Avril Borthiry

An exciting historical romance series that follows the fates of three Templar knights exiled to Scotland after the nationwide arrest of their brethren that took place in France on Friday 13th October, 1307.Six months have passed since Gabriel escaped the persecution in France and fled, with two of his brothers-in-arms, to Scotland. The upheaval has not been easy for him. A pious and disciplined man, Gabriel now finds himself facing a chaotic and uncertain future. Unable to reconcile all that has happened, he decides to return to his native England, lay down his sword, and take holy vows at Furness Abbey.But returning to the land of his birth is not without risks. His destination lies within the border region of Scotland and England, an area long cursed with conflict. Not only that, the Templars in England are now also facing persecution.Then there's Brianna, the young woman he discovers in the forest along with her rather unusual companion. For the first time in many years, Gabriel finds himself seriously tempted by the allure of a female. Throw in an unsolved mystery from the past, along with its astounding resolution, and Gabriel's life becomes even more complicated Will he adhere to his original plans? Or will temptation and conflict undermine his objective?

Two people, drawn together by fate, are at the center of this spell-binding tale of love and magic. Their lives, and the lives of those around them, have been profoundly affected by a single event in the past. A brief moment in time that, if altered, will right so many wrongs. Can the ancient power of a pagan well set things right? Might it be possible to turn back time and change the paths of those whose hearts have been broken? Whose lives have been lost? Perhaps. The power of the well is great, but there is another, far greater power at work in the world. Of all the forces under Heaven, love is the most powerful. It changes everything.

Haunted by the memories of a tragic betrayal, Turi has been forced to endure a torturous existence. He is a mercenary warrior, his soul tainted by the sinful distractions of a reclusive life. When at last the promise of redemption beckons, Turi returns to the land of his birth, eager to find the peace that has eluded him for so long. Cristen St. Clair is a fugitive. Alone and defenseless, she is easy prey for men who would do her harm - until an enigmatic warrior comes to her aid. It is a fated meeting. Turi and Cristen each have something to offer - and they each have something to hide. But before their shocking secrets are even brought to light, they are faced with another daunting challenge. The Black Death has already decimated the lands across the narrow sea. It is merciless. Deadly. And it has just arrived on England's southern shores.

An enigmatic Scottish laird, a young French noblewoman, an unforgettable night of passion... and a subsequent quest to reunite an illegitimate girl with her Highland sire.Giselle de Courtenay's chosen escort is an honorable but surly knight. Luc de Warenne is less than impressed with his assignment. He's a proud warrior, not a nursemaid. Still, all he has to do is deliver the girl safely to her Scottish father and then return to France to claim his substantial reward. It seems straightforward enough. But fate decides to take Giselle and Luc on a detour. In a tragic turn of events, they find themselves thrown together in a fight for their lives. Their refuge, a mysterious island with its ancient circle of stones, raises more questions than answers. After their spectacular rescue, Giselle and Luc are forced to decide where their futures lie. Will the bitterness of deception keep them apart? Or will love and a sprinkle of Highland magic lead to a happy ending?

An exciting new historical-romance series that follows the fates of three Templar knights after the countrywide arrest of their brethren that took place in France on Friday 13th October, 1307.Forewarned of the French king's shocking edict, Ewan, Gabriel and Jacques, along with a young squire, escape to Scotland and specifically, Ewan's ancestral home.A remote bastion, situated in the coastal Highlands, Castle Cathan is a place long affiliated with the Templars. But it is a secular domain, not beholden to the strict rules that dictate a Templar's life. Each knight, then, must struggle to maintain his disciplined lifestyle and keep his faith. Not easy, when the way ahead is uncertain and the mighty Templar order is on the brink of collapse.Book One. Ewan.It is not enough that Ewan MacKellar has been exiled and forced to flee to his family home. When tragedy strikes soon after his return, he is also forced to surrender his beloved white mantle, discard his holy vows, and assume another role.He now faces a conflict of loyalties, a battle he struggles to resolve as he finds himself falling in love. But misplaced greed forces a betrayal, one that all but breaks Ewan's heart. Yet, from the guilt of that betrayal comes a remarkable act of courage and an astonishing turn of events that can only be described as miraculous.Will Ewan at last find his destiny? And what of Gabriel and Jacques, his Templar brothers-in-arms? As Ewan's story winds to a close, it becomes clear that theirs is only just beginning.

