In Bed With a Highlander by Maya Banks

  Publisher: Ballantine Books

  Published: 8/30/2011

  Buy here

  Rating: Entrée

   
  
  


  Mairin knew one day she would be found out. She had been taught since early childhood that her royal secret must remain hidden for her own safety. Sheltered in anonymity away in a convent, Duncan Cameron has sent soldiers to take her from her sanctuary. He intends to force a marriage and claim her rich dowry and lands for himself. Beaten while trying to protect a lost child who stumbles in to their encampment, Mairin is in no condition to escape, but with the aid of the boy, Crispin, and a couple of sympathetic servants, escape she does. Right into the arms of Duncan Cameron's fiercest enemy and Crispin's father, Ewan McCabe.

  Loved it, loved it, loved it! This was in a word.....PERFECT. In two words....FREAKING PREFECT. Even though Mairin was mostly brought up in a convent with nuns, she did not lack for fierceness or snark. She was a down right terrific heroine. Towards the end she even got a little mean, and little miss pure and light could definitely get her freak on, booyah! The McCabe brothers, as a whole were a smexy overload. Ewan being the oldest and the Laird, gets the first book and the first girl. Ah, birth order. What can you do? Ewan has a lot on his shoulders, so he's a serious fellow for the most part. He softens up for his son Crispin, and Mairin wears him down to human level in no time at all. There are a lot of hilarious scenes in this book.

 This book reminded me quite a bit of Julie Garwood's Highland books, which are among some of my most treasured possessions. It takes a special talent to blend just the right amount of danger, intrigue, humor, lust and romance into the perfect blend. Maya Banks has that gift. There are so many aspects that make  this book a worthy read. I like the fact that there are a number of very strong female characters and not just Mairin. I like the fact that the overall sweetness of the story is broken up with some truly suspenseful and dark scenes. I can't think of one negative thing to say about this book, oh wait. Yes, I can! It was too short.