I adore reading historical romance novels, especially those of the Scottish variety, and I have absolutely loved every single book by Maya Banks that I have read so far. So when I found out she was writing a historical Scottish trilogy, that was a dream come true. Except, In Bed With A Highlander didn’t turn out to be the perfect book I had hoped it would be.
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.
While In Bed With A Highlander was a good story, it just wasn’t everything I had hoped it would be. The plot, while engaging, was really lacking in action. The villain made only a couple appearances and in between that he wasn’t an overt threat. The romance between Ewan and Mairin did sizzle, and that helped the plot from being completely lackluster, but I felt like the sexual tension between them wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
Mairian was a character I wanted to both cheer for and shake with frustration. Sometimes she would stand up for herself and not back down, but other times she would run away to cry. The conflicting actions made it harder for me as a reader to connect with her. Luckily Ewan was everything a Scottish warrior was supposed to be – ruggedly handsome, in-tune with his emotions enough that when he fell in love he was able to admit it to his brothers and a perfect lover.
Despite my issues with In Bed With A Highlander, I honestly did enjoy reading it. It may not have been everything I wanted but I do plan on reading the rest of the series.
Read Order:
In Bed With a Highlander
Seduction of a Highland Lass
Never Love a Highlander
Other Reviews: Jackie’s review on Literary Escapism, Book Addicts, Everybody Needs a Little Romance, Samsawesomeness, The Raunch Dilettante, Under the Covers