We are excited to be taking part in a teaser tour to promote Victoria Roberts's latest book, My Highland Spy. Over the next two weeks, a different blog will be releasing a new excerpt every day. We have part 5 for you below! To read the other parts, check out the tour list at the end of the post!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of publication: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 9781402292002
$6.99/£4.99
Mass-market Paperback
This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown
Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away
to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in
Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does
what any laird would do—he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a
beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.
But this lady spy might make him...
Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to
the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the
part of an English governess—a job easier said than
done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.
If she doesn’t betray him first
Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat
Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever
forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?
Hello! Thank you for having me at From the TBR Pile
today, the fifth stop on the My Highland
Spy Teaser Tour!
My
Highland Spy is the first book in my new Highland
Spies’ series, and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. We
left off yesterday finding out why Ravenna is a spy for the Crown. She’s about
to be given her next assignment.
Excerpt Five/Chapter One:
“The Highland lairds are completely out of control
and the men refuse to listen. Between their squabbles among themselves and
increased rebellions against the Crown, the king has required that all Highland
lairds send their heirs to Lowland Scotland to be educated. Futhermore, the men
are to regularly report to Edinburgh to stand for their actions. King James
demands conformity and hopes that by abolishing the Gaelic language and
destroying Scotland’s culture, he will get it. The lairds won’t conform on
their own so the king is left with no choice but to force their hand.”
“And what does that have to do with me, precisely?”
“There is a man in the Highlands that the king’s men
have been watching—Laird Ruairi Sutherland. He has not sent his heir to be
educated, and he has not made an appearance in Edinburgh for quite some time.
Although he claims his wife is gravely ill, the king’s advisors think this is
nothing more than another clever plot to refuse King James’s authority. They
also believe Sutherland’s absence in Edinburgh is because he’s conspiring with
other lairds in the Highlands to raise arms against the realm.” He sat back
casually in the chair.
“Whether these rumors are true or not, an example is
to be made of Sutherland. The king grows tired of these…Highlanders”—he
sniffed—“and their constant disobedience. These barbarians need to understand
they cannot do whatever they please and pay no heed the authority of the king.
Sutherland has a formidable stronghold in northern Scotland. He could be a powerful
enemy. He’s been told a governess will be sent to his home to educate his son,
since his wife is ill. You will travel to the Highlands. Find out if what he
says is true, or if he and others conspire against the Crown.”
Ravenna’s eyes widened and her voice went up a
notch. “A governess?” She cleared her throat. “Uncle Walter, surely my…talents
would be much more valuable closer to home. I have spied on men who’ve
conspired against the realm, uncovered a wealthy lord’s machinations in selling
secrets to the French, discovered a traitor before he made his escape to the
colonies, and now you ask me to masquerade as a governess for some Highland
laird’s child?”
He chuckled. “Not me. His Majesty.”
“Surely there is a more appropriate assignment
for me. A governess—I have no idea what or even how you expect me to teach a
boy anything, especially one who doesn’t speak English. And travel to the
Highlands? The place is completely uncivilized. More to the point, you know I
can’t be gone for that long. What about the girls?”
“I understand this assignment will take a few months.
I will, of course, see to their welfare while you’re away. As a woman, you have
the perfect disguise. You’ll be safe, Ravenna, and you’ve certainly been
placed in more dangerous circumstances than in the Scottish Highlands as a
governess. I’ll have George and Mary escort you.”
She groaned. “I don’t like this.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know. At times,
your father didn’t, either.”
“I’ve been managing to live in two worlds quite
well. You know how strongly I desire to follow in Father’s footsteps, but I
can’t be traveling to Scotland or God knows where. There are more than enough
troubles in England. As always, I will fulfill my duty to the Crown, but please
recognize how imperative it is for me to be here for my sisters, my family. I
want the girls to have an ordinary life. How can they do that if I keep
disappearing for long periods of time?”
“I tried to speak on your behalf. You don’t have a
choice.”
She let out a heavy sigh.
Her uncle rose and walked around the desk to embrace
her. “Passage is being made two days from now.”
She stepped away from him, her mouth pulled into a
sour grin. “The girls are not going to be happy.”
He patted her on the shoulder and then walked to the
door. “They never are. Safe travels, Ravenna.” The door closed and reality
struck.
Sourcebooks will give away one copy of My Highland Spy to a lucky commenter (US
and Canada only, please.) What’s your favorite book genre?
Tour Stops:
About the author:
Victoria Roberts
writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and
warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she
penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her
leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt
wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and
their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania. Visit her at
Buy:
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“An exciting Highland tale of intrigue, betrayal, and love.”
—Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author of Highland Master
“Roberts’ newest features a surprise-laden, quick-paced plot, replete with unconventional and fiercely independent characters. Her lyrical prose grabs readers’ attention, and the high level of emotional tension simply adds to the depth of the story. This book begs to be read and reread.”
—RT Book Reviews
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