Mrs. Claus and the Viking Ship by Laura Strickland

Christmas Is In The Air

Historical Romance (Holiday)

Scottish chief’s daughter, Tinnie MacAieth, can think of only one way to ransom her clan’s folk, defeated by the fierce Viking, Claus – agree to his demand that she become his bride.  She hopes her faith and love for her people will allow her to endure a lonely, loveless future in the cold north.

Claus has claimed Tinnie for his wife, but the prize he truly wants is her heart.  Determined to win it, he offers her many gifts, but not until he undertakes a dangerous winter voyage for her sake does he dare hope she sees what’s in his heart.  And on one magical Christmas Eve, while delivering toys to her clan’s children by sleigh, he begins to believe she may grant him the one gift he desires …

Excerpt: 

The old man led him into what must be the main hall and paused.  Here at least a fire burned on the central hearth, giving some warmth and radiance.  The rest of the place, though, offered little in the way comfort. He had heard the Sutherland Chiefs lived well, yet now he saw nothing to make him believe it.  Disappointment gripped his heart.  Two seasons spent sweating and fighting for this?

But ah, these Chiefs were canny – MacAieth may have hidden everything of worth before receiving him.

 “Where is Chief MacAieth?” he asked.

“I am his widow.”

“Ah.” Surprise lifted Claus’ eyebrows “Then, Missus, I would speak with your sons.”

“My sons are both dead.”  Her voice did tremble then.  “You see all that is left of the Chief’s house.”

She gestured to the second woman and Claus turned his eyes thence accordingly.  He lost all his breath, precisely as if he had received a hard blow to the gut.

Here, surely, lay clan Aieth’s treasure.  She must be daughter to the Chief’s wife – there existed enough resemblance.  Yet her beauty lit the poor room even as the fire failed to do.  Brown-haired like her mother, her flowing tresses carried a kiss of warmth like oak leaves in fall.  Her face, a perfect oval, appeared serene – skin white as snow, lips tinged berry red.  But Claus saw nothing of serenity in her eyes.  Deep, dusky blue, they held all the wild fury of a storm on a distant sea, a thing Claus knew full well.

His heart stuttered in his chest and suddenly all his well-marshaled demands flew out of his head.  A conquering marauder, he nevertheless suddenly wanted to throw himself at this woman’s feet.

Yet in her beautiful eyes he saw only hate.

Author web site: http://www.laurastricklandbooks.com

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Author bio:

Multi-published author Laura Strickland delights in time traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Born and raised in Western New York, she’s pursued lifelong interests in lore, legend, magic and music, all reflected in her writing. Though she’s made pilgrimages to both Newfoundland and Scotland in the company of her daughter, she’s usually happiest at home not far from Lake Ontario with her husband and her "fur" child, a rescue dog.