Historical Romance Book Club discussion
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In Bed with a Highlander
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BOTM 2 - February 2022 - In Bed with a Highlander
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This was a re read for me. I enjoyed it the second time around. I gave it 4 stars. This is an action packed story with lots of political intrigue lies and deceit. The love story almost plays a minor role in this book. The banter between the H and h is entertaining and humorous. It is the first book in the trilogy. One story for each of the McCabe brothers; Ewan, Alaric and Caelen. Here is my goodreads review:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Thanks Missy.
I am so excited to read this one! It has been on my TBR shelf for 12 years. I have a bad habit of buy books with the intention of reading them soon but then years go by (I think many readers have this problem); However, I do eventually read them!
I've read this book so many times. So I won't be joining in. I hope everybody enjoys the book!
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12 years! It sounds like it’s time :) .. glad you are excited!
Ive never read thus one so im going to try and squeeze this one in too.
Excited to read it, started today. I am on Ch 4.God the ordeal this woman goes through!
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However, I think most readers will really enjoy this, and I will focus on the positives:
- it certainly has a lot of action, as Lady Nilambari has stated above - the heroine goes through many ordeals (more to come LN) and the action never lets up
- I found the plot interesting
- the romance was plausible, the H and h were likeable and the cast of characters interesting. I can imagine that many readers will be keen to read the rest of the series (even if I don't)
Some minor niggles:
- the heroine kept voicing her thoughts out loud. It was conveyed in an odd way by the author and I think it was supposed to be funny (and sometimes it was) - however it made me think the heroine was an idiot... I was glad when I noticed that it had stopped.
-I think one of the reasons I do not like medieval plots is that the heroine is usually very young - and while we never know her age, I think is also the case here. I do enjoy a more mature heroine.
- Finally, the heroine had spent a large portion of her life in a nunnery, and was very young, however within days she was able to run a whole keep and clan, albeit with some mishaps, but really????
Sandra, I do agree with you. Mairin is an idiot not just by not knowing she's voicing ger thoughts but some of her actions too. Overall, for me the bk barely inched to 3 stars. There's minimal plot development, only multiple incidents giving us a look into their lives. And then spurts of activity.For a clan that's supposed to be so protective of themselves, all their attacks go unexplained, not the who but the how. Ewan, really wasn't very endearing. He was arrogant and so chauvinistic. and since both Alaric and Caelen aren't portrayed so, the medieval times does.not excuse him.
Duncan Cameron just comes and goes and pretty much has no scope.
however I really liked how the women were portrayed-Maddie and Gerrie.
Crispin and Mairin's relationship is touching.
I'm looking forward to Alaric's and Caelen's hea.
Rating: 2.5 maybe 2.75
Im.keen on reading Alaruc's hea but it's got such poor reviews and I'm saddened by it.I really liked the guy.
Just finished, hmmm I did not like it all that much! 2:00 am is far too late for me to process it…
its just so anticlimactic isn't it?? I really had expected a raging war from.whence Ewan emerges victorious and is engulfed into his loving family 's arms. Well so much for expectations p)
Leena wrote: "its just so anticlimactic isn't it?? I really had expected a raging war from.whence Ewan emerges victorious and is engulfed into his loving family 's arms. Well so much for expectations p)"You nailed it on the head - anticlimactic, indeed. I am struggling on what to make of this book.
Finally, I managed to gather my thoughts on this, and I have shamelessly plagiarized some points put forth by Leena and Susan.A link to my review -
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
nothing shameful about it I've done the same a couple of times.
it's how someone else always says it so much better ..
Leena wrote: "nothing shameful about it I've done the same a couple of times."That's heartening :D
Good review Lady Nilambari! Good detailed coverage. I thought this one had its moments and at times I enjoyed it. It was diverting. I appreciate all the comments on the ending -helped me realize I had expected more. But, on the whole, I didn't mind the family resolution.
There were parts in the middle that reminded me of older Garwood historicals (which I love), but I didn't get as drawn in to this as with those. Just not the same level of charm (?) I guess.
