Buddy Read: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks... Sunday Nov. 25th

[Angie Elle]

That would be good! I love compromising situations my historical reads.

[Regina]

So I am 60% in and loving it! I love the transformation of Eveline. Rorie is a great character. I also like that Graeme isn't uber experienced, much is new to him as well.

[Regina]

Wendy F wrote: "I'm so much busier than I anticpiated today, BUT I am reading! I'm about 20% in and it's really cute. I like the dynampic between Graeme and Eveline without her speaking. The way she communicate..."

I loved that scene too. :)

[Leea]

I liked how Graeme talke about sex in general. Seemed like he was following his instinct and not just his needs. I'm so glad you're enjoying this book as well.

[Regina]

Very true. I am not sure how authentic his thoughts were to being a man in general, but they are definitely ideal. :) His desire for intimacy especially.

[Gwennie]

I finished! It was really good! Man, there's nothing like a light Highlander romance to pull you out of your funk!

I loved the relationship between Graeme and Eveline. I loved how Graeme had experience but he wasn't big on just rushing around and tuppping for the sake of tupping. He wanted something deeper from sex. And loved how despite the rivalry between the families Eveline wasn't afraid of him. I LOVED that neither of them was trying to push the other away, which is something that happens a lot in romance novels. They were open to the love that was blossoming between them.

Regina, don't read this one! (view spoiler)[Sure there was the whole kidnapping, and the getting hit with the arrow, which has been done before. But overall I thought it was so sweet. I LOVED the last scene when Graeme was roaring how he loved her so that she could hear him. And then she roared back that she loved him too. It was made me grin in my seat (hide spoiler)]!

I really like Maya Banks, lol. I think she's up there with Catherine Coulter and Lisa Kleypas as one of my favorite historical romance authors.

And I can not wait for Bowen's book!

[Gwennie]

It's really hard to go back to Iced now, lol. I tried and it felt like torture.

[Regina]

Torture -- you are torturing me! Hahah. :D

I hear you. The last 30% is better.

[Kay]

Wendy....I loved your spoiler scene too! My heart tightened reading that!

[Angie Elle]

Wendy F wrote: "I finished! It was really good! Man, there's nothing like a light Highlander romance to pull you out of your funk!

I loved the relationship between Graeme and Eveline. I loved how Graeme had ex..."

Yes, that was a good scene!

(view spoiler)[I also loved it when the Armstrongs came riding up, and all Graeme could think was that the most important thing was getting his wife back--even if he had to crawl before her father on his hands and knees and humble himself. I think that part made me sigh. And then when he said that he wanted his wife back and he'd have her if it's the last thing he did. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwennie]

Hahaha, my heart tightened too! I'm going to do my review as soon as I'm caught up with work.

I honestly coundn't put it down. I think I was starved for something good to read.

Regina, SORRY! Hahaha. I dont' want to spoil anything for you. And thank god the last 30% is better. I'm at like 72%, (view spoiler)[Ryo and Barrons just got 'killed' and Dani is freaking out (hide spoiler)]. It's really hard to get into.

[Regina]

I think particularly for you Wendy (this is re Iced), since you just did a re-read you notice how much everything is a complete re-hash. I also find it really hard to accept that Barrons takes a backseat from Ryo and that is how those scenes are written.

[Leea]

I'm so glad everyone liked this book as much as me. It was so sweet to read them.

[Gwennie]

Regina wrote: "I think particularly for you Wendy (this is re Iced), since you just did a re-read you notice how much everything is a complete re-hash. I also find it really hard to accept that Barrons takes a ba..."

YES! I think there's even a part where Dani thinks that Ryo's being more civilized makes him more dangerous! I had a coronary! LMAO, I know I shouldn't be proud of how dangerous Barrons is, but f*ck it! NOBODY is more dangerous than Barrons. Barrons clearly looked at Ryo after the scene in the silvers and said "Of course I would win. I always win." Which is why he told him to bring a rocket launcher. Now I'm suddenly supposed to believe that Ryo is somehow more than Barrons. It's insulting.

Again, sorry for stealing the thread, but it gets me so heated to think of it. It's even more irritating after reading the Maya Banks book, because that was so enjoyable.

[Angie Elle]

I have to finish a book once I've started. I can't not finish it...even if it's in a pile for six months before I pick it up again.

Sometimes if I'm having a really hard time getting through a book, I'll pick one up that I know I love, and alternate books after a chapter. That way it goes quicker for me. Mabye that'll help you. There's nothing worse than knowing there's a book you want to finish and dreading reading it every time you pick it up.

[Lori]

Finished, too! I'm tearing through the McCabe trilogy now.

Wow, I'd been putting off the Maya Banks Highlanders books. Now I don't know WHY?

Loved Eveline and Graeme. I don't recall another storyline quite like Eveline's (her illness and deafness); I appreciated her dilemma with trying to keep her deafness a secret, hoping that it would improve over time. And then the situation with that horrid engagement! I'd have done the same thing!

Yes, there's some formulaic stuff here, but like Wendy says - it's GOOD to have a good romance to take you out of a funk! I especially love that Graeme enjoys kissing as much as anything else. That was really sweet.

I agree with the Rorie sentiment. I, too, was wondering if with all the bluster from her brothers if Rorie wouldn't end up with an Armstrong somewhere down the road. I really like her spunk - and her insistence on including Eveline in her reading/writing lessons.

Wonder where we'll go from here? I mean, sure, we've got Graeme's 2 brothers and Rorie and then 2 Armstrong brothers... without the feud between them, will it be them allied against other clans?

[Gwennie]

I think they'll be allied, which is awesome!

[Lori]

Wendy F wrote: "Regina wrote: "I think particularly for you Wendy (this is re Iced), since you just did a re-read you notice how much everything is a complete re-hash. I also find it really hard to accept that Bar..."

I know... this isn't the right thread, but.... I agree that an author has to tell her version and vision of a story, but it's tough for me to trust KMM with the rest of her stories now. I'm literally cringing at what might come next, despite wanting to see some things happen (view spoiler)[like Dani's conversation with Mac (hide spoiler)]. I just feel as if she's departed so far away from the Fever vision, and I just don't understand it. Why ruin and change so much of what her readers love about this world that she created? I guess KMM's gone through some drastic changes in her own life, so perhaps that's what's being reflected in her latest stories. But that doesn't mean I have to agree with her or like what she's written. I will NOT rush to get the next book. And I'll probably borrow it from the library before buying it. Just makes me sadly shake my head...

[Regina]

I agree Lori. I also seriously doubt (sorry if this sounds too negative, again re Iced) that there was a vision here -- it just doesn't feel like a vision, does it?

[Gwennie]

Angie, Yeah... it's hard for me to read something else in the middle of another book. This was rare for me, which should say a lot about how I'm feeling about Iced.

I'm honestly just trying to fly through the last 25%, even skimming a bit, just so I can put it behind me.

Lori, I'll still read them. I wish I hadn't purchased it in print. (If anyone wants it, let me know! hahaha.) I certainly won't make that mistake with the future Dani books. BUT, I will still read them because I don't want to miss anything that might happen that will afect the rest of the Mac/Barrons story.

I do agree though that I'm WORRIED what she'll do to that story. I'll be devestated if she ruins that story.

This book to me feels like... KMM's indulgence. Regina kind of touched on it before. She wrote about thinks maybe SHE likes (pushing the envelope in other books) and she just took it too far. It's author indulgence, and wasn't the best place to go in terms of her fans and the story.

BUT, I'm sure there are other fans who disagree with me. *shrug*

[Angie Elle]

Wendy F wrote: "Angie, Yeah... it's hard for me to read something else in the middle of another book. This was rare for me, which should say a lot about how I'm feeling about Iced.

I'm honestly just trying to fl..."

It's hard for me, too.

My friend read 'Paradise' by Judith McNaught because I asked her to, but insisted I read 'I Know This Much Is True' by Wally Lamb. Though the book was OK, I had to switch to something I really loved every once in a while to make it through. The book was good...it just wasn't a romance!

[Leea]

I LOVED, I know this much is True... It's not a romance, that's for sure. haha!

[Gwennie]

It's one that I haven't had the feeling in me to read. I've heard it's good but I'm hesitant.

[Regina]

I loved this book -- so fun! I finished last night. Thanks for starting this buddy read. :)

[Leea]

It made me wonder if we should bring back the group reads?

[Regina]

I loved this one. :) My life is so erratic, so don't count on me but I do love jumping in on them. This one was perfect for me, b/c I wanted to read the book. I tend not to pariticipate if I don't want to read the book (sorry!)

[Jen (at last!)]

I finished this last night and I LOVED it! I loved both Graeme and Eveline so much. I teared up and actually cried in so many parts of this book. I also loved the Montgomery siblings. Can't wait to read more about them.

Wendy, I agree with your comment on Graeme. I loved that about him, too. It was nice for a change that (view spoiler)[ he wasn't very experienced and that he wanted it to be pleasurable for her, too. I also liked that , in the beginning, when he thought he wouldn't have a true marriage to her that he even said he wouldn't take a mistress. Shows character. (hide spoiler)]

Evenline was such an amazing character. She was so sweet, strong, and feisty. Loved how she communitcated despite everything.

I loved the end, too! (view spoiler)[When he roared that he loved her and she roared back. I grinned like a fool. (hide spoiler)]They are a well matched pair. Hope to read more about them in Bowen's story.

[Regina]

That was sweet. I really enjoyed how the famlies came together. I also appreciated that she made the transition for Eveline a struggle and the clan's acceptance of her a struggle. It only makes sense that it would be hard to accept her.

[Angie Elle]

Are we going to do a buddy read for the second Julie James book?

[Leea]

Yeah, maybe later next week. For the Julia James #2 book. We'll us this thread.

[Marcella]

Hello ladies! I just finished the book and all I can say is wow. This is one of my all time favorite Highlander books and I am beyond upset that I have to wait until next spring to read Bowen's book.

There is so much I loved about this book I honestly do not know where to begin. From the beginining I was drwan to this book. I thought the author brought a very interesting twist to the story by having the female lead deaf. Such a unique take in a book and also very daring I might add. So much could have gone wrong with this storyline. However, from start to finish the book was riveting and it just captured my attention.

