Christmas in Kilts
Authors: Terri Brisbin, Lavinia Kent, Bronwen Evans, May McGoldrick, and Lecia Cornwall
Reviewer: Una
Rating: A
What I’m Talking About:
Christmas in Kilts is a delightful collection of historical Christmas-themed novellas all featuring brawny Scots. It is a lovely collection, and I enjoyed this anthology immensely. I look forward to reading it again this season. Please continue to see my thoughts on each of the anthology’s offerings, listed in order of appearance.
“A Highlander’s Hope” – This story was intriguing. A warrior from a clan and another clan’s harlot find love and hope. Iain has been widowed for five years – a marriage that was arranged for the benefit of his clan. However, as much as his chieftain would like to arrange another marriage, Iain wants love. Robena is the village “lady”. Though she plies her services by her own choice, this is the only life she feels is available to her. She does have a favored client – one that makes her feel more woman than service. The complications and heartache that Iain and Robena need to overcome seem almost impossible. Thankfully Christmas is full of miracles. I liked this tale though Robena is almost as hardheaded and determined as Iain. (B+)
“A Highland Christmas Wager” – I love Lecia Cornwall’s Highland Fairy Tale series. In this story, Meggie MacLeod is the heroine as she tries to shelter from a fierce winter storm with her grandmother, some clansman in the home of the Laird that stole her virginity. The characters in the story are delightfully varied. In this series, the stories tend to be loose retellings of popular fairytales. In this one, I’m still working to figure out the fairytale, but loved how she wove the Twelve Days of Christmas into the story. It’s little Easter Eggs like this that delight and add a special element to these beautifully crafted love stories. (A)
“A Scot for Christmas” – In this story, Dougray has decided to remarry. Though the loss of his first wife still cuts, he knows he needs to fulfill a deathbed promise to his father as well as provide much needed heirs. In this endeavor, he invites several friends to his hunting lodge for a few weeks of fun before proposing marriage. Unbeknownst to him, his best friend reluctantly brings his younger sister, Emma, who insisted she join the party. Her desire before embarking on a lonely life as a spinster is to experience passion. Dougray has no intention of ever loving again, only finding a proper wife and producing offspring. But Emma’s proposition could change all his careful plans – and heal his broken heart. I thoroughly loved this story. Emma and Dougray’s journey was heartfelt and passionate. (A)
“Leftover Mistletoe” – This was a very introspective novella. Emma and Barran are deserted in the woods on their way to Glasgow. Emma has lost almost everything in the wake of her father’s death. On the mail carriage, she is heading to Glasgow to resettle with an unknown Uncle of her mother’s, as she has nowhere else to go. Barran is on the same carriage, but he hopes to get to Glasgow to stop a wedding. The story is beautifully written. Two people who find their lives changed from sabotage, causing this chance Christmas encounter. (A)
“Sweet Home Highland Christmas” – They truly saved the best and most heartwarming tale for last. I enjoyed this sweet romance between Penn and Freya. However, Ella stole the story. She truly was the magic and heart of the story. I enjoyed how Penn and Freya come together. It is truly a sweet story and a fabulous way to end the anthology. (A)
If you would like to enjoy some Christmas historical romances with heroes clad in kilts, definitely pick up this anthology and enjoy!
My Rating: A, Loved It
About the Book:
Tis the season to fall in love! These five bestselling authors bring you great tiding of highlanders and romances this holiday season!
A HIGHLANDER’S HOPE by Terri Brisbin
A village harlot who would never dream she could have a different life meets a Highlander visitor for the holidays who brings with him an offer and hope!
LEFTOVER MISTLETOE by Lavinia Kent
What happens when a highlander finds himself stranded, maybe kidnapped, with an English lady around Christmas… maybe the mistletoe will help answer that question.
A SCOT FOR CHRISTMAS by Bronwen Evans
She’s ready to embrace her life and future as a spinster, he’s trying to have one last hurrah before he gives into his family’s wishes and proposes marriage to his neighbor, but fate has other ideas when the lady and the Scot meet at a holiday house party in the wilds of Scotland.
SWEET HOME HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS by May McGoldrick
A chance encounter between a ship’s captain and a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her young niece leads to a little magic during the holidays.
A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS WAGER by Lecia Cornwall
When a snowstorm forces a charming lass hiding a broken heart to take shelter in a castle with three fine Highland lairds just days before Christmas, there’s a game afoot—who will be the first to win a kiss and maybe her heart.
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: Swerve
Genre: Historical Romance, novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon