Spotlight & Giveaway: When A Lady Kisses A Scot by Tara Kingston

Posted July 26th, 2019 by in Blog, Spotlight / 57 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Tara Kingston to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Tara and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, When A Lady Kisses A Scot!

 
Hi! I’m excited to be here. Thank you for hosting my visit.
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

WHEN A LADY KISSES A SCOT is a Victorian second-chance-at-love story laced with mystery, a touch of the occult, and a Scottish covert agent hero who’s sexy-as-sin in a kilt and possesses the skills and the courage to defend the woman he loves against the threat that stalks her.

Years earlier, Rose Fleming faked her own death to escape a ruthless killer. After a decade away, she returns home, only to discover the danger has not passed—she’s in the sights of a mysterious villain. As she flees an assailant, a chance encounter on the streets of London has her dashing into the arms of the one man she’d ever loved, newsman-turned-covert-operative MacAllister Campbell.

For ten years, Mac mourned the death of the woman he loved. It’s taken years to heal his heart, only to discover that not only is Rose alive, but she’s still in grave danger. The only thing worse than losing Rose once would be losing her again… and Mac won’t let that happen.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

In the beginning of the story, a chance encounter reunites Rose and MacAllister after a decade apart. Desperate to evade a threatening man shadowing her path, Rose seizes the moment to hide in plain sight:

“Stop talking and kiss me.”
Interest flared in his eyes. And he needed no further invitation.

I tend to really fall for my characters, especially when the hero is as complex as MacAllister Campbell. This is one of my favorite lines of Mac’s dialogue:

“The gentleman in me died a long time ago. When I fight, I fight dirty…I can protect you…But I need you to trust me.”

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • One of my inspirations for the heroine in this story was Rachel McAdams’s portrayal of Irene Adler in SHERLOCK HOLMES. Even when Rose finds herself in danger, she’s spirited and refuses to back away from her goal. She’s clever and resourceful, and where MacAllister is concerned, she’s vulnerable but never weak.
  • Three songs on my playlist while writing this book were NEVER ENOUGH by Kelly Clarkson, UNCONDITIONALLY by Katy Perry, and PERFECT by Ed Sheeran.
  • While writing this book, I craved chocolate like crazy. I’d treat myself with a piece of dark chocolate from time to time during my writing breaks.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Years earlier, when MacAllister first fell in love with Rose, he adored her beauty and sweet nature. But now, he sees her with a man’s maturity. He’s drawn to her keen intelligence and her loyalty to those she cares about, as well as her inner strength and resilience.

Rose finds MacAllister’s intelligence hard to resist, as well as his sense of conviction. The man she’d known years earlier appealed to her young heart with his wit and his drive, but now, she sees a man who’s been toughened by life, but hasn’t allowed his heart to harden. MacAllister is a man of his word, and she adores his passion, honesty, and courage. And it goes without saying that he’s swoon-worthy in a kilt.

 

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Several scenes were emotional for me to write. One in particular brought me nearly to tears. In this scene, Rose and MacAllister are on separate paths and will soon be parted again. The conflict between her heart and her duty tears at Rose, while Mac is also torn between his love for Rose and a duty he cannot cast aside. Here’s a snippet from the story:

He dropped his gaze. “I cannot simply walk away.”
“As you once walked away from me?”
His head snapped up, and he looked as if she’d struck him. “I will regret leaving you until the end of my days.”
“Well then, that’s that, isn’t it?” She steeled herself against a fresh rush of emotion. “I shouldn’t have come here. We are on two different paths. You have your life here. And I have mine, an ocean away.”
His hands gently weighted her shoulders. Brushing his fingertips over the curve of her face, he studied her. “I love you, Rose. Always keep that truth in your heart.”
She blinked back tears. “Pity it does not ease the pain of leaving you.”
Without words, he pulled her to his lean, warm length. The heat in his touch made her knees weak. When he kissed her, his mouth claimed hers with a fierce, tender hunger.
As she melted into him, he whispered against her lips.
“Remember this, Rose—no matter what, nothing—not time, nor distance—will dim my love for you.”

