STONE OF FAITH
Margaret Izard
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
Blurb:
The heart’s most extraordinary battle is the one fought for love.
Haunted by a family legacy that threads magic through the ages, Captain Ewan MacDougall and his ghostly crew sail between worlds—freeing enslaved people. A worthy goal, yet he longs for what eludes him—true love. When he crosses paths with a legendary siren of the sea, bound to a cruel, power-hungry madman, Ewan finds the woman destined to claim his heart.
Trapped and forced to use her voice to lure ships into the clutches of evil, the spark in Ewan’s eyes awakens hope in Lorelei’s soul—a chance to break free and protect her Fae family. Yet, the wicked monster holding her captive will stop at nothing to kill the human who touches and loves her as no one has ever done before.
Will the fated connection they share break the chains of dark magic or claim two more victims in a quest to find the Stone of Faith?
Excerpt:
The cannons drowned out Low’s response as Ewan spied the woman again, standing on the bow alone—the same as she had every time he’d robbed Low. No one else seemed to see her, and the battle raged on without hitting her her once.
As the wind tossed her bright red hair, the mane spread around her head. That scent—fresh seaweed and sun-warmed air—washed over him, just as it did every time he saw her. Her cream-colored skin glowed. When their eyes connected, a blush rose on her cheeks. She possessed Fae eyes, a brilliant white-blue that shone on their own. A siren she was, a woman from his dreams. Someone, no one else saw but Ewan. She took his breath away each time, touching his soul and making his heart beat harder. Butterflies erupted in his belly.
He whispered, “Tha thu bòidheach.” You’re beautiful.
Doug shifted in front of him, breaking the spell. The sounds of the battle rushed back like a freight train.
His friend yelled, “Ewan, ye must shift us before the ship breaks up! We’ve taken the plunder and already freed the slaves. It’s time for Blackbeard’s ghost to disappear.”
Cannon fire broke apart pieces of his prized ship. Doug was right. It was past time to disappear.
Ewan gathered energy, concentrating on the Chapel in the Woods at Dunstaffnage Castle in the future. He thrust his hand out, opening the portal, and sent a ball of energy through. He called the ship, and all within forward in time.
The world swirled, and the ship tilted as Doug’s cheer rang in Ewan’s ears, drowning out all sound when the vessel flew through space and time, popping out of the chapel door and landing in the loch beyond Dunstaffnage Caste, rocking a bit from the force. He and Doug tumbled on the chapel floor, coming to rest, lying on their backs. The crew Ewan knew faded—spirits brought back to serve him who dissipated with his spell.
Ewan lay there for a moment, allowing his body and mind to rest. Doug did too, their breaths echoing in the empty nave.
Boot steps sounded, and before Ewan could rise, his da’s angry face appeared over him, upside down. “About damn time ye returned! I’ve waited half a day for ye to get yer pirate ass home!”
His da strode away, calling out when he neared the chapel door, “Both ye sorry mongrels get yer asses into the study! And, Ewan, make that scraggly beard disappear!”
Ewan sat up, waving at his chin, the long hair fading as Doug stood. “Mr. Mac, it’s just a bit of fun, that’s all!”
Colin Roderick MacDougall stopped, straightened his back, and turned slowly.
His angry countenance was one Ewan rarely witnessed. “Just a bit of fun, Douglas MacArthur? Just a bit of fun?”
His da fisted his hands. “Yer pirate games have gone too far!” He slashed his hand to the side. “The study, now!” The last he bellowed, echoing beyond the chapel.
Ewan stood, knowing his da’s wrath did not easily rise to the surface. Even when disciplining his children, except when… “Wait, Da, what has happened?” He and his sister Evie had gotten away with so much as kids and on into adulthood. Most of the time, his da had grunted while applauding their Fae skills. But when a Fae Fable showed and a magic Iona stone needing hunting for the Fae…
His sire pointed a finger at him. “A Fae fable has appeared. That’s what’s happened!” He strode to Ewan and aimed the finger, hitting Ewan’s broad chest, jabbing when he yelled, “The Stone of Faith!”
Ewan blinked. The Stone of Faith fable had two stories they knew of—both including the Stone of Lust.
Ewan tilted his head. “Ainslie’s story or the other one of the island and treasure?”
His da folded his arms, then growled his answer. “The island of treasure.” He leaned forward till their noses nearly touched. “And the tale is not about yer ma. The fable’s one of its own, and the damn thing has an ending!” He turned and strode out of the chapel.
Ewan blinked. “The Stone of Faith has a fable?”
Interview with Margaret Izard
What is your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part of Stone of Faith is the way Ewan and Lorelei’s bond builds in the face of so much danger. There’s a scene where the roar of the sea and the clash of cannons surround them, yet for a moment the world falls away and it’s just the two of them—haunted captain and imprisoned siren—finding strength in each other. I love how it captures everything I aim for in this series: romance tangled with high stakes, magic interwoven with history, and the power of love to break chains, whether they’re forged by dark magic or by fear.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
Yes—Stone of Faith carries a strong thread of hope and resilience. At its heart, the story shows that love is not just about passion, but about sacrifice, trust, and standing together even when the odds are impossible. Both Ewan and Lorelei have been bound by legacies and chains not of their making, but they discover that freedom and faith come from choosing each other, no matter the cost. The moral I wanted to weave in is this: true strength doesn’t come from power alone, but from love that dares to defy fear.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
My characters are mostly born from my imagination, though they’re often sparked by bits of history, folklore, or even people-watching. For example, Ewan in Stone of Faith grew from my fascination with Scottish privateers and the MacDougall legacy, while Lorelei’s roots lie in the old German legend of the siren whose voice lured sailors to their doom. From there, I shaped them into characters with their own wounds, desires, and fated connection.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
That said, little pieces of real life sometimes sneak in—an expression, a turn of phrase, or even a bit of stubbornness borrowed from someone I know, me maybe? But once the story takes hold, the characters become very much their own people, often surprising me with choices I didn’t see coming.
Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
That’s such a tough question—every character I’ve written has a piece of my heart. But if I had to choose Brielle from Stone of Love will always be a favorite. She was my first heroine in the Stones of Iona series, the spark that set the entire saga in motion. Her courage, compassion, and willingness to fight for love laid the foundation for everything that followed.
And now, writing her son, Ewan in Stone of Faith has been just as meaningful. He carries both her strength and his own haunted shadows, making him a deeply layered hero. Watching his journey unfold—shaped by Brielle’s legacy yet entirely his own—was both challenging and rewarding. Together, they represent the heart of the series: love and sacrifice echoing across generations.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
Without a doubt, the character I’d be least likely to get along with is Manix Skene. He’s the perfect villain—ruthless, manipulative, and utterly consumed by his thirst for power. Manix destroys without remorse, twists love into weakness, and views loyalty as something to exploit. As an author, I love writing him because he raises the stakes for every hero and heroine who crosses his path. But in real life? I’d be the first one keeping a very safe distance. That said, I absolutely love where his story ends in the upcoming books—it’s fitting, and (I hope) satisfying for readers.
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
If Lorelei from Stone of Faith could speak about me, I think she’d say I understand what it feels like to be trapped by circumstances beyond your control—but also how hope can grow in even the darkest places. She’d probably thank me for giving her a voice strong enough to shatter chains, and for showing her that love can be both freedom and power.
Ewan, on the other hand, might be a little sterner with me. He’d likely accuse me of making his journey far too difficult—haunting him with ghosts, testing his loyalty, and throwing him into impossible battles. But deep down, he’d admit he respects me for giving him Lorelei. She’s the heart he longed for, and I think he’d forgive me everything else because of her.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I really wanted to strike a balance. Each book in the Stones of Iona series can stand on its own—you can pick up Stone of Faith without having read the earlier books and still enjoy Ewan and Lorelei’s love story from start to finish. At the same time, I’m definitely building a larger tapestry. The magical stones, the MacDougall family legacy, and the battle between light and dark weave through every book, tying them all together into one sweeping saga.
So, while every novel has its own complete romance and central arc, readers who follow the whole series get to see the deeper connections—family ties across generations, recurring villains, and the way each stone shapes the fate of the realm. My hope is that readers feel satisfied with each book but also excited to see how it all links together.
Author Bio and Links
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
Connect with Margaret Izard
Giveaway:
Signed copy of the book.
Large Stone of Doubt book bag
Small Stone of Doubt book bag
Insulated wine glass with Stone of Doubt logo
Dublin shot glass with etched Stone of Doubt logo
Stone of Doubt bookmark
Stone of Doubt recipe card
Wild Rose Press (publisher) 2025 calendar (While supplies last)
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