NEVER SEDUCE A SCOT - Maya Banks
The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, Book 1
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0-345-53323-4
October 2012
Historical Romance

Scotland - Thirteenth Century

The king of Scotland has decreed that his two strongest allies, the Montgomery clan and the Armstrong clan, must cease their fighting. And the best way to make sure neither clan goes back on their truce is to force the two together by marriage. Graeme Montgomery must marry Eveline Armstrong, or both clans will be labeled outcasts and their lands reclaimed by the crown. Graeme is willing to do anything for his king, but asking that he marry the Armstrong girl is cruel—it is said she has been touched in the head since her accident years ago.

Eveline has been deaf since her accident, and since she cannot hear people speaking to her, her family and clansmen assumed she had lost her wits in the fall. This misunderstanding saved her from a horrible engagement to a terrible man in the past, so Eveline let the falsehood continue. But not even her great lie can save her from marriage to Graeme Montgomery. There is something special about him, and though she cannot hear, the rumble and vibration of his voice is pleasing to her. But can she admit to her new husband about her deafness, and will the Montgomerys accept an Armstrong into their home?

Author Maya Banks once again proves she can not only keep an audience's attention, but keep them on the edge of their seats. NEVER SEDUCE A SCOT really broke the historical romance mold with an intriguing heroine and a man who is desperate to make it work, no matter what the circumstances. Eveline wants to do her part to become a true wife to Graeme, but the women of his clan will not accept her. The lengths she goes to, and the horrible way she is treated by others, made me almost physically sick to my stomach. It's been a while since I've had such a deep reaction to a book - but Maya Banks pulls it off almost every time.

NEVER SEDUCE A SCOT moves quickly, and this is truly one of those books you will hate to put down. Once I met Graeme, Eveline and the rest of their family, I couldn't stand the thought of leaving their story for even a minute; I had to know what would happen, and how they would make it through. The characters are incredibly genuine, and while this is clearly an historical romance, the story has that timeless feel to it. This is definitely a book fans of historical romance won't want to miss, and I'm sure the rest of the series will be just as amazing!

Be on the lookout for the next book in the series, HIGHLANDER MOST WANTED, coming in February 2013.

Amanda Toth