Kilts and Catnip

by Zoe Tasia

Magical danger lurks in the forest.
But Greg Gillie, a handsome Scot with a mysterious past, protects the Shrouded Isle and the lands beyond from the mischievous, dangerous fae.
A woman arrives disturbing the wee folk.
Greg’s task becomes harder when American widow, Becca Shaw and her two daughters vacation there. As each day passes, more fae steal away from the forest hill and menace the people in the village, Thistle.
Can this exodus be stopped?
As Becca encounters an array of magical creatures, she strives to repair her relationship with her two still-grieving girls and befriend the suspicious villagers. Greg and Becca must work together to solve the mystery of why the fae are escaping and discover how to prevent it while they struggle with their blossoming feelings for one another.
For their sake and the sake of the world, let’s hope they’re up to the task.
Kilts and Catnip, the first book in a new fantasy series, is filled with sweet romance, delightful humor, and exciting adventure.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2019

About the author

As a child, Zoe Tasia idolized Barbara Eden, star of I Dream of Jeannie, however, she would have ditched the astronaut and married Captain Kirk. She can’t blink and make magic nor did she wed a Starfleet officer. Instead, life had something better in store for her. She explores her imagination as a writer, is married to an understanding Greek, has two grown sons, and a crazy cat that thinks it’s a dog. Zoe grew up in Oklahoma and lived over seven years in Scotland. Now she resides in the great state of Texas, where everything’s bigger and better, or so she’s told by the natives. When she’s not giving her make-believe friends full rein, she enjoys the opera, ballet, well-chilled champagne and reading, lots and lots of reading. Her first book is Kilts and Catnip (The Shrouded Isle Book 1.)

She co-writes books with Minette Lauren under the pen name Zari Reede.
Daisy Dukes ‘n Cowboy Boots, a funny romance
Blinked, a zany fantasy
Sins of the Sister, a psychological thriller

Reviews

[Claire Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag review. There are several things I really enjoyed about this book, and a lot of aspects that I really disliked.

Let's start with the general idea of the book: I loved the premise of a single mom relocating and spending a summer away with her daughters in a tiny Scottish town. This book reminded me a bit of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder as a light-hearted version of a genre like mystery or, in this case, fantasy with a bit of a romantic twist to it. In the first chapter, two love interests are introduced, which is one or two too many for the first chapter and could definitely have been toned down a bit. The fantasy world we were working in wasn't even established when we met both men - it could have been established better and before the love interests were introduced. Additionally, for a light-hearted book like this, the amount and intricacies of the paranormal and fantasy creatures and activities in the town were far too intense. I wish there had been fewer creatures and potentially fewer fae townspeople.

The characters: The main five characters were really well-formed and likable. Becca is a single mom recovering from the death of her husband and taking her daughters to a tiny Scottish island for the summer. Her teenage daughter, Jessie, is actually not super annoying, which is refreshing for teenage daughters in books (and movies). Becca's youngest daughter, Tate, is the catalyst for all of the supernatural, fantasy-type plot points and events in the book, being taken from her bed in the middle of the night into the woods. Greg, a mysterious man who comes from the woods, enters the story when he rescues Tate from the hands of the supernatural creature that kidnapped her. Finally, we have Kay, a semi-mysterious townsperson who becomes close friends with Becca and her daughters. These characters are all really engaging and well-written, and all of them are very different from one another and not at all repetitive.

The vocabulary: When I started reading, I was immediately struck with Zoe Tasia's amazing vocabulary. I really enjoyed the variety and complexity of her word choice. However, by the end of the book, I felt that I was just reading a book where some of the original words were replaced with complicated Thesaurus.com equivalents.

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[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Tasia creates a wonderful world of fae, shape-shifters, goblins, and magic, effortlessly blending it with the story of a very modern family, dealing with the aftermath of loss.

Read full review in the 2019 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked the story overall. Greg is a cool character, mysterious and strong. Wish the story was a little more large-scale

[Lubov Leonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful blend of mystery, romance, and fantasy

The story follows Becca, a 39-year-old woman, and her two daughters as they embark on a summer adventure in a quaint cottage, only to find themselves entangled in a web of mysterious events and encounters with the local fae.

Tasia's writing style is engaging and it kept me hooked from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of magical realism and legends woven throughout the narrative. The author's attention to detail and vivid descriptions of the landscapes make the setting feel like a character in itself.

