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lovehina154's review against another edition
2.0
while I liked Pamela Clares other series i didn't like this one. For me it wasn't the heroine almost being rape two or three times or the violence in the book. It was the heroine herself. She was so stupid. About 100 pages in I couldn't stand her. This may be wrong and I'm sorry but I was kinda hoping she did get rape. That was how much I didn't like her. I didn't even finish the book even through I need to finish it to make a character guide for my blog I just don't think I can. I also don't like Ian or his brothers. It will be a long time before I finish the series.
Another thing that got me mad how how men kept falling for her Every page the Author had to mention how beautiful the heroine was. Makes me want to gag. I was also hoping her uncle had banned her face instead.
I'm Sorry Mrs. Clare. I love you but not this book or series.
Another thing that got me mad how how men kept falling for her Every page the Author had to mention how beautiful the heroine was. Makes me want to gag. I was also hoping her uncle had banned her face instead.
I'm Sorry Mrs. Clare. I love you but not this book or series.
loverofromance's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
Surrender is the first book in the "MacKinnon Ranger"s series. This is a series that I have had on my TBR for the longest of time. And I was convinced to read this when I saw some great reviews and a good friend of mine rave about it. I absolutely had a fun time with this one, and absolutely loved the setting of it dealing with the French War in Canada and Northern Colonies. I really enjoyed the way in which the author developed the romance and honestly I just trust Pamela Clare at this point. Just about every book that I read from her is brilliant. I really was intrigued by the set up of this one, and I was so easily drawn into this one. Even though I had the ebook, I did find the audiobook through Hoopla and decided to listen to this one and I am glad I did, the narrator did such a tremendous job on it.
My Outlook
Surrender was a brilliantly written romance and I really had a blast with it. While it didn't quite make it to 5 stars, it was still such a well done read. I absolutely adored the depth and development of the romance itself. It did have some angst but it was minimal and not overly drawn out or anything. I really enjoyed the whole Highlanders fighting in North America, it was so fascinating especially with them having Native American roots as well. I just found the world building so fascinating. You could tell that the author really did their research on it and it was well done as you can see it within the details. And despite when it was written, I do think readers today could easily read this.
I did find the romance intriging. There was a sense of forbidden in it, and the way that it plays out was so interesting. It definitely will have the reader in their feels and emotions and I enjoyed the manner in which it was developed. There is more conflict outside of the relationship, which is what I really enjoyed. It had such a refreshing feel to it. The sense of brotherhood and family between the brothers was so well done. I just can't wait for their books! If you like adventure feeling romances, then you definitely need to pick these up.
Overall View
I found Surrender to be a superb read that had me so in tune with the story from the beginning and I couldn't put it down! A thrilling historical to captivate instantly!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:5
Cover:5
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels:4
Ending:5
Overall View: 4.25
Introduction
Surrender is the first book in the "MacKinnon Ranger"s series. This is a series that I have had on my TBR for the longest of time. And I was convinced to read this when I saw some great reviews and a good friend of mine rave about it. I absolutely had a fun time with this one, and absolutely loved the setting of it dealing with the French War in Canada and Northern Colonies. I really enjoyed the way in which the author developed the romance and honestly I just trust Pamela Clare at this point. Just about every book that I read from her is brilliant. I really was intrigued by the set up of this one, and I was so easily drawn into this one. Even though I had the ebook, I did find the audiobook through Hoopla and decided to listen to this one and I am glad I did, the narrator did such a tremendous job on it.
My Outlook
Surrender was a brilliantly written romance and I really had a blast with it. While it didn't quite make it to 5 stars, it was still such a well done read. I absolutely adored the depth and development of the romance itself. It did have some angst but it was minimal and not overly drawn out or anything. I really enjoyed the whole Highlanders fighting in North America, it was so fascinating especially with them having Native American roots as well. I just found the world building so fascinating. You could tell that the author really did their research on it and it was well done as you can see it within the details. And despite when it was written, I do think readers today could easily read this.
I did find the romance intriging. There was a sense of forbidden in it, and the way that it plays out was so interesting. It definitely will have the reader in their feels and emotions and I enjoyed the manner in which it was developed. There is more conflict outside of the relationship, which is what I really enjoyed. It had such a refreshing feel to it. The sense of brotherhood and family between the brothers was so well done. I just can't wait for their books! If you like adventure feeling romances, then you definitely need to pick these up.
Overall View
I found Surrender to be a superb read that had me so in tune with the story from the beginning and I couldn't put it down! A thrilling historical to captivate instantly!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:5
Cover:5
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels:4
Ending:5
Overall View: 4.25
33p3barpercent's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so disappointed! This book got RAVE reviews both on here and on Amazon. Plus, I really like Pamela Clare's writing, but this one rubbed me the wrong way from the get-go.
So, we've got a displaced, disgraced Scotsman, Iain, who was forced to be a major to fight for the dreaded Brits against the French in the French-Indian war. As Iain and his brothers, along with their fellow Rangers and their "Och!"s and "bonnie"s, are scouting around upstate New York, fighting war tribes. Annie, our heroine, who is actually a high-born Scottish loyalist fell on some hard times (thanks to her gross uncle) and found herself in indentured servitude on the American frontier with some terrible people as her masters. A war party attacks their cabin while Annie's in the barn, and only Annie survives--but just nearly.
She makes a run for it, with an entire tribe of bloodthirsty Indians behind her. She's about to get raped and scalped and whatever else when Iain, defying orders, saves her.
That's the beginning.
The rest of the book, I found myself going, "Jeez, Iain. She's so much WORK. And, really, is not that cool. If I were you, I'd toss her over like a bad job." I mean, she's got frozen feet from the run barefoot in the snow, so he has to carry her miles to the nearest friendly fort; she almost gives them away to four French ships with her gasp; she won't keep her head down in a firefight; she's got more secrets than she knows what to do with; she keeps sending him away with blue balls; and throughout the course of the book, Iain has to save her (he usually gets called back from a mission. When he leaves, he could be hung up for treason) at least nine thousand times. She just keeps getting into trouble! I kept expecting Clare to have her save herself at LEAST once, but no. All Iain, all the time.
Our Annie's a bit of a constant Damsel in Distress, and I might even go so far as to call her TSTL (it's the not-keeping-your-head-down-in-a-firefight that kills me).
A lot of Iain and Annie's problems in the beginning could be washed away if they'd just talk. You know, the big Misunderstanding. But, thankfully, Clare spared us from the Drama and had the revelation of who Annie really is (an Enemy of Clan McKinnon!) be no big deal to Iain.
Also! The biggest problem I had with this book was the sex scenes. I KNOW! No, listen: I do not find it attractive, nor do I think it's at all okay to lend your H&H's intimate scenes a touch of rape. That's not cool. I don't care if she's "aroused against her will." I don't care if he's just being high-handed. If I get a "rape-like" tone, I get turned off. Iain actually mentions one time that he'd like to have sex with Annie "whether or not she consented". At that point, I pulled back on the reins and went, "WHOA, there. Stop for a second."
AND THEN! the first time they get together, it's after Annie nearly gets attacked! NOT OKAY.
And, can we talk about how sick I am of "dream kisses"? I mean, really. Any time an author uses dreaming as a way to move the relationship along just bugs me. Dream kisses, dream fondling, dream lovin' is all just a cheat. It's a short cut, and people should stop using it.
I didn't like the heroine--she didn't do ANYTHING for me. Also, Iain, for all the reviews saying he's so dreamy and wonderful, I probably would run the other direction from him, and not just because he's six foot a billion. Mostly because he wants to have sex with Annie without her consent.
Also, I felt like their attraction came out of nowhere. Ugh. Yeah. Skipping this one, and most likely skipping the rest of the series. I don't trust those rave reviews anymore.
So, we've got a displaced, disgraced Scotsman, Iain, who was forced to be a major to fight for the dreaded Brits against the French in the French-Indian war. As Iain and his brothers, along with their fellow Rangers and their "Och!"s and "bonnie"s, are scouting around upstate New York, fighting war tribes. Annie, our heroine, who is actually a high-born Scottish loyalist fell on some hard times (thanks to her gross uncle) and found herself in indentured servitude on the American frontier with some terrible people as her masters. A war party attacks their cabin while Annie's in the barn, and only Annie survives--but just nearly.
She makes a run for it, with an entire tribe of bloodthirsty Indians behind her. She's about to get raped and scalped and whatever else when Iain, defying orders, saves her.
That's the beginning.
The rest of the book, I found myself going, "Jeez, Iain. She's so much WORK. And, really, is not that cool. If I were you, I'd toss her over like a bad job." I mean, she's got frozen feet from the run barefoot in the snow, so he has to carry her miles to the nearest friendly fort; she almost gives them away to four French ships with her gasp; she won't keep her head down in a firefight; she's got more secrets than she knows what to do with; she keeps sending him away with blue balls; and throughout the course of the book, Iain has to save her (he usually gets called back from a mission. When he leaves, he could be hung up for treason) at least nine thousand times. She just keeps getting into trouble! I kept expecting Clare to have her save herself at LEAST once, but no. All Iain, all the time.
Our Annie's a bit of a constant Damsel in Distress, and I might even go so far as to call her TSTL (it's the not-keeping-your-head-down-in-a-firefight that kills me).
A lot of Iain and Annie's problems in the beginning could be washed away if they'd just talk. You know, the big Misunderstanding. But, thankfully, Clare spared us from the Drama and had the revelation of who Annie really is (an Enemy of Clan McKinnon!) be no big deal to Iain.
Also! The biggest problem I had with this book was the sex scenes. I KNOW! No, listen: I do not find it attractive, nor do I think it's at all okay to lend your H&H's intimate scenes a touch of rape. That's not cool. I don't care if she's "aroused against her will." I don't care if he's just being high-handed. If I get a "rape-like" tone, I get turned off. Iain actually mentions one time that he'd like to have sex with Annie "whether or not she consented". At that point, I pulled back on the reins and went, "WHOA, there. Stop for a second."
AND THEN! the first time they get together, it's after Annie nearly gets attacked! NOT OKAY.
And, can we talk about how sick I am of "dream kisses"? I mean, really. Any time an author uses dreaming as a way to move the relationship along just bugs me. Dream kisses, dream fondling, dream lovin' is all just a cheat. It's a short cut, and people should stop using it.
I didn't like the heroine--she didn't do ANYTHING for me. Also, Iain, for all the reviews saying he's so dreamy and wonderful, I probably would run the other direction from him, and not just because he's six foot a billion. Mostly because he wants to have sex with Annie without her consent.
Also, I felt like their attraction came out of nowhere. Ugh. Yeah. Skipping this one, and most likely skipping the rest of the series. I don't trust those rave reviews anymore.
monijade's review against another edition
5.0
I was surprised by how good this was. It wasn't Diana Gabaldon good, but it was pretty great for its genre.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this! I've had a sample downloaded to my Kindle for so long but put off reading it because of the awful cover. It honestly looks like something out of one of my elementary school US history textbooks. But anyway, this was great. The characterizations were wonderful, and I liked them all (aside from the uncle and the dumb generals lol), even Wentworth. Iain was brilliant, and I enjoyed seeing Annie become stronger as the book went on. I'm not as knowledgeable on Native American cultures as I could be, but I think Clare did a good job with that, as well. Both Morgan and Connor were great, too, and I look forward to their books. The French and Indian War isn't covered in fiction as often as other American wars, so I appreciated the refresher. And the camaraderie and loyalty between the men is so sweet.
