Customer Reviews

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR was not one of the better novels in Karen Marie Moning's paranormal romance series revolving around Highlander heroes. If I had to describe it in one word, I'd use "cheesy." Of course, that didn't mean that it wasn't entertaining to read. I finished it up in a few hours. Most of that time, I was snorting out loud at something or other I found ridiculous. Still, I finished the book in record time. Who knows, I might even read it again. It wasn't bad. Just ... cheesy.

The gist of the story is that Grimm, a 16th century Highlander, is a Berserker - a legendary fighter with supernatural strength. He's in love with a laird's daughter named Jillian, but he's afraid to be with her, for fear that he will harm her like his father killed his mother. Jillian, of course, doesn't know his secrets, and has embarrassed herself in her lifelong pursuit of him. She thinks her love is unrequited. Her father, who knows better, tries to force Grimm to admit his love by setting up Grimm against two other suitors for Jillian's hand in marriage.

So what did I think was so cheesy about this book? First, even though it is set in the 1500s, no one acts like they are in the 1500s. Jillian makes comments like "a lass has got to do what a lass has got to do" and uses modern slang like "stupid." Her parents also want her to marry for love. Most noble families married off their girls at young ages in political alliances during this time period. Jillian is in her 20s and gets to choose between numerous suitors. That's a little too unrealistic.

Second, Jillian has three men fighting for her affection. However, I never felt the other suitors would actually steal her heart, even though the author tried hard to create a mystery surrounding it. Plus, the only "tense" scene in which Jillian almost gets married to the wrong man was more trite than nerve-wracking, as the author informed us several pages ahead of time that Grimm was going to save the day.

There were other things that bugged me, that made me feel like this book was a pedestrian effort. I won't go into any more detail, but I do want to point out that the Grimm in this book was inconsistent his character in the prequel, BEYOND THE HIGHLAND MIST. For one thing, I never once saw any hints that Grimm had magical abilities or was anything special in BEYOND. Also, I thought Hawk in BEYOND was Grimm's best friend. In TO TAME, Quinn is named as Grimm's best friend. It's little inconsistencies like that made my reading experience less enjoyable.

Anyway, on the bright side, I liked Grimm as a character. He endeared himself to me with his treatment of his scarred horse and the half-blind boy. I also like his real name, Gavrael. Very sexy and original.

Overall, TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR is entertaining, if corny. It is book number two in the Highlander series, which has some worthwhile reads (DARK HIGHLANDER is my favorite). I'd say go ahead and read it. Just don't take it seriously, and you'll be fine.

This was quite a rewarding story. I came across the book after having read "The Dark Highlander" and "The Kiss of the Highlander" and I kind of expected more of the same: 16th century Scottish settings, dark tall men with a dangerous side, inhuman power and moral principles, small lush women strong-willed but soft at strategic moments, time travel, and a happy settlement at the end (with the possibility of a sequel). Like it or not, most authors do develop a certain formula. Well, how refreshing to see Grimm, the main male character of this story, more human than the previous sex gods - that is, hurt and vulnerable. I believe Ms. Moning did a very good job in exploring a wider range of emotions than previously. On top of that, she is a wonderful story teller. Her descriptions are vivid and evocative, be it about Highland castles or romantic acts, and whatever authorial tricks she uses to capture the reader's attention, they weren't apparent to this reader - hence I found myself fully immersed in the tale, all 384 pages of it. I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Moning's books (although I suspect at some point I will grow tired of dark tall men with a dangerous side etc. etc.).

Karen has written another winner, surpassing her first novel in content, structure and character development. I honestly didn't think she could create characters more engrossing than she did in Beyond The Highland Mist, but the lives of the characters in To Tame A Highland Warrior grabs you and never lets go til the book ends. It's one of those stories that's so good you start reading slower toward the end because you don't want it to end. Grimm Roderick the run away son of a highland laird is dark, handsome and mysterious. The Ultra warrior of Scotland afraid to love the woman he wants because it could cost her her life. Jillian St. Clair is beautiful and headstrong, swearing she will never marry because she was rejected by the one man she has loved since childhood, Grimm Roderick. You just have to read this fantastic story to understand the depth of the characters Karen Moning has created. This one is a keeper, to be read again and again. Miss Moning is a must buy for me.

