From Scotland With Love Blog Tour & Giveaway

Title: Seduced by Destiny
Author: Kira Morgan
Publisher: Forever Romance (HBG)
ISBN: 978-0-446-54817-5
$7.99

****PLEASE NOTE THAT MY REVIEW IS STILL TO COME AS I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE BOOK******

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...seduced by destiny?
(from the publisher)




I would like to thank Kira Morgan for providing this lovely guest post explaining how that she creates that perfect blend of history, fiction, and romance.


I’m delighted to be here among readers who enjoy historical romances as much as I do! Thanks for inviting me.

Historicals are probably the trickiest of the romance to write. With contemporaries, you can draw on the world around you. For paranormals, that world can be altered. But with historicals, you have to stay within the framework of what really happened.

This requires a lot of research. And that’s where the trouble begins.

You see, historical authors LOVE research. Digging into old documents and unearthing obscure facts is endlessly fascinating for us! For example, here are a few tidbits I learned while researching SEDUCED BY DESTINY:

Queen Mary and her ladies occasionally strolled through Edinburgh, disguised as peasants.
The price of ale in the 1500s was fixed, and special brew officers called aleconners were appointed to monitor the quality of the brew.
Queen Mary sailed into the Scottish harbor a few days earlier than expected on her historic return from France, prompting a scramble to greet her at the dock.
Golf was banned in Scotland in the 1400s, because it took time away from the more useful skill of archery.
Cryptography, writing in secret codes, flourished under Queen Elizabeth’s secretary of spies, Sir Francis Walsingham.
Early golf clubs looked a lot like hockey sticks.
Many spies used in the 16th century were women, because they could pose as maidservants and move about almost invisibly.

While these discoveries are interesting--and often lead to several hours of distraction as one riveting fact leads to another, sending an author down unintended paths--they can’t always be used in the finished book.

Why? Because we’re not writing textbooks. We’re writing love stories. And the main focus had to be on the romance between the hero and the heroine.

So how do you create a balance--include real history, toss in some fun facts, and keep the story moving along?

First, you have to be very firm about not altering history. Nothing is worse than violating the past, for instance having Queen Mary meet Queen Elizabeth face-to-face, which never happened. It also comes off as phony of your fictional characters just happen to be on the scene for every major historical event.

Second, the fun facts, as tasty as they are, must be used like spice. You have to sprinkle them in only as needed and where appropriate. Sure, dry mustard is delicious, but you probably don’t want to bake it into your chocolate chip cookies. That’s why you won’t find anything about aleconners, the ban on golf, or a treatise on cryptography in SEDUCED BY DESTINY. They just weren’t relevant enough to the plot to include.

Third, it’s all about the romance! The story has to be strong enough on its own that you could pick it up and move it to another time period, change the outfits, occupations, and politics, and it would still work. This is true for Shakespeare--his plays are constantly being done with new settings, new costumes, and language alterations, but the stories, because they are timeless and universal, never change.

I hope that you enjoy my special blend of history, fiction, and romance in SEDUCED BY DESTINY. Fell free to friend me at www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor, follow me at www.twitter.com/kira_morgan, and visit my website at www.glynnis.net/kiramorgan, where I have a sweepstakes to win the silver thimble that Drew gives to Jossy!





Title: Highland Masters
Author: Amanda Scott
Publisher: Forever Romance (HBG)
ISBN: 978-0-446-57431-0
$7.99


****PLEASE NOTE THAT MY REVIEW IS STILL TO COME AS I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE BOOK******


When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.



Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other.






Please check out WE LOVE SCOTLAND to read the true stories behind these Scottish romances.


I HAVE THREE SETS OF SEDUCED BY DESTINY AND HIGHLAND MASTERS TO GIVEAWAY!!

To enter please leave your name & a valid email address. Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only.
Contest ends March 19th, 2011

The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch

Title: The Thieves of Darkness
Author: Richard Doetsch
ISBN: 978-1-4165-9897-8
$7.99
Publisher: Pocket Books

An irresistible treasure, two master thieves, and a secret as old as mankind . . .
Michael St. Pierre, a reformed master thief, thinks he has left his criminal days far behind him, when he receives word that his best friend, Simon, has been locked up and sentenced to die in a brutal desert prison. Breaking into jail for the first time in his checkered career, Michael is stunned to discover that his new girlfriend, KC, is connected to Simon's case.
With a madman on their heels, the three adventurers make their way to Istanbul in search of the mysterious artifact that landed Simon behind bars in the first place: a map containing the location of a holy place lost to the mists of time, a repository of knowledge and treasure predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Testing their courage and wits, Michael and his team are forced to plot a series of daring thefts that take them inside some of the city's most celebrated (and heavily guarded) sanctums, from the imperial harem of Topkapi Palace to the tombs of the Hagia Sophia itself. More than priceless artifacts are at stake—the lives of loved ones and perhaps the fate of humanity itself hang in the balance.
A globe-trotting adventure that wings from the glittering banks of the Bosporus to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, The Thieves of Darkness confirms Richard Doetsch's place as the modern-day master of pulse-pounding suspense.
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts:

