Once again this weekend my blog will be open to Celtic and historical writers, to post promotion or chat in the Comments section of this post. By all means, introduce yourselves and leave us some blurbs, excerpts and links. If someone is looking for a read, feel free to browse. No pressure. If you want a closer look at a book, just copy and paste the buy link in your browser. Authors, show us your stuff! :) Readers, feel free to comment and let us know what you're looking for.
Erin O'Quinn; FIRE & SILK
ReplyDeleteTwo people crash and clash, desire and despise...when his fire meets her silk.
In 533 AD, in the northern Ireland kingdom known as Tyrconnell before the Norse invaders caused its name to change to Donegal...
Flann O'Conall is the green-eyed, redheaded son of King Conall Gulban, a real historical figure who was the first king to be baptized by St. Patrick. Flann makes his way back home to his father's great house only a few months each year, when the perilous winter begins to descend on the mountains where he likes to stay by himself. For he is a dedicated bachelor--not one to run from women, but not one to invite their company either.
One night, quite by accident, Flann meets a young virgin--actually a spitfire with a mind of her own--named Mariana. He's encamped a day's ride from his father's house, and he has taken shelter from the hard rain under a waterproof cover. When the silk-clad Mariana demands succor under his blanket, he reluctantly lets her in.
And then all . . . fire breaks loose.
FIRE & SILK tells the story of what happened that night under the tarred cloth, and how that confrontation leads to a trek across the badass wilds of northern Ireland to bring a king to meet his brother...how it leads to an unlikely pairing of two people far too similar to ever get along...and how at last these two headstrong people come together in comedic and erotic ways, ending at the waterfall of Flann's beloved mountain.
I would be thrilled to have you follow a unique link by a good looking guy named David, who'll show you this book and others. And If you'd tweet or share, or of course buy, I would be honored.
http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/erotic-romance/3005
The Band of Roses Trilogy, by Pat McDermott-Romantic action/adventures set in a modern Ireland where the heirs of High King Brian Boru still rule. The current King Brian upholds ancient traditions, as does his daughter, Crown Princess Talty, though Talty has a knack for landing in trouble.
ReplyDeleteBook 1, A Band of Roses The indomitable warrior princess finds romance and adventure from Japan to an eleventh century Ireland, yet all she wants is to return to her family and Neil Boru, the adoptive cousin she secretly loves and cannot have—or so she thinks.
Book 2, Fiery Roses The residents of rural County Mayo object to plans to run gas pipelines over their pristine bogs, and an arsonist tries to change their minds. One of his fires sends newlyweds Talty and Neil to an ancient world beset by a waking volcano.
Book 3, Salty Roses The dynamic heir to the Irish throne believes her exotic adventures are all done and dusted, yet Talty's royal duties seem endless, and a day off with handsome husband Neil is looking good. Guests on a luxury submarine, Talty and Neil dive beneath the waves to view an eerie shipwreck and end up in a world infested with treacherous pirates. Talty takes charge of a pirate ship and its mangy crew, while Neil matches wits with a steamy temptress who jeopardizes his wedding vows.
On Amazon Kindle and Nook
Links and excerpts - www.patmcdermott.net
Excerpt from Salty Roses
ReplyDeleteIn a fury of howling wind and rain, the storm overtook both ships. The first vessel crashed onto the reef with a thunderous impact. Bodies and cargo flew into the water. By the time Nick and I reached the trees above the beach, debris and corpses floated in the churning sea.
As lightning flashed like a strobe light, the second ship maneuvered masterfully past the reef to the shelter of the lagoon. Skiffs were lowered and rowed to the shallower water by men who jumped in and waded toward the survivors.
“Let’s help them save those people,” Nick shouted, starting for the beach.
The ship’s flag unfurled in the wind, a black flag sporting a simple white circle of human skulls. Horrified, I grabbed Nick’s sleeve. “Wait, Nick. They’re not saving those people at all!”
They were slaughtering them, drowning them, hacking them with knives and swords. The murderers drove the few survivors to the beach and surrounded them.
Nick slapped his hand against a tree. “Aw, man! We need that boat!”
He’d get no argument from me. I gripped the handle of my tanto for reassurance. “Do you have your knife with you?”
* * * * *
Thanks for reading! www.patmcdermottnet
http://www.amazon.com/Salty-Roses-Band-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00AEYZDTA/ref=la_B002U6E8NW_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357395415&sr=1-2
CHARMING THE CHIEFTAIN
ReplyDeleteby Deanie Roman
release date: 7 Jan 2013
publisher: Crimson Romance
Lady Elisande Cadby seeks sanctuary in Chieftain Aeden Maxwell's arms against accusations of witchery, and it’s not long before their uncontained desire forces a union.
Yet, not everyone at Caeverlark Castle rejoices over Elisande and Aeden’s wedding. Certainly not Baron Warford the Brutal, Elisande’s rightful betrothed, or, Addis, Aeden’s usurped older brother, who claims Elisande is his by right of consolation.
Amidst a climate of deceit and cruelty, Elisande must earn the clan’s trust before revealing a disturbing family secret best left buried. What she uncovers will either ensnare a vicious killer, or, destroy the man she loves.
http://www.crimsonromance.com/upcoming-releases-romance-ebook/charming-the-chieftain/
Thank you, Miriam!
How about a Scots-Irish/Native American blend?
ReplyDeleteThe Rugged Alleghenies, A White Warrior, Beautiful Scots-Irish Healer, Unrequited Love—Requited, Charges of Witchcraft, Vindictive Ghost, Lost Treasure, Murderous Thieves, Deadly Pursuit, Hangman’s Noose Waiting…Kira, Daughter of the Moon
Can a beautiful Scots-Irish healer suspected of witchcraft and a renegade white warrior find love together and avoid the hangman’s noose in the Virginia Colonial frontier?
Kira, Daughter of the Moon is available in print and kindle at Amazon, in Nookbook, and from other online booksellers
Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/c4j973n
Highland Rake, Book 3
ReplyDeleteMedieval Highland Romance (new release)
Dougald MacNeill takes Lady Alana Cameron to his laird brother James's Craigly Castle when he finds her roaming the heather on the MacNeill lands. But who has sent her there and why? Her uncle, laird of the Cameron clan, and warring with the MacNeill for years, has made a marriage arrangement with another clan and now that is even at stake.
Having witnessed her father's death, and even believing he had returned her home when all along he had been dead, Alana discovers she has the gift, or curse, of seeing the newly departed and sometimes those who should have long ago passed over. Her own deceased brother continues to plague her, the rake, and now another, who is very much of the flesh, Dougald MacNeill, has her thinking marrying a rake might just have its benefits. Dougald's sister, who is one fiesty ghost, has offered to help Alana keep Dougald in line if he thinks of even straying.
But who sent Alana on a fool's errand in the first place to remove her from the Cameron's lands and set her squarely in Dougald's care, and who really killed her father and her brother, and what has it all to do with Alana? Will she and Dougald learn the truth before it is too late?
Amazon
B&N
A Howl for a Highlander
Sourcebooks
Upcoming Release: Feb 2013 (Jan 21 starts blog tour and book giveaways!)
Duncan MacNeill is a Highlander at heart with a mission—find gray wolf and former stockbroker, Silverman who has stolen the family fortune and is purported to be living in the Grand Cayman Islands. As a Highland wolf, Duncan rarely leaves his native homeland and taking a trip to an island paradise doesn’t appeal. But keeping the MacNeill’s ancestral castle depends on making Silverman pay. What Duncan doesn’t plan for is the American botanist who distracts him from his mission and makes him realize what an island paradise really means.
Shelley Campbell is teaching botany at a Florida college, when she receives an email from an old girlfriend, who’s renting a villa on the island and wants her to come to stay with her. Figuring she can study the old growth forest while she's there, and lecture about it when she returns home, she has no idea the secrets she might uncover. When her girlfriend’s a no-show, a Highlander turns up instead, and she has a choice—share the villa, or send him away and pay full price for the accommodations—which on her teacher’s salary is stretching things pretty thin. Since he promises to be no trouble at all, she lets him stay. And that’s when the trouble really begins!
B&N
Amazon
My Young Adult adventure, Glancing Through the Glimmer, will appeal to readers of all ages, as long as they love romantic adventure with a hefty wallop of fairy magic. A homesick American girl meets an Irish prince in disguise, and both run afoul of the fairies...
ReplyDeleteHere's a scene set in Dublin's vibrant Temple Bar area. Prince Liam, the King of Ireland's teenage son, is breaching royal security by venturing out of the house in disguise with his hungry cousin, Kevin.
—
Flowers cascaded from windows and terraces. Fanciful murals adorned several walls. Traditional music oozed from brightly painted pubs and flew from the fingers of street musicians.
"There's at least six guards in the crowd," Kevin said.
Liam had already spotted the yellow jackets and visored black hats of the Dublin police. If anyone recognized him, the sharp-eyed gardaí would. Seeking to avoid them, the cousins crossed the street that led to the square.
They stopped at the corner near the ice cream shop. Before them, in the center of the bustling square, scores of bibliomaniacs rummaged though boxes of books set on tables. Liam couldn't wait to join them. "Which way is the Mexican restaurant, Kev?"
Kevin tilted his head to the left. "Over there. I've been craving their nachos all morning." He raised his eyes in ecstasy. "And they have the best chicken chili! Let's go."
Liam hopped over a puddle and turned—straight into a warm, solid object.
The crash knocked the breath from him. He didn't see who'd clobbered him. He only knew his royal arse was on the cobblestones.
"Li!" Kevin dropped beside him, inspecting him like a fussing mother hen. "Li, are you all right?"
Thankful he hadn't landed in the puddle, Liam heaved himself up on his elbows. He wanted to get away before a crowd gathered. "I'm fine," he said, raising his arm. "Give us a hand, Kev."
As Kevin pulled him to his feet, he noticed a girl his age sprawled on the ground nearby. Blond. Ponytail. Extremely good-looking, with high round cheeks that tapered to a charming chin. Before he could help her to her feet, a dark-haired miss did just that.
The second girl was clearly a friend. Pretty enough. A tad overweight. Glasses. Backpack. "Nice going, Jan," she said. "You did it again."
"I'm so sorry!" the blond named Jan blurted out. "Are you okay?"
Yanks, for sure. The brunette seemed amused, but the blond sounded desperate. Terrified. In need of immediate consolation.
Liam hatched his best smile.
