We’re starting our celebrations of the upcoming release of Pamela Clare’s
Defiant on July 3rd with this fabulous guest review of Surrender
(MacKinnon’s Rangers #1) by Kristen.
In the next couple of days we will be posting a review of the second book
in the series, Untamed, and to make the wait a little easier we have an amazing
giveaway for you, starting on June 29th. You definitely don’t want
to miss that!
To say I loved Surrender, by
Pamela Clare, is an understatement. This is my first book by Ms. Clare and did
she ever make a fan of me. I was in awe of her ability to not only write a
historically detailed, riveting, and tight plot, but simultaneously sweep the
reader into a world full of non-stop action, adventure, and passion. The two
main characters, as well as the secondary characters, were rich with
authenticity and depth. It’s impossible not to become immersed in their lives.I fell in love with Iain’s and Annie’s characters right from the start. Their love story is beautiful, unique, and inspiring. The love, devotion, respect, and charity they have and show for each other, not to mention the sacrifices they’re willing to make, Iain especially, establishes them, in my opinion, as one of the great romance couples I’ve read to date.
Annie is a compelling and courageous character who suffers greatly after being betrayed and branded a thief by her uncle. Because she is unwilling to remain under his control, he sends her to the American frontier to become an indentured slave. After being attacked and almost raped and killed by an Abenaki Indian, she is courageously rescued by our hero Iain. And what a hero he is! Annie’s character has that perfect combination of strength, kindness, and vulnerability, which makes her an endearing and strong heroine. I absolutely love her.
Iain MacKinnon is one of those few alpha characters that redefine what it means to be a hero. Iain, with the aid of his brothers, Morgan and Connor, was forced to command a company of Rangers and fight for the British crown under false charges of murder. While on a scouting expedition, he comes across Annie being attacked by Indians. Not able to abandon her, he defies his orders, not only endangering his brothers, his men, and the mission itself, but also risking his own life to see her to safety.
Iain is an amazing character. He’s fierce, rebellious, calculating, honorable, chivalrous, tender, loving, and beyond sexy. His aching desire for that which he feels he’ll never have-a simple, safe, and happy frontier life, with a wife, numerous bairns (children), and his own land to farm- is poignant and leaves the reader eager and hopeful for Iain to one day obtain his heart’s desire.
The secondary characters are as well-rounded and engaging as the two main protagonists. I ended the story with a small amount of sympathy for the fairly villainous Lord William Wentworth. What an intriguing character he is. In fact, he was written with such multi-dimensional traits that he could become the hero in his own book if Ms. Clare so desired. I really hope she does, because I would love to see what she could do with his character.
Surrender has definitely become one of my favorite books, if not my favorite. I simply adore everything about this engaging book.
Note to author: Thank you, Pamela Clare, for providing translation to the Gaelic phrases.
GREAT review Kristen, I read this book YEARS ago and your review has me wanting to read it again.
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