Wow! What a story! If you like action, adventure, deceit, and romance all rolled into one, this is the book. This is the story of Jenny, or Mistress J as she is known by her followers, who leads a group of men on raids to gather supporters and supplies for the Jacobite cause. Although she is following in her father's footsteps, her brother has chosen to side with the opposition. The hero of the story is Toran, an English Loyalist, who must save his cousin, a Jacobite, from being executed. When Jenny happens upon Toran and his cousin, Archie, she gives them shelter within her group. Toran has been looking for Mistress J to settle a score with her. But as he gets to know her he questions his beliefs. There is a great deal of action in this book from the fighting but there is also romance. I really enjoyed this book. It gives you a glimpse of what life was like for the Scottish people trying to gain their independence. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Rebel Wears Plaid is an interesting, historical romance. Yet, the whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking of what is about to happen to Scotland and the Pretender. I was already wondering what would happen to Jenny and her friends, Prince Charlie’s Angels.

This was my first Eliza Knight book. Her research of the era and events are thoroughly woven into Jenny and Toran’s romance. The book is thoroughly enjoyable, but for me was too long.

Jenny, at times, was super confident. At others, seemed to need to prove herself. And, she did not want to bow to any man. She seemed to even want Toran to confirm in every way possible that she was better than he. Theirs is a sweet romance. It just did not fit into the ‘true love’ that I enjoy.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite a likable, brave heroine I was unimpressed with this historical romance. The characters didn't ignite passion and the war scenes uninspiring. Just not my cup of tea.

The Rebel Wears Plaid – Eliza Knight

The Rebel Wears Plaid is a historical romance written by American Eliza Knight, set at the beginning of the attempt to bring Bonnie Prince Charlie to power in Scotland. It tells us about Jenny Mackintosh, a Jacobite leader known as Mistress J, and Toran Fraser, a man with a personal vendetta against said Mistress J. As Toran is first physically captured by the rebels, then captured by Jenny’s beauty, courage, and devotion, he learns the truth about the true enemies, the British. For Jenny, it’s a journey into her femininity, as she discovers love and sex, an into her power, while becoming the laird of the clan.

Who would enjoy this
Eliza Knight specialises in historical romance, and that is exactly what this book delivers. Anyone familiar, and/or who enjoys the genre will appreciate The Rebel Wears Plaid, for it has all the elements required: historically dramatic period, check; spunky female lead breaking the mould, check; dashing rogue male lead, check; dastardly familiar foe, check; explicit sexual encounters, check. In general, this will fit in with any fans of Braveheart, Rob Roy, Highlander and Outlander.

It is also nicely paced, driving to a crescendo both in the political background action, and the main relationship plot. This makes the book an easy read for anyone looking for a bit of distraction over a few afternoons, without having to invest too much of themselves in the events or the characters. If you’re looking for a book without surprises, which you can judge by the cover, this is it.

Who should give this a pass
As can be expected from a book which fits its genre to a T, it will never be a good match for a reader unwilling to try such experiences, or who, having tried it, found it not to their taste. Also, if the story is chosen because the blurb makes one think it is an empowerment of women, think again. Jenny is a character constantly either in denial of herself, always trying to prove she’s better than the men around her (her brother, the English, even Toran), or completely devoted to men to meet their expectations (the memory of her father, the Prince, even her lover Toran).

Indeed, I think the main issue with The Rebel Wears Plaid is that it is exactly what it is supposed to be. Therefore, if the reader expects depth of history, it will leave them reeling. Same can be said for anyone expecting relatable relationship situations, characters, or similar. This is very clear fiction, in all its aspects except the period and some of the places described.

Conclusions and suggestions
I like romance books, and have been known to go through scores of them whenever I have the chance. I find them enjoyably easy to go through, not pretending to be something they are not. They are simple, optimistic, mindless fun reads. I am very grateful for the authors who create them for keeping alive the belief in love tropes, in happy endings, and in reading as a pastime. The problem is, the balance between such narratives and books with critical acclaim is very, very difficult. In fact, I consider it a very difficult achievement since most, if not all, writers want to create meaningful, relevant, engaging stories.

