Customer Reviews

Born in Sin: A MacAllisters Novel

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Typically, this author's stories are fast and funny, but this book is more bittersweet, sad and a bit slower paced. That's not to say that there is no humor here - Sin displays his trademark sarcasm and then there's Simon who's perpetually cheerful and mischievous. But this is a story of a man who has lead a tragic life bereft of love, companionship, compassion and exposed to cruelty, pain and death - and often death has occurred by his own hand. He is not proud of the things he's done, but he did them in order to survive. And until he met Caledonia MacNeely, he never really cared what anyone thought of him. But she's different. First, she's not afraid of him, but more importantly, she's not repelled by him and seems to almost like him as incredulous as that seems to Sin MacAllister.

Which is a good thing since King Henry wants them to marry in order to bring her clan under his control. Though neither is thrilled about the marriage, both see no way out. Sin figures on bringing the rebels in her clan to justice then annulling the marriage - for surely she will not want to stay married to a man like him. Though he finds himself wishing he could be the kind of man she deserves. She's so warm and sweet and determined to look past his reputation and deeds and see him as no one else does. Too bad she won't accept that he has no heart, no soul.

Meanwhile, Callie sees the marriage as her fate and the way to bring peace to her people. And staying married to him seems less of a sacrifice the more she gets to know him. Not only is he handsome (as, well . . . sin!) he is ever kind and considerate of her and he has a warm and playful side that no one else ever sees. She is aware of his plan to leave, but is determined to prove to him that he is capable and worthy of love. That she loves him and that maybe he could love her, too - if he would let himself. She's in for a frustrating fight, but she's more than up to the challenge!

A good read, but at times I found Sin's pathetic life almost too sad, too much. It's amazing that he never just slit his wrists and ended his misery. But thankfully, he didn't and we get to see him and his adorable brothers in this second installment of the series. Fans will worry for Ewan, however, (who will be the subject of the next book) who seems to spend all his time drowning in ale and his own guilt over brother Kieran's death. Another lost soul to be redeemed!

It takes a truly exceptional book in this day and age to really touch my heart and this book does it. By the third chapter, I knew that this would be one of those rare classic books like Jackson Rule, Wolf and the Dove, Whitney My Love or Keeper of the Dream. The kind that you put on your shelf and reread over and over again. Lord Sin was the first real hero I've read in a long time. He rises above his past and with the help of his brothers and the kind, carves a spot for himself. He is a man respected and feared by everyone. He wants nothing more than what he has until the day his best friend, the king of England makes him promise to wed Caledonia to stop the trouble of the unknown Raider in her clan.

Neither Callie nor Sin expect anything from the marriage. Sin expects to annul it as soon as possible while Callie true to her upbringing promises to uphold the church law and be a dutiful wife. But it's not duty that makes her welcome her husband, it's his strong, loving heart.

I think I fell in love with Sin while reading Claiming the Highlander, but I had no idea just how wonerful and touching his story would be. Thank you Kinley for writing this book. I have been telling everyone I know to read it. It is filled with lovable, real characters who I can't wait to meet in future books. I saw that Ewan and Simon's books are next and I'm counting down the days to them both.

The moment I finished this book I wanted to pick it up and read it again. This book caught me from the very first page. Sin's story is the saddest think I have ever heard. My heart hurt so much during this book. I loved the way Sin & Callie's relationship played out. I liked Callie's sence of humor and the way she made Sin laugh. In some parts you could almost feel Sin's heart opening up to Callie. This book was truly amazing it is my favorite out of all of Kinley MacGregor books so far. If you are looking for a wonderful story this is for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I've read quite a few of Kinley's books and this is the best so far. This is a novel about the redeeming power of love.

Sin is the most tortured hero ever, yet he is a lovable tortured hero who thinks himself unworthy of love since no one has ever loved or accepted him. Despite his tortured life, he hasn't lost his humanity and is capable of great kindness and comes to care for Callie, the woman he is forced to wed.

Callie sees through his tough outer shell to the vulnerable, hurting man beneath and wants to soothe his pain. When he finally sleeps with his wife, weeks after the wedding night, she asks him if sex is always like that. He answers that he doesn't know because she's the first woman he's ever slept with.

