Happy Birthday Eliza Knight!
STOLEN BY THE LAIRD
(CONQUERED BRIDE SERIES BOOK 4)
BY
ELIZA KNIGHT
BLOG TOUR: JUNE 29 - JULY 9
About the Book:
She was supposed to be his prize... But not all rewards are sweet...
Laird Brody Keith, Marischal of Scotland, has been asked by his future king to travel with William Wallace to Dunnottar Castle, where they will seize the castle back from the English. If he completes his mission, the castle, the land and all it holds, will be his. Brody is more than eager to sink his blade into the hearts of his enemies after the brutal murder of his sister and father. But what he doesn't count on is finding an English lass in need of his protection...
Lady Guinevere has led a less than pleasant life in Scotland over the past year, and now she can either run for her life or accept the proposal of a man who should be her enemy. Survival bids her to acquiesce, but that doesn't mean she has to play nice. Except, she's coming to adore the people whom she's always been told she should hate, and respect the man who risked his life for her.
Joined for a mutual purpose, Brody and Guinevere seem doomed from the start, but as time passes and their true enemies draw closer, they'll form an alliance that not even the devil himself can break.
She was supposed to be his prize... But not all rewards are sweet...
Laird Brody Keith, Marischal of Scotland, has been asked by his future king to travel with William Wallace to Dunnottar Castle, where they will seize the castle back from the English. If he completes his mission, the castle, the land and all it holds, will be his. Brody is more than eager to sink his blade into the hearts of his enemies after the brutal murder of his sister and father. But what he doesn't count on is finding an English lass in need of his protection...
Lady Guinevere has led a less than pleasant life in Scotland over the past year, and now she can either run for her life or accept the proposal of a man who should be her enemy. Survival bids her to acquiesce, but that doesn't mean she has to play nice. Except, she's coming to adore the people whom she's always been told she should hate, and respect the man who risked his life for her.
Joined for a mutual purpose, Brody and Guinevere seem doomed from the start, but as time passes and their true enemies draw closer, they'll form an alliance that not even the devil himself can break.
Excerpt:
Brody pushed the door open the remainder of the way and came face to face with four Englishwomen. They huddled by the window, dressed in Sassenach gowns, hair once styled as though they were attending a great feast, jewels at their necks, and tears adorning each face except for one.
“Och, but I’ve died and gone to Hell,” he muttered.
Everyone knew Englishwomen were as shrewish as… well as, an Englishwoman, and as cold as dead fish.
All four stared at him, wide-eyed, mouths hung agape.
Much like fish, he thought.
They were pretty enough, especially the one with the long flowing blonde locks. Though it looked as though her locks had seen better days, perhaps not to have been torn from whatever fancy knot they’d been in.
“Who are ye?” he asked in not too kind a tone. He didn’t want any shrewish behavior, simply facts.
The blonde stepped forward, squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eye with her piercing blue—nay more green than blue—eyes. She was the only one who didn’t cry. As though she’d been expecting him. The lass was beautiful, even if she was a harpy. Her bone structure was delicate, but her eyes sharp, and the way she frowned, well, he guessed her tongue to be just as barbed. The gown accentuated the curve of her hips and the swell of marginal breasts—he refused to call them the perfect size, for she was English, and he denied finding anything about her to be flawless.
“Who are you?” she retorted.
Och, a fiery little fish. “I asked ye first.”
“Well”—her gaze roved from the top of his head down to his boot tips and he felt more than a little assessed—“I think it is plain to see I outrank you, savage, so you must answer me first.”
At her bold words the ladies in her presence all paled, one covered her mouth, another pinched her own arms and the third nodded approval.
Brody chuckled, taking a menacing step forward. “Then I suppose we have found ourselves at an impasse, fishy, for I do believe I outrank ye.”
“Fishy? Ye insult me.” She shook her head and regarded him with something akin to disgust. “Impossible.”
Her revulsion almost had him checking himself. How odd, and why should he even wonder at her manners? She was English after all. Every woman he’d ever met up to this point had fallen at his feet. Brody was known for his charismatic tongue, his lovemaking abilities. Well, this fish wouldn’t know those things. And from the looks of her, she’d be too uptight to enjoy the pleasures he could have given her, if he wanted to, which he wouldn’t.
