Her Highland Hero (The Highlanders, Book 6)
Lady Isobel is a Norman laird’s daughter, living near the Scots border where her father, Lord Pembroke, is trying to keep the peace. But her mother was a Highlander and the man Isobel loves most of all is Laird Marcus McEwan, who has been bringing news of her mother’s people for years. But now Isobel’s father wishes her wed to an English nobleman, who will carry on his title. Isobel will wed no other man but her heart’s desire—and that is one braw Highlander from her mother’s homeland.
Laird Marcus McEwan has loved the feisty lass forever. For years, Marcus has tried to convince Lord Pembroke to allow him to wed his daughter. But the Norman lord will not allow it. Then ambushes and murders make it too dangerous for Marcus to reach a peaceful resolution.
Nothing goes as planned and keeping the lass for his own is fraught with danger, as they try to determine who was behind the killings. Isobel and Marcus will do everything in their power to ensure they are together as they have always vowed they would be.
Excerpt:
Marcus saw the abrupt change in Isobel's expression from delighted at seeing him to upset with him, but he didn't know what the matter was. He'd come to see her, hadn't he?
He looked to his cousins for counsel. Both shook their heads and shrugged as they turned their horses and chased after the lass.
Pembroke's knights kept their distance and so did Mary and Jane, to Marcus's relief. He was certain, despite her da saying no to his marrying Isobel, he'd given the order to allow him to speak with her in private as much as it could be so.
Rob said, "She is a woman. What more can I say?"
Marcus let out a frustrated breath. With any other woman, he knew just how to handle the situation. Kiss her sweetly and make her forget her annoyance. With Isobel, he couldn't dally with her in the same way. She had been raised as a Norman earl's daughter, was a lady, inexperienced in the ways of men, and her da would have his head if Marcus laid a hand on her. Not to mention, he loved her.
He wasn't afraid of the earl, but he wouldn't ruin Isobel's reputation no matter how much he wanted to kiss her, love her, and make her his wife.
God's knees, he'd already asked for her hand in marriage. Four times this year already! But her da wouldn't permit it.
Her mother's invitations had come for years, soliciting his attendance at the social activities they had given for their daughter, and then when she'd died, Isobel's da had continued to invite him at his wife's dying request. Marcus had danced with Isobel, though it had killed him not to hold her like he'd wanted to, or dance with her more than once, or watch the Englishmen dancing with her when he had wanted to…exclusively.
He was glad when she'd slip away to be with him, even though Mary, her maid, had kept a watchful eye. He loved how Isobel had treated him like he was someone special, and greeted him first before the other guests arrived. Which was the reason he always came so early.
So he couldn't fathom what the matter was this time.
Isobel reached the loch and slipped off her horse, tethered her to a birch, then hurried to the water's edge. Marcus and his cousins joined her just as she crouched, dipped her hands into the water, and splashed her face, her back to them.
"Isobel," he said, gently, handing his reins to Rob, then joining her at the loch's shore. His cousins stood nearby watching. He wished he could be alone with her, and he could kiss her like he wanted.
She rose, her head tilted back a wee bit, which meant she'd raised her chin, and her back stiffened with his approach.
"What ails you, lass?" he asked.
"I came here to be alone," she said curtly.
He glanced back at his cousins. They both raised their brows at him, Rob motioning for him to pursue the issue.
"Isobel…"
"Go. Go," she said brightly, flicking her hand in his direction, her back still to him, refusing to look at him. "I wish to be alone," she repeated.
He knew it wasn't so. Not when he'd seen how eager she was to see him. Not when he knew she'd come out just to greet him.
He drew close, smelled the fragrance of lavender and the hint of woman, felt the heat of her skin. Craved taking her into his arms and kissing her.
"What is the matter?" he asked, quietly.
When she didn't answer, he touched her shoulder, but she quickly pulled away.
He frowned. "Isobel." He grasped her arm and pulled her around so he could speak to her face to face, to see her expression and learn what was troubling her. Tears glistened in her eyes. He felt as though a fist had struck him in the belly. He dragged her into his embrace, crushing her, holding her, not letting go, and even ignoring how her da's knights would react.
Her arms went around his waist, and he knew then he'd upset her somehow. "What is wrong?"
She didn't say, or couldn't. Rob was right. Figuring out what a woman wanted was nigh to impossible. Still holding her tight against him, Marcus lifted her chin. "Tell me."
Her eyes were so incredibly blue, her dark brown hair falling over her shoulders in a cascade of silken curls, her mouth full and moist and wanting.
He kissed her, like he'd vowed never to do.
Reviews:
"HER HIGHLAND HERO is exactly the kind of highlander book fans have come to expect from Terry Spear — full of heart- stopping action, sexy good guys, and strong women." Miranda Owen, Fresh Fiction
"With non-stop action, thrilling suspense, danger, a beautiful setting, well-drawn characters, this story will keep readers guessing right up to the very satisfying ending." Dottie, Romance Junkies
Her Highland Hero: "I fell in love with Isobel and Marcus because she was one determined woman, and he was one very receptive Highlander. This spirited lass would wed no other Highlander, no matter the danger or obstacles. A very vivid Highland Romance that makes you want more from Terry Spear."~~Maria McIntyre
Bestselling and award-winning author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal romance novels and four medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her next werewolf romance, continuing her new series about shapeshifting jaguars, loving to share her hot Highlanders, and having fun with her young adult novels. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics. And on Wordpress at:
Terry Spear's Shifters
http://terryspear.wordpress.com/
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