Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs

Buddy Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Posted November 20, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Buddy Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya BanksHighlander Most Wanted
by Maya Banks
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #2
Also in this series: Never Seduce a Scot
Published by Random House, Ballantine on March 19, 2013
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 352
Format: eBook, Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Length: 9 hours, 48 minutes
Add It: Goodreads
four-stars

In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

Highlander Most Wanted is the second book in Maya Banks’ Montgomery’s and Armstrongs series. It picks up right where the first book in this series, Never Seduce a Scot leaves off and that’s where Bowen and Teague Montgomery, along with Aidan and Brodie Armstrong march to the McHugh keep to seek revenge for the abduction and abuse of their sister, Eveline Montgomery.

Bowen is tasked with running Laird Patrick McHugh down and killing him before taking over the keep and all of the lands. He expected to come in, handle business and then check out but what he finds at the McHugh keep changes those plans. He finds a clan without leadership and a young woman who intrigues him.

Genevieve McInnis has lived through things no woman should live through and she has suffered so much in her short life and all she wants is freedom. She wants to live the rest of her life out in peace and she needs to get to an abbey to make sure that happens. She wasn’t expecting Bowen Montgomery to throw all of those plans out the window when she met him. But love doesn’t always ask your permission.

Rowena: Tasha, Shy, and I are back at it again with another group review of our book club book of the month. This month’s book was a continuation from last month’s book so let’s get to it, shall we?

Alright guys, what did you guys think? Yay or nay?

Tasha: Meh, it was okay this second time around for me. I’m a sucker for happy endings, so this gets a yay.

Rowena: You know, the first time that I read it (a couple of weeks ago), I really enjoyed it. I cried, my heart broke and I was super happy with the story and then I did a re-read of the book before book club and the book was a lot more problematic for me.

There were so many things that I didn’t buy reading it the second time around. But first, let’s discuss the characters. What did you think about Bowen and Genevieve?

I enjoyed both of their characters. Bowen was the knight in shining armor that Genevieve needed and Genevieve had gone through too many things for me to hate her. My karma wouldn’t let me hate her. LOL.

Tasha: I’m with you on Bowen. It was easy for me to like him. I mean, what wasn’t there to like. He was very handsome, came from a strong clan, close to his siblings and he seemed to be fair person. His character was pretty consistent.

My heart initially went out to Genevieve. I truly felt bad for her and all that was done to her. But as the story went on, there were some things about Genevieve that really got on my nerves.

Shy: My opinion is a little skewed because as much as I loved Bowen in the first book, I ready to gut him halfway into this book. It made me cringe at how much of an idiot Bowen was in this book.

Genevieve, omg I felt for her whole situation. Okay, maybe I wanted or needed to kick her upside her head a few times. Why in the hell did she feel the need to continuously help those aikaes (assholes) that constantly made her life hell? We’re all strong but at some point, I would have given in and skinned a few of them.

Like you both, there were just a few too many things that didn’t really make sense to me.

Rowena: My issues stemmed around the romance and the lack of resolution with the members of the McHugh clan.

After everything that Genevieve suffered at the hands of Ian McHugh, the constant rape and abuse that went on for over a year, I thought the romance with Bowen happened too fast to be believable. She had known Bowen for a matter of weeks before they started sleeping together and I just didn’t quite believe that nothing triggered her. It felt, to me, like she was healed by Bowen’s magic peen.

The other thing that bothered me was that nobody stood up for Genevieve the way that Graeme stood up for Eveline, especially after those awful women stoned her. It really bothered me that nothing of consequence was done before Bowen took her away to the Montgomery keep. My bloodthirsty ass wanted all of them bitches to pay.

Tasha: I guess that’s why I’m so mad at Genevieve. After all she suffered, why did she bother standing up for them? She didn’t owe them anything. Why didn’t she shoot her bows and arrows and drop assholes left and right? She didn’t have any problem laying Patrick out with her arrows? Why not everyone else?

Remember how upset I was at Graeme for letting his clan mistreat Eveline for so long? The thing is, those people were Graeme’s people. The McHughs weren’t Bowen’s people. These guys swooped in and took over their clan. Bowen didn’t know those people, he didn’t know if he could trust Genevieve. There was no way he could demand the bullying and name calling to stop. For Graeme, he was Laird. His people were obligated to obey him. I don’t think Bowen, Brodie, or Teague had it like that. Not yet, at least.

Rowena: Sure, it was a different situation but they certainly could have been handled it in exactly the same way. Bowen had proclaimed himself their Laird until Graeme came along to take over so for all intents and purposes, Bowen was the boss. His word was law, and he should have reprimanded and handed out consequences to all of those women and men for the treatment of an innocent woman. Especially the women that freaking stoned her. By then, he knew and was in love with her, he should have taken the time to flay those bitches alive for hurting Genevieve before they left for Montgomery keep. He was too busy healing her with his magic peen though.

Too many things didn’t add up for me that I don’t feel I could give this book a higher grade than 3.25 but I did enjoy the friendships between Gen and Taliesan, and Gen, Eveline and Rorie.

Tasha: LOL at magic peen.

Shy: LOL, Mr. I got the magic stick.

Exactly. He held the authority to be judge, jury and executioner. I didn’t understand why he tried to cut them the benefit of the doubt after glimpsing how vile they were toward Genevieve.

I will say what brought be back around to really loving the book was when she reunited with her family. OMG I love her dad and her mom. But I found myself so irritated with Bowen, I felt like he should have went with her the first time. I would have made up some bloody excuse, knowing all that she’s gone through and that you love her, no one would have faulted him for the extra assurance if we went. But no the ai kae waited for her to ride back in all her pregnant glory.

Tasha: Her being reunited with the family was very sweet of Bowen. I can only imagine how hard it was for him to reach out to them. But the ultimate for me was their reaction when they saw her. They cried tears of joy and embraced her. Ahhhhhhh, loved that part!!!

Final Grade

Shy: 4 out of 5
Tasha: 3.75-4 out of 5
Rowena: 3.25 out of 5

The Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s Series

four-stars

0 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Buddy Review: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

Posted October 25, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 8 Comments

Buddy Review: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya BanksNever Seduce a Scot
by Maya Banks
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #1
Also in this series: Highlander Most Wanted
Published by Random House, Ballantine on September 25, 2012
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Peson
Pages: 372
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

The Montgomery’s and the Armstrong’s have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. Their families are fierce enemies and have grown up hating each other so when King Alexander gets fed up with the both of them, he forces an alliance by marriage between Laird of the Montgomery clan and the daughter of the Laird of the Armstrong clan and then…shenanigans.

Rowena: Welcome to our second book club buddy review. It’s our first review with Shy and we’re super happy to have her with us. This month’s book club choice was Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks and it was met with mad love from every single person in book club.

Alright guys, what did you guys think of Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks? Was this the first time that you guys read the book or was it a reread?

Shy: It was my first time reading Never Seduce a Scot and I loved it! It clever, witty and pretty funny.

Tasha: Even though this was a reread for me, I still enjoyed it as if it was my first time. There was a lot that I forgot and as the story went on, bits and pieces was coming back but not enough to ruin the ending.

Rowena: Like Shy, this was the first time that I had ever read the book and I thought it was the freaking bomb. From beginning to end, I was wrapped up in what was going on. My emotions were running high throughout the entire thing and I just thought the author did a really good job of engaging the reader.

Who wanted to fight all of the Montgomery women? I freaking did. I wanted to beat all of them over the head with that sword. What a bunch of meanies.

Tasha: That Kiersten chick was a total bitch to her from the beginning. I could not stand her. But I was most hurt by Nora’s actions. She was the one who ran the kitchen and the other Montgomery ladies kinda followed her lead. When Eveline decided to step out of her comfort zone and prove herself to them all, Nora completely took advantage and did poor Eveline wrong.

Shy: OMG I killed them at least 10 times while screaming Graeme you bloody bloke they’re abusing your Mrs!!! Those Montgomery women were so horrible (except Rory, she’s pretty funny). Eventually, I came to have a love-hate relationship with Nora (the head maid). I hated her up until her heartfelt apology, even then I wanted to punch her in the face.

Rowena: Same. I hated Kiersten right from the very first time she said “Armstrong bitch” to Eveline so I wasn’t surprised that I still hated her at the end. The bloodthirsty wench in me low key wanted Graeme to run her through with his sword but I consoled myself with the fact that Eveline won all of their lives in the end. But man, I was hit right in the gut when Eveline realized the depth of their hatred for her. When she realizes that all of her hard work to try to fit in with them was all for nothing. They were never going to accept her and man, I bawled like a baby for her.

I spent most of the beginning to middle of the book pissed off at the Montgomery’s but boy did Graeme totally win me over when he gathered the entire clan together and was going to fight them all. When he lashes out with, “Is that a challenge?” I about swooned into a puddle of lust for him.

Tasha: Yeah, I’m glad Graeme finally stepped up and addressed his people. I also appreciated the fact he talked to his brothers Bowen and Teague about the situation first. They understood where their clan was coming from, but they also loved their brother and laird and needed to show their support.

Shy: I have to agree with you both, I felt for Eveline when she came to realize that she wouldn’t be accepted by the Montgomery clan no matter how hard she tried. I loved Graeme when he finally laid it all out and started putting the women in their place. I’ve always respected the brothers for standing by Graeme. I really enjoyed when one of the brothers drew their sword on Nora’s husband. I was like, “Yaaaaassss off with his head! Let em all know that your chain hangs low (Don’t ask, I scream the most random things while I’m reading/listening to books)”.

Rowena: This whole book was just satisfying. From all of the crap that we learn about Eveline, what she went through before she got to the Montgomery’s, what she went through when she got to the Montgomery’s and then seeing her really come into herself and live her truth out in the open, it was all just so satisfying to me. I have so much love for the Montgomery’s, Graeme and his siblings, Eveline and her family. The entire story completely worked for me. The romance was the bomb. Graeme and Eveline saving each other at different points of the book was the bomb. I can’t wait for more.

I give this a 4.75 out of 5 stars, what about you guys?

Shy: I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Also, did you gals feel like Eveline’s family let her down? No one attempted to at least dig a little deeper? I wanted to punch her parents in their faces, especially her dad.

Rowena: I did feel that her family let her down but when we saw how bad they felt when the truth came out, it was hard for me to hold on to that since it was evident that they loved her. They were drowning in enough guilt.

Tasha: LMBO & I AGREE with everything that was said, hahaha!!!

Looking back, I don’t think Eveline’s parents had any real reason to think Ian was going to do any harm. The McHugh’s and the Armstrong’s were cool and had no beef. So when she expressed her concerns to her Dad, of course, he just brushed it off. BUT also, how did she approach her dad about Ian? I’m sure if she was really scared and went as far as to tell her Mom & brothers, they would’ve looked further into it. In a way, that freak accident saved her from being with the sick monster Ian.

And yeah, I can see how guilty they felt. Not only did they brush off her concerns, but the poor girl was also willing to play dumb and be called “addled & touched” then to go through with everything.

Eveline is a very brave & smart lass and I’m so happy for her & Graeme. This book gets a bright 5 stars rating from me. 🙂

Final Grade

Shy: 5 out of 5
Tasha: 5 out of 5
Ween: 4.75 out of 5

The Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s Series

8 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Weekly Recap (107)

Posted October 15, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 4 Comments

Caiden came to California last week for a visit and we had a blast having him here with us. But he went home yesterday so we’re back to being sad and missing him but he’ll be back next month for Thanksgiving so we’ve got something to look forward to.

While he was here, he went to Disneyland, we had dinner at Chuck E. Cheese, he had play dates with our other kids at the park and just had an all-around blast being around other kids since, at home, it’s normally just him and his Mom all day long.

For me, it was a quiet week at home. I spent all the time that I could with Caiden, I read some, watched some TV shows and relaxed close to home. Work has been pretty grim for me because one of my closest friends at work quit and her last day in the office was Friday so we spent the week doing farewell lunches at all of her favorite lunch spots around our office since her new job is about a half hour away so she wouldn’t be able to go to them in a long while. I’m going to miss her something fierce though since I talked to her every single day and she’s finally watching Game of Thrones. Now our discussions about her progression in the show will largely take place through texts. Oh well.

I’m really enjoying A Million Little Things, the new TV Show on ABC. I’ve cried through all three episodes that I’ve watched so far. It’s so good.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (107)Never Seduce a Scot
by Maya Banks
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #1
Also in this series: Never Seduce a Scot, Highlander Most Wanted
Published by Random House, Ballantine on September 25, 2012
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 372
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Length: 10 hours, 10 minutes
Add It: Goodreads

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

It’s time for me to get this book read so that I can prepare for my book club next month. My sister Delene picked this book for us to discuss and already, I’m loving the book. Maya Banks is really gifted at historical romance. I’m really enjoying watching Eveline grow into her own. I should be done with this one today though I want to savor this story. It’s so good.

What I Read

Shadow and Ice (Gods of War #1) by Gena Showalter | 2.75 out of 5
Phoenix Unbound (Fallen Empire #1) by Grace Draven | 4 out of 5
Fireworks (True North #6) by Sarina Bowen | 4.25 out of 5

My favorite read of the week goes to Fireworks. Sarina Bowen is such a winning author for me. I love her True North series and Benito’s story was just as good as the others in the series and I’m hoping for more.

My least favorite read of the week goes to Shadow and Ice and that’s because I spent more than half of the book bored by what was going on. The end was a lot better than the beginning but the beginning was boring enough that I wouldn’t give it more than a 3 star rating.

What I Reviewed

Say You’ll Stay (Return to Me #1) by Corinne Michaels | 1 out of 5
Long Shot (Hoops #1) by Kennedy Ryan | 4.75 out of 5
America’s Sweetheart (Real Love #5) by Jessica Lemmon | 4 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (106)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Risk by Elle Kennedy

What I Got

Nothing this week. I’ve been busy reading what I already have.

What I Got for Review

You’d be Mine by Erin Hahn
Illegally Yours (Laws of Attraction #2) by Kate Meader

What Made Me Laugh

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

4 Comments
Tags: , , ,