The satisfying conclusion of "These Highland Hills"

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	• A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) Kathleen Morgan Revell, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Good Book

The Highland Hills series is very good. I'm glad to finally have the third one in the series.

The satisfying conclusion of "These Highland Hills"

In A FIRE WITHIN, Kathleen Morgan satisfyingly concludes her These Highland Hills trilogy with another tale of intrigue, romance, forgiveness and faith.

It's 1568 in Scotland, and Campbell clan chief's sister Caitlin, a healer, is confused by her feelings for a visitor to the castle. She is both attracted to and repelled by the handsome Darach "Dar" MacNaghten, aka Darach MacFarlane, who secretly is on a mission to rescue his imprisoned brother and clan chief Athe MacNaghten from the depths of the Campbells' Kilchurn castle. The MacNaghtens have lost their right to be a clan, and Dar holds the Campbells partly responsible for the MacNaghtens' plight. He is not averse to using his good looks to woo Caitlin and trick her into helping him achieve his ends.

Dar finds Caitlin tempting ("a headstrong, fiery-tempered vixen") and decides that the only way to rescue his brother is to take her hostage. But Caitlin gives Dar --- who she finds "a thief, liar, and heartless fiend," or in another passage, a "despicable, slime-ridden varlet" --- a run for his money. As in all of Morgan's novels, passion simmers just barely under the surface. When a woman is as agitated as Caitlin is about a man, there is no question that she won't resist him for long. But the ties of clan and family are stronger than romance...or are they?

Dar is haunted by his past and his failure to protect a woman he loved who was also his brother's betrothed. When she is found dead, he is accused of murdering her and cast out of the clan. And that's just the beginning of his problems. As he tells Caitlin, "...These are difficult times. What one believes at one moment can well change in the next. Friendships can die; filial ties can be severed, and trusts can shrivel." His words will prove true as the novel progresses.

Characters from the first two books make appearances: Naill's wife Anne has taught Caitlin the art of healing, but frets over the proud and restless Caitlin's seeming lack of common sense where men are concerned. Naill mounts a rescue for Caitlin, along with her cousin Iain. But the rescue backfires, and whether Dar can protect Caitlin from the circumstances they find themselves in seems tenuous.

Morgan uses dialect well, although I lost count of the dizzying amount of times characters told each other, "Dinna fash yerself" (or as we might say, "chill out!"). The men are braw and the women are bonny. The author excels at enriching her story with historical details; one of the richest descriptions in the book concerns a "clarsach," or a lap harp carved with mythical beasts that represent Christ in different ways. Faith themes are woven throughout, from Dar's despair (despite his clan's motto, "I hope in God," he had "given up on a just, merciful and loving God years ago") to Caitlin, who struggles with the idea of giving up control and trusting God for her circumstances.

Readers may be confused that Dar bothers to go to such great lengths to get his brother out of prison following scene after scene showing what a brutish lout Athe is. But as readers of CHILD OF THE MIST and WINGS OF MORNING, the previous two books in the series, know, the loyalty to family and clan sometimes defy common sense. "Acceptance and love...he (Dar) had longed for that ever since he could remember, but perhaps that had never been what truly mattered."

Readers who enjoyed the first two installments will find Dar's journey toward embracing his calling, and both Dar and Caitlin's spiritual quest, a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Fans of historical faith fiction will also embrace this Scottish romance, full of inspiration, period details and intrigue.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

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A wonderful Scottish romance. . .

Immersed deep in the Scottish highlands, Kathleen Morgan takes us on her third and final journey into the Campbell clan. Surrounded by the rugged and beautiful Scottish country we are taken back to a time of castles and highland honor, a time of romance and danger.

Caitlin Campbell listens to her heart more then her head and in the past it has caused her pain. Extending the highland code of hospitality, she invites two men to stay at the home of her brother, Niall, chief of the Clan Campbell. Struggling to let God control her life, Caitlin's world spins out of control when she is abducted.

Darach MacNaghten and his cousin travel under assumed names deep into Clan Campbell in an attempt to rescue his brother. Although he has been banished from his own outlawed clan he fights to save the Clan MacNaghten and resort honor to its name. When Darach realizes his rescue attempt is impossible he makes one last desperate effort and takes Caitlin as a hostage.

Will Caitlin finally let God control her life? Can Darach put his trust in God and realize His plans are much larger then his own? Can these two make it through the Scottish highlands will fighting their attraction for each other?

Kathleen Morgan once again captures our minds and hearts in this delightful tale of Highland romance.

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Enjoyable

If you love a good Scottish historical romance you can't go past Kathleen Morgan! Each of the These Highland Hills series have descriptions that whisk you away to the Scottish moors and castles, characters that you can adore and despise and romance to knock your socks off! Kathleen's Highland men are men and her women, gutsy and determined. A Fire Within is no exception. Caitlin is fiercely proud and somewhat foolish in the opening scenes so her journey towards maturity and a deeper faith is completely engaging. Darach's brokenness explains his bitterness and self absorption but as he begins to acknowledge his place in God's plan he grows in integrity and compassion. While you know what the outcome will be it remains a lovely tale that ends the series in the same captivating and engaging way it started.

Don't miss Child of the Mist and Wings of Morning for the complete story of the Breadalbane Campbells ~ Niall, Iain and now finally, Caitlin.

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same old, same old

This book was OK but these scottish romances are getting to be all the same. In addition, this book was a little too "religious" for me.

reviews: page 1, 2

It is May 1568, and Caitlin Campbell has recently had her heart broken by a callous young nobleman. With a track record of not choosing men well, she meets Darach MacNaghten, whose clan has been outlawed. Not only is he everything Caitlin should be wary of, but he is a man of many secrets, none of which bode well for the Campbells. He comes to Kilchurn to free his imprisoned older brother, but when he realizes that his plan has no chance of success, he kidnaps Caitlin to hold her as hostage until his brother is freed. This plan, so simple on the surface, soon leads to a clash of wills between two proud, headstrong people. And the problems only worsen the closer Darach's plan draws to its unforeseen conclusion. Fans of Morgan's These Highland Hills series and historical fiction readers will enjoy this dramatic conclusion to the series.

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