Mad for the Plaid (3) (The Oxenburg Princes)

Mad for the Plaid (3) (The Oxenburg Princes)

“What more could New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins’s fans desire” than the “sharp repartee, clever plotting, memorable characterization, and sizzling sexual tension” ( RT Book Reviews ) of her sparkling Oxenburg Princes fairy tale romance series? Nikolai Romanovin, a royal prince of Oxenburg, has travelled to the deepest wilds of Scotland to rescue his grandmother the Grand Duchess, who was abducted while visiting an old friend in the Highlands. Wanting to avoid an international incident, Nik plans to quietly slip into enemy territory disguised as a groom at Castle Cromartie. But his plans go awry when he falls under the cool gray gaze of the laird’s daughter. Pragmatic and clever, Ailsa Mackenzie has been left in charge of the family estate and her unruly grandmother in her father’s absence. Something about the new groom catches her eyes, and makes her think he’s not who he pretends to be—and even more shockingly, stirs her senses. Is it his obviously educated manners? His arrogant, non-servant-like presence? It’s certainly not his towering, powerful form, or slumberous, inviting green eyes! After confronting the imposter and learning the truth, Ailsa agrees to help Nik—for she, too, understands difficult relatives and would do anything for family. Soon their secret partnership leads to growing respect, searing kisses, and then something far more perilous. And when their quest turns dangerous, Ailsa and Nik must discover this unknown enemy while facing the dangerous demands of their own unruly hearts. "Karen Hawkins provides just the right amount of flirting and teasing to the reader to keep us yearning for more." ― --Heroes and Heartbreakers on Mad for the Plaid “An extremely gifted storyteller, Ms. Hawkins brings the story to life right before your eyes.” ― --Romance Junkies "...this book is by far the best historical-romance read of the year! ... Author Karen Hawkins has knocked me off my feet again with her juicy, high adventure romance novels!" ― --Night Owl Reviews (5 star review) "Do not miss Karen's newest (dare I say) masterpiece!" ― --The Reading Wench New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond series is a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors for her to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, check in with her at Facebook.com/AuthorKarenHawkins, on Instagram @KarenHawkinsAuthor, and on her website KarenHawkins.com. Mad for the Plaid Chapter 1 Castle Leod The Small Study November 17, 1824 “What do you mean, she’s ‘gone missing’?” Lady Ailsa Mackenzie put down the letter she’d been reading and eyed her grandmother with disbelief. Lady Edana MacGregor Mackenzie, the Dowager Countess Cromartie, fluttered her lace handkerchief. “I mean what I said: the duchess is nowhere to be found.” Dressed in black, a color Lady Edana had assumed on the death of her husband, the late earl, more than ten years earlier, she made an impressive figure. Tall and willowy, with carefully crafted dyed-gold hair that echoed the true color that had faded years ago, Edana fought valiantly to keep age from robbing her of the famed MacGregor beauty. “Ailsa, I am deeply concerned. Poor Natasha does not know the dangers of our highland countryside.” “Perhaps Her Grace is oot in the carriage, or going for a ride, or . . . whatever it is she wished to do.” “Dear, it’s ‘out,’ not ‘oot.’?” Edana sighed heavily. “I do wish your father had sent you to a proper boarding school.” “I needed to be here with Mama after she grew ill. I would nae have missed those moments for anything.” “And now she’s gone, your papa is never here. It’s as if I lost both of them at one and the same time.” Edana gave a fretful sigh. “Your papa is neglecting us all. He should have seen to it that you went to a proper boarding school and had at least one season. You might have married by now, the way your sisters have.” Ailsa refrained from pointing out that while her sisters had inherited Edana’s famed MacGregor beauty, Ailsa had taken after the bold Mackenzies. Where her sisters had golden hair, blue eyes, willowy figures, and perfect noses, Ailsa’s hair was a darker, less noticeable ash blond, her eyes gray, her form stalwart, while her nose could only be called “prominent.” It was an unfortunate blend of traits. Not that it mattered; Ailsa was twenty-two now and had no desire to be displayed on the marriage mart among a group of mindless seventeen-year-olds who would drive her mad with their empty chatter and breathless gossip. She was happy to have been left at Castle Leod, where she could hunt, ride, fish