Wow--the gorgeous cover made me pick this one up right away, and I read it overnight. I just couldn't put it down! The characters were so real, I felt as if I knew them. I was smiling through my tears by the last page. I thought Ms. Moning's first book was wonderful, and this one is even better! Highly recommended for anyone who loves Scotland, legends, and characters who are larger than life but still lifelike and loveable.

I love Karen Marie Moning and read this book years ago, but loved the new cover so much I had to buy it (and read it) again. Bless Dell for these hot but not disgusting covers. Ever since "The Dark Highlander", Ms. Moning's books have had the best covers in the biz. If a romance novel has to have a shirtless man on the cover, this is what it should look like!

Ok, enough drooling, on to the review...

Before I start, let me say that while a four star review may be the lowest rating some reviewers will give, with me it's actually about the best a book can be. I'm saving my five stars for stuff that really knocks my socks off, and with Ms. Moning I'm pretty sure that there's a sock-knocker-offer in the offing and I want it to get the respect it deserves when it comes.

Gavrael McIllioch is a sixteenth century highlander who left his home at the age of fourteen after going into a Berserker rage and wiping out the invading army that nearly destroyed his people. Believing that his father had murdered his mother in an inherited moment of insanity, Gavrael seems intent never to return. Two years later he's found by the youngest daughter of another Scottish family and is taken in and essentially adopted by them. We meet up with him several years after that when he's known as "Grimm" and has been living the life of a mercenary.

Grimm receives a message from the man who took him in at the age of sixteen. It says simply, "Come for Jillian". Dropping everything, Grimm races to answer the call.

Jillian St. Clair is a beautiful, wealthy young woman with everything going for her, except that she was once spurned by Grimm, the only man she's ever loved. Now 21 and considered a spinster, Jillian has convinced everyone that she's saintly and not meant for marriage. The illusions that she's built-up around herself begin to topple when her father brings Grimm back into her life in the hopes that he will marry her. Around Grimm, Jillian becomes a feisty, quick-witted termagant.

The interaction between Grimm and Jillian is excellent. Both are guarded for their own reasons: Grimm because he believes he's doomed by the fact that he's a Berserker to never be able to trust himself not to hurt a woman; Jillian because Grimm hurt her so badly when he left her before. They argue and snap at one another, but the sexual tension bubbling under the surface is thrilling!

Jillian's father has brought two other suitors to vie with Grimm for Jillian's hand, but when Grimm won't even enter the competition things really heat up. Sometimes Jillian's actions during this part of the story are a little exasperating, but she's cool enough to admit to herself that she's being annoying and it adds a depth to her character that lets you forgive some of the silly things she does.

Despite my overwhelmingly warm feelings for this book, it does have a few problems. I don't want to spoil the story, but let's just say that there's a major misunderstanding regarding Grimm's past, and it bugs me that a little bit of information gathering on the parts of several people could have eliminated the problem altogether. Also, the fact that Grimm so easily turned away from his father without being certain about what he thought is really out of character, I think. It's like common sense is totally sacrificed for the sake of plot and I don't like that.

Also, we're led to believe that Jillian's father is one of the best, most respected men in Scotland, but he actually puts total faith in the main villain. The actions of Jillian's father in general are irritating, which would be fine if it weren't obvious that he's meant to be a likeable character.

Really my problems with "To Tame a Highland Warrior" aren't that big, and I love it in spite of them. This is a book not to be missed. The chemistry between Jillian and Grimm is magnificent. Theirs is a truly great love story.

I recommend anything else by Ms. Moning, especially "The Dark Highlander". Come on, you know you want to add another one of these covers to your library!

