Lady Evelyn’s Highland Protector by Tara Kingston
About the Book:
A
Highlander’s vow...Scottish spy Gerard MacMasters never expected to be
playing bodyguard in his mission to catch a killer. Stunning English
beauty, Lady Evelyn Hunt, has witnessed a merciless assassin’s
escape—now, she’s in danger, and it’s up to him to keep her alive. Yet,
he is drawn to the tempting woman. Passion flares, but he knows better
than to fall for her. He’s already lost one woman he loved—never again
will he put his heart on the line.
She shields her
heart...After a crushing betrayal at the altar, Lady Evelyn wants
nothing to do with love. Kissing a gorgeous rogue is one thing, but
surrendering her heart is another matter. When she stumbles upon a
mysterious crime, nothing prepares her for the dashing Scot who charges
into her life. The hot-blooded Highlander may be her hero—or her
undoing.
Purchase Link:
https://entangledpublishing.com/lady-evelyn-s-highland-protector.html
About the Author:
Award-winning
author Tara Kingston writes historical romance laced with intrigue,
danger, and adventures of the heart. A Southern-belle-out-of-water in a
quaint Pennsylvania town, she lives her own happily-ever-after in a cozy
Victorian with her real-life hero and a pair of deceptively
innocent-looking kitties. The mother of two sons, Tara’s a former
librarian who first discovered her love of the romance genre when she
sneaked more than a peek at her mother’s old-school romance paperbacks.
When she’s not writing, reading, or burning dinner, Tara enjoys movie
nights, traveling, cycling, hiking, DIY projects, quality time with her
family, and cheering on her favorite football team.
Book Excerpt:
Inverness, Scotland
June, 1891
Truth
be told, Lady Evelyn Hunt rather enjoyed being a fallen woman. While
others might well wring their hands over such a dizzying tumble from
grace, she’d discovered an unexpected benefit of scandal—the invisible
scarlet letter she wore was the key to her independence. After all, with
no good name to protect, she had nothing to lose.
As her
traveling companions gushed over the wares in a milliner’s cramped and
cluttered shop, she debated whether to put that freedom to good use and
make her escape. She’d endured the noisy, pungent train ride from London
to the Highlands with nary a whisper of complaint. After all, it wasn’t
every day one embarks on a journey to stand as a bridesmaid while her
dearest friend weds a dashing Scotsman. She would not have missed
Sally’s wedding, not for all the quiet chambers in the world. But now,
as the walls closed in and her friends’ voices blurred, she eyed the
door with a keen longing.
Fanning herself with one hand, she
pulled in a gulp of air, deep as her corset allowed. Drat, she should’ve
loosened the stays. A fashionable silhouette was desirable, but then
again, so was the ability to inhale.
Her pulse hammered a defiant
beat against her eardrums. What harm would there be in leaving this
little shop, if only for a few minutes? It wasn’t as if she required a
chaperone. With her reputation damaged well beyond repair, she was free
to explore the city without benefit of an escort. On the other hand, her
dignity would suffer a devastating blow if she collapsed in an
incoherent heap on the milliner’s floor.
Edging past the
hatmaker’s dour-faced assistant, Evelyn slipped out the door. Relief
rushed in. Fresh calm filled her. Free of the crush and the relentless
chatter, she could once again focus her thoughts. She could breathe.
A shadow fell over her.
Strong, warm hands settled over her shoulders.
She gasped.
A stranger towered over her. A handsome man, dark-haired and broad-shouldered.
“Unhand me, sir.”
His hands fell away. A hint of a smile danced on his full mouth. “Is the devil nippin’ at yer heels, lass?”
Good
heavens. In her rush to take her leave of the shop, she’d nearly
collided with the fellow, hadn’t she? So much for avoiding damage to her
dignity.
She was tall, too long-limbed to fit the feminine ideal,
but she had to cock her chin to meet his intent golden-brown eyes. “My
apologies.”
“’Tis no harm done.” A lock of dark hair dipped over
his forehead, and he shoved it away. “Do take care. The next man ye run
into might take advantage of the opportunity to find a lovely lass in
his arms.”
The man certainly had cheek, didn’t he? A reply sprang
to her lips, hovering there unspoken as his hint of a smile gave way to a
ridiculously appealing grin.
Review:
5 Stars
Evelyn has been humiliated and left at the alter by her former fiancé. After this she has settled in that she will never marry and goes to enjoy a independent life. Evelyn goes to Scotland to be a bridesmaid in her friends wedding. During an outing she wonders into a books store where she find an older man dying. Before she went to get help he gave her clues and a playing card. Gerard is a spy on the hunter for a killer. Gerard is to keep and eye on Evelyn since she is now a witness to the killing.
Really exciting story!
Highland Redemption by Lori Ann Bailey
About the Book:
While
spying for Clan Cameron, Brodie Cameron rescues a lass, only to realize
it’s Skye—the woman who’d broken his heart. He needs to get her to her
uncle as quickly as possible to keep her safe, but every minute he’s
distracted from his mission brings the clans that much closer to war.
And having beautiful Skye anywhere near him is dangerous, because the
price on his head is higher than the one on hers.
Upon being
rescued from kidnappers, Skye finds herself staring into the eyes of the
man she once loved—Brodie Cameron. She’s grateful to be freed, but has
no idea how she’ll resist the lad who has become a braw man. Especially
because she’s promised to another, in a political marriage forged to
strengthen the Royalist clans against the Covenanters who plot to turn
Scotland upside down.
Purchase Link:
https://entangledpublishing.com/highland-redemption.html
About the Author:
Winner
of the National Readers’ Choice Award and Holt Medallion for Best First
Book and Best Historical, Lori Ann Bailey writes hunky highland heroes
and strong-willed independent lasses finding their perfect matches in
the Highlands of 17th century Scotland. Writing about the people and
places playing in her head helps her live out her dreams and delve into
her love of history and romance. When not writing, Lori enjoys time with
her real life hero and four kids or spending time walking or drinking
wine with her friends.
Visit Lori at www.loriannbailey.com. Or, follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lori.Ann.Bailey.author
Book Excerpt:
Skye’s heart had clenched at the all-too-familiar thick Highland burr of the man who’d jumped into the back of the wagon.
Nae. It couldn’t be—it was the terror of being abducted by strangers playing tricks on her.
A
broad shouldered man leaned closer and she let go of the breath she
held, because she didn’t recognize the form. These shoulders were much
wider and the girth was almost twice what she remembered from the man of
her youth. Hoping to hide, she sank back into the depths of the cart,
her entire body stiffening and her heartbeat increasing, pounding in her
chest.
But then he reached for her, and a beam of moonlight hit
his face. The intruder gave her the smile that had once brought her to
her knees, the one she had spent her whole childhood trying to put on
his face. Now, the sight only brought her pain.
She had spent the
last five years of her life trying to forget that smile, trying to shake
the memory of him, trying to become a whole person again. With that one
cocksure smirk, he had just shredded all of her efforts, and damn him,
she wanted to reach out and feel that he was real, that this was not one
of those dreams she would wake from and he’d be gone, leaving her alone
yet again.
Many times, he’d visited her at night in her
fantasies, saving her from imaginary foes and then professing his
undying love, promising to never leave her side again. In the delirious
haze of sleep, she always forgave him, but this didn’t feel like a
dream.
I’m an imbecile.
She had to remind herself
she hated this man. He’d promised her the moon, made her dare to believe
they could have the perfect life together. A home, a family, and love.
Then
he had taken it all away. He had carelessly tossed her aside and left
her with a gaping hole, a void that could never be filled. She had given
her heart to him, and he had trampled all over it.
Review:
5 Stars
Brodie and Skye were once childhood friends but a slight misunderstand pulled them apart. Brodie loved Skye but doesn't think he is good enough for her and when a chance to better himself comes up he takes it. Skye also loves Brodie but he up and left her when she was going through a really hard period in her life. When Brodie had come back from a mission he was on he learned that Skye's father died and that she was gone. Now some years later she is saved by Brodie...bring him into her life again. But they both are in danger...and not just in fallen in love again.
The Maiden’s Defender by E. Elizabeth Watson
About the Book:
Training
men to be ruthless soldiers is a skill at which Highlander Teàrlach
MacGregor excels. He can kill three men with nothing but a sword and a
couple of daggers. After he rescues a ward of the king, the beautiful
Lady Madeline Crawford, the fierce warrior begins to yearn for a cottage
of his own in the Highlands, with the sweet, delicate Madeline as the
mother of his bairns.
Madeline begins to see a side of
Teàrlach that nobody else has witnessed. The strong silent Highlander
takes her to her first fair, teaches her to read, and bestows upon her a
passionate kiss—her very first. But Madeline is informed that she is
betrothed to another with the blessing of the king, making her and
Teàrlach’s love forbidden.
