Review: Finding Fraser by K. C. Dyer

“Jamie Fraser would be Deeply Gratified at having inspired such a charmingly funny, poignant story—and so am I.”—Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series

Escape to Scotland with the delightful new novel that readers have fallen in love with—inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s #1 New York Times bestselling Outlander series.

I met Jamie Fraser when I was nineteen years old. He was tall, red-headed, and at our first meeting at least, a virgin. He was, in fact, the perfect man.
That he was fictional hardly entered into it...

On the cusp of thirty, Emma Sheridan is desperately in need of a change. After a string of failed relationships, she can admit that no man has ever lived up to her idea of perfection: the Scottish fictional star of romantic fantasies the world over—James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.

Her ideal man might be ripped from the pages of a book, but Emma hopes that by making one life-altering decision she might be able to turn fiction into fact. After selling all her worldly possessions, Emma takes off for Scotland with nothing but her burgeoning travel blog to confide in.

But as she scours the country’s rolling green hills and crumbling castles, Emma discovers that in searching for her own Jamie Fraser, she just might find herself.

Finding Fraser is a fun read for chick lit lovers and fans of Outlander. In this funny fiction we’re taken on a crazy ride as Emma leaves Chicago for Scotland in search of a modern James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. We meet memorable characters, and experience Scotland through the eyes of someone desperate for change and adventure. I enjoyed this novel, for the most part, loving each twist in Emma’s journey, but I was only here for the romance, and that aspect of the book disappoints.

Of course when Diana Gabaldon first mentioned this book on her social network page I had to add it to my TBR list. If She says it’s good, then I listen. This book is pretty similar to a Gabaldon production in the sense that the heroine is placed outside her familiar setting where everything falls apart and she learns about herself in the process. She meets interesting characters at random and never has time to settle as one unsuspecting event follows another. The protagonist is totally compelling, an interesting narrator with an identifiable voice. She’s a bit of a mess, but her eccentricities are completely endearing. I enjoyed her narrative, because she’s the kind of quirky heroine that made me consistently smile. She reminded me a bit of the character Mindy Lahiri, so if you like that type of warm, friendly, and romantic character then you’ll enjoy Emma.

The premise of Finding Fraser revolves around Emma’s quest to find her real-life hero, and though she does meet a few sexy Scotsmen, and she ends up dating her potential Jamie Fraser, this really is a story about self-discovery, in which Emma finds herself through her quest to find love. She finds herself falling love with beautiful Scotland, as is expected, since I suspect that when I finally do make my trip to Scotland I’ll never leave. Emma blogs about her journey and meets interesting characters offline and online, which I absolutely loved since ya know, I blog myself.

While I enjoyed these aspects of the novel, and I truly did, I began reading this book because I was craving some romance and I didn’t get enough. There’s great build up for the romance, and I was primed for some swoon-worthy scenes, but the last quarter of this novel let me down. It felt rushed compared to the steady pace of the first three-quarters, and the literal ending felt very abrupt. I turned the last page and was surprised it was over, especially since the things I wanted to happen had just started happening. An epilogue would’ve been a great way to close Emma’s story.

Would I recommend this novel? I would as long as a reader doesn’t go in expecting a sweeping love story. I did enjoy K. C. Dyer’s writing, and think women’s fiction lovers will appreciate her plot, but die-hard romance lovers… not so much. Finding Fraser was a fun bit of entertainment for me, and though it didn’t blow me away, I do think it would be a cute movie. Random, but sometimes I’ll read books and think, “this would’ve made a better screenplay.” Anyway, I’m rambling… ttyl!

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