HIGHLANDER WEEK: Guest Post & Giveaway w/ Nicole North of Laird of Darkness

Now we have a guest post & giveaway from a real sweety and a fabulous author, Nicole North. I've read a few of her novels and have loved each of them! You can check out my reviews for two of them; Laird of Darkness and Kilted Lover by clicking on the title name. 

Why Do I Write About Highlanders?

By Nicole North

The Highlands of Scotland have a fascinating but tragic history, filled with conflict. The Highland clan culture of hundreds of years ago no longer exists today. It’s rewarding and interesting to go back in time and recreate that clan culture and see what it might have been like when men wore kilts, carried swords, and protected what was theirs, including their freedom, with fierce bravery. I admire those fearsome legendary men.

A Highland hero has a lot in common with other romance heroes we love to read about. He’s usually sexy, gorgeous, and alpha. What sets Highlanders apart, aside from their kilts and big swords, is the mystique that surrounds them. They’re often seen as savages or barbarians by the English characters in the story. At the time, Highlanders were called “Wild Scots” (as opposed to the “civilized” Scots of the Lowlands). I think something about that wildness appeals to women. Will he be that wild in the bedchamber? Hmm. Something to consider. Plus, if he’s a true hero, we know he’s going to have a code of honor and principals no matter how untamed he is.

The Highlands of Scotland are beautifully breathtaking, but also cold, windy, rainy, and harsh. If you can imagine survival of the fittest playing out there, then you’ll see why the people who lived in the Highlands hundreds of years ago had to be tough and strong with a granite constitution. Those who were fragile or pampered would not have make it long. In our stories, this makes our Highland heroes that much stronger than a normal man. He might even seem to have a superhuman toughness, such as when he might have to fight in hand to hand combat, go for days without food, and endure extreme weather conditions all at the same time.

The Highland heroes I write are all warriors. They’ve fought in battles or skirmishes and have the scars to prove it. Most of them are chiefs--strong, fair leaders of their clans. Their people look up to them, trust and admire them. The people might even fear their chief at times, because of a curse or paranormal ability, but deep down they still love and respect him. Loyalty is one of the most important traits of a Highlander.

One trait we can’t forget is that Scotsmen also have a sexy accent which is charming and spellbinding. Who can resist?

With most Highlanders, what you see is what you get. They’re honest and down to earth. They don’t put on a façade of “properness” nor do they go along with what society tells them is appropriate. They do what they want and enjoy life to the fullest. These kinds of uninhibited, daredevil heroes are great fun to write about. You never know what they will do.

Laird of Darkness: Half-Fae Laird Duncan MacDougall is cursed. His nights are haunted by Otherworld creatures sent to kill him. The only way to stop them is to possess the magic bow currently in the hands of his enemy half-brother, Kinnon MacClaren. In desperation, Duncan plans to take MacClaren's bride-to-be hostage and exchange her for the bow.
Lady Alana Forbes has never met her intended, but she hopes he is handsome-and a good lover, for Alana is no innocent virgin. On her way to Castle Claren, Alana and her escorts are intercepted, and she is kidnapped by a man with extraordinary abilities-and every attribute she longs for in a mate.
Duncan didn't expect the woman he thought of as a mere pawn would be so beautiful, and so arousing. Alana is drawn to him as well-but Duncan still needs the bow, and Alana is betrothed to another. How far will Alana go to save the life of the man she's come to love?
Chapter One excerpt                                    Available from Carina press                                    Amazon                                                                 B&N

Nicole North's erotic romance novellas have been described by reviewers as “exciting, high octane, captivating, scintillating, sinfully delicious and pure romance.” Her stories contain “heart and heat, killer love scenes, magic and extraordinary characters.” She has sold four stories to Red Sage Publishing. Laird of Darkness is her first novella for Carina Press. Nicole’s stories usually focus on her favorite things: Scotland, Highlanders and hot men in kilts. She and her husband live in the Southeastern US, but she wishes she lived in the Scottish Highlands at least half the year. As she puts it, Scotland is a beautiful, magical and enchanting place where anything seems possible. She teaches online workshops about various aspects of writing, including sexual tension and how to write great love scenes. Though she has a degree in psychology, writing romance is her first love.

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~*GIVEAWAY*~

Nicole is giving away a digital copy of her Highlander/Fae novel, Laird of Darkness. To enter, just comment answering this question:

Nicole writes about a half fae Highlander, if you were an author, what kind of Highlander would you write about? Fae? Time-traveler? Vampire? Laird? Outlaw? Or something else? 

Make sure to leave your email address with comment. Giveaway will close at 11:59pm on May 21st, open Internationally.