Her Highland Rogue
Violetta
Rand
Genre: Historical romance,
Highlander
Publisher: Random House/Loveswept
Date of Publication: June 21, 2016
ASIN: B00XG9BWZE
Number of pages: 170 * Word Count: 52,000
Cover Artist: Random House
Book Description:
Errol MacRae’s days of gallivanting
across the Highlands are nearing an end. His father’s health has taken a turn
for the worse, and rumors are swirling that the crown intends to transfer
ancient lands into the hands of the MacKenzies, the clan the MacRaes are sworn
to defend. Errol expects to lead his men into battle soon. So he isn’t pleased
when his father instead sends him to retrieve a beautiful flame-haired lass who
has fled into the mountains.
Orphaned as a young girl, Aileana
vividly remembers how the MacRaes rescued her and welcomed her into their clan.
For ten years, she has served them loyally—until the night she’s nearly
despoiled by one of the laird’s captains. Aileana risks her life and her
reputation to seek refuge in the snowcapped peaks of the Five Sisters, the one
place that has always felt like home. But after the strong-armed, strong-willed
Errol tracks her down in a blizzard, she finds herself tempted to risk
something even more dangerous: her heart.
Excerpt:
Aileana opened her eyes, confused
by her surroundings. She’d fled the MacRae stronghold after Broc cornered her
in the kitchen, long after the other women had gone abovestairs to sleep. She’d
stupidly volunteered to keep watch over the remaining men in the hall in case
they required more bread and meat—or in Broc’s case, more ale. Once she’d
refilled his cup, even leaving a full pitcher behind for the great beast to
finish off, he stumbled after her, smelling of sweat and spirits, and drooling
on her neck.
She’d known him
nearly all her life—at least for the time she remembered being alive. Before
her tenth year, she held no clear memories. The occasional flash of a face or
spoken word, but nothing that could connect her to a family or place. So she
wandered through life nameless, though the MacRae laird had offered to
recognize her as part of his clan. But whenever she considered it, something
inside her warned not to do it. For once ye denied your name, whether you knew
it or not, your fate might change. And she didn’t want to lose her only chance
at true happiness. Deep down, Aileana knew there was more to her existence than
being a bastard.
That’s what half
the women within the MacRae keep called her. Behind her back mostly, but
sometimes directly if she was blamed for burning the bread or spilling wine.
She kicked off the
fur covering her from neck-to-foot, cold air sending a chill down her body. A
fire burned at the opening of the rock enclosure, and she padded over to it,
desperate for warmth. She stared beyond the flames, the world outside covered
in white. Winter had come early to Kintail. And only by God’s grace had she met
a woman last night in the hills. How could she turn down an offer of hot stew
and a pallet to sleep on? So she’d walked quietly with the stranger to her
cave.
As soon as she
finished eating and drained her cup of wine, sleep overwhelmed her. That’s all
she remembered. And now she woke up alone. But there was a loaf of bread and a
cup of milk on the table by her pallet, hopefully meant for her to eat. Her
stomach growled with hunger.
“Good morning,”
Aileana heard as she reached for the cup.
She turned and met
the woman’s smile. “Thank ye for allowing me to stay here last night. I’m
afraid I have nothing to offer you, no money or goods to trade.”
The woman joined
her, picked up the loaf of bread, then tore it in half. “I don’t remember
asking for payment, child.”
“But your
generosity must be rewarded in some way.”
“Aye,” she agreed.
“Your company will do nicely.”
Aileana took a
bite and it melted in her mouth, as tasty as what she cooked every morning in
the MacRae kitchens. “Whatever you wish,” she said. “I prefer staying here. I
wasn’t prepared for the snow. If ye hadn’t found me, I’m afraid I would have
perished in the cold.” Though she had a fur cloak and thick-soled boots, she
hadn’t had time to gather anything else before she ran away.
The woman sat
down. “My name is Sgùrr.”
“Aileana.”
The woman studied
her in silence, her dark gaze wandering more than once to her hair. “Who is
your father?”
Aileana took
another sip of milk, then put the cup down on the table. The idea of admitting
to a stranger that she had no family was as humiliating as what Broc had done
to her. “I don’t know.”
“And why were you
roaming the hills alone? Surely someone will miss ye?”
“Laird MacRae is
my guardian.”
“Your mother has
passed?”
“I’m afraid I know
nothing about my birth.” She walked the couple feet to her pallet and picked up
her cloak. “Eight years ago a MacRae guard found me in the forest, cold and
hungry, close to death I’ve been told. He bundled me in a blanket and took me
home with him. I’ve lived there ever since.”
“Has the laird
been kind and generous?”
“Laird MacRae is
not only kind, but treats me as his own daughter. A day never passes without
him greeting me. Sometimes I wonder what would have become of me if the
MacDonalds or MacLeods found me instead.”
The older woman
nodded. “Don’t put much stock in the affairs of men. Clan feuds are the last
thing a lass needs to worry about. ’Tis your heart and charitable acts that
define your character.”
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Talking with author Violetta Rand!
What
is your writing environment?
My office space is upstairs surrounded
by big windows and sunshine, with a view of the mountains and woods. My writing
companions include three dogs and two cats who often influence my stories.
What
is your writing process?
Sit down and write. J
What
authors have caught your interest lately and why?
Sue-Ellen Welfonder keeps me
intrigued 24/7. Mia Marlowe is so entertaining. Bernard Cornwell writes amazing
historical fiction.
How
did you get the idea for this particular novel?
I don’t plan anything. How do I get
inspired to write? Life in general, its grand!
What
is your favorite scene in your new release?
I adore the prologue.
Kintail, Scotland 1498
Ownership of the lands surrounding Cinn Tàile
were under protest. And with war in the air, Sgùrr scanned the world below.
From the mountains, everything looked insignificant and small. Even the islands
of Eigg, Rum, and Skye, visible in the distance, failed to inspire peace inside
her.
At this elevation, no MacLeod or MacDonald could threaten her. She’d
sought refuge and had found it in a cave. Let men destroy one another. Sgùrr
refused to get stuck in the middle—even if she was guilty of bedding two
warriors from enemy clans. The babe who now kicked furiously inside her womb
would not wait much longer to draw her first breath. And with snow threatening
to fall early, she’d had little time to prepare.
Another pain assailed her, and she stumbled over the rocky terrain,
the opening to her shelter only yards away. The identity of the father was
inconsequential; the babe grew stronger every day. Allegiance to lairds and tartans
didn’t matter. God alone judged souls, and Sgùrr had mistakenly fallen in love
with two men at the same time. One had stolen her virtue, the other her heart.
When they found out about each other, she fled, preferring freedom
over the bonds of marriage. She’d deal with her punishment in the afterlife.
Reaching the cave, she dropped her bundle of kindling on the dirt
floor. It had taken four separate trips, and some trickery to outsmart the
MacKenzie guards, but she’d managed to steal enough linens, a fur, dried meat,
beans, and skins of wine to survive. She’d even stuffed two blankets she’d sewn
together with dried grass to sleep on.
The fire in the rock pit she’d built at the mouth of the cave needed
attention, and she untied the piece of rope holding together the firewood she’d
just collected. She chose four branches and arranged them carefully in the pit.
The dried wood crackled and popped as the flames caught. The warmth pleased Sgùrr
as she rubbed her hands together, wishing instead one of her lovers was
providing the heat she needed. But alas, she wouldn’t risk their lives.
Jealousy had overridden their common sense. Cian MacDonald had
grabbed his sword and dressed for battle, threatening to ride to the MacLeod
stronghold to challenge her other warrior. She shook her head, knowing these
memories were all she’d have left of the men she loved. And her . . . Sgùrr
massaged her swollen belly. As if the unborn babe heard her thoughts, she
kicked violently. Sgùrr lost her breath and bent over, her hands resting on her
knees. She began taking measured breaths, long inhales and controlled exhales.
It relieved the pressure some.
A skilled midwife and healer, Sgùrr had brought dozens of children
into the world. Her own should be no different. She made sure everything she
needed was within reach of the pallet in the back of the cave. Fresh water,
clean linens, her dirk, and some dried venison to chew on if she required
sustenance for a long labor.
Satisfied, she changed into a linen shift, removed her leather boots
and wool leggings, then settled on the thin mattress, wrapping the fur about
her shoulders. Although the cave kept the rain and snow off her head,
occasionally a frigid wind penetrated the crag, chilling her to the bone. It
reminded her how delicate the balance of life truly was. Her child would grow
up in a place free of hatred and violence. She’d teach her early that a man’s
worth should be judged by his actions alone. Words meant little. For Sgùrr had
heard the highest laird swear an oath, only to break it soon after. She’d share
the beauty of nature with her—no hall could rival a sunrise or the view across
Loch Duich.
She grunted as the pains came closer together, praying the delivery
would be swift. Many women died in their birthing beds, but Sgùrr knew this
little one had a purpose. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she
continued to pant and wait for the moment to come. “Blessed Lord, keep us safe
. . .”
What
are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?
The second book in my new
historical Viking series releases in July (Desire’s Fury).
I’m also working on my next
Highland story.
What
do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to hike, fish, and ride
motorcycles and 4-wheelers.
What
is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?
I used to be a DJ.
Top
3 things on your bucket list?
Learn how to bake cakes as
delicious as my mom’s.
Visit Israel and Norway.
Buy my husband a new Harley.
When
did you know you wanted to be a writer?
The obsession started in
kindergarten.
Do
you have a genre that you can see yourself writing in the future?
Mainstream historical fiction of
fantasy
Thank you for hosting me today.
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About the Author:
Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas,
Violetta Rand spent her childhood reading, writing, and playing soccer. After
meeting her husband in New England, they moved to Alaska where she studied
environmental science and policy before attending graduate school. Violetta
then spent nearly a decade working as a scientist, specializing in soil and
water contamination and environmental assessments.
Violetta still lives in Alaska and
spends her days writing romance. When she's not reading, writing, or editing,
she enjoys time with her husband, pets, and friends. In her free time, she
loves to hike, fish, and ride motorcycles and 4-wheelers.
Website: http://www.violettarandromance.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ViolettaRand
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Giveaway:
$10 Amazon gift card
Everything tells me I am going to love this.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and the excerpt was great - thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book, and I am really loving the cover!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete