Cathy MacRae's Blog, page 12

FREE! The Highlander's French Bride

Enjoy The Highlander's French Bride for FREE! (for a limited time)

Kinnon Macrory, determined to prove his worth on the battle fields of France.
Melisende de la Roche, desperate to support and protect herself and her sister on her farm near Châteauneuf-de-Randon.
War will bring them together, and treachery will separate them. But they will risk everything to find each other again.

Click here for your free copy: Amazon

99 cent Sale!

In honor of the new covers for the Highlander's Bride series, we've decided to bring you Brianna and Connor's story for 99 cents for a limited time.
Click here to grab your copy today! https://www.amzn.com/dp/B00UD9JMBQ

Medieval Monday Blog Hop

We've reached the end of this round of blog hop excerpts. Here is the final part of the scene from 'Wedding night jitters' from The Highlander's Crusader Bride.

​Thanks for following along!

I'll post the entire selection next week in case you missed any :-)

The ebook winner will be posted next week as well.
                                    Excerpt:

She glanced about the room, her attention lighting on a small leather box on a nearby table. Laughter lit her eyes and curled her lips as she lifted her gaze to his.
“Someone brought this here, though I gave it to Bram earlier. Should I teach ye the game of Fierges?”
Caelen gently rested the back of his hand on the soft curve of her cheek. “Mayhap there is a better game I could teach ye?”
                                        * * *
 
Blurb:
Born in the Holy Land only a few years after the Third Crusade, half-Armenian, half-Scot Arbela MacLean is a true daughter of the desert, beautiful and untamed. Trained to be a warrior to avoid her gentle mother’s fate, Arbela has honed her skills with Turkish bow and arrow, sword and throwing darts—and dreads the day her father choses a man for her to marry.

After more than thirty years in the Holy Land, Donal MacLean, Baron of Batroun, is recalled to Scotland, the last son available to take up leadership of clan MacLean. He brings with him knights, treasure, trade—and a daughter of marriageable age.

Caelen MacKern, known as the Bull of the Highlands, is cynical about women. His first marriage formed an alliance, and he did not grieve when his spoiled, immature bride passed away. He has agreed to marry again—against his better judgement—for the men, means and coin to recover from a devastating pestilence that all but wiped out his clan.

Though more than a little resentful at finding himself forced to remarry, Caelen’s proposal to Donal MacLean’s headstrong daughter nevertheless piques her interest. Each will receive what they want most from life—the ability to live as they please without interference from a meddling spouse. But their marriage of indifference will soon change to one of passion that neither Arbela nor Caelen could have predicted.
 
Buy Link: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0762TL89Z

Medieval Blog Hop with Lane McFarland

Join Lane McFarland as we share the blog hop today. Her excerpt is from her book A King's Enemies.

You can find my excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on her blog: 
                                         Excerpt:
                                  A King's Enemies

Drake Fletcher’s pulse quickened. The bonny red-head with wide almond-shaped eyes was staring at him. Who was she? He’d spotted her before amidst the queen’s ladies-in- waiting. Her shimmering waves of auburn hair had caught his attention, but she’d slipped out of the chamber before he’d had a chance to introduce himself.

He smiled.

Immediately, she broke eye contact. She’d regarded him longer than was considered appropriate for a young maid. She was interested in him. Perhaps she liked what she saw.
​
Her silky thick hair resembled fiery gold. He imagined running his fingers through its softness. His gaze traveled over her curves. Desire strummed through his body, and he wondered at the reaction. He was no untried lad lacking company to warm his bed.

                                      * * *
Follow along next week on Lane McFarland’s blog at http://www.lanemcfarland.com, and leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook of A KING’S ENEMIES.

Next week concludes the blog hop, and you'll find my last excerpt HERE! Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win one of my ebooks. Winner will be announced May 7.

                                       * * *

Book Blurb:

Tormented by King Edward’s brutality against Scottish sympathizers, Drake Fletcher vows revenge, but only a madman single-handedly attacks the Crown. Instead, he enters the royal court as a spy to aid Robert the Bruce’s rise to power and place a formidable leader on
Scotland’s throne.

Scottish lass Katherine Mackenzie Armstrong targets three of King Edward’s officers who brutally raped and murdered her mother. Disguised as one of Queen Margaret’s attendants, she sets a course to destroy the men.

The acts of treason both Drake and Katherine commit are punishable by death in The Tower of London but their determination pushes dangerous limits. Considered enemies, they use each other to gain vital information. Neither expect their overwhelming attraction to one
another, the staggering emotions stirred. But the closer they become, the more they jeopardize their pledges of vengeance.

Will the weight of retaliation crush them, see them beheaded? Or will Katherine and Drake form an alliance and learn to live and love again?

Buy Link: Amazon

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Bambi Lynn

I'm hopping today with Bambi Lynn! Her excerpt is from her book, Mask of the Highlander.

You can find me on her blog: https://bambilynnblog.wordpress.com with an excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride. Don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win one of my ebooks!
                                     Excerpt:
                         Mask of the Highlander

Shut up, shut up, shut up, a tiny voice screamed inside her head. You will only make it worse. But Kenna could not stop, despite the every-growing rage that seemed to render him speechless and the certainty that he would punish her for her insolence.

                                         * * *

You can find Bambi's next excerpt on Barbara Bettis' blog: http://barbarabettis.blogspot.co.uk
Follow me to Lane McFarland's blog: http://lanemcfarland.com/blog/
                                        * * *

Book Blurb:

Once she was afraid to touch him. Now she’s afraid to let go.

Forced to marry to avoid war between clans, Kenna Cleary endured three days of her new husband's painful brutality before he rode off to battle the English. In the five years of his absence, she bore him a daughter, increased his holdings, and gained the love and respect of his people. Now he's home. Must she and the clan learn to endure his cruelty once more?


The Laird of Domhnul has returned from war a changed man—moreso than his wife or clan can possibly know. Now the warrior faces a new battle, one for his wife's heart, and his peoples' trust. He must walk the knife's edge of deception and danger, while proving he is no longer the cruel tyrant they came to know all too well.


But when his father embroils both them in a deadly plot, can the couple find a way to prevent war between the clans?

BUY LINK: Amazon  

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Judith Sterling

Welcome back to Medieval Monday's blog hop! This week I'm trading excerpts with Judith Sterling. Keep reading for an treat from her book, Shadow of the Swan!

You'll find my excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on her blog here: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/
                                          Excerpt:

Thud!
She flinched, then slowed her breathing. Calm yourself. ’Twas only the door. Your husband is a man of honor. She listened for the scrape of the bolt. It didn’t come.
Frowning, she wrenched her gaze from the bed and sought Robert.
                                              * * *
Follow along for Judith's excerpt next week at Elisabeth Hobbes’s blog: www.ElisabethHobbes.co.uk
You'll find next week's excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on Bambi Lynn’s blog https://bambilynnblog.wordpress.com                                               * * *
Book Blurb:

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present.  Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden.  Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm!  But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it.  From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them.  When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one.  She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing.  Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.com/B078JYQDTX
Barnes & Noble
The Wild Rose Press

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Ruth A. Casie

​Thanks for joining me today for the Medieval Monday blog hop! I'm pairing off today with Ruth A. Casie. Her excerpt is from her book, The Guardian's Witch.

You can find my excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on her blog:  http://ruthacasie.blogspot.co.uk
                                          Excerpt:

She kept the building panic at bay. Think. Calmness overcame her. She rolled him onto his back and knelt above him. She placed her mouth over his and gave him her breath. She’d given her breath before, when the blacksmith’s wife gave birth and the baby didn’t breathe. That day she had tried everything but nothing worked. She wanted to move the baby’s chest, just one breath. In desperation she breathed for the child. It worked then. It had to work now.
                                          * * *

Find out what happens next in The Guardian's Witch next week on Barbara Bettis’ website http://barbarabettis.blogspot.co.uk
I'll be on Judith Sterling’s blog next week at https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/ with my next excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride.
* * *

Book Blurb:
England, 1290
Lord Alex Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it's his. Desperate for land of his own, he'll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.    
Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.
Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they'll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.
Buy Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZgvmDw
BN: http://bit.ly/ZQkCuY
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-guardian-s-witch
iBook:  http://bit.ly/TGWiBook

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Mary Morgan

Today I'm swapping excerpts with Mary Morgan as she brings us this tid-bit from her book A Highland Moon Enchantment.

You can find my excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on her blog here:  http://www.marymorganauthor.com
Excerpt:

She bowed her head. “A great honor for us, Cathal that ye are here. And aye, we were fortunate to have the assistance of both men.”
“How did ye manage to make the journey from Castle Creag? I thought ye were spending it with Cormac Murray and his wife,” asked Desmond, reaching for a trencher of breads.

Cathal swirled the contents of his cup, before glancing at Duncan. “The weather was fine—no sign of rain or snow, so I left them in the care of another druid and sought the path to Urquhart.”

He tapped a finger to his head. “My sight told me I might be needed here.”
                                               * * *
Follow Mary's excerpt next week on Barbara Bettis’s blog: http://barbarabettis.blogspot.com/
I'll be swapping excerpts with Ruth A. Casie next week:   http://ruthacasie.blogspot.co.uk
                                             * * *
Book Blurb:

You first meet this warrior in Dragon Knight’s Axe, Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 3

Irish warrior, Desmond O’Quinlan has never surrendered his heart to any woman. He has no wish to have his soul tortured by love. Yet, the moment he locks gazes with Ailsa, his fate is destined for an adventure he never fathomed. He may have battled alongside a Dragon Knight, but his greatest challenge will come from within his own heart.
 
Ailsa MacDuff, a warrior among her clan, has no desire to have a man chain her to a life of obedience. However, that is before she meets Desmond. The temptation to allow this warrior inside her heart is a risk she dares to take, but one that could lead to a future of emptiness and sorrow. 

When betrayal looms from within, the battleground of love is no match for these two warriors.

Can the power of a Highland full moon be strong enough to unite or destroy them?

​
Buy Links: AMAZON

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Ashley York

​Help me welcome Ashley York to the hop today! She's sharing an excerpt from her book, Eyes of the Seer.

You'll find my excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on her blog: https://www.ashleyyorkauthor.com
Excerpt:

Marcán sipped at his mead, the lass’s eyes on Astrid alone now, her backside to him. A fine arse, but when he glanced at Astrid, he found his gaze returned. His chest tightened. That was the face he wanted to see looking up at him as he sought his release. Those were the eyes he wanted to see closing in passion as he rode her. That was where he’d prefer to see his needs met. Raw desire slammed into him. Desperation. It wasn’t possible to take a full breath.
“Ye can sit with the others and eat,” Astrid said to Merewyn, “but remain there until I come for ye.”

                                             * * *
Follow Ashley's excerpt next week on Ruth A. Casie's blog: ​ http://ruthacasie.blogspot.co.uk Look for my next excerpt from The Highlander's Crusader Bride on Mary Morgan’s blog http://www.marymorganauthor.com                                               * * *

Book Blurb:
In ancient Ireland, men and women take to the legends for answers. Different-colored eyes are the mark of a Seer, it is said, and those who can see the future are in league with the devil. They cannot be suffered to live.
He wishes to prove himself…
Marcán of Clonascara bears the bloodline of Brian Boru, the legendary high king, and his prowess as a warrior has earned him great respect. But he was born with different-colored eyes, and there are some who would have him suffer a Seer’s fate. His fiercest adversary is Beibhinn, mother to Diarmuid, his close friend and king, and Astrid, the woman who holds his heart. If Astrid ever showed him any interest, he would fight Beibhinn and any army to wed her.
She is desperate to escape…
Astrid is sick of her mother’s belittling, but her brother is in no hurry to see her married, so she decides to see to her own match-making. The man she approaches quickly reveals his lack of honor, but her
overbearing mother pushes her to wed him anyway. When Astrid discovers Marcán’s love for her, she realizes that what she wants has been in front of her all along. True happiness awaits them, but only if
they can put a stop to her mother’s plans.


Buy Links:
Amazon
iTunes
KOBO
Barnes & Noble

Book Release Week Fun for The Highlander's Norse Bride

It's book release week for the Highlander's Norse Bride, and DD and I would like for you to help us celebrate!

Above is a photo of the awesome items in our grand prize pack:
A signed print copy of The Highlander's Outlaw Bride (a RONE award winner), a set of floral sticky notes, an engraved whisky class "Scotland with Grace", a dragonfly pot hugger, a purple tartan coin purse, and a sparkly bird bookmark.

Oops! Did we forget one?  *grin*  Of course, we did.

To enter for a chance to win, click here to follow Cathy MacRae on BookBub: ​https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathy-macrae

Then, comment below 'Done', and the name/description of the missing prize.

Contest will be open March 18-24 (next Saturday), with the winner announced March 26 (Monday). We'll be contacting the winner through email, so if you don't leave your email with us (which we NEVER share), be sure to check back on March 26 to see the winner announcement and learn how to collect your prize. If the winner does not make contact with us within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen at random, and the previous winner will no longer be valid.

Winner will be chosen randomly. You can enter every day, but please just once per day. :-)

There will be other 'flash' giveaways this week, so follow Cathy MacRae on facebook and/or Twitter (@CMacRaeAuthor) for the exciting announcements!