Reckless

Highland Brides #3

by Anna Jennet, Hannah Howell

Heir to the clan MacFarlane, Ailis was a prize to be bartered by her calculating father, and her wedding to a man she despised seemed inevitable—until she is abducted by her clan’s worst enemy, Alexander MaDubh, a brutally handsome laird with ice in his eyes and hot blood in his veins.

Alexander had come riding into Leargan to claim the three children born of a forbidden love between his brother and lovely Ailis’ sister. Now, with Ailis herself as his pawn, he can strike at the enemy whose treachery robbed his clan of so much. Her beauty and her fierce temper stir his blood, and vengeance has never been so sinfully sweet. But will a passion they cannot deny be enough to ease the pain and torment of the past?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Fiction, Scotland, Enemies To Lovers

317 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

She has also used the following pseudonyms:
Hannah Howell, Sarah Dustin and Sandra Dustin

Reviews

[Thal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Τώρα θα σας πω μια ιστορία, την ιστορία του Reckless. Πριν από αρκετά χρόνια η φίλη μου η Γιούλη προσπαθούσε να με πείσει να αρχίσω να διαβάζω στα αγγλικά. Πρέπει να ήταν τότε που κυκλοφόρησε το 6ο Harry Potter κι ενώ αυτή το είχε ήδη διαβάσει και απειλούσε να μου αποκαλύψει το τέλος (πάντα της άρεσε να διαβάζει την τελευταία σελίδα όταν έπαιρνε ένα βιβλίο) εγώ καιγόμουν περιμένοντας την ελληνική μετάφραση. Στην προσπάθεια της λοιπόν να με πείσει ότι δεν ήταν και τόσο δύσκολο να διαβάσεις στα αγγλικά (κάτι που θεωρούσα αδύνατο μιας και το εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα με είχε πείσει πως αν κοπείς στο Proficiency δ ε ν ξέρεις αγγλικά) μου έφερε δώρο το Reckless. Μαζί με αυτό έφερε και άλλα δυο βιβλία, "Μήπως είστε metrosexual?" και "1000 Sudoku", γιατί τέτοια είναι. Για χρόνια το Reckless παρέμενε αδιάβαστο στη βιβλιοθήκη μου αλλά εκείνη δεν έπαυε να το μου το θυμίζει με κάθε ευκαιρία - τελευταία φορά που το ανέφερε το έθεσε σαν όρο για να ενεργοποιηθεί στο Goodreads.
Τελικά ξεκίνησα να διαβάζω στα αγγλικά όταν πήρα Kindle το 2013. Το Reckless εξακολουθούσε να με περιμένει. Ώσπου φέτος, κάποια στιγμή που ήθελα να διαβάσω κάτι ελαφρύ - literally ελαφρύ γιατί καθόμουν σε καρέκλα και το άλλο βιβλίο που είχα σε εξέλιξη ήταν Τα Φώτα που πρέπει να ζυγίζει πάνω από κιλό - το είδα στη βιβλιοθήκη και σκέφτηκα "ρε, λες;". Άρχισα να διαβάζω τις πρώτες σελίδες χωρίς να ξέρω αν θέλω να το συνεχίσω, και στην πορεία σκέφτηκα το #readathon17 και την προτροπή του να βγούμε από το δρόμο μας και να διαβάσουμε κάτι διαφορετικό από αυτά που έχουμε συνηθίσει. Αν και ο εμπνευστής της πρόκλησης δε νομίζω να είχε ποτέ κάτι τέτοιο στο μυαλό του, εγώ σκέφτηκα "ΡΕ, ΛΕΣ;".
Στα του βιβλίου τώρα. Το είδος στο οποίο βάζει τον εαυτό του είναι το historical romance, αλλά δεν υπάρχει τίποτα το ιστορικό πέρα του ότι διαδραματίζεται στη μεσαιωνική Σκωτία, χωρίς να μαθαίνουμε κάτι παραπάνω. Θα μπορούσε να διαδραματίζεται σε ένα πλατό σαπουνόπερας. Εναλλακτικός του τίτλος θα μπορούσε να είναι το "Ναι, ΕΙΣΑΙ μισογύνης!" αλλά αυτό νομίζω το έχουν προλάβει αλλού. Οι χαρακτήρες ήταν επίπεδοι σαν τους κοιλιακούς τους, αλλά ευτυχώς γι' αυτούς παραπολυομορφοι (κάστινγκ έχω κάνει Alexander Skarsgård και Alicia Vikander, να ξέρετε). Η ροή της σκεψης τους ηταν ξανά και ξανά κατι ανάμεσα σε "μου φέρεται σαν σκουπίδι αλλά ισως το αξίζω, ευτυχως που ειναι καυτός και τουλαχιστον θα το χαρώ" και "τη μισώ γιατι ειναι γόνος των εχθρών μου και πανω απ'ολα γυναίκα και οι γυναικες ειναι προδοτρες, ολοι το ξέρουν αυτο, ομως ειναι καυτή και τη θελω εδω και τωρα". Όσο για το σεξ, διαβάστε καλύτερα Game of Thrones, έχει πολύ περισσότερο και καλύτερο. Δηλαδή δεν αξίζει η ταπείνωση του να κυκλοφορείς διαβάζοντας βιβλιο με τέτοιο εξωφυλλο ή να το εχεις currently reading για 2,5 σκηνές παραπολυρομαντικου λαβμεηκινγκ και υπονόηση κανα δυο ακομα.
Η λογική του "διαβάζω κάτι για να χαλαρώσω" δεν μου κάνει ούτως ή άλλως γιατί literature is supposed to upset the reader όπως έχει πει και μια πολύπαθη στα νύχια του ελληνικού Goodreads συγγραφέας. Το Reckless όμως δεν ήταν καν αυτό, μου πήρε 3 εβδομάδες γιατί ήταν τόσο βαρετό που θα μπορούσα να το έχω παρατήσει ανά πάσα στιγμή, ακόμα και στις τελευταίες σελίδες. Ο μόνος λόγος που επέμεινα να το τελειώσω ήταν για να βγάλω αυτή τη φωτογραφία: https://www.instagram.com/p/BRlX8fkAY...

