I’ve read my share of paranormal romance over the years, and though my tastes run to the more traditional vampire/werewolf stories, I’m always up for checking out something new. When Kendra Leigh Castle’s Dark Highland Fire caught my attention, I thought that her unusual twist of pairing a Highland werewolf with a vampire/demigoddess from another dimension might just be worth checking out.
Dark Highland Fire begins with Rowan an Morgaine working at a Vegas strip club. Through the initial chapters, we find out that she and her brother, Bastian, are on the run from some serious bad guys who have slaughtered their tribe of Amazon-like demigodesses in the Drakkyn realm. Even more interesting, these bad guys are the minions of the Dragon King and his son, Lucian, who is obsessed with marrying Rowan. After the annihilation of her mother and sisters, Rowan was able to flee with Bastian, who inadvertently teleported them to another dimension: modern day Earth.
Once there, they move in with a kiss of vampires, which is only appropriate since they are essentially vampires themselves, though not in the traditional sense. They must drink blood to survive, but can gain nutrition from regular food as well. They can also walk during the day. Rowan has some additional abilities, like being able to create and throw fire and wielding super strength when she is properly nourished, which she is finding difficult to accomplish while on Earth. Bastian's talents are still emerging.
When Rowan and her brother realize that Lucian has found them, Bastian teleports them to Scotland (again, not on purpose as this is an ability that he is only learning about) and into the laps of the MacInnes clan of werewolves. Gabriel MacInnes, the younger brother of pack leader Gideon, is immediately drawn to Rowan. Bastian leaves her in Gabriel’s care as he tries to find a way to get them both back home safely. Gabriel’s only job is to keep Rowan safe, which becomes increasingly difficult as she fights her situation, her own growing feelings for this arrogant stranger and what she knows must come: a final showdown with Lucian that may end in her death or imprisonment.
Like any good romance, there is a bit of push and pull as our lovers find their way to each other. There is also quite a bit of violence as Lucian becomes more desperate and sells his soul for the chance to have Rowan as his bride. What he doesn’t know is that fate has played all of them a cruel hand and the master manipulator behind it all is closer to him than he knows.
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