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Kilts and Quilts #4
The Accidental Scot
Christmas in the small village of Gandiegow brings holiday cheer—and a chance for love between two strangers…
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow's meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow's meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
356 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
87 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Patience Griffin
18 books692 followersAward-winning author Patience Griffin has been writing and sewing her whole life but didn’t discover her love of quilting until her late thirties. She decided the best way to acquire her first quilt was to make one for herself. At nearly the same time, she started commuting three and half hours a day for her dream engineering job. To pass the time on the long drive, she got hooked on audiobooks—especially books with love stories.
Within a couple of years, she was writing stories of her own. It was no surprise to her family and friends when she combined her love of quilting, her small town roots, and her obsession with Scottish romances into novels.
She has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. She has a master's degree in nuclear engineering but spends her days writing stories about hearth and home, and dreaming about the fictional small town of Gandiegow, Scotland.
Within a couple of years, she was writing stories of her own. It was no surprise to her family and friends when she combined her love of quilting, her small town roots, and her obsession with Scottish romances into novels.
She has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. She has a master's degree in nuclear engineering but spends her days writing stories about hearth and home, and dreaming about the fictional small town of Gandiegow, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 92 reviews
December 6, 2015
I want to love this series. It has the most amazing cast of secondary characters in the little village of Gandiegow. A rural Scottish village, with quaint homes, a local pub, biddy-body old women, and sexy men. The world building is amazing, I feel like I belong, and when I look up from my book I am genuinely shocked to still be in my own country and not one of the seaside cottages. I want to stroll down the path and join Deydie with a quilting party, I want a shot of whiskey from the pub. I do appreciate good Scotch.
Pippa, our main heroine is a firecracker, with sassy red hair and a Scottish burr that I could hear in my head as I read. In so many ways, she is strong, independent, and so sure of her abilities. I couldn't help but love her at first sight. Watching her manipulate poor Max in the beginning was magic, and had me laughing out loud.
Max is just an all around good guy. He plays the good sport to Pippa's manipulations, and before long he is participating in every Christmas tradition the town can throw at him, plus some. He's helping old ladies cross the road, he's winning the hearts of the children, helping build props for the Christmas Pageant, delivering food to the poor. How can you not love a man like that? He has come to town to close a deal between Pippa's company and his and he is even on her side, determined not to let his company swindle the town he's so growing to love.
Their sparks came flying off the pages and threatened to light the night on fire as I read. They tried to deny it, but being such overall awesome characters, they just had so much to love about each other. And the chemistry between them was palpable. Loved it!
Now that sad part. The actual romance was down right annoying. Constantly second guessing each other, refusing to trust each other. Believing in relationships that very obviously didn't exist, and continuously pushing each other away because of it. The jealousy these non-existent secondary relationships caused was so ridiculous it had me laughing as I read the arguments. I thought I was reading about adults. Not high-schoolers. The way the townspeople focused on these non existent relationships was distracting and rather annoying. Oh, they're going to marry. But they've never even kissed, dated, or loved each other. WHAT? Maybe it's a culture thing. I don't know.
Even with the unbelievable conflict in the relationship, I still had to be pretty positive in my rating simply because it was just such a fun read. The writing is excellent, the characters are like part of the family, and Gandiegow. Oh, to be in Gandiegow. I didn't even need the romance. I could just read about these quirky characters and be completely content. ~ George, 3.5 stars
Pippa, our main heroine is a firecracker, with sassy red hair and a Scottish burr that I could hear in my head as I read. In so many ways, she is strong, independent, and so sure of her abilities. I couldn't help but love her at first sight. Watching her manipulate poor Max in the beginning was magic, and had me laughing out loud.
Max is just an all around good guy. He plays the good sport to Pippa's manipulations, and before long he is participating in every Christmas tradition the town can throw at him, plus some. He's helping old ladies cross the road, he's winning the hearts of the children, helping build props for the Christmas Pageant, delivering food to the poor. How can you not love a man like that? He has come to town to close a deal between Pippa's company and his and he is even on her side, determined not to let his company swindle the town he's so growing to love.
Their sparks came flying off the pages and threatened to light the night on fire as I read. They tried to deny it, but being such overall awesome characters, they just had so much to love about each other. And the chemistry between them was palpable. Loved it!
Now that sad part. The actual romance was down right annoying. Constantly second guessing each other, refusing to trust each other. Believing in relationships that very obviously didn't exist, and continuously pushing each other away because of it. The jealousy these non-existent secondary relationships caused was so ridiculous it had me laughing as I read the arguments. I thought I was reading about adults. Not high-schoolers. The way the townspeople focused on these non existent relationships was distracting and rather annoying. Oh, they're going to marry. But they've never even kissed, dated, or loved each other. WHAT? Maybe it's a culture thing. I don't know.
Even with the unbelievable conflict in the relationship, I still had to be pretty positive in my rating simply because it was just such a fun read. The writing is excellent, the characters are like part of the family, and Gandiegow. Oh, to be in Gandiegow. I didn't even need the romance. I could just read about these quirky characters and be completely content. ~ George, 3.5 stars
January 28, 2016
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The Accidental Scot
Kilts and Quilts series, Book #4
By Patience Griffin
ISBN13: 9780451476388
Author’s Website: http://www.patiencegriffin.com
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
Christmas in the small village of Gandiegow brings holiday cheer—and a chance for love between two strangers…
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow’s meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
Review:
The Accidental Scot, a continuation of the Kilts and Quilts series was a delightful read. I found I was quickly engaged and re-entrenched in the lives of the residents of Gandiegow; it was like I had not been away at all reading other books :) . In her writing way, Patience Griffin has created a cast of characters who are relatable, engaging and down right entertaining.
The story begins with Pippa attending the funeral of Kenneth Campbell. Pippa comes to the realization that if things do not change, the next funeral the town might be attending will be her for her da. From here, one can surmise that Pippa was having none of that! She would do whatever was necessary to assist her da (referred to as ‘the McDonnell’) in his recovery from his accident as well as facilitating good financial health back into the North Sea Valve Company (NSV). Oh…and let’s not forget Pippa’s third challenge…keeping everyone from pressuring her into marrying Ross now that she was home. One of Pippa’s first steps would be to take a meeting with a representative from MTech (an American firm desperate for this valve design). She also brainstorms and comes up with the idea to auction the ruggedly handsome men (bachelors only of course) of the village off to raise funds. I loved how she spoke to the men of the town (the whole lot of them were like brothers to her) when discussing this plan:
“Each of you will be shaved, showered, and kilted. And there better not be the stink of bluidy fish on any one of you. Do ye hear?”
Enter Max McKinley, MTech’s representative. He is sent to Scotland to close the deal with the NSV Company. I got the sen se at that point in time, his boss Miranda Weymouth and Roger Gibbons (MTech’s president) are definitely keeping him in the dark about the specifics of their actual objectives…they just want a pretty face to go and close the deal. So, Max’s task is to meet with Lachlan and Alistair McDonnell and convince them to go into partnership for the subsea shutoff valve.
Max’s first introduction to the local people of Gandiegow is when he walks into the local watering hole where he is served by Pippa. And they all know who he is and why he is in town…. And they certainly put him through the wringer. As with all small towns…the inhabitants are a close knit bunch. They are all so colorful and I quite enjoyed their comradery, scheming and all around caring for each other.
As with any romance book…there has to be romance. Max was certainly in a quandary when he started falling for Pippa…especially since the deal with North Sea Valve Company (NSV) was not a done deal (and his job depended on securing this deal):
“His career was on the line and he was letting a nice piece of lass get in the way of closing the deal. But he couldn’t text Miranda back. What could he tell her about the deal? That NSV’s chief engineer kissed like a veritable love goddess or that she hade him as hard as a concrete pier? How about that he’d spent his time making Christmas presents and drinking with the locals instead of discussing the subsea shutoff value?”
There was a lot of development on many secondary storylines, which brought in characters from previous books in the series. However, there is enough back story provided so that if this is your first read in the series, it would not be difficult to catch on to the characters and how they all fit together.
I would have to say that to date, this is by far my favorite of the Kilts and Quilts series. I loved how the romance played out. The auction of bachelors was a hoot. All in all – a great read. I cannot wait for the next book in the series: The Trouble With Scotland (Kilts and Quilts #5).
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
The Accidental Scot
Kilts and Quilts series, Book #4
By Patience Griffin
ISBN13: 9780451476388
Author’s Website: http://www.patiencegriffin.com
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
Christmas in the small village of Gandiegow brings holiday cheer—and a chance for love between two strangers…
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow’s meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
Review:
The Accidental Scot, a continuation of the Kilts and Quilts series was a delightful read. I found I was quickly engaged and re-entrenched in the lives of the residents of Gandiegow; it was like I had not been away at all reading other books :) . In her writing way, Patience Griffin has created a cast of characters who are relatable, engaging and down right entertaining.
The story begins with Pippa attending the funeral of Kenneth Campbell. Pippa comes to the realization that if things do not change, the next funeral the town might be attending will be her for her da. From here, one can surmise that Pippa was having none of that! She would do whatever was necessary to assist her da (referred to as ‘the McDonnell’) in his recovery from his accident as well as facilitating good financial health back into the North Sea Valve Company (NSV). Oh…and let’s not forget Pippa’s third challenge…keeping everyone from pressuring her into marrying Ross now that she was home. One of Pippa’s first steps would be to take a meeting with a representative from MTech (an American firm desperate for this valve design). She also brainstorms and comes up with the idea to auction the ruggedly handsome men (bachelors only of course) of the village off to raise funds. I loved how she spoke to the men of the town (the whole lot of them were like brothers to her) when discussing this plan:
“Each of you will be shaved, showered, and kilted. And there better not be the stink of bluidy fish on any one of you. Do ye hear?”
Enter Max McKinley, MTech’s representative. He is sent to Scotland to close the deal with the NSV Company. I got the sen se at that point in time, his boss Miranda Weymouth and Roger Gibbons (MTech’s president) are definitely keeping him in the dark about the specifics of their actual objectives…they just want a pretty face to go and close the deal. So, Max’s task is to meet with Lachlan and Alistair McDonnell and convince them to go into partnership for the subsea shutoff valve.
Max’s first introduction to the local people of Gandiegow is when he walks into the local watering hole where he is served by Pippa. And they all know who he is and why he is in town…. And they certainly put him through the wringer. As with all small towns…the inhabitants are a close knit bunch. They are all so colorful and I quite enjoyed their comradery, scheming and all around caring for each other.
As with any romance book…there has to be romance. Max was certainly in a quandary when he started falling for Pippa…especially since the deal with North Sea Valve Company (NSV) was not a done deal (and his job depended on securing this deal):
“His career was on the line and he was letting a nice piece of lass get in the way of closing the deal. But he couldn’t text Miranda back. What could he tell her about the deal? That NSV’s chief engineer kissed like a veritable love goddess or that she hade him as hard as a concrete pier? How about that he’d spent his time making Christmas presents and drinking with the locals instead of discussing the subsea shutoff value?”
There was a lot of development on many secondary storylines, which brought in characters from previous books in the series. However, there is enough back story provided so that if this is your first read in the series, it would not be difficult to catch on to the characters and how they all fit together.
I would have to say that to date, this is by far my favorite of the Kilts and Quilts series. I loved how the romance played out. The auction of bachelors was a hoot. All in all – a great read. I cannot wait for the next book in the series: The Trouble With Scotland (Kilts and Quilts #5).
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
November 29, 2015
Tuig thus’ an t-eathar, 's tuigidh an t-eathar thu.
Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.
The Accidental Scot is Book 4 in Patience Griffin's contemporary series, Kilts and Quilts, set in Northeast Alba, overlooking the mighty North Sea. I loved the first book, To Scotland With Love - a double nominee for the 2015 Rita Award. I received Books 2 and 3 just before I moved across town; I hope they are tucked away in an unopened box. Griffin asked me to review Book 4 ... and I jumped at the opportunity.
In the first three books, American women escaped to Gandiegow following failures in their lives. They soon discovered warmth and romance among the kilts and quilts. In The Accidental Scot, it is a handsome American engineer who arrives in Gandiegow to offer a partnership with "the McDonnell" who owns North Sea Valve Company. Max's boss believes his honest face and technical skills will win over "the McDonnell". Instead, Max meets Pippa McDonnell who is holding together the company after her father's accident. Pippa is skeptical of Max's intentions and sets out to show him the "human" side of the company. She integrates him into the village's Yuletide celebrations not realizing Max's only flaw is his humbug attitude of Christmas. But this is Scotland! Pippa, along with the colorful denizens of Gandiegow, warm Max's heart to the festive season and an unexpected romance.
Pippa and Max seems like polar opposites - Scot versus Yank, village girl versus city boy, small business versus big corporation. Yet they are both engineers and realize they can retool their circumstances to find happiness. It was pure joy to read how Pippa and Max fell in love with a little help from old Scots magic. I also appreciated Griffin's vivid descriptions:
The small village of Gandiegow hugged the coastline in an arc with a smattering of houses and buildings. The town looked as if an artist had painted it there to add visual interest to the snow dusted bluffs rising out of the North Sea.
For a moment, he stood peering down the narrow walkway that expanded to the other end of town. this strip of concrete was the only thing that separated the ocean from the village. He really should go inside the pub - he was freezing his ass off - but he couldn't get over it. One strong wave and the town could be washed away, the sixty-three houses and various establishments pulled out to sea. Who in their right mind would live near such danger looming outside their door?
The Yank learned the Scots lived by their love for the land, sea, and each other. I have visited Alba twice and wandered the coastline in search of crumbling castles. Go raibh maith agat (thank you), Patience, for taking me back to Alba.
Now I need to find Books 2 and 3! Recommended read for fans of small town romance, an honorable hero, a capable heroine, and all things Scottish.
Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.
The Accidental Scot is Book 4 in Patience Griffin's contemporary series, Kilts and Quilts, set in Northeast Alba, overlooking the mighty North Sea. I loved the first book, To Scotland With Love - a double nominee for the 2015 Rita Award. I received Books 2 and 3 just before I moved across town; I hope they are tucked away in an unopened box. Griffin asked me to review Book 4 ... and I jumped at the opportunity.
In the first three books, American women escaped to Gandiegow following failures in their lives. They soon discovered warmth and romance among the kilts and quilts. In The Accidental Scot, it is a handsome American engineer who arrives in Gandiegow to offer a partnership with "the McDonnell" who owns North Sea Valve Company. Max's boss believes his honest face and technical skills will win over "the McDonnell". Instead, Max meets Pippa McDonnell who is holding together the company after her father's accident. Pippa is skeptical of Max's intentions and sets out to show him the "human" side of the company. She integrates him into the village's Yuletide celebrations not realizing Max's only flaw is his humbug attitude of Christmas. But this is Scotland! Pippa, along with the colorful denizens of Gandiegow, warm Max's heart to the festive season and an unexpected romance.
Pippa and Max seems like polar opposites - Scot versus Yank, village girl versus city boy, small business versus big corporation. Yet they are both engineers and realize they can retool their circumstances to find happiness. It was pure joy to read how Pippa and Max fell in love with a little help from old Scots magic. I also appreciated Griffin's vivid descriptions:
The small village of Gandiegow hugged the coastline in an arc with a smattering of houses and buildings. The town looked as if an artist had painted it there to add visual interest to the snow dusted bluffs rising out of the North Sea.
For a moment, he stood peering down the narrow walkway that expanded to the other end of town. this strip of concrete was the only thing that separated the ocean from the village. He really should go inside the pub - he was freezing his ass off - but he couldn't get over it. One strong wave and the town could be washed away, the sixty-three houses and various establishments pulled out to sea. Who in their right mind would live near such danger looming outside their door?
The Yank learned the Scots lived by their love for the land, sea, and each other. I have visited Alba twice and wandered the coastline in search of crumbling castles. Go raibh maith agat (thank you), Patience, for taking me back to Alba.
Now I need to find Books 2 and 3! Recommended read for fans of small town romance, an honorable hero, a capable heroine, and all things Scottish.
March 10, 2018
Thought this would be a cozy bit of fun, but instead was disappointed by the distaseful druggings, bachelor auctions, and stupidity of the romance. On the plus side, no character was all good or all bad, and there was a nice secondary chapter, an older lady, who finds love, a backbone, and self-actualization.
June 9, 2019
A modern romance set in Scotland. The main characters are Pippa McDonnell and Max McKinley. Max has come to town to get a deal on a new type of valve from company owned by Pippa's father. Max is a Texan while Pippa is a Scot so lots of misunderstandings before a happy ending. The book was a quick easy read.
December 1, 2015
This is an enjoyable sweet romance with delightful characters. Set in the beautiful Scottish small town of Gandiegow where the residents are like family and the hero fits in almost like he was born here.
Pippa McDonnell moved away years ago to make her own way in life but came home when her father had an accident. She is running the company until he gets back on his feet, unfortunately her father needs more than just rest to heal and she needs to raise money for the therapy. To make matters worse, she has invited MTech back to revisit their proposal of investing in their valve.
Max McKinley is an up and coming executive at MTech; they are interested in investing in the North Sea Valve Company and he has traveled from Texas during the holiday season much to the dismay of his family, to negotiate with NSV. He is taken by the area and the residents and immerses himself in the lives of these people, even participating in Christmas projects when he has sworn to stay away from anything Christmas.
Pippa keeps him guessing on many fronts as she is not sure she trusts him. She is vague about the business venture, does not let him meet her father in the beginning and leaves him questioning how they feel about each other.
Another good addition to the Kilts and Quilts series and although I have not read them all, it can easily be read as a standalone. Many of the characters have been featured in previous books but the author keeps a new reader informed.
Pippa is very likeable, a strong woman who wants to help her father and the town, as the factory is very important to the area. I did have a few issues with her, mainly the way she acted with Max, she would kiss him and act like she wanted to be with him, then something would happen and she would be pissed, there is a lot of push and pulling and it got a little tiresome. Especially when Max’s boss Miranda came, Pippa never could believe that they were just employees and often accused him of wanting Miranda.
I adored Max, loved the way he jumped right in and helped anyone he could. Even when the residents were waiting for Pippa to marry Ross, her childhood friend, the people still really liked Max as long as he stayed away from Pippa. His aversion to Christmas was rooted in several tragedies that happened to his family during the holiday, he was gracious enough to help the town with their festivities.
There were several secondary stories going on at the same time and I liked how they fit in, her father and Freda have issues that need to be resolved as well as Father Andrew and Moira, these stories did not take away from the main story, more like a real town where many lives continue to live and grow. I did get tired of Miranda, she would not leave Max alone and often caused problems for both the residents as well as Max, she was a pain and I could have done with less of her.
The pace worked well and all stories were satisfactorily resolved. I am intrigued by the next story as it will be with Ross; the hometown boy that everyone would love to see have a happy ending, but another American comes to town, fun! All in all a cute romance with heart and warmth.
Review at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from the publisher for an honest review
Pippa McDonnell moved away years ago to make her own way in life but came home when her father had an accident. She is running the company until he gets back on his feet, unfortunately her father needs more than just rest to heal and she needs to raise money for the therapy. To make matters worse, she has invited MTech back to revisit their proposal of investing in their valve.
Max McKinley is an up and coming executive at MTech; they are interested in investing in the North Sea Valve Company and he has traveled from Texas during the holiday season much to the dismay of his family, to negotiate with NSV. He is taken by the area and the residents and immerses himself in the lives of these people, even participating in Christmas projects when he has sworn to stay away from anything Christmas.
Pippa keeps him guessing on many fronts as she is not sure she trusts him. She is vague about the business venture, does not let him meet her father in the beginning and leaves him questioning how they feel about each other.
Another good addition to the Kilts and Quilts series and although I have not read them all, it can easily be read as a standalone. Many of the characters have been featured in previous books but the author keeps a new reader informed.
Pippa is very likeable, a strong woman who wants to help her father and the town, as the factory is very important to the area. I did have a few issues with her, mainly the way she acted with Max, she would kiss him and act like she wanted to be with him, then something would happen and she would be pissed, there is a lot of push and pulling and it got a little tiresome. Especially when Max’s boss Miranda came, Pippa never could believe that they were just employees and often accused him of wanting Miranda.
I adored Max, loved the way he jumped right in and helped anyone he could. Even when the residents were waiting for Pippa to marry Ross, her childhood friend, the people still really liked Max as long as he stayed away from Pippa. His aversion to Christmas was rooted in several tragedies that happened to his family during the holiday, he was gracious enough to help the town with their festivities.
There were several secondary stories going on at the same time and I liked how they fit in, her father and Freda have issues that need to be resolved as well as Father Andrew and Moira, these stories did not take away from the main story, more like a real town where many lives continue to live and grow. I did get tired of Miranda, she would not leave Max alone and often caused problems for both the residents as well as Max, she was a pain and I could have done with less of her.
The pace worked well and all stories were satisfactorily resolved. I am intrigued by the next story as it will be with Ross; the hometown boy that everyone would love to see have a happy ending, but another American comes to town, fun! All in all a cute romance with heart and warmth.
Review at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from the publisher for an honest review
January 16, 2016
The Accidental Scot by Patience Griffin is part of her Kilts and Quilts series, and it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. Some characters have undoubtedly been introduced in prior books, however, all the primary and secondary characters are fully developed.
The main characters are Pippa McDonnell and Max McKinley are delightful together, it just takes them a while to see that! I loved that Pippa was an intelligent young woman who didn’t mind getting her hands dirty— at the family factory and around the town of Gandiegow. She is not only smart, but a strawberry-blonde beauty. Pippa is beloved in town because of her kind heart. She carries some relationship baggage, but keeps it to herself. Max is a southern gentleman who is originally from Texas. Although he avoids Christmas because it reminds him of past family tragedies, he good-naturedly helps out with all the small town Christmas activities while he is in Gandiegow on business. Miranda, Max’ boss, is a really nasty antagonist whose lack of dating success motivates her to prove herself by pursuing men whether they’re available or not.
The Accidental Scot is well written, and steadily paced. The story is set during the Christmas holiday season, and while there are a lot of holiday activities in the town of Gandiegow, the novel does not have an overwhelming holiday feel to it. There are plenty of story lines that the book can be enjoyed throughout the year. Griffin paints an idyllic portrait of life in Northeast Scotland. You definitely experience all five senses while reading. Miranda’s periodic insertion into the story keeps the story conflict on a slow boil throughout the book. If it is not Miranda, then one of the nosy characters from the quaint town of Gandiegow is providing some sort of hurdle for Max or Pippa to overcome. Even though the townsfolk and Pippa’s father overstep their boundaries, all their misguided plans are made out of love.
The Accidental Scot is a charming read. As with most romances, the plot is generally predictable, but there are sufficient twists and endearing characters to keep the story interesting. I’m looking forward to devouring the rest of the series.
Visit the Book Junkie Reviews blog for more recommendations: https://abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
The main characters are Pippa McDonnell and Max McKinley are delightful together, it just takes them a while to see that! I loved that Pippa was an intelligent young woman who didn’t mind getting her hands dirty— at the family factory and around the town of Gandiegow. She is not only smart, but a strawberry-blonde beauty. Pippa is beloved in town because of her kind heart. She carries some relationship baggage, but keeps it to herself. Max is a southern gentleman who is originally from Texas. Although he avoids Christmas because it reminds him of past family tragedies, he good-naturedly helps out with all the small town Christmas activities while he is in Gandiegow on business. Miranda, Max’ boss, is a really nasty antagonist whose lack of dating success motivates her to prove herself by pursuing men whether they’re available or not.
The Accidental Scot is well written, and steadily paced. The story is set during the Christmas holiday season, and while there are a lot of holiday activities in the town of Gandiegow, the novel does not have an overwhelming holiday feel to it. There are plenty of story lines that the book can be enjoyed throughout the year. Griffin paints an idyllic portrait of life in Northeast Scotland. You definitely experience all five senses while reading. Miranda’s periodic insertion into the story keeps the story conflict on a slow boil throughout the book. If it is not Miranda, then one of the nosy characters from the quaint town of Gandiegow is providing some sort of hurdle for Max or Pippa to overcome. Even though the townsfolk and Pippa’s father overstep their boundaries, all their misguided plans are made out of love.
The Accidental Scot is a charming read. As with most romances, the plot is generally predictable, but there are sufficient twists and endearing characters to keep the story interesting. I’m looking forward to devouring the rest of the series.
Visit the Book Junkie Reviews blog for more recommendations: https://abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
November 16, 2015
NOTE: I received an advance copy in a contest in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Max McKinley is a man on a mission: get the patents for North Sea Valve's revolutionary shut off valve for his company. Pippa McDonnell is on a mission of her own: save her father's company from drowning after his accident leaves him incapacitated. Sparks fly with a case of mistaken identity, a case of highland flu, and a bachelor auction Pippa has arranged to raise funds to help with her father's medical care. Throw in Max's scheming boss and the meddling community of Gandiegow, and you get a book filled with laughs, tears, and joy.
I'll be honest; the plot ending was predictable. Ms. Griffin seems to have the same consequences for unprotected sex in all of her books, if you catch my drift. The night that led to that situation was well written, but the idea that just one night of passion automatically means conception gnaws at me. I'm not sure if that's personal preference, but it adds an element that smacks too much of hypermoralism.
However, the book more than redeems itself with character development and momentum. Max's reluctance about the holiday season and all it entails in Gandiegow resonates with me for similar reasons to his, and Pippa's hope to save her father's company without sacrificing the one patent that could save thousands of lives is written well without being sappy. The characters are real, human, and not perfect, making it believable and not saccharine like similar authors have done lately. Meddling Deydie is up to her meddling ways again in this book with hilarious results, but you still often want to take her broom to her at some points. You can't help but feel for Pippa's situation; having to come home to help her father and his company when she was working her way up the ladder away from Gandiegow, the whole town assuming that she and another bloke are promised to each other when neither of them want to get married to each other because they are as close as siblings, and now trying to handle a very charming representative who has wormed his way into her heart.
All in all, an entertaining return visit to a charming town in Scotland. I am looking forward to reading the next one, and will have a hard time waiting until April!
Max McKinley is a man on a mission: get the patents for North Sea Valve's revolutionary shut off valve for his company. Pippa McDonnell is on a mission of her own: save her father's company from drowning after his accident leaves him incapacitated. Sparks fly with a case of mistaken identity, a case of highland flu, and a bachelor auction Pippa has arranged to raise funds to help with her father's medical care. Throw in Max's scheming boss and the meddling community of Gandiegow, and you get a book filled with laughs, tears, and joy.
I'll be honest; the plot ending was predictable. Ms. Griffin seems to have the same consequences for unprotected sex in all of her books, if you catch my drift. The night that led to that situation was well written, but the idea that just one night of passion automatically means conception gnaws at me. I'm not sure if that's personal preference, but it adds an element that smacks too much of hypermoralism.
However, the book more than redeems itself with character development and momentum. Max's reluctance about the holiday season and all it entails in Gandiegow resonates with me for similar reasons to his, and Pippa's hope to save her father's company without sacrificing the one patent that could save thousands of lives is written well without being sappy. The characters are real, human, and not perfect, making it believable and not saccharine like similar authors have done lately. Meddling Deydie is up to her meddling ways again in this book with hilarious results, but you still often want to take her broom to her at some points. You can't help but feel for Pippa's situation; having to come home to help her father and his company when she was working her way up the ladder away from Gandiegow, the whole town assuming that she and another bloke are promised to each other when neither of them want to get married to each other because they are as close as siblings, and now trying to handle a very charming representative who has wormed his way into her heart.
All in all, an entertaining return visit to a charming town in Scotland. I am looking forward to reading the next one, and will have a hard time waiting until April!
October 29, 2016
I love this little town of Gandiegow and how the Quilting retreats is one of the main industries for this small seaside Scottish town, and the group of people who inhabit it. The story is about a young woman, Pippa McDonnell, who's come home to help her father and his company, after a terrible accident. She finds that there is an American company that wants its business and she has to figure out what is the best thing for everyone. What she wasn't counting on is the man they sent to negotiate a contract being attractive, good-natured and accommodating. Max McKinley shows up hoping to make a deal with this engineering company but first has to get past the prickly chief engineer of Pippa and show the people of the town that they mean no harm. Easier said than done. I liked that these two were made for each other and had so much in common. I liked Pippa's independence and how she made something of herself. What I didn't care for is her manipulation in stringing Max along, putting Ross in the middle at times, and her jealousy when it really wasn't necessary.
