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McClairen's Isle #3
The Ravishing One
His desire for her turned abduction into seduction....
She is the toast of London society. But Fia Merrick gives her heart to no one, for love is a weakness she cannot afford. Once she would have given her soul to Thomas McClairen, until he shattered her innocent dreams. Now he is back, a convict returned to England in disguise to abduct Fia to Scotland, to McClairen's Isle. There, as Fia seeks her revenge in seduction, a passion is ignited that defies the past and cannot be denied....
She is the toast of London society. But Fia Merrick gives her heart to no one, for love is a weakness she cannot afford. Once she would have given her soul to Thomas McClairen, until he shattered her innocent dreams. Now he is back, a convict returned to England in disguise to abduct Fia to Scotland, to McClairen's Isle. There, as Fia seeks her revenge in seduction, a passion is ignited that defies the past and cannot be denied....
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
53 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Connie Brockway
60 books726 followersNew York Times and USAToday best selling author Connie Brockway has twice won the Romance Writers of America's Rita award for best historical romance as well as being an eight time finalist. After receiving a double major in art history and English from Macalester College, Connie entered grad school with an eye to acquiring her MFA in creative writing. Soon enough she jettisoned the idea of writing serious literature for what she considered (and still considers) the best gig in the world, writing romance.
Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.
In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.
Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.
In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 17, 2013
This book was actually not too bad. Yes, it was kinda cliched, but the heroine was awesome. She had a decent personality, a spitfire, and the kidnapping scene was awesome in a way you wouldn't expect. The hero felt like an idiot to me, but that's made it even more funny to me. The love scenes were pretty purple prose though.
August 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Again, I read it for a read a thon and I think these should be read in order.
July 13, 2023
WOWEE ZOWEE
The scene in Hyde Park left me breathless. Capital R Romantic shit.
The scene in Hyde Park left me breathless. Capital R Romantic shit.
November 25, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, but, darn it, didn't realize it was the third in a set! I WISH that the authors would make that clear on the books so that I'd read them in the correct order! The story of the Earl of Carr is very troubling to me, and the reader develops a great dislike for him very quickly. Fia, the main female character, seems like a sad little one, really, when you consider that her father is really using her to gain more power and wealth. I like how the author shows that she really does have a good and caring side, although many of the people don't really see it until near the end of the book.
The character of Thomas is a good sort of fellow, who is honorable and caring and strong and blah, blah, blah. I don't quite get the whole thing of him taking Fia off to an island with him. The story of Fia and James Barton's connection was not totally clear to me, no matter how much I reread. I know that they are business partners of some type, and at first thought they were doing something underhanded, but then I thought, no, it's just an honest to goodness shipping company, but I never could tell. I couldn't figure out the problem that Carr made of it. Anyhow, it seemed silly for Thomas to take her away simply because he wanted to shield his friend. But, then again, how else would the two fall in love?
The two main characters don't really care for one another, which seems to be typical of Connie Brockway, based on a couple of others I've read. They both have inner turmoil, especially Fia. Again, one of those tactics that Brockway likes to use. I like it, though; it works in here. In addition, I like how their friendship develops and how they begin to truly enjoy being together. Of COURSE, there are a couple of explicit love scenes, but they don't happen immediately; they are friends first, enjoying one another's company and discussions, so it doesn't seem as cheap as the love scenes sometimes do in romance books.
Another character who is worth noting is Gunna, the mystery woman who shows up at the castle doors. She takes care of the earl's children and even goes with Fia to London. I figured out the whole background of that little side story pretty quickly, but thought it was an interesting touch, especially at the end of the book. In addition, I like the character of Kay, Fia's stepson. It's odd that the stepmom and stepson get along so nicely, but it makes for a nice story, all the same.
One thing I didn't care for in the book is that there's a joke about rape coming from a big Scottish fellow who lives on the island. I thought it was tacky, really. While I understand that it was probably okay back in the day, I think it's best to keep away from writing about a subject like that if it's in jest. I'm just saying...
I do like how the story concludes. Of course, the stories typically wrap up nicely. I found it nice that two different stories are summed up; one about the Earl of Carr and the other about Fia, her brothers and all of their spouses. Overall, this is first book in in the last several I read that I really liked.
The character of Thomas is a good sort of fellow, who is honorable and caring and strong and blah, blah, blah. I don't quite get the whole thing of him taking Fia off to an island with him. The story of Fia and James Barton's connection was not totally clear to me, no matter how much I reread. I know that they are business partners of some type, and at first thought they were doing something underhanded, but then I thought, no, it's just an honest to goodness shipping company, but I never could tell. I couldn't figure out the problem that Carr made of it. Anyhow, it seemed silly for Thomas to take her away simply because he wanted to shield his friend. But, then again, how else would the two fall in love?
The two main characters don't really care for one another, which seems to be typical of Connie Brockway, based on a couple of others I've read. They both have inner turmoil, especially Fia. Again, one of those tactics that Brockway likes to use. I like it, though; it works in here. In addition, I like how their friendship develops and how they begin to truly enjoy being together. Of COURSE, there are a couple of explicit love scenes, but they don't happen immediately; they are friends first, enjoying one another's company and discussions, so it doesn't seem as cheap as the love scenes sometimes do in romance books.
Another character who is worth noting is Gunna, the mystery woman who shows up at the castle doors. She takes care of the earl's children and even goes with Fia to London. I figured out the whole background of that little side story pretty quickly, but thought it was an interesting touch, especially at the end of the book. In addition, I like the character of Kay, Fia's stepson. It's odd that the stepmom and stepson get along so nicely, but it makes for a nice story, all the same.
One thing I didn't care for in the book is that there's a joke about rape coming from a big Scottish fellow who lives on the island. I thought it was tacky, really. While I understand that it was probably okay back in the day, I think it's best to keep away from writing about a subject like that if it's in jest. I'm just saying...
I do like how the story concludes. Of course, the stories typically wrap up nicely. I found it nice that two different stories are summed up; one about the Earl of Carr and the other about Fia, her brothers and all of their spouses. Overall, this is first book in in the last several I read that I really liked.
August 4, 2015
Ups and downs in some of the writing, which restrict me from calling this series a "favorite", but overall a very well written, intriguing historical romance. And, considering how many books like this are written, that's not an easy thing to do.
February 18, 2021
Oggi vi voglio parlare di un romanzo (ambientato in un periodo storico particolarmente interessante) e di un'autrice che ho scoperto proprio con questo libro, NON VOGLIO L'AMORE di Connie Brockway. A colpirmi, per una volta tanto, non è l'eroe maschile, ma la protagonista femminile, che presenta un carattere oscuro, da vera eroina nera.
Fia è l'unica figlia di un vero e proprio villano dal cuore di tenebra, Ronald Merrick, che, negli anni dopo Culloden (periodo storico che dopo LA STRANIERA sembra in qualche modo perseguitarmi) mentendo e sfruttando le sue conoscenze ha letteralmente sterminato il clan dei McClairen, per impadronirsi delle loro terre, in modo particolare lo spettacolare castello noto come Maiden's Blush, sacrificando anche la sua prima moglie, Janet, lanciandola dall'alto dei bastioni dell'imponente edificio.
Mentre i figli maschi sono in qualche modo riusciti a fuggire e a sottrarsi alle sue grinfie, Fia è l'unica che è rimasta con lui, cresciuta ed esibita come un trofeo, in attesa di trovarle il marito adatto che gli porterà maggiore prestigio. Il cuore di Fia però si è come congelato dopo che, ragazzina, ha scoperto dalle labbra di Thomas Donne la verità sulla sua famiglia.
Quando anni dopo la ragazza rivede Thomas a Londra, è disposta a tutto pur di vendicarsi di lui e della pessima opinione che lui ha sempre avuto su di lei, pronta anche a sedurlo per spezzargli il cuore. Quello che ignora è la vera identità dell'uomo che ha vissuto tutta la sua vita coltivando il sogno di ricostruire il clan disperso dopo Culloden, ricostruendo la terra della sua infanzia e della sua famiglia.
Per colpa di un equivoco, Thomas crede che Fia voglia sedurre James Barton, l'uomo che lo ha salvato quando era uno schiavo, ed ora suo amico e socio. Deciso a tutto pur di allontanare da lui una donna che crede spietata come il padre, finge un patto con il demonio stesso (ovvero Ronald Merrick) per rapire Fia e condurla lontano da Londra per un po'.
Quello che scopre, avendola riportata sulle terre scozzesi dove è nato, è un donna completamente diversa da quella immaginata, fragile, ironica, onesta che, allo stesso tempo, rimarrà per lui un sogno proibito, fino a quando un capovolgimento di eventi non permetterà di coronare l'amore.
Il romanzo mi ha conquistato fin dal principio per uno stile decisamente più lirico e articolato rispetto agli altri dello stesso genere, per la dimensione più profonda e un'atmosfera in qualche modo evocativa di un'epoca lontana.
