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Scottish Brides
written by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Karen Ranney, Julia Quinn
Studio : Avon
by Avon
Release Date : 1999-06-01
Publisher : Avon
Released : 1999-06
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780380804511
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 13 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $2.00
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Product Description |
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A land of legend and wild beauty—of clans, lairds, honour, and passion—Scotland forever stirs the soul of romance. Now, in one incomparable volume, four of Avon Romance's bestselling authors present stirring tales of hearts won and weddings to be, featuring a quartet of unforgettable heroines about to discover the rapture of love in a world as untamed as the men they will one day marry |
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Finally, a minor miracle (at least for me). |
I am so very glad to say that miracles (even minor ones) do still happen. This is an anthology (usually to be approached with extreme caution by me, yet I continue to buy them) which actually has four, yes, count them, four GOOD stories. I almost didn't buy the book because of the diverse range of ratings from other readers but I am wholeheartedly glad I went ahead and got it. The plots of the four stories are very well described in other reviews so I will just say that I acutally enjoyed all four of these stories. No one stood out more than another but I also did not find one to be significantly weaker than the others.
Maybe the reasons some reviewers saw these stories in a negative way are the same reasons I liked them very much. They are all very simple love stories, relatively uncomplicated, containing very few secondary characters. Because of the brevity, the characters must deal with each other and their situations and not allow THE BIG MISUNDERSTANDING to take up page after page after page of unproductive activity. They are sweet and even innocent (even though each has a liberal sprinkling of sensual moments).
I found all four stories entirely to my liking. I know that the book was published in 1999 and literary styles have changed but not all those changes suit all readers. I, for one, still enjoy a good, old fashioned love story. |
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Disappointing... |
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I know it's hard to establish character development in short stories, but I was so disappointed by this book. Even as a huge Julia Quinn fan, I can't give this book more than one star. I found the plots stilted, boring and not at all captivating. What's more, I just didn't care about any of the characters. For a much better book of similar nature, try The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown by Julia Quinn, et al. Skip this one. |
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From Back Cover |
FOUR INCOMPARABLE STORYTELLERS... FOUR ROMATIC TALES... FOUR BEWITCHING LASSES BOUND FOR THE ALTAR IN A LAND OF STRONG PASSIONS AND WILD BEAUTY.
Displaying the bold and breathtaking sensuality that is her hallmark, bestselling author CHRISTINA DODD enthralls us with the tale of a willful Scottish beauty - kidnapped by an arrogant yet irresistible Englishman - who fights to keep from succumbing to her brazen captor's passionate, and persuassive proposal.
Experience the fiercely emotional power of STEPHANIE LAURENS who is at her passionate best with this story of a wealthy gentleman who finds his childhood nemesis has blossomed into a most desirable lass - and he's determined to do everything in his power to claim her as his own, before she is quite unsuitably wed.
The delightful wit and warm humor of JULIA QUINN shine brightly in this winning romantic romp, in which a lovely English miss - feigning marriage to a dashing, beguiling Scotsman - discovers she has a very real desire for her make-believe groom.
Another strikingly dramatic and deeply compelling tale by KAREN RANNEY. A legend decress that the sexy Laird of Sinclair must marry a woman he heas never met. But only sweet, passion-filled love will lead him to his true - and forbidden - bride.
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Fun Historical Read That Evokes the Grandeur of Scotland |
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Scottish Brides, an anthology featuring mostly Regency era novellas that take place in Scotland, is a fun read though not spectacular. Under The Kilt, by Christina Dodd, does a good job of painting two likeable and lusty characters in just 62 pages. Handsome amateur historian Hadden returns to the crumbling castle of Andra MacNachtan, the last of Clan MacNachtan, to again confront the beauty who stole his heart. He ostensibly wants to interview her about the clan's marriage kilt, but the encounter takes a surprise turn that proud and independent Andra never anticipated. This is an enjoyable romp with lots of fire between two absorbing characters. Rose In Bloom, by Stephanie Laurens, has well-developed main characters and an interesting story, but it fails to satisfy. With Laurens' work I can never quite get into the characters. They somehow come off as an excuse to display as much eroticism as possible rather than seeming real and letting the eroticism grow out of who they are. This novella presents us with Duncan, a young perfectionist earl who's worked very hard the past ten years in the investment world to enable his gorgeous ancestral home to once again prosper. Now he's hosting a Midsummer party to court his visiting prospective bride. But he doesn't count on the presence of Rose, his companion and nemesis from his younger days, who now drives him wild with desire and who, like Duncan, is about to make a loveless match. Laurens emphasizes the fireworks between them. As usual, Julia Quinn is superb in Gretna Greene, a spirited tale about Margaret Pennypacker, an English woman who rushes to Gretna Greene to prevent her brother from eloping, and a burly Scot, Angus Greene, who saves her from disaster. These warm, sympathetic and fun-loving characters are a joy to watch as they fall in love. Finally, Karen Ranney creates a beautiful and adventuresome tale in The Glenlyon Bride, a Cinderella-like story that dazzles the reader. More than any of the other stories, this one captures the beauty and the magic that is Scotland. Nearly penniless Lachlan, laird of the Sinclairs, reluctantly agrees to a loveless match with a wealthy English harpy in order to save his clan. But when he meets the woman he nicknames Ealasaid and assumes is his bride-to-be on the grounds of her estate, he is pleasantly surprised at her refreshing wildness and goodness. Together they embark on a series of delightful adventures that culminate in their falling in love and consummating their union. But Ealasaid is actually the proud Scottish-born servant to the harpy, and she thinks Lachlan is a mere castle rustler who works for the laird she knows her venomous mistress will marry. When the truth comes out, a fun twist allows the couple to overcome not only the situation that is tearing them apart but also to solve Lachlan's financial dilemma. Scottish Brides is an enjoyable read for lovers of Scotland and of historical romance. |
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Sweet, overall |
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Being a Scottish girl myself, I was pleased to happen upon this book. Also, being a huge Julia Quinn fan didn't hurt. The four short stories all dealt with, obviously, Scotland in one way or the other. Christina Dodd, who also served as editor, was the reason "Scottish Brides" merited only four stars from me. Her story was simply the weakest. Julia Quinn delivered wonderfully and I again laughed out loud and woke up my roommate. Stephaine Laurens was in fine form, very akin to "Devil's Bride" and "A Rake's Vow." Karen Ranney, whose work I had never read, impressed me a great deal and actually used some Gallic. This is a great book, overall, and a fun, light read for a rainy fall day. |
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