Defiant by Pamela Clare- MacKinnon's Rangers Book 3

Charged with a crime they didn’t commit, the MacKinnon brothers faced a death sentence until they agreed to serve the British Crown in the Colonies and take up arms against the French. Allied with the Indian tribes who lived beside them in the wilderness, the Scottish Highland warriors forged a new breed of soldier…

MacKinnon’s Rangers

Major Connor MacKinnon despises his commander, Lord William Wentworth, beyond all other men. Ordered to rescue Wentworth’s niece after the Shawnee take her captive, he expects Lady Sarah Woodville to be every bit as arrogant and contemptible as her uncle. Instead, he finds a brave and beautiful lass in desperate peril. But the only way to free Sarah is for Connor to defeat the Shawnee warrior who kidnapped her—and claim her himself.

Coming July 3, 2012

Rhonda's Review

He was awful to behold, moving with a natural grace- swift, agile, deadly.

Let me first say what an honor it was to have been given the opportunity to read this magnificent piece of work from Ms. Clare.  This has been one of my most anticipated novels this year, and I didn’t want to get too long winded in my review but I’m afraid that won’t be possible.  There is no way to convey in a few short paragraphs just how much I loved this story.  So bare with me while I spread my adoration all over Ms. Clare. 

This is the 8th novel by Pamela Clare that I have read, and for the 8th time Pamela Clare has delivered an incredible reading experience!  This is the long awaited 3rd installment to the Mackinnon’s Rangers series, Connor MacKinnon’s story.  This has been one of my very favorite historical romance series, and I didn’t think it could get better than book one…. Well, I thought wrong!  This book was everything I could have hoped for, and possibly more.  Pamela Clare delivers a story once again with a strong, heroic, sexy, rugged, alpha hero. And a courageous lovable heroine.  This story is not only about the dynamics between Connor and Sarah, but there is an incredible story being told that is rich in historical reference, and you can feel how much love  Ms. Clare has for her story and it’s characters which pour from the pages of this novel with so much emotion.  If you haven’t yet picked up a novel by this author, you are truly missing out.

Lady Sarah Woodville had been sailing to Albany, with her chaperone, and lady’s maid to see her uncle, William Wentworth.  After being caught up in a scandal, Lady Sarah is seeking Wentworth’s assistance.  Before she could arrive in Albany, Sarah was taken prisoner along with her lady’s maid, and a young boy,  by The Shawnee  Indians.  Katakwa, the Shawnee war chief has plans for Lady Sarah… to make her his bride. 

 
Upon the news of what has happened to Sarah, and the rest of the Rangers still at home with their families, Wentworth sends Major Connor MacKinnon to save Sarah.  Connor vows to find Sarah, and do whatever he can to bring her to Wentworth.  With his lifelong friend and Indian brother Joseph at his side, and often times the voice of reason for Connor, they set out to find Lady Sarah. 

 
Arriving at the Shawnee camp, Connor and Joseph plead their case to the Chief for the release of Sarah to no avail.  On a chance opportunity, Connor challenges Katakwa for Sarah’s hand, this the only way Connor might be able to save her, since he and Joseph can’t very well take on the whole camp and win.  Upon winning Sarah’s hand, the Shawnee chief isn’t just going to let them walk away.  The demand is to see their marriage ceremony through, and the marriage consummated with a witness to the consummation.  Sarah’s choice is simple,  Connor or Katakwa, and Katakwa has anger and retribution in his heart, and Sarah knows this.  Her maidenhead for their freedom.

“Are you certain my lady? For I willna take you by force. You must come to me as willingly as I come to you- each for the sake of the other”

 Simply letting Connor, Sarah, and Joseph leave the  Shawnee camp isn’t all it seems.  They have many obstacles to hurdle and days to travel before they can breathe a little easier.  During the days of travel, feelings start to stir and form between Sarah and Connor to the point that their desire gives Connor a chance at redemption, and Sarah a chance to feel something that she was certain her circumstances leading up to and after the precious few days with Connor, that she would never have again.

Fate had given him this one chance to take away the pain he’d caused her, one chance to show her loving between a man and a woman as it was meant to be, one chance to give her a lifetime’s worth of memories to comfort her on lonely nights. 

 
Upon returning to Fort Edward, a whole new set of issues arise for Connor and Sarah.  Letting each other go, proves to be a great challenge for many reasons. The events that led Sarah from England to the Shawnee village, to Connor, and their travels have changed her forever, and Connor too. 

It is now impossible for me to tell anymore about this story without giving things away.  So much more happens, and in Pamela Clare’s never failing pen, it is a beautiful, emotional story.  The “Love to hate’ feelings for Wentworth are ever present, and Connor is so sweet and reverent with Sarah, and Sarah is strong and brave even in the face of the worst horrors.

 His name was death, and Hell followed with him.