Love
pirates? Highlanders? Sweeping romance? If so, my contribution to the Pirates
of Britannia World, The Seafaring Rogue,
is now available for pre-order! A MacLomain Series: A New Beginning spin-off, this
follows the tale of Fraser MacLomain as he navigates piratehood in 15th
century Scotland.
About the Book
Left for dead on the shores of Scotland,
Fraser MacLomain falls in love with the
healer who saves him. Yet Elspeth MacLauchlin has deep dark secrets. Hidden
truths rooted in a century old family feud. A vendetta that is soon resurrected
by vicious enemies who steal her away during a late night pirate attack.
Bent on saving her and reaping revenge, Fraser
embraces a life of piracy. Cutthroat, out for blood, he relentlessly pursues
his nemesis long after rumor has Elspeth dead. Long after he abandons love for
bitterness. But even a hardened heart can be thawed, as he soon discovers when catching his foe begins a high seas adventure ripe with passion,
intrigue, and treasure.
Purchase at the following online bookstores.
Amazon US- https://amzn.to/2kwbv2V
Amazon UK- https://amzn.to/2ISMbmu
Amazon CA- https://amzn.to/2JiepXf
Amazon AU- https://amzn.to/2H03qfN
Barnes & Noble-
https://bit.ly/2IYrP7d
Kobo- https://bit.ly/2GZeGsS
Also available at
iTunes
A Sneak Peek Excerpt
“The plaid looks good,” she
remarked, eying Fraser with appreciation.
She had worked tirelessly to mend
his ripped and tattered MacLomain tartan. Now he wore nothing but the plaid wrapped around his waist and over
his shoulder. Another means to test her, she was sure. Because there was no
finer sight than Fraser dressed as he was with his chiseled muscles bared to
the world.
“I think he enjoys his vanity fed,”
Innis muttered as he grinned and rolled his eyes at the hill behind them. A
hill that had hosted many a lass over the past few hours. Lasses, quite
assuredly, out for a late-afternoon stroll to enjoy the view. And though they
would claim otherwise, that view had nothing to do with the lovely bay.
Even Audric was aware of the women, his cheeks turning red when he dared a random peek over his shoulder.
“Well, I would see Fraser’s vanity
challenged,” Elspeth murmured, not speaking of his good looks as she picked up
one of several swords Innis had brought down. One suited to her size. She met
Fraser’s eyes in challenge. “Do ye accept, then?”
His brows perked in interest. “Ye
know how to fight?”
“Of course,” she replied, wide-eyed.
“’Twould be foolish in these tryin’ times not to, aye?”
“I suppose ‘twould,” he concurred, a
new spark in his eyes. One, she realized, born of a man who appreciated a woman
who knew how to defend herself.
“So will ye then?” She made a show
of testing the weight of the blade and even executed a few novice swings to
prove she was good but not that good.
When a small smirk hovered on his
lips, and his eyes narrowed on her grip, she
knew he had her figured out.
“’Tis a good enough method making
your opponent think ye cocky rather than talented,” he acknowledged. “But
you’ll want to work some on your expression.”
“My expression?”
“Aye, ‘tis that of one with
confidence, not insecurity.” He stepped
close and brushed the pad of his weapon-roughened thumb between her brows. “It
should furrow here as though ye are concentrating verra hard indeed.” Then he
grazed it along her lips. “These should be turned down and mayhap wobble a wee
bit as ye begin to doubt yourself. As if ye just
realized ye took on more than ye can handle facing off with your
particular enemy.”
After that, he dusted the outer edge
of her brow indicating her eyes. “And these, of course, are your best weapon if
you’re fighting a lad. Use them to look him over as if sizing him up.” A
knowing gleam lit his eyes. “A look as if you’re trying to determine his
weaknesses but realize mayhap there’s something to be attracted to instead.”
“I willnae do that,” she rebuffed,
chuckling despite herself. “’Tis foolish.”
“I dinnae know.” Innis stroked the
braids in his beard as he contemplated Elspeth. “I think Fraser is right. Especially
when it comes to ye.”
“’Twill make me seem daft!” she
retaliated.
“’Twill make ye seem as your rival likely expects ye to be,” Fraser
counseled, still close enough that she could feel his heat. “A lass with a
proper eye to pleasing a lad instead of a disobedient hellion trying to be
something she’s not.”
When she narrowed her eyes, he
merely shrugged and grinned. “I didnae say I agree with that mindset.” He
stepped back and held his sword at arm’s length. “I’m more the sort that enjoys a
wee lassie with a bit of backbone.”
“Good then.” She straightened said
backbone and held her blade at the ready, wishing she wore trousers instead of
a skirt.
They eyed one another and circled
before she came at him fast. When he dodged, she spun quickly, came in low only
for him to leap back with a grin of approval.
“Ye use your size to your
advantage,” he praised. “And keep your movements quick but small.”
“Aye.”
She ducked beneath the swing of his blade. “Douglas always said to conserve my
energy. Especially when fighting a seasoned warrior.”
Innis guffawed. “Well, you’re
certainly fighting such now, lassie!”
“Your brother’s words were wise,”
Fraser conceded as they continued battling. While she knew he was holding back
some, she could tell by his random nods of approval that it wasn’t as much as
he thought it would be.
Yet as they continued crossing
swords, she saw something shift in his eyes moments before he came at her a
little harder. While she initially thought he was competitive and could not
help himself, she soon realized it was for another reason altogether.
He truly cared about her well-being and wanted her to fight
the best she could.
So as they fought and her energy
waned, he offered not only praise where it was due but pointed out her every
weakness. An elbow held too high on a swing. The incorrect angle of her knee
when lunging. Breathing too heavily when she should be trying to measure her
breaths for certain movements and speed. His was a well-balanced dance. A very specific manipulation of the body that
included a mixture of thought out planning and spontaneity.
By the time they were finished, she
was sore in places she had never felt pain.
“Thank ye,” she managed, as she
tossed aside her blade, planted her hands on her knees and tried to catch her
breath. “I will be feeling this for days, I imagine.”
“’Tis good.” He smiled. “’Twill give
ye a better idea of what needs strengthening.”
Though not a lewd look by any means, as their
eyes held, she got the strongest impression he longed to test other muscles as
well. To see how limber she really was.
Also available at
iTunes
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