Paula Quinn’s LAIRD OF THE MIST: From Enemies to Lovers in the Highlands

This may be my favorite by author Paula Quinn. And one of my favorite heroes can be found in Laird of the Mist, a worthy Highland romance and a great first in the MacGregor series. It introduces us to a fierce and proud clan, the MacGregors, who historically were officially denounced but eventually regained their position among the clans. Those MacGregor men who kept pride in their heritage and kept their name alive would be stronger than most and worthy of a woman's love.

 

Set in 17^th century Scotland, the story begins as Kate Campbell, a feisty heroine, who is good with a sword, rushes into fight alongside her clan when attacked by their enemies, the MacGregors. Ironically, her life is saved by Callum MacGregor, the man they call “the Devil”, when he sweeps her onto his stallion. From there two enemies become lovers.

 

I loved the authenticity of this tale and the character development and the way Quinn built the attraction and love between Callum and Kate, who would otherwise be enemies. Quinn brings the Highlands to life.

 

I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend it.

 

The MacGregors:

 

Laird of the Mist (Callum MacGregor and Kate Campbell) 

A Highlander Never Surrenders (Graham Grant and Claire Stuart)

 

The Children of the Mist (connected to and follows the MacGregors):

 

Ravished by a Highlander (Robert MacGregor and Davina Montgomery)

Seduced by a Highlander (Tristan MacGregor and Isobel Fergusson)

Tamed by a Highlander (Mairi MacGregor, Connor Grant) - reviewed in today's blog

Conquered by a Highlander (Colin MacGregor and Gillian Dearly)

A Highlander for Christmas

 

Paula Quinn’s TEMPEST HEART – Good Story of a Highland Assassin and a Protected Lass!

Set in 1349, this is the story of Tristan MacPherson, a Highlander who is skilled at killing for money. He never misses his target and is, thus, feared by all. With the plague that he does not fear comes a lass near death he saves. And Lady Rose Callanach will change his life.

When her mother died in an intentionally set fire, Rose’s father shuts her away where guards protect her. Until, years later, her father allows her to go with her uncle to spend the winter with her cousin. It is on that trip she contracts the plague.

 

Quinn adds humor to an otherwise somber story and the dialog between Rose and Tristan is endearing. For much of the book, it’s just those two traveling together but it’s a rich banquet of banter as they fall in love. How could you not love Tristan? A killer who is honorable and humble. And the scenes of Tristan’s doing his killing business are very well described. There’s a twist in the end you will not expect. Very well done!

 

Hearts of the Highlands Series:

Heart of Ashes
Heart of Shadows
Heart of Stone
Lion Heart
Tempest Heart

 

Paula Quinn’s TEMPEST HEART – Good Story of a Highland Assassin and a Protected Lass!

May is Scottish month on Historical Romance Review and I’m starting with a great story by author Paula Quinn.
   

Set in 1349, this is the story of Tristan MacPherson, a Highlander who is skilled at killing for money. He never misses his target and is, thus, feared by all. With the plague that he does not fear comes a lass near death he saves. And Lady Rose Callanach will change his life.

When her mother died in an intentionally set fire, Rose’s father shuts her away where guards protect her. Until, years later, her father allows her to go with her uncle to spend the winter with her cousin. It is on that trip she contracts the plague.

Quinn adds humor to an otherwise somber story and the dialog between Rose and Tristan is endearing. For much of the book, it’s just those two traveling together but it’s a rich banquet of banter as they fall in love. How could you not love Tristan? A killer who is honorable and humble. And the scenes of Tristan’s doing his killing business are very well described. There’s a twist in the end you will not expect. Very well done!

Hearts of the Highlands Series:

Heart of Ashes
Heart of Shadows
Heart of Stone
Lion Heart
Tempest Heart

Paula Quinn’s HEART OF ASHES – Enemies to Lovers Between a Scot and an Englishwoman in the time of Robert the Bruce

May is the month in which I review Scottish Historical Romances. I’m beginning with one by my fellow author and friend, Paula Quinn.

The story begins in Scotland in 1314 as the Scots are defeating the English at Bannockburn. Cainnech (Cain) MacPherson hates the English for their raid on his village when he was a boy, the day they killed his family and stole his brothers. They took everything including him and brought him up as an English warrior. But those days are now over and Cain serves Robert the Bruce.

