This book is so different from the first three books in the Clan Grant series, and it signaled a big change for me as a writer. Why? Because Caralyn isn’t a virgin.
That happens to be one of the favorite discussion topics among historical romance authors. Whenever we get together and talk about writing, someone will usually mention how tired they are of writing sex scenes with virgins.
After thirty books, I can relate.
I really enjoyed writing Caralyn and Robbie’s love scenes, and one of them—I’ll bet you can guess which!—is an all-time favorite of mine.
Without further adieu, here are my favorite scenes in Journey to the Highlands:
- CARALYN PROTECTS HER BAIRNS. This book was meant to illustrate the power of a mother’s love. Being a single mother isn’t easy, regardless of the era, and you can imagine how incredibly difficult it was in medieval times. Caralyn is willing to do anything to protect her lassies—from suffering Malcolm’s abuse in exchange for protection and food to offering herself to a hated Norseman.
- ROBBIE’S SENSE OF HONOR. We see Robbie’s Highlander sense of honor in so many ways. The first instance is when he saves Caralyn from a surely deadly trip on a Norse galley ship. Of course, he also calls his men out for staring at her, throws himself into the search for her two wee bairns, and on and on.
- ASHLYN PROTECTING GRACIE. I love how protective Ashlyn is of Gracie, even to the point of giving her wee sister all of her food. She hides her oatcake in the folds of her skirt so she can give it to Gracie as soon as the warriors leave them alone. Gracie is too young to understand the sacrifice, but she’ll learn when they grew up.
- SEX IN THE ABBEY. Yes, forbidden, but the two are hot together, aren’t they?
- GRACIE WAVING TO ROBBIE. Gracie trusts Robbie right from the start, because wee ones seem to sense things better than adults sometimes. But the best part is when she runs from the nun at the abbey just to wave goodbye to Robbie, all while Caralyn watches from the window. When I wrote the scene, I cried right along with Caralyn.
- LOGAN AND GWYNETH. This book marks the start of their relationship (there is an overlap with Highland Sparks). I loved watching them sacrifice their own desires to help Caralyn’s wee lassies. Logan’s recognition that lassies like to be clean is yet another sign that our favorite barreling brute has plenty of redeeming qualities.
- GRACIE LEARNS TO LAUGH. Wee Gracie doesn’t speak or smile when we first meet her, but she blossoms at Clan Grant (wouldn’t we all?). She enjoys a game of hide-and-seek in Maddie’s beloved bathing room and, innocent lass that she is, hides in the same spot over and over again. I have two granddaughters who love to hide in the same closet and…I can never find them!
- CARALYN’S LACK OF CONFIDENCE. Yes, this was a crying novel for me. One scene that has stuck with me is when Caralyn asks Maddie if she could make her a good mother.
- ROBBIE SETS OUT TO PROVE HER WORTH. Robbie won’t accept Caralyn on her own terms, and instead sets out to teach her how much she is worth, although in a completely different way than either of them anticipated.
Other notable events:
Bairn #4 is born to Alex and Maddie, but it’s another strapping son, still not the blonde-haired lassie Alex has been waiting for, though he has wee dark-haired Kyla to spoil.
This is where we first see the cottage by the Grant loch, where the Grants will go on to swim for years.
Do you remember Sisters Donna and Ellie, plus Mother Mary? Tributes to my mother Donna and her two sisters, Ellie and Mary, both romance lovers.
Did I miss your favorite?
Happy reading,
Keira Montclair