The Dark Highlander- Karen Marie Moning

Ack, the last of the Ms. Moning books I currently have on my shelf. I'm going to have to wait a few months before I pick up any others, unless I stumble across them in a paperback exchange, or sale right now as I'm watching the pennies for Christmas.

The Dark Highlander is connection to Kiss of the Highlander. If you want to read this book, although it can work as a stand alone, there are elements of the story that in order to understand fully you'll need to read Kiss of the Highlander first. Dageus, the hero of this story, is the twin of the hero in Kiss. Like his brother he is a druid, of a line of warriors with a sensually arrogant attitude that had me wanting to slap him silly one minute and curl up in bed with him the next.

Except for one detail, I have my own rogue with more than a dominant, arrogant hand already, he might have been a little annoyed at the idea of sharing me - even with someone as delicious as Dageus. Oh, well.

In order to save his brother Dageus used the magic they were, as a family, sworn to protect and by doing so pays the price of playing host to 13 souls. The souls of dark druids who now seek to corrupt him and claim his body for their own purposes. The only time he feels whole, and is able to control the darkness fully, is during sex. (oh my nice twist). He's become something of a well known playboy in Manhattan, an addiction for many a woman, as he's become skilled in the art of 'tupping'. Those interludes enough to keep him sane as he tears apart the modern world, searching for a way to end the curse. Only then can he return home, either to his brother in this time period, or his father in the past - many centuries in the past!

But when Chloe Zanders, student of antiquities, is drawn into his world, she finds the insatiable alpha male an irresistible lure. Before long she is caught up in his quest to find a way free of the ancient curse and is swept back into medieval Scotland with him. Plunged headfirst into a world of timeless magic and dark seduction she will face the challenge of 13 souls battling for control of the man she cannot live without.

Wow.

Sexy. Dark. Compelling.

Ms. Moning has helped, for a short time, to feed my fix between J.R. Ward books and has done so with an exceptional level of skill. The book was a joy to read. Though the bloodthirsty part of me wanted a better fight scene, unfortunately that seldom works in a romance novel unless the readers are set up for that all the way through *le sigh*

There are several more books with Ms. Moning's name on them and I'm planning on adding them to my collection as time and finances, progress.

If you have a thing for highlanders, or sexy time travel novels, then she truly is a must read.

ISBN 0-44023755-6