The Devil Wears Kilts by Suzanne Enoch (Scandalous Highlanders #1)
Released: November 26, 2013
Historical Romance
St. Martin’s
Reviewed by May
On a mission to rescue his runaway sister from the lure of flowery compliments and a useless lot of satin-clad scalawags disguised by their snooty titles, Ranulf MacLawry, Marquis of Glengask, has roared into British society like a storm across the Scottish Highlands. But he’s about to find out that satin has its appeal, especially when it covers the curves of Miss Lady Charlotte Hanover—whose tongue is as sharp as her skin is soft…
Lady Charlotte Hanover has had her fill of hot-headed men, having lost her fiancé in an utterly unnecessary duel. When did brawn ever triumph over brains? And yet there is something solid and appealing about the brash Highlander who’s as dangerous in the ballroom as in battle. Sometimes bigger really is better…
This story pained me, because it was just so typical. Ranulf is the quintessential Scottish Alpha and Charlotte is the stereotypical English spinster. Each is so cookie-cutter that it was impossible to get excited about the story.
Ranulf makes it clear (repeatedly) how he hates the English, how useless they are and how Scottish ways are best and he stomps around London bellowing at his sister and behaving exactly as you might expect. To me, this really hurts his character and the story because there is simply nothing to like about him!
Well, maybe that is a bit harsh. He does have great conversations with our heroine Charlotte.
“So this is you simply being you, is it?” she ventured in a low voice. “You’re not making a statement or showing your contempt for my fellows?”
His grin deepened. “It’s just clothes, lass.” He patted himself on the chest, his silver buttons glittering. “All proper up top, and fun down below.”
The two do have chemistry, and Enoch does a great job of showing how they fall for each other as well as why they are a perfect match. We are told there are conflicts (she hates violence, and that is his first answer) and reasons they won’t be together – but none of it really holds up or provides good conflict.
“I say that a lass willnae order me to do anything. I also further say that ye’ve not convinced me that ye find my touch distasteful. In fact, I think ye enjoy having me aboot to argue with. I think ye were bored before Rowena and I arrived on yer doorstep.”
He’s overbearing, she doesn’t back down. He’s used to being obeyed blindly, she doesn’t see why she should even consider such an insane course of action. He wants her and propositions her, she is a lady who won’t ruin herself. It is all just so predictable and unoriginal that despite the lovely writing and witty conversations I couldn’t get into this book.
The bottom line is that if you like your heroes to be extremely alpha Scottish men and your heroines to be bewitching English bluestocking spinsters then this might be just the book for you. Enoch has a wonderful voice and beautiful way of story telling. I simply was annoyed by the clichéd nature of this book and that it felt like dozens of books I’ve read before. With such a talented author I expect more than an overused trope and lackluster plot.
Grade: C
I read this and sort of feel the same way you do. I might give it a B instead of a C simply because, while not exactly “fresh”…it is well written and the dialogue was often very strong. I liked the characters for the most part, although both could be a bit too arrogant for me at times. I’ll admit to a hero-bias. If I really like the hero, I can tolerate a heroine I don’t like as much. That was sort of the case here. Sometimes Charlotte got on my nerves. She seemed to overstep at times, getting between a clan leader/oldest brother and sister.
What I remember most about this book is being interested to read Rowena’s story whenever it is written. She, too, was a bit selfish and such, but I still hope she ends up with her long-time crush (whose name eludes me right now). I love that trope. Guess I’m a trope ho…LOL.
I actually enjoyed this one, May. I was at a point where I was reading waaaay too many Contemps and just needed a historical romance. I enjoyed the hero even when he was infuriating. Great review!
I was excited to read this over the holidays because it had been so long since I last read a Suzanne Enoch novel. But it was disappointing because just as you said, it really did feel like a dozen books I’ve read before.
I gues this one won’t cure by historical romance burn out then, even though she is one of my favourite heroines. I think I need the next Bertrice Small book for that …
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