Book Review-In Bed With A Highlander

In Bed With A Highlander
McCabe Trilogy (1)
Maya Banks
Ballentine
Paperback
Published August 2011
352 Pages
Scottish Highlands Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780345519474

Synopsis
Bestselling author Maya Banks’s beguiling new trilogy features three unforgettable brothers risking everything to save their clan and their legacy—and to surrender their hearts to love.
Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

MY REVIEW
Summary:
Mairin has been in fear for over ten years ever since she was hidden away in a convent since she was a child, but then the convent is attacked and she is kidnapped and on the way to the Laird Cameron who wants to marry her to get access to her land, she saves a young boy, and they are later rescued by his father Laird McCabe, who scares her at first but when she knows she has no choice but to marry him and soon she will start to realize that there is nothing to fear from Ewan. There is a powerful desire that sweeps them both into a sweet world of ecstasy and soon only with their love for one another will they be able to withstand the dangerous tides that may sweep them both into danger…

The Hero (Ewan McCabe)
Ewan, after losing both his father and his wife by a vicious betrayal and attack and only his young son survived. Ever since then he has been training his men to fight just as well as he can and to make sure his clan are fed. Now with marrying Mairin is the one true chance they have to defeat the Cameron clan and their enemies. Only he never expected that his wife would drive both himself and his whole clan up the wall…

The Heroine (Mairin  Stuart)
Mairin, ever since she was a young girl has been terrified that she would be taken away against her will by a ruthless man that would just as soon cast her out once she gave birth to the heir to her lands that her father the King has given to her. Mairin has dreamed of a noble man worthy of protecting her but also one that could love her as well, and she never thought that that one man would be her husband…

My Thoughts 
In Bed With A Highlander is the first in the series and I would have to say my absolute favorite book in the trilogy. I normally don’t read many books from Maya Banks but I am so glad that I picked this trilogy up….definitely well worth the reading and and I just have the greatest weakness for Highland romances, but I would say this book is at the top of the list. I just loved how feisty Mairin was in the book and how Ewan could be so hilarious in his stubborn and protective nature. There were so many instances throughout the novel here that I just laughed harder than I have in a long time. The story plot was so full of surprises and twists and turns that almost could make one’s head spin. There was such substance and a sense of fun throughout the plot and the characters. The romance and the love scenes were definitely at the top and full of heat and sensuality. I absolutely loved In Bed With A Highlander and one I would recommend to anyone that enjoys a romance that is full of delight and beautiful and tender scenes that will pull at the strings of your heart.

My Favorite Quote 
“Nay, I will not. You cannot order me to trust you. Why, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” He sensed she was warming up for a full length diatribe, so he did the one thing he knew would silence her. He rapidly closed the distance between them, curled his hands around her upper arms, and hauled her upward. His lips found hers in a heated rush, her gasp of outrage swallowed up by his mouth. She was soft all over, and she fit him like his sword fit his hand. Perfectly.

My Grade On This Book 
5  Blossoms

Other Books  In The Series 
Seduction Of A Highland Lass
Never Love A Highlander

Book Review-Never Love A Highlander

Never Love A Highlander
McCabe Trilogy (3)
Maya Banks
Ballentine Books
Paperback
Published November 2011
305 Pages
Scottish Highlands Romance
ISBN: 978-0-345-51951-1

Synopsis
In a tale of strong ties and true love, Maya Banks’s trilogy comes to its stunning conclusion, as the youngest McCabe brother uses sword and seduction to save his clan—and seal his heart.
Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother’s jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father’s power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen’s touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna’s true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife’s love is too precious to lose.

MY REVIEW
Summary:
Caelen, volunteers to marry in place of his brother, to Fionna the daughter of the Laird of the McDonald Clan. Caelen, even though he once was burned and doesn’t try any woman, is captivated by his new wife. At first he tries to seperate himself from her and put restrictions on her and their marriage, however when he really lets himself see the real Fionna and finds that he starting to fall in love with the one woman that matches him in every way.  But then a danger starts to creep up on them, one that only with their love for each other will they be able to defeat those enemies that only wish to destroy them both.

The Hero (Caelen McCabe)
Caelen, is the youngest out of his brothers and has always blamed himself for what happened to his father and the betrayal of his clan. Caelen is a talented and magnificent warrior, and he knows he has a big task ahead of him to get the McDonald clan ready for the battle ahead of them, only he never imagined the hardship his new wife would cause for him yet he can’t deny the love he feels for her.

The Heroine (Rionna McDonald)
Rionna, is the only child of her parents, and is ashamed of her parents especially her father. Rionna lost her closest friend when she was young, and feared her father so she decided to dress like a man and learn how to fight and defend herself but when she marries Caelen he seems to want to change who she is and all she desires is for Caelen to respect and love her for the woman she truly is. However as danger closes in, Rionna and Caelen draw closer together and as they work together to save their clan and those they love, she starts to fall in love with her husband…

My Thoughts 
Never Love A Highlander is the third installment in the series and I think I almost loved this one as much as the previous book in the series. I just found Caelen so loveable and endearing even though he has a tough exterior on the outside there is a vulnerability in him that just charms this reader. Fionna is precious and has both a gentle side and a side of a warrior princess to protect all those that she loves. They both have pasts that are full of pain and loss however they both need love more than anything, and as events escalate between them so does a passion build until it explodes….I just loved this one, and I loved seeing the interaction between Fionna and Caelen and how there were moments full of wit and humor and there were also moments that will definitely make you cry if you find yourself lost in the story. Never Love A Highlander is full of passionate love scenes, a strong plot, a tender and fierce romance story, and full of everything one needs for a good and strong romance novel.

My Grade On This Book 
4.5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
In Bed With A Highlander

Book Review- Seduction Of A Highland Lass

Seduction Of A Highland Lass
McCabe Trilogy (2)
Maya Banks
Ballantine Books
Paperback
Published October 2011
323 Pages
Scottish Highlands Historical
ISBN 978-0-345-51949-8

 Synopsis
Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.

An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?

MY REVIEW
Summary:
Alaric knows that he has a duty and honor to his clan and in order to futhur their protection he must marry Rionna McDonald and become their laird and secure their future. On his way to the McDonald land, he and his men are attacked and he barely manages to escape and is later found gravely injured by Keeley McDonald who has been kicked out of her clan and lives in a small cottage on the outskirts. When Keely finds an injured stranger she endeavors to save his life, a stirring passion builds between them. However with Alaric’s impending marriage and his duty to his clan and despite the love he feels for Keeley he knows he has an obligation to his family no matter the cost but sometimes love gets in the way of duty and honor.

The Hero (Alaric McCabe)
Alaric, is a fierce warrior and very loyal to his family and to his clan. When he lost his father when his brother was betrayed, both Alaric and his brother have been determined to build up their clan again and make sure everyone will be protected and care for…he knows his duty to marry and knows that everything depends on the union and even though he has fallen in love with Keeley whose warm and loving spirit has unlocked his heart, he feels divided by love and duty.

The Heroine (Keeley McDonald )
Keeley, grew up as best friend to the daughter of the Laird of the McDonald clan…Fionna. However when she was just starting to grow into womanhood, the Laird tried forcing himself on her and his wife cast her out as a whore and has been on her own ever since, innocent but knowledgable in the healing arts. When she sees Alaric, she is captivated by his eyes and his strong and muscled body and when she ends up on McCabe land, and finds a home and people to cherish and love she knows she could never be truly happy unless she has Alaric by her side.

My Thoughts 
Seduction Of A Highland Lass is the first book that I have read by this author and I just was overwhelmed with this love story and how well written the story was, and I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with the characters, so vividly portrayed in this book I couldn’t put it down….it drew me so strongly in the story I couldn’t put it down until I had finished with the very last page….Even though its the second installment in the series I found I didn’t get too lost or anything with the plot and even though I really want to read the first one now….I am still thrilled that I found this one. Its been a while since I have read a book that totally captivated me and drew me so intensely into a romance that I felt like I was actually there.I really enjoyed the conflict that is presented in the story line, it definitely will bring a tear to your eyes and is very emotionally wrenching, and in some books it needs to be well presented and this one definitely was. I have no problem with this book….it was full of sensual love scenes, vividly painted characters, and a love story that will just bring out every tender emotion the reader possesses.

My Grade On This Book 
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
In Bed With A Highlander
Never Love A Highlander