Tag Archives: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance

His Magick Touch by Kimberly Killion

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: His Magick Touch
Author: Kimberly Killion
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Scottish romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Hot liquid cascaded over him and triggered his own release.

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Synopsis

Kiernan has been in love with the chieftans daughter for his entire life, so when she needs someone to rescue her from an abusive husband, he gladly steps up to the challenge. What follows is a mess of war, conspiracies and the winning of trust.

Thoughts

I was kind of expecting the woman in this to die and become miraculously bought back by one of the fae, or some equally mysterious being. It didn’t quite work out like that, but I enjoyed the fact. After all, instead of being rescued by a mysterious man creature, she was rescued by the man whom she had loved for a long time and known her entire life. Which I always enjoy in a story, love doesn’t always bloom in the space of a moment, but over a lifetime of knowledge.

This is a fun, quick and sweet read that takes you to another world and another place. I really enjoyed the fact that although there was a past love between the two leads, the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of men made her hard of trust. Rather than just falling at the feet of a strange, new man, she is fiercely independent and that trust must be earnt. Something that I think speaks to many people across the world.

 <- Beloved Beast ReviewThe Laird’s Vow Review ->
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Beloved Beast by Lois Greiman

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: Beloved Beast
Author: Lois Greiman
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: She turned her head slightly.

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Synopsis

Swift is a pickpocket, but a chance meeting with a man of the clergy could change her fate forever.

Thoughts

This short story really made me think of Oliver Twist. There’s a somewhat innocent pick pocket. A not so nice man in charge, and a protector who ends up saving the day. Alright, I don’t think that a protector actually saved the day in Oliver Twist… I remember a vaguely sad and disturbed ending (although it has been a long time since I’ve visited the story).

Although this is a romance story in a collection of Scottish romance, I didn’t find it to be that… well, Scottish. Sure it’s based in Scotland and the man wears a kilt. But unlike some of the other stories in this collection, it just felt a lot more modern and less about the highlands. Which I thought was great. You need a break in the repetitive settings and themes every now and again.

 <- The Curse of Wolf Crag ReviewHis Magick Touch Review ->
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The Curse of Wolf Crag by Susan Sizemore

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Curse of Wolf Crag
Author: Susan Sizemore
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Scottish romance, Werewolves
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: I tricked you, all right.

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Synopsis

Tara left Wolf Crag to escape a past, but when the past comes back to haunt her she begins to wonder if maybe running away wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Thoughts

This story needed to be longer. I loved it. I thought that the romance in it was great. But the development of the relationship went from negative to positive waaaaaaaaaaay too fast. I love when past antagonisms fester and must be overcome to create a happy future together. However, in the caes of The Curse of Wolf Crag, one moment Tara is yelling at her beau and the next she is having sex with him. Talk about negative to positive on the flip of a coin…

The imagery of the Scottish isles where the worlds of fae and human collide works so nicely. Especially when juxtaposed against the modern setting in which the story starts. Talk of curses, fae and the past give this tale a very romanticised, beautiful feeling. The mists across the crag give the story a further feeling of mysticism and otherworldliness. And although I loved this story, I think that it would have been ten times better if it was just that wee bit longer.

 <- The Rebel ReviewBeloved Beast Review ->
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The Rebel by Julianne MacLean

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: The Rebel
Author: Julianne MacLean
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: She raised her chin.

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Synopsis

When Alex takes on a British soldier, he thinks that it is just a young lad out to gain some honour. The woman he finds instead turns his whole world around.

Thoughts

I loved that this story was set during a war – it’s not something that I tend to read about often, but it worked incredibly beautifully. Especially considering the strength of character of Alex. Where there were so many moments for him to act less than honourably, he still managed to keep this level of honour and respect to everything. Which made this one of the sweetest stories in this collection so far – it wasn’t fuelled by lust, but an honourable kind of love.

Historical romance stories are something that I am only just getting into – they’re just incredibly sweet, and often filled with more hope than actual lust. Often, not always. And this was just one of those amazing stories. The type that puts two people together that you know are going to fall for each other, but fill sit with this sweet, kind falling. Rather than a passionate, lustful dive (which I quite like as well).

 <- Magick in the Mist ReviewThe Curse of Wolf Crag Review ->
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Magick in the Mist by Debbie Mazzuca

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Magick in the Mist
Author: Debbie Mazzuca
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Scottish romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He crossed his arms over his chest, his muscles flexing, and gave her a look that had caused many a man to quiver in his boots.

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Synopsis

Isobel knows that Ewan is fated to be her one true love, but a series of betrothals and mistakes could be a serious threat to her happily ever after.

Thoughts

The theme of fate and love is always something that suckers me in. The fact that these themes are based within the Scottish highlands in a time long gone… believe me, I was drawn into this story almost immediately. Especially since Isobel is obviously a woman with an amazing brain, and one who isn’t happy to just take what is convenient, but rather what is going to give her her happily ever after.

One of the things that kind of annoyed me about this is how much of a douche Ewan is. Alright, he kind of has a good reason… but mostly he just frustrates me and makes me feel like he’s being pigheaded for no purpose. Luckily, there is a happy ending for Isobel, otherwise I think I would have tried to reach through the pages of the book to smack the silly highlander around the face…

 <- At Last ReviewThe Rebel Review ->
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At Last by Jacquie D’Alessandro

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: At Last
Author: Jacquie D’Alessandro
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Sophia Mallory.

