Rating: 
Summary: By the Sacred Ankle Bones of St. Blork!
Review: A fairly decent Highland Romance, but it suffers by comparison to other books in this popular genre. I'd just finished reading KILGANNON, which had a very similar plot and characters but was much more enjoyably executed. One of this author's mannerisms within the novel was overdone to the point of distraction; having every character exclaim oaths to various saints and religious icons. When I began to notice one on virtually every page of the story, it became ridiculous. By the knuckle bones of Saint Mungo? Please, spare me...
Rating: 
Summary: A New Author To Watch
Review: A hero to die for, a heroine strong enough to tame him, and the journey of new discoveries. DEVIL IN A KILT has everything that romance fans love. This is one book you won't be able to put down. Sue-Ellen Welfonder has a new home on my keeper shelf!
Rating:
Summary: DEVIL IN A KILT IS READING TO THE HILT!
Review: As a romance writer myself, I can't say enough about Sue-Ellen Welfonder, and the way she weaves a tale. She is an author that puts meat to her historicals, entwining actual history, plots and sub-plots amongst the passion. Her novels complement my intelligence, leave me wanting more, and yet brings me into a sighing, heart swelling dimension....a dimension I want to exist in now and then, taking me away from the mundane and responsible part of everyday living. She a jewel and I wait anxiously for her next, and next, and next books to go on sale.
Rating: 
Summary: Devilshly good reading
Review: Aye, there's romance aplenty in this debut novel from Ms. Welfonder, but dinna expect to be seduced by a Devil in a Kilt; Duncan MacKenzie has naught to do with hellfire and damnation (despite rumors to the contrary). Nay, this heart-sore warrior is merely a man worn bitter by a perfidious marriage; a man whose soul has been smote to the point that he can ill afford emotion. Love 'tis but a troubadour's fancy and he cares naught for such sentiment! No, indeed, 'tis a wife plain of face and calm of spirit he needs and not a woman to tempt him from his monkish pledge of a cold marriage bed. Linnet MacDonnell would seem to be the perfect candidate to take to wife. The seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, Linnet is gifted with the "sight," and by the Rood, Duncan has need of such a gift!Trepidation chills Linnet's skin with gooseflesh at the mere prospect of such a marriage, however. 'Tisn't wise to marry a woman to her enemy, 'tis it? When Duncan's helm is removed, her heart is further stuttered by the shock of seeing the face of her girlhood nightmare: the man with no heart, foreseen as a bleeding stag -- and 'tis not her husband known as the Black Stag, a ferociously noble warrior, aye, but as deadly as they come? Her use to Duncan is soon made clear, however, by his avowal of a chaste marriage. Her husband does not want a true consort, but rather the answer to an agonizing question. Who sired his son? 'Twas it he or his satan-spawned half-brother Kenneth whom did lay with his faithless wife? Duncan is a man torn; thunder and heaven, his wife is all too comely and speaks her mind plainly whether he desires it or nay. And, oh, he desires the wench mightily! 'Tis a temptation he does not want and thus, Duncan turns a blind eye to his heart's yearning, preferring the solitary prison of his caged emotions; 'tis safer that way, aye? Linnet is not easily shaken, however, and pursues her purpose with a single mindedness to be admired. Both are exceptionally strong characters, well-drawn and many faceted. Linnet is determined to open Duncan's heart again to love, but at what price? Passionate and finely plotted, Devil in a Kilt is a medieval romance bound to please the reading masses. A faint glimmer of Julie Garwood's earlier novels can be found herein, but Ms. Welfonder definitely has a style all her own! The setting is authentic and provides more than a muted backdrop; it sets the stage for a Highland romance of a remarkably high caliber. Adventure, danger and intrigue are mere icing on the cake (as Duncan and Linnet's romance is foremost). A splendid cast of supporting characters would thereby be the chocolate sprinkles (if I were to stretch that analogy). Ms. Welfonder's fragmented writing style, however, takes some getting used to; it's not ever present, though, and eventually becomes second nature to the reader. Although Duncan is far from an uncommon hero in the romance genre, Ms. Welfonder does an exceptional job presenting him as such; and Linnet is finely paired with this gruff Highland warrior. Devil in a Kilt is devilishly good reading and I look forward to Ms. Welfonder's next release! Dare I hope Sir Marmaduke (yes, I have trouble with that name, but I love the character) will be next?
