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Must Love Kilts (Highlander #5)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 219 ratings · 31 reviews

Margo Menlove loves everything Scottish-especially the legendary warrior hero Magnus MacBride. But while exploring in the Highlands she picks up a magical stone on the shore, and awakens to the sight of MacBride himself. And the reality may be much more dangerous-and passionate-than her dreams could ever be.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published January 4th 2011 by Signet (first published December 3rd 2010)

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Feb 18, 2012 Jocelin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: highlanders, time-travel

First, let me say this; Ms. Mackay you are a talented writer. I thought that you crafted a well-thought idea into a novel. The flow of your story was extremely easy to read and it was consistent.
Now, to the heart of this review; even though this was a thought out book it was very boring. First, I really did like the idea of the main character in this book being an avid lover of all things Scottish. She lived and breathed Scotland. This was the only thing that I liked about her. I found it very h...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Sandy M rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, historical, time-travel

I don’t know why I keep torturning myself with these Allie MacKay books. This is my third one. The first two were dismal failures for me, so I skipped
however many were next for a while. Then I received this book for review, felt obligated to read it, and though it’s a slight improvement over those first couple, there’s still something about this author’s writing that just leaves me uninspired and disconnected. Time to end the torture.

The prologue in this book at first gave me hope that what I wo...more I don’t know why I keep torturning myself with these Allie MacKay books. This is my third one. The first two were dismal failures for me, so I skipped
however many were next for a while. Then I received this book for review, felt obligated to read it, and though it’s a slight improvement over those first couple, there’s still something about this author’s writing that just leaves me uninspired and disconnected. Time to end the torture.

The prologue in this book at first gave me hope that what I would encounter in this story would be very different from what I’d read before. It’s serious and intense, and knowing time travel would be part of it, I let my hopes rise. I like the hero, Magnus, a lot. He finds his betrothed’s village in ruins, still burning, dead everywhere. He believes against hope he’ll find his love alive, but it’s not to be. He vows on the spot to exact revenge against the bastard Vikings who cut his lady down and and ended his life as it had been. Instead of myself, I prefer my heroes tortured, and Magnus wrings that word to its roots at the beginning of this book.

The heroine, Margo, is also quite likable when we first meet her. She’s loved Scotland all her life, collects anything and everything to do with the country. Her only wish is to some day visit the land of the Highlands. A woman after my own heart. I’m a Scotophile just like she is. And all of this works just fine for a time. The first thing that irritates, though, me is the silly names of some of the secondary characters, i.e., Patience Peasgood and Ardelle Goodnight. To me, those names just don’t go with the tone, the intensity of the story so far. I let the heroine’s last name, Menlove, go when I first read it, but more than that is just too much. Yes, those are perfectly good names, but they just aren’t in keeping with the way this story is told.

The next irritation comes when it takes nine chapters before the hero and heroine are finally face to face and the action should begin, but it begins and ends too quickly. Before Margo actually makes her time-traveling trek, we get only a couple of abnormalities where Margo appears to Magnus in his time, enough for them to want each other. That’s all well and good, but in between that all we get is a lot of boring story that I really didn’t care about. All of that could have been done in much shorter scenes and then used the extra time with Magnus and Margo together. Instead, we learn about Dina Greed - another name I don’t care for because it seems to be used to give me a hint at that woman’s character, which I don’t need. I’m intelligent enough to figure it out - and her obsession of Scotland, including her planned trip that she has to dangle in front of Margo. Also, we have to go through the hulabaloo of Margo winning a trip to Scotland, how she finds out about it, how her friends help out, and a lot more that just takes much too long. And it’s boring.

Once Margo does travel back in time, there is some action but not a heck of a lot. First we have to get through Magnus’ suspicions of Margo, though he’s lusted after her since the two visions he’d had of her. Then comes Margo’s aversion to violence that causes a few waves. I’ve never liked this looking at historical times with a modern eye bit in any book and it’s especially irritating here. Margo’s been obsessed with Magnus, loves that he’s a fine specimen of a man of his times and envisoins what it would be like to be with the man in the Scotland of her dreams. But she wants it her way in a time and place that aren’t hers. If you want something that badly, you obsess over it and then you get your wish, well, as they say, when in Rome. Don’t cry foul when it doesn’t work out just the way you want it, and Margo does that way too often for me.

During all of this, Magnus suddenly loses his appeal for me. A lot of it is the dialogue that just doesn’t seem to work any longer. He sounds like a different person than he did in the first half of the book. The way he speaks to Margo when her independence makes a showing doesn’t ring true to his character. He’s not the sexy alpha male he started out as; his revenge means too much to him when he now has something more important to live for. The ending is also a little too pat, everything working out just right, the person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time is now in the right place at the right time for Magnus to do his marvelous sword wielding. All that being said, I do like the eerie similarities between past and present characters; that’s done very nicely.

