On the Road with Anna Campbell 2019 - Episode 4

It doesn't seem possible but we're at the end of another four-month adventure with that fabulous globetrotter, Anna Campbell. Many thanks to Anna for taking us along on her journeys and offering up giveaways at each stop. I'm so excited for this fall when I'll have a chance to be in some of her travel photos with her! 

Well, that went fast! There’s only a week or so of my trip left. I can hardly believe it. Off to Paris at the end of next week to attend the Festival du Roman Feminin (https://tinyurl.com/yy5x5ae6) and then it’s the long journey home to Australia. I’ve had the most wonderful time and thank you to all of you for coming on the voyage with me. And an especially huge thank you to PJ for letting me share some of my travels with you all.  

The last month has been a bit chaotic, frankly! I had a new book out and handling the launch while I was moving around so much has been a challenge. But now my Highlander is safely out in the world and I’ve been with some old friends for nearly two weeks so things have settled down just a little.

We finished last month’s adventures with me on the beautiful island of Eigg in the inner Hebrides, just south of the Isle of Skye. Lots of lovely sunsets! Here’s the link if you missed it: http://www.theromancedish.com/2019/04/on-road-with-anna-campbell-2019-episode.html 

There are four islands in this spectacular group. I’d been to Muck and Rum but I’d never been to Canna. So purely in the interests of completing the set, I booked 4 days on Canna after I finished up on Eigg.

Well, what a gorgeous surprise! Canna is a tiny island owned by the National Trust. Only 17 people live there, although it offers one of the few reliably sheltered anchorages on this part of the coast, so the yachties tend to come and go, augmenting the population quite considerably. It’s less rugged than either Eigg or Rum and much more fertile so I found myself floating in a sea of lush green grass with baby lambs gamboling around me. And there were bluebells everywhere. I love bluebells! As you can see from the photos – I could have filled the whole page with blue, frankly!

There’s a lovely café that offers wonderful gourmet meals (and a nice wee dram to finish the day with as you watch the light fade over the water!) and my guesthouse was a gorgeous arts and crafts house with views down over the anchorage toward the isle of Sanday just across the way with Rum in the distance. The picture with the bluebell path winding up to the white house in the wood gives you a glimpse of Tighard (pronounced tie-ard), this magical place to stay.

The small gravestone in the bluebell wood belongs to the last laird of the island, John Lorne Campbell (no relation!), who was a famous collector of folklore and who donated the island to the National Trust. What a perfect resting place!

Four days wasn’t nearly enough on Canna – the wonderful weather didn’t hurt, believe me! I’ve booked to go back there for three weeks next year to do some writing. Can’t wait.

Since then I’ve been moving around a bit. I had my long trip south which always makes me sad and then I had a riotous reunion with a couple of the Romance Bandits. For those who don’t know, I used to be part of a blog made up of some of the 2006 Golden Heart finalists. While the blog has folded, the friendships haven’t, so it was wonderful to catch up with writers Nancy Northcott (https://www.nancynorthcott.com/) and Anna Sugden (https://www.annasugden.com/), who lives in Cambridge. Don’t we all look happy together in the photo of the three of us? Nancy is the tall girl with the floral jacket in the middle. The photo of me chatting up a Chinese warrior was taken at Buscot Park in Oxfordshire. It was a bit of a shock running into the terracotta warriors in the middle of a rainy English spring!

My next port of call was a catch-up with brilliant historical writer Nicola Cornick (https://www.nicolacornick.co.uk/). We’ve been friends since my visit to the UK in 2004 and when we get together, we never shut up! This time we weren’t shutting up at beautiful Buscot Park, the home of Lord Faringdon (and the location of those terracotta warriors!). It’s a beautiful house with beautiful gardens, even if the weather wasn’t kind to us that day. But the best bit was the room with all Edward Burne-Jones’s Briar Rose paintings ranged around the walls. Breathtaking. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside, but if you’d like to see this gorgeous space, check out this video: https://www.tatler.com/article/helen-rosslyn-buscot-park-briar-rose-burne-jones

Since then I’ve been catching up with more old friends and drinking lots of tea! But I wanted to finish with a real treasure of a place, Deene Park in Northamptonshire in the Midlands. This spectacular Jacobean manor with Georgian additions was the home of the man who led the famous Charge of the Light Brigade and is full of memorabilia of the Earl of Cardigan and his scandalous second wife (who once lived openly with him as his mistress!). As you know, I love a bit of shame and scandal in the upper classes so I soaked up the stories of all the naughty nooky in society’s top echelons. We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the house, but I went absolutely wild in the beautiful gardens. The sunny day helped too!

Because this is the last of the current series of On the Road with Anna Campbell, this month’s giveaway offers the people who comment on this post TWO chances to win my latest book The Highlander’s Lost Lady. No geographical restrictions.

With all this travel, my To Be Read pile has sunk perilously low. So I’m looking for recommendations. What’s the last great book you read? For me, it was Ruining Miss Wrotham by that wonderful historical romance writer Emily Larkin. If you haven’t read her Baleful Godmother series, you’re missing out on a huge amount of fun. Good luck!

  

On the Road with Anna Campbell: 2019 - Episode 3

It's that time of month again! Anna Campbell is back for episode three of her exciting four month journey. So far, we've enjoyed the beauty of Italy and Ireland. I can't wait to discover what's next. I don't know about you but after tagging along with Anna via her words and photos, I'm ready to book a trip across the pond right now. Welcome back, Anna!

On the Road with Anna: 2019 - Episode 3

by Anna Campbell

So where has our intrepid heroine been over the last month? The sad, but true answer is that she’s mainly been poring over printouts or her computer as she got the final version of The Highlander’s Lost Lady ready for its release. On the upside, she’s had her head down in very picturesque places!

Let’s start with a show and tell for the historical romance fans out there. When I was in Ireland at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, I took this picture of heather. In Scottish-set historicals, you’ll often see a description of hills covered in heather. This lovely flower is what they’re talking about.

I finished up my month-long stay at the TGC at the beginning of April. If you read last month’s post (http://www.theromancedish.com/2019/03/on-road-with-anna-campbell-2019-episode.html), you’ll know I was having a lovely time writing at a beautiful country estate in Ireland. I’m including some pictures of the lake at the bottom of the garden at different times of day.

My next stop was a very quick visit to the Isle of Bute near Glasgow. I was there for only two nights, mainly to see the magnificent Victorian mansion Mount Stuart. Rothesay, the island’s capital, is a charming if faded Victorian resort. The UK abounds in places like this, once bustling with thousands of visitors from Britain’s industrial cities who were seeking sea air and a bit of fun. These days, most of those visitors chase the sun in places like Spain. The resorts are left with often very pretty promenades, a lot of empty shops, and large hotels that you can generally stay in for a song. This photo was taken from my room – as you can see, I had a lovely view across the old-fashioned seafront back toward the mainland. There’s a very particular, melancholy but romantic atmosphere in places like this. I always enjoy visiting them.

I’d finagled my way into a private tour of Mount Stuart, the magnificent Victorian mansion which was the home of the Marquis of Bute, one of the richest men in the world in the late 19^th century. If possible when I go to old houses, I love to have someone showing me around because you get the stories about the families who lived there. Those stories are gold for someone writing historical romance, as you can imagine.

For all its luxury, Mount Stuart was actually quite a cozy place. Look at those pictures of the reception rooms. You can definitely imagine curling up on those sofas with a good book, can’t you? The house is a piece of fantasy – part medieval castle, part Venetian palazzo, all in beautiful grounds sloping down to the Clyde estuary. Even better, when I was there, there were 200,000 daffodils in the garden. Amazing. 

The house was full of mod cons à la 1880, including under-floor heating, electric lighting, a heated swimming pool, saunas, and surround showers, not to mention a secret passage leading from the library up to the billiard room. One of the glories of the place was the extravagant stained glass. You can see some examples in the photos.

The Marquis was a devout Catholic convert so there is both a beautiful white marble chapel and a rather spooky private chapel based on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

If you’d like to know more about Mount Stuart or even if you’re thinking of visiting (highly recommended), here’s the website: https://www.mountstuart.com/

I left Bute for the long, but spectacular trip along the Road to the Isles to the Isle of Eigg. Those of you who read last year’s On the Road posts will remember the spectacular small island just south of the Isle of Skye where I did a whole lot of writing. Well, this year I did a whole lot of editing! But the view from my B&B remains spectacular and Laig Beach just down the hill is still one of my favorite places in the world.

I’m going to finish up with some pictures of Rum just across the channel from Eigg in changing light. As you can see, the sunsets are A-MAZ-ING!!!

I’ve got another week here before I head over to another small island called Canna which belongs to the National Trust. Make sure you check back next month to see the photos from there. After that, I’m heading south to see some friends in England and hopefully a few more old houses. Hard to believe I’ve only got a little more than a month to go on my huge trip!

I’ve got a giveaway this month, a download of my new story THE HIGHLANDER’S LOST LADY, which is out 29^th April. No geographical restrictions. Just leave a comment on this blog to be in the draw.

I’ve told you about one of my favorite places in the world. What’s yours? See you next month!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Highlander's Lost Lady
by Anna Campbell
The Lairds Most Likely - Book 3
305 pages
Release Date: April 29, 2019

A Highlander as brave and strong as a knight of old…
When Diarmid Mactavish, Laird of Invertavey, discovers a mysterious woman washed up on his land after a wild storm, he takes her in and tries to find her family. But even as forbidden dreams of sensual fulfillment torment him, he’s convinced that this beautiful lassie isn’t what she seems. And if there’s one thing Diarmid despises, it’s a liar. 

A mother willing to do anything to save her daughter…

Widow Fiona Grant has risked everything to break free of her clan and rescue her adolescent daughter from a forced marriage. But before her quest has barely begun, disaster strikes. She escapes her brutish kinsmen, only to be shipwrecked on Mactavish territory where she falls into her enemies’ hands. For centuries, a murderous feud has raged between the Mactavishes and the Grants, so how can she trust her darkly handsome host? 

Nine Years and Counting - - Anna Campbell (2016)

Anna Campbell has a very special place in our hearts here at The Romance Dish. A regular contributor for many years, Anna continues to visit and always has a place "at the table" waiting for her here at the blog. Whether she's celebrating a new book or taking us along on her travel adventures, it's always a pleasure to host her. 

Here's a look back at one of Anna's blog posts from February 26, 2016 when she stopped by to celebrate the second book in her popular Dashing Widows series, Tempting Mr. Townsend. The six Regency novellas in the Dashing Widows series are currently available in a special Kindle boxed set for only $3.99. 

Today's Special - - Anna Campbell

Anna is back! I'm delighted to welcome Anna Campbell back to the Dish today. She always brightens up the place, don't you think? 

Aussie Anna Campbell is a self-confessed bookaholic and is very proud of her shady past as a regular contributor to the Romance Dish. Her historical romances have won numerous awards, including the 2015 Australian Romantic Novella of the Year. Anna’s latest release is Tempting Mr. Townsend (the Dashing Widows Book 2), available from all good e-tailers from 27^th February. Her website is www.annacampbell.com 

Please join me in giving Anna a very hearty welcome home! 

The Attraction of the Attraction of Opposites

Hiya PJ! Thank you so much for having me back on the Dishes today to talk about my new novella 

Tempting Mr. Townsend (Dashing Widows Book 2). I really think that lovely blue cover goes beautifully with the décor here! 

Do you like attraction of opposites romances? I do. I love the mayhem at the start of the relationship when these people think, “What on earth am I doing, looking at this person, when they’re so obviously completely wrong for me?” 

I love even better the gradual growth of understanding, until the opposites realize they have more in common than they ever thought – and even if they don’t, the other person is so wonderful, they can live with the differences. Always an aww moment for me in a romance. 

I love that attraction of opposites stories always end up with the hero and heroine learning that they’re not exactly who they think they are. Self-discovery makes for a wonderful character arc in a story. 

When I think of the AoO trope, I think of films like Pretty Woman where cold-blooded corporate raider Richard Gere learns about the joy of life from vivacious streetwalker Julia Roberts, and she learns that she’s more than she ever dreamed she was. Or When Harry Met Sally where freewheeling Harry discovers that he needs love after all, and uptight Sally discovers that letting go can have its own rewards. 

Tempting Mr. Townsend is my most overtly AoO story so far and I had huge fun with it. If you read book 1 in the series, last year’s The Seduction of Lord Stone, you’ll remember Fenella Deerham as one of those perfect lady heroines.  She’s blonde, pretty, kind-hearted, and has perfect manners. She’s spent the last five years grieving the loss of her beloved husband Henry at Waterloo – of my three dashing widows, she’s the one who had a happy marriage and who is afraid to rejoin the world because she can’t bear to face losing love again. 

