Cover Image: The Rebel Wears Plaid

The Rebel Wears Plaid

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I'm glad I finally got around to reading this title. It's refreshing because it takes place during the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 Scotland rather than during the Regency or Victorian era. Jenny is recruiting an army for the rebellion when she comes across Toran and recruits him, unaware that he works for the English. As one might imagine with such a setting, there's plenty of action and fighting (especially for a romance novel). There's also a lot of politics. The romance itself is slow burn, which I appreciated, but that might not be every reader's speed. Overall, I really enjoyed Jenny's character more than Toran's, but it's often the case for me that I like the heroine more than the hero in hetero romance. I'd probably read another novel by this author.

3.5 stars

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Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Just a touch

Basic plot:
Jenny Mackintosh is recruiting a Jacobite army. One night, her and her men come across Toran and his injured cousin. She attempts to recruit him, not knowing he’s on the side of the English and he goes along with it to find information for who is responsible for his mother’s death.

Give this a try if you want:
-The slowest, slowest burn. Kisses aren’t until halfway and anything more is after 75%
-1745 time period – Jacobite Rebellion, dragoons, and Bonnie Prince Charlie
-Mid to high steam – it doesn’t feel super hot because it’s all crammed at the end, but there are 5 full scenes
-Highlander hero and strong highland heroine – heroine leads her men and recruits for the rebellion

My thoughts:

This story takes place over a fair amount of time. This isn’t an instalove bam they’re married and The End after a weekend. It’s a slow growth of trust, relationship building, sharing a bit more of themselves each time they meet. This story takes place in 1745, in the heart of the Jacobite rebellion. As I just had watched the first season of Outlander, it felt very similar – and I love that season so overall that worked for me. I will admit I also just couldn't stop thinking about the real history and that cast a bit of a cloud over the whole thing.

There’s a lot of action. A lot of fighting. A lot of running, plotting, strategy. The romance is slower, the trust having to built up, second guessed, built up again...I did get a bit frustrated with that. But, once they are together, and fully committed to each other, it was just so, so beautiful. I had to knock it up to 4 stars just for how amazing, romantic, and breathtaking I felt their love was at the end.

So, this one definitely had some things that weren’t my favorite in romance, but overall I liked it. I would try her again as an author.

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I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lady Jenny Mackintosh may be the sister of the Mackintosh Laird, but when her brother turns traitor, and starts to support the English king George, at the detriment of the Scottish people, she has to do what she can for her country, and her rightful king, Bonnie Prince Charlie. As Mistress J, she travels the Highlands, raising troops, arms, and money for the war effort, and risks her life at every turn. Coming across two Highland men, fleeing a notorious prison fortress, she decides to take them with her, but can she trust Toran Fraser, and his injured cousin, Archie. Toran has been working with the English Captain Boyd since his mother's body was returned to him, defiled and desecrated, with a note from 'Mistress J'. Coming across Jenny, and discovering she is Mistress J, he's shocked that the notorious rebel he's had in his mind all this time, is a beautiful woman, who doesn't seem to be the cutthroat killer he was expecting. As they get closer, and the truth about Toran's mother's death is revealed, will they be able to have a happy ending, or is the looming battle too big an obstacle to overcome?

This is the first book in a new series, and I hadn't even realised I hadn't read it yet, until I was checking my GR shelf, and saw I had the whole trilogy to read. So, I decided to binge read it all, and was so glad to have kept them together. This period of British history is one that we see time and time again being explored in novels and other media (*cough* Outlander *cough*), and I'm ashamed to say that as a Brit, and a history graduate, I don't know too much about it, other than Culloden. I'll say as a former history teacher, that the British curriculum doesn't like to show too much that portrays the country in a bad light, and the English treatment of the Scots during this time, would definitely fall under that umbrella. Jenny was such a strong character, and I just fell in love with her from the first few pages. She's the daughter and granddaughter of proud Scotsmen, who would be turning in their graves to see where her brother, Hamish, was now. She had to take up the mantel and help her people, even acting as the Laird in all but name. The risks to her body and her life were there at every moment, and drawing the attention of Captain Boyd was unbelievably dangerous, but she did it to help her Prince. She wasn't trusting of Toran at first, for good reason, but they had a chemistry that would overcome anything, and the way they hit it off, and played off each other's strengths was glorious. Honestly, they were one of the best couples I've ever read, and I loved seeing the growth in them both. For Toran, he had been on the side of the English, thinking to make the Jacobites suffer for what happened to his mother, but when he learnt the truth, and saw that the Scottish people just wanted their freedom, and dignity, he soon was fully on Jenny's side, and her biggest supporter. I really liked the ending, and hope we see more of the people of the Mackintosh clan in the subsequent books, which follow Jenny's friends, Annie and Fiona.

