Never Love a Highlander (The McCabe Trilogy Book 3)

I think it is my favorite out of the three stories. The characters and story seemed a little more complex.

I’ve read some of Maya Banks’ Contemporary Erotic Romance and Romantic Suspense books but have enjoyed her Historical Romance books, especially when they are based in Scotland. I love alpha heroes, which are what the McCabe brothers are in the McCabe Trilogy. I’m glad also that my local library had Maya Banks McCabe Trilogy available to borrow so that I could read them. I finished reading the last book in the trilogy, Never Love a Highlander, and enjoyed it. Storyline/My Thoughts: First, if you haven’t read this trilogy yet, I do recommend reading the trilogy in order. I’m glad I started from the beginning due to the storylines being connected, especially when it came to the villain being introduced in the first book and continuously causing issues in the other books. The final book in the McCabe Trilogy gives readers the youngest McCabe story, Caelen. This young McCabe has every reason not to trust women after what happened to him and his family years ago. Now, he’s agreeing to marry a woman he barely knows that was supposed to marry his other brother, Alaric until his brother falls in love with another woman. Caelen is doing his duty as the only single McCabe brother to ally with the McDonald clan. The McCabe and McDonald family have a common enemy, so their alliance is important. The issue is that Rionna McDonald, the woman that Caelen is marrying, will not put up with his crap. I loved Rionna McDonald in this book, especially after being introduced to her as a secondary character in the first two books. This poor woman was arranged to marry the other brothers, but those brothers found love with other women. She knows Caelen is getting much of the deal of marrying her, especially with becoming the new laird over the McDonald clan. Rionna is one woman that won’t go for being a typical wife with Caelen. She wants to continue her lessons of wielding a sword and knowing how to defend herself. Caelen is one male that doesn’t like his wife doing those things. I loved the banter between Caelen and Rionna throughout the book because they may have hated each other initially, but their love grew when they got to know one another. It took time, and I was there for it. Yes, this has a Enemies to Lovers trope, which will forever be a favorite trope of mine in romance books. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book was Rionna’s character because she was a kick-butt heroine in the story. She didn’t put up with anyone, not Caelen, his brothers, or her father. (Her father is someone I didn’t like in the previous book and didn’t like in this one either.) Caelen’s character reminded me of his older brother, who I didn’t much care for when I read his book. He didn’t like Rionna doing certain things and expected her to be a typical wife. Well, I’m glad Rionna stood her ground with him. If you have read Maya Banks’ Contemporary Erotic Romance books before, expect spice between the characters in her Historical Romance books. She definitely knows how to write intimate moments between the characters. She also knows how to write some tear-filled moments too. Several of them are in this book. The ending in this book will go down as my favorite in this trilogy. Again, no spoilers from me. Just read it to find out. Overall, I give the third and final book in the trilogy four stars, and I’m glad I decided to read the rest of this trilogy after I picked up the first book for a reading challenge. I enjoyed this historical romance trilogy from Maya Banks and can’t wait to read more of this subgenre from the author, especially when she writes some strong-lead heroines. Genre/SubGenre(s)/Trope(s)/Element(s): Romance | Historical Romance | Scottish Historical Romance | Highlander Romance | Enemies to Lovers | Arranged Marriage | Alpha MMC | Kickbutt FMC | Virgin FMC Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book/trilogy if you enjoy reading the subgenre Historical Romance. I normally don’t enjoy Historical Romance and tend not to read as much, but I had difficulty putting down this trilogy due to those handsome Scottish McCabe brothers and the women they fell for them.

This is one of the BEST books I have read in a looooooooong time... perhaps since Julie Garwood started focusing mainly on contemporary romance. Both characters were GREAT.... The Hero was a bit gruff at first but you could quickly see that it was pretty much on the outside and as a result of a past betrayal - and this didn't go too far or cause me any frustration. It was actually really nice to see his evolution throughout the book - and how he is able to adjust his views and compromise. The heroine was my kind of gal - tough but tender.... she wants to be herself, but knows there needs to be some compromise (especially in this time period!). She is able to demonstrate bravery and love through her personality equally as the hero did. They both were incredible likeable - no ridiculous misunderstandings taking pages and pages to resolve, no long separations that kept their love from growing. It was so special to see the love growing between the 2 of them - and the many fun interactions ... from the occasional spat and makeup to fun snowball fights. The plot started as the 2 of them newly married trying to figure things out and then turned adventurous keeping me up late at night because I just couldn't wait to see what would unfold next. It has been a long time since I've read a book where I laughed and cried, got scared and then relieved... and never once got frustrated with either the characters nor the plot. I mention Julie Garwood purposefully because I have not read an author since that was even close to her style - endearing and funny - where you just want to hug all the characters (well except the bad guys!) and to be their friends... My heart melted on many occasions (I could literally feel the warmth in my heart) and I was smiling throughout - - and NOT just at the end during the "Happily Ever After"... This a top 10 book for me and one that I will definitely read time and again (I just wish it could be for the first time - but alas, that can only happen once!)..... It is the 3rd in a series and I would definintley recommending starting with the first as I suspect it will make this book even better for you but you don't have to as this is the best of the 3 in my opinion. But if you end up liking it as much as I did, you will be desperate to read Maya's backlist and there isn't much there for historical romance fans - so why not just read in order :) I wish Maya wrote more Historical Novels as I am now a **BIG FAN**! A++++++++++