So who would be the person most likely to shake up her certainties and drag her back into the hurly-burly of life? What about a brusque, humbly born, self-made magnate who has no experience of ladies, and frankly no interest in them either? 

Falling in love with your heroes is an occupational hazard in this game—if you don’t love your hero, it’s highly unlikely your heroine will. But I must say I developed a monster crush on outspoken bear of a man, Anthony Townsend, with his northern accent, his generous spirit, and his habit of cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

So what could bring these two unlikely people together? When Anthony’s ward Carey and Fenella’s son Brandon run away from Eton, Anthony and Fenella join in a desperate alliance to find the boys. The stage is set for a road trip where both will discover first impressions can be mighty misleading. Anthony’s rough manners hide a heart the size of Texas, and Fenella’s air of untouched fragility doesn’t do justice to her enormous strength of character. The sparks fly hotter by the minute as they gallop through the frosty night to Anthony’s estate where the boys are waiting safe and sound—but now temptation lurks around every corner. 

I hope you will check out my story about two unlikely lovers and enjoy seeing these opposites come together to find their blissfully happy ending. And watch out for Winning Lord West, Helena’s story which is out at the end of April.  

 

Beauty…

Fenella, Lady Deerham, has rejoined society after five years of mourning her beloved husband’s death at Waterloo. Now she’s fêted as a diamond of the first water and London’s perfect lady. But beneath her exquisite exterior, this delicate blond beauty conceals depths of courage and passion nobody has ever suspected. When her son and his school friend go missing, she vows to find them whatever it takes. Including setting off alone in the middle of the night with high-handed bear of a man, Anthony Townsend. Will this tumultuous journey end in more tragedy? Or will the impetuous quest astonish this dashing widow with a breathtaking new love, and life with the last man she ever imagined?

And the Beast?
When Anthony Townsend bursts into Lady Deerham’s fashionable Mayfair mansion demanding the return of his orphaned nephew, the lovely widow’s beauty and spirit turn his world upside down. But surely such a refined and aristocratic creature will scorn a rough, self-made man’s courtship, even if that man is now one of the richest magnates in England. Especially after he’s made such a woeful first impression by barging into her house and accusing her of conniving with the runaways. But when Fenella insists on sharing the desperate search for the boys, fate offers Anthony a chance to play the hero and change her mind about him. Will reluctant proximity convince Fenella that perhaps Mr. Townsend isn’t so beastly after all? Or now that their charges are safe, will Anthony and Fenella remain forever opposites fighting their attraction?

Have you read Anna Campbell's books? Do you have a favorite? 

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 3, will receive a Kindle copy of The Laird's Willful Lass (book one in Campbell's new The Laird's Most Likely series) and the recently released The Laird's Christmas Kiss (The Lairds Most Likely - book two). I loved them both! 



THE LAIRD'S WILLFUL LASS

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares. Marina Lucchetti is Fergus Mackinnon’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch. Will the imperious laird and his willful lass discover that their differences aren’t insurmountable, but the spice to flavor a lifetime of happiness?

An untamed man as immovable as a Highland mountain…

Fergus Mackinnon, autocratic Laird of Achnasheen, likes to be in charge. When he was little more than a lad, he became master of his Scottish estate, and he’s learned to rely on his unfailing judgment. So has everyone else in his corner of the world. He sees no reason for his bride—when he finds her—to be any different. 

A headstrong woman from the warm and passionate south…

Marina Lucchetti knows all about fighting her way through a wall of masculine arrogance. In her native Florence, she’s become a successful artist, no easy feat for a woman. Now a commission to paint a series of Highland scenes promises to spread her fame far and wide. When a carriage accident strands her at Achnasheen for a few weeks, it’s a mixed blessing. The magnificent landscape offers everything her artistic soul could desire. If only she can resist the impulse to smash her easel across the laird’s obstinate head. 

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares. 

Marina is Fergus’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch. 

Will the desire between Fergus and Marina blaze hot, then fade to ashes? Or will the imperious laird and his willful lass discover that their differences aren’t insurmountable after all, but the spice that will flavor a lifetime of happiness?



