Highland Brides of Skye, Book One by Tarah Scott and April Holthaus **Excerpt-Giveaway**


Passion
Highland Brides of Skye Book 1
by Tarah Scott and April Holthaus
Genre: Historical Romance


Over the years, many lasses have found refuge in the Scottish Highland’s Glenwood Abbey. But for three young ladies, sanctuary becomes servitude, with master puppeteer Malcom Donald using them in his plan to rule the Isle of Skye.

When a return trip home from a clan meeting ends in a bloodbath, Laird Caeleb MacLeod begins his search for the clansman who betrayed them. Little does he know he need look no further than his bed.

As the housekeeper for Laird Caeleb MacLeod, Gwendolyn is in a position to learn many things important to her master, Malcom Donald, captain to the Donald laird. Now she must choose between destroying the man she loves and saving the sister being held hostage by Malcolm.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS TREASURES OF SKYE



Excerpt

Isle of Skye, Scotland, 1321

Not one man remained on the battlefield. Not even the dead.

After nearly a fortnight away from home, and a three-day-long battle, they were going home. But this was not a day to rejoice. Seventy of the two hundred MacLeod warriors who’d fought would be brought to their final resting place within Dunvegan’s chapel cemetery. Another thirty-five would be buried at their respective homes, scattered across MacLeod land.

“It’ll take a week to bury them,” Tommen muttered as he rode alongside Caeleb.

Caeleb’s chest tightened. A week of unbridled sorrow.

The taste of defeat rose like bile, and for the thousandth time he envisioned the missive Tommen had delivered to him only hours before the Donalds attacked.

The Donalds plan to attack Laird MacLeod on his return from MacKinnon territory.

A Friend

No one had seen this friend. The message, discovered on a table in the great hall, had plagued Caeleb since Tommen met him and his men with another hundred and fifty warriors only hours before the attack. Who was this friend—how did they have such easy access to Dunvegan—and how had they known the Donalds would attack?

In the two years since Caeleb had been laird, he’d stood ready to defend the MacLeods against the Donalds—just as the MacKenzies did and even the MacKinnons, for they were allied with the MacKenzies here on Skye, and the Donalds hated them for it. The discord between the Donalds and the other clans had existed since before Caeleb’s birth. But, in his arrogance, he’d thought he could avoid an all-out war with the Donalds.

Damn ye, Kaden, he silently cursed his cousin. Kaden was to have taken his father’s place as chief, but when the old chief had hanged Kaden’s brother for treason, Kaden had disappeared, forcing Caeleb to step in as laird.

“I should have sent for more men to meet us,” Tommen said, his tone flat.

“They wouldnae reached us in time.”

“I should—”

“Nae,” Caeleb cut in. “Ye did the right thing. You couldn’t leave Dunvegan unprotected.”

“Even another fifty men would have turned the tide in our favor,” Tommen whispered.

“They outnumbered us, and we sent them running with their tails between their legs,” Caeleb said.

Tommen looked at him. “At what cost?”

Caeleb’s gut twisted when another cart filled with the dead rumbled past. At what cost, indeed? Bodies lay stacked like logs on a pyre, covered by plaids. His heart lurched at recognition of the unruly, dark red hair visible beneath three larger bodies.

Royce.

God help him. The boy was but sixteen. Caeleb had ridden to a pre-arranged meeting with the MacKinnon chief. Royce had accompanied them to visit his sister in Pitmorth. None of them had expected to see battle on the journey home.

“It matters not how long it takes to bury them,” he murmured. “We will give them a Christian burial, one and all.”

“They will not stop,” Tommen said.

Caeleb fixed his gaze on the cart bearing their dead. “I will stop them.”


At last, the towers of Dunvegan Castle came into view. The silence that had fallen upon them since leaving the battlefield had grown so heavy, Caeleb nearly bowed under the weight. Even the injured hadn’t uttered so much as a moan. They understood too well their good fortune. They would live another day to right recent wrongs. Another day to cry, to love, and even forgive. To fight, if the need arose. And the need would arise.

They reached the village, Caeleb in the lead, the dead between him and the remaining warriors. Many villagers ran out to greet them. Cries of joy and wails of sorrow filled the air. Hugs, kisses, and tears were shared amongst the returning warriors. Caeleb envisioned Royce, and he couldn’t help but scan the crowd for the boy’s mother. To his shame, he was relieved not to see her. He would visit her, but not today.

Caeleb continued up the hill to the castle, Tommen at his side, the warriors who resided in the castle close behind.

“When we arrive, close the gates,” Caeleb told Tommen. “Spread it about that we want to secure the castle against attack.”

“That isnae the case?” Tommen asked.

“Aye, it is. But, just as important, I want to know who comes and goes. Pick a dozen of our most trusted men. Gregory, Angus, Jonathan and Henry can lead them. Send them immediately to patrol the borders. They are to tell no one they are going. Ground the monks’ birds. I don’t want a single hawk leaving the falconry until we find out who this friend is. I will talk with Jon. No horses leave the stables without your or my say so, and put a watch on the boats.

Tommen nodded, and they fell silent again. Moments later, they passed through the gate. Tommen and the other warriors stopped for the throng that had gathered to welcome them home, but Caeleb urged his horse toward the stables. The hum of voices grew quieter as he left the courtyard behind.

