Arianna Ward wakes up to find her memory in fragments, like a long forgotten dream. Everyone claims her name is Annabelle. The year is 1814 and she's married to Captain Keldon Buchanan, a man who despises her. The more she learns about her life, the more she realizes why she's chosen to forget it. She's hurt everyone around her. How could she be this person when her heart tells her she's not?

Keldon harbors his own secrets. He's the Highland Pirate and secrecy is the difference between life and death. He doesn't trust his wife, but he finds his heart softening to the woman his wife has become. If he didn't know better, he'd swear he's married to another person-a woman he's falling love with.

REVIEW

"All I can say is WOW! This is my first reading of Karen Michelle Nutt's work, and I must say I am suitably impressed. The story flowed remarkably well and the characters were very loveable. I enjoyed the small history lessons throughout the story. The story was highly descriptive and made you feel as if you were there on the plantation with them . The storyline was developed and resolved at the end. This was my first story but it definitely won't be my last."

June 17, 2008

Reviewed by: Breia Brickey
ParaNormal Romance

EXCERPT

Arianna froze and her eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the melody. It was an old Scottish tune, she'd been haunted by as long as she could remember. The melody lingered in her subconscious surfacing at odd moments like an annoying tick. Her parents swore they never taught her the song and no one knew where she'd picked up the tune.

How did this fake fortuneteller know it? Arianna again yanked her arm and this time pulled free. She rubbed her bruised hand, staring at the woman with suspicion.

Carlotta blinked rapidly before she focused her gaze on Arianna. "I am sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Arianna answered, surprised that her voice sounded calm. "But I think I'll skip the fortunetelling, if you don't mind?" She didn't wait for Carlotta to say anything, but stood and hurried toward the exit.

"Arianna," Carlotta called.

She halted and whirled around. "How did you know my name?"

"Does it matter?"

She arched her brow. "Yes, I believe it does. Is this some kind of hoax?"

"You don't belong here." Carlotta dropped her fake accent.

"Excuse me?"

"There are souls out there ... wandering ... lost, but time always has a way of sorting out the mistakes. You belong to Blue Run. Your destiny intertwines with his."

"What are you talking about?"

Carlotta walked around the table to face Arianna. "You must listen, for you don't have much time. You will think you have met your end, but it won't be over. You'll return to where you belong, and another woman will take your place of doom."

"Is this all a part of your theatrical presentation because if it is, I don't like it."

"In this other era, you will meet a very strong man with the blackest of hair."

"Did you hear me?"

"His eyes will be green, clear and sharp like a cat," Carlotta continued. "He is called ..." She chewed on her lower lip, but then her eyes lit up. "The Scotsman. He is called the Scotsman. Trust him, for he will protect you. He may feel mistrust for you because of the other woman's black heart, but in time, he will see you for who you really are. He's your soul mate. It will be his child you carry."

Terror had kept Arianna frozen in her spot, enduring Carlotta's eerie premonition, but now the woman had finished and Arianna took a step back. "You're crazy." She pointed her finger at her.

Thunder rolled shaking the rafters. Dust and debris fell around Arianna and she held up her hands to protect her head. Coughing, she turned and ran for the door, but a sharp pain to the back of her skull brought her to her knees.

"Watch out!" Carlotta warned.

Arianna's eyes widened as she watched the wood beam hurdling toward her.