About
the Book
Title:
Highland Deception
Author:
Lori Ann Bailey
Scotland,
August 1642
Maggie
and Lachlan must fight their growing attraction, battling suspicion
and intrigue as religious and political turmoil threaten to tear
their clans apart.
He
has sworn he will never marry.
Lachlan
Cameron is honor bound to see a wounded lass to safety, although he
has well learned women are deceivers, and this lovely maid harbors a
wealth of secrets. But Maggie's free spirit and charms enthrall him
while he works to discover if she is innocent…or a spy scheming
with his enemies to destroy his clan.
She
has sworn she will never fall in love.
Maggie
Murray fled her home to avoid a political marriage to an abusive man.
Salvation comes when the Cameron laird, unaware of her identity,
protects her as she escapes. His kindness slowly warms her, and she’s
tempted to confess her real name. But his strong sense of honor would
force him to return her to her father…and torment at the hands of
her scorned betrothed.
Author
Bio
Lori
Ann Bailey has a romantic soul and believes the best in everyone.
Sappy commercials and proud mommy moments make her cry. She sobs
uncontrollably and feels emotionally drained when reading sad books,
so she started reading romance for the Happily Ever Afters. She was
hooked. Then, the characters and scenes that ran around in her head
as she attempted to sleep at night begged to be let out. Looking back
now, her favorite class in high school was the one where a professor
pulled a desk to the center of the room and told her to write two
paragraphs about it and the college English class taught by a
red-headed Birkenstock wearing girl, not much older than she, who
introduced her to Jack Kerouac. After working in business and years
as a stay-at-home mom she has found something in addition to her
family to be passionate about, her books. She lives in Northern
Virginia with her real life hero, four kids that keep her on her
toes, two dogs determined to destroy her house and two cats secretly
plotting the demise of those dogs.
Author
links:
Website:
http://loriannbailey.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/labaileyauthor
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/labaileyauthor/
Links
B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-deception-lori-ann-bailey/1124233183?ean=9781633757417
Book
Excerpts
Maggie
rose, pulled her skirts up, and waded into the water while Lachlan
remained close on the beach, but she noticed he stayed watchful of
their surroundings. The cool water was refreshing. She sighed then
turned to take in the full view of him. “Would ye force a woman to
do something she doesnae wish, if it got ye something ye wanted?”
Lachlan’s
gaze returned to her. “Not unless it was for the good of the clan.”
An
image of Conall flashed in her head, and she shuddered as dread
washed over her. It was the answer all men in his position would
give.
“But
I would listen to her reasons,” he continued. “Sometimes women
see things we dinnae.”
She
breathed out. Even though her reservations about revealing her
identity lingered, it was nice to know he was willing to listen.
Would her reasons be sufficient to appeal to him as a man? She
thought he might listen, because he didnae seem the type to force his
sister into an abusive marriage. He’d let her go out on her own.
As
squealing children ran by, cold droplets speckled Maggie’s legs,
and she made a small shriek as the liquid sent chills through her.
One of the boys heard her and turned then splashed her again.
Suppressing a giggle, she reached down to cup a handful of water and
toss it back. She dropped her skirt, and it fell into the water.
The
lad laughed, and they continued back and forth. A stream of water hit
her headpiece. She scooped up and aimed, but he ran just out of reach
and took off to join the friends who were calling to him. Pulling the
wet headpiece off, she ran her fingers through her hair, and when she
looked back at Lachlan, he had a boyish sideways grin on his face.
Well, it wasn’t that innocent. He suddenly looked as if he wanted
to devour her.
Her
chest tightened, and her core clenched. Something about the way he
looked at her made her want to taste him, too, and she didn’t even
know what that meant.
“Come
here, lass.” His deep voice washed over her and sent waves of
excitement coursing through her.
Swallowing,
she sauntered toward him. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled
her flush to his chest as his lips crashed down on hers, causing
tingles to erupt on her skin and need to ignite in her core. The kiss
was warm and slow, strong and possessive. She melted into it.
When
his tongue delved into her mouth, she returned the caress and rose up
on her toes to get closer and her arms gripped onto his hips. Being
in his arms held a strange appeal she wanted to spend more time
exploring, learning why her body turned into a wobbly mess when any
part of her brushed up against him.
Water
spattered her cheek, and the kiss broke. The boy and his friends
laughed, and she looked at Lachlan.
He
had not been spared, either. Drops of liquid streamed down the side
of his face. He looked dazed. She would have expected him to be
annoyed with the boys, but he continued to study her as if she were
the only person in Scotland. Fighting back the blush this time, she
licked her lips. She wouldn’t be ashamed of wanting him.
“Ye
know I want ye, lass.”
“Aye.”
She wanted him, too.
His
hand rose and caressed her cheek. It trailed down until one finger
was left tracing her lips. She gasped. She started to quiver with
anticipation, then he backed away. “Tonight,”
he said.
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