Cora Seton's Blog, page 17

On the Road to Prince Rupert

A week ago last Saturday I drove with two friends to Prince Rupert, a town about an hour and a half away from Terrace. Prince Rupert is a port town, that is becoming a major player in shipping from North America to China. We didn’t get a chance to see the container port, but I’d love to stop by there next time.

Instead, we took our time driving along Highway 16 and taking in the spectacular mountain sights. It was a rare sunny day along the Skeena River, and I got some spectacular photos.

One stop we made was to check out a painting apparently made by First Nations people over a hundred years ago. Trees grew up in front of it, covering it from view until it was “Rediscovered” in 1950 and the trees were cut down to expose it to view. One of my friends knew approximately where it was, so we were driving fairly slowly when we passed the rock outcropping where the face is painted. Just as we passed it I glanced in my rear view mirror, which perfectly framed the red face staring back at me. A quick screech of tires and we pulled off to the side of the road to get a better look.

It was hard to get a good picture. You have to either stand on the highway and use your zoom, or come in from the side and try to get an angled shot. Below the face is a marsh. The artist must have had a good ladder.

I know the face is a little hard to make out – in real life it’s about three feet wide, I think, and is startling when you see it out of nowhere. I can only imagine its purpose was to define a territorial boundary. I tried to look up more information about the painting, but couldn’t find any online.

We continued on to Prince Rupert and hit the Butze Walking Trail next. I’d never done this particular hike, and somehow pictured it as a flat trail with lots of bridges over tidal areas. Totally wrong!

The trail has some ups and downs and took us two hours to walk. We spent a little time mucking around by the water, but not much – so it was a fair hike. We saw lots of lovely old trees, and many little crabs near the water. Here’s me:

Just before you circle back and hike up a (big) hill to the parking area, you get a glimpse of the rapids for which the Butze Rapids trail are named:

A lovely morning…

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Published on June 19, 2013 12:15

Blog Tour Contest Winner

My blog tour is over and it’s time to get back to normal around here. It was fun to “travel” the blogosphere and hang out with other bloggers and readers, but now I’m looking forward to updating you all about my progress both with the Chance Creek series and with my one acre mini-farm.

First, though, it’s time to announce the winner of my Blog Tour Etsy GiftCard Giveaway -

JuneGirl63 won the gift card, and I’ll be sending it out today!

I enjoyed hearing from everyone else and look forward to seeing you all again next time I head out on the virtual road.

Congrats, JuneGirl!

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Published on June 10, 2013 11:07

Last Stop on My Blog Tour Today! Last Chance to Win!

Today I’m on tour for The Cowboy’s E-Mail Order Bride. I hope you’ll join me.

I’ll be at I Love Lady Porn, so pop over and comment for your chance to win the grand blog tour prize of a $50 Etsy gift card!

I’ll be popping in and out all day to answer questions and chat! See you there!

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Published on June 06, 2013 17:41

Kaisy Daisy’s Corner

Today I’m on tour for The Cowboy’s E-Mail Order Bride. I hope you’ll join me.

I’ll be at Kaisy Daisy’s Corner, so pop over and comment for your chance to win the grand blog tour prize of a $50 Etsy gift card!

I’ll be popping in and out all day to answer questions and chat! See you there!

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Published on June 05, 2013 17:39

I’m Hosting Kathy Fischer-Brown’s The Serpent’s Tooth Trilogy Today – Giveaway!

Today I’m hosting Kathy Fischer-Brown and reviewing the first book in her The Serpent’s Tooth Trilogy – Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter. Kathy is hosting a giveaway during her blog tour, so follow the link below to enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card!

The blurbs:

Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter

As a child, Anne Fairfield dreams of the father she never knew, the hero who died fighting the French and their Indian allies in a land across the sea. Her mother’s stories, and fantasies of her own devising, sustain and nurture her through a poor and lonely existence. Until one winter night, a strange man comes to call, and the life she has known comes crashing down like shattered glass.

Forced to confront sordid truths, secrets and lies, the headstrong young woman begins to learn that, like generations of women ruled by their hearts, she is destined to follow in their footsteps.

Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter is the first book in “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy, which follows Anne from the rural countryside, to London society and into the center of the American Revolution.

Courting the Devil

Four years after a near fatal blunder uproots her from her home and inheritance, Anne Darvey, daughter of the Marquess of Esterleigh, finds herself an indentured servant on a farm near Fort Edward in New York, as the British army advances toward Albany. Driven by guilt over the pain she has caused her father and grief over her lover’s death, she sets out to deliver a message. The consequences lead to the discovery that all is not as it seems, and sets in motion events that lead to love and danger.

