Book Review: To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning

Title: To Tame a Highland Warrior

Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Highlander #2

ISBN: 978-0440234814

Publisher: Dell

Pub. Date: 1999

Source: Purchased

Genre: Romance/Paranormal/ Historical/ Fantasy/Adult

Pages: 400
Rating: 3 Kisses
Author's Website


Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A Woman's Tender Touch
He was born to a clan of warriors of supernatural strength, but Gavrael McIllioch abandoned his name and his Highland castle, determined to escape the dark fate of his ancestors. Hiding his identity from the relentless rival clan that hunted him, he called himself Grimm to protect the people he cared for, vowing never to acknowledge his love for ravishing Jillian St. Clair. Yet even from afar he watched over her, and when her father sent an urgent summons, "Come for Jillian," he raced to her side—into a competition to win her hand in marriage.

A Warrior's Steely Heart

Why had he run from her so many years before? And why return now to see her offered as a prize in her father's manipulative game? Furious, Jillian vowed never to wed. But Grimm was the man she loved, the one who urged her to marry another. He tried to pretend indifference as she tempted him, but he could not deny the fierce desires that compelled him to abduct her from the altar. She was the only woman who could tame the beast that raged within him—even as deadly enemies plotted to destroy them both....

My Reveries and Ramblings: To Tame A Highland Warrior is the second book in Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series.  Click here to read my review of the first book, Beyond the Highland Mist.  This installment focuses on Grimm's story.  

In this book, Jillian's father wants to marry his daughter.  He calls for the three best suitors to come and woo her; Grimm, her childhood friend, being one of them.  He has a secret, however, that keeps him from ever wanting to pursue his feelings for her, even though he does...really really love her.  The secret is quite epic too! This novel kind of plays out like a season of the bachelorette (hahaha).  Which I found hilarious.  So.....if you like those kind of tv shows, you'd like this!

To Tame A Highland Warrior made me super conflicted.  I loved Grimm, the male protagonist! I loved his back story, how he changed from beginning to end, his tortured hero-ness, and pretty much everything else about him.  What I didn't like was that all the depth in Grimm's character was basically absent in Jillian's character. She was a bit of a bore.  If you asked me to describe her, all I could tell you is that she is beautiful and is obsessed with Grimm.  Characters are constantly talking about how selfless and kind and innocent she is....yet....we never see it.  Aside from the lack of depth in Jillian's character, I really liked everything else.

Quick side note: really wish Quinn, one of the other guys asked to court Jillian, had his own story.  Like I REALY REALLY REALLY wish he did.  

Price: Currently $5.98 on the Kindle

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Book Review: Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Beyond the Highland Mist

Author: Karen Marie Moning

Series: Highlander #1

ISBN: 9780440234807

Publisher: Dell

Pub. Date: March 1999

Source: Purchased

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Historical Romance/ Fantasy/Adult

Pages: 375

Rating: 4 Kisses

Author’s Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  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. . . .

My Reveries and Ramblings:  I bought this book while I was reading Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series.  I was waiting for Shadowfever and needed something to help me get through the waiting period.  So I turned to her Highlander series…

Beyond the Highland Mist begins with Adrienne getting transported back in time to Scotland in the early 1500s by some faeries that want to see a certain man in misery.  Hawk is that man.  He is perfect in every way.  Women would literally kill to be with him.  Even the faerie queen likes him.  This enrages both the faerie king and Adam Black, also known as Puck or Robin Goodfellow.  The plan: find a beautiful woman that hates beautiful men and place her in  Hawk’s path.  What follows is pages and pages of pure enjoyment.  Yes, this is a romance novel, but Moning makes it so much more.  She constantly pushes the Adrienne and Hawk together and just when you start to think “YES! FINALLY!” she pulls them apart.  I raced through this book.  I kept me on edge and wanting more.  I think I’ve reread it several times since I finished it the first time.  Each time I’m just as on edge as I was the first time. 

            Some of the best moments in the book was when Hawk was trying to get Adrienne to sleep with him and she would go to great lengths to get away from him, only to end up in Adam Black’s arms and want to run right back to Hawk.  I would HIGHLY recommend this amazing time travel romance.  You seriously won’t regret it!   I am definitely going to finish reading the series. 

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Book Review: Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren + Giveaway!