* * * * *
On Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Glancing-through-the-Glimmer-ebook/dp/B006M6LUDM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357398882&sr=8-1&keywords=glancing+through+the+glimmer
Thanks for reading! www.patmcdermott.net
Fancy a bit of time travel magic? How about a Highlander led by his sense of honor? I might have just the read for you. And guess what? It’s FREE through January 6th! ;-)
ReplyDeleteA Highlander in Her Past
Trish Sullivan doesn’t have time to settle down. Marriage and babies just isn’t her. Besides, she already has the best of both worlds. She dates who she wants and is favorite aunt to all the MacKay munchkins. Perfect, right? Well, almost. Things get complicated when a slightly botched bit of magic throws her into the past and matches her with one unforgettable Highlander.
Free on Amazon - A Highlander in Her Past.
http://amzn.to/YMTa25
Ok, Friends - hopefully this will create a direct link to get your FREE copy of A HIGHLANDER IN HER PAST. *sending up a wish to the tech powers*
DeleteAmazon
The Claddagh Series are historical romances set in Ireland and beyond...
ReplyDeleteIt started with Rory O’Brien and Siobhán Desmond of "In Sunshine or in Shdow." Gambler and survivor. Landlord and tenant. A love that couldn’t be denied. It continued with "Coming Home," when Ashleen O’Brien showed an Irish-American war hero that you can find a home and a family in the most unlikely place.
And now there’s "Playing For Keeps." Half-Irish beauty Katie O'Brien has finally returned to Baltimore to visit the family she barely remembers, when she meets a dazzling Shakespearean actor with buried secrets of his own...
http://authorcynthiaowens.com/bookshelf/
Here's a brief excerpt from A Band of Roses - When Irish Crown Princess Talty learns of a plot to invade Ireland, she visits her former commanding officer in Japan to purchase a lethal gunship, a deadly helicopter she nicknames 'The Morrigan.'
ReplyDelete__
The familiar sight of Ron Chambeau’s offices eased Talty’s distress. So did Ron. He kissed her cheek and scolded her for not letting him know she was coming.
“I didn’t know I was coming myself.” She settled into the chair beside his desk. “I only learned of Imi’s death two days ago.”
“From what I hear, you’re her main beneficiary.”
“You probably know more about it than I do. She not only left me her house, she left me some fairly substantial funds. And you’re going to help me spend them.”
“Yeah? What’s this all about, Major Princess?”
Affecting a snobbish air, Talty sat back and crossed her legs. “I’ve grown accustomed to traveling in my husband’s private helicopter. I’d like one at my disposal, and I want the best. Soundproofing, a gourmet galley, leather seats in the cabin, air-conditioning, night-flying, retractable weapons. You know.”
Ron’s eyes slowly narrowed. “The Bellwether Sachem?”
“The Bellwether Sachem.”
“You’re full of beeswax, little girl! You might be a princess, but you’re the farthest thing from muckity executive accommodations I’ve ever seen. If you don’t tell me what you’re up to, you can take your cute little butt right out of here. If fact, I ought to smack it and boot you out!”
Talty had missed Ron. “You told me once, ‘You can’t keep peace without teeth.’ In Ireland we say, ‘Don’t show your teeth until you can bite.’ I’m hungry, Ron.”
“What the hell are you thinking of doing with a gunship?”
“Keep peace, I hope. I heard a rumor about a threat to Irish oil wells.”
“Shouldn’t you let Kieran and your uncle worry about the Wessex gang?”
So he’d heard it too. “Maybe, but I’m a Fian warrior. It’s my duty to help protect Ireland—with the right tool for the job, of course.”
“Yeah? If ISF catches you supplying arms to a sovereign nation, they’ll not only court-martial you, they’ll take your CO down with you. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t work for me anymore.”
Ron looked so comically ferocious, she almost laughed. He tapped his fingers on the desk. His eyes bored into her until the tapping stopped. “All right, Major Princess. I’ll get you the bird. We can bill it as executive transport. As for the rest, you better never say where it came from.”
___
On Amazon Kindle
On Nook
Here's an excerpt from "In Sunshine or in Shadow," Book One of the Claddagh Series:
ReplyDeleteBallycashel, Ireland, 1850
Her worst enemy was her last hope.
Siobhán Desmond stood before the heavy wooden door, shivering as the cold, wet autumn wind knifed through her threadbare cloak. Squaring her shoulders, she raised her hand and lifted the dragon-headed brass knocker.
You’ve no choice, she reminded herself. You must do this. You must.
The door creaked open, the mournful sound loud as a banshee’s wail.
“Yes?”
Biting her lip to still its trembling, Siobhán gazed up at the tall, broad man with the craggy face and wintry blue eyes. A chill raced down her spine as she forced herself not to flinch from that cold, superior gaze.
Lord Percival Glenleigh.
The one man she hated above all others.
“Are you one of my tenants?”
He didn’t know her. She, her mother and father and their parents before them, had all been his tenants, yet not a spark of recognition flared in his icy gaze.
“Aye, Your Honor. Me name’s Siobhán Desmond, sir.”
“Desmond? I don’t recall the name. But no matter. One cannot keep track of all one’s tenants. Well, get on with it then, Shi…vaun. What is it you want?”
