Best Laid Plaids

Best Laid Plaids (2020) Ella Stainton (Kilty Pleasures)

Set in Scotland in 1928.

Well, I’ve now completely ruined my search history, trying to find when top and bottom were first used as gay slang.

And the worst part is, I didn’t find the answer.

Joachim Cockburn fought in WWI. He’s now trying to finish his dissertation in psychology, and his friend suggests he travel to Scotland to interview his brother, Dr. Ainsley Graham, who is best known for blowing up his career after insisting that ghosts existed.

What did I like about this story? I loved both of the main characters, who are each damaged in the own way. Ainsley from the loss of his brother during the war (as well as the occasional fear that his seeing ghosts is actually a sign of a disordered mind), and Joachim from the war, and the death of his lover on the battlefield.

I also really liked how Ainsley’s fidgeting was presented. That–in addition to his claims of seeing ghosts–probably sealed the ruin of his reputation.

He stroked his thumb over the sensitive skin of his inner wrist, soothing himself into focus.

The interactions between the two men as they tried to navigate their feelings and desires were also very well done. Each had reasons for not wanting be deeper into the relationship than the other, and although the age difference between the two was significant, there wasn’t a huge power imbalance between the two, since Ainsley had wealth and was on his home turf.

Ainsley was a witch. A shameless land-Siren who sunk his hooks into every bit of Joachim. There was no doubt at all he’d be dashed among the rocks before it was said and done.

The initial interactions between the two were casual sex, which is not my thing, however, it bothers me far less in MM historicals, since sodomy was illegal and had real and serious consequences.

Which led me to one problem I had, which was Ainsley throwing himself at Hugh to see if he was gay as a favor to his friend. The characters note that sodomy was illegal, but seem to ignore that it had real and serious consequences at the time. Getting yourself thrown in jail just so your friend can find out if the guy he fancies men is a really big ask, when the intended target is a barrister, well aware of the law. It seemed exceptionally reckless when Ainsley was already in danger from his claiming to see ghosts.

Not a deal breaker, but it did bother me, because I was worried about Ainsley getting thrown in prison (any any of the other horrible things that could have happened to him).

The second issue was the language, which was very modern. That’s not a deal breaker, but it did occasionally throw me out of the story as I wondered whether language was really used that way at the time.

But it’s a romance, and as much as I adore a well-researched historical, that’s not the majority of what is available, and I recognize that.

So, a fun and enjoyable story.

Publisher : Carina Press
Rating: 7/10

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