I admired Eveline's bravery. A lesser woman would have fallen apart facing what she faced...from her hearing loss, forced to marry a man she doesn't know, leaving her family and the safety of her home and dealing with the ridicule of an enemy clan.

I felt so bad for the the Montgomery women treated her. I wanted to beat the ever loving hell out of those bitches. What stunned me was that they didn't cut her any slack even after they saw how she was busting her ass cleaning and never complaining. She did all that was asked of her and she never uttered one word or backed down. Joke or not, once Nora saw this she should have respected Eveline for that and given her credit for it. Bitches!!

[Leea]

I'm do glad you enjoyed it!

Now you'll have to read her McCabe trilogy.

[Gwennie]

Well, that was around the time that Nora started to feel bad so I think it did get through to at least one.

And what I loved was that Eveline went through all of that, the hearing loss, the marriage, the first betrothal, and the ridicule... and it would have been very easy to have her react like so many heroines in other books might have, but Eveline almost never lost her gumption and courage. She just kept pushing back. It was great.

[Regina]

I agree! I also understood why people were reacting this way. Their entire existance (both clans really) had been built around hating the other clan and warfare. Their Laird had been killed by the Laird of the other clan. I hate prejudice and deal with it a lot in my personal life, but I liked how Banks showed that one tiny action (the marriage) that may benefit one person (the Laird) doesn't immediately change how others around them think/feel when it is so ingrained. But at the same time, Banks demonstrated the true depth of unfairness that prejudice and stereotype plays. We got to see how it effect Eveline. I would have still respected Eveline and loved her even if she didn't go through all that crap, she didn't deserve that.

[Marcella]

Leea wrote: "I'm do glad you enjoyed it!

Now you'll have to read her McCabe trilogy."

If it is anything like this one, I am in. I really liked her writing.

[Marcella]

I agree with all your points ladies. I understand that type of hatred, especially one that has grown over years but at the same time, given the time period, women didn't really have control and/or a say in the goings on in a family so you can't hold a woman accountable for the actions of her family.

I fell in love with Graeme the moment he made that point. He knew pretty much that he would naver have an heir and how that would effect his clan, but he made the most of the situation and still treated Eveline with nothing but respect. That is admirable.

[Marcella]

Oh and is it just me or was this story the Highlander version of the Hatfield and McCoys? Ha ha!

[Angie Elle]

Marcella wrote: "Oh and is it just me or was this story the Highlander version of the Hatfield and McCoys? Ha ha!"

Yes, it definitely was!

This was my first Maya Banks books, but it catapulted her to the top of my autobuy list! For her historicals, anyway.

[Marcella]

Thanks Angie! That is good to know. I just loved the book I read from start to finish.

[Angie Elle]

Marcella wrote: "Thanks Angie! That is good to know. I just loved the book I read from start to finish."

No problem! I'm on the second in the McCabe trilogy now, and it's so good!

[Regina]

Marcella, I just charged through the first trilogy too (McCabe), it was very fun. I think you will like it.

[Marcella]

I may just have to read the trilogy. This book got me on a Highlander kick.

[Regina]

The McCabe trilogy got me on a highlander kick. I read 5 highlander books back to back!

[Marcella]

I just need to get the books now. I have been trying to figure out what to read next.

[Regina]

My favorite highlander books so far are these:

[Angie Elle]

Marcella wrote: "I just need to get the books now. I have been trying to figure out what to read next."

You won't regret it! The first one was so great. I'm going to pimp them to every reader I know.

[Leea]

If you haven read Pamela Clare... You must. So amazing!! Plus she still has a few books left in the Ranges series to write.

[Regina]

And I call them Highlander books b/c the charactrers' tie to the highlands is so important. ;)

[Leea]

Yeah, the macKinnan rangers are set in America and her books are so well researched. Even the idea of the rangers is something she did a ton of research. I cannot wait for book 4 :)

[Lori]

I ripped through the McCabe trilogy... it was good, but somehow not as good as Never Seduce A Scot. Was it just me, or did the series seem as though it could have had more books? And lots of parallels between those 3 stories and this one.

But good stuff.

I'm hoping for even more from this "new" series. I suppose if you lock yourself in, as an author, to a trilogy, it doesn't matter how many more books you think you can get from it - you're done.

Loved so much about this book! I see Hatfield and McCoys, but I also saw Montague and Capulets - my love of the Bard, I guess!

But both Eveline and Graeme had that extra "something" within them to be able to overcome the prejudice, realizing that individuals often aren't responsible for the whole. And it's interesting that the reason for the feud is unknown; oh, I get that Graeme's clan has reason to hate the Armstrongs for the death of Graeme's father and the treatment of his 1st wife.

The 1st wife... while the story mentions that Graeme and she grew up together and all, it seems as if Graeme hasn't really been IN LOVE before Eveline. I found that a little sad... and strange that there were no comparisons in Graeme's mind or his clans as to Eveline and his 1st wife. That inevitably happens.

Anyone else find that strange?