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Eliza Knight's The Rebel Wears plaid is sizzling and rough around the edges "in the right way'! I recommend all lovers of romance novels to read this book!

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I love all the Scottish rogue books by Eliza Knight. The storyline is always new and interesting, the characters are well-developed and likeable, the historical facts are accurate and the romance is wonderful. I can fit myself right into the mystery, I trivia day action. I read everything I can by her.

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The Angels are everything I wish I was in a time I wish I was with men I wish I was under. Sexy and captivating this book is everything a good Scottish romance should be. The writing is well crafted and swept me away to a time where everything was a bit rough and rugged with people just a but more honorable and redeeming then reality. I loved every moment and can’t wait for the next novel.

I appreciate the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review and honest opinion.

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Not your average Historical Romance.

This book is set in 1745 during the Jacobite rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie, which was something I really enjoyed. However, there were a few things which took away from the great setting.

WHAT I LIKED

Setting - I'm a sucker for Scotland so this was something I was loving, and set during the Jacobite Rebellion was a perfect set up some great love. As a lover of Outlander, I had high hopes for this one being different from other Historical Romances where its all Balls and the Ton.

Jenny Mackintosh - the female main character was interesting and engaging. She was very different from usual HR heroines - she was strong & independent, a fighter, a rebel leader as well as a laird. She fought for what she believed in (a little too blindly, but that's a whole other story) and she had hopes for herself and her people. I found her character honourable.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Romance - Toran Fraser - our male protagonist, has been collaborating with the English but flees from them to save his cousin's life and during this time he runs into Jenny. The romance that blooms between them could have been dynamite, but it was just... awkward. It seemed to come from nowhere, it was just suddenly there. It was lust brought on by nothing, turned into love brought on by lust. It just felt... forced

Writing - I'm not sure exactly what went wrong for me with the writing, but all too often it felt clumsy, stilted and awkward, it took me a long time to get into the book and it was a struggle to push through - I'm glad I'm late on the review as I could follow along with the audio and it made it more digestible.

Overall I give this one 3 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Being a huge Outlander fan, the description of this book made me excited to read this novel while waiting for Diana Gabaldon’s latest book installment of the Outlander series to be published.

I enjoyed seeing the author selecting a brave woman to be the epicenter of the book, and the thoughts of a female laird being welcomed by a clan; especially in the 1740’s. However, I was quickly disappointed and my excitement faded when I opened the book and saw familiar character names from another popular Scottish Highlander series. The name Jenny, Hamish, the use of Clan Fraser - all too familiar. Furthermore, events from the book - the flogging scene, for example, were reminiscent of the previously mentioned book series.

The evolution of Toran and Jenny’s relationship, from hatred to lust to love was a bit awkward, as there was no real clear path from one step to the next.

For just a fun read, and if you’ve never read the Outlander series, you would possibly rate this book a 4. However, after reading all of the Outlander series, this book would need a little more fine tuning in order to live up to the above-mentioned series.

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Great start to a new series!

I loved that the one working to help the Jacobite rebellion was a woman...not just a woman but a Lady.

I'm a big fan of books that contain Scottish history and this one didn't disappoint. I find that time in history to be very intriguing and the more I can learn about it the better.

Great characters and adventure. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more in the series.

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This was an exciting and emotional read filled with lots of action. It's heroine is very strong and fearless, and the hero is a strong Scotsman with a huge heart. It's a wonderful highland romance story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

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Eliza Knight deftly blends action, adventure, passion and emotion in her beguiling new historical romance, The Rebel Wears Plaid, the first title in her new series, Prince Charlie’s Angels.

