Book Review: Kiss of the Highlander

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Kiss of the Highlander     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Karen Marie Moning
Class/Genre:   Romance   Historical
Bantam, Sep 2001, $5.99, 416 pp.

In 1518 in the Scottish Highlands, Besseta Alexander warns her son Nevin that the Laird Drustin Mackelter is a danger to him. Nevin knows that his mother is not the "sharpest blade in the armory", and worries more about the impact of her pagan practices on his efforts to set up a ministry in town. Fully believing in her prediction and promising Nevin not to kill the Laird, but unable to allow Drustin to harm her son, Besseta arranges with Gypsies to place Drustin in an unnatural sleep till sunlight and human blood touches him.

Five centuries later, a bored American, Gwen Cassidy, comes to Scotland in hope of some romantic adventure. She falls into a cave where she awakens the sleeping Laird. Though shocked by her attitude and appearance, Drustin is more stunned by the ruins of his home. Feeling an obsession that his clan needs him in the sixteenth century, Drustin coaxes Gwen to join him on an adventure of a lifetime that includes time travel, love, and treachery.

KISS OF THE HIGHLANDER is an exciting time travel romance that takes readers on quite an action packed tale. The reactions of the lead characters to the respective other person's era is precious and on the mark. The story line is loaded with twists and turns, cleverly handles the time paradox issue, and still provides a strong romance that proves once again that Karen Marie Moning in her fourth outing has written a winning novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner