oh my the Scot on the cover sure rocks that kilt! đ
Enjoy!!!
ISBN-13: 9781250296375
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: 2-26-2019
Length: 352 pp
Wicked Wild Highlanders #1
Buy It: Amazon/B&N/Kobo/IndieBound
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: 2-26-2019
Length: 352 pp
Wicked Wild Highlanders #1
Buy It: Amazon/B&N/Kobo/IndieBound
Overview:
The first in a wickedly seductive new Scottish historical romance series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch! âItâs time to fall in love with Suzanne Enoch.â â Lisa Kleypas
HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
London socialite Amelia-Rose Baxter is nobodyâs fool. Her parents may want her to catch a title, but she will never change who she is for the promise of marriage. Her husband will be a man who can appreciate her sharp mind as well as her body. A sophisticated man who loves life in London. A man who considers her his equalâand wonât try to tame her wild heart...
IN THE HIGHLANDS
Rough, rugged Highlander Niall MacTaggert and his brothers know the rules: the eldest must marry or lose the ancestral estate, period. But Niallâs eldest brother just isnât interested in the lady his mother selected. Is it because Amelia-Rose is just too. . . Free-spirited? Yes. Brazen? Aye. Surely Niall can find a way to soften up the whip-smart lass and make her the perfect match for his brother for the sake of the family.
JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HOTTER.
Instead itâs Niall who tempts Amelia-Rose, despite her reservations about barbarian Highlanders. Niall finds the lass nigh irresistible as well, but he wonât make the mistake his father did in marrying an Englishwoman who doesnât like the Highlands. Does he have what it takes to win her heart? There is only one way to find out...
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Read an excerpt:
Chapter One
âI can smell the shite from here.â Niall MacTaggert pulled up his bay gelding, Kelpie, at the top of the low rise. âBloody Saint Andrew,â he muttered, swinging down to the ground. The sight before himâa vast sprawl of hazy, smoke-shrouded streets, the peaks of bell towers here and there the only bits that had managed to break free of the gray to stab into the overcast skyâhad both a scent and a sound he hadnât even the words to describe. âHave ye ever seen the like?â
âNae.â His oldest brother, Coll, Viscount Glendarril, remained aboard his massive black Friesian stallion, Nuckelavee, but he leaned forward to cross his wrists over the saddleâs pommel. âI reckon weâve found hell.â
As they gazed at the loud, fog-bound morass, Niallâs second oldest brother, Aden, drew up behind them. âFinding a bride hereâs nae the first thought that strikes me,â he commented, patting his chestnut thoroughbred, Loki, on the withers. âI reckon we should rescue our sister from that blight and make for the Highlands.â
âAnd send her to a nunnery,â Niall added. âIf we can keep her from marrying, weâve nae reason to tote posies about and read poetry to some fainting English hothouse flower.â
That had been the plan he suggested, but Coll had overruled him, insisting that the three of them could convince Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert to tear up the agreement. Coll had always favored battle, a direct confrontation, over delicacy or subterfuge. And his methods generally succeededâthe main reason Niall and Aden had agreed to give it a go.
Niall turned to see the quartet of outriders and two wagons of luggage accompanying them come into sight. It all looked impressive, which had been the point; they all knew that no Sassenach traveled far without half his worldly goods accompanying him. Now, though, he had to consider that having to repack all of it would considerably slow any getaway they might attempt. Then again, they could always taxidermy another red deer stag if they had to leave behind the one theyâd brought along.
Most of the rest of it was nearly as unnecessary. Then again, Francesca claimed to want her sons about. Well, here they were. All three of them. And not a one in the mood to be cooperative. Niall stepped into the stirrup and remounted Kelpie as his brothers returned to the rutted, muddy road and the wagons. London. Heâd rather take a wade through a peat bog than spend an hour in London. Their da had signed a paper, though, and then seventeen years later had refused to rise from his sickbedâhis deathbed, according to himselfâto join his sons in disputing it. Angus MacTaggert, Earl Aldriss, a roaring giant of a Highlands warrior and evidently too scared of his estranged wife to leave his estate and go set eyes on her. Not that Angus would ever admit to that.
On a sunny day, if such things existed here, the oak and elm trees scattered along the road might have provided a pleasant shade. Today they mostly made Niall miss the pines and the craggy, snow-topped peaks of the Highlands. Christ, had it only been five days since heâd last seen them? It was warmer here, or at least the breeze, even with the rain hanging just behind it, didnât have that chill that dug into a manâs bones.
He fell in beside Aden, with Coll and his great black warhorse a few feet ahead of them. The outriders had been more for show than for anything else; he doubted even some damned Sassenach highwayman would care to run up against the MacTaggert brothers. Still, someone had to lag behind with the wagons and protect the stuffed stag and their shaving kits. Their grand arrival wouldnât change the fact that theyâd left behind an ailing father and a busy season of new lambs and growing crops, that theyâd had to postpone the Highlands games that had been a tradition in June for the past two hundred years, and dozens of other things that all needed tending. And a fair crop of young ladies whoâd be lamenting his absence.
âYe ken if yer face freezes like that a hundred lasses will perish from sorrow.â
Niall sent Aden a sideways glance. âIf Iâm forced to wed some pinch-faced flower of the south, those hundred lasses will all be perishing from loneliness and sorrow. Even the lot chasing ye might frown for an entire minute once they read about yer nuptuals.â
âDunnae underestimate Collâs lack of enthusiasm at having Francesca choose a bride for him.â
âAye. Thank the devil heâs the one lost the card turn. Iâm surprised he has any teeth left, the way heâs been grinding âem for five days.â
With a swift look at their brotherâs backside, Aden pulled a deck of cards from his coat pocket and shuffled it one-handed. âI reckon heâll fight harder for us with himself in the hangmanâs noose.â
Adenâs swift expression of amusement as he pocketed the cards again might have been simple appreciation, or it might have been one of his rare admissions of trickery. Either way, Niall was abruptly grateful not to be the present Viscount Glendarril. It was horrifying enough to be ordered to choose a Sassenach bride; to have a woman heâd not seen in seventeen years pick out the lass he was to marry would have been enough to make him consider fleeing to the Colonies, regardless of the consequences to Aldriss Park.
The scattering of farms gave way to densely packed shops, businesses, hotels, inns, brothels, taverns, and stately homes, looming out of the fog like giant, steep-edged ravines to tower halfway into the sky. Along with the buildings came the people, shouting in a hundred accents and several languages, offering oranges, fish, pies, glimpses of the far-off Orient, and themselves. So these were the civilized folk, turning to stare at the trio of riders as they passedâas if the Highlanders were the odd birds. âItâs a madhouse,â he muttered, reining in Kelpie to avoid a scampering, nearly skeletal young girl scooping horse shite into a bucket.
âWhat in Saint Margaretâs name is that?â Aden commented, flicking the end of his reins toward a street corner.
Niall followed the gesture to spy a tall, thin man dressed in a lime-green jacket so tight he wouldnât have been able to lift his arms above the elbow. The points of his shirt, white and stiff, dug into his earlobes, and his blond hair had been curled tighter than sheepâs wool. His trousers were a peacock blue, his waistcoat a patterned yellow and green, and the black boots he wore shone like water and had heels as deep as a horseâs hooves. âI saw one of âem in a fashion catalog Eppie had on her bed stand,â Niall replied. âThat, Aden, is a dandy.â
âIâm stunned enough that I willnae ask what ye were doing in Eppie Androwâs bedchamber. A dandy. Do ye reckon he can walk?â
âIf he takes wee-enough steps, aye. And ye know damned well what I was doing in Eppieâs bedchamber. Iâm four-and-twenty, nae eleven.â
Ahead of them Coll consulted a folded paper, then headed right down a narrower, quieter lane. The houses here were larger and didnât share common walls, with more windows and quaint-looking gardens in the back. A street or two beyond them, the homes had short front drives, overhanging roofs for leaving carriages without getting rained on, and stables alongside the gardens in the rear.
Though Coll had initially been against it, theyâd sent word that the MacTaggert brothers were traveling down to London. Niall could see the benefits of surprising Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert, putting her back on her heels and maybe even frightening her into tearing up the damned agreement. On the other hand, sheâd sent the letter announcing Eloiseâs betrothal, so she would have a fair idea that her sons would be arriving sooner rather than later. And he personally didnât relish the idea of having to sleep in the stable because no additional rooms had been opened for them.
They trotted past a small park dotted with bairns in frilly dresses or short pants, together with women dressed in caps and dowdy gownsânannies, he supposedâbefore Coll led them down another lane. A labyrinth of climbing roses and wrought-iron gates surrounded them now, not as closed in as the bordering streets but just as suffocating. When Coll finally drew Nuckelavee to a halt, Niall felt somewhat relieved; he could imagine a hell where one rode through flower-choked lanes endlessly searching for a tavern that would never appear.
âThis one,â Laird Glendarril grunted, his gaze on the stately gray house on the right.
âWrite out the direction for me before we step outside again,â Aden requested. âIâll nae find it again otherwise.â
âWith any luck weâll be back home before ye have to memorize it,â their oldest brother returned, and sent the big black warhorse up the half-circle drive. âHallo the house!â
The front door opened. Servants started fleeing the house in front of them, maids and kitchen help and footmen all straightening caps and coats willy-nilly as they ran out the door. For a hard half a dozen heartbeats Niall thought theyâd caught the house on fire and were running for their lives, until he realized they were lining up on either side of the doorway. He did a swift countâfifteen of them. With that many servants, a man wouldnât even have to hold his own kerchief to blow his nose.
âWeâve merited a parade,â Aden noted. âDo ye reckon they do this every time someone approaches the house?â
Niall stifled a grin. âThat wouldnae seem very practical, but the English are all mad anyway.â
The narrow man with the most gentlemanly attire bowed as the three of them lined up on horseback. âWelcome to Oswell House, Lord Glendarril, Master Aden, Master Niall.â Down the line the other servants bowed and curtsied in fairly impressive unison. âLady Aldriss awaits you inside.â
Behind them the first wagon turned onto the drive and stopped, the other one just behind it. Charles and Wallace, the two men seated beside the drivers and brought down expressly for one purpose, stood and pulled their bagpipes from beneath their wooden seats. At Collâs nod and after a few off-key groans to fill the bags with air, they began playing âThe White Cockadeâ at full volume. Now that felt like a proper greeting.
Niall dismounted, handing Kelpieâs reins off to a stunned-looking lad who wore stable livery. Windows of the neighboring houses began flying open, maids and footmen and anyone else in earshot trying to get a look at whatever was making that noise. Before the first refrain theyâd gathered a crowd on the street behind them, clapping to the reel.
âI reckon weâre overdressed,â Aden commented as he handed Loki off to another stableboy.
Sweet Andrew, Oswell House seemed to have a lad for every horse in the stable. âThat was the point, wasnae?â Niall straightened his fox-fur sporran and fell in with his brothers. Scarlet plaid with thick lines of black and green, the colors of clan Ross had to be the grandest and brightest in the Highlands. And with the three men all pushing past six feet tall, they were definitely not about to be missedâor mistaken for anything but what they were.
âWonât youâŠâ The butler fellow cleared his throat. âWonât you come inside?â he repeated, more loudly.
âThey havenae played âKilliecrankieâ yet,â Coll returned. âAnd yeâve nae introduced us to all these folks whoâve lined up so proper to say hello.â
Because heâd been watching the doorway, Niall saw Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert, Countess Aldriss, the moment she left the shadows. Heâd been but seven years old the last time heâd set eyes on her, but he would have recognized her among a crowd of hundreds. Aye, her black hair had lightened to a peppered gray, and the angelâs face he recalled had widened a bit at the jaw, but it was her. In fact, the one thing he hadnât expected was that she would be so ⊠tiny. The top of her head wouldnât even come to his shoulder.
She walked slowly outside to stand in front of the doorway. Her gown of deep blue likely would have sparkled in sunlight, but there was none of that to be found today. âI see I wonât need to inform the neighbors that my sons have arrived,â she said, her voice that cool, sophisticated accent heâd found very exotic as a bairn. Now it merely sounded English. Unlike his own. âThank you for that.â
âAye, weâre here,â Coll returned, his eyes narrowing. âThanks to yer threats, Francesca. Ye managed to put Da on his deathbed and took me away from mending the irrigation ditches, but yeâve brought us out of the Highlands.â
Her left hand flew up to her throat and a delicate gold necklace there before she lowered it again. âYour father has passed away?â
âHe mightâve, by now. Made us swear nae to delay heading south and risk ruin for Aldriss, so weâve nae idea. Poganâour butler, if yeâve forgottenâis to send us word.â
âI havenât forgotten Pogan,â she returned. âNor will I discount Angusâs dislike for London. Until I hear otherwise I shall credit his so-called deathbed antics to be just thatâantics.â Rubbing her hands together, she took a breath and stepped to one side of the doorway. âNow. Given that the future of Aldriss lies in you agreeing to my wishes, I do wish you would come inside.â
Niall stole a glance at Coll. At nine-and-twenty, the current Viscount Glendarril and future Earl Aldriss had the clearest memory of Francesca; heâd been twelve when sheâd left for London, after all. Coll stood four inches above six feet, and menâmuch less womenâgenerally didnât argue with him. Even fewer attempted to order him about. This might not be an order, but it was close enough. Niall wondered if Francesca realized sheâd just invited a bull into her glassware shop. An angry bull.
Coll met Francescaâs gaze, then turned his back on the house. âKeep playing, lads,â he called, then whistled for the wagons to pull onto the drive. âWeâve a bloody mountain of luggage to move inside, and Iâd rather hear the pipes than the groaning of the footmen.â
âOr the neighbors, I reckon,â Niall muttered. He hadnât put much hope into Collâs plan of stomping up to the Oswell House front door, bellowing that Francesca had best rethink her plans because the MacTaggert brothers did not bow to anyone, and marching back to the Highlands. They looked to be trapped here for a few days, at least.
He looked up at the half-a-hundred windows that adorned the front of the grand house. None of the past six days had gone as he expected, though he had enjoyed the ride down from Scotland. Instead of a head-to-head battle, hewould have chosen to find a London-based solicitor of their own to fight Francescaâs agreement. Another Englishman would have had better odds of finding a way out of an English agreement than Coll and his preference for straight-up brawling. That suggestion had been overruled as well, of course, because everyone knew a Highlander couldnât trust a Sassenach. Not even one in his own employ.
Either way, heâd never been averse to making trouble. While Coll and Aden issued orders to their outriders and the Oswell House staff, he strolled up the pair of low steps to the front doorway. âIâm told I knew ye when I was seven years old,â he drawled, sticking out his hand as Francesca looked at him. âIâm Niall.â
She faced him, taking a quick half-step forward before she stopped again. Being a MacTaggert in the Highlands meant running across plenty of men wanting to make their own reputations on his back, to prove their strength or power or wealth by attempting to set him on his arse or in his grave. Heâd become deft at determining who was an actual threat and who was actually angry or terrified orâmore than likelyâdrunk. That was how he knew heâd just struck a blow against Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert, and that heâd hurt her. While he generally didnât hold with battling a woman, sheâd started it.
Lifting her chin a little, she moved again, reaching out to grip his hand. âYou donât need to introduce yourself to me, Niall. For goodnessâ sake.â Her fingers trembled just a little, but as he shifted to let go, she tightened her hold on him. âI expected your hair to be red.â
Shrugging, he ran his free hand through the overlong mess hanging into his eyes. âIt got darker. Brown mostly, with a wee bit of fire here and there in the sunlight.â
âYou were a handsome young boy, but my heavens. Youâll have half the girls in London swooning at your feet. And those eyes of yoursâtheyâre very like your sisterâs, you know. Such a pale celadon, like new leaves in sunlight.â She reached a hand toward his face.
Niall stepped sideways into the house, freeing his hand and avoiding her caress in the same motion. One hello did not make them friends, or family. In the strictest sense it made them acquaintances. Aye, thatâs what they wereâbarely acquainted, with the caveat that Francesca happened to hold the purse strings that could determine the future of the estate and all their tenants. His future as well.
âIt seems to me,â Aden drawled, stepping between them and into the long, dark foyer beyond, âthat if ye had a curiosity about the color of Niallâs hair or his pretty eyes, ye had a simple way to satisfy it. A visit, mayhap. Or a letter.â The middle MacTaggert brother hefted a monstrous stuffed boarâs head mounted on an oak plank. âWhere am I lodging?â
The skinny butler skittered up on Adenâs heels. âThat ⊠Perhaps one of the footmen could carry that for you, sir. John? Andââ
Ignoring that, Aden started up the wide, elegant staircase and paused at the landing where the steps separated to climb to the left and right wings. âGive me a direction, or Iâll just choose whichever room strikes my fancy.â
âSmythe, show Aden to his bedchamber,â Francesca said.
âOf course, my lady.â
âOch, ye remembered my name, Francesca,â the lean twenty-seven-year-old drawled. âThen again, I am rumored to be unforgettable.â
âWhen youâve deposited your trophy, join us in the morning room,â the countess instructed, turning to head into a room just off the foyer. âNiall, please join me, wonât you?â
Time to do a bit of scouting the terrain, then. Niall started after her, then stopped abruptly when a hard hand clamped down on his shoulder. âYe shook her hand,â Coll muttered.
âAnd I introduced myself, as if weâd nae met before. Iâm charming, if yeâll recall. But Iâm nae a traitor.â
âDunnae forget that, brĂ thair. Ye heard Daâs warning. She may look a flower, but many a manâs been drowned in a soft voice and tears. If ye dunnae have the stomach for this, then step back. Aden and I will manage it.â
If they went by Angus MacTaggertâs last description of his estranged wife, the one heâd presented them from his self-proclaimed deathbed, Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert was a weeping, fainting damsel in distress who used her feminine wiles to manipulate every man within hearing into fulfilling her whims. Niall didnât know if he believed all that or not; contrary to what heâd said, he did have a few memories of her, and sheâd been warm and pleasant in most of them. And sheâd smelled of lemons. But then heâd been a bairn, and he wasnât one now. Far from it.
âThe only good reason to marry an Englishwoman would be because the weeping pansy would do as I said, and I could leave her behind in London,â he returned in a low voice. âIt worked for Da, after all.â
âAye. As ye say. Nae marrying one at all is my first choice, though. Especially one some strangerâs picked out for me,â Coll returned, releasing him again to follow him inside the room.
Niall took a seat close by the morning room door, while Coll stomped around for a bit, eyeing the neat shelves of books and vases and delicate, feminine knickknacks. The moment Aden reappeared, the two of them took command of the couch to Niallâs left. That left Francesca facing the doorway into the foyer and well able to see the ridiculous chaos of things theyâd toted down from Scotland as each was brought into the house. This should be interesting, at least, even if he doubted it would go as well as Coll hoped.
âMy boys,â she said, her quiet voice just audible over the bagpipes outside.
âYeâll have to speak up,â Coll announced. âThe lads are enthusiastic this morning.â
âI said Iâm more pleased than you could ever know to see my boys again,â the countess restated, her voice firmer now.
âWeâre nae yer boys,â Coll returned. âYe summoned us here with a threat, and so weâre here to answer in kind. If ye wanted affection, ye shouldâve asked more kindly, and written more frequently.â
She sank down in the available blue chair, her skirts rustling around her as she folded her hands onto her lap. Every move she made seemed studied, as if she had a painter in the next room ready to leap out and sketch her portrait. âSo Iâm to take the blame for your father not bothering to inform you that weâve had an agreement for seventeen years. Very well. I can accept that.â
Aden tilted his head. âHe didnae leave us behind, Francesca.â
Looking down, she opened her mouth and shut it again, while Niall waited for the weeping and lamenting and pleas for sympathy to begin. Instead she cleared her throat. âMy greatest fear was that Angus would raise you boys as wild, unmannered barbarians, and evidently I had the right of it. That said, as we all know that your futures depend on you doing as I say, letâs begin with this: You will not call me Francesca. I am your mother, and you will show me some respect. Iâll give you four choicesâyou may refer to me as Mother, Mama, my lady, or Lady Aldriss.â
That didnât sound at all weepy. âThen might ye tell us where we can find our sister, Lady Aldriss?â Niall asked, covering his surprise.
