Highlander Most Wanted

Oh wow where do I start? Genevieve is such an amazing leading lady. To have been kidnapped, assaulted, raped, starved, and treated as something less than human.......and yet still come out sane. Sure she as fears and times of over whelming lack of self-confidence but love can change that.

Bowen, perfect in every way imaginable. First off is the fact that being a handsome and fierce warrior he can collect bed post notches without much effort but once he sees beautiful scarred Genevieve all he wants to do is care for her, cherish her, protect her. He doesn't see the scar as a disfigurement but a sign of strength. Her skill with bow and arrow (it saves his life) is admirable; especially since she takes out one of the most hated men in the show more land. Someone Bowen himself had reason to want to spill his blood.

He takes her away from McHugh lands where even though she was the victim the McHugh women treated her like a tramp. Spitting at her, trying to stone her, you name it...she's suffered it from their hands. Before he takes her back to his home at Montgomery Keep he sends word to her parents that she is not dead and they can meet up with her in Montgomery Keep. Genevieve has not wanted to contact them for all the shame and embarrassment she will bring to the family. When they finally arrive Bowen knows that he must let her go so that she can heal and be happy.

Well we all know that's not going to be the last of it as this is a romance story and we need a HEA. It's sweet. It's loving and it will make you smile from ear to ear.

Took me a while to read this book; not because it wasn't interesting but only I could chose a book like this while trying to get ready for the beginning of the holiday season. If you are looking for a love story with a strong female who's been through hell and back. A man with enough character to be able to see past the body and into the soul; and not be afraid to let her be in charge....this is a book for you.

Loved the characters. Loved the story development and not glossing over rough details or rushing through an awkward type of talk or situation. Looking forward to reading more from this author. show less

I've been having a rough few weeks, and most of last week and this past week, I've just wanted to veg with movies rather than read.  This book was just what I needed, and I inhaled it in a matter of hours. 

While this cover made me think 'bodice ripper' -- lots of heaving bosoms, sex in every chapter, silly scenarios that could have been solved with a two-minute covo -- what I got instead was a fun historical romance with a complicated heroine, a bohunky hero, and only two (albeit graphic) sex scenes. (The first sex scene didn't arrive until more than 200 pages into the story!)

[Note: The following plot summary may be triggering for some.] Set in some ambigu-historical era in Scotland, the novel follows Genevieve McInnis, a young show more woman kidnapped on the way to her wedding and  held hostage for more than a year, repeatedly raped and abused by her captor, Ian McHugh. Marred by a scar across one side of her face -- another gift from her captor, to make no other men want her -- Genevieve is loathed by the residents of the keep where she's trapped, seen as a collaborator with their evil laird. 

Friendless and alone, Genevieve is briefly relieved when members of the Montgomery and Armstrong clans capture the McHugh keep.  (We learn that McHugh kidnapped another woman, Eveline Armstrong Montgomery, the story of which is detailed in Banks' previous novel, Never Seduce a Scot.)

Sure that her 'sullied' status will make her unwelcome to anyone as a bride, Genevieve begs Bowen Montgomery to send her to a convent, a demand Bowen agrees to.  Moved by her story, he finds himself falling into lust -- and perhaps love -- with her just as Genevieve struggles with her own surprising interest in him.  There's an obstacle or two, some revelations, and a satisfyingly happy ending.

While the plot itself isn't that unusual -- kidnapped heroine, handsome liberator -- I was pleasantly surprised by the handling of Genevieve's experiences.  Even now, victims of sexual violence are blamed for what happened to them, and historically, Genevieve could have been abandoned or exiled for something out of her control.  Worse, victims blame themselves, and I had zero interest in wallowing through a novel with that element.  Happily, Banks instead gives Genevieve the space to heal, men who weren't total pigs, and opportunities for Genevieve to exert her own agency.

There's two sex scenes, romance novel-y graphic, but no more so than any Phillipa Gregory novel (I'm thinking Wildacre in particular -- which is like the V.C. Andrews of hist fic.). 

I'm definitely now a Banks fangirl for when I need a historical romance -- this was quick, romantic, emotional escapist fun. show less

Read from February 25 to 27, 2013

Read for Review (edelweiss)
Overall Rating:4.25
Story Rating:4.25
Character Rating:4.25

First Thought When Finished: Beauty and the Beast reversed and there were kilts! FTW!

Story Thoughts: Again Maya has wowed me with a story that involves an unusual character. This time it was a reverse Beauty and The Beast type of story. I thought Genevieve's story was heartbreaking and yet at the same time hopeful. She had external scarring that only scraped the surface of showing the internal/mental scars from a brutal year of torture. Her journey to "freedom" was beautifully told and with each step she took towards being her own person again, the more I was rooting for her! For me, this whole story was based on one show more woman's struggle to reclaim her life and set a new journey for herself. Though Gen did not always see it that way, as a reader it is what got me invested!