However, that isn’t enough to save the entire story. For a book that starts out in the vein this one does, it just doesn’t follow through with enough consistency to keep it from being a little too boring and eventually off-kilter. This may well truly be my last Allie Mackay book.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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May 17, 2011 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-twolipsrevies-com

Margo Menlove loves all things Scottish. She specializes in knowing the most about Scotland and is entering a contest to win a trip to the land of her dreams. She longs to meet a man like Magnus McBride, a warrior from 1250 who was perfect in her mind. But she has to win the trip first. When she does and gets magically transported to the time of Magnus, the real fun begins.

Warrior Magnus McBride lives in olden Scotland. He is shocked when he sees a naked woman walking out of the surf toward him....more

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Jan 03, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Must Love Kilts by Allie MacKay
Paranormal Romance – Jan 4th, 2010
4 stars

The author really loves Scotland and this shines in her romance. The hero is brawny and super sexy.

Magnus MacBride is on his way to his fiancée when he discovers the entire village has been ransacked and everyone is dead, including his sweet, innocent fiancée. He vows revenge. When he murders one of the men involved, the man’s sister curses him with a longing for a woman he can never have. Magnus begins to have visions of a...more Must Love Kilts by Allie MacKay
Paranormal Romance – Jan 4th, 2010
4 stars

The author really loves Scotland and this shines in her romance. The hero is brawny and super sexy.

Magnus MacBride is on his way to his fiancée when he discovers the entire village has been ransacked and everyone is dead, including his sweet, innocent fiancée. He vows revenge. When he murders one of the men involved, the man’s sister curses him with a longing for a woman he can never have. Magnus begins to have visions of a beautiful woman that haunt him and slowly drive him insane.

Margo Menlove has always loved Scotland but never had the money to visit. At her work she finds a book that tells of the legendary Magnus MacBride and she doesn’t know why but she becomes obsessed with him. When she wins a contest and a vacation to Scotland, she is drawn to the area Magnus MacBride once ruled and suddenly finds herself transported back in time!

This book has all the elements: a noble warrior whose fiancée is murdered viciously, revenge, a curse, and a longing for a mysterious woman from the future. I just wish the pace of the book was faster and the 2 main characters spent more time together. The heroine Margo is nice but a rather bland character. I did feel for her because she seems to be the perpetual underdog, but I kept hoping she would have a bit more spirit. Magnus is the Scottish hero that anyone who enjoys highlander romance will adore. He is strong, noble and a man’s man. I often felt that he was larger than life.

My main gripe with this story is that although the main characters long for each other it seems to take them forever to actually meet. It would have been nice if they had spent more time together. Margo seems to trod along a lot. It takes her a while to get to Scotland and then a while to travel back in time. When they finally do meet, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them because the story seemed a bit rushed and their meeting by that point actually felt a little anti-climatic.

The story is a light and fun read, if slow moving. If you enjoy highlander romances you will love the hero!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

(less)

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May 01, 2011 Tonileg rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical

I love Scotland but this is not the book to read if you want to learn more about it. I borrowed this book from the library and I loved the cover and the idea of the title so I started out really optimistic... unfortunately I almost gave up half way. I couldn't get into the mind of Margo and I doubt that she could have understood the language of the time, but I generally avoid realism in my romance novels, even so, it threw me off too many times to care to finish the story. So I couldn't even giv...more

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May 25, 2011 Laurie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, loaned

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Truthfully, I was rather disappointed with this book. I've read and enjoyed the other books in this series, which, while not the best time travel romances I've ever read, were at least light and fun. Like the others, "Must Love Kilts" had a great premise, but in my opinion it fell flat in its execution. The hero, Magnus, and heroine, Margo, don't even meet for the first time until about halfway through the book, although they do have dreams/fantasies about each other before that. The first half...more Truthfully, I was rather disappointed with this book. I've read and enjoyed the other books in this series, which, while not the best time travel romances I've ever read, were at least light and fun. Like the others, "Must Love Kilts" had a great premise, but in my opinion it fell flat in its execution. The hero, Magnus, and heroine, Margo, don't even meet for the first time until about halfway through the book, although they do have dreams/fantasies about each other before that. The first half of the book drags in a lot of places, with the author spending too much time on Margo's obsession with all things Scottish, her desperation to win the trip, and her disappointment with the tour's fast-paced itinerary when she arrives.

