The Scottish Duke

By: Karen Ranney

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Karen Ranney returns with the first novel in a new series about dashing, charismatic dukes - and the women who tame them.

Though raised as a gentleman's daughter, Lorna Gordon is obliged to take a position as an upstairs maid at Blackhall Castle when her father dies. Alex Russell, the Duke of Kinross, is the most tempting man she's ever seen - and completely unattainable until, at a fancy dress ball, Lorna disguises herself as Marie Antoinette and pursues an illicit tryst, with scandalous consequences.

Months after his mysterious seductress disappears, Alex encounters her again. Far from the schemer the distrustful duke assumed her to be, Lorna is fiercely independent and resourceful. She's the one woman capable of piercing his defenses. But when danger threatens Lorna, Alex must prove himself not just the lover of her fantasies but the man who will fight to protect her.

©2016 Karen Ranney LLC (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Beautiful Lovely Romance

What did you love best about The Scottish Duke?

The way Alex and Lorna and there baby son Robert grew in love with each other. There developing affections.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved them all, but the Dukes Mother was one I like a lot!!

Which character – as performed by Tim Campbell – was your favorite?

The Duke Alex

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the Baby Robert was born

Any additional comments?

I read the Scottish Duke in one setting it was so good. Its a light hearted story that is very well written with wonderful characters especially the H/H.

Alexander/Alex Russell 9th Duke of Kinross, is hosting a dress up ball for The Scottish Society for Scientific Achievements. Alex is working on a project to fingerprint people. Something we take for granted in todays society. Alex is a widower and his wife died in childbirth. Alex was not sure if the child was his or not because his wife was unfaithful and slept with many other men during her marriage to Alex.

Lorna is a gentlemen's daughter but has fallen on hard times after her fathers death. He was a professor and studied the art of healing herbs and was trying to publish a book about herbs that heal or could poison. Lorna takes a job as a maid at Blackhall Castle the residence of the Duke of Kinross. Alex is very handsome and Lorna is attracted to him. She finds some dress gown in the attic and decided for once in her life she wants to go to the ball and she did. Despite her friend Nan another maid in the household telling her she could get caught.

Alex sees Lorna and is drawn to her they talk and walk but then start to kiss. Alex doesn't know Lorna is a virgin and he doesn't know she is one of his maids.

Months later Lorna is living in a rundown rooming house in the near by village and she is quite Pregnant.

This story is a true relationship building story were love comes from what seems to be nothing. Alex and Lorna and Alex's mother are beautifully written. The story is very interesting and touch's on the prejudices against women who get pregnant before marriage and the struggles they had to survive if they survived at all.

The Scottish Duke was a Enjoyable story that will make you feel good but does have a little suspense and a few villains in the story to make it interesting. But this story will grip you form beginning to end. I Highly Recommend The Scottish Duke!!

Beautiful

This book has the perfect narrator and the story is a refreshing balance of heart wrenching, sexy and heart warming chapters. I couldn’t stop listening to it wanting to find out what’s next.

Fun

I enjoyed listening to Tim Campbell narrate this audio book. I enjoyed "The Scottish Duke". It was slightly predictable but still fun. This is my 2nd time listening to it.😊

Excellent.

Such a good story!

Narrator: As always, a joy to listen to.

Heat Factor: Ouch!

Creditworthy: Yes.

Beautiful Story

I always like a pregnant heroine. She had spunk and pride. Our h was pregnant for most of the book and I enjoyed her becoming a mother. The fact that the grandmother supported the maid in her time of need was heartwarming. The Duke had to overcome trust issues to reach his HEA. Of course I like a villain who is defeated. Good story.

The Scottish Duke

Quite an enjoyable story. Narration was terrific! I loved Lorna. She was a strong character. Alex started out aloof but by the end he was a great hero!

Love this story!

A great love story if two people from two different classes of people. Lorna was a maid with a strong personality and stubborn. The Duke wasn’t willing to accept the love at first due to his first wife’s infidelity and death. He didn’t think he could love again.

Excellent!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Scottish Duke to be better than the print version?

I did not read the book, but with Tim Campbell's narration I would say the audio version would be better.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything, it held my attention from beginning to end.

What about Tim Campbell’s performance did you like?

Not only does he have a pleasing voice, but he has the ability to match just the right voice for each character bringing them to life in the minds-eye of the listener.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extremes but came close to tears a couple of times.

Any additional comments?

The story is not a new one; that of a besotted admirer hiding their identity at a Masquerade Ball to have the forbidden object of their affection. The difference is how the very talented Karen Ranney penned this story making it seem original. The way she told the story made it uniquely hers. It has all the elements that make a great book. I will certainly look for more books from this author.

Brief and predictable

While excellently performed, the plot lacked even a hint of substance or intringue. The characters were flat and underdeveloped. I'd like to see more time given in future, towards shaping personalities.

Very disappointed, given the promise in the summary.

Loved the prose, strong characters & plot.

I am so behind in reading/listening one of my favorite authors. This is a first story in the Duke Trilogy series and I loved it a lot. I really enjoy when the characters, plot and pace align so well that I just hate to leave the world in which my heroes and heroines reside. That's exactly what happened as I neared the end of this story.

As luck would have it, and because I am way behind in my reviewing duties, I happened to have all three books in this series on my Kindle and I will read and review them in order. I also got the first two in audio, but the third one hasn't shown up in audio yet, and if it does, I'll be ready for it.

Karen Ranney is an author I respect greatly (although there are a couple of books she should not have written at all) and out of all the books I've read, 95% of them I loved to no end. The remaining 5% I'll tell you about some other time ;)

Besides the wonderful, well written and rounded main characters, I enjoyed the prose as well as the undeniable chemistry between the two.

***


"She loved a storm. She loved being out in it, regardless of the danger. She would sometimes tilt her head back to feel the rain baptizing her face. In those moments, she was as elemental as the first woman. Yet she'd never felt like she did right now."

*** *** ***

"Need could be regulated. Cravings could be mastered. Except this one.

He craved seeing Lorna like he sometimes wanted a few of cook's raisin scones or the peat smokiness of a good whiskey. No, more than that. She was a lungful of fresh air, a glass of sparkling water. She was sunshine and growing flowers, laughter and hope. She was all those things necessary to his life and important in it.

When had that happened?

The force of what he felt was petrifying.

He might as well surrender now. Fighting it any longer was futile."

*** *** ***

"She reminded him that he was a man first, then a man of science, duke, property holder, and all the other attendant roles of his position. She taught him that being a father was not passing on lessons as much as accepting and giving love.

The thought struck him with the force of a blow: she was going to make him feel."

***

The secondary characters were just as fun to read and even though the villain is predictable, I enjoyed when the comeuppance was doled out.

The narration of Tim Campbell was superb! He nailed every accent and character. I'll be looking for more books with his narration.

I'm looking forward to the next two stories in this series and hope all are as good as this one was.

Melanie for b2b