Desire tempted them but desire conquered all . . .
The
Highlander’s Temptation: The Prequel
Stolen Brides, #0.5
by Eliza Knight
The
Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . The Highlander’s Temptation (Stolen
Bride, #.5) . . .
Predictable action, adventure, and
romance. I should have started with this
read but it ended up being the last read of the series for me. It would have given
me more work with if I would have read this one first. But would it have
changed the way that I looked at the series. I love romance with highlanders. I love
historical romances with highlanders. The medieval romance has a different kind
of quality that can draw you in or push you away from the genre. I have been intrigued
by Eliza Knights brand of medieval romance for a while. She has a way of telling
the story that get you in. Even with it predictable nature. This series gives a history lesson and a
romance during one of Scotland more trying times. We see how love and romance
could have been during that time and we most certainly see the struggles of a
family trying to keep it all together during a time that the land they love was
being torn apart by greed, power, and selfishness.
Stolen Brides series:
The Highlander's Temptation – The
Stolen Bride, #.5
The Highlander's Reward – The
Stolen Bride, #1
The Highlander's Conquest – The
Stolen Bride, #2
The Highlander's Lady – The
Stolen Bride, #3
The Highlander's Warrior Bride – The
Stolen Bride, #4
The Highlander's Triumph – The
Stolen Bride, #5
The Highlander's Sin – The
Stolen Bride, #6
Wild Highland Mistletoe – The
Stolen Bride, #6.5
BLURB
Prequel to the Stolen Bride Series...
Desire tempted them, but love
conquered all…
Laird Jamie Montgomery is a warrior
with a mission. When he travels to the northern Highlands on the orders of
William Wallace, temptation in the form of an alluring lass, could be his
undoing.
Lady Lorna Sutherland can’t resist
the charms of one irresistible Highlander. Though she’s been forbidden, she
breaks every rule for the pleasure of his intoxicating embrace.
When their love is discovered, Jamie
is tossed from Sutherland lands under threat of death. But danger can’t keep
the two of them apart. No matter what perils may try to separate them—Lorna and
Jamie swear they’ll find a way to be together.
Spring, 1282
Highlands, Scotland
THEY galloped through the
eerie moonlit night. Warriors cloaked by darkness. Blending in with the forest,
only the occasional glint of the moon off their weapons made their presence
seem out of place.
’Twas chilly for spring,
and yet, they rode hard enough the horses were lathered with sweat and foaming
at the mouth. But the Montgomery clan wasn’t going to be pushed out of yet
another meeting of the clans, not when their future depended on it. This
meeting would put their clan on the map, make them an asset to their king and
country. As it was, years before King Alexander III had lost one son and his
wife. He’d not remarried and the fate of the country now relied on one son who
didn’t feel the need to marry. The prince toyed with his life as though he had
a death wish, fighting, drinking, and carrying on without a care in the world.
The king’s only other chance at a succession was his daughter who’d married but
had not yet shown any signs of a bairn filling her womb. If something were to
happen to the king, the country would erupt into chaos. Every precaution needed
to be taken.
Young Jamie sat tall and
proud upon his horse. Even prouder was he, that his da, the fearsome Montgomery
laird, had allowed him to accompany the group of a half dozen seasoned
warriors—the men who sat on his own clan council—to the meeting. The fact that
his father had involved him in matters of state truly made his chest puff five
times its size.
After being fostered out
the last seven years, Jamie had just returned to his father’s home. At age
fourteen, he was ready to take on the duties of eldest son, for one day he
would be laird. This was the perfect opportunity to show his da all he’d
learned. To prove he was worthy.
Laird Montgomery held up
his hand and all the riders stopped short. Puffs of steam blew out in miniature
clouds from the horses’ noses. Jamie’s heart slammed against his chest and he
looked from side to side to make sure no one could hear it. He was a man after
all, and men shouldn’t be scared of the dark. No matter how frightening the
sounds were.
Carried on the wind were
the deep tones of men shouting and the shrill of a woman’s screams. Prickles
rose on Jamie’s arms and legs. They must have happened upon a robbery or an
ambush. When he’d set out to attend his father, he’d not counted on a fight.
Nay, Jamie merely thought to stand beside his father and demand a place within
the Bruce’s High Council.
Swallowing hard, he
glanced at his father, trying to assess his thoughts, but as usual, the man sat
stoic, not a hint of emotion on his face.
The laird glanced at his
second in command and jutted his chin in silent communication. The second
returned the nod. Jamie’s father made a circling motion with his fingers, and
several of the men fanned out.
Jamie observed the
exchange, his throat near to bursting with questions. What was happening?
Finally, his father
motioned Jamie forward. Keeping his emotions at bay, Jamie urged his mount
closer. His father bent toward him, indicating for Jamie to do the same, then
spoke in a hushed tone.
