Shana Abe doesn't just write Historical Romance, she's created her own genre, Historical Adventure Romance. This includes all 3 books I've read of hers, and am now on a quest to get her backlist. What you need to know about Shana Abe, if you haven't read her, is that her stories are intense and emotional. Her books seem to have a goal that has an unattainable happy ending for both hero and heroine, but while she's winding the HEA, you are just plunged into a rich story line of characters, scenery, and emotions and at the end of the book you can finally breath again because you've been holding your breath to see how her story will end.
In Intimate Enemies, Lauren and Arion are enemies that are temporarily working together to defeat Vikings that threaten their island. In briefly coming together, each are drawn to the other, despite being groomed from birth to hate the other. So there is internal conflict and external conflict. Shana Abe makes you feel the tension that each of these felt with each other and their families. After several injuries and denials about their feelings, the couple's ending FINALLY comes with such a sweet reward, and the last few paragraphs of the book is something that I'll pick up and reread again and again. The heroine wasn't too feisty, even though she had to lead her clan, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. He was honorable man, even though he didn't want to be sometimes, they were both likable characters who so deserved the love that each of them needed from the other. Definite Keeper.
In Intimate Enemies, Lauren and Arion are enemies that are temporarily working together to defeat Vikings that threaten their island. In briefly coming together, each are drawn to the other, despite being groomed from birth to hate the other. So there is internal conflict and external conflict. Shana Abe makes you feel the tension that each of these felt with each other and their families. After several injuries and denials about their feelings, the couple's ending FINALLY comes with such a sweet reward, and the last few paragraphs of the book is something that I'll pick up and reread again and again. The heroine wasn't too feisty, even though she had to lead her clan, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. He was honorable man, even though he didn't want to be sometimes, they were both likable characters who so deserved the love that each of them needed from the other. Definite Keeper.
Helpful Score: 1
I really like Shana Abe's new books. I have had hit and miss on her older books. This one I put firmly in the good category. It was an interesting read, but I found the interaction of the characters and the difficulty of the situation a little blase. I am a big fan of Shana Abe's books and think that her writing has matured into an amazing read now.
from amazon.com
Setting: Scotland, 1177
Beautiful Scotswoman Lauren MacRae first met the Englishman Arion du Morgan as a child, when he saved her life. Years later, they meet again as adults when she repays the debt by saving his life during battle with a common enemy, the Vikings. Their families have always been fierce enemies, each claiming ownership of the Isle of Shot. As leader of Clan MacRae, Lauren risks the anger of her clan when she accepts Arion's proposal to join forces in a desperate attempt to save the island from being conquered by the Northmen. The uneasy alliance forces them into each other's company, and Lauren and Arion find themselves falling in love. There are huge obstacles, however, for Lauren is promised to another, and her sense of honor and duty to her clan and absent fiancé compel her to deny her feelings for Arion. Their sacrifices may be for naught, for someone Lauren trusts schemes to betray her, and both she and Arion may die if they don't find a way to meld the forces of Scot and English against the powerful traitor.
This is an intense novel with a heroic hero willing to give his life and all he owns for the love of one woman. What's unusual is that Shana Abé has created a heroine who matches the hero not only in honor and inner strength, but also in her power and control as leader of her clan. The setting of a wild, unsophisticated island off the coast of Scotland is vivid, the secondary characters interesting, and the villain chilling in his betrayal. Intimate Enemies is classic historical romance at its best. --Lois Faye Dyer
i enjoyed this book. it was touching (get a hankie!), exciting, and passionate. i liked the main characters, particularly the heroine; she's a fighter, honorable and feisty.
Setting: Scotland, 1177
Beautiful Scotswoman Lauren MacRae first met the Englishman Arion du Morgan as a child, when he saved her life. Years later, they meet again as adults when she repays the debt by saving his life during battle with a common enemy, the Vikings. Their families have always been fierce enemies, each claiming ownership of the Isle of Shot. As leader of Clan MacRae, Lauren risks the anger of her clan when she accepts Arion's proposal to join forces in a desperate attempt to save the island from being conquered by the Northmen. The uneasy alliance forces them into each other's company, and Lauren and Arion find themselves falling in love. There are huge obstacles, however, for Lauren is promised to another, and her sense of honor and duty to her clan and absent fiancé compel her to deny her feelings for Arion. Their sacrifices may be for naught, for someone Lauren trusts schemes to betray her, and both she and Arion may die if they don't find a way to meld the forces of Scot and English against the powerful traitor.
