Christine Young
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 3
BLURB:
Highland Honor
The first book in the Highland Series
Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a
journey through the treacherous highlands to the Macpherson castle. Callie
flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively
she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and
will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made
for her.
As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the
countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has
magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her
father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her
would violate all his vows of revenge.
EXCERPT:
Scotland November 1512:
A heavy frost sat on the frozen earth, and a full moon shone clearly
between the heavy clouds dotting the sky. Lady Callie Whitcomb looked over her
shoulder as she raced through the deepening gloom toward the lighted tavern
ahead. Every shadow, every mournful sigh of the wind sweeping through the
trees, every chilling animal sound filled her with terror. Fear for her life
drove her to put all thoughts of danger aside. He would follow her, find her,
and drag her home.
Home.
"Don't think of that now," she reminded herself fiercely, even
while tears stung in the back of her throat and fear made her limbs tremble.
"Don't ye dare think of home. It no longer exists." Nothing and no
one could coax her back or make her believe there was naught but terror in the home
where she'd been born.
"I will never marry Lord Huntington. Never!" she whispered
fiercely, the chill night air solemnly echoing her words.
Her stepbrother, Archibald Covington III, made sure she could never
return.
"There ye be, lass! I've been waiting for you."
The voice rose from nowhere and surprised her. Her heart froze, lurched,
then began an erratic beat, while raw nerves snapped, sending a myriad of
sensations racing down her spine.
"Archibald--" she whispered, panic sweeping through her.
"He's found me." All she could hear was the pounding of blood in her
ears.
Before she could reach her destination, before she could find safe
refuge from him, his men had found her. No! Not now. Not when she thought she
had eluded them all.
A wave of fear sweeping through her reminded her, that if caught, she
would be taken back to Archibald and forced to marry Lord Huntington.
"I'll help you down, lass."
"No."
Before she could react and spur her horse forward, callous, rough hands
centered on her waist then pulled her from her mount.
"No!" She cried out to no avail. Regaining her wits, she beat
fiercely upon the man's broad chest, tearing at his face and his thick beard
with her fingers.
"Ach, lass! Hold still! I mean ye no harm. Stop this--" His
voice was gruff and impatient.
Fear for her life had spurred her haste. Terror she might see Huntington
or Archibald with each turn of the road haunted every hour of her journey.
Archibald had retainers everywhere. Messages would have been sent. A highlander
could be bought.
"Ruffian! Unhand me! Ye barbarous Scotsman."
If Archibald had guessed what path she followed...
"Verra well, ne'er let it be said that I dinna do a lass'
bidding." Just as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, his hold upon her
vanished. She stumbled backward.
Instantly, she found herself sitting on the frozen earth. The man
towering above her watched her with concerned dark eyes. Despite the scar stretching
from forehead to chin, his mouth quirked upward in a humorous slant.
"Ye be a handful, lass."
Mary of A Romance Review says,
"Overall I liked the story and can recommend it as a worthwhile read. The
author has a lot of talent and the plot and tension of the story are well
handled."
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