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prgchrqltma's review
4.0
Characters: orphaned and transported woman, highlander/native hybrid soldier
World Building: 18th century healing, weaponry
Plot: Some scouting and battles, nefarious plans
Sex: Medium
Read another: Yes
World Building: 18th century healing, weaponry
Plot: Some scouting and battles, nefarious plans
Sex: Medium
Read another: Yes
thatwhitechick's review
3.0
I wanted this to be Outlander too much. It isn't. Not even close. But I guess it's fair to say that not everyone has the writing skill of Gabaldon. With that being said, this book is okay if you want a highly predictable quick read. If you're looking for an immersive story that keeps you up at night, go for The Outlander series.
This book did have me turning the pages, but I knew exactly what was going to happen. The hot Scotsman rescues the damsel in distress. Said damsel is headstrong and smart with the illusion of independence. They fall madly in love, have lots of sex, and get married.
Iian always shows up in the nick of time to rescue Annie. It almost had the time warp of Game of Thrones where Iian is days away but somehow manages to make it back JUST in time. Ohhh the suspense!
This book did have me turning the pages, but I knew exactly what was going to happen. The hot Scotsman rescues the damsel in distress. Said damsel is headstrong and smart with the illusion of independence. They fall madly in love, have lots of sex, and get married.
Iian always shows up in the nick of time to rescue Annie. It almost had the time warp of Game of Thrones where Iian is days away but somehow manages to make it back JUST in time. Ohhh the suspense!
septembervirgo's review
5.0
What a fantastic gritty romance novel! I loved the action and the suspense this book brought, which is something I usually don't like in my romance novels. The best part of the book was when Iain and Annie were on the run in woods and that sexual tension. Oh man, it was off the charts. Definitely continuing this series.
annen's review
I gave up on this one, it started it so well, I was really hopeful about it then it took the now familiar Pamela Clare shtick turn. She gave us a perfect man, Strong, handsome, everyone except the villain adores him. The part I gave up on was after 100 lashes Iain had the strength to walk around trying to save Annie and even try to have sex with her and it's not the pain that stopped him. It is ridiculous.
I like reading about real humans and their human failings including physical ones are more interesting to me.
I like reading about real humans and their human failings including physical ones are more interesting to me.
cchestnut's review
5.0
4.5 stars
It's Outlander meets Last of the Mohicans. I haven't read this type of historical romance but I loved it. It managed to be both action packed and very romantic. Annie turned out to be a really great, strong heroine and, of course, Iain was perfection. That epilogue - so touching and sweet.
Fantastic start to this series. Can't wait to dive into book 2 about the second brother, Morgan.
It's Outlander meets Last of the Mohicans. I haven't read this type of historical romance but I loved it. It managed to be both action packed and very romantic. Annie turned out to be a really great, strong heroine and, of course, Iain was perfection. That epilogue - so touching and sweet.
Fantastic start to this series. Can't wait to dive into book 2 about the second brother, Morgan.
amshofner's review
3.0
If there's anything I got from reading Surrender, it's that my reading tastes have changed over the years. It was an odd realization, even though it seems obvious, given a little bit of thought. (Apparently this is not the kind of thinking I do regarding books.) (I'm fine with that.)
Iain was larger than life (incredibly strong and resourceful), Annie depended on him almost exclusively (I guess penises make everything better), their "fights" always coincided with other people attempting to get them apart. It wasn't a bad book. I just skimmed over parts. Even over some of the sex scenes because my WORD those two get it on quite a bit. Like, seriously. How many times do you have to get it on in a book before it becomes gratuitous?
It always seems wrong when I have to point out gratuitous sex as a bad thing.
Anyway. Surrender feels "old school" historical romance, but it's probably only "old school" in that it's the type of romance I used to love but don't anymore because I've changed. I did like that Surrender's set in 1750s in America, but would have liked more American-ness. If that's even a thing. Iain and Annie were both from Scotland, so it still had that vibe.
I don't have much else to add beyond this---I'd actually forgotten I hadn't finished it some time during the week, if that's any indication how of gripping the book was. I'm vaguely curious about the rest of the MacKinnon brothers, but not, at this point, enough to pick up the rest of the series.
Iain was larger than life (incredibly strong and resourceful), Annie depended on him almost exclusively (I guess penises make everything better), their "fights" always coincided with other people attempting to get them apart. It wasn't a bad book. I just skimmed over parts. Even over some of the sex scenes because my WORD those two get it on quite a bit. Like, seriously. How many times do you have to get it on in a book before it becomes gratuitous?
It always seems wrong when I have to point out gratuitous sex as a bad thing.
Anyway. Surrender feels "old school" historical romance, but it's probably only "old school" in that it's the type of romance I used to love but don't anymore because I've changed. I did like that Surrender's set in 1750s in America, but would have liked more American-ness. If that's even a thing. Iain and Annie were both from Scotland, so it still had that vibe.
I don't have much else to add beyond this---I'd actually forgotten I hadn't finished it some time during the week, if that's any indication how of gripping the book was. I'm vaguely curious about the rest of the MacKinnon brothers, but not, at this point, enough to pick up the rest of the series.
larisa2021's review
5.0
Started reading this book less than an hour after "Under the Same Sky." I wasn't ready to leave the Colonial Frontier. The books have much in common - honestly using the harsh, violent perils of Frontier life as a back drop for vibrant characters evolving rapidly to survive, then thrive in the throes of fighting their passion. The books are also Completely different stories illustrating the epitome of the genre for this era.
Note: this version is reissue with 28 pages more than a previous edition.
Remember "Last of the Mohicans" with Daniel Day-Lewis? What that movie did for James Fenimore Cooper's novel, this is the book that finally delivers the sumptuous details, adventure, conflict and the film only alluded to and Fenimore Cooper never managed in his books. (see Mark Twain's scathing commentary) The Hero is a Roger's Ranger, an extraordinary alpha male, charismatic leader and man with his own staunch set of morals.
If not already familiar with the fascinating details about the rangers either read near an internet source for quick searches or be prepared to jot down notes that lead to an internet research session as lengthy as the book. Who knew tumplines, portage, snow shoes and such could be so sexy?
The heroine's plight is stranger than fiction and still manages to be plausible. She's never TSTL, even when being naive or headstrong for her time.
The main villain is a tantalizing cross between Gabaldon's Black Jack Randall and Lord John Grey; not purely evil or crazy, often honorable and never predictable. The Heroine's uncle is mindbogglingly vile without being a caricature.
Both protagonists are multi-faceted with layers of history and reasons for being who they are, which builds the same kind of relationship - messy, difficult, enthralling and delicious. They make mistakes, they have self doubt, they also have steaming chemistry. The writing paints vivid scenes of mental cinema with surround sound. The love scenes smolder, some tender, some wildly sexy, all gratifying without awkward phrasing.
Be prepared to stay up late to finish the book and want to start reading it all over again. Best of all: the Hero has two younger brothers with "director's cuts" of their own stories coming out very soon. May just have to reread this one, then the second book and reread both before the third.
Note: this version is reissue with 28 pages more than a previous edition.
Remember "Last of the Mohicans" with Daniel Day-Lewis? What that movie did for James Fenimore Cooper's novel, this is the book that finally delivers the sumptuous details, adventure, conflict and the film only alluded to and Fenimore Cooper never managed in his books. (see Mark Twain's scathing commentary) The Hero is a Roger's Ranger, an extraordinary alpha male, charismatic leader and man with his own staunch set of morals.
If not already familiar with the fascinating details about the rangers either read near an internet source for quick searches or be prepared to jot down notes that lead to an internet research session as lengthy as the book. Who knew tumplines, portage, snow shoes and such could be so sexy?
The heroine's plight is stranger than fiction and still manages to be plausible. She's never TSTL, even when being naive or headstrong for her time.
The main villain is a tantalizing cross between Gabaldon's Black Jack Randall and Lord John Grey; not purely evil or crazy, often honorable and never predictable. The Heroine's uncle is mindbogglingly vile without being a caricature.
Both protagonists are multi-faceted with layers of history and reasons for being who they are, which builds the same kind of relationship - messy, difficult, enthralling and delicious. They make mistakes, they have self doubt, they also have steaming chemistry. The writing paints vivid scenes of mental cinema with surround sound. The love scenes smolder, some tender, some wildly sexy, all gratifying without awkward phrasing.
Be prepared to stay up late to finish the book and want to start reading it all over again. Best of all: the Hero has two younger brothers with "director's cuts" of their own stories coming out very soon. May just have to reread this one, then the second book and reread both before the third.
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh, I am in a slump. This book started out promising but lost me about 2/3's of the way in when I started rolling my eyes and forcing myself to turn the pages. Guess I'm just not in the mood for bonny highlanders and virginal lassies making love while rape and murder awaits at every turn. The dialect was annoyingly repetitive and though I'm always up for a lusty romp I just couldn't believe some of the actions of these two. And sorry but I find nothing heroic about a guy who wants to "claim" a woman who he believes has just been raped. That's not romantic it's horrific.
I think I'll have to read something scary to shake me out of this mood
I think I'll have to read something scary to shake me out of this mood
kiwicoral's review
4.0
The guy on the cover looks like Matt Damon in a bad wig. But anyway...
This book was very good. 4.5 stars. The historical action is excellent - well written and well researched. The wilderness settings felt very real; I would not survive a day back then. The plot itself was very cinematic. Similar to (some) of the Outlander books, it was wholly engrossing.
And this couple was dreamy. The relationship built at a believable level, the slow burn was good, and when they finally decide to get together you're pulling for them. And they are like nuclear fission hot.
So why not five stars? I found the ending to be a little too easy. It didn't have the same tension as the rest of the book.
I'm going to have to ration out the rest of this series. Sigh.
This book was very good. 4.5 stars. The historical action is excellent - well written and well researched. The wilderness settings felt very real; I would not survive a day back then. The plot itself was very cinematic. Similar to (some) of the Outlander books, it was wholly engrossing.
And this couple was dreamy. The relationship built at a believable level, the slow burn was good, and when they finally decide to get together you're pulling for them. And they are like nuclear fission hot.
So why not five stars? I found the ending to be a little too easy. It didn't have the same tension as the rest of the book.
I'm going to have to ration out the rest of this series. Sigh.