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Devil of the Highlands (Devil of the Highlands #1)

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 3,609 ratings · 193 reviews

They call him the Devil . . .

He is the most notorious laird of Scotland: fierce, cold, deadly . . . and maybe even worse. Yet Evelinde has just agreed to wed him. Anything, she thinks, is better than her cruel stepmother. Though Evelinde should be wary of the rumors, she can't help but be drawn to this warrior . . . for the Devil of the Highlands inspires a heat within her...more

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Published April 20th 2010 by HarperAudio (first published February 1st 2008)

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Oct 15, 2012 mark monday rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to mark by: RBRS Assignment #1

Shelves: i-gave-up, romantika

These characters were just too dumb to hate. I thought the opening of this book was the fucking best opening of a book ever, and Lynsay Sands is another author on my must-buy list. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's a paranormal or a historical, her stories have humor and heart and leave me feeling good when I'm done. Standing room only on the train, heat index already at 115, nauseous service dog, and this book. Ok I'm done with this book and let me tell you it's funny, exciting, and has lo...more These characters were just too dumb to hate. I thought the opening of this book was the fucking best opening of a book ever, and Lynsay Sands is another author on my must-buy list. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's a paranormal or a historical, her stories have humor and heart and leave me feeling good when I'm done. Standing room only on the train, heat index already at 115, nauseous service dog, and this book. Ok I'm done with this book and let me tell you it's funny, exciting, and has lots of love. Here is a summery of the book enjoy.

Evelinde is promised to "The Devil of Donnachaidh" and all she has heard about him are EXTREMELY horrible things. Have you ever had your nipple sucked accidentally? Have you ever sucked someone's nipple accidentally? Cullen is no dummy and his instant attraction to Evelinde causes him to move quickly to get her out from under her stepmother. He doesn't talk much, but he does grunt and growl A LOT. Scottish is an awesome language. "It's uncanny," said a senior researcher, speaking under condition of anonymity, they have improbably good sex like a couple of blow-up dolls. I like sex scenes. The great thing about them is tha they are usually the parts of the book that it opens to naturally, because when you're rubbing one out you tend to open the book a little wider. So you go looking for the parts of a library book that open easily, like Evelinde's womanhood. I laughed so hard I had to wash my face and can't fathom obvious-to-the-village-idiot type ideas like how a person might want a change of clothes when moving to a new home or that maybe you should stick around to introduce your new wife to your family. Or talk to her, ever.

Lots of humor, lots of hot lovemaking, and a happily ever after filled with love. I enjoyed Cullen and Evelinde immensely. Mostly because there was no contrived plot device to keep them apart - this book cares more about the woman’s orgasms than a lot of porn I’ve seen, and people who are forced into other marriages, they are just fucked. Each of the main character's learn a little something important about the other and all the miscommunications that they had had in the not so distant past are easier to understand. But don’t these people know there’s so much better porn out there? Whiskey tango foxtrot?

___________

my sincere apologies, Esteemed Literary Group. i know this was an assignment that i should have completed. i should have read this purely as a lark, and enjoyed the hilarious absurdity of it all. or i could have gotten my pretentioso on, and looked at it from a political perspective, deconstructing its hilarious gender politics. but i just couldn't do it, any of it, none of it. i couldn't finish this one. i...just...could...not...do...it. let's pick a better book for the next go-round! although i suppose "better" is purely subjective.

and so i have presented to you my very first Drunken Review in the form of a very special Review Mash-Up. Guess the Reviewers! i can take no credit for a single phrase above the italics, i just don't have it in me now, and i feel it's time that other reviewers work for me! those were some good pisco sours i had tonight. the ceviche and those beef heart skewers were pretty tasty too. woot!

