All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne
Devil You Know #2
Historical Romance
September 29, 2020, by St. Martin’s Press
ARC

Favorite Quote:

Gratitude suffused her as she observed her friends. The fiercest and most fantastic relationships she’d cultivated over the years. They were her family, and she did, indeed, love them dearly.

Kerrigan Byrne is an author who always seems to write stories that satisfy my reading wants and needs. I really, really enjoyed the first book in this series and couldn’t wait to get to know more about the other two members of the Red Rogues.

This book features Cecilia Teague. As with the heroine in the previous installment, her childhood has some severe trauma, but she’s overcome her fears and has come into her own. She’s beautiful, brilliant, voluptuous, loyal, and a bright, positive thinker. She’s also not afraid to revel in the things that she loves. I really liked her.

Her hero is Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Chief Justice of the High Court, brother in law to her fellow Red Rogue and best friend, and a man prone to denying himself anything that might cause him to step off the path to righteousness. He’s angry, rude, ruthless, and seems to be the kind of guy who would break the law he has sworn to protect in order to get his guy (or woman in this instance.) It took me a while to get on board with him as the hero.

Together they are interesting. The soft, sunny heroine with a spine of steel who inherits a gambling establishment from a previously unknown relation and the hard, harsh hero who wants to bring justice to the world by any means necessary. I think they worked in the end, but my heart hurt for Cecilia quite a few times throughout their courtship.

My favorite thing about this series is the relationships between these three women who helped each other survive terrible childhoods and have a beautiful ride or die friendship. I love well-written, supportive women friendships and this is one of the best.

Honestly… I love this author’s voice and pretty much read this book straight through. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending and the surprise identity of the villain. I think I stated before that I hate the use of the cliche queer evil villain in historical romance. Because I do, very much. So I was disappointed when the bad guy was revealed and I think that brought my rating down.

Overall I did enjoy this newest installment in the series, but I had issues. I am very much looking forward to the last book and getting to know Francesca better.

Final grade- B-/C+

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