Si risente lievemente del fatto che sembra parte di una saga le cui storie precedenti (quelle dei fratelli di lei e della sorella di lui) sono già state raccontate. Forse in alcuni punti appare alquanto scontato, come il ritorno di Janet che avrei preferito rimanesse una fantasia partorita dalla mente malata di Merrick, e sul finale cala di tensione e si risolve troppo rapidamente, ma nel complesso il romanzo resta interessante e la Brockway un'autrice da scoprire.
Fia è l'unica figlia di un vero e proprio villano dal cuore di tenebra, Ronald Merrick, che, negli anni dopo Culloden (periodo storico che dopo LA STRANIERA sembra in qualche modo perseguitarmi) mentendo e sfruttando le sue conoscenze ha letteralmente sterminato il clan dei McClairen, per impadronirsi delle loro terre, in modo particolare lo spettacolare castello noto come Maiden's Blush, sacrificando anche la sua prima moglie, Janet, lanciandola dall'alto dei bastioni dell'imponente edificio.
Mentre i figli maschi sono in qualche modo riusciti a fuggire e a sottrarsi alle sue grinfie, Fia è l'unica che è rimasta con lui, cresciuta ed esibita come un trofeo, in attesa di trovarle il marito adatto che gli porterà maggiore prestigio. Il cuore di Fia però si è come congelato dopo che, ragazzina, ha scoperto dalle labbra di Thomas Donne la verità sulla sua famiglia.
Quando anni dopo la ragazza rivede Thomas a Londra, è disposta a tutto pur di vendicarsi di lui e della pessima opinione che lui ha sempre avuto su di lei, pronta anche a sedurlo per spezzargli il cuore. Quello che ignora è la vera identità dell'uomo che ha vissuto tutta la sua vita coltivando il sogno di ricostruire il clan disperso dopo Culloden, ricostruendo la terra della sua infanzia e della sua famiglia.
Per colpa di un equivoco, Thomas crede che Fia voglia sedurre James Barton, l'uomo che lo ha salvato quando era uno schiavo, ed ora suo amico e socio. Deciso a tutto pur di allontanare da lui una donna che crede spietata come il padre, finge un patto con il demonio stesso (ovvero Ronald Merrick) per rapire Fia e condurla lontano da Londra per un po'.
Quello che scopre, avendola riportata sulle terre scozzesi dove è nato, è un donna completamente diversa da quella immaginata, fragile, ironica, onesta che, allo stesso tempo, rimarrà per lui un sogno proibito, fino a quando un capovolgimento di eventi non permetterà di coronare l'amore.
Il romanzo mi ha conquistato fin dal principio per uno stile decisamente più lirico e articolato rispetto agli altri dello stesso genere, per la dimensione più profonda e un'atmosfera in qualche modo evocativa di un'epoca lontana.
Si risente lievemente del fatto che sembra parte di una saga le cui storie precedenti (quelle dei fratelli di lei e della sorella di lui) sono già state raccontate. Forse in alcuni punti appare alquanto scontato, come il ritorno di Janet che avrei preferito rimanesse una fantasia partorita dalla mente malata di Merrick, e sul finale cala di tensione e si risolve troppo rapidamente, ma nel complesso il romanzo resta interessante e la Brockway un'autrice da scoprire.
March 8, 2021
2000
excellent end to the series. 3 endings, one for love, one for closure, and one for the family.
fia & thomas are excellent
hero tortured past, heroine a surprisingly chaste seductress.
they understood each other rather well, themselves not at all. made for intense chemistry.
connie brockway handles the highlands beautifully, tying Scottishness to sexiness and desirability.
excellent end to the series.
O.5
excellent end to the series. 3 endings, one for love, one for closure, and one for the family.
fia & thomas are excellent
hero tortured past, heroine a surprisingly chaste seductress.
they understood each other rather well, themselves not at all. made for intense chemistry.
connie brockway handles the highlands beautifully, tying Scottishness to sexiness and desirability.
excellent end to the series.
O.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2019
Excellent book
I loved this book which i read in one sitting. An evil Earl who prayed on every one with a lust for power and children he neglected a daughter he almost ruined and the tenacity of a mother's love to save her daughter from total corruption. In the end love won the day for the siblings
I loved this book which i read in one sitting. An evil Earl who prayed on every one with a lust for power and children he neglected a daughter he almost ruined and the tenacity of a mother's love to save her daughter from total corruption. In the end love won the day for the siblings
January 28, 2019
Not my favorite type of historical romance. More plot driven than a regular romance. The characters were like-able enough but nothing overly intriguing. But the book did include a satisfyingly dramatic ending.
