McClairen's Isle: The Reckless One

The Reckless One had some major character development flaws. It felt like listening to a great song, and every ten seconds a minion pops up and shouts "banana!" You're reading along and thinking "ok, this isn't a terrible book" then POOF, something pops up that makes you pause and pulls you out of the story. Little things that add up to be one major flaw.Favor starts out in the novel as a strong willed, confident, and apparently talented con artist. You are led to believe she's faked a french accent, and she seems very intent on this plan. As the story progresses, the confident, talented woman transforms into a faltering, wimpy, wishy-washy young woman. Our hero, Raine, is written fairly decently, except little things that were commented upon in the first of this series are forgotten in the second. His brother, Ash, has wrist scars from shackles. Since Raine spent more time in prison than Ash, one would think he would as well. Yet not one comment is made about this. These little things pecked away at me, until by the end of the book I really couldn't muster enthusiasm for the character's finding love, much less truly believe it.The story did hold it's interesting adventure moments. Since the first of this series felt stronger of a novel, it's worth-while to continue with the third. And I will even give it props for having a quote I found highlight worthy, very rare in historical romance novels.

This is the second in Brockway's McClairen's Isle trilogy (THE PASSIONATE ONE, 1999; THE RECKLESS ONE, 2000, and THE RAVISHING ONE, 2001). I loved the first one and gave it 5 stars. While I did not like it as well as the first, I thought this second installment was also a winner.Important backstory for the trilogy:The books tell the stories of a family of two brothers and a sister, Scottish by their mother Janet McClairen, and English by their father, the charming, selfish, ruthless Ronald Merrick, now earl of Carr. Many years ago, Merrick fled his debtors in London to come to McClairen's Isle in the Highlands with an aim to take it from the McClairen clan. Wile wooing the clan, he won the hand of the laird's cousin, Janet. She gave him two sons and a daughter and then mysteriously died falling off a cliff. Later, through treachery, Merrick gained McClairen's Isle from the English betraying the Scots to them at Culloden. But his wife's relatives wanted revenge and went after him. Instead they captured his sons. The Scots didn't want to kill the sons (they were half Scottish) so they were sent off to prison in France. Ash was later freed when his father paid the ransom, but Raine was left there to rot. Ash lives to free Raine, having promised his mother on the day she died to protect him. Merrick never had much time for his half Scottish sons, though because of her beauty, he spends much time grooming his daughter, Fia. Now, years later, Merrick, Lord Carr, has run through several rich Scottish wives, each one dying young. His dream is to return to London in glory and toward that goal, he has turned McClairen's Isle into a gambling destination that is sucking up the wealth of the nobility and gentry.This second installment begins in 1760, same as book #1, and tells the story of Ash's younger brother, Raine, who has been in prison in France for 4 years. His father the evil Lord Carr won't ransom him because he looks like his mother who Carr loved--and rumor has it--killed. Raine escapes from prison through the assistance of a young woman who uses him expecting he'll be recaptured. But he isn't. Raine plans to return to McClairen's Isle and find his mother's jewels and start a new life. He has no plans to confront or even see his father, Lord Carr. When Raine arrives at the castle, who should he find among the 100 or so guests but the young woman who used him? Favor McClairen has disguised her red hair by dying it black so that she might look more like Carr's dead first wife. Her plan (and that of her clan's) is to regain McClairen's Isle by marrying Lord Carr, and then, when he meets his end, inherit McClairen's Isle (this is Scotland where a woman can inherit land). She claims to be Favor Donne, Tom Donne's sister (both she and Tom are actually McClairen's). Raine recognizes Favor for who she really is--the girl who saved his life so many years ago. He is honor bound to do whatever he can to help her. Both are hiding secrets. Both are in disguise (she thinks he's a thief named Rafe).Like book #1, this one has a well-woven plot, the story is believable and the passion and conflict between the hero and heroine convincing. Brockway writes very well, her words, phrases and dialog capturing the time period. She has wonderful analogies and tag lines that put you in the moment ("The clock struck the witching hour but the revelry wound tighter, like a watch in the hands of a feckless, spoiled child."). Her language is amazingly descriptive (what I wouldn't give to be that good with adjectives!), so that you see each shadow cast by the moonlight and hear each cricket. (For example: "Raine's gaze traveled through the crowd until he found Favor. Yards of vibrant jonquil yellow swathed her upright figure, the light-killing blackness of her dyed hair as coal dust against her white bosom.")Like his brother, Ash, Raine Merrick is a dark-haired, handsome hunk though he bears a few more scars. Once he was reckless, now he is very controlled. Favor is unusual but very attractive in appearance with her black brows and red hair. She has a kind heart but knows she has a debt to pay as her clan holds her responsible for many deaths when she saved the Englishman. So she is forced to play the role that will hopefully restore the castle to her clan. They are interesting characters though perhaps not as endearing as Ash and Rhiannon from book #1.I recommend you read this trilogy in order as the books are interrelated and one story leads to the other. I won't tell you how book #2 ends but I can tell you it was so dramatic I was picking up book #3 as I set it down. Book #3 is Fia's story, but she is also a character in both books #1 and #2.You won't regret getting this series. Highly recommended.

As much as I liked this story, it wasn't quite as good as the first book.I did like Raine, he didn't seem reckless to me and he was so young when he was imprisoned that I am not sure I really buy that he was the sexual master Ms. Brockway tries to portray him as.Favor was a good heroine, but I didn't like that she was so easily guilted into going along with Muria's plan. And to be honest - it was a stupid plan.Again, Lord Carr is a twisted, evil, totally vile character. And why were people calling him Your Grace? He is an earl not a duke. And Fia should be Lady Fia - not Miss Fia - sometimes she was Lady Fia and sometimes Miss Fia - personally, incorrect formal address is my biggest pet peeve in HR books.I thought this book ended way too abruptly. I would have liked to see what happened after they left. I would have also liked to know what happened to Ash & Rhiannon.In the end, I liked the book and would recommend it. I am not sure how I feel about Fia - hers is the last book, but I haven't really liked her character in the first two books. In this book she is 16 (going on 30) - she is so jaded, cynical and unlikable, that I don't know how she will be redeemed. Which makes me want to read it just to find out :)

This is a very adventurous tale of lost loves, family treachery and dark deeds. Rebellious cries of hate and mistrust abound on every page. Clans of highlanders are seeking revenge from the chambers of horrors committed so many years ago.The painting of the lustful and cruel inhabitants is awash with explicit details that grip the reader in a most forcefull manner.The wildly romantic interludes by the leading characters are superbly described in intense and passionate dialogue. This is a vivid story of Connie's best romance ever written.Would suit late teens and older.

After reading "The Passionate One," which I loved, I quickly bought all the Connie Brockway books I could find and settled in to wait for "The Reckless One" to be published. However, I was disappointed to find that this book is not among her best. I admired the twisting plot--shady pasts, overbearing relatives, jail break, betrayal, false names, treasure hunting, fake and real ghosts--but I felt the plot overshadowed the characters' romance. Favor and Raine were so busy getting from A to B that they never developed a true spark.

I liked this book. It had drama mystery, suspense, murder and intrigue. A wonderful book which i read in one sitting

From my archives

If you love Scottish Romance and Historical Fiction marrying together with another brilliant author Diana Gabadol Outlander Series or you will love this book not to be missed.

Absolutely loved all of this series. There was something different to keep you reading till all hours and I would thoroughly recommend it.

BIT SAME OLD BUT OK FOR A NON CHALLENGING BEDTIME READ AND DID READ OTHERS BY SAME AUTHOR AND MAY READ MORE