After Magnus and Margo finally meet, they rush into a relationship. Magnus thinks she's a witch for about five seconds after she appears on the beach, but he quickly comes to believe that she is an innocent victim of Donata's curse and can't wait to get her into bed. Margo obviously reciprocates his feelings because she becomes practically incoherent with lust if he so much as stands too close to her. Basically, the only thing she can say is "O-o-oh," which became incredibly annoying as the book progressed. (By the way, is that supposed to be an "oo" as in "moo" or an "oh" as in "Joe"? Either way, if I never see an "o-o-oh" in another book again, it will be too soon.) Their relationship turns steamy very quickly, and Margo falls in love with Magnus and worries about whether or not she'll be able to stay with him in his time. I really had a hard time believing that Margo could fall in love with Magnus so quickly because they barely even talked to each other. How could she possibly know enough about him to be in love? All they seem to think about is getting each other into bed. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if Magnus and Margo's relationship had been better developed. It would have been nice to see them spend some time together without tearing their clothes off.

While I found Margo to be somewhat annoying, I did like Magnus as a hero. His character's history was well developed, and his motivation for turning into the "Viking Slayer" was clear. Some of the secondary characters were entertaining as well, especially Orosius, Ewan, and Margo's group of friends in the present.

Overall, I would not recommend reading this book unless you have read the others in the series and really want to find out what happens to Margo. She is the sister of Mindy Menlove, who was the heroine of the fourth book, "Some Like It Kilted." I think Mindy's book was a lot better than Margo's.(less)

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Jun 08, 2011 Barbara ★ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: time-travel, set-in-europe-scotland, medieval, read-2011, zzcover-brown, hero-alpha, romance

This is not even remotely as good as Allie Mackay's previous books. In fact, it's downright terrible.

Magnus's fiance was killed by Vikings and he is on the warpath to avenge her and kill Sigurd Sword Breaker. Five years into his vengeance, he is cursed by a witch to find love again but to never be able to claim the woman. When Margo appears butt-naked out of thin air during a battle with said Vikings (who promptly disappear), Magnus in a berserker-type rage turns on her and verbally abuses her a...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-for-smexybooks

Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/01/rev...

Margo Menlove lives for everything Scottish. When she happens upon a book detailing the life of Magnus MacBride she is determined to find out everything she can about this highland hero. A chance winning of a trip to Scotland is a dream come true but the trip proves to be disappointing as Margo is fast tracked through the tour. When a walk through town transports Margo back in time she awakens to find herself in the middle of Magnus fi...more Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/01/rev...

Margo Menlove lives for everything Scottish. When she happens upon a book detailing the life of Magnus MacBride she is determined to find out everything she can about this highland hero. A chance winning of a trip to Scotland is a dream come true but the trip proves to be disappointing as Margo is fast tracked through the tour. When a walk through town transports Margo back in time she awakens to find herself in the middle of Magnus fighting for his life.

Magus MacBride has vowed vengeance against the viking who stole the life of his soon to be bride. As he travels the coast striking down all those involved, Magnus dreams of a woman who inspires the greatest of passions in him. But Magnus has vowed no woman will turn him from his commitment. But when Margo appears to him, he loses himself in her beauty and soon finds that love can conquer all.

I have to be honest and say I did not care for this story. Must Love Kilts has a fantastic premise-Scottish obsessed heroine travels back in time to meet her very own smexy highlander. But the build up to the premise bogs the story down and by the time Margo actually gets to Magnus I was ready to close the book.

The first half of the book is spent building up Margo’s character which I found to be insipid and boring. All she talks about is Scotland and gives us an oral thesis on each piece of furniture and or item of clothing she owns that is Scottish. Including where she bought it from. Once she arrives in Scotland, her disappointment over the tour becomes 20 pages of repetitious monochromatic dialogue. Some scenes have a faint humorous undertone but they don’t flesh out and fall flat.

Magnus comes across a bit more developed and I found his character to be more reflective of the synopsis. The visual descriptions are plentiful; he is a smexy highlander without a doubt.

Once our hero and heroine meet the story picks up in speed as the romance begins to develop. I truly feel if the hero and heroine had met earlier the book would have been more impacting. As it is, they meet late and the story rushes to wrap everything up. I don’t feel the chemistry between our characters. They act as though they have known each other for years. Plus, these two characters that are suppose to be passionate and full of life but they lack intensity in this matter.

The secondary characters are interesting and personable but their scenes are inserted randomly; at times I had to reread to see whom was speaking. One character who I felt was underutilized was Margo’s enemy from her time that corresponds to an enemy in the past. So much of the plot based on them and yet they are more annoying them anything.

All in all a very light highlander romance that only skims the surface of it’s potential.

Rating: D(less)

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Apr 12, 2011 E. R. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: skimmed-through

I had the intention to read this thoroughly, but I just skimmed through it. My expression of the book is positive. The premise is that the heroine LOVES everything about Scotland. From a book, she saw a picture of the hero & fell in love, or in lust, with him. With a time-travel twist, the heroine travels to the hero's side. Add in a curse, some hunky Highlander friends, a dog, and revenge.

