A Scot’s Surrender by Lily Maxton
Series The Townsends #3
Genre Adult; Historical Romance; M/M Romance
Publisher Entangled Publishing
Publication Date March 12, 2018
When his brother leaves him in charge of Llynmore Castle, Robert Townsend is determined to make everything go smoothly. What does it matter if he’s inexplicably drawn to Ian Cameron, the estate’s stoic steward? Robert is sure he can ignore the way the Highlander’s apparent dislike of him gets under his skin. They’ll muddle along just fine so long as they avoid one another. An excellent plan…until a fire forces Ian into the castle—and Robert’s personal space.
Ian Cameron has worked for everything he owns, unlike spoiled Robert Townsend. And he may not have friends, but he has the Highlands and the stars, and what more could he really need? But when a guest’s stolen possession appears in his room, he doesn’t have much choice but to admit to the handsome and aggravatingly charming Townsend brother that he needs help. To solve this mystery, they’ll have to put aside their differences. And as Ian learns more about Robert, he’ll have to guard his heart…or it may be the next thing stolen.
Robert
Townsend isn't happy his sister Georgina invites Ian Cameron to stay
at Llynmore Castle when their brother and wife, Lord and Lady Arden
are away, He dislikes the aloof Highlander but he's also intrigued by
him too. When Ian's accused of stealing personal items from their
other temporary guests; English gentry seeking refuge at the castle.
Robert decides he believes this man is telling the truth. So the pair
works together to prove his innocence.
When a lightning bolt strikes the thatched roof of his cottage on the Arden Estate and sets fire to his home, Ian Cameron begrudgingly agrees to move into Llynmore Castle until the property can be rebuilt. Unlike his factor, he has worked hard for everything he owns unlike Robert Townsend, who is spoilt and doesn't work. Suspicions are aroused when personal items disappear and he is the main suspect. The situation forcing the two men to work alongside each other to solve the crime.
I've haven't read any Lily Maxton novels before and my first impressions are more than favourable. I love how she captures the mood of the era, where vigilance is always necessary when men engage in illicit relationships. The cautious attitudes are captured perfectly in this slow burn romance as Ian and Robert begin to discover their pre-held opinions of each other are presumptive. Gradually, they realise they both have the same burning desires as they lower their defences and open their hearts to each other.
I laughed at the imaginative way of solving the crime as the unexpected culprit is revealed. The secondary characters pushing this plot-line along blended in well. Robert and Ian's developing relationship is as much about cultivating and building a lasting friendship as exploring the physical attraction between themselves. Resulting in more tender, meaningful exchanges between the pair than sizzling passionate interactions which fit both men's limited sexual experiences perfectly.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Scot's Surrender. I'll definitely be reading the earlier books in The Townsend series. I loved the Scottish Highlands backdrop and the twist of mystery which was a first for me reading historical romances.
***arc generously received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley***
When a lightning bolt strikes the thatched roof of his cottage on the Arden Estate and sets fire to his home, Ian Cameron begrudgingly agrees to move into Llynmore Castle until the property can be rebuilt. Unlike his factor, he has worked hard for everything he owns unlike Robert Townsend, who is spoilt and doesn't work. Suspicions are aroused when personal items disappear and he is the main suspect. The situation forcing the two men to work alongside each other to solve the crime.
I've haven't read any Lily Maxton novels before and my first impressions are more than favourable. I love how she captures the mood of the era, where vigilance is always necessary when men engage in illicit relationships. The cautious attitudes are captured perfectly in this slow burn romance as Ian and Robert begin to discover their pre-held opinions of each other are presumptive. Gradually, they realise they both have the same burning desires as they lower their defences and open their hearts to each other.
I laughed at the imaginative way of solving the crime as the unexpected culprit is revealed. The secondary characters pushing this plot-line along blended in well. Robert and Ian's developing relationship is as much about cultivating and building a lasting friendship as exploring the physical attraction between themselves. Resulting in more tender, meaningful exchanges between the pair than sizzling passionate interactions which fit both men's limited sexual experiences perfectly.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Scot's Surrender. I'll definitely be reading the earlier books in The Townsend series. I loved the Scottish Highlands backdrop and the twist of mystery which was a first for me reading historical romances.
***arc generously received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley***
Just as Robert was stepping inside, a dark, wet blur shot past his feet and sent him sprawling. He fully expected to land face-first on the hard stone of the great hall, but Cameron’s hand caught his arm and hauled him up roughly.
“Watch yerself.”
Watch himself? It wasn’t Robert’s fault the bloody cat was a menace. The servants’ door had a hole cut from the bottom, specifically so the cat—named Willoughby by Annabel—could come and go, and he still insisted on using the entrance to the great hall instead.
A bit high in the instep really, that scoundrel Willoughby.
Robert didn’t dislike cats, but he’d always been more of a dog person himself—one knew where one stood with a dog. They didn’t stare at a person with those unreadable, impassive eyes. With cats, it was impossible to tell if they liked you or if they might be plotting your murder.
Rather like a certain person he knew. Except that was more of a debate between complete and utter indifference or murder.
He pulled his arm from Cameron’s grasp. Too quickly. Too abruptly. “Thank you,” he said, trying to sound calm.
He usually got along with people much better than this. He usually had no trouble being charming enough to get past their defenses when he chose to. And he’d tried. He couldn’t say he hadn’t tried. Cameron was either all defenses, or he just didn’t like Robert very much.
Robert didn’t know why he let it bother him—he shouldn’t care about the opinion of one lowly factor.
But around Ian Cameron, Robert felt like a piece of refuse, and he was starting to hate it.
And the feeling was made all the more potent by the desire that he couldn’t seem to shake.
He turned toward the man. His hair was slick with rain, curling into wet tangles at the nape of his neck, and darkened, like red-black velvet. “Why do you dislike me?” Robert blurted out. “I’ve never been unkind to you, have I?”
Cameron cocked his head. There was an expression, there and then gone. Robert didn’t have time to decipher it.
“Dislike ye?” He almost sounded amused. His lips were curved slightly, more of a smirk than a smile. Cameron seemed incapable of a pure smile, of happiness without a touch of derision. “Why do you assume I think of you at all?”
Robert felt heat crawling up his throat.
Before he could even figure out how to respond, Cameron was speaking again. “Thank you for the coat,” he said, as pleasantly and formally and coolly polite as though the last few seconds hadn’t even occurred.
He dropped the cloak into Robert’s hand, leaned against the wall to peel off his muddy shoes, and then strode away without a backward glance.
Robert felt like he’d just been dismissed by someone of higher rank. Theo really shouldn’t employ someone who was so…undeferential. Of course, maybe he was perfectly deferential when Theo was around. Maybe it was just Robert.
Why do you assume I think of you at all?
His grip tightened on the cloak. The silk lining was still warm from the heat of Cameron’s body, from sleep-warmed skin. He quickly draped it over a hook.
Why, indeed.
Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.
When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open internationally. Two winners will be chosen. One winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card, the other will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (winners chosen at random). This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Entangled Publishing. Giveaway ends 3/16/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Entangled Publishing will send one winning prize, Pure Textuality PR will deliver the other. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted.
