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Laura Lake #3
A View to a Kilt
Laura Lake, editor of glamorous glossy magazine Society, is in trouble. Advertising revenues are down, and her job will be in jeopardy if she can't pick them up.
According to those in the know, Scotland is having a moment. Haggis tempura is on Michelin-starred menus, smart spas are offering porridge facials, and a chain of eco-hotels on the sites of Highland Clearances are pulling in star punters. With a view to getting a slice of this ultra-high-end market, Laura's been sent to a baronial estate in Wester Ross to write a think-piece about celebrity bagpipes.
It's supposed to be gorgeous, glitzy and glamorous. But intrigue follows Laura like night follows day. And at Glenravish Castle – a shooting lodge fit for a billionaire – Laura finds herself hunting for a scoop that won't just save her job, it could save her life...
352 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2019
61 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Holden
31 books425 followersWendy Holden grew up in Yorkshire, and studied English at Girton College, Cambridge. She worked in magazines for many years before joining Tatler's in 1997 as deputy editor, and later moved to the Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, which she left in 2000 to concentrate on writing. She regularly writes features for newspapers and magazines on a range of social, topical and lifestyle subjects and is also a television and radio contributor.
She has now published ten novels, Gallery Girl, Beautiful People, Bad Heir Day, Pastures Nouveaux, Fame Fatale, Azur Like It, The Wives of Bath, The School for Husbands, Filthy Rich, Farm Fatale, Gossip Hound, Simply Divine, all top 10 bestsellers.
Holden is married, and lives in England with her family.
She has now published ten novels, Gallery Girl, Beautiful People, Bad Heir Day, Pastures Nouveaux, Fame Fatale, Azur Like It, The Wives of Bath, The School for Husbands, Filthy Rich, Farm Fatale, Gossip Hound, Simply Divine, all top 10 bestsellers.
Holden is married, and lives in England with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 26, 2019
If your idea of a good book is painful puns, puerile plot and vapid, unlikeable characters, then this is the book for you. Not even properly researched as no Scottish person speaks the way Holden's characters do (eg "knae" instead of know. People would either just say know or use the word ken). Terribly condescending and not in the least funny. Avoid like the plague!
August 24, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Laura Erne
Okay, before we begin I must tell you that this was my first book in the Laura Lake series by Wendy Holden, and yes, A View to a Kilt is not the first but rather the third. I got hooked from the description and honestly when I was reading it, you couldn’t tell (for the most part!).
Laura Lake is a journalist for Society magazine and in this book we see her fight and struggle to allow her beautiful and glossy magazine to stay on shelves even if that means an impromptu trip to Scotland. She doesn’t want her work subdued and restricted to only online and this really resonated with me. Being a recent journalism graduate myself, this hit home. We, as a society are moving away from print and moving into a world enveloped in tech and for journalists, this may mean our livelihoods. And yet, here we see a new release novel that doesn’t agree with the status quo and that was extremely refreshing. It keeps the hope alive and I’m so very thankful for Wendy Holden to include this controversial concept.
“Laura gasped softly. Aidan Turner. If he got the part…But this was disloyal.”
And if Lake wasn’t already a great character, she’s also one who appreciates the acting chops of Aidan Turner, the male lead in Poldark as well as the dwarf, Kili in The Hobbit. I definitely agree on her admiration and this really sold it for me. I could see her as a friend and a coworker and this relatability made for an easy read. Plus, her coworker is named after Poldark’s wife, Demelza. So if you’re a fan of Poldark, you may find some kinship with Holden and her books!
“What does she look like? If it was anything like her mother, this was a non-starter.”
One-liners like this kept me hooked. This series also has tons of great humour.
“Scotland was built on a spectacular scale and seemed to demand a spectacular emotional response. It was, Laura felt, the perfect place to fall head over heels in love.”
But I must warn you, this is not a romance novel. I had high hopes just like Lake, because hello, she goes to Scotland, but we were both wrong. I was expecting a whirlwind romance with a Scot and unfortunately that’s not what happened. Instead we have to settle for her on/off boyfriend Harry and a one-night-stand with her ex, Caspar. Harry was absent and the scenes that he did appear in made him cold and unlikable. However, seeing as this book is the third in the series, I won’t hold his actions accountable for reflecting the series as a whole. As for Caspar, I instantly loved his character but I didn’t like them together. He reminded me of Bridget Jones’s has-been popstar friend, but straight. I think it was the cockiness but hell, was he a breath of fresh air.
“But Lulu dressed to please herself. She shook back her cascade, of thick, shining, assisted-blond hair and swept the menu with an expert eye.”
Lulu is a fantastic character! Not only does she exude confidence and dress to impress but she also has the brains and skills of ju-jitsu to stun people out of their assumptions of her. Every scene with her was great because all everyone saw was, for a lack of a better term, a bimbo, which let her turn the tables. Like I said, she’s clever and definitely someone you want on your side. And if they manage to pull a fast one on her, she’s got an Estonian, ex-military assistant who will not hesitate to shoot off a cork to pour some champagne, and yes, you heard that right, so you know where her loyalty lies.
