Erin Burns's Reviews > Taming a Highland Devil

I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Netgalley, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

It looks like this is a story that was previously published by Ellora's Cave and the rights have since reverted to the author and she is now self publishing it. I don't know, but maybe if I had known it was previously published there, it might have set my expectations a little better. Because, this was not what I was expecting.

Don't get me wrong. This wasn't a poorly written or executed book, and the erotica juxtaposed into a period where I as a reader tend to expect more purple prose than raunchy scenes was highly titillating. It was just a little startling is all, and I was expecting more romance and a little less erotica.

I actually really liked Effie and Magnus (his mother calls him Maggie, how cute is that?), I just really wished there was more story, and since this was almost all sex, there wasn't room in the 69 pages for enough story to satisfy me. The characters weren't just cut outs or stock characters, so we saw enough of them for me to be dissatisfied with the amount of story, conflict and characterization that we did get. They both have sad histories, and they both just fit each other really well, I just wanted more.

There were also two things that really bothered me, and there is just no way to get around explaining them without spoilers so stop now if you don't want spoilers.......................






I just couldn't get over the fact that Magnus literally tried each of the sisters out ahead of time. And I really couldn't get over who Effie's sister's real lover actually was. Those were two real problems for me. But again, if I had realized who the original publisher was, I might not have been so surprised or so bothered. So I admit, some of my rating is reader bias and expectations, but overall I am giving this 3 stars, because I am betting this is just the right book for someone else.