Taming The Lion

Praise for award-winning author Suzanne Barclay’s Sutherland Series“How could I have believed your lies?”Letter to ReaderTitle PageAbout the AuthorPrologueChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter TwentyEpilogueCopyright

Praise for award-winning author Suzanne Barclay’s Sutherland Series

Pride of Lions

“Fantastic! 5Bells!!!”

—Bell, Book and Candle

Lion’s Lady

“...a luscious romance....5

—Affaire de Coeur

Lion’s Legacy

“Suzanne Barclay certainly takes her place amongst the finest of Medieval writers...”

—Romantic Times Magazine

Lion of the North

“Pure gold! Read a Barclay Medieval and you’re reading the best.”

—The Medieval Chronicle

Lion’s Heart

“...a special and unforgettable work. 5

—Affaire de Coeur

“How could I have believed your lies?”

“I did not lie to you, except—”

“How could I have lain with you? How could I have loved you?” The tears Catlyn had held at bay slid down her cheeks.

Ross grabbed hold of her shoulders. “We nearly burned down the night with our loving. You cannot think that was a lie.”

Her eyes bright with loathing, her voice cold, she said, “I think you are a skilled lover and an even more skilled manipulator of people. You used me to try to gain control of Kennecraig.”

Ross groaned. “If you would only let me tell you the whole story, I—”

“Oh, you are very good at that...at twisting words and things to suit you.” She stepped back, and he let her go. “But now I am wise to you, and I do promise you will not succeed.”

Dear Reader,

Heroes come in many forms, as this month’s books prove—from the roguish knight and the wealthy marquess to the potent gunslinger and the handsome cowboy.

The roguish knight, Ross Lion Sutherland, appears in Taming the Lion, a new medieval novel by Suzanne Barclay Critics have described this award-winning author in many ways, including “a great superstar,” “a magician with words” and “one of the best authors today in historical romance!” In this continuation of THE SUTHERLAND SERIES, Ross sets aside his honor to steal a clan’s secret for whiskey-making, only to fall in love with the clan’s lovely leader.

Golden Heart winner Julia Justiss brings us Nicholas Stanhope, the devastatingly handsome Marquess of Englemere who marries a friend in trouble and finds a profound love in The Wedding Gamble. And you must meet Sheriff Delaney, the smooth but kindhearted ex-gunslinger who inherits a house—and a beautiful young widow—in The Marriage Knot.

Rounding out the month is Will Brockett, the magnetically charming wrangler who uncharacteristically finds his soul mate in tomboy Paulie Johnson in A Cowboy’s Heart by Liz Ireland. Don’t miss it!

Whatever your tastes in reading, you’ll be sure to find a romantic journey back to the past between the covers of a Harlequin Historicals^>® novel.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Harlequin Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadians P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Taming The Lion

Suzanne Barclay

SUZANNE BARCLAY considers herself sublimely lucky to be writing historical romances. What other career would allow her to watch old Errol Flynn movies and call it research? Or day-dream and call it work?

On those rare moments when she can tear herself away from the stories she is creating, she enjoys walking in the woods with her two dogs, Max and Duffy, whipping up exotic meals for her husband of twenty-three years and pawing through the local antique marts for special pieces to decorate her office/study.

Suzanne freely admits that she has trouble keeping track of all the Sutherlands and Carmichaels who people her stories, and has prepared an updated family tree detailing the various characters, their marriages and their children. To receive a copy, send a large SASE to: Suzanne Barclay, P.O. Box 92054, Rochester, NY 14692.

Prologue

Stirling, Scotland

August 10, 1407

Hakon Fergusson paused in the doorway of the Running Fox. Squinting against the pall of smoke from the torches rimming the long room, he surveyed the establishment with a critical eye.

The tavern appeared to be a cut above the others he had visited tonight. The benches and tables sat in orderly rows, scarred from use but lacking the layers of filth tolerated by drunken patrons and careless owners. The serving wenches who moved through the crowded room dispensing food and drink were comely, their gowns snug but not slatternly.

Lastly Hakon studied the customers themselves. Though it was just past nine on a Saturday night and every table was occupied, it was a remarkably orderly crowd. At the nearest table, four men amiably argued the merits of chain mail over boiled leather vests. Six others sat before the empty hearth, their heads bent over a game board. Elsewhere, men drank and laughed and talked in civil tones. Torchlight winked on golden jewelry and shimmered on garments of silk and velvet.