This book is very quirky and full of even quirkier characters. Holden took care while crafting not only her main character, Laura Lake but also with every single supporting one as well. They have their own personalities and most importantly, Holden gives them the time of a day to show it to her readers and that matters!
Although the romance fell flat, there’s a great mystery in here! And it’s one that you’ll never see coming! Hidden dungeons, a mysterious man dressed in oriental garb that guards the front gate and staff that seems to come and go as if they weren’t even there, are just the beginning. This book will definitely leave you wondering what just happened (but in a good way).
I’ve learned many things since reading this book too. Like did you know that the Scotland equivalent to Alexa, is named Fiona and apparently she can’t understand anything unless it has a Scottish accent?
“I dinna knae what ye’re meaning, Mr Ruane,’ unhelpfully responded Fiona.”
I swear I sat laughing, awkwardly (because you know that’s the only way) at my reader because I could not get over this! It was hilarious and extremely relatable. This is an international struggle…
Any Outlander fans will also be familiar with the history explored in here because it traces the Battle of Culloden and the Bonnie Prince Charlie.
I’m evaluating this book for what I read and not basing it off of the entire series, as I haven’t read them. I give A View to a Kilt by Wendy Holden a 7 out of 10 because I was looking for a romance that never happened and what we did get seemed like a poor substitute. This was also another slow read for me and I feel like it wasn’t made for an international audience as there were many terms, slang, and places where if you’re not familiar, it lessens the impact and ends up confusing the reader more than it intended. I enjoyed this book very much and I’m intrigued to see how this all started with Laura Lake and The Hipster Weddings.
Okay, before we begin I must tell you that this was my first book in the Laura Lake series by Wendy Holden, and yes, A View to a Kilt is not the first but rather the third. I got hooked from the description and honestly when I was reading it, you couldn’t tell (for the most part!).
Laura Lake is a journalist for Society magazine and in this book we see her fight and struggle to allow her beautiful and glossy magazine to stay on shelves even if that means an impromptu trip to Scotland. She doesn’t want her work subdued and restricted to only online and this really resonated with me. Being a recent journalism graduate myself, this hit home. We, as a society are moving away from print and moving into a world enveloped in tech and for journalists, this may mean our livelihoods. And yet, here we see a new release novel that doesn’t agree with the status quo and that was extremely refreshing. It keeps the hope alive and I’m so very thankful for Wendy Holden to include this controversial concept.
“Laura gasped softly. Aidan Turner. If he got the part…But this was disloyal.”
And if Lake wasn’t already a great character, she’s also one who appreciates the acting chops of Aidan Turner, the male lead in Poldark as well as the dwarf, Kili in The Hobbit. I definitely agree on her admiration and this really sold it for me. I could see her as a friend and a coworker and this relatability made for an easy read. Plus, her coworker is named after Poldark’s wife, Demelza. So if you’re a fan of Poldark, you may find some kinship with Holden and her books!
“What does she look like? If it was anything like her mother, this was a non-starter.”
One-liners like this kept me hooked. This series also has tons of great humour.
“Scotland was built on a spectacular scale and seemed to demand a spectacular emotional response. It was, Laura felt, the perfect place to fall head over heels in love.”
But I must warn you, this is not a romance novel. I had high hopes just like Lake, because hello, she goes to Scotland, but we were both wrong. I was expecting a whirlwind romance with a Scot and unfortunately that’s not what happened. Instead we have to settle for her on/off boyfriend Harry and a one-night-stand with her ex, Caspar. Harry was absent and the scenes that he did appear in made him cold and unlikable. However, seeing as this book is the third in the series, I won’t hold his actions accountable for reflecting the series as a whole. As for Caspar, I instantly loved his character but I didn’t like them together. He reminded me of Bridget Jones’s has-been popstar friend, but straight. I think it was the cockiness but hell, was he a breath of fresh air.
“But Lulu dressed to please herself. She shook back her cascade, of thick, shining, assisted-blond hair and swept the menu with an expert eye.”
Lulu is a fantastic character! Not only does she exude confidence and dress to impress but she also has the brains and skills of ju-jitsu to stun people out of their assumptions of her. Every scene with her was great because all everyone saw was, for a lack of a better term, a bimbo, which let her turn the tables. Like I said, she’s clever and definitely someone you want on your side. And if they manage to pull a fast one on her, she’s got an Estonian, ex-military assistant who will not hesitate to shoot off a cork to pour some champagne, and yes, you heard that right, so you know where her loyalty lies.
This book is very quirky and full of even quirkier characters. Holden took care while crafting not only her main character, Laura Lake but also with every single supporting one as well. They have their own personalities and most importantly, Holden gives them the time of a day to show it to her readers and that matters!
Although the romance fell flat, there’s a great mystery in here! And it’s one that you’ll never see coming! Hidden dungeons, a mysterious man dressed in oriental garb that guards the front gate and staff that seems to come and go as if they weren’t even there, are just the beginning. This book will definitely leave you wondering what just happened (but in a good way).
I’ve learned many things since reading this book too. Like did you know that the Scotland equivalent to Alexa, is named Fiona and apparently she can’t understand anything unless it has a Scottish accent?
“I dinna knae what ye’re meaning, Mr Ruane,’ unhelpfully responded Fiona.”
I swear I sat laughing, awkwardly (because you know that’s the only way) at my reader because I could not get over this! It was hilarious and extremely relatable. This is an international struggle…
Any Outlander fans will also be familiar with the history explored in here because it traces the Battle of Culloden and the Bonnie Prince Charlie.
I’m evaluating this book for what I read and not basing it off of the entire series, as I haven’t read them. I give A View to a Kilt by Wendy Holden a 7 out of 10 because I was looking for a romance that never happened and what we did get seemed like a poor substitute. This was also another slow read for me and I feel like it wasn’t made for an international audience as there were many terms, slang, and places where if you’re not familiar, it lessens the impact and ends up confusing the reader more than it intended. I enjoyed this book very much and I’m intrigued to see how this all started with Laura Lake and The Hipster Weddings.
April 2, 2019
I have never read a book by Wendy Holden before and when I requested the book, I didn't realise that this was the third book of a series, so I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. I found it funny, smart and a little crazy, and of course it took place in Scotland which is a huge plus for me.
I have to admit that I had trouble to connect with the characters, probably because I was new to the series and I didn't know anything about them and their history.
All in all, I liked the descriptions, some of the characters and some parts of the story. It was a good, fast paced book and a nice read!
Thank you to the publisher and the NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I have to admit that I had trouble to connect with the characters, probably because I was new to the series and I didn't know anything about them and their history.
All in all, I liked the descriptions, some of the characters and some parts of the story. It was a good, fast paced book and a nice read!
Thank you to the publisher and the NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
abandoned
January 21, 2021dnf
There were some funny jokes at the start of this book but by 15% they had worn a bit thin. Maybe I'm just not in the mood.
There were some funny jokes at the start of this book but by 15% they had worn a bit thin. Maybe I'm just not in the mood.
March 31, 2019
While the majority of my time reading the first book in this series was spent trying to determine whether it was hilariously tongue-in-cheek or seriously vapid, A View to a Kilt demonstrates to the reader very early on that it’s a satire. Further struggles with the book’s identity resolved, it was a fun read. However, despite how decently-written it was (decently, as every single character lacked depth and any real redeeming or interesting qualities), I put the book aside for three weeks and just… didn’t get back to picking it up because I didn’t care. While it might have been a fun read, it’s not something I cared enough to obsessively read. Laura remains distinctly unlikeable - not even an anti-hero, but a genuinely boring, self-centred and (dare I say it) stupid character. I’d hoped, after skipping a book in the series, she might have matured to the point that she considered the feelings or thoughts of others, but she seems to remain ever-centred on her own issues. There’s a line between anti-hero and genuinely irritating character and Laura definitely sits on the wrong side of that line. While A View to a Kilt was a fun read at times, it’s not one that I feel like I enjoyed.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2019
I couldn't even bring myself to finish this one, it was that rubbish. Another reviewer mentioned that they believe it's satirical. It's so poorly plotted that even if it is a brilliant tongue in cheek commentary on vapid magazines and celebrity culture, it's totally lost amongst the plot holes.
After that I just totally lost interest. There is absolutely no character development, nothing about these characters is realistic or likeable. The plot is baffling because it jumps from one thing to the next and it's all so ludicrous. I know romantic fiction is rarely a purveyor of realism, as a genre, but this is next level ridiculous. I had to re-read pages a few times to make sure I'd not stumbled across some weird dream sequence.
Absolute rubbish, did not finish at 70%.
After that I just totally lost interest. There is absolutely no character development, nothing about these characters is realistic or likeable. The plot is baffling because it jumps from one thing to the next and it's all so ludicrous. I know romantic fiction is rarely a purveyor of realism, as a genre, but this is next level ridiculous. I had to re-read pages a few times to make sure I'd not stumbled across some weird dream sequence.
Absolute rubbish, did not finish at 70%.
March 23, 2019
The synopsis for this book was definitely something that appealed to me and the title backed that up. A mix of glitzy and glamorous lifestyle and the more down to earth editor Laura Lake.
This is a humorous and a tongue in cheek read. The title itself hints at this fun-filled read. I found myself smirking a lot at the various character names, some of them really suiting the outrageous and slightly bizarre characters. Mixed in with the slightly eccentric characters is a story of Laura being tasked with a journey to Scotland to sell more advertising space in the magazine she works for. Fail at getting this could mean losing her job so off she sets to Scotland. There are some great facts and descriptions as Laura discovers Scotland for herself. But it is not long before Laura discovers that not everything is as it should be.
There are quite a few things I liked about this story, the humour, the descriptions, some of the characters and the storyline initially, but along the way, I found that I seemed to lose track of where this book was going. What started off as one thing and ended as something else.
For the most part, I did enjoy this story but did find my attention wavering at times. If you are after an upbeat, crazy, funny and madcap read then I think this is one that will appeal.
