For two centuries, Aidan dun Scoti's kinsmen have guarded Scotland's greatest secret, the real Stone of Destiny. Now King David seeks an alliance with the mountain Scot. But only one woman will tempt him--the accursed beauty whose father once betrayed his clan ... Tempted by Revenge Cursed by Aidan's people for the sins of her father, Lileas MacLaren is the one woman Aidan believes he is immune to ... she is also the one woman who may bring the fierce chieftain to his knees. Rich with history and lore, HIGHLAND FIRE brings back favorite characters from The Highland Brides and introduces you to new ones."

    Published in crime magazines, composed for events, broadcast on radio, they all share the best qualities of his phenomenally popular Rebus novels.Brought together for the first time, and including brand new material, this is the ultimate Rebus short-story collection and a must-have book for crime lovers and for Ian's millions of fans alike.No Rankin aficionado can go without it.

    But Doug is already working on a story of his own – tracking down a notorious rapist who has just been outed in Fife and thought to be heading for his parents’ home in East Lothian. Tapping his contact and sometime drinking pal DS Susie Drummond, Doug discovers that the woman who fell from the Scott Monument was the daughter of a high-profile MSP. Digging deeper, he and Susie are dragged into a story darker than they could ever have imagined – one that certain people would go to any lengths to keep hidden.

     Five walkers set out to climb Ben Lomond on a fine October day. Within hours, the weather has taken a turn for the worst. The group find themselves lost on the mountain. Two of the climbers manage to make it back down and call for help. The following day a body is found. One of the female climbers has been strangled and another man is missing without trace. DCI Dani Bevan is called to the Loch Lomond town of Ardyle to lead the case. It quickly becomes clear that Bevan must dig into the events of a similar tragedy which occurred on the hills thirty years earlier in order to find the killer. This requires the DCI to face up to the ghosts of her own tragic past, and to endeavour to put them behind her, once and for all.

    Struggling with his burning ambition, Cullen is assigned a Missing Persons case. Caroline Adamson, a young, recently-divorced Edinburgh mother, has disappeared while on a date.But when Caroline's body turns up, Cullen digs into her past and her private life starts to unravel. Who was she on a date with? What happened during her divorce? What was she doing on Schoolbook?Now, as Cullen investigates, his own private life gets messier and the relationship with his DI deteriorates. As other bodies turn up, Cullen soon finds himself hunting for a ghost in the machine.GHOST IN THE MACHINE is an intense police procedural novel about privacy, loss and social networks that builds to a shocking climax.DEVIL IN THE DETAILDetective Constable Scott Cullen of Lothian & Borders CID, still reeling from the events of a case the previous summer, is caught between antagonism with his superiors and the pressures of a new relationship.But when the body of Mandy Gibson, disabled daughter of a pillar of the community, is discovered one January morning, Cullen is pushed out to Garleton, a typical East Lothian town - affluent, historic and with a good school.Now, as the investigation becomes obstructed by a families broken by the tragedy, Cullen finds himself stuck between his DI and Bill Lamb, the local Sergeant. Is Mandy's religious group connected to her death? Where is the town's bad boy, Jamie Cook? As the community closes ranks, Cullen has to hunt for the devil in the detail.DEVIL IN THE DETAIL is a taut police procedural novel about faith and trust.FIRE IN THE BLOODDetective Constable Scott Cullen, bemused by the managerial positioning surrounding the impending merger of Lothian & Borders into Police Scotland, is torn by his personal and professional ambitions.But when a male human body, battered and unrecognisable, is found in a barrel for Dunpender Distillery's special centenary edition, Cullen is sent out east again.Now, Cullen finds himself trudging through a case with two likely victims who both went missing when the whisky was distilled. Could it be the owner's son, Iain Crombie? Is it Paddy Kavanagh, an employee with a fiery past? As he delves into the ancient history of the Crombie family, Cullen is soon contending with too many plausible suspects and his DI's desire for a quick collar, and finds himself hunting for a killer with fire in the blood.FIRE IN THE BLOOD is a deep police procedural about family, friendship and alcohol.DYED IN THE WOOLDetective Constable Scott Cullen finds his professional and private lives at opposite ends of the spectrum. While his career is stagnating - impacted by the jockeying for position ahead of the Police Scotland restructure as much as by his own inability to push for promotion - his love life goes from strength to stren

    Laird Jamie Montgomery is a warrior with a mission. When he travels to the northern Highlands on the orders of William Wallace, temptation in the form of an alluring lass, could be his undoing. Lady Lorna Sutherland can't resist the charms of one irresistible Highlander. Though she's been forbidden, she breaks every rule for the pleasure of his intoxicating embrace. When their love is discovered, Jamie is tossed from Sutherland lands under threat of death. But danger can't keep the two of them apart. No matter what perils may try to separate them-Lorna and Jamie swear they'll find a way to be together. More Stolen Brides: The Highlander's Reward The Highlander's Conquest The Highlander's Lady The Highlander's Warrior Bride The Highlander's Triumph The Highlander's Sin Praise for The Stolen Bride Series... "For fans of Highlander romance, this series is a must read!" Night Owl Romance The Highlander's Reward - winner of InD'Tale Magazine's Best Historical Novel 2012 The Highlander's Reward - "The powerful yet sensitive Magnus and the saucy and beautiful Arbella are a winning pair in this Scottish themed romance that even boasts cameos from William Wallace himself." Publisher's Weekly Reviewer for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest

    When Meredith is forced to marry another to appease her father and secure an alliance, the young lovers think all is lost.Only to be reignited…Ten long years of a stifling marriage nearly crush Meredith’s spirit. But when her unfeeling husband dies and Burke, now a grown man and a hardened warrior, suddenly reappears in her life, the two may get a second chance at first love—if old blood feuds don’t rip them apart once and for all.

    1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. Including an extract from his new Logan novel, The Missing and the Dead.It’s the night of the big Referendum, and all Acting Detective Inspector Logan McRae has to do is find a missing ‘No’ campaigner. Should be easy enough…But, as usual, DCI Steel has plans of her own. As the votes are counted there’s trouble brewing in the pubs and on the streets of Aberdeen.Logan’s picked up a promising lead, but all is not quite what it seems, and things are about to go very, very wrong…

    He certainly doesn’t expect to be confronted with his twin’s imminent death, or with the plan his brother has concocted. Ten years before, Malcolm made a tragic mistake, and, to preserve the family name—and his own skin—he allowed Kenneth to take the fall. Now that he is dying without an heir, Malcolm plans to atone for his mistake: by giving Kenneth his life back. All Kenneth has to do is assume his brother’s identity. But complicating matters is the unexpected return of Lady Isobel Mackay, the daughter of an English marquess and the wife Malcolm didn’t want. Isobel barely knows the husband who abandoned her even before their marriage, and she'd long since given up on having a real marriage with him. Yet when she returns to the Mackay holding far earlier than expected, she finds her husband a changed man. Despite the hurt between them, Isobel's heart responds to this man who cares for his entire clan as if they were family. Who, for the first time, cares for her as if she is, too. Falling in love with her husband had never been part of Isobel’s plan. But when their future is suddenly in peril, Isobel must find a way to save him—from himself and from the deception threatening to tear them apart.

