My second long Regency historical romance

BERKLEY: ISBN: 0-425-17036-5, September 1999

FLOWERS UNDER ICE

Jean Ross Ewing

"In Flowers Under Ice, Jean Ross Ewing stakes her claim as one of the most powerful voices in historical romance. Beautifully written and richly evocative of the Scottish Highlands, Flowers Under Ice is the story of Dominic and Catriona, star-crossed lovers who come together in passion and lies, and must triumph over devastating enemies before they can forge a lasting love."

Mary Jo Putney

 "Jean Ross Ewing is rapidly becoming the mistress of lush, dramatic romance. In Flowers Under Ice she gives the reader a passionate love story rivetingly well told in language to take the breath away. Don't miss it."

Jo Beverley

The most notorious rake in Regency London challenges a young woman from the Scottish Highlands to explore the seven deadly sins, one for each day of a reckless journey, a very dangerous game!

PLOT SUMMARY:

Seeming to be only a handsome, dissolute libertine, Dominic Wyndham has just climbed a church spire for a wager, when Catriona, a passionate young woman from the Scottish Highlands arrives with devastating news: his estranged wife, Harriet, has just died in Edinburgh. Since returning from his years spying against Napoleon, Dominic has had only one purpose: to win Harriet back. Now Catriona demands he return with her to Scotland to rescue a child she claims is Harriet's bastard. Shattered and furious, Dominic makes one outrageous condition and one outrageous threat in return for his help. They will explore the seven deadly sins, one for each day of their journey, with Catriona's virtue and heart as the prize. But deadly enemies await, turning a tryst with seduction into a headlong adventure, while these two passionate antagonists try to rescue a child, save a people, and find the treacherous path from lust to love.

FROM REVIEWS:

"A smashing follow-up to her spectacular first historical novel, Illusion . . . In a master stroke of characterization, Ms. Ewing brilliantly brings to life a spectacular hero who meets adversity with a laugh and never, absolutely never, gives up. Richly intricate, exquisitely crafted, this jewel of a love story will move you to your soul. Treasure, thy name is Ewing!"

"Darkly passionate historical . . . Dominic is a complex hero, a handsome, dissolute libertine who is beset by demons . . . proud and defiant, Catriona proves his match . . . . Not a mere historical bodice-ripper, this tale will surprise readers with its intelligent plot and complex themes."

"Readers will relish the duel of wits, bodies, and souls between Catriona and Dominic. These lead protagonists and the depth behind the key secondary players prove that it is not an illusion to believe that Ms. Ewing is a powerful force in historical romance."

"Ms. Ewing's talent as a writer is showcased by her masterstroke of characterization, excellent plotting, and her words are like jewels . . . This is a powerful book you don't want to miss! I was never so glad in my life to be able to sit back and enjoy a story that is so entertaining, well researched and well written."

SOME COMMENTS FROM READERS:

"One of the best romances I've read so far this year and I foresee it staying at number one for the remainder. Thank you for a great hero!! Dominic is smart, sexy and with a great sense of humour, loved reading his story. I look forward to your future historical books!"

"Congratulations on writing a wonderful, passionate, intense story. This is just my kind of book. I thought it would be hard for you to equal the job you did on your last book, but this really does."

"I absolutely loved it-Dominic is superb! As a Scot, I loved your description of Scotland and the language/expressions as well as the fierceness of the women."

"Your prose and/or language is superb, bar none, — wow, what a gift you have!"

"Thanks for the terrific books . . . . Laura Kinsale probably creates my favorite heroes, but you really are a contender . . . . more, please!"

This is Dominic's story, in case you wondered at the end of Illusion what becomes of this gorgeous golden-haired rogue with the sardonic tongue!

THE TITLE: I've had several readers ask me about how I came up with this title. FLOWERS UNDER ICE is an image that occurs to Dominic when he first sees Catriona and then it becomes a theme throughout the book! Here's where it first happens. Dominic is speaking to his brother, the Earl of Windrush:

Dominic was almost blind with distress, but he was still burningly aware of the woman in the black bonnet. "Who is that doxy scowling at me from your carriage? Won't you introduce us?"

His brother glanced at her with indifference. "Miss Catriona Sinclair. Harriet's companion, who brought us the report from Edinburgh. If you are interested, she can tell you the details."

Catriona. The Scots Catherine. Ca-tree-ona, the emphasis on the second syllable. So his instinct had been right: this unknown woman had shattered his life. And now he knew where he had seen such a gaze before: on the face of Highland soldiers going into battle, roused by the tumult of the bagpipes, fixed on destiny. Even in the uncertain light, he knew her eyes were blue—a bright blue embroidered with gold, like bittersweet or forget-me-not—the eyes of the Far North, where flowers grow under ice.

A NOTE ABOUT GAELIC:

Gaelic was the language of the Scottish Highlands into fairly recent times. My grandparents spoke it fluently, but I grew up in England. I don't write or speak Gaelic myself, so I found expert help for the few Gaelic words and phases that Catriona uses. I always reveal the meaning in the text, but written Gaelic looks pretty odd to English-speakers and it's hard to guess how it might be pronounced. Many Gaelic sounds don't have exact English equivalents. For example, "ch" in "loch" isn't a hard "k" like the English "lock." It's much closer to the softer sound in the German "ach." The vowel sounds are especially hard for English speakers, but bearing those limitations in mind, here's an extremely rough guide to pronouncing some of the words and phrases: (All errors are mine, of course.)

Incidentally, because Highland English was learned as a second language, Catriona and her friends don't speak English with a broad Scots accent.

Catriona (Catherine) - Ca-TRREE-ona

Iseabail (Isobel) - ISH-bel

Magaidh (Maggie) - Maggeh

Mairead (Margaret) - Mahr-et

Diabhal (Lucifer) - DJEE-ah-vol

Glen Reulach (Glen of stars) - Glen RAY-luch

Dunachan (fort in the field) - Dun-AH-chan

Achnadrochaid (the first MacNorrin township "field by the bridge") .- AHCH-na-droch-it

A Dhia! (Oh, God!) - Ah YEE-uh

Och-òn (Alas) - Och-ohn

Obh, obh (Oh, dear!) - ohv, ohv

A Mhuire! (Oh, Mary, Mother of God!) - Ah VOOR-uh

sruthan (little stream) - SROO-an

claidheamh mór (broad sword, claymore) - clyiv mor

sgain dhu (small knife, dirk) - SKEE-an doo

uisge-beatha (whisky) ooshcu-bah

"Fhuair mi m' fheumalachd." ("I have what serves my purpose.") - hoo-ayr mee muEH ma-luch

"'Bheir mise suaimhneas dhuibh-'" ("'I will give you rest-'") - vair MEE-sha s'wuay-nish (ghu)ehb

"Mach as m' fhianais!" ("Get out of my sight!") - mahch as muee-anish

"Cha till mi tuilleadh." ("I shall return no more.") - hah keel mee tul-luch

"O, mo chràdhlot!" ("Oh, my pain!" A cry of distress) - oh, mo hchRAH-locht

"Nach ann aige a tha a' bhodhaig." ("What a handsome body he has!") - na-chan aych-uh ha boyuchg

"Mo léireadh!" (Mental torture) - mo LAIR-uh

"C' ainm a tha ort?" ("What's your name?") - CAIN-em ah orsht

"Leig leis falbh." ("Let him leave.") - layg leesh falluv

"Chreach thu mi." ("You have ruined me.") - hchree-ACH oo mee

"Dé tha cearr ort?" ("What is wrong with you?") - yay ah KAY-ahr orsht

"Is farsaing do rìoghachd 's gur fial-" ("Extensive is thy domain-") - ish farsa do REE-ach gur veeol

" 'S mise Daibhidh Friseal." ("I'm David Fraser.") - s' meesh DAI FREEshal

"Gonadh ort!" ("Pain on you!" A curse.) - gonn-ah orsht

"An fhearr leat so?" ("You like this better?") - an eeahr laht cho

"A bheil Calum an seo?" ("Is Calum here?") - ah veel Calum an sheaw

"An tusa a tha ann?" ("Is it you?") - an doosa ha-aun

" 'S mise Anndra." ("I'm Andrew.") - s' meesh ANNdra

"Ciamar a tha sibh?" ("How are you?") - kee-am-ar-ah HAH shee

"Seo Dominic Bàn!" ("It's Fair Dominic!") - sheeyo Dominic Bahn

"A Dhominic, tha m'anam a' snàmh an ceò!" ("Oh, Dominic, my soul swims in mist!")

-ah Dhominic, hah Man-am snavh un kyoh

Award-winning, multi-published author of British-set romances, Jean Ross Ewing was born, raised, and educated in England and Scotland.

Copyright © Jean Ross Ewing 1999. This text must remain unaltered, complete with the copyright, and may not be reproduced or distributed for profit or for any other purpose without my express permission.