April 10, 2023
Too many characters at the beginning to make sense of the connections and details. This is obviously a book which should be read in the order of publication. Lady Fai is ravishing and a tease looking for a rich husband her father wants her to marry. Thomas Donne is a Scottish laird in hiding.
May 12, 2019
This series is a bit overwrought, with some mystical elements and angst, but there's enough fun in it that I stuck with it. This one is the most twisted and mystical, with heavy themes of revenge.
December 31, 2021
Easy reading. Nice finish to the trilogy.
April 21, 2022
Bardzo przyjemny romans historyczny, który bardzo szybko się czyta.
September 24, 2023
The Ravishing One by Connie Brockway was a great end to the McClairen's Isle series!
July 19, 2025
Connie Brockway’s 3 books in this series are all wonderful. The stories are different enough to be exciting and the writing is some of Connie’s best. And lots Scottish history! Highly recommend.
August 2, 2011
My very first of Connie Brockway. I didn't really know that this one's part of series. But since I only had this one, so I just went on. Overall, I found it a bit hard to follow because of the language, since it's written not in a very simple daily language. At least for me.
But the storyline was quiet entertaining. Different than any heroine characters I've read, Fia was sure cold and a bit manipulative. But then again, she's just her father's aid. Deep down, she's a girl with emotions and love. But her love broke hard when she heard Thomas Donne, the target of her love, accused her behind her back that she's her father whore. For a fifteen y.o. girl, it sure broke your hard.
Cold as she was, she even decided to married an old man for the sake of out of his father manipulation. There, without knowing at first that the old man had two children, she learned how to love, to tease, to have fun.
When she met Thomas Donne again, he still thinked her as a Carr's cold and manipulative daughter who set her eyes on his bestfriend, James Barton. Little did he know the real woman behind the mask, that Fia and James were actually plotted something for her late husband's children, to gain their house back.
I think this novel was quiet dark and gloomy. Maybe it's because of the devil inside Carr, who easily killed his wife, and some other people. He blackmailed lots of people and played his card well. However, couple of plots planned and involved people in it, and sometimes I think was being overlapped and made me hard to follow.
Anyway, I love the scene when Thomas slipped into Fia's house through library and being caught by Kay (Fia' stepson) and the fact that Fia was quiet ready for being abducted startled Thomas even more. :))
I almost cried when Fia realized that in the eyes of Thomas, she would always be the daughter of Carr, the devil man. No matter how Thomas convinced her that it made no difference, that he still loves her, she kinda lost hope.
It broke my heart, too, when Thomas came to Fia's london house, only to find her refuse him once again.
I kinda like the ending. There's a little secret that I actually hoped Gunna, Fia's nurse, would reveal to Fia and her brothers. But that would made everything go weird.
Well, I might as well read the first and second about Ash and Raine. Someday...
But the storyline was quiet entertaining. Different than any heroine characters I've read, Fia was sure cold and a bit manipulative. But then again, she's just her father's aid. Deep down, she's a girl with emotions and love. But her love broke hard when she heard Thomas Donne, the target of her love, accused her behind her back that she's her father whore. For a fifteen y.o. girl, it sure broke your hard.
Cold as she was, she even decided to married an old man for the sake of out of his father manipulation. There, without knowing at first that the old man had two children, she learned how to love, to tease, to have fun.
When she met Thomas Donne again, he still thinked her as a Carr's cold and manipulative daughter who set her eyes on his bestfriend, James Barton. Little did he know the real woman behind the mask, that Fia and James were actually plotted something for her late husband's children, to gain their house back.
I think this novel was quiet dark and gloomy. Maybe it's because of the devil inside Carr, who easily killed his wife, and some other people. He blackmailed lots of people and played his card well. However, couple of plots planned and involved people in it, and sometimes I think was being overlapped and made me hard to follow.
Anyway, I love the scene when Thomas slipped into Fia's house through library and being caught by Kay (Fia' stepson) and the fact that Fia was quiet ready for being abducted startled Thomas even more. :))
I almost cried when Fia realized that in the eyes of Thomas, she would always be the daughter of Carr, the devil man. No matter how Thomas convinced her that it made no difference, that he still loves her, she kinda lost hope.
It broke my heart, too, when Thomas came to Fia's london house, only to find her refuse him once again.
I kinda like the ending. There's a little secret that I actually hoped Gunna, Fia's nurse, would reveal to Fia and her brothers. But that would made everything go weird.
