Dear Reader,

I first met Krista Slater in my first romantic suspense for Grand Central, Beg for Mercy. All I knew about her then was that she was tough, no nonsense, dedicated to her work and committed to right, even if it meant admitting she’d made an enormous mistake in sending Sean Flynn to death row. But it was only after I’d spent about a month (and a hundred pages) with her in my latest book, HIDE FROM EVIL, that I learned she’s also an automobile expert who can hotwire a car in less than sixty seconds.

And I knew Sean Flynn was loyal and honorable, with a protective streak a mile wide. I also knew that when he was forced into close quarters with Krista, he’d fall and fall hard, despite the fact she’d nearly ruined his life when she prosecuted him for murder. However, I didn’t know he listened to Alice in Chains until he popped in his earbuds and clicked on his iPod.

After I finish every book, I’m amazed at the fact that I’ve written three hundred plus pages about people who exist only in my head. For about six months, I spend nearly every waking hour with them. Even when I’m not actually writing, they’re always around, circling the edges of my consciousness while I think up a sexy, scary story for them to inhabit.

When I first started writing, I read books that said I shouldn’t start writing until I knew absolutely everything about my hero and heroine. And I mean EVERYTHING—stuff like the name of their best friends from kindergarten and their least favorite food. So I would try to fill out these elaborate questionnaires, wracking my brain to come up a list of my heroine’s quirks.

I finally came to accept the fact that it takes me a while to get to know my characters. We need to spend some time together before I get a sense of what makes them tick. It’s like getting to know a new friend: You start with the small talk. Then you hang out, have conversations that go beyond the surface. You start to notice the little details that make them unique, and they reveal things from their pasts that have molded them into the people you’re coming to know.

That’s when things get interesting.

It was definitely interesting getting to know Sean and Krista in HIDE FROM EVIL. Especially finding out why, despite their rocky past, they were absolutely meant for each other. I hope you have as much fun with them as I did.

Enjoy!

www.jamialden.com

Praise for the novels ofMargaret Mallory

  The Guardian

“4 ½ stars! Top Pick! Mallory imbues history with a life of its own, creating a deeply moving story. Her characters are vibrantly alive and full of emotional depth, each with their own realistic flaws. Her sensuous and highly passionate tale grabs the reader and doesn’t let go.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Masterfully written…Mallory has created a series that every romance reader must read. The Guardian is truly a sizzling romance with high-impact adventure that captures the Scotland readers long for. The characters created by Mallory have found places in my heart and I am impatiently awaiting the next of this spectacular series!”

—FreshFiction.com

“What is more tantalizing than a quartet of sexy men in plaids? The Guardian is very much a romance with plenty of adventure wrapped around it. Don’t miss this terrific opening shot in a promising new series.”

—RomRevToday.com

“A must-read for all historical and highlander fans…Ms. Mallory weaves a gripping story of heartbreak, intrigue, and trust…This one is a keeper.”

—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

“10 Stars! Top 20 Reviewed! Exquisite…An extraordinary medieval romance…Mallory has brilliantly set the stage for the next of three books…passionate characters and the women who love them [leap] off the pages…a true keeper to devour happily, knowing it remains on your shelf or in your e-reader to be re-read and savored over and over again!”

—TheSeasonforRomance.com

“A joyfully recommended read!…Vividly fierce, phenomenal…Breathtaking is not a good enough description…I’ve read a couple of Highlander books but none of them ever spoke to me the way The Guardian does!”

—JoyfullyReviewed.com

“I have always enjoyed [Mallory’s] rich, lush historicals… The romance community now has a new star in Scottish tales…Characters that tug at the deepest corners of your heart, a love story that seeps into the very depth of your core, and a multiple sigh-worthy ending that sings to your spirit are all combined in the magic of this wonderful book. Bravo, Margaret Mallory!”

—TheRomanceDish.com

“An amazing introduction to what is fated to become a dangerously addictive series. With characters capable of breaching the most impenetrable of readers’ defenses, riveting story lines (and even more intriguing subplots), quick, witty dialogue, as well as wild sexual tension—the only thing readers will crave, is more.”

—RomanceJunkiesReviews.com

  Knight of Passion

“Top Pick! As in the previous book in her All the King’s Men series, Mallory brings history to life, creating dramatic and gut-wrenching stories. Her characters are incredibly alive and readers will feel and believe their sensual and passionate adventures. Mallory raises the genre to new levels.”

—RT Book Reviews

“An amazing story…a series that readers won’t want to miss…Filled with hot romance as well as adventure with a fascinating historical background.”

—RomRevToday.com

  Knight of Pleasure

“4 Stars! A riveting story…Such depth and sensuality are a rare treat.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Fascinating…An excellent historical romance. Ms. Mallory gives us amazingly vivid details of the characters, romance, and intrigue of England. You’re not just reading a novel, you are stepping into the story and feeling all the emotions of each character…Knight of Pleasure is amazing and I highly recommend it.”

—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

“An absolute delight…captivating.”

—FreshFiction.com

  Knight of Desire