3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was my first book by Michele Sinclair and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. I actually enjoyed the story, but it felt like it might just be a ‘bridge’ book. Something to do with the ‘unlikable’ brother while the author sets the stage for the next, probably more exciting book. There wasn’t any excitement or danger, nobody hunting the heroine or trying to kill the hero and/or his family. A bit of intrigue was written into the very beginning of the story – and then at the end, but none in between. I have given the author the benefit of the doubt in giving the book the rating I did. I am going to assume that the character who is lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood in the epilogue actually survives. If they don’t – I’ll revisit this review and downgrade the rating considerably. Then again, this is an ARC, so maybe the published version won't have that wording in it. One can only hope.

To me, the stars of the whole book were Bonny and Brenna. Bonny is six and Brenna is ten and they are the daughters of Conan’s brother Conor. They are so smart and funny – and they are born matchmakers. Once they decide that Conan and Mhairi should be together, there is no stopping their matchmaking schemes. You’ll love them. You’ll also love Conor, the girl’s father, who was the hero in the first book of the series.

There are seven McTiernay brothers. Five of them are married and are lairds in different clans. They were all featured in the first books of the series. From what I can tell – their names all begin with the letter ‘C’. Since I hadn’t read the first books, I found myself getting them mixed up as I read this book. I hate it when authors do that - in this book, all of Conor's children's names begin with a 'B'.

Conan McTiernay is a scholar. He’s huge and muscular and trains with the soldiers in his brother Conor’s guard, but his real interest is making maps. Since there are no real maps, he sees the value of having good accurate ones of his homeland in order to guide their king in stopping English invasions and also to guide travelers from place to place. Conan has little patience or liking for most people – he lives in his own head most of the time. He’s brutally honest, to the point of rudeness. He is solely focused on getting his vellum ready for his mapping trip that begins in the spring and resents anything or anyone who gets in the way of it.

Mhairi Mayboill is the exquisitely beautiful daughter of a traveling merchant. She loves traveling from place to place, seeing new things and meeting new people. For the last several years she has been living in a cottage near an abbey. Her father had sent her and her sister there to keep them safe because as they grew up and became more beautiful he didn’t feel it was safe for them to travel with him. He had taught them both how to take care of themselves – they could fight, use a dirk, hunt, fish, etc. – but he didn’t want their skills to be tested by traveling with him. Mhairi is as smart as (or maybe smarter than) Conan. She loves books and has a huge collection of them. She’s also a gifted artist.

Conan meets Mhairi when his sister-in-law sends him to his brother Cole's keep to pick up a person and bring them back to Conor's. That person is Mhairi and she’s in need of a place to stay because the abbey had burned and the church had taken all of the nuns away, but Mhairi wasn’t a nun and didn’t want to go. Sparks fly between Conan and Mhairi as soon as they meet – they are nose-to-nose and toe-to-toe arguing before they’ve even been introduced.

Neither Conan nor Mhairi have room in their plans for a spouse. Yet, everyone around them can see how perfect they are for each other. Mhairi isn’t intimidated by Conan and can stand her own with him – intellectually and physically.

I hated the epilogue, not because it wasn’t well written but because of what happens. The set-up for it was also just not believable. Supposedly the laird is sleeping in a tent outside his own castle because they had given their bedroom to Conan and Mhairi for the night. That just didn’t make sense. Mhairi had given up her room in the castle to make room for the wedding guests, but Conan still had his own room – so there was no need or reason for either of them to be sleeping in a tent outside the gates.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

Conan McTiernay is one of seven brothers in the McTiernay clan who speaks several languages, collect scrolls and books, but his favorite is mapping the Scottish countryside. He has no plans to ever marry he’s too busy with his favorite pastime mapping out Scotland. He plans to travel the country, drawing maps of all the clan lands for King Robert.
Mhairi Mayboill is facing choosing to marry or take the vows of a nun and she decides she doesn’t want to be a nun, she longs for travel and adventure. Mhairi is unlike any woman Conon has ever met she’s very intelligent, speaks several languages and collects scrolls and books. Conan and Mhairi soon realize they have everything in common. Mhairi wants freedom to travel and find adventure and she realizes marriage is possibly her only option. An entertaining book of two people who want nothing of love, but have everything in common where emotions soon forge an unforeseen bond.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland (The McTiernays, #7)
by Michele Sinclair

Anna Swedenmom's review Jan 25, 2018 ·

(The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland by Michele Sinclair)4 stars

Definitely buy this book if you’re not afraid of extremely strong characters! This is not your normal guy meets girl and falls in love book. The story-line is compelling and deep and you will fall madly in love with all of the characters. For being part of the series, it is still good to read as a stand alone. The author shows her talent again and again in her writing of this one. I have only downgraded it one star for it seemed like the book dragged at times. However, it just is one of those books you will sincerely enjoy. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Regards, Anna

I've read other books in this series and enjoyed them, but this one just dragged on. The author writes well, but there is just too much exposition and it makes for a boring read. Unfortunately, I stopped reading at about 40% as I just didn't care anymore how Conan and Mhairi finally ended up together.

I found the story a little wordy...I wanted the nitty gritty, but kept reading eloquent descriptions. That being said, I loved the story line and the cast of characters. Mhairi is so smart, beautiful, funny and wonderful. Conor is smart, sassy, arrogant, and wonderful. Their story will give you laughs and tears.

Now, the end of the book. OMG, how long will we have to wait for the rest of the story???? Soon, PLEASE Michele!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Conan has plans for his life and it doesn't include a wife. Mhairi wants freedom but her only real choices are to marry or become a nun.

Conan is asked by a Priest, one close to his family, to help move someone and their possessions to his brothers home, where she will stay until her father receives a message telling him what happened (a fire) and to come get her.

Mhairi and Conan butt heads right away, over her possessions. He is impressed with her collection of books but tells her she can't bring it all...Mhairi finds a way. He also thinks she is a nun since she was staying at a Priory but he soon finds out she isn't.

Both of these characters are very smart, educated. Conan doesn't get along with most people because he is blunt and to the point and they just don't like him. Mhairi gets along with all. During the trip back to his brothers home Conan is discovers that Mhairi is well educated too and they spent a lot of time talking.

Once there and settled, Mhairi learns that Conan will be going off to draw maps of Scotland, mapping is his passion. Mhairi is a talented artist, which he envies, and he asks here if she can help him with his "vision" of the land. So almost everyday they meet while she tries to help him.
A friendship grows as does their attraction.

Will Conan leave her behind? Will they both lose their hearts?

I loved this story! Conan is really hard to get along with and people are shocked when they find he and Mhairi get along so well. He can't let himself get attached though because a wife could never live the life he plans. Once Mhairi realizes her feelings for him, she plans on proving him wrong.

I loved Mhairi's father! He is quite the character and I loved the faith and trust he had in Mhairi. In my head, I truly picture him looking like the Wizard of Oz! LOL He just had such a wisdom for life.
I would like to read about the rest of the brothers and how they got together with their wives. This is a standalone story though. I have read this author's stories before and she certainly didn't disappoint me. If you love your highlanders, you will enjoy this book.

This could have been a very good book, however, the linguistics are incorrect! The story drags, then we have the now typical feminist running roughshod over huge men, and they supposedly love it! Not mutual respect, not a woman understanding how hard her husband has to keep her, her children, his Clan safe. The ending is incredible! It is the only reason that I would read the first pages of the next book.
Thanks!
carolintallahassee 👒

When I started reading this book, I did not realize it was actually book 7 of The McTiernays series. So I read it all without have ready the 6 books before it and it worked out really well as a stand alone.

The story was well written, the characters wonderful and their interactions really fun, they kept me smiling for sure and had my fall for them very quickly and easily.

I honestly loved every page except when we each the last couple of pages and let me tell you my heart stopped! Michele pulled a GRR Martin and all the happiness I felt about everything well... I don't know how to say it and I know I am giving out a lot here.. but I was gutted!

Now me saying that and I realize that this is major spoiler, did not stop me from loving the book and the amazing work that Michele has done on it. It is very possible that this is something she has done in the previous books and that it is perfectly normal, again I have not read them so I cannot say but boy oh boy... can we not do this to me as my heart cannot take it!

I am going to very much recommend The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland, but I will say that it might be a good idea to read the previous books in the series first so that you are prepared for how the series is set. Like I said, it was GREAT so do not let my feelings on the last 2 pages turn you off.. because where I may have not liked that specific plot point, it does not mean that you would not enjoy it. Remember, different people different likes and less likes shall we say!

I was given a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

DNF.

I just could not get into this book no matter how I tried. I made it a quarter of the way into the book and I found myself wondering about the price of maple syrup, the real stuff not that disgusting corn syrup passing itself off as maple syrup. And then, I was thankful that I didn't live in Scotland (for the first time ever) because the customs price tag would kill me.
The description for EVERYTHING was overly wordy and the characters were more bipolar than I am during an a roller coaster mental health day, up down mad sad happy. I loved the premise of the book but what I read just put me to sleep. Literally.