I have heard wonderful things about this book and let me start off by saying that I was not disappointed. There is something about the way that Richard Doetsch writes that pulls you into the story and make you want to know more. I started off with the intentions of reading the first few chapters and then calling it a night, well, the first few chapter became eight and then before I knew it I had half the book read. I literally had t force myself to put it up and go to bed, if I had had more time I would have completed the book in one sitting.

I found the plot to be highly intriguing, as well as the characters. It was fast paced and very original, this book will defiantly keep you on the edge of your seat.


I have one copy to giveaway. Contest open to residence of the US only, to enter please leave your name and a valid email address. Contest ends March 15, 2011

My thanks to Pocket Books for both the review copy as well as the giveaway!

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers

THE CHARLATAN'S BOY

This has to have been one of the best books that I have read in the young adult genre for awhile. It has the feel of classic writing, while offering up a folksy vibe to the writing. Telling the story of Grady, a boy who is with a traveling con show, this book offers the reader, adventure and soul. It’s one boys view on finding his own place in the world, and often he offers up his thoughts on the matter, which is very entertaining. As the tale turns we see unexpected changes, and lovely twist. I believe that both the young and the young at heart will enjoy this book!

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

Title: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
By Kresley Cole
He vowed he'd come for her. . .
Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives—only an endless yearning.
She awaits his return. . .
When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals, unaware that he belongs to their world.
To sate a desire more powerful than death. . .
Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan's torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?
(from the back of the book)

This is book 11 in the Immortals After Dark series, and my second go at reading the series. I have to say that I enjoyed book 10 a bit better, why, I have no idea, Dreams of a Dark Warrior, could not hold my attention like the last, although it was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the characters, for some reason I could not concentrate on the book. I have read outstanding blurbs about this book, so I may have to give it a go when I am in a different mood.

How To Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling review/giveaway

Title: How to Marry A Duke
Author: Vicky Dreiling
Publisher: Forever Romance
ISBN: 9780446565370
Price: $7.99/$8.99
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Forever Special Release
Genre: Historical Romance
How I read it: Mass Market ARC from publisher
Rating 5 out of

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.
(From the publisher)

My Review:

Ducal Duty is demanding that Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne find a wife and the many eligible young ladies of the ton know that he is looking to find one thus ensuring he has plenty of fans to fetch and handkerchiefs to retrieve. While he may be able to catch their ‘dropped’ item, their have failed to captured him. So what’s a Duke to do when he finds that he is in need of a wife yet none have been able to win him over? Why the answer is simple- hire London’s notorious matchmaker to make your match for you. Although Tristan never imagined that he would embark on a 24 woman courtship, and better yet he never imagined that the one woman he cannot have is the woman to dominate his thoughts.

Tessa Mansfield, matchmaker extraordinaire, believes that making a match for the dashing Duke will open doors for her matchmaking career, so she eagerly sets out to find this notorious rogue a love match. Yet she has her hands when Tristan plainly tells her that he is only marrying out of duty, and while he promises to be a loyal and faithful husband, he cannot and will not promise to love the woman he marries, and once he meets the prospective candidates, he simply cannot see himself falling head over heels for one of the witless women vying for his affection. Determined to find the perfect match that will turn into love, Tessa fails to realize that she herself has developed feelings for the Duke, although she tries to reign in her feelings, one kiss unleashes a torrent of emotions and desires that Tessa cannot control. Now she has broken the golden rule of match matching-never fall in love with the intended groom.

What will happen when Tessa’s secrets are revealed and Tristan selects a bride? Rush out to purchase your copy of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE to see how their story ends.


My Thoughts:

This was the first time that I have read this type of story- of course I have read historical romances before, and yes I have read about the dashing Duke searching for the perfect wife, but the plot of this story was very different, very intriguing. I never imagined that I would read the Bachelor-Regency style, and I have to say the concept was off the charts, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I have to say that it was very fresh and highly entertaining. It was very easy to visualize the characters, and I found that they were easy to read and well layered. I loved it when romance characters have a bit of dimension to them, otherwise the story falls flat, but it was just the opposite in How to Marry a Duke, the characters dominated the story and allowed the plot to blossom. I enjoyed the traits of the characters, and I also enjoyed the secrets that slowly unraveled. Another plus for me was the way that Vicky Dreiling incorporated the supporting characters and built up suspense for the next book. A spot on novel in my book.

