The Scot and I : All About Romance

The Scot and I

Grade : C

Time was Elizabeth Thornton used to write more than just generic books. Sadly, the chief emotion this one managed to wring from me was an overwhelming feeling of “been there, done that.”

The author’s lackluster combo of spy story-road romance feels like a paler – make that a much – paler imitation – of that spy story-road romance that blew everybody away about a year or so ago. I won’t name names here (or titles either), but I think you know who and what I’m talking about.

Alex Hepburn is a psychically gifted noble who works in the secret service of Queen Victoria. His planned disruption of an attempt on the queen’s life goes awry when a man Alex believes to be an innocent bystander is shot. The shooter is a beautiful young woman named Mahri Scott.

So, Alex and his spies begin a search for the young woman. Only they can’t find her because she’s dressed as a boy. (Well, now, you didn’t see that one coming, now did you?)

It all has something to do with Scots independence…but, honestly, I never gave a rat’s ass and it’s easy to put my finger on why. The book is all action, action, action and little to no character development so the hero and heroine – much less the large cast of secondary characters – remain relentlessly cartoon-y. (And I’m not talking the good stuff here either. This book is about as far from Bugs Bunny level brilliance as Scooby Doo is from Sylvester – no offense to any Scooby fans.) Still, my point – and I do have one – is that when sketchy cardboard characters spend page and page verbally fencing, shooting, running, and just plain talking – my god, do they talk! – it all adds up to one completely forgettable and uninvolving book.

Bottom line? This is a completely generic, totally middle of the road romance that I don’t come even close to recommending.

Elizabeth Thornton can do so much better. No, make that Elizabeth Thornton has done so much better.

Reviewed by Sandy Coleman

Grade : C

Book type : European Historical Romance | Historical Romance

Sensuality : Warm

Review Date : May 15, 2009

Published On : 2009/06