A Top Ten Bestselling Historical Fiction Title at Fictionwise.com (Oct 09)

Rating: PG-13

Summary:

Dunnottar Castle, Scotland, the domain of the Clan Keith, close consorts of the royal family for many generations. The whole country is at war with itself: Scotland against England. William Keith, the patriarch, is the wealthiest man in Scotland, but he desires only to be known as the kindest; John, his younger brother, is eager to fight for his country, even if his motives are a little questionable; and Robert, William's oldest son, is off to battle, but his mother's only hope is that he finds a wife in the process. Even the most seemingly righteous families have some deep, dark hidden secrets. The Keith clan is no exception; some of them so deep and dark even the other Keiths don't know they exist. But they are privy to secrets of King Charles II himself.

Excerpt:

“Do you know how beautiful you are when you are angry?” he asked her.

She blushed, and the color that came to her cheeks just enhanced her beauty.

“I didn’t say there was any justice in it,” John continued, “but Hastings didn’t argue.”

“Oh, wonderful!” Ann sputtered. “And a lowly squire is supposed to stand before the king himself and say, ‘Sorry, you majesty, but I just don’t feel like going to Holland. I just got married and I can’t bear to leave my wife!’ How do you think the king would have reacted to such a declaration as that?”

John Keith threw back his head and laughed. She was right; it wasn’t fair. But it was no more fair that Hastings had wed Ann. He could have offered her so much more. A life a Dunnottar would be far more fitting for such a woman as Ann than the life Hastings could offer her. For a brief passing moment, John wished that Hastings was not on his way home. He could think of a thousand and one ways to console Ann in her loss.

He snapped to attention. What kind of a monster had he become? Hastings was one of his best friends and he had made a vow to him to protect Ann. He wondered if he could protect her from himself. He realized that his own intentions had become less than honorable towards her.

He never meant for it to happen, but someplace along the line John Keith had fallen hopelessly in love with the lovely Ann Hastings.

[end excerpt]

Reviews:

"A great read…loaded with action with a bit of romance running throughout the book. Once I got hooked, I couldn't lay it down. I've read periodical articles that Janet Smith has written about the Keith Clan…however, this novel really brings the family alive!" -- Leland Meitzler

“Smith's novel takes a story from her husband's Keith family history and peoples it with men and women about whom any reader can't help but care. Romance and intrigue, friendship and betrayal…against an accurately researched historical backdrop. No wonder ‘Dunnottar’ has been (such) a bestseller." -- Nina Osier, Multi-published author

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical--it's a definate keeper…a nice addition to my library." -- Sandra Kelsay

“The beheading of a king, four love stories, the hiding of the precious crown jewels, and a charming little red-headed girl--all these should be enough of a mix for a historical novel, especially when it is based on the lore of a family we know. ‘Dunnottar’ the title of this book, is actually the name of the ancient castle, the home of the Keith family…if you are ready for a romantic trip back to 17th century Scotland, here is your ticket." -- Mary M. Frank

About the Author

Janet Elaine Smith became known as a magazine writer but her true love was her novels. “Dunnottar” was her first novel and it soon became the No. 1 Bestselling Scottish novel on Amazon for almost three months. Smith moved from Grand Forks, North Dakota after her husband of forty-two years, Ivan, died to northeast Wisconsin. They spent nine years as missionaries in Venezuela then ran a charitable "Helps" mission in Grand Forks for over thirty-five years. “Dunnottar,” like some of her other novels, is based on her genealogical searches. She has published seventeen additional novels and says she is living her life's dream.