Title: Torrent

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Series: River of Time #3

ISBN: 978-1434764294

Publisher: David C. Cook

Pub. Date: September 1, 2011

Source: Publisher/Author

Genre: YA/Historical Fiction/ Historical Romance/Christian Fiction

Pages: 388

Rating: 5 Kisses

Excerpt | Author’s Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads): When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series. 

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

My Reveries and Ramblings: Right now, there are 2 types of people in the world: 1) those who have read The River of Time series and 2) those who have never read it. If you are in that second group, then please do, these books are epic.

(SPOILER ALERT=some spoilers)


Okay, now for those of you in that first group, get ready to feel like you will burst from all of the emotional energy you will have while reading this book. It is pure epicness.
      Even though the central goal in the beginning is to get Fortino back. That is just a small battle in the whole war. Actually this book made me realize how big this really was. In Waterfall, we aren’t really aware of just how high the stakes are raised, everything is tense, but life does go on. In Cascade, we are made aware of the waging war, but it still doesn’t hit us. It’s not until book three, Torrent, that we fully acknowledge the scale.
      In Waterfall, Gabi is brought into the past, unprepared, and even a bit naive (not much though). Throughout Waterfall and Cascade she learns that in order to survive and protect the ones she loves, she has to make choices and sacrifices. Almost every one of them are not easy. Most are dangerous and life threatening. But through all these experiences she learns that life is short, and is meant to be lived. Gabi is tested, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In Torrent, Gabi starts to feel the stress from everything she has done. All the exertion, all the fighting, everything pushes her to her limits.
      What I love most about this series is Ms. Bergren’s ability to really pull the reader into the book. Every chapter had me screaming, crying, smiling, and jumping out of my seat. I started this book while on a plane and I think the kid sitting next to me thought I was crazy. I was so into this book that I completely forgot where I was and started tearing up, making exclamations out loud, and moving around in my seat when the energy from all the suspense was too much to take sitting still. There were so many of these moments throughout the book, that it never lags. The pace is perfect!
       Another reason why I love this series, is the characters. All the characters grow and change throughout the books. As a reader, we are only keyed into Gabi’s thoughts and feelings. Like every normal teenager, she is constantly questioning everything: her faith, her relationships, her morals, etc. Ms. Bergren takes the reader on the adventure with Gabi, which is so cool!
       The Plot: Ms. Bergren doesn’t disappoint at all. After reading Waterfall, I had no clue how Cascade would hold up. Well, it exceeded all my expectations and more. Then, I began to feel the same about Torrent. How would this epic series end? With a bang? Or with disappointment? I was seriously hoping to love the ending. And….I DID! I was constantly left guessing what would happen next; Torrent was completely unpredictable. In fact, when books get too suspenseful, I usually end up sneaking a peak at the end (please don’t yell at me!). It took everything, and I mean everything, I had not to do this. I love this series too much, to ruin it for myself.
      The action, was a huge bonus in this book. Seriously, it is action-packed up until the very end. I’m not exaggerating. Just when you think its all over, its not. Which is GREAT!
Now onto our swoon-worthy heroes.
      Dear Marcello, ahhh, my love. I love him! I do, but about half-way through, I decided to accept the fact that Marcello and Gabi were made for each other. So my sights moved onto Greco. Oh My Gosh! Lord Greco is now my favorite swoon-worthy Italian man in this series. He completely shocked me with his loyalty. I didn’t really like him in Cascade, but I loved him in Torrent. And now I’m gushing just thinking about him. Ahhh.
     Ms. Bergren, you are my hero! I love this series. In fact, the second I finished Torrent, I said “This series is better than Twilight!” (Please Twi-hards, don’t kill me!) I love Twilight, but the writing, plot, characters, and setting of The River of Time series were all so much better. This series is definitely one of my favorite series EVER. I can’t recommend this these books enough! It deserves 5 BILLION Kisses!

BIG Thank-you to Ms. Bergren and David C. Cook for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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Giveaway!

Because I want EVERYONE to read this series, I’m doing a giveaway.

