They were nothing but trouble. Leaving the rash life of his youth behind, he returned to Skye, seeking peace. He never meant to split the clan or start a war with the MacDonald of Duntulm. He certainly never foresaw an arranged marriage to the most scandalous woman in Scotland. Even though she was twice his age, the size of a horse and mother to more than one illegitimate child, he agreed to secure his sister’s freedom. However, even that plan goes drastically awry. On his wedding day, he finds himself faced instead with an enticing, green-eyed lass named Bree. A walking disaster, his bride immediately turns his world into chaos and threatens to melt his resolve never to love again.Betrayed by her own mother, Bree flees to Skye, thinking only to reunite with her long, lost father. Instead, she finds herself wed to Ruan MacLeod as a replacement bride. When she is forced to remain in the castle, she is soon caught between brothers and the mentally ill wife of the laird.Shy, yet strong, Bree embarks on a journey of independence and learns along the way that all men are not necessarily evil. In fact, one particularly brooding, yet gentle-hearted warrior is worthy of love, and she soon loses her heart forever.Excerpt from Chapter Six:...All at once, he noticed he was still holding her, apparently at the same moment understanding dawned in her face.Bree launched into another attack, jabbing his midriff and raking his skin with her nails.“Be still, ye wee hellion!” Ruan bellowed, pinning her wrists behind her back.For a moment, he thought she was going to retch; her pasty skin seemed almost yellow, purple and black streaks adorned her nose and cheekbones. Marriage to him had not served her well; in two days, she had transformed from a lass with a pair of bright green eyes to a drowned, underfed chicken.As her foot grazed his shin, he winced, quickly amending the thought; a mean-spirited, drowned, underfed chicken.Another well placed kicked wrenched a new succession of curses from his lip, but as her tears began to flow, real ones, his exasperation fled. Of all things, tears affected him the most. One slid down her cheek. Succumbing to a wave of pity, he wiped it gently with his thumb. Bree gulped, frowning in a way he could not fathom. For several long minutes, they stared wordlessly at each other.Finally, her cracked lips opened and she wailed, “I’m not wedding anyone!”Gazing down into the bright eyes brimming with tears, Ruan sighed. “Aye, ‘tis a wee bit late, lass.”It was supposed to be comforting, or so he thought, but his response seemed only to renew her resistance. Balling her fists, she struck his chest but more in blows of frustration than anything else. In spite of his best efforts, he grinned. Battling to the last breath was something he could understand, even for a hopeless cause such as this one. Lips twitching, he easily recaptured her wrists in a single hand. They were unusually small hands, perfectly shaped.The fingers jerked free from his grasp. Startled, he met her eyes once more.“You’ll die if you touch me!” Her slurred threat ended with a hiccup, rendering it anything but intimidating.He could smell the whiskey on her breath.His grin widened.Her hand fumbled near his belt before closing over the hilt of his sword. Assuming a fierce expression, she attempted to frighten him. “I’ll sever your manhood whilst you sleep!”To emphasize the statement she tugged at the blade, several times.On the third attempt, the sword cleared the scabbard almost an inch.“Aye.” Ruan laughed outright, his lips curving into a suggestive smile, “But it would take even a larger blade; ye haven’t a prayer if ye can’t lift this one.” His hand closed over hers. Not as a deterrent, but simply to watch her eyes flash defiantly once more....

    A longing to forget compels him. Fate may send them into each other’s arms, but only love can mend their hearts. An Outlander Raised by a tyrannical father, Marion de Lacy yearns for the comfort of belonging to a loving family. So when her father announces her betrothal to an evil knight in exchange for his help to overthrow the king, she concocts a desperate scheme to avoid the marriage: feigning her own death and then fleeing England. But when her plan goes terribly awry and she’s captured by the knight, not even her careful preparations could ready her for the Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he’s to marry her by edict of her king. Certain her father will defy the king’s orders and wed her to the knight if she refuses the Highlander’s hand, Marion agrees to marry the strangely compelling but obstinate laird of the MacLeod clan. A Highlander After the death of his beloved wife, Iain MacLeod has no desire to marry ever again. Yet when he finds himself obliged to do so to secure the freedom of his childhood friend and king, he reluctantly travels across England to collect his unwanted bride, expecting to find a cold Englishwoman. Instead, he discovers a fiery, bold beauty who is fiercely loyal, protective of those she loves, and defies him at every turn, challenging his certainty that his heart is dead. Ensnared Following a hasty marriage and perilous journey to Scotland, Marion harbors no illusions that her new husband loves her. Still, her heart cannot resist the noble, brave warrior, and she cannot suppress the hope that she has finally found where she belongs. However, the harder she tries to fit in with the clan and gain Iain’s love, the farther away her dreams drift. Iain is more than willing to give his respect to his courageous wife—her kisses and caresses even ignite his blood and demand his passion—but he refuses to give up his heart. That is, until enemies near and far threaten to take Marion from him. Now the demons that haunt him can only be conquered by surrendering body and soul to Marion, if only it’s not too late…

