A Month of Romance Audio Favorites Selection
Narrated by Phil Gigante
When I look back on my first romance audiobooks, Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series almost always comes to mind as something I gobbled up like candy. The Dark Highlander
Dageus MacKeltar is a haunted man. He’s a Scottish Highlander, born in the sixteenth century, but trapped between the past and the present. He violated an ancient prophecy, and is now forced to pay the price. Thirteen druids possess his soul. Will he be able to break free of their hold?
Chloe Zanders is a student and lover of all that is antique. When she meets Dageus, she finds herself drawn to the darkness inside him. She isn’t sure what causes it, and when she discovers who he really is, she doesn’t know what to make of it all. Part of her is too pragmatic to believe in time travel, but another part, the part that yearns for the touch of this dangerous Highlander, is compelled to believe.
Chloe and Dageus are thrust back in time to defeat the darkness that possesses Dageus’ soul. Along the way, they discover a passion beyond anything either one could imagine. Can that passion turn to love?
I thoroughly enjoyed Phil Gigante’s narration of The Dark Highlander. He switches seamlessly between narrative and dialogue. His pacing is incredible, as is his ability to truly capture the essence of the characters he’s performing.
I was very impressed with Gigante’s ability to give each of the Highlanders a distinct voice, while still employing a Scottish accent. Dageus is given a gruff, but sensuous sound. His twin brother sounds similar, but lacks the gruffness. He does employ a little too much of a falsetto when he speaks for female characters. Chloe, for example, took a bit of getting used to. His pitch was just a little too high when she spoke. This was true of other female characters as well, but I noticed it most with Chloe.
Gigante made the relationship between Dageus and Chloe very believable. He read some pretty steamy scenes, and the sensual quality of his voice was perfect. I could feel them falling for each other.
Unfortunately, as I relistened to The Dark Highlander in preparation for writing this review, I found that the story had lost some of its magic for me. I still enjoy the time travel, especially since it involves Dageus living in the present as well as Chloe living in the past. However, Dageus is definitely an alpha male, a character trait that has come to bother me over the past few years. Where I once saw Chloe as spunky, I now see her as too willing to please Dageus, even if doing so went against things she believed about herself and the world around her. I found myself wanting her to stand up to him sometimes, but she rarely did.
Still, I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy time travel, more than a hint of darkness, and a romance that consumes both characters.
Shannon
Narration: A-
Book Content – First listen: A
Book Content – Most Recent Listen; B
Steam Factor: For your burning ears only
Violence: Escalated fighting
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Time Travel
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Great review Shannon! The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning is one of my all-time favorites! After I devoured the Fever Series, I craved more Karen Marie Moning, so I turned to her Highlander Series to get my fix. While very different from the urban fantasy Fever Series, I also enjoyed, although perhaps just a marginal degree less, this paranormal historical series. I think this primarily is a factor of the fact that each book in this series–at least in the beginning (I only made it to Book 4 or so)–can almost be read as a standalone book. Whereas the Fever Series continues the story and therefore you are hooked and have to read all the books to learn the ending. Add in the fact that the Highlander Series is narrated by Phil Gigante, one of my favorite male narrators, and its what I would consider a classic: a paranormal historical romance that is a must listen!
One day, I hope to go back and finish this series. Especially after reading your review, now know that I need to at least listen to Book 5!
The books get better and better starting with Book 4. Yes, please listen!
Phil Gigante is such a good narrator although I haven’t listened to a KMM book!
Oh Marg – you are missing out! Always, always, my recommendation with KMM’s Highlander series is to start with Book 4, Kiss of the Highlander. Books 4 on are the best books in the series IMHO. Listeners sometimes get bogged down with one of the first three books in the series.
It seems as though KMM hit her stride with KOTH. I started with KOTH and never missed a beat. Later I went back and listened to the first three.
I really enjoyed listening to this series!
Did you listen in order? And did you listen one after another? Or did you space out? I’ve done it both ways and I think I appreciated it more when I listened to other books in between.
OOoh, sigh. Yes. I LOVE PG’s narration of KMM’s Highlander novels. Their only rival for my affection is Laura Kinsale’s books narrated by NB.
For those of you new to these audiobooks, you are in for a treat! Phil’s narration of my favorite KMM hero in Dark Highlander is definitely one of my top 3 favorites in this series, but I think he does a truly exceptional job with Spell of the Highlander and the voice he creates for Cian is…wow. (the Immortal Highlander rounds out the trio of my favo audio version of KMM’s books).
I agree with Shannon about how despite having to use a Scots brogue for all these heroes, Phil still pulls off enough of a distinction between each. And yes, his heroines tend to go too high, but not enough to kill the overall effect.
I also have to agree that as I read most of these books in my early 20’s, going back and reading them again is a different experience. But still enjoyable, especially the audio version ;)
My faves of the series are Kiss of the Highlander (which seems to have more LOL moments), The Immortal Highlander, and The Spell of the Highlander (Cian – yes!) although The Dark HIghlander rates high as well. Phil’s depiction of these heroes is so excellent that I totally forgive his high-pitched heroines. Other than noticing it in the beginning, I get so wrapped up in the narration, that it doesn’t affect my enjoyment a bit.