Brody puffed his chest and took several steps forward. “I assure ye, madam, given your current situation, anything is possible.”
Two of her ladies fainted dead away and the third stepped in front of the blonde, only to be shoved behind, a sharp word from the Grande Fishy’s mouth.
Then she turned back to him, pursing her lips as though she were contemplating a truce.
Before she could speak, he cut her off. “I dinna make deals, lass. If ye dinna believe me, then take a look out your window at the kirk yonder.”
“So you intend to kill us then?” Despite the stubborn set to her jaw and shoulders, her lower lip quivered.
Och, but why did that slight tremble have to tug at his heart? “We shall see what comes to pass.”
Brody pushed the door open the remainder of the way and came face to face with four Englishwomen. They huddled by the window, dressed in Sassenach gowns, hair once styled as though they were attending a great feast, jewels at their necks, and tears adorning each face except for one.
“Och, but I’ve died and gone to Hell,” he muttered.
Everyone knew Englishwomen were as shrewish as… well as, an Englishwoman, and as cold as dead fish.
All four stared at him, wide-eyed, mouths hung agape.
Much like fish, he thought.
They were pretty enough, especially the one with the long flowing blonde locks. Though it looked as though her locks had seen better days, perhaps not to have been torn from whatever fancy knot they’d been in.
“Who are ye?” he asked in not too kind a tone. He didn’t want any shrewish behavior, simply facts.
The blonde stepped forward, squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eye with her piercing blue—nay more green than blue—eyes. She was the only one who didn’t cry. As though she’d been expecting him. The lass was beautiful, even if she was a harpy. Her bone structure was delicate, but her eyes sharp, and the way she frowned, well, he guessed her tongue to be just as barbed. The gown accentuated the curve of her hips and the swell of marginal breasts—he refused to call them the perfect size, for she was English, and he denied finding anything about her to be flawless.
“Who are you?” she retorted.
Och, a fiery little fish. “I asked ye first.”
“Well”—her gaze roved from the top of his head down to his boot tips and he felt more than a little assessed—“I think it is plain to see I outrank you, savage, so you must answer me first.”
At her bold words the ladies in her presence all paled, one covered her mouth, another pinched her own arms and the third nodded approval.
Brody chuckled, taking a menacing step forward. “Then I suppose we have found ourselves at an impasse, fishy, for I do believe I outrank ye.”
“Fishy? Ye insult me.” She shook her head and regarded him with something akin to disgust. “Impossible.”
Her revulsion almost had him checking himself. How odd, and why should he even wonder at her manners? She was English after all. Every woman he’d ever met up to this point had fallen at his feet. Brody was known for his charismatic tongue, his lovemaking abilities. Well, this fish wouldn’t know those things. And from the looks of her, she’d be too uptight to enjoy the pleasures he could have given her, if he wanted to, which he wouldn’t.
Brody puffed his chest and took several steps forward. “I assure ye, madam, given your current situation, anything is possible.”
Two of her ladies fainted dead away and the third stepped in front of the blonde, only to be shoved behind, a sharp word from the Grande Fishy’s mouth.
Then she turned back to him, pursing her lips as though she were contemplating a truce.
Before she could speak, he cut her off. “I dinna make deals, lass. If ye dinna believe me, then take a look out your window at the kirk yonder.”
“So you intend to kill us then?” Despite the stubborn set to her jaw and shoulders, her lower lip quivered.
Och, but why did that slight tremble have to tug at his heart? “We shall see what comes to pass.”
Reviewed by Celtic Barb’s Kilted Tartan Book Review Blog
5/5 Kilts
Exquisite reads just magnificent!!! One Scottish romance lovers and history fans don't want to miss! Brody Keith is definitely swoon worthy ladies! The total package believe me and my new book boyfriend! ❤️
Scottish Highlands, 1297
This book’s hero is Brody Keith who is the Marischal of Scotland. Robert the Bruce the future King asks him to swipe Dunnottar castle back from the English. He will be going on this journey with William Wallace. If he succeeds in this mission he the he will own the castle,it's lands and everything it holds. Brody hates everything English especially since the savage cruel murders of his father and sister. So he is more than surprised when he finds another prize in the castle after the seize…..well actually four...of female origins too!
