Phew! After the lackluster humdrum that was book 2, I'm so happy to report that Dunmore is back in top form with Portrait of a Scotsman.

Hattie Greenfield comes from old-money and has been coddled all her life. What she really wants is a white knight to woo her and sweep her off her feet. But when she's caught canoodling with self-made man Lucian Blackstone, she has no choice but to marry him to avoid scandal and ruin. But she's a pampered princess. Surely she can't be expected to love such a lowly plebeian, wealthy though he may be, can she?

If you detected a hint of sarcasm there, it was intentional. Hattie is such a spoiled brat, she almost spoiled the book for me. But before I move onto my rant, let's talk about the good stuff first.

The writing is sharp and riveting. Whatever malaise affected book 2, with its meandering pace and lack of sizzle, is all fixed here. The story is complex and interesting, filled with lots of historical details that lend so much authenticity to the whole thing. The witty banter and setting of Scotland only adds to the atmosphere. And the all important sexual tension that is crucial to a romance is present by the boatload. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

If you're familiar with this series, you know it focuses a lot on suffrage and women's rights. In this book, I was heartened to see that it expanded to include workers' rights. The discussions in here about paying a living wage and making sure workers are safe in their jobs feel almost prescient to today, when we are having those exact same conversations about frontline and essential workers amid the pandemic.

Blackstone's character really struck a chord with me. Through hard work and ingenuity, he turned poverty and hopelessness into opportunity and wealth. His resilience is inspiring, especially in the face of so much tragedy. These types of characters, the ones who make something out of nothing, always appeal to me. On top of that, he's kind and considerate towards his wife, trying so hard to become the person she wants him to be. It's pretty rare for me in a romance to connect with the male lead more than the female one, but it definitely happened here.

My only issue with the book is Hattie. Apparently, privilege was alive and well in the 1880s. Through most of the book, she is so prissy and entitled, constantly sticking up her nose at her husband and lecturing him on right and wrong. She demands that he change to suit her, without trying to understand his side or meeting him halfway. And just when I thought she had matured and the story had reached its natural conclusion, there was one more issue with her that dragged out the story and jerked poor Blackstone around some more. And I didn't even understand what the problem was.

Thankfully, though I don't always succeed in separating my personal enjoyment of a story from my enjoyment of its characters, I was able to do it here. So even though I didn't love Hattie (she and I would not get along, that's for sure), I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dunmore puts so much research and depth into her historical romances that they feel authentic, and her focus on substantial issues makes her books timely and relevant, even for today.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

 

I've been dying to get my hands on this, Dunmore's sophomore book, ever since I read her first book earlier this year. I loved that one so much that I couldn't put it down, even while walking, which led to a small accident and a permanent scar. Nope, I'm not kidding. So it is with great anticipation and excitement that I finally get my hands on this one.

But honestly, A Rogue of One's Own just didn't quite capture the magic of the first one. On the surface, it's got everything I enjoy: a strong female character fighting the good fight (suffrage), a guy who loves her for her fierceness and her brains, and lots of attraction disguised as mutual dislike. And sure, I definitely enjoyed all those, but something felt missing.

For one, the book is too long for the story. The pacing is leisurely bordering on indulgent, and the plot advances at a snail's pace. Our couple doesn't even exchange their first smooch until past the halfway mark (more than 200 pages in). There were too many mostly irrelevant side plots, making the whole thing more convoluted and confusing than necessary.

The story also lacks that all-important sexual tension that's vital for a romance. I remember the sizzle of the first book, and I kept waiting for it with this one. But the scenes where our couple interacted with each other felt more like they truly disliked each other, with none of the attraction. It's a headscratcher, for sure.

And when we get to the crucial physical moments, the author seemingly becomes Victorianly shy and prudish, using mostly euphemisms to quickly gloss over the whole thing. It feels so different from the first book that it makes me wonder if Dunmore got feedback to tone down the steam in order to appeal to a larger audience.

For me, the best romances have the perfect amount of urgency and tension, and both were lacking in this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this, and without the first book for comparison, I would have found it more than adequate. But I do have my memory of the first book, and in comparison, this was utterly putdownable and a huge disappointment.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

I'm used to wonderful books leaving emotional marks on me, but Bringing Down the Duke is the first one to leave a physical mark on me too.

Annabelle is strong and capable, but destitute. When an opportunity to study at Oxford presents itself, she grabs it with both hands. It comes with a scholarship that stipulates her involvement with the women's suffrage movement. She needs to lobby men of influence to their cause, which is how she crosses paths with the Duke of Montgomery.

This story has everything I love in a romance. Annabelle is smart and competent, and she's not afraid to work hard to make the best of her meager situation. Montgomery is dashing and attentive. Though he comes across a bit cold in the beginning, Annabelle slowly thaws him out.

He finds her fascinating not just for her pretty face, but also for her sharp mind. Even though she's resilient and can take care of herself, he's still protective of her and comes to her aid. There is so much witty banter and meaningful dialogue everywhere. And the Victorian era reticence and propriety just adds to the whole charming, pining atmosphere.

I also really enjoyed the look into the women's suffrage movement. It was the perfect companion and back drop to this romance, as it mirrors Annabelle's own independence and her reluctance to hand over any powers to a man. To read about what strong women went through back in the day to ensure we have the rights we do today is both thought-provoking as well as uplifting.

So there I was, happily chomping down on this book, unable to put it down even for a second, when I had to go somewhere. Of course I got the bright idea that I would walk and read at the same time, proverbially killing two birds with one stone. I was just congratulating myself on how clever I was when I stumbled over an errant sign on the sidewalk and took a fall. I was mostly okay (other than my pride), but I did skin my knee pretty badly. When it healed, it left this long purple scar behind. Now every time I look at it, I think of the book I thoroughly loved.

I'm a romantic at heart, so I'm always searching for the perfect romance that speaks to me. And I found exactly what I was looking for in this book. Strong women and the dashing men who value them for their mind and their wit will do it for me every time. I pretty much swooned from beginning to end. After this, I'll read anything by Evie Dunmore. I just won't be walking at the same time—I've learned that lesson.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!