In case you're wondering, yes, I am thoroughly ashamed.How can I possibly give this book more stars than Madame Bovary? It's disgusting. It's tragic. Worst of all, it doesn't even makes sense. I don't LIKE Historical Romance! C'mon, I DARE you to find something dignifying about this.I don't like TIME TRAVEL Historical Romance! I don't like modern woman meets warrior Highlander Hunk. First of all, it's been done - so many times. Never as well as Outlander, in my opinion. And I swear, if life imitates fiction then you'd better brush up on your Scottish history because ANY timetravel that is possibly going to occur will not be used to better humanity or learn and introspect about ourselves. No, it's going to be used solely to transport beautiful women back in time to the Highlands to experience a whirlwind romance.Get in line, ladies...And please note to any future Highland authors out there - Kilts were not invented in Scotland until 1725 and specific clan quilts weren't invented until the 19th century. Luckily Moning got one part of this right, in that Circenn wears a plaid, not a kilt (THEY MAY TAKE OUR LAND - BUT THEY'LL NEVER CHAFE... OUR BAAAAAAALLLLLLLLSSSSS!)So I was dutifully informed by my harem of adoring lady-lovers that I should skip the first two books and I'm glad I did because I actually really enjoyed this one. Could it, should it and would it ever compare to the indefinable, unsurmountable, incredible Fever series? No, of course not and if you're expecting something quite as awesome then you ARE going to be disappointed. Circenn is no Barrons and whilst Lisa, who starts off making me roll my eyes, is no Mac, she is a reasonable female protagonist.What saves this novel is it's interesting conceptualization of the time-honoured Highlander/Timetravel formula, mixed in with a strong, beautiful romance. It was very short of the time-honoured stays of the genre. Lisa doesn't get properly kidnapped ONCE. I know, I know. I was disappointed too. Nor is she ever threatened or almost raped, nor does she actually run away, faint, get lost, lose faith in the male protagonist for some blindingly stupid reason...But you know what it's NOT short on?If you guessed "women playing flaming violins" then you're all out of luck!That's right. Moning, who I have arbitrarily decided writes brilliant relationship couples, also keeps to her namesake. As in, this book will have you Moning.The woman knows how to write sex. It's just all so satisfying!And really, if you're reading these kind of books for any other reason, then you really need to re-evaluate your life...You may need to discover ANOTHER use for those fingers...
Really enjoyed the story of a true Scottish Brute Warrior (of kilt wearing variety OF COURSE!) Cin and a woman from 21st century trapped in 14th century - Lisa Stone.Lisa living through the worst time of her life with working multiple jobs & doing everything possible to make her mom's last days comfortable. Working as a night cleaning lady at a museum curiosity gets the better of her and opens pandora's box aka cursed object that send her RIGHT TO 14th century -> to Cin -> during bath time.For a hardcore warrior Cin is an amazingly patient man who courts and woos (very seductively) Lisa, as she adjust to the idea of her new reality and at the same time grieving for her mother.I really enjoyed appearance of grand-grand-grand parents of some of our beloved (and not so beloved) characters from books 1 & 2. Adam... NO NOT THAT ADAM! the fairy Adam lolWe meet a new side of Adam that made me go "awwww" him being a very important "creator" wink wink for this book. Nope not going to put that as a spoiler... take from it what you may.As this book feels a bit out of place (jumping back 200 years before the characters of book 1 & 2 are even born... *sniff, sniff* I miss Hawk & Grimm)... but at the end I realized its probably a great set-up for Book 6? My issues with this book: WTF kind of ending is that???... yes, yes we got our HEA. Where is the Epilogue though??? and as I said ISSUES - there is bunch of stuff that's thrown in at the end that made me go... Favorite Word: TUPPING Favorite Quote: "Feelings, emotions—they are neither right nor wrong. They cannot be assigned a value. Feelings are. By labeling a feeling wrong, you force yourself to ignore that feeling. And what you most need is to feel it, let it burn through you, then get on with life."
What do You think about The Highlander's Touch (2007)?
Sorry, I'll be the odd one out here and like this book less than the previous two. It came in at around a two to three stat rating, which is a pity as the hero is rather scrumptious.But there are just too many continuity flaws in the plot and I don't mean as in relates to the time travel stuff!! Lisa booby-traps the floor of the room with shards of pottery, Circenn cuts himself on a couple, next thing they're rolling around on the floor with nary another scratch. At one point it's mentioned that there are no pillows on a bed, next thing someone puts a pillow under their head. Yes, I know I'm being picky but little things like that really annoy me sometimes. At times the book gets me in so well that I forget the little stuff, this one didn't get there. Great, now I've forgotten the other little things that seemed out of line. Ok, maybe there weren't that many, but still... Lisa irked me a bit too. I can understand the plot device of her not revealing that she's left a dying mother in the future, but it just annoyed me and seemed too strung out. And the whole embracing Adam after 500 yrs to change Lisa's life for the "better" and the thought of hauling her modern day relatives off to the 14th century indiscriminately just made me cringe.
—Susan
The Highlander’s Touch is the third book in Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series and once again we’re back with a heavy time travel influence. But this time, whether because I’m getting used to it or perhaps it was better written, the time travel didn’t bother me as much as it did in Beyond the Highland Mist and other time travel books I’ve read. I really do hope it’s just me becoming more comfortable with the theme, because it seems I’m missing out on a lot of great Highlander tales.I thought this story was pretty good, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. The relationship between our hero and heroine, and for me, one of the high points of the story was seeing (view spoiler)[Adam get a small bit of comeuppance, (hide spoiler)]
—UniquelyMoi ~ 1-Click RockChick
So, this was the first book in the series that actually had an immortal dude in it. I know, right? A Highlander series where so far only one guy is immortal.I'll admit it wasn't bad in the beginning, but close to the end is where it took a turn for the, not worse, but totally and completely ridiculous.I tell you, I practically saw it coming and had to speed read because I couldn't believe she actually tied it up in such a way. And like the last two books, the heroines always - I repeat, always - end up pregnant. It's like that is the formula for a happily ever after and without it you may as well end the world now.But while Karen Marie Moning can write the romance aspect very well, her stories have plot holes so big I'm surprised I didn't fall into one. I kid you not.In the end, the writing style wasn't horrible and the romance between the H/h wasn't too disgusting so I gave it a 2. Also, due to dialogue and all the "doonas" I was rather enjoying that aspect of it. I like the whole accent thing. Hah.I'll keep reading these books until I get to the very damn last one, I tell ya. I really want to use "doona" in a sentence but I can't think of what to say. Darn it.
—Lisa (Fic Talk)
