A Man In A Kilt (Zebra Debut)

Rating:
Summary: Best of the Best!
Review: A Man in a Kilt ranks as one of the best books I've read this year. Sandy Blair weaves a delightful tale of a dark Scottish hero and a transplanted New York heroine--transplanted back to a time she doesn't understand but rapidly adapts to. Duncan is a hero to die for, and Beth is the kind of heroine we'd all like to be.

I laughed out loud, shed tears, and hated to see the story end. And now I can't wait for A Rogue in a Kilt to hit the shelves. I'm not normally a fan of historicals, but Ms. Blair has me hooked for good.

Rating:
Summary: Good afternoon read
Review: At first I thought I was reading the scottish version of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with the ghost fancying his new housemate. The first few "modern day" chapters were a bit banal but as I read on, and the time travel kicked in, the story picked up and was much more entertaining. It ended up being a decent read and all-in-all, not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.


Rating:
Summary: Fun Read - Loved IT!!!
Review: Elizabeth `Beth' Pudding - plain as pudding - was just an ordinary working girl until the day a Scottish solicitor arrived at her doorstep telling her that she was the very last descendant of Clan MacDougall and as such was inheriting a castle in Scotland with the only caveat being she had to live in it for six months. What the solicitor didn't tell her until after she arrived was that there was a resident ghost - this she would find out on her own. Rather than being afraid when she began to see him, she being on her own most of her life, thought he just might make for good company.

Duncan Angus MacDougall, had spent the last 600 years trapped in Blackstone Castle, having been cursed by the mother of his last wife. At first he was surprised she could see him, then he realized that she just might be the `one' he'd been waiting for to set him free. Watching for her on the parapets as she attempted to motor over during a storm he watched the boat engulfed by a wave. Realizing that IF she was the `one' he couldn't let her die, he materialized, saved her, then did something else (I can't tell you everything!) so that when she awoke she was being dragged out of a medieval carriage by Duncan MacDougall, in the flesh, AND obviously in another time! Now, she knows who she is and where she's from but, Duncan doesn't know her other than that he has come to rescue a woman he'd been ordered to wed as his fourth wife! Plain she may be, but for the love of this highland hunk, she just might be convinced to stay, even if she does finally figure out the way back.

I so totally enjoyed the ghost storyline - reminding me of a Draycott Abbey novel- in the beginning then was totally blown away when it became a time travel. Beth was such a darling - not your usual fabulously beautiful woman but one who worked on making the best of what the Lord had given her in the way of looks, and Duncan, well he was just a fabulously sexy and gorgeous Highlander that you just gotta love! The author grabs you right from the beginning weaving a tale that was packed with imagination and originality. I simply love the way time travel authors find these original and fun ways of whipping back and forth through time - oh, could I wish! Time travel aside the romance is absolutely enchanting, the writing sharp, fresh and action packed. This is most definitely a debut novel and author that one should keep their eye on! --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read You Won't Want To Miss!!!
Review: I first thought I was in for a good paranormal/ghost story read, and I was until Ms. Blair went and blew me away by turning her fun story into an even better time travel book. Fans of both genre's will be in for a great treat that combines both witty characters, fast moving plot, and wonderful chemistry between two people that were destined to be with each other.

Beth Pudding is about to have a chance of a lifetime fall into her lap. She has just inherited an old run-down keep in Scotland. She has to live there for six months and then the place is hers to do with as she will. This is a chance that Beth has always wanted. Living in foster homes most of her life she has missed out on the one thing she really wants, a place to call home. What she doesn't know is that her historic keeps comes with it's very own ghost, and he's a peeping tom to boot!!! Well, that's okay, she's lonely, he's lonely and there is nothing else to do so she speaks with him.

Duncan can't believe that "the one" has finally come to release him from his centuries long curse. Problem is the wee lassie has a death wish and he has to rescue her from the loch and saves her from drowning. What's amazing about this is he is finally able to take human form once again. Not wanting to pass up the chance of ending the curse he binds his wee Beth to him while she in unconscience. She wakes up in a new century and one without indoor plumbing, and scarier yet, her ghost is very real. Can she serve historic Scotland and save her Highland Laird?

