#BOC Review by Joann **The Scot Beds His Wife (Victorian Rebels #5) by Kerrigan Byrne**

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, son of the notorious Hamish MacKenzie has inherited the MacKenzie clan and land. Gavin was not raised on the land he now finds himself their laird. Consequently, he is quite resented by most of its people. Hamish was a ruthless leader, he deprived his clan of many things because of greed. Gavin sees how the clan has suffered and strives to improve conditions for all.

When Gavin has his eyes on a piece of land adjoining his clan land he sets his mind to make an offer to purchase it. The owner Alison Ross resides in America but sets off to Scotland to set her finances straight and prevent selling her land to any MacKenzie. It is on the train across the States a train robbery occurs. Samantha Masters is one of the robbers but passes herself off a a passenger. When Samantha realizes the robbers plan to kill all he passengers she defends Ms Ross and kills her own husband one of the robbers.This murder is witness by her husbands brother another robber. Ms Ross now urges Samantha to switch places with her and go to Scotland disguised as Alice to flee from the other surviving train robbers.

Samantha/Alice are greeted at the station by Gavin and his entourage. He believes once he makes his offer she will accept and return to America. How wrong he was in this assumption. He is confronted with a head strong woman. She is running for her life and has no plans to return to America.

Both characters I found complicated and simple at the same time. Each holding their cards close to the vest. I love this author and all the stories of have read by her but this didn't do it for me. True it did show murkiness and violence but the darkness of plot complications was not there. Ms Byrne has a gritty style that just was not here. I, however, would still recommend this book and still continue to follow one of my favorite authors.

~JOANN~