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44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Finale to a Great Series, May 17, 2007
I'm sad to see this trilogy end (maybe Kresley Cole can be persuaded to write Quinn's story next?), but Ethan's story made for a perfect finale to a unique, witty and romantic series.
If You Deceive tells the story of Ethan MacCarrick, the most tortured and haunted of all the brothers, and how his quest for revenge against the married couple who did him wrong ultimately leads him to true love. When Ethan was just twenty three, he went home with a married woman named Sylvie Van Rowen, only to quickly discover something strange and off-putting about her. Before anything physical can happen between them, Ethan attempts to leave, but not before the woman's husband arrives and assumes the worst. Even though Ethan is innocent of any wrongdoing, Sylvie claims that Ethan forced himself on her and her husband's henchmen beat Ethan and cut his face with a knife, leaving a large scar that mars his beauty.
Ten years pass. Ethan becomes increasingly more bitter, cold, and alone as he takes violent, covert jobs that harden his heart. Bent on revenge, he makes sure that Sylvie and her husband are rendered penniless and destitute. He almost marries, but his fiancee dies in a mysterious accident, forcing him to withdraw even further into himself. Finally, he decides to avoid both sex and alcohol and almost manages to grow immune to the disgusted stares women give him when they see his scar.
But one night he meets the young, beautiful and witty Maddy. The two enjoy an immediate attraction and one night of passion. But when Ethan later discovers he unknowingly bed Maddy Van Rowen, the daughter of his enemies, he is torn over what to do next. He still craves revenge, and imagines Maddy is just like Sylvie. But of course, his heart is just looking for any excuse to pursue the only woman he's ever felt truly drawn to.
From there, the plot takes us to the slums of Paris to the rugged Highland plains. Throughout, Ethan is an emotional mess, caught so unawares when it comes to the intensity of his feelings for Maddy that he nearly pushes her past her limit. Then the question becomes: will Ethan confess all to Maddy? And will she forgive him if he does?
Ethan is a darker character than Hugh or Court, but his turmoil is so expertly drawn and compelling that it's impossible not to sympathize with him. Maddy is a very Kresley Cole-esque heroine, in that she's strong, wise beyond her years, and modern for the time period. The love story is beautifully written, and there's never a shortage of conflict. In fact, I was dying to know how everything would be resolved and read this book quickly over the course of a few hours.
If you liked the other books in the series I think you'll enjoy this one, too. It moves from angsty to sweet to suspenseful without losing its way, and the epilogue gives us a very welcome glimpse into the lives of all the brothers and their wives.
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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply The Best!!!, May 24, 2007
"If You Deceive" has been summarized by other reviewers so I will tell you what makes it a 5-star book for me.
The third book in the MacCarrick Brothers Trilogy and the best, in my opinion. I savored every word and prayed the story wouldn't end. The chemistry between Ethan and Maddy was so well-written I was completely immersed in their romance.
With the action sub-plot resolved, carried over from book 2, early in the novel, the focus was on the intense love affair between Maddie and Ethan. And what a sizzler it was! This is not an erotic novel but an extremely hot and sexy book written with Cole's flair for burning love scenes. They will leave you breathless.
The sensual tension is taut and exquisitely written. Ethan is in love with Maddy, to the point of obsession that he is overcome with jealousy throughout the book.
What I enjoyed most about "If You Deceive" was the main conflict was Ethan's inevitable confession to Maddy. It made for an emotional and heartfelt read that makes it a definite keeper for me.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I thought the series couldn't get any better ... but!, June 3, 2007
In book #1 we had Court and Annalia's romance, and I thought there couldn't be a more scorching heroine! Annalia was on fire, but sheltered / protected, and aristocratic. In Book #2, Jane was daring - more modern than a heroine of the age depicted in the book, a daring and risk-taking independent woman. In this book (#3), we have a heroine who was made destitute (by the hero in actions that preceed the book), who grew up in the slums of Paris, who makes her way as a barmaid, even as she protects her virtue and occassionally forays into high society (which is her birthright). The dichotomy between her roots, and her current circumstances, her ability to walk in both worlds and not really be thoroughly poisoned by wretched poverty, is believably woven together by the author. You will believe that you are in Paris with her, when the book takes a path into her home territory. You'll hear the bells of Notre Dame, and delight in that world - including being thrown quite a few French phrases.
The hero is the darkest of the three brothers - the least likeable on the surface. He has a huge, big, nasty scar on his face. He was self-centered before he was given the scar by a jealous cuckolded husband (tho' he was innocent of the charges that time), and he turned inward after that. Even the members of his clan are reputed not to like him. He brow-beats his brothers to abandon their loves because he has no faith in love, and sees it as a liability.
But when he meets Madeline, the daughter of his enemy (like Romeo & Juliet), he is besotted! He can't understand it. He tries to get around it, and he lies to avoid consequences of his actions, past & present. But Maddy turns him inside out, revealing a lovelier, more caring, more nuturing Ethan - the person who is really there, buried under all the baggage.
I thought there couldn't be a better story that that of Court and Anna, I fell in love with Hugh and his struggles to forget Jane, but I do believe this book is the best of the three, with a reluctant hero who is all hero inside, and a playful, gamine, heroine who deserves to rise to the life she was born to lead.
Oh yeah, Ethan is majorly hot. Like Maddy, you'll quickly become bored with the scar and focus on other things! ;-)
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