Moonlight Raider by Amanda Scott

Review for Moonlight Raider by Amanda Scott:

Okay. This was the weirdest romance novel I have ever read. I will say that I have never read anything by Amanda Scott before so this may just be her writing style, which is completely fine but not my cup of tea.

I am always a little hesitant when a book starts with definitions of words or maps and this book had both. Before I read a brand new author I always do a little research and after finding out that Amanda Scott has a Masters in British History the definitions and map definitely made more sense. I adored seeing the old language and hearing about the terrain and the clothing from that era and I just soaked up all of that lovely historical knowledge. It's quite disheartening when you read an author that didn't even try to educate themselves on the era they are so valiantly trying to write in. Very much so not the case with Amanda Scott. I do wish that there had been more of a focus on the actual romance and the story line verses about 70% of the book talking about the landscape, landmarks, politics, and general explanations of the time period.

I can't even really comment on whether or not I enjoyed the heroine or hero. I didn't get to know them very well. It was a lot of them talking to other people about politics, wars, and history. A lot of them traversing landmarks and talking about landmarks, and directing people using landmarks. There were so many beautiful and exacting descriptions of the time period but when it came to conversations between characters, when personalities and bonds could be developed, it was very quick, no nonsense, then back to the landscapes, landscapes, clothing, politics, landscapes. While I do understand the Scottish and British people were very quick and brusque during this era, it seems like we could have fudged it just a little for the sake of character development.

I will say that I got to know Molly better than Walter. Through her interactions with her family and the people within the Hall. That's not to say that I actually got to know and enjoy her, I just saw more of her personality than I saw of Walters.

There were two sort of "steamy" scenes but the first one was a tease and over in a matter of a paragraph and the second one was vague at best and at the very very end. So, no go there. Normally this doesn't bother me as long as there is a heavy focus on the actual romance and the relationship building, but there wasn't even that. If you take out all of the historical references and descriptions you're left with a solid hour of story and relationship building...in an 8 hour book.

Again, this may just be the authors style, and that is completely fine. I was just left wanting. I wanted to know more about the other characters, I wanted to feel Walter and Molly falling for each other, I wanted intense action, and a daring climax. What I got was a sweet little story, like-able characters, and a very long (though very interesting) history lesson.

I've put her books on my To-Read shelf. I will definitely be exploring her writing further, if for nothing other than the history lessons. I do love Scottish/British history and if I'm going to learn about it, this is a fun way to do it.


Hero: ★★
Heroine: ★★★
Plot: ★★ 1/2
Steam: ★
Overall Rating: ★★★

Favorite Quote: I didn't really have one in this book. Nothing really reached out and grabbed me.

Favorite Scene: Whenever Molly is with Walter's sisters or Grandmother.

***I was given a free copy by NetGalley for an honest review***