When I Fall in Love (Thorndike Press Large Print Core Series) - Hardcover

Kurland, Lynn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786298626 ISBN 13: 9780786298624

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2007

Synopsis

While on vacation in England, Jennifer McKinnon wakes up eight hundred years in the past where she discovers that chivalry is alive and well when a handsome knight comes to her rescue and vows to help her return home.

About this title

About the Author:

Lynn Kurland is the USA Today bestselling author of Stardust of Yesterday, A Dance Through Time, This Is All I Ask, The Very Thought of You, Another Chance to Dream, The More I See You, and If I Had You. She is also a contributor to The Christmas Cat, Christmas Spirits, Veils of Time, Opposites Attract, and A Knight’s Vow anthologies. A full-time writer, she lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland

Much Ado in the Moonlight

“A pure delight.”

—Huntress Book Reviews

“A consummate storyteller . . . will keep the reader on the edge of her seat, unable to put the book down until the very last word.”

—ParaNormal Romance Reviews

“No one melds ghosts and time travel better than the awesome Kurland.”

—Romantic Times

“A terrific paranormal romance.”

—Midwest Book Review

“Paranormal elements, a large cast of diverse characters, [and] plenty of humor.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“Touching time-travel romance with humorous characters and sparkling dialogue.”

—Fresh Fiction

Dreams of Stardust

“Kurland weaves another fabulous read with just the right amounts of laughter, romance, and fantasy.”

—Affaire de Coeur

“Kurland crafts some of the most ingenious time-travel romances readers can find . . . Wonderfully clever and completely enchanting.”

—Romantic Times

“A masterful storyteller . . . will enchant you with its spellbinding plot, fascinating characters, and sizzling sensuality . . . [a] mesmerizing novel.”

—Romance Junkies

“One of our most beloved time-travel authors and deservedly so. Each new book is cause for celebration!”

—Fresh Fiction

“A terrific time-travel romance.”

—ParaNormal Romance Reviews

A Garden in the Rain

“Kurland laces her exquisitely romantic, utterly bewitching blend of contemporary romance and time travel with a delectable touch of tart wit, leaving readers savoring every word of this superbly written romance.”

—Booklist

“Kurland is clearly one of romance’s finest writers—she consistently delivers the kind of stories readers dream about. Don’t miss this one.”

—The Oakland Press

From This Moment On

“A disarming blend of romance, suspense, and heartwarming humor, this book is romantic comedy at its best.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A deftly plotted delight, seasoned with a wonderfully wry sense of humor and graced with endearing, unforgettable characters.”

—Booklist

My Heart Stood Still

“Written with poetic grace and a wickedly subtle sense of humor . . . the essence of pure romance. Sweet, poignant, and truly magical, this is a rare treat: a romance with characters readers will come to care about and a love story they will cherish.”

—Booklist

“A totally enchanting tale, sensual and breathtaking . . . an absolute must-read.”

—Rendezvous

If I Had You

“Kurland brings history to life . . . in this tender medieval romance.”

—Booklist

“A passionate story filled with danger, intrigue, and sparkling dialogue.”

—Rendezvous

The More I See You

“The superlative Ms. Kurland once again wows her readers with her formidable talent as she weaves a tale of enchantment that blends history with spellbinding passion and impressive characterization, not to mention a magnificent plot.”

—Rendezvous

Another Chance to Dream

“Kurland creates a special romance between a memorable knight and his lady.”

—Publishers Weekly

The Very Thought of You

“[A] masterpiece . . . this fabulous tale will enchant anyone who reads it.”

—Painted Rock Reviews

This Is All I Ask

“An exceptional read.”

—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Both powerful and sensitive . . . a wonderfully rich and rewarding book.”

—Susan Wiggs

“A medieval of stunning intensity. Sprinkled with adventure, fantasy, and heart, This Is All I Ask reaches outside the boundaries of romance to embrace every thoughtful reader, every person of feeling.”

—Christina Dodd

A Dance Through Time

“An irresistibly fast and funny romp across time.”

—Stella Cameron

“Vastly entertaining . . . feisty fun and adventure.”

—A Little Romance

“Her heroes are delightful . . . A wonderful read!”

