Want to know more about the characters from To Tempt a Scotsman? What's not in the book? Here are a few tidbits about the major characters:

Lady Alexandra Huntington: If you've already read the book, you know that Alexandra is a bit wild. *The author clears her throat* Just a bit. But she comes by it naturally. Her mother was a passionate French woman who conducted her affairs with slightly less discretion than befits the wife of a duke. Certainly the duke thought so. Alexandra's father was the Seventh Duke of Somerhart, a cold and dignified peer of the realm.

Alexandra lost her mother when she was five, and her father died a few years later. Thereafter, she was raised by her older brother Hart, the Eighth Duke of Somerhart. Hart spoiled her terribly and let her run wild and free.

Her debut in London was a complete crush, and Alexandra lived up to all expectations. She was bold, beautiful, and an heiress in her own right. Three men proposed before the first week was gone. Nothing could have tarnished the glow of her charm and wealth, especially when combined with the seductive lure of marrying into a duke's family... Nothing short of a duel to the death between her suitor and her lover, that is. That is a scandal with a long life.

And so the book opens with Alexandra living in exile on her brother's estate.

Collin Blackburn, Baron Westmore: Don't be fooled by the title. Collin's not the least bit respectable, and that title was purchased. Don't get me wrong. Collin wanted nothing to do with it. His father, an English earl, purchased Collin a Scottish barony to make up for his illegitimacy. Collin's mother, definitely NOT the countess, is a skilled Scottish weaver. Even as a young woman, she was fully capable of supporting herself and not above a friendly affair with a visiting English earl.

Collin has lived in the Lowlands his whole life, but his mother's family were Highlanders of old. When he was young, he knew without doubt that he was in trouble when his mother started speaking Gaelic. Collin ended up quite fluent in Scots Gaelic, and still resorts to it in moments of high emotion.

Before meeting Alexandra, Collin lived a quiet, responsible life breeding horses on his small estate in Scotland. After meeting Alexandra. . . Well. . . His life gets a little less quiet.

Hart, the Eighth Duke of Somerhart: Like Alexandra, Hart inherited his mother's hot blood, not that you'd know it to look at him. Outwardly, he is icy and impervious, fully living up to his nickname, Winterhart. But the ton still speaks of the delicious scandal that brought him low ten years before, though none would dare say a word within a hundred feet of His Grace. Hart does not appreciate being reminded of his youth, and he makes very sure that no one ever sees past his façade to the passionate man beneath.

But watch for Hart's story in 2008! He just might meet the woman who can see everything he's trying to hide.

Fergus MacLean and Jeannie Kirkland: Two of my very favorite secondary characters! I liked them so much, I had to write their story.

Poor Jeannie Kirkland was cursed with red-orange hair and eight older brothers. She was also cursed with a terrible crush on her charming neighbor Fergus MacLean. Fergus kissed her once in a dark hallway. Really kissed her. Seriously kissed her. So why has he spent the past year ignoring her? I needed to know, so I wrote A Scotsman's Surrender for the Amazon Shorts program.

If you, too, need to know more about Fergus and Jeannie... For example, just what happened the night of ball? How in the world did Jeannie end up at Fergus's cottage the next morning? Please visit Amazon to find out. The short story is a bargain at only 49¢!