Jillian Stone Author Guest Post: Men in Kilts

A Private Duel with Agent Gunn

Jillian Stone

Thanks to Books and Things for inviting me to guest blog today, I’m so excited to tell you about the third book in the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, A Private Duel with Agent Gunn which releases tomorrow, September 27.

Men in Kilts 

Diana Gabaldon’s Jamie Fraser gets some credit for igniting my interest in men in kilts, but my real appreciation came later, during a trip––to where else? I was sitting in Waverly Station, Edinburgh, waiting for the train to Inverness. A flutter in the breeze caught my eye. I looked up from the morning edition of the Scotsman and recognized the red and black stripes of a plaid. It was a kilt, and it was attached to fine looking pair of naked, muscular calves. Below that were combat boots and crunched up socks.

Inspired, my gaze double-backed, and wandered up sinewy legs. Having never thought about it much, I contemplated the masculinity of hair on a man’s legs, and viewed the soft, wiry texture with new regard. By the length of his stride, he had to be tall, as well as broad shouldered, he was Scot, after all. At this point, a kind of dream-like slow motion occurred, not unlike those classic fantasy sequences featuring Bo Derek or Phoebe Cates. Only this was a man––in a kilt.

I took a quick glance upward––past the drab olive jacket with lots of pockets, to the gray t-shirt and hint of hard pecs beneath. He was handsome, of course, with a nicely featured face and a rusty shadow of unshaven stubble. But, even the longish auburn hair that flowed as prettily as the plaid, did not hold my attention for long. Yes, my eyes had zipped back down those flowing pleats and were hoping for yet another, greater gust of wind to blow through the station.

At that exact moment, I was no better or worse than an eight year old boy in the school yard, waiting for the girls in skirts to climb the monkey bars. There was delicious mystery beneath that kilt, and to this day I have always wondered...briefs, boxers, or bare-ass naked?

Looking back, I suppose I had a man-in-kilt epiphany or at the very least, an ah-ha kilt moment. As I continued my trip through Scotland I was to experience the joy of men wearing kilts many times. I attended the Highland Games in Perthshire––and rode the train back to Dunkeld with a friendly band of kilt swathed drummers. In fact, I was surrounded by kilts––swimming in pleats and plaids, but nothing was quite as special, kilt-wise, as that brief encounter in Edinburgh.

I’m not sure how many readers of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series know this, but nearly all of the Special Branch detectives are Scots. But not one of them has worn a kilt––until now.

Those readers who enjoyed An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, might recall a story Mr. Kennedy told at dinner about kilts and bare naked arses, but Zak Kennedy never actually wore a kilt in the novel. And Rafe Lewis, the daring-do detective of A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis was a peer of Scotland, no less, and still––no chance to put him in a kilt. By the third novel of the series, I was getting inpatient with myself. I was the writer/creator of all these handsome, strapping, Scotsmen and I had yet to write a sexy kilt scene!

So, I made up my mind that this would be the book. In A Private Duel with Agent Gunn, Phineas Gunn not only wears a kilt, but the heroine gets to do some exploring. Before I share an excerpt of the kilt scene, here’s a blurb about the story:

Prima ballerina Catriona de Dovia lives the glamorous life of a starlet, filled with glittering jewels, sumptuous dinners, and admiring suitors. She’s grown up considerably since losing her heart to Hugh Curzon once upon a time, no longer wasting her emotions on the empty promises of charming gentlemen. On her own since the untimely death of her parents, she will do anything for the only family she has left: her brother, a notorious anarchist.

Scotland Yard Agent Phineas Gunn—sometimes known as Hugh Curzon—receives his new assignment reluctantly. He’s up for something a little more strenuous than playing nanny to a ballerina, until he sees who his charge is. Then, it’s a completely different story, because he’d been unable to forget the trusting, beautiful Cate since he had to leave her behind in Barcelona. And he suspects Cate is more than a ballet girl––in fact, she just might be a jewel thief, or even more arousing––a clever undercover operative.

Finn is determined to find out as the two race across the Continent—by land, by sea, even through the air by zephyr—it becomes uncertain who is keeping tabs on whom, and Finn and Cate must battle the sexual tension that snaps and sizzles between them every step of the way.

Allow me to set up the kilt scene without being a spoiler. As you know from the blurb, there is a bit of jewel thievery––or jewel recovery going on. Finn believes the jewels may be financing a group of Spanish anarchists––Cate assures him they part of her deceased uncle’s estate, and rightfully hers. Suffice it to say, the hero and heroine of this tale, have made an arrangement: Finn will help Cate recover the jewels, as long as she agrees to provide proof of ownership. And let me make this perfectly clear, neither one of them trust the other––at all.

QUESTION FOR COMMENTERS: 

I’m giving away a signed copy of A PRIVATE DUEL WITH AGENT GUNN to one lucky commenter today (enter through the rafflecopter form). Here’s a question for kilt lovers: Do you have a favorite kilt wearing hero or real live kilt encounter to share? Please tell, LOL!

Purchase links: 

B&N     AMAZON     BAM!     BOOK DEPOSITORY      INDIEBOUND

Brief Author Bio:

Jillian Stone is the author of the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series, which includes The Seduction of Phaeton Black, and the just released, The Moonstone and Miss Jones. The third sequel, The Miss Education of Doctor Exeter, is scheduled to release in summer 2013. Jillian is also the author of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series. Watch for A Private Duel with Agent Gunn in late November!

Jillian Stone Contact Info:  

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Thanks again, to Books and Things for inviting me to guest blog today, I had a blast! 

A Private Duel with Agent Gunn

From the author of An Affair with Mr. Kennedy and A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis comes a sexy new romantic caper in the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series. 

Prima ballerina Catriona de Dovia lives the glamorous life of a starlet, filled with glittering jewels, sumptuous dinners, and admiring suitors. She's grown up considerably since losing her heart to Hugh Curzon once upon a time, no longer wasting her emotions on the empty promises of wealthy gentlemen. On her own since the untimely death of her parents, she will do anything for the only family she has left: her brother, a notorious anarchist. 

Scotland Yard Agent Phineas Gunn—sometimes known as Hugh Curzon—receives his new assignment reluctantly. He's up for something a little more strenuous than playing nanny to a ballerina, until he sees who his charge is. Then, it's a completely different story, because he'd been unable to forget the trusting, beautiful Cate since he had to leave her behind. 

As the two race across the Continent—by land, by sea, even through the air by zephyr—it becomes uncertain who is keeping tabs on whom, and Finn and Cate must battle the sexual tension that snaps and sizzles between them every step of the way.

Giveaway!

Thanks Jillian for the awesome post and excerpt! I can't wait to read it. I also don't have a personal story, but I'm still looking for one. ;)

As you saw above, Jillian is giving away one signed pb copy of the book and one ebook copy. Both are international!! Whee! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway