Summary: High in the Pyrenees, a band of mercenaries led by Courtland MacCarrick wages war for General Reynaldo Pascal. When Court turns on the evil general, Pascal orders him killed but Court narrowly escapes and exacts revenge by kidnapping Pascal’s exquisite Castilian fiancee. Lady Annlia Tristan Llorente despises her towering, barbaric captor almost as much as she does Pascal. Her inexplicable attraction to the Highlander only fuels her fury. But nothing will stop her from returning to Pascal-for if she doesn’t wed him, she signs her brother’s death warrant, as well as her own. From the moment Court discovers that Anna’s prim facade masks a fiery, brave lass, his heart’s ensnared, and he dares to defy the curse that had shadowed his life-to walk with death or walk alone. But Pascal vows that he’ll hunt the two, never stopping until he’s destroyed them both.

I am so utterly disappointed by this book I LOVE Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, but this series, OMG, I can’t even keep reading the first book, and I have read some bad books. The plot line seems forced, not only is an evil general after the two lead character but the lead male is cursed and the lead female doesn’t like him. Oh wait, after about half way through the book, she immediately and very oddly changes her mind after staying with him in the same bed overnight, drunk, at that. I haven’t even begun on the other plot lines, it completely ridiculous. I like a good highlander romance story as well as the next girl but I am sorry to say, with this book, I have lost like 4 hours of my life that will never return, and I was only half way through the book when I stopped.

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This is an enjoyable story, especially if you like historical romances. Kresley Cole is a talented writer who creates heroines that come across as real women you can relate to . . . and heroes who are just larger-than-life enough that it puts a twinkle in your eye. It's not a perfectly written book, mind, as there are some negative points. Overall, though, it's a good beginning to a good romance series.

I first considered this book because it's set in the little-known country of Andorra. I was so appreciative of the novelty that I picked it up without really considering what the plot was. Happily, the damsel-in-distress-determined-to-save-herself storyline is entertaining, romantic, and even humorous upon occasion.

However, I must admit that I found hero Courtland MacCarrick a little . . . lukewarm. As this book starts off a series about three MacCarrick brothers, Court comes across as the younger, lesser brother. All of the characters in the book are admirably well-rounded, with both good and bad qualities. But Court's good qualities just weren't vivid enough to inspire more than a tepid response from me. At times he was even obnoxious without enough justifiable motivation. I found it a case of untapped potential. There could have been more to Court, but it never completely translated. His character needed to be developed just a little more, which, in turn, would have improved the somewhat dubious chemistry between him and heroine Annalia, who completely outshines him as an interesting character.

Court is decent, don't get me wrong, but he's not exactly the most exciting aspect of the book. Than honor goes to side characters (in this installment) Olivia and Ethan. Olivia is one of those characters who are so hateful that you've just got to love 'em. And Ethan, the eldest MacCarrick brother, has a whole lot of "mysterious" and "masterful" going on with him. Thanks to Ethan, I look forward to reading the rest of this series. ( )

If You Dare

Author: Kresley Cole

Series Connection: MacCarrick Brothers Book 1

ISBN: 1-4165-2690-0



5 Hearts



Description:

Can a Highlander steal his enemy's bride and make her love him?

High in the Pyrenees, a band of mercenaries led by Courtland MacCarrick wages war for General Reynaldo Pascal. When Court turns on the brutal general, Pascal orders him killed. Court narrowly escapes and exacts revenge by kidnapping Pascal's exquisite Castilian fiancee.



Noble heiress Annal’a Tristan Llorente despises her towering, barbaric captor almost as much as she does Pascal. Her inexplicable attraction to the Highlander only fuels her fury. Yet nothing will stop her from returning to Pascal—for if she doesn't wed him, she signs her brother's death warrant, as well as her own.



From the moment Court discovers that Anna's prim faade masks a fiery, brave lass, his heart's ensnared and he dares to defy the curse that has shadowed his life—to walk with death or walk alone. But Pascal vows that he'll hunt the two, never stopping until he's destroyed them both. If they survive, can this hardened soldier of fortune convince the only woman he's ever loved that she's meant to be his? ( )

Deeply sensual, Cole writes a steamy romantic story! I wasn’t sure at first what I thought about the hero of IYD, Courtland MacCarrick, as he came off stubborn, hardnosed and a bit of jerk. And too, Annalia Tristan Llorente, the heroine, seemed too proud and bound by societal stricture- I just wasn’t sure how these two would ever get together.

But I soon found out they were more than they seemed, and that, as well as writing heated romantic scenes, Cole knows how to put depth into her Characters!

The story begins with an ancient Celtic curse that informs us right off the bat that none of the heroes in the The MacCarrick Brothers Series will have an easy time of it in life- especially with love. When Court finds himself falling for the beautiful woman who rescued him from certain death, he knows he should run- for her sake more than his own. But when he discovers Annalia’s own turmoil is intricately intertwined with his own, he knows he cannot leave her ... yet.

Anna detests the man she pulled from the river whom she suspects is a Scottish mercenary hired by General Reynaldo Pascal, the man scheming to take over her country and the one holding her beloved brother hostage. But good manners and good breeding dictate she give him aid- and besides, she’s not completely sure he is who she thinks he is.

When he proves himself to be a boorish lout, she knows her suspicions are true. She immediately demands he leave her premises. Naturally, the stubborn Court refuses, and thus begins a struggle that will take them from the machinations of a subtly evil dictator and will lead them down a path neither of them thought possible- of deep passion and fated love.

Historical romance doesn’t get much better than this! ( )

Little things got in the way of my enjoyment of If You Dare - the Scottish accents were annoying, and the prose style kind of rough/awkward at times. Bigger issues also got in the way - like the heroine's hatred for the hero for half the book and the acts of stupidity to which this drives her. Instead of fueling the chemistry between the hero and heroine, her hatred and crazy antics killed it. As did her abrupt about face when she decides that she loves him and realizes she has no reason to hate him. Besides some hot love scenes, there’s not much by way of romance in this book. The hero was ok, nothing special - a gruff mercenary who falls for the heroine almost instantly but keeps holding back, first because he doesn't think he's good enough for her, and then because of a family curse. The slightly paranormal aspect of If You Dare was another thing I wasn't too crazy about - it seemed tacked on, a contrivance that provides one more obstacle between the hero and heroine. What with the random, vague curse, an evil dictator type who's role is negligible - he wants to marry the heroine, (who happens to be royalty,) an order of assassins that pop up every now and then to try and kill the heroine, and siblings who wait around taking up space until it's their turn for their own book, the plot of If You Dare is very loose and underdeveloped, and things never come together well enough to create a clear picture of either the characters or their relationship. ( )