My Devilish Scotsman

Jennifer Holling's debut novel A Time for Dreams is a sweeping tale set in sixteenth century Scotland around the time of Mary's execution by her sister Elizabeth. There is a wonderful twist to Ms. Holling's story placing a modern woman in a rougher time not just in the absence of running water but in the beliefs of the people of the time. A love that spans centuries and pulls this young woman Audrey back in time is warm and unlike the harsh world that surrounds them both. Audrey's influence forever changes the people of that time, not by her showing them how to build a flush toilet but through her devotion to a man who is strange to her yet loving and passionate. I have no doubt I will enjoy My Devilish Scotsman as well. I just like to see the first work of any author and I was not disappointed.

After reading MY WICKED HIGHLANDER, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book in the MacDonell Bride Series. Once again Jen Holling hits a home run with MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN. Unlike her sisters Gillian MacDonell is not a witch, she's not confident and she's definitely not bold. So why would an Earl want to marry her, especially after being humiliated by her sister Isobel? Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag is cold hearted, aloof and he may have killed his first wife. But to keep from being shipped off to France, where she's expected to marry an old man, Gillian is willing to sell her soul to the devil, even if the devil is Lord Kincreag. At first Nicholas resists the offer of marriage but softens knowing that it is his dearest friend, Alan MacDonnell's dying wish. So using her powers of persuasion, and quite a bit of boldness taught to her by her sisters, Nicholas gives in. Gillian is hopelessly attracted to her Earl, and doesn't want to settle for a "good match," so she decides to give Nicholas a love philter, but instead of making him amorous, it makes him suspicious. Nicholas believes she is trying to poison him and the marriage gets off to a rocky start, it becomes even rockier once Gillian arrives at Castle Kincreag. Strange things start happening and she starts to have visions. But worst of all, she believes someone may be trying to kill her? Could it be? Would Nicholas kill another wife? Gillian doesn't want to believe it, she knows he is plagued with secrets, but she's glimpsed another side to him, a vulnerable side. Hadn't she? Or could she be seeing only what she wishes most for? Did she imagine his kindness? Was his concern not real when she'd collapsed with her head pains? Was she imagining it all or was he acting? Trying to catch her off guard? But if it wasn't him, who was it and why? And what are the visions she keeps seeing? All fingers are pointing to Nicholas, even her sisters, who are witches, think him guilty. But is he? Or are there other sources of evil at work? AND when he finds her casting a spell with her sisters, will he protect her like he promised her father or will she face the same fate as her mother? You'll have to read to find out! Jen Holling has done it again. With a sweep of her pen she creates such heart-wrenching emotion, and a vivid picture of what Medieval Scotland must have been like. I fell in love with Gillian from the very start, she isn't the bold heroine that we normally see, but she grows into her own women as the book progresses. The attraction and love between the two characters is heartbreakingly warm and you can't help but cheer them on. The beginning hook is so intense that you won't be able to stop reading because of all the unanswered questions swirling through your mind. I had to resist the urge to peek! This story has so many twists and turns, and a few surprises that will keep you turning pages. Congratulations again Ms. Holling on another wonderful book! I

After reading the first book (My Wicked Highlander) in this series, I was 'straining at the bit' to read this one. It was every bit as good as I'd hoped: Nicholas Lyon has all the intrigue one could hope for in a dark, romantic hero. His meek new bride finds herself dwarfed by dark secrets he won't speak of, and must try to uncover them while keeping secrets of her own. I was so captivated by this book, I wasted no time buying the third, which is proving to be just as good! The suspense, the mystery, the romance, the paranormal twists will keep you riveted, I promise!

Only for the dying Alan MacDonell would the Earl of Kincreag Nicholas Lyon heed a summoning as earls do not jump when a chieftain asks. However, Alan is his best friend and the letter says he will die before the night is over. He rushes to the deathbed, but though ailing Alan is clearly going to survive another day though not many afterward. Sitting by Alan's side is his daughter Gillian, who he accuses of the phony note; Gillian denies she sent for him. Alan wants Nicholas to marry Gillian so he sent the message. Gillian is the handicapped of the three MacDonell witches as she has no powers unlike her magical sisters. Her sire orders her to wed Nicholas; she wants to refuse him because she fears he allegedly murdered his first wife. However, she will do anything for her beloved daddy so reluctantly accepts her fate; Nicholas does likewise as he owes Alan, but hates anything connected to witchery. When she enters his castle, Gillian has horrid visions of death and soon someone tries to kill her. Initially she wonders if the cold hearted Nicholas is a killer, but soon falls in love with him even as she ponders whether her heart belongs to someone wanting her dead. MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN, the second MacDonell Brides' tale (see MY WICKED HIGHLANDER), is a fabulous fantasy romantic suspense starring two wonderful seemingly star-crossed lovers. She is a witch though her powers do not surface until she enters the home of her husband; he detests witches due to what happened to his first wife. A clever third party manipulates their doubts and misconceptions so that the audience obtains a marvelous paranormal historical romance. Harriet Klausner

From the very first pages the reader will be able to lose themselves in MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN, the second book in author Jen Holling's Medieval Scottish trilogy featuring the three MacDonell sisters. The plot of three sisters, all witches, being married off by their ailing father who wants to see them protected before he dies is one that is original and totally captivating as each is given depth, drama and passion by this clever wordsmith. Gillian MacDonell has always felt incomplete because she felt she did not inherit any mystical gifts or powers as did her other two sisters. When her father arranged a match with the notorious Earl of Kincreag, rumored to have murdered his wife and child, excruciating headaches and strong premonitions began to plague her. Believing as her father did that the rumors were untrue, she went about doing all in her power to bring the reluctant earl, who had a terribly cynical view of not trusting woman, into going thru with the wedding. [This particular part of the story concerning a love potion and its after-effects was truly amusing - but you'll have to read the book to find out more!] From the moment Gillian arrived at Kincreag Castle several attempts would be made on her life, yet truly eerie incidences would save her time and again. As she began to fall more in love with Nicholas, her new husband, she also discovered that she did indeed inherit a mystical power -- one that would prove that the rumors about him might not be true and the danger facing them stemmed from the mortal world and not the immortal. *** Along with a dynamic plot, the action in this story plays non-stop making this a hard book to put aside and I find myself reaching for the computer keyboard in search of the other two books making up this trilogy. This is most definitely a book that will engage the reader both with the original story, the edge of the seat drama, and the passionate love story it tells. Highly enjoyable, the reader should be captivated by this latest trilogy offering. [...]