—Heartland Critiques

Titles by Lynn Kurland

STARDUST OF YESTERDAY

A DANCE THROUGH TIME

THIS IS ALL I ASK

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU

ANOTHER CHANCE TO DREAM

THE MORE I SEE YOU

IF I HAD YOU

MY HEART STOOD STILL

FROM THIS MOMENT ON

A GARDEN IN THE RAIN

DREAMS OF STARDUST

MUCH ADO IN THE MOONLIGHT

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE

WITH EVERY BREATH

TILL THERE WAS YOU

ONE ENCHANTED EVENING

ONE MAGIC MOMENT

ALL FOR YOU

The Novels of the Nine Kingdoms

STAR OF THE MORNING

THE MAGE’S DAUGHTER

PRINCESS OF THE SWORD

A TAPESTRY OF SPELLS

SPELLWEAVER

GIFT OF MAGIC

Anthologies

THE CHRISTMAS CAT

(with Julie Beard, Barbara Bretton, and Jo Beverley)

CHRISTMAS SPIRITS

(with Casey Claybourne, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Jenny Lykins)

VEILS OF TIME

(with Maggie Shayne, Angie Ray, and Ingrid Weaver)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

(with Elizabeth Bevarly, Emily Carmichael, and Elda Minger)

LOVE CAME JUST IN TIME

A KNIGHT’S VOW

(with Patricia Potter, Deborah Simmons, and Glynnis Campbell)

TAPESTRY

(with Madeline Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Karen Marie Moning)

TO WEAVE A WEB OF MAGIC

(with Patricia A. McKillip, Sharon Shinn, and Claire Delacroix)

THE QUEEN IN WINTER

(with Sharon Shinn, Claire Delacroix, and Sarah Monette)

A TIME FOR LOVE

eSpecials

“TO KISS IN THE SHADOWS” FROM TAPESTRY

WHEN I
FALL IN LOVE

LYNN KURLAND

To my family

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, briefly, heartfelt thanks must go to my agent, the lovely and talented Nancy Yost. She’ll know why.

To my editor, Kate Seaver, for being such a joy to work with.

To my publisher, Leslie Gelbman, for her many kind words, her accessibility, and her gracious, continued support.

To Gail, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

To my cousin-in-law Claire for introducing me to the RTO, and her husband, Bjarne, for giving us the pleasure of listening to a professional violinist make the instrument truly sing.

And last but not least, to my family, who puts up with my crazy hours, crazy characters, and the general chaos that reigns the closer I get to a deadline. They are my joy and delight. I can’t imagine life without them.

Cast of Characters

JENNIFER MACLEOD MCKINNON

Victoria McKinnon MacDougal, Jennifer’s sister

Connor MacDougal, Victoria’s husband

Megan MacLeod McKinnon de Piaget, Jennifer’s sister

Gideon de Piaget, Megan’s husband

John McKinnon, Jennifer’s father

Helen MacLeod McKinnon, Jennifer’s mother

Mary MacLeod, Jennifer’s grandmother

NICHOLAS DE PIAGET

Robin de Piaget, Nicholas’s brother

Anne de Piaget, Robin’s wife

Amanda de Piaget Kilchurn, Nicholas’s sister

Jake Kilchurn, Amanda’s husband

Miles de Piaget, Nicholas’s brother

John de Piaget, Nicholas’s brother

Montgomery de Piaget, Nicholas’s brother

Rhys de Piaget, Nicholas’s father

Gwennelyn de Piaget, Nicholas’s mother

Joanna of Segrave, Nicholas’s grandmother

KENDRICK DE PIAGET, EARL OF SEAKIRK

Genevieve Buchanan de Piaget, Kendrick’s wife

THE BOAR’S HEAD TRIO

Ambrose MacLeod

Hugh McKinnon

Fulbert de Piaget

Prologue

MANHATTAN
PRESENT DAY

I did lock that door when I left this afternoon, didn’t I?

Jennifer MacLeod McKinnon stood in the hallway of her charming Upper East Side brownstone and looked at her apartment door. It wasn’t secured with the four deadbolts that she locked religiously no matter what side of the door she was standing on. It wasn’t even shut tight in a way that might have encouraged her to lean on it and rely on its strength.

It was ajar.

Ajar in a way that suggested strongly that someone had been inside. Someone who wasn’t her.

Jennifer frowned. That was not the kind of thing a girl wanted her deadbolt-encrusted door to be suggesting when she was out alone in the hallway well after midnight with only Mrs. Delinski and her brace of terriers across the hall to help her.

She leaned in a little closer, on the off chance that she might have been mistaken, and heard nothing. Well, that wasn’t quite true. She could hear Mrs. Delinski’s television, a police siren outside, and someone having a fight upstairs. But in her apartment?

Silence.

It was possible that she had forgotten to lock the door. Possible, but not likely. It was Manhattan, for heaven’s sake. She locked the door when she talked to Mrs. Delinski out in the hallway.

She considered her options. She could call the police, but this was the third time this month her apartment had been broken into and she wasn’t sure she could face the thought of filling out another police report. She could leap inside and bean her potential intruder over the head with her violin case, but her violin was worth a lot of money so the odds of her being able to really put some oomph into the beaning were not good. Or she could call her sister Victoria and see if Victoria’s very intimidating husband might be willing to come take a little look-see inside to make sure that her apartment was thug-free.

