Another sexy novel from Maeve Greyson. Great character development with a unique perspective. I always look forward to her stories.

My Tempting Highlander (Highland Hearts #3) by Maeve Greyson
Loveswept, 2016
Romance/Fantasy; 254 pgs
Source: Review copy provided publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Of all the books in Maeve Greyson’s Highland Hearts series, this third book was the one I was most looking forward to. Given Ronan Sutherland was kind of the bad guy in the book before it and is now the hero, I suppose that might be a bit surprising. I generally do not think much of men conduct themselves the way he did in the previous book in the series. Still, I was curious, and given Ronan’s situation, the curse and the prophecy which would lead to him breaking it, I was willing to give him a second chance. He’s much more likeable this time around. Mairi and her twin sister are all that remain of the Sinclairs in present time Scotland. Their sisters have all traveled back in time to make their homes with their destined true loves. Mairi Sinclair, however, stubbornly refuses to join her sisters and grandmother in the past. Ronan,who is intent on breaking the curse, steps into the future (our present) with the help of the elder Sinclair to woo the woman he is destined to be with, and talk her into returning with him to the 13th century.

All of the Sinclair sisters are blessed with a gift, and Mairi’s gift is being able to heal. Chieftain Ronan, on the other hand, is cursed. He is a shapeshifter with the ability to change from man to wolf. A part of that curse also touches his mother who has lived her life in wolf form for hundreds of years and Ronan’s advisor and friend who is tied to the water as a dragon. Ronan does not want to burden Mairi with the truth initially, afraid it will turn her away from him. Mairi, on the other hand, values truth above all else, and does not trust any man who is not honest with her. You can imagine where the conflict between them will come in as a result, I am sure. Not to mention the fact that Mairi really does not want to give up her modern lifestyle. Ronan and Mairi are well matched—both a bit hard headed and stubborn. Ronan is very traditional in some respects, which can be expected due to his age, although I appreciated how much he respects Mairi and her opinions and choices. Mairi struggles more than he does in terms of accepting that she’s fallen for him.

Overall, I enjoyed My Tempting Highlander. Breaking the curse doesn’t prove to be as simple as Mairi and Ronan falling in love or even tying the knot, of course. Greyson never makes it that easy for her characters. I liked the way everything came together in the end—a bit of action and suspense mixed in with the romance is always a welcome addition.

I know what to expect when I pick up one of the books in this series. The couples are fated to be together, and so that big spark or zing when they first touch and their immediate attraction and devotion to each other is something I know will come early on. I am not a huge fan of instalove, but I can overlook it from time to time. And while these books will likely never be five star books for me, there is just something about them that keeps me coming back. I like the world building and the time traveling, there’s always a dash of humor mixed in, not to mention Grandmother Sinclair is just a hoot. They are fun reads, and sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

It was interesting to see this in reverse. Instead of the women going to a century they were unsure of, learning all these things to make their men happy, it was amazing to see the man go to modern times and try to get along. An overly protective Highlander, in modern days of strong willed women, and the chaos that comes with it? It leads to amusing romances and this series certainly provides.

There are so many books with the same overused plots, and prototypes. The cover tempted me to read this book, but the description didn't exactly sell me. It seemed like there was too much going on -time traveling, a werewolf shifter that turns into a highlander. He meets a sassy, sexy, and stubborn woman that turns his world upside down. I did not read the first books in the series but plan to go back at some point to read them. This was a lovely story :)