Kiss of the Highlander

Rife with unexpected plot twists, Druid lore and sparkling humor, Moning's latest time-travel romance (following The Highlander's Touch) returns to the Scottish Highlands for another romp between an ancient laird and a modern lass. Gwen Cassidy's hopes of finding a man crumble when she realizes that her much-anticipated tour of Scotland is a senior citizen expedition. Frustrated, Gwen decides to hike the breakneck hills of Loch Ness alone, and she ends up falling down a ravine and awakening Drustan MacKeltar, a Scottish lord who has been slumbering for 500 years under a gypsy's spell. Although Drustan is bewildered by the modern century, he is not puzzled by his feelings for Gwen. Her passionate heart and brilliant mind intrigue him, and he enlists her aid to return to the 16th century. Once back in Drustan's time, their struggle to save his people alters history and results in a surprising denouement. There's much that's fun here, both in characters and situations, but detail-oriented readers may be distracted by the novel's many anachronisms: for example, Gwen has coffee in bed in 1518 even though coffee wasn't available in England until the 17th century. Nevertheless, Moning's snappy prose, quick wit and charismatic characters will enchant. (Sept. 11) Forecast: Morning has just three titles under her belt, but her fan base is growing steadily. This paranormal, time-travel romantic comedy will appeal to Donna Kauffman aficionados as well as readers who enjoy mixed-genre romances.