Left jilted at the altar by his bride, Rory MacLeod, the Duke of Skye and chief of the MacLeod clan finds himself becoming the subject of unsavory gossip.
Marriage to a respectable young lady of impeccable breeding is the only way Rory can hope to silence the gossips.
Licking his wounds, he returns to London for the upcoming session of Parliament and Season. He brings with him his sister Lily. It will be her first season and one which Rory intends to find a bride of his own. He doesn't have to look far.
Victoria, the Duke of Hargrove's daughter, catches more than his eye the moment he meets her. She is everything his duchess needs to be. She is smart, beautiful and devoted to Rory. Not even his darkest secret can sway her.
The bliss of married life is ripped apart by betrayal of the worst kind. His sister is kidnapped and forced into a marriage with only one purpose. Money. Even worse is who is behind it all.
With his own reputation and that of his family and clan at stake, Rory must carefully negotiate his sister's return without the world finding out about his secret. Not only could it bring shame to everyone he holds dear, it would mean his ruination and worse.
Rory turned his stallion in the direction of the cottage. "Come, this way. There is someone I want you to meet."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"My grandmother."
"Your grandmother?"
"Aye. My father's mother. When my grandfather died many years ago, my father built a cottage for her. At her request of course. She didn't want to reside inside the castle walls. I suppose you could say she wanted her freedom. So my father built the cottage, and she's lived here as long as I can remember."
"But why?"
"I don't know. She's content living out here, and it's not as brutal as it may sound. A few of the women come visit her every day. My brothers and I try and visit her as much as possible."
"Meaning rarely."
"Ow, you wound me, lass. I try my best. She'll be happy to see I've married and am happy. Seanmhair will love you, and she'd love to tell you the history about Castle MacLeod."
"How far is she?"
"About a mile."
Rory led her along the lakeside path. Before long, he could see smoke lazily dancing its way in the air. They were close.
A cottage finally came into view. The small structure sat in a small clearing, the loch to one side and the forest on the other. He didn't see anyone around, but knowing his grandmother as he did, he knew she'd be close by if she wasn't inside. On a day like today, she'd be outside taking advantage of the beautiful weather.
He dismounted his horse and walked toward Victoria's mare. He helped her down. As he was about to tie the animals off, the door to the cottage swung open.
His grandmother appeared. Despite her advanced years, she walked without assistance. Even if she did need help, Rory doubted she'd allow anyone to help. Typical MacLeod trait.
"It's true. You've taken a wife."
"Yes, ma'am. How did you know?" Rory asked as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
"Donnan told me when he came to tell me of his and Rose's babe. Said you found a beautiful bride in England, and he was right. She's quite bonny, Rory."
He smiled. "Seanmhair, this is my wife, Victoria."
"'Tis very nice to meet you, Victoria," she said, extending a hand to his wife.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Come, let's sit down and talk for a bit." She pointed to a group of chairs nearby. "'Tis too nice a day to be inside. Might as well enjoy the sun while it's out. I spend far too many days inside because of the rain and cold."
As they were sitting down, Rory's grandmother offered them some cider. He watched as the old woman disappeared back into her cottage.
"Why does she choose to stay here? Was she banished from the castle?"
"Nay, she wasn't banished. It was her choice. I think she thought she'd be in the way, which is far from true. My father respected her request and had this place built."
"But she was a duchess."
"Aye, but she's happier here. You'll see."
His grandmother reappeared carrying a tray with a pitcher and three glasses. Rory immediately got on his feet to assist her.
"I don't need you fussing over me. I can still manage a tray and anything else I choose."
As she poured the cider, she looked at Rory. "I understand there's a magnificent stag wandering the grounds. I believe he's the same one we saw last year."
"He is. I haven't been hunting much. No time."
"It's more of a sport these days. You have men to do that for you."
He smiled. "Aye, that's true, but I still like the thrill of a hunting party and the chase."
"You and your brothers ought to take Will and a group of men and try and bag him."
"Hunting a stag is not Will's idea of a way to pass a day."
She nodded and pointed a gnarled finger at him. "You're still his chief and brother-in-law. If you tell him, he'll have to go. Besides, it'd do him some good."
"You should do it, Rory. You haven't done anything except work and worry about your sister for weeks," Victoria said. She picked up her glass and took a sip. From the look on her face, Rory knew she hadn't expected hardened cider.
"You should listen to her, Rory. You used to love to hunt and fish. Until you became duke and chief."
"I know, I know. You're right. I'll speak with Mac. See if we can't get a hunting party put together."
"How is Lily?" his grandmother asked.
"Right now? She's broken, and quite unhappy."
"The man has shown his true colors, I understand, and they’re not those of the sweet young man who used to visit with me whenever he came to visit Castle MacLeod."
"I didn't know him until now, but he makes my skin crawl. I hate it for Lily," Victoria said quietly.
"The best you can do for her now is support and love her."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"My grandmother."
"Your grandmother?"
"Aye. My father's mother. When my grandfather died many years ago, my father built a cottage for her. At her request of course. She didn't want to reside inside the castle walls. I suppose you could say she wanted her freedom. So my father built the cottage, and she's lived here as long as I can remember."
"But why?"
"I don't know. She's content living out here, and it's not as brutal as it may sound. A few of the women come visit her every day. My brothers and I try and visit her as much as possible."
"Meaning rarely."
"Ow, you wound me, lass. I try my best. She'll be happy to see I've married and am happy. Seanmhair will love you, and she'd love to tell you the history about Castle MacLeod."
"How far is she?"
"About a mile."
Rory led her along the lakeside path. Before long, he could see smoke lazily dancing its way in the air. They were close.
A cottage finally came into view. The small structure sat in a small clearing, the loch to one side and the forest on the other. He didn't see anyone around, but knowing his grandmother as he did, he knew she'd be close by if she wasn't inside. On a day like today, she'd be outside taking advantage of the beautiful weather.
He dismounted his horse and walked toward Victoria's mare. He helped her down. As he was about to tie the animals off, the door to the cottage swung open.
His grandmother appeared. Despite her advanced years, she walked without assistance. Even if she did need help, Rory doubted she'd allow anyone to help. Typical MacLeod trait.
"It's true. You've taken a wife."
"Yes, ma'am. How did you know?" Rory asked as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
"Donnan told me when he came to tell me of his and Rose's babe. Said you found a beautiful bride in England, and he was right. She's quite bonny, Rory."
He smiled. "Seanmhair, this is my wife, Victoria."
"'Tis very nice to meet you, Victoria," she said, extending a hand to his wife.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Come, let's sit down and talk for a bit." She pointed to a group of chairs nearby. "'Tis too nice a day to be inside. Might as well enjoy the sun while it's out. I spend far too many days inside because of the rain and cold."
As they were sitting down, Rory's grandmother offered them some cider. He watched as the old woman disappeared back into her cottage.
"Why does she choose to stay here? Was she banished from the castle?"
"Nay, she wasn't banished. It was her choice. I think she thought she'd be in the way, which is far from true. My father respected her request and had this place built."
"But she was a duchess."
"Aye, but she's happier here. You'll see."
His grandmother reappeared carrying a tray with a pitcher and three glasses. Rory immediately got on his feet to assist her.
"I don't need you fussing over me. I can still manage a tray and anything else I choose."
As she poured the cider, she looked at Rory. "I understand there's a magnificent stag wandering the grounds. I believe he's the same one we saw last year."
"He is. I haven't been hunting much. No time."
"It's more of a sport these days. You have men to do that for you."
He smiled. "Aye, that's true, but I still like the thrill of a hunting party and the chase."
"You and your brothers ought to take Will and a group of men and try and bag him."
"Hunting a stag is not Will's idea of a way to pass a day."
She nodded and pointed a gnarled finger at him. "You're still his chief and brother-in-law. If you tell him, he'll have to go. Besides, it'd do him some good."
"You should do it, Rory. You haven't done anything except work and worry about your sister for weeks," Victoria said. She picked up her glass and took a sip. From the look on her face, Rory knew she hadn't expected hardened cider.
"You should listen to her, Rory. You used to love to hunt and fish. Until you became duke and chief."
"I know, I know. You're right. I'll speak with Mac. See if we can't get a hunting party put together."
"How is Lily?" his grandmother asked.
"Right now? She's broken, and quite unhappy."
"The man has shown his true colors, I understand, and they’re not those of the sweet young man who used to visit with me whenever he came to visit Castle MacLeod."
"I didn't know him until now, but he makes my skin crawl. I hate it for Lily," Victoria said quietly.
"The best you can do for her now is support and love her."
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It's not until he returns to Skye for his mother's birthday when Donnan begins to lose control of his life. And it's all because of a woman, the one woman he's loved since childhood. The woman he desires above all others - that is should he ever think of taking a wife.
Rosalind, strong willed and opinionated far more than most, she is determined to find out what it is Donnan is hiding. Never before had they kept things from each other, but Rosalind is convinced he's keeping something huge from her.
Everything changes in the blink of an eye.
Stowing away in the back of Donnan's coach, Rosalind changes their lives forever. The adventure begins...
“Rosalind, what in the name of God have you done?” he asked. “What are you doing in the back of my carriage?”
Rosalind squared her shoulders, trying not to think what a miserable picture she must look. She summoned the lie she had concocted for just this moment.
“I could not stay, Donnan. I can be more useful with you than back at the castle alone."
His brows drew together. He surveyed her from top to bottom, taking in every inch of her seedy appearance, shaking his head.
“Come into the inn with me, Rose. We can speak inside. After you've bathed, of course." He smirked at her, extending his arm.
Rosalind took her time bathing. She knew Donnan was angry with her stealing away. She had to make him understand.
Finally, she finished and rejoined him in the sitting room of the suite he'd gotten them. A mouthwatering meal graced a table. Her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten since she was on Skye.
"Come and join me," he said as he rose from a chair he sat in.
"Thank you."
She followed him to the table and sat in a chair he'd pulled out for her. He was not happy. His face told her so.
He sat across from her, his eyes intently watching her. "Rose, do you realize what you've done by stowing away in my carriage?"
"Of course I do. I'm quite sure Rory is furious with me."
Donnan picked up a piece of cheese and broke it in half. "If he doesn't think we planned this to begin with."
She shook her head. "I will take full responsibility for my actions."
"Not that it will do any good now," he replied briskly.
"What would you have me do, Donnan? Sit and wait on you for another year? I'm sure when the time came, you would have an excuse not to come back and accept your duties."
"That is exactly what you were suppose to do, Rose! You were suppose to wait for a year," he bellowed. "I would never purposely disobey anything Rory orders of me. Never. He is not only my brother, he's my clan leader. When the year was up, I would have come back for you, Rose. Now you've changed all that. Now we must marry."
She said nothing for a moment. She speared a piece of chicken and ate it. If Donnan wasn't so angry with her, she could sit right here and enjoy this plain feast. "Why can't I simply spend the year with you? I can help you, I'm sure. After that, we can return to Skye and marry just like Rory wishes."
"Surely you jest. I cannot have you live with me and follow me around for a year like some tap room wench. You're a lady, Rose. Your reputation would be ruined. No, we'll do the proper thing and marry at Gretna Green."
"What? When?"
"Now. Our journey will begin as soon as we've finished our meal."
Rosalind squared her shoulders, trying not to think what a miserable picture she must look. She summoned the lie she had concocted for just this moment.
“I could not stay, Donnan. I can be more useful with you than back at the castle alone."
His brows drew together. He surveyed her from top to bottom, taking in every inch of her seedy appearance, shaking his head.
“Come into the inn with me, Rose. We can speak inside. After you've bathed, of course." He smirked at her, extending his arm.
Rosalind took her time bathing. She knew Donnan was angry with her stealing away. She had to make him understand.
Finally, she finished and rejoined him in the sitting room of the suite he'd gotten them. A mouthwatering meal graced a table. Her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten since she was on Skye.
"Come and join me," he said as he rose from a chair he sat in.
"Thank you."
She followed him to the table and sat in a chair he'd pulled out for her. He was not happy. His face told her so.
He sat across from her, his eyes intently watching her. "Rose, do you realize what you've done by stowing away in my carriage?"
"Of course I do. I'm quite sure Rory is furious with me."
Donnan picked up a piece of cheese and broke it in half. "If he doesn't think we planned this to begin with."
She shook her head. "I will take full responsibility for my actions."
"Not that it will do any good now," he replied briskly.
"What would you have me do, Donnan? Sit and wait on you for another year? I'm sure when the time came, you would have an excuse not to come back and accept your duties."
"That is exactly what you were suppose to do, Rose! You were suppose to wait for a year," he bellowed. "I would never purposely disobey anything Rory orders of me. Never. He is not only my brother, he's my clan leader. When the year was up, I would have come back for you, Rose. Now you've changed all that. Now we must marry."
She said nothing for a moment. She speared a piece of chicken and ate it. If Donnan wasn't so angry with her, she could sit right here and enjoy this plain feast. "Why can't I simply spend the year with you? I can help you, I'm sure. After that, we can return to Skye and marry just like Rory wishes."
"Surely you jest. I cannot have you live with me and follow me around for a year like some tap room wench. You're a lady, Rose. Your reputation would be ruined. No, we'll do the proper thing and marry at Gretna Green."
"What? When?"
"Now. Our journey will begin as soon as we've finished our meal."
💕 Always double-check the price before you buy 💕
My careers in public relations in and around the entertainment industry, photography, editing, artist management, modeling and special event planning all elevated my passion for writing, not to mention gave me a treasure trove for story lines.
I write women's fiction; contemporary romance (as Jamie Salisbury) and historical romance (as JR Salisbury) which is ever evolving. I am fortunate enough that writing (and marketing of said product(s)) is my full-time job, although I always have one or two other projects going at the same time.
I now live in a suburb of Atlanta. Some of my other interests include photography, equestrianism, reading, and of course, travel.
I sincerely hope my writing will entertain, enlighten, and inspire others to pick up the pen and pursue their own dreams. I love to be contacted by readers, writers, and history buffs.
Up for grabs (1 winner each):
💕 $25 Amazon gift card
💕 Print copies of both books
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ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting The Sins of Rory MacLeod and Donnan's Rose.
ReplyDeleteSounds good.
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ReplyDeleteLove both covers and I love a man in a kilt!
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ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeleteI like Donnan Rose cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the excerpt.
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ReplyDeleteBoth books look and sound great!
ReplyDeleteI like the covers-The Sins of Rory MacLeod interests me the most
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Loved the covers and looking forward to reading.Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteNice book cover and interesting excerpt. No question for the author.
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ReplyDelete