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Book Review By Katrina Lo
Mackenzie's Pleasure by Linda Howard

Navy SEAL Zane Mackenzie is assigned to rescue Barrie Lovejoy, an ambassador's daughter, who is being held hostage at Libya by an unknown enemy of the ambassador. When he gets to where the enemies are keeping Barrie, he is surprised that even being abducted for days already, she still has the courage to fight off any threat. She bravely follows Zane escaping the hideout even though tired and in pain. During their escape, Barrie confesses to Zane what the enemies' boss is going to do with her. And she daringly asks Zane to make love to her since she doesn't want her first time to be a rape with some nameless stranger. With Zane, Barrie trusts him implicitly. Zane agrees to make love to her. Little did he know that he has started to fall in love with her. When their time to go into the escape boat arrives, shooting begins and although they have escaped successfully, Zane has been wounded. During the flight back home to America, Barrie is prevented from seeing or contacting Zane. Zane is shipped off to another place to be treated. Barrie's father is happy to have his daughter safe. He protects and shields her by preventing her to be reminded of her traumatic experience. He bars her from even contacting Zane. After 3 months, Barrie is frustrated of her father's protectiveness. She eventually finds out that her father is involved in a dangerous activity and he won't confide in her. She decides to leave home and find Zane, the only man who can protect her and their unborn child.
Zane Mackenzie has recuperated enough after 3 months. He has accepted a job to be sheriff in Arizona instead of returning back to the navy. He still can't forget Barrie and he knows for sure that she is pregnant with his baby. He has tried to contact her but the ambassador is evasive and won't let him get through to Barrie. So he goes to Barrie's home and finds her just about to leave to go looking for him. He asks her if she's pregnant and she confirms it. He takes her away and both of them get married. She tells her that her life is still in danger and Zane does his best to protect her. Barrie knows that she loves Zane and she tells him so. But Zane still won't acknowledge what he feels for her. When the threat finally appears, the enemy gets past Zane and to Barrie. Zane is frantic to get to Barrie. He finally realizes that he loves her and is afraid that he will be too late to save her and tell her.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action:
If one lover chases another... - he chases after her
Children/Pregnancy Yes
Children/Pregnancy: - Get accidently pregnant

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Unusual characteristics?

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Unusual characteristics:

Setting
United States Yes
Desert? Yes
Desert: - hostile arabs
City? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - nearly 100%
Focus of story - Her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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