Siobhán swallowed against the surge of hatred boiling in her throat. Remember Ashleen. She would do anything, even beg scraps from this repulsive man, if it meant her daughter would survive.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Shadow-Cynthia-Owens/dp/0974624950/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268483292&sr=1-1
Here's an excerpt from FIRE & SILK, as the gruff bachelor Flann slowly begins to awaken the passions of his virginal companion:
ReplyDeleteWhen she lay back on his pillow and invited him to discover her secrets, Flann was so choked with emotion that he could only touch her mouth with his finger. Then he moved it down over her chin and throat, down to the breasts that lay hidden inside a nest of lace. His finger traced their swelling, and he watched as she began to tremble just a little.
God, how can I bring her to joy and yet not frighten her? His question was close to a prayer, he realized. The answer came to him as he touched the cool skin of her breasts. Gently. Softly. Slow as a deep-running river.
He raised one of her little hands and put her fingers in his mouth one by one, licking and sucking as though each finger was a nipple, or the little nub that lay hidden between her legs. He was rewarded with a soft moan. Her eyes flew open and she opened her mouth as though to speak, and then she closed her eyes again and smiled.
Keeping his lower body away from her, he bent to her breasts, and his tongue began to seek what lay under the lace. When he found her nipple, his groin engorged with blood and began to move under the fullness of his léine, and he was glad had changed from the tight britches that would reveal the full contour of his erection. He sucked first one dark nipple and then the other, drawing his mouth off almost completely before engulfing her breast in his mouth and suckling again. Now she had begun to groan softly, and he could feel her buttocks moving on the linens.
Slow, slow, soft as coming dawn, his mouth left her breasts and traveled down her flat stomach to the hairs of her groin. When his tongue found the soft skin underneath, she cried out, “Oh! What are you doing?”
“Shush, shush,” he told her, and he began to stroke the sides of her bum as he sucked and licked. She lifted her buttocks from the linen, arching toward the oak beams, and his hands found their perfect roundness as he continued to make love to her groin. Now she was thrashing on the bed, moving so violently that he had to hold her butt harder while he sucked. And then, with an inarticulate cry, she climaxed. He could feel the pulsing under his tongue, and he held his mouth there, unmoving, while he came against the unyielding bed in a great flood of relief.
Fiery Roses, Book Two in the Band of Roses Trilogy, ensnares Irish Crown Princess Talty Boru and her Royal Consort, Neil, in a web of blackmail and murder. Intent on convincing County Mayo’s residents to allow a pipeline to cross their pristine boglands, an arsonist is setting homes and land ablaze. One of his fires sends newlyweds Talty and Neil to a volcanic world reminiscent of ancient Rome. Their fledgling marriage comes under attack as they struggle to find their way home. In this scene, Neil wonders if he'll ever see Ireland again.
ReplyDelete__
From his window seat in one of Casa Verro’s largest guest suites, Neil opened the shutters and inhaled the briny sea breeze. Beneath him, a patchwork of planted fields and pastures stretched for mile after emerald mile. Yet the realization that the land sat on a waking volcano spoiled the idyllic scene. That, and knowing the verdant panorama wasn’t Ireland.
The air currents shifted. Tantalizing whiffs of pork and bread being roasted and baked for the Meddiss made Neil’s mouth water, yet they couldn’t subdue his growing dread that he’d never see Ireland again, never fly again, or zoom off in his Jaguar. His family, his friends, the home he’d built for Talty—Talty herself—would all be lost to him if the Peregrine Portal left him behind when it called the others home.
The fervent “Ooh!” behind him was a sound he knew well: Talty had found something to wear to dinner. His weighty brooding lifted. He turned his head just as Renen raised the top of a shimmering white gown over the pink-tipped breasts that perfectly fit the palms of his hands.
For over an hour, Talty had been trying on the late Lady Danella’s gowns. Renen had come to help. Her shocked gasp when she’d first seen the scars on Talty’s chest had nearly caused Neil to send the woman away. Talty had staunchly said nothing, and Renen, a servant unaccustomed to questioning her betters, had recovered well.
“This is lovely, Renen,” said Talty, and Neil silently agreed.
“It is the finest silk.” The fussing servant pinned the shoulder straps with matching broaches.
The dress fell over Talty’s bosom in graceful folds, the cloth so fine it seemed transparent. Gold threads woven through the material shimmered with her slightest move. The gathered waist flattered her slender form—too slender in Talty’s view, it seemed.
“It fits well enough,” she said with a downward glance, “but the top is too big.”
“Your mamms do look a little lost in there,” Neil called from the window.
The women’s heads twisted toward him. As he suspected, they’d forgotten him.
Talty’s brown eyes narrowed. She raised her chin and glared. “You never seem to have any trouble finding them!”
Renen grinned at the playful repartee and reached for Talty’s shoulder. “The baroness stretched the dress more, yes, but you, Lady, are well formed and lovely. We will show them. We only have to fix the pins.” She gathered the material tighter and reset the broaches.
When she finished, Talty’s eyes widened, silently asking Neil’s opinion.
“You look more grippable now, darlin’.” He made squeezing gestures and laughed at her openmouthed gasp. “Really, Tal, you look fine. No goddess could be more beautiful.”
“This one can,” said Renen. “We will add perfume and jewels, though even the baroness had no rings as fine as yours, Lady.”
Talty extended her hand and gazed at the rings Neil had put there. She smiled at him as she answered Renen. “I feel strange wearing Danella’s things, but I suppose I have no choice.”
“No,” said Neil. “The airline lost our luggage.”
