Customer Reviews

Bad Boys In Kilts

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This is an anthology that revolves around the three of the four Chisholm brothers. These three Scottish brothers are Brodie, Reese and Tristan.

"Bottoms Up" is Brodie's tale. Brodie is a charming pub owner who dropped out of college to come back to the town he has grown up in. His best friend since grade school is Kat. Kat is one of the local mechanics and is more at home in coveralls playing darts for money than in dresses. The one exception to this is that she has loved Brodie for years, but she doesn't know what to do about it. Daisy Mac moves to town and Kat is instantly jealous of her and what she sees as Brodie paying attention to her. But, Daisy is looking for another friend her age and she and Kat hit it off. Daisy convinces Kat to let her "make her over" which leads to Brodie finally seeing her as a woman.

"On Tap" is Reese's story. Reese is a strong and opinionated man. He runs the family distillery the way he wants to and doesn't take much input from others. But, when Daisy Mac approaches him to promote the distillery on the internet he sees something else he wants more. He wants Daisy, he seem to think of anything other than that he wants her. In the end he decides to let her build the website as it will give him access to her. While both are drawn to each other it takes a while for them to act on it.

The final story is Tristan's. In "Night Watch" you meet Tristan who many in the family think is wasting his time being a sheephearder. But, he loves his job and the fact it gives him time to think and paint the local scenery. He is a serious romantic but no woman has found a way into Tristins heart. Along comes the novelist Bree Sullivan. Bree has escaped to Scotland to get away from everyone who is trying to push her to write/finish her second novel. Her first one was a huge success and now has Bree feeling like her life is so out of control that she is no longer sure what is going on. But, when a naked Tristan saves her from being stuck in a submerged car things seem to be heading in the correct direction.

Kauffman as usual writes funny and fast moving stories. She helps to put a bit of a Scottish spin on a couple of time told traditional men/women stories. The problem to me is that the stories all seemed to be rushed a bit. The wrap up seemed to be so sudden. This is an issue with most anthologies though, and is probably just me.

Bottoms Up


Kat Henderson works as a mechanic along side her father in their small town of Glenbuie, Scotland. An American has recently graced their town and her name is Daisy MacDonnell. Kat is convinced that Daisy has her sights set on Brodie Chisholm and she is sure that Brodie doesn't mind at all. Brodie owns and operates his family's tavern Hagg's. He and Kat are close friends but Kat wants so much more. Kat doesn't think Brodie will ever see her as anything but his tomboy best friend though.


As Kat prepares to battle for Brodie she encounters a surprising ally and she heads over to Hagg's eager to capture Brodie's attention as a woman instead of a friend. Brodie is shocked.

Kat and Brodie are afraid of losing what they have with each other, but if one of them doesn't make a move, they'll never know what else could be between them.

Bottom's Up is very romantic. With breathless anticipation, I waited for Brodie and Kat to make love and that moment is incredibly arousing. The sexual tension, Kat's vulnerability and sweet nature, and Brodie's sexy Scottish bur all combine to create a very heartwarming and passionate story. I didn't want it to end!

On Tap


Reese Chisholm keeps himself very busy running the distillery his family owns. He has almost no social life and he is fine with that.

Daisy MacDonnell has come to their small Scottish town to run her aunt's stationary store. Daisy also has a flare for marketing and she is interested in promoting Reese's distillery. Reese wants to leave well enough alone but when he first sets eyes on beautiful Daisy, his flustering and uncharacteristic reaction to her baffles him.

Reese and Daisy have a business meeting that quickly becomes too intimate to be called business anymore. Daisy has no intention of mixing business with pleasure, but Reese is becoming a very difficult and sensuous distraction.

On Tap is a story full of passion and tenderness. Daisy and Reese complete each other. Their love affair is fast and intense. Reese finds a piece of his life that he never knew was missing until Daisy stumbles into his small town. It's a lovely story.

Night Watch


Tristan Chisholm likes his solitude. He spends most of his time in the pastures watching over the sheep that graze on Chisholm lands. With a storm approaching, Tristan heads into his cottage but before he can relax for the day he hears a screech and sees a car that has runoff the road into the rising waters of the stream gully.

Bree Sullivan is in Scotland trying to get away from her fans. She needs to write another bestseller before they go even crazier on her, so she heads to Scotland to sort through her life. Bree loses control of her car during a storm and is saved by Tristan.

Almost immediately Tristan and Bree feel a connection to each other. Is it lust or love that keeps Bree in Tristan's arms though?

Intense desire turns to lasting love in Night Watch. It's a very romantic and passionate story. Tristan and Bree were destined to be together. Bree is searching for peace and gorgeous Scot, Tristan Chisholm is just the man to give her what she needs.

