Never Love a Highlander (The Highlanders, #3) (McCabe Trilogy (eBook)) (McCabe, #3)

by Maya Banks

Maya Banks, the New York Times bestselling author of romance and romantic suspense has captivated readers with her steamy Scottish historical novels, perfect for fans of Julie Garwood. In Never Love a Highlander, the youngest McCabe brother uses sword and seduction to save his clan—and seal his heart.
 
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.

• ISBN10: 0345519515
• ISBN13: 9780345519511
• Publish Date: 25 October 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Ballantine Books Inc.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345519511

Reviews

[nitzan_schwarz]

*Sigh* I really needed this re-read, it gave me all the warm and tingly feelings. Never Love a Highlander is still my favorite of Banks McCabe series, even though I had not attempted a re-read of the first two.

I always love it when two people who don't expect love from their marriage find it despite all odds, and Banks gives justice to the well-beloved trope; forcing together two stubborn people who have no idea they have found their matches in their significant other. Caelen and Rionna are meant for each other for they are as fiercely loyal as they come, and Banks completely sells you on the idea of them.

If you're looking for a good historical, I recommend this series and Banks' [b:Never Seduce a Scot|13360101|Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, #1)|Maya Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328116176s/13360101.jpg|18588471]. Wonderful series and historicals!

[Amanda]

After finishing Seduction of a Highland Lass, I was really looking forward to the conclusion of this series and the HEA for the last McCabe brother, Caelen. Throughout the series, we've learned about Caelen and why he's so "cold" and hardened (and not in the good way) against women. Rionna is the perfect match for Caelen in that regard: strong in her spirit and fiercely loyal to those who hold her regard. (As an aside, I like how Maya Banks dealt with Rionna being left at the alter by Alaric, her original betrothed. Rionna's genuine happiness for Keely--and therefore Alaric--allowed the story to focus on Rionna and Caelen's story, without additional messiness.)

Maya Banks puts her characters through hell, but I've said it before and I'll say it again: Maya Banks writes damn good escape books. I read Never Love a Highlander in an evening, easily swept up in Rionna and Caelen's story and ALL THE EMOTIONS. I like all the emotions. Romance novels seems to speak to an innate desire to be as loved and cherished as our two main characters are. Who doesn't want to be loved, cherished, and craved. Nothing makes me swoon quite like the alpha man brought to his knees by the love of a worthy woman. EVERY. TIME.

Being the last book in the series, all the threads are tied together here, and we get to see the bad guy fall and the good guys succeed. Because who doesn't want that? The previous couples make appearances in this book, though it is really Caelen, Rionna, and the McDonald clan's story. And they do not disappoint. How Rionna proves her love to Caelen is fitting (perhaps predictably so, but it's a book you read to escape, so no one cares) and it was gratifying to see. I wanted HEAs for all the McCabe brothers. (Though I want Gannon to have a HEA, too. He was such a loyal, integral part of multiple stories in this series.)

The McCabe trilogy was my first introduction to Maya Banks's Highlanders, and I was not disappointed. I've got the first book in her The Montgomerys and Armstrongs series, and you can bet that is high on my to be read list. Is there such a thing as too many Highlanders? I think not.