I read Beyond the Highland Mist (which was Adrienne's and Hawk's story) and that was great. But Grimm's book was awesome! I loved the depth of character that was given to both Grimm and Jillian when they were dealing with their emotions. It took them long enough to finally get together but Grimm, as always, does it in his own time and his own style. I loved him when he was in Beyond the Highland Mist and I knew his story would be good. He was very lovable (is that un-manly? ) for a berserker!

I'm glad Karen Moning didn't make him out to be as wild as you read that the true bersekers were. They sounded positively untameable. Terrific book, a definite must read.

I absolutely adored Karen's new book, "To Tame a Highland Warrior". It was a book that I truly could not put down. Karen writes in such a way that "bam" she grabs your attention in the very beginning and pulls you right into the story itself. While reading this novel, I felt a real familiarity with the two main characters, Grimm and Jillian. She really gets into setting up the background (but doesn't pound it - background info, that is - to death like so many other authors do, so much that you want to put the book down right then) for her characters so that you feel like you know them personally. You can really "feel" the characters' emotions and the conflicts going on between them. I have to say that it's so very easy with Karen Moning's writing style to get totally caught up and lost in the story line. When I read her first book "Beyond the Highland Mist", I didn't think that a romance novel could get any better. Boy was I wrong. This novel, in my opinion, far surpasses the last, which like I said above, didn't think could get any better! I really loved everything about her latest novel - especially the way she grabs your attention from the start and keeps it the whole way through! Can't wait to read her next one!

This is the story of Grimm (Gavrael McIllioch) and Jillian. They have been in love since they were children but Grimm refuses to fulfill this love because he is a Berserker. A legendary warrior of Odin with mythical power. He is afraid to show her what he is for fear of hurting her and rejection.

He is called with two other suitors to compete for Jillian's hand in marriage but vows to let one of the others have her. In the end this is an empty vow for on her wedding day he kidnaps her from the altar and takes her away to be his own. They have a deep and tender love that cannot be denied.

Grimm is forever pursued because he is the last of the Berserkers and a rival clan wishes to destroy him. He returns to his home and faces his family and learns the truth about his childhood. He reconciles with his father and uncle. He is pursued by the rival clan and turns Berserker in front of Jillian (who had already figured out what he was). This is one of the most poignant scenes in the whole book....he faces her...in his Berserker form and she tells him that she loves him. He is triumphant. It is one of the most beautiful scenes EVER. I cried when I read it.

I loved this book though the beginning was a bit slow. The legend of the Berserkers is fascinating. Well worth a read. Moning always throws something interesting in her books.

BUY IT.

This was the first book (and my favorite still) that I read written by Karen Moning and it got me addicted to her stories. The main characters in the book are so engrossing without being sappy. Their love story reminds me of Julie Garwood's Highland books (The Bride, The Wedding, The Secret, and Ransom). I read the book in one sitting without stopping and wished that it didn't have to end.

Karen Marie Moning is a write to make any woman swoon. He historical time traveling tales are breath taking...just like her men. I will say this, as a simple piece of advice, DON'T read all of her books back to back. It is a series, but it isn't. You DO NOT have to read them in any kind of order. However, if you read them back to back, the stories are VERY similar with slightly different twist and they may seem a bit redundant.

Grimm and Jillian are quite the pair. Grimm is a Berserker with a past that haunts him dearly. Jillian is as bull headed as him but she is the one who found Grimm as a child and helped give him a "normal" life. Where their feelings for each other are concerned, both are bull-headed. Hard to get, on both sides, is putting it mildly. Pretty much a Beauty and the Beast plot. I think that gives enough away right there. Story wise, this was my favorite. Made me want to really read more on Berserker's...and fine ice blue eyes. Man wise...NOT EVEN CLOSE! Excellent story. Strong characters. And leaves you wanting to know more.

DEFINITELY READ THE OTHERS!!!