Highlander Ever After

Nvengaria #3

by Jennifer Ashley

Scotland 1820
When Zarabeth of Nvengaria is in danger, her cousin Prince Damien knows there's no safer place he can send her than to his old friend Egan MacDonald and his castle in the remote Scottish Highlands.

Egan has loved Zarabeth since the day she kissed him in her father’s house five years ago, his young friend having blossomed into a beautiful woman. Since then, Zarabeth married, but she recently discovered that her husband was a treacherous plotter, ready to overthrow her cousin Damien and take over Nvengaria. She slips away at great risk to herself and informs Damien, who sends her to Scotland, in the company of a half-logosh called Valentin to protect her, out of reach of her cruel and vengeful husband.

Egan finds Zarabeth a rigid shell of a woman. He undertakes to strip away the layers she’s been forced to wear, to expose the true, spirited, beautiful Zarabeth he’d known. At the same time, Zarabeth is determined to show Egan how much she cares for him—has always cared for him.

She also comes to life in the castle whose beams are likely to fall on her, and which is supposedly under a curse, where Egan’s cousins, sister, nephews, and neighbors swarm at will, returning joy and laughter to Zarabeth’s world. Egan’s nephew Jamie is determined to marry Egan off so Jamie won’t have to inherit, and recruits Zarabeth to help him. Zarabeth falls in love with Castle MacDonald and its inhabitants and never wants to leave—curse or no curse.

Zarabeth grows interested in the curse and its history—anything magical fascinates her. She herself has a magical gift, inherited from her Nvengarian mother—she can read thoughts, which was how she learned of her husband’s treachery.

But there is one person she’s never been able to read—Egan MacDonald, the Mad Highlander, the man she’d give her heart to, and her entire life if he wished it …

Nvengaria series, Book 3. This is a full-length novel.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Scotland

323 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.

Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.

Reviews

[Umaiya ❄️Ramblings of a Scattered Mind❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 It's been a while since I read a good Highlander book stars.

I'm really surprised more people haven't read this. I mean, it's Jennifer Ashley you guys. How do more people not know about this?

So our book stars Zarabeth (that's a really nice name btw), our h who ran away from her abusive husband to her cousin Damien when she discovered her husbands plot to assassinate said cousin ruler of Nvengaria.

Now Damien, smart cookie that he is, realizes that the castle is never a safe place especially in Nvengaria where there's a rebellion every year, sends her off to her fathers trusty friend Laird of Clan MacDonald, Egan MacDonald who just so happens to have a castle that is very hard to reach.

Problem solved!

Now our H and h met for the first time when she was 12 and he was 25 and she found him in a ditch on the side of the road and convinced her parents to help him out.
Kiddy, puppy, "true" love ensues.

Did I mention Zara is a minor witch and can read minds? Except Egans that is.

Not everything has to be about you, Bella.

So flash forward 6 years, shit goes down, Egan leaves and a pissed of Zara marries Sebastian the douche. No seriously that's his full name.

This book was pretty much everything I was hoping Fairest Of Them All would be.

Now it had some ridiculously unbelievable scenes like the hot spring one. I really just wanted to bang my head on the wall there. Also, I'm pretty sure spas and casinos were not called such in the 1820s, just sayin'.

And let me just say, in my opinion, kissing is cheating. It doesn't just have to be straight out sex, kissing someone other than your spouse is part of my definition of cheating. And I realize the douche was a douche but even then, I'm not okay with cheating. If it happened once, I'd just force myself to get over it but it didn't only happen once and still bugs me.

So this next character deserves a huge shout out, take a bow Jamie MacDonald, I'd adopt you if I could! I loved this boy so much, he made the entire book infinitely better.

And then comes, Mary.
What?! I mean, what?
There has to have been typing or editing errors cause I don't get how such a horribly written character could exist let alone get their own book. Now she was brilliant when playing matchmaker but when she was on her own or you were reading from her pov, I honestly don't know what would happen. Reading those moments, even just thinking of them, I get a weird itch in my throat that just won't go away.
Those parts? That next book (that I have not read)?
It needs to be scrapped.
There. I said it.

