Laird of Darkness
Out now from Harlequin's Carina Press... Half-Fae Laird Duncan MacDougall is cursed. His nights are haunted by Otherworld creatures sent to kill him. The only way to stop them is to possess the magic bow currently in the hands of his enemy half-brother, Kinnon MacClaren. In desperation, Duncan plans to take MacClaren's bride-to-be hostage and exchange her for the bow.Lady Alana Forbes has never met her intended, but she hopes he is handsome-and a good lover, for Alana is no innocent virgin. On her way to Castle Claren, Alana and her escorts are intercepted, and she is kidnapped by a man with extraordinary abilities-and every attribute she longs for in a mate.
Duncan didn't expect the woman he thought of as a mere pawn would be so beautiful, and so arousing. Alana is drawn to him as well-but Duncan still needs the bow, and Alana is betrothed to another. How far will Alana go to save the life of the man she's come to love?
Reviews:
"Laird of Darkness was an enchanting short story. It had the flavor of a fairy tale blended with a taste of the erotic... I thoroughly enjoyed it and it left me feeling ridiculously happy." Paperback Dolls
"Laird of Darkness by Nicole North is an entertaining historical paranormal, taking place in the Highlands of Scotland. The main characters, Duncan and Alana, whose romance is hot and highly entertaining, are a perfect match. After all, what could be more arousing for a sexually experienced woman than a man in a kilt?
Duncan MacDougall is a really interesting character; he’s young, hot and full of mischief. His half-fae heritage has given him some magical abilities and contributed to his reputation as a strong warrior and fierce leader, a reputation he takes full advantage of as he leads his small clan and tries to survive the recurring nightmares which haunt him on a regular basis.
Alana is a young, incredibly beautiful and desirable woman who’s much more than she appears. She’s an intelligent and resourceful woman with secrets. Gifted with ancient healing arts that were passed down through the women in her family from the goddess Brigid, she has a secret fear of the dark left over from her childhood. She's not thrilled about being forced to marry a man she’s never met; she dreams of a happy marriage and a generous lover.
The scenes between Duncan and Alana are very well done. Being desperate for a way to get his hands on the magical bow his mother was able to bestow on his half-brother, Duncan kidnaps Alana when she and her traveling companions wander too close to his lands. At first, Alana sees him as a villain for his actions, but she soon sees him for the man he is. After spending time with him, she realizes he’s everything she’s hoped for in a husband. The physical attraction between them is immediate and they soon become lovers. However, Duncan is determined to follow through with his plan to trade Alana for the magical bow, even though it’s in her arms at night that he is finally able to get the rest he needs.
Will Alana be able to outsmart her promised groom and keep the lover she desires? Will she be able to save Duncan’s life from the darkness? Read Laird of Darkness to find out." Two Lips Reviews
"I've never met a highlander I didn't like and Duncan is as hot as they get! Laird of Darkness is a magical journey into the highlands of Scotland. Duncan MacDougall will steal your heart away!" Romancing the Dark Side
"Duncan McDougall is known as the Laird of Darkness. He is the boogeyman used to scare the highland children, and the nightmare that awaits the unwary. He and his half-brother, Laird Kinnon MacClaren are sworn enemies. Blessed by their fae mother, Kinnon was given the secret to escaping the fae curse that torments Duncan. Driven to near madness by the curse, Duncan takes Kinnon’s fiancé, Lady Alana Forbes, hostage. She is to be exchanged for the golden bow and arrows that will free Duncan from his hell.
What a wonderfully, sexy book this is! I absolutely loved everything about Laird of Darkness. One of the things that scare me off trying new historicals is the fear of weak heroines. Not so in this book. Alana was just as strong willed as both men and not timid in the least. Nor was she a quivering virgin who whimpered and thought of England. Duncan was the epitome of a sexy Scottish highlander, yet he had a vulnerable side that was very appealing. I just love a misunderstood bad boy, and by the end of the book, Duncan had vaulted himself into my favorite all time heroes list. The author, Nicole North, did an outstanding job of keeping the sexual interaction true to the time period, and still managed to make it intensely erotic to today’s sophisticated reader. Alana and Duncan set ye olde bed linens on fire, a lot. I really liked the fact that there was no true villain in this story. The ending left the door open for a more settled relationship between Duncan and Kinnon, which I would love to read about. If Kinnon’s story does come to pass I will definitely be on board." Wendy Mitchell at JERR (Just Erotic Romance Reviews)
"Simply sizzling, this is one tale that fairly burns off the pages! This book was magical both in the story and in the spicy scenes. Author Nicole North has captured the mythology of the Fae and tied them into the heart of Scotland. Throw in a whole lotta lust, and this book is sure to light a fire in the mind of any reader." Fresh Fiction
Available at Carina Press, Barnes & Noble and Amazon!
Excerpt
