I'm very excited to have author B.J. Scott with us today talking about her great Highland series. Before I let her take it away, I'll just mention that one extremely lucky commenter will win a copy of her new release, Highland Quest, so please don't forget to leave your email address with your comment. And do NOT miss the trailers. That's all I'll say!
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HIGHLAND
QUEST Book 2 of the Highlander Series.
Blurb:
No longer
content in the shadows of his older brothers, Bryce Fraser rejoins the fight
for Scottish independence, but arrives too late to inform his fellow patriots
of a surprise ambush. Seriously wounded and left for dead, Bryce awakens to
find Fallon MacCrery tending his wounds, a twist of fate that rekindles passion
and desire he’d vowed to forget.
Gifted with
second sight and having lost everyone she ever held dear, Fallon believes her
ability and her love are curses that if
pursued will mean Bryce’s demise. But when she learns the English army plans to
destroy the Bruce and his followers, she risks all to warn them, even her
heart.
Can their
unspoken love stand the test in a time of uncertainty and war, or will the
plans of their enemy, a traitorous laird from a rival clan keep them apart
forever?
Author Bio
With a passion for historical romance, history in general, and anything
Celtic, B.J. always has an exciting work in progress. Each story offers a blend
of romance, adventure, suspense, and, where appropriate, a dab of comic relief.
Carefully researched historical facts are woven into each manuscript, providing
a backdrop from which steamy romance, gripping plots, and vivid characters—dashing
alpha heroes and resourceful, beguiling heroines you can’t help but
admire—spring to life. A PAN member of RWA, World Romance Writers, Celtic
Hearts Romance Writers, and Savvy Authors, B.J. also writes contemporary,
paranormal, time travel, and romantic suspense.
C.S. Lewis first captivated B. J.’s imagination in the fourth grade, and
her desire to write sprang from there. Following a career in nursing and child
and youth work, B.J. married her knight-in-shining-armor, and he whisked her
away to his castle by the sea. In reality, they share their century-old home in
a small Canadian town on the shore of Lake Erie with four dogs and a cat. When
she is not working at her childcare job, on her small business, or writing, you
will find her reading, doing a variety of hand crafts, camping, or antique
hunting.
Excerpt
Loch Ryan
Scotland, 1307
“Wa . . .
water,” Bryce mumbled, but there was no one there to listen.
His throat was parched and he ran his tongue
over dry, cracked lips, but his action offered no relief. An entire loch lay
only a few feet away, but he couldn’t muster the strength to drag himself to
the bank and quench his thirst.
“Cold . .
. so cold.”
Despite the sun beating down on him, he’d
swear he was encased in ice. His life’s blood seeped from his wounds, soaking
the ground beneath him. He tried to raise his head, but the excruciating pain
radiating across his chest stole his breath away.
Was this
what it felt like to die? If so, he prayed the Almighty would be merciful and
take him now.
Bryce
moaned, a shift in his position bringing on another nauseating wave of agony.
He sucked in a short, sharp, gulp of air and stretched his arm out as
far as he could, his fingers grappling in the dirt.
If only I
could reach my sword.
Beads of
perspiration dampened his brow. As the strength slowly drained from his body,
drawing a simple breath became more difficult. The end grew near. No time to
make amends for sins of the past, and he had committed his share.
Regrets?
He had those, too. “Fallon.” He whispered her name then heaved a ragged sigh.
He could see her beautiful face, her soft, porcelain-like skin with just a
sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Raven tresses hanging loose in a riot
of curls down her back. Her petite, slender body had just the right curves to
drive a man wild with desire. Mysterious sapphire eyes that held him captive
and a heart-shaped mouth he’d never tire of kissing. If he had one wish before
he died, it would be to hold her in his arms one more time, to find himself nestled
between her thighs, making love until neither of them could take anymore.
But he’d
missed his chance when she left Fraser Castle after his brother’s wedding,
returning with her clan to their home in the borderlands. Determined not to
allow Fallon, or any woman, to breach the protective wall he’d built around his
heart, he’d let her go.
A restless
spirit, he longed for adventure. While he admired his two older brothers, he
was tired of living in their shadows. Alasdair had turned down the position of
Laird when their father and older brother were killed at Berwick on Tweed.
Connor, the next in line, had accepted the responsibility and did the Clan
proud. He was happily married and Bryce was certain his wee son, Andrew, would
be raised to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Bryce held no land or title. Until he had made
a name for himself and earned these things, he had nothing to offer a wife. But
marriage and family were not part of his immediate plans. He loved women, all
women. Be they large, small, short, tall, fair, or plain, it made no difference
as long as they were willing to warm his bed, and expected no long-term
commitment in return.
A rogue
many would say, but he made no secret of his intentions. So far, this way of
life had served him well, and should he die in battle, he’d leave no one behind
to mourn his loss.
When he
was a lad of sixteen, he’d made the mistake of falling for the daughter of the
village smithy. Totally enamored with each other, they’d vowed their eternal
love and he believed they’d marry some day.
He
swallowed hard at the ball of emotion rising in his throat, and clenched his
teeth against the sudden ache gripping his heart. He’d heard when a man is
about to die, his life experiences flash before his eyes. But some memories were
far too painful to revisit.
He balled
his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He didn’t want to
think about the past and didn’t want a woman in his life. While Fallon was the
only lass who had tempted him to stray from his chosen path, she was better off
without him. Or so he’d told himself when he returned from a morning ride to
learn she’d left Fraser Castle without saying goodbye.
Clinging
to the memory of their brief time together, Bryce closed his eyes and waited
for death to take him. But distant voices and the sound of approaching footfall
alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone.
“Over
here,” a man shouted. “I think this one is still breathing.”
“Aye, he’s
alive, but for how long? The lad has lost a lot of blood,” another man
commented and clucked his tongue.
Hovering
on the edge of consciousness, Bryce heard the conversation going on between two
men, maybe more. He tried to open his eyes, but the lids proved too heavy.
Judging by
the familiar burr, these men were Scottish, but so were the traitorous bastards
who had attacked them.
For a
sennight, he’d ridden day and night. However in the end, he was too late to
warn the Bruce’s brothers and their small group of Irish and Scottish islanders
of the impending threat. Rushing headlong into an ambush and outnumbered
four to one, their fate was sealed.
This
wasn’t the first time the MacDougall Clan sided with the English. Staunch
supporters of John Comyn’s bid for the Scottish crown, they’d turned their
swords and their loyalty against their countrymen when Comyn was murdered at
Grey Fryer’s Abbey and Robert the Bruce was accused of the deed.
After the
massacre at Methven—the last major battle fought between the English and the
Bruce before he went into hiding—the buggers lay in wait, attacking the
Scottish survivors as they tried to make their way to the Argyle Mountains to
regroup. The battle of Dail Righ would forever be a stain on the
MacDougall clan’s name, and a battle Bryce would long remember.
Nor would
he forget their leader. Today he’d had the long-awaited chance to make good on
his oath to see the blackguard pay for his treasonous acts, but he’d failed.
Instead, he’d found himself on the receiving end of Dungal’s sword.
“I canna
believe Scots would kill Scots. These poor fellows dinna have a prayer of
making it to shore unharmed,” the first man said.
“Aye, the
ship was run aground and there must be at least fifty dead men on the bank of
the loch. There appears to be a mix of Irish and Scots, but nary an English soldier
or a MacDougall plaid among them.” The man speaking nudged Bryce’s shoulder
with the toe of his boot. “This appears to be the only one alive.”
A dizzying
wave of excruciating pain shot through Bryce’s chest as he was rolled onto to
his side.
“What do
you plan to do with this fellow, Donald?” the second man asked. “We canna just
leave him here to bleed to death.”
“We’ll
take him with us. My niece has some knowledge of healing. She cared for my wife
when she had the pox . . . rest her soul.” Donald paused for a moment before he
continued. “After Mairi died, the lass decided to stay on for a while. Mayhap
there is something she can do for him. Best we make haste. I dinna want to be
here if the bastards return.”
“I’ll be
surprised if he survives the journey. But we can always bury him along the way
if need be,” the second man responded.
Strong
hands slid beneath Bryce’s shoulders, raising him to a sitting position, then
someone grabbed his legs. A few garbled words of protest were all he could
manage before darkness closed around him.
Highland Legacy On sale from Dec11th to Dec 25th for $2.99
Highland Legacy, book one in the Highlander series. An Amazon best seller
in historical romance and finalist in the Oklahoma RWA International Digital
Awards 2012. Is available in print and e-book
Trailer
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