When he raids a small castle in Northumberland, he faces a bold Norman lass who will wants him dead at any cost. Aleysia d’Argentan has been planning for four years how she alone will defeat the Scots with traps in the forest, poisoning the grain and wine and daggers hidden all over the castle. However, she did not anticipate Cain’s intelligence or his kindness to her.

For much of the book Aleysia and Cain battled each other but she could not hold out when her affection and respect for him grew. He protected her identity from his men as the women who had killed nine of his men and so his men came to respect her, unaware the castle was hers.

As the story progresses, we are introduced to some loveable characters and a few twists that surprise. When Robert the Bruce shows up, things get really interesting. And the ending is compelling. Great descriptions and well written. Lovers of medieval Scottish historicals will love it.

Paula Quinn’s LAIRD OF THE MIST: Enemies Become Lovers

One of my favorite heroes can be found in Laird of the Mist, a worthy Highland romance and a great first in the MacGregor series. It introduces us to a fierce and proud clan, the MacGregors, who historically were officially denounced but eventually regained their position among the clans. Those MacGregor men who kept pride in their heritage and kept their name alive would be stronger than most and worthy of a woman's love.

The story is set in the last half of the 17th century and begins as Kate Campbell, a feisty heroine who is good with a sword, rushes into fight alongside her clan when attacked by their enemies, the MacGregors. She is saved by Callum MacGregor, the man they call the Devil, when he sweeps her onto his stallion.

I loved the authenticity of this tale and the character development and the way Quinn built the attraction and love between Callum and Kate, who would otherwise be enemies. Quinn brings the Highlands to life. 

I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend it.

The MacGregors:

Laird of the Mist (Callum MacGregor and Kate Campbell) 

A Highlander Never Surrenders (Graham Grant and Claire Stuart)

The Children of the Mist (connected to and follows the MacGregors):

Ravished by a Highlander (Robert MacGregor and Davina Montgomery)

Seduced by a Highlander (Tristan MacGregor and Isobel Fergusson)

Tamed by a Highlander (Mairi MacGregor, Connor Grant) - reviewed in today's blog

Conquered by a Highlander (Colin MacGregor and Gillian Dearly)

A Highlander for Christmas

The Definitive Interview with NY Times Bestselling Author Paula Quinn!

My guest today is New York Times bestselling author Paula Quinn. Paula claims to be “a sappy romantic moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen.” She lives in New York with her three beautiful children, six over-protective Chihuahuas, and three adorable parrots. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She's a faithful believer in God and thanks Him daily for all the blessings in her life. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings.

Paula has graciously agreed to answer all my questions, so here goes!

 

1.     Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Music is my muse. I can’t write without it. I’ve met some of my characters while listening to a song. It can be any kind of music, Celtic, classic, rock, anything as long as it moves me.  I think I listened to “Come What May” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack at least three hundred times while writing Laird of the Mist.
 

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    2. Which of your characters would you most/least invite to dinner, and why?

      I would love to invite Callum MacGregor, and not because he’s big, brooding, and gorgeous (at least, that’s what I tell myself) but because I would want to hear more about the history of the MacGregor proscription. I did so much research, but I’d still love to hear about it from the perspective of someone who actually lived it. Least would be Connor Grant because I’d end up being rude and staring at him all night. I might possibly take a bite out of him at some point, too.

     3.  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Yes, I read them. We all want to know how our “children” are being perceived. Bad reviews don’t bother me. I don’t pay attention to the overly critical reviews. You can’t please everyone and I realize that. I do try to learn from constructive criticism though. If some of my faithful readers aren’t happy with something, I try to fix it in future books.

4.     What color would you make the sky if it weren’t going to be blue anymore, and why?

Wow! What a great question! I’d like the sky to be crimson or dark pink. I think it’s so soothing. Just think how good we’d all look in such warm tones. Besides, pink is my favorite color!

 5.     What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

Praising God always takes away my worry and makes me happy. Also, I find great joy in my dogs. Their love is all consuming and unconditional.

6.     What was the first story you remember writing?

Embarrassing, but okay. My mom had gotten me an ADAM (that’s right, not Apple) computer with a dot matrix printer. Oh, how I loved it. I had a little desk in my bedroom and a corkboard nailed to the wall with pictures of Jack Scalia pinned to it for character inspiration. I sat down and wrote Eternally Yours, a book you will never read about a demon named Jerry who falls in love with a woman who has already been claimed by God. It was so bad, but I was so proud of myself. I printed it up and still have it. I’d written some short fantasies before that. All bad but I knew that I wanted to be a writer. Numerous jobs, a marriage and three kids later, I returned to a newer model computer and was back at it again. The rest, as they say, is history.

7.     What sound or noise do you love?

Birds chirping. Oh, I love it. I try to make a point of going to the park everyday to feed the sparrows. I love how busy they are and always wonder what they’re saying to each other. J I also love the sound of the chipmunks voice from Alvin and the Chipmunks LOL.

    8.     What drew you to write the genre(s) you write?

I grew up reading sci-fi/fantasy, which was a very small genre way back then. No paranormals back then. Not one. I loved everything from David Eddings and Raymond E. Feist, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and my all time favorite, Guy Gavriel Kay. I was a romantic kid and as much as I loved these authors (and still do), I yearned for some romance. I switched over to authors like Rosemary Rogers (Sweet Savage Love, baby!) and Johanna Lindsey. My first published books were medieval romances set in the time of William the Conqueror. I’d toyed with the idea of writing Scottish romance, but my affinity for Scotland scared me. I didn’t think my emotions would hold up. Seriously, bagpipes make me cry. Research on the MacGregors made me a weepy mess, but their story needed to be told and I got through it and finally wrote Laird of the Mist. And yes, I cried through most of it. [Regan's note: You and I, Paula, have the same affinity for Scotland!]

After eleven Scottish romances and two novellas, I decided it might be time to go back to my first love, fantasy, which I write under as my alter ego, Genevra Thorne.

9.     What is your favorite book of your various series?

Ah, I love them all. If I had to choose one from my Scottish series, Laird of the Mist takes the lead by a slight margin. [Regan’s note: Laird of the Mist is my favorite by Paula.] From my fantasy series, A Faerie Tale, I probably favor The Beloved a little more because of the meaning of the book. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

     10. In what time period do you most like to set a story?

Anywhere from the eleventh to the seventeenth century. I love history!

11.  What’s coming next?

   I’m working on Book 6 of my Highland Heirs series and also something new in paranormal will be coming soon! Can’t say just yet, but it will be good!

Paula's question to the readers: 

What is the most important element in a book you want to read (wounded hero, reformed rake, danger, sex, etc.)? 







GIVEAWAY!
One commenter will win a signed print copy of Paula’s latest release, A Highlander's Christmas Kiss and a digital copy of either The Enchanted or The Beloved (your choice).

Order A Highlander's Christmas Kiss and The Beloved on Amazon. And keep up with  Paula on her Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

Review: Paula Quinn’s A HIGHLANDER’S CHRISTMAS KISS – Celebrate Christmas in the Highlands with a Worthy Hero!

The story begins as Christmas draws near in 1711 in Linavar, Scotland. As Temperance Menzie prepares for Christmas Day with her family, their celebrations are suddenly cut short when the gang of Black Riders storm into their land and falsely accuse her father of shooting an arrow through into one of their men. Temperance’s father is innocent, but Cailean Grant, who now rides with the Black Riders as a warrior for hire, doesn’t know that. And so he allows one of the Black Riders to kill him.

After the killing, Cailean begins to get a conscious and, having witnessed Temperance’s grief, comes looking for her. They exchange a few words and later, she finds him in the woods, unconscious and stabbed in the back. She has no idea the wounded man she nurses back to life was one of the Black Riders who killed her father.

Cailean’s guilt grows as Christmas draws near and his identity is revealed. As well, Cailean has an enemy among the Black Riders and must him and his own demons. Meanwhile the man Cailean hates wants Temperance for his bride. It’s a muddle for a while until Cailean begins to set things straight.

A well-told story that will warm your heart on a cold winter’s night, it tells of scars from the past and second chances, of marrying for love and not for duty.

A great Christmas read!

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