Karen Marie Moning - Mary Alice Monroe
Moning, Karen Marie - TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR
(Dell - 12/99) (5)
In TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR, Karen Marie Moning delves into Celtic legends with a Berserker hero, a warrior whose strength
is changed both physically and mentally when he is challenged to war. Gavrael McIllioch became a Berserker at age fourteen when his family was attacked, his mother killed, and his village destroyed. For his own protection and those he loved, he
changed his name to Grimm and made both a name and a fortune for himself as protector of the king.
Grimm has been asked by his good friend and mentor, Gilbraltor St. Clair, to care for St. Clair's daughter, Jillian. She has been discouraging all her suitors by being impossibly angelic, hinting that she belongs to the church. This mischievous minx wants Grimm and means to have no other, although her father has also summoned two other possible candidates for her. Grimm encourages Jillian to pick one of the other candidates, and urges the other men to win the lady—but she is having none of it!
Jillian, a mistress in the art of persistence, pops up at every turn to aggravate and bedevil Grimm, convinced that he is the only one for her. But Grimm believes he cannot have a normal home life and love life because his "gift" could possibly turn him into a madman. When attacked by the clan, which is dedicated to hunt all the Berserkers and leave no survivors, he is faced with decisions he has been avoiding all his life. Must Grimm tell more than just a few of his friends that he is a Berserker? Will his wild side completely overtake his common sense? Would he dare to show a woman that he loves her? And will it ever be possible to return to his father's home?
Recurring characters, Adrienne and Hawk Douglas from Ms. Moning's debut novel, BEYOND THE HIGHLAND MIST, add to the enjoyment of this fast-paced Highland warrior story. The pair encourages their good friend Grimm to seek out the best in life; and, in the end, love shows him the way. Karen Marie Moning is a talented new voice in the romance genre. She blends history, legend, love, and the paranormal to create wonderful stories that keep you totally involved from beginning to end. Add TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR and its prequel to your keeper shelf! ~Vicki Patterson for Bookbug on the Web
Monroe, Mary Alice - GIRL IN THE MIRROR (Mira - 1998) (4)
Born with a facial deformity, Charlotte Godowski has endured a lifetime of cruel comments and stares from people. She decides to have plastic surgery to make her face a thing of beauty, and its success gives her the confidence to change her life. Charlotte leaves home, travels to Hollywood, and becomes the successful actress she's always dreamed of being.
Michael Mondragon has reluctantly left his architecture firm to help rebuild his family's landscaping business in California, where he meets the beautiful actress. They fall in love, but Michael is not aware of Charlotte's tortured past. When her health begins to deteriorate (as a result of the plastic surgery), she realizes that she'll have to tell Michael the truth. How will he react when he finds out that the face he and everyone else loves is not really hers? If the surgery needs to be reversed, will he still love her?
Mary Alice Monroe has written a multifaceted romance, with realistic protagonists who need to cope with unique challenges to their relationship. Charlotte and Michael both have human frailties, yet they are very likable characters. The heroine, in particular, may seem narcissistic and self-centered, but she really doesn't come across that way in the telling of her story. GIRL IN THE MIRROR has numerous secondary characters and a story line that twists and turns, delivering several surprises along the way. I highly recommend it, especially to readers who are looking for a romance with an unusual theme. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
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