The blossoming romance between Becca and Greg adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative, while the well-crafted character development brings each member of the family to life in a relatable and authentic way.

Becca's journey of investigation and self-discovery is both compelling and thought-provoking, showcasing her resilience and determination in the face of supernatural challenges. The dynamic between Becca and her daughters, Tate and Jessie, is heartwarming and realistic, capturing the complexities of family relationships with nuance and sensitivity.

Overall, "Kilts and Catnip" offers a richly imagined world filled with mystery, romance, and adventure. Is a must-read for fans of magical realism and legends.

[Zari Reede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kilts and Catnip is a cozy fantasy with a sweet romantic flare, depicting the life of Becca Shaw, a young widow, who moves to the Scotland with her two young daughters after her beloved husband passes away. Filled with grief, Becca struggles to find happiness and the previous connection she shared with her children. Feeling the need to spend more time with her daughters and heal, she packs up the family and rents a cottage on an island for the summer. Unbeknownst to her, the Shrouded Isle is a place of mystical wonders and things a sensible teacher shouldn’t believe, but after a few hair-raising run-ins with a kilt clad stranger in the forest and local residents, Rebecca has to admit that something not normal.
Arriving at their summer destination tired, after the long day of travel, Becca sets up the cottage for their stay. It is only a short time later that her youngest daughter mysteriously disappears, and her oldest daughter is in a panic. Searching for her child, Becca gets turned around in the forest and meets a curious stranger in a kilt, who reunites her with her daughter. Discombobulated by the late-night events and filled with the terror of a mother who has lost her child, Becca shrugs off the stranger and his warning not to return to the forest.
Things heat up with a domestic, telepathic cat and scary wolves hot on their trail, but the residents don’t seem at all mystified about the odd mishaps. Becca remains concerned over her youngest daughter’s change in disposition and tries to figure out just what is wrong and how to fix it. She does a little research at the town library, consorts at the local gala and even cozies up to the neighbor to discover the mystery behind the elements at play. With the roller coaster of odd events and mishaps, she’s not sure she will ever find out the secrets of the Shrouded Isle but has no control over her winsome heart.
Warm, majestic and full of adventure, this fantasy is sure to entertain. I look forward to reading more of the fae filled forest and the budding romance between Becca and Greg. This fabulous story by author, Zoe Tasia, shows a promise of more great things to come. I truly enjoyed this cozy page turner. Don’t miss book one of The Shrouded Isle.

_Minette Lauren

[Carmel Audsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author of the very popular Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon, had never set foot in Scotland when she wrote her books, but it didn’t stop her from researching her content thoroughly. I was pleased to read that this author spent more than seven years living in Scotland and so has some understanding of the people, the places and the folklore. This is important to me for two reasons: I am of Scottish descent and I write historical fiction set in Scotland. The cover of this cosy fantasy is attractive and intriguing with the obligatory tartan and a cat who reminded me of Salem from the Sabrina the Teenage Witch television series. The cat in the book does have telepathic powers. When widowed American teacher Becca takes a job in Aberdeen Scotland, she sees an advertisement for a cottage on Shrouded Isle and wants to take her daughters to the island for the summer holidays. One of her daughters goes missing, is rescued, and upon her return her behaviour has changed. There was some awkward sentence structure: ‘Jessie dragged me toward the door, but suspicious, I pulled free’, and an over-use of present participles to begin sentences. The story is told in the first person, with the protagonist’s thoughts in italics, and short staccato sentences give an immediacy to the pace of the story. Take a small village, a family in need of some tender loving care, a creepy forest and a kilt-wearing stranger, add a little romance and mystery, and you have all the elements for a magical romp through a magical land.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the title of this story is what initially caught my eye. It sounded like an odd combination and it piqued my interest in wanting to know how exactly these two things collided with the other. And even from the first chapter, it's easy to see that things are not quite what they seem in this sleepy wee village. I enjoyed finding out the mystery of the island, which had a unique way of unraveling itself, layer by layer. Some aspects I was able to figure out ahead of time and some still came as a surprise. I loved that the story awakened that sort of subconscious detective inside me.

The characters were well-developed, although some were understandably not so detailed, at least until it was necessary to reveal everything, but they got there eventually. I enjoyed getting to know each of them, in a way that opened up another aspect of this tight-knit community. The budding romance between Becca and Greg was sweet and realistic, and I loved watching the two of them find themselves again, in the midst of dealing with the pain of their tragic pasts.

