The Blood of Roses

"The Blood of Roses" continues the love story of the English aristocrat Catherine Ashbrooke and Scottish spy, Alexander Cameron.

It is 1745 and the English beauty Catherine Ashbrooke has been wrenched from the arms of her husband, Alexander Cameron, the Scottish spy and legendary swordsman, and forced to return to the safety of her family home in England. For the looming war between the English and the Scots is bound to leave a dark bloodstain on that battle-torn country north of England.

But Derbyshire is not a haven after all. Knowing the Scots will invade England, Alexander slips across the border to insist she leave for the safety of his castle — and to know his wife's embrace once more.

Before she has a chance to flee, she learns the shocking truth about her father and is nearly raped by an English officer. Thrown into the maelstrom of war, Catherine is captured by vindictive Captain Hamilton Garner, who had once vied — and duelled — with Alexander for her love.

Once again Alexander must face his hated enemy and fight for the two things most precious to any man — his country and the woman he so deeply loves...

In a novel that sizzles with  passionate intrigue and breathtaking romance, Marsha Canham whisks the reader back to war-torn Scotland as a legendary warrior fights for the two things most precious to any man: his country and the woman he loves.

She was born an Englishwoman, but he made her a Scot, pledged to fight for her beloved husband--even against the country of her birth.

Catherine Ashbrooke Cameron had committed the unpardonable sin of falling in love with her husband--a Scottish spy she married in her English home.  Now, as she raced to the Highlands, into the strong, tender arms of Alexander Cameron, the innocent English beauty would learn the passions of war--and the price of love .  .  .  .

He fought to keep her safe as he battled the English enemy--and betrayal from within.

Alexander Cameron was a man with a price on his head and enemies to burn.  Love had made the legendary warrior vulnerable.  Now he must protect Catherine from the dangers that threatened them both.  But as he rode into battle against the English, she refused to stay behind.  He had claimed her, touched her, loved her, and she vowed nothing would ever separate them again.

She was inspired to write The Blood of Roses and its prequel, The Pride of Lions, by an inexplicable and intense fascination with eighteenth-century Scottish history.  Among the many intriguing coincidences that occurred during the three years it took to write the two novels was the fact that the Battle of Culloden was fought on April 16, 1746, negotiations for The Pride of Lions were begun by her publisher on April 16, 1985, and the final words of The Blood of Roses were written on April 16, 1988.  Neither of the latter two events was planned.  They were brought to the author's attention by a third party.

Her next historical romance, Pale Moon Rider, will be available from Dell in December.