AUTHOR: Kresley Cole
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2007
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ethan Ross MacCarrick, Madeleine Isobel Van Rowen
GENRE: Historical Romance, ScotsRATING: ★★★★★ STARS
BLURB:
Burning vengeance...
Ethan MacCarrick was a heartbreakingly handsome rake until a powerful nobleman ordered him brutally beaten and his face scarred for a crime he didn't commit. Ethan's reprisal -- bankrupting the nobleman and forcing his exile -- does little to appease his wrath. Ten years later, a haughty, mysterious beauty enchants Ethan -- the daughter of his enemy. At last, Ethan will have the revenge he's craved; he'll promise her marriage, seduce her, then cast her aside.
Bitter hardships...
When Madeleine van Rowen's family was suddenly plunged into destitution and dishonor, she steeled herself against further heartache. She never weakened, never trusted, until a towering, scarred Highlander relentlessly pursues her, breaking down her defenses.
At what price forgiveness?
The passion between them burns hotter than Ethan's fury, and soon he finds he can't let her go. But when Madeleine uncovers the truth about him, can Ethan convince her to accept all he now offers -- when he once destroyed everything she had?
INITIAL THOUGHTS:
Even though I am a Kresley Cole fanatic I have qualms about reading this one. I am a self-proclaimed Scot lover but not so much on Historical Romance. I have the these two books of MacCarrick brothers sitting on my book shelf for months already yet I can't find myself to read one. Until one fate Saturday, when I was having this sudden craving for Scots with their accents and all and I can't find anything on my e-reader, I suddenly remember that I have this series. So I pick up IF YOU DESIRE from my book shelf *coughs coughs* and read its blurb. The story line's cliche but it still piqued my interest plus my current need for a Scot tugged me so I started my journey into the far ends of Paris, London, Scotland, way way way back.
THE STORY:
At 23 Ethan MacCarrick has this roguish rakish charm that captures every woman he met and have an affair with. Single. Married. It doesn't matter to him as long as they slake his insatiable baser need. He's a handsome lad. Young. But is currently experiencing weariness of his life. It's as if he find no happiness in everything he do so he drank his way to oblivion every night and rut each barmaid, married woman he met and propositioned to. As long as that girl is willing and definitely not clingy. No strings attached. Just a one night sort of thing. Until one fateful night of his drunken life changed everything. He made a mistake of going to Mrs Van Rowen's household and would have done to her what he always did with other woman he met but at the last minute he felt this certain uneasiness that something isn't right so he hauled his drank arse and tried to walk out of the house before he's discovered. Mrs. Van Rowen could not accept it so she rants and begs then later on hit and screams like a lunatic trying to hold on to Ethan. He is already seeing the clarity of the situation and is glad to be out of there asap. But then, Mr Van Rowen's early return was unexpected. He saw Ethan with a mark on his face, his wife helplessly crying. Looked like a forced something so he immediately order his right hand and trusted servant to punish the young lad who tries to do his wife harm. Ethan's reason was not heard and his pleas not heeded. He was hung and beated. Not long after, he was being gutted. A sharp knife towards his handsome face. To remind him of his mistake and to end his rakish days. It was then too late when the Van Rowen's find out his identity. All has been done.
10 years later, he met Madeleine Van Rowen. He was fascinated with her at first sight but upon learning her true identity, he begins to plot and extract his revenge. Lies. Deception. Betrayal. Vengeance. Love. Will Ethan learn to forgive and look past what has been done to him? Will his lies haunts him and threatens his relationship with her? Will he continues he's staged deception? Or will LOVE prevails?
MADELEINE ISOBEL 'Maddie' VAN ROWEN
"I didn’t steal it—I swear! Oh, as if things never fall into your pocket!"
Love her. 21 year old lass. A survivor. A sneak thief upon necessity. She's very frank and had laid all her cards and intents from the very beginning. No pretensions with her. At such a young age, she's experience too much to last her two life times. Admire her strength, character, intelligence, love and loyalty (for her friends ).
ETHAN ROSS MACCARRICK
"The love of a good woman? To save a wicked man like me? Never. . . because there's no woman born who's as good as I am bad."
This 33 year-old superstitious Scot took my breath away. Handsome. Mysterious. Possessive. SCARRED. Jack of all LETHAL traders. Totally head over heels in love with him. Ehhh.
MY REVIEW:
I love how the story started. It was very short and yet it explains everything. Ethan at 23 and how he got that vicious scar. Ten years after, MCs met. Identities unknown but somehow, the chemistry's there. Undeniable. Strong. I really felt the hero's potent need and instant lust for the heroine. The need to have her was clearly seen. How I love KC for her UGH heroes.
Vengeance was the plan after the hero knows the identity of the lass who captured his interest. Plotting to deceive her and then punish her for her parent's sin was Ethan's reason why he came to follow her when she's gone to stay away from him after that one hot night at the carriage. He came to her and offered marriage. She accepted but laid her terms. He was forced to accept them knowing she and her mother will be punished after he's done and dumped her. (not knowing that her mother died already) After knowing that info, he suddenly have this second thoughts. He already felt something for her so after that gut wrenching barmaid scene, he offered her real marriage. But it does not end there.
I was waiting for that twist and confrontation to happen. I was not disappointed. It was very well told. I was expecting the heroine to fled without goodbyes upon learning the whole truth, the lies, the staged deception of his husband. But I was caught off guard with the Cholera scene that goes along with it. That was heart-breaking. That's the kind of twist I have not expected to happen. I just thought of a very very tear-jearker confession and poof all is well. I'm glad to have read that lil twist along with the loss of their baby. UGH.
I felt all of the MCs emotion in every scene and encounters. The hero's lies, deception, need, love, obsession, possessiveness and fears. The heroine's wariness, happiness, her hurt, love, and her strength. It was not an emotional read but my tear ducts thinks differently. I can't even count the times I've cried as I've read the story more esp in the last 5 chapters.
I've love the appearances of the other two MacCarrick brothers. Gave me a glimpse of their personalities and a lil about their stories. Bea and Corrine too. Happy Sigh.
A must read and highly recommended.
MEMORABLE LINES | CONVO:
"A man would know the women he was meant to be with because she made him weak. Till he claimed her and she made him strong." - Ethan
"Aingeal, there is only one thing on my body that's ten inches long, and if you'll recall, the scar is no' it." - Ethan
"When a man like Ethan learns to love. . . it's forever." - Lady Fiona
"I need. . . more of you. And a realization like that scared me witless."
"Why?"
"Because what happens if you find out something from my past that you canna abide and you leave me? Where does that leave me? I'll tell you--- as good as dead."
"You might be intelligent, but you're no' pretty."
Die immediately.
"You're bloody beautiful."
ACH. I have so many fave lines but I can't write them all here, can I? HAHA. So better read it to find out. XD
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