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Synopsis

Sophia thought that her dalliance in the Scottish highlands was nothing but an amazing, and unforgettable fling. Until Ian, her secret lover decides to come hunting for her…

Thoughts

This was so incredibly sweet a story. Not only is it a nice historical romance set in England in the 1820’s, it also features a man who will do anything for his woman. And a woman who, though she loves dearly, will do anything to protect her son. The amount of passion and love in just a few short pages was just darling, and the fact that it was set against a romanticised English backdrop somehow just made it all the more fluid and beautiful.

Ian and Sophia work really nicely in this storyline. I love that there is a strong woman, and the man doesn’t try to control her, doesn’t try to stop her from being herself and doesn’t try to prevent her from being who and what she is. I also loved that the very thing that Sophia is trying to protect her son from is what ensures their happily ever after… at last.

 <- Curse Me Wicked ReviewMagick in the Mist Review ->
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Curse Me Wicked by Elle Jasper

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Curse Me Wicked
Author: Elle Jasper
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Romance,
Scottish romance, Werewolves
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Skin burning.

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Synopsis

She’s been set out to the moors of Scotland to deal with a client and a curse. What she finds will not only endanger her life, but change it completely.

Thoughts

I enjoyed the werewolf theme in this story. It was fairly typical but set amongst the gorgeous moors of Scotland. I also didn’t find it all that romantic, even though it was in a romantic collection of short stories. Lucien is a werewolf, finds his mate and just turns her. There is no courting, no anything. He just recognises the woman who is supposed to be his soulmate and decides to change her entire life.

The outset of this story was incredibly promising. Written in first person, with a background of the magical law enforcement. It’s exactly the kind of voice and story that I like. Then there was the fact that they were finding their mysterious client on the moors of Scotland, and the job had something to do with curses. Completely drew me in. But then they met the man, and things just rapidly got… average. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good story. But with such a promising beginning, I was expecting a much more intense ending.

 <- Forever Knight ReviewAt Last Review ->
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Forever Knight by Jackie Ivie

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Forever Knight
Author: Jackie Ivie
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Very little made it through to men aware only of the thump of heartbeat in their ears.

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Synopsis

In a misguided attempt to save his brother, a rough Highlander takes a Lowlander woman as his ransom. As their story unfolds, he quickly realises that he has fallen into a cleverly laid trap. And one that he’s quite happy to be stuck in.

Thoughts

This story took a number of unexpected turns. The only part that really went as expected to be honest, was the fact that the lead male and female ended up together. After all, this is in a collection of romance stories (I wonder if I’ll ever read a romance that ends… not so romantic…??)

This is the fourth short story in the collection, The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance, and I’m already beginning to notice a bit of a trend… timid, gentlewomen (English or other), falling for a rough, tumble and brawny Highlander. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy this trope, but this is why I only read a few short stories in a month. Yet, there was something a little more sassy within the Lady of this story – she is literally put in a dungeon for her sharp and voracious tongue.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns throughout this. Primarily, whenever I thought that the story was going in one direction (they were about to have a night of passion for example), it takes a new turn that not only lengthens the story beautifully, but also enables it to surprise me. And even though they may not be earth-shattering surprises, they’re ones that made it impossible to put down… I actually walked into the wall while I was reading this tale…

 <- Wolfish in Sheep’s Clothing ReviewCurse Me Wicked Review ->
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Wolfish in Sheep’s Clothing by Marta Acosta

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: Wolfish in Sheep’s Clothing
Author: Marta Acosta
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5:  5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: She flicked on the light and saw a desktop with a large monitor, neat files, and a silver cup filled with pens.

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Synopsis

Kat is stranded in Scotland by herself when she comes across a dark and mysterious scottish gentleman. But will it be true love, or a calamity of mistakes?

Thoughts

This is a great modern Scottish romance. One that starts as a fling but seems to send the message that true love is possible in the most unexpected of places. Actually, I love the simple, modern story so much that I would almost give this a six out of five stars… it was just easy, sweet and actually imaginable as something that could happen in our daily existences.

I’m fascinated by ideas of The Sight, and it’s something that I do believe some people have. Both Kat and Calder are sent forth to find each other by women in their lives with The Sight, and it’s something that I know other women in my life have those “intuitive” moments.

This is one of those sweet and gorgeous stories that doesn’t really leave much to comment on. It’s just a nice, fun easy read to reward myself with in between studying.

 <- The Pagan Bride ReviewForever Knight Review ->
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The Pagan Bride by Patricia Grasso

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Pagan Bride
Author: Patricia Grasso
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5:  5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Politics, Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Avril could have throttled her brother.

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Synopsis

Avril is on her way to meet the man she married when she was five years-old. Luckily, for her, he might be the man of her dreams, not so luckily, there are deadly politics of play as she holds court with Mary, Queen of the Scots.

Thoughts

I was honestly annoyed at the beginning of this story. Avril was married to a man ten years her senior when she was five years-old. Now, as an adult she is returning to his estate and taking her place as a wife. And he’s quite rude from the very beginning – leaving her waiting, assuming that he gets his “husbandly rights”… he’s kind of a douche. But, he gets better, and even though I don’t actually like him at the end of the story, I do like their relationship.

It took me a little longer than I would have liked to realise that this story featured Queen Mary of the Scots (or something like that), the woman who was imprisoned and executed in England after being one of Henry’s infamous wives (I believe). Even this, I’m not 100% sure of. But I loved the way in which a touch of the “other” (in the form of the Sight), works its way seamlessly into the machinations of a political court that was completely real.

The marrying of real life political intrigue and events with a fantastical romance worked really well here. I loved being able to imagine that this actually did happen way back when… that Avril’s descendants are happy and healthy somewhere in the world.

 <- Highland Heart ReviewWolfish in Sheep’s Clothing Review ->
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