DEVIL OF THE HIGHLANDS - Lynsay Sands
Avon Books
ISBN-10: 006134477X
ISBN-13: 978-0061344770
January 2009
Historical Romance

Scotland, 1273

Evelinde d'Aumesbery believes her life is over when her evil stepmother tells her she must marry the Devil of Donnachaidh. Although they've never met the Devil before, everyone at d'Aumesbery has heard of how mean and cruel the Laird of Donnachaidh is. When Evelinde finally meets the laird, she's shocked to the core. She never envisioned that instead of being hateful and vulgar that he'd be handsome and considerate. For the first time since her father's death, Evelinde finally feels as though her life is looking up.

Cullen is accustomed to having people think the worst of him and has even learned to use the gossip to his advantage. He is immediately taken by his beautiful betrothed and quickly sees how marriage to him was her stepmother's idea of torture for Evelinde. Cullen marries Evelinde and whisks her away to Donnachaidh. There he quickly becomes enamored with his charming but disaster-prone wife.

Of course, no love story would be complete without a villain, and it's not long before some unknown threat begins making attempts on Evelinde's life. After a little sleuthing, Evelinde discovers that maybe Cullen's ex-wife and uncle's deaths were not mere accidents, but murder!

Evelinde is just a breath of fresh air! Readers will have many laugh-out-loud moments while reading the DEVIL OF THE HIGHLANDS. Her antics will have you shaking your head and quickly reading the next page to find out the outcome of her newest fiasco. Even Cullen is a hoot! He is the strong serious type who is unaccustomed to having to explain himself to anyone. So, just imagine the transformations he has to take to make marriage work with talkative and sensitive Evelinde. I will always remember the scene where he exclaims, I like ye! Other characters play important parts in making Donnachaidh come to life. Mildrede and Mac journey from d'Aumesbery to Scotland with Evelinde and will do anything to ensure their mistress's happiness. Biddy is Cullen's aunt who spends most of her time in the kitchen and the rest of the time gossiping. And the villain plays a large part in keeping readers guessing until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Evelinde and Cullen's love story, and Ms. Sands witty writing style and knack for putting the right people together in all of the right places make DEVIL OF THE HIGHLANDS a must read.

Anthonette Dotson