A Thief In A Kilt (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sandy Blair (Author)
Key Phrases: sgian duhb, cloth pony, nay doubt, Sandy Blair, Lady Beth, Sir Gregory (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This lighthearted historical romance, the third in a series (after 2004's A Rogue in a Kilt), takes on loyalty, love and lies in 15th-century Scotland. Kate Templeton, an unmarried London tutor blessed (or is it cursed?) with the gift of foresight, is masquerading as the widow of a Scottish lord to gain information on her imprisoned friend, King James I of Scotland. Incarcerated in the Tower of London for the past five years, James seems to have been abandoned by his people. Kate, his loyal tutor, has decided on her own to travel to Stirling Castle in Scotland and determine why the Scots have ignored the crown's ransom demands, and who among the court James can count on to help him. Kate has been warned to stay away from Scotland's "Thief of Hearts," Ian MacKay, but his heart-stopping good looks make that hard to do. Ian works as the eyes and ears of the regent Albany, an ass of a man and an enemy of James, but what Kate doesn't know is that Ian is secretly working to restore James to the throne. As Ian and Kate begin to uncover their shared agenda, duplicity and dilemma drive them apart. Though the abundance of Scottish dialect can distract, Blair's attention to historical and regional detail supports a fine balance of action and romance, making this political potboiler a winning read. (Nov.)
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From Booklist
Kate is on a mission to find out why the Scots refuse to ransom James I, who has been imprisoned by the English in the Tower of London. Pretending to be the widow of Sir Gregory Campbell's youngest son, Kate arrives in Scotland only to find her work threatened by Ian MacKay. As an agent for Robert, the Duke of Albany, Ian is doing his best to keep the Scottish border lords and lairds from taking up arms against the English, but Ian's job becomes much more difficult once he discovers the lovely and stubborn Kate's real reason for being in Scotland. Ian is determined to seduce the truth out of Kate, but much to his surprise, Kate seems to be surprisingly immune to his charms. Blair continues her loosely connected series of Scottish historical romances with another fabulously fun and splendidly sexy tale. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821779966
• ISBN-13: 978-0821779965
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #632,078 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lusty Fun in Scotland, May 3, 2007

By	Suzy (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

In her third Scottish historical, Ms. Blair takes the reader on a fast and funny romp through both the Scottish highlands and the intrigue of the courts of Scotland and England. Ian McKay is a hero not used to having to chase women and Kate Templeton gives him the slip at more than one turn. When he finally catches up to her, he finds not only a woman to match wits against, but one whose innocent sexuality fuels his lust. The fact that they also must save the emotional spirit of the young Scottish King held captive in London's tower adds another layer of intensity to this roller-coaster ride Ms. Blair has created. Once again you'll laugh, cry and lust from one page to the next.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kilt Treat!, February 4, 2007

By	Beverly Romance Books "Beverly" (St. Pete Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

In this third Kilt Series we find the handsome "Thief of Hearts" Ian McKay taken in by desire, lust and confusion with the English beauty Kate Templeton who has come to the Scotish court looking for the Dowager Lady Campbell in disguise as a Campbell widow in order to obtain a list of noblemen that are true to the captured King James. Young King James is currently being held in an English prison for ransom and believes his countrymen have forgotten him. He is angry and is planning war between England and Scotland in order to hurt those noblemen who have forsaken him. Kate has been his tutor for years and is blackmailed into impersonating a Campbell to obtain information about the ransom. With Sandy Blair's unique writing style, this book will keep you laughing and wondering as to who the real "thief" actually is. As war looms with England and Scotland, Kate wants so very much to prevent it by bringing back the proof that King James does have his country's support. But the handsome, sexy Ian McKay is in Kate's way at every step and since he is a man of Lord Albany, who was supposed to have received the ransom note, but has not acted on it, she must flee his advances and discovery. She steals his horse and when he discovers she is not only a thief, but English and holding back on some secrets, he struggles with his physical desire for Kate and wanting to believe the secrets she holds are true. They work together to uncover the deception and in the process discover true love. Sandy Blair again has written a sexy and witty Scottish romp, with a little bit of mystery, that is fun to read for those who like a light Scottish Romance.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars exciting "Kilt" Scottish historical romantic intrigue , November 10, 2006

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1411 tutor Kate Templeton remains loyal to her former student Scottish King James I incarcerated in the Tower of London. She wants to help the monarch gain his freedom, but wonders why his lords have made no effort to get him released from his five year imprisonment. Able to foresee, Kate decides to go undercover as the widow of a late Scottish laird to learn what she can in London and then in Scotland.

Kate heads to Stirling Castle in Scotland to obtain information, but she quickly learns to avoid the "Thief of Hearts," Ian MacKay, agent of the Regent Albany, who wants James to remain locked away so that he can continue to use his regal power and influence. When Ian and Kate meet, they are attracted strongly to one another, but mistrust each other as they assume their beloved works for the enemy; neither realizes that both are undercover trying to restore James to the throne.

The third "Kilt" Scottish historical romantic intrigue (see A MAN IN KILT and A ROGUE IN KILT) is an exciting romance starring two likable characters whose covert activity makes them suspicious so that each thinks the other is a beloved enemy. The story line is fast-paced, filled with a deep sense of time and place due to the Scottish vernacular and historical depth though the brogue can become irritating. Still this is a superb fifteenth century political romantic thriller that sub-genre fans will enjoy once the lead couple set off sparks of love and suspicions.

Harriet Klausner