Eliza Knight's Blog, page 46

History Channel's -- History of Thanksgiving

From all of us at History Undressed, we wish all those in the US a Happy Thanksgiving!

Castle of the Week: Ardvreck by Vonda Sinclair

Castles of the Week are back, and we're kicking it off today with a post by my good friend and fellow Scottish romance author, Vonda Sinclair! Awesome post and beautiful pics! Enjoy!

                    Ardvreck Castle by Vonda Sinclair
One of the places that inspired several scenes in my book, My Brave Highlander, was the Assynt area of northern Scotland in what is now Sutherland. Ardvreck Castle inspired my Munrick Castle which I placed on Loch Assynt. The MacLeods are the occupants, just as they were in the early seventeenth century.
The first time I saw Ardvreck Castle in person, I was on a tour bus going sixty miles per hour and the driver said something like, “Oh, by the way, there’s Ardvreck Castle.” I barely had time to take a blurry photo from the opposite side of the bus between other tourist’s heads. LOL Since this castle wasn’t on our itinerary, there was no time to stop, even for a minute, to get a good photo. I had to go back!
As you can imagine, when I was driving and saw this castle in the distance, through the mist with the mountains all around, I was in awe. What a spectacular and mystical setting.

Ardvreck Castle is a ruin which sits on a promontory that juts into Loch Assynt. This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful areas of Scotland. The MacLeods had control of this area from the late 14th Century. The castle is said to have been built by Angus Mor III of Clan MacLeod in the last half of the 1400s. Then, it was only a simple rectangular block, three or four storeys high. In the late 1500s, Donald Ban IX added a tower, vaulted cellars and a vault over the great hall on the first floor. The castle was small and required several buildings around it to house kitchens, servants’ quarters and stables.

The circular part of the tower contained the stair and the square caphouse above it contained two rooms, each with a fireplace. The inhabitants reached the upper floors by stairs in the small turret set in the angle between the tower and the main block.
The most famous tale relating to this castle involves James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. He was a Royalist fighting on the side of Charles I against the Covenanters in 1650. Having lost a battle nearby, he sought refuge with the MacLeods. Neil MacLeod was away and apparently his wife Christine had Montrose captured and imprisoned. Later, he was taken to Edinburgh and executed.

Ardvreck was attacked and taken by the MacKenzie Clan in 1672. They took possession of all the Assynt lands. They lived here at the castle until 1726 when they built a manor house nearby, Calda House, which also now stands in ruins after a fire in 1737.
Ardvreck is said to be haunted by several ghosts including the weeping daughter of a MacLeod chief who drowned in Loch Assynt after marrying the devil in a pact to save her father’s castle. She has been seen on the beach. A ghostly man in grey is often seen in the ruins.
Do you enjoy learning what inspires authors and finding out the history or background behind a specific setting? I will give away a copy of My Fierce Highlander (first book in the Highland Adventure Series) to one commenter. Thanks!




My Brave Highlander: Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?
Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Horrible Histories Pilgrim Song :-)

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I give you this Horrible Histories Pilgrim Song!  Enjoy!

Video of the Week: Horrible Histories -- Victorian Fashion

You all know how I love Horrible Histories! This week's video is on Victorian Fashion.

Hope you get a giggle out of it!

Historical Romance Review: One True Knight by Dana D’Angelo

This book has been reviewed by History Undressed reviewer, Morgan Wyatt...

ABOUT THE BOOK...

When the beautiful yet feisty Rowena de Belleville discovers her father’s plan to remarry, she fears the worst and flees her home — only to be thrust into the arms of a stranger.
Desperate to hide her identity from her pursuers, she embraces the dark stranger. But her reckless act backfires as it awakens a passion buried deep within her soul, while igniting the fuse of her mysterious benefactor.
Unable to escape destiny, their paths cross yet again. This time she learns the handsome man is Jonathan d’Abelard - the Iron Hawk, a legendary knight feared by all save one faceless killer bent on making his life a living hell…
Will her chance encounter draw them together, or ensnare her in a dangerous game of seduction, feverish desire and vengeance?

MORGAN'S REVIEW...