Hannah Howell, we shall not meet again, "historical" romance, και με σένα το ίδιο.
Γιούλη. Ώρα να κάνεις Goodreads.

#readathon17 [6/26 and 3/14 female writers] ~ [ένα βιβλίο από είδος λογοτεχνίας που δεν έχετε ξαναδιαβάσει]

[Elis Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again—I have no problem with a story where I hate one of the protagonists for part of the book. Those kinds of books can be powerful and dramatic, and so long as the hateful person pulls his or her head out of that nether orifice before the HEA, it's all good. But if they do something really dastardly, then I damn well need to see some groveling before the HEA. This is one of those books that left me with issues.



So here's the storyline:

Ailis MacFarlane is the only heir to her family's holdings unless her beastly and abusive Uncle Colin manages to father a child before someone cuts his throat. Said beastly uncle has decided Ailis should marry Donald MacCordy, eldest son of his clan's laird. Donald is also beastly—and rapey, and TSTL. And he kisses like a leech.



Ailis has the care of her sister Mairi's bastard children, and a hulking reject named Jaime who adores her because she's the only person he knows who doesn't treat him like crap. Surprisingly, Donald has agreed to let her keep them. Not like him to be so thoughtful. Hmmm…

Turns out that, apart from looking forward to punishing Ailis for her repeated rejection of his attempted rape seduction, Donald also wants Ailis because it would seal an alliance between his popular-as-a-skunk-at-a-garden-party clan and hers. And he'll take the kiddies, too, because he happens to know something Ailis doesn't—that their father is Barra MacDubh. Barra is the younger brother (and sole heir) of the MacDubh laird, Alexander, so his twin sons, though they're bastards, are valuable property, especially to a guy who wants to stick it to the MacDubhs..



Mairi's untimely death has sent Barra into an alcoholic funk. Not only did he lose the love of his life, but because the MacFarlanes and MacDubhs are feuding, he can't exactly go to her family's keep and claim his kids. They're half MacFarlane, so his clan won't welcome them, and they're half MacDubh, so if their paternity was known the MacFarlanes won't treat them well, either. Fortunately, Barra gets schnockered and blurts the whole story, and Alex decides to go collect his heirs. He can stand a little MacFarlane stink if it means he doesn't ever have to marry again. He's concluded from his vast experience with the gentler sex that all women are evil.



He and his best men ride onto MacFarlane lands, just exactly where Ailis and Jaime have conveniently taken the kids on an outing away from the stronghold. Alex grabs the kids, and takes Jaime and Ailis as well. Ailis realizes that she, being heir to the MacFarlane laird, won't be well-treated if the MacDubhs know who she is, so she claims to be the children's nurse. Unfortunately for Ailis her subterfuge doesn't hold up long.

Alex already has a Jones for the wench. Once he knows she's the only current heir of his father's murderer, and that she's betrothed to wed a MacCordy, he justifies his intentions for her as just vengeance for the wrongs those clans have perpetrated on his own.

It doesn't really help me like this guy that he considers all the obvious moral issues. Ailis was a baby when the MacFarlanes killed his da and cheated his clan of some lands. She had nothing to do with the wrongs her clan did to his. He's aware that Colin MacFarlane and Donald MacCordy are both vindictive SOB's who will probably punish her because he used her for his revenge against them. He's aware, too, that Donald MacCordy, on a good day when he's not pissed, would be a cruel husband. And he's aware that Ailis doesn't want to be violated. Which makes him a rapist if he proceeds. None of this gives him pause. He wants her, he'll have her, and then he'll kick her to the curb and let her face the consequences.



Barra and the rest of the clan aren't any more thrilled than I am with this plan—Barra tries to talk him out of it, but Alex isn't budging. Barra does get him to promise not to hurt the girl (apparently raping her and sending her home to abusive men who will beat and/or kill her because of what he did isn't hurting her). Even so, we're later told that if Ailis had put up much resistance, he'd have "had to" get rough with her.



All this is supposed to be acceptable because Ailis is sort of OK with it. She doesn't want to be raped or shamed, but if she's gonna lose her virginity unwillingly (cuz she wasn't gonna be willing with Donald either) she'd rather lose it to Alex. And besides, she's not kidding herself. If she resists she's only going to be raped anyway, but less gently. If anybody buys that her choice to submit in order to avoid being hurt means it wasn't rape, they seriously need intervention.

After the deed is done, Ailis cries, both for her stolen virginity and for the fact that her body responded against her will.



And that's the bit I hate most of all in these bodice rippers. Seriously, it's gross to have forced sex result in a mind-blowing orgasm for the victim.

The next day, Alex decides that after the pleasure he took from raping her, he'll "support" her by escorting her to breakfast. I'm supposed to like this guy, because after raping her he pulls a shred of decency out of his ass and accompanies her down to breakfast so he can help her deal with the pity and shame he's inflicted on her.



There's just (barely) enough redemption at the end to make me OK with the HEA, but this hero never is never a man any sensible heroine should trust. Recognizing that you've been an asshole is not the same as feeling remorse for pain you've caused. And without awareness of that pain and honest regret for it, I don't see much hope for change.

I'll give this three stars, cuz this wasn't a regency and the story had some action (and kept me reading even when I wanted to

)

With just a touch of remorse/growth on the hero's part, this could've gotten four stars, but the gag-worthy moments lost at least a point—and if I were the PC type it would be more.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. Sexy h with angst who wants the hr in his bed. A sttong hr who protects the ones she loves. This is full of sexual tension and a lot of sex. Of course villians try to separate them. The hr goes through hell to get back to the h. I root for this couple! The book was funny and entertaining. A must read!

[Monique Takens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Een begeerde buit - Candlelight Historische roman 563
Het grootste deel van dit verhaal was zeker 4 sterren waard maar hoofdstuk 5 was voor mij onverteerbaar - ook een geweldloze verkrachting is niet goed te praten !!

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ailis, the only heir to the clan MacFarlane, and betrothed to the repugnant Donald MacCordy, finds herself captive to Alexander MacDubh, a handsome man whose clan has been engaged in a bloody feud with both the MacCordys and MacFarlanes. Once he realizes who he has in his grasp, Alexander decides to exact some revenge on his enemies by ravishing Ailis and sending her home, shamed. He knows that Ailis' uncle is a proud, harsh man, and he'll be shamed and furious to receive Ailis back absent her chastity. Alexander knows, too, that Donald still needs the alliance with the MacFarlanes and he needs her dowry, so he'll still wed her, but he'll know that Alexander had her first and it will eat at him. Alexander also knows that both of these men can be violent and cruel, so he must know that Ailis will suffer profound abuse just because she was a tool used for his vengeance.

The author hopes to excuse Alexander by telling us that he suffered the betrayal of an unfaithful stepmother and crazy 2nd wife who killed his only daughter. So he hates and distrusts women in general. Alexander's brother attempts to remind him that Ailis was only a child when her father murdered theirs, and that she has nothing to do with their feud against the MacCordy's. Alexander acknowledges all this, but still won't reconsider. It's perhaps even worse that some half-strangled remnant of decency in him nips at his conscience even while he continues on his course. It's even more reprehensible when he's faced with the irrefutable fact that this girl is a kind, decent, moral human being who has been the sole bastion of kindness to his bastard niece and nephews in a hostile home, and he STILL can't be persuaded not to force himself on her, ruin her, and hand her back to the brutality of her kin and betrothed. I loathed the hero, but because of it, my emotions were powerfully engaged, and I really wanted to see how the author would redeem this SOB by the end.

