Fantabulous romance! Riveting suspense. Original storyline with unique plot twists. A hero (and heroine) you'll fall in love with. Many tear-jerking moments. Smokin' hot love scenes. Beautifully satisfying epilogue. A book that just leaves you wanting MORE! Can you tell I adored it? How often does a historical romance actually make you search out a history book to read more about the life and time period of the story you've just read? I found myself actually looking for reference books detailing the time period of the French and Indian War, that's how captivated I was by this second book in Pamela Clare's MacKinnon's Rangers Trilogy. And anyone who read the first book of the trilogy, "Surrender", and didn't possibly think that the author could equal or exceed that story, let me tell you in my opinion, I think she did at LEAST equal that wonderful book.
This story revolves around Morgan, the second of the three exiled Scottish MacKinnon brothers. Morgan now commands the Rangers, a group of highly skilled, largely colonial frontiersmen who fight alongside the British soldiers against the French and their Indian allies. While battling the French at their fort near Ticonderoga in upstate New York, Morgan is shot, captured, and feared dead while trying to save the life of one of his fellow Rangers. He's taken to the fort with the French hoping he will live, so they can torture the British war secrets out of him. Then they will turn him over to their allies, the Abenaki Indians, who want to see him dead for his part in the attack on one of their villages. Of course the Abenaki just don't want to kill him, they want to burn him alive at the stake. Gruesome stuff. Morgan knows what fate awaits him, and does his best NOT to survive. There's no way he'd ever give up secrets to the French, as that would harm his brothers and fellow Rangers. And he'd just as soon not die at the stake, so he wills himself not to live. But he does not count on the determination of a beautiful young French lass who cares for his wounds, and who later comes to care for him.
Beautiful 17 year old Amalie Chauvenet, born to a French officer and an Abenaki Indian mother, never had a real home or family. Convent raised since the death of her mother when she was just a baby, and only recently reunited with her father, she is a true innocent in every sense of the word. Recently reunited with her father, she's come to love and respect him, but she's tired of being told what she must do without anyone asking her opinion. If only someone would actually listen to her--she would love to be able to talk with someone rather than being talked TO. When she first sees Morgan MacKinnon, almost a year has passed since her father's tragic death in a previous battle with the British. She's now a ward of her father's friend and current third in command, Chevalier de Bourlamaque. Bourlamaque wants to set her up with a French officer for a husband, but Amalie has no feelings for the man he's chosen. If she doesn't soon choose a husband, Bourlamaque has plans to send her back to the abbey, where she can devote her life to Christ. She's almost resigned to a life back at the abbey, until she spends time tending to Major Morgan MacKinnon. Mon dieu! What a fine speciman of a man--and he's kind, mannerly, honorable, and he actually is interested in her thoughts! And even though he may be directly responsible for the death of her father, she cannot hate him. And he certainly doesn't deserve to die at the stake at the hands of the Abenaki. If only there was something she could do...
Well, at the eleventh hour, Amalie convinces Bourlamaque to let Morgan live, but what Morgan has to do is almost not worth his life to him. He's caught between a rock and a hard place, but he does what he must in order to survive. And maybe one day, if he plays his cards right, he can escape...and make his way back to his brothers and fellow Rangers. But can he leave Amalie, who he's grown to cherish more than any other woman in his life? Can there ever be a future for the two of them?
This story had me on edge from the time Morgan was captured by the French, up to the time he was about to make his escape. Would he take Amalie with him? Would he be deemed a traitor by the British? Would he ever see his brothers again? Would he be a wanted man for the rest of his life? All these questions and more were answered, and it made for one emotional read. Although this story had quite a historical background, including real and fictional characters and places, it was mainly a love story in all respects; Morgan's love for his brothers and family, love for his Rangers, there was even some love (okay, more like extreme respect) for the French commander Bourlamaque, but mostly his love for a young woman who grew up before our eyes, the beautiful and brave Amalie.
The love between Morgan and Amalie was filled with sexual tension, and almost-there moments, that leave the reader breathless with anticipation. And when they finally consummate their love near a waterfall in the forrest...whew...molten hot passion ensues!
Once again, there's lots of little Scottish words and phrases used--my favorites being "a leannan" (Morgan's term of endearment for Amalie), his declaration of love--"My love lies upon you", and my favorite curse word, "Och! Satan's arse!"
On a side note, I would love to see the young British General, William Wentworth, get a woman of his own. I'm getting tired of him coveting the MacKinnons' women! He is a tricky devil, and though he's proven that he's not all bad (he is a complicated man), this guy needs a woman that will put him in his place. I hope Pamela Clare has plans to write a story about him. Hopefully he will not try to poach whoever will become Connor's (the third brother) woman in the next book!
If you love your historicals action packed, but not short-changed on the love story, "Untamed" is the perfect book for you. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be deeply satisfied at the conclusion but you'll be ready to read more about these brave Scotsmen. A highly recommended 5 stars!