This is a humorous and a tongue in cheek read. The title itself hints at this fun-filled read. I found myself smirking a lot at the various character names, some of them really suiting the outrageous and slightly bizarre characters. Mixed in with the slightly eccentric characters is a story of Laura being tasked with a journey to Scotland to sell more advertising space in the magazine she works for. Fail at getting this could mean losing her job so off she sets to Scotland. There are some great facts and descriptions as Laura discovers Scotland for herself. But it is not long before Laura discovers that not everything is as it should be.
There are quite a few things I liked about this story, the humour, the descriptions, some of the characters and the storyline initially, but along the way, I found that I seemed to lose track of where this book was going. What started off as one thing and ended as something else.
For the most part, I did enjoy this story but did find my attention wavering at times. If you are after an upbeat, crazy, funny and madcap read then I think this is one that will appeal.
February 20, 2019
I was intrigued by this book and I have been attracted by the lovely cover. I was quiet excited to read this novel but unfortunately pretty quickly I found myself a bit bored and I realized that I didn't really click with Wendy Holden way of writing. I kind of struggled throughout the book. I am sure some will love this book and Wendy's writing style but it didn't do it for me. I will give this book a 3 stars out of 5.
April 5, 2019
This is the first book I have read by the author and I didn't realise that it is the third in a series featuring Laura Lake. It certainly didn't hinder my reading of this book and I was able to read it as a standalone book.
I was attracted to reading this book because of the magazine setting and it didn't disappoint. Laura has a new CEO - think Miranda Priestley meets Ugly Betty - she wants it all and she wants it now. So Laura goes off to Scotland in pursuit of the latest fashion Scotland style and to lure advertisers for her magazine.
The book is very tongue in cheek throughout with the names of the various characters and places in Scotland making me continually smirk. There's also the champagne detector which was used very cleverly and the fabulous virtual assistant Fiona who manages to take control at the estate agency with fantastic panache.
I loved Laura's friend Lulu who is so rich she has a pink helicopter and I loved the fact that it had a Vivienne Westwood orb on the roof!!! The helicopter is also expertly piloted by her female butler Vlad who has an unusual way to uncork champagne down to her army training.
Just when I thought the book was going to be a just a little fluffy read an actual mystery started which I hadn't expected. Like all cliffhangers it switched back and forth between two characters and I was racing to get back to what was going to happen next.
A delicious read for when you just want a completely relaxing novel and a good chuckle. I am giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for my ARC to review.
I was attracted to reading this book because of the magazine setting and it didn't disappoint. Laura has a new CEO - think Miranda Priestley meets Ugly Betty - she wants it all and she wants it now. So Laura goes off to Scotland in pursuit of the latest fashion Scotland style and to lure advertisers for her magazine.
The book is very tongue in cheek throughout with the names of the various characters and places in Scotland making me continually smirk. There's also the champagne detector which was used very cleverly and the fabulous virtual assistant Fiona who manages to take control at the estate agency with fantastic panache.
I loved Laura's friend Lulu who is so rich she has a pink helicopter and I loved the fact that it had a Vivienne Westwood orb on the roof!!! The helicopter is also expertly piloted by her female butler Vlad who has an unusual way to uncork champagne down to her army training.
Just when I thought the book was going to be a just a little fluffy read an actual mystery started which I hadn't expected. Like all cliffhangers it switched back and forth between two characters and I was racing to get back to what was going to happen next.
A delicious read for when you just want a completely relaxing novel and a good chuckle. I am giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for my ARC to review.
March 26, 2019
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
I was really surprised just how much I enjoyed A View to a Kilt; I knew it would be humorous but it really made me smile, with some parts making me laugh out loud far more than I expected. I've read other novels by Wendy Holden before but not any from this series, and I particularly enjoyed this novel as the character Laura lives in Shoreditch, which is close to where I live, and the references to the extremely hipster neighbourhood and businesses around her ring so true, as well as plenty of other entertaining references which many people can probably relate to.
A View to a Kilt is also completely mad, taking the reader on a crazy journey from London to Scotland and back again which, although being a bit odd at times, I really liked.
It's an easy, fun read which would be perfect for a holiday or just an evening in relaxing, and I'd definitely read more from this series.
Many thanks to Head of Zeus for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
I was really surprised just how much I enjoyed A View to a Kilt; I knew it would be humorous but it really made me smile, with some parts making me laugh out loud far more than I expected. I've read other novels by Wendy Holden before but not any from this series, and I particularly enjoyed this novel as the character Laura lives in Shoreditch, which is close to where I live, and the references to the extremely hipster neighbourhood and businesses around her ring so true, as well as plenty of other entertaining references which many people can probably relate to.
A View to a Kilt is also completely mad, taking the reader on a crazy journey from London to Scotland and back again which, although being a bit odd at times, I really liked.
It's an easy, fun read which would be perfect for a holiday or just an evening in relaxing, and I'd definitely read more from this series.
Many thanks to Head of Zeus for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
July 25, 2022
I absolutely love Schotland ❤️ This book? Not so much..
August 20, 2024
A nice amusing read .
