THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN

Author: Karen Ranney ISBN: 9780061252426 9/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Victorian - 1870

A man in the shadows Some say he is evil. Others say he’s mad. None of them know the truth about Marshall Ross, the Devil of Ambrose. He shuns proper society, sworn to let no one discover his terrible secret, including the beautiful woman he has chosen to be his wife. A fallen woman Only desperation could bring Davina McLaren to Ambrose to become the bride of a man she has never met. Plagued by scandal, left with no choices, she has made her bargain with the devil. And now she must share his bed. A fire unlike any they’ve ever known From the moment they meet, Davina and Marshall are rocked by an unexpected desire that only leaves them yearning for more. But the pleasures of the marriage bed cannot protect them from the sins of the past. With an enemy of Marshall’s drawing ever closer, and everything they now cherish most at stake, he and Davina must fight to protect the passion they cannot deny.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Karen Ranney's THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN leaves me nearly speechless. Nearly, I say, because I have so much to say about it that I cannot put it into a few simple paragraphs. I am certain I could bore some to tears with my enthusiasm for this book over the next hour, but I do not believe I am allowed that amount of space to write. So, since I do not, here is just a brief, not at all complete review, of a book that, without a doubt, is my favorite historical romance book of 2008.

As usual, I am in awe of Ranney's talent and, quite honestly, have a hard time grasping just how she tackles such awful subjects in her works and manages to make miracles out of them. THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN is the perfect example of that. Ranney captures the sadness, mystery, and complexities the plot demands, and comes up with loving and captivating life lessons that make a brilliant story. And while I have to impart to you that at times I do not find the hero and heroine to have the chemistry I wish, they manage to break down the barriers of my heart and fight their way into being unforgettable anyway.

TAPESTRY has long been my favorite Ranney story, but THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN is a close second. With so much emotion, intrigue and cleverness, how can it not be?

Shannon Johnson