Widow Joane Langdale is packed off to Scotland to help mind the Duke of Lochmore's son, he's a widower and she's a widow and they both realise that they suit each other. But he's promised to another and she has plans. However the connection between them becomes too much but can they actually build a relationship with each other.

It does deal with consent a lot, including where she gets annoyed at him because he replaces her clothing without her permission. I liked it a lot. ( )

This is the second book in the Lochmore Legacy series, and like the first one, I read this in one sitting. The heroine of this book is Joane, who was a secondary character in the first book, His Convenient HighlandWedding. I liked her a lot in that book and was excited to see her front and center in this one. Here Jo is the poor widowed relation of Benneit's late wife. She has spent the last two years in servitude to various members of her family, mostly ignored unless they wanted something. Here we find her packed off to Scotland to care for Benneit's little boy, Jamie.

Benneit is the widowed duke who is fighting battles on several fronts. Most important to him is securing his legacy for his son Jamie, who he adores. To do so, he plans to build a whisky distillery on his land. That requires the cooperation of the neighboring McCrieff laird, a family the Lochmore's have been feuding with for generations. Benneit feels that the best way to solve all his problems is to marry McCrieff's daughter Tessa. This will end the feud, secure the distillery, and give Jamie a mother and eventually, some siblings.

I loved both Benneit and Jo. Though she seems a bit mouse-like and doormatty at first, it doesn't take long to see that there is much more to her. First of all, I loved how she and Jamie took to each other so quickly. Once in Scotland and away from her family, the real Jo emerges. She is intelligent, loving, and can have a wickedly sharp tongue when she wants to. She is grateful for the time in Scotland, away from her family, where she can make her own plans for her future. Benneit comes across as cold and aloof at the beginning as he faces off against his late wife's family. He is not about to submit to their desires to keep young Jamie in England. But it is his love for his son and determination to do what is right for him that shines through. Benneit also feels a profound responsibility for his people, which factors into his decisions.

I loved the development of the relationship between Benneit and Jo. They knew each other from when Benneit courted Bella. Benneit thought of her as a mouse, and Jo just knew that he made her uncomfortable. Six years later they are different people, but with their losses in common. I loved seeing how being away from her family gave Jo the chance to be herself, which manifested in a tendency to be a bit prickly. Benneit was surprised by this unexpected side of her and occasionally found it uncomfortable. Their care for Jamie brought them closer together, though they sometimes clashed over what they thought was best. Unexpected attraction built between them as Jo saw past Benneit's crusty exterior to the caring and vulnerable man inside. He didn't expect how right it felt to be with Jo and the feeling of family it engendered. As the attraction between them grew, dreams and desires butted up against honor and intentions. I loved Benneit's scene with Tessa at the end as he makes the only decision possible for him. His big moment at the end was fantastic.

Besides the irrepressible Jamie, I also liked many of the other secondary characters. I loved the staff at the castle and their outspoken attitudes. Angus was fantastic with his often unsolicited advice and tendency to say, "I told you so." I laughed at Jo's maid Beth and her comments about Jo's ball gown. McCrieff came across as pretty unbending when it came to the various negotiations but surprised me at the end in the confrontation with Benneit and Tessa. I loved Tessa. She was sweet and loving and would have been perfect for Benneit if it hadn't been for Jo. I liked how she and Jo got along rather than having the whole "other woman" vibe going on. I had to laugh at her "banishment" because her appearance in the first book showed how that turned out.

There is only a brief mention of the mystery that began in the first book. There are more hints about the ongoing feud, including comments about Ewan and Marguerite, who are the subjects of the next book in the series. The empty crypt and a mention of the missing brooch also have a place and left me wanting to know more about what happened. ( )