Catriona’s Secret

by Madeline Martin

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  Want to learn a little more about each of the characters and the history of the Borderland Ladies? I have a history of the Borderland Ladies, character bios and free short stories on the supporting characters on my website:

  Read more about the Borderland Ladies here

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  Outside of historical facts, there is something else I want to bring up in my author’s note for Cat’s story and that is her rape. What she experienced with Gawain has been happening to women since the dawn of time and continues to happen today. It is far too common for protests to be dissuaded, for hesitations to be worked around, for pushing when one should back down. And it’s far too often that the victim accepts the blame.

  Cat’s story is a sensitive subject, I know. It is a painful one that can tear open scars. However, it was an important story for me to tell due to its poignancy. For every woman who has endured what Cat went through, who has had the blame pushed on her, who bore the burden of a guilt that should never have belonged to her, I want Cat’s story to be a message. It doesn’t matter how much you drank, it doesn’t matter what you wore or what you said or where you went or any other blame that can be thrown at you. The only thing that matters is this: if you did not consent, it was not your fault.

  Please note that if you need help or someone to talk to, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline website https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline or by calling 800.656.HOPE (4673)

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my amazing beta readers who helped make this story so much more with their wonderful suggestions: Kacy Stanfield, Monika Page, Janet Barrett, Tracy Emro and Lorrie Cline. You ladies are so amazing and make my books just shine!

  Thank you to Janet Kazmirski for the final read-through you always do for me and for catching all the little last minute tweaks.

  Thank you to John Somar and my wonderful minions for all the support they give me.

  Thank you to Erica Monroe who saves my life time after time for doing an amazing job with edits and is always there for whatever I need. I swear, you add more years back onto my life with all the help and laughter you bring me. And thank you to Teresa Sprecklemeyer (the Midnight Muse) for her incredible work on creating all these gorgeous covers for my Borderland Ladies series.

  And a huge thank you so much to my readers for always being so fantastically supportive and eager for my next book.

  About the Author

  Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of Scottish set historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them.

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  She lives a glitter-filled life in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions) and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She loves Disney, Nutella, wine and could easily lose hours watching cat videos.

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  Find out more about Madeline at her website:

  http://www.madelinemartin.com

  Also by Madeline Martin

  Borderland Ladies

  Marin’s Promise

  Anice’s Bargain

  Ella’s Desire

  Catriona’s Secret

  Leila’s Legacy

  Highland Passions

  A Ghostly Tale of Forbidden Love

  The Madam’s Highlander

  The Highlander’s Untamed Lady

  Her Highland Destiny

  Highland Passions Box Set Volume 1

  Heart of the Highlands

  Deception of a Highlander

  Possession of a Highlander

  Enchantment of a Highlander

  The Mercenary Maidens

  Highland Spy

  Highland Ruse

  Highland Wrath

  Regency Novellas

  Earl of Benton

  Mesmerizing the Marquis