This was the first book I've read by this author - I really enjoyed it. The main character, Gwen, is a strong female full of sass - she has no problem dealing with Druids, time travel, and a very sexy Scot. The issue of time travel was very well done - with a nice twist thrown in here and there (i.e. not the usual reincarnation plot). If you're looking for a quick read with some steamy sex and laughter, you'll enjoy this book. Be sure to check out the story about Durstan's brother - The Dark Highlander. I'm half-way through it now and it is just as good as the first story.

Karen Marie Moning gives Virginia Henley a run for her money! After a series of "ok" or "good" romance novels all with similar plot twists and characters, it was so refreshing to find a book (I read in a day and a half)that I could recommend as a TERRIFIC read. The time travel twist is very well done and the characters made me laugh quite a few times. Just truly enjoyable!
I am a huge Virginia Henley fan and now a huge Karen Marie Moning fan. I've recommended this to several of my friends and family and went right out to buy one of her other books. I now can't wait until her next comes out!

Grief from the recent death of her parents, and the desire to escape from a humdrum life, send genius Gwen Cassidy on a vacation to the Scottish Highlands. She also hopes to meet a man she deems worthy of the gift of her innocence. Never in Gwen's wildest dreams does she expect the circumstances that lead to her finding that man -- or the incredible changes he will bring to her life and her heart.

Drustan MacKeltar is an enchanted Highland laird -- literally. Awakened from a five-hundred year long spell by a thoroughly bewitching woman, Drustan is more than a little confused both by her and his surroundings. Before long the Druid in him accepts his fate, but he vows to change it by returning to the past. Gwen Cassidy is to be his unwitting pawn in the event his plan backfires.

KISS OF THE HIGHLANDER is a roller coaster ride of incredible descriptive and narrative prose, intense emotion and steamy sensuality. Sparks and chemistry fly between Gwen and Drustan; their dialogue enhances the development of their relationship and I swooned over Drustan's Scottish brogue. Very different from her previous time travel novels, Ms. Moning takes a more scientific approach to the theory and concept of time travel making this her most complex novel to date.

Gwen and Drustan must overcome several serious obstacles in their quest to find the treacherous villain plotting against them. Secondary characters are just as in-depth as the hero and heroine and contribute much to their support. I can't wait to read about Drustan's twin brother, Dageus, in DARK HIGHLANDER, coming in the fall of 2002. The teaser at the end of KISS OF THE HIGHLANDER is most intriguing.

RITA award winning romance author Karen Marie Moning pens another contender for that coveted award. Kudos!

I feel so fortunate to have found Karen when she wrote her first book, (Beyond the Highland Mist) because she writes her characters with feeling that just JUMPS off the pages & straight into your heart! It has been a long time since I've seen this kind of talent. You know how they say that sequels are never as good as the original story? Well, you DON'T have to worry about that with this book. Grimm & Jillian are a H/H that you fall head over heels in love with from the beginning. If you like a Highland tale, try the legend of the Berserker's. If you like a hero with a past that the author lets you see & feel. If you like a heroine that has a heart & a BRAIN and uses them both equally. If you like secondary characters who jump off the pages & make you love or hate them.. Then BUY this book! Then buy a second copy for your friends & another for your keeper shelf cause you will want to read this again & you will not want to chance losing it to a friend!

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.

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 have read all of Karen Marie Moning's books and consider her to be one of the best authors of the romance genre. Her stories are incredibly amusing, with wonderful characters - men who take your breath away and women with great spirit and wit - and a fast-paced dialogue. She leaves the reader lacking for nothing and wishing that the story could go on and on and on...

I would have given her earlier books five stars but I have to admit that although the build up to this book was great and the hero and heroine satisfied all expectations, the ending was disappointing and I did not enjoy the constant references to favouritism. That Dageus is the favourite of both his parents is I think totally irrelevant to the story and anyone who read Drustan's story in Kiss of the Highlander and fell in love with him there would be a bit put off by the idea. As it was, that diminished my own enjoyment of the book and lowered the book's rating from 5 stars to 4 stars. I usually reread Ms Moning's books a few times but cannot bring myself to pick this book up again however brilliant I think it is.

So this book was a bit of a disappointment to me but only relative to her earlier efforts and I would still recommend it. To anyone who hasn't yet read any of her books however, I would suggest trying one of her earlier books as they get an unqualified 5 star rating!

Lately, I've been scouring the book store Romance section for a decent romance novel and I have been disappointed time and time again...until The Dark Highlander. Wow, this book was such a pleasant surprise! I really loved it. The story was engaging and the characters were very lovable.

I will spare you my summary of the plotline as may others have outlined the story. I only want to put my two cents in because I have to stress how much I liked this book. Especially, the hero, Dageus. Boy oh, boy! Dageus is a romance novel hero to end them all: tall, dark, handsome, brooding, very alpha-male, and too sexy for words, but he doesn't stop there. He is also smart. Smart as in Albert Einstein smart. This may sound a bit farfetched, but once you read the book, it will make perfect sense. Moreover he is a sexual dynamo without being cheesy. I have to say that KMM writes some of the best erotic scenes that I have ever read.

With all the above said, I have to also stress that the story becomes extremely emotional and heartwrenching near the end. When you read what Dageus' father says to him near the end and how Chloe, the intrepid heroine, reacts to events, you will feel your heartstrings being tugged. The familial relationship was just beautiful to read about. The words and feelings that Dageus conveys to Chloe will make you sigh with longing. KMM really knows how to squeeze a girl's heart!

So, don't walk...run to the bookstore and get this one. I haven't read any books this satisfying since Linda Howard's "After the Night". I hope you will not be disappointed.

Karen Marie Moning outdoes herself with her latest, THE DARK HIGHLANDER. It's deeper, richer and sexier than it's predecessor (KISS OF THE HIGHLANDER).

Dageus MacKeltar has been fighting from turning "dark" since using time-travel to save his brother Drustan from dying in KOTH. Now Dageus is in a battle with 13 evil Druids for his soul. Seeking to find a way to free himself, he studies all the ancient texts and writings he can get his hands on. Chloe Zanders has a reproduction of the 3rd book he needs, but when she delivers it to his apartment, he traps her there for her and his own good.

Chloe doesn't believe he's going to return all the artifacts he's stolen, but she's convinced he's more than just a thief. There's something more to Dageus and her curiosity is about to get the better of her. The one book he needs no longer exists in the 21st century, but it does back in his own time of the 15th century. However, having decided once he laid eyes on her that she was his, Dageus isn't going anywhere without Chloe.

Stepping back in time, Chloe slowly realizes that there is evil in Dageus that is straining to be released. Instead of fleeing, she helps him, fighting against time and evil for the man she loves.

Compelling, page-searing and emotional, I found myself biting my nails, laughing and crying throughout this whole book. Moning's thought provoking story kept me so interested as to what was happening with Dageus, I was loathe to put this book down. This is the kind of book I live to read, alive with depth, emotion and unwavering love between all the characters (Dageus, Silvan, Chloe, Drustan and Gwen). THE DARK HIGHLANDER will always stand out as one of my all-time favorite reads and Dageus as one of my all-time favorite heroes. Don't wait - get this book ASAP.

'Tapestry' is four novellas with a common 'thread' (get it, thread?) between them all -- a tapestry of some sort shows up in every story. I thought it was an interesting thought, and I'm glad I picked it up. This is one of the more entertaining anthologies I've read lately.

Lynn Kurland's 'To Kiss in the Shadows' headlines this new anthology book, and rightfully so! I was completely blown away by this very simple, very sweet story. No time travel, no fairy godmothers, and only a pinch of magic (Jason is rumored to be a warlock). It sure wasn't what I expected from Lynn Kurland, time travel queen extraordinaire! Yet this poignant story blows the other ones out of the water. It's the tale of Lianna, the wealthiest maid at court--and the most miserable. She's horribly disfigured by the pox as a young woman, and despairs of ever finding anyone to love her....and then she meets Jason de Piaget. I just loved this story to pieces! Ten stars!

I skipped the Madeline Hunter story, so I cannot comment on it, and moved right on to Sherrilyn Kenyon's 'Dragonswan'. Now, my opinion of Kenyon is very mixed. Sometimes she writes a very smart story, and sometimes she [doesn't]. But 'Dragonswan' is actually a very cute, entertaining story. It's a curious blend of magic and myth, as a dragon-man from the past, Sebastian, meets up with Channon, our modern heroine. They're both obsessed with a particular tapestry, and the story spins off from there involving time-travel, magic, shape-shifting, a good dose of fantasy, and just about everything but the kitchen sink. It's not my normal taste, but it's still entertaining and fun to read.

Karen Marie Moning's 'Into the Dreaming' is the fourth installment in this book, and I liked it the least. I'm just not a Moning fan, though I know she has a devoted fan-base. The heroine is Jane Sillee (which nearly lost me right there--I loathe cutesy), who is obsessed with a man that she dreams about constantly. She knows he is her perfect mate. Only when she meets Aedon, the 'Vengeance' of the Unseelie King, he's her dream man...but nothing like she thought he would be. This story was fast paced and while I'm not a big fan of Moning, it was entertaining to read.

Buy it for Kurland's story, and read the rest while you're at it.

Each novella or short story in the anthology is an enjoyable read. The mix of authors is great; and though the eras in which the stories are written in are diverse, there is a common thread, beyond a tapestry, that ties them together.

"To Kiss in the Shadows" is a lovely story about how to misfits find one another. It is an emotional read and my favorite of the anthology. I must admit however that Lynn Kurland is one of my favorite genre writers.

"An Interrupted Tapestry" by Madeline Hunter is a story about two people who belong together, who seem to always be in different places in their lives when opportunity arises. I think that this was a weaker story than the others, only because I think that it deserved a full length book.

Karen Marie Moning creates a fantastic world in "Dragonswan" where dragons and men are one and they have only one chance to find love. This was a richly detailed story with a great fantasy background and I would love to return to the world in a full length novel.

Sherrilyn Kenyon takes us "Into the Dreaming" where the fey play games with human lives and only love can save the day.

All right all of these descriptions are highly subjective, but the stories are so short I don't want to give anything away. Buy the book, open your own piece of mind candy. :) The anthology gets a 4 and not a five because while all of the stories were great, I don't think I would read them a second time.

"To Kiss in the Shadows" by Lynn Kurland. The women fear the arrival of Jason of Artane. However, one Lianna of Grasleigh hides in the shadows of her tapestry yet somehow Jason finds his heart's quest if he can make her see what he sees.

"An Interrupted Tapestry" by Madeline Hunter. Desperate to make remittance on her brother's debt, Gisele tries to sell her best tapestry to old friend Hanseatic League trader Andreas. However, though not good for trade, Andreas and Gisele fall in lieben.

"Dragonswan" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. In Richmond, scholar Dr. Channon "Shannon with a C" MacRae ponders the olde English words on the dragon tapestry when Sebastian Kattalakis disturbs her by muttering something about dragons, crunching and ketchup. He must persuade his beloved that not only does she belong to him, but also he will open the history of the world to her.

"Into the Dreaming" by Karen Marie Moning. In Indiana, Jane Sillee dreams of the Highlander and now owns a medieval tapestry that she has no idea who or why it was sent to her. She looks deeply at it when suddenly she is transported back to 928 Scotland where she meets her Highlander, Aedon MacKinnon. She has to break the evil spell that engulfs the man she has loved since she first dreamed of him.

Though each tale is different except for the theme of a tapestry involved in the plot, fans will enjoy these stories due to wonderful lead characters. The contributors have done great jobs entertaining the romance reading troops.

Harriet Klausner

This could have been a five star story... however... 'He's male & he's gorgeous so he absolutely HAS to be a bad guy! Let's don't even give him the chance to get to know him. Let's just treat him like [dirt] just in case!' Sorry, there's NOT much intelligence in that kind of thinking! Although Adrianne was fun throughout most of the story - I didn't like her at all as the herione. I really enjoyed a whole lot of the book. Some of the time-travel parts that KMM came up with was just too good; I laughed so hard. Adam was definitely a bad guy that I could be totally disgusted with. Because he was Fae he didn't believe he had to follow any rules of honor. He claimed that he bested Hawk, but in fact he couldn't best him without magic - man to man he lost every time. Hawk took my heart - he's definitely hero material. However, I just couldn't see why he was in love with Adrianne; yes, she was exceptionally beautiful - but she never showed him a personality that was loveable. She more or less just slapped him in the face every time she got near him.
So, you might try it yourself - it's had lots of good reviews; I've just never been thrilled with the stories that have the main characters treating each other so shabby throughout the entire story right down to the final chapters. I guess I'm just real disappointed cause I liked 'The Dark Highlander' so much.

Aoibheal, Queen of the Fae, told her court about "the Hawk". She told of how he could win any woman's heart and soul. She even made some believe Hawk had stolen her favor, as well. The King of the Fae, as well as "the Fool" Adam, decided upon revenge. Adam traveled through time until 1997. It was there he found a perfect woman who hated beautiful men, for very good reason.

Adrienne de Simone was whisked through time to the sixteenth century and forced to wed a man known as Hawk. She wanted nothing to do with such a good looking man. Beautiful men mean trouble and pain. Hawk could not believe she would have nothing to do with him. Worse yet, a smithy suddenly appeared in town, named Adam Black and was determined to woo her away from him! Adrienne, wanting nothing to do with either of them, was made into a pawn of which only Aoibheal, who ruled over all, could save.

***WOW! I loved this book. It is definately "a keeper"! Here is one that will never see the inside of a used book store. Powerful, romantic, and leaves you believing in Fairies.***

This book is the best book I've ever read. I've read it 30 times and it never gets old. The characters were so wonderful together and completely frustrating at the same time. There is something so spellbinding about a man no woman can capture and a woman no man can suduce being thrown together and finding true love. Adrienne and the Hawk were so fiercely devoted to one another, everyone dreams of a love like that.I also love the mythical aspects like a feary Queen and her fool who caused the Hawk so much grief. I laughed and cried from the beginning to the end of this book and I don't think I'll ever grow tired of it. Don't pass this book up or you'll be sorry.

"The Highlander's Touch" is the first book by Ms. Moning that I have had the pleasure to read. I spent a lovely afternoon curled up on the couch with THT. The pages flew by as I lost myself in the worlds of Circenn and Lisa. Filled with wonderful dialogue, great descriptions and clever plot twists, THT is sure to please most time travel romance fans. Ms. Moning's other books are now on my must read list and I look forward to spending time with the heroes and heroines of those books.

Ms. Moning has created another beautiful fairy tale in her Highlander series. Circenn, an immortal Scottish warrior, has placed a binding spell on a flask he is entrusted to keep safe for the Tuatha de Danaan. When the flask winds up lost, Circenn swears to Adam Black he will kill the man who returns with flask. The whereabouts of the flask must be kept a secret. Lisa, a 21st century woman, lets curiosity get the better of her while working as a cleaning lady in a museum. The flask has finally turned up 700 years later and Lisa wants a closer look. Circenn is torn between oaths when Lisa shows up in the 14th century with the flask. He has also sworn to his mother to never to kill a woman. Now Circenn is hard pressed to keep Lisa's arrival from Adam. Little does he know Adam already knows. Lisa's mother, who is crippled and dying from cancer, is Lisa's main concern and she must get back to her time to take care of her.She wants to go home and can't believe Circenn can't send her back. As the love between Circenn and Lisa grows, so does a special bond of unspoken words between them. Circenn is afraid to tell her he's immortal. He's also afraid of loving someone and watching them age and die. Karen Marie Moning has me believing in Fairy Tales again.

Ms Moning once again hands us a tale of love that transcends time. Our fiesty heroine--Lisa, finds herself with the weight of the world on her shoulders, when suddenly she's thrown back in time to land literally at the naked feet of the powerful, immortal Circenn Brodie. The differences between the modern woman and the medieval man cause moments of tension and misunderstanding...as well as several scorching scenes between the two. With Circenn, being immortal, and swearing not to go through the pain of losing love again, Lisa finds her way into his heart. The "gift" Circenn gives to Lisa is immeasurable-- his love; but, at what cost to all? You MUST read this book to find out!

From page one, we are swept into the characters lives, and become part of them until the very end. With stong emotions and extrordinary wit and humor, Karen Moning brings her characters to vivid life upon the page. One of Karen Monings finest works to date...I anxiously await her next book!!