Forced to Marry the Highland Duke by Daisy Rosewood

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

This is a delightfully engaging tale filled with all the ingredients of a proper Regency romp, though the 'ton' would surely fan themselves standard-issue at the scandal of it all.

I found myself cheering wholeheartedly for Beatrice from the outset. After all, every woman deserves the autonomy to choose her own husband—a notion that predictably sent her aunt and cousin-by-marriage into a absolute tailspin. When Beatrice settles on the very gentleman caught with her at a ball, ruining her reputation in one fell swoop, he naturally steps up. Honor demands he make things right, but rather than rushing for a special license, Alexander takes the delightfully patient route: courting his betrothed over the three weeks while the banns are read, falling head over heels for her in the process.

Then comes the drama. The spiteful duo against the union plot to kidnap Beatrice on her wedding day, though Julian harbors a far more sinister scheme. What follows is a thrilling race against time, a brilliant adventure that keeps you hooked on the what, where, and why.

Where the story stumbles slightly, however, is Beatrice’s frustrating streak of indecision. She wanders back and forth emotionally, requiring Alexander to endlessly offer reassurance. It becomes downright taxing to watch her constantly question his character based on whatever fresh lie Julian has whispered in her ear. After the first deception, one would think she’d learn to tune Julian out entirely. More to the point: why on earth would you trust the word of a man you refused to marry because you didn't trust him? It's a glaring flaw in her logic, and I only wish Alexander had called her out on it instead of playing the saintly redeemer every single time.