The Maiden's Court

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

New Book Alert: The Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle–Excerpt & Giveaway

The Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle
Book 3 of The Infamous Somertons series
e-Book & Paperback; 252 pages
Entangled- Scandalous
ISBN: 1548204889
June 22, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

The daughter of an infamous art forger, Chloe Somerton grew up poor. Desperate to aid her sisters, she’d picked a pocket…or two. Now circumstances have changed, and Chloe has a chance to marry a young, wealthy lord. Only his mentor—a dark, dangerous duke—stands in her way. The duke knows about her past, and she’ll do anything to keep him from telling.
The moment Michael Keswick, the Duke of Cameron, sees Chloe Somerton, he recognizes her as a fraud. The stunning beauty with sapphire eyes and golden hair now appears to be a proper lady, but he knows better. What begins as a battle of wills soon escalates into a fierce attraction. In Chloe, Michael finds peace from the memories of war, but he refuses to marry…and she won’t settle for anything less.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Check out this delightful EXCERPT from The Duke Meets His Match!!

Chloe rapped softly on the door and waited. When there was no response, her fingers grazed the handle. She knew entering a man’s bedchamber was recklessly improper, but she thrust the thought aside. She’d seen the duke—Michael—last night. He’d clearly suffered from shock when the fireworks had exploded at the end of Madame Saqui’s performance at Vauxhall Gardens. She’d witnessed the flash of wild grief that had ripped through him…had glimpsed his pain and inner turmoil in the depths of his eyes. In his mind, he’d been transported back to the horrors of battle.

Without further hesitation, she pushed the door open. The room was dim and her eyes took a moment to adjust. A ray of sunlight that penetrated between the nearly closed curtains provided sufficient light to see. It was a purely masculine room with mahogany Chippendale furniture, a plush Oriental carpet, an escritoire in the corner, and a leather chair by the window. But it was the enormous fourposter that dominated the room—a bed large enough to fit a man well over six feet tall—that drew her eye.

The duke lay in the bed, sprawled on his back in a restless sleep. Heart pounding, Chloe tiptoed close and then stopped breathing at the sight of his bare chest. Unable to stop herself, she stared. Ropes of muscle defined his broad shoulders, biceps, and sculpted chest. His skin was bronzed, and she wondered how he exposed himself to the sun. Her knees grew weak as an image of him riding shirtless arose in her mind. A sprinkling of hair trailed down his flat stomach and disappeared beneath the bedclothes that covered the lower half of his body. One long, muscular leg was uncovered where he’d kicked the linens aside. The raw power of his body nearly stole her breath. With a start, she realized that he slept naked and hadn’t bothered with a nightshirt. Had he sent his valet scurrying out of the room last night?

She’d never seen a man’s naked chest before, but she knew without a doubt, that no one else of her acquaintance could ever compare.

Certainly not Henry.

Michael had the body of a soldier. He appeared strong and muscled from hours of disciplined training. He was no dandy or coxcomb or spoiled aristocrat who’d never known physical labor. Her fingers trembled with the need to touch his flesh, to run her fingers down his chest.

Deep lines slashed between his dark brows, and he tossed on the bed. “Gavin…no…no. Look out!”

Chloe’s eyes flew to his face, and a heavy feeling settled low in her stomach at his distress. He was clearly in the throes of a nightmare. Whatever feelings she had for him, desire and anger, her heart ached to see him in pain. She reached out to touch his arm and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Your Grace.”

He moved so fast she didn’t have a second to breathe. Her wrist was caught in a powerful grip and she was pulled down and across his chest. He rolled, taking her with him and pinning her beneath him. Engulfed by his weight, she couldn’t move an inch.

Her heart slammed against her chest. She was aware of every rigid angle, every powerful muscle, and his hardness pressing between her thighs made her inhale sharply at the contact. His dark visage was fierce and unyielding as he hovered above her, and she experienced a trepidation of fear.

He’d reacted instinctively, like an experienced soldier who’d been threatened.

“Your Grace!” She gasped. “It’s Chloe.”

He blinked and focused on her face inches from his. “Chloe?”

“Yes…yes. It’s me.”

His merciless hold on her arms eased. “Why are you here?”

“I…I was worried about you after last night.”

His mouth was set in a grim line, his gaze narrowed and determined. “Christ. I could have killed you. Crushed you as easily as a twig. How the hell did you get into my bedchamber?”

“Your butler and housekeeper told me you were still abed.”

One dark eyebrow shot upward. “I’m surprised either permitted you to enter here.”

“They didn’t. I let myself up here.”

“Why does that not surprise me?”

His voice lowered to an intimate whisper and she became even more aware of his hardness pressed against the apex of her thighs. The coverlet had fallen aside so that a thin sheet and her own clothing were the only barriers between them.

Sweet Lord. His manhood seemed so…large. She should have been more afraid—any proper female would have been—but Chloe had never been proper, had she? Instead her initial fear ebbed as she lay soft and pliant beneath him. The physical contact stoked a gently burning fire, and she was powerless to stop the wicked thoughts that came to mind. She was wildly curious by nature, and the hushed whispers of the servants and her own married sisters when they thought she wasn’t listening had always fascinated her.

She couldn’t stop wondering: what would it be like to know the duke intimately. Would he be gentle or demanding or both?

Their gazes locked, and a corner of his lips turned up in a wicked smile as if he sensed what she was thinking. His pupils expanded, black and gold flecks in his eyes. “I suppose I should be grateful for your impetuous nature which led you here. At last, I have you right where I want you.”

About Tina Gabrielle

Tina Gabrielle, an Amazon best-selling author, is an attorney and former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. She often picked up a romance and let her fantasies of knights in shining armor and lords and ladies carry her away. She is the author of adventurous Regency historical romances: A Spy Unmasked, At The Spy’s Pleasure, In The Barrister’s Bed, In The Barrister’s Chambers, Lady Of Scandal, and A Perfect Scandal from Entangled Publishing and Kensington Books. Tina’s books have been Barnes & Noble top picks, and her first book, Lady Of Scandal, was nominated as best first historical romance by Romantic Times Book Reviews. Tina loves to hear from readers. Please visit her website to join her newsletter and enter her free monthly contests and giveaways.

Find Tina Gabrielle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Wide Giveaway

As part of this tour, there is an excellent tour-wide giveaway to win the following: Classic Art coloring book, digital copy of An Artful Seduction by Tina Gabrielle, & $15 Amazon Gift Card!. Entries can be made through the Rafflecopter below or on any of the tour hosting blogs. Please note, any questions should be directed to the publicist as I do not have any input in this giveaway. Good luck!!