Character Thoughts: Genevieve was a strong, smart, and incredibly damaged leading character that screams root for me. She was put in a horrendous position and lived when a lesser person would have died. What she put up with from the clan, through the old laird, and even from Bowen in the beginning made me want to scoop her up in a bear hug! Bowen, what to say about him. Can't say he was really my favorite in the beginning and he really only got me on his team when he stood up for Gen (not out of lust but out of protection). In the end though his kilted manliness won me over.

Final Thought: Why or why don't I have the third book yet *sigh* show less

I did enjoy this book but not nearly as much as the first. I found the hero's character to be lacking and the initial interactions not really what I hope for in my romance novels, I understand that some of that has to do with Genevieve's circumstances and how she came to be in the McHugh holding. I did truly enjoy the way she overcame the abuse she suffered at the hands of the entire McHugh clan, treatment which even today would be difficult for any woman to come back from. I found this was a book more about Genevieve and the love story between her and Bowen was more of a backdrop. I was disappointed in the portrayal of Graeme's initial reaction to what drove Genevieve to some of her decisions and her hand in Eveline's abduction I felt show more that it was truly out of character for him based on the first book, however Eveline's reaction as well as Rorie's was exactly what I expected based on the first book.. I felt I finally got a small look at Bowen's true character at the end of the book when he realized he must go against Genevieve's wishes by contacting her family an act which he knew would cause him lose her. I also found the ending to happen a bit abruptly. I am still wondering what is to become of the McHugh clan, I would assume that part of the story line will continue in the next book. I am still looking forward to the next installment, but hope for a more rounded development of both main characters. show less

I really enjoyed reading this book.

Both main characters have depth and good chemistry with each other. The leap to being "in love" was a bit quick in my opinion, but they still have a sweet story together. The heroine, Genevieve, has some truly horrible stuff happen to her before and during this book. She has a very strong character to be able to survive what she has. The hero, Bowen, is super sweet. He's a reformed ladies' man (although that isn't shown in this book) who grows to care deeply for the heroine.

I liked the second half of the book a lot. Seeing Genevieve heal more and Bowen grow was great. It was fun seeing characters from the last book (which I loved) interact with Genevieve and Bowen.

There was a part of the book that I show more really didn't like. I hate when characters make decisions for their love interest, and I hate when characters keep important information from their love interest. It's very infantilising. Everything is fine by the end of this book, but it's super annoying to see it. show less

I liked this story and was emotionally invested in its characters (I even teared up a couple times!). *strong trigger warning for rape though* However it had some large flaws. Some *significant* inconsistencies (serious spoilers) the villain had been extremely possessive of her and others weren't even allowed to speak to her and he scarred her face so that other men wouldn't even find her attractive- but also he passed her around, everyone has been verbally abusing her for ages, and he set men to leer at her while she bathed. ?!? Well which is it? Or, she's been misused in every way by rapists for a year- but also she's unsure if it's possible for, like, a woman to give head?... Really? We're to believe that a gang of rapists wouldn't show more have at least *threatened* her with that sometime over the course of an entire year? That that was somehow a line they weren't willing to cross? Or that the idea never occurred to them?? ha. It just becomes ridiculous to claim things both ways, and it weakens the case for each! and other highly unlikely circumstances. And the last hurdle stumped the characters for entirely too long to be believable. Strengths- the heroine was strong and showed good judgement and exhibited skills, and was honest. And the hero acknowledged his own feelings, which were fun to watch unfold, and he prioritized her wellbeing. I liked them both. And there was a decent balance of drama and some good side characters. show less

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Highlander Most Wanted is the second on the Montgomery/Armstrong trilogy. This is a 2013 Random House/Ballantine publication. The Montgomery and Armstrong clan, once bitter enemies, unite to avenge one of their own. Once the battle is over, Bowen Montgomery finds a handful of people belonging to the McHugh clan still there. Among them a disfigured woman the others claim was Ian McHugh's whore. But, Bowen is told the truth about Genevieve and puts her under the protection of his clan. Genevieve, was kidnapped a year ago by Ian McHugh and disfigured as well as being used by him whenever he wished. Her shame is so great that even though Ian is dead, she refuses to let anyone tell her family she is still alive. Her show more only request is to be taken to an Abbey so she can live out her life in peace. But, then Bowen gets wind of some terrible rumors about Genevieve and believes she may have to answer for her crimes. This was a really good Highlander novel. There is some difficult subject matter in this one. Genevieve is subjected to cruelty beyond comprehention. Her spirit is completely broken. Bowen is a strong Highlander Alpa Male, but is very sensitive, loyal, and tenderhearted. He is strong enough and selfless enough to make a stand for what is right and put others happiness before his own. This novel has elements of forgiveness, redemption, friendship, true love sprinkled with steamy romance that leaves you wanting more. There are some action scenes, but most of the story's focus is on Genevieve and Bowen, which I think worked best for this type of story. Overall an A+ Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for the ARC copy. show less