Review: Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

May 29th 2007, Dell
375 pages, E-book
Overdrive from Library
First in Highlander series
Adult Fiction

He would sell his warrior soul to possess her. . . .

An alluring laird...

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart--until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length--but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.
A prisoner in time...

She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side. . . .

Cover Review:

A bare chest in blue light. Umm... why do all romance novels have to have half naked people on them and why is the light filter such a standard practice among the art departments for romance? UGH!!!

Opinion:

This is a charming book that I fell in love with quickly. The characters are full of personality and are what make this book so enjoyable. The plot isn’t as well fleshed out and is much like all other romance novels, but it still charming.

Adrienne is a woman with a brutal past and with a beautiful man at the helm of that unfortunate past she is reluctant to trust Hawk. She is from the 1990’s but never mentioned missing the conveniences of modern day life other than coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker and barely remember the 90’s but I would have liked to hear her miss SOMETHING other than coffee. I mean hot steamy showers, phone service, tv, most things we simply cannot live without today. This little thing is my only grievance with Adrienne. She is quick witted, sweet, bold, and holds her own.

Hawk is a male. Dense at times, but protective, loving, and passionate. He has a backstory of his own that he’d rather forget. He is a legend among the locals and even further on into worlds of fairies and this shapes the book. The legends of his prowess in bed is the catalyst for the storyline and even the subplot. The size of his “appendage” is lauded and quite honestly there was too much importance on it.

The secondary characters add so much charm and make this story truly stand out. Hawk made a wish that set the plot up and felt guilty about it from the beginning. Fairies and the legends of the Norse gods make up the paranormal element of this story besides the aforementioned time traveling by Adrienne. But the most charming of all the secondary characters is Hawk’s mother and her companion. Their love story stirred my heart.

Characterization make this book what it is and as such I am quite in love with it. I can’t wait to read the rest in series. I’ve heard the first two are the least favorite within the series and if the rest are simply as good I’m sure I’ll be quite in love!

Rating:

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Categories: 4 Stars, Adult, First, Highlander, Moning, Series