Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Where There’s a Kilt, There’s a Way
SERIES: Kilty Pleasures
AUTHOR: Ella Stainton
PUBLISHER: Carina Press
LENGTH: 265 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2021
BLURB:
Sweden, 1930
Two years ago, Dr. Ainsley Graham proved the existence of ghosts, and fell in love–hard to top that. But a trip to Sweden to research at a prestigious University for the summer is nothing to sneeze at, especially since his partner, psychologist Joachim Cockburn, will be teaching alongside him. A change of scenery might be just the thing.
Their idyllic trip to Sweden is interrupted by a ghost with a proclivity for rude hand gestures and graphic curse words–and a ghastly history begging to be investigated. Life among the living is complicated, too, by a gruff professor who can’t take his eyes off Ainsley, and an enticing new job offer for Joachim.
What starts as an adventurous trip abroad turns into mayhem, murder, and…a magical moose? And everyone–well, perhaps not the moose–is a suspect in the death of the ghostly young man who brings them together to expose secrets, loves lost, and a crime that will shock them all.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the second story in this series and as such is a complete spoiler for book one. It is recommended that they be read in order.
This story takes place two years after Ainsley and Joachim, the professor and the psychologist, have settled into their relationship. Ainsley has been hard at work rehabilitating his reputation, but he’s not quite there yet. As a result, the summer offer for both men is for research in Sweden. While initially reluctant, between Dr. Jeppsson, the Swedish professor who wants to enlist Ainsley’s help, and his flattery and Joachim’s cajoling, Ainsley finally agrees. What he doesn’t know then is that Joachim has agreed to also bring along Ainsley’s nephew Freddy and Helle, the barman at their club as a sort of chaperone/guide for Freddy and hopefully keep him out of Joachim’s and Ainsley’s way of their summer getaway.
Needless to say, things get off to a bumpy start and they go a bit haywire from there. There are surprise hauntings, mysterious ghosts and a possible murderer on the loose. And of course there are all sorts of distractions and obstacles to Joachim and Ainsley getting to spend time together. This leads to jealousy and misunderstandings. Joachim and Ainsley are neither 100% forthcoming with each other, which leads to further confusion. There is a long road to go in this one – that is filled with a lot of startling discoveries 🙂
While I enjoyed this book, there were some things I didn’t like quite as much. I still like the relationship and banter between Ainsley and Joachim, but I wasn’t so excited about the jealousy and miscommunication (or rather lack of communication) in the story. Frankly those two things get tedious rather quickly for me. But thankfully there were enough other positives to the story that made it worthwhile. There are new secondary characters here, including Freddy, Ainsley’s nephew whose presence definitely seems like a damper on what our heroes had planned for their summer (well at least Ainsley, anyway) and Helle, the gentleman’s club bartender that Ainsley is for come reason a bit jealous of – which I didn’t quite get since he’s already got his man in Joachim. I enjoyed the setting quite a lot and really am looking forward to the next book. These are compelling characters and although I didn’t love this one as much as the first, I’m rather excited for their next adventure. Recommended – particularly for Ghost story lovers and historical fans.
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
Carina