Other than some small instances where the choice of wording didn't seem to mesh quite as well with the flow of the writing, I thought the story was intelligent and compelling, with just the right mix of mystery, adventure and a hint of romance.

One thing I didn't like was that the ending came entirely too abruptly. I wasn't expecting it at all, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for these lovable characters and what new endeavors they find themselves facing... together!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed it.
My major issue with the book is that the sentences are put after each other with not necessarily a connection to it. There are seldom sentence connectives, which makes it hard to read. It seems random at times what the author is telling. An example:

"Kiera [the cat] had shown up to eat a few rashers of bacon with the kitten,
but left when the girls did. I remembered that Kay’s friend intended
to catch the ferry early this morning. Why not stay the whole week-
end? It was as if Kay had something to hide or—she wasn’t sure what
her friend would make of the island and wanted to introduce her in
small increments.
Scotland never got very hot, but today the cold air nipped at my
nose and the gray sky drizzled—more like a fall day than a summer
one."
What has the cat got to do with Kay's friend and the weather? It seems these were random thoughts put on paper which weren't essential for the story. This runs through the whole book, which is annoying.

There is a mystery in the book, but I'm still clueless at about half of the book. I don't want to drag myself through the rest of the book to get to the bottom of it. Not with this writing style.

[Emily Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Kilts and Catnip, Ms. Tasia takes us through a fun story of biological family, found family, and love after loss. While there is at least one romance plot, it's not the entire draw of this book for me; the setting, the people, and the rest of the themes pulled me in from the first. It's well edited with very few mistakes (for those of you who are grammarians, like myself).

You will like this book if:
* You enjoy heavily interpersonal books with a smattering of peril and excitement
* Clean romantic plots are your thing
* Tell-don't-show is your preferred approach to storytelling (to be fair, it's not usually mine, but I still enjoyed this book)

You will NOT like this book if:
* You crave constant action
* Flowery prose keeps you in the story
* You prefer massive unforeseeable plot twists and interpersonal drama

I will be picking up the next book at some point to see where the story goes.

[Bianca Scharff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kilts and Catnip was definitely as another reviewer mentioned a cozy fantasy and now I'm so happy to know that such a thing exists. It's hard for me to describe, except to say that this is the book that you want to read on a rainy day with a hot drink in your hand. The story touched on and explored different myths, legends, and best of all Scotland! The beautiful descriptions and precarious situations the main character and her two daughters get into keep you wanting to read more and make you care. Not only are they all in Scotland to take a break from their extended family and recent grieving but are simultaneously discovering who they really are. If you enjoy magic and fairytale creatures mixed into everyday reality I would recommend you start reading right away just remember to have tea or cocoa ready, enjoy.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical with Scottish folklore and light romance
Enjoyable full length stand alone read. I love all of the folklore of Scotland entwined into this book. A girl trying to get some space ends up surrounded by shifters, curses, fae and magic. The main character is a strong independent type and is not too upset when she finds herself being able to see many of the strange creatures lurking about where she and her two daughter are spending the summer. She is desperate for information and researches as much as she can to figure out what is going on. I like that her personality is not one of panic, but of getting to the bottom of the mystery that seems to surrounds her. She is a great mother figure and there is a budding sweet romance. I was engaged from beginning to end. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[Michael Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Becca rents a cottage for the summer with her two daughters and finds herself the center of a lot of strange occurrences the tight-lipped locals are reluctant to explain. So begins her detective work, with some help from Jess, her eldest. In the end, they were able to put two and two together and pry the information from the island residents. And just in time, as the structures put in place to keep the fae at bag were quickly unraveling.
The end came too soon for me. I would like to have seen Becca struggle a bit more with what she learned about the charming woodsman. But alas, love is blind and they were running out of time.
All in all a fun read. Moving on the book two.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I read books all day for a living, it's not easy for me to get stuck into a book in my spare time anymore, but I loved this book. It was a mixture of everyday family drama and love, budding friendships and romance, and suspenseful mystery and nail-biting action. There were moments of fear when the goose bumps rose on my arms. The author kept my questioning right until the end. I find the fae info fairly accurate to folklore but my knowledge is limited, so I'm not sure.

