Laurin Wittig has
created quite a stir with this wonderful new book of hers! A truly magical Scottish
romance, ‘The Devil of Kilmartin’ is sure to sweep the readers off their
collective feet and draw them into the mystical glens and greenery of the beautiful
Scottish countryside! Unreservedly charming and absolutely riveting!
She is a woman
with a mysterious healing touch, a magical gift with which she tries to help all those she
can. She is Elena, daughter of the chief of Lamont and the famed Lamont Healer. But now
she is in great danger as her father turns up dead and his cruel, overbearing champion,
Dougal of Dunmore, is determined to become the next chief, even if it means that he has to
forcibly marry Elena or worse! She somehow manages to escape from him and deep inside the
forest she stumbles into an ancient stone circle and a most unlikely savior rescues her
from Dougal. Elena is grateful until she discovers that her rescuer is none other than
Symon, the Devil of Kilmartin and the mad chief of the MacLachlans who are Lamont’s
bitter enemies!
Symon MacLachlan
is going mad and he knows it. When he rescues Elena, her magical touch drives away his
madness and renders him clear-headed and whole! And he is determined to have more of it.
But Elena mistrusts him and withholds her gift from him and denies being the legendary
Lamont healer. Nevertheless, Symon offers her safety and shelter and having no other
option, she accepts. The state of affairs at Kilmartin distresses Elena, but she is afraid
of revealing her secret and maybe putting these people in more danger. The rugged and
strangely gentle Symon soon steals her heart but is it just his way of tricking her into
an unwanted marriage? Before Elena can decide, danger comes to Kilmartin in her wake and
no one is safe anymore! Is Auld Morag’s prophecy coming true?!
Laurin Wittig is
to be commended for creating such a splendid Scottish romance! Wittig has perfectly
captured the atmosphere, whether it is that of the dark glens with their mystical stone
circles or the atmosphere of distrust and disharmony in Kilmartin. The innermost thoughts
and struggles of the two main protagonists are most sensitively expressed, as is their
mutual attraction. Symon is torn between duty and love even as Elena tries to go against
her inborn talent for healing. Very poignant! The seemingly invincible adversary also
provides lots of menace and chill to the whole scenario. The plot is intricate and
detailed with atmosphere, sparring dialogue and archrivals fighting over the same woman.
This makes for a highly engrossing read and the conclusion leaves the readers well
satisfied and clamoring to read more of Wittig’s awesomely splendid books! Can’t
wait for her next one!
Reviewed By Rashmi
Srinivas for The Road to Romance
November 11, 2002
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