Highlander Most Wanted
Series: The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2
Author: Maya Banks
Published March 19th 2013 by Ballantine Books

Goodreads Synopsis
In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.
Goodreads

Review
After the events of Never Seduce a Scot, the McHugh compound is in disarray. The Montgomery's and Armstrong's have taken control, the laird has fled, and his wicked son, Ian, has been killed by Graeme Montgomery. Bowen Montgomery has been left in charge whilst the rest of the Montgomery's and Armstrong's return home for supplies, and to discover where Patrick McHugh and his warriors have fled too. When Bowen and Brodie Armstrong recall the young women who helped them discover Eveline's hiding place, they realise that she is Genevieve McInnes, the presumed dead daughter of a lowland chief, close to the kingdom, and former captive of Ian McHugh. Genevieve has been tortured, tormented, and ridiculed by Ian, and the entire McHugh clan, since she was kidnapped a year ago, and she's worried now that Bowen will be as cruel. She doesn't want to trust him, but the more he protects her from the vicious rumours and attacks of the McHugh's, and he champions her to his family, she can't help wondering if this is what it's like to be in love, and be respected by those around you. Bowen hears rumours that Genevieve may have been the reason for Eveline's capture, and struggles with his own growing feelings for the woman, but he can't help falling in love. Will the truth come out about Genevieve's abuse and how she survived, and will the Montgomery clan be willing to accept her into their family.

To be honest, this book was extremely hard hitting. Genevieve was brutally raped, ridiculed, scarred, and tormented during her year with the McHugh's and everyone still treated her as if she was a willing participant - calling her whore at every turn - though they knew she was a prisoner with no way out. I just felt for her so much, especially as she recalled what she had gone through, beat herself up about why Eveline was taken - and what she forced herself to do to help her - all alone, apart from Taliesan, who was her only friend and ally. I didn't know how a romance with Genevieve at the helm would work, or how she would allow herself to be so vulnerable with a man, but it was done so well in this book. Her and Bowen's relationship was sweet, and honestly perfect considering her history. Bowen could be hard and scary when it was needed, and in the McHugh compound that was often, but he was a right softy around Genevieve, and would do absolutely anything for her, even if that meant he ended up losing her in the end. This book just took my breath away, and knowing that the third in the series - this time Taliesan and Brodie's story, keeps being postponed and might not be published until 2022 now, is making me desperate for more! I reckon I'll be reading more of Maya's books to tide me over until then!

Dates Read:
August 12-14, 2020

Rating
4 Stars