Never Love a Highlander

By: Maya Banks

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Caelen McCabe's young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother's jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father's power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen's touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna's true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife's love is too precious to lose.

©2011 Maya Banks (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Banks nicely balances bedroom and battlefield action as Rionnas tough swordsmanship and Caelens tender lust propel the couple and the clans toward harmony." ( Publishers Weekly)

And they lived happily ever after...

All good things must end unfortunately... I finally finished this series and I loved it so
Much! The combination of a Maya Banks story and a narration by Kirsten Potter is a must listen experience. Riona's story was amazing. She turned out to be a warrior princess that bravely battled her dad and Cameron Duncan to save her husband and her clan. This ending was powerful, with teary eyes emotional moments and the sizzling hot loving scenes that Ms Banks is known for. Four stars historical romance.

Great story and finish to the series :D

4.5-5 stars

This was a great book. Rionna is great...Caelen starts out as kind of a jerk but he comes around and ends up being wonderful by the end.

Rionna McDonald hasn't had things easy. She's been raised by a shame of a Father and done her best to keep her clan together. She was supposed to marry one of the McCabe brothers and was actually jilted at the alter (not that she minded) by Alaric. When Caelen offers to take Alaric's place and marry her in his stead she's no thrilled as Caelen has always seemed very cold and remote.

Caelen McCabe is a good man but he's felt guilty for years because a past lover betrayed him and caused great problems for his clan. Because of this he's locked away his heart and refused to risk letting another woman sway him again. He's always felt he had to atone for this and so when it became apparent that his marrying Rionna would solves everyone's problems he offered. What he's never let on is the fact that he's always felt an attraction for Rionna and while unexpected, he doesn't hate the idea of marrying her.

Rionna & Caelen are married and go back to the McDonald clan to start their life and for Caelen to take over as leader of the clan. Things are tough with the clan as they're not happy with Caelen taking over and the changes he's making. They don't see the need for the additional training they're having to do through and in general things between Caelen and his new clan don't go easy.

Caelen's position in the new clan isn't helped by the fact that things between him and Rionna aren't smooth. He makes all sorts of demands for her to change pretty much everything about herself (including no more mens clothing or fighting practice). Their bedroom activities go well because it seems to be the only place Caelen is actually nice to Rionna and talks to her. Things improve between them when Cameron sends men to rough Rionna up. Caelen shows he can be tender and they actually talk some things out and things go more smoothly between them. TBH, Caelen was pissing me off big time at first (doing the jerky alpha male thing) but once he and Rionna starting working things out and he started showing her some sweetness I have to say that he grew on me big time! Seeing them together and the feelings growing between them was great.

Just when things are going well and Caelen has worked things out with both Rionna and his new clan, danger shows itself once again. Caelen is ambushed and Rionna is forced to take desperate actions in order to save Caelen. This leads in to a great ending with a big action blowup as the main plotline of the series (the McCabes vs. the Camerons) gets brought to a conclusion. Once the fighting is done and everything is settled, Caelen and Rionna are able to settle in with their clan for a HEA. It was a very satisfying ending for both the book and the series.

This book was great (I enjoyed the whole series). Rionna and Caelen ended up making a great couple. The story was wonderful and engaging so I had trouble putting it down. I'd recommend it. Thumbs up! :D

kinda dorky especially the ending

This was the worst of the trilogy. It wasn't so bad until the very end. However, the ending changed my overall opinion of the book.
-V from Kansas

Wonderfully enjoyable

I fully enjoyed this series. It kept my emotions flowing! and it was never dull!

Best of the series

This was definitely the book of the series.... Probably even my favourite highland romance book

Wonderful romance!

This third book in the series by Maya Banks was really wonderful. The heroine is a woman who has hidden behind men’s clothes and acted more like one of the clan McDonald soldiers than its heiress. She is married to Caleb McCabe by arrangement that the king desired to cement the clans of the highlands. Neither one is wanting to be married, but as time goes by each finds things in the other they never expected. While Love is building between them, the evil Duncan Cameron plots to take the highlands for himself and the usurper of the king. Can trust be forged in time to save them all? Narration was great!

Best trilogy ever!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Never Love a Highlander to be better than the print version?

I wouldn't know. But I loved this audiobook. 'Twas the best ending to a trilogy I've ever listened to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rionna of course!!! She was a fierce highland warrior princess.

What does Kirsten Potter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is an awesome narrator. She infuses life into every character. Her accents and tones were perfect. Her performance as well as the awesomeness of the book drove me to tears.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes yes yes!!!!! I gave up my sleep just to finish this book. And I definetly did not regret it.

Any additional comments?

Please read "In bed with a highlander" and "Seduction of a highland lass" before you read this one. You will definetly be moved to tears. Now I'm sad coz I don't think I'll find another trilogy this good.

I enjoyed listening to all 3 books

I enjoyed listening to all three books in this series This book is my favorite out if all three books in the series.I love how Caelen fall in love with Rionna. All three brothers end up with loving wives. I wish there was a fourth book.

The narration is great Kristin Potter did an awesome job.

Great Wrap up to this Series

What made the experience of listening to Never Love a Highlander the most enjoyable?

It was real written and the progression of characters was interesting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rionna. I love a strong woman.

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

Yes, Maya Banks is one of my favorites.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing. Love Kirsten Potter.

I need a Scot

What did you love best about Never Love a Highlander?

Riona's fierceness, love for her clan, and loyalty, and Caelan's fierceness, love for his clan, and his loyalty. For some reason their story was my favorite out of all 3, or maybe it was just a great ending to an wonderful series. I think I loved this story the most because these two had the most internal conflicts out of the 6 main characters, and I think I identified with that most.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end! No spoilers from me

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES! We want more, we want more!