THE LAIRD'S CHRISTMAS KISS

Deck the halls with mistletoe! For years, shy wallflower Elspeth Douglas has pined for the attentions of dashing Brody Girvan, Laird of Invermackie. But the rakish Highlander doesn’t even know she’s alive. This Christmas, she realizes that she’ll never be happy until she stops loving her brother’s handsome friend. Except it turns out that Brody isn’t singing from the same Christmas carol sheet—Elspeth decides she’s not interested in him anymore, just as he decides he’s very interested indeed. With interfering friends and a crate of imported mistletoe thrown into the mix, the stage is set for a house party rife with secrets, clandestine kisses, misunderstandings, heartache, scandal, and love triumphant.

Down with love!

Ever since she was fifteen, shy wallflower Elspeth Douglas has pined in vain for the attentions of dashing Brody Girvan, Laird of Invermackie. But the rakish Highlander doesn’t even know she’s alive. Now she’s twenty, she realizes that she’ll never be happy until she stops loving her brother’s handsome friend. When family and friends gather at Achnasheen Castle for Christmas, she intends to show the world that’s she’s all grown up, and grown out of silly crushes on gorgeous Scotsmen. So take that, my gallant laddie! 

Girls just want to have fun…

Except it turns out that Brody isn’t singing from the same Christmas carol sheet. Elspeth decides she’s not interested in him anymore, just as he decides he’s very interested indeed. In fact, now he looks more closely, his friend Hamish’s sister is pretty and funny and forthright – and just the lassie to share his Highland estate. Convincing his little wren of his romantic intentions is difficult enough, even before she undergoes a makeover and becomes the belle of Achnasheen. For once in his life, dissolute Brody is burdened with honorable intentions, while the lady he pursues is set on flirtation with no strings attached. 

Deck the halls with mistletoe!

With interfering friends and a crate of imported mistletoe thrown into the mix, the stage is set for a house party rife with secrets, clandestine kisses, misunderstandings, heartache, scandal, and love triumphant.

Taking Time Off...and Recommended Reads

Hi Everyone,

The blog is going to be quiet for a couple weeks. I had to make an emergency trip out of state a week ago. One of my brothers is dying and I'm with him and other members of my family. I'm the oldest in my family and he's next in line - 5 years younger. We've always been incredibly close, share a love of music, theater, and football, and I can't begin to wrap my mind - or my heart - around the fact that he will soon be gone. 

As I have with past tragedies in my life, I've been escaping into romance novels as I sit at his bedside. The love and hope in the stories we all enjoy bring me a measure of comfort as I deal with the sadness of losing someone I love. I've tried to write full-length reviews to share these books with you but I'm just not able to focus my mind enough to do that right now. Instead, I'm listing five of the books below with a few of my thoughts. I hope you'll check them out. They are all wonderful! 

Thank you for your understanding.

~PJ


The Governess Game
By Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 28, 2018

He’s been a bad, bad rake—and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson

The accidental governess

After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried—and failed—to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart . . . without risking her own.

The infamous rake

Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling . . . and he’s in danger of falling, hard.

I admit that I'm a huge fan of Tessa Dare's writing. I've read every book she's written and most of them have places on my keeper shelf. Yet, even among that exalted "keeper" company, for me, The Governess Game shines as one of her best. I loved the chemistry between Chase and Alexandra, the witty banter, the sensuality, and the heartfelt emotion. I adored the two orphaned girls for whom Chase is responsible and appreciated the fact that they are not wallpaper but fully developed, essential characters with key roles in the evolution of Chase and Alexandra individually as well as them as a couple. Dare's trademark humor also shines in this book with many laugh-out-loud scenes. If you're looking for a feel-good romance with plenty of humor, sizzle, and heartfelt emotion, you can't go wrong with The Governess Game. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

When a Duke Loves a Woman
By Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 21, 2018

Gillie Trewlove knows what a stranger’s kindness can mean, having been abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and raised by the woman who found her there. So, when suddenly faced with a soul in need at her door—or the alleyway by her tavern—Gillie doesn’t hesitate. But he’s no infant. He’s a grievously injured, distractingly handsome gentleman who doesn’t belong in Whitechapel, much less recuperating in Gillie’s bed . . .

Being left at the altar is humiliating; being rescued from thugs by a woman—albeit a brave and beautiful one—is the pièce de résistance to the Duke of Thornley’s extraordinarily bad day. After nursing him back from the brink, Gillie agrees to help him comb London’s darker corners for his wayward bride. But every moment together is edged with desire and has Thorne rethinking his choice of wife. Yet Gillie knows the aristocracy would never accept a duchess born in sin. Thorne, however, is determined to prove to her that no obstacle is insurmountable when a duke loves a woman.