And...that's hot:
Iain stood in the middle of the road twenty paces before the carriage. Like a Highlander of old, he wore the MacKinnon plaid, his right shoulder bare, his claymore clasped powerfully in his right hand. The long hair at his temples was done in thick warrior’s braids, the rest hanging dark down his back. But the top half of his face was painted not in Gaelic blue but Indian vermilion, and Indian markings decorated his arms instead of armbands. (319)
And...that's hot:
Iain stood in the middle of the road twenty paces before the carriage. Like a Highlander of old, he wore the MacKinnon plaid, his right shoulder bare, his claymore clasped powerfully in his right hand. The long hair at his temples was done in thick warrior’s braids, the rest hanging dark down his back. But the top half of his face was painted not in Gaelic blue but Indian vermilion, and Indian markings decorated his arms instead of armbands. (319)
reading_rainy's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why I'm ever hesitant to read books by Pamela Claire, for the most part I've enjoyed every single one of them. This book felt very true to the time period.
This isn’t a fluffy historical romance. There are graphic war descriptions of the battles between the French/Abenaki and the British/Scotsman Rangers. There are beatings, whippings, scalping, branding, and starvation.
There is also so much hope in this story. There are men and women who do the right thing, just because it's the right thing to do. Who hold honor and respect as the highest quality a human can possess. There is depth of love between a man and his brothers, fellow soldiers, found family, and with Annie, an indentured with a hidden past.
This is ultimately a touching love story, filled with genuine emotions and some very spicy steam.
This isn’t a fluffy historical romance. There are graphic war descriptions of the battles between the French/Abenaki and the British/Scotsman Rangers. There are beatings, whippings, scalping, branding, and starvation.
There is also so much hope in this story. There are men and women who do the right thing, just because it's the right thing to do. Who hold honor and respect as the highest quality a human can possess. There is depth of love between a man and his brothers, fellow soldiers, found family, and with Annie, an indentured with a hidden past.
This is ultimately a touching love story, filled with genuine emotions and some very spicy steam.
kriff08's review against another edition
5.0
Usually I don't give a 5 star rating for this kind of book unless I really mean it. I really mean it. Yeah it's a historical romance and yes some parts do occasionally feel like you can gloss over them, but this story pulled me in and kept me there. It's definitely one of those stories you can suspend reality in and just enjoy a cute story. Yes, I liked it a lot.
rachelreadwhat's review against another edition
2.0
Meh, typical romance novel - interesting situations, but one dimensional characters who seem more consumed with lust than love. And too many detailed sex scenes.
ezichinny's review against another edition
4.0
I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I had expected a light and fluffy read, but the author really had some meat on the bones.
This story featured a former Scot, now an American Frontiersmen fighting during colonial America times (I think French-Indian war). On one of his scouting missions he rescues a "servant" girl Anne Campbell, but soon finds out she is actually a lady. Iain begins trying to uncover why a lady would be trying to pass herself as a servant. Annie, on the other hand, is determined to keep her past a secret and continue to hide from the person after her. The problem is the closer that Iain and Annie get, the harder it is to keep the facade going. Can Annie trust the Ranger to protect her from those who mean her harm?
this story featured Native Americans, French, Scots and English. It was entertaining. I thought Kaleo G did a good job narrating the book. I got used to this female voice while listening to his female accents. A love story crafted in colonial america while navigating a war story. A good beginning to the series.
This story featured a former Scot, now an American Frontiersmen fighting during colonial America times (I think French-Indian war). On one of his scouting missions he rescues a "servant" girl Anne Campbell, but soon finds out she is actually a lady. Iain begins trying to uncover why a lady would be trying to pass herself as a servant. Annie, on the other hand, is determined to keep her past a secret and continue to hide from the person after her. The problem is the closer that Iain and Annie get, the harder it is to keep the facade going. Can Annie trust the Ranger to protect her from those who mean her harm?
this story featured Native Americans, French, Scots and English. It was entertaining. I thought Kaleo G did a good job narrating the book. I got used to this female voice while listening to his female accents. A love story crafted in colonial america while navigating a war story. A good beginning to the series.