Book Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Title: Highlander Most Wanted (Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher:Random House Publishing Group
Publication Date: March 19, 2013

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads

In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

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 other 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 or 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 that longs 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 her 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.

My Thoughts:

This story was heartbreaking. What Genevieve went through was absolute hell and the ridicule and torment she endured even from those who also feared Ian was just as horrifying as what he did to her. Not only did no one ever stand up for her, but they blamed her. I wanted to shout, scream, and defend Genevieve against those who would do her harm. I wanted to rail against the injustice of it all. And I wanted her deceased captor and torturer to be killed all over again, only this time, slowly. When an author can bring out that kind of emotion you know she is doing something right.

Bowen's protection of Genevieve was beautiful. He promised to be there for her and he was. He listened to her when she needed to talk and he stood up for her to his brothers. When they separated I thought my heart would truly break. I was as miserable as Bowen was. What he was willing to sacrifice for her well-being was  touching and I loved how it contrasted with the protective, alpha Highlander that he was. He wanted her, he loved her, but he also wanted her to heal.

And the ending...I just need to ask how is it that Ms. Banks always makes me cry in these Highlander romances?! I'm never like this when I read a contemporary (at least not that I can remember) but somehow she is able to bring forth such raw emotion in her highlanders! It's freakin awesome though I had to tell my inquiring nephew that "no, I wasn't crying at your little league game. I had something in my eye." (Just a little white lie to save face in front of his baseball team...)

This series is really well written and I love exploring both families in this series. I am really hoping that this explores all the Brothers' Montgomery and Armstrong because I would love to see them all find happiness. I hope we see more of Talie and Brodie especially! The next book I think is out in September of 2013 according to the author's website though GR has 2014 as a release date. I am really, really hoping for September of 2013 though! This is definitely a series that, for me, is on my "re-reads" shelf of my Nook.

*This book was a self-purchase and I was not in any way compensated for, or even asked, to review this book. All opinions are my own*

Book Review: Never Seduce A Scot by Maya Banks

Title: Never Seduce A Scot
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: Sept. 25, 2012

Ah. A highlander romance. Nothing better when it's freezing cold outside and I need something to warm me up. But even better than that? A highlander romance where the author takes the story in a different direction and has me wishing the book never ends.

From Goodreads:

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.

My thoughts:

I read this book over a week ago but I already think I need to do a re-read. It is so, so good. It is a story of love but even more than that is a story of forgiveness. Of two enemy families putting aside their differences (which were huge) and coming together for the sake of the woman they both love. I know that the second book focusing on Bowen is coming out March 19th and I cannot wait.

Let's start with the heroine. Eveline is deaf. No one knows she can't hear. She has learned to read lips and the fact that people think she is "touched" has saved her from a horrible arranged marriage to a very, very bad man. When the King orders her to marry the Laird of an enemy clan she is terrified, but knows she must in order to help her own clan. She resolves to be strong. And a part of her seems happy because she might get to experience the things a normal woman does-marriage and having children. 

And then there is Graeme. Oh he was such a hard man. In so many ways. *snickers* Okay, I will try to be serious here. Graeme was so freaking great. The first time he meets Eveline...I nearly melted. The man was so sweet and so gentle with Eveline. He never blamed her for the feud between their families, or treated her badly. And the part where, when they get to his keep and he brings her (and her things) to her room and then leaves?!  Eveline's reaction is freaking priceless. 

My heart broke several times at the way Eveline struggled for acceptance with Graeme's clan. To those arrogant jerks, not only was she "touched" but she also was the daughter from an enemy clan. She did not have an easy road. And I think I would have given up. But she did what she had to, working her butt off, working towards acceptance from them and wanting them to like her the way Graeme did. (Well, not like her that way exactly, but like her for who she was, not what clan she came from).   

Without giving too much away I just need to say that, the part where tragedy strikes, I was flailing all over the place. I don't think I took a breath when Eveline went all Mama-Bear, protecting Graeme with every ounce of energy she had.  In regards to that evil woman in the book (I won't reveal who she is for those haven't read it), Graeme went easy on her for what she did. And when he dealt with the bad guy (again, won't say who!), just know that I was cheering like the Graeme fan-girl that I am. 

Bottom line, Maya Banks writes a stand out Highlander romance and I will definitely be checking out the rest in this series as well as her other highlander romances. If I could beg her to do one thing it would be to never stop writing these.  

The book is available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and probably at other retailers as well. (I only gave the link to the first two. If people want links to other stores in my reviews, let me know in the comments!)

*This book was a self-purchase and I was not in any way compensated for, or even asked, to review this book. All opinions are my own*