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, Courting the Devil is the second book in “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy, which follows Anne from her childhood in the rural English countryside, to London society, and into the center of the American Revolution.

The Partisan’s Wife

Faced with an impossible choice, Anne Marlowe is torn between her husband’s love and the hope of her father’s forgiveness. As American forces follow up on their tide-turning victories over the British at Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights, Peter is drawn deeper into the shady network of espionage that could cost them both their lives.

Is his commitment to “the Cause” stronger than his hard-won love for Anne? Will her sacrifice tear them apart again…this time forever? Or will they find the peace and happiness they both seek in a new beginning?

The Partisan’s Wife follows Anne and Peter through the war torn landscape of Revolutionary War America, from the Battle of Saratoga to British-occupied New York and Philadelphia, and beyond.

Here’s an Excerpt from Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter

“What’s that over there?” She indicated a tangle of vines growing around what appeared to be a small stone house of sorts at the edge of the clearing. Over time, thick knots of leafy runners sprouted from its very masonry, climbing and twisting, spreading and widening their hold until the little structure had taken on a look as wild and natural as the glade itself.

Peter glanced over at the ruin and shrugged. “Oh that? It’s nothing…used to be a hunting lodge, I think, but nobody’s used it since before I can recall…as well you can see!” Again he gestured to his coat. “Now let’s have a look at that ankle. If not for your own sake, then for mine.” He pulled a clean handkerchief from one of the side pockets of his breeches.

“You’re not still blaming yourself, are you?” The thought made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

He laughed softly. “I was thinking of Hetty. She’d have my head if she thought me such a cad as to allow a girl with an injured foot to go hobbling about the countryside. You will cooperate now, won’t you?”

She nodded. Although he exaggerated about Hetty, she dreaded the thought of his reputation suffering on her account. As he knelt before her, a wave of warmth gushed over her senses, filling her with a renewed onslaught of confusion. Fighting it off, she asked in a tremulous voice, “Do you come here often?” Even as the heat rose in her cheeks, he seemed unaware of her discomfort.

“Often enough. Many times I’ve sat here…right here, where we are now, as still as can be, without breathing, and the birds and squirrels came so close, they could have eaten from my hand…. Pardon me, but I must….” He raised the hem of her skirt and slipped the shoe from her injured foot.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ve kept My Lady waiting.”

Her skin burned under his gaze, even as she could not see his eyes. Her heart pounded in her throat.

“I hope My Lady is not angry with me.” A hint of distress tinged his voice.

“Oh, no,” she said quickly, turning before she could stop herself. “I’m not…angry. I…I’m so glad…you’ve come.”

“Are you?”

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he seemed at a loss for words. An awkwardness infused him, a shyness that had not been present on that day in June. She sensed it in his smile, and in his hesitation, in the sound of his voice.

But how beautiful he was! Even more so than she remembered. His hair shone in the firelight, framing his face in a shock of gold. His whole being radiated sunshine and blue skies, from his hair and bright blue eyes to his skin, like burnished bronze, glowing with a light of its own. Tall and well proportioned, slender hipped and broad of shoulder, his agile physique was made more noticeable by the wetness of his clothes.

Again she glanced into her teacup for fear he would take note of the color rising in her face.

“Might I impose on My Lady to sit beside her?”

She could not suppress the burst of giddy laughter that bubbled up from the depths of her.

“Wait for an invitation from your lady,” Hetty put in with a laugh, “and ’ee’ll be bound t’ wither and die o’ old age!”

“Of course you may sit!” Anne protested, her cheeks burning.

“Worried near to death, she were,” Hetty continued. “Thought ’ee wasn’t goin’ to come.”

Peter slipped his hand under her chin and turned her face into the fire light. “Is that true?”

She met his gaze, full of joy and adoration, and all doubts and misgivings flew from her mind.

She pressed her cheek into the palm of his hand. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

My Review:

Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter is an accessible, fast-paced historical romance with elements of suspense and danger. I liked the heroine immediately and definitely wanted to know where the story was heading. I found the minor characters in the story to be as intriguing as the more central ones, and found myself curious to learn all of their fates.

A winding, gothic story, Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter has all the twisted familial relationships, dark secrets, and murderous plots you could want in such a story. The heroine, Anne, must constantly learn who she can trust and who she must avoid at all costs. Her adversaries block her way at every turn, and just when she finds love, it is wrenched away from her again.

I was only able to read the first of the three novels, but the ending certainly makes me want to read the second as soon as possible!

Enter the giveaway for a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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Published on June 04, 2013 17:58