Customer Reviews

Wild Highland Magic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Oh my. I had a hard time finding "Wild Highland Magic" in the bookstore; but I refused to miss out, and ordered a copy of Kendra Leigh Castle's latest instead. I'm so, so glad I did. This one was just as good as the other two I've read by her and that makes this author a firm plant onto my 'must read' list.

Catrionna and her sisters are so excited to finally be headed to the Scottish homeland of their relatives. But better than the chance to see long-estranged family is the chance to be accepted for what they are...werewolves. Is it too much to hope that maybe they can find a hunky werewolf they're NOT related to?

Bastian is cursed...a real curse. He's the last of his bloodline-the rest were all driven mad by a daemon curse and now it's come for him. After years of searching, he's down to his last hope. His only chance is: the blood of a dragon, freely given. Isn't just his luck that the only dragon he knows is his sister's half-brother? Oh, and he's in hell? And better yet, he was sent there after trying to force his half-sister to be his mate? I guess it could be worse...like maybe Bastian could rescue him...only to find himself hiding out in the midst of a werewolf reunion...where he meets his future mate!

This is a series with drama, humor, suspense, magic, werewolves, vampires, dragons, daemons, hot love, hotter sex, sacrifice, redemption...I could go on and on. It's a darn good plot, set in an interesting world (worlds, really), that kept me turning pages like a whirlwind.

You could read "Wild Highland Magic" as a standalone and still be intrigued. But why not go for the gusto and read all three. They have a spot on my keeper shelf and I can only hope there's more to come from Kendra Leigh Castle set in these wonderful worlds.

Wild Highland Magic" is actually the third book by Kendra Leigh Castle along these same lines of sexy shifters of werewolves and sorceresses. I see your raised eyebrows. Keep reading. I myself do not typically (have not ever) read paranormal romances. But I have broadened my horizons and I am glad I did. Featuring your predictable love story it is told with a unique setting and circumstances, obviously unlike anything I've ever read before. Instead of getting turned off by the fantasy worlds I was quite absorbed. First off let me explain that there is no gore, bloody stuff which some may think of when they hear of 'paranormal'. There is nothing here to be afraid of.

This novel is focused on the romance that immediately occurs between Catriona, a woman who has the ability to shape into a werewolf, and Bastian, who is a sexy mysterious powerful mix of man and magician. He can jump worlds. (I just wanted to see myself write that phrase with all seriousness.) Oh and he can make water move. But Sexy Bastian is lugging around the Family Curse, aka a vicious shadow who swears to eat him up and whoever loves him as it has done to generations before him. Catriona's family of werewolves get involved in trying to save Bastian and Catriona from dragons and evil shadows with a fight to the death. Their attraction is extreme and that's where some of the 'bodice-ripper' stereotypical scenes come in, and it gets hot and heavy a few times. Mini sub-plots occur with Cat's family members with love affairs and secrets, and the actual magic itself which were all entertaining. The main characters are appealing and the dialogue is modern and witty. I enjoyed the paranormal factors more then I expected I would, some of the magic described was wonderful to imagine. One drawback is the non-development of the character of Cat's father. I kept expecting more to be said about him with insight into his secrets and personal life. And although this is set in Scotland, there isn't a lot of "Scottish" characterizations except for kilts at a gathering... and then the other settings are indeed out of this world.

After getting halfway through the book is when I realized that were two books before that focused on some of the same characters, but knowing that did not detract from the current plot. I will just have to go hunting for those other two. On Kendra's site there is a summary of the books and how they relate to one another. This is a great summer read, this came out May 1 in paperback for a great price, so you really can't go wrong. I know some readers will balk at the phrase paranormal romance, as I have done myself, but I recommend this one for anyone who wants to let go of the typical romance and go for a ride on the other side where demons and love at first sight mixes into an uncommonly great story. I definitely believe that Paranormal Romance Readers will love it. Overall a good ride, and I enjoyed it.

Kendra Castle's books: 'Call of The Highland Moon' released 5/2008, and 'Dark Highland Fire' released 10/2008, and the new one releases May 1st available here on Amazon

The Athins were once a powerful clan ruling the Northern Plains. They fell into ruin when Cadmus ruler of the Daemons of the Blighted kingdom visited their High Mage to unite their tribes. To anchor an agreement, Cadmus demanded the High Mage give him his sister, but the Athins' leader refused. Cadmus placed a curse on the Ice Mage males. They are a dying group down to their last male wizard Bastian an Morgaine, who hides away amongst the MacInees shapeshifting pack in Scotland.

Twenty-five years ago a dispute between brothers led to one taking his family across the ocean. Now he wants to reconcile so his daughter Catrionna MacInnes can learn to be a werewolf amidst family. When Cat and Bastion see one another for the first time they are attracted to each other. She recognizes hs as her lifemate; he fears his feelings for her as he believes Cadmus' curse will activate as it did leading to his dad's lament of regretting love and eventually his death.

This is a fast-paced romantic fantasy that sub-genre fans will appreciate. Although a cast of zillions with several major subplots like the feuding brothers add complexity to the tale, the story line belongs to the Cat and Bastian who will have readers humming the Flack version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. WILD HIGHLAND MAGIC is a tremendous romantic fantasy that will send new fans seeking Kendra Leigh Castle's previous Highland stories (see CALL OF THE HIGHLAND MOON and DARK HIGHLAND FIRE; neither read by me).

Harriet Klausner

Having grown up in America, Catrionna knows very very little about being a werewolf. And now her father has taken a trip with her and her sisters back to the pack they had fled years before.

When Catrionna meets Bastian, a wizard prince, sparks fly. Unknowingly, she binds him to her with their first encounter. She has no idea he is cursed, and now she is a part of it also. Now they both will have to fight the evil, that stalks them, to save their very souls.

From the shores of America, to the astonishing beauty of the Highlands, follow Catrionna, and her mating with Bastian an Morgaine. A terrific read for the price. If you love werewolf romances with a magical twist, do not miss this one! Very highly recommended!

Great book, reading the whole series and really like the book and the author who wrote it.

Wild Highland Magic is a very satisfying read. I was a little apprehensive about this book because often times it is very difficult to blend fantasy together with real life and make is convincing; lucky for us, Kendra was able to write this story with seamless ease and it is a riveting story! This smoothly flowing novel has a few plot twists, though nothing much unexpected. I found it a little difficult to keep all the different tribes/kinds of characters, apart; initially, I had to refer to the helpful descriptions at the front of the book. These vivid, unique worlds that Kendra has created are really something to behold; it's very difficult to describe how fantastical yet believable these places are and I was intrigued by all of the different aspects of this novel. Each of the characters is well developed. I enjoyed the sizzle between Catrionna (Cat) and Bastian; they give new meaning to love at first sight. The sex scenes are piping hot with sensual aggression and steamy love-play. Poppy (Cat's youngest sister) and Lucien are a wonderful contrast to the type of relationship that Cat and Bastian have; they are both sarcastic and somewhat unwilling in love. I didn't want this story to end and when I reached the final page, I still wanted to read more about these amazing characters...I'm looking forward to many more books in the series, I hope!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from beginning to end and I highly recommend it!

(9 out of 10 Diamonds) - Loved it!


© 2008-2009 Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (Book Reviews By Bobbie).
All rights reserved.

When Bastian an Morgaine was right years old, his father tells him that he is dying and that he is the last of the males in the line of Athins. A group of very powerful ice mages. He warns Bastian to never fall in love as it will only cause awful and painful heartache.

The reason for this is because many, many years ago when Bastian's grandfather, the high mage was alive; he was visited by a daemon named Cadmus. Cadmus wanted the daemons and the Athins to join houses. As part of this deal Cadmus wanted the high mage's sster. The high mage declined. Cadmus was irate and put a curse on all of the males. A curse that has been feeding on the males for centuries.

Catriona MacInnes and her family return from Americia after beging away for so long to rejoin the rest of the MacInnes pack in Scotland. The pack are wolf-shifters. Bastian has been living with the MacInnes pack. From the first moment Cat laid eyes on Bastian, they felt an instant connection with each other. Bastian and Cat try to deny what they feel for one another but the attraction is too strong and they finally given in to their feelings. But by doing so, Cat binds herself to Bastian and unleashes a horrific creature that wants to destroy both Bastian and Cat.

Cat and Bastian make a good match together. I liked the elements that Cat was the wolf and Bastian was the mage in this story. Usually you read whre the male is the wolf as a male dominated role but this time the character is a female. It showed that even females can be strong and sexy. Wild Highland Magic didn't just include shifters, mages, daemons but also dragons. One small problem I had was that there were so many characters that I had some trouble keeping everyone straight. This is the second book I have read by Kendra Leigh Castle and it won't be the last.