Claire Delacroix Knihy

The three sons of a notorious mercenary should never have met...but now that they are sworn allies, the Scottish Borders will never be the same... Denied his rightful legacy, Maximilian de Vries devised a plan to avenge himself upon his father and see his own future secured. Allied with his two half-brothers, he descends upon ancient and mysterious Kilderrick, determined to seize the keep once promised to him, regardless of the price. A woman rumored to be a witch is the sole one bold enough to defy him but Maximilian has a solution-he will take her to wife, whether she be willing or nay, and seal his claim. But this powerful warrior has yet to match wits with Alys Armstrong, a maiden with a thirst for vengeance and a fury that might exceed his own. Alys has no intention of capitulating to the proud and powerful rogue who stole everything from her-no matter how seductive his touch might be-and she does not share his compulsion to fight fair. Bitter enemies from the outset, Maximilian and Alys' match is a battle of wills. When passion flares, will either of them be able to resist temptation? And when Kilderrick itself is in peril, will they join forces to save the holding they each prize-and the unexpected love they value above all else?

In "The Jewels of Kinfairlie," Lady Madeline resists an arranged marriage to the notorious outlaw Rhys FitzHenry. As she attempts to escape, Rhys pursues her, sharing captivating stories that unveil his troubled past. Madeline must decide whether to trust him and risk her heart for a love more precious than gold.

Be Mine for a year and a day and I will possess your heart forevermore! Driven from her late husband's estate, Countess Eglantine de Crevy fled to wildest Scotland to claim a castle, only to find a ruin--and a clan chieftain standing guard. Kinbeath was hers, she declared, vowing to rebuild the manor and launch a bride quest so her daughters could marry for love. But Duncan MacLaren had devised a bride quest of his own, swearing to win the land--and the fiery countess--in a war of sweet seduction.... Eglantine declared she would never be captured by this barbarian. Yet Duncan awakened passions she had never known before. She promised to fight him with every weapon at her command even as he vowed to woo her for a year and a day--and make her his pagan bride. Each thought Kinbeath the prize they most desired, a prize to be won at any price. Until passion turned to love, and the chieftain found himself fighting for the heart and hand of the woman he was born to possess.

"I was born a woman. There are but two courses for my life -- marriage or the convent. I have chosen."Certain that she will never wed for love, sworn to let no man possess her for her beauty alone, Jacqueline de Crevy has vowed to become a bride of God. But en route to the convent of Inveresbeinn, her party is ambushed by a knight, who snatches Jacqueline from her saddle and spirits her away with him.He is Angus MacGillivray -- not the blackhearted ravisher she fears but a valiant man of honor who has returned to Scotland seeking justice ... and revenge.Angus has come home from the Crusades to find his family murdered and his birthright seized. Sworn to reclaim his rightful lands, he has kidnapped the stepdaughter of Duncan, chieftain of Clan MacQuarrie -- Angus's avowed enemy. But his lovely captive refuses to be the chattel -- or ransom -- of any man ... until Jacqueline senses the yearning heart beneath Angus's embittered facade.In spite of himself, Angus has let this defiant beauty touch his very soul. And as desire flames between them, a lady fair and her battle-scarred knight will fight for a love that could banish all the sorrows of the past....

One act of passion can save the world...Scientist Alexandra Madison was on the verge of unveiling an invention that would change the world. Then her partner was murdered, their lab was burned, and their prototype was destroyed. While Alex is in the hospital recovering from burns suffered in the fire, recurring dragon-haunted nightmares threaten to land her in the psychiatric ward, but she knows she has to escape to her lab to rebuild the Green Machine.Handsome, daring, and impulsive, Donovan Shea is more than willing to do his part in the Pyr/Slayer war. Assigned to protect Alex, Donovan is shocked when her presence ignites his firestorm. He has no desire for a destined mate, but Alex's intelligence and determination inspire him to join the fight to save her invention. With the Slayers closing in, Donovan knows he would surrender his life for Alex...and lose his heart to possess her.

One kiss can change the course of destiny...When ace accountant Sara Keegan decides to settle down and run her quirky aunt's New Age bookstore, she's not looking for adventure. She doesn't believe in fate or the magic of tarot cards, but when she's saved from a vicious attack by a man who has the ability to turn into a fire-breathing dragon, she questions whether she's losing her mind - or about to lose her heart.Self-reliant loner Quinn Tyrrell has long been distrustful of his fellow Pyr. When he feels the firestorm that signals his destined mate, he's determined to protect and possess Sara, regardless of the cost. Then Sara's true destiny is revealed and Quinn realizes he must risk everything - even Sara's love - to fulfill their entwined fates.

A romantic fantasy anthology with four novellas from renowned authors of romance and fantasy...USA Today best-selling author Claire Delacroix gives readers a revisionist version of the medieval legend of Melusine. USA Today best-selling author Lynn Kurland's trademark style shines in this tale of the magic and medieval romance between two lovers.World Fantasy Award-winner Patricia A. McKillip tells of an artist's model and the transforming power of beauty and inspiration.National best-selling author Sharon Shinn offers a compelling romance set in a strange new off-world of angels and revolving around the pursuit of love.The very thrill of love comes dazzlingly to life when these four shining stars or romance and fantasy weave their own web of magic for their legions of fans.

Im Irland des Jahres 1171 soll Prinzessin Brianna einen der Söhne von Gavin Fitzgerald heiraten. Doch sie sehnt sich nach wahrer Liebe. Ein erbitterter Wettstreit zwischen den Rittern entbrennt, bis der Mord an ihrem Vater Brianna die Augen öffnet für den richtigen Mann an ihrer Seite.

"Ich suche eine Braut, die wohlhabendste Erbin Irlands." Keine Frau kann dem Charme von Rowan de Montvieux widerstehen. Doch der charmante Schurke hat es nicht eilig zu heiraten – bis seine Familie ihn herausfordert, eine Braut zu finden … oder sein Erbe zu verlieren. So begibt sich Rowan auf eine Brautquest und schwört, nur … die Erbin zu heiraten. Doch seine Reise wird unterbrochen, als ein Sklavenhändler ihm ein zerlumptes Bauernmädchen anbietet, das sich wie eine Königin verhält. Neugierig und ohne zu ahnen, dass sie die gesuchte Bronwyn von Ballyroyal, eine verkleidete Erbin, ist, kauft Rowan sie und bietet ihr seinen Schutz an, wenn sie ihn zu der Braut führt, die er sucht. Nie hat er eine Frau getroffen, die so stolz, so schön und so widerspenstig ist. Er vermutet, dass sie keine gewöhnliche Frau ist, und schwört, ihre Geheimnisse zu lüften und ihren feurigen Willen zu brechen. Doch die gefährliche Reise nach Irland entfacht Leidenschaften, die ihr beider Leben gefährden, während das Sklavenmädchen, das sich nicht beherrschen lassen will, langsam sein misstrauisches Herz erobert.

Das Haus von Duncan MacLaren ist in Aufruhr: Noch immer ist die schöne Esmeraude nicht verheiratet. So lädt Duncan alle jungen Ritter Schottlands ein, in einem Wettstreit die Hand seiner störrischen Stieftochter zu gewinnen. Doch plötzlich ist Esmeraude verschwunden. Ein seltsames Rätsel ist ihre einzige Spur. Nur wer es löst, soll sie gewinnen...

Ein heruntergekommenes Schloß im mittelalterlichen Irland ist Burke Fitzgavins Ziel, als er aufbricht, um seine große Liebe Alys wiederzufinden. Doch dort angekommen, macht er eine schlimme Entdeckung: Die Waise Alys lebt in ärmlichen Verhältnissen - als Dienstmagd am Hof ihrer Verwandten! Und diese haben ganz andere Pläne mit dem gutaussehenden wie legendären Ritter. Schließlich gibt es zwei altjüngferliche Töchter, die verheiratet werden sollen...

Überzeugt, dass sie niemals aus Liebe heiraten wird und geschworen, sich von keinem Mann nur wegen ihrer Schönheit besitzen zu lassen, hat Jacqueline de Crevy geschworen, eine Braut Gottes zu werden. Doch auf dem Weg zum Kloster Inveresbeinn wird ihre Reise von einem Ritter überfallen, der Jacqueline von ihrem Pferd reißt und sie mit sich fortführt. Er ist Angus MacGillivray – nicht der niederträchtige Räuber, den sie fürchtet, sondern ein tapferer Mann von Ehre, der nach Schottland zurückgekehrt ist, um Gerechtigkeit ... und Rache zu suchen. Angus ist von den Kreuzzügen heimgekehrt, um seine ermordete Familie und sein Erbe zu finden. Geschworen, sein rechtmäßiges Land zurückzuerobern, hat er die Stieftochter von Duncan, dem Häuptling des Clans MacQuarrie – Angus' erklärtem Feind – entführt. Doch seine schöne Gefangene weigert sich, das Eigentum – oder Lösegeld – eines Mannes zu sein ... bis Jacqueline das sehnsüchtige Herz unter Angus' verbitterter Fassade spürt. Trotz seiner selbst hat Angus dieser widerspenstigen Schönheit erlaubt, seine Seele zu berühren. Und während das Verlangen zwischen ihnen aufflammt, werden eine schöne Dame und ihr kampferprobter Ritter um eine Liebe kämpfen, die alle Sorgen der Vergangenheit vertreiben könnte.