Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 221

Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ An Improper Governess @SecretRealmBook @AmyRoseBennett

An Improper GovernessAn Improper Liaisons Novella, Book 2
By

Amy Rose Bennett

 Blog Tour and Giveaway


 Lusting after one’s employer is certainly not the done thing when you are a governess. But Miss Abigail Adams cannot seem to help herself...Abigail Adams, the resident governess of Hartfield Hall, might appear to be a very proper young woman, yet she secretly yearns for excitement to brighten her mundane life. And what she does want, she really shouldn’t long for—Sir Nicholas Barsby, the indecently handsome, charismatic master of Hartfield.

Sir Nicholas Barsby returns home from a tour of the Continent to discover his widowed sister-in-law has employed a decidedly delectable governess for his nieces. When it becomes blatantly apparent that the attraction is mutual, Nicholas ruthlessly decides to present Miss Adams with a thoroughly wicked proposal.

Abigail is initially shocked by Sir Nicholas’s outrageous and highly improper offer to become his mistress. Having wanton thoughts about a man is undoubtedly sinful but leading the life of a fallen woman is something else entirely. 
Nevertheless, falling into Sir Nicholas’s arms might just prove to be an invitation too tempting for Abigail to ignore. One thing is clear, whether she’s a governess or mistress, she must not lose her heart...


Release Date: July 15, 2016Length: Long novella (45000 words)Heat Level: Hot. 18+ This story is an erotic Regency romance and contains frequent love-making scenes and sexual language.
Additional information: This novella can be read as a stand-alone but is part of a loosely linked series. 


By the time she reached the stile, Abigail was gasping like a landed carp. As she gathered her skirts preparing to climb over, thunder clapped so close, she shrieked. A bright bolt of lightning lit the air around her and she swore she could feel her hair stand on end. Ignoring all dictates of decorum, she hoisted her skirts even higher and clambered up and over the rough wooden steps. However, as she jumped down, the muslin snagged on something and she found she was tethered like a nanny goat, her skirts caught up about her waist. “Damn!” Without thought, the coarse expletive escaped her. Not only was she about to get caught in a storm she’d probably ruined her best day gown. Could this day get any worse?“Damn indeed.”It seemed it could.Abigail whipped her head around and found herself staring up into the face of the most handsome man she had ever seen. Raven-haired with slashing brows and chiseled features, he sat astride a glossy black gelding with the confidence of a knight-errant, but alas, not the gallantry. As his deep blue eyes raked over her naked thighs and lower to her stockings, his expression was a mixture of sardonic amusement and a darker, heavier emotion she had no trouble recognizing at all—male lust. “May I be of assistance, dear lady?” he asked, his voice a rich rumbling purr.Abigail’s face burned as she attempted to wrench her dress and fine cambric petticoats down all by herself. The distinct rip of fabric tearing made her wince. “You might avert your gaze, sir,” she snapped as hot outrage and mortification made her sound more like a harpy than a damsel in distress. “Yes, I might. But then, that would not be of much help to you now, would it?” Before Abigail could even think to protest further, the ill-mannered stranger slid from his mount and within moments, had released the stubborn snag.“There,” he said with a wide smile that was probably supposed to be rakishly appealing. “The fair maiden is free.”“I could have managed on my own,” she retorted. She wasn’t going to thank the man, not when he’d been eyeing her lower body like a hungry beast of prey sizing up its next meal. Dear God, I hope he did not see my bottom, or worse, my— Another crack of thunder made her start and the man glanced at the menacing sky. Lightning streaked above the dense copse of trees hiding Hartfield Hall from view. As he mounted his restive horse, a sharp gust caught his black traveling cloak and it flapped about him like the dark wings of a fallen angel. Perhaps even Lucifer himself. “Where are you going, Miss...?” he asked, his compelling blue gaze locking with hers again. “I really don’t think you should be wandering about the countryside in this tempest. In fact, it would be quite foolish if not altogether mad. I must insist you come with me.” He held out his gloved hand.


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Improper-Governess-Liaisons-Novella-ebook/dp/B01H2O3602   
Amy Rose Bennett has always wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. An avid reader with a particular love for historical romance, it seemed only natural to write stories in her favorite genre. She has a passion for creating emotion-packed—and sometimes a little racy—stories set in the Georgian and Regency periods. Of course, her strong-willed heroines and rakish heroes always find their happily ever after.Amy is happily married to her own Alpha male hero, has two beautiful daughters, and a rather loopy Rhodesian Ridgeback. She has been a speech pathologist for many years but is currently devoting her time to her one other true calling—writing romance.