One True Knight by Dana D’Angelo is a medieval romance that highlights the differences in the freedoms enjoyed by men and women of the period. Rowena’s ability to be her own woman, and manage the castle grind to an unexpected halt when her father, Sir Phillip’s announcement that he will marry. Ten years ago, when his beloved wife died he swore to never remarry. He also chose to ignore Rowena because he blamed her for the plague her mother contacted from nursing her. Her impulsive nature forces her into action.
Jonathan is more than a wandering knight he is a man on a mission. His first mission is vengeance against the Grey Knight. The nefarious knight is so bold to send him messages and taunts causing Jonathan to scurry across the country in search of the knight. His cousin has asked him to vet Sit Phillip before she marries. His cousin a widow finds herself forced to choose between her two neighbors to be able to afford some type of protection for her people.
Rowena escapes the castle disguises as a simple servant. She isn’t quite sure of her plans, but she realizes a new mistress will change her role in the house, and maybe even push her out of it. Jonathan disguises himself as a peasant too in an effort to find out more about Sir Phillip. In an effort to escape her father’s guards, she chooses to kiss Jonathan as a distraction, sparking an attraction between the two of them. She flees refusing even to leave a name with the besotted knight.
One True Knight has a great deal going on, besides romance including intrigue and betrayal. There is also the double disguise of Jonathan and Rowena pretending to be other people, always a handy plot device. The chemistry between the two works well. The characterization of the cousin being a pawn in the games of men is accurate for the period. This is a good debut novel, but there are areas where it could be stronger.
More detail would give me a sense of being there. Historical references were rather vague, specific ones as a tie-in could help in getting a feel for the period, and the people.  In the beginning, Rowena acts more like a spoiled brat caring more about herself, than anyone else. She doesn’t care about her father’s happiness; she’s just upset because his marriage might mess her life up. She sets up her own nursemaid to get in trouble so she can run the country in disguise. Rowena improves as the book goes on maturing with the chapters.One True Knight is a good bet for medieval romance fans. Its short length makes it a quick read too.

Romance Review: Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

This book has been reviewed by History Undressed reviewer Morgan Wyatt...


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Evangeline Ames has rented a country cottage far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she finds pleasure in sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds. And when her life is threatened again, she instinctively goes to the gardens for safety.
Lucas Sebastian has never been one to ignore a lady in danger, even if she is trespassing on his property. Quickly disposing of her would-be assassin, he insists they keep the matter private. There are rumors enough already, about treasure buried under his garden, and occult botanical experiments performed by his uncle — who died of mysterious causes.
With Evangeline’s skill for detection, and Lucas’s sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they have a common enemy. And as the energy emanating from Crystal Gardens intensifies, they realize that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long...

MORGAN'S REVIEW:
Amanda Quick’s Crystal Gardens is the first in the series of Ladies of Lantern Street series, which deals with three unusually gifted women who become companions in dangerous situations that require their talents. Crystal Gardens is the story of Evangeline Ames and Lucas Sebastian.
Evangeline Ames escapes to the country to settle her frazzled nerves from her almost murder in London. This is why it is so unnerving to hear a prowler in the house. He isn’t trying to be quiet, probably because he doesn’t expect her to live to report him. Evangeline planned for such a predicament, however, she didn’t plan to end up in the arms of the mysterious owner of Crystal Gardens.
Sebastian Lucas returns the much-rumored Crystal Gardens to investigate the curious death of his Uncle. He realizes things aren’t as they seem from the glowing gardens resulting from botanical experiments to his uncle’s death. On his first day, he meets his new tenant, the intriguing Miss Ames. On the second night, he finds his arms wrapped around the delectable lady.
Crystal Gardens are a menace drawing in treasure hunters searching for Roman gold hidden, only to become fatalities of the gardens’ mysterious power. Paranormal energy fuels the plants, vision pools, and Lucas’s ability to track his uncle’s killer, and the person after Evangeline.
Evangeline and Sebastian have wonderful chemistry together. There are some enjoyable secondary characters in Molly and Stone. The setting is appropriately eerie, which adds to the atmosphere. Crystal Gardens is another delight from a master author Amanda Quick.  It is a fun, sexy read. I would recommend it for all romance fans.  

Reading as a Writer by Callie Hutton

Today I'd like to welcome, Callie Hutton, not only a wonderful historical romance author, but one of our reviewers too!   I can't wait to read her new Christmas story!


Reading as a WriterBy: Callie Hutton
            I’ve been a voracious reader all my life. My mom would take a book out of my hands and point to the door. “Go out and play.”            At various jobs where I worked, I was known as the woman who always had her nose stuck in a book. When people would ask what I was reading, most times I had to check the cover because I read so fast I didn’t even have a book long enough to remember its name.            Reading has been my main source of entertainment for years. It disturbs me that now that I have written several books, gone through critiques, contests, and editing with publishers, that now I read, not as a reader, by as a writer. It’s sort of like seeing the faults in your child. You love them anyway, but sad when you discover those little things that you wished wasn’t a part of their makeup.            I’m currently reading a book by a very well-known romance author. Every time she head- hops, I cringe. I have no problem following the story, and frankly I never could understand the horror that particular issue creates, but I know it’s not acceptable. Then there’s the flat out mistakes. Missing words, wrong words, repetitive phrases. Reversed letters so it reads: “her won” instead of “her own.”             I suppose at one time that would never have bothered me, or even if I would have noticed it. Or is it just editors are getting sloppy? I allow (but don’t accept) mistakes in self-published books because I realize it’s hard to find your own mistakes, even though any decent self- published author uses beta readers and critique partners to catch them.             But when you’re reading a book by a well-known author, coming from a “big” house, and you see these mistakes, it irks me. Have I always been this fussy? Or is this a new trend? In any event, even though I never intend to give up my favorite past time, it’s now riddled with annoyance.            How about you? Do mistakes bother you? Does it pull you out of the story? Do you think there are more mistakes in books now then, say, twenty years ago? And lastly, when you see mistakes in a book, do you try to contact the author and let him/her know?            Inquiring minds want to know.