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Follow the Tour

Author’s Pal Website

7/10/2017

One Handed Book Reads
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The Power of the Readers
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Aly’s Miscellany
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7/11/2017

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7/12/2017

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The Bookworm Lodge
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7/13/2017

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7/14/2017

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7/17/2017

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Buried Under Romance
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7/18/2017

Deal Sharing Aunt
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Interview

Silvatrend8553 Book Blog
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7/19/2017

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Cat’s Guilty Pleasure
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7/20/2017

Romance Novel Giveaways
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7/21/2017

babbling about books, and more
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Book Loving Pixies
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Book Magic – Under a spell with every page
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Guest Post and Review

New Book Alert: Denying the Duke by Callie Hutton–Excerpt & Giveaway

Denying the Duke by Callie Hutton
Book 3 in the Lords and Ladies in Love series
e-Book & Paperback; 238 Pages
Entangled: Scandalous
ISBN: 1548204714
June 22, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

Four years ago, Alex, a second son, had planned a life together with Lady Patience. However, when Patience was betrothed to his brother, the heir, Alex left his family’s estate and joined the military.
Alex returns to assume the title Duke of Bedford when his brother unexpectedly dies. He is unprepared for both his new responsibilities and the reunion with Patience. The horrors of war are a heavy burden, and when he learns that Patience never married his brother, he is stunned.
Patience withstood the bullying of her fiancé and her father for four long years. She refuses to marry Alex just because he’s the duke, especially if he no longer loves her. How would that be better than what she has already endured? Promises made in their youth are not enough to overcome the changes life has wrought for them but love can grow and transform, if only Patience could believe that.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Check out this awesome EXCERPT from Denying the Duke!!

Dragging his thoughts back to the present, he walked from the church graveyard where all the Dukes of Bedford were buried in the family mausoleum, to the Abbey, his boots making a sucking sound in the mud.

He stopped on the stone pathway and studied the building. It looked exactly as it had all his life, and for generations before that. He, however, had changed significantly from the angry, brokenhearted young man who had left. War had carved him into a bitter, bedeviled-by-ghosts man. No softness remained from that addlepated young man in love.

Precisely how he liked it.

Patience, otherwise known as the Duchess of Bedford, would be holding court for the mourners who had come to comfort her on the death of her husband. Since he’d had no contact with his family in the four years he’d been gone, he had no idea if she and Cyrus had children. Of course, there wasn’t a son, or Alex would not have been summoned home to take up his duties as the new Duke of Bedford.

He snorted. One could only hope the pater was spinning in his grave as the prodigal son returned to assume the title he’d held so dear. He no more desired to be the duke than his father would have wanted him to be.

His thoughts returned to the Duchess of Bedford. It seemed nothing had changed since he left. Under the law, as his brother’s widow, Patience was just as off-limits to him as she had been as Cyrus’s betrothed. Of course, he had no reason to believe he still felt the same about her as he had four years ago. That Alex was dead, and he had the vile memories and dark dreams to prove it.

Before he could reach for the front door latch, the door opened. A new butler, unknown to him, stood there, stiff as a board. “Welcome home, Your Grace.”

Your Grace.

About Callie Hutton

USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hutton, author of more than twenty-five historical romance books, writes humorous and spicy Regency with “historic elements and sensory details” (The Romance Reviews). Callie lives in Oklahoma with two rescue dogs and her top cheerleader husband of many years. Her family also includes her daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. And her almost three year old twin grandsons “The Twinadoes.” Find her online at her Website, for a complete list of all her books and sign up for her newsletter to receive information on new releases, appearances, contests and exclusive subscriber content.

Find Callie Hutton: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Wide Giveaway!

As part of this tour, Entangled, has an excellent tour-wide giveaway to win a $20 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Marrying the Wrong Earl, book 2 in the Lords and Ladies in Love series (US only)!. Entries can be made through the Rafflecopter below or on any of the tour hosting blogs. Please note, any questions should be directed to the publicist as I do not have any input in this giveaway. Good luck!!

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Follow the Tour

Tasty Book Tours Website

July 10th

Buried Under Romance -Rev/Int/Exc
The Book Junkie Reads . . . -Rev/Exc
Dena Garson-Real... Hot... Romance -Exc

July 11th
The Maiden's Court -Exc
Laura Lu's Book Reviews -P

July 12th

OMGReads -Rev/Exc
Jen's Reading Obsession -Exc
Behind Closed Doors Book Review - Exc

July 13th
E-Romance News -Exc
What Is That Book About -Exc
Books & Benches -Exc

July 14th

Romance Book Review For You -Rev/Exc

Book Magic - Under a spell with every page -Rev/Exc

****

July 17th

Those Crazy Book Chicks -Exc
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July 18th

Warrior Woman Winmill -Rev
Cat's Guilty Pleasure -P

July 19th

Becky on Books -Rev/Int/Exc
Eskimo Princess Book Reviews -P
Hearts & Scribbles - Exc

July 20th

Deal sharing aunt -Int
Born to Read Books -Exc
Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog -Exc
Paranormal Romance and Beyond -P

July 21st

Sofia Loves Books -Rev
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Evermore Books –P

Monday, July 10, 2017

Giveaway Winner–June is Audiobook Month

I am a tad bit overdue in announcing the winner from the giveaway for the June in Audiobook Month celebration (I honestly forgot until I cleaned off my table and found the prize! Sorry!). That being said, the winner is…

Karen G!!!

Congratulations Karen!! I have sent an email to get your mailing information. Please respond within the next 3 days or I will select a new winner.

Thanks to everyone that entered! I hope you found some new wonderful audiobooks throughout this event. I can’t wait for next year.

Interview with Marisa Parker

Good afternoon everyone! I have the pleasure of welcoming BRAG Medallion recipient, author Marisa Parker, to the blog today. Her book, Goodbye to Italia, is non-fiction, set during the years of WWII. I can’t wait to share about this book with you.

Heather: Hi Marisa! Welcome to The Maiden’s Court. Can you tell me how you discovered indieBRAG?