Website and Blog: http://AmyRoseBennett.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyRoseBennett.AuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/AmyRoseBennettPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AmyRoseBennett/


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Author’s Inspiration ~ Maighread MacKay @MaighreadMackay

Please give a warm welcome to paranormal author Maighread MacKay. Before I hand over the blog to Maighread, let’s check out her latest book!   What if you could plan your life before you were born? What could that life looked like?Victoria Anne McBride is dead, buried and mourned, but she doesn’t know that. She is waiting in Stone Cottage for her husband Will to return. She has something she needs to tell him; something about their daughter Maddy, but she can’t quite remember what it is.Rebecca Wainwright is modern executive who suffers from anxiety and depression after her father dies. She is looking for a place of sanctuary where she can lick her wounds and heal without the constant, worried looks from her family. She stumbles upon Stone Cottage and immediately feels a sense of déjà vu and a homecoming of sorts. She purchases the home as her own quiet retreat not knowing that it is already occupied.What happens when these two women meet? How are they connected? A story of past lives, reincarnation, pre-birth planning and love that crosses time and space.
 ***
What if you could plan your life before you were born? What could that life look like?I have always been interested in ghosts and mysteries. One of the first books I remember reading as a child was Nancy Drew and the Ghost of Blackwood Hall. Why do spirits stay around after they leave their earthly body? Are they real? What do they want? All questions I have asked myself in my exploration of the supernatural. My quest has led me on a fascinating study of yoga, Native theology, Celtic Shamanism, the realm of the Fae and authors such as James Van Praagh, John Edward, Brian Weiss, Eckhart Tolle, James Redfield, Ted Andrews and many others. In my search I came across a book written by Robert Schwartz entitled Your Soul’s Plan. It is enthralling accounts of people who have done a past life regression into the time between lives, after they had lived and before they reincarnated again. This book touched me deeply and started new questions about reincarnation and past life regression and why we incarnate onto this planet. I wondered how the scenarios presented could play out in a life’s story. Thus the inspiration for Stone Cottage was born. My novel in no way is a definitive look at why life is the way it is, but rather, how events might arrange themselves in one person’s life. It is Visionary Fiction after all. Other than being a neat story, it’s a way to present a new paradigm of life to people who may never have encountered it before.In the novel, Rebecca is the daughter Charles Wainwright, the CEO of Wainwright Industries and staunch believer in the “old boy’s club”. She adores her father. He has been her mentor and hero. Working hard to prove to him (and herself) that she is worthy of her position as EVP of Marketing, she runs herself ragged trying to gain his approval. A no nonsense business woman, she controls her office and household with a firm hand.Her best friend, Cissy Walsh, is the local Coroner. She and Rebecca met at McGill University. Polar opposites, Cissy is a throwback to a sixties flower child and has travelled the world seeking spiritual enlightenment. Each complements the other’s personality. Rebecca helps Cissy with down to earth tasks such as shopping for appropriate attire and Cissy helps Rebecca relax and encourages her to open her mind to a different way of viewing the world.Rebecca’s father dies unexpectedly and throws her into a tailspin that results in this strong, vibrant woman spiralling down into depression and panic attacks. While trying to heal and find herself again she seeks a cottage or something similar as a sanctuary from the overbearing concern of her family. Aimlessly driving one day, she discovers the perfect place – Stone Cottage. What she doesn’t know is that the home is already occupied by the ghost of Victoria Anne (Annie) McBride.Annie is twenty-three and lived in the 1860’s. A joyful woman with a husband and child she loves, her family is shattered by a tragic loss. Since that event, she has remained an earth bound spirit for over one hundred years.How are these two women bound together? Why is Annie still here? Can they help each other heal?
Where can I purchase this fabulous book? Amazon 

About the author Maighread MacKay is an author and Podcaster from Ontario, Canada.  She is a member of the Writer’s Community of Durham Region (WCDR) and Sisters in Crime, Toronto. Her publishing credits include three books for children:   Bedtime Treasures, The Mysterious Door and the Crystal Grove written under the name of Margaret Hefferman. Stone Cottage was published in 2015 by Solstice Shadows Publishing. She was included in the 2015 Christmas Soup for the Soul: Merry Christmasedition with her story “Being Santa”. Stepping Stones, an anthology of inspirational parables was released March 25, 2016 from Solstice Publishing. A new story, Once Upon a Midsummer’s Evewill be included in the Solstice anthology of Let’s Have Fun, to be released June 21, 2016 
Useful Links  Website  TwitterFacebook Amazon 

#bookreview The Girl from Berlin – War Criminal’s Widow @EllieMidwood

The Girl from BerlinWar Criminal’s WidowBy Ellie Midwood
As soon as Annalise, a counterintelligence agent working for the American OSS office, thinks that all the dangers are finally behind, swept away by the protective hand of her high-ranking lover – the Chief of the RSHA Ernst Kaltenbrunner – she has to face an even bigger challenge. With both fronts approaching her quickly collapsing Germany, she has to make a fateful decision: to run from the allied prosecution together with the father of her unborn baby, the man, who the allies consider one of the major war criminals and who they can’t wait to bring to justice; or to stay with her husband Heinrich and accept a generous offer from the OSS – a new and free life in the United States…
What did I think of the book?

I haven't been this excited about a series for an age. The Girl from Berlin series is a riveting page-turner that I adored.

Annalise is not only a member of the Nazi party, but she is also a Jew and a counterintelligence agent working for the American OSS office - she is married to a fellow OSS agent. She is also working for the Chief of the RSHA, Ernst Kaltenbrunner. And just to add yet another spanner to the works, she falls in love with her boss and he with her.
Book 2 ended on such a cliffhanger that I immediately purchased book 3 to find out what was going to happen next. Book 3 takes you to the end of the war and then beyond. I would advise you to have a box of Kleenex on hand when you read this book. I spent half of the time sobbing my heart out as Annalise's story unfolded. The story of Annalise and her war criminal will stay with me for a long time.  I am a big fan of Ellie Midwood. Purchasing a new book by this author is like Christmas morning, I can not wait to open the book and get started. I know Midwood is going to throw me into a fascinating and dangerous world with characters that I shouldn't always care about, but strangely I do. Midwood's book are so refreshing. I can not recommend them enough.