Callie has been making up stories since elementary school, and writing gave her a way to turn off the voices in her head.  She’s had a number of articles and interviews published over the years, and finally decided to put her writing skills to the test and write novels.            Oklahoma is where she hangs her hat with her husband of thirty-six years, two young adult children, and three dogs.
You can catch her hanging out at Facebook, Twitter- @CallieHutton, and her home base, www.calliehutton.com. Stop by sometime and say hello.
Blurb for Miss Merry’s Christmas:The Duke of Penrose is not happy with Miss Meredith Chambers, the American governess his new wards have arrived with. He quickly replaces her, happy to have his unwanted attraction to the unsuitable woman behind him. Until his mother hires her as a companion…
England, 1817.  David Worthington, Duke of Penrose dislikes Miss Meredith Chambers, the American governess who accompanied his new wards. He especially detests his attraction to the insufferable woman, and is anxious for her replacement to arrive.
Merry is thrilled when the Dowager Duchess Penrose hires her as a companion. Now she can stay with her beloved charges. But can she ignore how her heart thumps when the pompous duke gets close?
Two people determined to ignore each other, despite the pull between them, and the sparks that fly whenever they're together.
Buy link: http://amzn.to/TSKlw1
           
            

Debut Author Pamela Sherwood Spotlight & Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday Folks! Want a chance to win a copy of debut author, Pamela Sherwood's highly anticipated novel, WALTZ WITH A STRANGER , before it releases on December 4th from Sourcebooks??? Leave a comment for your chance!


Crippled after a riding accident, shy heiress Aurelia Newbold shuns Society--until a dashing stranger draws her into a secret waltz and awakens desires she has long thought dead. After a year abroad to regain her health, she comes home to find the one man she’s been dreaming of--now an earl--engaged to the one woman she would never betray: her beloved twin sister.
One night James Trelawney took pity on a girl he saw as a wounded bird. Now the Earl of Trevanan, he is not prepared for the vibrant woman who returns to London, intent on reclaiming her life. Nor is he prepared for his growing desire for that woman--especially after he has proposed marriage to her dazzling twin.
As the scene shifts from London's glittering ballroom to Cornwall's windswept coast, forbidden desires resurface, and inhibitions begin to melt beneath the summer sun. But even as James struggles to resolve his feelings for both sisters, the secret that killed his predecessor reaches out from the grave to threaten his life--and that of the woman he loves.

Praise for Waltz With a Stranger...

“Sherwood effortlessly evokes the world of Edith Wharton and Henry James, and her exquisite character development, memorable secondary characters, and impeccably researched historical setting infuse this elegantly written debut with a richness and depth worth savoring.”  ― Booklist STARRED review
 “Readers will be enchanted”― RT Book Reviews
“Sympathetic protagonists will keep readers engaged”―Publishers Weekly



Mark your calendar! Pamela will be back visiting with us on December 11th for a fun post.  :-)

Society Norms and How Caroline Montague Thwarts Every One by Christy English

Today I'd like to welcome historical romance author, Christy English to History Undressed! Today she's written a post on society norms during the Regency. Enjoy!

Society Norms and How Caroline Montague  Thwarts Every One by Christy English
The Regency Period was a time of calm conversation and sedate dancing. A time when the waltz was considered a little scandalous, and an unmarried woman would never consider dancing it without the permission of Almack’s.
It isn’t that Caroline Montague, the heroine of my novel HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE, doesn’t know these things. Her mother did her level best to raise Caroline to behave like a lady. It’s simply that Caroline doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.


In Regency England, it is best if a young lady is seen and not heard. A young lady should sit demurely and wait at her mama’s side until a gentleman asks her to dance. A young lady might shoot a bow and arrow, but never in competition with gentlemen who would clearly best her in any contest.
Caroline has never waited for permission to do anything in her life. She enjoys dancing, but she prefers country dances to the waltz. She finds it simpler to lead the young men she knows instead of letting them lead her. Caroline loves her bow so much that she keeps it in her bedroom, along with her throwing knives. She doesn’t hesitate to outshoot the men around her whenever she can, and she takes pleasure in her victory.