April 25, 2019
A View to a Kilt is another quirky, laugh-out-loud novel from author Wendy Holden. Set in the Scottish Highlands, Scottish stereotypes are flung at the reader from all sides - there's tartan, bagpipes, neeps and tatties, dour Scotsmen and some dismal Scottish weather. However, she also provides a brief but charming description of the rugged beauty of the highlands, with mile after mile of shimmering lochs set amongst the green landscape. Holden has ensured that Scotland is now a place on my 'to visit' list.
As with Holden's previous novels, she writes with an irreverent tone that mercilessly mocks any social group that falls within her grasp, from the aristocracy to estate agents, the publishing industry and hipsters - none are safe from her sparkling wit! The story bubbles forth in a pacy fashion, capturing the reader's attention and enthralling them into Laura's madcap world.
The characters are virtually caricatures of themselves, from the zany heiress Luna to terrifying publishing guru Bev Sweet and the odd MacRae couple, Holden has provided a wonderfully colourful and quirky cast for the story.
Written in Holden's typically sparkling and witty tone, A View to a Kilt is a tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted romp and a wonderful bit of escapism for a dreary winter weekend!
As with Holden's previous novels, she writes with an irreverent tone that mercilessly mocks any social group that falls within her grasp, from the aristocracy to estate agents, the publishing industry and hipsters - none are safe from her sparkling wit! The story bubbles forth in a pacy fashion, capturing the reader's attention and enthralling them into Laura's madcap world.
The characters are virtually caricatures of themselves, from the zany heiress Luna to terrifying publishing guru Bev Sweet and the odd MacRae couple, Holden has provided a wonderfully colourful and quirky cast for the story.
Written in Holden's typically sparkling and witty tone, A View to a Kilt is a tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted romp and a wonderful bit of escapism for a dreary winter weekend!
April 12, 2019
This is a great premise for a book and you know I am all about a book being set in Scotland. I love the idea that everything Scottish is trending and people are excited about Haggis and fashion. I do feel like there could have been a little more of a glimpse of the Scottish landscape or the cities a little but still excited to have a book set here.
Laura is not the easiest character to like all of the time because she has flaws like you and me. It is those flaws that make her interesting though and good to spend the book with. I liked that she is determined to do well in her career and doesn't mind trekking across the country fr that. She is fairly vain and does want things to come easier in life but I think that again his adds to her intrigue.
This is the third book in a series but I have not read the other two books and I was fine getting to know the characters in this one. It reads like a stand alone and has enough things going on within the pages that you don't need to know what happened previously or how these characters got to be where they are. The characters seem well-developed and we certainly get enough of their back story to understand them. This is a very much tongue in cheek novel so don't take it too seriously but you will laugh and if you're looking for something light-hearted to escape from the real world then this could be the one for you.
Laura is not the easiest character to like all of the time because she has flaws like you and me. It is those flaws that make her interesting though and good to spend the book with. I liked that she is determined to do well in her career and doesn't mind trekking across the country fr that. She is fairly vain and does want things to come easier in life but I think that again his adds to her intrigue.
This is the third book in a series but I have not read the other two books and I was fine getting to know the characters in this one. It reads like a stand alone and has enough things going on within the pages that you don't need to know what happened previously or how these characters got to be where they are. The characters seem well-developed and we certainly get enough of their back story to understand them. This is a very much tongue in cheek novel so don't take it too seriously but you will laugh and if you're looking for something light-hearted to escape from the real world then this could be the one for you.
March 27, 2019
What I particularly appreciated is that in the first chapters there are enough details to bring the new readers up-to-date and to remind the old readers who is who, but not too many to feel like an unwanted repetition. It’s a fine, well-achieved balance for which I was very grateful. Although it had been a while since I read book number two in the Laura Lake series, I was able to pick up where I had left off without having to go back to the previous books for reference.
Funny, smart, hugely entertaining. Wendy Holden’s use of language is only one of her many sterling qualities and as always of high standard and a pleasure to read. Her eccentric characters with outrageous names all contribute to create a very smart satire of certain parts of today’s society thanks to her incredible sense of humour, her dark wit and amazing puns.
The story is full of twists, sudden revelations and more like a play (in fact I think the whole series would make a wonderful script) with turn of events, jokes, humour and no drama with the belief that all is fiction and all is going to end well. No wonder the author herself refers to her characters as ‘dramatis personae’. It’s pure escapism with a twist of a James Bond film.
I have read all of WH’s books (many more than once) since the brilliant character of champagne D’Vyne appeared on the scenes and she never disappoints.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
#AviewToAkilt #NetGalley
Funny, smart, hugely entertaining. Wendy Holden’s use of language is only one of her many sterling qualities and as always of high standard and a pleasure to read. Her eccentric characters with outrageous names all contribute to create a very smart satire of certain parts of today’s society thanks to her incredible sense of humour, her dark wit and amazing puns.
The story is full of twists, sudden revelations and more like a play (in fact I think the whole series would make a wonderful script) with turn of events, jokes, humour and no drama with the belief that all is fiction and all is going to end well. No wonder the author herself refers to her characters as ‘dramatis personae’. It’s pure escapism with a twist of a James Bond film.
