In Bed with a Highlander (The McCabe Trilogy Book 1)

This is my second read of this book. I really love Ewan. He is the dominate man, but can be sensitive and sweet to his wife. Though he does yell at her sometimes as she is always pushing boundaries. Mairin is head strong and not afraid to order people around. Nor is she really intimidated by the hugh warriors. She still is forceful and says her mind even if she is scared. Crispin, Ewan son, was cute, but she wrote him more like a 5 or 6 year old then the 10 year old he is supposed to be. So I imagined him in my mind as being younger, otherwise it just didn't work for me. I like both of Ewan brothers as well. I liked how Caelen came around, and accepted Mairin. He was betrayed by a woman and will never trust one again. At least not until the 3rd book of this series. The bad guy is not taken care of in this book. So if you are expecting everything to be taken care of at the end, it is not.I do want to set something straight. Someone said there was a rape scene. It was not a rape scene. It was not a great scene, but it was not rape. They get married and the enemy is marching on the keep to get her back. Ewan basically has minutes to consummate the marriage, and then ride off to catch the enemy before he gets too close to the keep. He does not take the time to make the first time good for her, and unfortunately she is hurt and upset when it is over because she thinks it will always be like this. He did apologize to her right before he entered her, because he knew it was not want she needed. He does make it up to her the next time they are together. So those who are sensitive to this sort of thing will have an issue with it.I love Maya's writing style and wish she wrote more historical books. I am not into contemporary books. Especially not police, military, or tycoon/business people. So do not read her others. I might have attempted to try them, but right now I am really mad at her. I have been waiting over a year for the last book in her second highlander series, and it has been pushed back again for the 3rd or 4th time. This time it was pushed out until 2016, because she is too busy writing other books. She has written at least two other series plus more books in other series and just keeps pushing this book out. As I said I love her writing, but I probably will not buy another book of her after this. It is inexcusable to do this to your fans.If you're into historical highlander type books then you will probably love this the book. However as you can see by the bad reviews it is not everyone cup of tea. I do not get upset if things in the history are a little off etc.. because if you want that, don't read fiction. If they made it like history, people wouldn't bath that much, their breath would stink, they would be missing teeth, most women would probably be raped or abused etc... Also I do not like it when people ding a book because someone has done this before. Pretty much all romance books have been before. I think people get too involved with the books and forget they are reading fiction. All books do not have to be perfect. If you want perfect, don't read romance. You could probably find fault with any book out on the market, romance or not.Sex content high

The combo pack of the first 3 in the series is the best value to enjoy Maya Banks Scottish romance series, you don't want to read just one. Ewan and Mairin's paths should not have crossed but fate played a hand and Mairin is taken in under Ewan's protection and he is determined to unravel her secrets. Mairin is the bastard daughter of the now deceased King Alexander, with a dowry that is rich in power and wealth, and she has managed to keep herself hidden most of her life to protect this inheritance and herself.After being kidnapped by the men of Laird Cameron from her Abby to be forced into a marriage to this power hungry tyrant, Mairin makes friends with a lad that has also been taken as prisoner on their way to Laird Cameron's lands in the Highlands. Crispin has reasons to keep his identity a secret as well, as his father is a widowed Laird attempting to rebuild their keep and lands after being raided and burned eight years earlier by Laird Cameron's clan.Together Crispin and Mairin talk of escape during the long journey through the Highlands but are unable to put it into play until they have reached McDonald lands, and after a severe beating at the hands of Cameron, when Mairin refused to submit to a rushed marriage to the ruthless Laird. With the help of sympathetic McDonalds they are on a horse in the fores and come across Ewan's brother, Alaric and his clan members in search for Crispin. They see them safely back to McCabe lands at a careful pace as Mairin is so badly beaten she can not stay in the saddle as must be held in place by Alaric.Crispin becomes her fiercest ally and demands that Ewan take her under clan protection, even though he refuses to divulge her identity, as promised.Within days Mairin's identity is discovered and Ewan's is convinced that she is the answer to his clans problems and presents her with a solution to the pursuits of Cameron and others like him, marry Ewan. Mairin has been praying for a marriage based on love and respect since a child of the Abbey and has to admit that this may never be her fate and comes to the realization that staying with the McCabe's is better than the unknown and agrees to the match.It takes a lot of mis-understandings and experience for Ewan to come to understand that Mairin is not like his first wife in any way and will need to be treated more as a partner, an equal, than just a wife of possession.The journey is a worthy trip to enjoy as the relationship does develop into a love match with the experiences they face together with their clan and family.I did love that Ewan had about 10 minutes to "bed and consummate" Mairin after their rushed nuptials.He has to armor up and quickly after to deal with the attempted kidnapping for a second time of Mairin out of the McCabe keep by Cameron and his clan. Mairin tells Ewan the next day that he is not a good lover and she wishes not to "experience" such pain and messiness again.After dodging Ewan for days and by taking Crispin into her bed for multiple nights, Ewan orders his son to his own bed and demands that Mairin give him the opportunity to show her how it should have been for her first time and all future times together. He has a reputation and pride at stake after all, and becomes the lover she had dreamed of and dared to wish for.

