Review: To Love a Highland Dragon
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 5, 2013
This book was provided by the author for an honest review.My Thoughts:To Love a Highland Dragon was a mix of two of my favorite fiction elements -- hunky Higlanders and shapeshifters, specifically dragon shifters. The story opens with Kheladin the dragon waking from a very long slumber. Not knowing how long he's slept, he shakes off the vestiges of his slumber, and, in doing so, is surprised to see a vast amount of molted scales fly off his body, proving that he has been asleep for years. Roused by the dragon's movements, his human bond mate, Lachlan Moncrieffe, laird of Clan Moncrieffe, is fully awakened. In an effort to figure out the way of things, Kheladin cedes power to Lachlan, allowing his human form to take shape. As he explores, Lachlan quickly discovers that he is not in the "when" he left when he first entered his slumbered. His castle is missing, replaced by row houses, and his new surroundings are totally unfamiliar. Lachlan encounters a sassy spitfire, Dr. Maggie Hibbins, almost immediately after departing the cave. A seemingly serendipitous encounter turns out to be much more because fate has orchestrated the couple's introduction. Lachlan and Maggie quickly discover their unbridled attraction for one another. But, ominous forces seek to destroy their relationship before it even has a chance to begin.I really enjoyed this story because it brings together many unlikely characters -- gods, goddesses, witches, and dragons -- and artfully meshes myth, legend, and fantasy, creating a highly enjoyable tale.I absolutely adored Lachlan, Maggie, and even Kheladin. Think you've read a dragon shifter story before and they're all the same? Wrong. Gimpel did something in this book that I've never seen done quite in this manner and I really enjoyed it. Most shifter stories have the man/beast combination as one entity with the human being sentient and the beast driving the human's baser emotions and desires. What Gimpel did in this story was much different. Both Lachlan and Kheladin were sentient individuals who formed a mate bond. They each had their own thoughts and opinions and articulated them either verbally or telepathically. Now, you might think that this would make for a confusing story but that just wasn't the case. To Love a Highland Dragon flowed beautifully with each character playing the perfect role. The addition of the gods and goddesses who adapted very human mannerisms and demeanors added another layer of vivid detail to the story. The dragon Rhukon and his cronies, Conner and the Morrigan, provided the much appreciated intensity and drama. To Love a Highland Dragon was definitely not your average girl meets boy...err dragon shifter...and they fall in insta-love and live happily ever after. No, this story was edgy and unique and more than a promising beginning to what I hope will be a new paranormal series for Gimpel. Bravo!Ratings Detail:Rating for female protagonist: 4★Rating for male protagonist: 4★Rating for secondary characters: 4★Steam Level: 4★Plot Viability: 4★General Storyline: 4★Story Ending: 4★Ease of Reading: 4★Book editing: 4★Cliffhanger: NoOverall rating: 4★