Taming a Wild Scot has been nominated for a RT Reviewer's Choice Award for Best First Historical Romance. Congratulations, Rowan!
PJ here. I'm a self-proclaimed, banner-waving, unabashedly enthusiastic fan of medieval historical romance. Set that romance in Scotland and my enthusiasm overflows. It should come as no surprise then that I am always excited to welcome new medieval authors to the romance fiction landscape. Today, I'm happy to introduce you to Rowan Keats and her debut novel, TAMING A WILD SCOT.
Rowan pens historical
adventures about hot Highland heroes and the women they claim. The first book
in her Claimed by the Highlander series, TAMING A WILD SCOT, hits store shelves
on November 5, 2013. Rowan's debut garnered a 4 1/2 star review from RT Book
Reviews, which also named her "a rising star of medieval romance". (I wholeheartedly agree with RT!)
When not writing, Rowan can
frequently be found in a dark movie theater indulging in a large bag of
popcorn, or watching the sunrise with a mug of steaming coffee wrapped in her
hands. She lives in Central Canada with a goofy black lab, a very talkative
cat, and a daughter whose own creative talents awe and inspire her every day.
Connect with Rowan online at the following places:
Website: www.rowankeats.com
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/RowanKeatsAuthor
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/RowanKeats
Please give Rowan Keats a warm Romance Dish welcome!
~~~~~
Happy Anniversary to The Romance Dish!
November is cause for celebration with me,
too. This month I am releasing my first Scottish medieval romance, TAMING A
WILD SCOT. Coincidently, it's also the date of the opening scene in my
book...which starts with my heroine Ana in a rather tight spot. If you're
curious, the first chapter is posted here.
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I love the title of this book. It's sexy
and adventurous, which I think is true of the story inside the cover. It has also
given me the perfect topic for my celebratory blog tour--How to Tame a Wild
Scot.
Wild Scots are an endangered breed, rather
like the Highland Wildcat. Fierce, proud, and tough to tame. But I'm willing to
share a few secrets I learned while writing this book, because I happen to
believe Wild Scots make the best romance heroes and everyone deserves one.
Let's assume that you've scouted the
territory and spotted a Wild Scot. You've fallen for that soul-stirring accent
and manly display of knees beneath a kilt. What do you do next? Well, you've
got to get his attention.
This is a tricky step. Wild Scots are born
hunters, so they enjoy the chase. Stalking a Wild Scot is the fastest way to
lose his interest. And it will probably get you arrested. No, the best way to
attract the attention of a Wild Scot is to wave a red flag.
This is how my heroine Ana does it:
Niall’s gaze slid across the village square to the woman perusing
the offerings of the vegetable vendor. Like other female marketgoers, she wore
an uninspiring brown gown topped by a white apron and a linen brèid. That
display of matronly modesty and the loose fit of her coarse woolen clothing did
surprisingly little to shield her from the attentions of a pack of eager young
lads—they passed her by with many a second glance and a few bold grins. Perhaps
they were as intrigued as he was by the lock of dark red hair that had escaped
her head covering.
You don't have red hair? That's okay. There
are other ways to wave the red flag. My hero Niall finds twin red flags
particularly difficult to ignore:
“Here’s your satchel, sweetling. I’ll leave you alone to do your
good work.”
She tossed him an arch look. “You don’t intend to wait for me?”
He shook his head. “You could be a considerable time and I must see
the carpenters about an urgent matter. We’ve a pressing need for a larger,
sturdier bed.”
The handmaiden withdrew with a faint smile and the whisper of her
linen hem over the rushes. Ana blushed madly. “I think the priority must be
finding work, husband. Perhaps you should see the reeve instead.”
“Perhaps I’ll do both,” he said agreeably, enjoying her reaction.
Still a delightful shade of pink, Ana closed the chamber door in his
face.
Once you get the attention of your Wild Scot, the real
challenge begins. But taming a Wild Scot is worth the effort. They are renowned for their brawny good
looks, their unbridled passion, and their determined protection of the ones they care about.
The peat was just beginning to catch flame when a thump came from
the woodpile at the rear of the hut. Niall surged to his feet. Had the Norman
sergeant returned to cause Ana more grief? If so, the cur would regret his
decision. He slipped quietly out the door and rounded the corner in a flash,
his dirk at the ready.
Interested in winning a signed copy of
TAMING A WILD SCOT? Enter the draw, and tell me why you think Scottish heroes
have such enduring appeal.
Taming a Wild
Scot
by Rowan Keats
Genre: Historical Romance
Elements/Tags: Medieval, Scottish, Highlander
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Publishing Date: November 5, 2013
Series: Claimed by the Highlander #1
Format: Print, e-Book
Back Cover:
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish
Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful
healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her
rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where
no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is
to meet her mysterious savior again...
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous
mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now
realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest.
But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize
their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love,
or their lives.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1g4YR3E
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1imC8x0
Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/1ahUosn
Hi Rowan! Great to have you with us today. I so enjoyed Taming a Wild Scot! I'm a huge medieval romance fan and always thrilled when an author writing in that era brings us a new book. Am now counting down the days until the release of When a Laird Takes a Lady in May! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me as a guest, PJ! So glad you enjoyed the book. And thanks for the nod about my RT nomination. I'm beyond thrilled.
DeleteCongratulations on the success of Taming A Wild Scot! I think Scottish heroes are so popular because of their toughness and their focus on their clan or family.
ReplyDeleteMaureen, I love that combination of toughness and tenderness.
DeleteThanks, Maureen! Who doesn't love a guy who loves his family, right?
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ReplyDeleteI love Medieval HR also, read a few but haven't read Rowan Keats' yet. and this one... with a wild Scot!! ...sounds yummy! :
ReplyDeleteWhy Scottish heroes have such enduring appeal? well, like you said, they're 'wild Scot' and warrior tough but they can be very charming n romantic w/ their lasses. :)
"Wild Scot" has such a lovely ring to it, doesn't it? :)
DeleteHi dotland! Tough and romantic is such an awesome combo. :-)
DeleteScottish heroes are such big, braw fellas where you can hear that lovely brogue whispering into your ear - then they save the heroine when lop the enemies head off with their giant claymore!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Bloodthirsty and loving: a winning combination! *grin*
DeleteA giant claymore...hmmm. That says so much. :-)
DeleteLOL! I'm going to carry that giant claymore image with me all day. Not necessarily a bad thing. ;-)
Deleteaccent
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in my twenties I was assigned to a project team that included a tall, gorgeous guy from Scotland. Every time he started speaking, my brain shut down and all I could see was him striding through the Highlands in a kilt. It's a miracle, really, that that project ever got finished. lol
DeleteLOL, PJ.
Deletejcp--I'm a huge Grey's Anatomy fan and every time I watch Kevin McKidd, I wonder what were they thinking to drop his accent?
I canna put into words what you ask. 'Tis a feeling, deep down, that touches yar vary soul.
ReplyDeleteExactly! *grin*
DeleteLaney4--you've got the brogue down pat. :-)
DeleteI haven't read a good medieval romance in a long while. They are really hard to find nowadays. Throw in a Scot, and, OOOOHHHH!!! Highlanders are rough and brawny and not as polished as other men, perhaps? But, soft-hearted on the inside and a perfect hero. :)
ReplyDeleteDeb, I love that they're big, brawny and not polished but still have that soft spot for their families and especially their heroine!
DeletePolish is lovely under the right circumstances...but a wild Highlander has a very special charm, doesn't he? :-)
DeleteI dint see my comments from this morning ? Good luck Rowan
ReplyDeleteI do not see the comment from this morning II meant. Great Giveaway!
DeleteHi Barb! I haven't seen any earlier comment from you. I checked our Spam filter and it wasn't there either. I'm not sure what happened.
DeleteHi Barb! So sorry your comments from this morning were lost. Thank you so much for stopping by to wish me luck--especially since you tried multiple times.
DeleteAh lost in cyberspace I assume...lol
DeleteCongratulations on the new release. Everything seems to be regencies, so I haven't read a medieval in many years.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. I love medievals, and every time I see one in the bookstore, I pick it up. But, you're right, there aren't many. Maybe they'll make a come back. :-)
DeleteI am a big fan of Highlander romances. I think these Scottish heroes are popular because of their strength, raw masculinity, and absolute loyalty to clan and family.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds wonderful. It's been on my TBB list for a while!
I think the word 'raw' is a great description, Cheryl. It hits that sweet spot between caveman and genteel lord. :-)
DeleteOh, PJ, we think alike. This has always been my favorite type of read. I think the older the time period the more I enjoy it. I want to be taken away to different times. And medieval Scotland and the Highlanders just call to me the most! Those Highlanders are always willing to die for you but yet there is something so soft and beautiful about them too (sigh). It's always wonderful to hear about another author that writes these stories!
ReplyDeleteThe romanticism of the era makes it a wonderful time to escape to. And I'll go anywhere with a Highlander beside me. :-)
DeleteCongrats to Rowan on the new release! I love medieval Scot romance :) Takes me back to the days when I'd sneak my grandma's "bodice rippers".
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin! I found romance novels young, myself. Around twelve, I think. I thank my mom. :-)
DeleteI guess Scottish heroes are depicted as large & muscular, brave & loyal, and they wear those kilts!
ReplyDeleteGotta love a man who's not afraid to show off his knees. :-)
DeleteMedievals historical romances are my favorite. I love how Scottish heroes are loyal to their clan and protective of their woman. I also love their accent and their kilt...especially when it's windy. *gg*
ReplyDeleteMarcy Shuler
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
It's often windy in the Highlands, Marcy. Lucky for us! :-)
DeleteI think Scots heroes have such enduring appeal because they wear kilts (honest!) and live in a rugged land (which makes them strong and ruggedly healthy) and have a magnificently sexy brogue when talking. :-) They are the type of manly man that a woman can lean on when they need to lean on someone. Thanks for asking! And I'm soooo glad I have found another author of medieval romance to help feed my reading habit. jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI think you hit all my reasons for reading highland romances, Janice. :-)
DeleteI love them for their mix of strength, compassion, wildness and family. They are brutal to their enemies and tender with their loved ones. They are my favorite type of heroes. the book sounds fantastic and I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Steph, the duality of fierceness and tenderness makes for a great hero.
DeleteThose who inhabit the Highlands live in a wild, beautiful, and at times unforgiving land. It takes strong, special men and women to make the best of it. This strength is reflected in their character and attitudes. They have strong loyalties and will defend their beliefs, land, and people. Best of all, it takes a man very sure of himself and who he is to wear a kilt and make it look good or intimidating as the circumstances warrant.
ReplyDeleteMedieval Highland stories were the first romances I read. They are still my favorite. There is just something very special about the place and the people.
(Patricia B. on Rafflecopter)
Wild and beautiful. That sums up my love of the country and my love of Highland romance perfectly. :-)
DeleteCongrats on the release Rowan. I'm so excitred to read this book and love that it's a series as well. :) I love Scottish heroes. Thanks for this great opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Thanks, Carol! Good luck in the draw.
DeleteThe accent and the kilt *grins*
ReplyDeleteDefinitely winning attributes. :-D
Deletehave you visited Scotland? If so , what were the highlights? When did your ancestors move from Scotland to Canada?
ReplyDeleteI love Scottish settings for stories. These men and women had to be very strong, independent and hardy to survive the harsh climate and rugged landscape. I admire clan loyalty and perseverance.
I love the accent, the customs: family colored kilt and plaids blanket and bagpipes!
I'm looking forward to reading your book TAMING A WILD SCOT, Ana and Niall's love story..
Hi Laurie! I loved Edinburgh--it's a such a lovely mix of old and new. And I loved the west coast; the mountains are glorious. My grandmother's family moved from Scotland to Canada...and we still make my great-grandmother's original Scottish shortbread for Christmas every year.
DeleteScots are so appealing because they are tough and used to living in harsh weather and surroundings. A man who can handle those conditions is a real man!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Connie. :-)
DeleteCongrats on the release, Rowan! I love Scottish heroes because of their accents, kilts, physical strength, strength of character, and their loyalty to ther clans.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy! When you see the list like that, is it any wonder we can't resist those Highland heroes?
DeleteRowan , Do you have a favorite author who writes about Scottish heroes or heroines?
ReplyDeleteI got hooked on Julie Garwood's old Scottish romances, and re-read them often. I also love Monica McCarty's Scottish romances. But the real answer is if it has a Highlander in it, I'll read it. :-)
Delete