Tuesday 26 June 2018

New Release and #Giveaway ~ The Laird’s Willful Lass by Anna Campbell #HistoricalRomance #Scotland AnnaCampbellOz





The Laird’s Willful Lass
 by Anna Campbell





An untamed man as immovable as a Highland mountain…

Fergus Mackinnon, autocratic Laird of Achnasheen, likes to be in charge. When he was little more than a lad, he became master of his Scottish estate, and he’s learned to rely on his own unfailing judgment. So has everyone else in his corner of the world. He sees no reason for his bride—when he finds her—to be any different.

A headstrong woman from the warm and passionate south…

Marina Luchetti knows all about fighting her way through a wall of masculine arrogance. In her native Florence, she’s become a successful artist, no easy feat for a woman. Now a  commission to paint a series of Highland scenes promises to spread her fame far and wide. When a carriage accident strands her at Achnasheen for a few weeks, it’s a mixed blessing. The magnificent landscape offers everything her artistic soul could desire. If only she can resist the impulse to smash her easel across the laird’s obstinate head.

When two fiery souls come together, a conflagration flares.

Marina is Fergus’s worst nightmare—a woman who defies a man’s guidance. Fergus challenges everything Marina believes about a woman’s right to choose her path. No two people could be less suited. But when irresistible passion enters the equation, good sense soon jumps into the loch.

Will the desire between Fergus and Marina blaze hot, then fade to ashes? Or will the imperious laird and his willful lass discover that their differences aren’t insurmountable after all, but the spice that will flavour a lifetime of happiness?


Out the end of July!
Scroll down for #Giveaway
-->

Research! Research! Research!

Thank you for having me back as your guest on Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots this month. I had a lovely time when I visited back in March to talk about the release of my last Dashing Widows book, Lord Garson’s Bride.


I’m going to talk about some of the research/location spotting I recently did for my next series, The Likely Lairds. This launches at the end of July with The Laird’s Willful Lass and continues with the Christmas novella The Laird’s Christmas Kiss in October.

As you can probably guess from the proliferation of lairds in the titles, the books are set in Scotland. And for once in my life, I was writing Scottish-set stories while actually in Scotland. Now, that really WAS inspirational.

I’m back in Australia after four lovely months kicking around Europe. I spent nearly half of that in the Highlands writing, and today I thought I’d share some pictures of the landscapes that inspired my stories.

First up is the village whose name I stole for the estate that belongs to my stubborn laird. It’s in the hills behind Plockton where they shot the old Hamish Macbeth TV show, if you’re familiar with that.



In 1985, I did a train trip through this glorious landscape, and I’ve wanted to appropriate that musical Gaelic name Achnasheen (Ark-na-sheen) ever since. Sometimes, it takes a while! Fergus’s Achnasheen has nothing else in common with the village – his estate is wild and isolated and features a castle.

Which brings me to the castle that inspired the one in Willful Lass –world-famous Eilean Donan near Kyle of Lochalsh. Somewhere I read that this is the most photographed castle in the world – there were certainly a million photographers the day we visited last April.



Marina Lucchetti, my half-Italian heroine, has established a reputation as a water-colourist and she spends a lot of the book trying to paint the view of Skye from the hills behind Fergus’s castle. It’s awfully difficult to concentrate on art when at the same time, she’s fighting an impossible attraction to the autocratic laird.



The beach down from my guesthouse on the beautiful isle of Eigg granted me glimpses of the Cuillins on Skye – aren’t they beautiful under snow? Later I moved to Poolewe on the far north-western coast. I caught Skye in the distance when I took this sunset photo from Gairloch, the nearest centre of any size. It was always a thrill to see Skye because I felt like the universe was blessing my project!


-->
I’d like to finish with some photos of Eigg and Poolewe just to give you an idea of the grandeur and beauty of the Highlands. How could I resist writing about these spectacular settings? The views from Eigg are of the Alps of Rum, the next island. The views around Poolewe inspired the setting for my Christmas novella – the hero of that one, Brody Girvan, has an estate in this gloriously wild corner of Scotland.  



Giveaway


* Giveaway is now closed. *

So have you been to Scotland? Would you like to go? If you did, what would you like to do? I’ve got a Kindle download of the six novellas in The Dashing Widows boxed set to go to someone who leaves a comment today. 

No geographical restrictions! 

Giveaway ends 11.30pm BST 10th July 2018 .

The winner will be announced in the comments.

Good Luck!





Anna Campbell
Australian Anna Campbell has written 10 multi award-winning historical romances for Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins and 17 bestselling independently published novellas. Look out for her new series featuring three roguish Scottish lairds beginning in mid-2018.



Anna loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website Facebook Twitter

35 comments:

  1. I would like to go to Scotland and visit all the historical castle and thank you for your kindness

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amal, it's a beautiful country. I hope you get there one day!

      Delete
  2. Deborah Roussety26 June 2018 at 08:59

    I have been to Scotland,fell in love with Scotland as you do :) spent a week at Glenapp Castle which was amazing,such a beautiful place....hoping to go back next year..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Deborah, just looked up Glenapp! It looks absolutely magnificent. You lucky duck!

      Delete
  3. I have been in Scotland in April this year. It is a wonderful country. We've seen the Eileen Donan castle and now can't wait to read about it in this book. We rented a car and went around Scotland for a week and it really was wonderful. I had a privilege to have met Anna when she came to Ljubljana, Slovenia and she is simply amazing. So warm and beautiful woman, it was my pleasure to meet her. Thank you for the chance. And congratulations Anna on the upcoming release!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spela, I'm still smiling about the way everyone at that signing in Ljubljana went "oooooohhhh!" when I said I was writing a Scottish series next. Thank you so much for coming - it's such a treasured memory when I think of the warm welcome I received. Thank you for those very kind words!

      Delete
  4. I always love reading historical romances set in Scotland . Thank you for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Louise, it's one of those iconic settings, isn't it?

      Delete
  5. I've been to the Shetland Islands several times and loved it there. I would love to go to mainland Scotland just for the history and scenery. Thanks for the chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele, I've never made it to the Shetlands. They're definitely on the list. I've got as far north as Orkney which is wonderful and I'd love to go back. Definitely time for you to visit the mainland, I think!

      Delete
  6. Thank you for the background information! I think that knowledge adds to the book! I haven't been to Scotland but it's on my bucket list. My sister-in-law wants to go, too! Oh, we may get a little giggly every day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, LazrRN, I had a bit of fun with my half-Italian heroine trying whisky and not liking it very much! So glad you enjoyed this peek into the inspiration behind the story. I always enjoy seeing that too.

      Delete
  7. I would LOVE to go to Scotland. I have ancestors that came from there and the pictures you see are amazing. Now just to get my husband on board with my dream.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, promise him a few tours of the great distilleries over there. It worked with a couple of my other friends - their husbands got right on board with the idea of a trip to bonny Scotland!

      Delete
  8. I would love to go to Scotland. My biological parents were from there and would love to be able to go one day and see the country, people and experience all the history!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Rose, the Scottish blood will call you back. It certainly called me. You'll just love it!

      Delete
  9. I love these photographs . They are evocative. Nice article.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carol. I went a bit mad with the camera when I was up in Scotland.

      Delete
  10. I Love Scotland, I’ve been all over the country but not the far North. It’s incredibly beautiful. I love the colours throughout the seasons, it’s just a shame it’s not a little warmer ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Skipjacktunafish (great handle!), isn't Scotland just glorious? And there's a lot packed into a small space. I've been there often and I've still been to the bit with Aberdeen and Balmoral.

      Delete
    2. Congratulations, Skipjacktunafish, you have won a kindle copy of The Dashing Widows Boxset.


      Please could you send me the email / Kindle address, you would like to use to receive your Kindle copy of The Dashing Widow Boxset to author@maryanneyarde.com

      Delete
  11. Scotland is on my bucket list. Thank you for the wonderful pictures and the chance to win a book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy, my absolute pleasure. And if the opportunity arises to go to Scotland, GO!!!

      Delete
  12. I want to go with you next time you go to Scotland to do some research! lol I've never been but it's on the top of my list of MUST VISIT places!! If I ever make it there, I want to explore all the castle ruins...that would make my heart so happy:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carole, the castles are amazing - even when they're not in one piece! I hope you get to go there. It's such a gorgeous place.

      Delete
  13. My mother side is from Scotland and I would love to win contest! vboudreau57@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Veronique! Lovely to see you here! In my family, it's the father's side with the Scottish connection, hence Campbell. Good luck!

      Delete
  14. Scotland is on my to do list.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Deborah Roussety10 July 2018 at 01:54

    Love Scotland, love your giveaways and love the adventures you take me on ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a lovely message, Deborah! You're most welcome!

      Delete
  16. I've been to the Shetland Islands and loved it there. Would love to visit Edinburgh for the history and the castles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele, lucky you, going to the Shetlands! They're on my bucket list. I've made it to Orkney.

      Delete
  17. And the winner is... SkipJackTunaFish.
    Congratulations!!

    Please could you send me the email / kindle address, you would like to use to receive your Kindle copy of The Dashing Widow Boxset to author@maryanneyarde.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks to everyone who swung by and thanks to Mary Anne who hosted me. What fun I've had talking about bonny Scotland with you all!

    ReplyDelete

See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx