JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY - STUPID CUPID

For your Saturday morning viewing pleasure!

HAPPY IMBOLC

Today marks the Pagan celebration of Imbolc, in later Christian times known as Candlemas Day.  The Feast of Bride, as it was originally known, was one of the four fire festivals of the ancient Celts, the other three being Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.  The transformation of Brigid the Exalted One--daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan and source of oracles--into St. Bridget I will leave to other tale-tellers.  Suffice it to say that the original Brigid, born in the Wolf Month of February, signified the coming of spring, bringing light into a dark world.  Her feast was timed to coincide with lambing season, a sure sign of new life, and Brigid was always associated with livestock as well as with the bringing of fire.  Her totem animals were two magical oxen and a wild boar which were said to give warning if Ireland was in danger.  And in Scotland, Highland wives invoked Brigid at their hearths.

Today, those wanting to honor the spirit of Brigid should spend the day housecleaning (!) and burning any leftover Christmas greenery, which is exactly what I am going to do when I finish this post.  Tonight I will leave the customary ribbon on my porch for a blessing from Brigid as she passes down my road with her oxen, unseen by mortal eyes.  After that, I may prepare some lamb stew and Bride's cake. 

 Bride's Cake
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raisins - some prefer golden raisins
1 cup flour
4 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder

Mix all the ingredients together, being careful not to overmix. Pour into a greased and floured 9"x9"x2" square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.  Cool before serving.
  

CELTIC ROSE WRITERS

The Celtic Rose Blog has a new sister:  CelticRoseWriters.  This is a Celtic-genre Yahoo group open to all.  Promo is welcome.  Feel free to join us to chat, with book covers and excerpts, material for our files, just to read, whatever.  Drop in for coffee or tea--oh, sorry, you will have to bring your own--but let us know what you're drinking, even if it's something stronger.  We'll never tell!  Easiest way to get there:  go to www.yahoogroups.com and type CelticRoseWriters in the Search box.  It will bring up this pic of the Cliffs of Moher, where you can click and join!  Please let us know you're there.  Promo is welcome here at The Celtic Rose, too.  Just mail mrmireland@aol.com for permission to post.

COMING FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - "THE KING'S DAUGHTER"

With a fantastic new trailer: 

REVIEW OF THE SNOW BRIDE - BY LINDSAY TOWNSEND

"The Snow Bride" by Lindsay Townsend is the latest ebook release by a very talented British author whose settings range from ancient Egypt to Roman Britain, medieval Europe to Mediterranean locales, but nowhere has her writing disappointed me.

This book set in England during the Crusades is not specifically Celtic, but its depiction of black and white magic, witches and sorcerers, demons and familiars won it a place in my heart and on this blog.  Her name is more suggestive of a lingering Anglo-Saxon heritage, but Elfrida's "magicks" appeal to the Celt in me.  Sir Magnus is the lusty knight of yore and I could not resist him.  Battle-scarred and battle-wise, he is summoned by villagers whose brides--including Elfrida's sister--are being stolen by an evil phantasm--a Forest Grendel.  Although Magnus has long since accepted that his maimed limbs and scarred face make him unacceptable in any woman's bed unless he pays for the privilege, he is nonetheless captivated by the strong-willed white witch who offers herself as bait to the monster in an attempt to free her sister.  Saving Elfrida from her ill-thought-out plan, he falls in with it and in love with her, lending his redoubtable courage and shrewd battle skills to the cause.  I will not give you spoilers about the identity and motivation of the Forest Grendel, but Ms. Townsend's tale of these two lonely people joining forces to track him to his lair is non-stop, rich and lyrical.  Her voice is distinctive, her writing style a delight, and the ending is both satisfying and promising in that a sequel would be possible.

I would classify this novel as sensual but not erotic, with tenderly arousing sexual content which is essential to the story.  I give it four out of five Celtic Roses.  It is discounted until midnight, January 3 at Siren-Bookstrand.

NOTE:  This is an unsolicited review and a copy of the book was purchased by the reviewer.

PROMOTION:

She is Beauty, but is he the Beast?
Elfrida, spirited, caring and beautiful, is also alone. She is the witch of the woods and no man dares to ask for her hand in marriage until a beast comes stalking brides and steals away her sister. Desperate, the lovely Elfrida offers herself as a sacrifice, as bridal bait, and she is seized by a man with fearful scars. Is he the beast?

In the depths of a frozen midwinter, in the heart of the woodland, Sir Magnus, battle-hardened knight of the Crusades, searches ceaselessly for three missing brides, pitting his wits and weapons against a nameless stalker of the snowy forest. Disfigured and hideously scarred, Magnus has finished with love, he thinks, until he rescues a fourth 'bride', the beautiful, red-haired Elfrida, whose innocent touch ignites in him a fierce passion that satisfies his deepest yearnings and darkest desires. 

http://www.bookstrand.com/the-snow-bride

JANUARY 1, 2012 - A (RARE) WORD FROM THE OWNER

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but in terms of my blog I did try to come up with some new ideas for the New Year and here's one I hope you'll approve.  Just as I am no artist but simply told my husband (who was), "I only know what I like,"--well, so too with books.  I don't read many, don't have time, and I am not a book reviewer.  Still, I know what I like and have often tried to share space here with promotions for authors whose books I enjoy.  To carry that one step further, I'd like to give the occasional review--just my opinion, for what it's worth, unsolicited.  A review from the heart, in other words.  Understand that if I read a book and it isn't my cup of tea, my lips are sealed.  Our books are our children and I will not disparage your writing any more than I would your child.  Some people enjoy that.  I don't.

So know that I may pop in with the occasional review, in this case of books set somewhere in the Celtic world.  If it gives someone an idea for their next read, so be it.  There are no rules on this blog beyond those of good taste and friendship!  So to all my blog friends, may 2012 be for you a year of peace and prosperity.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!!!