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Jul 21, 2011 Ceridwen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alternate-history, celts, drunk-book-reviews, for-teh-ladies, rbrs

message 1: by Elizabeth
1 hour, 56 min ago

Drunken book reviewers unite.

message 2: by Ninja Sock Puppet
1 hour, 54 min ago

Fuck.

message 3: by Ceridwen
1 hour, 43 min ago

Okay, bitches, here's the problem with the multiple person drunk book review:

1. NSP sucks and won;'t turn off the weird 80s music
2. I've forgotten my point before I even started it.

Okay: here's my opening salvo: I thought the opening of this book was the fucking best opening of a book ever, and I just read Sunshine, which has the best...more

32 likes · like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Manny marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: pooh-dante

Freak Talent Baffles Researchers

Scientists at the world-famous Goodreads Institute of Bodice-Ripping Studies say they are "baffled" by a man who is able to evaluate a book simply by picking it up and riffling through it for five seconds.

The rest of this review is in my book What Pooh Might Have Said to Dante and Other Futile Speculations

23 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2009 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

Lynsay Sands is another author on my must-buy list. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's a paranormal or a historical, her stories have humor and heart and leave me feeling good when I'm done.

Evelinde is living under the thumb, and temper, of her horrible stepmother. With her father dead and her brother fighting in the Crusades, there's no one left to protect her. So when her stepmother calls for Evelinde with a smile--she knows it's not going to be good. Then she learns she's to be married! S...more

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Aug 14, 2009 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: already-own-read

I was in the mood for a fun, lighthearted romance when I picked up this book, and "Devil of the Highlands" delivered! Evelinde's wicked stepmother arranged for her to marry Cullen, the Laird of Donnachaidh because of his bad reputation as a harsh ruler and murderer, wanting to see her suffer in a marriage to such a ruthless man. Evelinde and Cullen have a chance meeting before the ceremony and Evelinde instinctively knows the horrible rumors about him couldn't possibly be true. They have a genui...more I was in the mood for a fun, lighthearted romance when I picked up this book, and "Devil of the Highlands" delivered! Evelinde's wicked stepmother arranged for her to marry Cullen, the Laird of Donnachaidh because of his bad reputation as a harsh ruler and murderer, wanting to see her suffer in a marriage to such a ruthless man. Evelinde and Cullen have a chance meeting before the ceremony and Evelinde instinctively knows the horrible rumors about him couldn't possibly be true. They have a genuine affection for each other, not to mention chemistry, immediately. Cullen then goes to great lengths to whisk Evelinde away, so she won't have to spend one more second with her evil stepmother.

It takes Evelinde time, but soon she understands that even though her husband rarely speaks to her, or anyone, his actions tell of his true fine character and his feelings for her. Cullen gradually learns to communicate with his new wife, and she learns to accept him, meeting each other halfway. I loved how the characters got to know each other. They weren't separated by a plot device, and they didn't hold back from each other because they were afraid of their feelings. They truly interacted with each other, getting to know the good and the bad, and fell in love!

Evelinde was a sweet, talkative lady, who was very accident prone! However, she was also very intelligent and was usually able to get herself out of the sticky situations even before her husband arrived to help. I loved Cullen, talk about the strong, silent type! His motto seemed to be 'actions speak louder than words.' He was one of the most caring, thoughtful, noble heroes I've read about for a long time. My only problem with Cullen was that he wasn't in the last 1/3 of the book enough!

I would give the first 2/3 of the book 5 stars. Yes, the beginning has some silly parts that might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed the funny scenes and would've liked the silliness and humor to continue for the entire book. However, in the last portion of the book, the romance really took a backseat to the murder that Cullen was accused of as the Devil of Donnachaidh. Although the mystery was well done and I didn't even see the culprit coming, I wanted more romance! Sadly, Cullen seemed to turn into a background character as Evelinde solved the mystery.

I loved the first part of this book, the humor and genuine feelings between the characters was such a relief to read. I was just disappointed in the end because it focused too much on the mystery. I will definitely look for more historical romance by Lynsay Sands in the future.

Reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/

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Feb 10, 2009 ♡KarLynP♡ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2009, genre-historical, steam-warm, genre-highlander

My first by this author so I don't have anything to compare it to. It was OK, but the writing style seamed very simple. I don't mind that style when the story is humorous, but this wasn't a particularly funny read. Odd and amusing, but not funny. It kind of felt like I was reading a childrens book if not for all of the sex. The hero and heroine were not the brightest people either, both repeatedly making poor decisions with obvious consequences. No author is for everyone, and for me I think she...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Michelle added it · review of another edition

Shelves: rbr-society

The plot: The year is 1273. Evelinde’s mean old stepmother decides to wed her to some Scottish badass known as ‘The Devil of the Highlands.’ Evelinde thinks anything will be better than life with her stepmother so she agrees to marry him.

(Guess what? Cullen (a.k.a. The Devil of the Highlands) isn't really as evil as the rumors about him suggest. Plus, there is a murder mystery.)

The review: I don’t even know where to begin. First, I can’t give this book any stars, which has never happened to me...more

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Feb 17, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hist-rom, hist-rom-scottish, romance, hist-rom-quirky-h-h

When Evelinde discovers her nasty stepmother has spitefully arranged a marriage to the Devil of Donnachaidh, she is at once frightened and resigned to her fate. But the last laugh is on her stepmother because Cullen is not the brutal man the wild rumors say he is. In fact, quite the opposite- and when the two secretly meet under less than formal circumstances, Evelinde quickly assesses the situation and decides not to let her stepmother in on it.

Cullen is no dummy and his instant attraction to E...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Jetches (My Not So Vacant Shelf) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well…I’ve fallen in love with another highlander. And he is nicknamed ‘The Devil’. How, awesome is that? I liked this book. It started off with some awesome passion, and then there was some mystery added in, and I was a goner. Cullen really got me from the first meeting. He didn’t fit his nickname, but he doesn’t talk a lot so I can see how people can come to that conclusion, but then he goes and totally woos Evelinde in a very, very nice scene by the water. *SWOON. I also really liked the myste...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Lavanya Ray rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, erotic-romance, mystery

I started reading this book last week, which I completed last night. It is the first book in the "Devil of the Highlands series".

As the suggests, this is a story of a Devil. His name is Cullen, a powerful lord of Scotland who is infamous as a cold deadly brute. His past awarded him the "Devil" title. Every one fears him, still Evelinde agrees to marry the man.

Here comes the bride of the devil, for her wedding him is the only way out of her miserable life. Her stepmother, over enthusiastic to tie...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 Stars

Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands

I love Lynsay Sands, not all her books, but most of them and I had forgotten that I had read this one a while ago. I decided to re-read it and found that I liked it as much this time as I had the first time I read it. While it may seem a bit slap stickish to some readers, I find that the humor is typical of Ms. Sands works. All her books seem to have a bit of irreverence in them to counteract the more somber themes. Ms Sands also writes a darn good...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Jaden rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: highlander, historical, horror-mystery-suspense-thriller, romance

Book cover: promising
Summary: promising
Rating: promising
Reviews: promising
Outcome:

Before reading the series, I checked everything out most thoroughly to make sure it won't be an unfortunate tryst in the woods. Yet, after finishing it now, I feel like I've been tricked.

No matter how much I tried to be understanding, there was something that didn't bode well. The main couple bugged me - a lot. There were the usual misunderstandings, plotting and treachery, and eventually uh... love conquered it a...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Jessica Weiss rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: addicting, alpha-males, highlander, historical-romance, witty-humorous

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. Having enjoyed the author's past works, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her Highlander stories, but I actually found that I enjoyed this one more than I enjoyed any of her other stories

The story begins with your typical evil step-mother idea, but quickly transitions to married life between Cullen ("The Devil") and Evelinde. There's some mystery thrown into the mix and some attempts on Evelinde's life that leaves you on your toes. I was actually surprised...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-reads

This is what happens when my brain is fried - I read romance novels. Mostly to chuckle over the whackadoo plot contrivances, historical anachronisms, and stilted language but once I get past all that...sometimes they are sorta cute.

Take this one for a "meet-cute": Evelinde has been betrothed (by her awful stepmom) to the Devil of Donnachaidh, a man rumoured to have killed his uncle and father for the lairdship and his wife of two years for bearing him no bairns. Evelinde goes off wading in the r...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Sandy M rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

What a breath of fresh air this book is. I love a romance that has the hero and heroine actually together, even married, for the majority of the read, solving problems, issues, conflicts together. No big misunderstandings, no one leaving the other in a huff after an argument. I know there has to be conflict in our romances, but Ms. Sands proves that it can be done with the main characters together, getting to know each other all the while falling in love.

This is also my first Lynsay Sands histor...more What a breath of fresh air this book is. I love a romance that has the hero and heroine actually together, even married, for the majority of the read, solving problems, issues, conflicts together. No big misunderstandings, no one leaving the other in a huff after an argument. I know there has to be conflict in our romances, but Ms. Sands proves that it can be done with the main characters together, getting to know each other all the while falling in love.

This is also my first Lynsay Sands historical. I’ve read a couple of her vampire books and loved those, so I knew before starting this one I should like it quite a bit. I enjoy Ms. Sands style of writing and the fact she makes me care for her characters right off the bat. Cullen and Evelinde were no different and I enjoyed reading them immensely.

Evelinde has had to deal with her stepmother on her own since her father died four years ago. The woman is as mean as mean can get, but at least Evelinde has a home. Now mommy dearest has plotted to have Evelinde wedded to the Devil of the Highlands, Cullen, Laird of Donnachiadh, a man whose exploits have painted him as evil as the devil. But Evelinde prefers the devil over her stepmother and looks forward to leaving her life behind.

I really had fun with the scene when Cullen and Evelinde meet. She’s just taken an unexpected plunge in the lake and the only way to quickly dry her gown is to undress, left only in her chemise, hold her gown high above her head as she gallops her horse across the meadow by the lake, back and forth and back and forth. Cullen and his men are on their way to Evelinde’s home to collect her as his bride when they stumble upon her outlandish antics. The series of events when Cullen interrupts her are just terrific. It’s the perfect setup for how their married life will go over the next several weeks and months.

Cullen had been hoping only for a woman who was biddable and would give him an heir. He didn’t get biddable, but what he got was so much better. I loved how Evelinde would stand up to Cullen after one of his demands, although she’s a smart cookie and knew when to choose her battles. The love and tenderness between them is lovely to read and it only gets better as the book goes on. You can see how their love grows for one another as they get to know each other and as the danger around them escalates when unexplained events begin to happen, hitting too close to home for Cullen.

I have all of Ms. Sands’ books in the TBR pile. I’m going to be reading more of her in the near future. I love her alpha heroes and her strong, intelligent women who are more than a match for their men. Cullen and Evelinde have become one of my favorite couples and they are definitely going on the keeper shelf.

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

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Jul 13, 2011 KJ Luepke rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 50-books-a-year-2011, basically-porn-for-girls, jp-recommended

I started skipping through the book about halfway through. Obviously it's not meant to be a life changer but it got a bit rough there. The main character considers herself intelligent but all I could think was, "Really? I mean, you know, really? Are you sure?" Someone is attempting to kill her and she and the rest of the characters are kind of fuzzy and laissez-faire about the whole deal; as in, "Zoinks! Someone's trying to stab you through the heart! Yowzers!" And the cover had me laughing ever...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical-romance, lynsay-sands

So I have been really jonesing for a historical Scottish romance, and I've been debating for awhile if I should read this series by Sands. I love her pnr books so I went with it and hoped it would be good. I'm so glad that I did because it turned out to be excellent. Just enough highland brogue, mystery, romance and did I mention the brogue?

The main character is named Evelinde and she lives with her stepmother who is really horrible to her, in fact her stepmother is so disturbed she has requeste...more

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Oct 22, 2010 Jamie - Nitty Gritty Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked this book up after reading Taming the Highland Bride because it made references to this book in certain parts of the story. I am very glad that I picked it up because I was most definately NOT disappointed! It totally had me guessing right up until the end!

Evelinde is promised to "The Devil of Donnachaidh" and all she has heard about him are EXTREMELY horrible things. Assuming that these stories are all true she assumes that she is headed for a life of abuse and a great big FAT ZERO on...more

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Apr 30, 2010 Jay rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted at RomanceReaderAtHeart.com

Evelinde is an innocent girl who’s been betrothed to someone she’s never met and has heard horrible things about. She doesn’t know how to reconcile the ‘Devil of the Highlands’ with the passionate man her husband is turning out to be.

Cullen isn’t any of the things that are whispered about him, but he doesn’t care enough to try and change anyone’s mind. In fact, the rumors about him work out well for him because whenever he goes out to fight, people j...more

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Mar 30, 2010 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, romance

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Jul 23, 2011 Lightreads rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical, romance

Nope, couldn’t hack it, sorry fellow RBRS…ers. Ites? Standing room only on the train, heat index already at 115, nauseous service dog, and this book. My whole being just cried out NOOOO, and I skipped through the last five hours of audio in about twelve minutes.

My God this is terrible. I mean, okay, the part where he tripped and fell and his mouth accidentally landed on her nipple as a literal plot point was funny, and the fact that her nipple was described as "trembling" was funnier, but then i...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Miriam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: celtic

These characters were just too dumb to hate. I didn't give a shit about them or their weak-ass romances or the lame, obvious solution to the "mystery" that everyone else in the ~~town~~ keep (there seem to only be like 20 people living here for Duncan to be lord of, which is lucky because he's a dim-bulb) has been studiously ignoring for years because solving it just made things awkward for everyone. Those medieval Scots, so c'est la vie with their public undressing and seducing of teenagers and dis...more These characters were just too dumb to hate. I didn't give a shit about them or their weak-ass romances or the lame, obvious solution to the "mystery" that everyone else in the ~~town~~ keep (there seem to only be like 20 people living here for Duncan to be lord of, which is lucky because he's a dim-bulb) has been studiously ignoring for years because solving it just made things awkward for everyone. Those medieval Scots, so c'est la vie with their public undressing and seducing of teenagers and dismissal of serial murders. Oh well! These things happen! Why look for trouble?

I felt like I should feel sorry for Evelinde, who aside from some good kilt-lovin' has a pretty horrific life. Her dad dies and she's left to be abused by horrible stepmother, who hates her for no reason. She gets married off to a guy she expects to be cruel. She falls! Out of trees, off horses, into streams, down stairs, in the path of bulls. Evelinde spends the whole book black-and-blue. Poor klutz. Her husband, while actually kindly and good in bed, is emotionally deaf and can't fathom obvious-to-the-village-idiot type ideas like how a person might want a change of clothes when moving to a new home or that maybe you should stick around to introduce your new wife to your family. Or talk to her, ever.

But in fact, I only ever felt a slight cringing pity for her during scenes like the one where her new neighbors show up for an unannounced inspection of her right after she gets her gown torn open by a bull her husband was baiting (nice, right?) and then has her husband drag her around by the back of her dress like a naughty child being humiliated by old-fashioned parents. I couldn't really feel for her because 1) see paragraph one, and 2) the author continually undermined any emotional pathos with slapstick humor. I never managed to decide whether Sands was meaning to be funny or not, but her characters' constant pratfalls into streams and over fences certainly distracted from any potential emotional engagement.

The only person I genuinely felt sorry for was Maggie, Duncan's dead first wife. She was in love with a man who merely tolerated her and hardly cared when she died. And she died quite young, murdered by someone she trusted. Her death is merely a plot device; if not for its relationship to other murders no one would even bother to investigate it. But we're not supposed to care about Maggie. Apparently, Duncan's neglectful treatment of his first wife isn't supposed to reflect badly on him. Because he's a man! And men don't get the "feeling" stuff, or converse (except with each other, about manly thing like horses and hunting). Only men who are Vile Seducers make small talk with women.