This is an intense novel with a heroic hero willing to give his life and all he owns for the love of one woman. What's unusual is that Shana Abé has created a heroine who matches the hero not only in honor and inner strength, but also in her power and control as leader of her clan. The setting of a wild, unsophisticated island off the coast of Scotland is vivid, the secondary characters interesting, and the villain chilling in his betrayal. Intimate Enemies is classic historical romance at its best. --Lois Faye Dyer
i enjoyed this book. it was touching (get a hankie!), exciting, and passionate. i liked the main characters, particularly the heroine; she's a fighter, honorable and feisty.
Laura MacRae is now the head of her Clan, since death of her father, and her cousin the new laird lies in a coma. It is up to her to defend her island from the Viking menace, to keep the Northmen from taking the island home. But that is not the only troubles she faces. Her island is shared with the hated English, lead by Arion du Morgan. Togther neither force can withstand the Viking threat, but united they can hold it off. But how can they keep the people that have been at war with each other for generations.
Once when they were children, he saved Lauren from the clutches of his wicked uncle who had kidnapped her and likely would have killed her to gain control of the island.
Now Lauren must fight the Viking, face a marriage of alliance she does not want, the condemnation of the women and men of her clan, and the passion she finds in her for Arion.
Once when they were children, he saved Lauren from the clutches of his wicked uncle who had kidnapped her and likely would have killed her to gain control of the island.
Now Lauren must fight the Viking, face a marriage of alliance she does not want, the condemnation of the women and men of her clan, and the passion she finds in her for Arion.
Historical Romance set on the Isle of Shot. Love blossoms between an English Lord and a Scottish lass whose families were longtime enemies. A heartwarming and well written story.
Well written, thoroughly enjoyable read. Another good book by Shana Abe.
Laura MacRae is now the head of her Clan, since death of her father, and her cousin the new laird lies in a coma. It is up to her to defend her island from the Viking menace, to keep the Northmen from taking the island home. But that is not the only troubles she faces. Her island is shared with the hated English, lead by Arion du Morgan. Togther neither force can withstand the Viking threat, but united they can hold it off. But how can they keep the people that have been at war with each other for generations.
Once when they were children, he saved Lauren from the clutches of his wicked uncle who had kidnapped her and likely would have killed her to gain control of the island.
Now Lauren must fight the Viking, face a marriage of alliance she does not want, the condemnation of the women and men of her clan, and the passion she finds in her for Arion.
Once when they were children, he saved Lauren from the clutches of his wicked uncle who had kidnapped her and likely would have killed her to gain control of the island.
Now Lauren must fight the Viking, face a marriage of alliance she does not want, the condemnation of the women and men of her clan, and the passion she finds in her for Arion.
I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did -- one of the best historical romances I ever read. I couldn't put this book down and I never wanted it to end. The characters were fantastic, the story engrossing, and the romance between the characters was truly touching. It was a delight to read from cover to cover, and this book has permanent keeper status!!!!!
I don't really care for historical romances but this one was ok. I do like Shana Abe books.
When the scottish laird of Clan MacRae is killed, it falls to his daughter, the beatiful Lauren MacRae, to defend her beloved Isle of Shot-long divided between the Scottish and English-from the approaching Viking hoards. Though she is a skilled warrior and no stranger to the battlefield, Lauren cannot succeed alone...
Lauren has no choice but to turn to her enemy, the English overlord Arion du Morgan, for help. Recovering from battle on the Scottish side of the Island, Arion finds himself drawn to Lauren. And so begins an uneasy alliance that will blossom into a love with the power to unite two nations.
Great read!
Lauren has no choice but to turn to her enemy, the English overlord Arion du Morgan, for help. Recovering from battle on the Scottish side of the Island, Arion finds himself drawn to Lauren. And so begins an uneasy alliance that will blossom into a love with the power to unite two nations.
Great read!
From the back cover...
Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven-hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him-as he awakens withing her a wayward desire...
Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England-and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a torturous fate. Now the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything-even his very life-to claim what is his.
Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven-hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him-as he awakens withing her a wayward desire...
Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England-and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a torturous fate. Now the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything-even his very life-to claim what is his.
I read this awhile back and don't remember much. I never read much romance so I didn't get into it too much. Enjoy!