Haven't you heard of Freedom of Speech for shits sake?

Moving on, I had a blast. It was humorous and fun, all in all, time well spent and hey, I might even go back to read book 2.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jennifer Ashley's writing style. This book is really well-written, and I think it might be #3 in a trilogy, but I don't feel like I missed much.

It was a sweet love story, with some action.

***spoilers***

Princess Zarabeth is in danger, her husband is trying to start an uprising in her royal family. Her cousin Damien is the Prince and is married to Penelope (from Penelope & Prince Charming). He is a good ruler but Zarabeth's husband wants to rule. So she leaves him after 5 yrs of an awful marriage, and Damien sends her to Scotland to stay with family friend...and her first love Egan.

They both are hot for each other, but Egan refuses to take it farther since he feels shes still married and he respects her father and cousin too much. Plus he's 36 and she's 23. But her husband sends out kidnappers and assassins to get her, and Egan keeps her safe. Even after her husband is killed, though, the usurpers still have their supporters. So Egan and Zarabeth get married, but her two loyal footmen kidnap her. But don't worry, Egan finds her and they get their HEA.

one of my favorite parts of this book is the saying, "Marry a Highlander, and you get the whole lot!" (you know,meaning that if you marry one, you get the whole clan). the humor is throughout the whole book, like when they are naked in an underground hotsprings, and about 5 of the Highlanders find them, they jump on in! It was a really cute book.

[Sheila Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINAL DECISION:  Enjoyable read but not as good as the second book in this series.  I enjoyed the relationship between Zarabeth and Egan but for me the conflict wasn't strong enough to justify the time these two were at odds.

THE STORY:  Egan MacDonald has loved Zarabeth for years. Despite her marriage to another man, he has not been able to forget her.  When her husband plots a coup against her cousin, the Prince of Nvengaria, Zarabeth reveals the plot and is now in danger for her life.  Zarabeth's cousin sends her to his friend Egan in Scotland for protection.  Zarabeth is not the exuberant woman that Egan remembered.  While Zarabeth is in danger, Egan and Zarabeth have the chance to rediscover a path together that they missed years ago.

OPINION:  This is a second chance at love story about a woman who has been deeply hurt and the man she always loved.  Zarabeth and Egan are a good match for one another despite his attempts to keep her at arms length.  He loves her but he doesn't believe himself good enough for her.

While there are magical elements in this story, the core is the relationship between Zarabeth and Egan. Her desire for him and her fears as a result of her marriage, his desire for her competing with his belief in his inadequacies.

I liked the romance here which was quiet and took a while for the two to work through their problems.

For me the negative of this book was that the conflict was not strong enough to really justify these two being at odds for so long.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book introduces the couple for the novella THE LONGEST NIGHT.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER is the third book in the Nvengaria series.  This book can be read as a standalone because the romance is self-contained although there are overlapping characters.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It's number three in the 'Nvengaria' series after "Penelope and Prince Charming" and "The Mad, Bad Duke". I enjoy Ms Ashley's writing as, at least in this series, she does a grand job of injecting humor into the story. Her heroines are strong personalities and her heroes are just strong enough to keep up with them.

Princess Zarabeth has loved Egan MacDonald ever since she was 12. Unfortunately, he's the only person she's never been able to 'read' psychically. So all she knows is that he's a dear friend...and incredibly confusing, irritating, honorable, teasing, and very handsome! She's come to his castle in Scotland for refuge. Her husband treated her horribly, but Zarabeth stayed until she discovered he was trying to overthrow her cousin the King. Now she's hunted and haunted by her past.

Egan has secrets of his own. He's wanted Zarabeth since she was full-grown. He even left Nvengaria to try and douse his desire, but he's still thought of her every day. But he's no prince, he's just a laird with a run-down castle, a curse, and a meddling family...what can he offer Zarabeth?

Fun and funny, an entertaining read to the end.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I do find this series to be refreshingly fun for a historical genre. I don't know precisely why I enjoy it so much, but I really do. I've enjoyed each of the books. They really haven't disappointed me yet.

I've kinda been waiting for this one. Egan's feelings for Zarabeth have been hinted at in the previous books and you knew it had to be coming. I very much enjoyed Zarabeth and her frankness. She knew what she wanted and always has. She was pushed into a marriage that tore her down a bit, but after turning in her husband's plotting and escaping to the Highlands she's slowly finding her feet again. And she just gets sassier and sassier. So much fun. Poor Egan had no recourse to hide from her. His own feelings weren't really going to help him there.

The suspense elements of the story of who was coming and when to get to Zarabeth were minor, but they worked. You know the attack would have to come some time, but in the meantime we got to enjoy Egan's attempts to avoid Zarabeth's pursuit. ;) I smiled a bunch in this one.

[Leilani · Rating 4 out of 5]

More historical and intriguing than most of this genre.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Zarabeth is a psychic, and she can read what other people think. However her life is in danger, so her cousin Prince Damien sends her to Egan MacDonald who can protect her. Zarabeth has been in love with Egan since she was in her teens. He has always been able to understand her more than anyone, and he is the only one that she can't read. When she comes to the MacDonald Castle, they start to get to know each once more. Even though her life is in terrible danger, and her father is doing everything he can to help her divorce her husband and protect her. Egan doesn't know what to do with Zarabeth in his life again. He knows he has to protect her at all costs, but at the same time there is a curse on his castle that everyone but him is convinced is real. His sister is trying to get him married off to debutants when he has no desire to get married or have heirs. He is more than happy to let his cousin take over and be his heir. Even though he has to protect Zarabeth, he finds himself falling for her all over again. Despite the sensual desire that develops between them, there is a danger that may destroy everything.

Its been a while since I have read any books from this series. But this is the first that I have read this book, its the third in the series. I enjoyed this one thoroughly, and it was filled with what I definitely love in a good solid romance. I loved how the story flowed so smoothly, and I couldn't get enough of it!! I just wanted it to go on forever, it was such a genuinely well written story that had me utterly captivated until the very end. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

[Carolyn F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, this book did not catch my interest until about 4/5 of the book. I kept thinking what is wrong with Egan. Zarabeth has loved him since she found him on the side of the road when she was 12. When she met up with him at 17, she tried to attract his attention but he didn't want to ruin her or his relationship with her father so he left before anything hinky happened. Then she marries a horrible man and leaves him after 5 years because he's trying to kill her cousin. They send her to stay with Egan in Scotland. Egan's very attracted to her but won't do anything because of promises he made to her father and because she's still technically married (divorces are easier to come by where she's from). She tries letting him know how she feels, he pushes her away unwillingly, she interprets this as him still thinking she's a child.

Throw in some assassins, magic, werewolves and a couple of kidnappings and this should have been an exciting book. It wasn't until right toward the end. Even with her divorce final, Egan let Zarabeth know that he likes her a lot. And then she keeps saying things like I don't want a husband just a lover when she really wants more. Frustrating. I'm giving this story a lower rating just for the frustration factor.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a good story but it dragged in the middle. I loved the twist at the end....I wasn't expecting it. The mystery of the "curse" on the family was solved and made it very interesting. I love the way Ashley makes the characters come alive in a story.

Zarabeth and Eagan can finally be together. They have loved each other for many years. The story starts with Zarabeth being sent to Egan in Scotland to keep her safe from her evil husband. While she is there she awaits her divorce. Their love for each other is very strong and draws them to each other.

She toned the sex scenes down ( not as descriptive) some in this book. I was very happy with the way she wrote this story. She still is pretty steamy but not gross.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was OK, although I was frustrated with Ashley's failure to develop several dramatic opportunities. The heroine was supposedly abused, something the author could've used to develop conflict in the relationship, but really didn't. Later, when there was an opportunity for the heroine to confront one of her abusers, we learn that he was dealt with, offstage. And when we learn, after much buildup, what the abuse was, it doesn't sound as bad as we were led to expect. Lots of stuff like that keep the story from being as powerful and emotionally affecting as it could have been.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Ashley is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. The 1st book I read was "Penelope and Prince Charming" and I was a little confused in the beginning, but rapidly came to love it, as I did this 3rd in the series.Loved the main characters, who we have seen in the other 2 books of the series. I love books about Scotland and loved Egan, who has been in love with the heroine for years. After muc turmoil, kidnapping, seducing etc, a happy ending ensues.

[Trenchologist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and rich sense of place in this, but after the promising start, the book really hits the doldrums and become frustrating / tedious as the leads cover the same conflict ground several times instead of taking the opportunity to mine some external dramatic tension that's right there for the taking.

Say,
-- deal with the abusive ex-husband or at least confront him but he's dispatched off screen
-- same with the plot against the heroine
-- help unravel the plot against her people
-- give the lead something to do other than stomp around; a castle project, and she helps with insights for how to make it work
-- delve into the hurt the hero carries from an abusive father and manipulative brother and likewise delve into the hurt the heroine carries from her abusive husband and let them heal one another

The heroine being spirited to Scotland for protection isn't enough excuse for so much to happen 'away.' It robbed both leads of a lot of impactful catharsis and closure.

Instead it's a lot of push-pull as they fight their attraction to one another and for various reasons, one and then the other refuses to give in and just take what can finally be had together. Like, her pique at him wanting to marry her feels contrived, but then so does his fourth (? thereabouts) refusal of her. Again, this was ripe for them to deny deny deny, and then have some 'ach at last!' time together, and then that's imperiled not by their own issues but external devices that threaten to tear them apart for good.

They do both come to terms with their own pasts with a revelation or two about the choices they made. They're brief flickers and they don't share they with one another -- too bad -- but at least it's had to move on from.

You'd also think that for people who have been in love and yearning for years upon years their finally being together would shatter the world, if only temporarily, but it's foregone conclusion and gentle by the time it happens. This isn't necessarily bad or a gripe, it's just more fitting in with how many elements took the easier road to fulfillment than not.

Disappointed so much was treated so shallowly.

The would-be brides subplot could have been jettisoned to dig into any of the above for a tighter, higher stakes tale.

Still. I liked both leads. I wanted them to be together and have their HEA. I liked the assembly of characters, the castle, the various dynamics. The peeks into the heroine's home country are intriguing (and right on for creating a world where women are allowed much more modernity and agency to interact with the known world).

I also liked the magic touch. And that it doesn't work between them -- seemed for good reason, and that they'll be just fine without it. With hints that it could arise again from time to time.

As many a romance, this is more a series title (interlinking and related but can be read and understood standalone) than a series (each successive book dependent on the previous to understand), so I got the whole story without feeling lost. And when buying books at a library book sale, you often end up with many a #2 or #3 -- in part because romance pubs are cagey about labeling books as #2 or #3 lest your impulse to buy them diminishes. Sometimes this means I shrug and never go looking for the others. But I would read the other two in this series if I came across them to get.

[LOVEROFBOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and writing, however...

This was the first book I've read from Ms. Ashley. I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed the general story line. I'm only giving out a warning (NOT a spoiler) to those who might have a problem with a few things, like I did. This book is heavy with witchcraft. Spells, talismans, curses, mind reading, fortune telling, and the like. The heroine herself is a witch. I know some don't have a problem with those things, but I'm putting it out there for those who do. I wouldn't have read it if I'd known it was so heavy with witchcraft.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I wasn't in the mood, maybe I should have read the previous books but this was just an okay story. Took me a long time to get into it. Zarabeth and Egan had a past and when they met again Egan fought his attraction and lost every time only to regret it time and time again. That got boring pretty fast. I found Baron Valentin more interesting. If there's a book about him I might read it.

[Dar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of hidden storylines in this one, but absolutely loved our couple once they got together! You can feel and see the sparks of all the family and friends in the story, and they only add and enrich everything. It felt a little slow at times, but for the most part, was well paced, and the last third of the book simply flew by. A great read with lots of personalities and family 😊

[Kathy Sue Stumpf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book & am looking forward to rest of the series. My favorite books are historical romance stories, & I am usually not a fan of fantasy stories, but this had just the right amount of mixture of the two for me to really enjoy the story. My favorite was Book #2, but this was a good read also.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I thought, this series has now orphed into almost as much fun as the Mackenzie series, and that a big statement.
A fiery proncessp. A mad Scotsman and a mystery. An adventure and much fun. There we have it, another lovely book from Jennifer Ashley.

[Simo · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐.75
It felt very disjointed, too many plot twists that didn't add anything to the story or the characters, Egan was a disappointment as well. There was potential, but the writing did not live up to it

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I'd been tired of this series, it took me so long to finish this third book. The plots weren't exciting, the conflicts were much too easily resolved. The couple weren't well matched, the romance wasn't good.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep forgetting that I really don't like this series, its not fantasy enough to be a paranormal and its cheesy as hell.

[Barbara Leuthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book.Cant wait to read more by this author.

[Sandra Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zarabeth and Egan were a great pair that was meant to be. This story brings forth the importance of family.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost a star because of the cover! Loved Zarabeth and Egan’s journey!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not live up to the fist two books in the series.

[Mary Wyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read it years ago)

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't finish it. He played such interesting roles in the first two books but when it came to his own story he was a dud.

[Lizzeth Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely will reread. I loved it

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. (inglés). (Explícito). Todo iba más o menos bien, algo aburrido pero para ya después de la mitad todo un fiasco, muy aburrido, nada interesante, nada de misterio. Luego resulta obvio quién anda detrás de ella y así.
Narrado en tercera persona y ofrece princialmente los puntos de vista de los protagonistas.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved this quick series by Jennifer Ashley - I can feel it. Just awesome & amazing easy fast reads this series. Loved this story and so looking forward to the rest in series. Fast read, suspense, comical, erotica, and so much more.

She writes paranormal, highlanders and cowboys... recommend all of her books I have read so far. :-)

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a typically enjoyable romance set in regency Scotland. It pairs a strong, seductively handsome Highlander protecting a beautiful, fresh, young woman with uncommon wits and bravery. They have known each other for years, but have not seen each other for many of those. Of course, the last time Egan laid eyes on Zarabeth it was when she was only eight or nine years old and resembling nothing like the beauty that has been sent to him for protection from assassination. Zarabeth, with no surprise, has been in "puppy" love with Egan ever since his visit to her country when she was young, naive, and able to worship the ground he tread upon. However, as such stories usually go, Egan takes the gentlemanly path and leaves her country and Zarabeth to the fate in which her father intended, a future marriage with a nobleman of title, wealth, and importance. Such marriages are never made in heaven, however, and Zarabeth's was closer conceived in hell. After seeing Egan again, and after the feelings of hurt and betrayal have passed, outshined by the passion and lust that is so easily sparked between the two, Zarabeth swears Egan will not make such an easy escape again. Egan, too, decides that honor is no longer as valuable as the gift that is Zarabeth.
Jennifer Ashley presents a sweetly, romantic story of two lovers destined to be together against dangerous odds. There is a somewhat larger age difference between the hero and heroine in this story than what is usually presented in many historical romances, but it works. Zarabeth is mature, and her difficult life experiences have given a degree of wisdom to her character that make a perfect match for Egan. Oddly, it is the older Egan who has the most difficulty making decisions and acting upon them in an adult way. There were really no great surprises in this story, as it is one that has been told in similar ways many times. Even so, it was a pleasant and easy read that did not take too much time. Great for those who go thru books quickly, prefer not to use much analytical skill or emotional energy, and seek short romantic escapes.