"The sequel to SWEET RELEASE"

As much as I enjoyed Pamela Clare's first book SWEET RELEASE, when I received her second book, CARNAL GIFT, which is the sequel to SWEET RELEASE, I was eager to jump right in. I'm delighted to say that CARNAL GIFT was as good as SWEET RELEASE and was very much anticipated!

This book gives us Jamie Blackwell's story. Jamie is all grown up now and in England on business for his brother-in-law Alec. He's visiting with his old friend Sheff but Sheff has changed and not for the better. While on a hunt on Sheff's lands in Ireland, they come upon a funeral being held for a baby. Sheff irrationally blows up because they've interrupted the hunt. Jamie does his best to diffuse the situation and though he doesn't want to Sheff does back down but Jamie doesn't know that this is not the end of this entire situation.

The next night the beautiful young girl who was at the funeral and who caught Jamie's eye, is left in his bedroom as a 'carnal gift' for Jamie. She's untouched and is terrified. Her name is Brighid Ni Maelsechnaill and Jamie vows that he will get her and her family out of Sheff's clutches if it's the last thing he does.

As he tries to help Brighid escape, her brother stabs him so now it's up to Brighid and her unwilling brothers to save his life but at what cost? Jamie is Protestant and Brighid is Catholic so it's against the English law for them to consort much less marry. They find themselves in a very interesting situation, indeed.

Pamela Clare's books are just a joy to read. I enjoy each and every page and eagerly look forward to more of her work. It is my sincere hope that she gives me many more hours of enjoyable reading.

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted March 23, 2004

Summary

Her body and her virginity are to be offered up to a stranger in exchange for her brother's life. Possessing nothing but her innocence and her fierce Irish pride, Brighid's has no choice but to comply.

But the handsome man she faces in the darkened bedchamber is not at all the monster she expected. His tender touch calms her fears while he swears he will protect her by merely pretending to claim her. And as the long hours of the night pass by, as her senses ignite at the heat of their naked flesh, she makes a startling discovery: Sometimes the line between hate and love can be dangerously thin.