Two of Scottish romance’s most loved authors have joined pens to write a thrilling new time travel series filled with passion, danger, and intrigue. These never-before-published novels will sweep you to Scotland’s Highland Heatheredge, where magic is real, time is relevant, and there is no escape from desire”¦
Men are disappearing in the Highland crofting village of Heatheredge. The authorities suspect foul play, but without signs of violence””or bodies””they can’t prove a thing.
World champion swordsman Cailean Ross is living the fantasy of a lifetime as the victor of Heatheredge’s medieval reenactment Gathering. But when the fantasy turns into reality, swordplay becomes a fight to the death and he finds himself among the “missing’ statistics.
Julianna Mackay flees a man she fears is an evil wizard and literally runs into handsome Cailean Ross. Cailean defends Lady Julianna from her attackers. Together, they set out in search of the key to a six-hundred-year-old curse that can only be broken in medieval Scotland.
When the veil of time is lifted, Cailean and Julianna find that love may not be enough to save them or those they hold dear.
Excerpt–
She preceded him into the kitchen and stopped at sight of Cailean, hip leaning against the heavy oaken table where Sue was pounding bread.
“Ye are a rogue, Cailean.” The dark-haired girl laughed huskily, a sensual laugh.
Cailean laid a hand over his heart. “Ye wound me, lass.”
“Cailean, since you are here playing with the lasses, ye can make yourself useful,” Cook said.
“I am at your service, madam.”
Cook gave him a stern look that didn’t quite mask the smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Julianna stared. Cook was ancient. Surely she wasn’t charmed by the man? He clearly liked being the center of the women’s attention too much, but that was like a man. Still, she had been certain he had some affection for her. Why””then she knew why. Sir Lawren hovered at her side. Someone had told Cailean that Sir Lawren was courting her. Lennox””no, she realized as quickly as the thought formed. After last night, Lennox couldn’t be amenable to the match. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t allow Cailean to believe there was more between her and Sir Lawren than there was. She would have a long talk with her brother.
“Bring those oats over here, Cailean.” Cook pointed to a sack of oats in the corner near the kitchen door.
Sue’s eyes shifted to Julianna and Cailean looked in her direction.
He straightened from the table. “My lady.”
The amusement had died from his expression. Aye, something had definitely changed between them.
Cook and the other women in the kitchen looked her way. Sweet Jesu, they had been so enthralled with him that they hadn’t noticed her presence. Sue yanked her attention to the bread she was kneading.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Cailean.”
Sir Lawren stiffened beside her and she realized her mistake. Julianna went to the table and set the eggs down. Cailean seemed to break from a spell and hurried to the corner and fetched the bag of oats to Cook.
“Thank ye, Cailean,” she said.
Julianna glimpsed the side-look Sue cast in his direction. This time, he seemed oblivious of her attention. He also wasn’t looking in Julianna’s direction. She would take care of that. First, however, she had to send Sir Lawren on his way.
Julianna strode from the kitchen and wasn’t surprised when the knight followed.
“Lady Julianna,” he said when they’d gone a few steps, “I would speak with you alone.”
Heaven help her. He was either going to propose or try to make love to her. Now was not the time for either.
“Forgive me, Sir Lawren, I forgot to give Cook instructions for the evening meal. My mother invited guests.” A blatant lie, but one that would save her a great deal of trouble. “Can we can talk later””or tomorrow, perhaps. I have much work today.” She turned and headed back to the kitchen.
She got three steps when he called, “Lady Julianna.”
Julianna feared he would come after her. She glanced over her shoulder. “Please, my lord, I”””
His eyes widened and he took a step toward her. “My lady”””
She yanked her face forward and got a mouthful of shirt and hard muscle. Something thudded down onto her feet. She cried out as strong fingers seized her arms. Julianna snapped her head up and met Cailean’s gaze.
“Are you all right, my lady?” he demanded.
His brow furrowed and the concern in his eyes made her knees go weak. Something dropped onto her foot and she looked down to see apples scattered across the floor, a burlap bag laid half across their feet and half on the floor.
She lifted her face to Cailean’s again. “Apples.”
“Take her hands off her, you dog.”
Sir Lawren seized her arm and yanked her out of his grasp.
“I was only stopping her from falling,” Cailean said.
The knight stepped between them. “I saw what you did.”
Cailean’s expression cooled. “Exactly what did you see?”
“You had your hands on her.”
Julianna stepped up beside them. “Sir Lawren, please. Cailean did nothing wrong.”
He glared at Cailean. “I have seen the way ye look at her.”
“Have ye now?” Cailean’s voiced matched his expression, and Julianna repressed a shiver.
“She is to be my wife,” Sir Lawren said.
Julianna jerked her gaze onto him. “I beg your pardon, sir.” She seized his arm with both her hands and yanked him to face her. The kitchen maids squeezed into the doorway to see what was going on. “Ye havenae asked me to marry you,” Julianna snapped. “And I have not agreed. I will no’ agree, if you must know.”
He broke free of her grasp and looked at Cailean. “Let me deal with this loon, Julianna, then you and I will talk.”
Anger roared through her and she opened her mouth to tell Sir Lawren to get out of her home, but Cailean said in a soft voice, “You will address her as Lady Julianna.”
Julianna blinked.
Sir Lawren’s face reddened. “Who are you to give me orders?”
Cailean shrugged. “Just a lowly knight.”
“A knight?” he sneered. “Who did ye apprentice with? I have never heard of you.”
“Do you know every knight in Scotland?” Cailean asked.
A handful of warriors lounging near the hearth rose from their seats
“Prove your metal.” Sir Lawren laid a hand on his sword hilt.
Cailean’s gaze sharpened. “A man doesnae draw a sword while a guest in another man’s home.”
“A man doesnae touch another man’s woman.”
From the corner of her eye, Julianna caught sight of Brodie pushing through the men near the hearth. Relief flooded through her.
“I believe Lady Julianna said she had no intention of marrying you,” Cailean said in a nonchalant voice.
“Lady Julianna isnae your business.” Sir Lawren drew back a fist.
Julianna cried out. Cailean sidestepped the blow as if he was playing with a child and kicked Sir Lawren in the arse. The knight stumbled two paces, regained his footing, and whirled. His punch missed Cailean’s chin by a hair. Cailean rammed a fist into his ribs. Sir Lawren threw an upper cut that caught Cailean’s jaw. His head snapped back. Brodie reached them. He seized Sir Lawren by the scruff and tossed him aside like a child, then shoved Cailean’s chest. He reeled backwards, hit the wall, and bounced off onto the floor.
Sir Lawren leapt to his feet, his lip bloody. “I will have your head for this, Brodie.”
“Ye will have nothing, Lawren. You are acting like a green lad. Go home and dinnae return until you have learned some manners.”
Cailean pushed onto his knees and rubbed his jaw.
“Lady Julianna,” Sir Lawren began.
“Nae, sir. Brodie is right. Off with ye.”
His mouth thinned. He shot Cailean a venomous look, then whirled and strode across the room. When the door closed behind him, Cailean rose.
“I’m sorry, Lady Julianna.”
“It wasnae your fault,” she said. “I ran into you.” She bent and began picking up apples.
He hurried to her side and grasped her arm, pulling her upright.
“I’ll gather the apples,” he said.
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Welcome to the Edge Series, Highland romance for all time!
USA Today and Internationally bestselling authors Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Tarah Scott have more in common than friendship. For many years, they’ve both enjoyed spending their working hours in a world of romance and adventure, bringing handsome Highlanders and their ladies to life. Now they’ve joined pens, deciding that when it comes to happily-ever-afters, two writers can stir up even more danger and desire for the characters they love. The EDGE series, Scottish time travel romances, is their first co-authored project, and launches Dec. 27th with EDGE OF YESTERDAY.
USA Today bestselling author Sue-Ellen Welfonder aka Allie Mackay writes Scottish historical romance and contemporary paranormal romance, mostly Scottish-set time travels. Whether writing as herself or her alter-ego, her tales always have a touch of Highland magic. In addition to Scotland, her greatest passions are medieval history, the paranormal, nature, and animals. As a former flight attendant, she is pleased to carry on her love of travel by leading annual tours to Scotland (and sometimes England) for Number One London Tours. Sue-Ellen is married and resides on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Internationally bestselling author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter and their pet rats.
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