From the moment I read the opening paragraph of Book 1 of The Girl from Berlin, I was hooked. Midwood recounts Nazi Germany in a way that I haven't come across before. She digs deep into the moral and social dilemmas of the time, and although her main characters are fictional, she does talk of historical figures who names will be forever remembered in history because of their capacity to forgo all humanity in the name of their party.
  Midwood does not shy away from the dark days of the Nazi regime, but what she does point out, through her fiction, is that things were not always what they seemed. And she seems to ask her readers a tough question - What lengths would you go to in order to keep your loved ones safe?
I loved, loved, loved, this series and now I am feeling slightly bereft that it is over.
I Highly Recommend. 

Where can I purchase this series?Amazon USAmazon UK

About the author
Ellie Midwood is a best-selling historical fiction writer. She's a health obsessed yoga enthusiast, a neat freak, an adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew and a doggie mama. 

Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Robin Hood - Who was he?

“Just a minute, Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it?”
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.


Name an English outlaw?
Robin Hood.
Name a champion of the poor.
Robin Hood.
What is the first thing you think of when I say Sherwood Forest?
Robin Hood.
Who was the enemy of The Sheriff of Nottingham?
Robin Hood.

Even my beloved King Arthur doesn't touch the heart of a nation quite like Robin Hood does.

"Because Sire, the poor you see, he gives to them what he takes, and, well Sire, they love him."
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.

 Robin Hood - Call off Christmas
Isn't that's the truth. We love him and his band of merry men. We love what he stands for.
 Let's take sides...
Like Arthur, Robin also has a band of loyal supporters - the good guys!
Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett and Maid Marion.

 "The friar took Robin on his back" Illustration by Louis Rhead to Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band: Their Famous Exploits in Sherwood Forest

He also has some terrible enemies - the bad guys!
The Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gisborne, Prince John
 
The Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1973 animated film, Robin Hood


Robin does something that no one else seems capable of. He outwits a strong enemy. He is always one step ahead of the Sheriff. He is as cunning as a fox - no wonder Disney portrayed him as a fox in their version of Robin Hood!



But the story of Robin Hood isn't a simple one, it is also about a battle between the Saxons and the Normans.
"You were sleeping. You've slept too long - we all have. It's time we woke. It's time we stopped running. Nobody ran at Hastings."
 Robin of Sherwood

The Saxon's are the good guys. The Norman's are the unwelcome oppressors.
"Any objection to the new tax from our Saxon Friends?" The Adventures of Robin Hood.


Obviously, there was tension between the Saxon and Norman camps. The Normans had massacred the Saxons at Hastings. It is said that there were so many dead on that battlefield that men died on their feet, for there was nowhere for them to lie down. But Hastings was only the beginning. William the Conqueror was brutal in his dealings with any Saxon uprisings - the Harrowing of the North is a perfect example of how William dealt with those who opposed him. So it makes sense that this battle between Robin Hood would have a Saxon /Norman theme to it.

However, we have to be careful with this analogy.  The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. Robin Hood supposedly lived in the 13th Century. Now, I'm not saying that the 'native'Saxons did not resent their Norman oppressors. Of course, they did. They would have wanted their country back. But did Robin identify himself as a Saxon?
There is nothing in the ballads of the time that says he did - the first mention of this connection is in Ivanhoe - Could this idea simply be a work of fiction? Is this idea a 19th Century one? Possibly.
I am going to explore the stories of this fascinating English hero in upcoming posts and I am really looking forward to it. After Arthur, Robin is my favourite English hero!

Author’s Inspiration ~ Charissa Dufour @CharissaDufour

Ancient Greek Gods and Vampires?Today I welcome author, Charissa Dufour, on to the blog to talk about her inspirations behind her fabulous series.