• ONE winner 
• Prize: Pick ONE of the books in the River of Times series + signed bookmark 
• Ends September 23, 2011 
• No extra entries 
• MUST be either a GFC follower or an Email subscriber 
• To enter fill out the FORM (below) 

Previous Books: Waterfall | Cascade

Book Review: Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Cascade
   Author: Lisa T. Bergren
   Series: The River of Time
ISBN: 978-1434764317
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pub. Date: June 1, 2011
Source: Author
Genre: YA/ Historical Romance/Time-Travel
Pages: 416
Rating: 5 Kisses
   Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
Excerpt | Website 

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”

              Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

My Reveries and Ramblings:  If you haven’t read Waterfall, the first book in the River of Time series, then I urge you, nay, kick you to the bookstore to buy, yes, you heard me right; buy Waterfall because it is so worth it!  Now, stop reading because this review will spoil the end of Waterfall for you.

When my package (Cascade) came in the mail, I screamed and ripped it open. I beheld a signed copy of Cascade with signed bookmarks (Thank you, Lisa Bergren!)  Apparently all the noise I was making alarmed my family.  When they walked in the room asking me what was wrong, they found me jumping up and down repeating “yes yes YES! AHHHH, I’m so happy!”   They just looked at me shaking their heads, probably flashing back at the last time this happened (during my Twilight phase). 
EPIC.  That was the first word that came to mind when I finished Cascade.  I didn’t think it was possible to love a book more than I loved Waterfall, but Ms. Bergren proved me wrong.  This book was even better than Waterfall.  The stakes were raised even higher in this installment.  Gabi and Marcello are forced to really think about the direction of their relationship.  For Gabi to stay in the past, she would have to force her family to stay with her.  She would also have to start thinking about marriage-people got married at a much younger age back then (they also died earlier).  When the three Betarrini women travel back in time, they find themselves in the middle of a war.  No one is safe; especially the “She-wolves of Siena.”  Gabi and Lia are confronted with numerous obstacles in this sequel.  The enemies of Siena are constantly hunting them.  As a source of hope for the people of Siena, Marcello and Luca, the girls must survive.  I’m going to stop talking about the plot here, because there is just too much that happens and I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone.  Just know that there are three things the girls are up against: 1) The plague, 2) the war, and 3) the choice to either go back to the present or stay in the past. 

Okay, now for my gushing!  I. Love. Marcello.  I might have said that in my Waterfall review, but I don’t care.  It’s true!  Ms. Bergren created a hero that is charming, swoon-worthy, and…..Italian!  All my favorite scenes involved Marcello.  Ahhh, I’m smiling just thinking about him.   Ms. Bergren did add a new potential swoon-worthy guy, Lord Greco.  His status in the book is a bit complicated, so I’ll just say this: YUM!   Yep, he has the whole Ash (from the Iron Fey series) attitude.  He’s goal-oriented, sly, and is more than meets the eye.  He is charged with capturing the Betarrini women.  After accepting the task, he finds out that this is much harder than it seems. 

Cascade was exhilarating!  The story never stalled.  I was constantly turning the page wondering what happened next.  Whenever Gabi overcame one obstacle, there were two more waiting for her on the next page.  Just when I thought “Thank God they made it!” the suspense comes creeping back.  Usually authors have an action scene then a relationship scene.  Ms. Bergren effortlessly blends the two together.  The reader feels the urgency the characters are feeling, throughout the book.  This made me feel like I was a part of the story; like I was right there in the battlefield/forest. This sequel was much more emotional than Waterfall.  Ms. Bergren was not afraid to kill off characters.   Gabi, as well as Lia and their mother, had to deal with death at a much closer and bloody level.  They begin to realize how tragic and dangerous this war is.  They have a responsibility towards the people of Siena whether they like it or not.   Whatever Gabi felt, I felt.  I could feel her pain and sadness over each death.  War is so tragic; it was heartbreaking to read it through Gabi’s POV.  

I couldn’t put the book down! The only problem was that it ended.  Ms. Bergren took me on an exciting adventure that I will never forget!   WARNING: Don’t read the book in a public place unless your are fine with being stared at.  I read Cascade on the train.  Every time something really great happened I wanted to jump up and down.  Every time something tragic or sad happened I wanted to scream or cry.  Of course stifling my laughter by coughing doesn’t really work because my “coughs” sounded more like cackles.  When I finished it (on the train) it took EVERYTHING I had to calmly shut the book.  I wanted to dance and run around yelling “THAT WAS AMAZING! WHY DID IT HAVE TO END?!?!?!?!”  But instead I fidgeted in my little window-seat replaying my favorite scenes and thinking about how far away the release date for Torrent is.  

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Previous The River of Time Review(s): Waterfall