Overall HOW TO MARRY A DUKE is a very fun read with very different concept that is highly intriguing. Yes, this does have the typical hero/heroine/villain aspect of romance novels, but take it from me it not like anything you have read before.

I have to say that I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.



Five Fun Facts
1. Vicky concocted the idea for a Regency-era bachelor competition while watching the hit TV show The Bachelor one night. In a twist of fate, the new season of The Bachelor begins January 3, 2011, the same day as How to Marry a Duke debuts!

2. Prince William is off the market now, but his former status as the World’s Most Eligible Bachelor inspired Vicky to create Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, the Most Eligible Bachelor in Regency England.

3. Tristan’s most striking physical traits are his vivid blue eyes and square jaw. Vicky used Henry Cavill, the British actor who starred in HBO’s The Tudors as a model for Tristan.

4. The idea to make her heroine Tessa Mansfield a matchmaker came from Vicky’s love of Jane Austen’s Emma.

5. Vicky writes to music and creates a soundtrack for her books. The theme song for How to Marry a Duke is I Believe in You (Je Crois En Toi) by Il Divo and Celine Dion.





About the Author:

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”
When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.







I have 3 copies to giveaway-
Please leave your name and a valid email address
Sorry no P.O, Boxes
Contest open to residents of the US and Canada

Contest Rules:

Since this is a different plot theme for a romance book, please tell me what your perfect romance novel plot theme would be. (Please keep your answers to 5 sentences or less)
Contest ends 31st


My thanks to HBG for both the giveaway copies and the review copy

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah's stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she's intrigued. What's all the fuss?

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, "MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?


Abigail Donovan should be writing the next bestseller, yet she finds the task a bit daunting seeing as how her first novel was not only a bestseller, but a selection for Oprah’s Book Club. Now with her literary star beginning to dim, her publicist, seeing the need to connect with potential readers, sets her up with a Twitter account. Abby soon finds that she has connected with a mystery man, one who claims to be traveling the world, while seeking the inspiration for his potential novel. With a nudge and push in the right direction from her mystery man, Abby finds that the challenge she faces isn’t as great as what other are going through.

Will Abby and “MarkBaynard” find love in 140 characters or less?

My Thoughts
Okay first let me say that I am not one who generally loves Contemporary reads. Yet when I heard about a novel composed almost entirely of tweets, I was intrigued. I wondered if that style of writing would add to or take away from the story and I have to say that it added to the story greatly. I found that I had a hard time putting this novel down-if it wasn’t for having to go to work, I would have read it straight through instead of reading it in two settings. “Goodnight Tweetheart” was truly an amazing book, one that actually makes the reader think about life.

I highly recommend this book. “Goodnight Tweetheart” will keep your attention with it’s quick wit and amazing flow. Although I will warn you, one minute you will be laughing the next you will be crying. Overall a MUST READ.

*READERS BEWARE* ONCE YOU READ THE FIRST PAGE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO STOP UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED THE END!!!!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Title: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball: A Novella
Author: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Water Brook
ISBN: 978-0-307-45899-5
$14.99
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5


Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?
In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?



Review:

Cora Crowder is on a mission-well two missions actually. Her first mission is to catch Christmas, not that it has escaped her, but to discover the right way to celebrate this blessed holiday. Her second mission is to find the perfect gift for her uncle, which not only proves to be the easier of the two, but also acts as the catalyst for the following events. After finding Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s, a quaint little bookshop, she discovers, or should I say the shop owners discover the perfect book for her uncle. After retuning home, gift-in-hand, she flips through the pages and finds one ticket to an annual Christmas Ball, sponsored by the odd owners of the bookshop.

Simon Derrick, known as Serious Simon to his coworkers which include Cora, has also ventured into the same little bookshop, on the same day as Cora. He has also discovered a ticket to this one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball, the only problem is he needs to locate another for his sister. Thus an odd series of events seems to be throwing Simon and Cora together.

Will the proprietors of Sage Street, aid the two not only in matters of the heart, but matters of faith as well?

My Thoughts:

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, has to be my favorite novella of the season. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold, as well as the characters develop. Simon’s sister, Sandy added the right touch to the story to remind the readers of the true meaning of the season, and the One we should be seeking. The lovely characters of Sage Street added whimsy and magic that made this a very charming reading.

I truly enjoyed this novella, and I have found a new book to read each Christmas. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, is one of those, curl up by the fire reads.

This book was provided by WaterBrook

Sundays At Tiffany's Movie reminder

MOVIE REMINDER
Sundays At Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original movie from Sony Pictures Television , which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT.

Here is a bit about the book to peak your curiosity, although I imagine that knowing it’s by James Patterson has already done just that!

Book info:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.