. He has no guts and goes on about "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy" spreading misery with his self-loathing. Nah, nothing here for me. ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Bj rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, arc, 4-stars, historical-romance, 2016

*I gave this audiobook a B- for both the narration and story at AudioGals*

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Historical romance fans who enjoy the “guardian falls in love with his ward” stories, as well as a good dose of tongue in cheek humor based on improbable facts and play on words, will be the most intrigued by A Scot in the Dark. That said, this story provides an interesting twist to this common trope by presenting us with a ward who is more a woman (in her twenties) than a girl.

As for the narration, ...more

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Mar 09, 2016 Gracey marked it as to-read · review of another edition

So are we really doing this, Ms. Maclean? Are we really going to tackle about a brooding, sexy, wicked Scot falling in love? Are we really going to take that wonderful character of the first book and give him his own wonderful story to tell?

If you insist, I'll be here waiting - you know, beyond excited. ...more

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Feb 07, 2021 Crystal Cook rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2021

That ending was perfection. And Sarah MacLean did a Scot SO GOOD!

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Sep 23, 2015 Lenora Bell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sarah MacLean does it again! How does she do it? Seriously, I'm a writer and I want to know the secret. It's the sweeping emotions. The larger-than-life hero. The downtrodden heroine who I care about so deeply. I can't say more than that because the book isn't out yet...but this one is truly spectacular. The biggest, boldest, most passionate Sarah MacLean yet. Can't recommend it enough. ...more

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Nov 12, 2021 Pinky rated it it was ok

Shelves: age-gap, proximity, roommates, historical, unwanted-or-lonely-mcs

Trigger Warnings: (view spoiler)

I had a feeling I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as The Rogue Not Taken, so I’m not surprised that I ...more

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Feb 18, 2016 Annie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ebooks, review-requests, genre-historical-romance, read-in-2016, author-sarah-maclean, series-scandal-scoundrel

In the second book of the Scandal & Scoundrel series, Sarah MacLean takes a ruined lady and pairs her up with probably the most unlikely man to restore her reputation. After being fooled by a scumbag artist and her nude portraits are exposed to the public, Miss Lillian Hargrove doesn’t know what she is going to do. Her life is essentially ruined and her reputation is in tatters. She becomes so desperate that she seeks out the help of the Duke of Warnick, a Scotsman who is more than a little rough around the edges.

I liked Lillian. I think her situation is very sad and right from the beginning of the book I felt bad for her. She is really thrown under the bus and I can understand her desperation. But there are a few contradictions about her character in this book that makes things confusing. For example, Lillian is supposed to be so beautiful that she is a model for an artist and yet she has been ignored for most of her life. Huh? How does that work? Unless her beauty is unusual or strange, in which case that’s fine. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all, but we also don’t a lot of the reasons why certain things happen in this book. We’re just supposed to accept it and I think readers deserve a better explanation.

In addition to that, I was less than impressed by the hero of this book. He’s a Scotsman so I thought I was going to fall in love with him but I just never found myself falling in love with him. I don’t know why or what he did to turn me off but the chemistry just wasn’t there for me.

The plot is quite predictable and coming from Sarah MacLean, I was really expecting something more. With all of her books lately, I find that I’m always eager to start but am getting more and more unimpressed by the characterization and storylines. The author tries for humor but it never quite makes me smile. Instead I find myself flipping through the pages, hoping to find a scene that interests me.

So while this book does have some flaws with character execution and does have a predictable storyline, I still do think there is hope for the next book in the series. At least that’s what I keep telling myself because every time there’s a new Sarah MacLean book, I’m always picking it up. I’m just hoping it’s better than this one.

Read my alternate review atFresh Fiction ...more

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Sep 20, 2016 Book Riot Community added it

Sarah MacLean did not disappoint in this second Scandal and Scoundrels book. Our heroine is a thoroughly ruined young woman, and our hero the duke who discovers she has been his ward for five years. When he decides to leave his beloved Scotland and take the dreaded journey to London to save her from herself, he discovers a different woman than he expected. This novel is all kinds of wonderful; not only is this one of the few historical romances I’ve read in which neither party is a virgin and ne ...more

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Sep 09, 2020 ♥Sharon♥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible

I enjoyed listening to this one. I mean who doesn’t love a Scotsman in a kilt? 🥰 And there was a sweet epilogue too. ❤️

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Historical Romanc...: BOTM June 16 to 30, 2017 - A Scot in the Dark (Guardian/Ward Romance)	27	43	Jun 27, 2017 09:45AM
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About Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean

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New York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels that have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place at the nexus of gender and cultural studies. A romance columnist and co-host of the weekly romance novel podcast, Fated Mates, her work in support of ...more

Other books in the series

Scandal & Scoundrel (3 books)

Books by Sarah MacLean

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers, #1)

A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels, #1)

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels, #2)

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love By Numbers, #3)

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers, #2)

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Articles featuring this book

Sarah MacLean on the Bareknuckle Bastards' 'Daring' Conclusion

Fans of Sarah MacLean know her as a writer of historical romances, a passionate defender of the romance genre, and a creator of some truly...

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Quotes from A Scot in the Dark

“She continued, 'The world harbors impressive hatred for women who make the mistakes I did. Beauty, used for anything but the holiest of acts is a sin.” — 5 likes

“You do not let them win. Not ever. There is nothing in the world they like more than tearing a woman down for having too much courage. And there is nothing in the world that makes them angrier than not being able to break her.” — 3 likes

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