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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Third in the Highlander historical paranormal romance series with this story occurring in 1314? The couple focus is on Lisa Stone and Cin Brodie.
My Take
This is one of the good Highlander installments Moning wrote---she's been very uneven in her writing in this series. It always shocks me that she could do so well with her Fever series. In this story, Moning manages to tease us along as to what Adam's true plans are as well as how Cin intends to resolve his dilemma. As for the sense of history. Not so much. Sure, Moning uses all the right words, but there's a contemporary feel to it all. I keep expecting to find a bathroom in the garderobe.
Oh, too funny! I love Lisa's reaction to her arrival in 1314, and I can't blame her one bit. I suspect it would be my own reaction…! Then there is Duncan and Galan's rejoicing in Cin's uneasiness. And yes, I enjoyed this tease as well. Subtle, but nicely done as to the reason for the those rules.
Whoa, Robert the Bruce's strategy with the castles and keeps is rather grim. Effective, but brutal.
I'm surprised no one ever remembers the wording of Cin's pledge to Adam. Especially Cin since he does remember his pledge to his mother. God knows, Duncan is certainly tricky in how he interprets the oath.
I don't get it. What is Cin's problem with Lisa's last name? For that matter, what's Lisa's thinking when she goes out to spy on the king? I mean, duh… And why hasn't she told Cin about her mother? It's not like it's some deep, dark secret.
Hmmm, I have my doubts as to whether Elizabeth MacBreide is truly her or the fairy queen come to make mischief. Or Moning is setting us up for Duncan's fall into love!
Nahh, I'm with Cin: "Kill the man who tries to harm your own." Gads, I'm bloodthirsty, but it certainly prevents them from trying again.
Oh, crack me up. Lisa stumbles into the secret room and discovers the "temptations" Adam had hoped to seduce Cin with. I can certainly understand her anger over discovering that Cin has a stash of tampons!
On the whole, it's a fun romantic adventure with a typical---and caring---characters. Yes, even Duncan cares when he remembers between his ladies! Read it for the enjoyment.
The Story
The protection of the hallows is all-important and when the flask goes astray, Adam is only partly mollified that Brodie has put a geas on it, for it to return with its finder.
When the flask does reappear---with its finder---Cin is at a loss, the conflicting pledges and his own heart stay his hand. But how long can he keep his betrayal of his honor a secret from those who look to him for leadership.
The Characters
Lisa Stone is struggling to make ends meet, pay the horrendous bills from the accident and care for Catherine, her beloved, but dying mother. Ruby Lanoue is a singer, and Lisa's best friend. The only one who remains since the Stones's fall from grace.
Circenn "Cin" Brodie is laird and thane of Brodie, a Brude, an original Pict and descended from royalty. And immortal through parentage and trickery. Morganna was his mother. James Douglas is the oldest and Cin's "chief lieutenant and a brilliant strategist". Galan, 30 and the "second eldest of the five Douglas brothers" while Duncan Douglas is the youngest and nonchalant in everything he approaches, except women whom he pursues with fairly wild abandon. They are Cin's trusted friends and advisors. Eirren is a wee motherless lad who takes great interest in Lisa. Gillendria appears to be acting as Lisa's lady's maid.
Robert the Bruce intends to be king of Scotland with the help of Brodie and his men. Niall and Lulach McIllioch, brothers, are his guards. Another Edward is his idiot brother who makes the battle of Bannockburn a necessity.
The Templars are a secret weapon to whom the Bruce has given sanctuary. Betrayed by Philippe the Fair and Pope Clement V, the Templar knights have been hounded from country to country. Armand Berard is a very unhappy commander of knights, willing to sell out to anyone. Elizabeth MacBreide and her brother Tally claim to be friends of Renaud de Vichiers, one of the Templars.
Adam Black is the Fairy Queen's deadly jester. One with a deep-laid plan.
Aoibheal is the Queen of the Fairies and quite angry with Adam.
Professor Taylor is obsessed with all things Celtic. Steinmann is the bullying director of the museum where Lisa cleans in Cincinnati.
James Comyn, an angry Scot, is one of Edward's men and the go-between between the king of England and his spy. Edward II is king of England and determined to conquer the Scots. Sir Philip de Mowbray is the commander of the English forces at Stirling.
The Cover
The cover is is gorgeous with a nice sense of mystery and an excellent use of the fonts. The red really makes the text stand out, and the fade around Cin's gorgeous face with the focus on his metal bicep cuff is perfect.
The title is a bit of a misnomer since it's actually Lisa's touch that sets it all into motion and not The Highlander's Touch at all.
My Take
This is one of the good Highlander installments Moning wrote---she's been very uneven in her writing in this series. It always shocks me that she could do so well with her Fever series. In this story, Moning manages to tease us along as to what Adam's true plans are as well as how Cin intends to resolve his dilemma. As for the sense of history. Not so much. Sure, Moning uses all the right words, but there's a contemporary feel to it all. I keep expecting to find a bathroom in the garderobe.
Oh, too funny! I love Lisa's reaction to her arrival in 1314, and I can't blame her one bit. I suspect it would be my own reaction…! Then there is Duncan and Galan's rejoicing in Cin's uneasiness. And yes, I enjoyed this tease as well. Subtle, but nicely done as to the reason for the those rules.
Whoa, Robert the Bruce's strategy with the castles and keeps is rather grim. Effective, but brutal.
I'm surprised no one ever remembers the wording of Cin's pledge to Adam. Especially Cin since he does remember his pledge to his mother. God knows, Duncan is certainly tricky in how he interprets the oath.
I don't get it. What is Cin's problem with Lisa's last name? For that matter, what's Lisa's thinking when she goes out to spy on the king? I mean, duh… And why hasn't she told Cin about her mother? It's not like it's some deep, dark secret.
Hmmm, I have my doubts as to whether Elizabeth MacBreide is truly her or the fairy queen come to make mischief. Or Moning is setting us up for Duncan's fall into love!
Nahh, I'm with Cin: "Kill the man who tries to harm your own." Gads, I'm bloodthirsty, but it certainly prevents them from trying again.
Oh, crack me up. Lisa stumbles into the secret room and discovers the "temptations" Adam had hoped to seduce Cin with. I can certainly understand her anger over discovering that Cin has a stash of tampons!
On the whole, it's a fun romantic adventure with a typical---and caring---characters. Yes, even Duncan cares when he remembers between his ladies! Read it for the enjoyment.
The Story
The protection of the hallows is all-important and when the flask goes astray, Adam is only partly mollified that Brodie has put a geas on it, for it to return with its finder.
When the flask does reappear---with its finder---Cin is at a loss, the conflicting pledges and his own heart stay his hand. But how long can he keep his betrayal of his honor a secret from those who look to him for leadership.
The Characters
Lisa Stone is struggling to make ends meet, pay the horrendous bills from the accident and care for Catherine, her beloved, but dying mother. Ruby Lanoue is a singer, and Lisa's best friend. The only one who remains since the Stones's fall from grace.
Circenn "Cin" Brodie is laird and thane of Brodie, a Brude, an original Pict and descended from royalty. And immortal through parentage and trickery. Morganna was his mother. James Douglas is the oldest and Cin's "chief lieutenant and a brilliant strategist". Galan, 30 and the "second eldest of the five Douglas brothers" while Duncan Douglas is the youngest and nonchalant in everything he approaches, except women whom he pursues with fairly wild abandon. They are Cin's trusted friends and advisors. Eirren is a wee motherless lad who takes great interest in Lisa. Gillendria appears to be acting as Lisa's lady's maid.
Robert the Bruce intends to be king of Scotland with the help of Brodie and his men. Niall and Lulach McIllioch, brothers, are his guards. Another Edward is his idiot brother who makes the battle of Bannockburn a necessity.
The Templars are a secret weapon to whom the Bruce has given sanctuary. Betrayed by Philippe the Fair and Pope Clement V, the Templar knights have been hounded from country to country. Armand Berard is a very unhappy commander of knights, willing to sell out to anyone. Elizabeth MacBreide and her brother Tally claim to be friends of Renaud de Vichiers, one of the Templars.
Adam Black is the Fairy Queen's deadly jester. One with a deep-laid plan.
Aoibheal is the Queen of the Fairies and quite angry with Adam.
Professor Taylor is obsessed with all things Celtic. Steinmann is the bullying director of the museum where Lisa cleans in Cincinnati.
James Comyn, an angry Scot, is one of Edward's men and the go-between between the king of England and his spy. Edward II is king of England and determined to conquer the Scots. Sir Philip de Mowbray is the commander of the English forces at Stirling.
The Cover
The cover is is gorgeous with a nice sense of mystery and an excellent use of the fonts. The red really makes the text stand out, and the fade around Cin's gorgeous face with the focus on his metal bicep cuff is perfect.
The title is a bit of a misnomer since it's actually Lisa's touch that sets it all into motion and not The Highlander's Touch at all.
majabwds's review against another edition
3.0
This was better than expected. There are some things that haven't aged well (the cliche black best friend that uttered the line: If he can't see how beautiful you are he must be gay.; she also called everyone honey), but over all this is a kind of ridiculous time travel romance. A woman from the 21st century finds herself in 13th century Scotland because of a cursed fae flask that can make you immortal.
There is a good portion of this book in which you can see how the characters deal with this unforeseen glitch in their lives and how Lisa (the woman) comes to terms with her situation and how she falls in love with the land and then the Laird who is bigger than anything she has ever seen and also very, very good looking.
All the other supporting characters are there to make fun of the Scottish lord and remark on how this mysterious woman is changing him for the better. There is also magical sexy time that creates a connection between the two characters and they can read each others emotions. You just go with it.
There is a good portion of this book in which you can see how the characters deal with this unforeseen glitch in their lives and how Lisa (the woman) comes to terms with her situation and how she falls in love with the land and then the Laird who is bigger than anything she has ever seen and also very, very good looking.
All the other supporting characters are there to make fun of the Scottish lord and remark on how this mysterious woman is changing him for the better. There is also magical sexy time that creates a connection between the two characters and they can read each others emotions. You just go with it.
rosejoy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mandaailey's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
misslover's review against another edition
1.0
Oh boy, this is sad. Really sad actually. This was not a good book for me to read, and it's sad for me to say. I was disappointed in the fact as it started out way to much like the first book and right then and there I lost interest. Then I thought "no it can't possibly be any worse then then first two" and sure as shit it seemed to go down hill from there. After awhile I found myself skimming through pages, hoping "dear lord let something good happen"
And then finally it did. Thank you KMM for FINALLY coming outta your box. So I know it's sad that I only gave this book 2 stars but I wouldn't have given it any if it wasn't for the last 30% of the book.
Let's hope it only gets better from here :)
And then finally it did. Thank you KMM for FINALLY coming outta your box. So I know it's sad that I only gave this book 2 stars but I wouldn't have given it any if it wasn't for the last 30% of the book.
Let's hope it only gets better from here :)
colleenmdavis's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alisonhori's review against another edition
3.0
These books are ridiculous, IMO...but fun...I like them for an occasional mindless read or audiobook listen..I do kind of feel bad for the poor guy who has to read the weird romance cliques..that is the best part! This one was more fun than the first two but definitely more of the same. One day I am sure I will listen to number 4.
kendall_reads8's review against another edition
3.0
I am not a romance reader but I like time travel. This was a fun, quick read.
archangelwings's review
3.0
<b>2.75 - 3 stars</b>
it was decent and interesting, I really liked sin and Lisa (and Adam, duh) but at the same time something was missing? Idk the rs development was not quite it for me, tho this book came out in like 2000, so it's prob down to that, despite that tho, for a 20+ year old book, it held up pretty decently
also while fun, the way things just magically fixed themselves at the end, just, seemed way too easy? Lol
also also, while this was not insta love, it was ripe with body betraying syndore, really made me consider starting a tag for that several times while readin this lol
really appreciated the PSA about the pap smear and cervical cancer
Ax2
Narrator was great, good Scottish accent I could actually understand, and his woman voice was decent enough
it was decent and interesting, I really liked sin and Lisa (and Adam, duh) but at the same time something was missing? Idk the rs development was not quite it for me, tho this book came out in like 2000, so it's prob down to that, despite that tho, for a 20+ year old book, it held up pretty decently
also while fun, the way things just magically fixed themselves at the end, just, seemed way too easy? Lol
also also, while this was not insta love, it was ripe with body betraying syndore, really made me consider starting a tag for that several times while readin this lol
really appreciated the PSA about the pap smear and cervical cancer
Ax2
Narrator was great, good Scottish accent I could actually understand, and his woman voice was decent enough