    But when powerful enemies threaten, each Douglas lass will find she must face them alone. CAPTURED BY A LAIRD Haunted by his father's violent death, David Hume, the new laird of Wedderburn, sets out to make his name so feared that no one will dare harm his family again. The treacherous ally who played on his father's weakness is dead and beyond David's vengeance, but his castle and young widow are ripe for the taking. The moment David lays eyes on the dark-haired beauty defending her wee daughters, however, he knows this frail-looking lass is the one person who could bring him to his knees. Wed at thirteen to a man who tried daily to break her spirit, Lady Alison Douglas is looking forward to a long widowhood. But when the fearsome warrior known as the Beast of Wedderburn storms her gates, she finds herself, once again, forced to wed a stranger. Alison is only a pawn to serve his vengeance, so why does this dark warrior arouse such fiery passion and an unwelcome longing in her heart? With death and danger looming, these two wounded souls must learn to trust each other...for only love can save them.

    With their king captured by the English, Scottish nobles plot to ransom James behind the back of the brutal regent holding their land in his iron grip. But not every clan wishes to see King James back on his throne…Sitting atop this powder keg of bloodthirsty rivalries, Malcolm of clan MacKintosh takes the mysterious, lone maiden he finds along his road as a bad omen…though an undeniably beautiful one. When he attempts to save her from a rogue within his own garrison, she deftly brings Malcolm to his knees. Who is this willful lass who has so quickly laid siege to his heart?Alethia Goodsky has met all kinds working at the New York Renaissance Festival, but no one like the fortune-teller who tasks her with a cryptic life-saving mission and flings her into the fifteenth century. Now Alethia must rely on her wits to unravel the mystery in this violent land. Malcolm has sworn to protect her, but her gifts may soon make her his protector. With enemies closing in, Alethia must choose between finding a way home…and remaining true to her Highlander.

    But when he arrives home, he finds his father dying, his castle under threat of siege by a rival clan, and his twin sister claiming that Faeries roam their lands.As the eldest son, it falls to Alex to take on the onerous task of setting things to rights and ensuring the welfare of Clan MacKillican. The last thing he needs is a strange woman arriving unannounced to add to the bedlam that his life has become. Honor demands that he offer her protection. But is he keeping her safe or has he allowed a spy into his home?Denver, CO – Present DayAnalise Shaw is a woman suffocating in her perfect life.Annie has spent her life being the perfect daughter. She’s even agreed to marry the “perfect” man to suit her parents. But as the wedding nears, she’s getting cold feet. What Annie really wants isn’t a husband, but time to herself and a place to call her own.A deathbed promise to her grandmother sends Annie to Scotland, to the cottage she’s inherited. Once there, her attempt to solve a mystery surrounding her grandmother takes a bizarre twist, landing her in another time–A time in which she finds a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, and a quiet, brooding Highlander who makes her question all her old arguments against wanting a man of her very own.Alex and Annie face the challenges of lives taking paths completely different from the ones they expected to travel. Just as they begin to suspect that, together, they can face any obstacle, they are presented with the biggest obstacle of all: the Magic that would return Annie to her own time and the man who awaits her there.

    D.C.I. Daley discovers that, despite the passage of time, the legacy of the murder still resonates within the community, and as he tries to make sense of the case, the tortured screams of a man who died long ago echo across Kinloch.

    I don't know why she swallowed the midgie,So teeny and squidgy!"In this hilarious twist on the much-loved rhyme, the wee lassie swallows a succession of Scotland's favourite creatures to catch that pesky midge -- including a puffin, a Scottie dog, a seal, and even Nessie!After all that, she can't still be hungry. Can she?Kate McLelland's funny, engaging illustrations bring to life this uniquely Scottish version of a classic rhyme.

    Isabelle MacDuff prays to escape a fate worse than death. And while their fellow Scots scrap over the empty throne, the brutal Edward Longshanks of England invades the weakened northern kingdom.Yet one young warrior--who will become feared by his enemies as the Black Douglas--stands in the path of three Plantagenet monarchs. Their clans are sworn rivals, but James pursues the ravishing Isabelle, whose forefathers for centuries have inaugurated kings on the hallowed Stone of Destiny. Their world is upturned when James befriends Robert Bruce, a bitter foe of the MacDuffs. Both James and Isabelle must make agonizing decisions that will draw the armies to the bloody field of Bannockburn.Here is the story of the remarkable events following the execution of William Wallace of Braveheart fame. Set during the Bruce wars of independence, The Spider and the Stone is the unforgettable saga of the star-crossed love, religious intrigue, fierce friendship in arms, and heroic sacrifice that preserved Scotland's freedom during its time of greatest peril. -- Chaucer Award First-Place Historical Fiction-- Foreword Finalist Book-of-the-Year Historical Fiction-- indieBRAG Medallion -- BTS Magazine Reader's Choice Honorable Mention

    His only hope for freedom is to bring his grannie's sister home from America. But first, he'll have to convince her young companion, Emily Chapman, to let the woman go. Emily devotes herself to foster youth and her beloved Aunt Grace. Caring for others quiets a secret fear she holds close to her heart. But when Ian appears, wanting to whisk Grace off to Scotland, everything Emily holds dear is at risk. Like There’s No Tomorrow is an amusing yet heart-tugging love story about two kind, single caretakers, two quirky old sisters bent on reuniting, and too many agendas. It’s a tale of family, fiery furnaces, faith, and the gift of each new day. If you’d like to travel to Scotland from the comfort of your armchair, “book” your ticket now! A strong Scots hero, enchanting accents, and a sweet romance await you. “I literally read Like There’s No Tomorrow in one sitting. A strong but troubled Scottish hero, an American heroine with a secret, and a cast of dynamic supporting characters all come together in this page-turning romantic debut. Camille Eide writes with abandon, depth, and emotional fortitude. Don’t miss this sublime novel!” —LESLIE GOULD, #1 Best-Selling and Christy Award-Winning Author “Camille Eide writes with such warmth and honesty, it’s nearly impossible to remember that the characters populating this engaging novel aren’t real. Like There’s No Tomorrow offers wisdom, laughter, and lovely, poignant moments from Glasgow, Scotland to Central Oregon, and will steal your heart from the moment you read the first page.” —CINDY KELLEY, Screenwriter, Author of Traces of Mercy “Camille Eide’s writing infuses the reader with honeysuckle from the roads of Oregon to the crofts of Scotland, and with the sweet infusion comes a gentle love, built from heartache and fear, but paved with hope. Ms. Eide’s debut novel is rich with characters who have learned that obstacles don’t mean an end, but a new beginning. Dare yourself to be steeped in tea and wonder when two hurting people learn where true love leads.” —LINDA S. GLAZ, Literary Agent, Author of With Eyes of Love “Tender and heart-wrenching, Camille Eide’s debut novel brings home the eternal truth that no one knows what tomorrow may bring. With characters and dialogue that sparkle, Like There’s No Tomorrow will weave its way into your heart and not let go. Beautiful, and the first of many novels, I hope, from this gifted writer.” —CARLA STEWART, Award-Winning Author of Stardust and The Hatmaker’s Heart “Camille Eide’s Like There’s No Tomorrow will tug your heartstrings as well as tickle your funny bone. The characterization is delicious, and I thought of my own BFF as I fell in love with two elderly Scottish sisters who renewed my faith in a better day ahead.” —SANDRA D. BRICKER, Author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the Inspirational Market “This tender love story captured my heart. It’s a perfect blend of drama, humor, and romance topped off with delightful characters that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. This may be Camille Eide’s debut novel, but she is no novice at storytelling. Like There’s No Tomorrow is one of my favorite reads of the year. And Camille is on my short list of favorite authors.

    James Douglas is a Scottish youth sent to France by his noble father to escape being taken hostage by the English. When word comes that his father has died in the Tower of London, he is hurled into the war between Scotland and England. Catapulted into an intrigue of rival factions and clashing armies that threatens Scotland, his own lands, and his life, he joins the newly crowned Robert the Bruce in a desperate, seemingly hopeless struggle. Thus begins a story of bravery and determination that has echoed through the ages. This bundle includes the entire Black Douglas Trilogy: A KINGDOM'S COST COUNTENANCE OF WAR NOT FOR GLORY

    

    And they were told the story of a fierce fairy knight who now guarded the woods for the fairy queen. But Janet didn't believe in fairy stories and Janet didn't like being told what to do.

    These are the romantic tales of the Winter Stone... In Once Upon a Highland Legend, a Guardians of the Stone novella, by Tanya Anne Crosby, Annie McPherson has gone through her entire life a bit lost. She's about to find herself misplaced in time as well, where she must take her place as a guardian and find a way to restore the faith of a powerful chieftain. Will she win his heart as well? In MacAlister's Hope, a Kilmartin Glen novella, by Laurin Wittig, Kieron MacAlister has always loved Fia MacLachlan, a wee fey lass he met years ago who, with her sweet smile and surprising insight, changed his life. When he comes face-to-face with the beautiful woman she's grown into, can he convince her to change her life, too?In The Outcast, a Scottish Lasses novella, by Glynnis Campbell, Lachlan Mar, a disfigured and broken Scots warrior, doesn't believe anything can mend the wounds of war until Alisoune Hay, a brilliant and beautiful young lass, stumbles into his cottage and his life, healing his hurt and his heart with the most magical power of all--love. One legend, three enchanting novellas from three beloved authors.

     Dead Women A Ruthless Killer A Detective with something to prove Newly promoted DI Shona McKenzie struggles to cope with her new job, the respect of her colleagues, and the need to solve the hardest case of her life. Will she succeed? For lovers of books by Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Alex Gray, Stuart MacBride, Lin Anderson

    Gundren Rockseeker, a miner and one of the three Rockseeker brothers, is preparing to return to the frontier town of Phandalin, a few days travel to the south-east. In need of escort services for his goods, he hired four adventures whom he met while in town to travel with the wagon until they could deliver the goods to Bartrend's Provisions. Ellaria Nightwood, Ravaaga Laughshield, Yamcha and Stump agreed to the job for the price of 10gp a piece. Gundren, along with his bodyguard, a human warrior named Sildar Hallwinter, set out at once to "take care of business" before the party's arrival. Together, the party set out along the highroad and eventually on to the Triboar Trail. This is where the story began.

    But when Hadrian’s Wall falls, Valeria’s world shatters. Ripped from her bed, she’s captured by savages. Terrified, she prays her betrothed will mount a rescue. But it is the enemy, a Pict with Celtic tattoos and hair of fire who wields his sword and fights for her freedom. When she seeks refuge in the warrior’s stronghold, the Picts eye her with distrust and force her to earn her keep as a commoner. But the longer Valeria remains, the more agonizing it becomes to conceal her burning love for the Celtic warrior.

    Named Chief and Lady of the land, they rule the vast holding, and protect the people by divine right, until the next game begins. After her brother's death Ceana is named laird. The only way for her clan to survive the ravages of the Highlands is to join in the war games. Bastard son of a powerful earl, Macrath is placed in the games by his vengeful stepmother. He must survive for the ultimate retribution. Ceana can't afford to like the formidable, captivating, Highlander who seems to be following her, and yet she can't seem to walk away. Macrath wants nothing more than to protect the enchanting warrior lass, but doing so may get in the way of his need for revenge. What starts out as a race to survive turns into passion to endure together. May the gods be forever in their favor...

    This is particularly true of Edinburgh, one of the most visually stunning cities in Europe and a place rich in historical and cultural associations. This lavishly illustrated book features 80 maps of Edinburgh that have been selected for the particular stories they reveal about different political, commercial, and social aspects of the region. Together, they present a fascinating insight into how Edinburgh has changed and developed over the last 500 years, and will appeal to all those with an interest in Edinburgh and Scottish history, as well as anyone interested in urban history, architectural history, town planning, and the history of cartography.

    Sharing some of the recipes that they brought over, the tomatoes, the garlic, the sausage, the wine, this is a mouthwatering memoir of family and food. It is also a brilliant evocation of life between the wars, a triumphant story of survival against all the odds, that captures the sights and smells of Italian life and culture, at home and abroad.

     Detective Sergeant Joe Galbraith starts what seems like one more depressing investigation of the untimely death of a poor unfortunate who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. As the investigation spreads across Scotland it reaches into a past that Joe has tried to forget, and takes him back to the Hebridean island of Harris, where he spent his childhood. Among the mountains and the stunning landscape of religiously conservative Harris, in the shadow of Ceapabhal, long buried events and a tragic story are slowly uncovered, and the investigation takes on an altogether more sinister aspect. In The Shadow Of The Hill skilfully captures the intricacies and malevolence of the underbelly of Highland and Island life, bringing tragedy and vengeance to the magical beauty of the Outer Hebrides.

    Else you shall be next.” These are the words that leave a six-year-old Highland lass without a voice, and without memory of that terrible day her family's caravan was overtaken and her parents were slain.Now, thirteen years later, fresh from the nunnery where she was taken after the attack, Highland Lady, Morgana Cambel, harbors only one wish: To have one night of ecstasy with the man of her dreams—her worldly, beautiful cousin's sometime lover—Robert MacVie. So, when she is offered such a chance—a secret switch—she determines to take it.Highland Laird, Robert MacVie, desperately plots to ensnare his heiress lover into marriage in order to gain her dowry and pay his King the debt his late father owed, thus saving his clan from division and ruin. But a last minute switch changes the course of his life—and his heart—forever.When their passionate interlude is discovered by her unctuous, devious uncle, nothing will do but that Robert wed the impoverished Morgana instead.At first, they both resist. He, for the sake of his clan. She, for the sake of her unrequited love. But they quickly discover that resistance is futile. And a boon by the King soon lessens Robert’s debt. Now, as their desire for each other grows, as Morgana’s voice begins to return only in song, as their hearts bond, a legacy of jealousy and greed entraps Morgana in a furious death plot—and only her warrior-knight husband can save her!THE MEDIEVAL HIGHLANDERS SERIES:The Highlands Trilogy (The Macleans)Book 1 : Highland VengeanceBook 2 : Highland GraceBook 3 : Highland Magic(The Cambels)Book 4 : Song of the Highlands (The Cambels)NEXT UP: Book 5 : Currently untitled : publication date unknown**The love story of Vika Cambel and Grímr Thorfinnsson

    Take in the views and the history from Edinburgh Castle, shop, eat and drink in the New Town, or relax in Princes Street Gardens; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of the best of Edinburgh and begin your journey now!Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Edinburgh:Full-colour maps and images throughoutHighlights and itineraries show you the simplest way to tailor your trip to your own personal needs and interestsInsider tips save you time and money and help you get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spotsEssential info at your fingertips - including hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, and pricesHonest reviews for all budgets - including eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, and hidden gems that most guidebooks missFree, convenient pull-out Edinburgh map (included in print version), plus seventeen colour neighbourhood mapsUser-friendly layout with helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you determine the best spots to spend your timeUseful features - including Best for Kids, Walking Tours, and Don't Miss (quick glance at must-sees)Coverage of the Old Town, New Town, Leith and moreThe Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Pocket Edinburgh is a handy guide that literally fits in your pocket, providing on-the-go assistance to travellers who seek only the can't-miss experiences. Colourful and easy-to-use, this neighbourhood-focused guide includes unique local recommendations to maximise your quick-trip experience.Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's Scotland guide for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer, or Lonely Planet's Discover Scotland, a photo-rich guide to the country's most popular attractions. Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Neil Wilson.About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012 and 2013 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' -The New York Times'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' -Fairfax Media (Australia)

    Gil is a recently qualified lawyer whose family still expect him to enter the priesthood. When he finds the body of a young woman in the new building at Glasgow Cathedral he is asked to investigate, and identifies the corpse as the runaway wife of cruel, unpleasant nobleman John Semphill. With the help of Maistre Pierre, the French master-mason, Gil must ask questions and seek a murderer in the heart of the city.The Nicholas FeastGlasgow 1492. Gil Cunningham remarked later that if he had known he would find a corpse in the university coalhouse, he would never have gone to the Arts Faculty feast.In this mysterious adventure Gil Cunningham returns to his old university for the Nicholas Feast, where he and his colleagues are entertained by a play presented by some of the students. One of the actors, William Irvine, is later found murdered and Gil assisted by Alys, begins to disentangle a complex web of espionage and blackmail involving William's tutors and fellow students. Matters are further complicated by the arrival of Gil's formidable mother who is determined to inspect his betrothed. Little do Alys and Gil realise that it will be she who provides the final, vital key to unmask the murderer and lay his motives clear.The Merchant’s MarkThe barrel should have contained books - instead it held treasure and a severed head...Gil Cunningham and his old acquaintance, Glasgow merchant Augie Morison, expecting a delivery of books from the Low Countries, report the gruesome substitute to the Provost, and at the inquest the next morning Morison is accused of the murder and imprisoned. He appeals to Gil, who sets out with his friend and future father in law Maistre Pierre, the French master-mason, to find the treasure's owner, trace the barrel and identify the dead man.The trail they follow leads them from the court of James IV at Stirling via a cooper's yard in Linlithgow, to another death on the bare slopes of the Pentland Hills. St Mungo’s Robin The warden of St Serf's has been found dead in the almshouse garden. He appears to have been killed on the previous night but there are those who are convinced he was present at that morning's service, The elderly residents, the almshouse nurse and Humphrey, her deranged favourite, have all been set against one another by the dead man's scheming - and then there is the discarded mistress and almshouse ghost to consider.Tracing the dead man's last movements between the Cathedral precinct and the shores of the Clyde, Gil Cunningham is both helped and hindered by his two sisters who have come to Glasgow for his wedding to Alys. An uncanny event followed by the arrival of Gil's godfather, precipitates the crisis. Finally, it is Alys who helps Gil identify the warden's killer.

    Not only has he made two new pals, who have recently come to his school after being expelled from one of the local Catholic schools, but their dream of owning their own pigeon loft or ‘dookit’ and competing with the city’s grown-up ‘doo-men’ in the sport they love, could soon become a reality. The only problem is that The Mankys don’t have the dosh to pay for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Lady Luck begins to shine down on them when Pat Molloy, aka The Big Man, one of Glasgow’s top heavies asks them to do him a wee favour. The Mankys are soon embroiled in an adult world of gangsters, police corruption, violence and crime. Meanwhile, Johnboy's mother, Helen Taylor, is busy trying to keep one step ahead of the local Provi cheque men and organising a group of local women to demonstrate against The Corporation Sheriff officers' warrant sales. Set against the backdrop of a condemned tenement slum area, the fate of which has already been decided upon as it stands in the way of the city’s new Inner Ring Road motorway development, the boys soon realise that to survive on the streets, they have to stay one step ahead of those in authority. The only problem for The Mankys is working out who’s really in charge. Parly Road is full of the shadiest characters that 1960s Glasgow has to offer and takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey that has been described as irreverently hilarious, bad-assed, poignantly sad and difficult to put down.

    Of the seven sons who fought, four died and two more were horrifically wounded. Only one son, the youngest, came home unscathed. This book is a touching portrait of the sacrifice and heartbreak of their mother Lizzie, and the tragic courage of her last surviving boys. Follow the journey of how a once proud and inspirational Scottish family were devastated by war and how the effects rippled through time and generations. A century later, the tartan threads of this resilient family finally begin to draw together again.

    Drunk at dawn on the first of May, the students of an elite university in Scotland prepare to run into the frigid sea in a centuries-old tradition. Among the third-year students are Catriona Darlington and Julie Lovejoy: observers to and participants in their peers’ wealthy madness. Between two Mays, they devolve from strangers to enemies as they navigate the social rules of a generation without them and the pressures of life in a suffocatingly small cosmopolitan town. Tangled up in the chaos of the girls’ gradually intertwining lives are the boys who wouldn’t grow up: a priest-to-be; an oil sheikh-to-be; a cousin and friend who is the keeper of each girl's destructive secrets; and the immoral moral philosophy student whose years-long relationship with Catriona is taking its time in dying. When the sun rises over the sea on May first of their fourth year, nothing and no one is the same as they were the year before. But has anyone grown up?

    Mathew Fleming returns home to Scotland following heroic service at the Battle of Waterloo. After seven years away, he is a ghostly presence to those he left behind. But Mathew is ambitious and soon becomes a man of influence in his county and beyond. Yet through all his success, he still hides the loss of his one true love.When a terrible act of murder occurs, Mathew must choose between the rule of blood and the rule of law. And as a man of honour with a warrior's instincts, he embarks on a journey of vengeance that will test every sinew of his faith in mankind...

    Though Banquo is murdered, his son Fleance gets away. What happened to Fleance? As Shakespeare's audience apparently knew, Banquo was the ancestor of the royal Stewart line. But the road to kingship had a most inauspicious beginning, and we follow Fleance into exile and death, bestowing the Witches prophecy on his illegitimate son Walter. Born in Wales and raised in disgrace, Walter's efforts to understand Banquo's murder and honor his lineage take him on a long and treacherous journey through England and France before facing his destiny in Scotland.

    Tom was a tradition bearer, and his folklore was collected by the School of Scottish Studies. As a traveling storyteller, Lawrence has collected many more tales. This book contains many favorite stories—some you may recognize, but they have given them a Shetland twist. From selkies to invading giants and Vikings, this book brings together for the first time many tales of the Shetland Isles. Being separate from the Scottish mainland, the Shetlands has a rich and unique tradition of folklore. This collection is sure to enthrall and entertain those from the Islands and anyone who picks up a copy.

    A crazy teenager is being pressured to slay a monster. The world’s worst poet writes the world’s worst poem. A nurse stuffs her pocket full of potatoes. Dragons wait at the edge of time, while a unicorn waits by the bingo. And why is the bus always in the wrong lane?These strange events are all linked to the mysterious ruler of Enkadar. She is a genius, a goddess, a queen…and a murderer.She is The Endless Empress.And she is forever.

    He survives a death march to Durham, England and is eventually sent to Massachusetts Bay Colony as an indentured servant, arriving aboard the ship "Unity" that was carrying around 150 prisoners of war from different Scottish clans. Now an outcast, and in the sanctuary of the new colony, John starts over as an immigrant in a Puritan theocracy. He is first indentured to the Saugus Iron Works and then to Concord as a public shepherd in West Concord (now Acton). The young man faces obstacles often beyond his control, and his only ally is his faith. After his indenture is served he struggles a near lifetime to obtain title to his promised land. From start to finish "The Immigrant" is an intoxicating journey that follows the travails of John, his faith in God, his good wife and growing family.

    Their challenge is to solve the puzzle, "quid est veritas." One of the group, Caballo Blanco, a re-invented version of the original, has an idea that might unearth answers: to stage a golf tournament and marathon on the island. The golf and marathon are successful but do the seven find the answers?

    Using the ancient stories that were told by the firesides of the Picts and Vikings, we hear how the islands were created from the teeth of a monster, how a giant created lochs and hills in his greed for fertile land, and how the waves are controlled by the hand of a goddess. Here ancient standing stones walk and burial mounds are the home of the trows. Invisible islands are encountered, home to fin folk and mermaids, while seals are not always what they seem to be. Witches raise storms and predict the outcome of a battle, ghosts seek revenge, and the devil sits in the rafters of St Magnus Cathedral, taking notes!

    These magnificent creatures encapsulate the majesty and wildness of Scotland. But change is afoot for the eagles of Scotland: the golden eagles are now sharing the skies with sea eagles after a successful reintroduction programme. In this captivating account, Jim Crumley uses his years of observing these spectacular birds to paint an intimate portrait of their lives and how they interact with each other and the Scottish landscape. Combining passion, beautifully descriptive prose and writer's twenty-five years of living, breathing and writing the landscape, The Eagle's Way explores the controversies surrounding these birds. What now for the eagles? And how will they transform our skies?

    Unlike many history books, it looks beyond the kings and queens, the aristocrats and industrialists, the politicians and generals, to the extraordinary men and women from the sprawling masses. Rigorously researched, this epic story of heroism and betrayal, courage and intrigue, sacrifice and avarice, is told with flair and clarity.

    A wonderfully benevolent, and eccentric character, his passion and love for the island and its continuing success, has always been of the utmost importance. He has kept diaries all his life and delves deep into them, unveiling a uniquely human story, punctuated with liberal amounts of humour, as well as heart-rending tragedy, always dominated by the vagaries of the sea. Filled with fascinating and extraordinary tales and priceless observations, this is not only a highly entertaining read but is also an important part of Scottish social history. The story begins with the amusing debut of Lawrence as a new baby when his mother returned from the hospital on the mainland, and carries on through his colourful island childhood and up to present day. Here are tales of coal puffers and livestock transportation on steamers and small boats, extraordinary chance meetings and adventures that eventually led him to finding his wife, Jenny, on the island of Soay. It's a book about the small hard-grafting community of 30 souls on this fertile island of just 1500 acres. Residents work closely with the MacEwen family in business interests: the thriving farm, market garden, a modern school, a busy tearoom, craft shop, and a winter shoot. A new village hall was opened in 2012, and a guesthouse in May 2013. Until March 2013, Muck depended on an unreliable generator for electricity that only came on twice daily, but now has finally been electrified with solar panels and wind turbines. It was one of the last places in the UK to receive 24-hour power.

    . . Helen's first aid kit comes in very handy when she meets Yann's friends -- a gang of fabled beasts with a habit of getting into trouble.<br><br>Together Helen and the fabled beasts -- a fairy, a dragon, a phoenix, a werewolf and even a selkie -- must battle minotaurs, wrestle with wolves, fight faeries, solve riddles and travel the length and breadth of Scotland on a series of ever more dangerous quests.<br><br>Enter the world of the Fabled Beasts in this exciting four-book fantasy adventure series.

    His forebearers had been lairds of Glasdun Castle and the village of Mindor for centuries, and James feels responsible when his former clansmen lose their livelihoods under the new owner’s factor, George Grimes. Hoping to relieve his clansmen’s burden, James works as a physician for little or no pay. His efforts yield few results until the arrival of George Grimes’s niece, Mariah Lawrence, a religious do-gooder who immediately interferes in the lives of Mindor’s people and fills them with false hope.Mariah inherits Glasdun Castle from her wealthy father. When she visits her uncle, the castle’s factor, she is shocked at the level of poverty she sees. When she seeks to improve the lot of Mindor’s people, they receive her warmly. The only person not impressed is the young, handsome doctor, James MacGregor, who claims her family is responsible for all the problems she strives to fix.When a typhus epidemic strikes, Mariah and James work together to save the people. Now, they are forced to fight the attraction that has plagued them since their first meeting. Only by putting aside their differences and acknowledging their love for one another can James and Mariah heal from the personal scars resulting from the whist game their fathers played together many years ago...

    But now someone wants her dead.Dr. Ian MacGregor knows better than to get involved with Natasha White. The tempting heartbreaker has a way of getting under his skin, but he couldn't live with himself if anything happened to her. Sweeping her away to his Highland castle, Ian becomes her fiercest protector as he vows to safeguard her against the mob who will stop at nothing to eliminate her. He’ll guard her till the end, even if that means giving them a second chance at love. As passion intensifies between them, Ian and Natasha must face their darkest secrets, secrets that bring them closer, but may threaten their newfound intimacy. Natasha is hiding more than Ian realized.But he has secrets of his own...HEART TAMERShe's the last person he expects--or wants-- to see again. But this time, can he resist?Alec MacLeod is shocked to find Kate Hayes at his sister's wedding, but damn he's missed her. His ex-wife's unforeseen arrival in Scotland makes him suspect she's up to something.There was a reason they parted the first time and Alec is determined not to get pulled in, but seeing her again ignites a desire so intense, he's tempted.Kate wants something so desperately, she’s willing to swallow her pride and plead with her formidable ex-husband for help. With time running out, she must convince the dominant Highlander to agree with her unusual request.They need each other more than they know, but can they put past hurt behind them, even if it could change everything in their world as they know it?In this fiery battle of love, whose heart will be tamed?THE HEARTTHROB SERIES: Book 1: Heart Raider (Nick and Veronique) Book 2: Heart Melter (Ian and Natasha) Book 3: Heart Tamer (Alec and Kate) Book 4: Heart Hunter (Cameron and Evie) Book 5: Heart Tempter (Leo and Teddy)

    At the centre of the narrative are the Cumbri, or North Britons, an ancient people whose kings ruled from a power base in the lower valley of the River Clyde. In the tenth century, these kings extended their rule southward to the Solway Firth and beyond, bringing their language and culture to districts that had been in English hands for more than two hundred years. Their kingdom, known as Strathclyde or Cumbria, became one of the great powers of the time. Its history is an important chapter in the tale of how England and Scotland emerged from the early medieval period or ‘Dark Ages’ as the countries we know today.

    It was the first country house built by John, Robert and James Adam - the brothers whose architectural practice was to become the most famous in Britain.Dumfries House lies within its historic landscape in rolling farmland to the west of Cumnock. Completed in 1760, the house was adapted and altered over the years - most significantly and sympathetically by Robert Weir Schultz, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. Dumfries House is not only significant architecturally, it also contains one of the most spectacular collections of eighteenth century furniture in Britain, with works by Thomas Chippendale, and pieces by three renowned Edinburgh furniture makers, Francis Brodie, Alexander Peter and William Mathie. In June 2007, HRH The Prince of Wales headed a consortium of charities and heritage bodies to buy the house, with the express aim of preserving it in its entirety and making it more accessible to the public.

    Of course no one told me until that unforgettable day. It was like I was in the dark and then suddenly someone switched on the light. I understand why they didn’t or couldn’t tell me sooner but that didn’t make me feel any better. Now that I know what I am and that I will never change, I have no choice but to suck it up and take it like a man….except I’m not a man so I guess take it like a woman? Eh, that doesn’t sound as good but whatever, you know what I mean. Alex has always followed the family orders, when she is sent to Scotland for “work” her life is forever changed when she meets the McTaverish clan. Note: This is a New Adult novel and contains mature language and situations Available at Amazon.com

    Having drifted from occasional schooling to various adventures on the bread vans, down the mines and in the shipyards, Tony then saw an advert in the newspaper for part-time actors to star opposite glamorous actresses. He liked the sound of that, and it was to be the start of a whole new life. Now, for the first time, Tony tells his colourful life story. There’s his large extended family which had more than its fair share of characters, his father’s secret war record, the incident with the bread knife and his brother, his narrow escapes from death, and plenty of unexpected family revelations. Then there’s his time as the legendary Jamesie Cotter in Rab C. Nesbitt, his enduring friendship (and the odd fallout) with Rikki Fulton, hilarious appearances in Only an Excuse?, Scotch & Wry and Naked Video, in-depth discussions with Billy Connolly about who really makes the best pies, how he came to write his classic play The Steamie – and why it nearly didn’t make it to the stage. Tony also describes his shocking recent health scares and his agonising decision about whether to go for a life-saving operation or play one last game for Dukla Pumpherston. I’ll No Tell You Again is the inspiring and hilarious autobiography of one of our funniest and best-loved actors, known to millions as Tony Roper and to his family as... well, read it and you’ll find out!

    It was ginormous: almost as big as the whole of Scotland! The King of Scotland called for warriors to defeat the terrible dragon and save his daughter, the Princess Gemdelovely, from being eaten. But none who faced the dragon ever returned, until...Gentle Assipattle is no warrior, but maybe together, he and Princess Gemdelovely can free Scotland from the wrath of the Dragon Stoorworm.A lively retelling of the traditional Scottish folk tale of the Dragon Stoorworm (or Mester Stoor Worm), which explains the origins of Scotland's many islands, adapted for a young audience. Award-winning author Theresa Breslin's story unfolds with wry humor while Matthew Land's magical illustrations capture the fairy-tale beauty of Scotland.The Dragon Stoorworm is one of the first titles released in the new Picture Kelpies: Traditional Scottish Tales range of picture books that bring classic Scottish folk and fairy tales to life for young children."(Ages 4-7)"

    A selection of the best are collected here, for the first time. Each a gem of insight and wit, they provide a piece-by-piece portrait of a nation as it changes.

    Finn, a young Scottish slave, suffers the brutality of his Saxon master yet longs for his owner’s daughter, the beautiful but untouchable Freya. Neither Finn nor Freya suspect that their lives—and the lives of all those in seventh-century Britain—are imperiled by legions of the living dead driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh.

    This history begins with the military clashes during the initial stages of the Wars of Independence. After Bruce's revolt against Edward I, it follows his chain of military successes which led to the siege of the English garrison in Stirling Castle and brought about the great battle between both countries at Bannockburn. The book considers the significance of the Scottish victory, primarily—but not exclusively—in the light of their continued battlefield successes that compelled England to acknowledge Scotland's reemergence as a sovereign power 14 years later.

    The collection includes tales acquired from more than 30 years studying and taking part in ancient seasonal customs, and discovering the folk tales intrinsically linked to those customs, such as the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels (Devon), the Viking "Up Helly Aa" (Shetland), and the Haxey Hood Game (Lincolnshire). This is a book to curl up with in front of an open fire on long winter nights.

    However, they stick to the rules and soon realize the umbrella has magic powers: When two people share it, they fall in love! Travis in California, Ainsley in Edinburgh, Carlo in Florence, and Josie in Paris go through the most amazing year of their lives and meet up again a year later. Join the cousins during this tender, amusing, touching and romantic year, and you’ll finish their story with a happy feeling deep within. This is a sweet and clean, contemporary romantic comedy

    Close your eyes is the debut novel of true talent." - Publishers WeeklyA young woman vanishes into the cold Glaswegian night. Nine years later, one man is forced on a journey into his buried past to reveal the truth behind her mysterious disappearance.Take a Breath is set in gangster-ridden Glasgow. With razor-sharp pace and authentic urban grit, it charts the relationship of Paul and Lena, mining the darker side of love, as time and again they engage in a grim, obsessive dance. From their first tumultuous meeting, following their reconnections over several years, each encounter is more intense than the last. However, Lena is not the only one entangled with Paul. He has fallen in with notorious crimelord Manny Munroe, a name synonymous with drugs, prostitution and a ruthless lust for violence.As the stakes rise ever higher, Take a Breath offers a chilling look at the organized crime realm of Glasgow, where everyone is connected and no one leaves unscathed. With searing narrative, complex characters, and the seamy backdrop of Glasgow’s mean streets, this arresting work of fiction will leave you hanging on every tautly written page.

    But certain special places tug at her heartstrings and lure her back time and time again. Travelling to the highlands and islands and all her favourite places in between, this is Lorraine’s personal journey around her beautiful and beguiling country.Each and every stop gives rise to fascinating stories and memories along the way, from her adopted home of Dundee to the wild and remote islands of St Kilda. She revisits childhood haunts in Glasgow, indulges in a spot of whisky-tasting on the island of Islay and reveals what led her to once arrive in Edinburgh pushing a pram and wearing a pair of rollerskates. She rediscovers the joys of the natural wilderness in the Highlands, visits a dramatic Viking fire festival in Shetland and recalls the week she and her family spent hunting the Loch Ness monster . . .Beautifully illustrated with stunning original photographs, Lorraine Kelly’s Scotland is a celebration of a gloriously diverse country with a deep and rich heritage, told with all Lorraine’s characteristic warmth and humour.

    From his roots as a noted London session player, his three-year stint with Paul McCartney's Wings as lead guitarist, to his solo career as an innovative finger style guitar composer and performer, this photographic memoir is a snapshot of a One Man Band on the Run. "A superb pictorial account of LJ's musical journey from first meeting Paul McCartney in a Wembley men's room to becoming a member of this fan's favorite line-up of Wings. Master Juber's well-written words and never-before-seen photos nearly match his unbelievable talents as one of the world's most respected and gifted guitar players. A wonderful read." - Chris Carter; Host "Breakfast with The Beatles" KLOS-FM Los Angeles, California When Wings folded in 1981, the guitarist relocated to the USA and settled in Los Angeles to raise a family. Since then he has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand studio players and has gained world-wide recognition as a virtuoso concert performer, recording artist and composer. About the book... In 1978, Laurence Juber was plucked from the London studio world by Paul McCartney, who asked him to play lead guitar in what was to become the final incarnation of Paul's post-Beatles group Wings. He recorded and toured with the band for three years, during which time they won a Grammy(R) and scored numerous chart hits. The band has enjoyed a popularity that goes beyond simply that of Paul McCartney's 70s era backing group. This book brings that final chapter to life with a unique collection of unseen photographs, stories and memorabilia that show Wings at work and play.

    Because they can.Wee White Blossom is a post-indyref, poppadom-sized version of Blossom for folk who’ve already sampled the full bhuna. It updates Blossom with a new chapter on Scotland’s Year of Living Dangerously. Lesley Riddoch shares her thoughts on the Smith Commission, the departure of Gordon Brown, the return of Alex Salmond and the latest developments in land reform and local control. She considers the future of the SNP, the Radical Independence Campaign, Common Weal, Women for Independence and Scottish Labour in the aftermath of the referendum. This is a plain-speaking, incisive call to restore equality and control to local communities and let Scotland flourish.Wee White Blossom is the ideal companion volume to Blossom, whether you want an update on the first edition or an appetiser before delving into the pages of the original.The most influential, passionate and constructive book to appear during the referendum campaign. Blossom seized readers because it argued for independence as means to an end � restoring control over their own lives to Scottish communities so disempowered by top-down authority that they had no real experience of democracy.NEAL ASCHERSONA brilliant, moving, well written, informative, important and valuable piece of work.ELAINE C SMITHNot so much an intervention in the independence debate as a heartfelt manifesto for a better democracy.ESTHER BREITENBACH, Scotsman

    She has islands from the magnificent Orkneys and Shetlands to the Outer Hebrides and the Uists, the Isle of Skye and the Inner Hebrides. Each one is renowned for its ancient sanctity. Scotland was home to many different cultures including the Norse, Picts and Celts. She has a particularly unique and stunning landscape with her holy mountains, spectacular lochs and sacred trees. The Highlands with their Pictish settlements and carved standing stones offer yet another kind of awe-inspiring beauty. Fairy folklore, poets and bards, Arthurian and Merlin related sites, Celtic Christian foundations and their Saints are all to be found in this land. This book not only takes the reader on a magical journey into Scotland's historical, cultural, literary and spiritual past, but also offers directions to all the areas regarded by Scots themselves as of special importance, what they mean and why.

    Before long the open respectability of day gives way to a hidden life of crime at night, and soon, Brodie is on a trajectory to disaster . . . one which leads him to the gibbet.Set in the Edinburgh of 1788, Deacon Brodie: A Double Life is a fact-based novel which tells how Brodie’s love for gambling and risk sweeps him into a life of crime. Betrayed by an accomplice, and revealed as a "Gentleman by day, thief by night", Brodie escapes the city, is captured in Holland, then faced with a trial before a city where once he was a leading citizen. When he is sentenced to be hanged, his closest friend has a different idea and, in full view of everyone, Brodie takes his riskiest gamble yet.

     To this remote island comes a stranger, Alexander Stewart, on a quest to solve the mysterious disappearance of two people and their unborn child; a missing family who are now heirs to a vast fortune. He enlists the help of local schoolteacher, Katherine MacDonald, and together they seek the answers to this enigma: a deeply personal journey that takes them from Cairnmor to the historic splendour of London and the industrial heartland of Glasgow. Covering the years 1936-1937 and infused with period colour and detail, The Call of Cairnmor is about unexpected discovery and profound attachment which, from its gentle opening, gradually gathers momentum and complexity until all the strands come together to give life-changing revelations. This is the first book in the Cairnmor Trilogy.

     In a Victorian Age unlike any other, Jack Fletcher and Molly Harper are the heroes of the penny dreadfuls, serving Her Royal Majesty Victoria III, Regina, and inspiring child and adult alike with their tales of derring-do. But the truth behind the dreadfuls is far different. Jack and Molly are not two people, but many. Children of the Blood are Tested each midsummer, and those with the Talent are trained up to serve the fey and earthborn crowns of the Britannic Alliance. Harry – the latest in a long line of Inquisitors. She won’t let her oddly mismatched Talents stop her from following in Jack Fletcher’s footsteps to defend the Crowns from those who would destroy them. Shay – a healer and a scholar. Her one desire is to fulfill the destiny predicted by her mother’s Sight...to parlay her Talent into the means to find the Alliance’s enemies in either realm and bring them to justice. Rachel – the first songbird born to the Alliance in a hundred years. As the only daughter of the Earl of Greystones, she is for want of nothing, and the power of her voice alone can stop a war…or start one. The first adventure of Vines Trinity sets them on a path of discovery and adventure, pitting them against shadowy forces whose only purpose is to snatch the untrained songbird and turn her to their own nefarious schemes.

    When King Alexander III is killed at an early age, a struggle for the throne of Scotland between John Balliol, supported by the powerful Comyn clan, and the Bruce family begins. Edward Longshanks, King of England, nicknamed the Hammer of the Scots, seizes the opportunity to declare himself Lord of Scotland and installs John Balliol as a puppet king. For the next thirty years Scotland has to fight for its independence, led initially by William Wallace until his barbaric execution in London, and then by Robert Bruce who is crowned King of Scots amidst a climate of murder, treachery and shifting loyalties.This first book takes us from Robert’s childhood to his coronation, which is immediately followed by defeat at the hands of his English foes and their Scottish allies. Robert and a few companions become fugitives and the future looks bleak indeed.

    It will encourage people to read and understand the seemingly obscure Gaelic words, and also provides an insight into landscape history. The text will enrich the experience of walkers, climbers, sailors, bird watchers and fishers by sketching the Gaelic context where they enjoy and pursue their interests. Outdoor enthusiasts will no longer struggle with unfamiliar spellings and words as they will acquire a new dimension of place through an understanding of place names in the Highlands.Enough knowledge about pronunciation and Gaelic grammar is provided for readers to enable them to pronounce names, so that a native speaker can understand them. Sufficient grammar is given to help the reader see the different forms of words, which occur in various combinations in place names. The vast linguistic resource of place names written in an endangered language would also be opened up to learners and schoolchildren in Gaelic medium education who would be able to broaden their vocabulary beyond what is normally taught, and reacquaint themselves with their rural heritage.The book takes a unique and comprehensive approach, as it expands and categorises current place name vocabulary and provides commentaries on Gaelic ecology, culture and landscape between each section. There is also a comprehensive index, which directs readers to examples of different name types which are grouped according to whether they describe plants, animals, physical or man-made features.Specific themes explored include how Gaelic poets like Sorley MacLean and Duncan Bàn MacIntyre used Highland landscape symbolically in their work. The lyrical tradition of the shieling and Fingalian legend is connected in this way as well. Place names are also used to speculate about species extinctions and the history of the mythical Caledonian Forest. Readers will learn about diverse aspects of place and how these have been recorded, through a deeper understanding of a language, specific to the landscape of the Scottish Highlands and unique in its perception of that landscape.

    The diary entries, which range from May 1917 until March 1918, were written by one Arthur Roberts while he served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). They went into great detail about what it was like for him during World War I; such as how he survived the Battle of Passchendaele, and one incident where he escaped unscathed when a German shell killed a dozen men around him. Yet Arthur Roberts was an otherwise unknown man, and little else was known about him. Now, Morag Miller and Roy Laycock have painstakingly researched Roberts' life history and filled in the gaps. From his birth in Bristol to his life in Glasgow and time at the front, they provide here much more than just a war memoir, but the unique history of one man's remarkable life.

    626 Pages.

    detailing the literal and deliberate destruction of the very fabric of our heritage.' - Tom Kyle, Daily Mail What happened to Edinburgh's once notorious but picturesque Tolbooth Prison? Where was the Black Turnpike, once a dominant building in the town? Why has one of the New Town designer's major layouts been all but obliterated? What else has been lost in Edinburgh? From Edinburgh's mean beginnings - 'wretched accommodation, no comfortable houses, no soft beds', visiting French knights complained in 1341 - it went on to attract some of the world's greatest architects to design and build and shape a unique city. But over the centuries many of those fine buildings have gone. Some were destroyed by invasion and civil strife, some simply collapsed with old age and neglect, and others were swept away in the 'improvements' of the nineteenth century. Yet more fell to the developers' swathe of destruction in the twentieth century. Much of the medieval architecture vanished in the Old Town, Georgian Squares were attacked, Princes Street ruined, old tenements razed in huge slum clearance drives, and once familiar and much loved buildings vanished. The changing pattern of industry, social habits, health service, housing and road systems all took their toll; not even the city wall was immune. The buildings which stood in the way of what was deemed progress are the heritage of Lost Edinburgh. In this informative and stimulating book. Hamish Coghill sets out to trace many of the lost buildings and find out why they were doomed. Lavishly illustrated, "Lost Edinburgh" is a fascinating insight into an ever-changing cityscape.

    And in the end, we all paid the price."Kelda expected a simple, not unpleasant life in Norse-settled Scotland, serving in her master's hall and helping her mother work the land. Instead she is wrenched from her family, her life, and her culture and gifted to the barbarian warlord Macbeatha.Fiercely ambitious but more fiercely honorable, Macbeatha inspires both loyalty and fear in fractious and tribal Scotland. Against rival tribesmen and Viking pirates and his own cousins, he battles his way toward the top of his world. Caught up in his ambitions, Kelda finds herself his confidant and his spy as he climbs to power.A seer promises him success and the high kingship. But the old woman's stones also speak of a Dark Warrior, a man twisted out of nature who can defeat even Macbeatha.

    Eighteen of the Caribbean and Scotland’s most exciting poets have written new poems for the Empire Café exploring Scotland and the North Atlantic slave trade.

    Simon Fraser, chief of the Clan Fraser of Lovat, raised the 78th Highlanders, a regiment that also played a major role in defeating the French on the Plains of Abraham. Sam Allison tackles the myths embedded in nationalistic history and in fictional accounts of the Highlanders and dispels much misinformation about these soldier-settlers. The impact of the 78th Fraser's Highlanders, which extended far beyond Scotland and far beyond the Canada of their times, is finally being told.

    The Black Rain has been falling day and night for months. Coastlines are crumbling into the sea. Thousands have died. Miles of farmland lie under water. The great cities of the world are sinking under a stinking tide. In Scotland by the Firth the ancient Dubh loch has spewed forth strange fish, great eels and a stash of knives and rusty swords. Is this Climate Change or the end of the modern world? Madeleine has been reduced to talking to the crows on the roof till she spots two other women, one young and one of middle years floating by the windows of her flooded house at Carlin Craig. Crazy with joy she welcomes them with open arms, unable to believe her luck. But marooned together, the women begin to learn each other's secrets as they keep their fear at bay by each telling their own story while the storm rages on outside. Madeleine’s is the story of the past, Hayley’s the story of the present and Eloise’s Eye holds glimpses and visions of what might be the future. At last creaks and groans alert them that cracks have appeared in the walls of Carlin Craig. The house is about to fall and the women must jump into the unknown. But is Hayley really too sick to embark on this new voyage? Eloise has designed a Game on the mysterious Eye as part of her college project. Maybe if the women learn how to play the Game, the Eye can save them from destruction. Meantime the FM of Scotland has taken up residence at Edinburgh Castle since the sea broke through at Granton and Leith. The people are camped out on Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags. At night you can hear their music over the drowned city and the sound of the bodhran drum. But who is the enigmatic Johnny Quicksilver with the black fiddle who can make anyone dance to his tune? And as for Auld Nick himself, is he still lurking in the shadows out there in a multitude of disguises with as many names? Dubhloch explores the importance of having an authentic voice, one that can express new ideas about the nation and its future. The adventures described in each of the women’s stories demonstrate the challenges they have already faced and which have shaped them and their nation. The narrative is told through the three distinct and original voices of the protagonists, each reflecting a unique Scottish identity. This is a novel for the time. It's a novel about Scotland on the brink of a new future in the year of her Independence Referendum 2014. As a genre, it’s epic adventure and somewhere between allegory and magic realism. Porteous is an admirer of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song, James Robertson's And the Land Lay Still and Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.

    From a small eighteenth century Scottish village, comes the story of an ordinary man who makes a discovery so shocking that it will change the very foundation of life on Earth. Dougie Allan, a local silver miner, accidentally unearths a terrifying secret and is catapulted 300 years through time. Arriving in the modern world, amidst a backdrop of catastrophic natural disasters, Dougie must forge new alliances if he is to battle his unfolding nightmare. Befriending a local man, Tom Duncan, and a feisty reporter, Kate Harding, they soon find themselves entangled with the authorities in a deadly race against time. However, they are not the only group interested in the mysterious goings on. As a conspiracy unfolds, the trio now find themselves pursued by a ruthless assassin. One who seems determined to stop at nothing to protect a secret so shocking that it lies at the very heart of world power itself. As humanity teeters on the brink of disaster and with time running out, Dougie must convince the authorities that a force of unimaginable power is preparing for Armageddon.