__
On Amazon Kindle
On Nook
Pat McDermott's Web Site
Here's an excerpt from "Coming Home," Book II of the Claddagh Series:
ReplyDeleteThe Atlantic Ocean, 1867
He was going home.
Home. Such a simple word. And for so long now, such an unattainable dream.
Yet as he stood on the deck of the Mary O’Connor, he thought maybe he’d finally find a real home once again.
When Johnny comes marching home again . . .
He looked seaward. The salt wind tugged at his hair. Spray stung his eyes. Gulls wheeled and shrieked overhead. Open water lay beyond the horizon, and beyond that still, his new life. In a few weeks, the Mary O’Connor would dock in Galway Bay, and from there he’d head for the small village his parents had spoken of with such love. He felt a stirring of emotion, the first spark of excitement since—
Deliberately he cut off the thought. He was no longer a soldier. There would be no more Rebel yells, no more guns, no more battles. He was no longer Captain Callaghan, so-called hero of the Irish Brigade.
He was just plain Cavan Callaghan, an Irishman searching for peace.
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Cynthia-Owens/dp/0983396000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303209296&sr=1-1
An excerpt from "Playing For Keeps," Book III of the Claddagh Series, just released from Highland Press:
ReplyDeletePhiladelphia, 1850
Luke stared in silent horror as glowing red flames devoured the warehouse.
What have you done this time?
The words resounded through Luke’s brain, condemning and inevitable, in his father’s disapproving tones.
What had he done? He’d secured the warehouses. He had, he was sure of it. He’d made certain all the forges were out.
Hadn’t he? Or had his head been too full of the play he’d been studying in secret, the characters he was determined to flesh out, the pages he’d obsessively filled with his own dreams and interpretations?
Clanging bells and pounding hooves hammered in his ears.
Thank you, God.
But as quickly as relief flared, terror chased close on its heels.
http://www.amazon.com/Playing-for-Keeps-ebook/dp/B00AKWC11O%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJBDF5XQBATGDX4VQ%26tag%3Dspea06-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00AKWC11O
Need a vampire romance to snuggle with on a chilly winter night? Here's an excerpt from CONQUERED:
ReplyDeletePepper stomped into the bedroom, caught the door before it slammed and closed it gently. She wouldn’t sink to his level and act like a child. For a species that prided itself on control, Rafe had precious little. Apparently, control was what they wielded over others, not over themselves. She’d wondered who the real Rafe was, and now she had a good idea. “Obstinate, arrogant, insufferable alien. Growling at her like a…a…vampire.”
She trudged to the bed and placed her bag on the sage green comforter. The room was extravagant. Huge, tall ceilings with a brown and green marble fireplace imposed on one wall. “Always the best for the aliens,” she muttered, as she sat on the bed and kicked off her pumps.
He’d bound her. What else did he want? A relationship? “Huh.” Not him. The man wouldn’t answer a simple question. Why did he want to know her? If that mattered, he’d have taken the time to do it before making his claim. No, he needed to bind someone to him. She’d just happened to walk in at the wrong moment. Lucky me.
The man was hedging. She felt him trying to avoid a direct reply to her question, because he had no answer. He’d lied that he wanted to spend time with her just like the other deceptions the vampires spouted. Keep humans happy, docile. Promise them anything and then renege. Why should she expect anything different from him?
She got to her feet and peeled off her dress, leaving it on the floor. Staring at the black clump of fabric brought tears to her eyes. This was her wedding night? What a disaster. The dress was wrong, the ceremony wrong, the groom wrong and wrong again. She clenched her fists, standing on the chocolate carpet in her black lace underwear. I’m wrong.
http://www.amazon.com/CONQUERED-Kivronian-Vampire-Series-ebook/dp/B008GTHGTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355242952&sr=1-1&keywords=conquered+by+sandy+l.+rowland
My romance about the Vikings in Ireland, The Eagle’s Woman, released 8/2 and a five-star reader review is in on Amazon:
ReplyDelete“From its tense opening, 'The Eagle's Woman' grips the reader and doesn't let go. This is the first part of a series and it promises to be an engaging, fascinating number of stories. The Viking hero, Ari, is sympathetic and the Irish heroine a worthy foil to him. The romance between the two develops swiftly and always realistically, while set against a brutal time. Viking society is shown, both good and bad, and the other characters are well drawn. I look forward to the second part.”
BLURB:
Son of an impoverished, dying Norse chieftain, Ari raids for booty and slaves so he can feed his people. Pagan himself, still he spares priests though he sells them. He’s a heathen, a murderer, and it is a sin for any Christian woman to love him. Yet when he abducts Maeve from her peaceful Irish fishing village, he may have found the one woman who can.
EXCERPT:
“What?” Ari asked, reaching with his free hand to take her chin in it. His thumb caressed her bottom lip and she thought she was not out of danger with him, no matter how disheveled her appearance. This man wanted her, no doubt of it. Not enough to commit violence on her, apparently, but she thought gentleness held its own dangers. If she was not careful, it could weaken her will. He was not unattractive—with fair skin, strong angular features and striking eyes—though just then he looked like a drowned rat as all of them did. It did not obscure the strength of his body or the keen intelligence in those eyes. She turned her head to the side, dislodging his thumb.
“I have not seen tears from you before,” he said thoughtfully, “though many of the others are crying. What has finally broken you?”
“I am not broken,” she spat, “only mourning two good people who raised me. But I am sure you know nothing of such feelings.”
He sat back on his heels. “Do I not? Two good people raised me as well. One lies crippled in his sickbed and the other waits for me to bring coin to buy things a sick man needs.”
Maeve was silent, surprised and momentarily chastened. She had never seriously supposed he had motives other than greed.
“Do you think raiding is worthy of a fighting man?” he persisted. “I would rather face an army than hungry children.”
She stifled an impulse toward sympathy. “Ours are dead or captive. You seem to have no trouble facing that.”
Abruptly, he set both feet beneath himself and got up, undaunted by the motion of the ship which made such things impossible for Maeve. She had not noticed a wineskin hanging from the rigging, but she saw him reach for it then.
“I cannot help your children.” He took a fulsome swig. “Just mine.” Wiping the neck with his wet tunic, he held the wineskin out to her.
It was decent wine, probably from their monastery, tasting of strength and summer. She needed strength to remember that summer would come again, so she drank.
Now, like Maeve, I will pray to the tech gods and hope to produce a buy link for you!
I'm gonna see if Jasper will give Miriam some luck and give us a good link to Miriam's awesome book.
DeleteAmazon
Thanks, Miriam, for letting us post a short excerpt from RUNNING OVER RAINBOWS. And thanks, Erin, for helping us input.
ReplyDeleteWhen 15-year-old Caylith goes to visit her elderly aunt to learn the rudiments of becoming a lady, she finds that the older woman is much more than a crotchety wielder of a walking stick. Great-aunt Marrie has secrets, but she keeps Caylith “imprisoned”counting supper towels in the linen room and in the confines of the yard where the tomboy festers and plans her escape.
“I wonder, Brindie…”
Together we were throwing a linen up over the line. My friend seized it before my off-hand throw could cause the end of the cloth to fall in the dirt. She carefully began to spread and pull at it until it was stretched out on the line, and we began to pin it with pegs.
“Why does Auntie Marrie leave us alone for so many hours these days? Is she tired of teaching us or…?”
Brindl was carefully smoothing out the wrinkles as she spoke. “Pea, your aunt is trying to run a very large household and a full expanse of farmland and orchards too. I think she is doing a very good job.”
From the moment I sank to my knees in the forum, crying my heart out at the prospect of my lost basket and coin pouch, I had vowed to change. I would make Auntie Marrie proud—or if I did not elicit pride, I planned to astonish her with my controlled behavior and my new docile attitude. Yet now, when I heard Brindl almost doting over the dried-up old apple, it rankled.
“Well, I think she has found a swain.” I said it defiantly, making it up on the spot. “I suspect she slinks away each day to a—a lover’s trista.” I knew the word from—was it Ovid? One of the old Roman poets had spoken of a secret hiding place for lovers, and the word always fired my imagination.
“You are being silly, Pea. Maybe all her advice on proper marriage is beginning to set your mind on a side-path. One I am sure she would not approve of.”
I giggled. “Anyway, Brin, if you will please put out a few more sheets, I will be back in a very short while.” I had now firmly decided I must investigate my suspicions, outlandish though they seemed. Now was my chance to explore the room upstairs at the far end of the landing. Perhaps that was where Auntie met her secret friend.
This book is available here for pre-order (20% disount), to be pub. Jan 18: http://bit.ly/Z93TBf
~Bon and Bil Franks
Love a hot Scottish cowboy? Come meet Declan Grainger who travels the tunnels under Paradise Pines at night.
ReplyDeleteEXCERPT:
Declan rubbed his damp palms against the coarse fabric of his trousers. The claustrophobic panic plaguing him since childhood welled up, suffocating him again. Every time he entered the shaft, his boyhood memories of death and rotting flesh bore down on him. For years he'd fought his terror, but he couldn't banish the nightmare. It started the day he'd seen his father's lifeless body amongst the dead in the hold of the ship on their voyage from Glasgow to New York.
Breathless from his deep-rooted anxiety, Declan stepped off the ladder. He pulled a wooden match from his shirt pocket and scratched the tip against the slate wall. Once the lantern's wick ignited, the beam lessened his discomfort.
The yellow glow cast eerie shadows along the damp rock as he progressed through the narrow passageway to the prehistoric riverbed, now a mere creek. The large cavity held a stash of rusted shovels, picks, and ore carts abandoned by disillusioned gold miners. The space served as his storage area now.
Once he'd dressed in black garb, with the leather knife sheath secured at the right side of his shoulder, he fitted a black silk mantle over his head. Positioned so he could see through the small eye holes, he tied the covering firmly at the bottom of his jaw and picked up the black hat. The ridiculous silver fluff balls dangling from around the wide brim proved a perfect distraction to draw attention from his identity.
With a length of coiled rope draped over his shoulder, he grabbed the lantern and trekked along another tunnel toward the eastern end of town. At the entrance to the smaller, shorter shaft dug under Main Street, his stomach clenched. He ducked his head and traveled the rocky ground at a rapid pace until he reached the ladder at the end. He shoved the plank away and dragged in a deep, fresh breath, appreciating the night breeze cooling his sweaty face. Air filled his lungs, uncoiling the knot in his gut. He snuffed the light and eased himself onto the frozen ground. The three-quarter moon gave him enough illumination to find his way.
Buck Thatcher's concerted interest in Amalie at Trick's had made him more than uneasy. The feisty lady might think she could take care of herself, and maybe in most instances she was right, but he had no intention of letting her tangle with Buck. He'd heard the rumors. No woman should have to endure brutality.
http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Pines-Book-One-ebook/dp/B00909PON0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357413783&sr=8-1&keywords=paisley+kirkpatrick
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Paisley-kirkpatrick?keyword=Paisley+kirkpatrick&store=book
Here is a little about HIGHLAND QUEST the sequel to the first book in my Highlander series, HIGHLAND LEGACY.
ReplyDeleteHIGHLAND QUEST
No longer content in the shadows of his older brothers, Bryce Fraser rejoins the fight for Scottish independence, but arrives too late to inform his fellow patriots of a surprise ambush. Seriously wounded and left for dead, Bryce awakens to find Fallon MacCrery tending his wounds, a twist of fate that rekindles passion and desire he’d vowed to forget.
Gifted with second sight and having lost everyone she ever held dear, Fallon believes her ability and her love are curses that if pursued will mean Bryce’s demise. But when she learns the English army plans to destroy the Bruce and his followers, she risks all to warn them, even her heart.
Can their unspoken love stand the test in a time of uncertainty and war, or will the plans of their enemy, a traitorous laird from a rival clan keep them apart forever?
Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQKYPU0
http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/highland-quest/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-quest-bj-scott/1114002946?ean=2940016110769&isbn=2940016110769
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Highland-Quest/book-3h45k9pPxkaA9JX__x0mRw/page1.html?s=W28tjCmTwESL-eKO_pW68A&r=1
Highland Quest Excerpt
ReplyDeleteLoch Ryan Scotland, 1307
“Wa . . . water,” Bryce mumbled, but there was no one there to listen.
His throat was parched and he ran his tongue over dry, cracked lips, but his action offered no relief. An entire loch lay only a few feet away, but he couldn’t muster the strength to drag himself to the bank and quench his thirst.
“Cold . . . so cold.”
Despite the sun beating down on him, he’d swear he was encased in ice. His life’s blood seeped from his wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. He tried to raise his head, but the excruciating pain radiating across his chest stole his breath away.
Was this what it felt like to die? If so, he prayed the Almighty would be merciful and take him now.
Bryce moaned, a shift in his position bringing on another nauseating wave of agony. He sucked in a short, sharp, gulp of air and stretched his arm out as far as he could, his fingers grappling in the dirt.
If only I could reach my sword.
Beads of perspiration dampened his brow. As the strength slowly drained from his body, drawing a simple breath became more difficult. The end grew near. No time to make amends for sins of the past, and he had committed his share.
Regrets? He had those, too. “Fallon.” He whispered her name then heaved a ragged sigh. He could see her beautiful face, her soft, porcelain-like skin with just a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Raven tresses hanging loose in a riot of curls down her back. Her petite, slender body had just the right curves to drive a man wild with desire. Mysterious sapphire eyes that held him captive and a heart-shaped mouth he’d never tire of kissing. If he had one wish before he died, it would be to hold her in his arms one more time, to find himself nestled between her thighs, making love until neither of them could take anymore.
But he’d missed his chance when she left Fraser Castle after his brother’s wedding, returning with her clan to their home in the borderlands. Determined not to allow Fallon, or any woman, to breach the protective wall he’d built around his heart, he’d let her go.
A restless spirit, he longed for adventure. While he admired his two older brothers, he was tired of living in their shadows. Alasdair had turned down the position of Laird when their father and older brother were killed at Berwick on Tweed. Connor, the next in line, had accepted the responsibility and did the Clan proud. He was happily married and Bryce was certain his wee son, Andrew, would be raised to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Bryce held no land or title. Until he had made a name for himself and earned these things, he had nothing to offer a wife. But marriage and family were not part of his immediate plans. He loved women, all women. Be they large, small, short, tall, fair, or plain, it made no difference as long as they were willing to warm his bed, and expected no long-term commitment in return.
A rogue many would say, but he made no secret of his intentions. So far, this way of life had served him well, and should he die in battle, he’d leave no one behind to mourn his loss.
When he was a lad of sixteen, he’d made the mistake of falling for the daughter of the village smithy. Totally enamored with each other, they’d vowed their eternal love and he believed they’d marry some day.
He swallowed hard at the ball of emotion rising in his throat, and clenched his teeth against the sudden ache gripping his heart. He’d heard when a man is about to die, his life experiences flash before his eyes. But some memories were far too painful to revisit.
He balled his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He didn’t want to think about the past and didn’t want a woman in his life. While Fallon was the only lass who had tempted him to stray from his chosen path, she was better off without him. Or so he’d told himself when he returned from a morning ride to learn she’d left Fraser Castle without saying goodbye.
HIGHLAND LEGACY
ReplyDeleteBook one of the Highlander series
FINALIST IN THE 2012 OKLAHOMA RWA INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL AWARDS FOR HISTORICAL ROMANCE.
ON AMAZON BEST SELLER LIST FOR HISTORICAL ROMANCE JAN AND FEB 2012!
Faced with an abhorrent betrothal, Cailin Macmillan flees her father's castle and quickly learns that a woman traveling alone in Medieval Scotland is an easy target for ruthless English soldiers. When Highland patriot Connor Fraser comes to her aid, his steadfast dedication to king and country is challenged by his overwhelming desire to protect Cailin--even if he must marry her to do so.
Accused of murdering one of her attackers and determined to rely on her own resourcefulness, Cailin dresses as a lad, intent on seeking refuge at the camp of Robert the Bruce. Can she elude an enemy from her past--a vindictive English lord bent on her utter demise--or will she fall prey to his carnal intent and be executed for a crime she did not commit?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0065KX8P8
KIGHTS OF CRUSADE SERIES BOOK 2
ReplyDeleteVOW OF DECEPTION
By Angela Johnson
Blurb
Your first allegiance is to your heart…
As a knight, Sir Rand Montague’s allegiance is to King Edward I. But when the king orders Rand to escort Rosalyn Harcourt to court in order to wed her off to Sir Golan—a crass knight Rand abhors—he’s torn between duty and desire. For Rand has never forgotten the woman he spent one unforgettable night of passion with…
After suffering abuse at the hands of her deceased husband, Rose wishes to never wed again. But when Rand rescues her after Sir Golan attempts to compromise her, she agrees to marry Rand in name only. However, sharing such close quarters with Rand brings back memories of their torrid rendezvous—and tempts Rose to give in to an all-consuming desire…
Excerpt
Sudden heat flushed her cheeks and she dropped her eyes as her heart thudded with embarrassment. “Of course, I shall not begrudge you satisfying your desires with other women. I realize you must assuage your lustful appetites. I promise I shall not object or act like a termagant whenever you take other women to your bed.”
Rand stepped closer, his breath moist in the air between them. “That is very commendable of you, Rose. But how can I trust that you shall not change your mind once we are married? Now you say you do not mind me bedding other women.” Rand’s voice dropped to a dark, seductive whisper. “But what if you change your mind?” He ran a finger down her cheek, a soft caress that neither repulsed nor seduced. Shock held her immobile.
“Can you swear to never become a jealous shrew? That you won’t come to resent me or the other women I shall surely bed?” A dangerous current thrummed beneath his voice, which sounded suspiciously like anger.
Rose frowned. She was positive Rand was mocking her. She searched his face, framed by long golden hair. His smile was wolfish, deepening his dimples, and gray-green eyes appeared almost feral in the moon’s glow. But it must have been a trick of the moonlight, for a teasing light sparked in his eyes.
She shook her head. “You need not fear I shall change my mind. All I ask is for you to be discreet. That you not humiliate me by flaunting your mistresses or fornicating while you are in residence at Castle Ayleston. I will not have you bedding my own servants and undermining my authority as chatelaine.”
Rank kept his smile pasted on his face, unsure why he was so angry. Her crystal blue eyes made his stomach flip. Eyes wide and almond shaped, the corner of her outer lashes curled up together. Her sharp white teeth chewed on her plump bottom lip.
“So you don’t mind if I have mistresses. You just do not want to be confronted by them. Fair enough. I believe I can agree to that.” Rand forced the words past his lips. As comprehension dawned on him, he inhaled sharply.
He could have any woman he wanted, yet the one woman he desired—with a desperation that cut like a blade to his heart—did not want him. Rand rubbed his chest where it hurt. He nearly laughed at the irony. Married to the one woman he could never possess.
The justice of it was brilliant. When his mother died in the fire, Rand swore to atone for her and his sister’s deaths for the rest of his life. God was now reaping the ultimate penance Rand owed Him.
BN
Amazon
The Comet - Historical Romance by Miriam Newman
ReplyDeleteAn ambitious young Norman knight, Neel, is seriously wounded at the Battle of Hastings and nursed back to health by a Saxon girl, Rowena. For her, it is only a matter of Christian duty and she is shocked to receive his proposal of marriage in return. Her land has been conquered, her birthright stolen. How can she love the enemy—her husband?
LINK to follow - we hope :)
The Comet
DeleteEden at Twilight
ReplyDeleteEDEN AT TWILIGHT is the story of Lily, a woman who wants love, and Leaf, the man who risks it all to love her.
Lily Moore is an ordinary accountant who works long hard hours, leaving room for little else. After strange occurrences begin haunting her, she’s convinced by a motherly friend to take a vacation in Scotland. While there, she meets the man of her dreams, a handsome stranger with shifting hazel eyes.
Leaf falls for Lily the moment he sees her, love at first sight. Never has a woman taken his heart so quickly. When trouble stirs and threatens her, he stands by her side, traveling through time and dimension to reclaim her from a deadly Drow leader. Lily has no choice but to trust him and hope his strength will pull them through. But is his strength alone enough?
TEMPTATION IN A KILT by Victoria Roberts
ReplyDeleteBook 1 of the Bad Boys of the Highlands
2012 RT Reviewers Choice Award Nominee for Best First Historical
She's On Her Way to Safety
It's a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong's desperation that she's seeking refuge in a place as rugged and challenging as the Scottish Highlands. She doesn't care about hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control...
He Redefines Dangerous...
Ciaran MacGregor knows it's perilous to get embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially one as headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise to escort her all the way to Glengarry, now he's stuck with her, even though she challenges his legendary prowess at every opportunity. When temptation reaches its peak, he'll be ready to show her how he really is...on and off the battlefield.
http://tinyurl.com/apz3llh
X MARKS THE SCOT, the second book in the series is released February 5th.