In the end, Sin offers himself up for the ultimate sacrifice (death) all in order to avoid hurting Callie and losing her love. Spoiler: in the end, however, she's the one who rescues him and saves him from his sacrifice.

I can't say this about any other novel, but it was an emotional roller coaster ride that I enjoyed almost as much as Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander." The ending was satisfying too; it kept you guessing until almost the last page.

The part where he asks her to teach him what love is . . is simply heartrending.

Honestly, I truly loved this book. This is the first book I read by this author and the other ones that she has written have not disappointed me.

Sin is a serious, brooding man with almost nothing but cruelty for a past. Never knowing the love from parents, he became pessimistic and built a shield around his heart so that no one could get close to him. Every now and then it is seen that there were a few happy times in his life, but nothing that brought him true and utter joy. After sparing King Henry's life, he is now a wealthly earl and advisor to said king. However, raiding has been happening to English settlers in the hills of Scotland and Henry wants to stop the raids once and for all. The only solution he sees is to marry Sin to a powerful Scottish lass.

Enter Caledonia, the bold and beautiful woman who is niece to the MacNeely. Captured by Henry to ensure the ceasing of raids, she tries to escape custody more than once. In fact, Simon, the hillariously charming rake who is introduced in "Master of Desire", receives the task of guarding her and her little brother...unfortunately, both escape and Simon is none too happy about the way that they go about doing so.

When all four of them get back to Scotland, Sin is treated with open hostility and hatred by everyone but Jamie (Callie's 8-year-old brother), Morna (Callie's stepmother) and Callie herself. Sin's amusing sarcasm and fierce nature really come alive. Callie is determined to break the ice that encases his heart and goes about it in many different ways. Many of the hot-headed Highlanders thaw toward Sin once he saves a village from a crazed bull...and returns in less that a proud state. However, many are even more kind to him when they learn he is the older brother to the MacAllister men...some of the most powerful and handsome clansmen.

Death and tragedy befall on this family when a final raid on the army of King Henry is put into motion. While Sin has been sent to retrieve the raider from his wife's clan, he is reluctant to do so because he fears her hatred. So, he decides to do what he believes is the only thing to please Henry and keep his wife's love at the same time...

Will Sin and Caledonia live happily ever after or will fear and the Raider tear them apart once and for all? The answer lies in the extraordinary pages of "Born in Sin".

I usually don't read historicals, but I have read the Dark Hunter series written by this author under the name Sherrilyn Kenyon and wanted to try her books under Kinley MacGregor.

I was pleasantly surprised, the book had all the trademark style of the writer- humor, redemption, and an unforgettable hero and heroine. Sin was great- handsome, intelligent, and honorable. Callie was the perfect heroine for this tortured hero. The story was pretty good and the setting rang true for me, unlike in other historicals where you don't get that sense of time and history. This, as well as the other characters and the fast-paced dialogue were all well done. My only complaint in the book was that at times Sin was too fatalistic. He never once cut himself a break and really allowed himself to believe in himself or in Callie. Lucky for him, the heroine was one patient woman!

All in all, I really enjoyed the book and will be on the look-out for the other McAllister brother's stories.

Sin McAllister is a man haunted by his past. Bearing the stigma of his illegitimacy, his English mother couldn't stand the sight of him and sent him to his Scottish father the second she gave birth to him. He grew up being despised by his stepmother and treated with indifference by his own father. Years later, he would turn his back forever from Scotland when his father willingly handed him to the English and became one of their hostages. From then on, Sin would know and live only one kind of life: one of violence and solitude.

Now in his prime, Sin is one of the most feared and hated men in the English court. But with his freedom comes his duty to King Henry. Thus, when a group of Scottish rebels wreak havoc along the English border, Sin is ordered by the king to marry Lady Caledonia MacNeely and take her back home to Scotland where he must uncover the identity of the "Raider" and stop his rebellious acts.

By edict of the English king, Caledonia has no choice but to marry the mysterious English lord. Yet while others have warned her about the dangerous stranger, Caledonia cannot deny her attraction to him. And instead of fearing him, she finds herself drawn to and intrigued by him. With no choice but to marry him, she is determined to draw out the passionate man that she knows is hiding beneath the hardened warrior.

