The Loneliest Lords

Dear Readers,

Trenton, Hadrian, and Worth are my Loneliest Lords for two reasons. First, these guys all have connections to other books, but they didn’t get bundled with those books in a trilogy or family series. Trenton, for example, has a sibling in both Darius’s and Nicholas’s stories. We first meet Hadrian in The Soldier, and Worth’s brother-in-law—Will Dorning—has a story in The True Gentlemen series. Nonetheless, Trenton, Hadrian, and Worth are standalone stories, which makes them rarities among my books.

The second reason they get Loneliest status is because they had to wait until the very end of the Lonely Lords series to be published. When true love is the payoff, being last in line is tough!

I hope you enjoy these tales. All three heroes have assured me that he who is Loneliest at first becomes Happiest by the end of his book.

The Cowboy Wore A Kilt

When Scottish executive Declan MacLeod books a week’s stay at the Bar J bed and breakfast, ranch owner Claudia Jensen finds herself noticing a guy for the first time in years. Declan’s job is to buy the Bar J out from under Claudia, though, and she is not at all interested in selling. Sparks fly in Texas, when the cowboy wears a kilt!

A novella based on the Trouble Wears Tartan series premise of pairing a Scot with an American, all the way to the happily ever after.

Must Love Scotland

Love on the Links

American attorney Julie Leonard has come to Scotland on a working vacation, determined to improve her golf game and thus earn a leg up in the judgeship sweepstakes. Niall Cromarty pulled the short straw for the job being Julie’s golf coach, and if that weren’t trouble enough, Niall’s neighbor-turned-nemesis, Declan MacPherson, has finally found the family will that can jeopardize Niall’s plans to expand his golf course. Julie thinks she wants to wear that black robe, but when Niall and Declan ask her to resolve their dispute, she realizes she really wishes she’d been asked to wear Niall’s ring.

My Heartthrob’s in the Highlands

Florist Megan Leonard has come to Scotland for her sister’s wedding, though it’s crunch time for Megan’s business back home, and the loan that will allow her to expand is finally, finally about to close. The best man, Declan MacPherson, is a Scottish farmer who strikes Megan as wed to the land his family has been working for generations, though Declan can be tempted to frolic with her in the greenhouse. As she gets to know Declan better, Megan sees that she’s not the only person with a worthy dream, but if she wants to be with him, she’ll have to give up everything she’s worked for. Will love put down roots in Scotland, or wither in the face of more practical priorities?

Jack

Sir John Dewey Fanning (Jack to his familiars) is magistrate of a corner of Oxfordshire plagued by one incident of petty mischief after another. To add to his aggravation, his mama and younger brother are joining his household for the winter, and Jack’s domestic staff can’t seem to sort itself out.

He turns to Miss Madeline Hennessey to act as his mother’s temporary companion, despite the fact that Jack has long harbored feelings for the ever-competent and self-reliant Miss Hennessey. Madeline reluctantly accepts the position, and proximity leads to investigations of an amorous nature. Can Jack stop the crime spree and steal Madeline’s heart, too?

Highland Holidays

Four contemporary romance novellas featuring the kilted version of true love…

Kiss and Tell

Jane DeLuca, Esquire, thrives on advocating zealously for her clients in Damson County’s courts, but her solo practice leaves no time for a personal life. She’s opposed in a nasty divorce case by dour, stubborn Scotsman, Dunstan Cromarty. And yet, as the clients’ case grows more complicated, so do Jane’s feelings for Dunstan—and his for her.

Crossing personal lines the middle of a case could cost each of them their license to practice law, and in a small, rural jurisdiction, they’ll oppose each other frequently. Neither can afford to give up their livelihood or their professional integrity, but can they give up each other?

Dunroamin Holiday

As a favor to his cousin, art history professor Liam Cromarty agrees to show American attorney Louise Cameron the Scottish sights. He doesn’t expect that his guest will challenge and charm him, until all he can see is the possibility of a shared future with Louise.

She’s at a professional crossroad, between the courtroom and the creative career she was robbed of as a younger woman. Liam is the perfect partner for exploring all of the wonders of Scotland, and he also inspires Louise to renew her artistic ambitions. When Liam realizes his actions were responsible for cheating Louise out of her dream years ago, he knows that whether he keeps silent about the past or reveals the truth, he could lose Louise forever.

