Reckless

Rating:
Summary: A True Scottish Highland Tale
Review: 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.


Rating:
Summary: Shocking and disturbing book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: great book, love hannah howell
Review: I will have to say after reading a review that made the book sound terrible, it was far off that mark. It was another great book that Hannah Howell wrote. There was one time and that was in the beginning where Alexander slapped Ailis. There was no rape involved.

Rating:
Summary: fine Scottish medieval romance
Review: 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


Rating:
Summary: Action Packed and Sensually Exciting Medieval
Review: 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 ---



Rating:
Summary: HONEST ROMANCE!!!
Review: 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.....