Five Stars+ listen

Wow, I don't think I know enough words in the English language to describe and praise this book enough! I had sworn off historical romance books after trying and hating Outlander. And the only book I tried to read from Maya Banks was Sweet Seduction (erotica) and I couldn't even finish it. So to say I took a big chance on this story is an understatement. But my... Oh my, was I pleasantly surprised!!!

Ten minutes after starting this book I seriously considered taking a day off from work and just experience (yes because this was not just a book but an experience) this wonderful story. I don't like to give spoilers but Ms. Banks wrote a story that really takes you back in time into Scotland and melts your heart with the sweetest hottest romance I've read in a very long time. I loved so many characters in this story! The heroine, Eveline who is deaf, through will, determination and a strong spirit decided that she would have what she wanted, to love and be loved in a time when women were viewed more as property than a partner. The hero Gramm was just as spectacular.

Narration: Kirsten Potter has just been added to my narrators-that-I-love list. Perfect accent, perfect delivery, perfect intensity and emotions added to the story. Top that with great male voices and that you could very easily distinguish each character and you get an A+ narrator.

A wonderful love story and an amazing narrator Can't wait for the next book in this series!!

64 people found this helpful

OMG - NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A GREAT LISTEN

This is all you can hope for when spending your credit on a book - it's got a great plot written by a very talented author, it's got interesting believable characters that will have you envisioning them riding through the Highlands or walking in Medieval castles, it's got a handsome powerful hero and a strong proud heroine that bring you in to share in their trials and tribulations and finally, it's got a love story that defies prejudices, betrayals and discriminations to win out against all odds for the happy ending that we all seek.

Can't wait for the next instalment, the series has such great potential and M.B. is an automatic download for me.

Worth a credit? Worth every cent and more, much much more.

63 people found this helpful

Great story, never before read topic...

I’ve never read a romance, historical or otherwise,that had a deaf main character. Being hard of hearing myself, and having access within the deaf community, it was interesting. Ive actually had this book in my library for some time, but have been putting it off because I couldn’t imagine how deafness would be incorporated into a historical romance. Turns out, it can be done very nicely, not entirely accurately (in my opinion. I am hard of hearing and lip read, but I can hear sounds to correlate with the lip movements to help me to discern whats being said. It works most of the time, but not always. I do not believe that someone could lose their hearing completely and learn to fully lip read in a couple years with no sound, or sign, to help.) but its fiction so who cares. Thats the thing about fiction thats great. You take the impossible and make it possible. I loved it, and am going to go ahead and get the next one in the series. I’m sad to see that, at this time, people have been waiting for the third book as its been put off over and over again. But, Maya Banks is notorious for having this problem. We just have to accept it and hope it's soon.
Kristen Potter was great. Shes not a superb “actress” but she has a lovely, soothing voice that’s nice to listen to. She does a nice Scottish accent.

6 people found this helpful

Sweet love story

I've enjoyed several Maya Banks books, and this one is no different. I love Kirsten Potter, and totally adore "highlander love and war", so I knew I was in for a treat!

I liked the overall storyline, and the challenges that Eveline (sp?) faced because of her situation made me love her all the more.There were a few moments where I thought the story was a little slow, but overall it was a sweet love story. It's comparable to her other highlander series, but it doesn't seem like you're listening to the same story again. I'm interested to see what happens next in book 2!

11 people found this helpful

I enoyed this one but I just don't get the hype?

I wasn't planning to write a review, however, I felt compelled to give my 2 cents since I did not LOVE this one. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable, worth a credit and I don't feel as though I wasted my time. (narration was very good too)

I love romance books and this had the formula: Boy meets girl, conflict happens, conflict resolved, boy/girl learn and grow, they live happily ever after. This is the perfect formula for romance. This book had that and then some.

So, why didn't I love this book? I think it was all the hype. I expected this one to make me go "WOW, AMAZING, this is the best romance book out there". Sadly, it just didn't stick out as better then some of the other books I've read. Had I not seen all the positive reviews perhaps my expectations would have been lowered?
That being said, I did enjoy this one and will get the next book when it comes out.

4 stars, but was hoping for 5

43 people found this helpful

Weirdly captivating but rather cheesy

Where does Never Seduce a Scot rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listened to this in one in two long sessions and stayed up a bit too late to listen to it. Obviously something about it captivated me. However by the time I got to the second half of my book, I was rolling my eyes quite a bit.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Ending was pretty predictable, not that's a bad thing in my book. I don't believe that every book must have some surprise ending.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration was very good. The Scottish accent wasn't very authentic, but that's because I have an ear for it, having a Scottish husband. Most people won't notice. She didn't manage to do a deaf accent, but that would asking too much probably. She still did a great job, and injected a lot of life into the dialogue

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Cheese factory ? Seriously this book was seriously cheesy.

Any additional comments?

