Danger's Kiss

Book 1: Medieval Outlaws

by Glynnis Campbell

Genres: Historical Romance; Medieval Romance; Enemies to Lovers; redemption; bad girls; executioner; outlaw; strong heroines; series starter

Synopsis

Book Buyers Best Award for Best Historical!

From USA Today bestselling author Glynnis Campbell...A beautiful thief can squirm out of trouble with a wink and a smile, until she meets the most feared lawman in the shire, who can't decide whether to kiss her or kill her.

A thief by trade, Desiree of Canterbury can squirm out of any tight spot with a wink and a smile...until she meets her match in Nicholas Grimshaw, the most feared lawman in the shire. After Nicholas is forced to execute her guardian, he is honor-bound to care for Desiree. But Desiree may be the death of him yet, disrupting his orderly life until he doesn't know whether to kiss her or kill her. Just when she decides to let him make an honest woman of her, a ruthless enemy rears its ugly head, and Desiree and Nicholas must use all their wiles to escape danger, cheat death, and save their newfound love.

DANGER'S KISS
Book 1 of Medieval Outlaws
Rogues, rapscallions, knaves, scoundrels, hellions, scallywags, blackguards, outcasts, and firebrands. They may be villains, but they're irresistible, and sometimes the right hero can steal their hearts and help them mend their wicked ways.

Length: 88,000 words = 396 pages
Rating: R-rated for passionate passages

In This Series

Medieval Outlaws
1211 – THE REIVER (a novella)
1250 – DANGER'S KISS
1391 – PASSION'S EXILE
1193 – DESIRE'S RANSOM

Key Themes: Medieval historical romance, adventure stories, strong women, female thief, orphan, reformed bad girl, sheriff of Nottingham, captive, executioner, sleight of hand, stories with cats, pickpocket, Canterbury, taming of the shrew, stories with humor

More Historical Romances by Glynnis Campbell

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
THE SHIPWRECK (a novella)
A YULETIDE KISS (a short story)
LADY DANGER
CAPTIVE HEART
KNIGHT'S PRIZE

The Knights of de Ware
THE HANDFASTING (a novella)
MY CHAMPION
MY WARRIOR
MY HERO

Medieval Outlaws
THE REIVER (a novella)
DANGER'S KISS
PASSION'S EXILE
DESIRE'S RANSOM

Scottish Lasses
THE OUTCAST (a novella)
MacFARLAND'S LASS
MacADAM'S LASS
MacKENZIE'S LASS

California Legends
NATIVE GOLD
NATIVE WOLF
NATIVE HAWK

Release date: August 7, 2012

Publisher: Glynnis Campbell

Print pages: 385

Sample

He spotted Desirée at once, by the light of a moonbeam filtering through the shutters.  She was asleep, luxuriously sprawled across the coverlet like a cat with a belly full of cream, commandeering his pallet as if her spindly frame required every inch of it.

“Oh, nay, you don’t,” he murmured.  He might feel sorry for the orphaned lass, but he wasn’t about to let her usurp his bed.  “Desirée,” he called.

She didn’t move.

“Desirée.”

Still no reply.

He drew closer, not close enough that she could swing out with a stray fist and clip him on the jaw, but close enough to be heard.

“Desirée.”

She still didn’t stir, but Azrael, tucked behind one of her knees, lifted his head.

Nicholas frowned.  There was something tied around the cat’s neck.  Something distinctly feminine.

“God’s eyes!  What have you done to my cat?”

That woke her.  She rose on her elbows, her eyes glazed, her mouth making sleepy smacks.  “What?”

“What did you do to Azrael?”

She glanced down at the cat, as if trying to recall.  Then her lips curved up in a smile that was pure mischief.  “He thinks it’s pretty,” she said, crooning, “doesn’t he, Snowflake?”

Nicholas seized Azrael, who yowled once in complaint, and immediately untied the silly bow, dropping it atop the coverlet.

Desirée shrugged off his actions and snuggled back down under the blankets.  “Did you get my list?” she murmured.

He gave Azrael a consoling pat and set him down again on the pallet.  “Your list?  You mean that nonsense about lavender and beeswax candles?  Do you know how much saffron costs?”

“Come, Nicky, you can’t expect me to keep your house properly if I don’t have the required supplies.”

“I seem to have done fine before without them.  And stop calling me Nicky.”

“What would you prefer?  Your Majesty?”

Nicholas exhaled on a growl, trying to recall why he’d felt sorry for the pesky imp.  “I’ve bought another pallet.  I’ve placed it beside the fire.”

“Mm, good,” she purred.  “I’d hate to think of you getting cold in the night.”

He blinked.  The audacity of the naughty wench was amazing.  Unable to think of a fitting verbal response, he decided to let his actions speak for him.  He threw back the covers and, ignoring her indignant shrieks, scooped her up into his arms.

“Unhand me, sirrah!”

“You’re not sleeping in my bed.”  He started toward the door.

“But I was there first!”

“’Tis my bed.”

“You weren’t using it.”  She actually wedged her limbs in the doorway, trying to prevent his exit.

“Well, I’m going to use it now.”

“’Tisn’t fair!”

He didn’t feel like arguing the absurdity of a tiny lass expropriating his huge bed while he lay cramped on a small pallet by the fire.

“The only way you’re sleeping in that bed,” he whispered wickedly, “is if you’re sharing it with me.”