Sportochick's Musings: Sleepless in Scotland by May McGoldrick

Sportochick's Musings ~ Author May McGoldrick never ceases to amaze me with the depth of feelings they invoke with their written word.

Sleepless in Scotland

The Pennington Family #3

by May McGoldrick

Publisher ~ St. Martin's Press Swerve

Genres ~ Historical Romance

Captain Ian Bell is a tortured man fighting through grief and guilt over the loss of his sister. When she went missing, he searched for months until he found her remains. Now, three years later as the deputy lieutenant of Fife, Ian still hunts for her murderer in the dangerous criminal underworld of Edinburgh. He is the "Night Watch" bent on revenge even as he saves others from the same violent fate that claimed his sister. Then one night, a young woman narrowly escapes death and lands at his feet...his late sister’s best friend, Phoebe Pennington.

Lady Phoebe Pennington - dreamer and storyteller to her family - is a committed reformer writing articles anonymously for an Edinburgh newspaper. One night, in an effort to acquire documents embarrassing to the city’s political leaders, Phoebe descends into the corrupt and seething netherworld known as the Vaults. When she tries to save a street urchin from an assailant, she becomes the target of a violent attack, only to be saved by the one man she has desired for years.

Ian’s attraction to Phoebe is as undeniable as it is unexpected, and she awakens in him passions he thought long dead. Fearful that she doesn’t understand the dangers of this criminal world, he is determined to save her from the risks she takes.

Phoebe’s blood burns for Ian, but when she learns that he may be implicated in the scandal she is set on exposing, she finds herself torn between love and truth. But even as they strive to find the meaning of trust, fate is taking a hand. For Phoebe is the only one who has seen the face of the killer, and the sinister shadows of evil are closer than they imagine.

Author May McGoldrick never ceases to amaze me with the depth of feelings they invoke with their written word. Each story is carefully plotted and well executed drawing the reader into their fantasy world.

My heart has been won over by Phoebe as she seeks truth to write about. Though to be honest there are times her stubbornness blinds her to the danger. She is still a woman who seeks truth and to help others so I was able to overlook her naivety in this area.

Ian is a torn soul seeking retribution for the death of his late sister. Phoebe drives him crazy when she continually puts herself in danger to get her story and he will do anything to keep her from ending up like his sister. Dead. He and his family has been destroyed by his sister's death and not knowing why his sister was killed. He can't let go of his need for revenge. I could feel my heart hurting for him on every page of the book and I wanted him to find his peace and move on with his life.

What evolves between the pages is pure magic and the authors wind the drama of a killer into this well written love story. Now you should know this is more than a normal love story. This is the love for a dead sister, the love of a grieving mother and brother and the love of friend. You will see in the pages of this story how it is possible to find peace amongst all the pain and that love will always win.

The suspense added to the storyline with explicit detail will keep the reader enthralled with the storyline.

5 STARS for the depth of this storyline.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.