âI might,â she conceded, âif youâll give me your word that you wonât blame her for the agreement or for her engagement. Itâs not her fault that youâre here.â
Niall scowled, putting aside the thought that heâd suggested kidnapping her. That had been one of a dozen ideas thrown at the dartboard. âDo ye reckon weâre mad enough to mean harm to Eloise? Sheâs a MacTaggert. And sheâs our wee sister.â
Something about what heâd said seemed to please her, because Francesca smiled. âGood. Iâm glad to hear it. She wanted to be here, but sheâd made a previous engagement to go shopping with some friends, and I made her keep to it. As I said, I wasnât certain how she might be greeted. Sheâll be home before dinner.â
âI reckon ye might want to tear up that agreement,â Coll stated. âYe dunnae know who we are, or whether we might already have a lass in mind for marriage. If ye force us to wed some milquetoast female or other, ye may nae see grandbabies, my lady.â
âI know youâve had less than a week to conjure some defense against your fatherâs and my agreement, but thatâs the best you could come up with?â she countered. âNo grandchildren? You are, after all, speaking to a woman who left her own sons behind.â
âYe said ye were glad to see us,â Aden put in, scowling.
âI am. I hope that eventually youâll understand how pleased I am. But the agreement stands. You will all three abide by it, or I will withhold the funds your father has been using for the past thirty years to keep Aldriss Park from collapse. I certainly donât care about the place. But you do. I can see that.â
âAye, we do, Lady Aldriss,â Coll growled. âAnd all our cotters and servants and villagers.â
âThen you know what you need to do. Itâs very sâŠâ She trailed off, her gaze on something in the foyer behind them. âIs that a stag?â
âAye,â Aden returned. âThatâs Rory. We keep him in the library.â
âNot in my library, you wonât.â
âI reckon heâd look just as fine on the staircase landing, then,â Coll took up. âJoseph, Gavin. Leave Rory on the stairs, so we can all admire him.â Lifting an eyebrow, Coll turned his gaze back to Francesca.
âWell,â she said, clearly not realizing sheâd just lost that argument, or not caring, since sheâd won the larger one. âI suppose we can decide on his placement later.â Rising, she walked over to the wall and tugged twice on a gold tassel pull by the doorway. âThis does not need to be an adversarial business. For the moment, however, since you are all my prisoners and evidently are disinclined to engage in polite conversation, Smythe will show you to your rooms. Luncheon will be set out in the small dining room between one and three oâclock, and we sit for dinner tonight at seven. If you donât sit for dinner, you will not have dinner.â
The butler appeared in the doorway. âYes, my lady?â
âAdenâs seen his, but please show Coll and Niall to their bedchambers.â Inclining her head, she started out of the room. At the last moment she turned around again. âAs youâve read the agreement, I presume youâre aware that one of you is to wed a lady of my choosing. And as youâre the one with the title and inheritance, Coll, Iâve decided it should be you.â
Theyâd already decided that among themselves, but Coll hadnât liked losing to begin with. Having it shoved at him all over again wouldnât gain Francesca any affection. Lord Glendarril stood, all six feet four inches of him coiled and ready for a fight. Moving quickly, Niall climbed to his feet, as well. âColl said it should be him,â he lied, âso yeâve nae surprised us, Lady Aldriss, though I doubt ye can find an Englishwoman to match him.â
His jaw clenching, Coll flexed his fingers. âAye. Ye find me some swooning, untouched lass, then. I reckon weâll deal as well as ye and Angus MacTaggert did.â
Her cheeks paled a shade or two. âThe young lady Iâve selected will make you a fine Viscountess Glendarril, and a better Lady Aldriss when your father does see fit to expire,â she returned, ignoring his other comments. âYouâll meet her tonight at the theater. You may bring one of your brothers; I donât wish her overset by the three of you all glowering at her.â
âYe might give me a bloody day to catch my breath before ye bring the axe down on my neck,â Coll snapped.
She sent him a smile that wouldnât have warmed ice. âThereâs no sense in wasting time. What if Eloise and Mr. Harris were to elope? You might lose everything over poor timing.â
Well, this hadnât gone at all the way Coll had described. Niall would have been amused with the way Francesca had stomped all over him if that wouldnât have encouraged his oldest brother to punch him. But still, thank God he had at least a small say in finding his own bride, a milquetoast lass like Coll had described, a woman he could bed and then leave behind while he went back to the Highlands and lived as he pleased. âYe might as well set eyes on her, Coll,â he said aloud.
Coll swiveled his head around. âNiall likes the theater. Heâll join us tonight.â
Niall took a breath. Bloody wonderful. âOch, Iâd be delighted,â he lied. Just what he wanted, to spend an evening watching Coll trying to make some weak-willed lass faint from his mere presence. At least, he supposed, if any of the nearby females succumbed as well, heâd have his first chance at finding a weepy, dim-witted one for himself.
Francesca wanted them tied to London, it seemed. The countess likely hadnât reckoned on them pursuing a set of lasses none of them wanted anything to do with. One visit to London, and perhaps a second one from Coll to make himself an heir, and Aldriss Park funded permanently. Not ideal, but better than whatever Francesca imagined for them.
Copyright © 2019 by Suzanne Enoch.
Praise for Suzanne Enoch
"A scalding tale of pent-up desires finally unleashed...sure to keep romance fans enthralled." - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review, on A Devil in Scotland
âReaders will savor this mature, multi-layered story filled with vengeance, scandal, regret, loss and second chances.â - RT Review Top Pick on A Devil in Scotland
"Outstanding...five flying stars." - Night Owl Reviews Top Pick on A Devil in Scotland
"[A] rich, sexy and nuanced tale." BookPage on A Devil in Scotland
"Enoch's historical romances are always a delight." - Book Riot
"Wonderfully romantic...one marvelous read." - RT Book Reviews on My One True Highlander
"An indisputable highland hit...you will not be disappointed." - Night Owl Reviews Top Pick on My One True Highlander
"Enoch at her finest!...No one does it better." - Reader to Reader on My One True Highlander
"My One True Highlander is a delightful mix of sexy bantering, hints of sensuality, a picturesque Scottish setting and likable character that will keep you thirsting for more. A WINNER." - Addicted to Romance
"The latest from the ever-popular Enoch is steamy and bubbling with humor, a scrumptious tale to begin her No Ordinary Hero series." - Booklist Starred Review on Hero in the Highlands
"Enoch produces another bold Highland fling in this stirring historical romance...with colorful secondary characters, judicious lashings of Scots dialect, and lush summertime Highland landscapes, Enoch creates a heady romantic atmosphere thatâs sure to captivate the genreâs eager audience." - Publishers Weekly Starred Review on Hero in the Highlands
"A thrilling and sexy story." - Kirkus Starred Review on Hero in the Highlands
"A romance not to be missed." - BookPage on Hero in the Highlands
"One of my very favorite authors." âJulia Quinn
About the author:
A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne Enoch loves movies almost as much as she loves books, with a special place in her heart for anything Star Wars. She has written more than forty Regency novels and historical romances, which are regularly found on the New York Times bestseller list. When she is not busily working on her next book, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months.Some of Suzanne's books include Barefoot In The Dark, I'ts Getting Scot in Here, Lady Whistledown Stirkes Back and The Legend of Nimway Hall.
http://www.suzanneenoch.com/index.html
Love the Highlanders. Thanks for this historical which I would enjoy greatly.
ReplyDeleteyup put a kilt on it and they will read it LOL
DeleteI love the cover.
ReplyDeletehistorical covers are so good
DeleteWhat a fun excerpt. The agreement between their mother and father seems a bit crazy though. I want to know more about that now.
ReplyDeleteyup the evil ploy of the publisher worked Mary he he he
DeleteWell, that is an unusual set up in a historical romance. Really enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteit is a fantastic one love the Scots speak :)
DeleteWell, I can see the sparks are going to fly in this one. :)
ReplyDeletesparks, swords and battle axes too
DeleteNow who doesn't want to spend a wee bit of time tucked in with a good a highlander book?
ReplyDeleteI do :)
DeleteYes to the Scot!
ReplyDeleterrrrrrright you are lass ;-)
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