“Martin’s promising debut sets a dramatic romance…” -Publishers Weekly

DECEPTION OF A HIGHLANDER

To pay a seemingly impossible debt, Mariel Brandon has become a spy for Aaron, one of England’s deadliest minds. Aaron’s latest mission for the sharp-witted and daring Mariel is to find two people in a heavily fortified castle on the Isle of Skye, a castle headed by the clan MacDonald and the powerful Kieran. Mariel is to seduce Kieran and get him to take her to Skye. If she succeeds, Aaron promises to let Mariel’s young brother go, and to free both of them from their debt. 

If she fails, her brother will die.

What she doesn’t count on is craving Kieran MacDonald almost immediately upon meeting him. Now Mariel must keep a secret from Kieran—one that could get them both killed—as she tries to form a plan that will save her brother, get her out from under Aaron’s thumb once and for all, and keep her in Kieran’s strong arms forever.

Read a Little, Buy the Book

MADELINE MARTIN lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (AKA Oldest Minion and Youngest Minion) along with their two cats: Sketchy Cat who stares at walls and eats fuzz and Lap Cat who has a shoe fetish and enjoys Kung Pow peanuts. All shenanigans are detailed regularly on Twitter.

Madeline graduated from Flagler College with a degree in Business Administration and works for corporate America. Her hobbies include rock climbing, running, doing crazy races (like Mud Runs and Color Runs) and just about anything exciting she can do without getting nauseous. She's also a history fan (really more of a full on history dork) and loves to blog about random curiosities from her research.

After living in Europe for over a decade, Madeline enjoys traveling overseas whenever she can. Her favorite place to visit thus far: Scotland.

GET TO KNOW MADELINE

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?

MADELINE: Daily. I confess between having a full time job and being a single mom, I’m pretty short on time. About a year ago, I discovered audiobooks and I’ve been an avid reader-listener since. At least once a day I find myself lost in a different kind of story from women’s fiction to romance to YA to (one of my favorites) zombie apocalypse. It’s amazing the element a reader can add to an already incredible story. I can tear through a book every three or four days and I absolutely love it.

Me & Daddy

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

MADELINE: My dad. It’s a cheesy, Miss America kind of answer, but I can’t help it. My dad served in the Army for over twenty years, but it wasn’t just the places he went and the things he did that made him a hero. Overhearing how his men spoke in admiration of his commitment to his platoon and to each of them, witnessing the raw determination he showed toward every obstacle he faced, being inspired by how hard he worked and how fit he kept – these were the things that make him a hero in my eyes.

I remember being a little girl and eating my breakfast while he stretched and did a series of abs after coming back from a run. Flash forward twenty years and my oldest daughter sat eating her breakfast while I stretched and did a series of abs after coming back from my run. Now she is starting to run races too. He’s a hero and he’s an inspiration, not just for me, but for future generations. 

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

MADELINE: Belle. I think most avid readers identify with her the most. Not only was I a bookworm, I was brunette in a world that seemed to power-sell blonde dolls and toys, and, well, I was a bit odd too. When Disney released Beauty and the Beast, it was almost like they were saying all of that was not only just OK – it was wonderful. Belle was actually the inspiration for the heroine in my next book, Possession of a Highlander.

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

MADELINE: I love that Kieran is an alpha male with insecurities he’s able to hide well from others. Not only does he carry the burden of having failed loved ones, he’s had to take on a lairdship he never felt was supposed to be his. Yet never does he come across as weak or indecisive. He is a strong leader who puts others before himself. And also he’s really hot. 

Oldest Minion, Madeline & Youngest Minion

ANGI: Would you rather be in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

MADELINE: Action Adventure, hands down. Unless the Fairy Tale has bodies…and a lot of twists and turns…and a princess who can wield a dagger…and a hero who wears a kilt… Yeah, I’ll just stick with Action Adventure. Also, this reminds me of what Youngest Minion said while we were watching Cinderella: You know, Fairy Godmothers seem like a really good thing, but really – they’re kinda creepy.

ANGI: What is your best wish come true?

MADELINE: I’d have to say being published. This has been such an indescribably wonderful ride and the outpour of support from friends and family has been just amazing. I’ve been working toward this for several years – waking up at 4:30 in the morning to write, sacrificing my weekends for workshops and writing. When I first got my printed book and held it in my hand, I got so choked up and remember thinking, “This is the product of determination and dreams.”

ANGI: What's your most favorite thing to do in your state?

MADELINE: Go to Orlando. Every year, I buy an annual pass to one of the major parks. It’s really affordable because the minions and I just drive there that morning, stay all day, then drive home that night. It’s made for an incredible collection of memories and always leaves something to look forward to.

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

MADELINE: Junk food. I eat really healthy about 90% of the time, but it’s because I force myself. I love, love, love bad food – especially candy. On my mom’s side of the family, we all have a sweet tooth and every woman knows how to make a special fudge recipe. It’s almost like a rite of passage sort of thing – when you can make a successful batch of fudge, you’re officially a Saxon woman. I always make it at writing retreats/get togethers. Everyone calls it Saxon Fudge, which most people claim they say sounds like “Sex and Fudge”. Whatever – it’s awesome and it always a huge hit at parties!

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: I see on your website that you like to cycle. I vividly remember the first time I was on a mountain bike trail. Got any good stories you can share?

MADELINE’s GOTTA ANSWER:

Me & Ava

I’m going to preface this reply with a disclaimer – I’m kind of a hot mess. My best friend, Ava Milone, talked me into doing a 50 mile mountain bike race called I-Did-A-Ride. I’d never done mountain biking before we started training and Oh my was it a wild experience. I flew off the bike (multiple times), ran into bushes, took out small trees and even fell into a sand burr patch (only to discover I’m allergic to them). I have a pic somewhere of me covered in about a thousand sand burrs, laughing.  

After all those months of training, I did the I-Did-A-Ride. I won’t share my time because it was shameful, but I did stop my forward momentum on a fall with my face on a tree stump (I’m thinking I can list that as a super power somehow, right?). It was a lot of work, but it was such an incredible and rewarding experience that resulted in the best Zaxby’s after I’d ever eaten in my life. 

FIND MADELINE

Website     Facebook    Twitter @MadelineMMartin

Contact      Goodreads    Blog     Pintrest

UP NEXT for MADELINE

POSSESSION OF A HIGHLANDER

releases August 11, 2015

Brianna Lindsay’s grip on the inheritance that is rightly hers hangs by a thread. If the town finds out her father has died, Brianna will be forced into marriage with her loathsome cousin, Lord Robert, and will lose all of Edzell Castle and its lands. To protect her home, she’ll have to trust a complete stranger, a brooding Highland barbarian who sweeps into Edzell with a small retinue and insists on replacing her Captain of the Guard. He proves his worth by defeating her men and she has no choice but to accept his offer.

Though his motives are suspect, Colin MacKinnon has nobility in his blood and good intentions in coming to Edzell. He seeks his own kingdom, one to rival his father’s, and sets out to conquer Brianna in the best way he knows how—with seduction.

Brianna never thought of all the wealth she protects, the one thing she has left completely vulnerable is her heart. Colin never thought that of everything he stands to achieve, he might have to face the unexpected pain of loss. Together, they must navigate a treacherous world of spies and intrigue, of legacy and fidelity, of love and betrayal, to find what is truly worth possessing.

Pre-order the book

ANGI'S back next Wednesday with

RACHEL GRANT

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:  HEATHER ASHBY

~Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Goodreads, Facebook

or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

OLDEST MINION RUNNER

MADELINE is giving away an digital copy ARC of Deception of a Highlander (an actual copy of the book can be won through my Goodreads Giveaway and I’ll be posting another opportunity on my FB page at some time through the month of April.) 

Note: COMMENTERS are encouraged to leave a contact email address to speed the prize notification process. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

MADELINE WANTS TO KNOW: Mountain biking was an incredible accomplishment because of the difficult path it took to get there. What rewarding accomplishments have you really worked hard toward, and really appreciated as a result?