Setting: Scotland, 1177

Sensuality: 7

Beautiful Scotswoman Lauren MacRae first met the Englishman Arion du Morgan as a child, when he saved her life. Years later, they meet again as adults when she repays the debt by saving his life during battle with a common enemy, the Vikings. Their families have always been fierce enemies, each claiming ownership of the Isle of Shot. As leader of Clan MacRae, Lauren risks the anger of her clan when she accepts Arion's proposal to join forces in a desperate attempt to save the island from being conquered by the Northmen. The uneasy alliance forces them into each other's company, and Lauren and Arion find themselves falling in love. There are huge obstacles, however, for Lauren is promised to another, and her sense of honor and duty to her clan and absent fiancé compel her to deny her feelings for Arion. Their sacrifices may be for naught, for someone Lauren trusts schemes to betray her, and both she and Arion may die if they don't find a way to meld the forces of Scot and English against the powerful traitor.

This is an intense novel with a heroic hero willing to give his life and all he owns for the love of one woman. What's unusual is that Shana Abé has created a heroine who matches the hero not only in honor and inner strength, but also in her power and control as leader of her clan. The setting of a wild, unsophisticated island off the coast of Scotland is vivid, the secondary characters interesting, and the villain chilling in his betrayal. Intimate Enemies is classic historical romance at its best. --Lois Faye Dyer


Review
"Historical romance at its finest."
--Jill Marie Landis

"Shana Abé writes with intense, unforgettable emotion."
--Jane Feather

Don't miss these other sensual tales of romance by Shana Abé:

A Kiss At Midnight:

The second book in Bantam's exciting Meet Me At Midnight series!

The Truelove Bride:

"Shana Abé breathes new life into ancient legends in this powerful, passionate, and engaging tale."
--Teresa Medeiros, bestselling author of Charming the Prince

The Promise of Rain:

"A rich tapestry of enchanting and romantic characters...This book is an absolute winner!"
-Katherine Sutcliffe

A Rose In Winter:

"A powerfully moving love story from a fresh, exciting voice.  Ms. Abé will leave you longing for more."
-Elizabeth Thornton, nationally bestselling author of Strangers at Dawn


Review
"Historical romance at its finest."
--Jill Marie Landis

"Shana Abé writes with intense, unforgettable emotion."
--Jane Feather

Don't miss these other sensual tales of romance by Shana Abé:

A Kiss At Midnight:

The second book in Bantam's exciting Meet Me At Midnight series!

The Truelove Bride:

"Shana Abé breathes new life into ancient legends in this powerful, passionate, and engaging tale."
--Teresa Medeiros, bestselling author of Charming the Prince

The Promise of Rain:

"A rich tapestry of enchanting and romantic characters...This book is an absolute winner!"
-Katherine Sutcliffe

A Rose In Winter:

"A powerfully moving love story from a fresh, exciting voice.  Ms. Abé will leave you longing for more."
-Elizabeth Thornton, nationally bestselling author of Strangers at Dawn


Book Description
From Shana Abé, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight, comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers.

Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him--as he awakens within her a wayward desire....

Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England--and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything--even his very life--to claim what is his.



From the Inside Flap
From Shana Abé, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight, comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact...  and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers.

Lauren MacRae is only a woman.  But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae.  Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help.  But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him--as he awakens within her a wayward desire....

Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance.  But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England--and he will defend it to his dying breath.  Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate.  Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul.  And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything--even his very life--to claim what is his.


From the Back Cover
"Historical romance at its finest."
--Jill Marie Landis

"Shana Abé writes with intense, unforgettable emotion."
--Jane Feather

Don't miss these other sensual tales of romance by Shana Abé:

A Kiss At Midnight:

The second book in Bantam's exciting Meet Me At Midnight series!

The Truelove Bride:

"Shana Abé breathes new life into ancient legends in this powerful, passionate, and engaging tale."
--Teresa Medeiros, bestselling author of Charming the Prince

The Promise of Rain:

"A rich tapestry of enchanting and romantic characters...This book is an absolute winner!"
-Katherine Sutcliffe

A Rose In Winter:

"A powerfully moving love story from a fresh, exciting voice. Ms. Abé will leave you longing for more."
-Elizabeth Thornton, nationally bestselling author of Strangers at Dawn

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From Shana Abé, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight, comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers.

Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him—as he awakens within her a wayward desire....

Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England—and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything—even his very life—to claim what is his.

FROM THE CRITICS

Kathy B. Leitle - The Romance Reader

Shana Abe's newest title, Intimate Enemies, had me performing a clich￯﾿ﾽ. As I read the last third of the book, I realized I was actually sitting on the edge of my seat. This gripping story of a Scottish clanswoman and an English lord contains the ingredients necessary for a first rate romance.

Lauren MacRae is the only child of the Laird of the MacRae Clan. Her father raised her as if she were a male heir. She has learned how to use weapons, to ride like a boy, and how to negotiate with and lead the clan. Their clan claims the Isle of Shot. The English Lord du Morgan also claims the same isle. The two groups have settled into an uneasy arrangement with each side living on half of the isle.

Lauren particularly dislikes Lord Ryder du Morgan because he kidnapped her when she was eight and held her as a bargaining tool. Ryder's nephew and heir, Arion, helped her escape from that confinement before his uncle could seriously hurt her. The two of them make a connection at that time, but Lauren still considers all du Morgans as enemies.

Twelve years later, Arion is now the Lord after his cruel uncle's death. When a much larger band of raiding Vikings ambushes his men, a group of MacRae warriors attacks the Vikings. Through a haze, Arion witnesses a woman warrior strike down the Viking who would have killed him. When he reawakens, he is recuperating under guard in the clan stronghold.

With her father dead and her cousin, Quinn, the new laird, in a coma from another Viking attack, Lauren has been standing in as the laird. Seeing Arion again proves unsettling. She still hates du Morgans, but is confused by her strong reaction to him. Arion is nothing like his uncle. He is greatly attracted to Lauren and keeps her off balance with his wit and humor. He even proposes that the Scots and the English join forces to fight the Vikings who will surely overrun the isle if the two communities do not support each other. Lauren is very reluctant, but sees it as the only option to save the people she loves and leads.

As the two leaders work to hold together the alliance between longtime enemies, they come to know each other become closer. But Lauren is awaiting the arrival of the fianc￯﾿ﾽ her Father chose for her when she was eight years old, and honor demands that she marry the man.

Lauren and Arion are fully developed characters. Lauren has all the characteristics of an honorable person; loyalty, courage, compassion. She also has doubts about her abilities and is stung by remarks she overhears about her unladylike behavior. Her sense of duty helps her resist her growing feelings for the English lord.

Arion is the hero we all want in our lives. He has worked hard to repair the damage his uncle's cruelty had done to the people under him. He managed to keep his humor and sense of what is right. Although he wants to protect Lauren in difficult situations, he realizes that she needs to be in charge of her actions and allows her to work with him in dangerous situations.

The excitement in Intimate Enemies comes from all of the various tensions that build throughout the story. There is the sexual tension between Lauren and Arion, the internal tension between Lauren and some of the members of her clan who don't like working with the English, and the tension of waiting and not knowing when or if the Vikings are going to attack again.

And once Lauren￯﾿ﾽs fianc￯﾿ﾽ Murdoch arrives a whole different kind of tension is involved. He is not exactly the person that he presents to the clan. Only Lauren is shown his true colors and must decide how to deal with this threat. Abe weaves all of these elements carefully so that they are clear, but flow faster and faster to a solid and satisfying ending. A large exhale is necessary after that scene.

Intimate Enemies is a compelling story. Lauren and Arion are tender and tough, funny and poignant, and above all, honorable to their followers and to each other. Don't miss this fine tale.

Candy Tan - Likesbooks.com

Ab￯﾿ﾽ's books often feel more like dreamy, violent adult fairy tales than actual medievals, so the love story seems to take place as much in the metaphysical plane as it does in the physical. The chemistry between Arion and Lauren is instantaneous and almost mystical; crackling, tangible; it's this interaction that saves the book from mediocrity. These two may be enemies (and they are antagonistic towards each other in the beginning of the book), but generally they treat one another with a respect and tenderness that's refreshing in a romance of this kind. When I closed the book, I had no doubt that they were soulmates.

Those of you who, like me, can't stand Adversarial Romances: don't let the word "enemies" fool you. This book is all about love.

Kathe Robin - Romantic Times