Audie Award Nominee, Romance, 2013
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.
©2012 Maya Banks (P)2012 Tantor
bookworm
"OMG - NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A GREAT LISTEN"
This is all you can hope for when spending your credit on a book - it's got a great plot written by a very talented author, it's got interesting believable characters that will have you envisioning them riding through the Highlands or walking in Medieval castles, it's got a handsome powerful hero and a strong proud heroine that bring you in to share in their trials and tribulations and finally, it's got a love story that defies prejudices, betrayals and discriminations to win out against all odds for the happy ending that we all seek.
Can't wait for the next instalment, the series has such great potential and M.B. is an automatic download for me.
Worth a credit? Worth every cent and more, much much more.
Never judge a book by its movie
"BEST OF BANKS"
Oh yes, It was a fantastic trip back to 11th century Scotland. The characters are fantastic.
The heroine Eveline Armstrong is a combination of maidenly innocence, and bold as brass stubborn.
The hero Graeme is the Laird of the Montgomery clan. They have been betrothed to each other by order of King Alexander II. Seems totally fine for this time period, so what the problem??? Well these clans HATE each other, the King wants peace so he makes this decree.
Both clans are livid: the Armstrong's, because they believe that Eveline is not in charge of her faculties,( from an accident she had years before) They fear she has no idea what is expected of a wife
However Eveline is totally aware of what is going on, but she allows her clan to believe she is "adled" in order to escape a marriage to an sociopath...(best way to describe the guy)
The Montgomery's believe the KIng has made it impossible for the Montgomery clan to carry on because Graeme has no intention of having a "true" marriage to the "touched" Armstrong girl, therefore no Montgomery heir!
Eveline's only disability is that she is hearing impaired, and has taught herself to read lips.
She marries Graeme, and begins to win him, and his brothers over. The clan however is a little harder.....
The relationship between Graeme and Eveline, and Eveline and Graeme's little sister Rorie
She is fantastic,her narration, and accents are excellent.
It was a very emotional story, of a girl tring to fit into a world that cannot cope with disabilities, and her determination to change her life and they way people view her.
So worth the credit,, Can't wait for book 2.
I love books! Audiobooks take stories to the next level. I'm obsessed with Audible and will try to rate all of my books. Happy Listening! ;)
"Five Stars+ listen"
Wow, I don't think I know enough words in the English language to describe and praise this book enough! I had sworn off historical romance books after trying and hating Outlander. And the only book I tried to read from Maya Banks was Sweet Seduction (erotica) and I couldn't even finish it. So to say I took a big chance on this story is an understatement. But my... Oh my, was I pleasantly surprised!!!
Ten minutes after starting this book I seriously considered taking a day off from work and just experience (yes because this was not just a book but an experience) this wonderful story. I don't like to give spoilers but Ms. Banks wrote a story that really takes you back in time into Scotland and melts your heart with the sweetest hottest romance I've read in a very long time. I loved so many characters in this story! The heroine, Eveline who is deaf, through will, determination and a strong spirit decided that she would have what she wanted, to love and be loved in a time when women were viewed more as property than a partner. The hero Gramm was just as spectacular.
Narration: Kirsten Potter has just been added to my narrators-that-I-love list. Perfect accent, perfect delivery, perfect intensity and emotions added to the story. Top that with great male voices and that you could very easily distinguish each character and you get an A+ narrator.
A wonderful love story and an amazing narrator Can't wait for the next book in this series!!
"A Must Buy- Maya and Kirsten have a Hit"
This is so great a listen. If you like Maya Banks & Never Love Highlander seriers, this one will knock your socks off.
a tender love story with strong characters and intelligence. So far,not the violence as Maya other seriers... This one starts a very promising seriers
stayed up very late to listen, so river bathing starts the action
OMG, yes and now sleepy for it!
Ms Banks has a full writing range,and Ms Potter has the best Scotts accent. Her voice is a
rich one so she can really capture the region. You will fall in love with her in Highland and Scot seriers. Audible do not change this reader for this seriers. If Potter cannot do the story, just wait until she can.
I've always been a avid reader so now I'm a avid listener. I prefer the paranormal genre but I do like to switch things up. It's boring if you don't have variety. Of course I do love the romance and the hotter the better. Also, you can't beat a good thriller filled with suspense and a ending you can't even guess at until the very end.
"Banks Hits another Home Run!!"
Fantastic story carried by strong believable characters and told just right. Tender and romantic and everything just right. Great ending. Definitely 5 stars.
"Not Just ANOTHER Highlander Romance - Great Book"
I think the title is a little miss leading because this story is really about falling in love not a seduction. Saying that I think this is by far my Favorite Maya Banks story yet. I am not one to wirte reviews with spoilers and I DO NOT recap the whole story, but I will say there are some interesting twists to make this special. I loved the charaters, they had depth, and honor and feelings. Kudos to Maya for making what could have been another "ho hum highlander" romance into something so much more. Kristen Potter is always great. Can't wait for the rest in this series.
"I wear a fez now, fez's are cool"
"Enjoyable but repetative"
Yes, Maya Banks does tell an interesting story a bit repetitive but entertaining. Kirsten Potter does a great job, I really enjoyed her Scottish accent.
Only to those die hard romance readers.
Yes, I have, this is consistent with her other performances.
Yes, no, perhaps...
I had some issues with this story that kind of have me wavering between liking the story and disliking it.I liked that the idea of a deaf heroine. That added a uniqueness to the story. Although the heroine seemed to do a lot of sleeping. It was like she was sleeping thorough 60% of the book. Which added a bit to the repetitiveness. It also didn't help that there were comments by the characters about each others respective beauty every other paragraph, your readers get it, these two characters are paragons of beauty, we really don't need to be told every five minutes.I really enjoyed listening to Kirsten Potters voice and that probably saved me from stopping the listen before I finished it. I did enjoyed the story even if it was repetitive. I liked the heroine, even if she was sleeping most of the time. I too can be repetitive.I would say this is worth the listen if it's on sale, but not necessarily worth a credit.
I've become a sucker for Audible. I love audiobooks, to the point of addiction. Especially a good romance audiobook... :)
"Maya Banks gets better with each book"
Maya Banks should stick to writing highland stories. She is at her best in this story! I enjoy all of her highland novels, but this first book of her new series is her greatest yet!!!
I laughed and cried at this beautiful story. Don't miss this one!
"Kirsten Potter rocks!"
A narrator can either make or ruin the content of the story and Kirsten Potter's brougue in this book and the McCabe series by Maya Banks are all outstanding due to her narration.Eveline Armstrong and Graeme Montgomery are both strong individuals and wonderful characters who come from warring clans. The King makes them marry to cement a bond so that neither clan will go up against the other. (Spoiler) Eveline has had a fall from her horse where she was out in the elements for 3 days until her brother found her and so became very ill. She finds that if she pretends to be a simpleton she will not have to marry the evil McHugh with whom her father wants to align himself. This monster person acts one way in front of her parents and another to her. As she gets out of the marriage to one man now she is to marry Graeme Montgomery.......Kirsten Potter's voice makes this book and the other highlander series wonderfly enjoyable. The characters are all very distinct and understandable. No baby voices or shrill womens voices. Purchase all the books. You won't be sorry and see what happens to the Armstongs and the Montgomerys as well as the McCabes brothers. Good listening!