New Book Release! Where Mountains Pierce The Highland Heart by Paula Quinn...

Paula Quinn and I go back a long way... at least her books and I do. Way back in 2010, I received a copy of Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn to review. I loved it! And a week before I posted my review, I invited Paula to do a guest post on Chick with Books and she wrote about writing Highlander romances in the 21st century (which was a fun post and great insight into her writing process). Fast forward 16 YEARS and I receive Where Mountains Pierce the Highland Heart by Paula Quinn from Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and I am excited to catch up with Paula and her writing! 

Today is the official release date for Where Mountains Pierce The Highland Heart by Paula Quinn. It's book two in her Where Heaven and Earth Collide Series, but it can be read as a stand alone, which is what I'm doing since I haven't read book 1 (yet!).

Here's the blurb from the publisher: 

She saved his life and it cost her everything.

On a night meant for mercy, Elspeth Woodburn risks all to save a dying Highland prisoner in her father’s dungeon. By dawn, her home is ash, her family slaughtered, and the name burned into her soul is one she will never forget. Logan Cameron. For six long years, vengeance has been the only thing keeping her alive.

He should have died that night. Instead, he cannot forget the girl who saved him.

Logan Cameron remembers little of his rescue, only a fleeting glimpse of gentle hands and a soft voice that refused to let him die. He never expected to see her again, least of all as a lass with fire in her eyes and murder in her heart.

Trapped within the unforgiving Highlands, they are bound together by decree. She waits for the perfect moment to strike. He watches her with a growing awareness he cannot explain.

Because beneath her fury is the same compassion that once saved him. And beneath his control is a pull he cannot deny.

In a land shaped by blood and loyalty, where enemies are not meant to forgive, let alone desire each other, Elspeth must decide if vengeance will claim her heart…

Or if the man she swore to destroy is the only one who can reach it.

As I started reading Where Mountains Pierce the Highland Heart, I'm reminded of Paula Quinns great writing and enjoying the story. Of course I was warning Elspeth not to do what she was about to do, but she's young and naive... the result of which will change all of that in an instant! 

If you love a good Highlander story, put Where Mountains Pierce The Highland Heart on your TBR list! Better yet, put Paula Quinn on your TBR list! My full review will be coming soon... 

The Sweet Surrender of Janet Buchanan by Paula Quinn… A Review

Hold onto your Tartan, this Highlander romance is passionate, tender and HOT!

The Sweet Surrender of Janet Buchanan by Paula Quinn is a romance filled with a hunk of a Scottish Highlander, a feisty & strong willed woman and a storyline that is perfect for this sweet novella. This is the story of Janet Buchanan and Darach Grant, who have this wonderful distaste for each other, but also an unbelievable attraction to each other. She has a mind of her own and is no man's possession; He is arrogant, confident and adept with the ladies... and never shares the same bed twice. 

The story begins with Janet being ceremoniously offered up in marriage to save an attack on the castle and lands her brother is steward of. This is suppose to be just a delay tactic, while they wait for the true lord of the castle, Malcolm MacGregor, to come and protect his keep. While Malcolm is otherwise engaged, he sends none other than Darach Grant, the man who stole Janet's heart and left many months ago. But that's all he sends! Janet doesn't know which is worse, being married off to save the castle or having Darach back in her life, and HIM being the sole answer to her problem!  

The banter between them is funny and sweet, and stinging at times. AND it is wonderful! The romance starts of teasing us and then it is hot, HOT, HOT! As soon as I started reading this story, I could not stop. The writing is wonderful! Paula Quinn sets the stage with an authentic Scottish landscape, wonderful characters that are fully fleshed out, and a believable & fun romance.

My only complaint with The Sweet Surrender of Janet Buchanan is that is was too short! I thought Janet and Darach deserved more to their story, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt. But this is a novella and just a little present to the readers of her The MacGregors: Highland Heirs series. This book is 1.5 in the series, so I can only hope Janet and Darach make another appearance!

