The Highlander's Touch

TEST

This book sounded like a great idea. After all, it’s a medieval, a time-travel, and it’s set in Scotland, three potentially great items, especially to an Outlander fan like me. Unfortunately, the great premise did not carry through to make A Highlander’s Touch a great book.

Lisa Stone’s life changed overnight when her father died; she went from leading a privileged life to working two jobs in order to support herself and her mother, Catherine, who is dying of cancer. After waitressing all day, Lisa spends her nights cleaning at a museum. On this particular night, there is a newly arrived artifact at the museum – a flask that has unbelievable powers. When Lisa touches it, she is sent back in time 700 years.

As it turns out, this is bad news; Circenn, the immortal Laird of Brodie, has vowed to kill whoever appears with the flask, which he cursed in order to retrieve it. Now, much to the amusement of those who know him, Circenn can’t bring himself to kill the beguiling “lass” who is now in his world. He wonders what will happen when “the blackest elf,” Adam Black, finds out that Circenn has not kept his vow. With Lisa disobeying every order he gives her, Circenn finds himself practically married to her, and he ends up having to present her to his people as cousin to Robert the Bruce, who arrives in preparation for the upcoming battle.

Lisa and Circenn share a strong physical attraction, the kind that makes them forget everything once they catch a glimpse of the other. Even though Lisa ends up confiding in Circenn, he is much slower about telling her the truth about himself, not just about his immortality, but the very reason why Adam Black keeps popping into his life. The Knights Templar make an appearance as well, but the rogue knight who poses a threat to Lisa’s life seems to have been crafted solely to have her argue with Circenn.

One of the main problems with Circenn Brodie is that he is not the most interesting male in the book. Nor is he particularly masterful – people seem to do as they please around him. I was more intrigued by Duncan, one of Circenn’s servants or even Adam than I was by the perpetually morose – or perpetually aroused – Circenn. He has lost people he loved through the centuries, and he vows not to let another woman into his heart, which doesn’t prevent him from kissing and touching Lisa whenever he wants, usually in a dominant male manner.

The tragic circumstances in Lisa’s life set the plot in motion, but she is defined more by what happens to her than by her own character. She is alternately spunky (when it comes to her repeated attempts to escape) and swoony (when she claps eyes on Circenn) but at least she is not a shy virgin, given the rather awkward beginning to the consummation scene.

The background is of the “history lite” variety; especially when characters start speaking in a mix of modern American English with words like “doona” and “lass” thrown in for flavor. Lisa’s adjustment to medieval times is nearly flawless, since the harshness of the times is hardly apparent. The writing itself is overdone at times with scenes and plot devices that don’t seem to exist other than to add melodrama and purple prose to the story.

All in all, The Highlander’s Touch features wallpaper-type historical flavoring, and unbelievably perfect ending, and main characters that prove quite forgettable. I’d give this one a pass if I were you.

Reviewed by Claudia Terrones

Grade: D+

Sensuality: Hot

Review Date: 20/01/00

Publication Date: 2000

Review Tags: Highlander series

Recent Comments …

  1. excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.

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