I have read all of WH’s books (many more than once) since the brilliant character of champagne D’Vyne appeared on the scenes and she never disappoints.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
#AviewToAkilt #NetGalley
February 8, 2019
I read another book by this writer and I really liked it so my expectations were quite high.
I can say that all my expectations were met as this is a funny, entertaining and engaging book.
I appreciated the cast of characters, laughed out loud more than once, was hooked since the beginning.
The style of writing is as good as always.
A very good book for a relaxing afternoon.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC
I can say that all my expectations were met as this is a funny, entertaining and engaging book.
I appreciated the cast of characters, laughed out loud more than once, was hooked since the beginning.
The style of writing is as good as always.
A very good book for a relaxing afternoon.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC
March 13, 2019
Another fire-cracker of a book by Wendy Holden. This is the third novel in Laura Lake series. And it is ever so hilarious and funny. This time Laura is heading into the new fashion country- Scotland. The scenery is not only the new IT but it is also breathtaking. The plot is engaging and entertaining and the characters are sublime.
What else can I say? Don't forget to add this book to the top of your TBR this spring.
What else can I say? Don't forget to add this book to the top of your TBR this spring.
March 6, 2019
Quite an entertaining read, I like the way the author obviously has fun with words, especially names. Have read and enjoyed her books previously, but this wasn't as good as her earlier books. Possibly because it was book three in a series, so I missed previous character development.
November 15, 2019
Picked this up after being sucked in by the back cover blurb at the local library. 'The Devil Wears Prada' it isn't. Lots of topical references but ridiculously over the top; that said I didn't dislike it as much as I thought I would by the time I reached the end!
August 16, 2019
I assumed this was going to be light-hearted froth and at the very beginning that's what it was till it very quickly descended into condescending drivel.
April 5, 2019
There are three full novels plus a novella in the Laura Lake series. I’ve read the previous two and was really looking forward to this one. To the extent that I had a search around Netgalley once I found out its title and was excited to get a copy to read.
If you haven’t read either of the other two books it doesn’t affect reading this one, it is a stand alone but in all honesty I would at least recommend you read the first one – Three Weddings and a Scandal. That way you can completely appreciate the full back story, get to know all the characters more thoroughly and ‘get’ the humour. I do think the humour is an acquired taste, you’ll either find it hilarious or you won’t find it funny at all. I don’t think there’s an in between. If you read this book without having read the others you can’t really appreciate the relationships between the characters that have developed over time and within past events. I don’t think you get to know the characters at all in this book if you’ve never met them before.
For me it started off well, it had me laughing out loud at the turn of almost every page. It was like putting on an old comfy pair of slippers, the familiarity of that crazy, tongue in cheek humour. Wendy Holden’s imagination at coming up with funny names, her observations of how easily the most ridiculous of ideas can be sold with the right marketing, and how fools are so easily parted from their money, provided of course they’ve got plenty of it, I think is so good.
However the second part, once Laura and Lulu were in Scotland didn’t really hold my interest. It’s not the first time in this series of books that a situation has developed into something farcical but in this instance I thought it went too far and just verged on silly. I was also quite surprised to find I’d reached the end too, it did seem a little bit rushed with all the loose ends suddenly all tied up and sorted.
All in all, though I did get quite a few laughs from this book, I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed in it. I don’t think either of the two subsequent Laura Lake stories have quite lived up to the first one which I just thought was brilliant from beginning to end.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you haven’t read either of the other two books it doesn’t affect reading this one, it is a stand alone but in all honesty I would at least recommend you read the first one – Three Weddings and a Scandal. That way you can completely appreciate the full back story, get to know all the characters more thoroughly and ‘get’ the humour. I do think the humour is an acquired taste, you’ll either find it hilarious or you won’t find it funny at all. I don’t think there’s an in between. If you read this book without having read the others you can’t really appreciate the relationships between the characters that have developed over time and within past events. I don’t think you get to know the characters at all in this book if you’ve never met them before.
For me it started off well, it had me laughing out loud at the turn of almost every page. It was like putting on an old comfy pair of slippers, the familiarity of that crazy, tongue in cheek humour. Wendy Holden’s imagination at coming up with funny names, her observations of how easily the most ridiculous of ideas can be sold with the right marketing, and how fools are so easily parted from their money, provided of course they’ve got plenty of it, I think is so good.
However the second part, once Laura and Lulu were in Scotland didn’t really hold my interest. It’s not the first time in this series of books that a situation has developed into something farcical but in this instance I thought it went too far and just verged on silly. I was also quite surprised to find I’d reached the end too, it did seem a little bit rushed with all the loose ends suddenly all tied up and sorted.
All in all, though I did get quite a few laughs from this book, I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed in it. I don’t think either of the two subsequent Laura Lake stories have quite lived up to the first one which I just thought was brilliant from beginning to end.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2019
I must admit to having never read a Wendy Holden novel before, but I can now confirm that A View to a Kilt will definitely not be the last Wendy Holden novel that I read!
Laura Lake is the editor of the award winning magazine Society, a magazine famed for its exposes and hard hitting articles about topics that other glossy magazines won't touch. When Laura's long-standing CEO Christopher retires, she finds herself managed by the wildly different Bev Sweet, a woman with big plans but no budget. With advertising revenue at an all time low, she sets Laura the impossible task of bringing huge amounts of revenue for the next issue or find herself out of a job.
