Centuries ago, Clan McDonough was charged with guarding the Circle of Light, a ring so wondrous it brought the clan prosperity and good fortune.  Until the night it was stolen by the pirate called the Black Scotsman.  Ever since then, McDonough lands have suffered and the lords of McDonough are all fated to die without warning, before their time.

Lady Maura O’Donnell swore on her father’s deathbed that she would retrieve the Circle of Light and bring it to its rightful home.  Luckily for her, the pirate’s descendent, Alec McBride, Duke of Gleneden, is visiting in Ireland.  At a masquerade, Maura takes a daring chance and manages to trap the earl into marriage.  But though he’ll do the honorable thing and wed her, Alec isn’t pleased to find himself in a marriage not entirely of his own choice.  And though Maura is now able to search her husband’s lands for the Circle of Light, she finds herself unnerved by Alec.  Because while circumstance has forced the two together, neither counts on the passion that ignites between them being too tempting to resist, nor the love that soon follows.  Will their burgeoning relationship come to an end when Alec discovers the truth of Maura’s deception?

Prepare for a wicked, wild, and wonderful romp through Ireland and Scotland with Bride of a Wicked Scotsman.  Samantha James has delivered an engaging tale steeped in myth and magic that is made incredibly charming by its endearing hero and heroine.

Maura is the kind of heroine I’d love to have for a friend, were she real.  She possesses both strength and determination, which I admire, and there is a kindness about her that I adore.  Though she has to deceive Alec, her situation is so clearly desperate, and her regret for having to involve him in her plan so genuine, that my heart went out to her.  As for Alec, he makes me wish I had a time machine to take me back to nineteenth century Scotland.  He’s seductive, intelligent, strong, and, I must say, dashing.  His dislike of being tricked into marriage is understandable given the circumstances, and it made me all the happier when he was able to overcome that resentment to fall for Maura.  Ms. James kept me reading late into the night, eager to not only discover if Maura would be successful in her quest, but to see how Alec and Maura would overcome the obstacles in their path to find their happy ending.