All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

All Scot and Bothered is the second book in the stunning Devil You Know series by USA Today bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne!

They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl—dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees...

He is first and foremost—at everything. A man who’s made his own way through ruthless cunning and sheer force of will. A strong and imposing Scot who can turn on the charm but does not suffer fools. His title: Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. His name: Cassius Gerard Ramsay. His mission: To investigate the goings-on at London's most notorious gaming hell, owned and operated by one of the most intriguing and desirable women he’s ever met.

IN THIS GAME OF LOVE, THE RULES DO NOT APPLY

Cecelia Teague was an orphan facing a rather dire future—until a secret benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past swept into her life. Sent to a prestigious boarding school and later to university, Cecelia believed high society was at her fingertips...Then, from out of nowhere, she became the inheritor of a gambling establishment. Now Cecelia must live two lives: one as a proper lady who finds herself undeniably drawn to Lord Ramsay and the other as a savvy gaming hell owner trying to save her business from the very same man. He has no idea she is both women...and Cecelia would like to keep it that way. But what happens when consuming passion and escalating danger threaten to reveal the truth?

"With the Devil You Know series, Byrne once again delivers the beautifully nuanced characters and seductive storytelling her readers have come to expect."—Booklist

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REVIEW

Kerrigan Byrne's All Scot and Bothered (The Devil You Know 2) is a lovely historical romance.  Cecelia Teague, the second book of a trio of friends who call themselves the Red Rogues, finds herself wrapped up in a possible scandal upon the death of her aunt.  To make things worse, she finds herself drawn to Cassius Gerard Ramsy is spearheading the investigation into her new inheritance.

Cecelia and Ramsy are a wonderful couple.  Their insecurities equally get in their way at times, but their friendship and passion for each other help to balance that out.  Any story has a certain amount of conflict for the couple, but it did not get drawn out to the point that I was questioning the characters' intelligence.  

I love Ramsy's sense of duty.  He seems a bit stuffy at first, but it quickly fades away.  Cecelia was a woman with her own mind, which is refreshing, and I honestly appreciated she was voluptuous.  

There was a great mystery also present in All Scot and Bothered, one that I did not fully suss out before the reveal.  I appreciate when there is something else going on in a romance other than an internal struggle with the characters.

I would highly recommend All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne for any historical romance fan.  I cannot wait for the next adventure of the Red Rogues.

Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A DARK PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Fifty houses have been burned to the ground in a fisherman’s village in France. Who would do such a thing? Why target the quiet little village? The police say it’s arson, but their forensic scientists can’t find the cause. If Clelia isn’t the guilty party, then why did the fires start at the same time as her sleepwalking? Why is she dreaming about Joss, her secret childhood crush who abandoned their village nine years earlier? She doesn’t know why Joss is coming for her in her nightmare. All she knows is that she has to run. As fast as she can.

(Each book in the 7 Forbidden Arts series reads as a standalone, but there’s also a series arc.)

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REVIEW

Paranormal romances are what I most enjoy reading so, discovering one of my favorite authors had a series in this genre was good news indeed.  Simply put, I loved Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls and cannot wait to continue with more from the Forbidden Arts books.

As always, Charmaine Pauls knows how to write a fantastic romance.  Joss has just come back to the small community where he and Clelia grew up.  Clelia always carried a torch for Joss and, their reunion proves to the catalyst that changes their lives forever.

Joss has deep emotional scars from childhood.  As much as his adult life has come together, he cannot shake it.  Attempting to latch onto Clelia and do right by her is his goal, but does not always go as planned. His journey is a complicated and heartfelt one.  I love the hero in Charmaine Pauls books.  They tend to be on the aggressive, possessive side and closed off emotionally, but they always find a way to openly love their heroine by the end of the story.  I think Joss is one of my favorites so far. 

Clelia has to come to terms with the fantasy of Joss from her teen years. Her long time unrequited love is very different from the actuality of their current adult situation.  To top it off, she is dealing with a pending threat to her life and a power she does not understand.  

The chemistry between the couple is off the charts.  They are sexy and passionate, and you cannot help but root for their happy ending.  Pyromancist is well worth a read.