Even though I thought it was a bit short, I enjoyed every minute of this novella! I would recommend The Sweet Surrender of Janet Buchanan to any girl who loves her men in plaid, and loves a good HOT romance! I give this Highlander Romance 5 Tartans!

*BTW, I received this as an eGalley from the publisher for an honest review.

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! It's a weekly event for bloggers to share what books arrived in their mailboxes. Mailbox Monday was originally created by Marcia of To Be Continued and is now hosted by Vicki, Serena and Leslie at Mailbox Monday's own blog.

It's been a romantic week in my mailbox! I've gotten some great books that will be welcoming me into the arms of a hunky Highlander, a Scottish Prince, a pirate, a lord, and land me finally in time for Christmas, back into South Carolina, where I am lingering now thanks to Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin, which I finished recently but still feel like I'm there. And after all that, I'm going to fire up the slow cooker to learn some new recipes courtesy of Dina Cheney and Taunton Press.

Here's what came in my mailbox this week and what the publishers tell us about them... all were digitally downloaded...

The Sweet Surrender of Janet Buchanan... 

SHE WOULD NOT BE CONQUERED... Janet Buchanan is no man's property. She refuses to marry her family's sworn enemy-consequences be damned. She'd rather take a dagger to the brute herself. Yet when a tantalizing-and infuriating-man from her past comes to her rescue, Janet finds herself undeniably tempted by his hot, hungry kiss.

HE COULD NOT BE TAMED... Notorious for his prowess as a lover and a fighter, Darach Grant has only one goal in mind: to defend his kin's land from the impending siege of a hostile clan. The last thing he needs is the delicious distraction of Janet Buchanan-the only woman who can stir his ire as deeply as she warms his blood. But Janet's intended will stop at nothing to claim her,     forcing Darach to choose between surrendering his honor . . . or his heart.

The Prince Who Love Me by Karen Hawkins... Romance sizzles in this Cinderella story set in Scotland, the first in a sparkling new spinoff series from New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins. Prince Alexsey Romanovin enjoys his carefree life, flirting—and more—with every lovely lady who crosses his path. But when the interfering Duchess Natasha decides it’s time for her grandson to wed, Alexsey finds himself in Scotland, determined to foil her plans. Brainy, bookish, and bespectacled, Bronwyn Murdoch seems the perfect answer—she isn’t at all to the Duchess’s taste. Living at the beck and call of her ambitious stepmother and social butterfly stepsisters, Bronwyn has little time for a handsome flirt—no matter how intoxicating his kisses are. After all, no spoiled, arrogant prince would be seriously interested in a firm-minded female like herself. So…wouldn’t it be fun to turn his “game” upside down and prove that an ordinary woman can bring a prince to his knees…

Alanna by Katherine Bittner Roth... 
Wolf caught the faint scent of cinnabar and roses.
The girl turned her head and stared boldly at him, her cool demeanor at odds with the fire in her look. And then her lips parted, as if she needed more air. A punch of lust hit Wolf's groin.
There was pure sin in his startling blue eyes.
The moment hung suspended between them, and then expanded as his feral gaze held hers. Stranger? Not to Alanna. He went by the name of Wolf, and he was a legend in these parts, known from San Francisco to Boston as a relentless tracker of lost persons. His quest to find his mother's killer would lead him to Alanna...and his destiny.
In his arms, she would never be lost again. . .

Moonlight Raider by Amanda Scott... 
A MAN OF HIS WORD 
Border lord Walter Scott of Rankilburn, grief-stricken after burying his father, goes to the forest seeking solace. Instead he finds a half-naked young lady fleeing pursuit. Wat offers his protection, but honor demands that he return the golden-eyed beauty to her rightful husband-even though the last thing he wants is to see her in another man's arms.

A RUNAWAY BRIDE
Molly Cockburn has fled her home, family, and the brutal scoundrel she was forced to wed. Her pursuers are closing in when the powerful new Lord of Rankilburn bravely intervenes, then promises to help prove her marriage unlawful. Though fiercely loyal to her family, Molly fears they might harm the man she is coming to love, and now she must decide whether to remain faithful to her blood . . . or to her heart.

Just in Time For Christmas by Kim Boykin... Nobody does Christmas like Miranda Hamilton, and now that she finally has her chance to chair Magnolia Bay's tree lighting and the cotillion, which benefits her late mother’s breast cancer foundation, this Christmas is shaping up to be the best ever. That is until her childhood nemesis Logan Mauldin buys his way on her committee and starts making plans of his own. 

Logan Mauldin loves to get under Miranda's very sexy skin, and it's only fair. She's been getting under his since long before their first kiss at 13. Logan’s the last man interested in co-chairing a Christmas committee or participating in a sexy bachelor auction, but since that night he interrupted Miranda on a date and cornered her under the mistletoe, he can't stop thinking about her. Or vying for her attention and bugging the hell out of her.

Christmas cheer isn’t the only thing that heats up between the Miranda and Logan, but, thanks to a lie that is as much her fault as it is his, he loses the woman he’s loved since forever. Logan will need a Christmas miracle for Miranda to forgive him. A grand gesture to melt her heart and win her back just in time for Christmas.

Year Round Slow Cooker: 100 Favorite Recipes for Every Season by Dina Cheney...

Make more than stew in your slow cooker! Year-Round Slow Cooker gives you an eye-opening look at 100 amazing recipes you can make in this handy device. See how the crock pot you depend on for chilly-weather soups and stews is so much more versatile than you may think.

25 innovative recipes for each season. Author and cooking teacher Dina Cheney taps into the growing trend for eating fresh and uses her know-how to make it easy for the home cook. She has developed 25 slow-cooker recipes for each season that feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. Along with classics like corned beef and cabbage, you can also enjoy summer Greek-style brisket, peach and apricot bread pudding, Asian-style short ribs, and more. Get the most from your slow cooker. With Year-Round Slow Cooker you can simplify meal prep, prepare make-ahead dishes, and eat fresh from January to December.

I am so excited to have my eReader filled with these wonderful books! Thank you to all the publishers. Look for my reviews on all these books coming soon... 

Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn... A Review and a Giveaway!

Surrender to your Every Desire...

Take a Peek at your emails... I've got 3 winners...

Back of the Book... Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she’s been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown’s most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal–and a bold rescue–land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he’s not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire…and desperate for more. With Davina’s secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can’t live without...

What Did I Think? When the book opens we meet Davina Montgomery. It's 1685 just prior to the coronation of a new English King after the death of King Charles. We are at Saint Christopher's Abbey, there's a bit of banter between Davina and her friend and obvious protector, Edward, about her "secret", and the danger to her if she's found out. No sooner do we learn that little teaser of a tidbit, when we are thrown into a bloody battle for survival. An enemy army is attacking the Abbey! This is where we get a glimpse of what Davina is really made of- she's not content to hide locked up in the castle tower... She goes for her quiver and bow! Of course she almost kills Rob MacGregor, the Highlander who will soon whisk her off...

Paula Quinn gives us a strong heroine, political intrigue and hunk of a hero in our Highlander, Rob MacGregor. I love historical romances, and there is plenty of depth to Ravished by a Highlander. It's evident that Paula Quinn does her homework when it comes to the history, but she writes great characters too! Davina and Rob are fun, and the tension is HOT! But the characters surrounding our hero & heroine are well written too. I thoroughly enjoyed Ravished by a Highlander, with memorable characters, a well written story, a perfect setting and enough twists & turns to you keep you turning those pages. Ravished by a Highlander is book #1 in a new 4 book series called The Children of the Mist, based on the grown children of Callum & Kate MacGregor (who starred in Laird of the Mist). So there's plenty of Scottish romance from Paula Quinn to come AND plenty to catch up on if her writing is new to you! ( She's written more Scottish romances besides Laird of the Mist.)You can learn more about Paula and her books at Paula Quinn's website! And if you missed her great guest post on Chick with Books about writing her Highlander Romances, you can find it HERE! But in the meantime, would you like a chance to win a copy of Ravished by a Highlander?! Courtesy of Anna from Hachette Book Group, I have 3 copies to give away! Here's how to Enter...

To Enter this giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on May 29th. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email.. winner must reply to me within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck!

*BTW, I want to thank Anna of Hachette Book Group for sending along a copy of Ravished by a Highlander to review! Thanks Anna!

The Sunday Salon... Week in review, Looking ahead and a Couple of Books with Buzz

There's something special about Sunday mornings... maybe it's the sweet music of a songbird singing to its mate. Or maybe it's just the fact I can sleep in a little longer Sunday morning... this morning I spent at the local nursery buying some perennials to fill parts of the butterfly & bird garden that need a bit of attention, and then I headed off to my local wild bird store to buy some food for those same visitors... whatever your reason for enjoying Sunday, pour yourself a cup and relax... let's look at what bookish things went on this week...

I was traveling back and forth in time, with some of that time spent in France with the Impressionists, swept up in a long ago romance that involved forbidden love, romantic letters, a mysterious painting and blackmail. I listened to the audiobook of that sweeping romance, The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostava, and was totally enamored by the story and the reading of the story.This week I'll be reviewing the audiobook of The Swan Thieves, which I enjoyed so much... Then I took a trip to Russia, during the brutal Soviet rule, where the KGB judged every word and action you made. I followed "former" Secret Police Officer Leo Demidov in The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith and into a war within himself and the injustices surrounding him. What an amazing novel filled with Gulags, betrayals, and the unconditional love of a mother. It was gripping and thought-provoking. Can a soul be redeemed after the horrors of war? I'll be reviewing The Secret Speech this week, plus posting a reading guide for it (it would make a great book for discussion), and there will be a GIVEAWAY too! Again, all that traveling between France and Russia can makes a girl hungry, so I was lucky that I received a copy of 101 Things I Learned in Culinary School by Louis Eguaras with Matthew Frederick from Hachette Book Group! Louis Eguaras has more than 20 years experience teaching and working in the culinary arts, and this cute little book provides little snippets of culinary lessons. You can turn to any page in this 101 page book and gain a bit of enlightenment, from what Amuse-bouche is to what cookware material is best for what dishes. Not a recipe book, but a book that can satisfy your hunger for a bit of culinary knowledge! Look for my review this week of Louis Equaras book too!

Also this past week, I had a fantastic guest post by Historical Romance writer Paula Quinn, so if you missed it, check out the Tuesday May 11th post and read what Paula had to say about writing her wonderful Historical Scottish Romances for a 21st century audience. This week I'll be sharing my full review of her latest novel, Ravished by a Highlander, and there will be a GIVEAWAY too!

*****************************************

While there are lots of great book reviews coming this week, there are also a couple of books that have gotten a lot of chatter this week... Here are two Books with Buzz...

The much anticipated 3rd book in Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest, will be released May 25th in the US! From Stieg Larsson's website, here is the plot summary... Two seriously injured people arrive at the emergency ward of the Sahlgrensa hospital in Gothenburg. One is the wanted murderer Lisbeth Salander who has taken a bullet to the head and needs immediate surgery, the other is Alexander Zalachenko, an older man who Lisbeth has attacked with an axe. In this third novel in the Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth is planning her revenge against the men who tried to kill her, and even more importantly, revenge against the government which nearly destroyed her life. But first she must escape from the intensive care unit and exculpate her name from the charges of murder that hangs over her head. I loved The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and have The Girl Who Played With Fire on my nightstand ( I didn't want to torture myself like I did after reading the first book, waiting for the next book!), So now I can get down to reading book 2 in the series knowing book 3 is right around the corner. The first 2 books in the series are now available in paperback. If you haven't ventured to read Steig Larsson yet, and you enjoy a good mystery, I encourage you to open up The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and start reading! His writing style is a bit different from his American counterparts- more of a slow build up until you can't stop reading- but very satisfying. The movie that just came out is based on book one, with a tad of book 2 in it, but it was perfect. Very true to the book and Lisbeth Salander, definitely my favorite character in the book, was great! I reviewed the movie in April.

Women Food And God by Geneen Roth... This book is all over the blogosphere. In our weight conscious society, Geneen Roth, who also wrote When Food is Love, tries to help us get to the core of our eating habits. The Inside Jacket introduction says... "Now, after more than three decades of studying, teaching and writing about what drives our compulsions with food, Geneen adds a profound new dimension to her work in Women Food and God. She begins with her most basic concept: The way you eat is inseparable from your core beliefs about being alive. Your relationship with food is an exact mirror of your feelings about love, fear, anger, meaning, transformation and, yes, even God." I have a love hate relationship with food, and picked this book up to see what all the chatter was about. Sometimes you just have to put down the diet book, take a deep breathe and relax a bit. Geneen Roth has workshops, retreats and has published numerous articles talking about our relationship with food. Maybe this book will strike a chord, I'll let you know what I think...

What are you reading this week?! Share what's on your nightstand... And in the meantime, have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead!

Happy reading... Suzanne

Writing "Highlander" Romances in the 21st Century... a Guest Post by Historical Romance Author Paula Quinn

A Guest Post by Romance Author Paula Quinn...

Today I want to welcome guest author Paula Quinn! She's the lovely lady whose book Ravished by a Highlander I just turned the last page on and was totally swept away by. If you love romance with a good Highlander and Historical Romance, you'll want to put Paula Quinn on your reading list... And that's what Paula is guest posting about today- how she writes those wonderful "Highlander" romances...

Writing "Highlander" romances in the 21st century, where Paula gets her stories and how she keeps them fresh...

It isn’t difficult for me to write Highlander romances in the 21st century because I don’t always live in the 21st century. One of my passions is the past. Give me a time machine and I’m outta here—at least, until I need an Advil. Not everyone would prefer to live a few centuries ago, but the Highlands and Scotland are synonymous with romance. It’s the whole wind-swept moors, rugged guy in a plaid who knows how to handle a big sword thing. The fact that these men no longer exist makes them more interesting to create—or read about.

I don’t usually start out with an idea of a story line/plot, but rather with a character. They always come to me first. People are what make history exciting. Once I know my hero or heroine’s goals and desires, I can build around it. Rob MacGregor came to me long before I began writing my latest release, Ravished By A Highlander. He was immediately dominant, taking full charge of my ideas and showing me the path he was meant to take. Some scenes weren’t going to fly, which upset my pragmatic, obstinate alpha male, but I’m the boss of him no matter how big his Claymore Still, I never plan how a story is going to proceed unless I have to do a proposal—which I dislike. Every scene has the potential to change the flow of the tale. I prefer to let my characters lead the way and I’ll polish up as we go.

Keeping my stories fresh can be a bit of a challenge. After all, there are millions of romances out there. How many different ways are there to fall in love? But I think that as an historical romance author I have a tiny advantage. Because my stories take place in the past, the possibilities are endless. I mean, I have eighteen centuries to choose from, each with a very unique flavor. In my new Children of the Mist series, the action begins in 17th century Scotland during the Stuart reign and will end with William of Orange taking the throne. I love the political intrigue surrounding the period, the social and religious unrest that give the tale more depth and pull the best, or the worst from a hero or heroine. Drop any character into a tumultuous era, test his loyalties, and watch him come alive. Give him and his lady an almost impossible obstacle to overcome before falling in love and a little free reign to do it, and the story will come to life around them.

I want to thank Paula for stopping by and sharing her insights into her historical romance writing today! It's so interesting to actually get a glimpse of the writing process and the history that motivates an author. Now about her latest novel Ravished by a Highlander...

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

Ravished by a Highlander was HOT, fun and full of wonderful characters! Stop back this week to read my review of Paula Quinn's latest novel, Ravished by a Highlander, and there will be a GIVEAWAY too!