Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy, #1)

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Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy #1)

by Pamela Clare (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 1,262 ratings · 154 reviews

For five pounds in cash, the convict was hers. Though Cassie hated the slave trade, her Virginia plantation demanded the labor, and she knew this fevered man would surely die if she left him. But as his wounds healed and his muscled chest bronzed from the sun, Cassie realized Cole Braden was far more dangerous than his papers had indicated - for he could steal her breath w...more

Mass Market Paperback, 374 pages

Published March 1st 2003 by Leisure Books

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May 16, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-pamela-clare, historical-romance, sure-to-be-a-keeper, format-paperback, series-blakewell-kenleigh-trilogy, first-in-trilogy, starts-with-q-thru-t, 2011-reads, 5-stars, location-virginia, location-plantation-life, debut-novel, reviewed-by-me, historical-romance-american-colonie, french-and-indian-war, hero-ship-builder, kidnapped-hostage, sold-into-slavery-indentured

Sweet Release is the first book in the Blakewell/Kenleigh trilogy, and I don’t even know where to start when reviewing this story, so I’ll skip the plot synopsis and keep it short and sweet. It’s a tale filled with adventure, passion, and romance that will stay with you long after you’ve read those final words. No matter the genre, Ms. Clare knows how to bring her characters to life making them so much more than just names and words on the page, and Alec Kenleigh and Cassie Blakewell are among...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: steamy, historic, romance

3.5 Stars!

This was Pamela Clare's debut book, and though it wasn't as good as "Surrender", which I read before this, it was a decent read and the setting in early Colonial America was lovely. Clare certainly does her research and I continuously find that her period storylines are some of the best I've read; a close second to Gabaldon's work.

Cassie Blakewell hates the slave trade and labor her Virginia plantation demands although, she knew this fevered man would most certainly die if she left him...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hist-rom-colonial, hist-rom, favorite-author, romance, own

Alec Kenleigh is a wealthy shipbuilder from England. One night he is set upon by thieves and knocked unconscious. In a daze of pain, he is sent to Newgate where he becomes a victim of mistaken identity and is sent to the Colonies.

Cassie Blakewell is running her father's plantation under the guise of her father being "out of town" for awhile. She's good at it, but knows she will be unable to retain her authority if people found out the truth. In the midst of all this, she purchases the Indentures...more Alec Kenleigh is a wealthy shipbuilder from England. One night he is set upon by thieves and knocked unconscious. In a daze of pain, he is sent to Newgate where he becomes a victim of mistaken identity and is sent to the Colonies.

Cassie Blakewell is running her father's plantation under the guise of her father being "out of town" for awhile. She's good at it, but knows she will be unable to retain her authority if people found out the truth. In the midst of all this, she purchases the Indentureship of Alec- although he's now known as Cole Braden.

When he's finally on his way to healing and awakens he's shocked to find months have gone by and that everyone is laboring under the impression he's a criminal. Cassie is smart enough to not believe his claims out right, but she does agree to send word England to make some inquiries.

In the meantime, Alec and Cassie find an unwanted attraction exists between them and, despite the interference of a local rich boy who desires Cassie's hand in marriage, they discover neither is who the other thought they were.

Pamela Clare's Historicals are classic Historical Romance Novels, to be sure. They retain the familiar themes, but they also add the spice we've come to expect from more recent entries in the romance genre. But even given that, they have a way of making you feel like you've arrived home after being away for a very long time.

In Sweet Release, Clare has written a thick, rich historical novel. It has a fierce hero, wrongly imprisoned and sent to the colonies for indentureship, A feisty heroine who runs an entire plantation for her indisposed father and enough atmosphere to make plantation life during the early days of the colonies come alive without overburdening us with mundane details.

Unfortunately, our heroine is a naïve virgin. In the past, I was able to brush over the shy machinations of a virgin too scared to handle the far more knowledgeable hero. In fact I scoffed at others who brought up this issue in historical romance novel reviews, thinking them elitist snobs. Not anymore.

Another drawback for me was the fact I also felt like I was watching these two from afar. I'm not sure what was missing, but something kept me at a distance. Perhaps a lack of depth? Not sure, but Ride the Fire by Clare was a much better read, imo.

(PS This apparently is Ms. Clare's debut novel, so I did give the author some grace on this one!) (less)

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Nov 10, 2008 Kathrynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical, own, 2008, theme-colonial_frontier, reviewed

This one started out will all kinds of intriguing possibilities, but the lengthy and frequent scenic descriptions, too many start-stops in the climax coupled with too many stutters to the ending ruined it for me.

The author admits this book took her 7 years to write due to personal issues in her life. I can see it in the story as she must have forgotten she already said that--numerous times. Also, that can be the only explanation for all the "almost" climaxes and shifts in the storyline.

The two...more

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Mar 23, 2009 Mitzi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: writer-pamela-clare, genre-romance-historical, heat-4-sizzling

Great Story. Alec Kenleigh the 3rd owns a shipping bizz in England. His younger bro Phillip (loser) has him killed, only the men didn't kill him but sold him and he arrives in the Colonies (Virginia) beaten and sold as endentured slave to Cassie Blackwell. He can't remember much about what happened to him after his attack in London, but he knows he is not Cole Braden. He convinces Cassie to let him write to his bro. While he works on her plantation, they fall in love, only evil neighbor wants he...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Alexis ~*Too many books, not enough time*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Historical Romance Lovers

Shelves: adult-romance, alpha_male, badass_heroine, betrayal, danger, discovery, family-secrets-revealed, first_comes_love_then-_comes_marria, funfearless-andfemale, hea-included, heart_pounding_moments, historical-romance, his-her-pov, hot_as_hell_male, jealousy, kidnapped-kidnapping, loved-by-danger, mystery_what_happened, pregnancy, rescued, sexy-series_read2012, strong_female_lead, unexpected-twist, very-steamy, bought_into_slavery, indentured_servant

Spoiler Free Review
4 STARS
Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: Virginia and London

" Running an Estate is men's work" -Alec
"Why? Why must it be so? A woman once ruled all of England, yet Englishwomen aren't even allowed to rule themselves." -Cassie
"Women rule their own way. They raise the children, run the household-" -Alec
"While men run everything else." -Cassie in Sweet Release

->My my my how far we have come.... I LOVED CASSIE!! She was Bold, Brazen, Sexy & Empowered all while living in a...more

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May 29, 2012 Dorsey aka Wrath Lover marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle_own_tbr, pamela_clare

Kindle FREEBIE today 5/29/12

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pamela-clare, favorites

ok I just finished this book, and oh my....SWOON!! I loved Alec and i loved Cassie. I hated what happened to Alex, but i felt warm inside when he did what was honorable and gave his word to do his best. He worked hard despite the unjustly circumstances. And Cassie taking care of her father and brother and treating everyone in her care with respect. The passion between them was hot! And the last quarter of the book I was fixed in my chair, I couldn't stop reading today until I found out what happ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, colonial-frontier, pamela-clare, strong-willed-heroine, scarred-disfigured, 3-star, steamy

3 1/2 stars

Sweet Release is Pamela Clare's debut book. Though it isn't in the same league as her current books, in terms of concise writing and strong plot and character development, it's well-written, poignant, sensual, and at time heart-wrenching. I will say that the drama toward the end of the book felt a little over-the-top and took away from the overall quality of the story. That being said, I really enjoyed this story and am blown away by the knowledge that this is Pamela Clare's first boo...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Lori McD rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013_read, 18th-century, british-lit, chick-lit, cozy-mystery, druid, early-americana, favorite-author, guilty-pleasure, historical-fiction, kindle-book, own, romance, series, steamy, tear-jerker, tough-subject-matter

3.5+ stars

I fell in love with Pamela Clare's books with [book:Surrender}, the 1st of the Mackinnon's Rangers series. This is the 1st book in the Kenleight/Blakewell Family Saga, and while, not quite as good as Surrender, it's got it's own appeal.

The story takes place in 1730, starting in London with Alec Kenleigh. One evening after visiting his mistress, Alec is kidnapped and taken aboard a slave ship bound for America. His wounds keep him foggy, but with enough fight to sustain several beatings...more 3.5+ stars

I fell in love with Pamela Clare's books with [book:Surrender}, the 1st of the Mackinnon's Rangers series. This is the 1st book in the Kenleight/Blakewell Family Saga, and while, not quite as good as Surrender, it's got it's own appeal.

