Saturday, August 28, 2010

Review - - The Devil Wears Plaid

The Devil Wears Plaid
By Teresa Medeiros
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: August 24, 2010









Standing in a chapel about to exchange vows with a wealthy Scottish earl is every young woman’s dream. However, in Emma Marlow’s dreams, the earl is always young and virile, bearing little resemblance to the wizened old man at her side. Yet Emma has no choice but to agree to this union to save her father from debtor’s prison and her mother and sisters from ruin even though the thought of letting the earl, a man old enough to be her grandfather, touch her fills her with revulsion instead of the excitement and anticipation a young bride should feel. Resigned to her fate and about to say “I do”, Emma is granted a reprieve by the unexpected entrance of a brawny Highlander on a huge black stallion, and his band of armed outlaws. But, though the intruder sends shivers down her spine, will he be her salvation or has young Emma just jumped from the proverbial frying pan into the fire?


With surprising strength, Emma’s groom shoved his way past her, nearly sending her sprawling. “I don’t need my nephew to fight my battles. I’m not afraid of an insolent whelp like you, Jamie Sinclair,” he snarled, marching right past his nephew with one bony fist still upraised. “Do your worst!”

“Oh, I haven’t come for you, auld mon.” A lazy smile curved the intruder’s lips as he drew a gleaming black pistol from the waistband of his kilt and pointed it at the snowy white bodice of Emma’s gown. “I’ve come for your bride.”

From the moment of his birth, Jamie Sinclair has been destined to be both an outlaw and the sworn enemy of the Earl of Hepburn. The Hepburn owns the castle and rules the Highland mountains that, by right, belong to the Sinclair clan, living in luxury while the Sinclairs are forced to live the life of outlaws high on the mountain. Most importantly, however, the vindictive and manipulative earl is responsible for the loss of the person most precious to Jamie Sinclair and Jamie is determined to see him brought to justice, even if he has to steal the man’s bride to accomplish it. Rumor has it she’s English so Jamie anticipates a meek and mild miss, too frightened to cause problems while he negotiates the “ransom”. Unfortunately for Jamie, Emma has reached the end of her rope and has no intention of making anything easy for him or his band of outlaws!

The Devil Wears Plaid is my favorite kind of historical. From the very beginning, I was taken on an adventure ride through the Scottish Highlands, with plenty of twists and turns, secrets, surprises, laughter and sighs along the way. The dialog sparkles, love scenes are sensuous and emotion-filled and, of course, there is the trademark Medeiros humor.

“For a brutish Highlander, you’ve a rather persuasive touch, sir.”

“Those fancy English gents are the ones who start all those nasty rumors about us and our sheep. They just don’t want their lasses to know what they’re missing.”

As his tongue swirled around the delicate shell of her ear, making her toes curl with pleasure, she bit back a moan. “Maybe they don’t want their sheep to know what they’re missing.”

Emma is intelligent, feisty and determined to make her own decisions. Jamie is sexy, bold and determined to secure justice for his family and his clan. When they finally come together they are a true force to be reckoned with. In addition to her very likeable hero and heroine, Medeiros has assembled a colorful cast of secondary characters that round out the story, adding key elements without detracting from the hero and heroine. I’m especially intrigued by Ian Hepburn, grand-nephew of the earl and former best friend of Jamie. I’m hoping we’ll see more of him in a future book.

I read The Devil Wears Plaid in one day, then turned around and read it all over again the next. It’s Teresa Medeiros at her finest and a book I highly recommend!

~PJ

18 comments:

  1. Hey PJ - great review. Maria just read this one and told me I should put it on my TBR list. Humor, adventure and romance? - seems like this one can't miss. In addition, I'm always enamored of the feisty heroine and Emma sounds like she fits the bill. Looking forward to reading this one.

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  2. I have bee anxiously awaiting this one Teresa is one of my fav authors and all you have to do is add Highlander and I am sold!

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  3. I picked this one up on Tuesday and can't wait to get a free moment to start it! Great review, PJ!

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  4. Hope you enjoy it, Marisa. It's high on my list of Medeiros favorites!

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  5. Dianna, I'm the same way. "Highlander" is such a lovely word, isn't it? *grin*

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  6. Hey, PJ, Loved the review! I've got TDWP in my tbr pile :D I'm moving it to the top of the stack. Teresa Medeiros never disappoints!

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  7. I'm so looking forward to this one! Great review, PJ!

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  8. Great review, PJ!! Teresa Medeiros is one of my favorite authors so I'll definitely be getting this one! :)

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  9. I can't wait to read this one!! Great review, PJ

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  10. This is SO my kind of book. You have given a bit more information than the other reviews I have read and make me want to read it even more.
    Medeiros is one of my favorite authors. Every one of her books that I have read has been wonderful.

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  11. Thanks for stopping by, Okie! Glad you liked the review. Hope you enjoy the book (and Jamie) as much as I did! :)

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  12. Gannon, Trish and Buffie: Medeiros is one of my favorite writers too and, as I said in my review, I thought this book was one of her best. Hope you enjoy it!

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  13. PJ, great review, and plaid to boot, I am sooo there.

    LOL! I know what you mean, Karyn. Give me a Highlander in a kilt and I am SO there! :)

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  14. Librarypat, I hope I didn't give you too much information. I try really hard to not give away any spoilers. Hope you enjoy the book!

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  15. Great review! I don't think I've ever read anything by Teresa Medeiros... I know, I know, where have I been??? I'm definitely going to be getting this one though. I LOVE those Highlanders!

    Just as @hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said, "all you have to do is add Highlander and I am sold!" ME TOO!!!! Lol! ;-)

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  16. Monica, you've never read Medeiros before? Oh, I hope you like her writing because she has one fabulous back list just waiting to be read!

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  17. PJ,
    I can't wait to start on her then. Is this new book part of a series?

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