In Bed with a Highlander

By: Maya Banks

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his-until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan's clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer. The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn-and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin's strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons-and embrace a love that means more than revenge or land.

©2011 Maya Banks (P)2012 Tantor

Excellent!!!!

I began reading this book simply because I love Highland stories, but goodness I got so caught up in it, I couldn't put it down. It was so captivating from beginning to end! I also found out that this is one in a trilogy but audible does not mention that and I have no idea if they are going to bring the other 2 books! So frustrating, I really don't want to get it from somewhere else. The author did a really good job with this story, I hope the other two books are as great and the the narrator (my first hearing her) also did a good job. I recommend this book with 8 stars!

PREDICTABLE PLOT, TEPID LOVE SCENES

When I buy romances novels like this one, I don’t expect Pulitzer Prize winning prose or complex storylines, and will usually give an author a lot of latitude if the plot follows a tried-but-true story arc and the main characters fit the hunky-alpha-male/innocent-but-courageous-female stereotypes we see in so many of these books.

Even knowing that about this genre, I was disappointed by this book. Maya Banks didn’t simply use those conventional romantic elements -- she forces them on us. The main character, Marin, is kidnapped from her convent (yep, a convent) by the story’s villain, Duncan Cameron, who is not just a pompous blowhard or self-centered schemer; to ensure the reader understands just how bad this novel’s bad guy really is, he is also physically abusive, a traitor to the throne, and cowardly in battle. Then, after escaping Duncan’s brutish clutches, Marin meets the hero, Ewan, whose first wife died (but don’t worry, he hardly remembers her), whose favorite phrase is “You will obey me,” and whose sexual mastery is, naturally, unrivaled.

And even there, the story fizzles. The sex scenes, while numerous, never manage to build up any real heat. I was not expecting the lengthy detail or vivid descriptions you would find in an erotic novel, but given all of the reviews describing this book as “hot” and “steamy,” I was expecting some serious sizzle between the main characters, similar to the heat in Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower series (which is also available on Audible) or Kresley Cole’s MacCarrick Brothers trilogy (which is not yet available on Audible but is EXACTLY what this trilogy should have been).

Finally, I have to agree with another reviewer who mentioned that it was difficult to tell which character was speaking because all of their voices sounded the same. While I found this was especially true with Marin and Ewan’s voices, overall I thought the narration was fine. I wouldn’t buy another Maya Banks book, but I might listen to another audiobook narrated by Ms. Potter.

My First Highland Romance

Any additional comments?

I was completely unprepared for how much I enjoyed this book...well, this trilogy. I had read a few other titles by Maya Banks and, in the midst of a complete tantrum over a lack of new reading material, I gave in and purchased this title. I enjoyed it so much that I was racing to download the second and third installments!

The McCabe brothers are (wait, be shocked...gasp...) ALPHA males with vengence on their minds and in their hearts. When Mairin arrives wearing the enemy's colors and with Ewan's missing son in tow, Ewan McCabe is impatient for answers. Too bad Mairin isn't on board with giving answers or following his orders and she's convinced his son to be just as tight lipped!

While the whole Alpha warrior thing isn't new, the personalities of the characters suck you into their world and their lives. I know it's tempting to have that "I am woman" moment and reject the alpha hero, but really...why would you do that when they are just so yummy!

I really liked this first book but found that they got better with each subsequent title. So, don't stop with this one, cash in the credits and keep going!

mya Banks

love her story's. its easy to see thru her eyes were her hero are going in the story.

great story but narrator was hit or miss

I really enjoyed this story. I read others from this Arthur but this was one of my favorites. The narrator was hit or miss. However, for the most part it did not take away from the story. This would probably be a great story just to read on your own.

decent listen

it's a romance novel. fairly well written. narrator is good. give it a try if you like

Great book first book

I loved everything about thus book, the narrator has outdone herself. I hope to find another series like this one. The story was funny and the characters were interesting.

Can't wait to start book 2

Enjoyed!

Another enjoyable Highlander read from Maya Banks! I struggle a bit in the beginning when the men act as if the women’s opinion is not valued but she sure does have them falling hard for their women by the end.

Great characters! Great story! Great every thing

Listened to this book numerous times and it intrigues me and entertains me every time! I love the McCabe brothers:)

Everything a Romance Novel Should Be!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this novel without hesitation. It has everything a girl wants in a romance novel. There are times for a serious read, for a read to expand your mind and educate you, and then there is the time for a good romance novel to remind you of those saucy paperbacks of your youth! This novel has it all - spirited heroine, a strong hero, danger, love, and the happy ever after!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main female character is spirited and strong and does not give up on her dreams but remains open to true love.

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

I honestly believe Kirsten Potter is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. She has an uncanny ability to bring each character to life and does not possess one ounce of that boring monotone voice that can make some books so hard to listen to even if the story is a good. I would defintely listen to more books - outside of this genre - where she is the narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Fighting Highland Lass