Surrender (MacKinnon’s Rangers, #1) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

May 14, 2009 Shawna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dirty-talk-turns-me-on, favorite-romance-series, hh-servant-serving-working-class, hero-big-built-tall-muscular-strong, 2022-reads, tattoos-piercings-body-art, favorite-hottest-love-scenes-nookie, favorite-romance-couple-hh-pairings, hero-addict-excon-lawtrouble-thief, married-couples-married-convenience

Re-read/listened to audiobook April'2022

Still a big 5 star read!

Original rating/review Sept'2010:

5+ stars – Colonial American/Frontier Historical Romance

I’m a huge fan of Pamela Clare’s I-Team romantic suspense series, I love hot highlander heroes, I’m fascinated by pre-Revolutionary American history, and I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about Surrender from several GR friends. So why did I wait so long to read this?!?! I had no doubt that I’d love it, but I had a feeling it would be emot ...more

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Dec 28, 2010 MelissaB rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, kindle, favorite-romances, 2015-reads, 2022-reads, favorite-historical-romance, best-heroes, mackinnons-rangers, colonial-american-romance, 2013-reads

Lady Anne Burness Campbell was betrayed into 14 years of indentured service after her uncle accused her of being a thief because she knew he killed her mother. She chose to be branded a thief rather than return to her Uncle Bain's house and possibly be murdered herself. Her uncle branded her on her inner thigh instead of her thumb so that she would never be able to sleep with a man without being found out as a thief. Anne was sent to the American colonies where she was sold into service to a fro Lady Anne Burness Campbell was betrayed into 14 years of indentured service after her uncle accused her of being a thief because she knew he killed her mother. She chose to be branded a thief rather than return to her Uncle Bain's house and possibly be murdered herself. Her uncle branded her on her inner thigh instead of her thumb so that she would never be able to sleep with a man without being found out as a thief. Anne was sent to the American colonies where she was sold into service to a frontier couple in colonial New York. Her owners are a harsh couple who beat her often because she does not know how to perform the tasks they expect of her.

One day while she is in the barn milking the cow, she hears gun shots and screaming. Realizing that Indians and French are attacking the farm, she goes out the back of the barn and runs through the snow toward the woods. The attack party sees her and pursues her through the forest, intent on raping and killing her. She slips down a rocky slope where the men finally catch up to her but she doesn't give up and keeps on fighting. Just as she is about to be hurt, a big man comes out of the woods and kills all of the men attacking her.

Iain MacKinnon is an exhiled Scot whose family immigrated to colonial New York after losing everything at Culloden. His grandfather was The MacKinnon, laird over his lands until the Argyll Campbells and English defeated his clan at Culloden, killing women and children as well as wounded men. Iain and his brothers Morgan and Conner grew up on the frontier, learning how to hunt and track along with their Indian friends, the Muheconneok. Iain was pressed into service for the British crown after a British Colonel accuses him of a murder he didn't commit then offers him a choice of starting a Ranger company for the Crown or hanging. Since Iain was a Catholic Jacobite, he knew the courts would not listen to him over a British Colonel so he was forced to lead a company of Rangers who fought for the British along with his two brothers who joined with him.

Major Iain MacKinnon is on a scouting mission to Fort Ticonderoga under orders to move swiftly to keep from being seen. He is not supposed to help any colonials under attack because it would give away the location of his company of Rangers. He sees Annie running through the forest and has to make a terrible decision, to save her from being raped and killed which will bring danger to his men because the shooting will bring the French and Abenaki to their position, or let her be killed and follow his orders. Iain is an honorable man who cannot stand to see such a courageous woman harmed in front of him, so he makes the fateful decision to send the rest of the scouting party away and save her on his own.

Iain saves Annie's life but she is hurt from running through the woods barefoot. He carries her on his back through the woods trying to ahead of the large force of Abenaki on their tail who want vengeance for the men he killed saving her. Iain vows to keep her safe and carries her for the next few days on his back, always just ahead of the Abenaki. Annie realizes that no one knows who she is and she could be free from her indentured service if no one finds out. She tells Iain that her name is Annie Burns because she is afraid he will hate her if he finds out that she is an Argyll Campbell.

They reach the fort where Iain is sentenced to 100 lashes for saving her life. Annie tries to get the British officer to relent but he refuses. After being whipped, Annie nurses Iain back to health. They both have feelings for each other but fight the attraction for different reasons. Iain is stuck in the Rangers until the end of the war and does not have anything to offer a wife until he can take over his farm again. Annie cannot sleep with Iain because he will find her brand and know she lied to him. But the passion between them refuses to go away and eventually ignites, leaving Iain and Annie to come to terms with the consequences.

Surrender is a beautiful love story full of action, adventure and passion. Iain MacKinnon is one of the best heroes I have ever read - honorable, protective and caring toward Annie and revered by his men. He does so much for Annie, from carrying her on his back for days after saving her life to doing everything he can to keep her safe from those who would do her harm. Annie was a sweet girl who deserved the protection she gets from Iain after being betrayed by those closest to her and shipped from a life of privilege to a very different life on the frontier. The passion between Iain and Annie is intense and wonderful. The romance in the book just makes you feel good because it's so beautiful. If you like the movie and setting of Last of the Mohicans, you will enjoy this book. The characters and setting of this book come to life and take you on a great romantic adventure. I have read this book three times and enjoyed it more every time. Surrender has earned it's place as my favorite historical romance book. ...more

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Feb 14, 2009 BJ Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: keepers, amer-west, historical-suspense

There are so few well-told romance books set in the American frontier, and this one had so much more than just the setting. It's really about what happens to people when they are taken from all they know & love, and how they adapt, survive, learn & love under very harsh conditions.

Iain's family fled Scotland after Culloden, but Iain is now caught up in a North American war - the French & Indian War - because he and his brothers were framed for murder by Lord William Wentworth so he could force I ...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Lynsey A rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: first-read-by-author, part-of-a-series, library-book, baby, 2011-reads, favorite-author, pregnancy, historical-romance, highlander, warm-and-fuzzy-romance

This was my first read by Pamela Clare. I so loved this story! The love story was sweet and Iain and Annie were just the best couple. I loved the camaraderie betwee Iain and his brothers and all the other Rangers.

MelissaB has a great review so if you are interested in more of the story be sure to check out her review. It was what got me to read the book. I'm off to start the second one now. ...more

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