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Can love build on a lie?
THE BEAST OF AROS CASTLE
Highland Isles #1
Heather McCollum
Releasing Feb 20, 2017
Entangled Scandalous
On the run
from a dangerous man, Ava Sutton flees to the Isle of Mull off the coast of
Scotland. Masquerading as a titled, English lady, Ava must convince the cynical
and darkly handsome chief of the Macleans of Aros to wed her before the devil
tracks her down.
Tor Maclean, the new chief of Aros Castle, has sworn off marriage after his first wife tricked him into it. Despite his efforts to scare away the Englishwoman, his father arranged for him to wed, Tor is drawn to her fire, courage, and beauty. But when truths are revealed, and hearts as well as lives are on the dagger's edge, Tor doesn't know if he can forgive or if he will truly become the solitary Beast of Aros Castle...
Tor Maclean, the new chief of Aros Castle, has sworn off marriage after his first wife tricked him into it. Despite his efforts to scare away the Englishwoman, his father arranged for him to wed, Tor is drawn to her fire, courage, and beauty. But when truths are revealed, and hearts as well as lives are on the dagger's edge, Tor doesn't know if he can forgive or if he will truly become the solitary Beast of Aros Castle...
EXCERPT
He ignored
her pity. “If I am to choose a bride, she would have to be someone I deem worthy.
Someone who wouldn’t perish during the first winter storm or hide under the bed
if troops came to take the castle.”
“I am
actually noted for my resistance to illness,” she said, intertwining her
slender fingers together before her skirts. “As well as my reluctance to crawl
under furniture.”
He moved
closer, an idea forming. The woman was brazen, unpredictable, and she thought
she had the upper hand with that bloody camp of English just across the way.
But if she thought it best to break the betrothal, he would accommodate her.
And the best way to scare off a virgin, even a brazen virgin, was to give her a
taste of fire.
“How about
passion, lass?” He leaned down to her ear. “Are ye reluctant to crawl under my
sheets?” She inhaled quickly as he pulled her against his body, one hand
guiding her head while the other pressed against her back. Her eyes widened as
he descended for the kiss.
He met her
mouth with every intention of being frightening and hard. How dare this
Englishwoman come onto his island, demanding he drop his mountainous pile of
obligations as chief and sacrifice his freedom to wed her? But the moment he
felt the soft warmth of her lips, the ripe feel of her body in his arms,
against his length, the kiss changed. She tasted of woman and innocence wrapped
together with awakening heat. He threaded his fingers through her hair to cup
her face without breaking contact. Her cheeks were smooth against his rough
palms, and instead of yanking away, she remained rooted to the ground.
With a slight
tilt of her face, their lips melded intimately as she met him with the same
intensity, moving in rhythm with him like they’d been tupping for years. The
thought made a low growl creep up his throat before he realized it, nearly
escaping as a groan. But he wouldn’t give her that triumph.
Dainty but
strong fingers curled into his shirt, holding her to him as he bent to surround
her on three sides. Yet he gave her room to escape. If she’d just step back,
surrender to the contest, but she didn’t. Were her heels dug into the floor?
His pulse
thrummed as fire swept through his body, and thoughts of victory turned to
smoke. Tor’s fingers loosened pins and curls as he slid his fingers through her
bound hair.
A gasp. “Tor,
unhand that lass this minute.” His mother’s voice doused his desire with ocean
spray.
As if
breaking through the surface of the sea, Tor released Ava’s lips, but he still
held her body. Her eyes were closed, her lips damp, cheeks flushed, hair
tumbling free around her shoulders. She blinked, waking to stare straight into
his eyes. But instead of fear or yet, barely controlled passion, he saw
something that cooled his blood more thoroughly than his mother’s scolding.
Contempt.
Her words
were a soft issue from kiss-swollen lips. “So then,” Ava whispered. “You are a
beast.”
CAT'S REVIEW
"The Beast of Aros Castle" by Heather McCollum. An enjoyable Scottish/English Historical romance that has some action, a touch of angst, a bit of humor and, of course, love. Our main characters are Ava and Tor. I truly liked both. Ava is brave and courageous yet so vulnerable and longing for love, my heart hurt a bit for her. Tor, of course, is strong and gruff and sexy too. He has steeled himself against love due to past hurts but isn't as prepared as he thinks to do battle with Ava. There are many secondary characters that were fun and delightful, although there are quite a few and at times, I grew a little confused as to who was who. The plot of this tale, while not a new one, was still well done and flowed effortlessly and gave the reader a little bit of everything. This is my first book by Ms. McCollum but I don't expect it to be my last. It was a read that kept me turning each page eagerly, all the while running the wave of emotions from joy to sadness to anger to hurt to love. If historical romances with adorable yet strong heroines and sexy Scottish Heroes that wear kilts are your thing, don't miss this one. (Received copy for honest review)
★★★★.5
When she is not creating vibrant characters & magical adventures on the page, she is roaring her own battle cry in the war against ovarian cancer. Ms. McCollum recently slayed the cancer beast and resides with her very own hero & 3 kids in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast.
Thank you for sharing your LOVELY review!
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