“We’re nearly to
Sutherland lands. Just on the outskirts, son. ’Tis an attack, I’m certain. We
mean to help.”
Jamie swallowed past the
lump in his throat and nodded. The meeting was to take place at Dunrobin
Castle. Why that particular castle was chosen, Jamie had not been privy to.
Though he speculated ’twas because of how far north it was. Well away from
Stirling where the king resided.
“Are ye up to it?” his
father asked.
Tightening his grip on the
reins, Jamie nodded. Fear cascaded along his spine, but he’d never show any
weakness in front of his father, especially now that he’d been invited on this
very important journey.
“Good. ’Twill give ye a
chance to show me what ye’ve learned.”
Again, Jamie nodded,
though he disagreed. Saving people wasn’t a chance to show off what he’d
learned. He could never look at protecting another as an opportunity to prove
his skill, only as a chance to make a difference. But he kept that to himself.
His da would never understand. If making a difference proved something to his
father, then so be it.
An owl screeched from
somewhere in the distance as it caught onto its prey, almost in unison with the
blood curdling scream of a woman.
His father made a few more
hand motions and the rest of their party followed him as they crept forward at
a quickened pace on their mounts, avoiding making any noise.
The road ended on a
clearing, and some thirty horse-lengths away a band of outlaws circled a trio—a
lady, one warrior, and a lad close to his own age.
The outlaws caught sight
of their approach, shouting and pointing. His father’s men couldn’t seem to
move quickly enough and Jamie watched in horror as the man, woman and child
were hacked down. All three of them on the ground, the outlaws turned on the
Montgomery warriors and rushed forward as though they’d not a care in the
world.
Jamie shook. He’d never
been so scared in his life. His throat had long since closed up and yet his
stomach was threatening to purge everything he’d consumed that day. Even though
he felt like vomiting, a sense of urgency, and power flooded his veins.
Battle-rush, he’d heard it called by the seasoned warriors. And it was surging
through his body, making him tingle all over.
The laird and his men
raised their swords in the air, roaring out their battle cries. Jamie raised
his sword to do the same, but a flash of gold behind a large lichen-covered
boulder caught his attention. He eased his knees on his mount’s middle.
What was that?
Another flash of gold —
was that blonde hair? He’d never seen hair like that before.
Jamie turned to his
father, intent to point it out, but his sire was several horse-lengths ahead
and ready to engage the outlaws, leaving it up to Jamie to investigate.
After all, if there was
another threat lying in wait, was it not up to someone in the group to seek
them out? The rest of the warriors were intent on the outlaws which left Jamie
to discover the identity of the thief.
He veered his horse to the
right, galloping toward the boulder. A wee lass darted out, lifting her skirts
and running full force in the opposite direction. Jamie loosened his knees on
his horse and slowed. That was not what he’d expected. At all. Jamie
anticipated a warrior, not a tiny little girl whose legs were no match for his
mount. As he neared, despite his slowed pace, he feared he’d trample the little
imp.
He leapt from his horse
and chased after her on foot. The lass kept turning around, seeing him chasing
her. The look of horror on her face nearly broke his heart. Och, he was no one
to fear. But how would she know that? She probably thought he was after her
like the outlaws had been after the man, woman and lad.
“’Tis all right!” he
called. “I will nay harm ye!”
But she kept on running,
and then was suddenly flying through the air, landing flat on her face.
Jamie ran toward her,
dropping to his knees as he reached her side and she pushed herself up.
Her back shook with cries
he was sure she tried hard to keep silent. He gathered her up onto his knees
and she pressed her face to his leine shirt, wiping away tears, dirt and snot
as she sobbed.
“Momma,” she said. “Da!”
“Hush, now,” Jamie
crooned, unsure of what else he could say. She must have just watched her
parents and brother get cut to the ground. Och, what an awful sight for any
child to witness. Jamie shivered, at a loss for words.
“Blaney!” she wailed,
gripping onto his shirt and yanking. “They hurt!”
Jamie dried her tears with
the cuff of his sleeve. “Your family?” he asked.
She nodded, her lower lip
trembling, green-blue eyes wide with fear and glistening with tears. His chest
swelled with emotion for the little imp and he gripped her tighter.
“Do ye know who the men
were?”
“Bad people,” she mumbled.
Author Info
Eliza Knight is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of sizzling historical romance and time-travel erotic romance. Under the name E. Knight, she pens riveting historical fiction. She runs the award-winning blog, History Undressed. When not reading, writing and researching, she likes to cuddle up in front of a warm fire with her own knight in shining armor.
Author Links:
Connect with her at http://www.elizaknight.com or http://www.historyundressed.com. You can sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/CSFFD. Follow her on social media at:
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