Lady Guinevere is less then happy to trade one husband for another since one had been killed in the seize. Not that she feels remorse, as he had been a cruel abusive drunkard of a husband! Blaming her for not being able to perform his husbandry duties in the bedroom. She knows Brody is the lesser of the two evils, but does she want to give her virginity to a savage heathen barbarian Scot?
So she makes a deal with the devil to buy her time out of this distasteful predicament. The deal is he is not to bed her for three months. Her ladies are also under his protection so that no man is to touch them! She knows if she hadn't agreed the Scottish soldiers most likely would had abused them, passing them around them as in the spoils of war with the possibility of rape and slitting their throats! Guinevere did what she had to to survive and protect her ladies in waiting for now.
She just wasn't prepared to feel things she never did before for her English husband, after feeling Brody's seductive passionate soft kiss. Her English husband whose kisses were so distasteful and quite the opposite of Brody Keith’s soft slow seductive kisses and making her want more. Of what she wasn't certain but definitely more...
Will they last the three months time plus she is starting to care for her enemies people as well. They both have secrets they have not revealed, will they ever trust each to reveal? Yet there are some who want to break this alliance. Some who hate she is English! Who wants her gone and will do anything to see it done! Who will win? The ghosts of the past? Will Guinevere's life be forfeit by enemies among Brody's people? Will hate the hate consume them? After all it had been bred into each other most of their lives or will love conquer all? After-all love is a many splendored thing! Is it not?
OMG! OMG! Eliza does it again in her fourth installment in her best selling hit Conquered Bride Series! Again she pens another well researched magnificent Scottish historical surrounding the seizing of Dunnottar Castle. It has true history, iconic heroic historical characters like William Wallace blended in her own fictional historic tale! This is my absolute favorite ingredients when reading a fictional historical romance. Only the dates have been changed for the author's fictional story purposes which is absolutely brilliant!
Has all the elements Scottish romance readers love breathtaking settings that you can smell the heather, exquisite dialogue. Also twisting and turnings plots that have the readers gasping for air with anticipation wondering what will happen next! This is my favorite in The Conquered Bride Series, but I have loved them all! Definitely unforgettable, one for the keeper shelf to read again and again. Yes it is that mf a phenomenal story the will melt your heart and warm your soul!
If you're like me and love Alba ( Scotland) and your heart belongs to Scotland, believe you won't want to miss this magnificent Highland Tale! Stolen by the Laird is totally exhilarating and I highly recommend you read this and all the books in this exceptional series! You can read in series order or a stand alone book so no worries on either counts. Another Eliza Knight superbly written novel that readers won't be able to put down and will stay with you! I absolutely and unequivocally loved It!
Conquered Bride Series by Eliza Knight
#1. Conquered By The Bride
#2. Seduced By The Laird
#3. Claimed By The Warrior
#4. Stolen By The Laird
CB: When did you decide to become an author? Why did you decide on the Scottish historical romance genre with so many genres to write about ?
(Of course I am not complaining since that's my favorite genre to read about!) :)
EK: I've always been a writer. In 2nd grade, my teacher told my parents I was going to be an author one day. When I was about 9 or 10, I sent out query letters for a book I'd written, but was rejected :( lol. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I decided to pursue writing as a career, and I'm so glad I did! I've always loved Scottish historical romance, and many of the stories I wrote early on were in that genre, so I think I came to it naturally because I loved it so much.
CB: I notice romance authors have such a wonderful support system, a sisterhood really. Do you have a mentor or author friends that gave you career advice when you first decided to become an author and start this wonderful journey?
EK: It is like a sisterhood!!! I will be forever grateful to my good friends at Hearts Through History and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, they really helped me get started from the beginning. My friends at the Maryland Romance Writers have been instrumental in my career as well. I always give a special shout-out to Vonda Sinclair who was instrumental in me starting my own publishing imprint.
CB: How long have you been an author? Do you do this full or part time? If full time, what did you did you do before you became an author?
