Rescued by a Highlander-my favorite scenes

The success of Rescued by a Highlander was such a shock for me. I tried to get this book published for two years. After countless rejections, probably more than fifty, and several rewrites, I self-published the book.

I guessed I’d sell ten copies. Yes. You read that correctly. Ten.

I hoped to sell a hundred with the plan to give my daughter 50% of my profits toward in-vitro costs. So imagine my surprise when I sold seventy books in two hours on the third day, and sales continued to climb from there. I was stunned, ecstatic, and so hopeful for my daughter and her husband.

Thank you, readers! <<hugs to all of you!>>

Now I have two lovely granddaughters, as you know, and the rest is history.

Alex and Maddie became two beloved characters of not just ten or a hundred readers, but thousands.

That number still humbles me. Who would have guessed?

I did have the book re-edited by my current editor, Angela Polidoro, whom I adore, and she’s been with me ever since the release of Healing a Highlander’s Heart.

I digress. I promised to share my thoughts on my favorite scenes. I do have quite a few in this book. Here they are, presented in no particular order. SPOILER ALERT! Yes, there will be spoilers. STOP NOW if you haven’t read it.

My favorite scenes in Rescued by a Highlander:

1. MY LADY. I love it when Alex carries Alice to the keep when she arrives at Grant Castle all beaten. Her husband Mac is with her, but Alex is the one who carries her, AND he also calls her ‘my lady’ because she protected and cared for Maddie. One of many SWOONS for Alex Grant!
2. As long as we’re talking about Alice and Alex, let’s not forget when she calls him swine and hits him with a book for sneaking inside Maddie’s chamber before they’re married. I love Alice. She does indeed represent Maddie’s mother, in case you were wondering.
3. THE PEARLS. Another favorite is when Alex finds pearls for Maddie that look exactly like her mother’s. A thoughtful man…swoon again!
4. THE SINKHOLE. It broke my heart to write the scene where wee Emma and Jennie fall into the sinkhole (especially since Jennie makes a slow recovery!), but it’s perhaps the greatest illustration of Maddie’s fortitude. This is when Maddie truly shows not only her ability to bear pain, but more importantly, her ability to love.
5. THE BIG BATTLE. Alex’s battle with Niles Comming is a favorite for many reasons. Two parts of this scene are particularly special for me, so I’ll focus on those elements. The small steps Maddie takes toward Alex for the first time illustrate a major change in her self-confidence. I had trouble writing this scene because I don’t usually head-hop (hop from one person’s point-of-view to another’s within the same scene), but I felt it was so important to show both of their thoughts when Maddie finally finds the courage to trust Alex and step closer to him. Alex notices, and this small movement spurs him forward.   The other important part of this scene is how Maddie demonstrates her strength by asking Alex to promise not to tie her to the marriage bed.

6. ALEX AND MADDIE AFTER THE FIGHT. When Maddie finally visits him after the fight, Alex Grant shows his true depth of character and his best quality—patience. Maddie learns much about him when he allows her the chance to conquer her demons on her own terms, even if she must step away from him to calm her nerves. She learns to trust in this small scene, and he earns it. Swoon again…
7. THE BIRTH OF THE TWINS. True, it’s always great to see a villain get their just due, but it’s even better to see a huge Highlander insist on staying in the birthing chamber with his wife! I love that he stays by Maddie’s side during all her births—something unheard of back then.

 

Other thoughts?

On their wedding night, Maddie closes her eyes and dreams of her mother. Yes, that is what I intended, though some interpreted it as a spiritual scene. You can believe whatever makes your heart sing.

I’ve also received reviews that state the audio does not match the book. That is correct. The audio is the first edition (before edits by my present editor, Angela Polidoro), and the book is the second edition. When I receive the rights back for the audio book, I will have it redone by my current narrator, the wonderful Paul Woodson, so the two will match. This is the only book where that happens.

And finally, why did Jennie still suck her thumb when she was eight years old?

I received many critical reviews for that little item, but I wrote that scene based on my knowledge as a recovery room (PACU) nurse and pediatric nurse. When children are extremely traumatized, they may revert back to earlier habits. I’ve seen twelve-year-old boys suck their thumbs after surgery.

So, was Jennie Grant, who’d lost both her mother and her father in her short eight years, traumatized when her eldest brother threatened to have another brother flogged in the middle of a huge argument?

She sure was. I’m never going to change that thumb popping into her mouth.

Comments are encouraged, but I have to approve them first in order to weed out the spam, so be patient.

What was your favorite scene?

 

Happy reading,

Keira Montclair