*This is a finished series* 
Struggling vampire romance novelist Ashley Hawn was living her dream. By day she worked as a clerk at a local grocery store, and by night she immersed herself in the imaginary world of sexy vampires, shirtless men, and endless parties. Between work, her writing, and her best friends- Chloe and Jordan- life was good. She was even dating a mysterious and sexy man (or so she thought) by the name of Isaac. Then in a flash, her whole world changed and she discovered herself turned. 
Quickly she finds that life as a vampire is less sexy shirtless men, endless parties, and is more running for her life as she tries to dodge the attacks of every mythological creature in the area.
Author InspirationWhile my Series that Just Plain Sucks has everything from vampires to dragons, perhaps my favorite mythological creatures are the faeries. I created them based off of the ancient Greek gods and characters. I skipped over the big dogs like Zeus and Aphrodite. Instead, I used lesser known characters such as Periphetes, Hephaestus, and Mnemosyne. As I built my own characters within my series, I borrowed from the old stories. For example, the Periphetes of old was a club-wielding cyclops who robbed travelers and the son of Hephaestus. In my stories, Periphetes was a mysterious cat-bugler, with a fae-made eyepatch that would make him invisible to the human eye. He was still the son of Hephaestus, but they were estranged.Hephaestus is perhaps the most well-known Greek character to feature in the series, though he is only “on screen” briefly. In the Greek stories, Hephaestus is the god of blacksmiths, craftsman, artisans, etc., and a son of Zeus and Hera, thereby a prince in the Greek hierarchy, but scorned by his mother for his limp and rejected from Olympus. Like in the old stories, Hephaestus was once banished from the fae courts, though during the time of the books, he has found peace with the winter Queen. His reunion with the courts causes his son a great deal of doubt and conflict. To know more, you’ll have to read the books. Perhaps one of the most difficult to set to modern fiction was Mnemosyne who came with her own circus. In the mythology, Mnemosyne came from the pairing of Uranus and Gaia, making her a Titaness. After sleeping with Zeus nine nights in a row—talk about stamina—she gave birth to nine Muses: Calliope (Epic Poetry), Clio (History), Euterpe (Music), Erato (Lyric Poetry), Melpomene (Tragedy), Polyhymnia (Hymns), Terpischore (Dance), Thalia (Comedy), Urania (astronomy). Translating these nine muses into mystical creatures was perhaps one of the hardest difficulties of my career to date. They ended up being a minotaur, Cerberus, a gryphon, a sphynx, a cyclops, Pegasus, harpies, a chimera, and a typhon respectively. This is just a small sample of the characters that were born from the rich history of Greek mythology. To enjoy more of their antics, check out Sucked In, book one of the Series That Just Plain Sucks, available at these fine retailers.  

Where can I buy this fabulous book?Amazon B&NKoboiTunesSmashwords
About the author

My journey to become a writer began in 8thgrade, when I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and pulled from school to recover. During this time, I was left alone for hours on end and it was then that I discovered new friends within the pages of books. I also learned the blessing of creating my own friends by writing down the stories that plagued my lonely mind—as demented as that sounds. Therefore at the ripe age of fourteen, I wrote my first novel. It sucked! But I kept going and now I am an Indie Author with numerous books out. I never imagined that first horrible novel about a man who crash landed on his long-lost home world would turn into a lifelong passion. I now live in Chicago, IL with my amazing husband and two rambunctious cats, Groot and Rocket.  Check me out at http://charissadufourauthor.com/ and https://www.bookbub.com/authors/charissa-dufour
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Blog Tour - Juniper Smoke @SecretRealmBook @ash_sadia

Juniper Smoke
By
Sadia Ash

Blog Tour
Official release date July 8thTitle: Juniper Smoke (Book I & II sold as one)by Sadia Ash: www.sadiaash.comEditor: Beth BrunoCover art by Faread: www.behance.net/fareadCover design Ampersand: www.ampersandbookcovers.comCopyright © 2016 Pulsar Media. All Rights Reserved.E-book ISBN 978-0-9976357-1-3  

Juniper Mills is a straitlaced but sassy Iron Age curator at the History Museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At home, she is the sole provider for her special needs twin and comatose mother. Her mother—the best man-hater in the Western Hemisphere—raised Juniper in a grim, solitary existence, instilling in her a deep-rooted hatred of men.Kyle Paxton is a genius micro-camera inventor from San Francisco--who thinks the models of the world are his own petting zoo. He is a clockwork man who schedules his life and relationships with robotic precision.Juniper and Kyle meet when she is dangling forty feet from a museum scaffolding. When he joins the museum board, Juniper falls for him (figuratively this time) and all her man-hating training goes bust. She wants him, but knows it's going to be as hard as catching the ocean in a teacup.Juniper knocks Kyle’s world off its axis and two worlds collide in this very unfairy tale. This novel is full of bendy twists and hairpin turns. Nothing is as it seems and none of the huge cast of characters behave as you would expect…


https://animoto.com/play/Tb8Pj6IiN1oMO0vu0uX3XQ
“Intense, romantic story that gives you a book hangover for a very long time. I was so connected to the characters that it was hard to let them go. The chemistry between Kyle and Juniper is swoon worthy. Beautifully written debut book by Sadia Ash - a perfect romance book to remember for a long time. A definite five-star read!”
SAMREEN AHSAN, MULTI AWARD WINNING AUTHOR

“To say I like this book is an understatement...I LOVE IT! I've read 400 books this year and Juniper Smoke is in the top 3. As soon as I read the last word, I automatically wanted to read it again. The romance will stir emotions you will feel in your bones. The characters will make you laugh and cry, break your heart and mend it again. Kyle Paxton is the perfect book boyfriend and when he loves...you'll fall in love!

NIKKI BRACKETT, NIKKI'S WINDOW SEAT BOOK BLOG 

“Sadia has the ability to bring characters to life that makes them irresistible. Juniper Smoke has intelligent, modern characters--both cosmopolitan and down-to-earth, which makes for universal tension between Juniper and Kyle. Mixing in childhood challenges, high-tech brilliance, luxury, and sexual tension makes for a delicious brew. The tension is taut and ebbs and flows so fast, it will grip you from start to finish. The book’s strength lies in the depth of its characters, who all express themselves in a distinctive way—their own voice and in keeping with their own galaxies. The novel is entertaining and fun, but is a reflection of the real world.”

