Having read and loved books from Maya Banks, I started this book with high hopes. All the raving reviews only elevated my expectations higher.

Maybe that is why I was disappointed.

I still like Maya Bank's writing and find it a joy to follow her proses. But this book has a superficiality that I cannot ignore. The repeated "I love yous" got on my nerves too. At one point I wanted to roll my eyes at either Mairin or Ewan. The child in me wanted to yell: OK OK I know you love her and she loves you and everybody loves everybody, then why the hell am I reading your story? Shouldn't the story have ended 100 pages ago?

Mairin is one of those covent-raised heiress who is supposed to be pure and gentle. She is all that, only with a hint of naivity that borders on stupidity. Ewan is another highlander who is usually full of lust. Nothing spetacular about him. I did not find the plot very interesting either. It was a rather unenthusiastic read.

I am giving 3 stars because of Maya Bank. As I said, I do enjoy her writing and style and will continue to read her other books. I hope to see characters who are more developled than Mairin and Ewan, who throw I love you as if it was some magic spell and engage in sexual activities as if there was no tomorrow.

These heroines do more than wear pants and disguise themselves as boys. They chafe at gender restrictions and do what needs to be done. 

 

Dirt in the Skirt Ladies! 

 

My favorite Historical Romance Tomboy Heroines in noparticular order. 

 

1. Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath, Loree

2. Surrender by Amanda Quick, Victoria Huntington

3. The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ullrick

4. The Protector by Madeline Hunter,  Anna de Leon

5. Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne, Low Down

6. Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks, Rionna

7. Love In The Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas, Beatrix Hathaway 

8. Fern by Leigh Greenwood, Fern Sproull

9. Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh, Freyja Bedwyn

10. Robber Bride by Deborah Simmons, Bethia

 

Do you have a favorite Historical Tomboy that I didn't mention? Let me know!

 

Vote for the best of the best on the Goodreads list: Best Historical Romance Tomboy Heroines.

 

To see recommendations from all genres of Romance and some amazing Tomboys, check out my Pinterest Board: Tomboys in Romance Novels.

 

Opening Line: “Alaric McCabe looked out over the expanse of McCabe land and grappled with the indecision plaguing him.”

Whoa, hello sexy Highland Warriors. I guess I should have listened to all the rave reviews; I’m sorry now I waited so long to discover this series.

This is the second book from the McCabe brothers trilogy and what an epic love story it turned out to be. I’ll be honest, it took me a bit to get into the story but Alaric and Keeley grew on me as did Banks’ particular take on historical Scotland, so that that by the end I found myself ensnared by these lovers who face impossible odds in claiming their HEA. Yeah the ending left me kinda breathless actually; exciting, heartbreaking, and surprising

Centering on middle brother Alaric we join him on his way to meet his betrothed. His is not to be a marriage of love, Alaric is marrying out of a sense of duty, family and to bring an alliance to the McDonald and McCabe clans and because the King demands it. So it’s fair to say there is a lot riding on this union. In the midst of his journey Alaric and his warriors are attacked and he is gravely injured. Managing to escape, his horse conveniently deposits him near the cottage of a healer.

Keeley McDonald lives alone after being banished by her people (the whys are pretty harsh and expanded upon throughout the story) Anyways, Keeley is handy with the ole herb which is lucky for our fallen Highlander. Getting the warrior’s bulk into her small cottage is no easy task but she is swiftly drawn to him and the wicked glint in his green eyes as she begins to care for his injuries and nurse him back to health.

In time his (equally sexy) brothers locate Alaric and then essentially kidnap Keeley so that she can care for him back on McCabe land as well as serve as midwife for the birth of Ewan and Mairin’s (In Bed With A Highlander) upcoming child. It’s not all bad as they offer her a position within their clan.

