Search - Claiming the Highlander (MacAllisters, Bk 2)

This was an easy read. I loved the idea that Maggie moved the women of both clans to hold off the men until they end their feud. I loved her bravery and her need to do something more. I loved Braden's character and could even allowed for his "sudden" love of Maggie. But certain aspects of the book left me feeling unsettled.

The laird refused to bow down to the women because he would lose respect of the clan. Yet it was okay for his men to tie him up and threaten him? Somehow that was a more acceptable way to get him into action? The book never addressed what happened to those men and it made me feel like the story wasn't as complete.

Also why couldn't Maggie take credit for what she accomplished? Was it enough that only Braden knew the truth? That sort of suggested that only he mattered in her world. Usually that would be romantic but not when the book was riddled with how unjust women were treated and that just added to it.

Maggie asked the women not to service their men in anyway yet she did repeatedly with Braden. I could forgive the first time since she thought she migth die the next day, but after that she came off as a traitor to her kind.

Sin was great in it and I loved Ceana / Agnes (the women of the MacDouglas clan). But the book was a disappointment. Most of the other books in the series were better.

charming story. fun characters. D:-)

Kinley MacGregor is a fantastic author and one of my favorites. Her Highlanders are delicious and spectacular.

Braden MacAllister is so heart-stoppingly handsome, devastatingly charming and passionately perfect that every woman who sees him either swoons or chases him down and demands he let them have their way with him ( 10 at once even). He, of course obliges with abandon, admitting anything with two legs wearing skirts will do and proceeds to prove it through much of the story. So is it any surprise I find it hard to believe when, at the end of the book, he pledges eternal fidelity to the rather dowdy childhood friend he never even noticed before? Although I understand why so many others rate this book highly, I just couldn't bring myself to like Braden enough to believe in his happy ending.

Knowing this is totally a personal preference and not wanting to judge a good author because of it, I may still try the next in this series (besides, Sin, the brother, was much more intriguing to begin with.)

Braden is the youngest of the MacAllister brothers, but his story comes first (technically, "Master of Desire" is the 1st MacAllister series book, but you won't miss a thing if you skip it). Braden and Maggie have a simple story -- the young boy who returns home as a man and finds himself face to face with the woman he has all but ignored all his life suddenly turning his head . . . But the true pearl in this story is Maggie.

Maggie is a strong woman, and her desire to stop the feud her clan has fought for five years is believable and noble, and the method she uses is perfect. Kinley MacGregor really thought out the backstory -- not simply using it to propel the lead characters into the sack.

Although the storyline is simple, she develops Braden and Maggie well. Don't let the first 5 pages fool you -- you will come to love Braden and CHEER for Maggie.

Move on to the next book, Born in Sin, which is my favorite MacAllister Novel, although this one rates a close second.

Love this series. Could not put down until finished.