Highland Force
Book One
Amy Jarecki
Genre: Scottish Historical Romance
Date of Publication: 2/17/14
ISBN:
ASIN:
Number of pages: 342
Word Count: 96,600
Cover Artist: Kim Killion
Book Description:
Wed by proxy to a baron old enough to be her grandfather, Lady Anne trudges up the gangway of a galleon that will deliver her into the arms of a tyrant. Crestfallen, she believes her disastrous life cannot get worse—until she awakes to the blasts of cannon fire.
Facing certain death, Anne trembles in her stateroom while swords clash and the chilling screams of battle rage on the deck above. When a rugged Highlander kicks in her door, she prays for a swift end.
But Laird Calum MacLeod has a reason for plundering the ship—and it’s not a stunning English lass. With no other choice, he takes Anne to his crumbling keep on the isle of Raasay and sends a letter of ransom to her husband. In time, Anne grows to understand MacLeod’s plight and finds it increasingly difficult to resist Calum’s unsettling charm—until the baron sends a reply agreeing to terms.
Ripped from passion that will be forever seared into their souls, will Anne and Calum risk everything for love?
She turned and caught him staring. He bowed and his heart melted when she smiled—a smile with dimples that could light up the horizon. He half expected Anne to turn up her pert little nose and head the other way.
Before he could persuade himself otherwise, Calum pattered down the steps and stood beside her. She watched the sunset and her warmth pulled him close like a magnet.
“’Tis beautiful,” she said when the sky shone with orange and pink, highlighted against the strips of clouds that sailed toward the ship.
He inhaled. Her scent ever so feminine, Calum inclined his head to capture more of it. “Aye, milady.”
She placed her hand on the rail. Again his reflexes took over and he rested his palm atop it. Calum expected her to snatch it away, but she did not. Her fingers were cold and he held his much warmer hand there as a comfort. They stood in silence as the sun glowed orange-red on the horizon. He wanted to stand there forever—touching her. Barely breathing, he watched the sun disappear and held his hand still, unwilling to move it.
The sun was replaced by darkness. Lady Anne slipped her hand out from under his and the dark of the evening took up residence inside him. She was not his to lust after. “May I walk you to your stateroom?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded husky. Had she felt the connection too? Of course not.
Calum offered his arm and that same small, cold hand grasped it. “We’ll arrive at Raasay in the morning.”
“Our destination?”
“Aye.”
“Bran told me.”
Secrets were impossible to keep on a ship. “I will send a letter of ransom to yer husband upon our arrival.” He didn’t like how that sounded—ye are my prisoner until Lord Wharton pays for your release. But that’s how it had to be. If he sailed up the mouth of the River Aln, he would incite yet another war between Scotland and England—and this time his countrymen might side with the enemy.
When they stepped into the corridor, warm air relaxed the tension in his shoulders.
Anne stopped outside her cabin door, breasts straining against her bodice with every breath. “I’ve never met him.”
Calum forced himself to concentrate on her face. “Who?”
“Lord Wharton.”
“What? How?”
“We were wed by proxy. My uncle made the arrangements.”
Ah Jesus. Calum understood the way of highborn marriages, arranged for the trade of lands and riches. “Ye ken he’s old enough to be your father?”
“He’s three times my age plus one year to be exact. His children are older than I.”
A hundred questions flooded his mind. “Why?” he clipped with shocked disbelief.
Anne nodded as if fully understanding his monosyllabic inquiry. “I’m told the Baron fancied me from across Westminster Abbey during the Queen’s coronation.”
“No.” She doesn’t even know the bastard. That’s why she wears no ring.
“Yes. My uncle said he kissed my hand, yet so many lords greeted me on that trip to London, I’m at a loss to place him.”
The despair in her lovely eyes twisted around his heart. “Mayhap ye will remember if we playact it.” With a halfcocked grin, Calum reached for her hand. His mouth went dry when her silken skin met the rough pads of his fingertips. Though a grown woman, her fingers were fine and delicate.
When she didn’t pull away, he moistened his lips and bowed. Hovering above her hand, the soft scent of honeysuckle mixed with her—the unmistakable scent of woman now more captivating than it had been on the deck—ignited his insides as if she stood naked before him. Closing his eyes, he touched his lips to the back of her hand and kissed. Anne’s sharp inhale made his skin shiver with gooseflesh. She did not try to pull away but remained so still, her pulse beat a fierce rhythm beneath.
