One Night in Scotland Book

You guys are probably going to laugh at me- I got the next book Scandal in Scotland for review, and as I was flipping through it, I realized there was an excerpt for the first book (this one, One Night in Scotland) at the end. So, I started reading it. And was so intrigued by it, I ordered the book immediately.

We enter with a letter from the heroine's brother Michael, who is an Egyptologist, and is being held ransom by an unknown person, for a certain artifact. So Michael sends a letter to his sister Mary telling her to please get the artifact from a Scottish colleague Angus Hays, Earl Errol. Unfortunately he'd just sent a letter to Angus telling him not to give up that artifact to anyone, not even someone he would usually trust. When Mary claims to be Michael's sister, he doesn't believe her. Not only had he gotten that letter, but Michael Hurst had never once said he had a sister.

Angus locks Mary in a luxurious room, and leaves her there until her identity can be proven. Mary refuses to be cowed and makes as much racket as possible to gain his attention. That scene was hilarious! He tossed her furniture out the window, and kissed her senseless. Fabulous, wonderful scene!

The main things that prevent this from being a 5 star book for me were that once Angus figured out Mary really was who she said she was, there was no actual apology. She also took it waay too easily. Granted by this point they were in love, but it still felt too easy for my taste. Another thing that bothered me is that there were a few plot points that I don't even get where they came from. Angus' cousin was a nice guy, but at the end it turns out he does something rather dastardly (won't spoil it, but it didn't quite come from nowhere, but it didn't fit his personality either). And the biggie. I hated that Angus' deceased wife looked like Mary. And I don't get why this was necessary? Really. And Mary never noticed the resemblance, even though EVERY SINGLE PERSON comments on it. So what was the point of that? It was odd.

But, that aside, I really enjoyed reading this story. The book itself is fun, Mary is a great heroine (think Evie from the Mummy), and Angus has a secret...and some scars. But which ones are healed? The ones on his body? Or the ones inside? The plot is never quite tied up so we have to read the next one in the series to find out what happens to Michael...does the artifact reach him in time for the ransom? What is so darn special about this artifact? I read it in one shot, and I plan on reading Scandal in Scotland right up next.