Donna Grant gives the 411 on her immortal Highlanders

Thank you to Fatin for hosting me today in celebration of my newest book – MIDNIGHT’S WARRIOR.

 

For those unfamiliar with my Dark Warriors series let me tell you a bit about it. 

The Warriors are a group of Highlanders who are the greatest warriors of their family.  By being so, they carry within their blood primeval gods that once unbound, not only make them immortal, but give the Highlanders enhanced abilities and special powers.  They also transform by way of claws and fangs, but also each god has a color, so the Highlanders turn the color of their god when that god is released.  IOW, when those Warriors are ready for battle. J

 

There are so many legends and myths of Scotland that it’s hard to know what was real and what wasn’t.  So, when I began the series, I developed a legend of my own: What if Rome was driven out of Britain by magic? 

 

And by magic I mean Druids.  Two sects actually (good and bad).  It’s the evil Druids who call up the primeval gods from Hell, but it takes both sects to bind the gods inside the men.  Until my first villain, centuries later, sets the gods free once more in her bid to take over the world.

 

Deirdre is the perfect villain in my Dark Sword series, but when the series time traveled to modern day Scotland, I knew I had to add another twist.  Welcome Declan Wallace, a new kind of villain that takes my Warriors by surprise.

              

Wait, your saying.  Time travel?  Yep.  The series began in 2009 with DANGEROUS HIGHLANDER, a historical paranormal set in medieval Scotland.  After six book in the DS series, my guys decided to throw me a twist and time travel.  Needless to say, I sat dumbly at the computer for awhile.  My love was historicals.  I’d dipped my toes in contemporaries with a novella and one time travel, but not an entire book, and certainly not for the remaining 8 books in the series.

 

My publisher loved the idea and asked me to keep the Warriors in modern time, so there would be no going back for me. L  Yet, when I sat down to write MIDNIGHT’S MASTER (the first Dark Warrior book), I found the idea of taking these alpha, immortal Highlanders into contemporary Scotland a thrill.

 

All is not fun and games, however, because the storyline that began in the Dark Sword series continues in the Dark Warriors.  There is still villains to fight, evil to battle, and love to find.

 

It’s been a lot of fun taking each Warrior’s power and using it for – or against – him.  To add to the conflict, their heroines are Druids who each hold a special type of magic.  With the Warriors being such strong, rugged men, their heroines have to be just as stalwart to be able to stand beside them. 

 

I love talking about my Highlanders, and I’m pleased to announce that one of my favs – Ramsey – had his book release this past Tuesday.  Ramsey is a bit different from the rest of the Warriors.  He’s kept a secret for hundreds of years – that he’s half-Warrior/half-Druid. 

 

He’s from a sacred race of warrior Druids whose magic is only able to be contained by the men.  His heroine, Tara, doesn’t try to use her magic because its so unpredictable.  She has trust issues, but Ramsey isn’t about to let her go easily.  Here’s a little snippet from MIDNIGHT’S WARRIOR…

 

Instead of telling her what he’d been about to say, he held out his arm, palm out toward the hearth. A second later a blast of magic erupted from his hand and shattered the glass candleholder on the mantel.

Tara stumbled backward until she collided with the wall behind her. Her eyes looked from the broken bits of glass to Ramsey.

“I’ve wanted to tell you,” he said.

She tried to calm her racing heart. Her only recourse was to lie, because she couldn’t admit the truth. Not to Ramsey. Not to anyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The sadness on his face evaporated, replaced by cold rage. He stalked toward her, causing her to press against the wall.

“Really? You want to lie?”

She shrugged.

Ramsey leaned close until his face was inches from hers and she could see the dark silver band around his irises. “I know you have magic, Tara. I know you’re a Druid.”

And then he placed a finger atop her hand.

Confused, she looked down and gasped as wisps of white smoke curled around Ramsey’s thick index finger to his hand, around his wrist, and up his arm.

“This is what happens when I touch you,” he whispered.

Tara was mesmerized by the ribbons of white that continued to circle Ramsey. They originated from her, but when she moved her hand away, the wisps remained with him.

“Try to lie to me now.”

 

 

I’ve got two copies of MIDNIGHT’S SEDUCTION (book 3) to give away to two readers.  All you have to do is tell me what you want for Christmas this year. 😀

 

A HEART IN HIDING

For ten long years, Tara has been a woman on the run, hiding from the magic-wielding Warriors and Druids of modern-day Scotland. Now, as a tour guide at a remote Highland castle, she hopes to finally escape her past—until one impossibly gorgeous man enters her life…and exposes her wildest secrets.

A WARRIOR IN LOVE

For centuries, Ramsey MacDonald has concealed his strength and skill as part Warrior, part Druid, for fear of unleashing the full force of his power. But when he takes Tara into his arms—and seals their fate with a kiss—Ramsey will have to fight for her love…though it may mean losing control of the magic inside him.

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, features a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas. Visit Donna at www.DonnaGrant.com