I liked this one much more than the previous book. Genevieve was a wonderful heroine and Bowan a worthy hero. I only wish we got to find out what happened to all those bastards that treated her so atrociously. Drawn and quartered? Did they do that back then? They should have.

I liked the first book better than this one. The writing is good and I do think the story line is unusual. It is a little too rugged for me though, for the heroin to suffer such a fate. I also do not understand why the hero must make the decision that he made.
Obviously the book appeals to a lot of readers. I cannot say I felt connected to the story nor do I feel that light tug at my heart, which I usually do when I know the feelings ring true to me. But Maya Banks is not a bad writer to read. I would recommend it if you want a highland romance but do not expect it to be like the early Julie Garwood books/or are never impressed with Julie Garwood's stories.

I liked the story and the characters a lot, but it got annoying, how author stressed Genevieve's past suffering all the time. I understood the first time. She was held captive. Her kidnapper was a monster. She suffered horribly. Maya Banks didn't have to repeat it over and over and over again. I'm not simple-minded and my memory is still quite good. Every time I actually started to enjoy the story, the author went back to it. And mostly these weren't even Genevieve's memories she gave us. The author just said she had suffered and would never again be totally happy or well again.

This is the second in The Montgomerys and Armstrongs series by Maya Banks. I had read the first one, Never Seduce a Scot, last year and it was a fun book. I felt like another Highlander romance and borrowed this one from the library on my kindle (love technology). 

 

It takes place right after Never Seduce a Scot, in which the female lead had been kidnapped by a rival clan. They get her back but leave a company of the Montgomerys and Armstrongs to take control of the McHugh clan. The guy who had kidnapped her had been killed during the last book, but his father, the leader of the clan, had escaped. Bowen Montgomery struggles to gain control of the clan, of which some are still loyal to their laird. 

 

His job is complicated when he meets Genevieve McInnes. He had met her briefly when they went to save his brother's wife as she directed them where to look. However, she is not of the McHugh clan, and had been captured and imprisoned for over a year by the same man who had held his sister-in-law. Despite the clan knowing of this, they put the blame on her. 

 

It's a good book, but I think I preferred the first one more.  I will likely read the last in the series whenever it is eventually released. For whatever reason, the first book was released in 2012, this one in 2013, and the last one has been delayed from September 2013 until 2016????

I was struggling with this book so much!

I think it was partly my fault I didn't like this book more.

I think the "problem" was that I read this book right after I finished the first one, Never Seduce a Scott which I LOVED TOO MUCH and I was missing Graeme and Eveline so deeply that I couldn't relate to these new characters. I also felt uncomfortable "being" with the McHugh clan and I "wanted to go back" to the Montgomery's. I know, it sounds crazy! But I couldn't help it! I kept reading only because I was hoping Graeme would appear in the story at some point.

I was bored with the writing and the storyline. I think the author should have taken more risks because the story felt a little flat.

I didn't like the characters either, especially Genevieve. I think I didn't really learn who she was except for her abusive past. This may be the reason why the romance between her and Bowen felt unbelievable and rushed.

I liked Bowen in the first book a lot! But in this one, it was like he wasn't that strong warrior anymore! He was sulking and brooding through the whole book which frustrated me to no end!

I wish I could give this more stars!

** 2 stars **