I don't know about you, but I'm starting to think that if you've read one highland romance you've read them all. I'm not knocking on Ms. Banks in particular, because she writes very well. There's just absolutely nothing new or special here. And I think I've read this same plotline in at least half a dozen romances: A pretty little Scottish heiress, hiding out from an evil chief/laird/lord who wants to force her into marriage to claim her lands, ends up in the hands of a rival, gruff yet good, chief/laird/lord who also wants her lands but likes her, too, and convinces her marriage to him is her best option. The heiress is a virgin and shocked on her wedding night, and therefore the requisite scenes of asking older women for bedroom advice follow. While the heiress learns how to please her man and tries to become mistress of the keep, chief/laird/lord discovers how difficult it is to protect the heiress from any number of dangers she continually walks into, and from the constant threat of evil chief/laird/lord trying to take her away. Stop me if you've heard this one before.

This is by no means a bad book. Ms. Banks' writing is neat and natural, the period detail is good, and the sex is hot. There's just really nothing original about it and I found myself getting bored. We get a little action and excitement toward the end, but overall I wasn't captivated. I've seen lots of glowing reviews for this one, though, and I can't help but think that some of these reviewers haven't read as many highland romances as I have, and thus weren't getting such a feeling of same old, same old. It certainly wouldn't be a bad introduction for someone who wants to try a highland romance. Interestingly, though, I did find that both of our chief/laird/lord's brothers came across as being much more intriguing to read about, and there's a nice set-up in place for book two in this series. I'll probably give it a try in the hopes that it's more entertaining.