A Regency lady should always wear a riding habit when on horseback. Caroline prefers to ride in breeches, astride her war stallion, Hercules. Occasionally, she makes the concession of hiding her breeches underneath a gown, but not often.
Would a woman in Regency England have been allowed to break as many social conventions as Caroline does? I don’t think so. Which is all the more reason I enjoyed creating this woman, and watching her thwart every convention put in front of her. She does learn to compromise after she is married, but so does her husband Anthony. In the end, neither is truly tamed. They finally learn to communicate with each other, and to live together as equals. Caroline keeps her bow and her knives, but she and Anthony learn that when they spar together, it is better to use blunted blades.
Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Christy's new book!
How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English
A clever Regency retelling of “The Taming of the Shrew”
Anthony Carrington, Earl of Ravensbrook, returns from war to marry his commanding officer’s daughter. A man of fiery passion and strict self-control, Anthony expects a biddable bride who obeys him without question. But Caroline Montague is no simpering miss; she rides a war stallion named Hercules, fights with a blade, and can best most men with both bow and rifle. It’s a duel of wit and wills in this charming first book of a new series.
Visit the author at her website: http://www.christyenglish.com/

The Colonial Frontier and Beth Trissel's New Historical!

Welcome back to today's guest on History Undressed, historical romance author, Beth Trissel! We're glad to have you back! And congrats on your newest release!

Thanks for having me on your splendid blog, Eliza. Always an honor. Today I’m sharing the turbulent history behind my new historical romance novel, Kira, Daughter of the Moon.
‘A beautiful Scots-Irish healer in the rugged Alleghenies finds herself accused of witchcraft. With the terror of the French and Indian War fresh in her mind, can Kira love a white warrior?’
Kira, Daughter of the Moon , the third in my colonial frontier series, follows Through the Fire and Red Bird’s Song . Though written to stand alone, Kira, Daughter of the Moonis the long-awaited sequel to Through the Fire and features strong secondary characters introduced in that novel, with the addition of the very unique heroine, Kira, and other new characters. The story also builds on the conflict between Scots-Irish settlers and frontiersmen, the Shawnee and their allies, and British mandates regarding the return of white captives depicted in Red Bird’s Song.
Set in the rugged Alleghenies in the colonial Virginia frontier, the story opens in the spring of 1765, about six months after the close of Red Bird’s Song in the fall of 1764. Through the Fire takes place the summer of 1758 at the height of the French and Indian War. For those of you interested in this obscure but vital era of American history, a second war lead by Chief Pontiac (who united a number of the tribes) followed on the heels of the French and Indian, a sort of part two. That’s the war wrapping up in Red Bird’s Song, but to anxious settlers the Indian Wars just flowed together with times when attacks were more prevalent than others. These harried folk trying to survive didn’t keep track of the names of the wars. They didn’t always even know which tribe was attacking them, and some war parties were a mix of allied warriors. But the Shawnee gained the distinction of being the most feared tribe in the Shenandoah Valley and the Virginia frontier—the ultimate badass. The French officers who lead some of these attacks were particularly hated, to this day in some mountainous regions of Virginia and now West Virginia. Memories run deep. Bear in mind that Virginia used to be vast and encompassed states.
Dread of Indian attacks, of being killed or captured, of what happened to captive loved ones, and mistrust of white men who turned renegade and ran with war parties was on the minds of these mistrustful and superstitious Scots-Irish. Not that all settlers were Scots. Some were German/Swiss and English, but the clannish Scots tended to band together. And this is the volatile background for Kira, Daughter of the Moon.
Blurb:Logan McCutcheon returns to colonial Virginia after seven years in the hands of Shawnee Indians. But was he really a captive, as everybody thinks? He looks and fights like a warrior, and seems eager to return to those he calls friends and family.
Kira McClure has waited for Logan all those years, passing herself off as odd to keep suitors at bay––and anyone else from getting too close.  Now that he's back, he seems to be the only person capable of protecting her from the advances of Josiah Campbell and accusations of witchcraft.  And to defend the settlers against a well-organized band of murderous thieves.
About Beth Trissel: Married to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by my children, grandbabies, and assorted animals. An avid gardener, my love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into my work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of my inspiration. In addition to American settings, I also write historical and time travel romances set in the British Isles. For more on me, my blog is the happening place: One Writer’s Way


***Kira, Daughter of the Moon is available in print and kindle at Amazon, in print and various eBook formats at The Wild Rose Press, and from other booksellers. If you would like to be considered for a giveaway of the novel in pdf or kindle format, winner’s choice, please leave me a raving comment.