Brody, Reese and Tristan are three sexy, noble and lusty Scots! Bad Boys In Kilts is both steamy and loving. The ending is romantic but not predictable which I really liked. These Chisholm men will steal your heart with their sexy Scottish brogues and their seductive charm!


Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Anthology featuring 3 out of the 4 Chisholm brothers. All 3 brothers are hunks and very sexual. Besides each having great stories, there is a great lead in for the 4th brother who has a tragedy in his life and will have his own book I believe next year. I will be patiently waiting for his story.

"Bottoms Up": BRODIE is very charming and owns a pub. He loves the bar-life, playing darts and flirting with the ladies, except for Kat Henderson. She is a tomboy and has always had a crush on Brodie. He comes to realize the tomboy has grown up. They have a lot of fun with the pool table and it doesnt involve only playing pool.

"On Tap": REESE runs the family distillery and has very strong opinions. Daisy MacDonnell an American shows up to promote the distillery on the internet. Reese is very taken with her and all he can think about is that he wants Daisy. He is reluctant to let her do her website thing but gives her a chance as it will give him a chance with her.

"Night Watch": TRISTAN is a sheepherder who needs to share passion with a very special woman. Enter Bree Sullivan who has come to Scotland to escape. She is a best selling novelist of ONE book and is trying to escape the reporters and people who are hounding her to produce her 2nd novel. She wants to be alone to escape everything.

She is caught in a rainstorm and stuck in her car with the real threat of drowning as car has gone over an embankment and the front is submerged into an overflown stream. Tristan, naked, comes upon her and tries to help her. She thinks this naked man is crazy and out to kill her. Her finally rescues her and she realizes he not crazy and suddenly does not want to be alone.

Bad Boys in Kilts by Donna Kauffman introduces us to three hot and sexy Chisholm brothers.

Bottoms Up has barkeep Brodie Chisholm charming the local lasses since the day he was born. He doesn't realize that his best friend Kat Henderson has had a secret crush on him for years. When she thinks another woman has caught Brodie's eye, Kat decides to shed her tomboy ways and so Brodie what he has been missing. Brodie has always cherished Kat as a friend but when someone makes him realizes he can have so much more Brodie can't get the thought out of his mind. This is a delightful sexy romp of friends turned to lovers. The pool table scene is a scorcher.

On Tap is brother Reese Chisholm's story. Reese runs the family distillery. He is faithful to the tried and true ways of old. When a sassy American Daisy MacDonnell shows up with her Internet and fancy marketing ideas, Reese thinks he can just humor her and send her on her merry way. He wasn't ready for a kick-start to his heart with just the first look at Daisy. Daisy had come to Scotland to slow down her hectic life. She had no plans for mixing business with pleasure. But one look at Reese and all bets are off.

Night Watch is younger brother Tristan's tale. Tristan is happy tending the sheep and painting the local scenery. One raining night he rescues runaway author Bree Sullivan. Bree has had overnight success with her book and feels like her life is out of control. The offer to hide out at Tristan's farm is tempting and so is the sheepherder himself. Tristan and Bree both learn that things can be just as simple as falling in love.

Bad Boys In Kilts is as scrumptious tale of the Chisholm brothers. It's hot, sexy and funny. Each story is a delight. Hopefully older brother Dylan's story will be coming soon.

I did enjoy parts of these stories. They hit the "I-want-something-short-and-sweet-and-not-too-complicated" spot. The problem I had was this: I have often read that writers need to show rather than tell. I don't think I've ever seen a better (or worse?) illustration of that concept. So much of these stories takes place in the characters' heads. You get entire character histories and plots explained while a hero or heroine is, for example, looking out over a bluff thinking by him- or herself. It happens to a great degree in all three stories but more so in the first, the only one where the hero and heroine have a long history. I found myself skipping page after page while one or the other sat around thinking about their history and even setting up the premise for the remaining stories. It was a mite frustrating, especially since the stories are otherwise enjoyable.

"Bottoms Up". In Glenbuie, Scotland, long time resident auto mechanic Kat Henderson is jealous of the attention that newcomer Yank Daisy MacDonnell, who inherited her late Aunt Maude's stationary store, is getting. Especially galling is her long time friend Brodie Chisholm, owner of Hagg's Pub, seems to want the American. Kat wants Brodie but assumes he would never consider making love to a grease monkey. Daisy tells Brodie Kat desires him. He thinks about this all night, but he like her fears risking their friendship.

"On Tap". Brodie's brother Reese runs the local distillery. Daisy arranges to meet with him because she wants to apply her business acumen as a marketing expert to the town's enterprises. The workaholic Reese is unable to concentrate as all he can think of is how he wants to make love with Daisy. She tries to stay professional, but finds she wants the reticent workaholic, but both fear making the first move.

"Night Watch". A third Chisholm sibling Tristan lives by himself herding sheep when he gets caught in a storm; at home he strips out of his wet clothing, but before he gets dressed he notices red lights and realizes a car is in trouble. He rushes outside naked to help, but the female driver Bree Sullivan sees a nude lunatic even as her car is threatening to be submerged by the rising water. He finally gets her out of the car and into his house. She tells him she is running away from fame, but neither can run away from desire.

These three well-written contemporary interactive novellas star fun lead couples falling in love though in some ways the tales appear too similar with one another.

Harriet Klausner

A great fun quick read! All three brother, the rogue, mr. business and the artist, are are charming and sexy. The stores are unique for each brother, taking into account their personality and balancing each with a good heroine.

I've read Donna Kauffman books previously so I thought I'd add one more to my list...as I titled my review "Way Disappointed". The short stories of three of the "boys" were so sappy, slow & I truly didn't care if anyone ended up happily ever after. Hoping this was just a bad write. I would probably give her one more chance....but like the ole saying....1st time shame on them..2nd time shame on me......

I couldn't put this one down! the unsuspecting characters are so interesting and as the plot unfolds you just want to know more and more. The follow up book helps close the stories and who doesn't love Kilts (especially with bad boys in them!).

I love romance novels just like any other person. However, this one went beyond romance and was annoying after a while. It sometimes read like Beavis and Butthead, "He said hard." (Insert their laughs.) There was not a lot of dialogue between characters which made the plot weak. It was mostly the characters flashing back or thinking of their desires for the other person. How can characters go from talking in their heads to jumping into bed. The characters needed to interact more in my opinion. I do not understand how businesses can stay up and running if only the same customers come? How can a business grow? I also do not understand how Bree Sullivan, famous author, charcter in Night Watch became a Diva. You do not even see J.K. Rowling on People Magazine. Wait a minute, this is fiction. I got it!

In Bottoms Up, Brodie and Kat are best friends since they were 6 years old. They can talk about anything to each other. They did not bring up the possibility of dating or taking their relationship in a different direction? All of a sudden, he gets this thought that he is playing a game for his life and his heart. Ooh, nausea is setting in! Here are some nitpicky things that I picked up on. First, Brodie apparently dated a lot of women. However, Kat and Daisy were the only single young women in the area. Who were the other women and where were they from or is this a plot inconsistency? Also, if Kat was always fearless as stated in the beginning, why was she afraid to mention her interest in Brodie?

On Tap, was an ok story. This was the story of Reese Chisholm the second eldest of the clan. The distillery is what made the Chisholm's famous. This is the business that Reese runs. I do have to wonder, if the village is not a tourist attraction why does he have a tour available? Also, there was mention of this fact in all of the three stories. Dylan the eldest brother is building a bed and breakfast on the family property. However, there is mention of the fact that there is no tourism in this remote area throughout the book. Why the inconsistency? Daisy seems to be too overwhelming for Reese. He seems like a very private man who is not into dealing with other people less than Tristan but still... Daisy is gregarious and extremely positive. She is determined to sell Reese to have her build a website to attract people to the distillery. Ok. Daisy for being so business oriented and assertive, she seems almost shy in this story yet, in Bottoms Up she was more extraverted. What is this mention that she had quickies during lunch hour? She is suddenly able to curb her sex drive?

In Night Watch, we get to meet the reclusive Tristan Chisholm. He is the youngest of all the brothers. His brothers are constantly teasing him about not having a woman in his life. He is also an artist. I enjoyed this story the most. I think it is because he is so generous. You would want to have someone like him help you in case you ever had a car accident. He made Bree very comfortable and calm.

Pros of the book: It gives a nice description of the village. You can just imagine it clearly. You also see the way the people interact especially in the pub. I did like the romances to a certain degree. I especially liked the fact that the women were strong and independent women who had their own personalities. I liked Kat because she also had an untraditional career as a mechanic. She also believed that in order for a guy to be with her that he should not need to see her in makeup and a dress. I agree. She followed her own beliefs. Bree was humble even after all of her fame. In fact, she did not like the phoniness and demands made of her. Daisy was the beautiful dreamer who wanted to overhaul her life. It takes courage, committment, and determination to do that and she did too. In addition, I liked the fact that all the characters were not tall, gorgeous, blonde, leggy women. In fact, it does mention that Kat is ordinary. I would have to say if you are looking for a book to help you escape and throw in some romance then this is your book. However, if you want a book with a little more depth try the thousands of other romance novels out there.