Roses and Readers, please welcome our guest blogger, Allana Lucas Love to travel! And leave a comment for have a chance at winning an eBook from her backlist.
Earlier
this month I chaperoned my daughter (who just turned 18!) and two of her
friends to Scotland. Traveling with three teens was an interesting and
thoroughly enjoyable adventure. We rented a flat in Edinburgh, but took several
day trips, exploring various parts of the country. While waiting for our return
flight home, we came up with our top ten for Edinburgh and beyond. Here’s our
list- in no particular order, since we all agreed everything was awesome!
1)
Listening to The Spinning Blowfish on The Mound -a busking band with bagpipes,
guitar, and drums.
2) Hiking up
to Arthur’s Seat
3) Going
inside the J.K.
Rowling suite at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh (if no one is staying in the
suite, the
concierge will allow you in the room to take pictures)
4)
Spending the day at Edinburgh Castle- highlight of the visit: seeing the Crown
Jewels
5) Exploring
the numerous Closes along the Royal Mile- we also did the Mary King’s Close
tour.
6)
Learning about the ha-ha wall at the Holyrood Palace Garden- Prince Albert had
the wall constructed for Queen Victoria
7) Seeing
The Unicorn Tapestries at Stirling Castle (the original tapestries are at The
Met Cloisters in New York City) – Only an hour train trip out of Edinburgh,
plus an invigorating walk up to the castle.
8)
Greyfriars Kirk and statue of the Greyfriars Bobby- the Skye Terrier spent 14
years guarding the grave of his owner until he passed away in 1872.
9)
Climbing 287 steps to the top of the Sir Walter Scott Monument- it was a clear
day and the views were incredible!
10)
Walking a section of Hadrian’s Wall. We took a day trip to Roslyn Chapel,
Melrose Abbey, and Hadrian’s Wall. Okay, so this wasn’t in Scotland, but it was
on my life’s to-do list!
Blurb for
Only a Hero Will Do:
Defender of the realm…and
his wary heart…
Captain
Grant Alexander is an enigma in London society. Dashing and handsome, he coldly
eschews marriage. But the ton knows
nothing of his role in the Legion: to bring Typhon, the traitor who seeks to
destroy the British monarchy, to justice.
When Grant
is thrown together with fellow Legion member Elizabeth Atwell, he’s instantly
beguiled yet exasperated by this beautiful viscount’s daughter. She has little
interest in combing the marriage mart for a well-bred, well-heeled husband, but
is adept at code-breaking and handling a bow and arrow. She also refuses to do
as she is told, insisting she accompany Grant on his mission.
As Typhon
continues to evade capture and dark forces are at work, Grant realizes he must
act, not only to protect the realm but Elizabeth too…not to mention his heart,
which is in danger of thawing every time she comes close…
Excerpt
for Only a Hero Will Do:
Early
evening shadows danced across the white walls and cold white marble floors.
Soon the austere ballroom would come to life with hundreds of guests, fresh
flowers, and music.
Servants
scurried around completing various tasks. Most were too busy to even take
notice of Elizabeth’s presence. Tonight’s gathering of some of the finest and
most well connected families in England would certainly bring out some of
Typhon’s agents. Sooner or later, one was bound to make a mistake, bringing the
Legion one step closer to discovering Typhon’s true identity and extinguishing
the threat once and for all.
Elizabeth
needed to be on guard tonight and was not going to leave anything to chance.
Surveying the ballroom once more, she took her time covering every inch,
contemplating every angle an attack might come from. She could not fail in this
assignment. She would prove she was as capable as any man, and also prove to
Grant that she belonged in his world.
With
the layout of the room fully ingrained in her mind, she strolled to the pair of
doors leading out onto the terrace. Pushing them wide open, she was rewarded
with the sounds of chirping birds and leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. It
all seemed so peaceful, but the gnawing in her stomach indicated it was
anything but serene.
She
dreaded her role tonight—to distract Mr. Ward with light flirtation in the hope
that his tongue would loosen. Although a little sketchy, the rhyme he’d sung
and recited during their ride in the park was a goldmine of information.
Elizabeth suspected he was key to their investigation. Even still, the
flirtation would be no more than that. There would be no moonlight stroll or
stolen kisses under the wisteria. Absolutely
not. A shudder rippled through her. There were certain things she was
definitely not willing to do, not even for the greater good of her country.
She
rested her hands on the cool balustrade, gazing across the lush green
landscape. From this vantage point, in the twilight, one could still see across
the vast sloping landscape. Once the sun set, therein lay the danger. The trees
in the distance were a nest for Typhon’s men. One of them could be lurking in
them there right now, watching her every move.
“Surveying
the landscape?” Grant’s deep voice drifted onto the terrace and straight into
her body, warming her insides.
She
turned to greet him but was tongue-tied the moment she laid eyes on him. He cut
an impressive figure in his blue coat and buff pantaloons. Swallowing hard, she
stuttered, “Uh…y—yes.” Her response made her sound like a simpleton, not the
able-bodied agent she wanted to be viewed as. She took in a deep breath, but
soon realized that whenever Grant was near no amount of deep breathing could
possible steady her nerves and racing heart. “You’re early.”
“It’s
best I get the lay of the land before the light goes. Simon is stationed at the
south end of the property, and Philson to the east.”
“And
will you be stationed inside the ballroom this evening?” Her heart leaped at
the possibility of spending more time with him.
“I’ll
be near, just in case, but I won’t be partaking in any of the merriment
tonight.” His words were formal, final.
“I’m
sure you can spare one dance.” She thought to change his mind, but as soon as
the words came out, she regretted them. His stern look cooled whatever warmth
had entered her body.
He
sucked in his breath and shifted his gaze, looking in the direction of the
large pond. “I don’t dance.”
“You
don’t dance? Why ever not?”
“It
is not something I wish to discuss.”
The
warning in his voice only made her want to challenge him more. “That’s not an
acceptable excuse. Why won’t you open up to me? And don’t you dare say it’s
because I’m the daughter of a viscount.”
“Damn
it Elizabeth, that’s exactly why. Why must you push?”
“Because
I care.”
BUY LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
APPLE iBOOKS
KOBO