Toran Fraser is a man on a mission. He is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites and to ensure that the unrest that is running rife in Scotland does not continue to gain traction and cause further dissent and upheaval. Toran is a man who is certainly no stranger to battle, but when on a mission he is intercepted by a woman known only by her sobriquet of Mistress J, Toran finds himself intrigued and drawn to the attractive lassie wielding a pistol with such skill and aplomb. Unable to resist her daring appeal, Toran finds himself joining in the rebellion where he might just end up losing his heart to the mysterious Mistress J…

Jenny Mackintosh is a woman with a dangerous secret. By day she is a highborn lady who runs her estate in the Highlands, but by moonlight she is devoted to the Jacobite mission and thinks nothing of throwing herself headlong into danger and jeopardy and doing her utmost for the cause. Jenny raises money, delivers weapons and faces down enemies and backstabbers without fear, but the greatest danger of all could lie in giving her trust and her heart to a man who has managed to get under her skin but who is on the opposing side of this battle: Toran Fraser.

The odds are stacked against Jenny and Toran. But can they ever have any hope of a future together? Or are there simply too many obstacles standing in their way?

Eliza Knight has penned an evocative, exciting and immensely enjoyable historical romance that will go down a treat with Outlander fans and readers who enjoy Scottish romances. Bold, captivating and wonderfully romantic, The Rebel Wears Plaid is a passionate and beguiling page-turner with two strong, charismatic and beguiling leads readers cannot help but fall in love with.

A terrific love story that is hard to put down and impossible to forget, The Rebel Wears Plaid is a superb Scottish historical romance from an immensely gifted writer: Eliza Knight.

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I fell so in love with these characters. The story was very well told, and I couldn't help but root for Jenny and Toran in their resistance. The scenery was clearly visible in my mind as I read about their travels and the paths they took, and their love and need for each other was nearly palpable. Great book! I need the 2nd now.

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Action packed, sexy, fun and emotionally thrilling journey filled with exciting and engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and undeniable passion. Really enjoyed this highly entertaining adventure from beginning to end.

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3 1/2 stars

I enjoyed the story overall.... A strong heroine in the medieval era always makes for an interesting read, and Jenny/Mistress J was no exception. I am also a sucker for a hot highlander, so Toran was right up my alley as well! The story had a lot of action and some steam (not as much as I usually enjoy, but enough to keep me interested), and the reader definitely wanted the H/h to get their HEA!

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I fairly enjoyed this one. I heavily gravitated to how this romance focuses on a strong, FEMALE rebel instead of the usual male Highlander taking the charge.

And this one didn't disappoint!

I loved reading the complex relationship the characters had both together and in their private lives. They had an opposites attract with more of a political, rebel twist; her having to fight for the Jacobite cause and him mostly looking for vengeance.

I ended up giving this one a solid 4 out of 5 stars. When it comes to the Historical Romance genre, I love when the stories have an even mix of steamy romance AND a great plot to drive them into chaos. 

This is the first novel I've read from Eliza Knight, and from what her Goodreads profile shows, she mainly focuses on writing Scottish Romances, so I will definitely be checking out more her very soon!

I think if you enjoy this sub-genre (as much as I do), you will want to pick this one up next!

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The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight is full of one adventure after another. I loved the raw intensity of the scenes. This writer did her search well before crafting this book. I felt the time period come alive inside this historical novel. The Jacobites had it rough. Many were killed for fighting against the English people and their King. There was only one rightful King and he was definitely not the English one. The story was action-packed, intense, deadly, and entertaining. I could not get enough of these characters nor the story itself.

Inside, The Rebel Wears Plaid, I met a high noble woman. Her brother has left his clan to fight for their enemy. He hates his sister so much. She ends up taking up the cause her father died to protect. Her clan is now under her rule and she will fight alongside the men to protect them all. That's when she meets the hero and his cousin. They escaped the English, leaving behind their men to die, only to find themselves fighting to prove they're not traitors to their own people. The hero was quite interesting. He was told that his mother was killed by the Jacobites. His father fought alongside the English and he too, was taught to do so. But he never knew his mom fought with the Jacobites, their own people, and died a heroine. The hero has a lot to learn and a hard time proving which side he's actually on...plus, his siblings and cousin need him for protection. The dangers are not only the English but also those who are close to them.

