Passarinho and the Highlander:
Adventures in Love and War
by Fran Connor
Genre: Historical Romantic Adventure
A privileged young woman in 1730s Boston sets out on an adventure to rescue her father from a debtor’s prison in Jamaica. A dashing Scottish soldier offers to help her in return for her help in exposing a traitor.
Shipwreck, spies, murder, war and a rival for the Highlander’s affections combine to thwart her mission.
She finds the darker side of life in the Caribbean is a far cry from her sheltered upbringing. To survive and succeed in her rescue she must adapt and, on the way, she discovers a secret about herself that could have disastrous consequences for her future.
Buy or download now through Kindle Unlimited and enjoy this gripping Romantic Adventure with a flawed heroine.
Excerpt from Passarinho and the
Highlander by Fran Connor
She could see the ship better now as it cut
through the surf towards her. Had they seen her? Pain shot through her legs as
she lifted herself onto her knees. To stand up, she knew, would capsize her
makeshift life raft. She did not care if they were pirates or if they were
French, Spanish or British. All she wanted as she knelt looking at the ship was
a drink of water to slake her desperate thirst.
Susannah may have grown up in a sheltered
environment back in Boston, but she was no foolish or naive girl. A semi-naked
woman appearing before men who may have been at sea for months may invite
disaster. But water… she needed water.
Now the ship was close enough for her to see
the people onboard, though she could not tell their nationality. A man stood on
the poop deck with a telescope that she hoped was looking at her. She pulled up
her chemise to try to cover her breasts.
An awful feeling swept through her body when
she saw the ship turn away from her, and then elation. They lowered a boat over
the side, furled the sails and dropped anchor. Susannah looked up at the sky.
“Thank you!”
Her eyes searched the boat party for an
officer or gentleman as it approached. That was more of a hope than a
likelihood as she checked them out. Her mind flitted through available options
and found none.
Without a doubt the vision that the nearest
sailor beheld must have been the strangest he’d ever seen. Had he read Robinson
Crusoe published twenty years before? His tarred pigtail and scarred face did
not suggest to Susannah a reader.
The boat pulled alongside Susannah’s raft.
Still on her knees with one hand trying to hold up her chemise, she looked at
the sailors. “Hello, could you help me? I’ve had rather a difficult problem. I
would appreciate passage to civilisation.”
The men in the boat roared with laughter.
One of them seemed to have a slight
resemblance to an English gentleman from the way he held himself. His clothes,
though well-worn, did have signs of quality, and he wore a tartan sash.
“Glory be! And of whom do I have the
pleasure?” said the man in a cultured Scottish accent, much to Susannah’s
relief.
“Miss Susannah Fitzpatrick of the Boston
Fitzpatricks, sir. I am a survivor of the
Diana shipwreck.”
“Well, Miss Fitzpatrick, I do believe you will
have a fascinating story to tell. It must wait until we are aboard. We cannot
anchor off for long for reasons that will become clear to you. I am Donald
Murray of the Auchterarder Murrays, Miss Fitzpatrick, at your service.” He gave
a slight bow while still sitting down in the prow of the boat and then offered
his hand to help her aboard.
Donald Murray, in Susannah’s brief assessment,
was a man in his late twenties. Under his sunburn, red beard and long, unkempt
hair that matched the colour of his beard, he may even have been handsome. His
bearing, which she first mistook as that of an English gentleman, was that of a
proud Highlander.
I live in SW France for the lifestyle after a career in a UK Police Force. I have six published novels, three more in the pipeline and six plays that have been produced on stage. My screenplays portfolio contains seven feature length scripts with one about to go into production.
I write mainly Historical Fiction but I do other genres too. I don't do cop stories, I had enough of the real thing.
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