ARC received by the Author in exchange for an honest review
Alright folks, I think that it is time to clear the air, set the record straight & come out of the closet. I’ve been hiding too long and I can’t deny my true feelings any longer….I don’t like Historical Romance. I know, I know, it’s horrible and I know you’re asking yourself “WTH is she doing reviewing this book if she doesn’t like Historicals?” My answer is two words – PAMELA CLARE!! She was able to make this hard-core Contemporary/Erotica/PNR genre fan fall so in love with a Historical, that I placed it on my 2012 Favorite Reads list. After reading Defiant, I can now say that I no longer dislike Historicals….as long as the author is Pamela 
Defiant is third story in the MacKinnon’s Rangersseries and one of the most beautiful & touching love stories that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. Connor & Lady Sarah’s love is fierce, hungry, compassionate, understanding & all consuming. Connor never imagined falling for the niece of the man he hates the most in this world. Sarah never imagined having to go through the horrors that she experienced in the wild. Together, they are the balm that each needs to quiet the pain & hurt of their pasts.
Pamela Clare is a master at story-telling and sucked me in from the first page. Her imagery & stunning prose drew me back in time to the 1700’s and I didn’t want to come back. My usual turn off’s to Historicals were immediately quieted and instead helped me visualize myself in Lady Sarah’s shoes. The heartache and pain that she suffered living during a time where her wants & wishes were ignored, being considered second class just because she was female, the fear of being married to someone who only saw her as a means to gain more coin & never knowing anything beyond what her parents thought acceptable. I was propelled into the story and I became Sarah. I felt her every emotion – despair, joy, pain, bewilderment, wonder, lust, love & resignation. She had a quiet strength but that did not diminish its power and made me respect & admire her all the more.
Connor was just extraordinary. What started with his need to protect & save, quickly became his salvation. He fell for the one person he could never have, protected her & saw to her every need and want with a compassion that was rivaled by none. He showed Sarah all the beauty that his love could give her, even knowing that he would not get to keep her with him. His struggle with his need for revenge, the all consuming love he felt for Sarah, the despair he felt having to give Sarah up and his fierce need to protect had me bawling like a baby and is what truly made this story magic for me.
I will not go into plot, storyline or give away any spoilers to ruin the experience for you. This is one of those books that makes you want to hurry to the next page to find out what happens next but then makes you beg for it never to end.
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Wow! What an amazing review!! I am not the biggest fan of historicals, but there is just something about Highlanders that I LOVE! Thank you for the recommendation and for sharing your thoughts. I love how you describe the characters without giving away any of the story. I adore authors who make me experience the emotions in the story along with their characters. I have not read any of Pamela’s books, but will be rectifying that soon! Do you suggest I start from the first book in this series?
Thank you so much Tina! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it
While Defiant can be read as a standalone, I don’t recommend it. By starting at the beginning you get the beautiful characterization and history that makes this book all the more sweeter. The books in the series are (in order): Surrender, Untamed & Defiant.
If you like Contemporary Romance make sure you add Pamela’s I-Team series to your TBR. It is phenomenal and a must read in my opinion