For her part, Ailis hates her uncle and her betrothed, and so she makes up her mind that if she has to choose who will be the man to make a woman of her, she'd rather it be the handsome Alexander, even tho she knows that he's only going to use her for his vengeance, even though she knows he fully intends to ravish her and shame her and send her home to be abused. Donald would be intentionally hurtful (he's depicted as cruel, as if there's some important contrast between the physical harm he'd do and the life-wrecking harm Alexander intends). So Ailis she makes up her mind to accept her lot and try to enjoy what she can, while she can, before she's sent home to be a victim (as if she's not currently a victim). That's another effort, I think, to excuse Alexander's choices. The heroine sees him as a lesser evil so apparently his cruelties are OK so long as she gets some pleasure before he hands her over to men who he knows will hurt or possibly even kill her because of what he's done. I was frustrated here, too, because I hate it when the heroine is so easily seduced that a few well-placed touches and she's beyond caring what it does to her dignity, her power over her own life and body. I keep wondering why heroines in these books are such slaves to their own passions that even their own self-interests and human dignity are unimportant. I can't relate. But that, too, is compelling. Frustrating, but compelling.

I have to say that every little feminist bone in my body was offended by all this but I kept turning pages. Maybe this is why the alpha jerk hero is such a powerful draw for some readers. I wanted to see things sort themselves out, and without going into detail, though I wasn't entirely satisfied (I really need to see "heroes" like this suffer some pangs of remorse for the harm they intended, and make some effort to make amends before I'm entirely satisfied, and that doesn't happen here), the relationship is redeemed enough that I was rooting for the couple by the end.

The story loses a star because the hero is a horrible man and, while the heroine does stand up for herself somewhat she still tolerates way more than she should. Despite it all, I loved the humor salted into the story and I cried over the heroine's problems more than once. And that earns the story at least a B+.

Hannah Howell has won a new reader. I'll be buying the rest of her historicals the next time my library is depleted.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5- Oggi vi parlo dell'ultima uscita storica di marzo dei Romanzi Mondadori, un mese ricco di soddisfazioni (a parte forse uno).

Pur essendo una trilogia dedicata alle spose delle Highlands, da noi è uscito solo questo volume (il terzo) e nel leggerlo non ho trovato grandi problemi di orientamento o mancanza di antefatti.
Ci troviamo appunto in Scozia, verso il 1370, in una terra divisa tra clan rivali e rissosi, dove i guerrieri passano la vita sostanzialmente a combattere e le donne sono in posizione defilata, generatrici di eredi o lavoratrici domestiche, se non, nei casi peggiori, trattate come merce di scambio o prede di guerra.

Segnalo subito una cosa, perché so che a certe lettrici/lettori può dare fastidio, ovvero la presenza di un certo consenso forzato/dubbio nella relazione d'amore principale.
La giovane Ailis è l'unica erede femmina rimasta al suo clan ed è stata già destinata a un matrimonio d'interesse, cosa a cui sta cercando di rassegnarsi. Ma viene rapita da un capoclan nemico che, com'era consentito dai costumi del tempo, pensa bene di portarle via ogni valore simbolico (leggasi: illibatezza) prima di restituirla dietro pagamento di riscatto.
Alcuni personaggi collaterali hanno più di uno scrupolo morale e cercano di dissuadere Alexander, ma lui non vuole sentir ragioni.

Diciamo che il fatto, calato nell'epoca, è coerente. mentre ai nostri occhi la storia è molto al limite del rapporto estorto.
A dirla tutta, non mi ha dato neppure tanto fastidio questa scelta dell'autrice, quanto piuttosto il suo tentativo di annacquare la violenza con il presentare l'uomo come "gentile" (pur se poteva benissimo astenersi) e, attenzione, facendo poi autoconvincere la ragazza che, comunque, lui è bellissimo e che, fin da quando era bambina, aveva sempre sentito le altre donne decantarne le lodi.
Un punto di vista piuttosto singolare e un filo ipocrita: il capoclan sarebbe stato condannabile se si fosse invece rivelato pelato o con la pancia o bruttarello forte?
Al di là di questa parte, che ho faticato a digerire, la storia è abbastanza avvincente e ricca di inseguimenti, agguati e amenità scozzesi assortite, per cui non è un libro malvagio.
Però, diciamolo, quando Alexander a un certo punto assaggia la frusta, non si pensa subito "povero eroe".

[GuisBell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esperaba ilusionada la historia de Alexander, pero decepciono, como el mismo dijo, tantos buenos consejos dados a sus amigos sobre como tratar a una buena mujer que llega a tu vida, pero que el ignoro y supero con creces a sus antecesores, tratando horrible a Ailis, como si debió tratar a las culpables de sus traumas, pero no, se desquito con alguien inocente...

[Akina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with historical romances. I love the passionate nature of the stories but I abhor the violence. This book was more of the same. Although there were good main and side characters and a decent storyline, the abundance of violence diminished my enjoyment. Also, most of the violence was directed towards the heroine so that makes this even harder to bear.
My rating:
Storyline - 4
Characters - 4.5
Violence- 2
Passion - 3
Overall - 3.5?? But I’ll round up to 4

[Wyrdness · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly want to know if romance authors write this kind of tripe fully believing in it or if they just don't care that they are helping to perpetuate some horrific ways of thinking as long as they're getting paid for it.

A young MacFarlane woman and her niece and nephews are kidnapped by the MacDubh clan because it turns out the children were fathered by the younger (married) brother of that clan's Laird. The Macdubh hate the MacFarlane because the uncle of the young woman somehow arranged to steal a crap-ton of land and wealth from them and murdered the old Laird (the current Laird's father) with the help of his lover, the late step-mother of the current MacDubh Laird. Somehow this all got set up so everything bypassed the old laird's heirs and if they tried to do anything about it they'd be branded outlaws by the king of Scotland for non-explained Handwavium Reasons.

The Macdubh Laird is a huge misogynist that thinks just because a handful of women (his step-mother, two previous wives, and his brother's late wife) have been terrible people in the past then all women must be like that and he goes out of his way not to mix with anyone who would prove otherwise to him. He proceeds to vengeance rape the young woman for the crime of being born a MacFarlane and to piss off her kin and betrothed (who is also a horrible person she didn't want to marry either). The author tries really hard to make out it's not rape and it's all okay because the woman decides that because she can't avoid the forced sex she would at least try and avoid more harm and pain by attempting to enjoy the whole thing. Since the Laird is a Studly McHotty she can't help but be attracted to (despite his awful behaviour) that makes everything better. So begins the insta-Stockholm-Syndrome-love thing.

After much off-page shagging she winds up pregnant. After she tells him she's pregnant he demands to know who the father is because, as mentioned, he's a bit of a dick. She gives him a good smack in the face for this insult among many and after a non-apology and an extra insult about her "tainted" bloodline the Laird decides they must now get married for the sake of the child, even though he hates women and especially MacFarlanes. The young woman doesn't put up much of a fight, partly because she has nowhere else to go or a way to support herself and a child, but mostly because she's suffering from that insta-Stockholm-Syndrome-love thing and she truly believes that she can change this cold, abusive dick of a man if she just stays nearby and constantly shines the power of her compassion and love upon him.

... And at this point I decided I'd had quite enough of hating myself and claimed a DNF at 49%. I think that was at least 48% longer than I should have taken and I haven't even bitched about the weirdly shoehorned in bits with the niece having the Sight. Just do yourselves a favour and stay clear of this unless you're a true masochist.

[Laura Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I am just not getting into Alexander's story like I thought I would. Ailis is great, Alexeander not so much. And Howell is taking too long to get any movement forward in the plot. I like big books but not when they are filled with needless details.
Ok, is this the same Alexander that was in the previous books in the series? I don't think so. This Alexander was sullen, rude, made bad decisions, and just hateful. The Alexander in the previous books had much the same issues but hid them behind a smile and teasing. They hid the hurt that went deep. The Alexander in this book was just cruel in places. We were told that he had hurts and issues but not shown that it was so through his actions and words.
I was much disappointed in this 3rd installment of the series. Plus there was no appearance of previous characters.

