Helpful Score: 4
This book set the stage for the series so not a lot happened between the H&H for a long while, and when it did it was the typical I hate you, have sex with me, I hate you, I love you, blah, blah, blah. The lack of communication between the couple dragged on far too long.
The father, on the other hand, was a real piece of work. Book 1 of 3.
The father, on the other hand, was a real piece of work. Book 1 of 3.
Helpful Score: 1
(From the cover) He was a notorious rogue with a reputation for hell-raising and heartbreaking. But family secrets forced Ashton Merrick to do his ruthless father's bidding-and escort Rhiannon Russell back to McClairen's Isle. Ash suspected that his father intended to make the innocent beauty his fourth wife. But he didn't expect the passions she would ignite in his own wary heart.
This was a good historial romantic suspense story. The first in a series of 3 concerning the Merrick siblings who are English by birth, but live in a remote Scottish castle with their evil father. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
This was a good historial romantic suspense story. The first in a series of 3 concerning the Merrick siblings who are English by birth, but live in a remote Scottish castle with their evil father. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Julie P. (cindersatin) reviewed The Passionate One (McClairen's Isle, Bk 1) on + 265 more book reviews
This was a great book...I look forward to reading the next two.
Claudia B. (claudia53) reviewed The Passionate One (McClairen's Isle, Bk 1) on + 143 more book reviews
book one of a trilogy, great series
very good romance in the McClairen's Isle trilogy. This is Raine's story.
Kelly C. (IrishKelly) reviewed The Passionate One (McClairen's Isle, Bk 1) on + 154 more book reviews
The first book in the Mc Clairen's Isle Trilogy. It was a great read. I read all three in 3 days!!
Rebecca B. (Silverheels) reviewed The Passionate One (McClairen's Isle, Bk 1) on + 53 more book reviews
Ash is a smoldering, contained (hence his name) Scotsman; Rhiannon is a fiery young Scotswoman whose clan was destroyed by Ash's people when she was a child. Rhiannon's 10 years of safety and freedom from fear in the village of Fair Badden abruptly end a few weeks before her scheduled wedding to Squire Watt's youngest son, Phillip. When cynical Ashton Merrick--the eldest son of a deceased Scottish mother and a dissolute, sadistic English father--arrives in Fair Badden, he is surprised at the uncomplicated kindness he encounters in the village and is even more astonished to realize he's falling in love with Rhiannon. The remnants of Ash's suspicious nature prove ultimately advantageous, however: he is the only one to realize that certain recent "accidents" involving the penniless Rhiannon are actually threats to her life. Unfortunately, whisking her to McClairen's Isle offers no sanctuary, as Ash discovers his father has far more sinister plans for Rhiannon than making her his fourth wife. Skullduggery, bitter English-Scottish hatreds and harrowing cat-and-mouse pursuits fill the ebb and flow of this 18th-century romance, the first volume of the McClairen's Isle trilogy by veteran romance writer Brockway. (June) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
This is not my Review but sums it up nicely..
I had a hard time getting into this complicated Georgian romance which is just too hard to summarize. The book was divided into two parts: before the hero abducts the heroine on his father's behalf to bring her to his father (who is awful in too many ways to list) and then after he abducts her. But, by that point he's fallen in love with her and decides he must protect her from his father, but if he does he might not get the money promised him (by same dastardly father) that he can use to pay the ransom to free his brother from a French prison. I told you it was complicated
I had a hard time getting into this complicated Georgian romance which is just too hard to summarize. The book was divided into two parts: before the hero abducts the heroine on his father's behalf to bring her to his father (who is awful in too many ways to list) and then after he abducts her. But, by that point he's fallen in love with her and decides he must protect her from his father, but if he does he might not get the money promised him (by same dastardly father) that he can use to pay the ransom to free his brother from a French prison. I told you it was complicated
Book #1 of Clairen's Isles series -- Ash: the Passionate one. He was a notorius rogue with a reputation for hell-raising and heartbreaking. But family secrets forced Ashton Merrick to do his ruthless father's bididng and escort Rhiannon Russell back to MCClairen's Isle. Ash suspected that his father intended to make the innocent beauty his fourth wife. But he didn't expect the passions she would ignite in his own wary heart.
From Amazon.com: I stumbled across this three-part series while looking for another book, and I'm glad I did. I listened to the unabridged audiobook version and I enjoyed every minute of it. This book starts off telling the story of two lovers very passionately in love. These two lovers are the Merricks - the mother and father of the two brothers and sister that are the focus of this series. Unfortunately, the father changes and through his treachery and evilness, their lives are ripped apart. Through the father's actions, his sons are later imprisoned. He bails out his eldest son, Ashton, who then spends his days trying to raise enough money to purchase his brother's freedom - since his father has failed to do so.
In an effort to raise money, Ashton goes on a mission to find and escort his father's young ward to him. The circumstances he finds her in and the young woman herself stir Ashton's emotions and he finds himself strongly attracted to her. The more he learns about her, the more Ashton is torn between doing his father's bidding to get the money he needs to free his brother, or keeping the young ward for himself.
The young ward has plans of her own. Having built a life for herself, she's none too happy about being escorted to a guardian that she doesn't know and being forced to give up the life she has built for herself. She's both repelled and strongly drawn towards Ashton whom she doesn't understand. To make matters worse, she doesn't understand the dark world of the Merricks nor their strange behavior towards one another. She becomes even moreso troubled when she meets Ashton's father and begins to glimpse the evil side of him.
This is a very good and interesting story. It's the type of book that you should curl up with on a comfortable sofa with a beverage of your choice. In no time, you'll find yourself sucked into the world of the Merricks. The plot works well, the scenes are aptly described, and the dialog fits in nicely. For the most part, the characters say and do exactly what you would expect them to - in other words, they do what makes sense. You'll feel the Merrick siblings' pain as their father uses them as no more than puppets on a chain, and you'll feel their joy at their stolen moments of happiness - which thankfully they have. And, since this book focuses moreso on one of the siblings, Ashton, you'll want to purchase the other two books in the series to see what happens to the other two. I know I did. This is a book I would recommend and an author I'm glad to have found.
In an effort to raise money, Ashton goes on a mission to find and escort his father's young ward to him. The circumstances he finds her in and the young woman herself stir Ashton's emotions and he finds himself strongly attracted to her. The more he learns about her, the more Ashton is torn between doing his father's bidding to get the money he needs to free his brother, or keeping the young ward for himself.
The young ward has plans of her own. Having built a life for herself, she's none too happy about being escorted to a guardian that she doesn't know and being forced to give up the life she has built for herself. She's both repelled and strongly drawn towards Ashton whom she doesn't understand. To make matters worse, she doesn't understand the dark world of the Merricks nor their strange behavior towards one another. She becomes even moreso troubled when she meets Ashton's father and begins to glimpse the evil side of him.
This is a very good and interesting story. It's the type of book that you should curl up with on a comfortable sofa with a beverage of your choice. In no time, you'll find yourself sucked into the world of the Merricks. The plot works well, the scenes are aptly described, and the dialog fits in nicely. For the most part, the characters say and do exactly what you would expect them to - in other words, they do what makes sense. You'll feel the Merrick siblings' pain as their father uses them as no more than puppets on a chain, and you'll feel their joy at their stolen moments of happiness - which thankfully they have. And, since this book focuses moreso on one of the siblings, Ashton, you'll want to purchase the other two books in the series to see what happens to the other two. I know I did. This is a book I would recommend and an author I'm glad to have found.
This was the book that made me fall in love with Connie Brockway. The angst and passion...exceptional!
