Today, we're chatting about the dogs in  the next book in the Hardy Heroines  series, The Highlander's Crusader Bride,  due to release Oct. 24, 2017.
 
 As with all our books, there is at least one canine  (or occasionally feline) character that  gives aid, whether physical or emotional,  to the hero or heroine.

 The Highlander's Crusader Bride opens in  the Holy Land, some years after the 3rd crusade. Our heroine, Arbela MacLean, daughter of a Scot and an Armenian princess, was born in the desert, and it was only fitting to find dogs from this region.

For Arbela’s dogs, we chose the Aidi breed, also known as the Atlas Mountain Dog, which is an average-size, moderately coated dog, with its origins in Morocco. It is known as a livestock protector and also has good scenting capabilities, and you'll find both qualities in our dogs, Toros and Garen. It's thick coat shields against the sun as well as the cold--which makes it extremely adaptable to Scotland's weather--and gives the dog protection when engaged in fights with predators.

The Aidi comes in many colors, from a vast range of shades from fawn to red and brown (which this author terms sable) to black. Many have white markings.

Toros and Garen, the Aidis in our book, are very protective of their family, and are useful when rumor of a wolf among the sheep reaches the laird's ears. But, Toros' attachment to 5-year-old Bram, the laird's son, is so true of their temperament, while Garen uses her skills to protect all who threaten her family.

photos from National Purebred Dog Day.

This week's Medieval Monday blog hop features Ashley York's novel, Curse of the Healer!

Excerpt:
 Staring in the face of his obvious vitality  and strength, she hesitated. A finer  specimen of a well-honed man she’d  not  seen. “I do not really believe—”
 “NO?” A sheer wall of exasperation now,  he waited. His square jaw tensed  beneath  the shadow of dark stubble.  “Mayhap the  next time ye’ll find his  young body  impaled on a rock at the  bottom of the cliff.”
                                                   * * *
You can find my snippet from The Highlander's Viking Bride for this week on Ashley's blog: https://www.ashleyyorkauthor.com/blog

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Blurb:
After the death of Brian Boru in 1014, a legend arose of a healer so great she could raise a man from the dead, with a power so strong it could make any warrior the next high king of Éire...and to steal it away from her, he need only possess her. 
Fated to be a healer…
Aednat has spent her entire life training to be the great healer, knowing she must remain alone. When she meets Diarmuid, the intense attraction she feels toward him shakes her resolve to believe in such a legend. If she gives in to the passion he ignites in her, can she settle for being less?
Destined to be his…
Diarmuid of Clonascra is renowned for his bravery in battle. Only one thing daunts him: the prospect of taking a wife. The safest course would be to keep his distance from Aednat, the bold, headstrong healer who's far too tempting for his peace of mind. But his overking orders him to protect her from a group of craven warriors intent on kidnapping her to steal her power.
What starts as duty for Diarmuid quickly transforms into something more. Aednat's power might be at risk, but so is his closed-off heart.

BUY LINKS: Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Healer-Derbfine-Book-1-ebook/dp/B06XC1J99P

Jenna Jaxon is with me today to share snippet #7 from her book, Betrothal, Book 1 in the Time Enough to Love series.

Excerpt:
“What say you then, Sir Geoffrey? Does the lady not speak fair? I vow she will make you a proper wife and a dutiful one as well.”
Alyse turned, until that moment unaware that Geoffrey Longford stood beside her. Chills coursed down her body as the king’s words echoed in her mind. The sensation of falling backward assailed her, as though she rushed away from the tall man at her side even as his figure loomed larger and larger in her sight.
Not Lord Braeton.
Her numbed brain repeated the phrase, trying to comprehend that instead he would be her husband. Geoffrey Longford.
God have mercy on me, for by the look of him, this man will not. 
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You can follow my week 7 snippet on Jenna's blog: http://jennajaxon.wordpress.com
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Blurb:
BETROTHAL
 
The heart can choose, but can it also change?
Lady Alyse de Courcy has fallen in love with Lord Braeton, a nobleman in King Edward III’s court and a man to whom she has barely spoken. Fate, however, has decreed her betrothal to his best friend, Sir Geoffrey Longford—a handsome and imposing knight, yet hardly the man she wants to wed.
When Sir Geoffrey is bound in betrothal by his father, he could not have expected the beautiful stranger to win his heart the moment they meet. But Alyse’s infatuation with his friend casts doubt on whether she can ever return his regard and their wedding day is fast approaching…  Will he have time enough to win her love?

