Anne never asked to become the courier of the legendary Iona Stones. Charged with carrying the sacred stones across Scotland, she finds herself entangled in forces far older and more dangerous than she understands. Ancient magic stirs around the stones with dangerous purpose, and Anne fears the cost her task demands.
Highland Laird Ewan MacDougall has sworn his life to protect the Iona Stones and the secrets bound to them through blood, faith, and duty. Guided by prophecy and burdened by generations of sacrifice, he cannot afford distraction. Yet Anne’s connection to the stones challenges everything he believes, drawing her deeper into a fate neither of them fully understands.
As dark forces rise to claim the stones’ power, Anne and Ewan must trust the bond forming between them before ancient magic destroys everything they hold dear.
Every book has a story behind the story, and Evergreen Evermore, my third and final Stones of Iona Christmas Companion, has a few surprises of its own! From a little encouragement from my husband to hidden connections between centuries, here are six fun facts about how this Highland Christmas romance came to life.
1. This book almost didn’t happen!
After completing the initial outline for Stone of Destiny, I thought I’d finished telling the stories of the MacDougall family. But my husband encouraged me to write one more Christmas Companion. That little nudge sparked an idea I couldn’t resist. What if I went back to the beginning and told the story of how the MacDougall family first became guardians of the magical Iona Stones? Suddenly, I had one more love story to tell!
2. The final book takes readers back to the beginning.
Although Evergreen Evermore completes the Stones of Iona series, its story takes place centuries before the events of the first book, Stone of Love. I love the idea of bringing a series full circle! Readers who have followed the MacDougall family through generations finally discover how their extraordinary legacy began.
3. Two heroes share the same name!
If Ewan MacDougall sounds familiar, there’s a reason! Captain Ewan MacDougall, the hero of Stone of Faith, shares his name with his ancestor in Evergreen Evermore. Both men possess that irresistible combination of Highland courage, fierce loyalty, and a tender heart. Apparently, handsome, protective heroes run in the family!
4. The Christmas decorations have special meanings.
I wanted the Christmas traditions in Evergreen Evermore to represent more than holiday decorations. Evergreens symbolize everlasting life and hope, while ivy represents fidelity and eternal love. Even the Christmas wreath carries meaning, with its circular shape representing eternity. These symbols weave throughout Anne and Ewan’s story, reflecting the themes of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
5. Anne’s story began with a question about redemption.
I’ve always been fascinated by characters who make terrible mistakes and must face the consequences. But what happens afterward? Can someone truly redeem themselves, and if they do, shouldn’t they have a chance at happiness? Those questions helped shape Anne Olvasson, a Fae princess whose past weighs heavily on her future. Her journey explores the courage it takes to accept responsibility, seek forgiveness, and open your heart to love again.
6. There’s a familiar face hiding in the story!
Readers of Stone of Love might recognize Dameon Douglas when he appears in Evergreen Evermore. What they may not realize is that this mysterious Highland laird has an entire series waiting for him!
Dameon becomes the hero of Devil’s Star, the first book in my upcoming Dragons of Tantallon series. I love planting little connections between my books, and this one opens the door to a whole new world of Fae magic, ancient secrets, and dragon shifters!
One Last Thought
Writing Evergreen Evermore gave me something I hadn’t expected—the opportunity to say goodbye to one series while opening the door to another. After spending so much time with the MacDougall family, bringing their magical legacy full circle felt like the perfect Christmas gift.
And thanks to my husband, readers get one more Highland hero to fall in love with!
A breath hissed through Ewan’s teeth. The future again. Always the future. The Chapel in the Woods remained nothing more than a square of marked earth, waiting on builders and a stone escort, yet to arrive. He carried the burden of raising a grand chapel for magic stones he had never seen, guided by advice from Ainslie—Ron’s ma, a MacDougall from another time and blood of his blood.
Talk of the future scraped against Ewan’s patience until heat climbed his neck and locked his jaw tight. Expectations pressed in, of a life Ewan had yet to live—let alone witness.
He exhaled hard. “How the hell am I to protect the magic Fae stones from evil if I have no idea what lies ahead?”
Ron waved him off and dropped onto the low wall edging the garden. “Ye have to have faith, Ewan.” His first looked toward the abbey walls. “Hell, I also had doubts about the Fae’s power. But when I walked through a portal in time and stood before a castle that had not been there moments before, that alone made me a believer.”
Ewan folded his arms, the fabric pulling across his shoulders. “Faith, hope, and love. It’s all yer ma and my da spew. That and my duty to the magic Fae stones.”
“Listen to advice and accept discipline—at the end, you will be among the wise.” A soft voice carried through the covered walk, calm and measured.
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
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