September 2017
On Sale: September 5, 2017
Featuring: Diocail Gordon
320 pages ISBN: 1492602531 EAN: 9781492602538 Kindle: B01MYDPYA9 Mass Market Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
My favorite scene…hummm….I think in HIGHLAND FLAME, I really
enjoyed the moments right before Diocail and Jane get married. She tried to
leave and was caught by the villagers and he’s brought her back, only the
villagers are demanding to know why she tried to leave. In this era, a noble
wife was selected largely for her education. Meaning, she knew how to run a
large household. Think back to the first time you had to manage a holiday dinner
by yourself…I know I was using a set of my mothers recipes and even though I’d
made them countless times, being the one in charge had me flustered big time!
In this scene, Diocail’s men see Jane as a solution to the disarray the kitchens
are in and winter will be very long without someone there to straighten things
out. They embark on attempting to soften Jane up with drinking, while some of
them are working on Diocail because he isn’t too interested in having a wife who
doesn’t want him. Jane and Diocail don’t bend easily, both trying to escape the
men surrounding them, only to end up facing one another.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
EXCERPT
The crowd didn’t intend to be denied. They clustered around Diocail, which
allowed Kory to break away by guiding his horse around the other side of the
gallows. When they arrived, the common room of the Hawk’s Head Tavern was empty.
Kory didn’t trust Jane to make her way inside though. He grasped her upper arm
and took her through the door as people came up the street behind them. Diocail
came in behind her, cursing in Gaelic.
“Why did ye tell them I want to wed her?” He turned on Muir as he pointed at the
window. “Listen to them.”
The crowd had taken up position outside the tavern. They were calling for a
wedding, some of them already playing music in celebration.
“The world has gone completely mad.” Jane meant to think the words, but they
crossed her lips as she stumbled back and landed on a bench.
Niven was suddenly there, pressing a horn mug into her hand. He actually lifted
it toward her lips as she sat there frozen.
“Drink up, there, mistress,” Aylin encouraged her. “Ye need to collect yerself.”
She drank deeply and gasped as the liquid burned a path down her throat.
“Christ, what was that?”
“Gillanders claimed it was his finest whisky. Maybe I poured ye the wrong one.
Try this…”
The mug was swapped for another one, and once more Niven lifted her hand up to
her mouth. She thought to argue but was by distracted Diocail stepping up and
jabbing his finger in the center of Muir’s chest.
“The woman tried to run the second she could. Does that sound like someone I
need as a wife?” he demanded.
“The lass just needs to settle in,” Muir responded as he pressed Diocail back.
It was part wrestling, part argument.
“Listen.” Muir turned his laird toward the window. “Does that sound like a
village that will be forgetting ye did nae make good on yer word?”
Niven tipped the mug against her lips, and she opened her mouth because she was
absorbed with the way Muir was fighting with Diocail. Lachie joined in with the
captain.
“Normally I would support ye, Laird,” the secretary declared in a soft voice.
“But it does seem that in this matter, a wedding would solve a great many
dilemmas. There is the state of the kitchen to consider, and with winter closing
in, another bride will not be simple to obtain, much less with the conditions at
the castle and, of course, how unstable yer own position is as laird. No’ many
fathers will agree to a union with a suitably educated lady. Yet we have one
here, and her father is no’ close enough to raise an objection.”
Niven was swapping out her mug again when Jane felt the first wave of whisky hit
her brain. Somehow, she’d downed two mugs already, and her empty belly was
making certain she felt the alcohol quickly.
But Niven was pressing yet another mug to her lips.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, slipping down the bench and getting to her
feet before Niven and Kory managed to surround her. Aylin joined them, creating
a solid wall.
“Drink up, lass,” Aylin encouraged her in a tone Jane was fairly sure he’d use
on a chicken right before he wrung its neck.
“Aye, it will settle yer nerves,” Kory added with a smile too bright to be
sincere. “So we can get on with what needs doing. It’s a good match, and we’ll
be happy to have ye on Gordon land.”
“Better than yer father’s house, for certain. Judging by what I’ve heard of yer
last husband, best no’ let yer father choose ye a second one,” Aylin added.
“I am not getting married to anyone,” she insisted, but Niven wasn’t relenting
in his attempts to get her to drink more. He tipped some of the contents of the
mug into her open mouth as she spoke.
Jane recoiled and fell on the bench, which just made the three retainers bigger
and more imposing. They leaned down, clearly intending to keep pouring whisky
into her. Desperation made her slip to her knees and crawl past them.
She ended up facing Diocail as he tried to dodge around Muir and Lachie. They
both jerked to a stop a single pace from one another. What Jane didn’t expect
was to see Diocail in nearly the same condition as she was. His eyes were wide,
his face flushed from arguing.
Laird Diocail Gordon has just inherited his uncle’s run down castle and rag-tag
clan. He knows the sorry sight of the castle would send any woman running, but
is determined to find a wife to help return his home to its former glory.
Widowed lady Jane Stanley is determined to return to England, even if she has to
tromp through the Scottish Highlands on foot to get there. Her travels lead her
straight into the midst of a troop of dangerous Highland warriors. The
mysterious, brawny laird forbids his men to harm her, and the spark between them
is immediate. The only way Diocail can keep her safe is to take her home with
him, but will the miserable state of his clan douse her newly ignited Highland
flame.
Romance Historical
[Sourcebooks Casablanca, On Sale: September 5,
2017, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492602538 / eISBN:
9781492602545]
Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written over 30 works of
Scottish Highland romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. An avid
history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in
historical reenactments. Mary lives in Yorba Linda, California with her husband
and two sons.
I love the descriptions... let's me feel like I am there and can see it... (Colleen Conklin 1:04pm September 22, 2017)
Five Days in Skye was captivating and wonderful. (Sharon Berger 2:11pm September 22, 2017)
The Bride from Julie Garwood is but one but there are tons of scenes in that one that are fabulous.
Alec's informing Jamie that he will not make her is true wife until she's wearing his plaid then he gives it to her to keep her warm when they camp for the night and she totally forgot his words, lol.
Beak, the stable master who taught Jamie , making sure that Alec understood that while he's come to fetch the bride the king has ordered him to take, the best choice of daughters would not be made available for him to choose but choose her he must or she will never truly be the woman she should be.
So much more :) (Tina Hairston 5:39pm September 22, 2017)
I am certain that my choice seems common, but the first to leap to mind is Outlander. (G. Bisbjerg 3:50pm September 23, 2017)
Honestly, I've read way to many excellent romances set in Scotland to pick just one scene or book. (Glenda Martillotti 10:46pm September 24, 2017)
I love Scottish romances. One of my favorites is Ransom by Julie Garwood. It is a fun blend of humor, romance, and action. (Cheryl Castings 12:08pm September 25, 2017)
Highland Flame had lots of great scenes so hard to pick just one. (Jean Benedict 2:24pm September 25, 2017)
any outlander is my favorite (Ron Frampton 4:33am September 26, 2017)
Love the accents, the settings, the atmosphere in Scottish books. Plus historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. (Alyson Widen 10:15pm September 26, 2017)
I enjoy reading books with Scottish heroes. They always seem so masculine and there is always plenty of action and romance. (Anna Speed 10:16pm September 27, 2017)