In Bed With a Highlander (McCabe Trilogy #1) by Maya Banks: Book Review

This is a fast-paced highland romance that doesn't spend time getting bogged down in the details of the period. If you're looking for a highly accurate and detailed historical fiction novel, this isn't it. (Read something by Diana Gabaldon instead! Start with Outlander.) But it's an engaging story with likeable characters that keep the momentum going so you don't get disappointed.

Because the "official" description of the plot line from Goodreads does a better job, I will quote it here:

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 and land.

Mairin annoyed me a good bit; she was so clueless and ridiculously naive. But it didn't ruin it for me. I LOVE all the brothers and think Caelen is my favorite. I assume the third book is his love story? If so, I can't wait to get to book #3. Love all their names too. I will definitely read on in this series.

Get your copy of In Bed With a Highlander on Amazon.

Read more about the author, Maya Banks, on Goodreads.

Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley: Book Review

I loved this little story! Eleanor and Nicholas are introduced when they are children and Eleanor's uncle is marrying Nicholas's mother. Nicholas stole a kiss from her and embarrassed her in front of everyone, and from that day forward he was a thorn in her side. Fast-forward 15 years when Eleanor is about to be forced into a marriage she doesn't want and Nicholas comes home from the army after two years away. You can imagine what happens. Yes, it's somewhat predictable, but it's very sweet.

I loved Eleanor and Nicholas. My favorite type of heroine is one who is tough, spunky, and witty without being mean, and Eleanor was great...especially considering how short this novella is and how tough it must be to properly develop characters in very few words. I love that Nicholas has loved Eleanor since they were children, and I loved his reason for pestering her. I also love that he loves Eleanor's fire and that he pushes her to stand up to her uncle.

The main reason I stopped short of five stars for this review is the grammatical errors and obvious editing issues. It started out as just a dropped letter here and there (i.e., you instead of your) or a misplaced comma, but by the end there were really big errors that made it seem like the author really didn't understand the usage of certain words. For example, she used wane instead of wan, thing instead of think, and breath instead of breathe. It got sloppier as the story progressed. But this was a great price of free on Kindle from Amazon, so I'm not really complaining.

The story was full of great quotes and one-liners, especially the banter between Nicholas and Eleanor, and Nicholas and the mean uncle. I have to mention two of my favorite lines from the story. Eleanor says, "I am not scandalous, thank you very much...But stubborn and willful? A woman never argues with a compliment." And later, "If you are mad enough to marry me, my love, then I am likewise inclined."

I very much recommend this novella as a quick, sweet story, and plan to find more to read by Erin Knightley. Four and a half stars from me.

At the time of this review, the novella was available for Kindle on Amazon for FREE! Get it now! Click here. Find out more about the author, Erin Knightley, on Goodreads.

The Cell Phone Lot by Stephanie Elliot: Book Review

This was a predictable, sweet short story with likable characters and plenty of hope. It was exactly what I was looking for today, and once I'd finished, I just felt happy.

Grant and Bridge have a chance meeting at the cell phone waiting area at the airport, and a flight delay gives them an opportunity to hang out at the bar and share a few beers. One thing leads to another and before they know it, they're hooked on each other. But there's a catch. Grant is at the airport waiting on an online date he was meeting for the first time. And Bridge is still hurting from a recent breakup. What do they do?
 
The characters were so sweet, and about as developed as you'd expect in a short story. I liked the modern setting; it felt relevant and believable. Just a good afternoon read.

At the time of this review, this short story was available on Amazon for $.99 (Kindle), or you can borrow it for free via Amazon Prime. Check it out here.