After meeting Sin in the previous MacAllister book, CLAIMING THE HIGHLANDER, I couldn't wait to see him meet the woman who will finally bring him peace and happiness. Sin is such an enigmatic character, portrayed as a man who has carefully shielded himself away from anyone, knowing that reopening his heart and soul to anyone, especially a beautiful woman like Caledonia, can destroy him. It was sad reading about how he has banished any delusion of comfort and solace long ago, after first becoming a political hostage, then finally rejected by his very own parents. The author has done well in her portrayal of Caledonia; she's the perfect heroine for a lost soul like Sin. I liked how she embraced life and proved loyal to those she loved; her attempts to escape in the beginning show her strength and will, while her determination to make things right for Sin proves how much a worthy partner she is for him.

BORN IN SIN is a poignant and sometimes funny story, featuring well-drawn characters that will endear them to you. This is a novel that shows everyone that lost men can be found and brought home.

Next in the series is TAMING THE SCOTSMAN, featuring Ewan MacAllister.

This was my favorite of all of her books and I can guarantee that it will bring a tear to the eye of the most hardened historical romance reader.

This is the story of Callie (Caledonia) and Sin, one of the bothers in the MacAllisters series. As far as tortured heroes with the most horrific and unspeakable pasts and childhood - Sin wins the award. He doesn't have a proper name as his name is the sin that his mother made in keeping him and birthing him. The horrors that he has suffered will make your heart cringe and the overall sadness that he carries will really rip your heart out.

He is devoid of any emotion and has no feelings - he only existis to be the king's right hand - almost a hired killer performing all the King's most dangerous missions. He doesn't care if he lives or dies - all he has is his loyalty to his king and his sword.

Callie enters his world and Sin is perplexed why such a beautiful woman gives him the time of day. Callie's manner is delightful and her effervescent and enchanting personally eventually burrows under his skin and she starts to make him laugh and "feel".

This is one of the most poignant and heartrending stories you will ever read. The unspeakable horrors that men endured and the brutality that existed in that era is so well portrayed that it is almost heartbreaking that anyone could have survived such appalling conditions in ones early childhood. This is by no means a brutal book. On the contrary, you will sigh and may even grab that Kleenex as the beauty and glory of Sin's and Callie's love story will weave itself in your heart. This was one was a KEEEEEEPER and then some! It is a story that will stay in your heart for a long time and after you are done reading, you will want to start from chapter one again!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!
Nanette

Captivating and poignant! A truly engrossing tale of beauty and her "beastie"! I loved this book! I'm a huge fan of this writer in both her names, but I have had a few disappointments along the way - 'BORN IN SIN' is not one of them! I could not put this book down - the story grabs you from Page 1, and never lets go! There is so much emotion in this book - from both Sin and Callie, as well as the secondary characters, that one comes away with a satiated feeling. I loved Callie and Sin, and their journey towards awakening Sin's battered and almost non-existent heart (romantically speaking, of course)! Callie is a heroine to remember - strong, patient, beautiful, and truly, truly, a good person. Sin is the lost soul - beaten down, trodden on, made into something almost non-human by his experiences in life. When hope first blossoms in his heart - when he first dares to begin to dream and hope, 'tis a really wonderful thing to behold! I loved Jamie! What a scamp! Simon and the MacAllister brothers are wonderful in their supporting roles. If you like the Scottish/English conflict, and the Heroes born of those times, then this book is for you! There is humour in this book, as well. Callie's final desperate bid for Sin's freedom makes one want to stand up and cheer! Go, girl!
Please buy this book! I venture to say you will not be disappointed! Also, don't miss out on the other books about the MacAllister brothers.

For those who had read Claiming the Highlander might remember Sin, the dark brother who had been treated harshly by almost all people in his life (excluding his brothers). And for those who had read Master of Desire might be happy to find Draven's little brother Simon presence in this book.

I really shouldn't reveal too much about the story. However, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the hero and heroine.

What can I say about Sin? He was hurt too much by people around him since childhood thus he never expected any kindness from those around him. Callie was a really stubborn girl who wanted to crack the ice of Sin's cold heart. She used several weapons to do so: courage, kindness, good humor, sweet smile, patience (a lots of it!!!), herself and love.