Surrender (MacKinnon’s Rangers, #1) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Dec 28, 2010 MelissaB rated it it was amazing

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

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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Apr 08, 2008 Auntee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: made_me_cry, keepers, husband-worthy_hero, historical-romance-american

This was the best historical romance I think I've ever read--all others pale in comparison. Scotsman Iain MacKinnon was a hero unlike any other--the bravest, kindest, most honorable man, and sooo sexy too. His relationship with the heroine, Annie...fantastic...tempestuous...erotic...loving, all that and more! There were many swoon-worthy moments in this one, as well as suspenseful ones, as Iain and his company of Rangers fought the French and Indians in many tense encounters. But this book was m ...more

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Mar 18, 2009 Eastofoz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: western-frontier

I had my doubts about this book even though readers raved about it. I read Clare’s Carnal Gift, thought it was really poor and wrote her off as a two-bit writer that I wouldn’t try again. Well talk about a 360 here! This book is so vivid and well-written with a beautiful hero that I am sooo happy I have the next one (Untamed) and another from her other series.

Who would ever think that putting a Highlander on the Colonial frontier would work. Well not only does it work it’s the kind of book that I had my doubts about this book even though readers raved about it. I read Clare’s Carnal Gift, thought it was really poor and wrote her off as a two-bit writer that I wouldn’t try again. Well talk about a 360 here! This book is so vivid and well-written with a beautiful hero that I am sooo happy I have the next one (Untamed) and another from her other series.

Who would ever think that putting a Highlander on the Colonial frontier would work. Well not only does it work it’s the kind of book that you find yourself getting lost in until there’s some noise that takes you out of the story. You can see the Rangers working at the fort and you can see the mean British Lord William in charge making their lives hard. Then there’s the love story that just had me going **sigh sigh**. There is this one part that I was reading in a public area and I had to close the book because I started getting tears in my eyes –did a little coughing to cover that up and make it look like a cold was coming on (lol!) ;) So not only can you see the story unfold, you can feel it, and those two things together are what make it well-worth the read.

The Gaelic is done well too. A translation is provided for the most part right after each sentence and the accent is consistent throughout the book. Now you might say, ‘who cares about that’, well I think it adds to the believability of the story and the overall sexiness of the hero ;-)

There are some very gruesome parts in the story too as well as steamy, steamy sex! There is this one sex scene that is very far from historical romance and seems to skirt with erotica IMO. The relief you feel when the h/h get together is way up there! As for the other Rangers, they will charm the socks right off you. They’re all so protective of the heroine too. There are some very touching scenes between these men that you just wouldn’t expect with background characters.

So it’s an original story because of the characters and their setting and just an “oh-wow” heart skipping a beat here kind of hero (ah Iain) –good luck NOT loving this one :) ...more

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May 01, 2008 ♡Karlyn P♡ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-historical-american, top-100-favorites, read-2008, genre-western, genre-historical, steam-hot, read-2012, reread

! Just as awesome the second time!! I first read this book several years ago and it blew me away, and so far this series (and the author’s other books) have not disappointed. SURRENDER is one of those books that leave you utterly breathless when you finish the last page. The H/h are up against incredible odds, the risks they face monumental, and the passion burns white HOT. With Connor’s story finally coming out next month, I am re-reading the first two (SURRENDER and UNTAMED) in anticipation.

S ...more

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Nov 18, 2008 Mitzi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, genre-romance-historical, a-own-tbr-k2, heat-4-sizzling, writer-pamela-clare, to-listen-audio-own, a-series, narrator-kaleo-griffith

Bk 1 of the MacKinnon Ranger Trilogy. Ian MacKinnon (a Scot) doesn't like the English but is forced to serve the crown and battle the French in 1755. He disobeys orders and saves Annie from a raid on a farm she is laboring at as an endentured servant. Annie should not have been there, having been betrayed, and sent to the colonies. This was a wonderful love story...pretty hot too....with great secondary characters. Looking forward to next installment. ...more

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Jan 04, 2009 librarygirl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance

Where do I find more books like Surrender and Ride the Fire?? Both were fantastic reads! The love scenes were *steamy*. Iain was dreamy... on the keeper shelf it goes!

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Jun 01, 2012 Sunny rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: a-1-favorite-series, reviews

4.5 stars.
Iain MacKinnon
Anne Burness Campbell

Warm, rich and satisfying. Sounds like a great cup of coffee or a really good read.

Pamela Clare has a great skill in balancing the romance with a great story. I haven't read a historical romance in awhile and had forgotten how a reader can be transported into another world. I wouldn't share this with my history professors but some of my knowledge came from my obsession with historical romances as a teen. Ms. Clare writes a truly engrossing story abou ...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Emmi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-author, on-kindle

Let me start by saying I'm not a fan of historical romance and usually avoid it. BUT I FLIPPIN' LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. Pamela Clare is true to form. An amazing plot so perfectly woven with a love story that it's hard to believe it's fiction. Every time I pick up one of her books I become immersed in the world she creates and forget myself. This book, like her others made me shed tears of joy (so embarrassing on the 4 train during rush hour)& made me laugh. I fell in love with both primary ...more

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Mar 05, 2010 Anne OK rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-reads

Absolutely amazing! I am having the best readfest and enjoying PC's historicals. SURRENDER made me laugh and certainly brought tears to my eyes and one of the best, if not the best, ever HEA!!! I loved these characters and the strength and stamina shown by them. And the love story between Iain and Lady Anne was perfect. ...more

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