Finding herself set up to produce a Scottish issue Laura finds herself in Scotland, away from her boyfriend Harry at a crucial point in their relationship and at Glenravish Castle, guest to the eccentric Sandy McRavish. What follows can only be described as entertaining and comical! This really is a laugh out loud novel - there were twists that I was not expecting at all, so for a light-hearted, entertaining read you are still kept on your toes! I loved reading about Scotland, Holden's descriptions are so vivid - they could definitely be used as a Scottish sales tool - it has certainly made me want to visit those rolling mountains and lochs.
Anyway, back to the book. This really is a fab read, and I am more than happy to recommend it to you all. It is perfect for a cosy Sunday afternoon read on a rainy day, or equally as perfect when sat on a beach with a cocktail in hand - read it anytime, anywhere. I'm already considering my next Wendy Holden read...feel free to throw your suggestions at me!
Thank you to Wendy Holden and Victoria Joss at Head of Zeus for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Laura Lake is the editor of the award winning magazine Society, a magazine famed for its exposes and hard hitting articles about topics that other glossy magazines won't touch. When Laura's long-standing CEO Christopher retires, she finds herself managed by the wildly different Bev Sweet, a woman with big plans but no budget. With advertising revenue at an all time low, she sets Laura the impossible task of bringing huge amounts of revenue for the next issue or find herself out of a job.
Finding herself set up to produce a Scottish issue Laura finds herself in Scotland, away from her boyfriend Harry at a crucial point in their relationship and at Glenravish Castle, guest to the eccentric Sandy McRavish. What follows can only be described as entertaining and comical! This really is a laugh out loud novel - there were twists that I was not expecting at all, so for a light-hearted, entertaining read you are still kept on your toes! I loved reading about Scotland, Holden's descriptions are so vivid - they could definitely be used as a Scottish sales tool - it has certainly made me want to visit those rolling mountains and lochs.
Anyway, back to the book. This really is a fab read, and I am more than happy to recommend it to you all. It is perfect for a cosy Sunday afternoon read on a rainy day, or equally as perfect when sat on a beach with a cocktail in hand - read it anytime, anywhere. I'm already considering my next Wendy Holden read...feel free to throw your suggestions at me!
Thank you to Wendy Holden and Victoria Joss at Head of Zeus for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
June 20, 2019
When I started reading this I didn't realise it was a book from a series about magazine editor Laura Lake. Regardless of that it really didn't confuse me or confuse the plot. The characters weren't introduced and spoke about as very familiar but that was inevitable.
I actually enjoyed A View to a Kilt by Wendy Holden even though I've only given it 3 stars. My reason for this is because while the plot was fun and you started to live through Laura Lake and her crazy adventures, some narratives were pretty frustrating.
When Laura's boyfriend Harry suddenly leaves her in London and never says a word, instead of Laura acknowledging that he's broke her heart and was wrong to just leave without saying anything she starts to doubt herself and says that it must be her that's the problem and this narrative goes on for the whole book! To me, reading that was annoying. While having the main character as a successful female editor is great the way she speaks about herself and her confidence was very underwhelming and as a woman reading that was disappointing.
I love a good ol' cheesy chick lit but I prefer a chick lit that doesn't have the woe is me narrative like this one had.
I actually enjoyed A View to a Kilt by Wendy Holden even though I've only given it 3 stars. My reason for this is because while the plot was fun and you started to live through Laura Lake and her crazy adventures, some narratives were pretty frustrating.
When Laura's boyfriend Harry suddenly leaves her in London and never says a word, instead of Laura acknowledging that he's broke her heart and was wrong to just leave without saying anything she starts to doubt herself and says that it must be her that's the problem and this narrative goes on for the whole book! To me, reading that was annoying. While having the main character as a successful female editor is great the way she speaks about herself and her confidence was very underwhelming and as a woman reading that was disappointing.
I love a good ol' cheesy chick lit but I prefer a chick lit that doesn't have the woe is me narrative like this one had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2020
So, I've never read anything by Wendy Holden and this is the third book in the Laura Lake series, I borrowed it from my local library, having just returned from holiday (pre lockdown) from Scotland, so this, with it's front cover with boasting kilt's and tartan, it felt like it was meant to be.
It was a little quirky and maybe a little funny, a fast pasted book but I soon lost interest and struggled to read this, I finally managed to finish it, four months later! I don't think I'll be reading any more books in the Laura Lake series, but I'll give Wendy Holden another go as just because this didn't rub me up the right way but her other books might be great.
I love character development, but I feel that the characters in these books made no connection to me, there was no depth and I didn't like Laura, she seemed so irritating, she was down right dull and completely self centred, focused on her own issues.. Boring. That said, she had a determination in her career which kind of made me feel like that was a plus.
That said it wasn't enough for me to truly enjoy the jumpy plot which was littered with plot holes.
It didn't work for me.