Love on the Links

American attorney Julie Leonard has come to Scotland on a working vacation, determined to improve her golf game and thus earn a leg up in the judgeship sweepstakes. Niall Cromarty pulled the short straw for the job being Julie’s golf coach, and if that weren’t trouble enough, Niall’s neighbor-turned-nemesis, Declan MacPherson, has finally found the family will that can jeopardize Niall’s plans to expand his golf course. Julie thinks she wants to wear that black robe, but when Niall and Declan ask her to resolve their dispute, she realizes she really wishes she’d been asked to wear Niall’s ring.

My Heartthrob’s in the Highlands

Florist Megan Leonard has come to Scotland for her sister’s wedding, though it’s crunch time for Megan’s business back home, and the loan that will allow her to expand is finally, finally about to close. The best man, Declan MacPherson, is a Scottish farmer who strikes Megan as wed to the land his family has been working for generations, though Declan can be tempted to frolic with her in the greenhouse. As she gets to know Declan better, Megan sees that she’s not the only person with a worthy dream, but if she wants to be with him, she’ll have to give up everything she’s worked for. Will love put down roots in Scotland, or wither in the face of more practical priorities?

Two Wee Drams of Love

Two contemporary romance novellas featuring the kilted version of true love…

Kiss and Tell

(Formerly published as a stand alone novella under the same title)

Jane DeLuca, Esquire, thrives on advocating zealously for her clients in Damson County’s courts, but her solo practice leaves no time for a personal life. She’s opposed in a nasty divorce case by dour, stubborn Scotsman, Dunstan Cromarty. And yet, as the clients’ case grows more complicated, so do Jane’s feelings for Dunstan—and his for her.

Crossing personal lines in the middle of a case could cost each of them their license to practice law, and in a small, rural jurisdiction, they’ll oppose each other frequently. Neither can afford to give up their livelihood or their professional integrity, but can they give up each other?

Dunroamin Holiday

(Formerly published in the anthology Must Love Highlanders)

As a favor to his cousin, art history professor Liam Cromarty agrees to show American attorney Louise Cameron the Scottish sights. He doesn’t expect that his guest will challenge and charm him, until all he can see is the possibility of a shared future with Louise.

She’s at a professional crossroad, between the courtroom and the creative career she was robbed of as a younger woman. Liam is the perfect partner for exploring all of the wonders of Scotland, and he also inspires Louise to renew her artistic ambitions. When Liam realizes his actions were responsible for cheating Louise out of her dream years ago, he knows that whether he keeps silent about the past or reveals the truth, he could lose Louise forever.

The Ducal Gift and The Christmas Carriage

“The Ducal Gift” and “The Christmas Carriage” are short stories set in the Windham family’s holiday world. While the Earl and Countess of Westhaven play the role of elves in “The Christmas Carriage,” in “The Ducal Gift” we see that even when Percival and Esther get their holiday signals crossed, the only gift that matters is love.

These stories are my gift to you, so happy reading, and happy holidays!

Will’s True Wish

Will Dorning, as the Earl of Casriel’s heir, and older brother to four rambunctious brothers, sees his life as one of duty and drudgery. He guards the earl’s back, and keeps a watchful eye on his siblings, though his only real companions are the dogs he’s treasured since boyhood.

Lady Susannah Haddonfield has no patience with loud, smelly beasts of any species, but must learn to appear to like dogs so as not to offend her sister’s only marital prospect. Susannah turns to Will, an acquaintance from the most awkward years of her adolescence, to teach her how to get along with canines. Will instead teaches her how to get along with him, and with her siblings, until Susannah must choose between her favorite lone wolf and placid propriety.

Daniel’s True Desire

Daniel Banks is a man of the cloth whose vocation is the last comfort he has left. In an attempt to start his life over, Daniel accepts the post of vicar in Haddondale, a position supported by the Earl of Bellefonte. There Daniel meets Lady Kirsten Haddonfield, to whom life has also dealt multiple unkind blows. Daniel’s interest is piqued by Kirsten’s unsentimental attitude toward her misfortunes, and by the kind-heartedness the lady keeps well hidden. Kirsten is much taken with Mr. Banks and his genuine compassion for others, despite his own troubles. When Providence intervenes, and Daniel and Kirsten can become engaged, their happiness seems complete…. though every garden has at least one nasty, sly, determined serpent.

Tremaine’s True Love

Tremaine St. Michael is firmly in trade and seeks only to negotiate the sale of some fancy sheep with the Earl of Bellefonte. The earl’s sister, Lady Nita, is pragmatic, hard-working, and selfless, though Tremaine senses she’s also tired of her charitable obligations and envious of her siblings’ marital bliss.

Tremaine, having been raised among shepherds, can spot another lonely soul, no matter how easily she fools her own family. Neither Tremaine nor Nita is looking for love, but love comes looking for them.