Four romance novelists got together to write a short story that shows the beauty of Scotland. These stories involve clueless women who get their foot stuck somewhere and gets help out of their predicament by a long-haired highlander. At first they cannot stand each other and near the end of each story fall madly in love.

None of the four stories give a feeling about Scotland. It relies heavily on stereotypes and the lack of scenic pictures in the book does not help at all. One gets so upset with the female protagonists that the visual imagery of the their location gets lost in the text. One of the most poorly edited stories in this anthology is Connie Brockway's LASSIE GO HOME. Devlin Montgomery is helping American Toni Olson to find a kidnapped dog by giving her a ride on his motorcycle. Dev is physically attracted to Toni in her jeans and her seductive cowboy boots. One night they are staying in a room where they wind up playing strip poker. Toni has apparently lost her pants and is about to lose another hand. Devlin is staring at her thinking, 'If he won another hand, what would he ask her to shed - shirt or fantasy-inducing boot?' My question is the following, have you ever taken off your jeans while still wearing cowboy boots? It is near to impossible without having them removed first.

There are probably better stories that bring the essence of Scotland into their plot but this is not one of them. This book might seem like a good idea at the time but apparently too little time was given in the making of it.

If you want to think deeply, which most people don't when they settle down with a romance, this isn't the book for you, but if you want a light and pleasant journey to an idealized Scotland, you'll be happy with this book. The four stories are enjoyable, although I personally found "Sinfully Scottish," about a devilish and manipulative millionaire, much too fake and saccharine for my taste. My favorite was "Lassie, Go Home," which had a fun and spunky heroine. All of the stories have an American woman visiting Scotland, meeting a sexy Scot, and deciding to stay. It's a fantasy a lot of us enjoy, and who can beat the settings that always involve a castle? I don't think I'll be rereading these stories, but they were definitely a nice diversion, like a dip in a cool stream on a hot day.

Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Lassie, Go Home by Connie Brockway
Toni Olson is an American woman in Scotland to bring home a Beautiful Border collie she bought in hopes to advance her own breeding program in the States. Devlin Montgomery is the owner, reluctant to sell his beloved dog. When Dev's overseer, Mr. MacGill, takes off with the dog, Toni and Dev must track him down. Along the way they find a lot more than and old man and a dog.... They find a love that just possibly may last a lifetime.

This was a cute story full of laughs and more than a little sexual tension between the primary characters. Ms. Brockway has drawn a fun tale, just the right length for a relaxing summer evening (or a cold winter night!) The end of the story was a bit different and fits the story's theme perfectly.

Sinfully Scottish by Patti Berg
Emily Sinclair is a national bestseller of cookbooks full of her own decadent desserts, set against stunning backdrops and passionate tales. Colin Dunbar is a reclusive Scot, famous for his family's unique recipes for whiskey. Emily and Colin make an intriguing wager, allowing her to photograph his castle for her next book and search for a secret, forcing them into living arrangements which generate far more heat than his strongest blend of whiskey.

This was quite a steamy story, the passion between the characters exploding off the pages. The heat radiating from this one is enough to burn the reader's fingers while turning the pages. A unique premise here, Ms. Berg has penned a delightful story.

The Maddening Highlander by Debra Dier
Ann Fitzpatrick is an archeology professor come to Scotland on a quest for treasure and a legend. Iain Matheson is something of a playboy, known as much for his adventures with the ladies as his advances in his film production company. The two team up to solve the mystery of some hidden family treasures. But they uncover a lot more than that... they find a hidden passion as well.

This was a classic theme, revolving around a common legend of the Highlands, but it still works. Nothing new in this one, but it was fun anyway. It is a lively tale just right for some light reading.

Castle in the Skye by Kathleen Givens
Maddie Breen is a New Yorker, working in a high profile career, who is desperate for some time off. She heads to Scotland for the birthday party of an old family friend. Here she meets Iain MacDonald who is restoring an old castle for her friends. The sparks are immediate and electric between them, igniting a passionate blaze. But will they overcome the hurdles to their once in a lifetime love?

This was probably the favorite story in this collection for this reviewer. Plenty of tension from the moment Iain and Maddie meet. There was even a good dose of intrigue, with a subplot involving the castle renovations.

All in all, a very fun book to read. The common theme of American women going to Scotland for some summer fun and finding true love in the process. There was plenty of passion in each story and a good dose of comedy as well. This is definitely a perfect book for a hot summer night...or a cold winter one that needs warming up.

Emily Anderson was a good school teacher at the small town of Aurora. Her mother passed away nine months ago and she had to manage the farm almost all by herself. Her dad, Gus, was a drunken man who she can't leaned on. One day, instead of her father in his bed drunk as always, she found a man , handsome one nonetheless, wounded by a shot and fainted. It turn out the man was a thief who stole lots of money from Mr. Harrison, the most powerful rancher of the town. Being held against her wish, she must save this outlaw and share a bedroom with him.

Raphael Caldwell was a mysterious man who had a task that need to be done in Aurora. After his wound healed, he must be gone from the town as soon as possible. But he can't let go and forget the sweet Emily just yet. Meanwhile, Emily didn't want to be parted with her captor also, until a lie torn them apart. Raphael got caught and would be hanged. Emily will risk all she had to save the man she'd fallen in love. Even if that mean she had to ruined her good name.

This was a good story that Brenda Joyce write. Fast pace with strong characters like Emily and Raphael who you'll will love instantly. Look for her novels such as The Bragg's family series, Beyond Scandal and Secrets. Guarantee you won't be disappointed. You got not only one story, but also three other stories by other authors like Connie Brockway, Cait Logan and Stephanie Mittman. Sadly, all the stories was too short, just when you started to enjoy them, you had to say goodbye to them. So for those who love a full length novel instead of short ones, you can skip this book. But for those who don't mind and those who just started to read romance novels, you should grab this book to accompany you in the weekend.

This story was readable and had potential, but I had overwhelming problems with both the main characters:

Moreland was a stick in the mud (or he had a stick somewhere) which rendered him unlikeable. All he cared about was appearances --- a character flaw that was sometimes amusing and often irritating. His obsession with convention was worse than any sour spinster and rendered him just as manly. Doesn't everyone want a hero who says to hell with the rules? He may have been a dangerous man in the wild west, but he was a milksop in elegant England. Moreland's eventual fall from grace I found more puzzling than romantic and too little too late.

Mercy's character started out well but after being presented as brave and honorable, she soon deteriorated into a blackmailing whiner. She was annoyingly obtuse about following instructions when tagging along on the search for her brother and just annoyingly obtuse about said brother altogether. After calculating, scheming, obsessing, and blackmailing her way through England I wasn't really endeared to any of her causes, period.

Disliking the hero and heroine doesn't make for an enjoyable read --- thus the 2 star rating.

Nice book, good plot, but the cold, dangerous bit isn't my particular taste. Well, but the whole story about him saving her and... no I won't tell, that part is really good. The love story wasn't as convincing as it might have been (had the hero been less cold) but it was - hmm - pleasing, I guess is the word. Good winter read.

Ms Brockway has created a exquisitely tortured hero and a lively, compassionate heroine. Hart has done whatever it took to help his family after his father abandoned them, including enlisting. He fought a war in Africa at a very young age, and now suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disoder. Of course he just thinks it is cowardice. He was also a gunfighter in Texas and New Mexico so he could raise marry to support his sisters. Texas is were he first meets Mercy. Mercy is in England to find her brother, who has quit writing. She hears that Hart will be at a country house party and gets herself invited. She tries to persuade Hart to help her find her brother. After numerous tries she decides to blackmail him. They dance around their feelings never daring to hope the other loves as they do. This is a wonderfully written book.

The story started off just fine. However, for two very promising characters, both the hero and heroine needed some serious challenges--like dealing with some real issues like alcoholism or post-war trauma. Sadly, there was only a vague reference of Noble working for environment protection.

Venice Leiland is such a delightful minx! She can practically charm any man like the best of con artists. She has lots of hidden talents and skills and has a big heart. Noble McCaneaghy is exactly that--noble in every sense of the word.

As children they were raised together: Noble, as the charity experiment of the Leiland Foundation; and Venice was his benefactor's daughter. Even as a grown woman, Venice constantly seeks her father's approval but can't seem to get it. And so, she is exiled from New York high society bec. of several scandals. She then decides to go to a town called Salvage, where her uncle has been vainly looking for dinosaur bones for seven years. She is determined to help the people of Salvage survive the closing of the Leiland Spur Line, but it turns out that her intervention is unneccessary bec. her uncle eventually does find his fossils. Meanwhile, Noble is once again cast in the role of her very own 'knight in shining armor,' as she continues to land herself into one scrape after another.

I've read thousands of romances. This is the best.