And now we have author Rowan Keats joining us with one of my favorite types of heroes from historical romances, those wild Scot's!
TAMING A WILD SCOT features a heroine who faces very challenging odds right from the beginning of the story--Ana breaks out of prison in the first chapter. (If you're curious about how she does that, you can read the first chapter here.) I love Ana, and I love the way she fights tooth and nail for everything she cares about. And because she's so strong and determined and loyal, I felt she needed a very special hero. Enter the Wild Scot. ☺
Of course, Wild Scots are not for every heroine. They are rough around the edges, extremely distrustful, and difficult to get close to. But if you can succeed in taming a Wild Scot, you'll earn yourself the best of all romance heroes. And we all deserve one of those, right?
But how do you get close to such a rough, gruff, distrustful guy? Allow me to share a few secrets I learned while writing TAMING A WILD SCOT:
1. Be truthful. Or, if you can't be 100% truthful, be transparent. My heroine Ana has very fair skin and is prone to blushing, which gives her away at the drop of a lie:
She snatched her healer’s pouch from the peg and began stuffing it with herbs. Lemon balm, while not as effective as cardamom, would soothe Lady Elayne’s belly. “I am not a skilled dissembler. I cannot conjure credible lies with ease.”
“Then don’t lie.”
“How can I not? The villagers here believe me to be the widow of a traveling merchant, because that is what I told them. I’ve never said aught to them about my husband working on the docks in Aberdeen. Now you expect me to—”
“Cease, woman.”
Taking a deep breath, she turned.
He had tossed aside the remaining bread and regained his feet. Holding her gaze firmly with his, he crossed the room. “Leave the story-weaving to me. If you find yourself alone, explain that you were too ashamed to admit your husband lost his caravan to a turn of the dice.” Unsmiling, he brushed a callused thumb over her cheek. “The color that fills your cheeks as you prevaricate will convince them it’s the truth.”
2. Entice them with food. Let's face it, medieval Scottish bachelors are suckers for a good meal. Unlike Regency swains, they are not flitting from ballroom to ballroom gorging themselves on pasties, cheese, and wine. A woman offering a warm bannock or bowl of properly spiced pottage would immediately earn points.
She bristled at his condescending good lass. “I have a name. If you hope to convince the villagers that you are indeed my husband, it might be wise to learn it.”
His gaze lifted. He studied her for a long moment, his blue eyes hard, his expression unreadable. “Take care, Ana. I’m not a man you should cross.”
A spot of annoyance bloomed in her chest, just under her breastbone. So full of anger and threats, this man. It was all too easy to forget that he’d saved her life. But as discomfited as she was by his reappearance, she owed him more than she would ever be able to repay. Only a mean-spirited hag would begrudge him a meal.
And he had learned her name.
“I’ve some bannock and a round of cheese,” she offered, unable to soften her tone into anything resembling gracious. At his nod, she brushed by him to reach the small wooden chest next to the bed. The brief rub of his sturdy arm against hers sparked a memory of him lifting her up the dungeon steps. Strange. She could barely remember the agonizing pain in her legs, but her recollection of the warm strength of his body remained as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
The chest opened with a creak of damp wood. In addition to the bread and cheese, it held her store of kale, beans, and onions. She broke off a sizable piece of cheese and handed it and the bread to her guest.
One last piece of advice: Let him come to you. Wild Scots love the chase, and they are fiercely proud. Keep talking to him and keep feeding him. You'll eventually get him to cosy up.
My question to you is--if you were invited to a medieval Scottish potluck--and you had the opportunity to win the heart of a brawny Highland warrior--what dish would you bring?
Good luck in the draw for a copy of TAMING A WILD SCOT!
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Taming a Wild Scotby Rowan Keats
Genre: Historical Romance
Elements/Tags: Medieval, Scottish, Highlander
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Publishing Date: November 5, 2013
Series: Claimed by the Highlander #1
Format: Print, e-Book
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BAM
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again...
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
Meet Author Rowan Keats:
Rowan Keats pens historical adventures about hot Highland heroes and the women they claim. The first book in her Claimed by the Highlander series, TAMING A WILD SCOT, hits store shelves on November 5, 2013. Rowan's debut garnered a 4 1/2 star review from RT Book Reviews, which also named her "a rising star of medieval romance".When not writing, Rowan can frequently be found in a dark movie theater indulging in a large bag of popcorn, or watching the sunrise with a mug of steaming coffee wrapped in her hands. She lives in Central Canada with a goofy black lab, a very talkative cat, and a daughter whose own creative talents awe and inspire her every day.Website: www.rowankeats.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RowanKeatsAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RowanKeats
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6462457.Rowan_Keats
Giveaway Details:
One copy of Taming the Wild Scot will be gifted per the total number of tour stops. (US/Ca Only) Please follow the Rafflecopter widget directions.
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Great giveaway Rowan!
ReplyDeleteThis is my kind of book. Thanks. Deb P
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Barb! Fingers crossed for you. :D
ReplyDeleteDebP, thanks very much for stopping by. I hope you get a chance to read it.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed medieval stories and there aren't that many these days so I'm always happy when I come across one. When the setting is the Highlands, it's even better. I'm looking forward to reading Taming a Wild Scot.
ReplyDeleteI love books about highlanders. I have not read anything by this author yet, but I can't wait to start
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fascinating. I'm off to read the first chapter now. Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteYikes, what WOULD I make? I don't think I would want to eat haggis or bannocks. Maybe some honey cakes to take to a medieval Scottish meal?
ReplyDeleteI think I'd make a big pot of beef stew with fresh baked bread.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall there were and are flocks of sheep in Scotland, so I'd make a big pot of lamb stew with fresh garlic - and serve sheepherder's bread with it. jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLove those wild Highlanders!
ReplyDelete