"A delicious debut"

In 1325 Magnus MacDonnell sells his daughter tomboyish Linnet to his enemy Duncan 'Black Stag' Mackenzie over the objections of his sons in order to ease the growing squabbles between the clans. Duncan purchased the lass not to consummate any marriage or deep love from afar, but because he wants her to use her legendary talent to 'see'. He needs to know who sired Robbie? Duncan believes Linnet can tell him the truth as to whether his half-brother or he placed the seed in Duncan's unfaithful but now dead wife.

Upon meeting Robbie, Linnet knows that Duncan is the sad lad's father, but hides that information from him. She believes her new spouse has a heart in spite of his reputation and rumors that he murdered his first wife. As she begins to fall in love with him, she reassesses her opinion and wonders if he will ever accept the lad as his own regardless of whom is the father. She also hopes he will learn to love again

DEVIL IN A KILT in an entertaining medieval romance that uses the three primary characters to tell a story of the aftermath of infidelity on the innocent. The plot moves a bit slower than usual because Sue-Ellen Welfonder allows the audience to see deep inside Duncan's soul. Throwing a wee bit of foretelling abilities adds depth to a pleasant fourteenth century Scottish romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 19, 2001