Lady Nilambari wrote: "Excited to read it, started today. I am on Ch 4.God the ordeal this woman goes through!"
OMG. Ikr!
Loved the quotes..."Tis truth you’ve no skill at loving, and ’tis obvious I’ve none as well.”
“No skill? His mouth closed then fell open and then he snapped it shut with the force of his incredulity. She shrugged. “ ’Tis a well-known fact that a man is either skilled in matters of loving or matters of war. ’Tis obvious that fighting is your skill.” Ewan winced.”
“Tisn’t decent, surely!” Bertha rolled her eyes and Maddie laughed. “There’s little decency to good loving,” Maddie said sagely. “If ’tis decent, it isn’t much fun.” Bertha nodded, her lips compressed as her head bobbed up and down. “Nothing wrong with a nice, dirty romp.”
I struggled to even finish this book and had to keep myself from skimming to the end. :(Ewan was a pretty generic pushy, bossy, possessive laird/hero who howled and bellowed all the time. Mairin was all over the place... sometimes funny, clever and stubborn, other times ridiculously sheltered, meek and TSTL. Even the author couldn't seem to decide just how sheltered she was:
"Laird Cameron. She'd heard talk of him from the soldiers who drifted in and out of the abbey."
"...she'd mended too many soldiers who'd crossed paths with him."
"She hadn't come into contact with many men in her lifetime. Only at an early age before she'd been taken to the abbey in the middle of the night and sequestered there for many years."
Which is iiiit??
The other thing that got on my nerves was the language. Characters could go on a half page monologue sounding very modern, and then at other times could not go five words without thusly, nay, and 'tising. Not to mention the many terms used that weren't even around yet (e.g. snuggle, weird, crazy, pretext, exasperate, cretin, vehemence.) I can and do definitely forgive one or two accidentally anachronistic words but it became a bit of a game for me to spot more.
I also agree with others that it was pretty anticlimactic after so much buildup with the drama. When it all came to a head, I feel like I didn't even have time to say "How on Earth will they get out of this mess?!" before they, in fact, got out of that mess.
All that being said, the highlight of the book for me was Crispen. And I'm a bit bummed I disliked it so much because the plots/tropes of the next two books are very much my jam (heroine nursing wounded warrior back to health, and badass warrior heroine).
Oh and... Last thing, I swear... About the McDonald betrothals... I really don't understand. (view spoiler)
Ok I'm done.
This book is just a nice fluff, nothing more nothing else.
Agree. I doubt I will continue with th series. Aside from the funny quotes, I got bored at tomes too.
Jenny, the vocabulary really got me too. was there a concept of a picnic then in those days? the women worked to their bones irrespective which country of religion they belonged / followed. I cannot imagine a single lady of those days to put things up and "enjoy a picnic". And them ogling the men??? isn't that supposed to be loose character?
I'm.tired of historicals that just skim through all the trials and tribulations women have gone through just to add in the spice and sex. I agree it's fiction and supposed to be sweet and hunky dory , but some authenticity will be appreciated.
I know its the end of the month but I am finally starting on this read. School and work have me so busy that it is difficult to find/make time to read. I am only 3 chapters in and have enjoyed the setup thus far. I can say decisively that Laird Cameron needs to die. Looking forward to reading the story and see how the story progresses.
all the best, Amber. hope you enjoy it
Amber wrote: "I know its the end of the month but I am finally starting on this read. School and work have me so busy that it is difficult to find/make time to read. I am only 3 chapters in and have enjoyed th..."
I finished reading this several weeks ago and forgot to post my thoughts. I enjoyed the read but was a little disappointed that Laird Cameron wasn't run through with a claymore by the end. So much happened to poor Mairin, she is kidnapped multiple times, beat to within an inch of her life, shot with an arrow, poisoned, punched, slapped, backhanded, and stabbed, all within this 351 page book. Wow! And she survived everything! She is a true Bad Ass!!
Happy Reading!
In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks
Synopsis:
Maya Banks' 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.