 

Readers should read this book….

If they love a story with suspense, danger, a mysterious villain, a rugged hero who can wield a walking stick as a weapon and rock a kilt, and all the feels.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently researching a new series set in gaslit London featuring an alliance of aristocratic rogues, scoundrels, and mercenaries. I’ll soon be sharing more news on this series as well as other projects in my newsletter. In case any readers would like to subscribe, here’s the link: http://bit.ly/TaraKingstonNewsletter .
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: A $10 Amazon gift card.

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I love historical romance set in many time periods, but I’m especially drawn to the Victorian era. Which era(s) in historical romance appeal to you the most?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from When A Lady Kisses A Scot:

“Look at me, Rose. It is you, isn’t it? This isn’t some cruel hoax?”
“Would you believe me if I told you this was all a lie?”
“I might have…” He drank in every detail of her expression, losing himself in those beautiful eyes that betrayed emotions she tried to conceal. He framed her face in his hands. “Until you did this…”
Gently, he brushed his mouth over hers. She might’ve pulled away. She might’ve turned and stormed off, or called him a cad and delivered a sound slap.
But she did none of those things.
With a little sigh, she leaned in to him. Her body molded to his, and her arms curled around his back. Savoring the sensation of her touch, he stilled. How many nights had he dreamed of this, dreamed of her?
Her tempting little tongue darted out to caress his lips, to mingle with his own as he savored the taste of her sweetness. The tips of her fingers caressed his back, kindling an inner fire despite the layers of clothing separating his skin from hers. With another throaty sigh, she deepened the kiss.
His hands skimmed her middle, feeling the tiny shivers of her response. My touch still stirs her. An absurd pleasure filled him.
Forcing himself to gain control over his desire, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips. And then, he eased away.
Eyes wide, she gazed up at him. Her lips parted, as if to beckon him to kiss her once again. Had the magnetic pull between them stunned her as much as it had crashed over him? The hunger between them had never truly died. Years apart could not extinguish that bone-deep longing.
Her tongue darted out again, moistening her lips. MacAllister swallowed against a fresh surge of hunger. For her kiss. For her touch. She veiled her expressive gaze with her smoky lashes. Had she sensed the effect she had on him?
A teasing smile curved her mouth. She’d always known how to draw him in without saying a word. Time had not changed a bloody thing, had it?
He threaded his fingers through her hair. The long, wavy tresses were like strands of silk against his fingertips. The corners of her mouth tipped up, and she regarded him with thoughtful eyes that seemed to see to the depths of his soul.
“You can deny me the truth of why you’re running, the truth of whom you’re running from,” he whispered against her mouth. “But you cannot deny who you are.”
“You certainly do know how to test your theory.”
“The taste of your mouth is indelibly etched in my brain, Rose. The feel of your skin against mine is etched on my soul. There is no forgetting some truths.”
“You should not have brought your test to an end…truth be told, I rather enjoyed it.”
“I’d intended to prove a point. Evidently, I succeeded.”
“Indeed.” Her eyes flashed with temptation. “Of course, you might well drive the point home, so to speak. We might both find the experiment enjoyable.”
He drank her in, reconciling the bold words she’d spoken with the memory of the shy beauty he’d first encountered on a holiday visit to her family home. He’d been on his own that Christmas, with his mother and father embarking on a tour of the Continent with his sister in tow. When he’d first laid eyes on her, she’d been up to her elbows in flour, assisting the cook in the kitchen. Even with white smudges on her face and her hair pulled back into a messy semblance of a chignon, she’d been lovely. Keen intelligence had shone in her eyes, while her smile reflected such genuine joy for living, even a born cynic like him had been drawn to her.
“Have you developed a taste for scoundrels?” He kept his tone light and dispassionate, even as the desire to kiss her again waged a silent battle against his restraint.
“Perhaps I’ve always had a fondness for rogues. Especially those who use a noble path to justify breaking hearts.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Rose Fleming has been presumed dead for the last decade. It required leaving everything—and everyone—she loved behind, including MacAllister Campbell. But faking her death allowed her to stay safe until the threat posed by a mysterious villain had passed. Believing it’s finally safe again, she returns…and runs smack into the only man she ever loved.