Marisa Parker: I was looking for different ways to promote my debut book to global communities – an online market. I wondered if I could apply for a book award and so undertook a Google search. Firstly, I came across a couple of articles advising caution on book award applications as there are some not so credible awards. I hadn't even thought about this! I investigated further and came across a top ten list of recommended book awards of which one was indieBRAG. I liked the sound of that especially when I realized that it was a Book Readers Appreciation Group. The thought of my mum and dad's story receiving recognition as a good story from other readers was important to me, so I applied.

H: You make a great point about having to do your research first – in anything! I hadn’t thought about less than reputable book awards either, but I guess there are as with anything. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

Getting to your book, to start off, can you tell us a little bit about it, GOODBYE To Italia?

MP: GOODBYE To Italia – a timid Italian girl; a young soldier; a love story – is the story of my parents during WWII in Italy and Africa. With thirteen years age difference, they went through very diverse experiences. The book opens in Northern Italy in 1942. Imagine a dark-haired little Italian girl called Mariolina skipping outside to peer up at the unexpected drone of airplanes, unaware of the danger as her neighbor, an eccentric opera singer, fervently prays for her teenage son. That son is my father Eugenio, who at twenty years old, is in the Italian army, fighting in North Africa as part of the Italian army. He’s soon captured by the Australian and British forces and sent to a Prisoner of War camp. Whilst captive in Southern Africa in the largest POW camp of Commonwealth forces (over 63,000 prisoners at one-time), he tries to keep upbeat about things but invariably struggles emotionally and physically. The chapters in the first half of the book interchange between the two distinct characters and events until the war ends and my father returns to Italy. The changing relationship between my mum and dad then unfolds as my mother comes of age.

H: That’s a great time period to write about, there was so much happening in the world that there was no choice but for people to change with it.

Your book is non-fiction and based on the experiences of your family. Can you give us some insight into what made you decide to tell their story?

MP: I've always thought my mum and dad's story was fascinating and I took for granted the amazing bond shared between them. As a teenager, I was thrilled by the snippets of war stories they told me and wondered at their sheer determination and courage. As an adult, it became a burning passion of mine to write and share their love story, their incredible war-time adventures and their Italian sense of fun and drama. This experience was made much more emotional by the re-discovery of my father’s diaries (written in Italian) revealing to me his charismatic and boisterous character that was so captivating to my mother – a girl brought up in a very different atmosphere of reticence and duty in Northern Italy.

H: Wow! To have his diaries you can really get a feel of what his life was like in the moment rather than recollection looking back. That’s a wonderful keepsake to have.

Have you had to do outside research to complete the story you are telling? If so, what have you done? Any great books you could recommend?

MP: It took me four years to write the book. That was due to a few things, as I work full time and, am rather pedantic and particular about researching, reviewing and re-writing, so time passed quickly. Also, as it was my first book, I wanted to ensure that the manuscript was the best that it could be and importantly, receive confirmation from my mum that she liked the way that I had written such a personal account of her life. To reach this point, I undertook research to set her story in context, align with worldwide historical events and provide authenticity into what it was like during WWII in Italy and Africa. This was undertaken through Internet searches and, through reading some books.

One of the books was Il Duce and His Women by R Olla and S Parkin. I found the character of Benito Mussolini, nicknamed Il Duce, a fascinating public and private figure, He was so popular and powerful but through time and circumstances everything unravelled. He enthralled his Italian compatriots; sold the idea of fascism as the true and only ideology and was instrumental in aligning Italy with Germany and the Hitler regime. Mussolini had a fundamental influence on my grandmother and her son, Eugenio Piergiovanni, my father.

H: I would imagine that it would be extremely important to get the nod from your mother, on a personal level.

I hear that you are working on a second book, a continuation of their story. What more can you tell us about this upcoming work?

MP: Yes! I'm writing the sequel to GOODBYE To Italia. Once my mum and dad are married, they soon leave Italy to go and live in Africa in the fifties. The book commences as the ship departs Italy. My mother is suddenly plagued with indecision. She’s never been apart from her mamma and nonna (except for one week during WWII). Now, she’s on her way with her new husband who has ideas of making his fortune in colonialist Africa.

This book is written as a memoir from my mother’s perspective as my father passed away many years ago. My parents were incredibly determined and showed great perseverance. Moving within the glamourous circles of a surreal colonialist environment they even get caught up in political intrigue!

MP: I find that so fascinating! To leave your home to go to a place that would have been so very foreign when, as you state, she had always had family to rely on and support her. I can’t even imagine.

What drew you towards independent publishing as opposed to traditional publishing? Has there been anything that was more or less challenging that you expected? Would you do it again?

MP: I'm a romantic at heart. This influences the way I write. I set some goals at the start of this writing journey - to finish the book; get it published; see it in bookstores and ultimately, be made into a movie! I sought advice from a traditionally published author who gave guidance on preparing a pitch to publishing houses. Unfortunately, three submissions were unsuccessful. As my mother is now in her eighties, I decided to forge ahead and went the self-publishing route. Seeing the book in print and online as an eBook has been a most satisfying achievement.

Two most challenging things that I hadn’t really thought about was the unexpected and slightly overwhelming cost implication regarding professional editing, printing, website creation and marketing of the book (both time wise and financially). I also had no concept of how time consuming it would be to promote the book. Writing the story has been the easy and most satisfying part. Getting out and about physically and, ensuring I spend enough time online so attending to a consistent online strategy has pushed me out of my comfort zone. But onwards I must go even if sometimes I just want to put my head in the sand!

MP: I’m sure it has meant a lot to your mother to be able to see her story in print. I have heard many independently published authors say that they were overwhelmed with how much additional work there is to do after the writing is done!

Have you had any struggles in the writing process? How have you worked through these? Any words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

MP: Some people will just shake their head at this but I've never had a problem with words flowing. In fact, it's the opposite. Probably that’s why I review and redraft so many times. I can read through copy that I thought was quite good at the time and then on re-reading, I think what the ##**!

However, as it's my family's history most of the time it's just all-consuming and hours will pass to be interrupted by my husband asking, what's for lunch? This is because I normally set aside writing time on the weekends as I work through the week. Even so, I have had times when I just cannot write anymore. That's when I change to research mode. The most arbitrary or extraordinary facts can be unveiled that in an instant can relight a fire or creative flow. So, using research time for periods of writer’s block is probably one piece of advice. It is also important to have a specific time slot every day or during the weekends to keep adding to and growing your story.

H: I would imagine that it would be easy to become absorbed in your family’s story.

When you are not reading for research or otherwise writing, what type of books or what authors do you enjoy reading?

