Helpful Score: 3
This is a wonderfully exciting conclusion to one of the best, if not the best, highlander series I've ever read. Caelen and Rionna's romance was, of course, based on sex at first, but by the end of the story there was enough romance that would make the genre lovers sigh in heartfelt contentment. Sure there were the requisite misunderstandings and personality conflicts, but it was the talented writing of Maya Banks that made it all sound fresh again. The plot was quick and the final battle scene, along with the events leading up to it, were thrilling especially since the warrior princess was an integral player in it. In fact, Rionna reminded me of Eowyn in the Return of the King movie. I'm also glad the series was published in quick succession, making all the family members fresh in our minds for an extra satisfying read. Highly recommended, in fact, the whole series is. Don't miss it. 4.5 stars.
Helpful Score: 3
Never Love a Highlander is an exciting, fast paced romantic read from Maya Banks. The conclusion of the McCabe trilogy, this book centers around Rionna McDonald and Caelen McCabe. On two occasions Rionna was supposed to marry one of the McCabes until destiny stepped in and both Alaraic and Ewan found love with other women. Now, in a last ditch effort to bind the McCabe clan with the McDonald clan, Caelen has stepped in to marry Rionna. Rionna is a spirited woman who loves swordplay, dresses like a man and binds her bountiful breasts. Caelen is a loving person who hides his gentle soul behind a gruff mask. Having been betrayed in the past by a woman, he is determined never to love and trust again. As Rionna fights to win her husband's heart, dangerous forces are at work in an effort to bring down the McCabes. A wonderul love story.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved it!! I could not put it down. Maya Banks has a way of sucking you into the story and not letting go.
Caelen was not the brother Rionna was supposed to marry. After Aleric found his true love, Caelen was the only brother left to unite their kingdoms by wedding Rionna. Caelen had sworn to give no woman his heart. He was grumpy, pushy, and bossy, so how was Rionna going to prove her loyalty and love?? Their marriage would be a battle of wills.
Caelen was not the brother Rionna was supposed to marry. After Aleric found his true love, Caelen was the only brother left to unite their kingdoms by wedding Rionna. Caelen had sworn to give no woman his heart. He was grumpy, pushy, and bossy, so how was Rionna going to prove her loyalty and love?? Their marriage would be a battle of wills.
it's another book that flew through my hands! i could not put it down! loved all 3 of the McCabe books!
Very good story. Love and romance, acceptance, and a happy ending.
If you love the Scottish/Highland stories, you will love this one and its two pre-runners. Maya Banks writes a good Historical Romance story. Read it.
A wonderful ending to this series, and another great book by Maya Banks. This series is the first I've read of hers, and I loved them all. This one was not my favorite of the three, but still a really good read. I'm not sure why, but I didn't seem to connect as much with Caelen as I did with his brothers. I don't think we got a good feel for how he felt about Rionna until the end. I also would have liked a better ending to the villain of the series. He was despicable and really needed a more fitting ending, in my opinion.
This was the first book I have ever read by Banks and I will definitely go back to read the other two in the series. Even though I didnt read them first, it wasnt that hard to follow this book.
I absolutely loved Rionna. She was such a great survivor. Caelen was such an idiot in the beginning that you had to feel for him. I also liked that Rionna didnt harp on the belief that Caelens heart belong to someone else. It was mentioned but it didnt make the story.
Good book. Look forward to reading another one by Banks.
I absolutely loved Rionna. She was such a great survivor. Caelen was such an idiot in the beginning that you had to feel for him. I also liked that Rionna didnt harp on the belief that Caelens heart belong to someone else. It was mentioned but it didnt make the story.
Good book. Look forward to reading another one by Banks.
Overall, Banks doesn't disappoint in this final edition of the McCabe Trilogy. Lots of action, interesting descriptions and plot twists/turns, and a few extremely creative love scenes (the scene in front of the fire? WOW!).
The bridge between contemporary erotica and historical/Highland romance is definitely a difficult one to merge. With a few hiccups (lines like "Aye, she was cute" just could have been written better, plain and simple), Banks delivers a sweeping story about these three Highland brothers and their ultimate destinies.
I really enjoyed Rionna's character much more than in the previous entries. I only wish she had been written more consistantly (physically strong and determined one minute, then a "helpless female" the next). I understand that this characterization was necessary for the storyline, but I just couldn't really buy into it. And the single chapter climax at the end just left me feeling 'blah.' Talk about anticlimactic (no pun intended). Plus I had a few unanswered questions at the end (what were Keeley's feelings when she nursed Rionna, what happened to the MacDonalds that deserted their clan, did the brothers claim Cameron's keep, etc).
All in all, a VERY entertaining (if not perfectly written) one-sitting read.
The bridge between contemporary erotica and historical/Highland romance is definitely a difficult one to merge. With a few hiccups (lines like "Aye, she was cute" just could have been written better, plain and simple), Banks delivers a sweeping story about these three Highland brothers and their ultimate destinies.
I really enjoyed Rionna's character much more than in the previous entries. I only wish she had been written more consistantly (physically strong and determined one minute, then a "helpless female" the next). I understand that this characterization was necessary for the storyline, but I just couldn't really buy into it. And the single chapter climax at the end just left me feeling 'blah.' Talk about anticlimactic (no pun intended). Plus I had a few unanswered questions at the end (what were Keeley's feelings when she nursed Rionna, what happened to the MacDonalds that deserted their clan, did the brothers claim Cameron's keep, etc).
All in all, a VERY entertaining (if not perfectly written) one-sitting read.
Another favorite.