Join award winning, USA Today and bestselling authors for a journey into the enchanted realm of the Fae with this collection of brand new holiday stories spanning from humorous Regency and tender historical to quirky contemporary and gritty urban tales of faerie magic, human redemption, and the power of love. Meara Platt - A Mistletoe Kiss: When Lady Imogen Fairchild wishes for a faerie godmother, her Christmas wish goes awry and she finds herself with Beogrin, a handsome Fae warrior, instead. Beogrin is duty bound to serve her and is not in the least happy about it. Neither is Imogen, for she cannot have a hulking, brawny soldier following her around. But will Imogen ever be able to release this Fae warrior from his obligation to her now that he has conquered her heart? Avril Borthiry - Matthew's Hope: Set in England's rural north at the turn of the 20th century, Matthew's journey from boy to man is plagued with challenges. Yet throughout, he never forgets the little girl who saved his life, the girl no one else could see. Was she real? Or had he imagined her? As Britain and Europe descend into 'the war to end all wars', Matthew must face his greatest challenge of all. It is at his lowest point, his darkest time, that the girl he has never forgotten returns. Her name is Hope. Is she real? Because she is exactly what Matthew needs. Jack Heckel - The Holly And The Ivy: By most measures, Malcolm has a great life, but nothing seems right, not even his perfect girlfriend. After leaving a party, he encounters the faerie Phaedra, but can her magic help him find true love in time for Christmas? And if so, is he willing to pay the price? A story inspired by the Christmas carol of the same name. Ruth Vincent - Above Thy Deep And Dreamless Sleep: When the Fairy Queen tries to guilt-trip her changeling daughter, Mab, into returning to fairyland by transforming Mab's loved ones into mannequins in the New York City Christmas store window displays, Mab must outwit the Fairy Queen's tricks to save her friends and learn what it truly means to go home for the holidays. Michele Lang - The Laws Of Magic: When a wicked army of Night Fae invades the small coastal town of New Castle, Connecticut, Ayna Cassidy, human chaos machine, must somehow overcome her painfully tangled past and stop them from ravaging her home. With the help of a magical lawyer, Rowan Royall, Ayna seeks both true love and salvation - but first she must unlock the secret magic hidden deep in her heart. Bishop O'Connell - The Greatest Gift Of All: Wraith is a spell slinger, able to manipulate reality itself, but she's been on the streets since losing her parents and her life has never been easy. Through all the darkness, she's always tried to help the other children living at the fringes of society; the dejected, the ignored, and the forgotten. Now, the Fae court needs her help in finding a solstice child. If Wraith succeeds, the child will become a beacon of hope. If she fails, the child will become a monster, inspiring anger and rage. Wraith has faced all manner of terrors, both mundane and supernatural, and has never backed down from a fight. Can she save this solstice child and bring hope to the hopeless when she's never had much of that even for herself?

This consolidated book of romantic and other short stories offers an eclectic mix of genres, from historical to contemporary, paranormal to science-fiction. Suitable for those who have a variety of reading tastes

Set in 14th Century England.A dramatic story of sacrifice, heartbreak, and selfless love - a love that goes beyond reason. But is it beyond hope?

Based on an actual medieval legend.The daughter of a Saxon knight and a Welsh healer, Katherine Harrington is a spirited, but lonely girl. Her father is notorious for having killed the last wolf in England. Her mother, who died birthing Katherine, is something of a mystery, since Katherine's father refuses to speak of her. When strange, repetitive dreams start to haunt Katherine, she tells no one, fearful of what they might think. But when one of the men in her dreams turns out to be real, she is forced to acknowledge a frightening truth. Are they dreams? Or could they be something else? And what did she see on that stormy night, out on the sands? Was it the ghost of a long-dead legend? Or the rebirth of another?As the truth of Katherine's birthright comes to light, it reveals the existence of an ancient prophecy. Two men are destined to influence the outcome of that prophecy. One of them steals Katherine's heart. The other captures her soul.

Alexander Mathanach is a Scottish knight; a man of noble birth haunted by a tragic event in his past. Those he loved betrayed him and almost destroyed his faith. Yet, despite his bitterness, he fulfilled the vow he made. As promised, he took the orphaned child from the abbey and raised her as his own, choosing to live a quiet life in the depths of a remote, northern forest.But Alexander is guardian to more than a young girl. He is also the keeper of a divine artifact, one that draws a terrible evil to his secluded doorstep. When his peaceful life is destroyed, he is forced to seek help from a powerful group of knights, who join his fight to save those he loves. But in doing so, Alexander is obliged to revisit his past and face a possibility he has long denied.What if he wasn't betrayed? What if those he loved had not lied?It would mean that a miracle occurred on a starry night, long ago. Which would also mean that Alexander made a dreadful mistake. If so, then how, by all things sacred under Heaven, can he ever hope to make amends?