(a Time Travel Romance)
A family heirloom and a grandmother's secret send Kara Malone on a journey through time where she finds the man of her dreams.
After her grandmother’s death, Kara Malone inherits a key and a box with a secret. On a plane bound for Hawaii where she is to start a new job, she opens the box to find her grandmother’s journal and a beautiful stone. Magical forces propel Kara back to the Scottish Highlands where she is nearly run down by Alaxandar MacLeod, the dark stranger from her dreams. Her problems are just beginning.
Alaxandar has been charged with finding the truth behind the recent violent raids against his clan. When his horse almost tramples a beautiful stranger, he wonders if she may hold the key to the raids. Is she a spy or a witch come to lure him with her wiles and distract him from his mission? Whatever she proves to be, Kara is everything he’s wanted in a woman and he’ll do anything to keep her with him.
Excerpt
Kara blinked trying to focus. Cold, stiff muscles spasmed in her back. How long had she’d been asleep? She stretched her arms overhead when realization hit. She was no longer in the confines of an airplane. “What the hell?”
A light mist coiled around slopes of purple heather. In the distance lay a body of water sheltered by cliffs, creating a beautiful backdrop. Fading twilight streaked through passing clouds and she sat on a gravel road with a severe wedgey and something sharp jabbing her butt.
“Holy hell.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, closed her eyes, and counted to ten. When she opened her eyes, nothing had changed. The strange weather caused the plane to crash and I’m dead. But if the plane crashed, wouldn’t I be injured and wouldn’t there be burning debris from the fuselage littering the ground? A vicious headache pounded at her temples. Shifting to her hands and knees, Kara braced herself before rising. As she stood, aches and pains wrestled through her body from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, each vying for a place to settle.
She massaged her temples and closed her eyes again. “This isn’t happening.” She bit back a bout of hysterical laughter.
Steadying herself, she decided to take a look around. Strangely dressed people gawked at her. Some kids chasing a small dog ran past her so closely that she staggered to keep her balance. They giggled but kept on their hunt. The sweet smell of fresh elderberries tickled her nose as did a strong lavender scent from nearby bushes. She could hear murmured voices, a startled laugh, and a hawker announced some type of carnival or fair. More children raced around stands filled with woolen fabrics, apples, and what looked like raspberries.
She could see, hear, smell and feel pain—this couldn’t be a dream. No dream was this real and besides, everyone was staring at her. If it had been a dream, she would have fit in. Right?
No matter how she looked at it, she was still standing in the village common—freezing her ass off, with her underwear stuck in her nether regions and a bruised butt. Chills raced across her skin. The Boston Celtics t-shirt she wore offered little warmth. Not to mention, in her current attire, she stuck out like a red rose in a bouquet of white carnations.
Grand buckets of wood were ablaze. If only she could get closer to one of those, the fire would warm her. But, she dared not approach with so many gaping on-lookers which set her already shattered nerves on edge. Furiously rubbing her hands up and down her arms to generate friction and warmth, she searched for a hiding place, quickly finding there was none save the woods. At dusk, who knew what kind of creatures would be in there, snakes, spiders, bats—not the most pleasant thought.
Skulking away, casually drifting up the road so as not to draw any more unnecessary attention, Kara ducked into a thicket of trees, not venturing too deeply inward. Large pines towered above her and the smell reminded her of Christmas.
“What the hell am I going to do? Think, Kara.” Her brain had always been her best weapon against adversity. Okay, so her right hook had gotten her out of a few jams, but she’d been working on temper control.
Staying concealed, she crept closer to see and hear the gathering of people. One withered man with a hunched back and heavy accent argued the price of some kind of tool. An elderly woman wrapped in large squared tartan of blue, red and yellow strolled over to a wooden two-wheeled wagon covered in baskets, examining each with a critical eye. Others milled about the stands, all adorned in plaids. One stocky fellow wore his as a kilt, a woman had hers wrapped about her shoulders.
Kara’s grandfather used to wear his tartan on special occasions. He often spoke of the festivals in the old country and how much fun he’d had there.
She ducked back into the trees and slid down the trunk of one to the cold, hard ground, hissing from the bruise on her backside. “Scotland,” she murmured, massaging her temples. “How in God’s name did I get to Scotland?” You’re a scientist, figure it out. She studied rocks, volcanoes, gems—not physics. Time travel, space warps, magic, those weren’t her specialties. Where there are people, there are answers. “I hope. Reading those pages has caused my mind to conjure this place—again.”
The setting sun meant a rapid change in the air and the cool mist which earlier had been mysterious, now stuck to her exposed skin. She crept back toward the small field of merchant booths where villagers sold their wares. “Please, Lord, give me strength.” If she didn’t find a way to warm up soon, she worried about hypothermia setting in.
Kara searched for anything familiar in the landscape, in her memories of stories told to her by her grandparents. Nothing. Her stomach grumbled as she happened upon one family packing up their vegetables. She’d give up chocolate for a month if even one piece rolled off their stand unnoticed. Not likely.
Distracted by the merry folk, her rumbling belly, combined with not watching where she was going, Kara stumbled over a rather large rock and fell hard.
A horse whinnied.
She threw her arm over her face and screamed before the rider reined the animal in. The horse reared, its massive hooves kicking out at the air over her head. Its active forelegs landed a foot away and a figure jumped off the stallion and roared down on her.
“Bloody hell, woman, are ye mad, jumping out in front o’ me horse like that? You could’ve been killed.”
Kara lowered her arm and checked her body. I’m not trampled. Words caught in her dry throat, and her stomach flip-flopped as she gaped at the mountain of a man towering over her. His dark hair whipped around broad shoulders and his blue eyes burned with anger.
It was him, the dark giant who came to life in her dreams.
Professional Reviews
The Romance Studio
Highland Stone
Sloan McBride
Time travel romance
Available from Sloan McBride
ISBN: 978-1-60394-068-9
October 2007
After the recent death of her grandmother, Kara Malone finds a mysterious key and box in her grandmother’s house. On her way to Hawaii to start her new job, she opens the box to find a journal and a beautiful stone and is suddenly be thrust back in time to the Scottish Highlands where the most handsome stranger nearly runs her over with his horse.
Being the firstborn MacLeod, Alaxandar is put in charge of finding the ones responsible for the recent raids against his clan. But when he nearly runs down the most beautiful lady his plans are suddenly more complicated. He knows that Kara is different and wonders if she is a witch or maybe a spy, but to his tormented heart it matters little as he quickly falls for her and will do anything to keep her.
Can love keep these two people from different times together, or upon the completion of her mission will Kara and Alaxandar be forever torn apart?
This is a well-written story that I found hard to put down. Alaxandar is every woman’s dream. He is handsome, strong, arrogant and stubborn at times. Kara is his equal in so many ways. She is beautiful, strong, loving and just as stubborn as he. I was completely lost to this story. The arguments between these two wonderful characters were so amusing and their love for one another touching. I was transported back in time and could envision Dunvegan Castle and the people who lived there. Ms. Sloan has written such a tale as to make me want more. I look forward to reading more by this wonderful author and hope to some day read Ramsey’s story.
Overall rating: 5 hearts
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual
Reviewer: Sandra
November 9, 2007
Kara Malone never thought that inheriting a strange stone after her grandmother's death would bring a drastic change in her life. She is pulled through the timelines to the Scottish Highlands where the MacLeod clan is being subjected to violent raids. Firstborn MacLeod, Alaxandar is stunned to find a beautiful woman come right in front of his horse all of a sudden. She may be the vision from his dreams but what is the secret behind her sudden strange appearance and can her trust her with his life and most of all his clan’s safety?
Kara is one spunky woman as she keeps his head even in the direst circumstances. Her sense of duty transcends above all of her emotions and feelings. Alaxandar is brave and arrogant having a mouth and passion that is a perfect match for the feisty lady. Their bond seems almost magical as they find unbearably attracted to each other in spite of having misgivings about each other. Their relationship develops while bloodshed is going on all around and though Alaxandar has tough duties to carry out, he always steals time to be with Kara. The spicy element of the tale makes the reader sigh with pleasure while visiting the breathtaking highlands. The bantering between the characters is most engaging and you’ll find yourself looking forward to their secret escapades. The plot is pretty straightforward with no sudden jerks to snap you out of the lovely fuzzy feelings Ms. McBride’s talented pen creates. Lushly described scenery provides striking contrast with the action scenes. One can feel the life and passion emanating from the people even though they are trying to survive in the harsh and bitter surroundings. The hoard of secondary characters is nicely blended in with the tale as they propel the story forward never overwhelming it. Many of them touch you at different levels. I just wish a few more questions were answered as I neared the end. The author should be given kudos for a deft conclusion and I just hope that she plans to visit these memorable people sometime soon. Overall, Highland Stone is a wholly enjoyable book that guarantees a wonderful adventure to the Highlands and back.
Mahaira Fatima
Novel Talk Reviews
Bitten by Books
Highland Stone by Sloan McBride
Score: 5 gravestones
Reviewer: Mary
Online: http://www.bittenbybooks.com
Kara Malone is startled awake by hearing her grandmother’s voice saying, “The key is hidden with your grandfather’s picture.” Still mourning her grandmother, Kara steels herself against tears, pours a drink of brandy, and begins searching her grandfather’s portrait. After examining the back of the portrait and finding nothing, Kara is discouraged. She checks over the frame and finds one section that seems different. Kara focuses her attention on that section, and is rewarded by a golden key suddenly appearing from the ornate detailing. Kara takes the key and begins searching her grandmother’s closet, in hopes of discovering what this key opens. After a brief search, she finds a beautiful wooden box, hand carved by her grandfather with intricate Celtic symbols. Unable to deal with whatever she might discover, Kara chooses to wait before opening her grandmother’s box.
While on a flight to Hawaii the next morning, Kara feels strong enough to open the box. Inside, resting on a velvet lining, is a leather-bound journal and a smooth ivory-colored stone. Kara first turns her attention to the journal, knowing how her grandmother loved to tell stories of old Scotland, yet this entry had a curious ring of truth to it. Could this stone be the magical talisman her grandmother mentioned? Kara picks up the stone and examines it. Suddenly, a shadow falls over Kara, and with the stone in her hand, she falls asleep and awakens in an unfamiliar place and time. Was this a dream triggered from her grandmother’s journal entry? Did the stone send Kara back to Scotland in the 1300’s? If the stone was responsible, how does Kara reverse the effects and return home? Or, does Kara remain in Scotland indefinitely?
I enjoyed this historical romance very much. Sloan McBride provides beautiful descriptions of the Highland countryside and of life during that time. I could easily imagine Kara’s difficulty in behaving as a proper young Scotswoman, but I appreciated her efforts to work with the family and help where she was able. The MacLeod family, especially Alaxander, were strong characters that demonstrated heroism in their daily activities. They sheltered Kara, defended their land, and provided for their entire clan. The importance of the stone is eventually uncovered, and without giving anything away, there is a happy ending. I would recommend this story to all true romantics who believe love conquers everything.
Enchanted Desire, published by The Wild Rose Press, tells the story of a beautiful young college student, Shanna, who is looking for a fresh start and a way out of a bad relationship. She meets and falls in love with Kenny, a sexy 6 foot 8 Native Ame
