Love Letters from Largs-my favorite scenes

Guess what? Still one of my all-time favorite books. I loved writing this book for so many reasons. This is the book of my heart in many ways.

I researched and researched. It was such fun because there were actually written sources from this time period. For much of the 1200s in Scotland, very little is written.

I hired a special Medieval Scottish Historical editor. I also enjoyed it so much that I made the time period carry on through the next two stories.

This was also the beginning of one of my best creations: Lucky Loki.

Favorite scenes:

LOKI/BRODIE – The beginning of this relationship was such fun. A cocky, yet hungry, young lad and a fierce warrior looking for the love of his life clash. Loki grabbed our hearts all the way through this novel and many more, enough to get his own story. But this scene where Nicol and Brodie played with the lad, and got as much as they gave, is still a favorite.
BRODIE’S FEELINGS ABOUT ABUSE- I still smile when I think of Brodie’s reaction to noticing that Celestina’s dear father abused her by twisting her wrist under the fine linens at the royal castle. His response? Do what any noble Highlander would do. Stand up, haul back your fist, and punch the bastard in the face, no holds barred. What damsel-in-distress doesn’t wish for the same? This was the beginning of a great scene which traveled through much of the castle.
THE POWER OF ALEX GRANT – This novel started the reputation of the Grant warriors and that of Alex Grant, as well. There was an entire scene down a passageway of the royal castle where chaos reigned. King Alexander III, a local baron, a wealthy Norwegian merchant, and a sweet lass were all surrounded by the king’s guards, but nothing could put an end to the melee until Alex Grant found his way there and basically blackmailed the king with the number of warriors he would pledge to the cause. It was only the beginning of the reputation of the Grant warriors.
MISSY ANGEL- What could be sweeter than Celestina falling in love with Lucky Loki as well? He was so endearing to her that she had to give him a hug, even when he climbed up the rungs of a garderobe. And of course, Loki allowed it, with a huge smile.
LOKI AND THE DRAUGR- You couldn’t help but love whenever the spry laddie got the best of the big brutes, like the time he put the stones in Aldrik’s shoes to alert him to when they moved Celestina. The lad was quite clever. The other part of Loki that I loved was he never entertained anyone with his action’s as much as he did himself. He couldn’t stop giggling over the image of the big bastard stepping on a bootful of stones and bellowing.
CELESTINA FINDS HERSELF – Not sure which scene shows it better—when she puts Ivarrson and Aldrik both to the ground with a knee and a fist to the groin or when she takes on the drunken Norseman who dared to touch Loki. I rarely think of my novels as movies, but this is one of the scenes I would love to watch: Brodie as he heads down the pathway after Celestina with a huge stick over her head, and he tells her to remember how he used to lift Jennie onto his horse. She throws the stick away, faces him, and holds her arms up, only to be quickly scooped up by her savior.
CELESTINA AND BRODIE- In the manor home of Baron Lunde when the elements of first attraction wreak havoc on both of them (love at first sight can happen), I knew their story would be great. I also loved their handfasting with Alex Grant officiating.
THE BATTLE OF LARGS- The Norse on the beach, the Highlanders and their swords, Alex Grant with his golden helm and chain-mail clad destrier Midnight, and a wee lad with a slinger.
CELESTINA FINDS THE LETTERS FROM HER MOTHER TO HER TRUE SIRE – yikes! More tears for me.
THE SECOND OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SCENES- Of course, it’s when Lucky Loki becomes Loki Grant. From the sniveling, frightened wee laddie standing alone in front of the huge Alex Grant, to the sobbing of Celestina and Maddie, to the Grant warriors surrounding him to pledge to protect him forever, the scene is full of tearful moments and happy ones, too. But the best?