[Mary Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this the last of the Highland Brides trilogy. Here we Finlay get Alexander’s story, he has been a character in the previous two books, Highland Wedding and His Bonnie Bride. In those books he was a friend of the hero and also a rival for the heroines affections. An extremely handsome man Alexander MacDubb is a widower with a young daughter in the first two books but all has changed in this book. He has been remarried and widowed again, but also has suffered the loss of his daughter and father. This has changed Alexander from a handsome, sociable, affable ladies man, to a remote, emotionless recluse, consumed with the need for revenge against the clan who murdered his father. Alais is the niece of the Laird responsible for that murder ( and also the theft of property) the king has denied Alexander any Avenue of revenge so he has just has to accept the situation. That Is until he finds out his brother Barra has fathered three children with Alais’s deceased sister, he rides out immediately to get the children but when he stumbles across them their aunt is with them. Seeing his chance for revenge he kidnaps Alais intending to seduce her in revenge for his losses. Alais is not unwilling, she is betrothed to an evil man so if she can find some pleasure for herself before she has to marry Donald then she will take it. Alais and Alexander soon find themselves emotionally involved but it is hopeless, Donald will not rest till he gets her back and Alexander cannot forget who Alais’s family are or what they have cost him. This is a really good story and if not for the other two books in the series could be read and enjoyed quite well, but, for me it had one major flaw. The timeline is all wrong, Alexander’s age, when we see him in book one he is maybe mid to late twenties with a toddler daughter, in book two ten years have past he is still single his daughter alive, maybe twelve by now, Alexander mid to late thirties, now in his book he’s widowed, daughter dead ( while still a child) two years, father dead several years, so Alexander has to be at least forty, if not older, in a time when this was considered old age, and Alais is around twenty. But he’s still spoken of as a man in the prime of life and no mention is made of the age difference. It totally spoiled the book for me, but as I say if I hadn’t read the other two it would not have been a problem.

[Sumayyah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read historical romance novels because there's a guaranteed happy ending, I like the various time periods they take place in, and I like that for the most part, the backstories are tragic, the heroine is awesome, the love interest ends up falling for her, fixing whatever terrible personality faults he has, and becoming a better person.

This was missing many key elements of my 'reasons to read romance'. Namely: Alexander SUCKS. SUUUUCCCKKKS. Usually there's *some* pretense at making the main guy redeemable or, at least, someone that the heroine could reasonably fall in love with. However, despite Ailis insisting that she's not in love with Alex just because he's really, really pretty...she totally is. Because he treats her awfully for MONTHs without her even KNOWING about his tragic backstory, and doesn't really change towards the end!

The rape elements as a plot and character device was horrible. Also, Ailis makes a stupid promise and decides to fulfill it towards the end, because 'honour', despite her spending the entire book railing at various men for their stupid honour bound reasonings.

Anyway, this book gets more than one star because I adored Jaime and Kate and the kids and Barra. And Ailis was great whenever she wasn't in Alex's bed/arms.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a scathing review on Amazon I absolutely had to pick up this novel. I was pleasantly surprised by it. The story surrounds the haunted Alexander MacDubh and the spirited Ailis. A sort of Romeo and Juliet story, but one with a much happier ending. I thought the characters were really well written and believable. A really great story that you can read over and over.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanilla_91 - per RFS
.
Care fenici,

oggi vi parlo di Impavida di Hannah Howell, edito da Mondadori.

Immaginate le sconfinate e aspre Highlands, due clan che lottano ferocemente da molti anni e un bel giovanotto dai capelli biondi, gli occhi chiari e il fisico prestante; mi sembrano ottimi elementi per approcciarsi alla lettura… so, let’s go!

Ailis, erede del clan MacFarlane, è l’unica a prendersi cura dei tre figli illegittimi della defunta sorella. I bambini sono per lei fonte di gioia, l’unico motivo per cui restare e accettare il fidanzamento combinato dallo zio con un uomo rozzo e violento.

Durante una passeggiata viene rapita insieme ai nipoti da Alexander MacDubh, capo del clan rivale, rinomato non solo per la sua bellezza ma specialmente per l’avversione e la sfiducia verso le donne.

Un odio che si tramanda da diverse generazioni, una forte attrazione e la diffidenza reciproca sono presupposti che lasciano immaginare una storia scoppiettante e dinamica.

A mio parere, le premesse non vengono smentite.

Impavida è un libro che risponde a tutte le caratteristiche del romanzo rosa: è ricco di romanticismo, passione che sfocia in un giusto numero di scene erotiche e con un filo narrativo che riesce a catturare l’attenzione del lettore.

Ho apprezzato la scelta di un ritmo incalzante, che focalizza l’attenzione solo nei punti salienti e non appesantisce l’esposizione.

Più difficile, per me, accettare l’espediente della “relazione quasi forzata/poco consensuale” che rimane sempre una scelta azzardata, un escamotage che può infastidire i lettori più sensibili o mandare un messaggio poco educativo specialmente a un pubblico più giovane.