MP: I love reading. It takes me into another world. My tastes have changed considerably over the years. I'd say it's been influenced by my environment or certain stages in my life. For the past few years, I enjoy mostly fiction, as long as it is well written. I get annoyed with more than one spelling mistake or if a character feels artificial. I try not to be judgmental but after three chapters, if the story or a character hasn’t gripped me, I likely won’t continue with that book.

My current books of taste are historical or contemporary romances and even detective or intrigue (drama), as an escapism after a busy day at work. Although I do intersperse this with memoirs and biographies whose book summaries catch my eye. Two of my favourite books that are very diverse are Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand and, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

H: I wish I could give up on a book that isn’t doing it for me as quickly. I’m one of those “it must get better at some point” sort of readers…

What type of things do you like to do for leisure?

MP: For leisure, I garden, read and cook. The weather can dictate the varying preferences of these three things. My husband and I would love to spend more time with our two grown up daughters but they no longer live at home. We manage to catch up weekly by various digital means and every now and then in person. They are independent beautiful women, living their lives and seeing the world but it would be great to be able to see them more often and just sit and chat!

H: That sounds wonderful! Thank you Marisa for stopping by and letting us get to know more about you and your book, Goodbye to Italia.

Photo Credit: University of Southern Queensland, Australia

Hi, I’m Marisa Parker. My mamma, Maria (Iucci) Martore and papa, Eugenio Piergiovanni, have led such an amazing life that I had to write their story. The first book, GOODBYE To Italia – a timid Italian girl; a young soldier; a love story – is about their diverse experiences in Italy and Africa in WWII. I’m now writing their second book (2017) after they married and went to live in Africa. The story will be related personally from my mum’s perspective, as she recalls it.

Currently, my husband and I live in the hills behind the Gold Coast in Australia. We have two grown-up daughters who were born in Zimbabwe, Africa – where I was also born. Although it was called Rhodesia back in the day! We left Africa in 2000 and went to live in New Zealand for six years before moving to Australia which is now our home. Since moving here, I’ve undertaken study as a mature-age student whilst working full-time. It’s been a tough journey but oh, so worth it.

Find Marisa Parker: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Book Blurb:

A pretty little Italian girl skips outside to peer up at the unexpected drone of aeroplanes, unaware of the danger as her neighbour, an eccentric opera singer, fervently prays for her teenage son. It is the start of WWII. An age difference of thirteen years separates the little girl Mariolina Martore and the army officer Eugenio Piergiovanni, but their lives are destined to intertwine.
Mariolina is a timid but stalwart child who lives with her mother and grandmother. During the war years, they endure bombings, cold, hunger, and disease in Torino, Northern Italy.
In contrast, Eugenio, a teenage soldier, is captured and spends six years in African prisoner-of-war (POW) camps—one of which boasted 63,000 prisoners at one time. Eugenio’s transition into adulthood during captivity, as told through his diaries, makes for bittersweet humour as he strives to find laughter in sad situations.
Goodbye to Italia is a non-fiction romantic story of Italian drama, courage, and humour. So as to stay true to the retelling by my mamma and papa, and to capture the essence of living through those times, the chapters in the first half of the book interchange between the two diverse characters, Mariolina and Eugenio, as they come of age.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

A Message from IndieBRAG:

We are delighted that Heather has chosen to interview Marisa Parker. who is the author of, Goodbye to Italia, our medallion honoree at indieBRAG. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion^TM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as, Goodbye to Italia, merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Cover Crush: Before the Rain Falls

We can all say that you should never judge a book by its cover, but I guarantee that we all have done so at least once! Cover Crush is designed to feature some of those covers that have caught the eye as a standout on the bookshelf.

What catches my eye in this cover is the clothing. The color of the hat brings the eye in and then I really like what I see of the dress. Yay! No headless woman!! But we still can’t see her face! I think this lends a little bit of mystery to her story. But I do love the outfit.

What are your thoughts on this cover?

I wonder what my friends are crushing on this week? Let’s check it out: A Literary Vacation; A Bookaholic Swede; Of Quills and Vellum; Flashlight Commentary; Layered Pages; 2 Kids and Tired; IndieBRAG

Thursday, July 6, 2017

New Book Alert: The Wicked Heir by Elizabeth Michaels–Excerpt & Giveaway

The Wicked Heir by Elizabeth Michaels
Book 3 in the Spare Heirs series
eBook & Mass Market Paperback; 448 pages
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1492621390
July 4, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

The Spare Heirs Society Cordially Invites You to Meet Fallon St. James: The Mastermind
When the love of Lady Isabelle Fairlyn's life is betrothed to her twin sister, Isabelle vows to find a suitable replacement before the end of the season. He must be a talented dancer, have a keen fashion sense, and be perfectly dashing in every way.
Fallon St. James is the farthest thing from perfectly anything. As head of the secretive Spare Heirs Society, he must stick to the shadows...even as Isabelle's friendship pulls him reluctantly into the light. But when Isabelle gets involved with the one man who could destroy Spares, Fallon must decide between protecting his life's work―or risking everything to save the woman whose warm smile leaves him breathless.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | IndieBound

Check out this awesome EXCERPT from The Wicked Heir!!

“Am I dead?” Isabelle’s voice croaked as if she’d never used it before.

“No. Thankfully not,” came a male voice from the far side of the room.

She gasped and pulled herself up a bit against the pillows. Why was there a man with her in a strange bedchamber? Had he hit her on the head and brought her here? Isabelle’s mind reeled with questions, each punctuated by the pain in her skull.

Coals from a near-dead fire sprang to life in the grate across the room, lighting a tall silhouette. The man dusted his hands off and turned toward her. “You did have me worried there for a bit though.”

Blinking into the haziness that was the other side of the room, she forced her eyes to adjust to the light. There was something familiar about his deep voice, the confidence in his movements, but she couldn’t make sense of any of this. “Whose bedchamber am I in?”

“Mine.” St. James came into focus as he moved to her side, but his answer was no answer at all.

This room couldn’t belong to St. James, and she couldn’t be lying within it. None of this was real. It was all a dream caused by the bump on her head. She must have hit it quite hard to envision herself in such a place, with St. James of all people. It was rather amusing, really, aside from her throbbing head. That part wasn’t amusing at all. But the setting she’d placed St. James in did bring a smile to her face.