This wasn't a good mystery, and it shocks me that Sands appears to be a successful romance writer. While I've read more offensive and worse written romances, this really lacked an emotional register. I won't even get into how inauthentic her "medieval Scotland" is or how people didn't wear kilts till the 16th century...(less)

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May 26, 2009 Georgia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

A friend of mine gave me this as a late joke birthday gift. It's a typical romance novel, not too poorly written, and if one is able to ignore the complete lack of knowledge of historical period and accept it as a 21st century bodice ripper set in a Dark Ages Scotland about which the author knows nothing, it wasn't all that bad. Her attempts at dialect are stilted and often incorrect, and the characters behave in ways that are undoubtedly anachronistic, but the plot has some interesting twists....more

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Jul 30, 2012 Carrie Lim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, domestic-bliss, ebook, families, forced-marriage, hero-alpha, hero-scot, medieval-era, lust-at-first-sight, past-that-haunts, sealed-with-a-deal, what-lies-beneath

The story started out strong. But then the rest of the story kind of dwindled from there.

I kept waiting for something to actually happen, and the funny thing is that things were happening. It was just rather ho-hum for me though. Maybe it was because of the characters. I didn't like them, but I didn't hate them. They were just there. I wish both the hero and heroine were stronger and that both had more of a voice. Even if Evelinde does talk a lot, she doesn't say all that much. Actually, I think...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those of the tin ear

Recommended to Elizabeth by: Listopia. Are you all high?

Shelves: 2011, drunk-book-reviews, hem-steppers-and-bodice-rippers, reviewed, scottish, rbrs

This book is unfortunate. The characters are unfortunate. The plot is unfortunate. The "bud of her excitement" is unfortunate. The failure of every person in the book to think for just a moment and not go rushing off into the field with the enraged bull while wearing an impossibly red dress in the Scottish highlands of 1263 c.e. is unfortunate. But using the nickname "Biddy" for Elizabeth is more than unfortunate, it's insulting. I'm insulted. I'm insulted by more more than the name though. I'm...more This book is unfortunate. The characters are unfortunate. The plot is unfortunate. The "bud of her excitement" is unfortunate. The failure of every person in the book to think for just a moment and not go rushing off into the field with the enraged bull while wearing an impossibly red dress in the Scottish highlands of 1263 c.e. is unfortunate. But using the nickname "Biddy" for Elizabeth is more than unfortunate, it's insulting. I'm insulted. I'm insulted by more more than the name though. I'm insulted by the scooby-do mystery and the accidental sucking on a boob in the second (?) chapter. Have you ever had your nipple sucked accidentally? Have you ever sucked someone's nipple accidentally? Unless you're still nursing, you're usually pretty conscious about that type of activity, I don't care if you have just been thrown from a horse or if you are Scottish and supposed to be all barbarianesque at this point. Are the Scots the new "PC" man's man? When the privileged, white romance writers realized that stereotyping African-American men might be just a wee bit insulting, did they turn to the Scots? Anyone remember that line from Trainspotting Scotland was also colonized. The romanticized view of the country isn't because they get together and play their ~~reindeer~~ Highland games every year; it's because the English can be pretty racist, and you don't even have to be a different color, you can just sound different or live a couple hundred miles north of London. (I'm a total anglophile, by the way, but I lived in Scotland as a student and it gives one an interesting perspective on their prejudices, and ones own). My point? Right, I've got a point (just like this book - when was the last time you read a book with a fucking moral at the end?). So, the Scots were romanticized, maybe through emigration, maybe through racism or classism or some sort of other ism that I can't seem to recall at the moment, and we end up with this "safe" man's man: a big, hairy, grunting type, who (literally) sweeps the petite woman off her feet and likes to run around without underwear. Like Joey, from Friends, when he was still doing Diet Coke commercials.

I'd be more pissed about the idiocy of this book if I hadn't done this to myself. I chose it because it looked kinda stupid. I was hoping for some funny and, yes, the accidental boob suck was pretty funny. The it's-so-bad-it's-funny applies to books as easily as movies, and I do love those. Ever seen The Phantom? How about Batman and Robin and the rubber nipples in the Batman suit? Remember Arnold as the Nobel Prize winning scientist in that one? I laughed so hard I had to wash my face when I left the theater, all my make up had run from the tears. This book, unfortunately, failed me there too. My high hopes were crushed but the sheer stupidity of the characters after the first few chapters. As they focused on learning about each other and expressing their feelings and bringing feminism to the thirteenth century castle and solving the LAMEST murder plot in the history of bad romance novels, they forgot be funny, even in a bad way.

