Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for In Bed With a Highlander (from Goodreads):
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.

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author, Fav Couple (Never Love a Highlander)
Series: McCabe Trilogy
Author: Maya Banks
# of Books: 3 (In Bed With a Highlander, Seduction of a Highland Lass, Never Love a Highlander)
Book Order: Connected but Chronological Events
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Historical Romance, Highlander, Erotica, Action
Heat Rating: Hot  (Kink: mild [Seduction of a Highland Lass])
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: August 2011 – October 2011
Source & Format: Public Library–eBook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I went through a Highlander romance phase during the Spring of 2012. It was a weird phenomenon for me to be honest because Highlanders are the very definition of alpha male–a characteristic I detest in my romance heroes. But what I think makes it for me is the fact that the women are just as strong and independent…at least in most cases. There is just something so satisfying to see a man change his perception of what the role of a female should be when he meets a woman who isn’t going to take his brutish ways. Also, the action and fight scenes are fun to read too!

Of course, historical romances–especially highlander ones–have their fair share of docile women and I definitely read a few duds during my addiction. However, this series has that little something and actually has my favourite highlander romance of all time in its midst (Never Love a Highlander).

The Concept / The World:

It is very important to read these books in publication order. There is a bridging plot line that runs through all the books and concludes in the final novel. You can definitely read them out of order, but everything makes more sense if you read them together in the order they are meant to be read in.

The Plot:

What I liked about these books was the balance between the plot and the romance. While it definitely focuses more on the romance, the plot that is there is enough to keep you interested. And it is an overarching plot that links all the books together. I just loved how it was building; it was like watching a soap opera, seeing how all these events and people shape the story to be what it is. I suppose that is why Outlander is such a TV hit…

The Characters:

I break down the couples in the Romance section but I really did like the characters in this series. Because you follow this plot line for multiple books, you easily get attached to characters and it’s nice to see people pop up here and there. I like how they all interweave and how loyal they are to each other.

I also love that the bad guys are BAD. It makes them so easy to hate them and root for the good guys. I like the danger and drama they cause; it keeps the books interesting.

The Romance:

I really enjoyed Mairin in the first novel. She was spunky and though she became a little too submissive for my liking (you know, one of those girls who seems to change once she meets a man) I admired her spirit. Ewan was a great match for her and I loved watching their story unfold.

It was not the same situation with Alaric and his chosen (I’m not going to name her because it is a bit of a spoiler) in Seduction of a Highland Lass. They just did not work me. I didn’t see the connection and their love scenes made me cringe. If you’ve read more of Maya Banks’ books, you’ll know she tends to write more of the BDSM/kinky erotica and I don’t really enjoy that. It seemed like such a change from the previous book and it really made me dislike the leads.

But Caelen and his girl in Never Love a Highlander—WOW one of my favourite couples ever! I actually reread this novel this during exams in December 2015 because I adore it. They have everything I love in a romantic couple: attraction, an emotional connection and they love each other for who they are, flaws and all. I swoon every time I read their story <3

Series Rating: 4/5

In Bed with a Highlander 4/5 | Seduction of a Highland Lass 3/5 | Never Love a Highlander 5/5

If you enjoy historical romances with strong Highlanders, head-strong women and lots of spice (but not full blown erotica), this is a great series for you to pick up!

Read if You Like: historical romance, highlanders
Avoid if You: dislike highlander stories

• Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs Trilogy #1)
• Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn (Children of the Mist Series #1)
• Captured by a Highlander by Julianne MacLean (Highlander Series #1)