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mariettula's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 playing doctor stars
I think this book is very similar to book 1 in the series, [b:In Bed with a Highlander|9962040|In Bed with a Highlander (McCabe Trilogy, #1)|Maya Banks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348705921l/9962040._SY75_.jpg|14855973], though it's been a while since I read that one. However, I think I liked book 1 better. I think it had to do more with Mairin's integration in the clan.
Keeley also faced similar issues and I did like the aspect that Alaric was supposed to marry another woman for his clan- it made for good heartache. Though I enjoyed both books, I think this writing style doesn't allow me to get close to the characters too much. So, yeah. A fun Scottish read.
I think this book is very similar to book 1 in the series, [b:In Bed with a Highlander|9962040|In Bed with a Highlander (McCabe Trilogy, #1)|Maya Banks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348705921l/9962040._SY75_.jpg|14855973], though it's been a while since I read that one. However, I think I liked book 1 better. I think it had to do more with Mairin's integration in the clan.
Keeley also faced similar issues and I did like the aspect that Alaric was supposed to marry another woman for his clan- it made for good heartache. Though I enjoyed both books, I think this writing style doesn't allow me to get close to the characters too much. So, yeah. A fun Scottish read.
spreadyourpages's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Nothing particularly remarkable about Alaric or Keeley and the plot was slow.
Content Warnings
Spice Level: 2
lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. I’m embarrassed that I read this. One step up (maybe) from Penthouse letters. On the other hand, I think that’s the point. Not like it pretends to be lofty literature or something. But still. Not my fav.
imreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Second in the McCabe Trilogy, an historical-romance series set in medieval Scotland around the three McCabe brothers.
My Take
This was much better than the first, In Bed with a Highlander. Actually, it made me cry a lot towards the end…sniff… The brothers are such alpha males but with such soft hearts and even though the ending was wayyyy too obvious, it was still an interesting method by which to resolve the who is marrying whom dilemma. With some interesting possibilities for Rionna in the next in the series, Never Love a Highlander.
The Story
The MacDonald wants an alliance with the McCabes to protect his clan from Cameron and Malcolm. An alliance of marriage between his daughter, Rionna, and the middle McCabe. Except, on his way to his betrothal, Alaric McCabe is ambushed and his men are killed. He manages to get away sorely wounded only to drop off his horse in front of a healer's hut. A healer, Keely, with whom he falls in love. A love forbidden by his own honor and political expediency.
Even more disastrous when Ewan kidnaps Keely after he and Caelen track their brother down.
The Characters
Keely formerly McDonald has survived these long years in the forest as a healer after being cast out from the McDonald clan.
Alaric McCabe knows his duty. He will marry Rionna McDonald to cement the alliance between his clan and hers. For it is only through this alliance that the other clans will join and ensure the defeat of the Camerons. And the safety of the McCabes.
Mairin and Ewan are happily awaiting their first child together — Crispin is looking forward to a younger brother…or sister.
Caelen. Well, Caelen is Caelen. Luckily for Keely, Mairin has already started the defrosting of this third McCabe brother.
Rionna McDonald is the McDonald's only heir. Whoever weds her will rule the Clan McDonald. Her husband will simply have to accept her preferences for battle and swordplay. Laird McDonald is a lecherous fool who has endeared himself to no one. I hate to think what part he plays in the next installment!
The Cover and Title
Well, the purple, black, and lavender plaid is nice. Still not the McCabe tartan. But you definitely get the idea with the naked couple lying on the sofa draped in the plaid. Too bad authors don't get much input on the covers… Hey, maybe it's a McDonald plaid??
The title seems accurate enough since Alaric is definitely involved in the Seduction of a Highland Lass.
My Take
This was much better than the first, In Bed with a Highlander. Actually, it made me cry a lot towards the end…sniff… The brothers are such alpha males but with such soft hearts and even though the ending was wayyyy too obvious, it was still an interesting method by which to resolve the who is marrying whom dilemma. With some interesting possibilities for Rionna in the next in the series, Never Love a Highlander.
The Story
The MacDonald wants an alliance with the McCabes to protect his clan from Cameron and Malcolm. An alliance of marriage between his daughter, Rionna, and the middle McCabe. Except, on his way to his betrothal, Alaric McCabe is ambushed and his men are killed. He manages to get away sorely wounded only to drop off his horse in front of a healer's hut. A healer, Keely, with whom he falls in love. A love forbidden by his own honor and political expediency.
Even more disastrous when Ewan kidnaps Keely after he and Caelen track their brother down.
The Characters
Keely formerly McDonald has survived these long years in the forest as a healer after being cast out from the McDonald clan.
Alaric McCabe knows his duty. He will marry Rionna McDonald to cement the alliance between his clan and hers. For it is only through this alliance that the other clans will join and ensure the defeat of the Camerons. And the safety of the McCabes.
Mairin and Ewan are happily awaiting their first child together — Crispin is looking forward to a younger brother…or sister.
Caelen. Well, Caelen is Caelen. Luckily for Keely, Mairin has already started the defrosting of this third McCabe brother.
Rionna McDonald is the McDonald's only heir. Whoever weds her will rule the Clan McDonald. Her husband will simply have to accept her preferences for battle and swordplay. Laird McDonald is a lecherous fool who has endeared himself to no one. I hate to think what part he plays in the next installment!
The Cover and Title
Well, the purple, black, and lavender plaid is nice. Still not the McCabe tartan. But you definitely get the idea with the naked couple lying on the sofa draped in the plaid. Too bad authors don't get much input on the covers… Hey, maybe it's a McDonald plaid??
The title seems accurate enough since Alaric is definitely involved in the Seduction of a Highland Lass.
agray210's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
meggie82461's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars, rounded ⬆️
Whoever said this is better than the first… is absolutely right. And I enjoyed the first just fine, but this one does pretty much everything better. The angst, the heroine, the character development… it is all superior.
Keeley is a wonderful heroine. She had been cast out by the McDonald clan at a young age, so she is living in a cottage alone when a seriously wounded Alaric storms into her life. She is a healer, so she nurses Alaric back to health. From the beginning, he is smitten, and though she puts up more of a fight, she is too. The problem? Alaric is to marry Rionna McDonald, and that union is extremely important to creating an alliance against the big bad of the trilogy, Duncan Cameron. So while it would be awesome for Alaric to say fuck it and run away with Keeley, it would also be disloyal to his clan, his king, and most importantly his brother, a man who has always done right by everyone, even at his own expense. And that is true; as much as I may roll my eyes at Ewan and his spontaneous hypocrisy, it is accurate that it is Alaric’s turn to sacrifice. And that isn’t even taking into account that a marriage to Rionna gives Alaric a chance to be laird of the McDonald’s, something he could never be as long as he is a McCabe. AND the alliance helps them avenge the death of their father and the destruction of their keep 7 years ago. Sooooo, yeah… Alaric kinda has to marry Rionna. Oh, and did I mention Rionna and Keeley were besties as girls, and that the laird (Rionna’s father) is directly responsible for the former’s banishment?
In other words… Bring on the angst!!
Keeley is everything. She’s loyal, selfless, caring, spirited, independent, and intelligent. Alaric probably didn’t deserve her, but in all fairness, I’m not sure anyone would be good enough. And I liked Alaric fine, but he isn’t necessarily special like Keeley. That ended up working for me though, because the time that is used to develop the other characters is time well-spent. I hope my sweet Gannon finds someone that deserves his gigantic heart. The women are beyond lucky to have each other, but Maddie reigns supreme over that group. I was hoping to understand Rionna a little better, but what we did learn helped the process along, and I am sure she will become more understood in the next book. Caelen matures throughout this book, starting as resentful and negative but ending as the hero that so many in this series deserve. I didn’t see that coming from him, and it was probably my favorite detail.
As far as the overall plot, this book builds towards something that I am sure will climax in the next (final) book. The battle with Duncan is long overdue, after all, and now everyone has more to lose. It’s time for a new cast of characters to step up- the future of the clan- which we saw starting to happen in this story, and I am genuinely excited to see how it all unfolds.
Whoever said this is better than the first… is absolutely right. And I enjoyed the first just fine, but this one does pretty much everything better. The angst, the heroine, the character development… it is all superior.
Keeley is a wonderful heroine. She had been cast out by the McDonald clan at a young age, so she is living in a cottage alone when a seriously wounded Alaric storms into her life. She is a healer, so she nurses Alaric back to health. From the beginning, he is smitten, and though she puts up more of a fight, she is too. The problem? Alaric is to marry Rionna McDonald, and that union is extremely important to creating an alliance against the big bad of the trilogy, Duncan Cameron. So while it would be awesome for Alaric to say fuck it and run away with Keeley, it would also be disloyal to his clan, his king, and most importantly his brother, a man who has always done right by everyone, even at his own expense. And that is true; as much as I may roll my eyes at Ewan and his spontaneous hypocrisy, it is accurate that it is Alaric’s turn to sacrifice. And that isn’t even taking into account that a marriage to Rionna gives Alaric a chance to be laird of the McDonald’s, something he could never be as long as he is a McCabe. AND the alliance helps them avenge the death of their father and the destruction of their keep 7 years ago. Sooooo, yeah… Alaric kinda has to marry Rionna. Oh, and did I mention Rionna and Keeley were besties as girls, and that the laird (Rionna’s father) is directly responsible for the former’s banishment?
In other words… Bring on the angst!!
Keeley is everything. She’s loyal, selfless, caring, spirited, independent, and intelligent. Alaric probably didn’t deserve her, but in all fairness, I’m not sure anyone would be good enough. And I liked Alaric fine, but he isn’t necessarily special like Keeley. That ended up working for me though, because the time that is used to develop the other characters is time well-spent. I hope my sweet Gannon finds someone that deserves his gigantic heart. The women are beyond lucky to have each other, but Maddie reigns supreme over that group. I was hoping to understand Rionna a little better, but what we did learn helped the process along, and I am sure she will become more understood in the next book. Caelen matures throughout this book, starting as resentful and negative but ending as the hero that so many in this series deserve. I didn’t see that coming from him, and it was probably my favorite detail.
As far as the overall plot, this book builds towards something that I am sure will climax in the next (final) book. The battle with Duncan is long overdue, after all, and now everyone has more to lose. It’s time for a new cast of characters to step up- the future of the clan- which we saw starting to happen in this story, and I am genuinely excited to see how it all unfolds.
ericas_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I did like this one slightly more than the first book, but I found it so funny and unrealistic how often they banged while being near death lmao. They literally take turns being severely injured or sick and still find time to ✨do things✨ 🥴
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
Wow!..I loved it!..every page:)..I was up in the wee hours to finish...I laughed, I cried..I just kept trying to figure out what would happen next and was always surprised!..Keeley was strong and fierce..and Alaric...just YUM!..when I finished I actually did a squee at the end..I CAN NOT wait to read more..