[.ca] Kiss of the Highlander (ISBN 044023655X)

This book redefines travelling.:
Drustan and Gwendolyn. From a vacation from hell to pure loving bliss, this books stopped me in my tracks and truly made me want to take a bus tour in Scotland. Maybe I'd get lucky too? This book grabbed my soul because I've always been fascinated by the likes of Drustan and his craft. I've learned much from this reading. Learned lots about myself too. Gosh t'would seem life was so much more simple then.

Oh, Drustan...:
This is the first of the Highlander series I've read, though I've already read Darkfever by the same author. I'm planning on reading the rest of the Highlanders asap. No, really, 'tis this good. It's paranormal historical romance at its very best. At first I also thought the Highlander books would be eight carbon copies of Outlander, but after reading Kiss and the synopses from the other books I can safely say 'tis not so! Och, ye canna help but fall in lust. Gwen Cassidy's life was bland, no doubt about it. The daughter of two famous scientists, it was only natural that she follow in their footsteps. Only to end up dated for three reasons: to try to win her parents' good graces, to see if she had any theories worth stealing, and for the prestige of dating the "prodigy". She'd been frighteningly cynical by twenty-one. Dropped out of the doctorate program at twenty-three. Lonely as hell by twenty-five. The trip to Scotland was supposed to be it. She was going to get someone to finally pop her cherry. Only to find THE cherry tree topper downer. Uh, whoa, that's... great... but, whoa! Highlander laird Drustan MacKeltar has been asleep for five centuries, enchanted by a powerful spell. Awakening to find a woman sprawled on top of him, he can't help but get... ideas. But he quickly sobers as reality hits him. Five hundred years... and crumbled ruins where he used to dwell. He must return to his own century to change history and save his people from a terrible fate. But he needs Gwen, for she could surely be the one to save him. Passion stronger than time will defy the laws of the universe.

My Favorite!:
I love everything she writes, but Kiss of the Highlander has been my favorite! Her humor spills out in this awsome romance as never before. It's a wonderful and refreshing twist. There are not enough words for the praise I give her on this one. And as always...she gives new meaning to the word "paranormal". But for myself...hum...Adam Black and Deagus are my favorite characters. She must have pulled those two right out of the shadows of my own mind. "Delicious I tell you"

I was going to say trite, derivative, nothing new...:
but then I read the whole book. When I read the highlander time-travel theme I thought it would be a retelling of Gabaldon's wonderful novels. When I began reading and Gwen went back in time and had to reconvince him all over again, I thought it was a rip-off of Jude Devereaux. Then I finished the book, and hail Karen Marie Moning! You have definitely written your own novel here! A lovely tale. Much better than "The Time Traveler's Wife" which I also read last week.

A Sit on the Edge of Your Seat Romantic Adventure:
Gwen Cassidy was just trying to add a dash of spice to her ho-hum way of life. At twenty-five she has no family left to speak of, she's sick of her job, and there's no man in her life. So she embarks on a group tour of Scotland, but little does she know her trip will lead to the adventure of a lifetime, and then some. While out exploring alone, she stumbles and falls into a cave, directly on top of the sexiest man she's ever laid eyes on. A Highland warrior, who awakens from a nap that has lasted centuries. Drustan MacKeltar is determined to keep Gwen by his side, especially once he discovers he has been enchanted for five hundred years, and only ruins remain where his castle once stood. He knows he must return to his own time by using the closely guarded power and knowledge of his Druid heritage. Drustan has the ability to travel through time, and he'll not leave Gwen behind. She has no idea she will accompany him, until she finds herself whisked back to sixteenth century Scotland. It is then that Gwen realizes the life of the man she loves, along with the fate of Drustan's entire clan, rests solely with her. For there is an enemy plot which will eventually cause the death of Drustan's people, unless she can successfully alter the course of time. But can this diverse couple, each from a different century, find a way to remain in one place together for all time? I believe my first thought after finishing this book was, "Wow!" This was my first novel to read by Ms. Moning, and I was definitely impressed. I've previously read a couple of time travel books by other authors, and found them too unbelievable and just lacking something. Now I do realize that any way you look at it, time travel is unrealistic. But the difference here is Ms. Moning makes it realistic, and very possible. This story was a non-stop, sit on the edge of your seat, quick, turn that page, nail-biting adventure! In fact the pace reminded me of watching an Indiana Jones movie. This book has it all: well-developed main characters, interesting secondary characters which add to the plot, fast-paced adventure, humor, romance, and some sizzling love scenes. A definite five star keeper, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series!