RELEASE DAY LAUNCH Devil in Tartan by Julia London

   

From New York Times bestselling author Julia London, comes DEVIL IN TARTAN—the fourth novel in her Highland Grooms Series!

DEVIL IN TARTAN is now available. Order your copy today!

   

DEVIL IN TARTAN Synopsis:

Lottie Livingstone bears the weight of an island on her shoulders. Under threat of losing their home, she and her clan take to the seas to sell a shipload of illegal whiskey. When an attack leaves them vulnerable, she transforms from a maiden daughter to a clever warrior. For survival, she orchestrates the siege of a rival’s ship and now holds the devilish Scottish captain Aulay Mackenzie under her command.

Tied, captive and forced to watch a stunning siren commandeer the Mackenzie ship, Aulay burns with the desire to seize control—of the ship and Lottie. He has resigned himself to a life of solitude on the open seas, but her beauty tantalizes him like nothing has before. As authorities and enemies close in, he is torn between surrendering her to justice and defending her from assailants. He’ll lose her forever, unless he’s willing to sacrifice the unimaginable…

   

Grab your copy of DEVIL IN TARTAN today!

Amazon | Kindle | B&N | B-A-M | Powell’s | IndieBound | Google Play | Kobo

     

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

   

The Reulag Balhaie was not in the business of saving other ships. It was generally considered unwise to ap­proach another ship unless one was prepared to have a hull shattered by cannon fire. But their curiosity was aroused. The burning ship was just a spot in the dis­tance now, so they’d set course for the starboard side of the smaller ship, a gun pointed at the forecastle in the event there was trouble.
 Aulay watched the smaller ship slowly come into view, its outline muted against the darkening sky, the clouds weighing down on the masts. It wasn’t until they were almost on the ship that they could see it was listing.
 Iain the Red was studying it as they approached. “No’ a fly boat, no,” he said. “A bilander.”
 “A bilander!” Beaty blustered. “What nonsense!”
 Whether a fly boat or bilander, neither were partic­ularly well suited for the open seas. “Is there a flag?” he asked.
 “No.” Iain the Red paused, then laughed. “Look at them now, trying to lower the sail.” He laughed again with great amusement. “They look like children romping around a bloody maypole! Look at them trying to un­tangle those shroud lines, aye? They’re twisted up every which way—oof, there went one, down on his arse!”
 The men gathered at the railing to watch, and laughed at the blundering of the crew on the other ship as they tried to free a sail from a broken mast with what looked like a lot of pushing and shoving. “Aye, give it over, Iain, let’s have a look,” one said, and they began to pass the spyglass around, all of them doubling over with mirth.
 The spyglass came back around to Iain, but when he held it up, he stopped laughing. “Diah, de an diabhal?” he exclaimed and lowered the instrument, turning a wide-eyed look to Aulay.
 “What, then?” Aulay asked, feeling a mild tick of alarm, imagining a gun pointed at them, or a pirate’s flag being raised.
 “A lady,” Iain said, as if he’d never seen one.
 A lady? It was not unheard of for one to be on the high seas; wives of captains sometimes sailed with them. If it were anyone else, a lady of importance, she’d not be sailing on a rickety boat like that.
 “In a proper gown and everything,” Iain said, his voice full of awe.
 Aulay didn’t know what a proper gown meant to Iain, so he motioned for the spyglass to have a look. He could scarcely make her out, but it was definitely a woman standing at the railing, holding a white flag that almost matched the color of the hair that whipped long and unbound about her face. There were a few men beside her, all of them clinging to the railing, all of them looking rather desperately in the direction of his ship.
 Aulay instructed Beaty to maneuver closer, and when there was nothing but a small bit of sea between the two ships, the men’s frantic attention to the sail on the other ship was forgotten in favor of lowering a jolly boat down the hull. There was more chaotic shoving among them until four men scrambled down a rope ladder into the boat and began to row with abandon toward the ReulagBalhaire. The woman remained behind on the ship’s deck with a few men, including one that was the size of a small mountain, towering a head above all the others.
 When the smaller boat reached them, one of the men grabbed on to the rope ladder to steady them, and one rose to standing, bracing his legs apart to keep his balance. “Madainnmhath,” he called up, and with an affected swirl of his hand, he bowed low. And very nearly tipped over the side when a swell caught him unawares.
 “Scots, then,” Beaty said. “That’s something, at least.”
 “We are in need of your help, kind sirs!” the man called up, having managed to right himself. “We’ve been set upon by pirates, aye?” He spoke with a strange cadence, as if he were a town crier delivering this news to a crowded venue.
 The men did not carry swords or guns that Aulay could see. It seemed all they could do to keep the jolly from tipping too far to one side. “That ship flew the colors of the king,” he called down.
 The spokesman looked startled. He squatted down to consult the other men in his small boat. A flurry of shaking heads and talking over one another ensued, until the man stood up again and said, “She flew no such flag when she fired, on me word, sir! She fired with no provocation from us!” He pressed his hand to his chest quite earnestly.

     

a Rafflecopter giveaway

    About Julia London: Julia London is the New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author of more than thirty romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular Cabot Sisters historical romance series, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch and The Perfect Homecoming. She has over 100,000+ Facebook followers, is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. You can visit her website JuliaLondon.com. She lives in Austin, Texas.      

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

         

ARC REVIEW The Scoundrel and the Debutante by Julia London

Book Three of Julia London's Cabot Sister's series. It really can be read as a stand alone the first two books play an important part but nothing that isn't explained simply, and it you have read the previous books it's not redundant. Prudence has to be my favorite sister she was the level headed one and is suffering because her older sister's actions. Roan is an American lost in England trying to track down his wayward sister and take her back to America so she can make an advantageous marriage for the family business. I love these two, I always enjoy it when you throw an American in the fray.

Honor and Grace have had their scandal and both ended up happy and married with kids running around, Prudence however is on the shelf with all her friends married she has convinced herself she will always be the spinster sister all because of her sisters. Prudence is not happy about it all she wanted was to get married but because of her sisters she was deemed unsuitable as time passes she just gets more and more depressed and her sisters are just getting annoying. As a reprieve from her sisters even she though she doesn't really want to goes to visit her best friend who just had a baby. On the way she meets an American man, a very handsome man, and throwing caution to the wind she decides she wants a bit of adventure and she joins him on his search for his sister, but it might be more than she wanted. Julia London is very good when it comes to misadventures they are always amusing and follows Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Prudence assuming the identity of Roen's cousin helps track down his sister but when they come across someone who knows the Cabot family the fun is over. Prudence and Roen race back to London and her sisters to try and fix the mess she got herself into.

Roen feels an instant attraction to Prudence but he has an obligation back home, like his sister it is a marriage that will strengthen business connections between the families. On return to London and the discovery of Roen's sister he asks Prudence to marry him, but Prudence is being blackmailed into marriage with the "gentleman" who discovered her secret; he is threatening to ruin Mercy the youngest Cabot sister entry into the prestigious art school she just got accepted into. The story is fun and an easy read; emotional but not in the angsty way. I think out of the three books so far in this series this one is my favorite.            

ARC REVIEW The Perfect Homecoming by Julia London

This is part of a series is it essential that you read the other two, no; do I recommend it, YES! Julia London ties her Thrillseekers Anonymous series and Pine River series with Emma Tyler and Cooper Jessup. The series as a whole is great with difficult and realistic characters that are at times hard to like, but so worth it. This was a hard book for me to read not because it was bad but because it was so emotionally tolling it took a lot out of me. Emma is by her own admission is a bitch and I knew in the first book I would love her. She is in her own words “hard and flinty”; she has no filter and always speaks the truth, even when it is hurtful. If you don’t want the truth don’t ask Emma. Sometimes she doesn’t even realize just how hurtful she can be. Emma also suffers from Daddy issues, always seeking the attention from older men even if it makes her feel dirty and ashamed.


Cooper is co-owner of the extreme event planner and is feeling left out and hates the changes that have happened since all his other partners got married and had kids. When an old client asks him to retrieve a stolen item that his soon to be ex-wife is demanding to have back Cooper is hesitant but the other partners say hey money is money. So Cooper tracks down Emma, the clients a one-night stand who swiped a small trinket on her way out and is adamant that she did not take it. Cooper knows Emma he has met her before and what he knows about her doesn’t match up with what other people say about her. The antagonistic teasing between the two gets old it goes on way to long but when they finally gives in it is intense.


As Cooper spends time with her he realizes why she does what she does and even though he doesn’t like it he accepts her as she is but Emma is a tough person to love and even tougher when it comes to letting people love her. Other stuff happens like the three sisters finally bond and finally come to understand Emma. The lodestone of the series, Leo Kendrick, who has played a pivotal part in all the books has words of wisdom for Emma that helps her come to touch with what she needs. There is so much I could write about this book and this series instead I will say if you do read it read the whole series and keep a box a tissue close by one more thing Emma is a hard pill to swallow and not everyone is going to like her but for me it was everyone else’s reactions to her that pissed me off, yes even Cooper. I loved the series as much as I hate to crying this series is truly good.

