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Showing posts with label True Highland Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label True Highland Spirit. Show all posts

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Winners of True Highland Spirit, The Snow Child and Assassins in Love

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS:
Giveaways Ended May 30

Julie



bn100



Carol L

Julie, bn100 and Carol L please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the books and/or notify the publisher/author.  Please reply within 72 hours! 
Thank you to all who entered.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

What me - funny? Guest Post by Amanda Forester withand Giveaway

What me - funny?
by Amanda Forester

Two years ago I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reviews of my first book, The Highlander's Heart.  I was thrilled when Publisher's Weekly gave me a favorable review writing, "the talented Forester has constructed a highly entertaining debut romantic comedy."   Great!  Wonderful!  Wait... comedy?  I wrote a comedy?

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next person, but I have no idea how to write anything amusing.  If someone asked me to write something funny, I would stare blankly and edge for the door.  Fortunately, I am not the one in control.  My characters are.  And they are infinitely more amusing than I could ever be. 

Take this moment in True Highland Spirit where my heroine, Morrigan, is trying to spark a little romance in her life:

Etiquette books were of no use whatsoever. Morrigan rummaged through her mother’s things trying to find something useful. She had spent the past two hours struggling to read a book that purported to be a guide for ladies but it was no help.

“Morrigan? Are ye… reading?” asked Alys.

Morrigan glanced up at her sister-in-law. “I think I might show my earlobes.”

“Pardon?”

“This book is no’ verra helpful, but it did warn showing the earlobe may send a man into an uncon­trolled, lustful frenzy.”

“Ye canna show yer earlobe. ’Tis no’ proper.”

“Hang proper. I’m looking for uncontrolled, lustful frenzy.”

I do enjoy reading humor.  In fact, I started reading romance during a particularly difficult time in my life and I naturally gravitated toward books that could make me laugh.  I already had enough of things that could make me cry.  It is the amazing power of humor to lift the spirit and to give the gift of laughter even in difficult circumstances.  Those books were vital and life-affirming to me - so important during the rough times. 

So when I write, I naturally write things I would enjoy reading.  This includes action, adventure, romance, and even if I don't intend it, a moment or two of humor to make it all the more enjoyable.  I especially enjoy characters who are able to laugh at themselves - a very important attribute we all could use!

Do you enjoy humor in books?  What authors have you read that make you laugh out loud?  I love books that make other people in the room stare at me because I'm suddenly overcome with giggles and they have no idea what is wrong with me.  Good times...

Comment for a chance to win a copy of True Highland Spirit!!
Stop by to visit Ms. Forester here.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 31. 
Winner will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review: True Highland Spirit by Amanda Forester

This is a delightfully warm and engaging Historical Romance complete with battles, intrigue and, of course, romance. 
by Amanda Forester

  • Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402253079
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402253072
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Product Description
A HEATED RIVALRY...
Morrigan McNab is a Highland lady, robbed of her birthright and with no choice but to fight alongside her brothers to protect their impoverished clan. When she encounters Sir Jacques Dragonet, she discovers her fiercest opponent...

IS GETTING EVEN HOTTER...
Sir Jacques Dragonet will give his life to defend Scotland from the English. He can't stop himself from admiring the beautiful Highland lass who wields her weapons as skillfully as he does, and endangers his heart even more than his life...


Review:
This was quite an enjoyable read.
Morrigan has been dressing as a boy and fighting along side of her brothers for many years. She rejected the arranged marriage to a wealthy but much older and brutish man by threatening him with a sword.  When she realized the loss to her clan by her failure to due her duty, she set out to replace the money by participating in thievery. As a young woman, she sees other ladies, like her new sister in law setting up a comfortable home. She doesn’t expect she will ever have desires for a husband and home like that. Then she meets Jacques.

Sir Jacques first appears as a minstrel when Morrigan and her “crew” ambush a group of wealthy men. He stands back from the ruckus and one of Morrigan’s brothers claim that he can visit the McNabs and they will escort him to their lands. Jacques discovers Morrigan alone and realizes that she is a female, not a lad. They share a kiss but he is afraid he has offended her.

Jacques is much more that he reveals. Morrigan and Jacques are in circumstances the keep putting them together. Although he admires Morrigan’s spirit and is drawn to her, he knows he can never pursue her. His secrets will always keep them apart - not only the secret of why he is in Scotland, but also the secret of who he really is.

When Morrigan finally learns that Jacques is a knight, a spy and more, she realizes that they are enemies searching for the same treasure for different reasons. She also has to accept that they cannot have a future even though she is determined to have a least a night with him.

I really enjoyed the light, easy going relationship between the couple. There is plenty of action and political and church intrigue and betrayal. The romance is sweet and warm. The story moved very quickly and I easily finished it in two days. I loved that the author was able to share a salvation message in the secular story.

This has humor, a warm romance, intrigue, action and a fine message. What’s not to like? I recommend this especially to all the historical romance fans.

Some memorable thoughts:
Jacques thinking of Morrigan:
Yet Morrigan slipped past his defenses like his mercy giver blade sliced through gaps in armor, leaving a man dead. Location 624.

Morrigan thinking of Jacques:
So close, and yet a barrier loomed between them. Lovers and enemies. Location 2366.

A big "Thanks" to the author and Sourcebooks for this enjoyable book to read and review.
I will add this to my ARC challenge list.
Don't miss the author's guest post and giveaway in the next post!

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