The story takes place in 1730, starting in London with Alec Kenleigh. One evening after visiting his mistress, Alec is kidnapped and taken aboard a slave ship bound for America. His wounds keep him foggy, but with enough fight to sustain several beatings. And when he makes it to the colony of Virginia, he's so ill with fever from his many cuts, he practically dies on the docks.

Cassie Blakewell has a tender heart - tender enough that she can't bear the thought of this man dying, so she buys him for less than 10 pounds. She's told that he's Nicolas "Cole" Braden, convicted of rape, and transported to the Americas to be a bondsman. Her purchase of him makes him her property for 14 years.

Cassie is running her father's tobacco plantation, while her father is supposedly either in England seeking a new wife or about the Americas looking for breeding horses. In reality, after her mother died giving birth to her 9-year old brother and heir, Jamie, her father simply lost his will. It's difficult to know if he sank into depression or was already suffering the effects of early Alzheimers or a combination of the two. Cassie's hiding her father, who's tended regularly by Takota, the Tuscarroa woman who one day simply appeared and joined the Blakewell family farm. Only a trusted few know the truth. And to keep from being forced into an unwanted marriage and to keep her brother's inheritance, Cassie's forced to take control.

She sees Cole as a much needed additional man. But when Alec awakens and learns his fate, you can bet he doesn't accept it easily. He even convinced Cassie to call the Sheriff and allow him to write a letter to England to establish the truth of his identity.

In the meantime, Alec/Cole finds his place on the farm and learns a lot about growing tobacco and the neighbors - including the poncy Geoffrey Crichton, Cassie's childhood friend. Geoffrey's father is offensive, beating his slaves and bondsmen alike; he's a rough, cruel task-master. Geoffrey is constantly looking for his father's approval, but despite following in father's footsteps, Geoffrey's schemes always seem to backfire.

Geoffrey is determined to marry Cassie. Except that, of course, Cassie and Cole/Alec have been falling in love. Quite a risk for Cassie, since Cole is a convicted rapist! But everyone on the Blakewell farm and most of the neighbors have seen how gentleman-like Cole/Alec is....

But how did Alec get in this predicament? Who's responsible? What happens with the letter to England? Will Geoffrey discover Cassie's secret hiding place for her father?

So much seems to happen in this book, I almost couldn't stand it! I was only 50% of the way through the book, and I swore it should be coming to an end. But it's well written, and in the reading of it, didn't seem overly long.

I was biting my nails at the end, however, and grateful when it did end. It's a romance, so we do have a happy ending, but there's a LOT that occurs before we can get there!(less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, reading-but-not-engaged

THE BOOK THAT WOULD-NOT-END.
There was a chunk of the book in the middle that the story picked up and held my interest and I felt my fortunes were turning and the story would pick up. The detail and the development of the relationship had some merits and tried to show the hero and heroine developing over a period of time, but the darn story would not end. How many times could the hero get caught and get away, only to come back and get caught again. and again. and again. and... well you get my mea...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful historical romance. The book starts with Alec Kenleigh, a wealthy Englishman being pulled from his carriage and beaten. He ends up on a boat heading to the Americas and he is continually beaten on his voyage. The story of Cassie and Alec begins where she purchases him off of a slave boat where he is near death. The Captain of the boat claims that he is Cole Braden a convicted felon for ravishing women. When Alec eventually heals and finds that he is on a farm in the States, h...more

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Jun 12, 2012 D.C. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ABOUT THE BOOK:
For five pounds in cash, the convict was hers. Though Cassie hated the slave trade, her Virginia plantation demanded the labor, and she knew this fevered man would surely die if she left him. But as his wounds healed and his muscled chest bronzed in the sun, Cassie realized Cole Braden was far more dangerous than his papers had indicated—for he could steal her breath with a glance and lay siege to her senses with a touch.

Abducted, beaten, and given a new name, Alec went from maste...more

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May 30, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, app-kindle, historical-love, hott-spots, giveaways

This was a looooooong book. I thought I was halfway through and checked the progress to find out I was only 30% the way through!! Oh well, I'm always complaining about not feeling satisfied with books, about things being left unsaid or whatever. I can't say that with this book. This story was throughly told.

I loved watching Cassie and Alec fall in love. It was gradual which made it feel more realistic. I couldn't help but feel so frustrated for Alec. His whole world being turned upside down and...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I love the Early American Colonial period for its raw frontier adventure feel so I picked up this book and settled in for a good read. I was not disappointed though this would not be a book that a person who leans more toward the historical than the romance in their fiction should probably enjoy as much. Not that it was inaccurate! It was just more character and plot driven in its focus.

The story begins in London where we are introduced to Alec Kenleigh, the owner of a prosperous shipbuilding fi...more I love the Early American Colonial period for its raw frontier adventure feel so I picked up this book and settled in for a good read. I was not disappointed though this would not be a book that a person who leans more toward the historical than the romance in their fiction should probably enjoy as much. Not that it was inaccurate! It was just more character and plot driven in its focus.

The story begins in London where we are introduced to Alec Kenleigh, the owner of a prosperous shipbuilding firm. Alec works with his brother in law and tries to keep his younger, wastrel of a brother in line. He gives his younger brother, Phillip is given an ultimatum after the last mess up. Soon after this, Alec is attacked and switched with a indentured convict, Cole Braden, to be shipped out to the Americas to work on a plantation for 14 years.

The scene then shifts to the Virginia tobacco plantation owned by the Blackwell family. Cassie Blackwell, due to the need for secrecy regarding her father's condition, is now running her father's plantation alone and looking after her young brother, Jamie. She is in need of more workers because she has big plans to get the plantation out of debt and buys two men from the 'soul driver'. She purchases the white convict looking more dead than alive, Cole because she saw that he would die without care.

Alec wakes up and finds himself in a nightmare. He is mistaken for a convict who ravished women, he has barely survived a sea voyage, and now he is someone's property for the next 14 years far from all that he has known. In the place of his absent owner, he finds that his mistress is a pretty woman who both attracts and repels him at the same time.

While Alec and Cassie adjust to each other and work with the others to keep the plantation going as Alec waits for word from England, Geoffrey Crichton a young man from a neighboring plantation gets jealous of Alec because he wants Cassie for himself. Geoffrey stirs up all kinds of trouble not the least of which is setting a killer onto Cole and plotting to get Cassie by any means he can even if she is unwilling.

The last half of the book is very thrilling between Geoffrey's wicked plotting and the building romance between Alec and Cassie. It kept crescendoing to a big ending and just when I thought it was over- nope, there was more excitement. I won't go into detail so it is not spoilt for anyone.

As I said, the plot was strong and stayed that way. The book was written to switch points of view so multiple voices were heard. It was interesting knowing what many were thinking and it was not hard to follow the switches. Knowing Alec and Cassie's thoughts was helpful because they definitely were misunderstanding one another for a while. Alec and Cassie's relationship was handled well. Yes, they felt the spark of interest which they both explore a bit, but the complication of their circumstances was not forgotten and I was glad to see this as it made it more realistic. Eventually, their passion does overpower them, but even then there is still no easy 'I love you and all the barriers will go away now'. Their love is really tested in a few different ways before all is said and done.
There are also side story lines like the little romance between Zach and Elly and that between Luke and Nettie. There was also Geoffrey's inner thoughts to show why he did what he did. I wanted to hate him and I did, but there was a little part of me that pitied him too because of knowing his thoughts.

The characters were well written. I enjoyed how each character whether minor or major had a persona when they were introduced. The people on the plantation and in the overall community were not just props and foils for the main characters. I cracked up over Nan, the cook. Now there was a gal one didn't mess with and she had a no-nonsense way of talking.

I noticed after I read this that this was Pamela Clare's debut effort. Truthfully, I found that hard to believe as this rivals some of the best writers of the historical romance craft. I will definitely be seeking out more of her books.
(less)

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Mar 30, 2011 ~Megan~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, historical-warriors, scarred-tortured-hero

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Gah, I love Pamela Clare!! This story was exceptionally wonderful, as is pretty much everything I've read by her. I could wax poetic about how much I loved Alec and Cassie, but it would just be gushing. What I really loved about this story was everything else: the setting, the secondary characters, and the rich plot.

My favorite thing about a Pamela Clare novel is that I'm never sitting at the end thinking "but what happened to so and so?" or "I wonder how that turned out". She always writes a c...more

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Mar 20, 2011 MashJ rated it 5 of 5 stars

wow - two five star books in a weekend after none for ages.

Based in Virginia in 1730 on a tobacco plantation with an English merchant who has been dumped on a ship headed for the colonies and labelled a convict and the daughter of a plantation owner desperately trying to turn round her family land. The plot is very action packed with shenanigans having been carried out against both lead characters in England and in Virginia. The only problem with books going back to this era (and earlier) is tha...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Kj rated it 3 of 5 stars

This romance is set in the 1790's. This is not a book I would normally choose for myself but it was a free kindle book so I figured free couldn't be all bad and I gave it a try. The story starts with Alec , a wealthy businessman from England . His brother Phillip wants the family money and plots to get rid of Alec. Alec ends up on a ship to America, Virginia to be exact but his identity is mistaken for a convict accused of rape and is sold into slavery. He eventually ends up on Cassie Blackwell'...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Shirley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: free-ebook-downloads

I don't go out of my way in search of Historical Fiction, be it Romance or otherwise. I do, however enjoy reading outside my norm every once in a while. I read the synopsis on Sweet Release when I was looking through Amazon's freebies and it looked like a fairly light read that I might enjoy. Isn't it great when you get much more than you bargained for?

Sweet Release is set in 1730 and the setting spans between Colonial Virginia and England. The descriptions of the setting in both venues bring t...more I don't go out of my way in search of Historical Fiction, be it Romance or otherwise. I do, however enjoy reading outside my norm every once in a while. I read the synopsis on Sweet Release when I was looking through Amazon's freebies and it looked like a fairly light read that I might enjoy. Isn't it great when you get much more than you bargained for?

Sweet Release is set in 1730 and the setting spans between Colonial Virginia and England. The descriptions of the setting in both venues bring the story to life. Pamela Clare does an amazing job of drawing the reader in and lacing them right in the middle of the action. Add that with the depth of the characters and it's hard not to get lost in this Historical setting.

Cassie is a wonderful character. She is strong, passionate about what she believes in and considerate, protective and loyal to all those under her care. She is definitely not your typical slave owner and she also isn't a typical woman in her time. Alec/Cole starts out as someone who you're not quite sure about. It's hard to believe that the man you meet in the beginning of the book is a man you will grow to respect as much as you do by the end. He is a womanizer, but he also shows them respect, but never sees himself as someone who could fall in love. He loves his family and works hard at being a gentleman business owner. One night turns his entire world upside down. Once these two characters are put in the same world, the result is amazing.

I liked the fact that the romance took as long as it did to develop. The reader knows it's inevitable, but it isn't rushed or forced. The action, drama, twists and turns in the plot and the banter between all the characters makes this quite an entertaining read. Speaking of other characters, this is one book where the secondary characters add a lot to the story. The interactions that they have not only with the main characters but with each other are great.

Beyond the romance, this story also packs a powerful message. You can't have a book centered around slavery and not send some type of message, but I liked the way it was handled in Sweet Release. Some of the messages were subtle and some of them were like a slap in the face. Even characters who felt they were beyond reproach were forced to look more closely at their own beliefs. It wasn't preachy or forced, it just fit.

You know that a book was worth the read when you finish it and immediately go in search of the next one in the series. The Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy books have all been released. They follow chronologically but the time span is fairly long between the books. The next book in the series is Carnal Gift and the main male character is only 4 years old when he is introduced in Sweet Release. The final book is titled Ride the Fire and the main male character in it is a new born in Sweet Release. I'm sure I'll be checking out both of them and looking for more books by Pamela Clare in the near future. (less)

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Jan 19, 2013 Ronna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-romance, free-kindle-books, historical-fiction

This book has been sitting in my TBR pile forever and I regret having not read it sooner. I loved this book beginning to end. It is a well-written historical romance taking place primarily in colonial Virginia about 30 years before the American Revolution. I loved both of the main characters and the supporting cast as well. Alec is a breathtaking gentleman with alpha tendencies that has been mistaken for a convict, and Cassie is a compassionate, strong willed lady running her father's plantation...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Mei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Great book!
When I started reading it the first thing I suspected is that is very similar to Shanna and after finishing it, I had it confirmed.
Obviously, this story is NOT a photocopy! It is good, it is still fresh and it is HOT! *wink*

Alec/Cole at the beginning is a high-stung English, but as the story proceedes he's doing a fast growing up! I like him though. I liked how he was capable to remain himself, even in front of very difficult situation he found himslef in: from rich to indentured serv...more Great book!
When I started reading it the first thing I suspected is that is very similar to Shanna and after finishing it, I had it confirmed.
Obviously, this story is NOT a photocopy! It is good, it is still fresh and it is HOT! *wink*

Alec/Cole at the beginning is a high-stung English, but as the story proceedes he's doing a fast growing up! I like him though. I liked how he was capable to remain himself, even in front of very difficult situation he found himslef in: from rich to indentured servant in an almost blink. He's not afraid of hard work, he's not so haughty to avoid slaves, he's good with children.

Cassie is sometimes incredibly strong, sometimes too naive for everyone's good. She's in a difficult situation: her father is mentally sick, but she must avoid anyone outside the estate finding it out, else she'l have the estate taken out of her hands, her slaves sold to other, more cruel owners, her married off to somebody... a very dire stiuation! She's a good person: her slaves are treated good, her indentured servants too. She shares her food and medicine with everybody on her estate without distinction. But she's also young and naive...

Obviously, when she buys Alec, she does it because she think that otherwise he will die and she's not going to allow it. She nurses him, but when he awakens and tell her who he really is, she doesn't believe him. But as she gets to know him better, she changes her mind, and tries to help him prove it and, in the meanwhile falls in love with him. He too is not immune to her: what starts as lust, grows into love.

But there are others to consider: the neighboring estate owners. Some are good people, but there's one family that is really awful. And the hair wants Cassie and doesn't understand why she doesn't want him.

So all kind of problems arise: she has to maintain the ruse that her father is abroad and not sick; that Alec is only her indenture servant when he's her lover; that she's just a weak female following her father's directived about managing the esatte when she's a clever manager herself...

Sometimes she is a very mature and intelligent, but sometimes she's jut plain naive. Alec too... (view spoiler)

One complaint: the back-story in England is barely touched. I would have preferred to get more information of how Matthew find out about Philip's treachery. This part was just overlooked and I missed it. I think the book could have been much more rich if this was included.

The chemistry between Cassie and Alec is hot, hot, HOT. Pamela Clare knows how to write a sex scene!!! :D(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Brittany by: Taryn at My Secret Romance

So, this book was loaned to me and the only thing that I knew was that it was by an author that has awesome love from her fans... and that it was historical romance. I didn't even read the description! (Can you tell how much I trust my friend's opinion!)

It was nothing like I have read before. For one... we took the Englishman right out of England and dropped him smack dab into the middle of Virginia in the 1720s. His priveleged life was ripped right from under him and "hardships" is an understat...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, colonial, all-time-favorites, series, non-aristo-historical-romance

This is a great, fairly epic story. It is longer than most HRs, and the plot, settings and descriptions of characters and locations is far more detailed than most. It gives you a real taste for the period and the people, the cruelty and the struggles. It is set over a considerably longer timeframe than most HRs and this allows the relationship between the hero and heroine to develop at a more realistic pace, making their love and affection more credible. It also allows the secondary characters t...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, 5-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

How I came to read this book?

Honestly, I was interested in the I-Team series by Pamela Clare, but it is a longer, more expensive series. I hadn’t read anything by Pamela Clare yet so I decided to start with the shorter, less expensive series -The Kenleigh/Blackwell series. I am so glad I decided to start out my Pamela Clare experience with this series. So far it has been a breathtaking journey (I am about to start...more CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

How I came to read this book?

Honestly, I was interested in the I-Team series by Pamela Clare, but it is a longer, more expensive series. I hadn’t read anything by Pamela Clare yet so I decided to start with the shorter, less expensive series -The Kenleigh/Blackwell series. I am so glad I decided to start out my Pamela Clare experience with this series. So far it has been a breathtaking journey (I am about to start the third book in the series), and I am obsessed. I will not hesitate to buy a Pamela Clare novel from this point on.

If you enjoy historical romance novels at all, I mean even the smallest interest in this genre, then this is a must read.

My historical romance experience is very limited. However, I found a few similarities between Sweet Release, the first book in The Kenleigh/Blackwell series, and the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, one of my all-time favorite series. For people who read a ton of historical romance, you may find these novels as different as night and day. However, I am giving Sweet Release one of the greatest compliments I can think of by saying that it reminded me of the Outlander series.

The romance and passion between Alec and Cassie is sweet and exciting, the suspense is heart stopping, and the drama is never ending. Every single character is well developed, even the supporting characters. I feel like I made some friends reading this novel.

I was so addicted to this book, I stayed up until 5 in the morning because I couldn’t imagine going to bed without finishing this story. I told my boyfriend about the premise of the book, even read a few chapters aloud to him, and even he got interested in this book. (That’s a huge deal because we have crazy different taste in books, television, etc.)

I gave Sweet Release by Pamela Clare 4 STARS (4.5 STARS). If you enjoy historical romance then I recommend that you purchase this book RIGHT NOW. It’s that good. And just to let you know, I have already finished the next book in the series Carnal Gift, the story about Jamie Blackwell, Cassie’s younger brother and it’s just as good as the first book in the series. I am about to begin the third novel, Ride the Fire, just as soon as I get it in the mail. Unfortunately, the third book in the series isn’t available as an e-book right now, but I wanted to read it immediately so I ordered a used copy off Amazon with expedited shipping. I never pay for expedited shipping, so that just goes to show how much I love these books.
-XOXO

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Apr 28, 2012 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable story but I had the feeling I read something similar years ago. Backdrop is early Virginia where slavery was taking root and bondservents were bought to work on plantations for a number of years before being set free. The heroin of the story owned her own plantation but treated the slaves and bondservants like human beings. Intro to the scene is a staunch Englishman who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Girl buys guy and story becomes predictable. What sets this story way ahead of a...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, colonial-america-romance, historical-romance-usa, hot_hero, second-read-worthy, strong-heroine

Wonderful escape to pre-Revolutionary Eastern America. This is a time period I love to read about, but so few romantic fiction novels are set in this era and place. The story seems to be well researched by the author, a big plus.
Alec Kenleigh is a wealthy English gentleman who owns a family shipping business. He had to take drastic measures with his brother Phillip due to his heavy drinking, gambling and whoring. The brother is resentful and next thing you know, Alec is being attacked while tr...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Beanbag Love rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, this review is a bit ill fated. It kept getting erased while I typed so I copied it to a file on my computer and now that file's disappeared. Is this the haunted title that won't be reviewed? Yikes!

This is Pamela Clare's first novel and it's set in colonial Virginia. That right there is enough to start the book on a positive note for me. I love Virginia and I love American history. Woo hoo!

Not many historical romance authors bother with this time and place and I'm so glad that Clare has take...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Historical romance isn't one of my favorite choices but this author was recommended by a friend so I gave it a try and was very glad I did. It was such a well-written story with plenty of interesting characters with little stories of their own. It hooks you in and you can't put it down because there's always something exciting happening in the next paragraph but it not too angsty that your thinking this is too much already. The author knows how to make the story flow and is believable and authen...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Rachel Whitley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance, books-i-recommend, 5-stars, historical-fiction, historical-romance

I started this book just after finishing the MacKinnon's Rangers series, and because of its brilliance and the swoon-worthyness of its heroes, "Sweet Release" didn't captivate me from page one the way Pamela Clare's other books have in the past. But although it began slowly, this novel just kept building and building. I loved the characters more with every turn of a page, the book is filled with colorful background characters who could easily deserve their own novels, and the suspense and plot t...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, nook, favorites, 4-historical

Alec Kenleigh is a gentleman from England. Hated by some, liked by others and desired by women. He keeps himself detached from women, often favoring to bed married women who won't demand anything from him. On the night he decides he may want more from life he is brutally attacked and shipped with another name and a sentence to complete to the plantations in America, where he is bought by compassionate, sweet Catherine Blakewell. When he comes to Alec is confused and angry to find himself in such...more

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About Pamela Clare

Colorado author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the First Amendment Award and the National Journalism Award for Public Service. This year, she was honored by the Colorado Pro Chapter of t...more

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Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy #1)

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