Highlander Giveaway Hop!

WINNER ANNOUNCED!! SEE COMMENTS!!!

 

Failte! Thanks to MK McKlintock for inviting me to join this Highlander Blog Hop. I'm a SUCKER for a hot Highlander and I love to discuss them as much as I can. So let's get to it!

 

What is it about Highlanders that readers love? I don't now about you, but I love the accent and the sexy body wearing a kilt. Also, the idea of a hot, seductive, strong man taking care of his loved ones...ah, {{sigh}}. For some women, it's watching the journey of a wounded warrior as he discovers true love and a true partner. The Highlanders I've fallen in love with possess honor, pride, love and compassion. Granted, they may not always show all of those qualities, but by the end of the stories they have shown what true honorable men they are.

 

My own favorite Highlanders started with Connor MacLeod of the Highlander movies. He was banished from his clan for being immortal. He found love with a woman and had a peaceful life...until she died of natural causes and he was left to move on alone. Throughout all his centuries, he always tried to do the right thing.

 

Jamie Fraser of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series is another Highlander I love. {{{SIGH}}} How can you NOT love Jamie? He possesses the qualities I mentioned, fights to keep those he loves safe and tries to do the right thing. Unfortunately he runs into many obstacles, but he meets every challenge head-on.

 

But what about contemporary Highlanders? Aren't they just as attractive? Can't they have rock-hard abs and a luscious accent? Don't they deserve our attention as well? I say YES!

 

In my visits to Scotland, I found many hot, compassionate Scotsmen, both in the Highlands and in Edinburgh. When I came back to the States, I started a mission to find more contemporary Highlanders in books, to support those authors who believed intoxicating men of this day and age deserved to be shared just as much as the men of the past.

 

Katie McAlister gave us a desirable contemporary Highlander, Iain MacLaren, in her book Men in Kilts. For me, he was two kinds of delicious. As much as I love historicals, Iain made me crave more contemporary Highlanders. When I couldn't find enough, I decided to write my own.

 

In my 1^st book, Her Highland Champion, my hero Malcolm possesses all the same qualities of the historical heroes except he doesn't wear a kilt. (A pity, I know!) Malcolm is reluctant to take care of the heroine, but when he sees that no one else is stepping up and she clearly needs help, he comes to her defense. In my 3^rd book, Simple Treasures (due out around the holidays), the hero Colin is much the same. Colin is required to come to his heroine's aid, but he is reluctant to open up and give in to the connection growing between them. Neither of my Highland heroes wants to give in to the women who are fast-claiming their hearts, but they are adamant about keeping them safe. And in keeping them safe, they surrender to the love building between them. In writing my own stories, I hope to honor the men of the Highlands, both past and present, to bring another version of our startling Highland heroes to readers everywhere.

 

So, what is it about Highlanders that YOU love? Leave a comment and your email address to be in the running for a free copy of Her Highland Champion! The winner will be drawn once the hop is over on the 27th!