Karen Marie Moning – Kiss of the Highlander

Highlanders Series:

Book 4:

Kiss of the Highlander: Drustan MacKelter and Gwen Cassidy

Summary:

Gwen goes to Scotland to find herself. All her life she was told how to live by her brilliant parents. She went to all the right schools got the best grades, went to college, and became a scientist, all because that was what was expected of her from her parents. There was no place for love and affection, her scientist parents didn’t believe it even existed. After the “Great Rebellion” she quit her work and got a “normal” job working for an insurance company and her parents stopped talking to her. After their death her whole world was rocked and she decided to find out if she really did have a heart and to find a “cherry picker” to get rid of her blasted virginity. This trip to Scotland has turned out just how everything else in her life has turned out, only she could end up on a Scotland tour for senior citizens and not only that she hasn’t seen a single guy she would consider to be her “cherry picker”.  One day on her trip she is hiking and she falls through some rocks and into a cave and onto a man who looks to be in a deep sleep, but if her falling on him didn’t wake him she is scared he may be dead or in some sort of coma. The last thing Drustan remembers is being in the 16^th century Scotland mourning the loss of his beloved brother Drageus and his fourth betrothed both who died in a battle on the way back to MacKelter land.  Drustan has pretty much given up hope that he would ever find a woman to marry him, whenever they discover that there is something different about him they run for the hills. Being a Druid has certainly interfered with his plans to marry and have children. Drustan is so caught up in his grief and worries he never suspects that the summons he receives could threaten his existence. When Drustan wakes to find the most desirable woman he has ever seen on top of him wearing next to nothing, he decides to go with it and doesn’t seem to understand why exactly she is trying to stop him, why else would she be on top of him in tiny trews and a chemise? Gwen can’t believe the sensations the man who was just in a deep coma is arousing in her, she is glad she wasn’t lusting after a dead man but she isn’t about to lose her cherry to a guy wearing ancient clothing and hiding in a cave and who she doesn’t even know his name. What kind of man just starts making out with a woman he has never seen before?? After their awkward/arousing greeting Gwen and Drustan realize they need to get out of that cave. First and foremost on Dustan’s mind is just how long he has been in that cave and why. After questioning the lovely Gwen she suspects that he has lost a month in that cave, but when they approach the town he suspects it has been longer than that. When he asks Gwen what year it was she looks at him strangely but answers, when Drustan learns he has lost over 500 years he knows he has to get back to Castle MacKelter and he needs Gwen to help him so he basically kidnaps her until she agrees to help. Gwen is convinced Drustan is ready for the loony bin, imagine thinking you are from 500 years in the past. Ha! But she agrees to help him anyway because it’s not like she has anything more important to do and he is the most handsome appealing man she has ever met. Maybe she has found her cherry picker after all… When they arrive at the “Castle MacKelter” and the stones his clan is sworn to protect Drustan realizes things are worse off than he thought. When Gwen sees the anguish Drustan is in when he discovers his home is gone she really feels for him, after the past couple of days she has come to care for him even though he is slightly off his rocker. Drustan knows that he has to get back to his century ASAP and he needs Gwen with him, if he activates the stones and anything goes wrong all could be lost without her. When Drustan finally presents his “proof” for actually being from the 16^th century she has no idea that he was actually going to take her back, and that he wouldn’t be with her… When she arrives in the 16^th century she is fully a believer and she knows he sent her back to save his clan from extinction. The only problem is, the current century Drustan has no idea who she is and thinks she is the crazy one this time. How is a girl to save his brother, his clan and get him to love her if he ownt believe her…

Summary:

I highly enjoyed this story, I can just imagine Drustan waking up in the 21^st century with cars, cell phones, airplanes, etc and totally being at a loss, his adjustment is quite amusing! Gwen is my second favorite female of this series, I could really relate to her need to shake up her life and to find herself. Also her hiding her intelligence because of her past and her parents is enduring, she just wants acceptance and doesn’t feel like she can get that by showing her true self. How many people have felt that same way at some point in their life, the desire to fit in is a strong one. The chemistry between Drustan and Gwen is scorching and you are happy for her when she finds her “cherry picker” and what a great way to lose it! You want to say “You go girl! You get yours!”, that is for every girl whose first time sucked, you can pretend yours was as good as hers. LOL! The MacKelter men are HOT and Drustan is just the first of them!

Rating:

4.5 Orchids out of 5

Karen Marie Moning – The Dark Highlander

Highlanders Series:

Book 5:

The Dark Highlander: Dageus MacKelter and Chloe Zanders

Summary:

Dageus broke the number one rule of his Druid ancestry; you are NOT to use the stones for your personal benefit. When Drustan dies in a fire Dageus uses the stones to go back in time to save his brother, in doing so he faced a punishment of housing 13 ancient evil druids within him. Now he has 13 evil druids compelling him to do evil, only his sheer will power is keeping them from taking him over his body as it is he finds himself using magic more and more for personal gain. In his feelings of shame Dageus fleas the 16^th century through the stones for the 21^st century to find a way to get the 13 ancient ones out of his body and mind. What he doesn’t know is that there is a secret society that has been waiting for the prophecy to finally fulfill itself in the form of Dageus, they now await the full transformation of Dageus into pure evil so they can rule as they were always meant to do. Chloe loves all things old and her true passion is Scottish artifacts, so when she is instructed to take an ancient Scottish text to what she believes is a pompous rich guy who will ruin the text she is put out. When she gets to Dageus pent house and he is not there she takes it upon herself to explore his home where there are Celtic artifacts EVERYWHERE, she has died and gone to heaven! In her explorations she see’s several texts that have recently been stolen, she can’t believe she is in the home of a thief; she has to get out of there and call the police!  When Dageus spots Chloe she is under his bed with just her legs sticking out and what fabulous legs they are! When Dageus sees that she has seen the stolen texts and knows they are stolen he has no choice but to keep her until he finishes his research and goes back to Scotland. Despite herself Chloe gets caught up with helping Dageus translate the texts, she just can’t help herself! So when he asks her to go to Scotland with him, she can’t resist, but hours before they leave she is attacked and may not make it out alive…

Review:

I was somewhat disappointed with this one, don’t get me wrong I did like it, but I just thought that with the 13 ancients the story could have gone in so many interesting ways, but the book was a lot of researching and talking and less action, I would have liked it to have gone in a more action direction. That being said the sheer will power of Dageus is very impressive and Chloe’s innocence is endearing. However, this is K.M. Monings 5^th virgin, and I have to say I don’t think there is that many attractive mid 20 something’s left in the modern America, so it’s a little unrealistic but hey if K.M. Moning likes writing about innocent virgins far be it from me to argue with a formula that seems to work. I do suggest reading this book it picks up from where the last one left off and it will help if you continue the series and read Cian MacKelter book.

Rating:

3 moons out of 5