Devo ammettere che l’autrice smorza la questione in maniera piuttosto rapida, tratta il tutto con una delicatezza che indora la pillola e che consente di mandare giù un boccone che può risultare un po’ indigesto.

Per il resto la penna di Hannah Howell non delude. La tensione narrativa è tenuta alta per tutto il corso della storia, i personaggi sono convincenti e ben delineati e, anche se il loro rapporto di coppia si evolve con qualche falla, ai miei occhi, risulta convincente.

Impavida è stata una lettura leggera, che mi ha regalato ore di piacevole evasione e relax.

Mi sentirei di consigliare la storia ai lettori in grado di apprezzare dinamiche di coppia che si evolvono in tempi lenti e dopo un bel numero di rifiuti e/o incomprensioni, perché prima di regalarci qualche piccola gioia l’autrice ci dà luuunghe pene.

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Hannah's highland love stories.

[Neus Gutiérrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo siento pero no. Hay líneas que no me gusta cruzar y éste tiene unas pocas.
Entiendo que haya enemistades entre clanes, venganzas y de más. Entiendo que una persona que es familiar de alguien que mató cruelmente a tu familia no sea de tu agrado. Ok. Pero que de ahí me justifiques en una obra de calibre 'romántico' todo el rato vejaciones, humillaciones, maltrato, insultos... la puñetera escena de 'y quién es el padre del niño', que viene siendo lo mismo que decirle 'como eres un putón que se acuesta con cualquiera cómo se yo quién es el padre'. O sea no. Lo siento pero no. En una novela histórica sobre Escocia con una trama diferente quizás. Aquí, que son los pj protagonistas de un romance no te lo acepto. Me da igual que sea de época, es de vergüenza. Y además te puedo asegurar que porque fueran escoceses de hace años no quiere decir que fueran unos bordes incivilizados y maltratadores que disfrutaran humillando, que confundimos términos.
Hay mucho bueno en el género de highlanders y éste libro lo único que hace es afianzar esa idea de que solo son libros machistas de plot predecible y final feliz rápido.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trite and ruined a great character

The hero Alex was in the previous books and was a well rounded character. For this book the author turned him into an incel and had the female lead fix him. The plot was trite and she basically writes the same female character over and over again - small, slight, females. This will likely be the last book I read by this author.

[Isabel Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Todavía estoy decidiendo si me gustó o no. Y es q desde mi punto de vista tiene demasiados puntos similares con la historia de Storm y Tavis principalmente por las circunstancias en q se conocen y terminan juntos Alexander y Aislin. Xq aunq sea una cuestión de la época y en el fondo a la fémina lo termine pasando bomba, simplemente no me gusta la premisa de la coacción y de que la chica tenga q ir a la cama de alguien xq de todas formas va terminar ahí y mejor hacerlo por las buenas q por las malas. Podrá no haber violencia física, pero el siento q el romance en este tipo de circunstancias se sienta sobre bases equivocadas y en lo personal, le saca un poco de belleza a la historia de la pareja. Si bien, podemos decir de positivo que Aislin y Alexander parecen tener mucha más química que Storm y Tavis, no les alcanza para igualar el romance entre Ian e Islaen.
Y honestamente, teniendo en cuenta las intervenciones de Alexander en los dos libros anteriores, no me esperaba encontrar al tipo amargado y despiadado que me encontré. Pensé que la de la Alexander sería una historia típica de seductor empedernido al que le cambia la vida encontrar a una mujer q le dice q no, for the very first time. Sin embargo entre el libro anterior y este, a este pobre muchacho le han pasado unas cosas horribles q ni al Job bíblico y terminas con un personaje totalmente diferente al q te habían presentado al iniciar la serie y lo peor es q de toda la desgracia q tuvo que pasar, solo tienes unas pocas pistar aquí y allá y para más INRI, no tuvimos el placer de ver ni saber nada de las dos parejas McLagan.
Cuestión q me han terminado gustando más los personajes secundarios y creo q pudieron brillar más pero en algún momento parecer ser q la autora decidió terminar las cosas demasiado rápido y nos dejó con menos de lo q podría haber dado.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