    He is big, he is charmingly masculine, and his Scottish accent sends her reeling with very unmaiden-like desires.Having inherited his mother’s English home and title, Earl of Dunkirk of Scotland is considered a prize catch by the haute ton. He knows one day he will have to marry to carry on his name, but he wants a wife who ‘understands’ they will each go their own way after she gives him an heir - a marriage of convenience.Lady Bess does not fit into those plans. How could she? She is exquisite, yes, but she is also an innocent who expects faithfulness. He won’t ruin an innocent, and yet, he can’t get her out of his head.All this time, and right in their midst, evil hovers. Although Bess doesn’t look for it, she finds it - and Bess is not your average, simpering female. She takes on danger and mayhem like she does everything else: full throttle.Adventure ensues as we travel with Bess through romance and the battle of her life

    That is, until she deliberately ruins the betrothal of a notorious laird, Robert, Marquis of Methven. Past centuries of bloodshed have left the Methven and MacMorlan families bitter enemies and Robert is furious that Lady Lucy's letters have cost him the bride he needs so urgently to save his ancestral clan lands. Now he makes Lucy a shocking proposal; in return for his silence she must become his wife and provide him with the heir he needs. It is an inconvenient marriage of convenience but can the rugged laird and the bluestocking beauty fight against the power of love?Scottish Brides - Where Regency elegance meets Highland passion!

    He never dreamed it would involve surrendering his heart, but the beautiful and scandalous socialite Ellen Farnsworth sets his Highland blood aflame with a will as strong and reckless as his own. Though bound to Liam by a soul-searing passion, duty impels Ellen to commit a terrible betrayal.Now, driven by passion, pride, and vengeance, this fearsome Highlander will reclaim not only his family's ancient treasure, but the one daring woman he was meant to love for all time.

    How was the spoiled and pampered Catherine Augustine Ashbrooke to know the handsome stranger with the brooding, midnight eyes would see through her plot and make her the pawn in a dangerous game of his own?Alexander Cameron may have won the highborn English beauty in a duel, but not even the lure of long-forgotten desires could keep him from his meeting with destiny. He had no choice but to carry his reluctant bride off to the Highlands, to a world of ancient blood feuds and a brewing rebellion--a world where fiery passion and breathtaking courage would prove that even legendary warriors could lose their hearts.

    As an English lord descends to claim her father's lands, Kensey escapes north with her mother and brother, and runs straight into the arms of the outcast Highlander.Driven from home and family by a crazed father, Broccin Sinclair refuses to stand aside while the English invade his beloved Scotland. But who should he champion? The freedom fighter who saved his life, the family who has forgotten him, or the woman who captured his childhood heart?

    LORD Miss Emily Wingrave thought she knew exactly what she was getting into when she set out to defy the Earl of Meriden. She was well aware that Meriden was as willful as he was wealthy and as arrogant as he was attractive.For her part, Emily was as brave as she was beautiful and as firm of purpose as she was tender in years. She vowed she would stop the infuriating earl from playing the tyrant over her sister's impoverished family and trying to play havoc with her heart.But when she engaged the maddening Meriden in a tug-of-war of wits and wills, she found he had strengths he had kept under wraps--and she had a weakness that was hard to conceal....

    . .Proud Scottish lord Kieran Rossburn doesn't relish the idea of a marriage of convenience, but he'll do what he must to preserve the family estate. Worse, the bride he's been saddled with--the daughter of a crass, unrefined, American merchant--is far too weak-willed for his tastes. Or so it seems at first. . . And Entirely Irresistible. . . After a lifetime under the thumb of her domineering parents, Diantha Quinn can't believe she's being shipped across the ocean to be locked away yet again. Now, to gain any sort of power in her life, she must resist Kieran's seductions and keep the marriage in name only. Yet how can she keep from falling in love, when she is wed to the most tempting man in all of Scotland?Praise for Ann Stephens's To Be Seduced "An engaging and breathtakingly romantic tale. I savored every well-crafted word!" --Celeste Bradley, New York Times Bestselling author

    She may never know true love, but her people will finally know peace. However, when tragedy strikes more than once, and Elizabeth is pawned from laird to laird, unexpected desires for one man threaten to compromise her dutiful existence, forcing her to defy the rules. As the spare to the heir, Robert Irvine understands his obligation to the clan during these volatile times. But, marrying his brother’s beautiful widow is more than he bargained for, and nothing he is prepared for. When all he never wanted becomes all he ever needed, Robert suddenly stands to lose it all. When war is a constant threat, and a marriage to Elizabeth is the key to peace, Robert will do all he can to secure both, until he discovers she has done something that may destroy them both. Irvines of Drum Book 1 - For Love of a Laird Book 2 - Like a Laird to a Flame Book 3 - Maid for the Knight

    The laird of his clan, tragedy has turned Iain into a ruthless warrior who is determined to avenge the brutal murder of his twin brother at the hands of a villainous English earl. To collect on the blood debt, Iain kidnaps the daughter of his sworn enemy and holds her for ransom. Lady Yvette Beauchamp has heard many a fearful tale about the wild, barbaric men who inhabit the Scottish Highlands. Abducted on the eve of her wedding to an aging earl, Yvette has reason to fear the brooding chieftain who holds her against her will in his island castle. While the darkly handsome laird may desire her body, she’s certain that he covets the rich ransom even more, Yvette’s worth set at a staggering two thousand pounds. When Yvette is forced to become the châtelaine of Iain’s castle, her duties constantly throw her into the laird’s path . . . and a very dangerous intrigue when she discovers that Iain’s mysterious guest is none other than Robert the Bruce, the newly crowned king of Scotland. With the Bruce in hiding at Castle Maoil – a bounty having been placed on his head by the English king – Yvette is now privy to one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. A secret she can either use to secure her freedom . . . or safeguard the Highland laird she has come to love. Set in 14th century Scotland, HER SCOTTISH CAPTOR is an unforgettable Celtic tale full of riveting action, vibrant historical detail, a high level of sensuous passion, and richly-drawn characters.

    Hugh McCallum insists they were promised to each other as children to ensure peace between their clans. The stubborn laird refuses to believe he's kidnapped the wrong Catriona Duff. Instead, he embarks on a campaign of slow-burning seduction.At first, Hugh cares only what their marriage can do for his people. Now he's starting to crave Riona for her own sake, but her true identity jeopardizes his clan's contract. And unless she chooses to risk all to be his bride, he'll lose the only thing he prizes more than the lands he's fought so hard to save—the passionate marriage they could have together.

    Emmy MacKenzie feels the time is long overdue for a vacation. A little “me” time. A little alone time. But when traveling the British Isles, a twist of fate at the gates of the ancient castle of Duart hurls Emmy more a hundred years into the past and into the arms of a magnificent highlander who thinks she is his long-lost wife, Heather MacLean! The ten years since his new bride abandoned him on his wedding day had brought Connor MacLean, earl Strathclyde, nothing but misery and bitterness but that is nothing compared to the anger he feels when she shows up at his front gates on the 10th anniversary of that day. Determined to punish her for the humiliations she dealt him, he is shocked when his wife claims mistaken identity and insists that she is not his wife at all! Endeavoring to cling to his anger, Connor finds he cannot deny the new attraction he feels for his mysterious wife and soon he is wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms and make her his. With no choice but to play the part of the long lost Heather MacLean, Emmy cannot help but wonder how any woman could ever leave Connor MacLean, a man unlike any she had ever known. A man who thrills and challenges her. A man to love forever. Questions of destiny plague Emmy making her question her very life as she wavers between the desire to return to her own time and the hope for a life with her earl. She begins to question what she really wants out of life. And who can give it to her. But Emmy’s isn’t the only secret lurking in Duart Castle. Painful secrets will be revealed. Not only hers but that of another. When the truth of Heather MacLean’s disappearance comes to light more than Connor’s life might be destroyed. Choices will have to be made. Forgiveness begged. Second chances taken not just for the people of Duart, but for Emmy herself. But will she risk it all to have her laird for all time?

    For one thing, she's not planning to marry. Plain Violet is smart enough to realize any suitors would be after her large inheritance, or else interested in her beautiful younger sisters—and she'd much rather spend her time improving her mind than risking her tender heart...Having wasted six years wooing a lady who eloped with another man, Ford Chase, Viscount Lakefield, has had it with women. Ford would much rather spend his time pursuing the sciences and constructing the first watch with a minute hand. Having his young niece dropped in his lap proves an unwelcome, annoying distraction…until an uncommonly intelligent neighbor named Violet comes to help…

    And though Rory relishes neither the role of lord nor spouse, he uses both to conceal a dangerous game that no one -- especially his infuriating, fascinating new wife -- can know about... — Highland lass Bethia MacDonell initially despises her dissolute "husband," Rory. A political pawn, she plays at marriage while plotting to escape Braemoor and free her imprisoned brother. Only one person can help her... Named for the playing card he leaves behind, the Black Knave smuggles Jacobites out of Scotland, eluding the English at every turn. But Bethia is determined to find him. Even as she grows closer to the enigmatic Rory, Bethia keeps her plans secret, never suspecting that her hero is nearer than she thinks...