As promised, I am giving a fair and honest review in return for this ARC. What a lush tale! A story of the love and laughter of a warm clan. Great characters, great writing. All around enthralling story.

Seven boys in a family, Scotish, and only one left to marry. It is like the whole of Scotland has come to witness Conan McTiernay's wedding. His bride is Mhairi , a lovely dark haired, green eyed beauty. She is very intelligent, speaks several languages and collects scrolls and books. .Conan has a bad reputation, all the girls love him until they talk to him, he also speaks several languages, collect scrolls and books but his favorite is mapping the Scotish countryside.
There seems to be a lot going on, but it keeps your interest and attention. This is very hard to put down, you are always being pulled along.. The descriptions are very good, as is the dialogue. The characters seem to be full bodied and very full of life. I am looking forward to the next book.

Conan McTiernay is one of seven brothers in the McTiernay clan. He has vowed to never marry and spend his life traveling the country, drawing maps of all the clan lands for King Robert. Mhàiri Mayboill promises to never marry and to travel the countryside while capturing her surroundings by drawing. The two meet, are tossed together and shaken up while everyone who knows them, wonders if either one will change their mind. An enjoyable story but a little too much "chase" for me.

The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland by Michele Sinclair will be available January 30, 2018 from Zebra, in imprint of Kensington Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I loved this book. Not sure why the end was considered and epilogue though since it has to do with the next book (I assume) more than this one. I liked our heroine very much. She was strong and yet naive but not so naive that you couldn't relate to her. Our hero was interesting to say the least. He was knocked off his plans by her and I loved their banter!

❤️❤️❤️
💋
This Highland Romance was not a bad read
The story’s good , and the use of the Gaelic language adds to the Scottish feel .
But I felt it was just another highland romance , nothing to separate it from many others .

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Having read book 6, Never Kiss a Highlander, I can see this author still tends to take a very leisurely pace when telling a romantic tale. There is quite a bit of time spent on several different types of commentary (from the scenery, to the heroine’s first impression/introduction to the hero’s family castle/inhabitants, to drawing lessons, to sub-characters gossiping/trying to intervene/get the main couple to become a romantic couple, even details about the building of bookshelves). It will be up to you to decide if you feel it adds to the story line or makes it feel overly drawn out.

Be prepared to see the spotlight also shared with others (i.e., Maegan/Seamus), which was another sub-romantic plot in and of itself. I did love how Seamus had fallen for this sweet side character, who clearly needed to get over a McTiernay lad she had not seen in three years.

I must confess I stopped reading at 33%, out of frustration and boredom, but was glad I continued as Conan and Mhairi, the main couple, started to become the main focus. With Conan convinced he would not be swayed into taking a wife and refusal to deviate one step from his mapping career plans, I at times found myself wishing he would just pack up and leave and find out the hard way how miserable he was going to be without her. I did enjoy seeing her go toe to toe/nose to nose with him as they tried to prove their points and didn’t want to back down.

It is assumed Conan is a good guy at heart, but he sure had some knucklehead moments and lashed out with some hurtful words/actions, aimed at pushing Mhairi away, even after eventually being intimate with her. No, it doesn’t sit well with this avid romantic at heart to see the hero actively avoiding the heroine, leaving her to fight for their future happiness/prove they would make a great couple, especially after her declarations of affection. Sure, she proved she had grit, determination, survival skills, but more than once I wanted her to tell him off and make him beg for her attention. It did help to see him at one point scared out of his mind when he thought she had come to harm and may have disappeared from his life forever.

With an epilogue that seemed to meander, I was quite shocked it wrapped up with such a violent, brutal ending involving a somewhat central character. It obviously set the stage for the next sequel for a character up to this point had not even been introduced. I was just surprised of the finality of the heartbreak/ramifications now to come.

Title: The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland, Series: The McTiernays (Book 7), Author: Michele Sinclair, Pages: 400, stand-alone but part of a series, determined not to wed hero, sassy heroine, hurtful at times hero, some eventual very graphic steamy scenes, finally comes to his senses, slow paced, back and forth confrontational banter.

(I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

A good edition to the series. Readers will definitely want to read the entire series, who doesn't want to continue to live in the wild world Sinclair created. Her descriptions, not only those of the sexy highlanders, but of place will put the reader right there in the wilds of Scotland.