A large bedchamber filled with plush furnishings and covered in busy floral patterns—ha! And in her mind she’d made her most stern—and only male—friend claim he lived there. Dreams were entertaining at times. St. James’s chosen place to sleep would be on a cot beside a desk. Or perhaps he never reclined at all; he only caught a quick nap in a chair between meetings. She giggled, which only drew him closer. A look of concern made him look more serious than ever as he stood surrounded in flowers.

She scowled back at him and laughed. “St. James, I’m in your bed—your overly feminine bed,” she whispered up to him. “Are we married in this dream? Don’t you want to kiss me, have your way with me here on our wedding night?”

“Devil take it, you’re delusional. I’ll have the doctor return,” he muttered. He leaned against the bed, next to her, and lifted a hand to check something on her forehead.

“Oh, a doctor! Yes, I’ll need one of those. I am injured. Horribly injured! Save me, St. James. The only way I’ll live is if you kiss me.” She reached up and grabbed the fabric of his waistcoat, pulling him closer. He braced a hand on the bed on the other side of her body, smoothed her hair back from her face, and watched her. The fabric of his waistcoat was textured by the pattern of gray threads stitched into it and was rough under her fingers, drawing her attention from the intense look in his eyes. How odd to have such detail in a dream.

“Your clothing feels so real.”

He’d removed his coat and cravat. His waistcoat hung open, and his clothes were rumpled, as if he’d slept in them. She’d never seen him in such a state of undress. She moved her hand to his shirt and splayed her hand across his chest. The heat of his skin warmed her fingers as his heart beat beneath her palm. Dream St. James had a broad chest and muscles that twitched at her touch. She lifted her hand to his shoulder, her other hand skimming up his side. His breath hitched in his chest. It was odd that she’d never noticed the real man’s fit form, never before caught the look in his eyes that was one part caring concern, one part intense desire.

He moved his hand over her hair, the pad of his thumb caressing her cheek. St. James was her friend, only a friend. She wouldn’t be able to face him for a week once she woke from this scene, him sitting so close, her touching him. “This dream…”

“Isn’t a dream,” he said, not breaking the contact he had with her. Instead he searched her eyes and continued to touch her cheek, her temple, in soothing, gentle caresses, as if she might break.

It took a moment for his words to sink into her aching skull. “It isn’t…” She froze in her exploration of his body, her gaze dropping to her hands that had been roaming over his chest for well over a minute. “What?”

“You aren’t dreaming. I found you on the floor of the museum earlier today.”

“And you brought me here? Why? Wait… Earlier today?” She had to leave. She had to find her family. She tried to push St. James away to sit up, but he didn’t budge.

“You were unconscious. I know you’re confused, but you’re safe now…in my home, my bed.”

“Your… No, truly. Where am I?” She ripped her gaze from his to scan the room beyond him, looking for anything that made sense of the past few minutes. This room could not be Mr. St. James’s private quarters. It didn’t fit what she knew of the man. And why was she in his private anything? She couldn’t be. Her reputation. Victoria’s wedding. She needed to gather her things and leave this place, wherever it was.

“You’re in my bedchamber—truly.”

“What?” She stared up at him, taking in the sympathy and, unfortunately for her, honesty in his expression.

“You need to rest,” he said in a tone that would command armies but not Isabelle on her sister’s wedding day.

“I need to leave,” she stated as she pushed against his unyielding chest in an effort to sit up…

“No.”

About Elizabeth Michaels:

Elizabeth Michels is the award-winning author of the Tricks of the Ton series and the new Spare Heirs series. She attended Park University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interior Design. This Historical Romance author enjoys living in a lake-side town in North Carolina with her husband and son. Elizabeth is a lover of happily-ever-afters, laughter, and things that are sparkly. Tiara optional while reading, but highly recommended.

Find Elizabeth Michaels: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Wide Giveaway!

As part of this tour, Sourcebooks has an excellent tour-wide giveaway to win a copy of The Infamous Heir, the charming first book in Elizabeth Michels’ Spare Heirs series!. Entries can be made through the Rafflecopter below or on any of the tour hosting blogs. Please note, any questions should be directed to the publicist as I do not have any input in this giveaway. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

New Book Alert: The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean–Excerpt and Giveaway

The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean
Book 3 of the Scandal and Scoundrel series
e-Book & Mass Market Paperback; 400 pages
Avon Books
ISBN: 0062379437
June 27, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

The one woman he will never forget…
Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem—he already has one.
The one man she will never forgive…
After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal—to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.
A love that neither can deny…
The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day The Day of the Duchess.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Check out this awesome EXCERPT from The Day of the Duchess!

Chapter 1
DESERTED DUKE DISAVOWED!

August 19, 1836
House of Lords, Parliament

She’d left him two years, seven months ago, exactly.

Malcolm Marcus Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven looked to the tiny wooden calendar wheels inlaid into the blotter on his desk in his private office above the House of Lords.

August the nineteenth, 1836. The last day of the parliamentary session, filled with pomp and idle. And lingering memory. He spun the wheel with the six embossed upon it. Five. Four. He took a deep breath.

Get out. He heard his own words, cold and angry with betrayal, echoing with quiet menace. Don’t ever return.

He touched the wheel again. August became July. May. March.

January the nineteenth, 1834. The day she left.

His fingers moved without thought, finding comfort in the familiar click of the wheels.

April the seventeenth, 1833.

The way I feel about you . . . Her words now—soft and full of temptation. I’ve never felt anything like this.

He hadn’t, either. As though light and breath and hope had flooded the room, filling all the dark spaces. Filling his lungs and heart. And all because of her.

Until he’d discovered the truth. The truth, which had mattered so much until it hadn’t mattered at all.

Where had she gone?

The clock in the corner of the room ticked and tocked, counting the seconds until Haven was due in his seat in the hallowed main chamber of the House of Lords, where men of higher purpose and passion had sat before him for generations. His fingers played the little calendar like a virtuoso, as though they’d done this dance a hundred times before. A thousand.

And they had.

March the first, 1833. The day they met.

So, they let simply anyone become a duke, do they? No deference. Teasing and charm and pure, unadulterated beauty.

If you think dukes are bad, imagine what they accept from duchesses?

That smile. As though she’d never met another man. As though she’d never wanted to. He’d been hers the moment he’d seen that smile. Before that. Imagine, indeed.

And then it had fallen apart. He’d lost everything, and then lost her. Or perhaps it had been the reverse. Or perhaps it was all the same.

Would there ever be a time when he stopped thinking of her? Ever a date that did not remind him of her? Of the time that had stretched like an eternity since she’d left?

Where had she gone?

The clock struck eleven, heavy chimes sounding in the room, echoed by a dozen others sounding down the long, oaken corridor beyond, summoning men of longstanding name to the duty that had been theirs before they drew breath.

Haven spun the calendar wheels with force, leaving them as they lay. November the thirty-seventh, 3842. A fine date—one on which he had absolutely no chance of thinking of her.

About Sarah MacLean:

New York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels that have been translated into more than twenty languages, and winner of back-to-back RITA Awards for best historical romance from the Romance Writers of America.

Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place at the nexus of gender and cultural studies. She is the author of a monthly column celebrating the best of the genre for the Washington Post. Her work in support of romance and the women who read it earned her a place on Jezebel.com's Sheroes list of 2014 and led Entertainment Weekly to call her "gracefully furious." A graduate of Smith College & Harvard University, Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Find Sarah MacLean: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Wide Giveaway

As part of this tour, Avon Books has an excellent tour-wide giveaway for a print set of The Rogue Not Taken and A Scot in the Dark, books 1 & 2 in the Scandal and Scoundrel series (open to U.S. only). Entries can be made through the Rafflecopter below or on any of the tour hosting blogs. Please note, any questions should be directed to the publicist as I do not have any input in this giveaway. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour!

At the Tasty Book Tours website

June 26th

Celtic Dragon Book Reviews -Rev
Rainy Thursdays -Rev/Exc
Josephine's Library -Rev/Exc
Seduced By A Book -Rev/Exc
Buried Under Romance -Rev/Exc
Books & Spoons -Exc
Leigh Anderson Romance -Exc
A Bluestocking's Place -Exc
underneath the covers -Exc

June 27th

The Book Junkie Reads -Rev/Exc
Sofia Loves Books -Rev/Exc
Jen's Reading Obsession -Rev/Exc
Two Girls with Books -Rev
Reading Romances -Rev
Books,Dreams,Life -Exc
A Quaintrelle In The City -Exc
Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love -Exc

June 28th

Historically Ever After -Rev/Exc
OMGReads -Rev/Exc
Bookcrack -Rev
What's Beyond Forks? -Rev/Exc
The Consummate Reader -Rev/Exc
Polished Bookworm -Exc
Hearts & Scribbles -Exc
Crystal Blogs Books -Exc
I'm A Book Shark -Exc
All Things Bookaholic -Exc
Lady Muslin Myst's Mysterious Hodgepodge -Exc

June 29th

WTF Are You Reading? -Rev/Exc
Deluged with Books Cafe -Rev/Exc
A crazy vermonters book reviews -Rev
Paper Cuts -Rev/Exc
Mysterious Romance Reviews -Exc
Evermore Books Exc
Cat's Guilty Pleasure -Exc
She Reads too Much Romance -Exc
BJ's Reviews -Exc

June 30th

The Reading Belles -Rev/Exc
Stuck In Books -Rev/Exc
Shelly's Book Corner -Rev
I Heart Romance & YA -Rev
Becky on Books -Rev/Exc
Booklovers For Life -Exc
Dena Garson-Real... Hot... Romance -Exc
Roses Are Blue -Exc
Lacy Literacy -Exc

***
July 3rd

The Book Disciple -Rev/Exc
I am, Indeed -Rev/Exc
Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist -Rev
What I'm Reading -Rev/Exc
Ramblings From This chick -Exc
Bookishly Yours -Exc
Paranormal Romance and Beyond -Exc

July 4th

Dirty Girl Romance -Rev/Exc
Unquietly Me -Rev/Exc
Romance Book Review For You -Rev/Exc
Jojo the Bookaholic -Rev/Exc
Addicted 2 Romance -Rev/Exc
Aurora B's Book Blog -Exc
Born to Read Books -Exc
Diana's Book Reviews -Exc
Ever After Book Reviews -Exc
Those Crazy Book Chicks -Exc
Rachel Brimble Romance -Exc

July 5th

Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog -Rev/Exc
Vanilla & Spice Books -Rev/Exc
Happy Ever After Romance Book Reviews -Rev/Exc
The Many Faces of Romance -Rev/Exc
Deal Sharing Aunt -Exc
The Crafty Engineer's Bookshelf -Exc
The Eater of Books! -Exc
What Is That Book About -Exc
The Maiden's Court -Exc

July 6th

Book Munchies -Rev/Exc
Francoise's Reading Corner -Rev/Exc
Red Wine & Books -Rev/Exc
Sammi's Bookish Reality -Rev
Karen's Killer Book Bench -Exc
Laura Lu's Book Reviews -Exc

Romantic Historical Reviews -Rev/Exc

July 7th

Teatime and Books -Rev/Exc
Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess -Rev/Exc
booknerd -Rev
The Reading Wench -Rev/Exc
From the TBR Pile -Rev/Exc
Amanda Writes -Exc
Eskimo Princess Book Reviews –Exc
Book Reviews & More by Kathy –Exc

Friday, June 30, 2017

Audiobook Discussions: Trend Analysis

I have been doing a lot of audiobook listening lately and I attended a recent blogger webinar about audiobook reviewing which got me thinking more and more about audiobooks. So I wanted to know more of what you think about them! From there, Audiobook Discussions has been born!

Today I want to talk about the current outlook on audiobooks and what that means to us as listeners.

The Audio Publishers Association released at the beginning of this month the results from their sales and customer surveys and the short note is that audiobooks had a great year in 2016 (remember all this data will be from 2016). Here were some great takeaway points that I found most interesting:

For the third year in a row, audiobooks have shown almost a 20% increase in sales!
In 2016, 24% of Americans said they finished listening to at least 1 audiobook, which was up again approximately 20% over the prior year!
Almost half of listeners are under age 35
The majority of audiobook listening is done at home (57%)
Libraries remain relevant with this medium – 27% of respondents indicate that they obtain their audiobooks via their library

I think these results are awesome and make a lot of sense. With the ease of access of smartphones and apps like Overdrive and Audible, the access to audiobooks has become more mainstream. Pair that with known actors narrating books and the power behind Amazon you have a big market. I think the item that most surprised me was that the majority of people listen to books at home while doing another task. For me personally, that is the last place I listen – I listen at work, in the car or while on travel, or at the gym, it is EXTREMELY rare that I will listen at home.

We have discussed many of these same elements over the past months and it is fascinating to see how these things align. You can read the full text of the Audio Publishers Association report here.

Anything that stands out to you? Do these results seem to represent your tastes is listening?

You can check out the other posts in this series:

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Cover Crush: The Things We Cherished

Obviously your eye is drawn right to those two people making out in the street, which definitely connects the reader with the title – these two people cherish each other, hence the PDA. What it makes me think next is, why? Why are they doing this is the street – what is going to happen to them or already did happen to them. A simple image is clearly asking me a lot of questions! That’s a good thing!

What are your thoughts on this cover?

I wonder what my friends are crushing on this week? Let’s check it out: A Literary Vacation; A Bookaholic Swede; Of Quills and Vellum; Flashlight Commentary; Layered Pages; 2 Kids and Tired.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Interview with Gayle Callen & Excerpt

I have the opportunity to introduce you to historical romance author Gayle Callen today. I have only read a few Highland romances, but this series sounds interesting.

Love with a Scottish Outlaw by Gayle Callen
Book 3 of the Highland Weddings series
e-Book and Mass Market Paperback; 384 pages
Avon Books
June 27, 2017
ISBN: 0062469932
Genre: Historical Romance

Heather: Welcome to The Maiden’s Court, Gayle. I’m happy to have you stop by today.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Gayle Callen: I was so excited to write Love With a Scottish Outlaw, mainly because I finally found a story to fit a plot I’d always wanted to write: amnesia. I opened the book with the heroine, Catriona, waking up in the Scottish Highlands, her head bleeding, not knowing who she is. It was such fun to write! The hero Duncan is the chief of an outlawed clan—and he knows exactly who she is, the daughter of his enemy. While Catriona thinks he is being kind enough to house her while she discovers who she is, Duncan is really holding her captive. And of course, the sparks fly!

H: Oooh that does sound like a fun storyline!

I have a couple questions about the writing process. Some writers prefer to write from home, others from a coffee shop or similar venue to get away from the distractions of home, what is you favorite writing place?

GC: Even though I’ve written most of my books from a small office on the lower level of my house, my favorite place to write is on my patio. I spent all last summer working outside 4-6 hours every day. My yard is mostly trees, but I have an umbrella to sit beneath when the sun is overhead. I planted begonias and impatiens, which do well in the shade. I put up my feet up, my laptop on a lap desk, and I write, listening to the sound of the bees, the birds, and distant lawn mowers. My neighbor has several bird feeders that spill seeds onto the ground, so sometimes birds, squirrels, bunnies, and chipmunks are all cavorting in the grass together, like my own private show. It’s so peaceful!

H: That sounds like my backyard and I too sometimes like to work on my blog out there when the weather is beautiful. I love any excuse to get outside even if I’m doing typical indoor activities.

Writers are creatures of habit but each has their own style of how they accomplish their writing. What are 5 things you must have with you when you write?

GC: Ooh, interesting question. I don’t think I’m superstitious about anything in particular, but there are some constants when I’m writing a book. A laptop is number one—a desktop computer can’t easily be moved, so I’ve used a laptop for years so I can set it aside to research, spread out my index cards, etc. And I want to be able to take it with me, too! Next, I always have ice water in a big insulated mug. I have index cards, because that’s how I keep track of all my scenes. I use a purple pen to write on them. And lastly, markers, because I highlight a corner of each index card to keep track of all my plotlines when I lay the cards out: purple for the heroine’s emotional growth, blue for the hero, pink for the romance plot, then green/orange/red for the various plotlines in the book. Yes, I love to organize and plot things out.

H; I had a similar highlighting style when I was writing research papers for my Masters. I highlighted each different element of the paper in a different color. Visually it makes it SO much easier to follow my thoughts because inevitably I was thinking a different way when note taking than when I’m writing.

Have you had the chance to travel anywhere that you write about? What is your favorite place to visit?

GC: It may sound cliché for a historical romance author, but I love England. I’ve visited three times now, and every time I see a different part of the country, I fall in love all over again. Last time, I visited my daughter who was studying for her semester abroad in London. The two of us rented a car and drove north—on the left side of the road!—all the way to Yorkshire. The countryside changes so much, from thatched roofs and abundant gardens, to bleak moors that roll to the horizon. Incredible!

H: England is on my short Europe bucket list.

Last question: If you had to title your own life what would it be and why?

GC: “Lucky in Love.” I met my husband a year before we started dating, but once we dated, we married within six months. And I knew that first month that I was in love with him. So any time someone uses love at first sight in a romance novel, I think it could be true, because it happened to me. And we’ve been married 35 years, so it can work!

H: That’s wonderful! Congratulations! Thanks for stopping by to share with us today!

After a detour through fitness instructing and computer programming, Gayle Callen found the life she’d always dreamed of as a romance writer. This USA Today bestselling author has written more than twenty historical romances for Avon Books, and her novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and been translated into eleven different languages. The mother of three grown children, an avid crafter, singer, and outdoor enthusiast, Gayle lives in Central New York with her dog Uma and her husband, Jim the Romance Hero. She also writes contemporary romances as Emma Cane.

Find Gayle Callen: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Blurb:

Catriona Duff can’t remember who she is. Discovered in the midst of a raging thunderstorm, she has no recollection of how she came to be there or how the guards around her ended up dead. She certainly doesn’t remember that the handsome Highlander who saves her is her family’s sworn enemy. All she does know? She’s starting to fall in love with him.
Duncan Carlyle couldn’t believe his luck when he found Catriona, the daughter of the man who made him an outlaw and forced him from his ancestral home, stranded on the road with nothing to her name--including her memory. Speaking out against Aberfoyle’s evil practices of stealing poor and orphaned children to sell to the highest bidder has cost him everything, but now he has the opportunity to make the man understand the true price of a missing child. But as Duncan begins to know Cat, guilt over his actions wars with his irrepressible desire for her.
When Cat discovers the truth of her identity, she decides she can teach the outlawed clan chief a lesson, but in love, there’s more than one way to win.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google | Itunes | Kobo

I have a great excerpt from this book to share with you today!

Duncan lifted the woman’s upper body into his left arm, cradling her head so that he blocked the rain. He probed near her wound gingerly with his right hand, and she frowned and weakly tried to turn away.

His wariness deepened. There was something about her, a familiarity that echoed inside his head but refused to take shape.

“Where am I?” she whispered, her accent English. “What happened?”

An English lady in the Highlands? He chose to answer the second question rather than the first. “Ye’ve a nasty wound to your head, mistress. Did ye fall?”