REVIEW The Devil takes a Bride by Julia London

Book 2 in the Cabot Sisters series by Julia London was not what I expected. I still think the original title of The Fall of Lady Grace, is more apt but The Devil Takes a Bride is more eye catching. I was not expecting this book to go in the direction it went especially with Jeffrey. Grace I expected to be a tad bit selfish from the previous book. With Jeffrey his "madness" his OCD, his need to have everything in 8s was fine it makes him unique; it stands him out against the rest of the romance heroes I love that about him and I the fact that I imagined Stuart Reardon as him didn't hurt. But... the, for the lack of a better term, BDSM tendencies was over the top I think it could have been just left as controlling and in charge and it would have been fine. It almost felt like it was written in just to appease the trend of BDSM books. That being said it was very well written and I liked how it wasn't the main focus although I could have lived without it (if I wanted to read BDSM I would I just didn't expect to read it in one of my favorite Historical Romance authors). I didn't like Grace in The Trouble with Honor she came off as self centered despite her need to help the family. In this one you can see how quickly she changes, some of her actions are still self centered but you can tell she thinks it's for a good reason and that she wants to make things work and she's trying.

The beginning of this book runs parallel with the end of the last book, to catch you up in case you missed it The two eldest Cabot sisters are the belles of the ball both already have been in society for a couple of years with no urge to marry. That is until their step father passes away, their mother's dementia starts to get worse and their step brother's fiancee wants to sent the girls away. With their two younger siblings not yet out their mother's sickness will hurt their chances to find a good match. So Honor hatches her own scheme and Grace under takes her own. Honor's backfires but ends happily, to bad news of this didn't get to Grace before her own machinates backfired as well. Grace had an admire she thought cared enough about her he wouldn't mind being trapped into marriage with her. His brother however was the one who fell into the trap.

Jeffrey, The Earl of Merryton, lead on organized life he was content with. Everything in it's place and always in multiples of eight Jeffrey was looking for a wife who wouldn't disturb that instead he fell into Grace Cabots trap. Mad at first he soon just accepted it, he lusted after her like no one else before but she was too innocent to show his "depraved" sexual desires. Grace on the other hand sees Jeffrey for what he is and soon comes to understand his need and once she has a taste of his needs she wants more she just has to convince Jeffrey that she can handle it. Jeffrey's nature partially came by his father who was very strict in nature and often cruel in turn Jeffrey is determined to uphold his father's strict family rules and keep the name away from scandal. Grace knows this and is scared to tell him of her mother's "madness" for fear he will cast her out for it. They both must overcome their fears of the other knowing the truth about the other in order to be happily ever after.

Overall, yes I did like the book, it wasn't the greatest but it wasn't horrible either. It was good just not what I was expecting.          

SPOTLIGHT One Mad Night by Julia London

One Mad Night Anthology

By Julia London

January 6, 2015

Sourcebooks Casablanca

$5.99/£4.99

Two Romantic Adventures...One Mad Night

Two delightful contemporary romance novellas in one book from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia London.

One winter’s night a blizzard sweeps across the country, demonstrating that fate can change the course of lives in an instant…and fate has got a sense of humor.

One Mad Night

Chelsea Crawford and Ian Rafferty are high profile ad execs in cutthroat competition for a client. When a major winter storm puts New York City on lockdown, the two rivals have to make it through the night together—oh, the many ways in which opposites attract...

The Bridesmaid - Bonus Novella

RITA Award Nominee for Best Romance Novella of 2013

Kate Preston has just moved to New York. Joe Firretti is contemplating a move to Seattle. When the weather wreaks havoc with transportation systems, Kate and Joe meet as they are both trying to rent the last car available… As Kate races to make her best friend’s wedding, and Joe races to a life-altering job interview, it looks like together is the only way they’ll make it at all.

Praise for Julia London:

"London knows how to keep pages turning...winningly fresh and funny." —Publishers Weekly, on RITA Award nominee The Bridesmaid

Amazon | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound

I am a big fan of Julia London when I got the opportunity to read an ARC of her newest contemporary novella I jumped at the chance and I got to tell ya…it was so worth it. I loved this book. It kind of reminded me of one of my favorite movies Lover Come Back to Me an old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movie about advertising firms fighting over an account. Here we have Chelsea Crawford and Ian Rafferty working for the same Advertising agency; after all a little in-house competition is healthy.

The newest and high profile account that comes with a partnership is up for grabs and Chelsea and Ian are in a silent war for the account and the job. While one of the bosses has told Chelsea flat out the account is hers one of the partners has told Ian it’s his and it’s only just a formality of letting Chelsea pitch her idea. Ian feels like shit over it he knows how had she has worked on that and it isn’t fair. Chelsea hates that she is attracted to her “arch-nemesis” but Ian is just too hot to ignore. Ian wouldn’t mind being friends with the competitive and beautiful Chelsea but she pushes him away at every turn. That is until a freak snow storm blows in and traps them in the office over night and they finally confront each other about this account and other ones in the past and about each other feelings. Together for one crazy night that changes everything. 