I am itching to read the next book. She left me with many answers but also many more questions.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca "Becca" Shaw is a widowed American living in Scotland following her husband's death. Becca and her two daughters come to The Shrouded Isle for summer vacation. Little did any of them know what's about to happen to them. Greg Gillie is a handsome Scot with a mysterious past and finds his heart stirring after all this time. Strange things begin to occur around Becca and her daughters that can't be explained rationally. What is going on Shrouded Isle? What's different about Greg Gillie? Will strange things continue to happen to Becca and her daughters? Find out in Kilts and Catnip.

[LINDA BASS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and how Becca took care of her two daughters, but, I felt that she did not make good decisions. After her youngest was lead into the woods, she dashed into the woods without a care for her life. She was told again and again to not go into the woods, but she did as she wanted to see where the man in a kilt's home. I liked that Greg rescued Becca at least twice when she slipped into lake into the after as she looked for a tiny kitten and when she got lost in the woods. The book read quickly leaving me longing to read what happened next.

[Sue Bowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

What a wonderful and magical story! I couldn't read it fast enough! I can't wait to read the next book,out in a week I think. I love Becca and her daughters. They are realistic, teenagers,yuck, and in need of healing. The people of this island and I think the island itself are working together to do that.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome!

I truly enjoyed this tale of Scottish magic. Loved the characters and the unfolding of events. Things aren't what they appear to be in this small village. This is book one, so there will be more and I look forward to reading them as well.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way I learned with the family as they found out about the creatures that lived on their island. The little fairies and other fae gave you a sneak peak into other people lives. They came into their lives and surprised them all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, imaginative story with great characters, woven through with Scottish lore and a touch of romance.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Such great characters mixed with the old myths and fables. I couldn't put the book down!! I highly recommend reading.

[Jodie McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It started off really strong and immediately drew me in. Being Scottish myself and a cat lover, I found the book to be accurate to Scottish portrayal. I liked the addition of her two daughters - I find you don’t often see Mums as a main character, especially not in fantasy. The majority of the book had good pacing, and I often found myself wanting to read just ‘one more chapter’ which I would then end up staying awake a lot longer than originally planned.

The reason for not giving it five stars is I found the last 10% of the book to be quite rushed, and it also seemed very out of character. I feel like there wasn’t enough character development for this plot point to happen. I also feel like it was very out of character for Becca, who always has her daughters priorities first but that seemed to disappear in the last moments of the book.

Overall, it’s a good read and I look forward to reading the next one.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming and wonderfully well written para cozey mystery with such a vibrant array of characters crowded in mystery. It is so enchanting visiting an island among the the British Iles. Zoe Tasia has woven a tale of intrigue bringing to life a history from ancient fairy tales, and myths that will draw you from its very beginning not letting go until you've reached the unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " Kilts and Catnip " so you yourself can enjoy this begotten tale of intrigue, wonder and a passion for an island home. Kat

[Adria Knudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Scottish folklore, hunky Scottish men, and a love for mystery then you’ll want to read this book.

Becca finds herself on a Scottish island for the summer with her two daughters. Strange things begin to happen to them from the first night they are there. The author takes us through mysterious events, paranormal encounters, and hints of romance throughout most of the book.

In the last portion, everything happens quickly as we get answers to stuff: what’s been happening to Becca and her daughters, who is the mysterious man that keeps coming to their rescue, and how does Becca fit into the history of the island?

The story has compelling characters who are imperfect, yet charming and there is a lot of description to allow the reader to get a clear image of what it’s like to be in this magical little village.

At the very end, Becca and another character make a split-second decision. While I don’t think it was out-of-character, I do wish we had more time to adjust to the changes with the two characters and that it wasn’t so rushed. But I’m hopeful that in the next book, there’s time to get to see the characters in a new light.

[Kim Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I just got back from a trip to Ireland (not too far from Scotland) a few weeks ago, so reading this right after was perfect—I could just picture the misty hills, the stone paths, and even hear the characters saying things like “cuppa” in that cozy way. The setting in Scotland felt so real, it was like I was right there on the Shrouded Isle.
I loved all the characters that I have met so far in the book. Even the bad wolves had me feeling sorry for them. And bratty teenage Jess makes you want to strangle her one moment, and then she does something so sweet it reminds you it is just those teenage hormones at work. I love the way they handle all the strange things happening around them. As they get more and more answers, they adjust very well to their newfound truths about the folks on the island and their connection to it all.
I am so excited to see what the future holds for Becca and Greg, and I am hoping that Jess can be happy no matter what comes next. I want to see what happens for Kay, too, and Tate and her kitten. I just love them all. I will be purchasing book #2 ASAP.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a little mix of mystery and magic. This is the book for you. It is a great escape and so well written, it will draw you in from page one!!