Very, very unfortunate.(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Brittany B. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rom_guilty-pleasures, rom_highlanders, rom_pink_steamy, rom_historical

I really liked this book. I didn't expect much from it, so this was a pleasant treat!! :)))

This is the first Lynsay Sands I've read, and I appreciated her unique style in this highlander story. There is a bit of a mystery in the story, and I really enjoyed it. I was completely hooked on this book once I got going. The heroine and hero were great characters!! Plus they had lots of chemistry :)

If you like your highlander stories, this one is worth a read for sure.
I'll definitely read the rest...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Sparrow rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-a-dare, reviewed

Wherein we learn, ladies, that it’s not such a bad thing if our fellas don’t talk to us, as long as they buy us stuff. Wherein, likewise, the fellas learn that it is their duty to talk – talk, or the people you love will die!! And, as usual, everyone lives happily until the next time their clothes accidentally fall off in public. (such a nuisance!)

People have basically said all there is to say about this book, so I won’t keep you for very long. The accidental-nipple-in-the-mouth part was the be...more Wherein we learn, ladies, that it’s not such a bad thing if our fellas don’t talk to us, as long as they buy us stuff. Wherein, likewise, the fellas learn that it is their duty to talk – talk, or the people you love will die!! And, as usual, everyone lives happily until the next time their clothes accidentally fall off in public. (such a nuisance!)

People have basically said all there is to say about this book, so I won’t keep you for very long. The accidental-nipple-in-the-mouth part was the best part, no doubt. Because who can’t identify with the idea of having a stray nipple wander into somebody’s mouth? My nipples are always wandering off somewhere, forgetting to call when they stay out past curfew. Believe me, I counted myself lucky when they made it through high school without winding up on a milk carton. And it’s kinda nice in the book how whatserface’s nipples were pointing in the right direction – no need for a dreary love triangle. I can get behind that.

But, it’s also true what you hear about the rest of the book being pretty blah. The resolution of the mystery was about as tame as you could possibly have made it. Definitely the most boring option. No real character development happens throughout (other than above-noted talk/not-talk conflict). Everyone basically stays the same, and the hijinks stop after about page 100. Also, “apex of her thighs” . . . I know we’re running out of descriptors in this day and age, but really? That is a linguistically bankrupt moment in literature.

The nice thing about the nipple business was that it had a recognition of how silly these sexy books are. And there’s a sort of appreciation of the funniness of bodies that is cool - and there was a literally ripped bodice, which is funny-ish. But, seriously, if you can’t tell your nipples are in some dude’s mouth, you need to get tested for a nerve disorder. I am concerned for this girl’s health. Milk cartons aside, that’s the kind of thing you think you’d notice.

Anyway, I basically agree with Ms. Sands' premise that it’s nice when guys do nice things, but it’s also nice when they talk. I can get behind that. It’s probably why so many men are just devouring this book – men love to read books that give helpful tips about relationships. Fact.

What? No, you’re saying? It’s just us girls over here bitching about how dudes only want to talk about superficial stuff? Aw, man! Well, I guess that’s cool, too. And also, ladies, be us not daft, and let us remember our own lesson of contentment: as long as those men remember to bring us our gowns and our jewels and our damn tapestries – oh, and remember not to (view spoiler) (also learned from book) - we shall be good little wives.