While overall the type of story I like (historical Scotland, kidnapped bride, fighting clans, blah blah blah) I was REALLY put off by her sexual assault at the beginning. I'm torn. Part of me feels it should be classified as a rape, part of me says it was "forced seduction" since she obviously "enjoyed" it and capitulated very clearly. However, I'm leaning towards rape because she truly didn't have a choice -- he flat out told her he was going to rape her, that there was nothing she could do to stop it, and she got half drunk beforehand to kind of ease her own way. Sure, in true romance-novel style, he turned out to be a skilled and considerate lover, and she of course got turned on and even climaxed, but I was still disgusted by the situation. I'd have much preferred it if he'd given her time to, IDK, adjust to her fate or something. Instead, he kidnapped her in the afternoon and bedded her by evening. While I realize that's much more "generous" than what would have truly happened in those times (where she'd have been raped on the spot, probably in front of witnesses, and then passed around the soldiers), it still turned my stomach.

Also, the "honoring" of her promise to Malcom made me want to shake her for her stupidity.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable story. I just couldn't get past that part to give it a higher rating.

3 Stars.

[Mimi Wolske · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a REread for me and I know I put Reckless on my To Be ReRead shelf for a reason...because it drew me in from page one, was an enjoyable, page-turning read.

I love Howell's strong male protagonists and this 14th century story has what I'd call a true alpha male -- cruel and sexually abusive to the heroine on meeting...well, he does calm down. The heroine is running from family and an enemy clan -- and with the 3 children (of her dead sister) Ailis is trying to save. Turns out our alpha male, Alexander, is the (until now unknown) father. The two protagonists battle each other and, of course, themselves. The story is about 75% romance :) and the rest suspense with some humor thrown in and I admit, I did laugh out loud a couple of times. We have to put ourselves into a late-1300s frame of mind and realize women didn't really have rights or a substantial place in society except to breed and raise an heir.

I really enjoy Howell's style and find myself rereading her books. I would always recommend her to lovers of the romance genre.

This is one of the books of the Highland Brides series but definitely a standalone story...you don't need the others to enjoy this one.

[♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like the kind of stories where you do not like the "hero". Or that you can't say to yourself, "oh, I wish I had him". This one was a complete asshole.

Ok, Alexander rides out to get his brothers 3 bastard children from his enemies, finds lem playing with Ailis & her stuttering huge friend Jamie. He takes them all back to the castle and finds out Ailis is the only heir of one of his enemies & betrothed to another enemy. So he decides he's going to take her chastity. And does.

Now Ailis, stupid girl, lets it happen because she has no choice for one, and decides she would rather do this with Alexander instead of Donald. She decides she really likes him and doesnt want to be his whore anymore, but wants something else from him he can't give. She finds out months later, she is with child & the shit hits the fan so to speak in this story from here.

As far as a HEA ending, I don't know what to really say besides it was the better of 2 evils.

I still think Alexander was an ass!

[Christina Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time reading and I will say that for a trilogy and not to bring any of the other characters into it was really a let down. Do you not think we would want to hear about Colin, Tavis and Iain? As close as Iain and Islaen were to Alexander and for them to not even make a cameo was truly a let down. Also, I can see the bitterness and the change in Alexander, but really thought that we drug that on a while too long.
I was glad to hear Alexander's story, but I will admit to feeling sorry for all the bad that had befallen him. I also hated that none of his friends were in the book. I hated that Iain and Tavis were no where in the story.

[Donna Nealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY!!!

Alexander and Ailis has a wonderful give and take together, one didn't really outshine the other. Start of the book was good going into a great plot and bam! The ending does not disappoint, it actually had a wonderful ending. Please give this book a read even if you haven't read books 1&2. I think it will stand on its on two feet just fine. This is the Hannah Howell I'm used to. Happy Reading 📚!!

[Amandapanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. It begins by Ailis being captured by a rival clan-leader, Alexander, and being coerced into having sex with him. She enjoys it, but she didn't excatly have a choice. (The coercion doesn't stop....Ailis is coerced *again* later into making a sex-bargain). To be fair, for starting out so poorly the book does get better as you go along.

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm such a sucker for historical romances with rough knights and handsome alpha men *deep sigh* Oh well, a girl can dream, right? And Hannah Howell definitely knows how to make a girl day dream! I've reread this book and loved it again :)

[J.W. Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol this book was good. a typical historical Scotland romance. but Ailis and Alex were enjoyable from their first banter. some great side characters in their niece n nephew, in Barra and in Jamie of course.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good historical romance. I highly recommend it.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the Highland series by Hannah Howell. I liked the wit and spirit of the heroine.

[Ashley Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the Hannah Howell novels I have read so far!
The thing that really sticks out to me is how brave the heroine was!!