Title Thistle in the Mistletoe
Author Margaret Izard
Genre Paranormal Romance, Holiday Romance
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb
A kiss under the Mistletoe brings good fortune, but can a Christmas wedding stop a deadly feud?
The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest enemy who murdered his da. Trust in a Comyn is hard won, even if she tempts his senses.
Mary Comyn only wants to stop the wars and live a life of peace and goodwill. Tricked by her father and forced by the English king to marry her clan’s enemy, Mary fears she’s scarifying finding true love for peace. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic, but why would the handsome MacDougall laird, her greatest clan enemy, love her?
A man conflicted by duty charged to find peace. A woman whose father betrayed all. When betrayal looms from within, can enemies find love and forge a new future for both clans?
Excerpt
“Ye read?”
Mary turned, smiling. “Aye, my mother taught me before her death. Father wasn’t happy. Declared it was a waste on the lesser sex, but she insisted. Claimed a woman’s mind was just as smart, if not smarter, than a man’s.”
Roderick grumbled. Comyn didn’t have the sense of a pea. Women had complicated minds capable of not only deceit and deception but such wonderful insight. He learned from his ma, it was best to use a woman’s mind for good and not evil. His da always said, ye know nothing about a woman until ye make her angry.
Mary picked up a volume and flipped it open. “She taught some in the clan to read.” She closed the book and set it back in the case. “I’d always wished to teach more of my clan to read but my father wouldn’t allow it.”
Roderick would have liked her mom. Such a strange match for Laird Comyn, the gruff, crude, stern man he was. His father mentioned they were all friends at one time, before the feud. Mary’s mom had been a close friend of his ma’s. But all that was before his birth, before the wars began. Strange how times changed.
He strode to the table of spirits and poured himself one.
Roderick turned ready to take a sip and Mary raised an eyebrow. “Husband will ye not offer one to yer wife?”
His eyes met hers as he grinned, liking her banter. “Why pardon me, wife.” He sauntered toward her offering the goblet to her. “Would ye like a dram, Milady?” Stepping close he handed it to her, their fingers brushing. He waited for her to take a sip, expecting her to fall into a fit of coughs.
When she sipped and it went down smoothly, he chuckled. “A woman familiar with spirits. Shall I lock mine up?”
Her gaze fell to the cup. “With the warm welcome I’ve had, I’ll need another.” She stepped past him and sat in one of the richly upholstered chairs before the fire.
Roderick sighed and poured himself one, needing it for the conversation ahead. “Aye, well, I heard about Alister.”
He crossed to sit in the chair next to hers, facing her, his drink between both hands. “Mary, while it will take some time for people to grow used to ye, I will not permit harm to come to ye. Ye must tell me, has anyone else done anything to ye? Something I need to address?” He glanced at her, hoping that things went well for her outside of Alister’s outburst.
She sighed. “No, nothing I can’t handle. As for Alister, I wanted to comfort him. We both have losses and it’s time for that to end.”
Roderick sat back, sipping his drink then set his on the table between them. She was a wise woman, one who understood loss from war. What all had the Comyn clan lost? What had Mary lost? His plan for her acceptance, she needed to know so they could work together to bridge the gap between his people and her.
“Agreed. Anytime a clan member does something against ye for being a Comyn, I’m having them serve ye for an hour.”
Mary sat up, shaking her head. “It’s not—”
“It is. Mary, it’s not a punishment but a chance to spend time with ye, get to know ye. So, when Alister arrives in the morning, spend time speaking with him. Have him help ye so he’s needed. Ye ken?”
Mary smiled. “Ah, befriending the enemy, show him my vulnerability.” She sipped her whisky and peeked at him. “Yer plan has flaws. What if I am not a weak woman, Roderick?”
He slipped off his chair kneeling before her. “Mary, that’s the best part of my plan. Ye are not a weak woman and I want the clan to see it. To see what I see in ye.”
He took her drink from her and set it on the table. Taking her hands in his he stared into her eyes. “What I see in ye, Mary, is a strong woman who’s had to fight for all she needed, provided for her clan in hard times. Forced to run a keep on her own at a young age must not have come easy and knowing yer father’s warriors, must have been eye opening.”
She blinked and stared at him. “It wasn’t so bad. They are my family, my clan.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. He was right. Her life under her father had not been easy.
He sighed as he spoke. “But what I see in ye is compassion, and I want, no need my clan too see it too.” He kissed her hands. “Give my clan a chance to get to know ye, give me a chance as well. While we are ordered to, I want us to make this marriage work.” He moved toward her, intent on a kiss. Her eyes closed and a tear escaped. He brushed it aside with his thumb caressing her cheek and brushed his lips across hers. She responded in a sigh, and he shifted forward deepening the kiss.
Her kisses were the nectar his soul needed. No woman stirred him like her.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she whimpered into his kiss as their tongues danced. His desire raged, and he wanted nothing more than to take his wife into his arms. But he tried to win her affection first. He wanted this to grow into a true marriage, not the farce it started as.
He reluctantly ended the kiss, needing her trust first. “Mary, ’tis been a long day.” He picked up her goblet; a sip was still left. “Finish yer wee nip and I’ll escort ye to yer room.”
She gulped it down and set the cup aside. Maybe he really needed to lock up the spirits.
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Giveaway -
Enter to win a holiday-themed bookish box of goodies including
Kissletoe Holiday Crystal Ornament (color may vary from picture)
Signed copy of book
Large Thistle in the Mistletoe book bag
Small Thistle in the Mistletoe book bag
Insulated wine glass with Thistle in the Mistletoe logo
Dublin shot glass with etched Thistle in the Mistletoe logo
Thistle in the Mistletoe bookmark
Thistle in the Mistletoe recipe card
Author pen
Wild Rose Press (publisher) 2025 calendar
Delivered in custom printed Margaret Izard Author Book Swag Box
Open to residents of the United States and Canada
Runs October 21 - December 18
Winner will be drawn on December 19
Facebook Party!
On November 4th, I will host a Facebook Release Day Party 10am-3pm CST US for Thistle in the Mistletoe, Christmas Companion Book, Stones of Iona Series.
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Author Biography
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college and adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
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