I'm excited because I have a new book coming out. On June 9th (shhh my BD) The Seduction of Laird Sinclair will be released. It's the first book in a new Scottish historical romance called Lairds of the North.
Book Blurb:
In order to love,
she must first seduce…
Callum Sinclair
should have known the night the great fireball lit the sky would change
everything. He returns from battle wounded of body and heart to find his clan
in disarray. Someone within his clan wants him dead and tried to assassinate
him, his brother/laird murdered, his wife died in childbirth. Family
dysfunction forces him to accept a destiny he never expected.
Violet Danvers’s
life takes a complete turn when the king executes her husband for treason. Now
he vows she will either wed his favored knight or suffer his punishment. With
help from her husband’s ally, the king’s cousin, he sends her to his comrade in
Scotland. He gains one promise from her, never to return to England, even if
she must seduce the Highlander to gain his aid.
Even with the five
rules of enticement, Violet’s seduction doesn’t come easy. Callum is broken of
spirit, but she is not one to easily surrender to defeat. With laughter and
grace, The Seduction of Laird Sinclair might lead them both to lose their
hearts.
Book Excerpt:
“Come,
Milady, I’ll show you to his chamber.”
She followed
and took the stairs to the upper floor. He stopped at a chamber and motioned
her inside. Violet opened the door and stepped through the threshold, but she
didn’t see anyone within. The keep was lavish and the chamber as adorned. A
large wooden desk sat by the window, flanked by a high-backed chair. A smaller
hearth situated across from the desk and its embers were aglow. Adjacent to the
chamber, a door led to a sleeping quarter.
She ambled
forward and gasped when a man startled her. His leg and thigh were bared, and
he appeared to massage his muscles. The man’s brows furrowed as if he was in
pain. Rule number one, use the body. Violet leaned against the door’s threshold
and pulled her shoulders back. She waited for him to notice her.
She roved her
eyes over his naked skin and stepped back when he startled at her appearance.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to intrude…”
“Who are you?”
his voice was deep with a hearty lilt to it, and he sounded affronted.
“I’m Henry’s
friend, Violet Danvers.”
“You can’t be.
Henry’s friend is a man.”
“I am his
friend, and I assure you, I’m not a man. Surely you received his missive which
foretold of my arrival? You are Callum Sinclair, are you not?”
He nodded but remained
silent.
Violet couldn’t
take her gaze from his naked, muscular thigh. He pushed the fabric of his
tartan over his leg and straightened. She took her time to assess him and the
enticement rules were all but forgotten. Callum stood tall and perhaps over six
feet in height, and his brawny muscles tightened the front and arms of his
tunic. It was his handsome face that captivated her and caused her breath to
still. He had light brown hair, almost chestnut in color, and even darker eyes
and brows. The man wore no whiskers about his face, but his jaw tightened as
she perused him.
Callum cleared
his throat and stepped forward. “I could’ve sworn Henry mentioned his friend
was a man.”
“Perhaps he
misled you. He asked me to give you this missive and container.” She approached
and held out the items. Rule two was easy to do since she didn’t take her eyes
from his, and with confidence from somewhere deep within her, she peered at him
with interest. “It might aid your pain for he said you were injured.”
He reached for
the items and brushed his fingers against hers as he grasped the missive.
Violet took in a startled breath. His touch evoked excitement or something
similar. She couldn’t place the sentiment as she’d never experienced it before.
With a jerk, she retracted her hand. If she decided to go ahead with her
maddened plan, rule four would positively be pleasing.
His gaze
lingered as if he disbelieved she was there. The man set the items on the desk
in a hostile manner and glared at her.
She knew well
enough where she wasn’t wanted. “I shall hurry to stop the coachman from
leaving. Hopefully, he’s still in the courtyard. I’ll be gone since it is
obvious you will not offer sanctuary.” Before he retorted, Violet fled the
chamber.
She needed to escape his pierced gaze and
aggressive mood. As much as she detested to admit it, rule five wasn’t within
her. Violet had no confidence whatsoever. Never had a man looked at her with
such hostility. She didn’t know what to make of him, or what he intended with
such a look. But it was her reaction to him that troubled her more. Why had she
gaped at him as though he was a statue? She couldn’t reason her reaction or
behavior.
Violet rushed
through the hallway and reached the bottom of the stairs when she heard someone
call out. Ionnsaigh.
A dog growled
and ran at her. It jumped up, knocked her back and to the floor. The dog’s
mouth gripped her leg, and he shook his head and flailed her. Her gown tore
with his sharp teeth dug in. Violet cried out and shouted for help. The dog ravaged
her and wouldn’t let go. She tried to free herself from his hold by kicking
out, but he wouldn’t cease his attack. The beast locked his jaw and wouldn’t
let go, and the pain on her leg caused her to gasp for breath.
“Frang! Cease.
Go, be gone.”
The dog
released her at the man’s command, and he whined and fled when the man
approached with heavy steps.
Callum knelt
next to her. “Don’t move. Are you injured?”
Violet’s voice
rasped from her fright. “I…I’m uncertain.” She tugged the material of her gown
to reveal her leg and winced at the bloody marks from the dog’s teeth.
Callum lifted
her in his arms. “We need to get the healer to look at you.”
She tensed in
his arms, but couldn’t resist taking a whiff of his manly scent. He smelled of
outdoors, pine, and as if he’d spent the day ensconced in the woods. His face
was close to hers, and all she focused on was the way his strong arms held her.
Violet wrapped her arm around his neck when he jostled her. He strolled to the
adjacent room next to the entry. The man limped slightly, and his movement
inhibited.
“Lady Danvers,
are you all right? You are shaking.”
She shook
herself from her reverie. “Why would I be shaking?”
Callum grinned.
“Perhaps because you were just attacked by a large hound. Let’s make sure you’re
not injured, lass.”
Violet stared
at the way his lips moved when he spoke. His mouth fascinated her, with his
full lips that surely would make a lady swoon if he kissed her. He reached the
hall and crossed it quickly even though it must’ve pained him to do so.
Gussy screeched
when she noticed him carrying her. “What happened to my lady?”
He set her on
the comfortable chair near the hearth. Once she was settled, he knelt next to
her and pressed her skirts above her knee. She almost giggled at the way he took
hold of her naked calf. But when he continued to press her skin with his warm
fingers, she lost her breath. His touch sent a pleasurable chill through her
and she remained still.
Callum raised
his eyes and held her gaze. “It doesn’t appear Frang damaged you too badly, but
we should get the healer to make certain. Are you in pain?”
She shook her
head but wanted to tell him she was injured if only he might continue to touch
her. Violet sat back, content that he persisted to hold her leg. When his hand
brushed along her skin, heat rose within her and her cheeks burned. His
nearness brought forth a shyness she hadn’t ever possessed. But she had to
remember to be confident. He was more than handsome, but it was the way he
touched her that riddled her senseless. No man had ever struck her with such
longing.
If she wasn’t
mistaken, she might liken the sentiment to desire. She desired Callum Sinclair,
and that thought settled the matter. Until she kissed him though, she wouldn’t
know if it was true passion that brought fervor to her. She would do whatever
it took to seduce him, even if she only got to experience it once. After all,
she was entitled to take a lover once in her life, and glory be, he’d be worth
the risk. Violet would be content with one night spent in his muscular arms.
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I hope readers enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please let me know what you think of it and if you enjoyed it leave a review. It is most helpful. Thanks!
Kara Griffin
