Historical
As High as the Heavens
By Sherri Myers
Jul 1, 2008 - 12:18:33 PM

  Heather Gordon was extremely bored and wanted some excitement in her privileged life in 1568 Scotland.  She should have been a bit more careful what she wished for, because excitement was about to find her.  With her mother dead, Heather’s father, Lord Robert Gordon, had left her to her own devices and taken to drink.  Now grown into womanhood, Heather is called upon to assist in a plot to rescue Mary, Queen of Scots, from Lochleven Castle where her half-brother, James Stewart, has imprisoned her.

Duncan Mackenzie has always lived as a simple peasant in the rugged Highlands.  What no one has ever told him has remained a close-kept secret known by only a few:  he has a twin brother and was born into nobility.  Because Duncan has an uncanny resemblance to his twin brother, who has direct access to the fortress where Mary is being held but who is against freeing her, his involvement is critical to the success of the plot.  The only problem—and a major one at that—is the fact that Duncan resembles his twin in looks only.  His speech and demeanor leave much to be desired. 

Heather is persuaded to travel to the Highlands in order to help the uncouth Duncan learn the gentlemanly ways of the nobility.  However, once she meets Duncan she quickly realizes that is going to be much easier said than done.  First she had to use her womanly charms to get him to even agree to risk his life trying to rescue Mary, and then she had to transform him into a nobleman in only three months time.  Heather had also been sworn to secrecy about Duncan’s heritage and was forced to agree to not tell Duncan whom he truly was.

As Heather and Duncan begin working together, the close confines of the small Highland cottage soon have sparks flying between the two, with Duncan’s mother being none too happy about the situation.  She knows there is no hope for a romance between a lady from nobility and a rugged Highlander, and tries to stop it before her son gets his heart broken by Heather.  But will these two independent spirits be able to resist love’s spell in order to save their beloved queen? 

Kathleen Morgan has long been a favorite author of mine, and she doesn’t disappoint me with AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS.  Previously released under a different title, this novel has been reworked into an inspirational, historical fiction set in sixteenth-century Scotland.  Known for her expertise at writing Highland novels that are true to the time period, Ms. Morgan always presents a well-researched tome that is sure to please the most discerning reader.