In from the Cold

The MacGregors #6.5

by Nora Roberts

A thrilling historical romance novella featuring the popular MacGregor family from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts.

In from the Cold follows the MacGregors during the American Revolution. Injured minuteman Ian MacGregor flees into the wilderness, where he finds refuge for his body and soul with Irish spitfire Alanna Flynn.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Novella, Fiction, Chick Lit

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ian MacGregor, firstborn son of Coll and Maggie, immigrated to the colonies and lives in Boston. Angered by the King’s new taxes, he participates in the infamous Boston Tea Party but is injured during his getaway. Barely astride his horse in a snowstorm, he stumbles upon a barn and falls unconscious into the shelter. He’s discovered the next morning by Alanna Flynn, a widow and daughter of the owner, Cyrus Murphy. She helps nurse him back to health but not before they’re equally charmed by one another. But, he represents a future she wants no part of...a commitment to the eventual conflict with England, a war like the one that killed her oldest brother.

Ian and Alanna have a passionate but volatile relationship. I liked the story but there just wasn’t enough beyond their romance to make this a more interesting read. I wearied of the constant back and forth about the same issues. I also liked both characters but their situation was too one dimensional in comparison to earlier stories in the series.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this follow-up to "Rebellion." I was happy to learn about what happened to the family MacGregor in their later years and what became of them. The new generation here picks up the banner to fight for freedom in the American Revolution. It was good.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

**A solid two stars for this installment of the MacGregor Clan.
Just a quick side note before I jump into this review: I am slowly working my way through the MacGregor series in chronological order rather than published order. Therefore, this was the second book I have read in the series. You can see my review for the “first” book on my profile.

There is only one word that comes to mind when I read this book:

MEH



Being a novella, I was worried that it would be rushed and fall flat. It actually left me more satisfied than Rebellion did. As you may know, I could barely complete Rebellion. It was extremely slow paced and I could not connect to the main characters – AT ALL. That book was so irritating that I even had to shelf it as “never again.” Not this book....

Alanna Flynn and Ian MacGregor had lovely chemistry – only slightly frustrating. Even though it was a “love-at-first-sight” story, *gag* I adored how it played out. The Murphys felt like family by the end of the book. Alanna's Da was wonderful; there is a sweet moment between him and Ian that just melted my heart. I loved the updates on the MacGregor family and getting to visit Serena and Brigham again.

Overall, I would not say it was a great book. However, I would not tell you not to read it if you asked. Like I said earlier: meh.

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful short story at the time of American war, between the wounded soldier Ian and the widow, Alanna.
Alanna rescues a man who's lying injured in her shed, when he suddenly wakes up and kisses her. They start their on and off banter filled courtship.
It was LOVELY to see Serena and Brig from the first book find their HEA in this one and glimpses in their future life- since Ian was their nephew.
A lovely HEA
3 stars because I really wanted to read more!
Safe
3.5/5

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Story of a Scot and an Irish Lass on the eve of the American Revolution… A Keeper!

Set at the outset of the American Revolution, beginning in December 1773, this is the story of Ian MacGregor, who was wounded by a British soldier after participating in the Boston Tea Party. Ian fled to the wilderness of Massachusetts where he ended up in the barn of the Murphys and in the care of the young Irish widow, Alanna Murphy Flynn.

Alana is immediately attracted to the red-haired rebel but she fears his talk of revolution, not just for herself but for her brothers. Ian has fallen in love with Alana and means to have her as his wife. But he’ll need his aunt in Virginia to help him.

Brilliant descriptions and beautifully developed characters bring this story and the MacGregors to life. Revolution is coming to America and while Alanna would resist, Ian knows America must fight for her freedom. Roberts adroitly weaves the conflicting emotions of the time into a love story between two strong-willed people.