CT AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

 
Sadia Ash has held jobs in different fields that involved writing (and never math) in some way. She has worked for film and TV publicity with the Prenner Group, did news and TV placement for Aeros (a NASA project), edited scripts for indie films, and fundraised. A lot. A serial volunteer, she has raised funds for many charities that educate and help girls.Currently working on two other novels and a film script, Ash hopes to see the sunlight outside her window one day. She holds an MA English degree from Loyola University in Chicago, a Screenwriting Certificate from UCLA and one more impractical MA in English Literature from NUML. Originally from Chicago, she lives in sun-drenched Cali with her husband—who is her best friend—and two bright kids. I've had an odd and beautiful life. I was born in one continent, raised in another one…and moved to a third one to settle down. From the thousands of people I met and befriended, there was always a common theme: Everyone had a story to tell.Since I was three years old, I have wanted to tell the stories of the fictional people trapped in my head. I love dissecting characters and exploring what lies beneath the razor-thin surface of human behavior. I am humbled when anyone—a stranger, friend or loved one—reads what I wrote. So, thank you!" http://www.sadiaash.com/#!book-inner/uzi88 Contact: info@sadiaash.comWebsite: www.sadiaash.comFacebook page: www.facebook.com/SadiaAsh1Twitter: www.twitter.com/ash_sadiaInstagram: www.instagram.com/ash_sadia
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Book Spotlight ~ The Treasure of Gwenlais @Mtmagee1013M

The Treasure of Gwenlais (The Reinfield Chronicles Book 1)
By
M.T Magee
 
Princess Laurel of Gwenlais, finds herself tragically and quickly thrust into a world of danger, so unlike the idyllic and sheltered life she has known. These dangers from an unknown enemy, also unexpectedly throw her into the arms of Caleb, the warrior Prince of Heathwin, the nearby kingdom in which Gwenlais has a tense alliance with. The more refined people of Gwenlais, find their neighbors and protectors of the West necessary, but consider them uncouth and sometimes barbaric. The long and bloody feud between Heathwin, and the mysterious, frightening, and misunderstood, race of beings, called the Rabkins, had finally reached an uneasy truce, by the hard fought and diligent efforts of Prince Caleb. This fragile agreement, was soon shattered by an attack from outside, that threaten both kingdoms of Gwenlais and Heathwin. Laurel and Caleb find themselves, not only fighting for the peace and existence of their kingdoms, but fighting for their new found love that is imperiled at every turn from a nameless enemy, and their own people as well. Laurel follows her calling, by beginning her training in the ancient healing arts of the Ollams. She soon finds that her skills may be needed to heal more than just the physical wounds of others, but also the wounds of the heart, long put upon by the people of both she and Caleb’s kingdoms by the mistrust and bigotries of either side. As they draw closer together, they discover just how far this unknown enemy, has gone to tear them apart from within. They must together, find a way to rise above old and long standing prejudices, and form a much stronger alliance in order to fight against the new enemy from outside of their borders, that threatens their very survival. 
This is the epic world of Rienfield. A domain filled with beauty, danger, amazing races and cultures. You will find the love and strong ties of family. As well as romance, humor, adventure and tragedy, while the people and beings of Rienfield, search for peace and truth in their way of life. 


  Where Can I Buy This Fabulous Book?Amazon US
Amazon UK
Meet the author


My name is M.T.Magee and I am the proud Silver Medal recipient of the Drunken Druid Award based in Ireland. I write bestselling YA Historical Medieval Fantasy that is beautifully romantic with whispers of Gaelic legend.
I live in New England on our small farm with my husband and son. We raise an assortment of silly goats, quiet rabbits, far too many ducks and chickens, and a high strung Border Collie cross named Gronk. I have always loved fantasy and fell in love with
Tolkien at age eleven. I read all of his works at age twelve. I have been writing stories since I was ten years old and have always wanted to be an author. After fulfilling my dream of becoming a nurse, marrying the love of my life and having two wonderful sons, I have finally been able to fulfill my first dream of publishing my first book. My youngest son is severely disabled and I am his full-time caregiver. The long winter months here in New England make it virtually impossible to go out very often, so I used this time to begin my story The Treasure of Gwenlais. Fifteen months and 1144 pages later I am very happy to present my story to all of you. I love strong female characters, who are still able to convey a sense of vulnerability and be very relateable. I also love strong male leads who are not afraid to show their soft side. Love of family is important to me as I am sure it is to everyone and I convey this in my story.
So welcome to the world I have created and I hope you enjoy visiting often.
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Blog Tour #bookreview ~ Stolen by the Laird @SecretRealmBook

Stolen by the Laird(Conquered Bride Series Book 4)By Eliza Knight
Blog Tour – June 29 to July 9


She was supposed to be his prize... But not all rewards are sweet...Laird Brody Keith, Marischal of Scotland, has been asked by his future king to travel with William Wallace to Dunnottar Castle, where they will seize the castle back from the English. If he completes his mission, the castle, the land and all it holds, will be his. Brody is more than eager to sink his blade into the hearts of his enemies after the brutal murder of his sister and father. But what he doesn't count on is finding an English lass in need of his protection...