[K.E. Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read!

Kilts and Catnip is a fun read about a woman and her 2 daughters vacationing on a Scottish Isle for the summer. While there, Becca and her daughters become friends with the local townsfolk and have several dangerous encounters with local fae.

I accidentally read the sequel first, and wasn’t able to get it out of my head, so I had to read the first book! Even knowing how it ended, this book kept me engaged and interested, especially after the 85% mark where the action really picked up!

Becca was a sensible and thoughtful character. While there are some decisions and thought processes I would have personally disagreed with, I thought she was a fantastic mother and liked seeing a 39 year old woman as a protagonist discovering magic. Her daughter, Jessie, was the perfectly quintessential teenager testing her limits - at times loving and at others worthy of an eye roll.

I would have liked a little more intimacy between Greg and Becca. While I thought Greg was intriguing and loved his gruff personality, they had a little too much of an insta love and not enough conversation and yearning for me to fully support Becca’s final decision.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you have an upcoming trip to Scotland!

[Rosemary Mairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shaw family cause a stir on the Shrouded Isle, the locals disconcerted by their arrival. Becca Shaw and her two daughters are intrigued and mystified by the islanders’ strange and secretive behaviour. Have they something to hide?

I have read this trilogy in the wrong order, beginning with book two, and although each can be read as a standalone, I encourage others to start with this book, ‘Kilts and Catnip’, to gain maximum reading enjoyment. The backstory and budding relationship between Becca and Greg Gillie (the enigmatic keeper of the forest), which is described in this first instalment, sets up their story to continue into the next book.

What I particularly like about this series is the combination of family life, mystery and magic. Becca’s relationship with her teenage daughters is a major focus of the plot, but doesn't distract from the mysterious and magical goings-on they find themselves in the midst of, when they spend the summer on a remote Scottish island. The reader’s curiosity is piqued with the sightings and behaviour of cats, wolves, and other indeterminate creatures lurking in caves and in the forest.

If you enjoy cosy fantasy, with a generous helping of romance, this is the series for you.

[Cam Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delightful blend of traditional romance, mystery and old world Scottish lore. The author clearly knows Scotland well and captures the feel and romance of the place wonderfully. She manages to capture the feel of small town semi-rural country very well, and it is a wonderful backdrop for the story.
As for the story itself, it is an entertaining tale filled with mystery, romance and adventure, sprinkled with a smattering of supernatural elements for good measure.
The writing style is engaging and natural and easily pulls the reader along without any real difficulty. As the story unfolds and the romance slowly builds between the two main protagonists, the mysteries add up to make a very entertaining journey.
If you enjoy cozy romance/fantasy type books then I reckon you will have a good time with this one. There’s nothing particularly shocking or groundbreaking to be found, but it is a very solid read that delivers on every point that truly matters. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, even though it is not exactly the type of thing I would be normally drawn to. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed!

[Becca Ryden · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Kilts and Catnip” was a cute start to what I suspect will be an engaging series. It is clearly a self-published book with some of the quirks a publisher would have changed, giving the story a quaint feeling that matches the charm of the story. If you’re American (like me) some of the language used will take a while to figure out, including the written accent of the characters. It just made me do research so I could understand everything that was being said.

I intended to read a chapter or two a day before bed. Instead, I did it in three reading sprints because I was engaged and wanting to know what was going to happen next. If you’re looking for a fantasy/romance with a more mature female lead (I say that because the main character is a mother of two), with a dab of mystery and intrigue, this will satisfy your reading urges.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Strange Island with Strange Happenings

Becca moves to Showed Island for the summer with her girls. Jessica is a teenager and Tate a young girl. Strange things start happening. They meet the people and like them. They feel at home even though the strange things are happening. Adventure, crazy characters q and fun!

[Lori Flemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very imaginative

Just when you think you have read it all , someone comes along and writes something that takes your imagination to a new place . For lovers of the fairy tales of old and the dark fea . This book has a little bit of everything .