Final note: bodices are fine, but I wanted a kilt to literally rip. I know the benefit of the kilt is the easy access, but, still, major disappointment.(less)

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Nov 17, 2011 Darkpool rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: smut, fluff, audiobook, auckland-library, digital-media, fiction, historical, read-in-2011

Reading this on account of a) happening to spot it as available in the digital library catalogue, 2. having read the truly hilarious and scathing drunken group book review here on Goodreads and (iii)feeling the necessity for an additional audiobook given that the one I'm listening to in the car is nearly finished, and neither of my preferred next selections seem anywhere like turning up at the library soon. Sigh. So this is for entertainment and cheap thrills in the comfort of my own home all th...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Marianne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third Lynsay Sands book I've tried to read. The first two were in her vampire series, and I thought that maybe it was just the way she wrote that series that I didn't like. After all, most of her books have a 4+ rating on goodreads, and that's normally a good way to measure whether a book is worth buying when I'm on the fence. Unfortunately, I just don't get it why people like her books so much. I think her writing style is very generic, the humor she tried to fuse into this book (an...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Allison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

This was a really great story. The story line was great and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I was found myself furstarted with Cullen and he silent ways. But he was so sweet couldn't help but fall in love with him too. Evelinde was funny and handled herself well. I was a great read, well listen.

1 like · like · see review

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About Lynsay Sands

Lynsay Sands is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She's been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fit...more Lynsay Sands is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She's been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that's just a big bonus.

Born in Southern Ontario, Lynsay Sands is the New York Times bestselling author of the Argeneau Vampire series. She has written more than 34 books and anthologies since her first novel was published in 1997. Her romantic comedies span three genres—historical, contemporary, and paranormal—and have made the Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists. Lynsay's books are read in more than twelve countries and have been translated into at least six languages. She's been a nominee for both the Romantic Times Best Historical Romance Award and the Romantic Times Best Paranormal Romance Award, was nominated and placed three times in the RIO (Reviewers International Organization) Awards of Excellence, and has several books on All About Romance's Favorite Funnies list.

1.) I started The Deed (my first romantic comedy and the first book to be published) a year after my mother's death. I was very close to my mother and the year following her death was about the most miserable time imaginable. But then I decided I was tired of being down and unhappy, and looked around for something to lift my spirits and make me laugh. When I couldn't find anything, I decided to sit down and write my own. It worked! Emmalene and Amaury's antics in The The Deed had me chuckling as I wrote.
2.) I met my husband in New York in July 2003. I was there because of the RWA conference and he was there on vacation. The first day there we kept running into each other and chatting in front of the hotel, and then he asked to join our group (it was very brave of him. He was the lone male amongst six or seven women, lol). He's a Brit and I'm Canadian and the first two months of our relationship were conducted by phone as well as over the internet. Our first date was a week in New York in September, followed by three weeks in England. He then came to Canada in both November and December, the first time to propose and the second time for Christmas with my family and then to take me back to England with him for New Years. I lived in Northern England for two years. We married in New York and now live in Canada.
3.) I was writing about my husband before I met him. Single White Vampire came out in September 2003 and I took a copy with me to England when I went for the three weeks. I walked into my now-hubby's house to find at least six months worth of mail unopened and stacked up on a shelf inside the front door. When I stopped dead, eyes going wide with shock and asked "My God. That's mail. You don't open your mail?" He looked embarrassed and muttered some explanation about bills automatically being paid by the bank so no need to open those and everything else was unsolicited and he couldn't be bothered. When I burst out laughing, he started to frown and said "What?" My response was to dig out the copy of Single White Vampire and hand it over with the suggestion he read it. The mail thing wasn't the only similarity he had to Lucern Argeneau. There are many more and when he sat down to read the book, he kept stopping and turning a rather startled and even suspicious gaze my way and muttering that this sounded familiar" or that did. I had to point out that it really was coincidence, that I had written that story at least nine months before meeting him. LOL.(less)

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Quotes from Devil of the Highlands

“She took a bad tumble. Those are some nasty bruises she's
carrying," the maid said with a sad shake of the head.
"Aye," Cullen agreed, his eyes traveling over lovely, milky white skin,
interrupted by several black bruises. "She looks like a cow."
Mildrede turned a horrified gaze on him at the comment, but he was
more concerned by the choked sound that came from his bride. He
really hadn't meant it as an insult, but it seemed the women were taking
it so.
"I just meant the coloring," Cullen muttered” — 9 people liked it

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