This is the second book in a series that is quickly becoming one of my favorites by Lorraine Heath. Heath's writing is emotional and romantic, with superbly crafted characters, and stories touched with occasional humor and a whole lot of heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Gillie and Thorne and am already looking forward to the next story in this series.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tempted by Love: A Montana Heat Novel
By Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 21, 2018

Alina Cooke—little sister of his two best friends—is the last woman DEA agent Jay Bennett should be waking up next to on the day of her brother’s wedding. But their powerful attraction ignited a powder keg of desire, and their once simple friendship has just become impossibly complicated.

Alina’s always been steady, focused, and lived on the safe side of life. Jay is totally devoted to his dangerous job. She knows a future with him will be filled with worry that one day he won’t come home. She’s done it with her brothers. She’s not sure she can face that uncertainty with the man she loves. Yet being in his arms is a bad idea they keep repeating, again and again.

When Alina is run off the road, Jay fears his job has made her a target. But the threat in Alina’s life is closer than they think. As the enemy gets more ruthless, Alina proves she’s no easy target and Jay will do anything to bring them down. Because surviving and being together is the only thing that matters.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with a western flair, you'll want to give Jennifer Ryan a try. I discovered her a couple years ago and have been happily gobbling up her books ever since. In Tempted by Love, Ryan brings us one of my favorite tropes: little sister falling for her brother's best friend. In the case of Alina and Jay, he's the best friend and co-worker of two of her brothers. Double the trouble if they find out, right? Though this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, I'll warn you that once you meet Alina's brothers in this novel, you'll probably be downloading their stories too!

~~~~~~~~~~

Through the Fire

Rocky Mountain K9 Unit - Book 4

By Katie Ruggle

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: August 28, 2018

Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit—they've been through too much to welcome a stranger. So when a killer strikes, it's a fight to convince her fellow officers to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.

She can't do it on her own. What she needs most is a partner: local fire spotter Wesley March.

Wes knows in his heart that Kit is right, and he's willing to leave his lonely tower to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the fire smolders...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to have her revenge—no matter who gets burned in the process.

This time, it's personal.

Over the past two years, Katie Ruggle has become one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. In Through the Fire, she brings readers another intense, suspenseful, and emotional story set high in the Rockies and once again, she had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. Each of her series has four books with a mystery beginning in book one and concluding in book four. For that reason, I strongly encourage readers to read the books in order. For this series, those books are: Run to Ground, On the Chase, Survive the Night, and Through the Fire. 

~~~~~~~~~~

The Laird's Willful Lass
The Likely Lairds - Book 1
By Anna Campbell
Self-Published
Release Date: July 31, 2018

An untamed man as immovable as a Highland mountain…

Fergus Mackinnon, autocratic Laird of Achnasheen, likes to be in charge. When he was little more than a lad, he became master of his Scottish estate, and he’s learned to rely on his unfailing judgment. So has everyone else in his corner of the world. He sees no reason for his bride—when he finds her—to be any different. 

A headstrong woman from the warm and passionate south…

Marina Lucchetti knows all about fighting her way through a wall of masculine arrogance. In her native Florence, she’s become a successful artist, no easy feat for a woman. Now a commission to paint a series of Highland scenes promises to spread her fame far and wide. When a carriage accident strands her at Achnasheen for a few weeks, it’s a mixed blessing. The magnificent landscape offers everything her artistic soul could desire. If only she can resist the impulse to smash her easel across the laird’s obstinate head. 

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares. 

Marina is Fergus’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch. 

This book marks Anna Campbell's return to full-length novels and though I've thoroughly enjoyed her novellas of the past few years, it was wonderful to immerse myself in one of her longer tales again. In this book, she takes us to beautiful Scotland and introduces us to two characters - a traditional, autocratic Scots hero and an artistic, independent Italian heroine - for whom marriage is not a goal. As you can imagine, plenty of friction and banter - not to mention sizzling chemistry - ensues. Traveling the road to love along with these two was pure pleasure. Campbell's descriptions of the Scottish countryside reflect her love of this country and created a stunning portrait as vivid and vibrant as the paintings her heroine creates with her brush. 


What are you reading that you would recommend?

On the Road with Anna Campbell

On the Road with Anna Campbell - - Episode 3

Greetings from Bonny Scotland, PJ and Romance Dish Fans!

