Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Buddy Read Starts February 14 2018



Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

Join Joanna and I for a buddy read of Never Seduce a Scot. Discussion starts February 14. Everyone welcome!

Love this book! I may join in for a reread if I can make time.

Did you read or listen, Mariana? I think Geri and I are both going to listen, fyi, if that helps with your schedule. We’d love to have you join.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Did you read or listen, Mariana? I think Geri and I are both going to listen, fyi, if that helps with your schedule. We’d love to have you join."

I read it the first time, but I might try listening as well.

Either way is fine. It is available on Hoopla.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Either way is fine. It is available on Hoopla."

Thanks for the tip. I own the kindle version but went ahead and downloaded from Hoopla to listen.

Yes, I will listen. Hoopla really is great. No waiting. Glad you are joining us, Mariana!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Joanna and Mariana!

I was able to get some listening in while doing chores today. One thing I love about audiobooks. The book is going quickly. I am on chapter 19 so far. Graham and Emmaline are so sweet. Perfect romance for Valentine’s Day! (view spoiler)[ I do wonder exactly what caused Emmaline’s hearing loss and if she will get it back? I also wonder why Rory wants to learn to read. I haven’t looked at the other books in the series, but hope we get Rory’s story. She is so good to Emmaline! (hide spoiler)]

I hope everyone is having a good day. Any Valentine plans? My hub and I won’t celebrate until the weekend. He is hard at work today!

Happy Valentine's Day to you too!

I'll switch over to listening to this today. How far in is Chapter 19?

Happy Valentine's Day! My husband and I both took the day off work and had a day date while our two girls were at school. We went for a couples massage and to watch the Fifty Shades Freed movie.

I just started listening today. This is a reread for me but I am looking forward to it as I gave it 5 Stars the first time.

Awesome! Sounds like a lovely day.

Mariana wrote: "Happy Valentine's Day! My husband and I both took the day off work and had a day date while our two girls were at school. We went for a couples massage and to watch the Fifty Shades Freed movie.

I..."

I’m jealous! Your day sounded wonderful! How did you like the movie? I usually rent Fifty Shades because my husband won’t go. :(

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Happy Valentine's Day to you too!

I'll switch over to listening to this today. How far in is Chapter 19?"

Chapter 19 is about a third of the way through. I am about 2/3 through today. I will start chapter 32 tomorrow.

I am still enjoying. I get so mad at how Emmaline is being treated. But then I swoon at how wonderful Graham is to her! :)

Geri, I'm sorry. I haven't been able to stop my current listen. It's captured me, and I just can't stop! I will be on this by tomorrow at the latest, maybe tonight.

Geri wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Happy Valentine's Day! My husband and I both took the day off work and had a day date while our two girls were at school. We went for a couples massage and to watch the Fifty Shades..."

I did have a wonderful day. I think the movie was my favorite of the three.

I listened to the first six chapters last night. I am loving this just as much the second time around. I really enjoyed the scene where the H/h first met.

Ok, I have started! I have been able to get a lot of listening done lately due to tasks at work suited to listening to something, so I will likely get quite a bit done today.

I really like the premise and start, interesting and not over done, am about 40 minutes in.

Sorry for taking a bit to get started. I don't like switching between different audios, and I didn't think of the length of what I started before this.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Geri, I'm sorry. I haven't been able to stop my current listen. It's captured me, and I just can't stop! I will be on this by tomorrow at the latest, maybe tonight."

No need to apologize! I want to know what book you were listening to. It sounds really good!

Mariana wrote: "I listened to the first six chapters last night. I am loving this just as much the second time around. I really enjoyed the scene where the H/h first met.
"

I really liked that too! Emmaline should have been scared. But something in her realized Graham wouldn’t hurt her.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I don't like switching between different audios, and I didn't think of the length of what I started before this.
"
I can understand reading 1 book at a time. You aren’t crazy like me. :) I usually tackle 3 books at a time. I like the variety. I have to stop myself from juggling more. Everyone always asks how I keep things straight. But I always do!

I finished today. The last third was exciting! (view spoiler)[ I thought Ian McHugh would show up and do something. I wasn’t surprised. But I did enjoy the rescue. That was exciting. (hide spoiler)] I did shed tears at the end (view spoiler)[ when Graham figured out a way for Emmaline to “hear” him say, I love you. I literally did tear up! LOL (hide spoiler)]

I have to read about the other 2 books in the series now because I have grown attached to the families.

Geri wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I don't like switching between different audios, and I didn't think of the length of what I started before this.
"
I can understand reading 1 book at a time. You aren’..."

I usually have one listening and reading, so at least two, but I can add more to the reading schedule. When I try to add more to listening, I am not very satisfied, maybe its because getting to a good stopping point is harder because I just keep listening.

The book I was listening to was Kulti. It was a slow burn, so I thought that I would get to a point where it seemed to advance in their relationship (like a first kiss, for example) but that was very late in the book.

Mariana wrote: "Geri wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Happy Valentine's Day! My husband and I both took the day off work and had a day date while our two girls were at school. We went for a couples massage and to watch the..."

Yes! I enjoyed that scene as well. Her reactions to him are honest, and I love that. Both have my heart already!

I am never good at catching which chapter I am in when listening. I am at about 45%

I think Graeme is too good to be true. Patient and understanding, not jumping to conclusions, picking up on clues and making his own conclusions. *sigh* love him.

Evaline is an interesting heroine. I am curious to learn more about what Ian McHugh said to her that frightened her so much. I am really enjoying her and Rory’s growing friendship.

Overall, quite lovely so far.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Geri wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I don't like switching between different audios, and I didn't think of the length of what I started before this.
"
I can understand reading 1 book at a ti..."

That is me too. I like to always have one book to listen to and one or possibly 2 to read at a time. When I am doing buddy reads I prefer to read two, so I don't just plow through without making comments.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I am never good at catching which chapter I am in when listening. I am at about 45%

I think Graeme is too good to be true. Patient and understanding, not jumping to conclusions, picking up on clue..."

Yes, sometimes I literally rewind it to try to figure out what chapter I listened through. I think I am through chapters 28 or 29.

Anyway I agree. I love Graeme! He is almost perfect, too good to be true! The scene where they consummate their marriage felt so real and raw. It was both erotic and sweetly seductive. I am now listening about her first day trying to run the castle as wife to the Laird. She really put in the work!

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "The book I was listening to was Kulti. "

The book looks interesting. Noticed a few other goodreads friends already read this and liked it too. I will have to read it!

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Her reactions to him are honest, and I love that. Both have my heart already! "

Yes, I found this book refreshing because they were both honest and straightforward with each other. They were good to each other and their love grew from this. I loved that! Sometimes I want to read a quieter romance without a lot of bickering or bantering or complications.

Mariana wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I am never good at catching which chapter I am in when listening. I am at about 45%

I think Graeme is too good to be true. Patient and understanding, not jumping to co..."

I am about 70%. I loved their scene of consummation also. There's just a lot of care shown in their treatment of each other. They really win me over. I thought the same of the scene where she wields a sword, and he realizes that she must have been very provoked to make such a scene. AMAZING. I think back to that McNaught we read this summer, Until You...I think you and I had similar reactions to it, Mariana. The complete opposite would have happened there and in many other books. This is the type of reaction that I expect in a Hero, with a capital H.

I know you both are finished. I will definitely be finishing up tomorrow, but maybe tonight.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I am never good at catching which chapter I am in when listening. I am at about 45%

I think Graeme is too good to be true. Patient and understanding, n..."

I hope you enjoy the last 30%.

Graeme is just such a man of character. He does and feels what he believes is right. He does not let his brothers or others pressure him to act differently than what his soul feels is correct.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I am never good at catching which chapter I am in when listening. I am at about 45%

I think Graeme is too good to be true. Patient and understanding, n..."

I like that, Joanna! Hero with a capital H.:)

Finished. Loved it. Think I am going with five stars. I think I am a bit bloodthirsty. (view spoiler)[ I relished it when Graeme walked up to Ian, who was gloating that of course he didn’t have Evelin, and just ran him through. Stupid idiot, got his just desserts.

I did think Ian’s father a bit of a quandary. He apparently had no backbone. So disappointed there is only one more available in the series because I am invested now. (hide spoiler)]

Glad you enjoyed it too! I looked up the other books yesterday. For some reason book 3 is not available in any format. That is strange to me. The book description sounded good too. And there is no book for Rory. I really wanted to read her story. Oh well!

I think I saw that there has been delays on it, unfortunately.

Yes, I have been waiting for book 3 for two years now! It is supposed to be out sometime this year. We'll see.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Finished. Loved it. Think I am going with five stars. I think I am a bit bloodthirsty. I relished it when Graeme walked up to Ian, who was gloating that of course he didn’t have Evelin, and just r..."

I was bloodthirsty in this case too!

Haha! Glad I wasn't alone in that.

Thanks for the explanation! Hopefully, book 3 will eventually be released. I’ll keep an eye out for it!

Have you ladies read book two? It is not as good as the first, but I would be willing to listen to it a second time.

Not yet! Sounds great to me.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Not yet! Sounds great to me."

Sometime in March?

Yes, I should be able to do that. I don't think any time is better than others for me. I do quite a bit of listening these days.

I’m in for a BR of book 2! Just let me know when in March.

Geri wrote: "I’m in for a BR of book 2! Just let me know when in March."

Let's do near the beginning. I am not currently listening to any audiobook, so I will make this one my next.

OK! I created a thread for our buddy read. I set the start date as March 5. If it needs to be changed, just let me know!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...