As I said this is a great read. Plenty of humor, as well as real emotion can be found within it's pages. Ms. Blair is an author that I look forward to reading in the future.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Rating:
Summary: A Man In A Kilt
Review: Only one woman can break Duncan MacDougall's curse, freeing him from centuries of haunting his castle, alone and unloved. Then, a quirk of law compels Beth Pudding to live in Blackstone castle, with the ghost, for six months in order to inherit. To all appearances, Beth is ordinary, a cook from America, but she can see the ghost and she can love him. When time takes a twist and sends her back in time to Duncan, she is not sure what has happened, nor is he. When Duncan and Beth meet in the flesh, he has not died yet, so he has not met her yet, and believes her to be the woman the king has ordered him to wed. As a ghost, he won her heart, now she must win his as a man to save him from a fate that makes death worse.

*** If you love Scottish hunks, this book is for you. If you hated how Somewhere in Time ended, this is also for you. Ms. Blair combines at least three plot devices in a neat way to prove that love is the best miracle of all. ***

Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS read!
Review: Run, don't walk, to your bookstore to get this time-travel/Scottish historical. Sandy Blair has a distinct flair for humor, but not at the price of evoking strong emotion. She'll make you laugh *and* cry, sometimes at the same time. Sometimes you can recognize a star on the rise, and this author is going to be BIG.

Rating:
Summary: A time travel that sweeps you back to medieval Scotland.
Review: Sandy Blair creates a tale that makes you believe time travel is possible. Beth Pudding conquers time travel, two foreign language deficits and a ghost/Laird in medieval Scotland. Duncan McDougal is a man for the ages, fighting for his people and the love of a "wee bit daft" woman. Blair captures your imagination on the first page and doesn't let loose until the final page of the epilogue. If you love Scotish historicals, paranormals and witty dialogue, you'll love this book.

Rating:
Summary: This Book Has It All.
Review: This book has it all: fast-paced plot, believable characters, laugh-out-loud humor, emotional scenes, plus the added bonus of a hero that happens to be a ghost and time travel.

I especially like how the plot is setup. Plain as pudding Elizabeth Pudding inherits a Scottish castle which just happens to be occupied by a ghost and first lord of the castle, Duncan MacDougall. Beth learns Duncan's sad history by reading his journals.

Through a series of ghostly encounters, Beth makes a deep connection with the long dead Duncan and is deeply distressed by his fate. So when she travels back in time she vows to keep him safe and thwart his devious enemy.

Also if you buy this book you should get the second in the series: "A Rouge in a Kilt." Once you finish the first, you will want to jump right into the second. Just make sure you read "A Man in a Kilt" first. I read them out of sequence and was a little confused my some of the medieval Scottish lingo (which is all learned/deciphered/explained by the time-traveling Beth in the first book).

Rating:
Summary: Great new twist on time-travel romance
Review: This book was terrific. Logical plot, three-dimensional characters and enough action mized with emotional growth made this book a stand-out.

A MAN IN A KILT passed the toughtest time-travel test of all! There wasn't a single overdone cliche to be found!

Those of us who read both sf/f and romance take a critical viiw of time travels. Overlaying modern sensiblities on a historical background isn't enough. Ms. Blair successfully shows how a young practical woman of today's social sensibilities can not only survive but find love and happiness in the the world she has landed in. A quirky sense of fun and humor shows throughout the whole book. I'm eagerly looking forward to the Ms. Blair's December book, A ROGUE IN A KILT.

Rating:
Summary: Too Much Fun!
Review: Warning--you'd better have a nice, long, unplanned afternoon if you pick this book up, because you won't want to put it down! The heroine is believable, the hero charming, and the sense of being transported to another time palpable! My only complaint is that it left me feeling that I had to go and get the sequel, A ROGUE IN A KILT, now!