But Rose was wrong and the stalker she escaped years ago still has her in his sights.

Ten years ago, Mac mourned the death of the woman he loved. It’s taken years to heal his heart only to discover that not only is Rose still alive, but still in grave danger. Mac can forgive Rose’s deception, but he’d never be able to forgive himself if he didn’t protect her from the evil still stalking her.

The only thing worse than losing her once would be losing her again… and he won’t let that happen.
Book Links:  Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Award-winning author Tara Kingston writes historical romance laced with a touch of intrigue. The mother of two sons, Tara grew up in a military family and now lives her own happily-ever-after with her real-life hero and a pair of deceptively innocent-looking shelter kitties in a cozy Victorian. A former librarian, Tara first fell in love with the historical romance genre when she discovered her mom’s old-school Gothic paperbacks. When she’s not writing, reading, or burning dinner, Tara enjoys movie nights, cycling, hiking, DIY projects, and cheering on her favorite football team. To keep up with the latest on Tara’s new releases, historical romance news, and contests, please sign-up for Tara’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/TaraKingstonNewsletter .
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
 
 
 

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57 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: When A Lady Kisses A Scot by Tara Kingston”

    • carol L

      The Regency era is a favorite but I read all eras.
      Carol Luciano
      Lucky4750 at aol dot com

  2. Lilah Chavez

    Definitely the Recency and Victorian ages. I Loves how they spoke, the innuendo, the etiquette. You and the fashion!!! date i say more!

  3. Mary Preston

    No absolute favorite. I love all historical reads. I do tend to read a lot of Regency England, but that’s probably because there are a lot of books around.

  6. Audrey Stewart

    I love historical romances. My favorite are the Gone With The Wind era.

  7. John Smith

    “Which era(s) in historical romance appeal to you the most?” I believe romance existed in Regency England and has never existed before or since!

  8. laurieg72

    I also love historical romances set in different time periods.

    Medieval – castles, Knights of honor and royals, Robin Hood tales
    Camelot and King Arthur’s legend
    Regency – Almach balls, Ton, American heiresses going to London in search of a title
    Victorian- inventions, women speaking out more, railroads and industrial development
    1300’s French & Indian War -Pamela Clare’s trilogy
    Scottish Revolution- William Wallace and Scottish in- fighting between Scottish clans /lairds
    Westerns- settling the Wild West- mail order brides

  10. Marcy Meyer

    I enjoy historical romance, and I think Regency is my favorite time period.

  11. Monique Daoust

    Probably Victorian, because of the Industrial Revolution and all the innovations and changes.

  27. Cecilia R Rodriguez

    I love romances that are set in parts of Asia: China or Japan.
    My favorite Era, Feudal Japan.

  29. Joye I

    I like all eras but find myself reading more set in Regency England.
    I wish writers would write more set during the early days in America -the American Revolution, the Battle of 1812 , etc.

  31. Patricia B

    I like the Highlands of Scotland in just about any time period and the American West of the mid to late 1800s.

  40. Anita H.

    The Regency era is my favorite historical romance period. Love the teas and balls plus their fashion is beautiful!

  43. flchen1

    I’m not sure I have one favorite–I love how historicals will take me to a place and time I cannot ever visit in real life. A couple favorites are ancient China and the American old West.

  46. Cyndi Bennett

    I love them all but my “go to ” is Scottish Midieval!
    Something about men in kilts with brawn and brains…well sometimes brains!!! Lol

  48. Amy Donahue

    I don’t have a favorite era; I’m fascinated by all types of historical romance 🙂