This is a satisfying end to the trilogy - yet I hope Ms. Banks commences another one, and lets us see the wonderful Gannon find his perfect mate. (as well as other characters we will be introduced to!) (Others have summarized the story well, so I won't do so here.) Over the course of the first 2 books, I had grown increasingly interested in Caelen and Rionna, and was not at all surprised to see that they were perfect for each other. The third time was truly the charm for her. Rionna truly is a fierce warrior princess, and my heart hurt for her as she so deeply wanted to be accepted for who she was, even as she steeled her backbone to insist for that right though it might have alienated her husband. I also appreciated that it didn't take Caelen too long to realize he needed to let her be exactly who she was - and that it was the real Rionna that had captured him from the moment he first saw her. I loved how strong and brave Rionna was especially... *** spoiler*** As she used both her brain and her fighting skills to save her husband. It was also a treat to see the softer more tender side of Caelen as he let himself fall for his wife - what a lovely surprise for both of them to realize that a default marriage had become a deeply loving, fated match. There were so many touching moments throughout the book. I welcomed the chance to spend more time with Ewan, Mairin, Alaric & Keeley, and also to see how fiercely protective Gannon became of Rionna. **more spoilers** The lengths Caelen went to in order to prove his mettle as the new McDonald laird were notable to say the least - but it was truly heart-melting when he opted to take the McDonald name to honor his warrior princess and show his fealty to the McDonald clan. I will say that I wish a bit more time had been spent on learning the full story behind Cameron's hatred of the McCabes - and seeing him and Gregor McDonald gaining their comeuppance. However the relatively quick resolution did not detract from this story for me. So - bravo on the trilogy. Now let's have more to continue the saga.

The McCabe Trilogy by Maya Banks One of my 2025 reading goals was to read more historical romance. I have gone through phases with this sub genre and hadn't dipped my toes in it, in quite a few years. I have enjoyed Maya Banks as an author in the past, so I thought her historical highlander books would be a good place to start. I just finished book 3 last night, Never Love a Highlander, and let me tell you...I'm just so glad I chose this trilogy to dive back into the historical world with. I absolutely loved Maya's world of lush greens and rich soils. Of the northern world of kilts and clans and of the brothers McCabe as they burn with loyalty for their people and land. And as they find a love in each of their stories, that burns the brightest of all. In Bed with a Highlander - Book 1 follows Ewan and Mairin and the lore of Neamh Álainn Seduction of a Highland Lass - Book 2 continues with Alaric and Keeley as duty and alliances are weighed against true love Never Love a Highlander - Book 3 closes out this trilogy with Caelen and Rionna's story to bring peace and protection to the McCabe Clan If you love Outlander. If you love roguish heroes full of strength and might and posessiveness, only to fall to their knees from the love a good woman. If you love passion from your heroines who don't shy away from strife or challenges, just because they are lasses in an old and violent world, then I cannot recommend The McCabe Trilogy, full of swoon, and swords, and Scottish spice, enough. I absolutely loved this trilogy. ✌️🫶

I have been excited to read Caelen's story ever since I finished reading book 2, Seduction of a Highland Lass. With each book, Caelen's character has grown and become more in depth to the point where he may be my favorite McCabe brother. We were introduced to Rionna in book 1. It was arranged that she marry Ewan, the eldest McCabe brother, to create an alliance with the McDonald and McCabe clans. If you've read book 1, you know that things didn't go as planned. Ewan married Mairin so Alaric stepped up to the plate. Alaric ended up marrying Keeley and Caelen was the lucky brother to finally unite the two clans by marrying Rionna. Rionna isn't like most women. She wears men clothing. She is skillful with the sword. And like the other women that the McCabe men have fallen for, she's stubborn and independent. Never Love a Highlander did not disappoint. Caelen and Rionna's relationship was rocky from the start. After being handed off and rejected by two of the McCabe men, it would be easy for Rionna to be bitter and to wallow in self-pity. But she didn't. She accepted her duty to her clan and accepted her marriage to Caelen. Caelen and Rionna are very similar and this similarity caused them to butt heads throughout the book. Caelen, in his own neanderthal way, wants to protect Rionna but in the end, he realized that by doing so, he is forcing her to deny a part of herself. The romance between Caelen and Rionna wasn't as emotional and epic (for a lack of a better word) as the romances in the previous two books and I was okay with that. These are two practical people who are getting married to help their family, out of duty. There are no rose-colored glasses blurring the reality of their situation. I hope that this isn't the last of the McCabe family. I've really enjoyed this series and I don't want it to end. The McCabe right hand man, Gannon, deserves a lass of his own and hope that one day, in the near future, he was get his own book. I highly recommend this series if you're a fan of Maya Banks and highlander romances. B

Audiobook: Narrator - Kristen Potter I absolutely HATE that this series is over an not only because I’ll miss these characters, but because I’ll miss this narrator’s superb performance. She doesn’t just read the story and change her voice a bit here and there, she pulls you into it with her incredible diversity of voices and characters. None are the same, all are addicting, and each one I fell in love with due to Ms. Potter’s narration. This is the only book in the series that I never had the chance to read so I was thrilled to see it pop up on Audible. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Rionna. Up to this point she’s kind of just been on the sidelines, a woman dressed in men’s clothing and a bit one dimensional. I was afraid she would be so tough and warrior like that I wouldn’t be able to connect with her. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She actually had so many layers to her. She had her reasons for her behavior and they were believable. She also wasn’t changing anytime soon but learned to embrace both her need to defend herself as well as the woman her husband called forth from her. Caelen once gave his heart away and his clan paid the deepest price for it. He has been a cold, hard character throughout the series, with a few exceptions when it came to his sisters-in-law. That was what I held on to. And also the fact that this author knows how to do alpha heroes. It was fun to watch both of the hero and heroine adapt to the changes in their life. So much of it was witty, some was angsty, and some was anger inducing. All of it kept me enthralled with the story. This has some drama that helps this couple to further develop individually and as a couple as well as a moment when Caelen’s worst nightmare comes to life. My heart broke for this couple and I wasn’t sure how they would overcome it if they survived. Each of the books in this series has been unique and individual with the exception that the heroes are fiercely loyal to the women they marry/love and the heroines are strong enough to deal with their forceful ways. Can’t recommend this series enough, but I do suggest you start from the beginning. Listened via Romance Pkg own the book and ebook!

I enjoyed the McCabe trilogy, but this last book was, in my opinion, the weakest of the three. It is as well plotted and as sexy as the prior books (and as historically inaccurate), and it's worth reading to see how the series-arching plots resolve, but I wasn't as swept away by the story as I had been in the prior books. My biggest problem was the trope. This is one of those hero-was-betrayed-by-a-prior-lover-and-now-hates-all-women books, and that is easily my least favorite trope in all Romancelandia. Eight years ago, Caelen McCabe's lover betrayed his clan to their sworn enemy, Duncan Cameron (the villain of all three of the McCabe books), resulting in the murder of Caelen's father and the decimation of Clan McCabe. Caelen and his brothers have managed to claw their way back to prosperity, but Caelen never thought to marry, and certainly not to fall in love, because his lover's misdeeds convinced him that all women are foul and untrustworthy harlots. Unfortunately for Caelen, circumstances have forced him to marry Rionna McDonald, and take over the leadership of the McDonald clan. Caelen is attracted to Rionna and develops feelings for her even though he doesn't want to, which leads him to behave like a schizophrenic boar. He treats Rionna with tenderness and compassion sometimes (mostly when they are alone or in bed), and then with little warning becomes angry, moody, and lashes out at her with words or actions meant to humiliate or wound her (mostly when they are in front of her clan, of which she is more a leader than he is). Rionna wasn't a doormat, but she tolerates his mercurial mood swings with far more patience than I would have liked. The ending to the series-wide dispute with Duncan Cameron is satisfying, but the reason for the feud between Cameron and the McCabes is not as well-developed as it could have been.

A few days ago I finished this trilogy of books and boy was I sorry..I won't go into the detail of the stories as other reviewers have done a fine job..what I would like to say is..if you love highlander romance then this set of books will leave you wanting more..I wish there had been ten brothers..really!! The plots and action in the books was fab..just like you want your highland warriors to be..the women were brave and loyal..but it was the romance that was so..so..oh so..I wished I was one of those 'lasses'.. the love scenes were to die for.. the sex is hot but so wonderfully written that it leaves you all warm and fuzzy..I have read a few of Maya Banks book which verge more on the erotica side..no probs there..but these are more..how can I describe them..more gentle..as you have probably guessed I loved them..

Good read

Protagonista acting and talking like 21st century Americans with a few archaic sounding words drowned in the midst of modern terms, this is a tale for you...

Se lit très facilement. Les héros sont prenants et les scènes sont bien écrites. A recommander pour ceux qui aiment les histoires des highlands