Through the first three books in The Return of the Highlander series, Ilysa has worked quietly and efficiently behind the scenes to support Connor and the clan. None of her efforts has made him look at her twice. Clearly, it’s time for me to step in and give Connor a shake.
The poor lass does need help. Her mother thought she was protecting Ilysa in a violent world by covering her in severe kerchiefs and oversized gowns and admonishing her to never draw attention to herself. Ilysa’s brief marriage left her feeling even less appealing.
But Ilysa underestimates her worth. After all, who helped our returning heroes in The Guardian sneak into the castle the night they took it from Connor’s murderous uncle? And who healed Connor’s wounds and brought him back from death’s door? Even now, while Connor fights to protect the clan, Ilysa is willing to employ a bit of magic to protect him, whether from the threat of an assassin or a deceitful woman with silver-blue eyes.
Unfortunately, Ilysa’s chances grow more dismal still when Connor decides he must marry to gain an ally for the clan’s coming fight with the MacLeods. As I watched him consider one chieftain’s daughter after another, I knew not one of them was the right wife for him or the clan. What our chieftain needs is a woman who can heal the wounds of his heart—and watch his back.
But Connor is no fool. With a little prodding, he finally opened his eyes and saw that Ilysa is the woman he wants. Passion burns! Yay! However, my relief is short lived because the stubborn man is determined to put the needs of the clan before his own desires. Admirable as that may be, I can’t let him marry the wrong woman, can I?
Despite all my efforts, I fear Connor will lose everything before he realizes that love is the strongest ally. With Ilysa’s life and his clan’s future hanging by a thread, will he be too late to save them?
I hope you enjoy the adventurous love story of Connor and Ilysa. I’ve found it hard to say goodbye to them and this series.
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and my website, www.MargaretMallory.com. I love to hear from readers!
From the desk of Cynthia Garner
Dear Reader,
My latest novel, HEART OF THE DEMON, takes two of my favorite preternaturals—demon and fey—and puts them together. Tough guy Finn Evnissyen has met his match in Keira O’Brien!
I come by my fascination with the fey honestly. My family came to America from Donegal, Ireland, in 1795 and settled in the verdant hills of West Virginia. One item on my bucket list is to get to Donegal and see how many relatives still live there.
My fascination with demons, I guess, has its roots in my religious upbringing. Just as I have with vampires and werewolves, I’ve turned something considered wicked into someone wickedly hawt! I hope after reading HEART OF THE DEMON you’ll agree.
To help me along, my Pandora account certainly got its workout with this book. From my Filmscore station that played scores from Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, and Halo 3; to my metal station that rocked out with Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Rob Zombie; to my Celtic punk station that rolled with the Dropkick Murphys, Mumford & Sons, and Flatfoot 56, I had plenty of inspiration to help me write.
I have a more complete playlist on my website extras page, plus a detailed organizational chart of the Council and their liaisons.
“Action-packed… This richly textured tale of 19th-century London interweaves intricately imagined and historically accurate scenes with red-hot sensual interludes. Like the first, a deeply compelling and imaginative story.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“4½ stars! Top pick! Darkest London glows with the light of Callihan’s creativity in the second installment of her unforgettable paranormal series. With a strong, sensually charged conflict, intense emotions, chilling suspense and thrilling action, readers will enjoy this haunting tale. Callihan sets the mark for a new style of paranormal historical.”
—RT Book Reviews
“I really loved this book, very sexy, and tons of adventure.”
—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
“A smart, intrepid heroine who is unaware of her own gifts, a tormented, deeply conflicted hero, and welcome characters from the previous series title combine with breathtaking sexual tension, seductive dialogue, and poignant tragedy to propel the complex plot to its intriguing conclusion… Dark, violent, and addictively enthralling, this exceptionally steamy tale is a worthy sequel to Callihan’s stunning Firelight