Caught by the Scot

Caught by the Scot (Made to Marry #1)- Karen Hawkins
Pocket Books/ Simon and Schuster
Release Date: September 26, 2017

Rating (out of 5):
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins is back with a brand-new, sizzling series featuring three unforgettable, untamed brothers who must marry or risk losing their inheritance.

Dashing Scottish privateer Conner Douglas must marry a respectable, well-born woman—and soon, if he wants to secure his rightful inheritance. Determined to still explore the high seas as well as his mistresses’ beds, he aims to find a pliable wife who’ll turn a blind eye to his antics. And he knows just the woman—childhood friend and mousy spinster Miss Theodora Cumberbatch-Snowe. 

Unbeknownst to Conner, meek and plain Theodora has been hopelessly in love with him for years. But unwilling to wait forever for what will never happen, Theodora plans to wed a kind—if unexciting—local landowner, leaving behind the wild Highlander of her dreams.

Yet Conner refuses to let his perfect wife get away. He chases her to Gretna Green and is shocked to discover the real Theodora is an ardent and wildly sensual woman. Soon he realizes his passion to win her has nothing to do with securing his inheritance and everything to do with earning the love of the unforgettable woman who has vowed to leave him in her past forever. But have his wandering ways chased the woman he loves away for good? Or can Conner convince Theodora to give him one last chance before she marries the wrong man?

________________________________________________

When Connor Douglas and his brothers are given an ultimatum: marry a respectable woman (in the next four months!) or lose their inheritance, Connor looks for a way to have his cake and eat it too.  How does a man remain a privateer, travel around the world, keep mistresses, enjoy life, AND marry the right woman to keep his inheritance? Clearly by marrying a plain, manageable, undemanding woman. He instantly thinks of his best friend's sister Theodora, who is 'on the shelf' and therefore will be thrilled to get a proposal from him.  By the time he gets to Thea to inform her of her good fortune, she's eloped with another man.  Now Connor needs to track the couple down, prevent them from marrying, and convince Thea to marry him instead.  But will Thea teach Connor that love is necessary, or will they become two ships passing in the night?

Karen Hawkins (The Oxenburg Princes series) introduces readers to a new series and a new set of rakish Highlanders in Caught by the Scot, the first in her Made to Marry series.  Connor and his two brothers have spent their adult lives sailing the high seas, living adventures and raising scandals wherever they go.  Coming home at the death of their sister Anna, the brothers learn that Anna has tied their inheritance with a clause: marry respectable women. Her husband gives them four months to do it, or lose their inheritance to the clan's enemies.  While they'd be fine if the money went to charity, they aren't about to let the Gordons get their hands on the money!  Connor sets himself up from the beginning as an arrogant jerk who needs taking down a few pegs.  Given 4 months to marry he choses his best friend's sister, then waits more than two months to go find her and tell her he's decided they'll get married.  Being currently unwed and no longer under 20, Thea will of course be thrilled. He'll get his inheritance, then go on with life as usual.  

Thea has been in love with Connor forever.  He's never seen her as anything other than his brother's kid sister.  She finally decides its time to move on with her life, maybe even have a little adventure and romance.  So when the local squire proposes to her and suggests eloping because it will be romantic she says yes.  But the more time she and Lance spend together, the more Thea starts to wonder if she's making a huge mistake.  Connor showing up and asking her to marry him doesn't help matters!  What I loved about Thea is that she was determined to be her own person, and she recognized that she deserved a lot more than than Connor's selfish proposal.  Even though she'd loved Connor forever, Thea didn't instantly say yes.  She didn't assume she'd change him after they got married.  She recognized that they both wanted very different things out of life and that she didn't want- or deserve- less than happiness. How Connor thought this strong, independent, and fiery woman would be a meek and manageable wife is beyond me.

Connor and Thea both grew a lot over the course of their adventure, and I loved how Hawkins reminds us that growth (and occasionally compromise) are as important to a happily ever after as love and passion.   I liked how, until the very end, you aren't quite sure how Hawkins will get these two stubborn people to work things out.  Connor and Thea learn that love doesn't mean changing someone,  but sometimes it means they change how they see themselves.  And in the end, I think that was what Anna wanted for her brothers when she set the conditions of her will.

Caught by the Scot is a fast-paced, well-written and enjoyable start to a new series. A great read for Karen Hawkins fans and newcomers alike!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review