Highland Gladiator

The sensual, swashbuckling first Scots and Swords romance from Le Veque (Lord of the Sky) transports readers to the Scottish Highlands of the late 1400s, where clans battle for power. As a young wild child, Isabail of Clan Keith tries to mug Lor, a young traveler from Clan Lindsay, for the bird eggs he carries. Years later, the pair meet again by chance. As young adults, their attraction is instantaneous despite the fierce rivalry between their clans, and they embark on a passionate, if somewhat unbelievable, affair. The slow start picks up steam when Lor’s village burns to the ground and Lor swears vengeance against the arsonists. He searches out the Ludus Caledonia, an infamous fighting guild, to train as a warrior. Believing Lor died in the fire, heartbroken Isabail dedicates her life to helping her clan. The trials Lor must undergo with the Ludus Caledonia test his body and mind—but his eventual reunion with Isabail tests his heart. Though the slogging beginning may put off some readers, it’s highly satisfying to watch both Isabail and Lor come into their own as leaders, and the eventual balance of action and intimacy is masterfully done. Those who stick with this will be happy they did. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Aug.)