Flames of Winter: Book 1 (Paperback)
Escape was just the beginning.
In the opulent yet turbulent year of 1804 England, Miss SARAH MORTENSEN, cherished daughter of BARON HARTMORE, finds herself cornered into accepting yet another ill-suited marriage to salvage her family’s crumbling estate—a consequence of her father’s relentless gambling. With her patience dwindling and her dreams of true love fading into the shadows of duty, Sarah is desperate for an escape.
Enter the formidable Dowager Countess of Whickerton, affectionately known as Grandma Edie, a woman whose cunning is only matched by her reputation for scandalous yet successful schemes. With a twinkle in her eye and a plan up her sleeve, she offers Sarah a daring way out: a staged abduction that promises both freedom and adventure.
She sought solitude; fate delivered a Scotsman.
Compelled into action, KEIR MACKINNEAR, a robust and brooding Scotsman from the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, reluctantly agrees to the countess's audacious plan. Under the cloak of night, he spirits Sarah away to a secluded woodland cottage, where they are to remain hidden from the prying eyes of society. As winter whispers through the trees, their forced proximity kindles a warmth that neither can deny.
Surrounded by the rustic charm of nature, a cluster of spirited chickens, and Loki, a royally poised cat, the pair discovers that love often blooms in the most unexpected places. But as the snow deepens, Keir begins to suspect that their escape was not solely for Sarah's benefit. Could the wily Grandma Edie have a secondary motive, weaving a match not just of convenience, but of passion?
Who said kidnapping can't be romantic?
As secrets unravel and true feelings emerge, Sarah and Keir must decide if they dare to trust their hearts and defy the rigid rules of society. Will this audacious escapade lead them to a love as wild and beautiful as the untamed Highlands themselves?
Behind every great escape is a dowager with a plan and a cat with an attitude.
Some stories can be told in one book. Others cannot. This is one of those stories.
Flames of Winter Series
#1 Flames of Winter
#2 Shield of Fire
#3 Out of Smoke and Ashes
#4 On the Wings of Cinders
|
Paperback Edition: 6 x 9 inches Page count: 314 pages Printed: Lulu Press ISBN: 978-3-98536-324-7 |
The moment she sank to the ground, Keir caught her in his arms, gently easing her down to the forest floor. Her hood fell back, revealing her soft features, finally relaxed as her eyes lay closed. Her fair tresses had been braided down her back, giving her a stern expression. Only a few wisps of hair seemed to refuse obedience, curling along her temples in determined resistance.
Keir smiled. "What is it ye fear so, little wisp?" he murmured, pulling the cloak tighter around her against the cold. Then he looked up, his gaze moving from the carriage to the two waiting horses. "There's nothing for it."
Kneeling down beside her, Keir hoisted her up into his arms. "Ye weigh almost nothing, little wisp," he murmured, shifting her easily as he approached the bay gelding. "'Tis almost as though ye're not truly here."
As Keir stepped onto a conveniently located tree stump and then pulled himself—and her!—up and into the saddle, her soft weight and gentle warmth made him wonder who she was. Aye, she was real, a woman of flesh and blood. She had had a life. One that had taught her to be wary, if not downright afraid. And yet courage still beat in her heart, or she would not be here.
In this moment.
With him.
Settling her in front of him, her head resting against his shoulder, Keir urged the gelding onward, away from the road and into the forest. A click of his tongue made the mare follow. "I'll see ye safe, little wisp," he murmured as he looked down into the young woman's face. "I promise ye."
Print books are printed individually to order and shipped through the independent printer, Lulu Direct. It usually takes a few days to print and then 11-13 business days to ship. You can track the shipping with the link in your order.
Pricing:
1 book = $9.99 shipping costs
Add at least one more book to your order and save shipping fees.
2-4 books = $14.99 shipping costs (when placed in one single order)
5-8 books = $19.99 shipping costs (when placed in one single order)
Thank you for supporting our small press.