First book in the the Highlanders series about three brothers. This first story features the eldest brother and the McCabe clan's laird Ewan McCabe. He's a widower with a young son, his clan is still recovering from a brutal attack 8 years ago by his sworn enemy. His young wife and his father were both murdered. His main focus is to rebuild his home and work to eventually have revenge upon the man responsible. He has no plans for a woman in his life. But all that changes when a young woman called Mairin falls under his protection in unusual circumstances. Mairin has spent her whole life up till now hidden away in a convent. With no experience of the outside world especially men she's determined to live her life on her own terms, and there's no way she's taking orders from Ewan McCabe.I love this particular genre, and this story held my attention from the first page, filled with fully rounded characters and a fast moving plot I loved it. Mairin drives Ewan to distraction defying his orders at every turn. She hides her identity from him, no one can know who she is. When the truth does come to light Ewan has no option but to keep her from leaving his keep.I really liked the relationship between the two of them, Mairin is feisty and brave, Ewan is not used to having anyone challange his authority. But when they eventually come together the love scenes are passionate and sensuous. It was easy to feel the connection between them. I am definitely reading the next two books featuring the other two brothers.

this story is set amongst the feuding clans of 12th Century Scotland. The plot is a strong one with strong captivating characters. Mairin Stuart is the illegimate daughter of a king and Niece to King David. Neamh Alainn is her inheritance which would give great power to any clan into which she marries. Abducted by the cruel Cameron laird she escapes and takes with her another captive, Crispen the son of Laird Ewan Mc Cabe. Ewan Mc Cabe is a powerful man who is repairing his army and home. He really needs the legacy. Ewan is strong, with a short temper. Aislinn is fiery and independent. Can a marriage between them be possible? Is Aislinn what the clan needs? Is she more trouble than she is worth? The story is exciting, sometimes brutal and also at times amusing. There are some scenes when I wished ****** had been used but I suppose it lives up to its title. I really enjoyed it.

I've not read many highlander books but if they're anything like this one I'll definitely be reading more in the future. Mirian was so headstrong and determined in everything she did that you can't help but love her. Ewan was such an engaging character and so fierce, protective and loving all at the same time. They made a brilliant couple. I liked all the characters and the story set a good pace. Great ending too. Recommend.

I loved all the plotting and the intrigue in this book. The main characters were very likeable and the heroine was very strong. The only reason this book did not get 5 stars from me was because I felt that the ending seemed a little rushed and abrupt.I look forward to reading the other books in the series

Lots of action and humour. Some strangeness. Would they have known of melons at that time?and I don't think it is a great breast subscription for a man to make..but that is just me. Also the beating did not hold her back as it should have.to be repeatedly kicked in the back and legs would hardly make her very mobile and certainly not up to a wedding night.