She blinked as if she might lose consciousness. “Where am I? What happened?”

Now it was his turn to blink, but he remembered that wounds of the head could cause confusion. He knew he had to stop the blood loss.

“Mistress, can ye stand?”

She opened those eyes again, large and golden, in a delicate face. Her dark hair streamed back from her forehead, her hairline coming to a peak.

He recognized her, a flash of memory from Stirling several years ago, when he’d glared his hatred at the Earl of Aberfoyle, a haughty old man on horseback, forcing aside a poor lass heavy with child to make way for him. The earl’s family was seldom in Scotland, so their arrival in the Highlands had caused a stir. Duncan had seen this woman riding just behind, wearing the fine gown and jaunty hat that marked her a noble lady. At least she’d looked distressed at her father’s actions.

Catriona Duff was the daughter of Aberfoyle, the chief of the Clan Duff and Duncan’s bitter enemy. Aberfoyle was one of the main reasons that Duncan was an outlaw who had to protect and feed his people while on the run.

He lifted his head and looked about, as if the earl and his entire retinue were somewhere nearby, waiting to attack him. “Where are your men?” he demanded.

“What happened?” she asked weakly.

“Ye’ve hit your head. Where are your men?”

“My—men?”

Her hand fluttered toward her forehead, but he didn’t allow her to touch the wound.

A spasm of pain narrowed her eyes. “I found them . . . dead,” she whispered. “What happened to me?”

“I don’t know.” Six weeks after almost being captured, he was still wary of anything unusual in his part of the Highlands. Dead men would prove her story true, but he couldn’t deal with them now.

“I—I can’t remember—I can’t remember anything!” Though her cry was feeble, it was full of helplessness and fear.

“Ye don’t remember the accident?”

“Not . . . the accident, not even . . . my name.”

He frowned down at her, wondering at what intrigue she was playing—or what her father had set in motion. He wouldn’t put it past the bastard.

She clutched his plaid. “What happened to me?” she cried in despair.

“I do not ken. I must clean that wound. Can ye stand? I can pull ye up on my horse.”

He rose, lifting her up with him until she could clutch the saddle for support. After mounting, he reached down for her. He would have preferred she ride astride behind him, but she seemed so weak that he ended up cradling her across his thighs. She leaned into him, her head lolling onto his chest, her blood staining his black, red, and yellow plaid.

It didn’t take long to reach the rocky overhang he’d used for shelter several other times. Once out of the rain, he searched his saddle pack but found nothing that would do for a clean bandage. He ended up cutting several strips from the end of his shirt with his dirk. The wound seemed clean enough after all the rain, so he wrapped the improvised bandages around her head and hoped they stopped the bleeding.

She looked at him helplessly the whole time, and he felt like she was memorizing his features. He studied her, too. Her high cheekbones emphasized the hollows beneath, and her full lips hinted at an expressive mouth. Her pale face was as remote and beautiful as a statue, making her appeal to him on a primitive level that he would never acknowledge.

Why was she in the remote Highlands? According to gossip he’d heard long ago, she rarely visited her father’s castles. Was she the advance of a larger party headed right for Duncan’s unsuspecting people? She was so close to his hidden encampment. If he let her go, she could bring men to hunt the area, risking his people—risking the good he was trying to do. He couldn’t release her until he knew all the facts.

Giveaway!

Avon is hosting a tour-wide giveaway for two winners to receive print copies of The Wrong Bride and The Groom Wore Plaid, Books 1 & 2 in the Highland Wedding Series (US Only). You can enter via the Rafflecopter link below or at any of the participating blogs. If you have any questions please contact the tour coordinator as I am not involved in the giveaway portion. Good luck to all!

Follow the Tour!

At the Tasty Book Tours Website

June 26th

Once Upon A Book -Rev/Exc
I am, Indeed -Rev/Exc
Polished Bookworm -Rev/Exc
Books & Spoons -Int/Exc
She Reads too Much Romance -Int/Exc
Books,Dreams,Life -Int/Exc
Hearts & Scribbles -Exc
Crystal Blogs Books -Exc
I'm A Book Shark -Exc
Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love -Exc
3 Partners inShopping-Exc

June 27th

Sammi's Bookish Reality -Rev
I Heart Romance & YA -Rev/Exc
Celtic Dragon Book Reviews -Rev/Exc
Leigh Anderson Romance -Int/Exc
Jen's Reading Obsession -Int/Exc
Diana's Book Reviews -Int/Exc
Amanda Writes -Exc
Eskimo Princess Book Reviews -Exc
Rachel Brimble Romance -Exc
Born to Read Books -Exc
underneath the covers -Exc

June 28th

The Book Junkie Reads -Rev/Int/Exc
Romance Book Review For You -Rev/Exc
Jojo the bookaholic -Rev/Int/Exc
Deal Sharing Aunt -Int/Exc
Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog -Exc
Teatime and Books -Exc
What Is That Book About -Exc
Laura Lu's Book Reviews -Exc
The Maiden's Court -Exc
Evermore Books -Exc

June 29th

Happy Ever After Romance Book Reviews -Rev/Int/Exc
Buried Under Romance -Rev/Int/Exc
WTF Are You Reading? -Rev/Exc
Ramblings From This Chick -Int/Exc
Margie's Must Reads -Int/Exc
E-Romance News -Exc
Ever After Book Reviews -Exc
A Bluestocking's Place -Exc
Paranormal Romance and Beyond -Exc

June 30th

Two Girls with Books -Rev
Becky on Books -Rev/Exc
What I'm Reading -Rev/Int/Exc
Nicole's Book Musings -Int/Exc
Dena Garson-Real... Hot... Romance -Int/Exc
Cat's Guilty Pleasure -Exc
Those Crazy Book Chicks -Exc
All Things Bookaholic -Exc
The Consummate Reader –Exc

About Me

Heather, 30, USA. Hi everyone! I started my blog, The Maiden's Court, in May 2009 as a creative outlet for my reading and it has completely taken me to new places. I love sharing my reading and the things that I learn.

On my blog you will find my honest reviews of historical fiction books, historical movie reviews, and interesting historical content among other things. If you would like to know more about me, check out the About Me. Feel free to contact me at any time - best way is to use the contact form at the bottom of the Review Policy page or email me at dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Attention Authors, Publishers, Blog Tour Organizers! I would love to hear from you if you have a book that you would like for me to consider for review. Check out my review policy and then contact me with the pitch.