It’s a well told, fast-paced novella and so good one could only hope for more. The first story in the MacGregor series is Rebellion and I highly recommend it. However, all of the others that follow In From the Cold are, sadly, contemporaries. Would that Roberts would have continued writing historicals as it would have been fascinating to see her tell the history of America along with the MacGregor love stories. She did historicals so well.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never resist a Nora Roberts novel. I love the predictability.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember this never being my favorite but it was really not my favorite now.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should’ve read this a few years ago when I was jonesing for American Revolution historicals. oh, well—I get it now and it’s great!

[Liliflaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesantno vracanje u proslost i ljubavnu pricu prvog Mekgregora na americkom tlu

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In from the Cold was fine, if you enjoy that slightly old school historical romance style, which I kind of do and kind of don't. If you don't know what I mean by that, there's a scene where she throws things at him and he kisses her without consent a fair amount (she ends up being into it but from a more current perspective it's sometimes eesh).

Mostly, I found the relationship dynamics too similar to those in Rebellion which I read right before it. Though I did like the ending of this one a lot more because a) it wasn't sad af and b) the family being shippers was really cute.

This takes place just after the Boston Tea Party, and it's less historical than the prior historical MacGregors' book, but it makes an interesting setting. I did like how Roberts captured some of the complicated feelings about the rebellion at the time, as the American Revolution often gets idealized into all the colonists rising up against British tyranny, but it was a lot more complicated than that. It's impressive to get a bit of that nuance into a romance novella.

Based on these two historical romances, I don't think they're Nora's forte, but I'm glad I read them because they do have a unique, interesting flair. That said, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone unless they're:
- an obsessive Nora reader (totes legit - I'm on my way)
- into old school historical romances
- looking for a historical romance with more of a history focus than is common

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta otra precuela de la saga es considerablemente más corta que la anterior y me ha gustado bastante menos. En la precuela anterior leímos como los hombres iban a la guerra, como se preparaban las estrategias, como luchaban y morían y pudimos sentir su orgullo, su dolor, su fuerza y su honor. En este libro atisbamos pequeñas muestras de lo que fue el Motín del té, un hecho histórico muy interesante pero que me hubiera gustado que la autora profundizara un poco más. Esta novela ha sido exclusivamente la historia de amor de los protagonistas, tal vez por eso no me ha gustado tanto, porque lo leí justo después de la otra precuela que tanto me fascinó. No creo que sea un mal libro, nos muestra la vida familiar de las familias de Estados Unidos en el siglo XVIII cuando los Ingleses aún tenían el dominio de estas tierras.
Me ha parecido muy interesante conocer todas las tareas que tenía que hacer una mujer en casa y todas las opciones que tenían.
En definitiva, me ha gustado más que las otras novelas de la serie, pero bastante menos que la primera precuela que me ha parecido fantástica.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute little story about too people from different live's living, then fell in love and had a family.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Christmas part of the total book A McGregor Christmas and I loved the finish!

[Ashley Nemer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow what happened here??? I LOVED the McGregor series - I was so excited to see another book out about them. But WTH happened??

I hate to say this, especially since I REALLY didn't like OUTLANDER ... but OMFG could we have copied any more of that series in this???? Seriously?!?

UGH. Come on Ms. Roberts what is going on? This was like your best series out there and you just went and dumped all over it.

I get it was a novella so things tend to be rushed but geez ... this was RUSHED.

We go from hate to love in 2.2 page turns. Seriously? A marriage proposal that fast?

The main female character was so hot and cold I thought she was going through 'the change.'

I am just so ugh, so disappointed.

With as amazing as her books usually are this one just fell so short .....

#DisappointedBeyondBelief

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A historical romance (rare for Nora) and a novella. Set at the start of the American Revolution, Ian MacGregor is trudging wounded on horseback through the New England countryside. He collapses in a barn and is discovered by the widow Allanna Flynn. She nurses Ian back to health, and while the two have a strong attraction, Allanna vows to never be involved with a man determined to go to war. This is one of my least favorite of the MacGregors (just not enough pages for much depth), but worth a read to complete the MacGregor canon. To hear a full discussion of In From the Cold listen to Season 1, Ep. #11 "Nora Roberts The MacGregors: For Now, Forever, Rebellion, and In From the Cold" of Romancing the Shelf, a Nora Roberts podcast: https://romancingtheshelf.libsyn.com/

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great MacGregor story. This follows Ian MacGregor in the early days right before the Revolution. Ian is injured during the Boston Tea party and finds refuge with Alanna Flynn's family while he heals. He is immediately attracted to Alanna but she fights her attraction for Ian. Can Ian overcome her fears or will help from his family tip the balance.

[Marjo]

0 stars.

This one is the opposite of For Now, Forever. Here, it's the female lead who throws aside what she believes in for the sake of the male lead. He is presented as absolutely right, and she as absolutely wrong, though the historical evidence suggests otherwise. In a word: Blergh.

[Lorraine Madigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story! Ian and Alanna are a wonderful couple and the whole book made me smile. It was nice to visit with the characters from Rebellion again and see how their family is still together and still wonderful! I definitely recommend!

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022

[Julia Schubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine romantische Wintergeschichte voller Leidenschaft

"Die MacGregors - Wie alles begann 2" von Nora Roberts setzt die Geschichte der MacGregor-Familiendynastie fort und führt den Leser in das verschneite Massachusetts des Jahres 1773. Diese romantische Wintergeschichte ist eine gelungene Fortsetzung der Serie.

Die Protagonisten, Allana Flynn und Ian MacGregor, könnten unterschiedlicher nicht sein - sie ist eine irische Witwe, er ein Schotte. Ihre Beziehung entwickelt sich aus einer Notlage heraus, als Allana Ian schwer verletzt in ihrer Scheune findet. Trotz der angespannten politischen Situation zwischen den Briten und Schotten, entwickelt sich zwischen ihnen eine leidenschaftliche Liebe.

Nora Roberts schafft es erneut, eine fesselnde Liebesgeschichte vor dem Hintergrund historischer Ereignisse zu präsentieren. Der Schreibstil ist mitreißend, und die winterliche Atmosphäre ist gut eingefangen.

Insgesamt vergebe ich dem Buch 4 von 5 Sternen. "Die MacGregors - Wie alles begann 2" ist eine romantische Wintergeschichte voller Leidenschaft und Konflikte. Die Charaktere sind gut ausgearbeitet, und die Kulisse des verschneiten Massachusetts verleiht der Geschichte eine besondere Atmosphäre. Wer die Serie mag, wird auch von diesem Buch begeistert sein.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the reader back to the American Revolution.
Ian MacGregor was shot by a British soldier and had taken refuge in the barn of the Muphys where Allanna Flynn found him. Allanna had lost her husband and this is the home of her father and brothers.
Short story is they fall in love and he leaves for his families' home in Virginia after she refuses to marry him. Both have tempers and are stubborn. This romance story is around the time of Christmas.
No tea is drunk by the people as it is the time of British rule and the Tea Party. Even though it is a short read, there is history of America as well as Scottish history. The MacGregors are Scottish and Murphys are Irish.
This was a short story in the book, Historical Christmas Stories 1990. I gave it a 5 star rating because I liked the story and the characters.
In From the Cold by Nora Roberts, Miracle of the Heart by ppatricia Pottr, and Christas at Bitter Creek by Ruth Langan.

[Anushka Bagde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this continuation of Rebellion, both rereads, and seeing the point of view of Ian and Alanna. It was nice seeing the romance blossom during Christmastime and during a time period I knew a little bit more of. My only critique would be that the historical events weren't lined up according to history. Ian is spending the holidays with Alanna and her family, a short while after the Boston Tea party which occurred in December 1773. One of Alanna's arguments with him was over Lexington and Concord which didn't occur until April 1775, which is about 4 months after the events of the epilogue. Other than that, it was nice to see some of the previous characters from Rebellion, though I would have liked to see Ian's parents. Overall, nice excursion into the 18th century within these two books.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nearly Christmas and the Boston Tea Party has recently occurred. Ian MacGregor participated in that little event, only to be wounded. He ends up in the barn of Alanna Flynn's family. She finds him there and patches him up, though she doesn't support his intention to fight the British again. Which is a problem, because he falls madly in love with her and her attraction to him doesn't go unnoticed. Fear prevents her from saying yes to his proposal of marriage--that is, until after Ian's aunt, Serena Langston, invites her to visit the Virginia plantation she and her English Lord Langston now owns and runs.

But will Alanna lose yet another loved one to the upcoming war in the Colonies? And if so, how will she survive that loss?

[Ruth Benziger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick beautiful read with Ian MacGregor wounded and finding his way onto a Murphy farm. Alanna Flynn finds him wounded and aids him. He talks of war, of fighting, and of causes.

Alanna Flynn is the only woman in the house who works tirelessly day and night to provide for her father and her brothers. And now Ian MacGregor who looks at her and makes his likeness known.

I really loved watching these two. Not only was it amazing to get a glimpse of Serena and Brigham later in their lives, but it was also lovely to see how Ian and Alanna's story blossomed. She sure was a spitfire and the love between them, though unwanted for fear, was thrilling.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many scenes from this book were basically identical to the book Rebellion. I am reading the MacGregor series chronologically, rather than as Ms Roberts published them. So, having read the 'first' book where the whole MacGregor saga started the similarities became damned obvious to me in this book.
In general, there were mistakes, for example, indoor Christmas trees were not popular till the mid to late 1800's.
The storyline is typical for the era and gives an insight into why Americans tend not to drink tea, a cultural habit born from the Boston Tea Party.
Generally, I liked it but to be honest it was more like reading Rebellion than a book on its own merit.

[Marife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora Roberts has written only 2 historical romances: the novel Rebellion and this novella. They are related, as the hero of this story is the nephew of the main characters in Rebellion.

Though the characters are not as fleshed out compared to Rebellion, there is enough for the main conflict to carry weight. As usual, NR's writing is deft and confident. I particularly loved the acts of service from Ian as a love language.

It was just disappointing that Serena and Brigham from Rebellion became plantation owners when they moved to America, though it is a believable outcome for people of their social standing during that time.

[Marisa Gettas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book “IN THE COLD” (MacGregors #6.5) was packaged in a 2020 Mass Max Paperback release with “REBELLION” (MacGregors #6). They called it: “Nora Roberts: A McGregor Christmas”.
Well, Rebellion is 300 pages long and has nothing to do with Christmas, so keep that in mind.

This book is set around Christmas, but the hero's Aunt has a plantation, and they go to that plantation, and now you've got me thinking about slaves which is definitely a no-go in my books. It’s a short novella and I did finish, but it left a horrible taste in my mouth.

[Marla Nayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a man in America, just after the Boston tea party, when all the tea from Britain was thrown into the ocean. He leaves while wounded (bullet wound) and collapses somewhere well away from Boston. He is rescued by a family and the young woman, a widow, cares for him and nurses him back to health. A romance ensues. There are entanglements, of course. It has a happy ending (oops, I gave it away). I’ve never read any of Nora Roberts’ books and she seems to have many. It was ok but isn’t a topic I’m generally into.

[Debora J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a nice novella, involving a MacGregor back in revolutionary times. It could have developed into more of a story but moved rather quickly. I got to know Ian MacGregor better than Alanna Flynn through the story. It left me wanting to know more about her backstory. I also saw it as a careless oversight that Nora Roberts had Alanna's father cut down a Christmas tree for inside the house. I don't know how an Irish family in Colonial America would have come to celebrate Christmas with a tree, but it didn't take away from the story.