Michelle Willingham - Warriors In Winter - In the Bleak Midwinter

Praise for

Michelle Willingham’s

The MacEgan Brothers:

HER WARRIOR SLAVE

‘Willingham skilfully combines a cast of wonderfully

original characters with a refreshingly different,

meticulously detailed setting to create a vivid tale of love

and danger in medieval Ireland.’

—Chicago Tribune

‘Michelle Willingham writes characters that feel all too

real. The tortured soul that is Kieran really pulled at my

heartstrings. Iseult’s unfailing search for her lost child

made this book a truly emotional read.’

—Publishers Weekly

THE WARRIOR’S TOUCH

‘… thought-provoking tale of love …’

—RT Book Reviews

HER WARRIOR KING

‘Betrayal, mistrust and anger fire this medieval tale

about how love finds an aching heart

when that heart isn’t looking.’

—RT Book Reviews

SURRENDER TO AN IRISH WARRIOR

‘… heart-wrenching and uplifting, with riveting characters

and a captivating plot. It’s the story of two people

devastated by tragedy, who find comfort

and healing in each other.’

—RT Book Reviews

AUTHOR NOTE

When I first began writing The MacEgan Brothers series, it was born out of my love of Ireland. I’ve visited the country on three occasions, and each time I’ve found a corner of the world that holds both mysticism and wild beauty. From the ancient ruins I imagined a family of five strong warriors, fighting to carve their place in a world threatened by Norman invaders. The books in the series include (in suggested reading order): HER WARRIOR SLAVE (prequel), HER WARRIOR KING, HER IRISH WARRIOR, THE WARRIOR’S TOUCH, TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR, and SURRENDER TO AN IRISH WARRIOR.

Readers have written to me asking about what happened to the warriors after they found their happily-ever-after, and I began to wonder about the second generation. By the time the last book was finished a few of the warriors’ children were adolescents. I decided to create a series of three stories crafted around the children of my warriors. It’s set during the time of the winter solstice and Christmas, and each story features a daughter or son of one of the MacEgan brothers.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed revisiting familiar characters and getting acquainted with new heroes and heroines. Thank you for sharing the holidays with my MacEgans!

Visit my website at www.michellewillingham.com for excerpts and behind-the-scenes details about my books. I love to hear from readers, and you may e-mail me at michelle@michellewillingham.com or contact me via mail at PO Box 2242, Poquoson, VA 23662, USA.

MICHELLE WILLINGHAMgrew up living in places all over the world, including Germany, England and Thailand. When her parents hauled her to antiques shows in manor houses and castles Michelle entertained herself by making up stories and pondering whether she could afford a broadsword with her allowance. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, with a degree in English, and received her master’s degree in Education from George Mason University. Currently she teaches American History and English. She lives in south-eastern Virginia with her husband and children. She still doesn’t have her broadsword.

Visit her website at www.michellewillingham.com, or e-mail her at michelle@michellewillingham.com

Previous novels by this author:

HER IRISH WARRIOR * * The MacEgan Brothers † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

THE WARRIOR’S TOUCH * * The MacEgan Brothers † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

HER WARRIOR KING * * The MacEgan Brothers † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

HER WARRIOR SLAVE † † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS †† †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

THE ACCIDENTAL PRINCESS †† †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR * * The MacEgan Brothers † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

SURRENDER TO AN IRISH WARRIOR * * The MacEgan Brothers † prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR ** ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

SEDUCED BY THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR ** ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

TEMPTED BY THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR ** ** The MacKinloch Clan †† linked by character Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Available in Mills & Boon ®Historical Undone! eBooks:

THE VIKING’S FORBIDDEN LOVE-SLAVE

THE WARRIOR’S FORBIDDEN VIRGIN

AN ACCIDENTAL SEDUCTION††

INNOCENT IN THE HAREM

PLEASURED BY THE VIKING

CRAVING THE HIGHLANDER’S TOUCH

And in Mills & Boon ®Historical eBooks:

LIONHEART’S BRIDE

(part of Royal Weddings Through the Ages )

*The MacEgan Brothers

†prequel to The MacEgan Brothers mini-series

**The MacKinloch Clan

††linked by character

Did you know that some of these novels

are also available as eBooks?

Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Michelle Willingham

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Michelle Willingham

Ireland—1192

The wind had turned cold in Éireann, forcing Brianna MacEgan inside the walls of her beehive-shaped stone hut. The fire had gone out, but she hadn’t built another yet. The chill within these walls matched the feelings of her heart. At any moment, she expected the door to open, with Murtagh sweeping inside to steal a kiss. But he wouldn’t. He’d been killed in a raid by a Lochlannach warrior of Gall Tír.