When You Love a Scotsman

Seven Brides/Seven Scotsman, Book 2

By: Hannah Howell

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

With danger closing in from all sides, Abigail Jenson works tirelessly to protect her small Missouri farm. She doesn't require saving - but a handsome officer appears on horseback just as ruthless marauders set her cabin ablaze. With nowhere else to turn, Abigail allows the soldier with the seductive Highlander's gaze to escort her to shelter in a nearby town.

Matthew MacEnroy was reluctant to join his adopted nation's conflict - until an enemy attack wounded two of his brothers. Bravely doing battle has its price when a proud, independent beauty comes under his watch - no military man can risk the powerful emotions their attraction has unleashed. But when Matthew himself is caught in the crossfire, Abigail leads their long journey home to MacEnroy valley...and her caring touch sparks the promise of a bold future together.

©2018 Hannah Howell (P)2017 Tantor

Matthew and Abigail

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

Audible Premium Plus borrow. While the audiobook narrator didn't specify it seemed like there were at least 5 different POV. This is book 2 of 7 in the Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen series. There were a few times when the story repeated passages, without that it would've been a 4 star read/listen. Narrator Justine Eyre read well and I enjoyed all three of her different accents: American, Scottish, and English. Content warnings: the h parents were attacked and her brother taken; the h witnessed the death of both of her parents before their home was set on fire; the H parents were also k¡lled; war.

Abigail Jenson (I think she's 23; American) has survived a recent attack on her family's home that left her father near death, her mother forever changed, and her brother taken to serve in the war raging around them. Matthew MacEnroy (30; Scottish) is the second of seven boys and currently serving in the military. Matthew and his men assist Abigail when her home his attacked. Sadly during this attack her parents are k¡lled so Matthew insists on taking her to a nearby town where she'll live in a home for women and children. Everyone in the home is suffering emotional trauma from the war but Abigail does make a few friends and is compelled to take care of the 4 young children there. Abigail bonds with a talkative 4 year old boy who she eventually comes to raise. One of her female friends falls for a soldier, gets pregnant with his child, marries him but she becomes deeply depressed when he dies from his gunshot wound. Not long after his death she gives birth to a son and the town is attacked. Her friend begins to bleed heavily and the succor isn't able to stop the bleeding. Before her death she asks Abigail to raise her newborn and Abigail agrees. Matthew was injured in the attack. His Major sends Matthew home because he's injured and his enlistment ends in 10 days. Knowing he is still unwell Abigail is sent with him to take care of him. Abigail takes the newborn but leaves the 4 year old behind until she can secure a residence. Their travel to Matthew's home isn't without incident but they do make it. Not long after her brother returns and brings her the little boy who is now 5 years old. Matthew finally comes to his senses and asks Abigail to marry him. A few years after they're married they welcome their first child: a little girl. JP

Spice rating 3 out of 5.
1st listen 04-22-23

Boring. So so boring.

The main issue is the glaring lack of character development. The whole book seemed like a bunch of half-introduced plots strung together. The monotonous narration only made it even more boring. Great book/audio for falling asleep to- put me right out.

Boring and drags along endlessly

I skipped some of the book as it was just too slow and I had no liking for any of the characters. Matthew was a wishy-washy hero, who had intimate relationships with heroine almost from the beginning of the story and kept her insecure right until the end because he was just too afraid to say “The Words...”
Maybe this theme with sexually unrestrained but tongue tied heroes just started to get old for me...
I still like Hannah Howells writing but probably will take a break before reading another of her books.

Oh the narrator

If you like this narrator then go ahead. She bugs me though. Sometimes she’s ok sometimes I can’t listen at all. This ones in the middle. But the questions about pregnancy are not at all correct. Women know to ask “when were your last courses?” Not “how long have you been sick” also, women of that time commonly bound their pregnant bellies, I agree, its not beneficial when it’s restrictive (though it can be supportive) it WAS a common practice of the era.

When You Love A Scotsman

I read this one first. Now reading the first one now. Here is Matthew MacEnroy story. Even though his family of brothers are still new to the new country he reluctantly enlists in the Union Army. His enlistment is nearly up. and four of his unit are ambushed and headed toward a cabin they spot in the woods. Abigail Jenson is there with her dying father and mother who after the last ambush is not all there. Matthew and Abigail start their courtship amidst the war ending. Can they let the other know that what they feel is more than lust? And is he willing to take on a single woman who now has two small children to care for? The narration had me listening to it till the very end.

Second in the series

This is the story of the second MacEnroy brother, Matthew. It is set admist the American Civil War. I have read every piece of work that Ms. Howell has written, and found her biased view of this war disappointing. It it especially confusing when all her other series' always seemed to be protrayed in a even handed way. Other than that irritant, the book was very well written, fun to read, and had joy as well as sadness to stir things up a bit. Would recommend reading if you do not mind a one sided view.

Entertaining

Well I went ahead and listened to this second book. It was a little hard because JE was narrating. But the story line is good. The setting is during the Civil War era so it starts off with action.

I want a Scotsman…

I have enjoyed both books so far! I wish she would have taken a sentence or two to mention the war was hard yes, but as Scotsmen they understood the fight for freedom. HELLLOOOOO…They had battles and a war for freedom too!

DNF

FMC is a Marysue, young, pretty, strong, mends soldiers uniforms, Crack shot AND SO ON AND ON

Not great… at all

Loved the first of the series… wondering how this could be written by the same author.
Character development is lacking and often the characters actions/thoughts do not align with who the character is supposed to be. For example, the main heroine is an experienced healer trained by her physician father… someone who has enough skill that she impressed a Harvard trained doctor to the point that he changed his mind about women as doctors, yet she didn’t know about false labor and did not know she was pregnant later in the book.

The book was a solid 4 hours too long. Had plenty of potential if the storylines were developed properly.

The intimacy between the main characters was also introduced way too quickly. The ease of the main character giving up her virginity made very little sense. I get it was a time of war, and maybe the author was trying to convey the way war can change one’s stance on moral convictions, however it was not developed.

Overall, great potential, lazy writing. Dud.