The cover is also a PLUS.

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Jan 08, 2011 Misfit marked it as thinking-about-it

Shelves: historical-romance, harriet-loved-it

Harriet says: "The story line is brisk and fun, but lacks intensity, which is ironic as he is a raging berserker and she is extremely passionate regarding Scottish. Still fans will enjoy the M to the fourth power romance between the medieval highlander and the twenty-first century fanatic."

Thank goodness the library doesn't have it. I might have been tempted.

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Mar 31, 2011 Regan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, so this is probably THE BEST cover I've seen since my latest one -- seriously, he's delicious and I keep turning back to oogle him instead of reading.

Seriously, this book starts out with a highly emotional scene that just grabs you from the first word.

********

This book just got better and better. It is the best of this series!

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Dec 04, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, time-travel-romance

Short and easy read. I had this one read in a matter of hours.
It's your basic story of going back in time and falling love, kill of the bad guy...(witch).
I didn't mind it. It's your typical time travel romance of Scotland/ Highlander.

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Feb 16, 2013 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-books

For those of you who believe you were born in the wrong moment, that you are connected to another time and place, that a part of your soul aches from memories just out of your mind's reach, this book is for you. It's a story of hope and trust and belief. A heroine who knows who and what she wants and a hero who learns to deal with a past fraught with anger and revenge, so there is room for trust and love. Not only will Margo and Magnus steal your heart, the secondary characters will weave themse...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very well done time travel book back to ancient Scotland. I would have liked it better if there had been more of the story in Scotland than Pennsylvania.

Good trashy romance read.

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Jan 12, 2013 Tegan Genone darkhaven rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highlanders

I love this book Margo and Magnus that man is sexy Alfa male ghosts!!! Her books just hit home with me, every word I read I feel just like I there.

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Apr 18, 2011 Pamela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: shocking, dropped

expected sooo much more & got even worse than what would normally be just me plain horrible.

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Feb 28, 2011 Kendra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: z-added-in-feb-2011, romance, z-read-in-feb-2011

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. It follows the other story with the sister who adores Scotland, so it was a much more enjoyable read.

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Jan 05, 2012 Shelie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Geez, I am embarassed that I read this book. A cheap cheesy romance has to have some expectations right?

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Feb 04, 2013 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

If you can get past the corny names, and the crazy personalities, it was a really good book.

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Apr 14, 2013 Daisylivres rated it 1 of 5 stars

lame!

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Jul 26, 2011 Caitlyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

i loved it! nuff said.

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Mar 22, 2011 Richelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have always loved these books. Such cute stories and they wisk me away to far away lands, hundreds of years ago. I can relate to the main character in this story so much. I hate that I have to wait until 2012 for the next book.

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Jan 19, 2012 Rebecca (everyday reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: time-travel, magical

A different spin on time travel from present day to the Scottish highlands in the heart of Viking days. Margo is one of those rare people who is born way out of her time. Magnus is a warrior and blood-thirsty, but a lover through and through. When they finally meet fireworks fly from both parties. True love once found never dies. Good message and Great read!!

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Dec 26, 2010 Tracy's Place rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 out of 5

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Jul 11, 2011 Audrey02 rated it 2 of 5 stars

I did not realize this was the second in a series, but was still a good stand alone book. The fantasy part of this story was a little bit out of my confort zone, but the sexy vicking era scot made up for that :)

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Mar 27, 2011 Kristine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical, 2011, mine

Cute story. I liked that we see an actual progression in time along with the relationship. Margo did feel a little needy, but in the end, she found her spine and "strength and courage" and did what needed to be done.

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Jan 30, 2012 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cultural-scotland, fantasy-romance, highland-lovers, historic-romance, magic, time-travel

I Loved this read!! This is just what I want in a good Highland Time Travel Romance! I will be sure to read the others in this series.

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Mar 15, 2011 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: highlanders

I didn't care for it. Not paranormal enough for me. Really slow, only made it through half way, got too bored with it.

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Jan 12, 2012 Bev rated it 1 of 5 stars

If you get to page 135 in a romance novel, and the hero and heroine haven't met yet, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

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Sep 10, 2011 Kelly Bolduc rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

Oh... I really need to get my rear in gear and go to Scottland. I need a dreamy highlander... NOW.

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About Allie Mackay

aka Sue Ellen Welfonder

Allie Mackay is the alter ego of USA Today bestselling author, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, who writes Scottish medieval romances www.welfonder.com. A former flight attendant of Scottish descent, she spent fifteen years living in Europe and still makes annual visits to Scotland. Most inspired by the wild places of Scotland’s far north, she is also fascinated by the paranormal, Scott...more

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Must Love Kilts (Highlander #5)

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