Highlands’ Elements of Fate Series by Alisa Adams

To survive, she has to revive a heart that was lost in the bottom of a loch many years ago… Fillan is the new Laird of the MacMoir clan, but neither the people nor the elders seem to trust him after their previous Laird's failure. His only chance of survival lies in marrying a Douglas girl and securing an alliance with the powerful Douglas clan. For his good luck, Cairis Douglas is at the perfect age to wed and an ideal match if only there was not one major problem; she has decided not to marry... moreTo survive, she has to revive a heart that was lost in the bottom of a loch many years ago… Fillan is the new Laird of the MacMoir clan, but neither the people nor the elders seem to trust him after their previous Laird's failure. His only chance of survival lies in marrying a Douglas girl and securing an alliance with the powerful Douglas clan. For his good luck, Cairis Douglas is at the perfect age to wed and an ideal match if only there was not one major problem; she has decided not to marry.After witnessing the horrible marriage of her sister in law, Cairis knows that a union between a man and a woman can end in disaster. The young lass gets even angrier when she learns that her father wants her to marry a MacMoir; in other words, an enemy. But her strong sense of duty, pushes her to set aside her happiness for her people's good and she only wishes that her new husband is not a brute.To her surprise, Fillan promises not to marry her, for neither of them ever had that desire! He only asks her to act as if they were betrothed to throw off the elders' suspicions and gain his clan's trust. But after an attack by the elders’ men on their way to the MacMoir's keep, they are left running for their lives!The two must now work together and find a way to expose the elders’ betrayal before it is too late. To make things worse, Fillan has not dealt with the demons of his past and seems to have an irrational fear for large bodies of water, making their journey even longer as they pass around lochs instead of crossing them.While they journey, Fillan will be unable to deny his attraction to the strong-willed lass, yet, the two travelers will have to face new difficulties when a terrible snowstorm hits them. But can the freezing temperatures and snow put out the fire ignited in their hearts? less

Can a woman who has suffered so much still hope? Mary Douglas Mallach is a widow, and no man is willing to marry her after he meets her four wild boys! Nevertheless, her brother Laird Bhaltair Douglas insists that she marries again and finally manages to arrange a wedding with a merchant who resides in Scotland's far north in the Orkney Islands... moreCan a woman who has suffered so much still hope? Mary Douglas Mallach is a widow, and no man is willing to marry her after he meets her four wild boys! Nevertheless, her brother Laird Bhaltair Douglas insists that she marries again and finally manages to arrange a wedding with a merchant who resides in Scotland's far north in the Orkney Islands. However, the northern waters around the Pentland Firth are dangerous and difficult to sail, and they are full of pirates…Seeking a way to protect her, her brother takes her to meet the only man he trusts to take his sister and his nephews on the dangerous journey; Captain Broccin Orcadian. The hardened Captain does not want a woman and four boys on his ship, but he is offered a tremendous sum of money by the Laird, more than enough to buy a second ship.As their journey begins, Mary expects the intimidating Captain to be as cruel as her children's father, and just like most of the men she has met. The beautiful but timid widow has become wary of men, and at first, she was terrified of the towering Captain Orcadian with the scary jagged scar on his cheek. However, when her boys misbehave, he makes them work to pay for all the tricks they did on his ship, and the boys are excited to learn under his commands!Unfortunately, the boys' mischievous behavior soon becomes the least of their worries; Broccin has faced quite a few challenges, but the one coming their way might be the most dangerous of them all! A combination of bad luck and the return of a long-forgotten foe create the perfect storm. And this time Broccin has to keep safe not only himself and his crew but also the lady and the children, and thus decides to come up with an audacious plan.Yet, if Mary does not trust him and work with him, his plan is doomed to fail. And how can she be sure that this man is any different from all the cruel and lying men she has met in the past? less