Kiss of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Karen Marie Moning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2001

A laird trapped between centuries...

Enchanted by a powerful spell, Highland laird Drustan MacKeltar slumbered for nearly five centuries hidden deep in a cave, until an unlikely savior awakened him. The enticing lass who dressed and spoke like no woman he’d ever known was from his distant future, where crumbled ruins were all that remained of his vanished world. Drustan knew he had to return to his own century if he was to save his people from a terrible fate. And he needed the bewitching woman by his side....

A woman changed forever in his arms...

Gwen Cassidy had come to Scotland to shake up her humdrum life and, just maybe, meet a man. How could she have known that a tumble down a Highland ravine would send her plunging into an underground cavern — to land atop the most devastatingly seductive man she’d ever seen? Or that once he’d kissed her, he wouldn’t let her go?

Bound to Drustan by a passion stronger than time, Gwen is swept back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where a treacherous enemy plots against them ... and where a warrior with the power to change history will defy time itself for the woman he loves....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rife with unexpected plot twists, Druid lore and sparkling humor, Moning's latest time-travel romance (following The Highlander's Touch) returns to the Scottish Highlands for another romp between an ancient laird and a modern lass. Gwen Cassidy's hopes of finding a man crumble when she realizes that her much-anticipated tour of Scotland is a senior citizen expedition. Frustrated, Gwen decides to hike the breakneck hills of Loch Ness alone, and she ends up falling down a ravine and awakening Drustan MacKeltar, a Scottish lord who has been slumbering for 500 years under a gypsy's spell. Although Drustan is bewildered by the modern century, he is not puzzled by his feelings for Gwen. Her passionate heart and brilliant mind intrigue him, and he enlists her aid to return to the 16th century. Once back in Drustan's time, their struggle to save his people alters history and results in a surprising denouement. There's much that's fun here, both in characters and situations, but detail-oriented readers may be distracted by the novel's many anachronisms: for example, Gwen has coffee in bed in 1518 even though coffee wasn't available in England until the 17th century. Nevertheless, Moning's snappy prose, quick wit and charismatic characters will enchant. (Sept. 11)Forecast: Morning has just three titles under her belt, but her fan base is growing steadily. This paranormal, time-travel romantic comedy will appeal to Donna Kauffman aficionados as well as readers who enjoy mixed-genre romances.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Rife with unexpected plot twists, Druid lore and sparkling humor ... There's much that’s fun here, both in characters and situations ... Moning's snappy prose, quick wit and charismatic characters will enchant.”—Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Dell (September 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044023655X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440236559
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (196 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

More About the Author

Karen Marie Moning is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels, including the urban fantasy Fever Series and the Rita-award winning Highlander series. Her novels have been translated into twenty languages. She's currently working on a spin-off series set in the Fever world and a graphic novel featuring MacKayla Lane. Visit her at www.karenmoning.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That's It...I'm Moving To Scotland!!!!, October 7, 2003

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Seriously, this was a fast paced sexy, romantic, and funny read. The characters were great, and if I could find a way to time travel back to find a brawny, sexy highlander of my own I'd pack my bags now!!!

Gwen is ready for a change. She's still a virgin, on a tour of Scotland with a group of retired old people, and not a strong handsome "cherry picker" in sight. Ok so she goes on a hike and falls in on one. What she is not aware of is the fact that her highlander has been sleeping for over 500 years and is not prepared for present day anything! But that doesn't stop him from driving Gwen insane with his funny talk, and kissing her senseless!

Drustan MacKeltar has been taking a long rest (500 years worth of long) and is thrilled when he awakens to having a wee lass sitting directly over his groin looking at his sock???? Whatis a sock? Really he has more important things to do like getting back to his own century then kissing his wee lass senseless, or trying to figure out what she is saying. She certainly is not speaking any English that he's ever heard!

Together they get Drustan back to his home or where his home should be only to find out it didn't survive, and now they have to go back in time. Problem is Gwen still thinks her cherry picker is insane (time travel... oh yeah, right all the time!)so she dumbfounded when she arrives naked, no longer a virgin (I'm not going to give that part away) and wet in Scotland 500 years earlier. Problem is the new Drustan does not know who Gwen is and has serious doubts about her sanity. One thing he can't get over is how much he wants to kiss her!

Of course there is more to the book then this. I've just given you a small taste. Trust me you won't be able to put this one down. Laughs aplenty and steamy hot chemistry and romance. Ms. Moning has become an author I'll pick up simply because her name is on the book!

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging Read, September 9, 2001

By 

Shawna Lanne "Book" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Karen Marie Moning wrote a great book that is magical, humorous, sensual, and romantic to boot.
"Kiss of the Highlander." Generally I am not a fan of either Time Travel books or of books about the Highlands but I couldn't find anything else that looked interesting and thought `what the hey, I'll take a chance', and I wasn't disappointed.
Gwen Cassidy and Drustan MacKeltar are both engaging and vulnerable without being whiney or arrogant. And Ms. Moning found a great way to inject tension into the plot, the whole time travel -- do we believe each other thing -- without having to make either of her main characters behave as jerks. When one or the other is suspicious of the other character it is for good reason rather than some terminal character flaw like extreme jealousy, insecurity or just plain stupidity.
It was a great book that I devoured in one sitting and I look forward to reading all of her "Highland" books in the near future.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Yikes! and Hubba Hubba!, October 23, 2001

By 

K. Smiley (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a not-to-be-missed book by Karen Moning who has, in the past, written time travel books that just don't have the sparkle of Kiss of the Highlander. In fact, I almost passed this one by based on the three previous books of hers I read. This is the 21st Century's answer to A Knight in Shining Armor and will satisfy all of us who have longed for a time travel story to match KISA. Both Gwen and Druston are strong as leading characters. Neither overwhelms the other, though Druston tries to overwhelm Gwen on practically every page and their dialogue simply sparkles. There's enough humor and heartache to satisfy every reader. The setting is very romantic and the time travel and "magical/mystical" elements adds to the intensity of the love story. The ending was surprising as I was expecting an ending similar to a Knight in Shining Armor; this was so much better! If I could think of one negative thing to say about this book, I would. But I just can't!