Calum held his lips there longer than necessary. He wanted this moment to linger. He wanted a memory he could cherish long after she was gone. His eyes locked with hers as he straightened. Her lips parted slightly, almost as if asking him to kiss her mouth, but he knew she wouldn’t want that.
He stood for a moment not saying a word. She did too.
“Any recollection?” His voice rasped.
“No.” Her voice low, she then blinked as if snapping back to the present. “You mustn’t ever do that again.”
“Apologies, milady.” Grinning, he opened her door and bowed, though he did not regret her lack of recall.
Anne stepped into her stateroom. Calum could not pull his gaze away until the door closed and blocked the bewilderment reflected in her sapphire eyes. Calum waited a moment and stared at the hardwood door—the same one he had kicked in five nights ago. What the hell was he doing?
He ground his teeth and headed back to the quarterdeck. He needed to get the lady out of his life. She was not his to care for. Worst of all, she had wed the enemy.
Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review by Karen
Amazing Scottish read!
Lady Anne’s is on her way to meet her new husband, she has never met him before because her uncle married her off to him without even asking her permission. She was wedded under proxy, to a man that could have been her grandfather and his known for his attacks on Scotland and their people.
Scared but not having much of a choice Anne is on her way to him with the ship The Flying Swan. She fears her future but is determined to honor her family’s name and obey her uncle.
“She would prove herself worthy to the baron’s estate just as she had done at Titchfield House. His lordship might be old, but he’d discover he had married far more than a pretty courtier. Anne steadied her breath and repeated her title, “Baroness of Wharton.” Married to a stranger nine and thirty years her senior.”
But her journey towards an unknown future is about to take a detour, the Flying Swan is captured by pirates, and not just any pirates, Scottish pirates. When Anne meets the captain of this crusade she is taken back by his size and strength. What would become of her in the hands of savages?
“Hinges gave way and the door clattered to the deck.
A rugged man stared through the dimly lit doorway. Sword drawn, with a cropped copper beard, he glared at her with fierce, steely eyes. She was certain he could kill her with that look.
Anne held up her knife, shaking like a sapling in the wind.
“Holy Mother Mary.” He clattered across the door and sheathed his sword. “What in the blazes are ye doing here?”
Laird Calum Macleod expected to find loot for his starving people on The Flying Swan, he never thought to find a lady on board, abandoned by the fleeing crew. At first uncertain of what to-do with the woman, Calum discovers that she is of a wealthy family and decides to bargain her save return, and feed his people at the same time. But as time moved on and Anne is in his presence and around his people, things starts to change for the Laird. She is capturing his heart and he can’t stop her.
“Hot yearning swirled beneath his kilt while he languidly smoothed kisses along the length of that silken arm. Anne’s muffled groan sent him undone. The thickening beneath his kilt shot to rigid. He stepped in and gazed down upon her lovely face. “I want to kiss ye.”
When the two discover their true feelings for each other, the impending doom that goes with it destroys all hope. She must be returned or war would fall upon his already suffering people. Two hearts torn by responsibly, honor and undeniably love.
At one stage I feared that Scottish romance novels where becoming extinct, but with authors like Amy out there I can say that we are still in for a great adventures filled with every emotion possible. While reading this novel I was drawn into an amazing story, and didn’t even try to fight back. Amy’s writing style was relaxing and her descriptive detail ensured that I could see everything down to the last hair. As for emotions, what a rollercoaster. While reading I experienced everything humanly possible. Humor, despair, love, hope, anger all weaved into a beautiful and exciting plot. There were moments when I dreaded turning the page, in fear that this author would break my heart. She had mercy in the end, but the journey towards it was extraordinary and heartbreaking. I will be following this series, and I hope and pray that it is just the first of many to come. I believe that this would become one of those series where twenty books wouldn’t even be enough to satisfy the hunger for more.
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Hi Karen! Thank you for hosting me on your sizzling hot blog, and a HUGE thank you for your detailed and thoughtful review! I am so pleased that you enjoyed Captured!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh when I entered the site...pulled in my fangs and my claws to be sure I wouldn't hurt anyone ;-)
Loved the excerpt! Scottish men are among my favorite heroes! I already added it to my TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!