Teàrlach, the famed fighter,
vows to make Madeline his even if that means bringing down her corrupt
warden, and Madeline knows that she must defy the king if she hopes to
claim her Highlander.
Purchase Link:
https://entangledpublishing.com/the-maiden-s-defender.html
About the Author:
I
write medieval Scottish and English romance. I'm excited to announce my
first two books with Entangled Publishing will be published in July and
November, 2017, entitled An Earl for the Archeress, and Maiden's
Defender. In 2016, my book, Prince of Lions, was a top 100 download on
Amazon in the categories of Scottish and Medieval historical romance. In
2014, my unpublished manuscript entitled Two Brides for Ewan de Buchan
received a Second Prize as a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough
Novel Award contest, and currently the book is being pushed towards
publication.
I have four sons. Yes. Four. We have a sweet
yellow lab, a bobtail cat, a parakeet, and two Californian rabbits, and
my family and I enjoy traveling whenever the opportunity and resources
allow it. Though explorers at heart, we live on a wooded mountainside in
West Virginia and hike whenever possible. We have moved about the
United States and even the United Kingdom, where my love of historical
romance was born. How could it not?
Book Excerpt:
Anno Domini 1192. April
The
spring insects buzzed peaceably, and the evening sun promised a glowing
sunset. Madeline Crawford had watched many sunsets, hoping that the
warm rays would heal her broken heart. Aye, her heart was finally
healing, because in this moment, she could breathe in and out and
appreciate the beauty without the sadness that had plagued her for so
long, threatening to kill her simple joy. In this moment, she felt
content. The first time she had felt so in many months. She looked down,
smiled, and adjusted a blanket, then picked up her book of
Aesop’s Fables again and continued reading.
“And
so, the wise astrologer walked, gazing upward at the heavens”—how she
also enjoyed looking at the night sky and contemplating the patterns of
stars—“only to then fall into a well. The townsfolk gathered around him,
hearing his calls of distress, only then to scold him. ‘Wise
astrologer,’ they said. ‘Whilst you were staring upward at the sky,
trying to divinate the meaning of the stars, you failed to see the very
things here on earth that surround you…’”
The very earth beneath
her began to rumble as she finished the sentence. Madeline paused. The
guardsmen on the wall were clattering down the walk, their arms clanking
and chain mail jingling. She looked out through the open gates, down
the meandering path that led along the valley between the hills.
The
beating of horse hooves was growing stronger, as if the army of England
were descending upon her simple stone tower to raze her home. She saw
two horsemen barreling down the road toward her, both dark haired. The
one in the back, as wild as the Highlands from which he had come, wore
his MacGregor great kilt proudly. The horseman in front wore a dirty
Irish
leine, the white of it having seen brighter days, with
boots lacing up his legs. His hair was shaggy, longer, his beard
unmanaged. Over his shoulder was a haphazardly pleated plaid, the same
color as the other man’s tartan.
Madeline snatched up her bundle
of blankets, allowing the book to tumble from her hands and splay open
in the dirt. Two of her servants, Fingal and the young lass Joselyn,
raced for the door of the tower to hustle Madeline within.
Yet a
wary tingling was coursing through her blood. She knew the man
propelling toward her gate. It didn’t seem real, didn’t seem possible.
It couldn’t be him. After all this time. After so many months, after she
had finally resigned herself to accept Rabbie MacGregor’s marriage
offer. After she had given up hope that
this man would ever return. It had to be a marauder, intent on rape and pillage.
It couldn’t be
him.
“Madeline!”
the man called in a voice with a rich timbre, galloping through the
wooden gates and pulling back on the reins of his mount. “Madeline,
stop!”
She whirled around in the doorway and finally saw him as he
threw himself from the saddle. The sight was a shock. She froze. It was
him. It was Teàrlach MacGregor, in the flesh, in an Irish
leine
and boots, as if he were the fabled Fionn incarnated. His hair had
always been shaggy, but he could tie it back now, if he wanted. She
remembered so vividly the feel of his curls as her fingers laced through
them, combing them in gentle pets as he lay upon her breast by the
nighttime campfire surrounded by insect cadences and silence. Her heart
ached anew.
Review:
5 Stars
Teàrlach once was Madeline's father guardsman so he has met Madeline before and had feelings for her. But when her father was sent to prison for some evil doings the King places Madeline in the care of lair Henry de Moreville. This lair place her in a small place on his property with two elderly people to look after her. But even those elderly people are doing her wrong and Madeline doesn't complain due to her abusive up bringing by her father. When Teàrlach meets up with Madeline again he still wants to help and protect her. But Madeline being noble puts her out of Teàrlach reach...but it doesn't stop their growing love.
I so loved this story! I couldn't put it down!
The Lady and Mr. Jones by Alyssa Alexander
About the Book:
Born
in the rookeries, the hard life is something Jones is all too familiar
with. Saved as a young boy, he was trained to be a spy, one of the
best--elite, in fact. He now spends his days serving His Majesty in
espionage, hunting rogue spies. His latest assignment, though, has him
tracking a fellow spy…
Cat Ashdown is a baroness. Nothing is
more important than protecting five hundred years of heritage. She knows
every detail of every estate that commands the largest income in
Britain— yet her father placed her inheritance in trust to her uncle who
is forcing her to marry a man she has no desire for. The baroness’s
battle against law and convention leads her to Jones and results that
are surprising … and possibly unwanted.
Purchase Link:
https://entangledpublishing.com/the-lady-and-mr-jones.html
About the Author:
Alyssa
Alexander is an award-winning author who survives the cold Michigan
winters by penning romance novels that always include a bit of
adventure. Her debut release received 4.5 Stars & Top Pick by
Romantic Times, was nominated for the RT 2014 Best First Historical and
the 2015 Best First Book RITA. She’s been called a “talented newcomer”
and “a rising star you won’t want to miss.” Alyssa lives with her own
set of heroes, aka an ever-patient husband and a small boy who wears a
knight in a shining armor costume for such tasks as scrubbing potatoes.
Book Excerpt:
Spring 1819
Jones
rubbed a thumb along the faint line running the length of the pistol’s
barrel. He couldn’t remember now the origin of the scratch, but he had
never been able to polish it out to his satisfaction.
Nevertheless, he tried. A man took care of his weapons.
There
was very little light in the hidden nook of his commander’s office.
Curtains blocked the candlelight from the main room, so it fell just shy
of the flintlock pistol. But Jones needed no light for this work, as he
knew the feel and shape of the weapon, every ridge in the wood, every
curve of the iron. Still, bringing out the small, soft linen square he
kept in his pocket, he began the meticulous process of rubbing the iron
and wood.
And he listened to the conversation occurring beyond the secret alcove he had been assigned to.
“The
Flower is no longer yours to command, Lord Wycomb. Nor has she been
this last half year.” Sir Charles Flint spoke carefully to the man
standing on the other side of his desk. The light was bright near the
two of them, from the fire and the windows and the candles. It shone on
the broad, barrel chest of Sir Charles and the lean, elegantly clothed
agent challenging him. “The Flower is now under my direct command.”
Ah.
They were discussing Vivienne La Fleur, the opera dancer who had
captivated London between visits to France and breaking into the homes
of the
ton at Wycomb’s direction. She excelled at thievery,
with her quick fingers and elegant grace. She was also damned good at
lock-picking, as her new husband, Maximilian Westwood, had become aware.
But Henry Taylor, Lord Wycomb—the bastard—had mistreated her and lost Sir Charles’s good will.
And Jones’s respect.
“I
trained her.” Lord Wycomb’s voice was as cool and careful as the
spymaster’s behind the desk. “I found her in the rookeries as a child,
trained her for espionage, and commanded her assignments for a decade.
She
is my agent.”
From his hiding place, Jones glanced at
Wycomb’s back, at the set of his shoulders and angle of his head. Jones
couldn’t see his face from this vantage point, but there did not seem
to be any sign of untoward anger.
Jones refolded the linen square and began to polish his pistol anew, focusing on that single scratch he could not smooth out.
“The Flower
was your
agent. I have reassigned her. Again, I now control her missions,” Sir
Charles answered. There was no hint of his anger at Wycomb’s treatment
of the Flower—but Jones knew, if Wycomb did not. Jones had seen Sir
Charles months ago in this very office, had witnessed the mingled fury
and pity. “Why is it that you require her expertise?”
“An assignment that is not under your command,
Sir Charles.” Haughtiness. Presumption. Precedence. All echoed in the room.
From
his hiding place, Jones narrowed his eyes. A man didn’t disrespect his
superior officer, regardless of social titles. Tempted to stand and
reveal his presence, Jones flattened his hand over the pistol to steady
himself. He had his own assignment, and allowing his irritation free
rein was not it.
Review:
5 Stars
Jones had a hard childhood until he was taken to be a trained as a spy and he has become one of the best...but he hasn't forgotten where he came from. Jones is working a case on another spy, which leads him to save Cat.
Mary Elizabeth Frances Catherine Ashdown 13th Baroness of Worthington 'Cat' has a life of privileged until her father leaves her inheritance in trust to her uncle. Her uncle plans to marry her off to someone she does not want to marry. Cat is out to protect her heritage and to prevent this marriage. '
This was an exciting story line with spies, mystery and love that is meant to be. I so enjoyed their story!!!
Tying the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey
About the book:
At
age eleven, Alex Sinclair pledges an oath to the Duke of Chatham
promising to serve and protect his illegitimate daughter, Lucy
FitzHarris. Nine years later, the duke unexpectedly takes Alex up on his
vow, offering the future Laird of Balforss his daughter’s hand in
marriage.
Now a man, hotheaded Alex has difficulty convincing
Lucy—who would rather starve to death than marry a vulgar Scot—to go
through with the arranged marriage. Once Lucy arrives in Scotland, she
cannot resist the magic of Balforss or the allure of her handsome
Highland warrior. But when Alex seemingly betrays Lucy right before
their wedding, she is tricked into running away. Alex must rein in his
temper to rescue his lady from unforeseen danger and Lucy must swallow
her pride if she hopes to wed the Highlander she has come to love.
Purchase Link:
https://entangledpublishing.com/tying-the-scot.html
About the Author:
Jennifer
Trethewey is an actor-turned-writer who has moved her performances from
the stage to the page. In 2013 she traveled to Scotland for the first
time, where she instantly fell for the language, humor, intense sense of
pride, and breathtaking landscape. Her love for Scotland was translated
into her first series of historical romance novels, the Highlanders of
Balforss. The sexy, adventurous first book of the series, TYING THE
SCOT, is set to be released in November 2017. Trethewey’s primary
experience in bringing the imaginary to life was working for one of the
oldest women’s theaters in the nation, where she was the co-founder and
co-artistic director. Today she continues to act, but writes
contemporary and historical fiction full-time. Her other loves include
dogs, movies, music and good wine. She lives in Milwaukee with her
husband.
Book Excerpt:
Without warning,
Hercules hopped onto the cook’s lap, causing her to let out a whoop. He
tickled her chin with dog kisses. Alex had never heard Mrs. Swenson
giggle before.
“Do you want someone to feed you, my wee mannie?”
she said, talking to him like he was a baby. She picked up the bowl and
hand-fed the bits of meat to Hercules. He chewed and swallowed, all the
while gazing adoringly at the cook.
“Looks like you have a new friend,” Alex said.
Mrs. Swenson feigned irritation with him. “Och, take a cake and be gone with you.”
He
plucked a small raisin cake from a mound of baked goods, kissed her
again, and crammed the entire thing into his mouth. On the way back to
the house, he encountered Lucy. She had removed her bonnet and jacket as
well as the lacy piece of clothing that covered her shoulders and
chest. Some of her curly black locks of hair had come unpinned and
bounced around on the swells of her breasts, leaving him spellbound.
“Where's Hercules?” she asked, as though accusing him of losing her dog. “I have been looking all over for him.”
Mouth
still filled with cake, he struggled to swallow, but only succeeded in
choking. Pointing at the kitchen door, Alex watched Lucy march off in a
huff. At last, he swallowed a mass of cake the size of a crabapple, and
wiped his mouth. He remained in the middle of the yard, waiting, half
expecting to hear Mrs. Swenson and Lucy break into an argument over the
dog. To his relief, Lucy exited the kitchen with Hercules and the cook,
both women laughing. Mrs. Swenson pointed to the sky and Lucy nodded.
Warning Lucy about the hawk?
She crossed the yard, smiling. The
smile disappeared, however, when she met his eyes. She swept past him
without a word, nose in the air. Some inexplicable force compelled him
to follow her.
Review:
5 Stars
When Alex and Lucy were young Alex stepped in to take up for Lucy when her brother took a toy. Alex had told her father that he would protect Lucy. Lucy is the illegitimate daughter to the Duke of Chatham. Now years later Lucy hoped to marry her brother's friend but that isn't going to happen. Alex too is feel the sting of rejections, so when the Duke ask him to marry his daughter Lucy he agrees. When Lucy gives in she decided to head to Scotland to meet with him. When Alex and his men meet up with her, he doesn't disclose who he is..wanting to get to know her first.
A misunderstand comes between them that does lead to some danger.
I am so in love with this story! I can't wait to read more books from Ms. Trethewey !!