EK: I am fortunate enough to write full time, and have done so since 2008. Before I became an author I worked in mental health, but in 2005, after a long discussion with my husband, who has always supported my writing, I decided to leave the mental health field to begin writing, which also gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my children. It was the best career decision I've ever made!
CB: When and where do you find time to write with a husband, three beautiful Princess daughters and a couple dogs? Do you write in the morning, afternoon or late at night? Do you have a have a word or page goal each day? How much time do you spend in your writing “cave” per week?
EK: Ha! This is the most asked question from anyone who ever meets me :) All of my children are school-age now, so during the school year, I write while they are there. In the summer, I dedicate the morning hours for writing until about noon, and then the rest of the day I spend with them. When they were little, I wrote before they woke up, after they went to bed and during nap times. If they were in pre-school, I wrote then. I've had plenty of writing time at various sports practices, written chapters in arenas during dance competitions, and even hosted plotting sessions in the car while we take road trips. I am very lucky that my family is so supportive and when they know I'm on deadline, and I have to work in the evenings, they will make me dinner and fend for themselves. It is definitely much easier now than when they were little ones! I do have a writing goal, and it depends on the book, but it is usually between 2000-4000 words per day. I will spend about 6-8hrs a day in the writing cave, and an hour or two on the business side per day. During deadline, I will put in 16hr days in the writing cave.
CB: How long does it usually take you from start to finish a novel, that’s including research, outlines, rewrites, proofreads and editing etc. ?
EK: It depends on the length of the novel. Including all of the above, a novel will take about 4 weeks. A 50K novel takes about 5-6 weeks, and 70K novel about 6-8 weeks. One of my historical fiction novels, written as E. Knight, takes much longer about 3-6 months.
CB: Some authors have an image, muse or a famous actor or actress they imagine for their lead characters. Did you have any for your new release “Stolen by The Laird”, if so who are they?
EK: I often picture Gerard Butler, I just really love his face and accent!
CB: Do you have a playlist you listen to when writing and are inspired? If so what were you listening to when writing “Stolen By The Laird”? Even if not, if there could be a theme song for this novel what would it be?
EK: Yes! I listen to the Braveheart soundtrack!
CB: What was the first historical romance book you read and fell in love with? What was the last book you read other then your own of course? Could you name some of your top favorite authors?
EK: The very first historical romance I read was The Bride by Julie Garwood. The last book that I read was Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. My top favs are Julie Garwood, Jude Devereux, Ken Follett, Jodie Picoult and Gillian Flynn.
CB: What advice would you give aspiring authors today?
EK: Don't give up! It's a long journey that requires patience, perseverance and persistence. Read as much as you write, and study your craft.
EK: I've always been a writer. In 2nd grade, my teacher told my parents I was going to be an author one day. When I was about 9 or 10, I sent out query letters for a book I'd written, but was rejected :( lol. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I decided to pursue writing as a career, and I'm so glad I did! I've always loved Scottish historical romance, and many of the stories I wrote early on were in that genre, so I think I came to it naturally because I loved it so much.
CB: I notice romance authors have such a wonderful support system, a sisterhood really. Do you have a mentor or author friends that gave you career advice when you first decided to become an author and start this wonderful journey?
EK: It is like a sisterhood!!! I will be forever grateful to my good friends at Hearts Through History and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, they really helped me get started from the beginning. My friends at the Maryland Romance Writers have been instrumental in my career as well. I always give a special shout-out to Vonda Sinclair who was instrumental in me starting my own publishing imprint.
CB: How long have you been an author? Do you do this full or part time? If full time, what did you did you do before you became an author?
EK: I am fortunate enough to write full time, and have done so since 2008. Before I became an author I worked in mental health, but in 2005, after a long discussion with my husband, who has always supported my writing, I decided to leave the mental health field to begin writing, which also gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my children. It was the best career decision I've ever made!
CB: When and where do you find time to write with a husband, three beautiful Princess daughters and a couple dogs? Do you write in the morning, afternoon or late at night? Do you have a have a word or page goal each day? How much time do you spend in your writing “cave” per week?
EK: Ha! This is the most asked question from anyone who ever meets me :) All of my children are school-age now, so during the school year, I write while they are there. In the summer, I dedicate the morning hours for writing until about noon, and then the rest of the day I spend with them. When they were little, I wrote before they woke up, after they went to bed and during nap times. If they were in pre-school, I wrote then. I've had plenty of writing time at various sports practices, written chapters in arenas during dance competitions, and even hosted plotting sessions in the car while we take road trips. I am very lucky that my family is so supportive and when they know I'm on deadline, and I have to work in the evenings, they will make me dinner and fend for themselves. It is definitely much easier now than when they were little ones! I do have a writing goal, and it depends on the book, but it is usually between 2000-4000 words per day. I will spend about 6-8hrs a day in the writing cave, and an hour or two on the business side per day. During deadline, I will put in 16hr days in the writing cave.
CB: How long does it usually take you from start to finish a novel, that’s including research, outlines, rewrites, proofreads and editing etc. ?
EK: It depends on the length of the novel. Including all of the above, a novel will take about 4 weeks. A 50K novel takes about 5-6 weeks, and 70K novel about 6-8 weeks. One of my historical fiction novels, written as E. Knight, takes much longer about 3-6 months.
CB: Some authors have an image, muse or a famous actor or actress they imagine for their lead characters. Did you have any for your new release “Stolen by The Laird”, if so who are they?
EK: I often picture Gerard Butler, I just really love his face and accent!
CB: Do you have a playlist you listen to when writing and are inspired? If so what were you listening to when writing “Stolen By The Laird”? Even if not, if there could be a theme song for this novel what would it be?
EK: Yes! I listen to the Braveheart soundtrack!
CB: What was the first historical romance book you read and fell in love with? What was the last book you read other then your own of course? Could you name some of your top favorite authors?
EK: The very first historical romance I read was The Bride by Julie Garwood. The last book that I read was Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. My top favs are Julie Garwood, Jude Devereux, Ken Follett, Jodie Picoult and Gillian Flynn.
CB: What advice would you give aspiring authors today?
EK: Don't give up! It's a long journey that requires patience, perseverance and persistence. Read as much as you write, and study your craft.
CB: Eliza you have traveled widely in Scotland, can you share some of your favorite places you visited? IF you had to pick a place to live in Scotland where would it be and why? I love that about your books, as I know you have been to some of the places you write about. For people like myself, who plan to visit Scotland in the near future, what are some of the places you would recommend to visit in Scotland?
EK: I LOVE Scotland! It has been such a blessing to visit the places that I've written about. My favorite places are the Isle of Skye, Inverness and Edinburgh. If I had to live there, it would be one of those places, and I would highly recommend any traveler visit them!
www.elizaknight.com / www.historyundressed.com
Photo by Barb Massabrook
Liberty States Conference
Liberty States Conference
Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling indie author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your-heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small wn knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.
Visit Eliza: Website / History Undress Blog / Amazon / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
Visit Eliza: Website / History Undress Blog / Amazon / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
UPCOMING BOOKS BY ELIZA KNIGHT
Thank you so much Eliza for stopping Celtic Barb’s Kilted Tartan Book Review Blog today and giving us the insights of a life of an author! Also huge congratulations on your brand new release Stolen by the Laird which is a spectacular read that I will definitely put on my keeper shelf and reread again. I just loved it from start to finish! Brody is one
Smoking hot highlander I must say:absolutely delicious! Definitely drool worthy lassies! Hope your having very Happy Birthday too today Eliza Knight!
I will deff have to check this out. Love the blog
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kimi as I high recommend this exquisite read it will melt your heart for sure. I just loved Stolen by the Laird which I definitely recommend for your reading pleasure.
DeleteMuch appreciate your mention of my blog. 💕
Thank you!!!! ��
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the excerpt. This book looks and sounds awesome
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Charlene Whitehouse! 📚
DeleteHi Eliza, happy birthday. Love your books
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann Leeson for stopping by and much appreciated! Aren't Eliza's book amazing such lush powerful writing that makes our tender hearts sing aye!
DeleteHi Barb and Eliza, What a great interview. Thanks for sharing so much about Stolen by the Laird.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Eliza and Happy Release day!
ReplyDelete