Customer Reviews

Reckless (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Setting - Scotland, 1375 --- Ailis MacFarlane, was not happy but resolved to marry Donald MacCordy, a man she despised in a betrothal arranged by her uncle and guardian Colin MacFarlane. As it was the fate of women to be a bargaining chip for alliances amongst clans her only concession was that the three illegitimate children of her sister be allowed to come and live with her after the marriage. Close as she had been to her sister Maire, she'd never been told who the children's father was.

Alexander MacDubh, was rumored to be as handsome as he was arrogant and cold and he deeply hated Colin MacFarlane, the man who had killed his father and stolen Leargan from them. When he learned that his youngest brother Barra had an affair and fathered three children with a MacFarlane lover whom he hadn't seen in years, he immediately set out to kidnap and bring the children back to be raised by the MacDubh clan. In the process of abducting the children he also brought back Ailis whom he'd mistakenly thought was the children's nursemaid.

Ailis had been raised to hate and despise the enemy clan of the MacDubh's and consequently on the day that she and the children were kidnapped she hoped to keep her identity a secret until she could escape. Ailis also knew that as a maiden of an enemy clan, her virtue would be forfeit before she would be released back to her clan. If they discovered that she was the heir to Colin MacFarlane she might even be ransomed. However, noticing that the MacDubh laird was the handsomest man she'd ever seen, and realizing that once she was finally ransomed back to her clan she would be married to the obnoxious Donald MacCordy who definitely would not be gentle - ravishment by Alexander seemed to be pleasanter alternative.

*** I totally loved this story and Ailis was a fabulously strong and spunky heroine. Knowing full well the laird of an enemy clan would ravish her, she decided she wouldn't fight and to make the most of the inevitable had a bottle of wine smuggled into her and got herself pretty well foxed before it happened! The tipsy dialog surrounding the event was hilarious and while some may construe it as rape, I just did not see it that way at all. Alexander, who tried so hard to assume indifference and to keep his hatred for anything MacFarlane had never counted on the passion he felt for the very beautiful Ailis, whose spirit and wit totally disarmed him. The children were a delight especially when tiny five year old Sibeal came to her Aunt Ailis' defense, practically unmanning Alexander while giving him a complete dressing down - now that was a hoot! The secondary characters including her loyal friend Jamie, the children, and the men at arms all add a wonderful depth to this action packed, and sensually stimulating medieval romance. ---

Marilyn, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Alexander MacDubh was once one of the biggest charmers in all of Scotland. With his magnificent looks and sweet tongue, he had many women, single and married, swooning over him. But when he experienced one too many betrayals by his ex-wife and stepmother, the former resulting to the death of his beloved daughter, the other to his father's death and loss of their land and wealth, he vows to never trust another woman for the rest of his life. For two years, he has succeeded in shielding his emotions and lives for the day when he could avenge his father's death and reclaim Leargan, the land that Colin MacFarlane stole from the MacDubh's. Then one day, he discovers that his brother Barra has sired three children with the late Mairi MacFarlane. Within hours, Alex and his men were riding towards Leargan intent on claiming back the children. And Fate seemed to be smiling at him for in one swoop, it wasn't only his niece and nephews who land in his lap, but the sole MacFarlane heiress as well - the beautiful Ailis.

Strong-willed and spirited, Ailis passes herself off as the children's nurse, knowing the price that the MacDubhs would demand as ransom for all of them. But her cover doesn't last very long when Barra lays eyes on her and mistakes her for the woman he once loved. And when Alex learns about the value of his captive, he couldn't believe his luck and decides to extract vengeance from Donald MacCordy by bedding his betrothed. But Alex never expected that Fate has actually given him the woman who will be his undoing.

RECKLESS is the third of Hannah Howell's first earlier Highland series, the first one being AMBER FLAME followed by PROMISED PASSION. In those first two books, Alexander was always the charming courtier giving competition to his friends Tavis and Ian MacLagan. So I was quite surprised to see him in a serious role, that of a bitter man who has suffered the treachery of the opposite sex who he once adored. I was a little saddened to see him a mere shadow of his former self and couldn't wait for Ailis to break the wall he has built around his heart and bring him down on his knees. And that's what she does of course! It doesn't take long for Ailis to figure out the man that Alex has become and she strives to prove to him that not all women are capable of treachery, that there are many trustworthy and loving women out there who will give their all to the man they love.

This book also features a good supporting cast, notably the children and the ever-loyal Jamie. I laughed so much when little Sybeal nearly knocks the daylight out of her uncle Alexander and threatens to make a eunuch of him. That, for me, was the most fun part of the story. And who wouldn't adore Jamie's loyalty to Ailis? He was a friend that anyone would be lucky to have.

Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable read though it lacks the spark and tenderness that I loved in AMBER FLAME. To this day, that remains one of my favorite novels. You will understand once you read it. The passion, tenderness and laughter shared by Tavis and Storm is something to cherish and one I always look for when reading other Scottish books by Hannah Howell.

Ailis MacFarlane is at a loss at how to prevent her upcoming nuptials to her abhorrent betrothed, Donald MacCordy. However, her uncle, not to mention her fiancé and his family, are determined to see her wed in order to unite the MacCordys' and the MacFarlanes' clans.
Just as she thinks her wedding to Donald is inevitable, in rides the brutally handsome laird Alexander MacDubh to capture Ailis, her sister's children, and her giant protector Jaime out from under enemy hands. His daring is by no means noble move, but instead a calculated move in order to reunite his brother Barra with his children, whom he had only just learnt about. In a drunken stupor, Barra had recounted to his older brother how six years ago he had had an affair with Mairi, Ailis's sister and daughter of the MacDubh's deepest enemy, not to mention fathering three children whom he has not seen since his Mairi died. The MacFarlane's are to blame for Alexander and Barra's father's death as well as stealing their land. However, the children are Barra's and they carry MacDubh blood in their veins and Alexander would see them in his hands.
When he captured Ailis and her brood Alexander had no idea that his enemy would become a main part of his world. His mistrust over women stemmed from two bad marriages in which his wives had used him and turned him into an embittered man set on revenge. However, he is drawn to Ailis with a passion he cannot deny but will his suspicious nature of women prevent him and Ailis from becoming more?
Hannah Howell does a superb job of writing a true Scottish Highland romance. From the language to the setting, Ms. Howell accurately conveys the time period. You will come to empathize with the characters, main as well as secondary. This is one historical romance reissue (previously written under the name Anna Jennet) not to be missed.

THIS BOOK WAS GREAT, I READ IT IN 2 DAYS,COULD'NT PUT IT DOWN. ONE REVIEW SAYS THE HERO WAS A JERK, BUT HE REALLY WAS JUST A VERY HURT MAN UNTILL A GOOD LASS SAVED HIM FROM THAT.. IT IS ALSO A MORE REALESTIC ROMANCE ABOUT THE TIME PERIOD OF THIS ERA... HANNAH HOWELL IS GREAT, PLEASE DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP.....

i was turned off this book about the 3rd chapter. the "hero" slaps the main woman. i may be able to handle many things but abuse against someone weaker is just sickening. the worst part is that from this point theyre supposed to come to love each other. immediately after this she is forced to stay in his bed and they have sex and she puts up little to no resistance! this just annoyed me that the whole situation was just dismissed. i cant come to love a hero who hits a woman.

Shows great passion and romance. Hannah makes you fall in love with the characters and feel what they feel!

I thought this was a very good read. I'm not sure what one of the reviewers was talking about when she stated that the hero said that he could not be faithful to her (Ailis)at the end of the book. I did not see that at all so that's not true it had the typical ending as all romance novels. Pick this one up it's a must read.

How can you beat her? She is Nora Roberts writing 800 years earlier! I try to read everything Hannah puts out and I am never disappointed.

I am an avid fan of Romance and Historic Romance. Seldom before have I ever been so disappointed with a book. Reckless was a harsh tale. It basically started with the "HERO" both slapping and "HEROINE" and then raping her. His reason for raping her was cruel and only did so as an act of vengeance to intentionally ruin her. Even his brother begged him not to rape the heroine. Further in the book, he never showed any remorse or did anything that showed any concern or loyalty to her. He was cruel and harsh to her almost to the end of the book. Even when she was pregnent with his child he asked her "who was the father" and did not come after her when she was captured. In the end where most romance books winds up with HEA endings, he said he could not promise to be faithful. YUK YUK YUK. This is not my idea of a romance novel. This HERO was a total creep and a jerk. Even his brother begged him not to rape the heroine, but he did so anyway. I do NOT recommend this book to anyone who actually likes some "Romance" in their "Romance novels.

In 1375 her uncle Coln who murdered her father, the laird of clan MacFarlane, sees Ailis as an asset to be bartered in obtaining an alliance with the MacCordys. Coln does not care that she raises the three children of her dead sister Maire, whose father remains unknown and that he selected the abusive Donald MacCordy as her spouse.

Alexander, laird of clan MacDubh, learns from his depressed brother Barra that he has three children with Maire that he has not seen in years. Alexander believes the kids should be raised amongst the love of their father's clan. They abduct the three children, their guardian Ailis, and a gentle giant willing to die to keep the four safe. Ailis worries that her clan's enemy will destroy the children, but instead sees them showered in love and even her giant protector treated with kindness unlike how her uncle has handled the children. As Ailis and Alexander fall in love, both knows that the MacFarlane and MacDubh must react, but when and how is still to be seen.

Though her uncle and her intended are too odious to be competitive to the caring though brooding Alexander, fans of Scottish medieval romances will receive plenty of reading pleasure with this strong tale. The clever propaganda mechanisms that paint the Macdubhs as bloodthirsty barbarians amongst the MacFarlanes would fit in well in today's 527 ways to say truth during the presidential race. The story line moves forward at a rapid pace as Alexander and Ailis battle with each other and within themselves in a fine historical tale.

Harriet Klausner