It took a moment for Chelsea to notice him, which gave Ian a moment to admire her. He was going to crush her tomorrow, but that didn’t stop him from appreciating a figure that guys like him dreamed about. Chelsea was wearing a skirt today. It hit about mid-thigh and was tight enough to show off all her curves. She looked a bit taller today too. He glanced at her feet and noticed the shoes. Chelsea was walking on stilts, and her legs, good God, her legs. She was smoking hot in that dress and those shoes.“Hey!” she said sharply, her voice full of accusation.Ian’s head snapped up. “Hey,” he said con-genially. “Practicing your pitch?” He settled one hip onto the conference table.“Do you mind?” She gestured to the door in a be-­off-­with-­you way.“If you want, I could listen and give you some feedback.”Chelsea’s mouth dropped open. And then her green eyes narrowed into little slits. “You have got to be the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.”Ian smiled and shrugged.“You can go, Ian,” she said, marching around the conference table to usher him out. “I think I’ve got it.”“Suit yourself.”“I will.”“So hostile,” he said with a wink as he stood up. “I’m just trying to help. It never hurts for someone to hear the pitch, right? You’ve had someone listen to you go through it, right?”“Yes, I’ve had—­Hey, hey,” she said, poking him in the chest. “Are you trying to play me?” she demanded. “Because it won’t work. I’m not some junior account person, you know. You can’t intimidate me.”“Well, obviously,” Ian said and poked her back. “You wouldn’t be pitching at all if you were a junior account person. I know I can’t intimidate you. It wasn’t a declaration of war, you know; it was an offer to help.”“It wasn’t a let-­me-­help, best-­friends-­forever offer, either. I’m not playing games with you. This account means a lot to me—­”“Me too.”“Oh yeah?” she said, shifting closer. “Well, don’t get too attached to the idea. I’ve got seniority, you know.”“So why are you so afraid to show me what you’ve got?”“Because it’s none of your business.”“On the eve of the championship, it’s okay to go out and shoot some hoops with your competitor. It’s not going to affect tomorrow’s big game. It’s not like I can go out and change weeks of work overnight if I see you’ve got something better.”She laughed. “Good try, Rafferty, but I think maybe the reason you want to see my pitch is because you’re worried about the strength of your pitch. Is it a little rough? Maybe I should listen to you.” She winked, and her green eyes shone with pleasure at her comeback.“I’m definitely not worried about my pitch.”“No? Seems to me if you’re presenting three,” she said, holding up three fingers and wiggling them at him, “then you must be uncertain which one is the winner.” Her smile broadened into sheer triumph, as if she thought she’d really zinged him.She hadn’t zinged him, but Ian did wonder how she knew what he had…Zach. Of course. That rat bastard. “Have you been talking to Zimmerman?” he asked accusingly.She shrugged and studied her manicure. “Maybe. Does it matter? I thought we were doing the let’s-­help-­each-­other thing. But if we’re not, would you mind toddling off? I have a lot of work I need to do before tomorrow. I plan to hit the ground running with this account on Monday.”She was amazingly and annoyingly confident. Ian was generally a confident guy, but she was making him a teensy bit nervous. “You really think you’re going to get this, don’t you?”“I don’t think, I know,” she said, looking up.He tilted his head to one side to study her. “Isn’t it obvious to you why they brought me in?”“I don’t know—­I haven’t given it the slightest bit of thought.” She lifted her chin, and Ian realized she lied about as well as she engaged in verbal volleyball. “I’ve been promised that this account is as good as mine. Didn’t they tell you that when they brought you in?”A bit more of Ian’s confidence leaked out of him. He’d been in New York advertising long enough to know that the industry was full of snakes. He wouldn’t put it past anyone to feed him a bunch of half-­baked promises to get him to commit. “Who told you?”She grinned. “None of your beeswax.”“Come on, tell me—­” His phone rang, distracting him momentarily. He fished it out of his pocket and noticed the number was the Grabber-­Paulson main number. That was weird. “Listen, I’ll just say this,” he said, clicking off the phone. “Don’t be so sure of things. People say things they don’t mean, especially in this industry.” He started for the door.“Uh-­huh, I know. And I would offer you the same advice, Mr. Rafferty,” she said in a singsong voice, and she flashed a dazzling smile, full of straight white teeth.“Cocky too. I like that about you,” he said. “I’ll keep it in mind when I make partner.” He winked at her, smiled as if he was completely unbothered, and went out of the conference room.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the Homecoming Ranch contemporary series, the Secrets of Hadley Green historical romance series, and numerous other works. She is a four-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction, and RT Bookclub award recipient for Best Historical Romance.  She lives in Austin, Texas.

Connect with Julia London:

www.julialondon.com  | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads