Book Review – Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

Beyond the Highland Mist
This one was intense! The romantic despair was off the charts, and scorching hot. While some might find it to be a bit much, my “romance sweet tooth” was greatly appeased 😉

So, way back in the 1500’s, there is this absolutely GORGEOUS mortal in Scotland (Sidheach AKA “Hawk ” – who is perfect in EVERY way), and he has caught the eye of the Fae Queen. Hawk is desired by every female, but takes none into his heart. In essence, he is the 1500’s version of a “player”. A total heartbreaker, he has managed to anger many females who swore to make him theirs. The Queen is amused by his reputation and greatly intrigued. She flaunts his prowess to her equally gorgeous royal (and immortal) Fae subjects.  Now suddenly they are extremely jealous too, and a few in particular start scheming against the human Highlander. And you know those pesky Fae….once they start causing trouble, it can have devastating effects on the mortal world.

And their scheming turns one particular woman’s (Adrienne) world upside down. Plucked from her home in 1997, she finds herself suddenly in the lap of some abhorrent Scottish Laird that is preparing his daughter’s wedding to the notorious “Hawk”.

“What!?” you ask? “I thought you said Hawk didn’t take anyone into his heart!”

‘Tis true – he does not. However, he has also made his King very jealous and the King is forcing him to marry this Laird’s daughter, Janet (considered the most unattractive and crazy loon in the land – but nobody really knows since nobody’s ever actually seen her). If they do not marry, both this woman’s family and his own, will be exterminated. Evidently, Hawk’s not happy. But his luck is turning (sorta) cause what he doesn’t know is that the Laird’s crazy daughter is dead. And this gorgeous creature (Adrienne) that has “magically” appeared in the Laird’s lap, will do the trick just fine!

And the fun begins! From trying to discern what just happened to her life, to being forced in accepting her role as “crazy Janet” and marrying the luscious Hawk, to resisting his every advance, Adrienne’s feminist fortitude is being tested at every turn.

“Am I so displeasing then?”

“Yes.”

He stared. Gazed about the room. Studied the rafters. No mysterious answer was hovering anywhere to be found.

“The lasses have always for me most comely,” he said finally.

“Maybe that’s part of your problem.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t like your attitude.”

“My attitude?” he echoed dumbly.

“Right. So get thee from my bed and from my sight and speak no more to me this night.”

“You’re the damnedest lass I’ve ever met.”

Oh and she’s also resisting the equally gorgeous “Adam Black” (Hawk’s blacksmith). Yup! There’s a love triangle! YAY! Oh and did I mention? She HATES 🙄 beautiful men. She’s been played before…

After Hawk finds Adrienne gazing in awe at Adam Black, they have a heated (and funny) conversation of her rules in their “marriage” vs. “Hawk’s rules” (keep in mind – this was back in the 1500’s, and the whole context of this conversation was “lighter” in tone than what this quote appears to be):

His laughter rolled dangerous and heavy. “Enough. Now we’re going to count Hawk’s rules.” he held up his hand and began ticking fingers off. “First, you’re my wife, thusly you’ll obey me in all things. If I must command you to my bed, then so be it. Second” – his other hand rose and she flinched, half expecting to be hit, but he cupped her face firmly and glared into her eyes – “you will stay away from Adam. Third, you’ll give all pretense of being delighted to be married to me – both publicly and privately. Fourth, fifth, and sixth, you’ll stay away from Adam.”

And a tiny portion of one of my favorite scenes. The lead-up to this “plea” is scorching hot, but I’ll let you experience it in it’s entirety. This quote doesn’t do the whole scene justice, but it does convey the emotion nicely…

“Say my name, lass, for the love of God!” Hawk roared. He was shaking with a mixture of barely restrained passion and disbelief that she could respond to him so erotically, so completely, yet still withhold his name. “If there is any chance for me at all, Adrienne, call out to me! If you can’t even say my name, then I stand no chance of ever gaining your love!”

His last plea was the agonized cry of a wounded animal; it laid open her heart.

This book is fun! fun! fun! And exciting. And sexy. And passionate beyond compare. And even a bit scary and sad…You’ll love joining them on their journey, dealing with their pasts, while adjusting to their present and possible future. Read it!! I’m addicted to the series, and will be starting book#3 tonight.

4 stars

And here is the original cover – below (as per the author’s website):

Rob Ashton was Beyond the Highland Mist’s original cover model.