The Highlander’s
Tempestuous Bride
What happens
when the sixteen-year-old daughter of the laird, destined to dutifully marry to
benefit the clan, falls in love with the wrong lad? In Medieval times,
punishments ranged from forced marriage to the man chosen by the laird, to
imprisonment, life in a nunnery, or even death.
Gilda does not
set out to defy her parents, but when she falls in love with the son of the
laird of a neighboring clan that has been at war with hers for years, things
are bound to go wrong.
Blurb:
Returning
home after a ten-year absence, Ryan Macraig falls for a fiery, red-haired lass
from the wrong side of the firth. He can’t ignore his need to see her again,
even knowing she must be a hated Macrory.
Gilda
Macrory trespasses Macraig land, but haunting memories of the young man she
once met there draw her to the forbidden place. Learning he is Laird Macraig’s
son threatens her dreams, for her father would never agree to a marriage
between his daughter and their enemy’s son.
With
pirates raiding the coast, bad blood between the Macraig and Macrory clans
could cost Ryan and Gilda their love—and their lives.
*
* *
Excerpt:
“Are ye sure . . .” A quick stride took him
back to her side.
Gilda jerked the knot at her waist and the
skirt fell free, but not before Ryan got a glimpse of slender ankles. She settled
an arch look on him and it was all he could do to keep from laughing at the
regal air she portrayed.
“I am fine. I am also certain I will not meet
ye here again?” Though couched as a question, her tone indicated she’d rather
see anyone other than him the next time she ventured out to pick berries.
Ryan shrugged. “I think the berries are about
finished for the year. Mayhap the Macraig cook will send a lad out to pick the
rest. We like sweets like jams and pastries at Ard Castle,
too, ye know.”
“Goodness knows the men at Ard Castle
need sweetening,” Gilda shot back, her cheeks pinking as she clearly regretted
her quick retort.
“A kiss from a pretty lass would help sweeten
this Macraig’s disposition.” Ryan marveled at the swirling colors changing
Gilda’s eyes from silver to stormy gray.
Though a well-trained young warrior, Ryan was
not quick enough to dodge the palm of Gilda’s hand as it made stinging contact
with his cheek. He rubbed his jaw ruefully. He should have remembered though
the lass had fascinating gray eyes, she also possessed fiery red hair and a
temper to match.
He opened his mouth to apologize, but Gilda had
already spun,
her back ramrod straight as she marched away, the handle of her basket gripped
tight in one hand. The other hand clenched and opened, possibly to relieve the
answering sting he felt on his cheek, perhaps echoing a desire to encircle his
neck.
Ryan grinned. He would have regretted the
apology, anyway.
* * *
Here's a trailer that includes all the covers of the books in the tour: