To Dance In The Glen
The Glen Highland Romance
Author: Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple
Genre: Historical Romance
Pub Date: Sept 4, 2018
Synopsis
--
Expectations -- In 1306, Ewan is a man used to defying expectations. A renowned
Scottish highland rake, he enjoys life as the oldest son of the Laird, until he
meets a young woman in a secluded glen, where her safety is in question. Meg is
a clever and spritely woman who is certain of her place in life until the day
the Laird's son help rescue her from some rogue Englishmen. Ewan becomes
smitten with Meg, falling in love with a woman below his station. He manages to
win her over as she finds herself under Ewan's protection and they begin a
passionate love affair. Along the way when Meg is accused of witchcraft and
Ewan's past entanglements come back to haunt him, their love overcomes the suspicions
and obstacles. Together they upset the status quo and begin a life, one that
brings happiness to themselves and those in the clan. However, once they learn
of a traitor in their midst, the security of the clan and their family, even
themselves, is at risk.
Can they rise
above to help each other overcome the challenges in their way?
BONUS: This
version contains an excerpt of the second In The Glen Highland Romance series -
"The Lady of the Glen"
PURCHASE LINK
MY REVIEW
To
Dance In The Glen is a gem. A beautifully told story of love, friendship,
devotion and country.
Meg
Lachlan is eighteen years old and as innocent as can be. Her family does not
have much in the way of money but they are happy. When English deserters
approach her one day, her life changes drastically.
Ewan
MacLeod is the Laird’s son. He is entitled, wealthy and spoiled. When he makes
crude advances to Meg after saving her virtue from Englishmen, she slaps him.
Having never been rebuked, Ewan becomes intrigued by Meg.
Meg
is saved yet again by Ewan when once more, the same Englishmen confront Meg. To
keep her safe, Ewan decides Meg will stay with him. Although Ewan believes this
to be his decision, it was actually masterminded by the English.
What
plans do the English have for Meg and Ewan and will they succeed?
Michelle
Deerwester-Dalrymple penned a heartwarming story that I fell hard for. It is an
epic and sweeping story.
From
what I have read, this is the author’s first foray into writing a romance novel
and I am agog. This does not seem like a first attempt which I can only assume
will bring great portends for this author’s future works.
This
is an absolute must read for all historical romance lovers. It will capture your
heart and make this author one you’ll want to look out for!
I
received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
EXCERPT
On the Eve of Beltane,
Meg stayed awake, wrapping flowers and twigs together, waiting until the moon
reached its zenith. Then there would be enough dew on the grass to bathe her
face. Unaccepted by the Church proper, the old ritual was taught to her by her
mother. Like her mother, though she accepted the Church, Meg followed the old
religious ways. The ritual of a young girl bathing her face in the early
morning dew of Beltane was to ensure youth and fertility. Elspeth still followed this ritual and taught
all her daughters to do the same. As Elspeth had six children, Meg did not
question its validity. Taking a candle from the mantle, she walked the darkened
passageways to the kitchen, and out to the courtyard of the keep.
Ewan, not yet asleep,
heard someone walk past his door. Afraid for Meg, he grabbed his plaid off a
nearby chair, and not bothering with a shirt, he wrapped the plaid about him
before grabbing his claymore and entering the passageway. As he turned toward
Meg’s chambers, he saw the incandescent glow of a single candle at the opposite
end of the hall. His hand on the hilt of his sword, he trailed the candlelight.
Meg reached the door of
the great hall, and turning, she went to the kitchen and crept out the
servant’s door to the side courtyard. If she been at home, her mother and
sister would have gone with her near the forest and used the grass there. Here
at the keep, following a worn trail to the garden where the grasses and dew
were the highest, she reached her hands out, gently pressing the flowers and
grass, coaxing the dampness into her hands. She then touched her hands to her
face and neck. She spoke to the ancient goddesses, asking them for blessings of
fertility and the richness of nature in her life. This year she had an
additional request but knew it was inappropriate. How do I ask for the Laird’s
son? ‘Tis a petty asking and one that would no’ be answered. She decided to ask
instead that the goddesses bless her with a good and decent husband, which
seemed a more likely request. The coolness of the dew was invigorating, and she
closed her eyes to enjoy the scent of the flowers. She was rubbing the dew on
her forearms when a voice startled her from her reverie.
“What are ye doing out
here in the wee hours of the morn, fair maiden?” a half-joking, half-worried
voice asked.
Meg spun around on her
heels and caught sight of Ewan just outside the night-shadow of the castle,
watching her intently. Meg was at a loss for words. The sight of him made Meg’s
breath catch in her throat. He wore nothing but his kilt and leather footwear
and held his giant claymore with one hand. She could see every muscle in his
chest and stomach, his arms both strong and thick. To her, he resembled an
ancient god, and she thought he looked both wild and beautiful. But more
unnerving than his appealing looks was his very presence. Embarrassed at being
caught, Meg knew she could not admit to partaking in a pagan ritual. She feared
Ewan would run to the priest. But how else could she explain what she was
doing?
“Well, I . . .” she
started, then decided to take a different approach. “Why did ye follow me? Are
ye suddenly my keeper?” Meg demanded.
“Of course, I’m your
keeper!” Ewan exclaimed. “What if the English had found a way into the manor
and took ye?”
Ewan stopped himself
short of yelling. He was much relieved to find her safe and sound, still within
the walls of the holding. He knew what
she was doing once she took her hands from the flowers and brought them to her
face.
“I apologize to ye
then. I did no’ mean to cause ye worry.” She straightened up and started to
walk back to the keep, but Ewan caught her by the arm. His closeness made her
knees weak and she felt a rush in her up through her belly. If she desired, she
could reach out and touch his strong chest and arms, and she then cursed
herself for acting like a smitten, empty-headed girl.
“So, shall I expect
flowers at my door in the morn as well?” he asked her.
Shocked, Meg looked him
in the face, searching to find out if he would take her to the priest. He saw
her concern and smiled to disarm her.
“My mother,” he told
her, “oft practiced the old ways. With da’s permission, she taught my brother’s
and I much as well.” His smile softened with the memory. “Ye are already young
and beautiful. Were ye asking for fertility for ye future husband?” he teased.
Relieved, she smirked
at his teasing, and at his audacity to mention her fertility. She snatched her
arm from his hand and started to dance away from him.
“Ye had best watch
where ye step, my Laird to be, for I shall use thistles on your doorstep!” she
called back to him.
Ewan chuckled to
himself and followed her back inside. It was a while before Meg fell asleep in
her bed that night, and again when she dreamed, it was of the young,
bare-chested Laird.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle
Deerwester-Dalrymple is a writer and a college writing professor. A graduate
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. Her second romance novel, The Lady of the Glen, is set for release in
early 2019.
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
