A Scot in the Dark

A Scot in the Dark (2016) Sarah MacLean

Set in London in 1834.

Alec Stuart has become the Duke of Warnick, even though he wants nothing to do with the Dukedom–or England.

Seventeen dukes, if he were honest, Bernard supposed— all dead. All within the span of a fortnight.

It was a turn of events— seventeen turns of events— unheard of in British history. But Bernard was nothing if not dedicated, even more so when it fell to him to play protector to such an old and venerable title, to its vast lands (made vaster by the rapid, successive death of seventeen men, several of whom died without issue), and large fortunes (made larger by the same).

So he ignores the dukedom as best he can, until he receives a missive that part of what he inherited was a ward–and that ward has gotten herself into a terrible scandal.

Lillian Hargrove is the ward of the Duke of Warnick, even though he doesn’t seem to know of her existence. So she is quite shocked when the Duke appears on her (actually his) doorstep to save her from her scandal, she isn’t interested in being redeemed, she just wants to escape London and the mess she has gotten herself into.

Her father had died and left her in the care of the duke, and all had been well for several years, until the duke had died. And sixteen more, as well. And then this man— this legendary Scot who had eschewed all things English and never even turned up in Parliament to receive his letters of patent— had been in charge.

And Lily had been forgotten.

No dowry. No season. No friends.

I thought it was a fascinating premise–that a young woman could be forgotten in such a manner, and unable to do anything about it, because women were property.

It was, of course, a good deal of ridiculous, but that’s okay, because it’s the kind of ridiculous that I expect from Sarah MacLean–and generally enjoy.

I mean, the dog house and all the ridiculousness therein was utterly delightful.

That said, this was not my favorite Sarah MacLean book. I didn’t care for Alec’s willful misunderstanding of Lily’s feelings for him, and acceptance of his past. I get that he’s pretty screwed up about his past, but I don’t see his fleeing (read: abandoning) her as okay. Especially since part of his past burden was being abandoned by his mother.

That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the book, because I did. There were lots of bits I quite liked.

“We all have misfortune. If we cannot laugh at it, what is there?”

I just got annoyed with the inability for the two to work out their issues until the VERY LAST SECOND. Made me glad I borrowed the book rather than buying it.
Rating: 6/10

Publisher: Avon

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