Ravished by a Highlander
BUT SHE WANTED HIM TOO MUCH.
His fingers slipped behind her nape, drawing her closer. The stroke of his tongue coaxing her lips apart sent fire through
her veins. When he deepened the kiss, she had the feeling of falling deep into a chasm where only he existed, ready and waiting
to catch her.
Then he let her go.
“Forgive me.” His voice broke on a ragged breath. “I fear I canna’ resist ye.”
She watched his lips while he spoke, enraptured by their sensuous contours, remembering how they felt pressed against hers,
how he tasted. He was always so in control.
She wanted to tell him the truth about everything, but not now. She would tell him later and pray he would not turn her away.
Now, she wanted him to kiss her again….
PAULA QUINN
A HIGHLANDER NEVER SURRENDERS
“Five stars! Paula Quinn is a master storyteller and her gifted skill stands out in each enchanting scene of this breathtaking
story…. Graham and Claire are a couple about whom I came to care deeply. As for the suspenseful action and secretive mysteries
in the story, Ms. Quinn is unparalleled when it comes to keeping the reader riveted….
A Highlander Never Surrenders
is an innovative and unforgettable love story which will fill your dreams and touch your heart.”
“Sparks fly between Claire and Graham…. The love scenes are hot and romantic…. I also liked the historical quality of the book;
the author did a fine job of providing different viewpoints of the Scottish situation.”
“Ooh, if ever a man met his match it’s in
A Highlander Never Surrenders
…. The author does a fabulous job of making history come alive…. With plenty of humor, romance, and characters you can’t help
but fall in love with, this charming story is sure to please and leave you sighing for more. Get your copy of
A Highlander Never Surrenders
and fall in love with history and romance all over again.”
“I enjoyed Paula Quinn’s Highlanders in this story…. Claire is a proud, stubborn warrior princess… Robert believes in the cause
that he’s fighting for, and it’s admirable to see the honor within him because I really enjoyed his character…. Graham is
a great hero and a delicious one at that… everything he stood for—brotherhood and honor—made me love him all the more.”
“A sexy romance. Passionate emotions abound as historical politics, honor, betrayals, and irresistible love draw unlikely forces
together…. Paula Quinn makes history and romance come alive as passions both personal and political collide, setting hearts
ablaze… inspires late night reading!”
“5 Stars! [A] gripping tale of seventeenth-century romance. Paula Quinn has done awesome research…. Graham is the quintessential
Highland hero, lusty, strong, and with a strong sense of honor and justice…. With this story’s strong plot, wonderful repartee,
and well-developed characters, this is truly a book that will captivate you and one you won’t want to put down! Definitely
a top pick and I look forward to more great reads from this very talented writer!”
“I love the characters! At some points of the book, I couldn’t help but laugh, while at others I was on the edge of my seat,
wondering how on earth they were going to get out of such a predicament!… Overall, a great read.”
“Fast-paced… A great story, full of romance and adventure. Claire is a regular Amazon of a heroine, equal to or better than
most men in battle, and beautiful to boot. Graham is pretty near irresistible.”
LAIRD OF THE MIST
“4½ Stars! TOP PICK! Quinn captures the aura of the Highlands brilliantly, delivering a tale rife with Scottish lore and infamous
feuds. She combines passion, history, danger, and intrigue to perfection.”
—RT Book Reviews
“The romance is special, the characters are terrific, and there is plenty of action and suspense. Paula Quinn outdoes herself
this time. Bravo!”
“The Highlands of Scotland come alive in
Laird of the Mist
…. Paula Quinn knows exactly how to capture the imagination of her readers by giving them memorable characters and enthralling
plots.”
LORD OF SEDUCTION
“Quinn is an author to watch.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“4 Stars! Readers will fly through the pages and wiggle in their seats…. Feast on this medieval banquet!”
—
RT Book Reviews
“Passion, peril, and plenty of medieval political intrigue… expertly crafted historical romance.”
—
Booklist
LORD OF TEMPTATION
“Features a sinfully sexy hero who meets his match in a strong-willed heroine…. An excellent choice for readers who like powerful,
passion-rich medieval romances.”
—
Booklist
“Quinn’s lively romance… offers two spirited protagonists as well as engaging minor characters…. The sharp repartee and dramatic
finale make this a pleasant read.”
—
Publishers Weekly
LORD OF DESIRE
“4 Stars!… fast-paced and brimming with biting, sexy repartee, and a sensual cat-and-mouse game.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“Gloriously passionate… boldly sensual… Quinn deftly enhances her debut with just enough historical details to give a vivid
sense of time and place.”
—Booklist
“An emotional and compelling story that brings together a strong but wounded hero and spirited and determined heroine. The
characters quickly immerse the reader into their lives.”
A
LSO BY
P
AULA
Q
UINN
Lord of Desire
Lord of Temptation
Lord of Seduction
Laird of the Mist
A Highlander Never Surrenders
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Paula Quinn
Excerpt from
Seduced by a Highlander
copyright © 2010 by Paula Quinn
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
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Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. The Forever name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
First eBook Edition: May 2010
ISBN: 978-0-446-56960-6
Contents
A Preview of
Seduced by a Highlander
To my Mom—
Your strength knows no bounds…
S
OUTHERN
S
COTTISH BORDER
S
PRING
1685
H
igh atop Saint Christopher’s Abbey, Davina Montgomery stood alone in the bell tower, cloaked in the silence of a world she
did not know. Darkness had fallen hours ago and below her the sisters slept peacefully in their beds, thanks to the men who
had been sent here to guard them. But there was little peace for Davina. The vast, indigo sky filling her vision was littered
with stars that seemed close enough to touch should she reach out her hand. What would she wish for? Her haunted gaze slipped
southward toward England, and then with a longing just as powerful, toward the moonlit mountain peaks of the north. Which
life would she choose if the choice were hers to make? A world where she’d been forgotten, or one where no one knew her? She
smiled sadly against the wind that whipped her woolen novice robes around her. What good was it to ponder when her future
had already been decreed? She knew what was to come. There were no variations. That is, if she lived beyond the next year.
She looked away from the place she could never go and the person she could never be.
She heard the soft fall of footsteps behind her but did not turn. She knew who it was.
“Poor Edward. I imagine your heart must have failed you when you did not find me in my bed.”
When he remained quiet she felt sorry for teasing him about the seriousness of his duty. Captain Edward Asher had been sent
here to protect her four years ago, after Captain Geoffries had taken ill and was relieved of his command. Edward had become
more than her guardian. He was her dearest friend, someone she could confide in here within the thick walls that sheltered
her from the schemes of her enemies. Edward knew her fears and accepted her faults.
“I knew where to find you,” he finally said, his voice just above a whisper.
He always did know. Not that there were many places to look. Davina was not allowed to venture outside the Abbey gates so
she came to the bell tower often to let her thoughts roam free.
“My lady—”
She turned at his soft call, putting away her dreams and desires behind a tender smile. Those she kept to herself and did
not share, even with him.
“Please, I…” he began, meeting her gaze and then stumbling through the rest as if the face he looked upon every day still
struck him as hard as it had the first time he’d seen her. He was in love with her, and though he’d never spoken his heart
openly, he did not conceal how he felt. Everything was there in his eyes, his deeds, his devotion; and a deep regret that
Davina suspected had more to do with her than he would ever have the boldness to admit. Her path had been charted for another
course and she could never be his. “Lady Montgomery, come away from here, I beg you. It is not good to be alone.”
He worried for her so and she wished he wouldn’t. “I’m not alone, Edward,” she reassured. If her life remained as it was now,
she would find a way to be happy. She always did. “I have been given much.”
“It’s true,” he agreed, moving closer to her and then stopping himself, knowing what she knew. “You have been taught to fear
the Lord and love your king. The sisters love you, as do my men. It will always be so. We are your family. But it is not enough.”
He knew she would never admit it, so he said it for her.