Scotland, 1503 She clutched the carefully wrapped parcel close to her chest as she climbed over the cliffs. It was all she had left of her father, and she was determined that it would not be destroyed along with everything else. She finally reached the shore and looked around carefully to be sure she was alone. Seeing no one, Ailsa carefully unwrapped the layers of cloth and withdrew the beautiful violin and bow. She brushed off the carved wood, then tightened the bow hairs and adjusted the strings. Closing her eyes, she drew the bow across the strings and played a beautiful, haunting melody. It was as though the world stopped for her; the seagulls ceased their chattering and settled along the shore, the wind seemed to die down. Even the ocean itself seemed to crash a little quieter against the shore as her fingers played the sweeping melody. She didn't know that someone heard her, or that they stayed hidden until she was long gone. She knew only that she found peace here, peace in the midst of her terrible life. It was these stolen moments of joy that kept her from throwing herself from the high cliffs she stood upon, falling to a death that would end her misery. She couldn't know how her life would change after that day.

This book is now available on Amazon and unfortunately they won't allow me to put it up elsewhere for free, not even the unedited draft. Sorry! The Vikings! Aelswyn had heard about them, all the tales of their barbaric behaviour, the rapes and pillages, the massacres, the burnt villages. But she never thought they would dare to attack her father's stronghold. And that they would succeed...

Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one. But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing. Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart? Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.

Nightingale is human - or would be, had it not been for the manner of her creation. Genetically engineered and grown to adulthood in a lab, she was created, not born. Why? For the sole purpose of the entertainment of rich men as one of the many Inamoratas in the bordello business . Beautiful, elegant, a superb dancer and an even better singer, she is the perfect lover for any man. Perfect, that is, except for her personality - the one thing you can't engineer.