I must have liked this book since I listened to all of it, which is a rarity for me these days. It was suspenseful and kept you reading. However as you progress into the book you begin to grow uneasy. This is like watching a science fiction film with weak sci-fi elements. Scottish men of that era simply did not act like that. Why even make the characters Scottish. Is this a thing ? An excuse to put a topless guy in a kilt on the cover? There was nothing especially Scottish about the culture described in the book, except for for using the words "clan" and "laird".

7 people found this helpful

A Must Buy- Maya and Kirsten have a Hit

Would you consider the audio edition of Never Seduce a Scot to be better than the print version?

This is so great a listen. If you like Maya Banks & Never Love Highlander seriers, this one will knock your socks off.

What did you like best about this story?

a tender love story with strong characters and intelligence. So far,not the violence as Maya other seriers... This one starts a very promising seriers

Which scene was your favorite?

stayed up very late to listen, so river bathing starts the action

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

OMG, yes and now sleepy for it!

Any additional comments?

Ms Banks has a full writing range,and Ms Potter has the best Scotts accent. Her voice is a
rich one so she can really capture the region. You will fall in love with her in Highland and Scot seriers. Audible do not change this reader for this seriers. If Potter cannot do the story, just wait until she can.

12 people found this helpful

FUN BUT FLAWED - still yummy tho

It's not every day your heroine is deaf. I was immediately intrigued by this because I wondered how the author would pull it off. Well, she almost did it.

Meet Eveline Armstrong, a beautiful girl who took a tumble from a horse a few years back and is now daft. Or so everyone thinks. SHe was going to have to marry this guy who wanted to do icky things to her so she played dumb. No one in her whole family notices in three years that she's deaf.

Graeme, awesome hero of our story, notices the first day he meets her... or well has an itch of an idea that he learns almost immediately after they're married.

So I say almost - and even though I really enjoyed this book, you may notice I gave it four stays and the story 3... The thing is, Eveline has only been deaf for a few years yet she's learned how to read lips PERFECTLY every single time. With no mixups. And the fact that she's deaf isn't a problem for anyone it's simply who she is - think Hatfields and McCoys.

I think the author did a great job working with her being deaf and how people respond but between her family not knowing, her new husband finding out immediately, her fiance wanting to do things so horrible she has to get away from him (why he wants to do these things is never explained he's just a bad guy to be a bad guy), and the fact that the moment she starts talking she goes on and on with no problem and only a little weirdness... it was a bit too unbelievable.

The story had a few continuity errors as well. Granted, I was listening and haven't relistened but what I heard was the Montgomery and Armstrong feud has been going on for 50 years ever since Eveline's grandfather killed Graeme's father. SO lets do the math shall we? Graeme is the oldest of four... considering there could have been a few deaths here or there, we can assume he's at least late fifties early 60s. And described as not very attractive - it's his voice that is sexy. WHAT?? So the sexy guy on the cover is an ugly 58 year old who still isn't ready to get married when he's forced to marry Eveline? I don't think the author meant that so I hope I heard wrong... except it kept getting reaffirmed throughout the book. I chose to ignore it and focus on the guy on the cover of the novel. Geez.

Anyway, I always say honesty is my best policy and I try and give truthful reviews so I'll give you this... ignore the few hiccups I mentioned and spend the credit - despite its flaws it's still worth a listen.

4 people found this helpful

BEST OF BANKS

Would you listen to Never Seduce a Scot again? Why?

Oh yes, It was a fantastic trip back to 11th century Scotland. The characters are fantastic.
The heroine Eveline Armstrong is a combination of maidenly innocence, and bold as brass stubborn.
The hero Graeme is the Laird of the Montgomery clan. They have been betrothed to each other by order of King Alexander II. Seems totally fine for this time period, so what the problem??? Well these clans HATE each other, the King wants peace so he makes this decree.

Both clans are livid: the Armstrong's, because they believe that Eveline is not in charge of her faculties,( from an accident she had years before) They fear she has no idea what is expected of a wife
However Eveline is totally aware of what is going on, but she allows her clan to believe she is "adled" in order to escape a marriage to an sociopath...(best way to describe the guy)
The Montgomery's believe the KIng has made it impossible for the Montgomery clan to carry on because Graeme has no intention of having a "true" marriage to the "touched" Armstrong girl, therefore no Montgomery heir!

Eveline's only disability is that she is hearing impaired, and has taught herself to read lips.
She marries Graeme, and begins to win him, and his brothers over. The clan however is a little harder.....

What did you like best about this story?

The relationship between Graeme and Eveline, and Eveline and Graeme's little sister Rorie

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

She is fantastic,her narration, and accents are excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was a very emotional story, of a girl tring to fit into a world that cannot cope with disabilities, and her determination to change her life and they way people view her.

Any additional comments?

So worth the credit,, Can't wait for book 2.

17 people found this helpful

I absolutely love this series, wonderful narrative

This series is a must read, the narrator is absolutely wonderful, excellent story. I love all the characters in the srory. I have read each of the books in this series multiple times, I never get tired of listening to them.

1 person found this helpful