Back at the McCabe castle Alaric and Keeley are having trouble keeping their hands off each other and finally just abandon any pretenses and go for it. They both know that there is to be no future for them as Alaric is promised to another but for the time they have they’re going to create memories that will last forever. And because this is Maya Banks boy do they ever! The sex scenes are plentiful and even a bit naughty!

So this is where their love story really started to grow on me, as their time together neared an end and each moment became precious. How will they say goodbye? How can Keeley watch while he marries another? I honestly wondered how these two were going to get their HEA and then tragedy struck and a big twist that totally made sense and set up the next book beautifully. Oh the ending is just so good.

I had put off reading this series for quite a while because I just couldn’t come to terms with the author of (Colter's Woman) being able to write a decent historical Scottish romance. (That book may have just scared me for life) I’m very glad I gave this a go because Banks surprised me here.

Earlier I mentioned Banks’ particular take on medieval Scotland, she has written this in modern English. Sure we get a few “Aye’s” and lassies, lochs and lairds, tankards of ale and even descriptions of how ‘things’ are about to burst out of trews but this has been written for the masses. It’s also vague on setting and time period which usually bothers me (i.e. not much research went into this) yet somehow it still worked and I can’t wait to continue on with Caelen’s story in (Never Love A Highlander)

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I just couldn't connect with the characters or should I say whats her name... Mairin. 

This started out really strong. Mairin is smart, strong and unbendable and has a wonderful and beautiful heart. Then once she meets Ewan McCabe she turns into a helpless and ignorant woman. 



One of the most annoying things about Mairin was that sheconstantly has diarrhea of the mouth. Her internal dialogue was never internal and when people would answer her she would chastise herself and say that shes really needs to stop that. 



It seemed like everyone in the McCabe clan was calling Mairin "daft". Well, I really think she was. I get that she needed to establish herself as Mistress but don't threaten to cut a horse in half in an attempt to solve a dispute over a horse. Then fire the stable master. I know what she was doing with the horse butcome on, its your first day. You should be trying to make friends and not act like a high and might bossy bitch! 

Lets not forget the I'm a tough girl but too stupid to know betteract. UGG! Okay, let me throw this out to you... I'm paraphrasing here, not quoting... You've just been shot with an arrow and may not realize it right away because of the excitement going on around you and the adrenaline rush. So after you insult your husband and his entire clan you start walking away. With a pain in your side and someone saying you've been shot... You act like nothing is wrong but know you're hurt and then act like your drunk. Its just so ridiculous! You've been shot and its not even that bad and you act like a complete idiot. It's completely unbelievable that she doesn't know whats going on. 



Its get worse from here. All Mairin does is go around pissing people off. Of course I'm not excusing Heath's actions but when I read this particular scene all I could see in my head wast this... 



The only redeemable part in this book is the last 20%. This was the most exciting but anticlimactic part of the book. This is the only reason why Im giving this book 2.5 stars and rounding up. This part was exciting, suspenseful and Mairin didn't got on my nerves as much. 

I know I just ranted bout Mairin but now I'm done with her. 

I did LOVE the rest of the characters in the book. I loved Ewan and all his brothers. The entire clan is awesome and I'm looking forward to reading more about them. 

Overall, this was just an ok read for me. The sex was lackluster and boring. I found myself daydreaming and didn't go back to reread the scene. I just wanted to get through it. I did really enjoy the ending of the book and all the characters in the book except the heroine. I will continue with this series but maybe at a later date.

I had an image of whatsername from Brave rather frequently while reading this. I think it started during the wedding when she informed him that she'd be seeing to her own protection.

 

For all that Caelen castigated himself though for trying to change her, he didn't really do very much. Oh, he did an attempt just before she got attacked - and her telling him off a week later (after unnerving him by hiding in their room for a week), and he did come down pretty hard on her when he found out she was knocked up (well, she fainted on him. She didn't know either so…). In any case, she rescued him so…

 

I would say the bad guy's reasoning was rather… ok, that was so long ago, and really, did it actually happen that way or was that a child's impression?