Morgan MacKinnon is the second brother and now head of the Rangers, scouting for the British during the French and Indian wars. The French captured him, set him to be tortured, and then to be given to the Abenaki to be burned at the stake. Amalie is a young French woman under the guardianship of the fort's commander who nurses Morgan, healing him though she has doubts when she knows his ultimate fate.
The author has done such an excellent job in portraying the shifting loyalties and conflicts of this war. Malcolm is forced to fight for the British, his traditional enemy as a Highland Scot whose family supports the Stuarts. He is sympathetic to the French, traditional allies of the Catholic Scots but loyal to his brothers and fellow Rangers. Amalie is convent-bred but part French and part Abenaki so she is stuck between two different peoples. The battles and customs described are mostly historically accurate and add to the tension throughout the story. I'd like to see more books set in this time period, but this series is terrific. ( )

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I wasn't quite as invested in this couple and their plight as I was the first book, but I was curious to see how things played out, and was happy at the end. ( )

These MacKinnon brothers are sexy sexy sexy!

Morgan MacKinnon saved the life of one of his Rangers but was shot down and captured by the French. The French planned to heal him, interrogate him and then hand him over to the Abenaki who will torture him and burn him to death. But then the French ask him to turn traitor. He agreed but only so he can spy on them until he can escape.

Amalie Chauvenet’s father was killed in a battle at Fort Carillon aka Fort Ticonderoga by one of the MacKinnon Rangers. Then Morgan MacKinnon was captured and she had to help nurse him back to health. He is not what she expected. He is honorable and actually wants to hear her opinion on things. She finds herself very drawn to him.

I liked how the romance developed in this story. But I have a complaint. It's not a complaint directed at this story but at romance writers in general. I absolutely hate virgin sex scenes. They make me feel awkward and they are always unrealistic. Nobody believes that these women have orgasms their first time, screaming out their lover's name. By the third time, these way-back-when women have better moves than a porn star. I just don't buy it but every writer does it so I just grit my teeth and bear it.

I'm enjoying these books. I like the history and the characters. I think I am in love with Joseph, the Native American who is like a brother to the MacKinnons. Too bad he doesn't have his own book.

The last book is about the third brother, Connor. ( )

Bunches of reviews out there so I'll just say I enjoyed it. Love the time period. Love the research which is clearly apparent. Love scenes were great. Villain is great again. I wonder if he'll ever have his own book? Beautifully written page turner. On to the next one. ( )

Untamed
3 Stars

While the setting of the conflict between the British and the French in the American Colonies is interesting and original, the story and romance are not as enjoyable as the first book.

Morgan and Amalie's relationship didn't grab me, mainly because the heroine, Amalie, is too naive, innocent and simpering. She lacks the strength of will and backbone that characterized Annie in book one. Morgan is the most level-headed of the MacKinnon brothers and his relationship with Amalie takes on the same flavor - a tad boring with no real tension or chemistry.

Moreover, the prisoner turned undercover spy turned wrongly convicted for treason plot is predictable and too drawn out. Nevertheless, it was great catching up with the secondary characters. Iain and Annie and their growing family as well as Connor and Joseph, the MacKinnon's adopted Mahican brother.

Wentworth is as smarmy as ever but somehow, he still manages to intrigue me. I cannot help wondering if he will ever truly redeem himself.

All in all, Clare is a wonderful storyteller but this is an uninspired follow up to Surrender. Hope that Defiant will be better. ( )