Well, I might as well read the first and second about Ash and Raine. Someday...
May 25, 2014
I started this book a bit apprehensive. I didn't really care for Fia in the first two books and wasn't sure what to expect in this book.
First, I am so glad Ms. Brockway started with a prologue. It gave me a new view of Fia. So many of my preconceived notions about her where dispelled.
I really came to like and admire Fia. She was a good person, who due to circumstances beyond her control was judged and found wanting by people who never got to know her. She has gone through life surrounded by people, yet she is very much alone.
Thomas was one who judged her and probably one of the only people who ever really hurt her because of it. He has cause to hate her father, but he directs that hatred to his children instead. A fact he later regrets.
The story was dark -but not nearly as dark as the first two. Lord Carr was not as prominent in the book as the others and his dissent into madness actually lightens up the story a bit.
I liked that everyone was somehow working a scheme and you really didn't know what they were up to and who was going to win.
Watching Fia and Thomas come to respect, like and love each other was pure delight. I can't remember ever reading a heroine who deserved a happy ending as much as Fia did.
I would happily recommend this book. And in case you were wondering - the villain does get his due and the twist was one I never saw coming! Bravo, Ms. Brockway !!
First, I am so glad Ms. Brockway started with a prologue. It gave me a new view of Fia. So many of my preconceived notions about her where dispelled.
I really came to like and admire Fia. She was a good person, who due to circumstances beyond her control was judged and found wanting by people who never got to know her. She has gone through life surrounded by people, yet she is very much alone.
Thomas was one who judged her and probably one of the only people who ever really hurt her because of it. He has cause to hate her father, but he directs that hatred to his children instead. A fact he later regrets.
The story was dark -but not nearly as dark as the first two. Lord Carr was not as prominent in the book as the others and his dissent into madness actually lightens up the story a bit.
I liked that everyone was somehow working a scheme and you really didn't know what they were up to and who was going to win.
Watching Fia and Thomas come to respect, like and love each other was pure delight. I can't remember ever reading a heroine who deserved a happy ending as much as Fia did.
I would happily recommend this book. And in case you were wondering - the villain does get his due and the twist was one I never saw coming! Bravo, Ms. Brockway !!
January 2, 2013
I has been years since I read the first two books in this series so it took a little bit for me to get into this one. However, Brockway has a magical way of roping you in and not letting you go. While I found the first 50 pages slow as I racked my brain to remember the main characters and their roles in other stories, the rest of the book flew to a wonderful conclusion. Brockway knows how to build romantic tension and release it in a fulfilling passion between her hero and heroine. I look forward to reading more of Brockway as always.
March 12, 2015
Loved it
I found the ravishing one,featuring Fia and Thomas hard to put down. I enjoyed their adventure. I don't know what I expected to happen but there were many twist and turns. I do wish at some point Gunna would of revealed herself. I have read Ash and Raine's stories several years ago and found them as delightful and enjoyable as this one. Three must read great books. :)
I found the ravishing one,featuring Fia and Thomas hard to put down. I enjoyed their adventure. I don't know what I expected to happen but there were many twist and turns. I do wish at some point Gunna would of revealed herself. I have read Ash and Raine's stories several years ago and found them as delightful and enjoyable as this one. Three must read great books. :)
September 29, 2007
Pretty good. Fia Merrick and Thomas McClairen (Favor’s brother). She’s been brought up manipulative like her father, but when Thomas abducts her and takes her to Scotland, she sees more in him than she had before, and he opens her eyes to how things really are.
July 20, 2014
Excellent story.
I really enjoyed the story of Thomas and Fia. It truly brought the trilogy together for me. I enjoyed that there was more passion and sexier scenes in this, book 3. I hope that the readers buy all three books.
I really enjoyed the story of Thomas and Fia. It truly brought the trilogy together for me. I enjoyed that there was more passion and sexier scenes in this, book 3. I hope that the readers buy all three books.
June 19, 2016
Slow at start, even contemplated not finishing, but once main characters started interacting the story improved. Two characters who have been broken, help each other heal. Joy, sorrow, love and deceit.
September 25, 2009
Regency
July 18, 2011
Good storyline, characters, and fluff sections. Very enjoyable!
January 10, 2012
Great series.
March 8, 2012
nice twist near the end....
January 14, 2013
Fia, so convncd she's flawd by bld, Thomas, reclmg McC heritage, finally sees hr real chrctr, they wrk tgthr to brng dwn evil Merrick, her da
September 20, 2013
loved the twist!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews