Carolina Sloane, known as Caro to her friends and family, has always been the more impetuous and passionate of the Sloane girls. Being the youngest and a talented poet, Caro longs for an adventure of her own, and it is not long before her wish is granted. Having made a new friend in Isobel Urquehart, Caro is shocked to discover that she is the sister of Alec McClellan, the rude Scotsman whom she had clashed with at a country party in Scotland.
After an attempted kidnapping of Isobel, Caro is determined to uncover the assailants, with or without Alec's help. But as she becomes embroiled in danger, she also finds herself battling her feelings for Alec, whom she believes is hiding his true, passionate nature underneath his controlled, distant exterior.
Alec is determined to keep his sister, and the infuriating Miss Sloane, safe from danger. But as the plot thickens, and danger appears around every corner, Alec struggles with his relationship with Caro. Having suffered deeply in the past, Alec has resolved to remain alone, but there is something about Caro that gets under his skin. Throw in subterfuge, a dangerous rebel, secrets and sizzling temptation, and who knows how this adventure may end?
In the third part of The Hellions of High Street series, Caro Elliott has once again struck gold with PASSIONATELY YOURS. Caro is my favourite of the Sloane sisters. Spirited, upfront, kind and intelligent, Caro is not afraid to take risks and throw herself into action when she gets the impulse. Alec is an engaging hero and I found myself wondering what had happened to him in the past, and why he had constructed this hard shell as protection. The action in PASSIONATELY YOURS is captivating and exciting in a way that left me wanting more. Cara Elliott has a way with words that makes the reader instantly connect and care about her characters, and I could not read the story quick enough. PASSIONATELY YOURS by Cara Elliott is an enchanting read, and I advise you to buy it now. Better yet buy the series!
With her older sisters both happily married, Caro Sloane
yearns for a romantic
adventure of her own. Unfortunately the muddy, sulfur-
scented waters of Bath seem
the least likely setting for love or excitement. But the
aspiring young poet soon
finds inspiration when she runs into a familiar-and achingly
handsome-Scottish
laird.
Visiting Bath with his sickly sister, Alec McClellan is
shocked to be reunited
with Caro Sloane. He hasn't been able to forget the English
beauty since their
brief but exhilarating first meeting. But Bath is not nearly
as serene as it
appears, and soon Alec must protect Caro from a danger that
threatens to
extinguish the sparks flying between them. Little does he
know that a bit of
danger is exactly what Caro is looking for . . .
EXCERPT
โOne would almost think you were going out of your way to avoid
speaking to me.โ
โWeโre speaking now,โ he pointed out.
โI would call it verbal sparring.โ Caro edged around
impatiently, forcing him to look her in the face. โBut now that
I have you alone, Iโd rather not keep trading thrusts and
parries. I would rather discuss far more important mattersโsuch
as whether you have learned anything new about the attack on
your sister?โ
Pursing his lips, Alec shifted his stance just enough to allow
him to return to his perusal of the lettering on the column.
โNot really.โ
โYe gods.โ She restrained the urge to take hold of his arm and
give him a hard shake. โWhat sort of answer is that?โ
โThe only one I intend to give,โ he replied calmly.
โFine.โ Caro watched the breeze ruffle his long hair, causing a
tangle of red-gold strands to curl around his ear and dance
down the freshly shaven line of his jaw. The faint scent of bay
rum tickled at her nostrils.
โFine,โ she repeated, after forcing herself to exhale. โThen
Iโll just have to do a little poking around on my own.โ
That got his attention. He looked around abruptly, his gaze
narrowing to a slitted stare. The movement was quick, but not
quick enough to hide the sudden darkening of his eyes.
โThat wouldnโt be wise,โ he growled. โThe only thing I will add
for now is that you should stay well away from Edward Thayer.โ
โWhy?โ
โBecauseโฆโ He let out an exasperated grunt. โMust you always
plague me with questions?โ
โI wouldnโt have to if you would stop treating me like a
feather-headed wigeon.โ
Alecโs scowl became more pronounced.
โHavenโt I proved myself trustworthy and capable?โ
A small muscle on his jaw twitched. โI am not at liberty to
give you any more details right now. All I can say is thatโฆโ As
he drew in a breath, he seemed to change his mind about what to
say. โThayer is a charming fellow. No doubt his smooth words
are more to your liking.โ
Deciding Alec deserved a bit of teasing, Caro pretended not to
notice the roughness edging his voice. โYes, heโs exceedingly
charming.โ
If his storm-blue stare squeezed any tighter, it would be
sharper than a razorโs edge.
โAnd scrupulously polite,โ she added.
Alec was becoming more flustered. Small sounds were beginning
to rumble in his throat, like the growling of a bear. โI do not
have Thayerโs gift of making myself agreeable. He has a honeyed
tongue, which seems to appeal to all the ladies.โ
โHoney is, after all, a great deal more palatable than
vinegar,โ Caro pointed out.
He now looked utterly nonplussed.
Caro let him stew for a moment longer before huffing an
exasperated sigh. โOh, for heavenโs sake, give me some credit
for having a brain, Lord Strathcona! Of course I donโt find
Thayer appealing. When honey drips that freely, it ought to
catch naught but flies.โ
The growls ceased.
Caro waited for him to speak.
Ever so slowly, Alec shifted his feet, stirring tiny puffs of
pale dust beneath his boots.
The flicker of dark leather caused a momentary spasm of doubt
as she recalled her chilling encounter in the churchyard.
Alec as evil? She couldnโt explain how, but she knew with a
certainty that resonated right down to her very heartbeat that
it couldnโt be true.
โAre you saying you would trust my word over his?โ
โYes, you big lummox! I donโt know why I should, but I prefer
your snaps and growls.โ
A dappling of sunlight seemed to catch on the curl of his
lashes, gilding them to a gleaming gold.
โYou are forthright, you are honorable in your own maddening
way,โ she went on. Oh, no man ought to have such beautiful
eyes.
She found herself staring, and at that moment, all rational
thought seemed to dance away in the breeze. His face was
utterly intriguingโa mix of chiseled planes and well-defined
features that hinted at hidden secrets.
โAndโฆ well, you are quite the most interesting man I have ever
met.โ Her legs suddenly seemed a little unsteady, so Caro
reached out and caught hold of his lapels.
Looking up, she found his mouth was only inches from hers.
โOh, boshโI shall probably regret thisโฆโ Standing on tiptoes,
Caro kissed him. Not a mere feathering of flesh against flesh,
but a hard, hungry embrace that she let go on for far, far
longer than any proper young lady should dare.
โThere, I have no doubt shocked you.โ
The tip of his tongue traced along the swell of his lower lip.
โI imagine you think me a wanton hellion, and I suppose I am.
It must be my eccentric upbringing. I donโt care very much for
rules.โ
Caro knew she was babbling but she couldnโt seem to stop. โYou
may consign me to the Devil. But at least I shall dance a merry
jig on my way to perdition.โ
Was that finally a hint of smile?
She finally dared pause to take a breath. A long, shuddering
breath. Now was the time to flee, before she made an even
bigger fool of herself.
But Alec suddenly shifted again, blocking her way.
โI, too, shall probably regret this,โ he said as he slowly
circled his arms around her and pulled her close.
She opened her mouth. To protest?
Before she could make any sense of what she had set in motion,
their lips met again, setting off a fierce jolt of fire.
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