Dark Highland Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle is a romantic paranormal fantasy that draws you so deep within the soul of the story that all reality around you is completely shut out. Intensely romantic, sexual, breathtaking and crawl under your skin, mouth watering don't put it down, this novel should be on the New York Times Bestsellers list without a doubt. If you miss this novel and it's previous installment you are missing the most delicious books of the Century.

Rowan an Morgaine is a Goddess to be by birth and in her own right. A feminine warrior of sharp wit and equally sharp tongue, beauty befitting her station and that of her people, fearless of death, she is a woman to be reckoned with. Tall, long legs, flowing red hair that radiates fire and emerald green eyes that seer you to your soul, Rowan is so much more than delectably exquisite.

Gabriel MacInnes is second son of the pack of Werewolves designated to protect an ancient artifact that is the bridge to their ancient homeland in another world. Breathtaking is the understatement for this man. Tall, bronzed, long dark hair and eyes to melt your soul should the right women capture him. Most certainly a ladies man to the max. Though his station is second son it doesn't diminish the fact that Gods have a very special task made just for him. Will he be able to survive it is the question.

Rowan and her brother Bastien escape by the skin of their teeth from the slaughter that is befalling their people by the Andrakkar, the Dark Dragons. Their escape is short lived however once Lucien Andrakkar enlists the help of the daemon, creatures even more vile than the dragons themselves.

Again Rowan is found and is saved at the last moment by her brother only to be dropped into the hands of Gabriel MacInnes. Bastien makes Gabriel promise to protect his sister and feed her starving form. Gabriel cringes at the thought of having to protect a blood sucker as vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies, but he swears to do so anyway.

So the war is to begin between two worlds and creatures so vile just to think of them will make you cringe and want to hide beneath the covers. All this over the love of a stubborn pig headed woman that has crawled into the blood of two very dangerous adversaries. A war that is needed to right the wrongs of a species so noble and to unite two races unknown to each other for over a thousand years. Good vs. Evil, right vs. wrong, light vs. dark, but who will be the victor?

A love so pure that Rowan and Gabriel will be stunned that the Gods have chosen to throw the two of them together. Two people, one Werewolf, one Vampire that are so alike you wonder how this could possibly work.

"And are you always such a charming conversationalist, or is it just me?" he shot back, keeping his voice deliberately even. He didn't think it wise, when he knew so little of her, to let Rowan know he felt like throttling her every time she opened her mouth.

"It's you," she replied, not quite suppressing what appeared to be an amused quirk of her lips. "I know when I'm being a bi_ch."

This budding author is astounding to say the least. She has given us a paranormal romance intertwined with the realm of fantasy and a style of writing so smooth it's like the silky froth on the top of your favorite cappuccino. My heart longs for more of this families saga, my throat is desert parched with the ending of this installment, my need for more of this writer's decadence is critical. This series will forever be included into my permanent collection so that when my longing is too great, I can pull this novel up and quench my thirst once again.

Author Castle has really hit her groove in the second of her highland werewolves books. Unlike the first book, Call of the Highland Moon, (which I liked despite a slow start) Wild Higland Fire jumps straight into the action, and hooked me from the very beginning -- I absolutely loved it.

Second son fun-loving werewolf Gabe who, unlike his older alpha-to-be brother, has enjoyed the from freedom pack responsibilities and has spent his years persuing a carefree self-indulgent life. That all changes when magical stranger Bastian enters through the gate between worlds guarded by Gabe's pack. When Bastian places his unconscious sister under Gabe's protection, Gabe is taken aback - he has never taken responsibility for anyone other than himself. Gabe is sure that a mistake has been made, surely his dad or brother would be better suited to keep the woman safe from the dragon shifting prince seeking to possess her. And when she regains consciousness, blood-drinking part goddess Rowan is less than pleased to be in anyone's keeping - she is powerful in her own right and doesn't believe that she needs any keeper - much less a virile stubborn werewolf guardian.

The relationship between Rowan and Gabe is tempestuous from the moment they meet. I enjoyed their verbal sparring and Castle did a really good job of building the tension between them as they continuously rub each other the wrong way. Both the leads are really good here, especially the smart and stubborn Rowan who was a great leading lady and no damsel in distress. Gabe is uber sexy as he discovers he's been selling himself short and is more than capable of handling responsibility now that he has someone to fight for. And he's going to have a battle on several fronts, because now-former-ladies-man Gabe recognizes the fiery Rowan as his once-in-a-lifetime mate, but Rowan is determined to fight him and in order to resist their bond.

Unlike the previous book, Dark Highland fire takes place in both Scotland and an alternate world with dragonshifters, demons and dryad warrior maidens giving it some fantasy overtones. I gobbled this one down and immediately went hunting Castle's site to see what is in store for us next. I was happy to see that there is already a book in the works for Rowan's intriguing brother but even happier to find out that Wild Highland Magic also stars the amazingly sympathetic bad guy dragon-shifter prince Lucien. I hope Castle finds a way to redeem Lucien because I love it when bad boys go good.

Gabriel MacInnes pretty much doesn't have a single responsibility in his life. As the second son in his family, it Is highly unlikely that he will ever become pack alpha - that's his older brother's job and as such, Gabriel is content. On those days when he isn't completely content, he is more often than not pleased with the way his life has turned out. When Gabriel is given the daunting task of watching over and guarding Rowan an Morgaine, the next leader of the Drakkyn sorceresses, he has no idea what he has just done - Gabriel has just agreed to protect his mate from a dragon prince who just happens to be entirely focused on capturing Rowan and forcing her to accept him - no matter how long it takes.

Rowan an Morgaine has been thrown out of her realm and is on the run from a rogue dragon who wants to force hr to mate with him. Finally agreeing to protection, she finds herself ensconced in the Scottish highlands being protected by Gabriel MacInnes, a man she just knows is all wrong for her. Emotions peak and attraction flares between the two and before they know it, their lives become almost a single entity. They refuse to let their guards down until the dragon after Rowan is dealt with but what happens in the meantime? Why love, of course!

A highly provocative and enticingly written second installment, DARK HIGHLAND FIRE is a worthy follow up to Call of the Highland Moon, also by Kendra Leigh Castle.

Gabriel is the ultimate playboy. Women love him and he loves that they love him. With the arrival of Rowan, I was pleasantly surprised to see his carefree ways become controlled and the man who loved all women become a man who only desired one woman - Rowan an Morgaine, his mate.

Rowan never thought she would have to be protected by a pack of werewolves, especially one as sexy as Gabriel MacInnes. She understands that she needs his help to battle the evil that is after her. However, she is dead set against loving her hot shape shifting companion but sometimes nature has to take control. And so their love was born amidst danger and intrigue and stubbornness. Rowan and Gabriel became as one; just the way it should be.

There is nothing better to me as a reader than a sensuous and naughty wolf finding his mate. Kendra Leigh Castle has written a tremendous novel in DARK HIGHLAND FIRE. Romance, paranormal elements, and a dream worthy hero mated to a strong heroine combine to form the ultimate read. The Scottish Highlands have never been so sexy!

DARK HIGHLAND FIRE released on October 1, 2008. Don't miss it!

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***