This is the very problem with The Rebel Wears Plaid. Its author, Eliza Knight, tried to create a heroine to the likes of the very real historical figures of female Scots rebel leaders, something I fully endorse, as they were impressive women indeed. The issue is that Ms Knight then attempted to fit such character into a format too restrictive for it, resulting in a heroine who is too fanatical about her beliefs, too childish. How else could Jenny be the sweet innocent who has to discover her heart in the arms of her hero? Her personal development in relationship to experiencing her sexuality, and the progression from kisses, to touches, to actual intercourse, is very nicely done. However, she has clearly no awareness of how idealistic she is in her following of a cause she inherited from her father, an ingenuity remarked upon by both her lover Toran and her cousin Dick after they have shared in the horrors of battle. Even as a laird, she shows no awareness of real politics, all her skill reserved to the chess board and the skirmishes with the local British garrison.

Throughout the tale, one cannot help but worry about the destruction her blinded obsession will bring to her clan – particularly knowing the disastrous end to the whole Jacobite revolution, and the true personality of historical Prince Charles. Since this is but one in a planned series I wonder how Ms Knight will address those issues. How will she bring a happy ending to events whose end will be dramatic and catastrophic for the main characters? Sadly, I don’t think I care enough about Miss Mackintosh (Mrs Fraser, laird of Mackintosh by the end of this volume, of course) to find out.

Let’s be clear, this is a good book: well written, well researched, well edited, and with good intentions. But we all can, always, improve. Here are some suggestions for anyone thinking of writing a similar book, or for the next volumes:
- Keep distance from the character. If the writer becomes too enamoured of their character, they will throw all the best characteristics at them, making them unlikable and weak. They end up being flat.
- Too perfect a person is as bad as a totally villainous one. If you are going for multidimensional characters, then main antagonists have to be as multi-layered as main leads. Otherwise, you have a cartoon baddie.

Scottish romantic adventure story.
Strong females in places of authority. Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite rebellion.
Rebels, Redcoats.
Exciting read

Scottish Highlands - 1745

Jenny Mackintosh has managed to guide her fellow clansmen away from English dragoons more than once, but now that her brother, Hamish, the new Laird has thrown his support to the Loyalists, she is in more danger. Jenny is an avowed Jacobite, as were her father and grandfather. With Hamish on the English side, Jenny and the Mackintosh clansmen who follow her are preparing for the arrival of Prince Charles. She and her men have been accumulating guns, ammunition, and other weapons to support the cause. But she had not accounted for meeting up with Toran Fraser.

Toran has been working with the English, specifically Captain Thomas Boyd, who convinced Toran that it was the mysterious Mistress J. who had brutally murdered Toran's mother, and then sent him her battered body in a coffin. However, now, while in an English stronghold, Toran's cousin Archie has been captured along with other Frasers, and Boyd is getting ready to hang them all. As much as Toran considers himself a Loyalist, he also doesn't want his cousin to die, so he manages to convince Boyd to let him question Archie, but then escapes with him into the Highlands. Heading back to their lands, though, they are captured by Jenny and her men.

Far from convinced that Toran is a Jacobite, Jenny still must keep everyone safe. Their farm facade where the Mackintosh clan has been hiding men and weapons is nearly discovered by the English, so Jenny is forced to take her two prisoners and all of her men and supplies back to her home.

Is Jenny Mistress J? How can Toran trust the person who murdered his mother? Will he discover the truth? How can he have feelings for this mysterious woman or trust her? She obviously doesn't trust him!

THE REBEL WEARS PLAID is Book One of Prince Charlie's Angels. Set in the times of the last Jacobite rebellion, readers learn of how perilous it was to oppose the English. Historical detail includes the vicious treatment of the Scots by the red coats, as well as the background of who Prince Charles was, and why he deserved the title of the Bonnie Prince. Toran and Jenny are just two small cogs in the underground preparation for the prince's arrival.

An exciting, yet romantic tale, THE REBEL WEARS PLAID is a great start to a new series.