Now, that was an appealing idea. Connor MacDougal loved trouble. Intruders were his favorite kind of trouble, though he was willing to settle for muggers and petty thieves when he had to. He’d done damage to all sorts of lowlife, to the endless despair of her sister, who was continually trying to convince him that swords, and just fake ones if you please, were better reserved for the stage. Connor did use swords on stage in his flourishing acting career, but Jennifer suspected it grieved him slightly that no real blood ever flowed.

And it probably wouldn’t matter to him that the odds of there being anyone still inside were very slim. He liked the role of protective older brother. There was no sense in not giving him the chance to play it. She pulled her phone out of her evening bag and called her sister’s cell. Victoria picked up on the first ring.

“We’re almost to your place,” she said without preamble.

“You are?” Jennifer whispered. “Why?”

“Connor had a bad feeling.”

“Wow, he’s good,” Jennifer murmured. “Why can’t I find myself a guy like that?”

“You’re looking in the wrong place. So, why did you call and why are you whispering?”

“My front door’s open.”

“Again? Did you forget to lock it?”

“Of course not!” Jennifer exclaimed, then she paused. “At least I don’t think I did.”

“Wait for us downstairs.”

“I—”

Victoria hung up.

“Was planning to,” Jennifer finished. What did her sister think she was, nuts? She had an intimidating brother-in-law to do her dirty work for her; she wasn’t going to do it herself.

She put her phone back in her purse, picked up the hem of her beaded gown, and walked carefully down the stairs. She had to walk carefully so she didn’t scratch the shoes that could have passed in a pinch for glass slippers. They had seemed like the appropriate accessory to match an evening that had promised to be nothing short of a fairy tale in the making.

She’d been asked at the last minute to fill in for the fabulous Victor Bourgeois who had been slated to play Paganini’s Violin Concerto no. 1 in D Major with the Wildly Terrific Orchestra, an edgy group that wasn’t nearly as famous as the New York Philharmonic, but in her opinion almost as good. She could thank her agent, the fabulous and very long-suffering Charles Salieri, for the chance. He’d happily taken her on while she’d still been a student at Juilliard, ignored her complaints of burnout after she’d graduated top of her class in violin performance, and only sighed lightly as she’d jumped into business with her mother instead of leaping into the musical pond as he thought she should have.

Fortunately for her, his nagging and Victoria’s hounding had resulted in her spending a great deal more time practicing over the years than she’d let on. That had resulted in the invitation that she’d thought just might be the start of a new direction for her.

So, she’d donned her Cinderella duds and headed toward the concert hall where the evening had been as glorious as she’d hoped it might be. She had played flawlessly, even by her own exacting standards. Clicking her glass heels together a time or two had resulted in yet another fairy tale happening, mainly the very talented, enormously gorgeous Maestro Michael McGillicuty, WTO’s brilliant conductor, asking her after the concert if she might like to share a cab home. It had seemed too good to be true.

Unfortunately, it had been.

Being forced to plant your fist into your Prince Charming’s nose because he had been less than a gentleman was not exactly the stuff dreams were made of.

She stepped out into the frigid March evening and wished for something more substantial than her flimsy shawl. She leaned against the iron stair railing and breathed as deeply as she dared. There she was in a fairy-tale gown with fairy-tale shoes; where was her knight in shining armor, riding up on his white horse to rescue her from all the creeps?

A cab screeched to a halt in front of her apartment and interrupted her gloomy ruminations. Victoria and Connor piled out and hurried over to her.

“How open was your door?” Victoria began without hesitation. “A lot? A little? Just your imagination imagining the extent of its openness?”

Jennifer scowled at her. “The door was open in a way that strongly suggests that a thief had recently been inside and had his arms too full of my stuff to really close it properly on his way out.” She looked at Connor. “Do you want to go up and check?”

Connor flexed his fingers. Jennifer thought he might have chortled as well, but she was shivering, so that could have been her teeth chattering.

“Aye,” he said enthusiastically. “I’ll ascend and see.”

Jennifer watched her brother-in-law bound up the stairs and into the building. The door shut behind him. She stared after him thoughtfully for a moment or two, then turned to her sister. “Vic?”

“What?”

“Why did Connor have a knife stuck into the waistband of his jeans?”

“Damn it,” Victoria said in exasperation. “I really should have a metal detector installed on the front door.”

“How can you ride across town in a cab with a man and not know he’s packing an enormous knife in the back of his pants?”

“I was distracted.”

“Were you worrying about me?”

Victoria actually blushed. “Not exactly. ...

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0786298626
• ISBN 13: 9780786298624
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 669