The award winning author shares her love of Scotland and its history with us today.
In a land of mountains, lochs and mists, there once lived a rough warrior king and his fair-haired queen, who was so devout she had once thought to be a nun. But then that was before she sought refuge in Scotland. Malcolm, King of Scots and Queen Margaret were the proverbial beauty and the beast. And they attracted many to their court in Dunfermline: mighty men of valor who had faced down William the Conqueror, Northmen from the Orkneys, an Irish nobleman from Leinster and a Welsh bard.
There was also this Northumbrian warrior, who was gravely wounded fighting with the rebels in York. Once an English thegn’s son, Steinar of Talisand now serves as scribe to the unlettered King of Scots.
Against this backdrop enters a Scottish nobleman’s orphaned daughter, a flame-haired vixen, who joins Queen Margaret’s ladies-in-waiting.
It’s Rebel Warrior, book 3 in the Medieval Warriors series. And it’s on Amazon now.
This is my first novel set in Scotland. Why, you might ask, did I go there? Well, first I have some Scots in my own background and I love Scotland. And, it was convenient that the history was taking me there. With all the English fleeing north when their country was overrun with rampaging Normans, Scotland was bustling. To make matters more interesting, in 1072, the year of my story, the Conqueror invaded Scotland. I could hardly fail to note that.
So take a plunge into the Scotland of the past…
“Master storytelling transports you to medieval Scotland!”
Paula Quinn, NY Times Bestselling Author
When your destiny lies far from where you began …
Scotland 1072
The Norman Conqueror robbed Steinar of Talisand of his noble father and his lands, forcing him to flee to Scotland while still recovering from a devastating wound. At the royal court, Steinar becomes scribe to the unlettered King of Scots while secretly regaining his skill with a sword.
The first time Steinar glimpses the flame-haired maiden, Catrìona of the Vale of Leven, he is drawn to her spirited beauty. She does not fit among the ladies who serve the devout queen. Not pious, not obedient and not given to stitchery, the firebrand flies a falcon! Though Catrìona captures Steinar’s attention, he is only a scribe and she is promised to another.
Catrìona has come to Malcolm’s court wounded in spirit from the vicious attack on her home by Northmen who slayed her parents and her people. But that is not all she will suffer. The man she thought to wed will soon betray her.
When all is lost, what hope is there for love? Can a broken heart be mended? Can a damaged soul be healed?
~An excerpt~
“Here,” he said reaching toward her, “take my hand and allow me to help you out.”
There was fire in her eyes but she took his hand while holding on to her shoes, soaked with water.
He pulled her from the stream, sodden and shivering. It was the first time they had touched and, even dripping wet, the feel of her skin caused a surge of desire to course through him. The wet gown clung to her body, revealing her nipples hardened to small buds and her curves in vivid detail. Wet, she was even more alluring than before. He wanted to pull her close, to feel her softness, but instead, he merely steadied her with his hands. “Did you not see the moss that grows on the log? ’Tis quite apparent.”
Her brow furrowed. “You might have warned me.”
“You fell before I could.”
Wiping water from her face, she looked up at him. Her eyes were the green of the forest around them. Light filtering through the trees added a soft glow to her pale, damp skin. His gaze dropped to her lips, the color of wild roses. He ached to kiss them.
Bending his head, he moved his lips closer to hers.
Water suddenly dripped from her hair onto her nose, causing her to sniff and step back.
Still holding her shoes in one hand, she shivered. “I… I must look a mess.”
“Indeed not, but you are pale.” Recognizing her predicament, he said, “I wear no cloak to offer you, but I can give you the heat of my body.” Taking the shoes she carried and dropping them to the ground, he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest, ignoring the water soaking into his tunic. Her breasts pressed into his chest, warming him as his body responded to the nearness of the woman he could not dismiss from his thoughts.
Pinterest Storyboard for Rebel Warrior: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/rebel-warrior-by-regan-walker/
Rebel Warrior on Amazon:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Warrior-Medieval-Warriors-Book-ebook/dp/B01DUWOHHQ
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebel-Warrior-Medieval-Warriors-Book-ebook/dp/B01DUWOHHQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29807131-rebel-warrior
Regan’s website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104
About the Author
Regan Walker is an award-winning, bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romances. She has five times been featured on USA TODAY’s HEA blog and four times nominated for the prestigious RONE award (her novel, The Red Wolf’s Prize, book 1 in the Medieval Warriors series, won Best Historical Novel for 2015 in the medieval category). Regan writes historically authentic novels where history is a character. Her readers experience not only history but adventure and love.
What readers say…
“Ms. Walker has the rare ability to make you forget you are reading a book–she brings you into the world of Regency and you’re there in the midst of the action. The characters become real, the modern world fades away, and all that is left is the intrigue, drama, and romance that is this time period.” — Straight from the Library
Thanks, Caroline, for having me and Rebel Warrior on your lovely blog!