Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Highlander Most Wanted 

By Maya Banks 

Book #2 in The Montgomerys & Armstrongs series 

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead, nor bring herself to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her longing to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

Genevieve McInnes was abducted by Ian McHugh over a year ago and suffered unspeakable degradation and cruelty at his hands during that time. When he had the audacity to kidnap Eveline, the wife of powerful laird Graeme Montgomery, he was killed when they came to rescue her. Genevieve helped them locate Eveline and it brought an end to her own suffering. They were unaware that she was the daughter of an infamous laird with ties to the king and she hides her identity for a time. Now she wants to just be allowed to join an abbey and live out the rest of her life rather than have her parents experience the shame of her experience…they believe she’s dead and she wants to keep it that way.

I must admit I fell in love with this series from the first sentence in the first book, with it’s highly appealing warriors and intriguing women. This story has less action than the first but is packed with highly charged emotion and romance. Genevieve’s situation was really tragic and Bowen Montgomery’s sensitivity to her having been abused by not only Ian but the members of the McHugh clan helped transition this into a love story. Their romance was a tough one given her circumstances (yes, you’ve got to suspend reality a bit to accept her quick recovery, but why not). I loved their story, Genevieve’s courage and Bowen’s honor. There are also secrets that threaten to upend both Genevieve and Bowen, which only served to make it more interesting.

While it lacked some of the spark of the first book, this was still a great story with lots of conflict, steamy romance and interesting characters. I had a hard time walking away from it until I finished. There’s an interesting set up for the next book and I am already anxious to read it. I don’t ever want the series to end.

Review

HR Review: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

Never Seduce a Scot 
by Maya Banks 
Book #1 in The Montgomerys and Armstrongs series
Historical Romance
★★★★★

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty — unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions. Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

REVIEW:

The Montgomerys and the Alexanders have been rivals for some time, both with good reason to have animosity towards the other. When the King of Scotland decrees that the Armstrong daughter, Eveline, and Graeme Montgomery, the laird of the clan, must marry, both clans recognize that they have no choice but to comply. Graeme is distraught because Eveline is believed to be "touched" and he will not force himself on someone without the ability to exercise free will, thus foregoing the opportunity to produce an heir. The Armstrongs are outraged as they are very protective of Eveline, who is actually deaf and has learned to read lips. And, she has a reason for perpetuating the myth to everyone that she is daft. However, she's intrigued by the rugged warrior and sees this as an opportunity to have the life she'd dreamed of, being a wife and mother.

This story has everything, romance, mystery and suspense, action and intrigue. Add in the compelling Scottish highlanders in both clans and you have the beginnings of a delicious series. Graeme is attractive in so many ways and is a really good leader of his clan. Eveline is beautiful, resourceful and really tries to make the best of a difficult situation, all the while being really attracted to Graeme and he her. It doesn't take long for him to deduce that Eveline is not "touched" and the relationship they create is romantic and seductive.

The action centers around the reluctance of some members of the clan to accept Eveline, understandable given the history between the two families and hatred running deep. There are those inside the clan and outside factions that want to see this union fail. It's an extremely interesting story and a great romance.

I loved everything about this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. As usual, Banks' has applied her unique story telling skills against the backdrop of the Scottish medieval period with wonderfully defined characters. I hated for this book to end.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)