Get Lost in the Scottish Highlands

Love the mists of Scotland? 
You’re going to adore A Hint of Heather by Rebecca Hagan Lee.

If a spirited Highland lass kidnaps an English earl, does she get to keep him?

After Jessalyn MacInnes finds herself the new “laird” of Clan MacInnes, her well-meaning clansmen decide to go a-raiding to find her a bridegroom. When they toss their bound captive at Jessalyn’s feet, the last thing she expects to find is a strapping young Englishman with the face of a fallen angel, thick dark hair, and green eyes snapping with fury.

Neil Claremont, the earl of Derrowford, has journeyed to the Scottish Highlands with the Royal Corps of Engineers to fortify the king’s fortress, not to be kidnapped by a horde of barefoot savages and wed against his will. But when Neil first lays eyes on his bonny bride-to-be with her sparkling blue eyes and saucy wit, he begins to remember that after every wedding comes the wedding night…

Here's an excerpt:

Neil opened his eyes and blinked only to find himself gazing up at the provocative underside of a pair of pouty pink lips so close to his that he could see their fine texture, almost taste their soft inviting warmth. His head was cradled in the woman’s lap and one side of his face was pressed against two firm breasts. He breathed in her scent, identifying it as an enticing mix of warm woman and wildflowers.

He watched, in mute fascination, as the rosy tip of a tongue slipped between those luscious pink lips and moistened them. His body tightened at the sight and he groaned in reaction. It wasn’t the first time he had awakened to find himself in such a position, gazing at such a splendid sight and he fervently prayed it wouldn’t be the last, but the insistent pounding in his head and the dull ache in his right shoulder left some room for doubt. He groaned again; this time in pain, then flinched as she brushed his hair off his brow.

“No,” he protested.

She ignored him and brushed at his forehead once again.

Neil squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth and sucked in a breath, then raised his arm to halt her less than tender ministrations. “No, Deborah. Stop! I’d like to oblige you, but I’m afraid this isn’t the time.”

She snatched her hand back as if he’d burned her. Realizing he’d hurt her feelings, Neil reached up to tangle his fingers in her hair. He gently tugged at the silken strands entwined around his fingers, pulling her down closer to him until he could brush her mouth with his. Her lips were pressed firmly together.

“Come on, love, don’t be like that,” he murmured seductively. “You know I find you endlessly desirable, my sweet, but my head is killing me! I seem to have had too much of whatever it was we were drinking last night.” He managed a crooked smile, then licked at the seam of her lips.

She gave a startled gasp at the intimacy of that gesture and he took advantage of the opportunity and slipped his tongue inside her mouth.

Despite the painful pounding in his head and the sudden, insistent throbbing in his groin, Neil knew he’d made a mistake. She tasted of sweetness and innocence and although he used his tongue to tease and tantalize, she didn’t follow his lead. She willingly accepted his kiss, but she didn’t kiss back. She didn’t know how.

Neil ended the kiss, abruptly releasing her as he opened his fist and stared at the strands of hair curling around his fingers. They were a dark reddish color, not coppery red and not brown, but something in between. They certainly weren’t blond and they didn’t belong to his mistress.

“Who are you?” he demanded, pushing back out of her lap so he could see the rest of her face. “Because you sure as hell aren’t Deborah.”

“Who’s Deborah?” she countered in a soft, musical voice.

“My mistress.”

His head hit the ground with another hard thump as the lady shoved him out of her lap and scrambled to her feet.

Over the next two days, we’re featuring award-winning romance author Rebecca Hagan Lee, who has a number of novels, including A Hint of Heather, being released as eBooks by Amber House Publishing, a new venture started by romance queen, Teresa Medeiros.

Meet Rebecca

After arming herself with a degree in fine arts and experience in radio, television, and film, Rebecca Hagan Lee wrote her first novel Golden Chances. Since then, she’s published numerous bestselling and award-winning novels and three novellas.

She’s won a Waldenbooks Award, a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award, several Romantic Times awards, been nominated for an RWA Rita Award and has been published in nine languages.

She currently lives in Georgia with her husband, her two beloved Quarter Horses, and a miniature schnauzer named after literary icon Harper Lee.

Visit Rebecca’s website http://www.rhaganlee.com
Join Rebecca on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rebeccahaganleeauthor

E.E. How often do you get lost in a story?

Rebecca: I get lost in a story almost every day of my life. Either by writing one or reading one. I don’t remember I time I didn’t love books. In elementary school, I set out to read the entire library. I graduated to junior high before I could finish. I missed it by two stacks.

E.E. What’s the first book you remember reading?

Rebecca: The first book I remember reading was GO, DOG, GO by P.D. Eastman. The next book I read was FOX IN SOCKS. I was in the first grade and dogs and foxes were two of my favorite things and two of the things I knew well.

E.E. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Rebecca: Cinderella. My favorite version of it is Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella starring Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon. When I was a little girl it came on as a television special once a year during the Christmas holidays. I memorized the dialogue and all the songs and it’s still my favorite. I was thrilled when the revival returned to Broadway last year. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hope to. My second favorite version is EVER AFTER starring Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott. It’s a theme I find myself repeating in many of my own stories because it’s universal and timeless and my favorite.

E.E.: Fairy tale or Action Adventure?

Rebecca: Most of the time, it’s fairy tale, but sometimes it’s action adventure.  For me, it’s always about the story. Indiana Jones isn’t a fairy tale. It’s an action adventure. But I love all the Indiana Jones movies—especially INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE because it’s a great story. I love the current CAPTAIN AMERICA movies for the same reason. There’s a fairy tale within the action adventure.

E.E.: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Rebecca: Finishing a book is a writing marathon for me. To finish the last one, I wrote seventeen hours straight. So when I finish, I celebrate by opening a bottle of champagne and toast. Then, I sleep.

E.E. What turns you off like nothing else?

Rebecca: Bad manners. I’m not talking about table manners. I’m talking about inconsiderate people and intolerance. Kindness costs nothing. And if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. I’m constantly amazed by the people who come up to me at public appearances or who make it a point upon learning what I do, to tell me they don’t read or ask rude or insulting personal questions.

E.E.: What sound or noise do you love?

Rebecca: I don’t have children so the sound I love is the clicking of toenails on the hardwood floor from our miniature schnauzer. And I love the sound of my horse’s whinny when he hears my voice or sees me across the pasture. It’s always a thrill because I remember when he didn’t acknowledge me. Our relationship has been built on years of trust.

E.E.: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

Rebecca: I cannot start writing a book until I have the music to write to. I always write to music and the music varies widely. I prefer songs with lyrics that tell a story. I load my mp3 player with the songs that speak to me and that relate to the story. There’s no rhyme or reason to the genre or artists. My playlist for A HINT OF HEATHER included Celine Dion, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Celtic Thunder, Celtic Women, and Phil Coulter and James Galway. One soundtrack was all Ravel except Bolero.

Tomorrow, we’ll chat with Rebecca about her BORROWED BRIDES series.

Over the next two days, Rebecca and her publisher Amber House Books will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate. All you have to do is enter the raffle and comment:

Do you have a favorite Scottish hero (real or fictional)? If so, who is it?

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