Men in Kilts by Katie Macalister Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 368
Published by Penguin on October 7, 2003
ISBN: 9780451411136
Format: eBook, Paperback
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
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Buy on AmazonShe crossed the pond and lost her heart…
What do they wear under those things?
So far, Kathie Williams has made a good showing as the only American at a mystery writers’ conference in Manchester— what with that falling asleep in public thing behind her.
The sight of Iain MacLaren wakes her up. Clad in a deliciously woolly sweater, the burly Scotsman seems to be holding up a wall at the cocktail party. So Kathie makes her move…and winds up stark naked with him in bed, where his thick Scottish brogue, thick manly chest, and thick… other parts…drive her to do things she’s never done before. Like fall in love.
And if things aren’t moving fast enough—and on the wrong side of the road, no less—Kathie is about to visit Iain’s sheep farm in the Scottish Highlands and meet his sons. She’s feeling a wee bit nervous. Because she can’t tell where this mad affair is going—except north…
Thoughts on the book:
This week’s Romance Rewind is one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve read and re-read it multiple times over the years, and it never fails to make me laugh out loud or smile as I revisit these beloved characters. Katie MacAlister will always have a spot on my bookshelf for her genuinely funny books that have brought me joy for years now!
This book is a classic romantic comedy, complete with an embarrassing meet-cute that kicks off the story. Kathie, a mystery writer attending a conference overseas, is battling jet lag (who doesn’t know the feeling?) and ends up passing out in the lobby of her hotel. After a much-needed but drool-inducing nap (yes, really!), she startles awake, realizing she slept far longer than she intended. Scanning the conference attendees, her eyes land on one hunky guy propping up a wall—enter our charming Scotsman, Iain, who just so happened to witness her gloriously embarrassing nap!
Kathie and Iain hit it off quickly in a case of insta-lust—and really, who can blame her? We all know a Scottish accent can work wonders! Thankfully, Iain feels the same, and he asks Kathie out for a date that leads to plenty of sparks flying. As the conference wraps up, their relationship takes off, and Kathie decides to extend her stay in Scotland to spend more time with Iain.
Once in Scotland, the relationship progresses quickly, and hilarity ensues with these two. The narrative focuses heavily on Kathie—her thoughts, emotions, and perspective—though it’s written in an omniscient style. Iain, unfortunately, doesn’t get as much emotional depth, which makes him feel a bit flat, even though he’s the hunky Scot we’re all rooting for. While I loved how their relationship developed, I did miss getting more of Iain’s perspective. The supporting characters in this book will also either win your heart or make you want to throttle them—there are definitely a couple who land in the “I hate this character” category.
Overall, this is a cute, feel-good story that will absolutely make you laugh, and it’s an easy, breezy read. If you’re in need of a mood boost, crack this one open and enjoy!
Recommended Reading if you’re looking for:
- Older main characters (MFC-39 / MMC – 40’s)
- Age Gap
- Insta-Lust / Insta-Love
- Adventure Romance (Scotland)
- Laugh Out Loud Dialogue
- Medium Steam
About Katie Macalister
New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller Katie MacAlister has always loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn’t think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than fifty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and are regulars on the bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with two dogs and a cat, and can often be found lurking around online.