This is the first book I have read by Eliza Knight. I cannot wait to read more books by her in the future. She is a talented writer in bringing to life the rich history of the Highlanders and creating irresistible characters.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

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Wild, tense, and passionate all wrapped in one. Taking place during the Jacobite Rebellion Toran and Jenny are Scots on different side of the war. When Toran is forced to pretend to be a Rebel he is fighting his instincts against the fearless Mistress J but also his own beliefs. Jenny knows she should not trust him but is inherently drawn to him. As they are faced with adversaries close to home and as far as England they are forced to rely on each other and learn that there is more to the other than meets the eye. I adored Jenny, a strong woman leader who is savage but compassionate. Toran is a wounded soul on a dark path and while he absolutely redeemed himself, I found him a little annoying, this changes by the end of the book.
The historical information and descriptions are perfect. Knight does a great job pulling the reader right into the story and feeling like we had two feet planted in the pages. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

​This was a fun read with a strong, adventurous heroine and a dashing hero.

I will admit that "Mistress J" had a weird connection in my head because I kept thinking of The Joker from Batman (Harley calls him "Mister J"), but once I got over that humorous and strange image in my head, I enjoyed Jenny.

I enjoyed Jenny and her mission. This type of story, hidden identities, strong heroine who believes in her call in life, and so much more.

The writing tended to be a bit "meatier" than I enjoy. I like more dialogue and less exposition. But it was well written.

I give this four out of five stars.

The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. ISBN-13: 978-1728200323. 448 pages. Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 30, 2020).

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The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight is book one in her Prince Charlie's Angels series. This new series features heroines protecting Jacobite soldiers or otherwise fighting for the cause.

Jenny Mackintosh “Mistress J” and Toran Fraser are on opposite sides of the Jacobite rebellion. Mistress J is a rebel recruiting an army for Prince Charles Stuart, while Toran is a Loyalist aiding King George’s government. Jenny discovers Toran apparently fleeing from the English and aids in his escape. Surprisingly, he then declares solidarity with the Jacobite cause and dedicates himself to her efforts to gather men and supplies. Jenny and Toran immediately feel the flames of passion but refuse to allow something so shallow deter their beliefs in their individual causes.

This was my first book by Eliza Knight and I enjoyed the experience. The plot and characters are strong and believable. I give The Rebel Wears Plaid 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star because I wish there was more romance. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy historically accurate historical romance.

My thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Exciting and steamy, I loved this story of the brave Mistress J and her loyal band of heroic Highlanders. A lady by day and a fierce warrior by night, Jenny Mackintosh is a wonderfully deserving heroine. Toran Fraser, on the other hand, has mixed loyalties and even after Jenny rescues him, he is unable to trust her.

I imagine that a few liberties have been taken with the history behind this book but the story is fantastic. The political background to the story is almost as complicated as the connection between Jenny and Toran. The chemistry between these two is explosive – but neither trusts the other. The result is an exciting and complicated story.

I love the slightly reversed gender roles in this book, and I love the suggestion that women like Jenny were at the forefront of the struggle for Scottish independence. It’s Jenny who rescues Toran, Jenny who saves her people, and Jenny who outsmarts the English at every turn. Toran has his own skill set – but he is the one forced to choose whether he can swear allegiance to Jenny and her cause.

This book is everything I want from a historic romance. Solid history, well-crafted characters, and an exciting story make for a rather thrilling romp.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
I must say that I'm not usually a Historical Romance reader, and I'm not sure why. It may be that I don't really know the true events or timelines, it may be due to not truly grasping the historical concepts, or it may be due to my own ignorance.

The Rebel Wears Plaid was a pleasant surprise.

Mistress J is a Jacobite rebel leader. She plays an integral role in the war to rid her lands of the evil English. Championing the Bonnie Prince Charlie, Lady Jenny Mackintosh takes her duties seriously and fully intends to see her chosen prince take the throne.

Toran Fraser has a sordid history, orphaned and raised by his uncle, The Fox, he is responsible for his younger siblings and searching for the people responsible for the death of his mother. His immediate family means everything to him, but his search fuels his soul.

This story has everything – mystery, intrigue, action, romance, and a very strong female lead. I loved reading about Mistress J knowing this was set in the 1700s. There is the ongoing war, the familial feuds, the touching moments, and the answers to questions.

I was drawn into the story from page one and it kept hold until the last. I need to know the next chapter in the story of Prince Charlie's Angels, but specifically what happens to the traitor Hamish.

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