LINKS:
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF6UZFW
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrothal-jenna-jaxon/1115182506?ean=2940044481251
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/307838
 

Aren't these fabulous??? I'm so excited to share these new covers with you! Here are the blurbs and buy links for Jenna's outstanding books:

ONLY A SCANDAL WILL DO
 
He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?
 
Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.
 
Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she’s a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he’ll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who’ll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family’s name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He’s betting their future he’ll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?
 
WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.
 
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Scandal-Will-House-Pleasure-ebook/dp/B00IRITN3C/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
 
ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO
 
Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”
 
When the man of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the villain claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero to escort her to her family estate in far off Northern England—hoping that along the way she can win his love—and his hand…

Captivated by Juliet’s sweetness and beauty, Captain Amiable Dawson can’t help but be spellbound by the promise of a life with her. But the spell breaks when questions arise about her marital status. Soon the upstanding Amiable is unsure if he is indeed married to Juliet. And when his rival absconds with her, Amiable must choose between the law of the land and his heart’s desire to rescue Juliet once more…
 
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Marriage-Will-House-Pleasure-ebook/dp/B00ONTR82M/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
 
ONLY A MISTRESS WILL DO
 
The man of her dreams . . . belongs to another woman.

Destitute and without friends, Violet Carlton is forced to seek employment at the House of Pleasure in London. She steels herself for her first customer and is shocked when the man rescues her instead of ravishing her. A grateful Violet cannot help but admire the handsome Viscount Trevor. But she must curb her desire for the dashing nobleman she can never have because he is already betrothed to another . . .

Tristan had gone to the House of Pleasure for a last bit of fun before he became a faithful married man. But when he recognizes the woman in his bed, he becomes determined to save her instead. Now, his heart wars with his head as he falls for the vulnerable courtesan. Unable to break his betrothal without a scandal, Tris resolves to find Violet proper employment or a husband of her own. Still, his arms ache for Violet, urging him to abandon propriety and sacrifice everything to be with the woman he loves. . . .
 
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Mistress-Will-House-Pleasure-ebook/dp/B01I85NPZ0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
 

It's week 6 of our blog hop, and time to welcome Laurel O'Donnell to the blog as she shares her next snippet of her hero and heroine's first encounter from her book, The Angel and the Prince.

Excerpt:
She recovered with a nervous laugh.  “Do you take me for a fool?  Shall I release your bonds so you can snap my neck with your bare hands?”
He turned his unscathed cheek toward her.  “Perhaps you’d like to cut this side.”
Ryen stood, appalled.  However, his goading made the idea attractive, and she raised the sharp blade to press it against his skin.  Her knuckles brushed his cheek and a tremor ran down her spine.  She stared for a long moment at his profile, realizing how close she was to him, and that the shiver was neither coldness nor repulsion.  She enjoyed touching his skin.  Angry with the knowledge and with herself, she narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth.  Her hand trembled as she pulled the blade away.  “You’d like it too much.”
“Bitch,” he snarled.
                                              * * *
Follow along next week for Laurel's 7th snippet at Ruth A Casie’s website – http://RuthACasie.blogspot.com
Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a signed copy of The Angel and the Prince!
 
You can find my 6th snippet at Laurel's blog: http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/blog.html Remember to comment for another chance at winning an ebook from each of our Medieval Monday authors!
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Blurb:
In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy -- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. 

Ryen De Bouriez is a French warrior, dedicated to protecting her country against the hated English. In place of glittering ball gowns, she wears shining armor. Instead of practicing the gentler arts, she wields a sword. Those who whisper her name in fear and awe call her the Angel of Death. 

Bryce Princeton is the Prince of Darkness, an English knight sent by his king to find and destroy their most hated adversary -- the Angel of Death. Little does he know that his enemy is no man at all, but a beautiful woman who will challenge his heart and honor at every turn.

Forced to choose between love and honor, the Angel and the Prince wage a battle of wills that challenges everything they have ever believed in.
                                                * * *
 
Buy Link for The Angel and the Prince by Laurel O’Donnell –
 
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Prince-Laurel-ODonnell-ebook/dp/B004LGTR1M/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8