Jon, the stable master, emerged from the stables when he neared. “‘Tis good to have ye safely home, laird,” he said as Caeleb brought his horse to a halt beside him.

Caeleb swung his leg over the animal’s hindquarters and stepped from the saddle. Jon took the reins Caeleb handed him and said nothing about the battle as he ran a gentle hand along the horse’s neck. But Caeleb knew the question on the tongue of every MacLeod: how had a peaceful visit to the MacKinnons turned into a war?

“I imagine all of Dunvegan knows that someone warned us about the attack,” Caeleb said.

Jon grunted. “And probably half the MacLeod clan by now.”

“That will make it harder to catch the traitor.”

“Ye are sure they’re a traitor?” Jon asked.

Caeleb released a breath. “I am no’ sure of anything. But this friend is privy to the Donalds’ goings on. Who among the MacLeods can say that?”

Jon’s frown deepened. “I admit, ‘tis strange.”

Caeleb agreed and he didn’t like strange.

“I suggest a feast tonight to honor our fallen,” Jon said.

Caeleb started to disagree.

“Dinnae be so quick to say no,” Jon said. “Our fallen should be honored, their stories of valor shared. Our friend will feel safer if he thinks we aren’t focused on him.”

Caeleb placed a hand on Jon’s shoulder. “As always, ye are right”

Minutes later, Caeleb pushed open the door into the castle’s kitchens. He stopped short when two maids carrying a large bucket of water bumped into him. They cried out as the bucket cracked against the stone floor. The bustle in the room halted. Water splashed his boots and snaked along the stones’ mortar seams.

“Forgive us.” Moira, the eldest of the girls, hurried to the counter where another servant stood, her fingers wrapped around the bread dough she’d been kneading on the flour-strewn table. Moira grabbed two cloths and returned to where Ana remained unmoving.

As one, the servants resumed their work when Moira and Ana knelt and began soaking up water. Caeleb sidestepped the two maids and scanned the room. Gwen wasn’t among the women. He glanced toward the small hallway leading to the scullery. Might she be there?

“Where is Gwen?” he asked.

Moira paused and looked up at him. “I havenae seen her since she went away.”

“Away?” he blurted. His heart began to pound. “Where did she go?”

The room again fell silent.

“She went to visit Lana MacLeod in Eldaum,” said the maid working the bread dough.

Eldaum. That was a day’s ride. Fear lanced through him. She’d left him.

From the corner of his eye, Caeleb glimpsed a small figure emerge from the scullery. She halted just inside the kitchen.

Gwendolyn.

Tendrils had escaped her long auburn braid. It took every ounce of will not to yank her into his arms and crush her close.

“Morning, laird,” she said in a cool voice that gave away none of the intimacy they shared as lovers. “ ‘Tis good to have ye safely home.”

“You have been away,” was all he could manage.

She nodded. “Lana MacLeod fell sick after the birth of her latest child. I took food for her and stayed with her for a day.”

He wanted to demand why the women in Lana’s village couldn’t have tended to her, why Gwen had ridden half a day’s journey to help the woman, why she had refused his offer of marriage half a dozen times. The questions only died in his throat.

Instead, he said, “Tonight, I wish to have a feast for the men.” It felt like years since he’d last touched her.

She nodded again. “I will see to it. Will there be anything else?”

He noted a slight flush in her cheeks. “I am in need of a bath,” he said. “Please have water heated for my tub.”

“Right away,” she said, but didn’t move.

His heart thudded. Had she missed him as much as he’d missed her? Guilt stabbed. He still had a chance at love while those being buried didn’t.



Redemption
Highland Brides of Skye Book 2


For years, master thief Helena Donald has lived at Glenwood Abbey and submitted to Malcolm Donald’s bidding. Desperate to break free of his control, Helena agrees to steal the MacLeod Faire Flag for Malcolm for she intends to sell the flag and start a new life far from Malcom. When Helena is caught in a blizzard, she prefers to die in the cold wasteland rather than return to the abbey.

Kaden MacLeod has chosen a solitary life in a cabin on the shore of Loch Haven. But a woman’s scream during a raging snowstorm sends him racing to rescue Helena from the frigid waters of the frozen loch. When he learns that this beautiful young woman is about to commit the same crime for which his father, Laird MacLeod, hung Kaden’s younger brother, he’ll stop at nothing to prevent her from facing a similar fate.




Deception
Highland Brides of Skye Book 3


Betrothed to Lady Allison, the granddaughter of the dying MacKenzie laird, Jacob MacKinnon stands ready to do his duty and unite their two clans. But enemies watch, and plan to prevent the uniting of those two powers.

After an attack on his betrothed’s carriage leaves only Lady Allison alive, Jacob is determined to find her would-be killers.

Linnae Donald is a lowly serving girl. How is she supposed to tell Laird MacKenzie that the granddaughter he’s mistaken her for died when their carriage was attacked?

She can’t break a dying man’s heart. Neither can she do what Jacob MacKinnon asks and help him prevent a war by pretending to be Lady Alison…and marrying him.




About the Authors










Best-selling author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter.








April Holthaus is an Award-Winning Author for her Scottish Historical Romances. For more than ten years, she has worked full time in the direct marketing business, but developed a passion of historical romances through her love of reading, history and genealogy. When she is not working or writing, April loves to spend time with her family and traveling. 



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