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous read!
Review: Being an educated historian, and lover of Scotland, I enjoyed Ms. Welfonder's DEVIL IN A KILT immensely! The author is extremely talented in weaving a story with sexy and sympathetic characters, and a page-turning plot. I found her time period accurate, and well-detailed. I will now proceed to read all of Ms. Welfonder's novels. DEVIL will remain on my keeper shelf, to be reread time and again!
Rating:
Summary: A Grand Historical Romance!
Review: DEVIL IN A KILT is a strong, tightly-written medieval romance that I can heartily recommend to our library patrons. The main characters are sympathetically and realistically drawn and even the minor characters have a great deal of charm. Sexual scenes are piquant but not explicit, just the way my library patrons prefer them to be. The author has really done her research on this period. As a fan of the old Gothic romances, I particularly enjoyed a touch of the paranormal. Suspense, great characters, pleasurable shivers--this book has it all! A librarian from Montana
Rating:
Summary: It was ok, but really needed some work.
Review: Duncan MacKenzie is a man troubled by his past. He marries the homely Linnet MacDonnell so she can use her second sight to tell him if the boy his wife bore was truly his son, or that of his half-brother. He vows to only wed Linnet to tell him the truth about his supposed son and to serve as a sort of mother figure for the boy, but as the attraction between them grows, will they be able to resist? There were several problems that I had with this book. My first complaint is that it was very predictable, and I knew what the plot would be, at least concerning the boy, just from reading the back of the book, so there were no surprises there. Secondly, the first 225 pages or so were VERY repetitive, and could have been condensed into half that much space. Yes, we know that Duncan doesn't want to be attracted to Linnet because of his prior wife's betrayal, and we know that Linnet wants to have a true marriage of love and affection. I found myself rereading these facts over and over, quite unnecessarily. Thirdly were some unrealistic plot elements. Linnet was supposed to be largely known as homely and unattractive, with the exception of her nice hair. However, every character in the novel thinks her far much more attractive than her reputation, which seemed unbelievable to me. I truly think that had she been as pretty as others seemed to think that somebody would have noticed her beauty before then. Lastly, though the author appears to try and develop her characters, I found that they were largely static until the end of the book, and they didn't seem to understand each other very well. It troubled me that their emotional growth was so fast and late in the novel. It must be hard to believe after all those complaints that I did enjoy the book somewhat, but I truly did. It was a nice story with good details about the time period, though it was lacking in great romance. I will probably read future books by this author in the hopes that this book was more an experimental first novel.
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: Here you have a tall dark and handsome highlander, who is burden with a painful past. A widower with a son he wants to love but holds back for proof he is the father. Marrying Linnet, because she is the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter and has the sight, he hopes she will be able to tell him if Robbie is his natural son. Linnet, a strong young woman, who although has a low self esteem, but not self pity, holds back the truth from her new husband and helps him to put the past behind him and learn to love Robbie for Robbie before she gifts him with what he wants to know. The healing begins for both when love blooms between them as well. A wonderful romance, full of feeling and sensuality. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: a super Scottish Tale!
Review: I am a Scot, and I love history, so I am rather picky on Scottish Historicals. I nearly cringe when writers set a book in Scotland and have little idea of the country or the history. I must say this book, Ms. Welfonder's debut novel, surprised me. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those wanting a good old fashion Scottish romance. And I mean "old fashion" in glowing terms. Ms. Welfonder gives a first class tale and it insures I will keep reading her next efforts.
Today's romance market tends to slash the history for the novels in favour of quicker pace. And it leaves you with a contemporary book with a horse and a kilt to let you know it's a Scottish Historical. And this is an insult the readers. (steps off Soap Box and moves on to reviewing...lol). So I hope this "old fashioned" historical is the shape of things to come.
Linnet MacDonnell was the youngest of 7 sisters, her mother died giving birth to her, so her father has little love loss for her. Not a proper lady, she was permitted to run wild with her brothers. Instead of managing a keep, she is a good knife thrower or can out riding any man - gasp, astride! Worse, she has the gift of sight, tainting her in daddy dearest eyes. So when Duncan Mackenzie of Kintail offers for her, even though is an ancient enemy, The MacDonnell is more than pleased to be rid of his ugly daughter.
Linnet is not thrilled with the prospects. Duncan is known as a fierce warrior, the Black Stag, and more terrifying, it is rumoured her killed his first wife for betraying him with another man. But she has no choice, so the marriage is made.
Duncan wants only two things in a wife. The first, that she not be a great beauty like his first wife. He blames her beauty for her betraying him, and bearing a son that might not be Duncan's. He wants a nice dowdy woman men will not look at. Secondly, he wants her power, hoping she will be able to tell him if the boy is really his or not. Outside of that, he wants nothing more from the redheaded hellion he takes as a bride.
Only, Linnet is not ready to settle for such meager crumbs and sets about to change Duncan and his heart.
It's a warm, loving tale. Ms. Welfonder's voice is already strong, surprising for a first book, so she shows she is a writer to watch. Her love of Scotland is clear in her words. Just one note: It's Mackenzie (little K), but that is me being picky again.
So if you love Scottish Historical, do not miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful debut book by Welfonder
Review: I am a Scot, and I love history, so I am rather picky on Scottish Historicals. I nearly cringe when writers set a book in Scotland and have little idea of the country or the history. I must say this book, Ms. Welfonder's debut novel, surprised me. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those wanting a good old fashion Scottish romance. And I mean "old fashion" in glowing terms. The type of books we should see more of, instead of fewer and fewer. Ms. Welfonder gives a first class tale and it insures I will keep reading her next efforts. This is the first in her sagas. A Knight in My Bed, Bride of the Beast, Master of the Highlands and A Wedding for Knight follow. If you have not discovered this true conjurer of Scottish Historical, with a wee dram of the Stop-Breath, then you are in for a treat. Linnet MacDonnell was the youngest of seven sisters. He mother died giving birth to her, so her father has little love loss for her. Not a proper lady, she was permitted to run wild with her brothers. Instead of managing a keep, she is a good knife thrower or can out riding any man - gasp, astride! Worse, she has the gift of sight (Thank You! for portraying Scots with their closeness to the Fae!), tainting her in daddy dearest eyes. So when Duncan Mackenzie of Kintail offers for her, even though is an ancient enemy, The MacDonnell is more than pleased to be rid of his ugly daughter. Linnet is not thrilled with the prospects. Duncan is known as a fierce warrior, the Black Stag, and more terrifying, it is rumoured her killed his first wife for betraying him with another man. But she has no choice, so the marriage is made. Duncan wants only two things in a wife: that she not be a great beauty like his first wife. He blames her beauty for her betraying him, and bearing a son that might not be Duncan's. He wants a nice dowdy woman men will not look at. Secondly, he wants her power, hoping she will be able to tell him if the boy is really his or not. Outside of that, he wants nothing more from the redheaded hellion he takes as a bride. Only, Linnet is not ready to settle for such meager crumbs and sets about to change Duncan and his heart. It's a warm, loving tale. Ms. Welfonder's voice is already strong, surprising for a first book, so she shows she is a writer to watch. Her love of Scotland is clear in her words.
I love her understanding of the lore, of the magic acceptance of the Scots. So if you love Scottish Historical, do NOT miss this one!!
|
