Book excerpt: Grady Mackay puts his clan in great peril when he breaks a betrothal agreement without his laird’s permission. Now, the lass’s guardian expects an immediate wedding. He must marry Marren Macleod to avert a war, but Marren recently married his comrade, Keith Sutherland. He proposes marriage to Laurel Malone, a woman who recently arrived in the north, to stand in as Marren. Grady is baffled by Laurel’s evasiveness. She reveals little of herself, but as her secrets unravel, he admits a desire for her that he’s unwilling to refute. Laurel fled her home with her nephew and niece in tow. Having no means, she accepts the proposal Grady Mackay offers. She’s always had an affinity for pretense, so becoming someone else is exactly what she needs to stay in the shadows. She doesn’t want to be attracted to Grady or to find him compassionate, but he’s everything a woman wants in a husband, protector, and more. Their hearts are connected by unforgivable circumstances, and their experiences lead them to love and understanding and to have the compassion to always be accepting of each other. Grady has never loved anyone, but Laurel tugs at his heart and shows him that love is something to hold on to. Where there is love, there is no fear. With all that Grady faces, he needs to win over his clan, a difficult task since he proclaimed never to set foot on Mackay land again. To thwart the possibility of two wars, Grady must make Laurel a Mackay in every way or risk losing everything he’s ever desired.