Customer Reviews

The Great Scot

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Erin McGregor is a location coordinator for a hit reality television show in the states. She thinks she's found the perfect location for the next season's episodes in the Highlands of Scotland. The Chisholm clan stronghold to be exact. It's prefect with romantic mores, misty lochs, yummy Scot in residence. In fact it's the yummy Scot that has her heart going all wonky and making her forget what she's really there for. So when she approaches the man and makes her request she is rather surprised when he turns her down flat. Mr. Tall dark and Scottish is not interested. Now what's she going to do?

Dylan is not looking for a happy ending. He's consumed with making his family home a success he's not interested in the little American. Or at least that's what he tells himself. But, it's hard to lie to oneself when the village matchmakers along with his brothers conspire against him. Despite his better judgment he lets the lass use his pile of rocks. Now he can't ignore the attraction between them. Now what's he going to do. Admit to falling in love or running for the hills?

This was sadly a tepid effort. For one thing I don't feel there was enough storyline here to make this a fulfilling full length. This is a spin off from an anthology and frankly I think this title could have been included in the first book. Although there was heat it was tame and frankly I found myself putting the book down to read other titles...something I rarely ever do. Although not a title to ignore--I'd borrow from a friend or at the very least come to this story with an open mind.

The thing about Donna Kauffman (as if she had actually asked me)is that she's a remarkable writer. She writes the way I wish I could. She writes the way I wish some other bestselling authors would. But, (there's always a "but"), sometimes she gets so caught up in writing beautifully that she forgets to tell a good story. For instance, she spends quite a bit of time exploring the setting. While the homebody in me loves that Ms. Kauffman has treated me to a very graphic trip to the Scottish Highlands, I still would like to know that something interesting happened there. And, that's one of the problems with this book---- the story really wasn't that interesting to me. The other big problem I had with the story (and if even one budding author is reading this and takes heed, I'd be happy) is that the reader was told (and told and told) how great looking the guy was and reminded (and reminded and reminded) of how ordinary looking the girl was. There was even a point in the book where the guy pondered exactly why he was so attracted to this plain Jane. Yeah, yeah I get that the whole plain Jane thing helped define Erin, our heroine. But, for me, Erin's ordinariness was offputting. Under the best of circumstances, there's just no way a dashing prince charming is ever going to fall for the girl next door. Make hr down to earth. Fine. Make her smart, witty. That's fine. But ordinary looking? Nope. Not buying it. Look, even a work of fiction should have some ring of truth to it. The thought of someone who looks like a Greek god ending up with someone who looks like me (or worse), is just too much fantasy.

update: I had originally given this book 3 stars. That just wasn't fair. Kauffman is a superb writer. Though she has a tendency to spend too much time exploring the characters' inner turmoil, thoughts and feelings, she's a good writer and deserves 4 stars for simply because she never, ever phones it in. You can tell that she pours herself so wholeheartedly into her craft. I appreciate that, even if the story itself did not thrill me

I actually got this book because i REALLY loved the guy on the cover! I know its a dumb reason to buy a book, as the old saying goes, you cant judge a book by it cover, lol. I was a little apprehensive however because of the reviews that i read, but i realy enjoyed the book. I agree that was a little too wordy and a lot of the dialogue could have been cut down, but even so, i really enjoyed follwing the character development. A lot of romance novels i've read lately, the "romance" kind of just pops out of nowhere, but in this book you can really see it grow and even the character development was great. I thought it was a great story and was extremely well written.

The last single Chisholm brother from Donna's novel BAD BOYS IN KILTS......yummy and recommended. I fell in love with both characters of this romance. Erin & Dylan were perfect. To the book and each other. It is captivating and holds your interest from the first page. If you are looking for a feel good romance that has sparks from beginning to end, then buy this romance. You will find this novel sexy, sweet, enchanting, and most importantly funny....Enjoy this one !!!

Try as I might, I just could not get into this book like I wanted to. I really enjoyed the prequel, Bad Boys in Kilts; a nice little anthology that introduced us to three of the four Chisholm brothers. So when I heard she was going to make Dylan's story his own novel, I was excited, to say the least.

Erin MacGregor comes to Scotland to choose a location for the reality TV show, Your Prince Charming. The show is like our reality TV show, The Bachelor. She falls in love with Dylan's family home/castle and after a small series of events; he agrees to let the show film there. I thought both Dylan and Erin were remarkably wonderful and loveable characters; they had tremendous chemistry and appeal. I also liked the book's premise, so for the life of me can not figure out why I didn't like it more.

I got sort of bored with this one midway through and decided I wasn't in the mood for it, so I read two books before I decided to pick it back up. Turns out it wasn't my mood. Both Erin and Dylan have a lot of baggage from their past which only gets explored and discussed briefly. Since their past is a major obstacle for their present, I think I would have liked the author to expand a bit more on that, especially Erin's past.

I really think the problem I had with this book is that it seemed unnecessarily long. I think it was an anthology story stretched to its limits to make it a novel. It finally picks up momentum just in time for the book to end. It's not a bad book; I just think it would have been better suited as story number four in the anthology.

I hate to write a bad review but this book was so long when it didn't need to be. There were so many pages of internal debate and not enough dialogue between the characters. I loved the first three books of the series and this one was a dissapointment. I ended up skipping entire sections just to get to the dialogue and was still underwhelmed. I barely finished the book. I did love the main characters but I think the book could have been shorter and more to the point.

The American came to Scotland seeking the perfect romantic setting for the romance reality show Your Prince Charming. Erin McGregor believes she found the ideal locale in the Glenbuie area of the Scottish Highlands as the Chisholm Keep feels right out of Pride and Prejudice.

Being a sensible girl, Erin also finds the owner Dylan Chisholm quite hot too. Dylan agrees to allow Erin and her ridiculous reality show to use his castle as the villagers need the extra income that the visitors will bring though he detests the concept and plans to avoid her and her show. However, THE GREAT SCOT learns intentions and reality are quite different as he and Erin fall into lust with one another until she fears she has fallen in love with someone who loathes the emotion.

The follow-up to the McGregor three siblings' novellas (see BAD BOYS IN KILTS) is a heated (especially outdoors) contemporary romance in which Hollywood meets old fashion Scotland. The changing relationship between the lead couple drives the story line starting when a reluctant Dylan agrees to Erin's offer, and then morhs into a tryst and finally into love. The relationship is doomed of one of them don't admit their true feelings. Though somewhat feeling extended (as if a novella was more suited) fans will enjoy Donna Kauffman's fun frolic between the Yank and the Scot.

Harriet Klausner