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If You Dare (The MacCarrick Brothers, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Kresley Cole
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book
List Price: $4.99
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Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 63746
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 1416540946
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781416540946
ASIN: 1416540946
Publication Date: March 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: bent cover
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Product Description
With If You Dare, Cole introduces a thrilling new romance trilogy featuring fierce Scottish brothers with dangerous lives, dark desires, and a deadly curse.Can he exact revenge? High in the Pyrenees, a band of mercenaries led by Courtland MacCarrick wages war for General Reynaldo Pascal. When Court turns on the evil general, Pascal orders him killed but Court narrowly escapes and exacts revenge by kidnapping Pascal's exquisite Castilian fiancée.
Can she deny her passions?Lady Annalía Tristán Llorente despises her towering, barbaric captor almost as much as she does Pascal. Her inexplicable attraction to the Highlander only fuels her fury. But nothing will stop her from returning to Pascal -- for if she doesn't wed him, she signs her brother's death warrant, as well as her own. Can there be love between them?From the moment Court discovers that Anna's prim façade masks a fiery, brave lass, his heart's ensnared, and he dares to defy the curse that has shadowed his life -- to walk with death or walk alone. But Pascal vows that he'll hunt the two, never stopping until he's destroyed them both.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 A New Location...A New Series... April 16, 2005
Kristi Ahlers (Illinois)
52 out of 65 found this review helpful
Ms. Cole has taken a different direction for her third effort and as a result we've left the high seas, and this book is set in the country of Andorra. This was fun as not many books are set in this small country and the history that it has is not only unique but interesting.
Annalia is a strong woman that has much to loose. Her small country has been put right in the middle of a military conflict and her family lines have made her a political pawn. Her brother is being held by her enemy Pascal. Pascal wants to rule and he knows that his claim will be made all that more strong if he marries Annalia since she is a descendant to the Castilian line of Spain. Annalia wants to live a quite life and is concerned about the fate of her brother. One day on the way home from a walk she happens upon a beaten man. Recognizing him as a Scot she takes the chance and brings home the severely injured man. If he turns out to be the mercenary she thinks he is...she will simply kill him herself if he brings harm to her small holding in any way shape or form. What she doesn't know is that Pascal has turned on Court and he will do all that he can to prevent him from succeeding in his quest.
Court MacCarrick's family has been cursed. He has turned to the work of mercenary in order to fill his coffers. When Pascal orders him killed he does the only thing he can in order to survive. He jumps to his "death" into a river. Washed downstream he is saved by an "angel" only this angel has a sharp tongue and seems to be a bit of a shrew. Still this does nothing to tame the attraction that burns between them despite how badly Annalia would like to believe otherwise. The devil in Court though will not give quarter to the beautiful sharp tongued Annalia and he drives her to lengths that he can't understand in order to save her brother from the evil Pascal. Court takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps Annalia before she can sacrifice herself to Pascal in marriage hoping to gain the release of her brother. Together these two people work towards the same end, protecting Annalia and her brother while at the same time bringing an end to Pascal and his evil ways. Will Court and Annalia be able to bring an end to Pascal and will they accept their attraction or will pride stand in the way?
This was a good read that was kept from being great due to our main characters. I had problems with Annalia and her attitude throughout the read. Although she is a strong character she rubbed this reader wrong. Her actions at times seemed more petulant and spoiled than well thought out. Prejudice kept her from seeing Court in any true light. Court on the other hand at times was no better. He would bait Annalia which in turn kept the spiteful behavior going. I had to put this book down several times due to sheer frustration. Still it was fun to read a book set in a location that for the most part is overlooked in historical romance fiction. For that alone I give Ms. Cole high marks for "thinking outside the box" and using her creativity. In the end I admit to not really caring what happened to these two characters. Their stubborn nature took away from the romance of this read. Secondary characters are colorful and plentiful and help to deflect some of the ridiculous actions taken by Court and Annalia. Overall this is a fair read. Come to this book with an open mind and you the reader should do fine.
Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com
 Steamy and Sexy New Trilogy May 17, 2005
M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States)
42 out of 44 found this review helpful
Kresley Cole has once again taken this reader on another romantic adventure romp with the first book in a new trilogy featuring the three MacCarrick brothers. Three adventuresome and darkly dangerous Scottish brothers who live life on the edge since believing an age-old family curse that predicts that the family line would end with them.
Setting the first book in the principality of Andorra, 1856, in a startling and attention grabbing opening, Courtland MacCarrick, youngest of the three brothers, was discovering that hiring himself out as a mercenary for the very evil despot General Reynaldo Pascal was not a good thing! As Pascal was about to have Court's heart carved out of his body, Court opted to propel his bound body into the water and take his chances with the raging torrent below him.
Days later, on her morning ride, Lady Annalia Tristan Llorente discovered the half dead beat up body of Court, and realizing by the remnants of plaid that remained on his body that he was one of the despised Scots barbarians that had been hired by Pascal to subjugate the surrounding villagers she fought her initial feelings to leave him rot on the banks of the river. In spite of the fact that he was an enemy, kindness won over her fear, and she dragged Court to her home setting his broken bones and caring for his wounds. When Court regained consciousness, the battle lines were drawn as Annalia's scorn set the tone of their relationship insisting he leave. The beautiful, fiery and tantalizing Castilian aroused feelings in Court he'd long since thought he'd conquered and her feelings of superiority also raised his hackles so the fur certainly did fly! When Courtland realized that she was about to sacrifice herself to marry, his enemy Pascal in order to save her brother, Court kidnapped her, if only to save her from herself - or so he thought! The journey along the way proved to be a rollicking sensual adventure that gives new meaning to the word `steamy'!.
*** I thought this was a deliciously entertaining read that kept the sexual tension high; the adventure exciting; and culminated with a fabulous love story. Annalia and Court were really great together providing entertainment both when battling and definitely when loving. Court thought Anna petulant and spoiled; she thought of him as an ungentlemanly barbarian; definitely the ingredients for a lively romance. When Court finally discovered that Anna, the petite dainty beauty had courage, strengths and a passionate nature it brought out both the best in him as well as bringing him to his knees. The lively mixture of secondary characters, from Court's brothers, his crew of comrades, and Pascal's daughter Olivia, were all well-defined adding additional layers of depth to this very sexy romance. The dialogs, not only between the main protagonists but also between the numerous secondary characters were wonderful adding one more layer to this superb read! The only thing I must say I don't like is having to wait another year for Hugh's story, which judging by the sneak peak at the back of the book looks to be another fabulous read and a worthy addition to this newest trilogy which is going to end up on my keeper shelf! --- Marilyn, for www.historicalromancewriters.com
Great romance, hot passion, excellent story and best ending! June 21, 2006
KarLynP (Bay Area, CA USA)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
This book has it all! It has a very likable Hero and Heroine, great secondary characters, a tightly woven adventure story that is very fast paced, and sizzling HOT HOT romance scenes that are very passionate. Even the ending was the most satisfying ending I've read in a romance in a long, long time. Wow, GREAT book!! "If You Dare" is a great adventure story that unites two very different people into a deeply passionate romance. Though the romance takes time to build, by the time it does it becomes sizzling. Court (our hero) is a solid HE-MAN. There is nothing soft or wimpy about this guy. Love him!! Though all romance novels have the predicable "happily ever after" ending, this one makes it really hard to guess HOW they are going to make it. The dilemma they face is based on their love for each other, which just tugs at the heart. I am very impressed with Kresley Cole's writing. I now have all her other books on rush order so I can start devouring them this weekend.
Wonderful! April 25, 2005
EmmaLiz (Sugar Land, Texas United States)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
Draws you in on page one! I picked this up on a whim and found it to be fantastic!
I have not read much historical romance lately because they don't seem able to "grab me" anymore. So I have been sticking with contemporary. Nor do I usually write reviews. Hopefully, that is enough to indicate how much I enjoyed this book.
I would strongly recommend "If You Dare" and I will be looking for more by this author. Enjoy!
Sexy, sexy, sexy! April 19, 2005
V. Casey (New Orleans, LA)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
If You Dare was one of the best romances I've read in a long time. Court MacCarrick is sinfully sexy and Anna is not one of those nauseatingly perfect heroines I've been reading a lot lately. The sex scenes were sizzling!! Overall, I highly recommend it and can't wait for the next in the series.
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