Reviewed by PJ Ausdenmore
4.5 Stars
Marshall Ross, Earl of Lorne, also known as the Devil of Ambrose and Miss Davina McLaren first saw one another at their wedding. Both were surprised. Neither was disappointed.
Marshall Ross is a handsome, well educated diplomat who has become a recluse since returning home to Scotland after a tortuous period of captivity in China. He is slowly going insane and convinced he doesn’t have long to live but he is the last of his line and doesn’t want to die without leaving an heir so he sends his solicitor to Edinburgh to find a bride, someone biddable who is willing to marry him quickly without asking a lot of questions. He really doesn’t care what she looks like or if she has a sweet temperament. He intends to visit her bed at night and forget about her the rest of the time. For Davina McLaren, curiosity is as much a part of her existence as breathing. Though bookish, she is also beautiful and had enjoyed popularity among Edinburgh society until her curiosity about passion landed her in the arms of a dishonorable man. Now thoroughly ruined and banished from Edinburgh society, she’s resigned to the life of a spinster until her aunt convinces her that the offer from the Earl’s solicitor is her last chance for marriage and children.
Marriage to Marshall is better, and worse, than anything Davina could have imagined. He makes sweet love to her at night then leaves her to lock himself in his room. He ignores her during the day or, worse, treats her with the polite formality of a stranger. Dark secrets abound in his mysterious household while tortured souls from his past torment him in the night, driving him to the brink of complete madness. While he is fascinated by Davina and yearns to be close to her, he is also terrified that he will harm her during one of his “fits”, or worse that he will fall in love only to have her leave him when she learns his secrets and the full extent of his madness. He continually pushes her away when what he really wants is to draw her close. Ranney does an excellent job of allowing us entry into Marshall’s feelings throughout the story, feelings that so directly oppose his actions. Her prose is beautiful in its simplicity as shown in this glimpse into Marshall’s thoughts on his wedding night.
“He might promise to leave her alone as long as she offered him comfort of another sort. Let me watch you sleep and marvel at the simple beauty of it. Or hear the sound of your breathing and coax the next breath with each inhalation of my lungs.”
He yearns for Davina’s love but is so afraid to reach for it. Davina is a woman I would love to know. She’s a smart, strong woman who is willing to fight for what she wants. She believes in Marshall and fights adversity and opposition from all directions, even Marshall himself, in her quest to save him from the madness and give their marriage a chance but it is only when the unthinkable happens and Marshall’s very life is at stake that her full strength and bravery emerge as she wages a full-scale battle against a surprising villain to save the man she loves.
This is the first book by Karen Ranney that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in1870 Scotland, it’s an intensely passionate and emotionally moving story of despair, love, hope and finally, happiness. I highly recommend it.
The Devil Wears Tartan releases August 26, 2008.
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Marisa
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 12:34 pm:
PJ, thanks so much for this review, I’ve been eying this book… I’m particularly drawn to this kind of plot and I especially like it when it’s the heroine who has to be the strength in the relationship.
PJ
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 12:50 pm:
I enjoyed this one a lot, Marisa. It had a very gothic feel to it.
AndreaW
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 1:22 pm:
I’ve never read a Karen Ranney book before either, but this one sounds good! Great review, PJ!
Maria Lokken
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 1:51 pm:
I’ve read Karen Ranney – and I like her. This review makes me want to pick this one up. I do like a story that begins with despair – it gives me so much to hope for and I’m always fulfilled by the ending.
Buffie
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 2:10 pm:
Never read Karen Ranney??!!!??!! How is that even possible! I absolutely love her writing. It is so eloquent and beautiful and touching. Her novels are a true master of creation. I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the review PJ — it’s great!
Maria Lokken
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 2:12 pm:
No, no Buffie – I HAVE read her – just not this release.
Maria Lokken
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 2:12 pm:
Oppsss.. I see you were referring to what Andrea said. Yeah – Andrea, I think you’d like her.
PJ
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 2:18 pm:
I had never read her either, Buffie, before receiving this book. I’ll be searching out her backlist. You can count on it!
Btw, I saw THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN on the shelf at my Wal-Mart today!
cyclops8
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 3:17 pm:
I like the premise of this story. The last book I read from Karen was “Autumn in Scotland.”
Buffie
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 3:18 pm:
PJ, her backlist is just wonderful. Yep, I’ll be looking for this book next weeking during my regular shopping trip to Wally World.
Dina
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 8:20 pm:
I love the cover and the story, will have to read this.
Pam
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 10:23 pm:
I’m a fan of her books, can’t wait to read this one. One of my favorites of hers is My Beloved, try that one if you liked this type of plot; another Till Next We Meet.
PJ
on Aug 22nd, 2008
@ 10:57 pm:
Thanks, Pam. I’ll be sure to look for those two.
Gannon
on Aug 23rd, 2008
@ 6:06 am:
Great review, PJ. I’ve never read one of Ranney’s books, but I will definitely pick this one up. I love me a tortured hero!
Helen
on Aug 23rd, 2008
@ 4:41 pm:
I am a big fan of Karen Ranney and have read just about all of her books there are a few early ones that are out of print that I haven’t read but I think some of them are going to be re released YAY. This is another one I just ordered and am looking forward to reading.
I think I need to get a second job (to pay for them) I just ordered 9 books and can’t wait to get them LOL (then I need to retire so as I can read them all)
Have Fun
Helen