Lady Guinevere has led a less than pleasant life in Scotland over the past year, and now she can either run for her life or accept the proposal of a man who should be her enemy. Survival bids her to acquiesce, but that doesn't mean she has to play nice. Except, she's coming to adore the people whom she's always been told she should hate, and respect the man who risked his life for her.

Joined for a mutual purpose, Brody and Guinevere seem doomed from the start, but as time passes and their true enemies draw closer, they'll form an alliance that not even the devil himself can break.

Brody pushed the door open the remainder of the way and came face to face with four Englishwomen. They huddled by the window, dressed in Sassenach gowns, hair once styled as though they were attending a great feast, jewels at their necks, and tears adorning each face except for one.“Och, but I’ve died and gone to Hell,” he muttered.Everyone knew Englishwomen were as shrewish as… well as, an Englishwoman, and as cold as dead fish.All four stared at him, wide-eyed, mouths hung agape.Much like fish, he thought.They were pretty enough, especially the one with the long flowing blonde locks. Though it looked as though her locks had seen better days, perhaps not to have been torn from whatever fancy knot they’d been in.“Who are ye?” he asked in not too kind a tone. He didn’t want any shrewish behavior, simply facts.The blonde stepped forward, squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eye with her piercing blue—nay more green than blue—eyes. She was the only one who didn’t cry. As though she’d been expecting him. The lass was beautiful, even if she was a harpy. Her bone structure was delicate, but her eyes sharp, and the way she frowned, well, he guessed her tongue to be just as barbed. The gown accentuated the curve of her hips and the swell of marginal breasts—he refused to call them the perfect size, for she was English, and he denied finding anything about her to be flawless.“Who are you?” she retorted.Och, a fiery little fish. “I asked ye first.”“Well”—her gaze roved from the top of his head down to his boot tips and he felt more than a little assessed—“I think it is plain to see I outrank you, savage, so you must answer me first.”At her bold words the ladies in her presence all paled, one covered her mouth, another pinched her own arms and the third nodded approval.Brody chuckled, taking a menacing step forward. “Then I suppose we have found ourselves at an impasse, fishy, for I do believe I outrank ye.”“Fishy? Ye insult me.” She shook her head and regarded him with something akin to disgust. “Impossible.”Her revulsion almost had him checking himself. How odd, and why should he even wonder at her manners? She was English after all. Every woman he’d ever met up to this point had fallen at his feet. Brody was known for his charismatic tongue, his lovemaking abilities. Well, this fish wouldn’t know those things. And from the looks of her, she’d be too uptight to enjoy the pleasures he could have given her, if he wanted to, which he wouldn’t.Brody puffed his chest and took several steps forward. “I assure ye, madam, given your current situation, anything is possible.”Two of her ladies fainted dead away and the third stepped in front of the blonde, only to be shoved behind, a sharp word from the Grande Fishy’s mouth.Then she turned back to him, pursing her lips as though she were contemplating a truce.Before she could speak, he cut her off. “I dinna make deals, lass. If ye dinna believe me, then take a look out your window at the kirk yonder.”“So you intend to kill us then?” Despite the stubborn set to her jaw and shoulders, her lower lip quivered.Och, but why did that slight tremble have to tug at his heart? “We shall see what comes to pass.”



What did I think of the book?
Marriage wasn’t what the gentile, English noblewoman, Lady Guinevere, thought it would be like. Her husband, the Baron de Ros, has, on his English King's command, brought his new wife to Dunnottar Castle in Scotland.  Her husband’s actions in the name of the king sicken Guinevere, but he is her husband, and what God has joined together...but then the Scottish army scaled the walls of Dunnottar and life for Guinevere would never be the same again.
Laird Brody Keith, Marischal of Scotland is no stranger to war. He fights on the side of Wallace, but unlike the latter, Brody can be merciful, especially towards women and children. When Brody and Wallace scale the walls at Dunnottar Castle, in a bid to reclaimed the land from the English, the last thing Brody expected was to end up married to the very recently widowed Lady Guinevere. But, to protect her from an angry Scottish army, marriage is the only thing he can think of. No one would dare harm her if she were under his protection.
Stolen by the Laird is a fascinating story about love in a time of war. I liked Brody a great deal. He is a warrior, but he is also a man of honour. He is haunted by the past, and what he sees as his past failures. He is determined not to make the same mistakes again. His relationship with Wallace is an interesting one. Although a staunch supporter, he is not always comfortable with Wallace’s methods. I thought Knight did an excellent portray of this fascinating time in British history.
Lady Guinevere is a very likeable character, as well as a determined one. There is a lovely incident with a door, which made me giggle – I won’t give away the plot, you shall have to read about her adventure with the door for yourself. I loved how her relationship with Brody develops, and their love for each other is very real in the telling.
There are several antagonists in this story, from both sides of the border, which threaten the lives of both Guinevere and Brody. This certainly propelled the story forward and kept me engaged throughout.
Knight brings to life 13th Century Scotland. It was very easy to get lost in the world that she has created, and I didn’t want this book to end. It was an incredibly gripping read.
I thought Stolen by the Liard was fantastic. It has just the right amount of romance, mixed with history and adventure. I Highly Recommend.

 

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 Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling indie author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your-heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.

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Book Extract - The Du Lac Chronicles #Arthurian #amreading

The Du Lac Chronicles
Amazon #1 Best Seller in Young Adult Medieval Fiction 
“An evocative, timeless saga of love and betrayal, it has rivalry and treachery enough for any ‘Game of Thrones’ aficionado.” Tony Riches, Best Selling author of The Tudor Trilogy.



A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities.
“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.”
 So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.
Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon witch with her claws in a broken, wounded king.
Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.
***
Book Extract.
 
“Alden murdered my niece and now he turns my daughter into a whore,” Cerdic snarled.
“I never knew marriage made one a whore. Thank you so much for enlightening me. I knew there was a reason I was avoiding nuptials.”
“Don’t mock me, boy,” Cerdic spat.
“Alden played no part in Edmee’s death,” Merton said.
“I have no reason to believe you.”
“You have no reason not to, either. Turn your boat around, take your men home and withdraw from Cerniw. That is Budic’s request and my advice.”
“And if I don’t?” Cerdic snapped.
“You may choose the battleground: Cerniw or Brittany - Wessex, even. Today or tomorrow, it makes no difference.”
Cerdic snorted. “Budic would let me choose the battleground?” He shook his head. “Then your brother is mad. You are all mad.”
“Yes, I fear you are right. You have until sunset. If your ships are still here, then we will see each other again on the battlefield. Take your ships and go, My Lord.” Merton tilted his head in a half-hearted show of respect and slowly backed away, before turning around and leisurely making his way to where his guards were waiting for him. He did not fear that bastard. In fact, he longed to pick a fight with him. Any excuse to kill him. Leaving him standing there, alive, was not something he wanted to do.
“And if I don’t?” Cerdic asked.
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Blog Tour ~ The Black Morass @SecretRealmBook @barbara_devlin

The Black Morass(Pirates of the Coast Book 1)

By

Barbara Devlin

  
Forever glancing over his shoulder, Jean Marc Cavalier is a ruthless pirate with the blood of countless souls on his hands and a price on his head, but he is a lonely man. In exchange for a chance at redemption, pardons for his crew, and a peaceful life, he accepts a pact that could result in liberty or death, if only he can survive the terms, but at least he will be free. When he rescues a young woman in distress, and vows to return her to her family, he is torn between his natural instincts born of violence and the honorable bargain he struck. What will Jean Marc choose?En route to Jamaica to join her father, after her guardian dies, Lady Madalene Davies departs Boston in anticipation of a new life in a foreign land. When her ship is attacked and set afire, she is left for dead, until an unlikely savior comes to her aid. Brash and bawdy, her flawed hero defies the conventional ideal, as he is no knight in shining armor and seems forever intent on shocking her, yet she cannot resist the lure he presents. What happens when danger lurks in unexpected places, faith is broken, and Madalene must rely on Jean Marc to stay alive?




Atlantic OceanMarch, 1816Virtue was a highly overrated characteristic in his estimation.  In truth, he ranked it in the miserable depths of humanity comprised of respectability and righteousness.  For the strong and fearless, the glorified traits of honor and integrity functioned as an impenetrable barrier to the excitement of the worldly existence filled with violence and debauchery in which he once reveled on a daily basis.  In exchange for societal approval, grown men surrendered their dignity, and their whore’s pipe, he would argue, to abide by a set of rules in which most had no say, and for what?  High principles?  Prestige?  Indeed, such noble qualities sucked dry the marrow of life, leaving naught but the simple pleasures to enjoy, as the Black Morass rode the waves.Sunshine glittered on the ocean, as a sea of precious diamonds, and a cool breeze sifted through his long black hair, as Jean Marc Cavalier directed the helmsman.  Restless and yearning for stimulation, something to feed the hunger that gnawed at his harrowed soul, he approached with caution what appeared to be a burning schooner that he might offer aid, in accord with the pact he signed in a moment of weakness or perhaps insanity.“No movement on deck, Cap’n.”  Tyne, the bosun, lowered his spyglass.  “Should we continue our advance?”“We will maintain course and heading, just to be sure there are no survivors in need of rescue.”  For some strange suspicion he could not quite shake, Jean Marc surmised all was not as it seemed, given the nearest vessel disappeared below the horizon before he could inquire after the circumstances of the misadventure.  For a seaman, naught struck fear in the heart more than fire aboard ship, which could send an entire crew to Davy Jones’s locker.  And he had given his word to perform meritorious deeds for a full year, in trade for an unconditional pardon.  At the end of twelve months, Jean Marc and his men would be free of past crimes, beholden to none.But at what price had he bartered his autonomy?It was for that reason Jean Marc refused to sail past the doomed lady.  And then he spied activity at the stern rail, on the quarterdeck.  “Come about.”“What is it?”  Peering over his shoulder, Tyne narrowed his stare.  “Is that a white flag?”As they drew closer, Jean Marc smiled, and a familiar itch in his palms had him flexing his fingers.  The lure of conquest burned bright in his loins, and he struggled with a craving for fresh meat, if only to reassert authority over his life.  “It is a woman.”  He laughed.  “And she waves her undergarments.”Perhaps fate smiled upon him, as the chit might be just the balm to ease his unrest and allow him to regain a measure of control.  Obligated to the Crown, and no longer the master of his destiny, he thirsted for the power of ultimate domination, and nothing compared to the supremacy inherent in seduction.“Bloody hell, she is a tasty bit o’ fluff.”  Tyne licked his lips.  “And a bottle of Jamaican rum says she is unspoiled, too.”“I believe you are correct in your assertion, mon ami.”  That tempered Jean Marc’s ever-growing arousal, as he never claimed virgin’s blood, because he preferred experienced whores who knew what he wanted and gave it to him, without complaint or inconvenient emotional attachments.  Then he got a good look at the boon, in question, as the Morass glided to a halt, and full-blown lust threatened to consume him.  Maybe it was time to sample the tender flesh of an innocent.  “Ahoy, dear lady.  Jean Marc Cavalier, most definitely at your service.”“Kind sir, I would be grateful for passage to Port Royal.”  Behind her, the masts collapsed, and she shrieked.  How he ached to make her squeal with enthusiasm, as he would wager she could scream much louder with the right inducement.  “As you can see, my current accommodation is about to sink, and I am in dire need of new transportation.”“Lower the plank.”  He signaled the crew.  “As I am certain we can strike a mutually beneficial bargain.”  With a lush figure made for sin, and of that he could envision committing many with her, and alabaster skin he fully intended to explore in more intense inspection, once he got her alone, she presented a delightful distraction.  “How is it your ship fell into such misfortune, and where is the crew?”“They are dead.”  Tears pooled in her vivid blue eyes, and she emitted a soft sob, but he cared not for her sad tale.  “We were attacked by pirates, and I hid in the captain’s cabin, in a small compartment beneath a concealed floor panel, which he revealed he previously used for smuggling, thus I was spared.”“Come here, mon chou.”  As the bow dipped below the surface of the water, he slipped an arm about her hips and whisked her aboard the Morass.“Oh, do collect my bundles, as they hold irreplaceable personal items, including some of my mother’s keepsakes.”  She pointed to two pillowcases, knotted at the opening.  “Please, sir.  I cannot lose them, and I shall ensure you are handsomely compensated, when I reach my destination, as I hail from a family of means.”“Is that so?  Then your every wish is my command.”  And she would compensate him, all right, but not in the coin she proposed, as he had something else in mind for the delectable brown-haired wench.  In seconds, Jean Marc jumped to the now high-pitched stern, grabbed the belongings, glanced into the waist of the doomed vessel, and discovered the remains of a massacre, which made no sense.  At the very least, the sailors could have been sold into slavery, so why would anyone surrender such valuable cargo?  A large crack in the boards indicated the ship yielded its last breath to the force of the ocean, and he took a running leap to safety.  When he gained his footing, the woman flung herself at him and wept.  “Now, now, none of that, mon chou.”Guileless and genteel, his unwitting prize had no idea of the scheme he would enact to reclaim a portion of his pride, as the King stipulated naught in regard to conquest of the fair sex.  Indeed, she possessed no means of defense against his provocative persuasion, and he would employ everything at his disposal to well and thoroughly invade every inch of her.  Before he landed the little angel on Jamaica’s shore, he would instruct her in the art of pleasure, such that she would perform, at will, what even some professionals considered obscene, and render her quim raw.  And then he would leave her, unharmed but a bit worn about the edges, without so much as a backward glance, as was his way.“I thought I was going to die, and you saved me when all seemed lost.”  Well, he was not so sure he saved her, inasmuch as he delivered her from one precarious position to another, though she knew it not.  Whimpering, she hugged him tight, and he savored her soft and feminine curves.  “How can I ever thank you?”Oh, he had plenty of suggestions.  With a slight bend at the hips, she assessed her things, and he admired her round bottom.  Then and there, he decided to first defile her arse and sail her windward passage, as he relished the compelling contradiction between the vulgar act and the pristine virgin, given she was no short-heeled lass or three-penny upright.“You may start by telling me your name.”  Of course, buccaneer or not, Jean Marc required no such formalities to seize the treasure between her thighs, and he would feast on her honeypot soon enough, but he did not want to frighten her—at least, not yet, as fear could be quite provoking.“Lady Madalene Davies, sir.”  An exemplar of perfection, her mouth posed an unparalleled enticement, and how he would engage her aristocratic, plump red lips about his stiff cock.  Then she stared at the crew, released Jean Marc, and retreated a step.  “Is this a passenger-for-hire ship or a privateer in His Majesty’s Navy?”“Not usually, and I am no longer a pirate.”  He advanced, as her chin quivered, and desire surged in his veins.  “Thus I am willing to negotiate terms, if you are amenable.”  With a shrug, he trailed a finger along the gentle curve of her jaw.  “Else I can return you to the sea.”“I beg your pardon?”  Lady Madalene blinked.  “You are no longer a pirate?”  She made another perfunctory study of his men and gulped.  “Am I in danger?  Did you kill the Trident crew, and am I to suffer the same fate?”“Mon chou, you insult me, as I would have taken them captive were that my work.  And never would I waste something so lovely.”  Swift and sure, he caught her in his arms, and she screamed, just as he claimed a lengthy kiss, to ribald hoots and hollers.  When she wrenched free, pounded his chest with her fists, and prepared to protest, he nodded and thrust her into Tyne and Randall’s waiting escort.  “Take her to my cabin.”


 

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 Bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite.Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after.Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.





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