I have mixed feelings after I read this book because what was once endearing is now bothering me. I know they look out for their own but sometimes the interference of the two elderly women, Deydie and Bethia, got downright annoying when they didn't give Max and Pippa a chance to figure things out on their own. Enough already!
Overall I liked it but there were times I got a bit frustrated with characters. The sidestory of Moira and Father Andrew and the little girl Glenna was heartbreaking but I'm glad that it worked out in the end. I will continue to see Ross get his story because I wonder how each of those Ramsey men are going to find their HEA in this small town.
I have mixed feelings after I read this book because what was once endearing is now bothering me. I know they look out for their own but sometimes the interference of the two elderly women, Deydie and Bethia, got downright annoying when they didn't give Max and Pippa a chance to figure things out on their own. Enough already!
Overall I liked it but there were times I got a bit frustrated with characters. The sidestory of Moira and Father Andrew and the little girl Glenna was heartbreaking but I'm glad that it worked out in the end. I will continue to see Ross get his story because I wonder how each of those Ramsey men are going to find their HEA in this small town.
December 1, 2015
There is something about this book! I love a good Christmas romance and this one sure hit the spot! I think this was my favorite story so far from the Kilts and Quilts series! Not to mention, the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous! Pippa has taken over the running of her father's company. She's fully trained and knows what she is doing, but scared for her father who needs medical care that they just can't afford.
Max's job is on the line; he has to seal the deal with the North Sea Valve company or lose his job. Pippa certainly is not making it easy for him. Pippa's bright idea to introduce him to the town and make him love it as much as she does so that he doesn't close the company is really a good one, but Max's job is to seal the deal, not what happens to the town afterwards. What he doesn't expect is a fiesty, warm hearted woman that he encounters. It is easy to fall for her. But she has a fiance already and his boss is riding his rear end to get this deal done.
But when his boss shows up to speed it along, things go terribly wrong. Max had a previous relationship with her and she is ruining all the good faith he has built within the town.
I can't pin point the reason, but this story really drew me. It was, as always with Ms Griffin, absolutely hilarious. I love seeing the characters return from previous books and seeing where they are now, and how much trouble they are causing (Deidie!). I liked the characters. I could not put this book down.
Oh, check out Ms Griffin's facebook page. She has lots of really neat giveaways. Now, its the anxious wait for the next book "The Trouble With Scotland"!
Max's job is on the line; he has to seal the deal with the North Sea Valve company or lose his job. Pippa certainly is not making it easy for him. Pippa's bright idea to introduce him to the town and make him love it as much as she does so that he doesn't close the company is really a good one, but Max's job is to seal the deal, not what happens to the town afterwards. What he doesn't expect is a fiesty, warm hearted woman that he encounters. It is easy to fall for her. But she has a fiance already and his boss is riding his rear end to get this deal done.
But when his boss shows up to speed it along, things go terribly wrong. Max had a previous relationship with her and she is ruining all the good faith he has built within the town.
I can't pin point the reason, but this story really drew me. It was, as always with Ms Griffin, absolutely hilarious. I love seeing the characters return from previous books and seeing where they are now, and how much trouble they are causing (Deidie!). I liked the characters. I could not put this book down.
Oh, check out Ms Griffin's facebook page. She has lots of really neat giveaways. Now, its the anxious wait for the next book "The Trouble With Scotland"!
December 6, 2015
The Accidental Scot (Kilts and Quilts #4) by Patience Griffin
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow's meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
My Review:
A great holiday book to read for Christmas. Pippa wasn't the type of heroine that really meshed with me as a reader. I liked Max but their relationship wasn't enough to convince me that they belonged together. However, I really liked the town feel and the great detail and the whole growing on me as they grew together. The Accidental Scot was a for sure slow cozy read for the couch cuddle days.
My Rating:
4 Stars
Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/
Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley/NAL/Penguin
When her father is injured in an accident, Edinburgh engineer Pippa McDonnell comes home to Gandiegow to take over the family business, the North Sea Valve Company. Now she’s working overtime trying to fix NSV’s finances and find the cash to get her father proper medical care.
One possibility is to accept a partnership with MTech, an American firm desperate to get their hands on her da’s innovative valve design. He was against bringing in outsiders, but Pippa is desperate enough to at least listen to MTech’s charming representative Max McKinley.
As Christmas approaches and with the help of Gandiegow's meddling quilters, Pippa and Max slowly find themselves attracted to each other. Max seems honorable, but is he there to steal the valve design…or Pippa’s heart?
My Review:
A great holiday book to read for Christmas. Pippa wasn't the type of heroine that really meshed with me as a reader. I liked Max but their relationship wasn't enough to convince me that they belonged together. However, I really liked the town feel and the great detail and the whole growing on me as they grew together. The Accidental Scot was a for sure slow cozy read for the couch cuddle days.
My Rating:
4 Stars
Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/
Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley/NAL/Penguin
December 18, 2015
This is a really good romance, but not exactly a cozy one as there are a couple of sex scenes, although they are not really graphic, and the story does talk a lot about how badly the two main characters lust for each other. There is of course, a lot going on beside sex, which is why I like the book (sex for sex' sake is just not something I'm into reading about). Good overall plot and plenty of drama to move stuff along. I really liked this one and the entire series is one I enjoy as well. So ladies, if you are into good looking men in kilts, and some Scottish dialect, this one might just be your cuppa tea as well.
January 16, 2016
I just loved reading this book it is part of the Kilts and Quilts series and this is the 2nd one I have read. I throughly enjoyed going back to the small village of Grandiegow and feeling like part of the town I had visited before. I remembered all the people and was happy to meet the new ones. This is a wonderful read and it is a true grand slam of a book.
January 21, 2016
Pippa and Max
I love this series ! Three interconnecting stories is a marvelous form of writing with the right author. I loved the narration but most of all love the quilting ladies. I lent this series to a dear friend whose first reaction as a quilter was"i want to go" but then she paused and said." I want to live there and find a Ramsey".
I love this series ! Three interconnecting stories is a marvelous form of writing with the right author. I loved the narration but most of all love the quilting ladies. I lent this series to a dear friend whose first reaction as a quilter was"i want to go" but then she paused and said." I want to live there and find a Ramsey".
December 11, 2015
I liked this story, especially Max character and the chemistry between him and Pippa, though some time the two might be a bit annoying because what was clear to we , wasn't at them. A good and enjoyable book to sparkle up the magic for the next christmas.
March 5, 2016
First time reading Patience Griffin. Simple story, based the quilters living Gandiegow and how they meddle in everyone's life.
December 29, 2015
Review outstanding
February 19, 2022
Pippa McDonnell has come back to Gandiegow to help with the family business when her father is injured. His injuries are very serious and she is very worried that his may be the next funeral if she can't get the proper medical care for him. The company is North Sea Valve Company.
So Pippa has three challenges on her plate: medical care for her Da, gain some good financial health for the company and avoid the pressure of townspeople to marry Ross, a fisherman in the town. Their fathers decided a long time ago that they would marry some day.
An American company, MTech, is desperate to get their hands on the innovative new valve design. They send Max McKinley as their representative to convince the NSV to go in partnership with. Pippa is the person he must deal with. I loved the scene where Max meets Pippa in the bar, where she is helping out.
I love this small town! The residents are a bunch of colorful characters and know everyone else's business. Max finds himself in a bind. His job is on the line and he is letting Pippa get in the way of closing the deal.
There are several side storylines where we meet characters from previous books in this series. I liked the scheme that Pippa comes up with as a fundraiser, an auction of the handsome bachelors from the town.
Loved it!
So Pippa has three challenges on her plate: medical care for her Da, gain some good financial health for the company and avoid the pressure of townspeople to marry Ross, a fisherman in the town. Their fathers decided a long time ago that they would marry some day.
An American company, MTech, is desperate to get their hands on the innovative new valve design. They send Max McKinley as their representative to convince the NSV to go in partnership with. Pippa is the person he must deal with. I loved the scene where Max meets Pippa in the bar, where she is helping out.
I love this small town! The residents are a bunch of colorful characters and know everyone else's business. Max finds himself in a bind. His job is on the line and he is letting Pippa get in the way of closing the deal.
There are several side storylines where we meet characters from previous books in this series. I liked the scheme that Pippa comes up with as a fundraiser, an auction of the handsome bachelors from the town.
Loved it!
October 12, 2022
Book 4 in the Kilts and Quilts series. An injury to the owner of a valve company forces the daughter, Allistaire Pippa McDonnell to reach out to an American company. They send Max McKinley, handsome Texan engineer. Pippa and Max get off to a rocky start. He thinks she is a bartender, hot, and doesn't realize she is the daughter of the owner. She tries to get him to become involved with the people of Gandiegow hoping to instill some compassion in him when she thinks he wants to take the company away from Scotland.
An auction is being organized to raise money to cover medical expenses called Lads in Plaid and Pippa enrolls Max due to his distant Scottish background.
True love is in the air for several of the residents of Scotland with a surprise ending.
An auction is being organized to raise money to cover medical expenses called Lads in Plaid and Pippa enrolls Max due to his distant Scottish background.
True love is in the air for several of the residents of Scotland with a surprise ending.
November 20, 2021
I have been reading this series, and am enjoying each one of the books, set in Gandiegow, Scotland. This book involves Pippa McDonnell coming home to take over the family business; the North Sea Valve Company. She is "promised" to Ross Armstrong, but finds herself attracted to Max McKinley.
There are many of the same characters in this book, as in the other books. It's a good read. I think that the series can be read with/without being order.
There are many of the same characters in this book, as in the other books. It's a good read. I think that the series can be read with/without being order.
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