Heart of a Higlander

Orphaned Isabel Fitzhugh is fourteen when she first comes to Wolvesley by the sea, traveling with her cousin to see her wed to the formidable Liam MacTavish. She's unimpressed, with both her current situation and her cousin's husband. She thinks he is aloof and arrogant, well deserving of her cousin. But then Liam intercedes on her behalf against a mean-spirited tormentor and everything changes. Liam MacTavish is quite happy to ride away from his new bride in the spring of 1296, thrilled to rise to the defense of his beloved Scotland. He doesn't return for five long years, many of those spent in an English prison, renounced by his own father, left to rot. He finds Wolvesley not at all as he remembered, derelict and all but abandoned, save for the redoubtable Isabel-whom he barely recalls-and an improbable cast of characters. Both Liam and Isabel are tormented by grim shadows from Wolvesley's past. Isabel's fierce independence and easy smiles hide a far greater tragedy than Liam can ever imagine; Liam's savage mien and coldness suggest he knows nothing else. Can they overcome the past, leaving behind the cruelty caused to each of them by the same person? Contains mature themes.

Julianna Elliot derives no pleasure in wedding a man she's never set eyes upon-save that it will take her away from her heartless stepfather. But then the plans for a wedding are naught but a ruse, as something far more sinister is intended, and Julianna knows she must do whatever she can to save the MacKinnons. Not all of Calum's men escape his would-be bride's home with their lives. His rage is tremendous, and he holds Julianna responsible-and as his hostage. It's not long before Calum begins to understand that Julianna couldn't possibly have plotted the murder of him and his men with her stepfather. Still, someone must pay for the attack, and he's intent on bringing her home to Caerhayes to face whatever Highland justice his uncle decides upon for the brave beauty. Julianna is terrified of the man that would have been her husband and now only wants her dead. And Calum resists mightily the desire to take her in his arms and promise no harm will ever come to her. But then a funny thing happened on the way to Caerhayes . . . and the once-promised pair realize that there is something greater than vengeance and fear and deadly games, something worth fighting for. Contains mature themes.

Meggie Hope thinks herself quite clever, though she's never once stepped foot outside her home, Muirfield Hall. She is, in fact, no match for the intoxicating charms of Gabriel Jamison, her own betrothed. She cannot ever wed him, of course. She is afflicted with a curse that says that any man who seeks her hand will meet death before he weds her, unless there is love. When suitors begin falling prey to the curse, and Meg's father won't listen to reason and betroths her yet again, this time to Gabriel Jamison, she runs away rather than be held responsible for another's demise. When Gabriel finds her, she pretends to be someone else, and he gallantly insists on returning her to her family. And her heart aches for how perfect and kind her betrothed actually is. Having met him and kissed him, Meggie knows she cannot be the reason he dies. Gabriel hadn't planned on Meggie Hope, hadn't anticipated that she would flee rather than wed him or that his heart would come to life in her presence. He knew she was lying about her identity from the start, knew within minutes of meeting her that it was going to take more than a ridiculous curse to keep him from her. Contains mature themes.

Scotland at the beginning of the fourteenth century is not a peaceful place. Ross Kildare and his depleted army are headed home after months away, fighting the English, gaining no ground. In their travels, they come upon a scene of unspeakable horror, which pierces the hearts of even these hardened and battle-weary warriors. The lone survivor, Caitrin Lorne, is beyond grief, and Ross vows to do whatever is necessary to see her brought to safety. They move on, traveling to his home, only to discover that his castle was only days ago seized by the English, who have either killed or imprisoned the people of Westcairn and are now using the castle as their own garrison. Ross is determined to deliver Caitrin to a better place where there is no war and bloodshed, but she begs to stay with him, the only person she trusts right now. Together with his small army, they flee into the forest and make war on the enemy at Westcairn, determined to reclaim his home. War has taken everyone and everything Ross and Caitrin have ever known. Can they find love with each other while the whole world seems to be burning down around them? Contains mature themes.

The man who has been brought to Gemma's home to recover from wounds suffered at the hands of the English is not like any man she has ever known-cold and dark, as stormy as the windswept sea. But Gemma pretends to pays him no mind, waiting on her long-lost love to return. This man will leave, and with him the strange fascination she entertains to know more of him. Declan recovers slowly at Gemma's home, sour and now bitter, his scars deep. Gemma is no more than an enchanting, out-of-bounds figure, coming and going, having little to do with his direct care-until her father proposes they wed. Declan refuses outright; a bride and wife can no longer be part of his future. But then he kisses her, surprising both of them, and decides he will not leave without her. Enraged, Gemma refuses, telling him her heart belongs to another but Declan will not listen. They depart for Windshire, with Gemma declining to play any part, either as wife or as chatelaine to his stormy castle on the coast. But she is drawn to life at Windshire. And she's beginning to imagine that her husband is not quite as icy and aloof as he would have her believe-or as she would like him to be. Contains mature themes.

Once a prisoner of the English, Nicholas MacRory cannot refuse so lucrative an offer: rescue the daughter of the powerful John de Graham and in return, the baron will invest his faithfulness, coin, and his considerable army in the Sottish cause. Nicholas doesn't count on resistance, or that the strong-willed lass will challenge the veracity of his claims, that he is there to take her home. And he certainly doesn't plan on being bitten by a fascination with the brave and breathtaking Alice. Alice de Graham has spent a year in England under house arrest, taken by Edward I to ensure her father's continued loyalty. When a handsome and mighty warrior climbs into the window of her prison, she does what any maid would do: she puts a knife to his throat. However, she has little choice but to escape with him, and it seems only a matter of time before her heart is claimed by her daring Highland rescuer. Upon being reunited with her family, her father reneges on his promise to Nicholas, leaving him with no other option but to now kidnap the lass himself to have the army promised him. Alice is stunned and outraged, and then powerless to prevent her heart from being enslaved. Contains mature themes.