Review: Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Beyond The Highland mist 
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publish Date: March 9th, 1999
Pages: 375
Reviewed by: Vanessa
Reason for Reading: Pleasure! *evil grin*

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. 

I’m not usually one to pick up a romance novel. Lord knows I’ve been known to wrinkle my nose a bit every time Isalys mentions a ‘Lord’ or someone’s ‘quivering member’. So I was just as surprised, as some of you may be now, when I decided to pick up one of ‘those’ books. I knew that if any would catch my attention it would have to be one with a highlander. Luckily for me, I chose the perfect one!

Beyond the Highland Mist begins with Hawk, a devilishly handsome man who has made a name for himself by ‘tupping’ practically every lass he’s met. Including the Queen of the royal court - Tuatha De Danaan [the fae]. She speaks of Hawk’s ‘special abilities’ to her husband and thus sets the course for the book. Her husband, and his assistant [a.k.a ‘the fool’ a.k.a Adam Black] set to get revenge on Hawk for dishonoring them. Adam Black is commanded by the king to ‘Go now through the centuries. Go forward - women are more independent and self-possessed there.’ Adam who can time travel then travels forward through the centuries to find a scorned woman; one who has sworn off men and absolutely loathes the beautiful ones; one who would be perfect for breaking Hawks heart.

Enter, Adrienne de Simone. A beautiful, intelligent, broken-hearted woman who has...you guessed it…sworn off men! She is, quite literally, tossed into the 16th century, and as soon as she lands [on someone’s lap] she’s thrown into a marriage with a man who doesn’t even bother to show up, and instead sends his assistant to stand in for him! The nerve! Once she meets him, she immediately dislikes him. Not only is he gorgeous but he’s conceited as well and reminds her too much of the very man who made her loathe men to begin with.

Adrienne is determined to figure out what’s happening and find her way back to her own century, even if it means leaving the gorgeous highlander and going back to face her demons.  Hawk, on the other hand, is determined to make her his and wants her to see him for the man he really is; not the man he was forced to be. All the time, fighting for her love and affection against his competition; Adam Black.

In a bitter love triangle, will love win? Especially when the opponent uses magic, persuasion, and time travel?

This book is definitely on my ‘Top’ list! It was an incredible page turner that had me laughing, worried, screaming at the book and also looking for my fiancé so he could kiss me like the Hawk, lol. I especially loved Hawk’s fighting spirit. Adrienne frustrated me a bit because she was so adamant about hating Hawk, but when you finally find out her dark past, you realize why she does what she does…breaks Hawk’s heart.

Now, if only he were strong enough to find the truth for himself …

*sigh* I’m off to read the next one!