Like last month’s post from France, this is another two-location effort. I’ve been writing up a storm – actually given what the weather is like, that’s probably true! I haven’t had a lot of blue-sky days since I arrived although at least there have been some patches of lovely weather.

I’m working on a new series called The Lairds Most Likely. The original plan was four novellas – three regular stories and a Christmas special. But story one, The Laird’s Willful Lass, just grew like Topsy and ended up becoming a full-length book. So the new plan is three full-length stories and a Christmas novella which I’m currently writing. Seems odd to be thinking about mistletoe and mince pies in April, but that’s the writer’s life.

This month I’m talking about two places I visited in order to write, both spectacularly beautiful, so while there hasn’t been a lot of outdoor action to report, I managed to get some lovely photographs that I hope will make up for my dedication to my art!

People who follow me on Facebook will know last year I spent three and a half weeks on Eigg, a glorious speck just south of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. It’s a small island with a big personality and views so beautiful, they make you want to weep. Last year’s visit was in the way of an experiment to see if I’d settle down to work on a self-guided writing retreat or whether I’d be too keen to get out and see things. The experiment worked (Catching Captain Nash and half of The Christmas Stranger were the result) so I decided to do it all again. This year I didn’t go far afield at all which is why nearly all the photos are variations on the same view. Mind you, it’s some view!

As you can see the prospect from the guesthouse where I stayed was utterly amazing, especially at sunset when the sun sank gracefully behind the mountainous island of Rum across the channel. Below the guesthouse, there was a beautiful beach where I walked most days, weather permitting. The view from Laig Beach was even more spectacular than the one from up the hill. At low tide, you caught the reflections of Rum on the wet sand, and if you looked to the right, you saw the Black Cuillins on the Isle of Sky, still covered with snow. My hero in Willful Lass owns a castle with a view across to Skye (a little bit further north along the coast than Eigg) so this felt like a good omen for the new series!

I then headed north to catch up with some friends. On the way, it was such a thrill to pass romantic and spectacular Eilean Donan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh. I saw a statistic somewhere that this is the world’s most photographed castle. The day we were there, you certainly couldn’t move without tripping over tripods!

I’m currently tucked up in another very nice B&B at Poolewe which is a new place to me. It’s right up north, just south of Ullapool, and the nearest town of any size is Gairloch from which you can see the north end of Skye (another omen?). It’s been lovely playing tourist in my friends’ car over the last few days before I settle back to finish the Christmas novella.

Although Poolewe is a tiny village in an isolated location, it has a couple of claims to fame. It was a top secret naval base and site for agent training in World War II, and the Allies sent supplies to Russia from here to keep the second front going (the casualty rates were appalling – there are a number of sad monuments around the village to the brave men who died in the campaign).

Poolewe is also the site of world-famous Inverewe Gardens (https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/inverewe) which I visited two days ago and hope to go back to often. Because the Gulf Stream flows along the coast, this part of Scotland is surprisingly warm, so some unexpected plants grow here, including palm trees and eucalypts from my homeland. The gardens have been here since the mid-19th century, so there are magnificent old magnolias and rhododendrons, not to mention towering redwoods. It was wonderful to see the gardens in spring with the daffodils and other spring flowers scattered through the beautiful woodlands.

The last pictures were taken from Gairloch where I had dinner last night. One of the lovely things about the west coast of Scotland is that you’re never short of a memorable sunset! In the distance in the sunset pictures, you’ll see some low hills. That’s Skye. In between is a photo of a beautiful little secret bay at the head of Loch Maree off the road south from Poolewe. Such an atmospheric place!

See you next month when things get very exotic. After Scotland, I’m heading for Slovenia and Croatia, so there should be lots of Eastern European charm in the next post.

Are you a gardener? I must say I like LOOKING at gardens but I’m hopeless when it comes to growing one. Do you have a favorite style of garden? A favorite plant or flower? In honor of the magnificent Inverewe Gardens, let’s talk greenery!

I’ve got 2 Kindle downloads of the boxed set of the Dashing Widows to give away today (if you’ve already got that, you can choose a Kindle download of Lord Garson’s Bride instead) to someone who comments. No geographical restrictions. Good luck!

I can certainly see why Scotland inspires you, Anna. What glorious photos! Thank you so much for taking us along with you.

Readers, for more photos from Anna's travels, visit her Facebook page.