Haunted by horrors of his childhood, Dugan MacMillan has sworn to protect his clan at any cost . . . even if he must search for a rumored treasure and kidnap a beautiful thief to do it.
The MacMillan laird has never crossed paths with anyone quite like Lady Maura Duncanson. After he saved her from certain death, the comely vixen had the audacity to disappear with his treasure map, his only key to restoring his clan. Dugan has no qualms about taking Maura hostage, especially when he learns she is to wed a wealthy old baron who will pay him a fortune in ransom . . . a fortune his people desperately need.
But, of course, Maura has no intention of returning to her despicable fiancÉ. And the longer Dugan spends in the bewitching hellion’s presence, the less willing he is to surrender her to any man . . . at any price.
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I cannot tell you how pleased I am that I finally got the chance to write a hunky hero in a kilt! After my most recent books (five Regencies and two Regency novellas) a character named Laird Dugan MacMillan of Braemore, jumped into my imagination and would not let me go. Luckily, when I told my editor about him, she fell a little bit in love, too. What followed was my August release from Avon Books,The Warrior Laird.
Dugan MacMillan is the first of the MacMillan heroes – a braw highlander who wears plaid. And wears it well, indeed!
Dugan is usually a gentle warrior, unless you threaten his clan. And the duke of Argyll does exactly that in The Warrior Laird. As laird, Dugan isn’t about to take the threat of eviction lying down, so when he figures a way he might be able to pay his rents and keep his land, he goes after it. Much to his brother’s chagrin, he follows a vague rumor about a hidden cache of gold – the solution to all his problems.
The search involves a treasure map that’s been torn in quarters, and Dugan has only two of the quarters. It’s a risk – going after a hidden treasure. But if he can find another piece of the map, and figure out how to interpret its odd symbols, he’ll have a great chance to enrich his clan beyond belief, and beyond any further harassment from the hateful old duke.
As he begins his quest, Dugan’s path crosses that of Maura Duncanson, whose own purpose is in direct conflict with his own. Maura is the black sheep daughter of a royalist earl, who despises her parents for banishing her beloved youngest sister to the remote highlands with a cruel stick of a nurse. Poor Rosie is mentally and physically handicapped, and Maura knows that one more harsh winter in the highlands could kill her sweet sister. When Maura meets Dugan, and learns about the gold … well, she just can’t help but manipulate him into giving her assistance in finding young Rosie. Sure, she feels a wee bit guilty about it, but her quest is no less important than Dugan’s.
Of course Dugan and Maura bump heads – and other body parts – during the course of this story. I decided to stay away from the politics of the era (mostly) in order to concentrate on Dugan’s and Maura’s goals and the conflicts between them. Each character has to fight for what he or she loves most, and they come to love each other in the process. But be warned: they are a couple of stubborn Scots. J
One of the main characters in this book is the villain, and some parts of the story are told from his point of view. My editor warned me not to make him a weird, mustache-twisting rogue, and I think I succeeded in making him a three-dimensional character. What do you think? Do you like to read other characters – especially the villain’s – point of view? Tell me what you think, and I’ll pick one participant to receive a copy of my last book, BRAZEN .
Romantic Times said: Maguire’s latest may be her most emotionally moving novel yet. Replete with incredible passion and characters who quickly grab readers’ heartstrings, THE WARRIOR LAIRD will not be easily forgotten.
Publisher’s Weekly said: Maguire makes smooth, fast-paced writing look effortless.
Romance Junkies said: Despite having many issues at stake in this story, it never gets confusing as it takes readers on a delicious romp across Scotland. Cleverly written, this delightful story is packed with adventure, sizzling situations, deceit, complex characters, clever repartee, a hidden treasure, mystery, suspense and romance. As a longtime fan of Ms. Maguire’s works, I highly recommend THE WARRIOR LAIRD and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Do not miss it!!
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For more information about Margo and her backlist, visit www.margomaguire.com. And remember to leave a comment answering the question for a chance to win BRAZEN. Good luck!
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