2/5
It was a little quirky and maybe a little funny, a fast pasted book but I soon lost interest and struggled to read this, I finally managed to finish it, four months later! I don't think I'll be reading any more books in the Laura Lake series, but I'll give Wendy Holden another go as just because this didn't rub me up the right way but her other books might be great.
I love character development, but I feel that the characters in these books made no connection to me, there was no depth and I didn't like Laura, she seemed so irritating, she was down right dull and completely self centred, focused on her own issues.. Boring. That said, she had a determination in her career which kind of made me feel like that was a plus.
That said it wasn't enough for me to truly enjoy the jumpy plot which was littered with plot holes.
It didn't work for me.
2/5
April 6, 2019
In the third instalment featuring Laura Lake, we see the dynamic award-winning journalist fighting not only to save her job as editor of the glamorous magazine Society, but also to save the magazine itself that she has come to love and cherish. This means that she has to deal with her crazy new boss who reminded me a little of Miranda Prestley from The Devil Wears Prada, she has to travel to Scotland and spend the night in a castle in Scotland that it appears to be haunted by a ghost, and she finds herself mixed in dangerous situations.
A VIEW TO A KILT is such a fun and entertaining read. It features a cast of colourful and eccentric characters, bizarre situations, and the beautiful and evocative setting of Scotland that made me want to hop on a plane for this beautiful country. I really liked the unusual and weird names of the characters that fit perfectly with their quirky behaviour and that made me laugh page after page. There are twists, mysteries, and revelations and there is romance, friendship and rivalries that keep you glued to the page and make you laugh out loud.
A VIEW TO A KILT is a humorous, refreshing, and captivating novel that you can read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the first two book of the series because they are completely worth it.
A VIEW TO A KILT is such a fun and entertaining read. It features a cast of colourful and eccentric characters, bizarre situations, and the beautiful and evocative setting of Scotland that made me want to hop on a plane for this beautiful country. I really liked the unusual and weird names of the characters that fit perfectly with their quirky behaviour and that made me laugh page after page. There are twists, mysteries, and revelations and there is romance, friendship and rivalries that keep you glued to the page and make you laugh out loud.
A VIEW TO A KILT is a humorous, refreshing, and captivating novel that you can read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the first two book of the series because they are completely worth it.
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April 6, 2021About the point when the author lampshades Absolutely Fabulous, you realize that this book has used that show as a guide to fashion magazine culture, and a general style guide.
This book is shelved under Romantic Comedy on Amazon, which is a incorrect in my view, as it's not romantic at all.
Is it parody? Is it absurdist comedy? Is it absurd parody? Whatever it is, it's too much style over substance, and packed full of fortunate co-incidences that ruin the plot pay off and rob the main character of taking any actions that actually contribute to events or the HEA or even the development of her character. The main character could have been absent from the climax and everything would have turned out the same, other than Laura having delayed access to first hand accounts.
This book is shelved under Romantic Comedy on Amazon, which is a incorrect in my view, as it's not romantic at all.
Is it parody? Is it absurdist comedy? Is it absurd parody? Whatever it is, it's too much style over substance, and packed full of fortunate co-incidences that ruin the plot pay off and rob the main character of taking any actions that actually contribute to events or the HEA or even the development of her character. The main character could have been absent from the climax and everything would have turned out the same, other than Laura having delayed access to first hand accounts.
February 28, 2023
Who the hell decided this book was worthy of being published. I am no stranger to satire but this was just too much. Lulu needing to be corrected ever single time she spoke, the fact that Laura had a hangover in one part of the story and then thanked her genes for the fact that she doesn’t get hangovers in another part. The terrible way that the Scott’s speak. The ridiculous plot line with her boyfriend leaving her and then somehow stumbling upon him in Scotland.
There is literally no substance to this book. It is stupid and a waste of time. I have my OCD to blame for forcing myself to get through this. Truly awful. Don’t punish yourselves
There is literally no substance to this book. It is stupid and a waste of time. I have my OCD to blame for forcing myself to get through this. Truly awful. Don’t punish yourselves
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2020
London magazine editor gets new mean boss who wants an impossible amount of advertising in next issue. Her staff suggest that Scotland is a thing and she reluctantly goes there with her rich friend in a fancy pink helicopter to scope it out by staying in a castle rather than exploring any actually interesting urban areas. The plot then takes a decidedly Scooby-Doo-like turn. I was bored by page 200 but read until the end nonetheless. This was a break for me from some of the heavy books I was reading but it was a lot more frivolous than I'd imagined it to be.
December 23, 2025
This is written as a satirical look at the vapid world of glossy magazines and celebrities. If Ms Holden had written a similar article in a magazine, I'd have found it cutting and hilarious. However the joke isn't nearly enough to sustain a whole novel, because it has no heart. Every character is a caricature, most of them with dreadful puns for names. The plot is all over the place and the ending is just plain bonkers.
April 15, 2020
I started this book back in August 2019 but due to university commitments my reading was all over the place. So, I re-started it from the beginning on Easter Sunday (12th April). Sandy I loved because of her love of the 80’s. Having said that Lulu was a favourite character for me and I liked how she travelled by pink helicopter. Overall, I loved this book. It’s funny and worth the time.
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