As High as the Heavens

Dinna fash yerself, there's naught wrong with this Kathleen Morgan book, to be sure. It's a Highland romance with a twist of historical fiction. There's mystery and adventure in the plot to free Mary, Queen of Scotts, but Morgan's own fictional plot is BONNIER than reality. In 1568, bonny noble lass, Heather, agrees to teach base-raised Duncan,unaware of being a twin of noble birth, the manners, speech and dress needed to assist in the conspiracy. Beautiful Heather, and braw Duncan, both with Godly foundations, find 3 months so closely locked a HUGH distraction. Hormones become as raw as the Highlands, like aught they e'er afore felt. Heather (all woman) is struggling in her faith due to past comments from her dying mother. Och, and the promises to her da afore meeting Duncan. Aye, her grip goes aquiver. Aye, wi' the author's location descriptions, mayhap ye'll be swept o'er the winds of Scotland, nay akin the verra breeze beneath braw Duncan's plaid. (What do ye wear under ye kilt, aught?) And the constant use of thick brogue (but no Gaelic dictionary needed) enlivens the dialogue, to be sure. After reading "As High as the Heavens" give a stout shout of the Mackinzie battle cry, and mayhap the author will give readers sequel information about the future of Heather and Duncan. Och, where will the next verra raw braw kiss lead?

Nobody weaves a rich, Highland tapestry more vividly than seasoned storyteller Kathleen Morgan, and in her latest work of art, As High as the Heavens, she soars to new heights. Oh, what a story when spirited Heather Gordan of sixteenth-century nobility is enlisted in an intriguing plot to free the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scotts. Heather's mission? To make a gentleman out of rugged Highlander, Duncan Mackenzie--no small task, and no tame one either! With vibrant prose and rich historical threads, Ms. Morgan gives her readers another wonderfully engaging read that will have them turning the pages faster than sparks fly between Heather and Duncan. Ms. Morgan is, without question, one of my favorite authors.

In 1568 illegitimate James Stewart claims the Scottish throne when he imprisons his half-sister Mary Queen of Scots in Lochleven Castle. Mary's loyal supporters are outraged by this affront and plot to rescue the woman they feel is the rightful English queen. One of Mary's most ardent defenders Lady Heather Gordon concocts a daring but dangerous scheme to liberate her Queen. To enter Lochleven, which is strongly guarded by usurper loyalists, she must persuade Duncan Mackenzie, who has lived his life in the wilds of the Highlands to masquerade as foppish Colin Stewart who has access to Castle. Pretending to be a tutor, she struggles to convince the rugged Duncan to abet her cause; instead he wants nothing to do with the plot except that enables him to spend time with Heather who tries to teach him to be a fop. AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS is an engaging sixteenth century Scottish romance in which the male lead provides a fresh face. Heather is a heroic loyal person, but it is the outdoors craggy Duncan who makes the tale as she tries to polish the diamond in the rough by turning him into an aristocratic fop. Fans of the sub-genre will appreciate the tale of love between the tutor and the student with the royal intrigue in the backdrop. Harriet Klausner

I really loved this book. It is a simple love story, with intense emotion. True, it does not have the complexity of a Marsha Canham or Diana Gabaldon book, but the character development and plot move along at a nice refreshing pace.. with none of the chapters long passive aggressive relationship development, typical of most romance novels. It was a fun, and sometimes very emotional quick read that I didn't want to put down. Her description of Duncan and the beautiful Highlander he truly was, both in mind and body was so moving, I could see the pain on his face, and imagine the braw lad standing right in front of me. The remarkable transition of Heather, and the realization at the depth of her love, was deeply moving. I condsider this book a great read for a chilly winters eve. I loved it.

I think this is a must read book. This book has everything in it that you would look for in a Scottish Historical. Love, Betrayal, good plot and that Highland Honor that we all love. This story is about a lass who is sent into the highlands to teach a highlander how to be civilized.Heather must teach a highlander Duncan how to pass for a noble. He looks remarkably like a man named Colin Stewart. She needs for him to pass for Colin so that they can try to save the Queen of Scots Mary form prison.Over the next three months together they fall in love but their are two problems. One she is a noble and her father would never allow her to marry some one less then her. Two she is to marry in three months time. Will there love for each other be enought to overcome their loyalty? I dont want to tell you the ending. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THIS STORY!