How to Blackmail a Highlander by Michelle McLean

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The MacGregor Lairds, #3

Release Date: January 14, 2019

Lady Alice Chivers is trying to enjoy her last night of freedom before her parents betroth her to the Earl of Woolsmere, a man old enough to be her grandfather and who has already buried 3 much younger wives. Her parents refuse to listen to her pleas or give any credence to the rumors that his wives all died under questionable circumstances. She wishes her dearest friend Elizabet was here to talk to, but she hasn’t heard from her since she left England to join her husband in exile. Desperate for a moment alone, she slips out on the terrace and is grabbed by a man. Philip MacGregor is cousin to John, Elizabet’s husband. He delivers a letter and tells her he will meet her in the morning for her reply.

Alice hatches a plan, she will ask Philip to take her to Elizabet and when he refuses, she forms another plan, she follows him to his inn and blackmails him. Philip agrees to take her to Scotland, but that is as far as he will go, he warns that Ramsey (Elizabet’s former betrothed and enemy) might be watching her and will not place John or Elizabet in danger. He tells her to meet him in Dover and he will escort her to Scotland. Philip doesn’t expect to see her again and when she turns up in his cabin on the ship, he is more than a little shocked and if he is honest, impressed.

Alice and Philip are about as opposite as you can get, they bicker constantly and Alice’s impulsive nature lands them in trouble time and again. Most notably when she declares they are married and he agrees, she is surprised to learn that in Scotland that is all it takes to be truly married. She is fine with being married to Philip, but he is sure she will regret it sooner or later.

They finally reach Elizabet and the two begin to think there might be a future for them, that is until trouble in the form of Ramsey comes calling.

Personally, I found the first 75% of this book to be repetitive and didn’t feel any real connection between Philip and Alice. The story does become very interesting after they join Elizabet and John, but even at the end, I didn’t really “feel” the love between them. This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand alone, but there is a lot of crossover from the previous books and while there is some backstory given, you would probably enjoy this book more if you read the books in order.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*