To Dance in the Glen by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple 💕 Flash FREE eBook 💕 (Historical Romance)

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An exciting, tantalizing romance! Meg, a poor crofter's daughter, finds her life taking a tumultuous turn when she is sent to the Laird's castle for her own safety. English marauders, accusations of witchcraft, and treason are just the beginning for her.

Meg Lachlan is certain of her place in her clan. When English mercenaries plaguing the Scottish Highlands aim their attacks on Clan MacLeod and Meg herself, the Laird's son takes up the mantle to protect the young woman.

Ewan MacLeod believes that bringing Meg to the castle will guard her against the English attacks, but when he finds his passions for the young lass growing, they begin a love affair that many call into question -- most notably the daughter of a nearby laird who has her sights set on Ewan for herself.

As Meg and Ewan struggle against accusations of witchcraft, the English step up their onslaught, and it seems the clan is beset on all sides, until the discovery of a traitor in their midst threatens to tear down all that Meg and Ewan have worked so hard to build.

With the security of their clan, their families, even themselves at risk, can they rise above all the challenges that stand in the way of their love?

Bonus: This version contains an excerpt of the second in The Glen Highland Romance series -- The Lady of the Glen.

The thrum of the horses’ hooves on the ground made the earth vibrate in announcement. The horsemen scattered all about the land, searching for a woman who had been missing for nearly a day. The woman’s husband, Laird of the clan MacLeod, Colin MacLeod, was beyond distraught, bordering on insanity in his search for his wife, the Lady Caitir MacLeod of MacLeod. A tall, strong beautiful woman in hair blacker than the night sky and the most piercing blue eyes a soul had ever seen, it was rumored that God himself crafted her body in addition to her soul, carving her out of the most coveted jewels found on earth -- sapphires, diamonds, onyx.
More than her appearance, however, was her very nature. While she practiced Catholicism as all good Christians did, she was raised with a deep-rooted belief in the old religion and tied it to her Catholic beliefs. She used herbals and prayer to heal the sick, advice and prayer to help the souls of clansmen and women who came to the Laird for help. She was genuine and honest and would give her very last shift to a poorer soul if they needed it. It was oft said that she kept Colin grounded since Colin, though he was a full-grown man reaching nigh two score of years, could still be a rash and hot-headed man much of the time. However, just a movement or gesture from Caitir was usually enough to calm the storm that was her husband. All these reasons and more made her the most loved person in the clan MacLeod.
No one, however, loved her more than Colin. He was infatuated with her and did everything in his power to spend most his waking moments in her presence. He scheduled hunts, farming, even his business for accounts on Market Day around Caitir and how often he could be with her. Friends and family made jokes about how Caitir led Colin around by his nose, or other body parts, but instead of growing angry, Colin just laughed at the comments. He knew them to be true.
But today, it was not laughter the Colin felt, it was anger and concern, more concern than he had ever felt in his life. Even more than when his oldest had fallen off a tree and landed awkwardly. They feared that the future Laird would be crippled from a broken leg, but it turned out to be naught more than a twisted ankle, and the lad healed fine. This time, however, there was little hope that all would be fine.

💕 March 13-15 💕

Elayne MacNally knew one thing for certain: Her reputation as the willful harpy of the highlands was well earned.

As the spoiled daughter of the successful Laird MacNally, Elayne got whatever she wanted, until the man she thought she would wed rejected her. Dejected and reconsidering her lot in life, her father comes up with an opportunity that could change the course of her life and perhaps her reputation as well.

Declan MacCollough also knew one thing for certain: He did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps as Laird of the reputed “Beast Clan.”

Following his father’s death, Declan had a lot of work ahead of him to reclaim any sense of respect for his people. Families had fled; fathers would not permit their daughters to wed into the clan. Declan wanted, more than anything, to recreate his clan into one deserving of service to the King. The first step Declan must take is to find a wife with enough backbone to help him tame his clan, help it grow, and gain back respect.

Learning of Elayne and her reputation, Declan offers to wed the lass – an arranged marriage of sorts. With no other choices open to her, Elayne decides that the Laird of the Beast Clan is her best, if only, option.

What happens when she arrives is a strange and passionate meeting of the minds between herself and Declan. Playing on each other’s strengths, they maneuver around those who attempt to prevent the marriage as a play for power. However, Declan’s past affiliations with the King are not welcome by all, and the challenges to their marriage become the least of their worries.

Can Declan and Elayne trust each other enough to face the threats to the MacCollough clan and their very lives?

“I received a letter,” he told Torin. “It probably won’t amount to anything, but I have heard the woman is a force to be reckoned with, and I think, I know, that is what we need.”
“But,” Torin hesitated, “ye do not even know the lass. Don’t ye want to find a woman ye love? What if ye aren’t even attracted to her? What if —” he paused a moment, choosing his words wisely. “What if she leaves like your own mam did? Are ye nay concerned with history?”
Declan reclined on a cot near the hearth. The fire and daybreak chased away the morning chill, and Declan used the moment to collect his thoughts, scratching absently at his golden beard. Questioning Declan’s choice, his oldest friend might understand his motives but still vehemently disagreed with the idea. Declan knew without a doubt that the rest of the clan likewise would not be convinced. Declan turned his pale hazel eyes to Torin’s dark ones, trying to explain his motives.
“I ken that women are often used as pawns in power struggles between clans, and men of power usually have the upper hand when it comes to a choice of brides. It should be that way for me, but when I see my clan in such condition, I know I must choose a wife who can help me get my life, my home, my clan in order. If she can do that, then I will love her no matter her reputation, or her appearance.”

Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple is a writer and a college writing professor. Graduating from University of California, Riverside with a Master's Degree in English and Literature, she has worked with students of all age levels - from elementary to graduate school - through her college teaching, tutoring, and charter school courses.

She started reading when she was 3 years old, writing when she was 4, and published her first poem at age 16. Her interest in logic and rhetoric began when she was 4 years old, and her mother bought her first logic puzzle book. She then read those puzzle books, Encyclopedia Brown books, and Two-Minute Mysteries regularly.

Michelle has always been an avid reader on all subjects, but has a special love for both horror and romance literature. Her two favorite authors are Stephen King and Diana Gabaldon.

She is currently working on other writing curricula texts and several novels of different genres.