ARC REVIEW Highlander Ever After by Paula Quinn
The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #8, I jumped into this series at the halfway point but it was okay because each book pretty much reads as a standalone. I love Paula Quinn's writing style it's part of the reason I keep coming back to her books, whatever trope she's using she has the MacGregors make it their own. Another reason I keep coming back is that I love this family. The MacGregors' are warm and welcoming to friends and are just as fierce warriors as they are fiercely loyal to those who prove they are worthy. The family also has very close, very secret ties to Queen Anne so when she orders Adam MacGregor, the reluctant heir of the clan, to marry one of her ladies in waiting they have no choice but to follow her orders. Melusina de Arenburg was raised for court life she was a trusted Lady in Waiting and the bastard daughter of the heir to the throne; part of keeping her safe was keeping her unclaimed. Sina looked upon Queen Anne as a best friend and an almost mother like figure so she couldn't understand it when Anne orders her to the Highlands to marry someone from a very infamous clan rather than the man she wants to marry.
Sina is pretty much a spoiled brat when she gets there, acting like she's the only one who had her life disrupted, once she realizes they aren't the barbarians she thought they were and that her new family isn't all that bad she starts to open her heart to Adam, who she finds attractive as much as she hates that she does. Adam is nothing but patient with her, he gets aggravated and pissed off but he sympathizes with her and he likes her. Eventually they start to warm up to each other and fall in love unfortunately Queen Anne dies not to long after the wedding and soon enough Sina's father sends for her and she has to go back to London where the marriage will be annulled.
The second half of this book takes place in London where Adam tries to prove he's worthy of staying married to Sina, but under the disguise of someone else. Sina also along the way learns some very disturbing news that makes her long for Adam all the more. Normally I don't care for the books that take place in the King/Queen's Court with all those people and their power hungry machinations and backstabbing not knowing who to trust but there are a few exceptions and this is one of them.
Overall, this was such a good book. I hate to see the MacGregors go I really hope this isn't the last of them and that maybe the next generation will be up to a few adventures.
