And the Bride Wore Plaid

Karen Hawkins has done it yet again. I have not been disappointed by any of her books. I do so love a good story and this one is it. It has a great plot, Devon St John trying desprately to get away from the tailsman ring curse (and of course failing). A head strong, independant leading lady, Katherine McDonald, and let's not forget the 'seven brawny scotsmen'. Very good secondary characters as well!!! Great book!!! I am ready for the next one!!

I adored this book! It is a pure romance--no intrigue, just a beautiful romance. And the St. John talisman ring is even more interesting than in the previous books.Devon is simply wonderful: charming, sexy, sweet. He's a dear, and I adore him.Kat is a fabulous heroine; she's not in the usual mold, but is making her own way in the world. And she certainly sends Devon on a merry chase. Her "7 dwarfs" are fun; unlike some of the other reviewers, I thought it an amusing twist.A secondary romance is healed along the way, too.This is a wonderful addition to the series! I want the next book -- now!

Devon St. John was last seen fleeing his brother's wedding in order to avoid the tailsman ring that causes the men in his family to fall in love and marry. Devon wants no part of that, and plans a trip to Scotland to visit an old friend in order to escape the "passing of the ring." It is only when he passes the border of Scotland does he discover the ring, hidden in his carriage blanket.Kat McDonald is an intelligent, strong female heroine that earns the respect and love of those who know her. Involved in a scandal during her first season, this illegimate daughter of a Viscount resides on her brother's estate, evading all contact with the society that turned it's back on her. However, while searching for something in her room at her brother's home, she finds Devon. Devon mistakens her as a maid and kisses her. Thus begins our love story......Devon soon finds out who Kat is and, in order to escape the power of the ring, decides to pursue a relationship with her, a woman he believes he can never love. In the process, he discovers that Kat is the most unusual and interesting female he has ever met. He eventually finds himself falling in love with her.This tale is very well done. Devon is delightful, even if somewhat a rogue. He is a man who knows what he wants and knows how to go about getting it. Kat is a very good heroine. You want to route for her and are pleased when she wins out in the end. Also, it was nice to read about a woman in the Regency/Victorian period who did not look good in the conventional outfits of the time. Definitely find out what Devon AND THE BRIDE WHO WORE PLAID is all about.

Devon St. John hies off to Scotland to escape the family curse -- a ring with the legendary power to put a wedding ring on the owener's finger. Alas, his brother outwits him and Devon gets stuck with the ring. To evade its powers until he can get rid of it, he decides to dally only with unmarriageable misses.In the eyes of society, Kat Macdonald is a ruined woman. Having believed herself loved and in love at the tender age of seventeen, she ran off with a man who promised to marry her - only to find out she was mistaken in both his character and the nature of his feelings. Now she's hiding out in the woods, making beautiful stained glass with her seven hulking Scotsmen/helpers, alone and happy to be that way. Until in rides handsome Devon St. John. At first, she welcomes the flirtation -- why not? She no longer abides within the realm of society, anyway. But soon, more emotions arise and she finds herself falling hard for the handsome Englishman.Devon, meanwhile, thinks he's safe to spend time with this intriguing woman. But soon, his passions too begin to get engaged. Soon the question is . . . is this love? Or the magic of the ring? Dare he take a chance?And The Bride Wore Plaid is a fun, sparkling fairty-tale like romance. I loved every page of it, from beginning to end. If you like sexy, romantic books, this is the one for you.I read it in one day and now I can't WAIT to get Marcus's story!

Let me begin by saying that this is a romance novel. You knew that, right? So if you don't like romance novels, you will not like this. That having been said, Karen Hawkins knows how to tread the fine line between romantic fantasy and self-aware modernism. Her characters are hybrids of 20th-century thinking and 19th-century society; that's why they appeal to the escapist but also to the reader who craves a touch of depth and realism thrown in with the historical references. When the inevitable conflict comes between the desire of the individual and the expectations of the cultural milieu in which she must live, a Hawkins character rises to the occasion and makes a choice instead of being swept along helplessly. Her women are sassy, fiery and thoroughly engaging -- not cardboard cutouts. Hawkins gives her male characters credit for appreciating a woman with brains, personality and real talents, not just a heaving bosom and a rippable bodice. If you like historical romance with a dash of humor and a spike of girl power, read And the Bride Wore Plaid. My theory has always been that if more men read romance novels and more women read men's magazines maybe each would understand the other's perspectives and desires a little bit better. Although I am certainly no expert on women's fiction, I can say that this would be a suitable "starter novel" for someone who wants a non-intimidating introduction to the genre.