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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

A fantastic read - and your chance to help animals at the same time!

Today's Post is a special request.  My good friend Miss Mae who is a talented author of romantic suspense and children's humour books, is generously donating 50% of the proceeds of her latest release 'Catch Me If You Can' to the Murray County Humane Society. Animal shelters have a special place in my heart and I hope you'll help her raise money for this society which does such great work to help abandoned and abused animals.  This is what she says:

"Friends of mine, and friends of animal lovers! This book includes a lovable dog essential to the plot. And, when you read the story, you'll see why I dedicate it to a local hero at my humane society. I'm donating 50% of sales to the society. I hope you'll be inclined to share this post with all that you know."

The humane society would like people to order through smile.amazon.com and choose Murray County Humane Society as their charity. That way, Amazon also contributes a percentage. (This link will take you to the special 'smile' Amazon charity page rather than to the standard Amazon page, and you'll be able to purchase your copy there after registering the Murray County Humane Society as your choice of charity.

To find Out more about the Society, here's the link to their page:
https://www.facebook.com/MurrayCountyHumaneSociety

and please if you can be sure to choose Murray County Humane Society as your charity of choice, then Amazon will also contribute. Please could you also alert
Miss Mae (on her fan page) when you buy the book.

Thank you so much from both Miss Mae and myself.  And I can guarantee that if you buy this book, you'll not only be helping the animals at the shelter but will be assuring yourself of a great read - yes I have read it and it's an amazing, edge of the seat read, with some great characters including a delightful dog.

BUY YOUR COPY HERE

BLURB

Are all rules broken when it comes to playing a game? Washed ashore a South Carolina beach, Lois Steinberg learns her shelter, an old plantation house, was scheduled to host a 'Catch Me' game convention. When the cook is the first one found murdered, the game environment instantly morphs into a terrifying evening reminiscent of 'And Then There Were None'.

Have a look at the trailer below to whet our appetite!


About the Author
All of Miss Mae's romantic mysteries, "Said the Spider to the Fly", "When the Bough Breaks", "Dove Island", "It's Elementary, My Dear Winifred" and "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady" are award winning best sellers. Her latest, "Catch Me If You Can" has already received top rated five-star reviews. Tantalizing trailers, and more information, is readily available at her website: themissmaesite.com Miss Mae also enjoys writing humor and non-fiction articles. Some of her publications can be found in The Front Porch Magazine, Good Old Days, and WritersWeekly. Her alter ego, M.M. also has her first children's/humor book, "Ahoy Gum Drop!" available in digital download at Smashwords, and now in print at Amazon

Tuesday 19 August 2014

A Matter of Trust - Review, Guest Post and Giveaway



I am pleased to welcdome fellow 'space opera' SF writer Greta van der Rol to my blog today.
I've just read her book 'A Matter of  Trust'  and before we get to my review, here's the 'Blurb':

Will the Demon Admiral protect her from her family? Princess Amira is ready to start a new life after the death of her husband, but that doesn’t include marrying the man her father picks out for her. Pursued by his agents, she races across the galaxy in a desperate search for a safe haven.

Amid simmering tensions at the edge of the Empire, Amira renews her acquaintance with Imperial Admiral Ul-Mellor. Although his detractors call him the Demon Admiral, Amira finds him intelligent, articulate, and very attractive.
But Ul-Mellor is not human and Amira is a princess – far above Ul-Mellor’s status on his home world. He and Amira will have to overcome a gulf of cultural and class differences if they’re to turn their mutual attraction into a relationship. And what will Ul-Mellor do when faced with a choice – Amira or his hard-won commission?
 


 Buy LinksAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Payhip

BIO

http://buythebooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Author-Picture-Greta-van-der-Rol.jpg Greta van der Rol loves writing action-packed adventures with a side salad of romance. Most of her work is space opera, but she has written paranormal and historical fiction. She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn’t bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours.

 Greta’s Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+ | Pinterest

REVIEW 

A thoroughly engaging short read.  Princess Amira is a self confident and likeable character, with no illusions about her inherited status and who is completely devoid of the airs and graces which might be expected of a Princess. Indeed, much to the annoyance of her father, she wears peasant clothes and does what she can to help the indigenous inhabitants of her planet, the Tuchaska, who form the labor force for the prince's estates and are now afflicted by a mysterious illness.

When her father arranges to marry her off to a man she detests, for socio-economic reasons, she flees from her home planet seeking refuge with the parents of her late husband.  However she is to learn that not everything is as it seems and she finds it more and more difficult to know where her true safety lies,  and who, if any,  she can really trust. 

The 'Demon Admiral ' is a compelling and unsuual hero.  A non-human species, he nevertheless shares Amira's interests and is honourable and brave - as well as extremely attractive. Despite the differences of species, race and social status, he has much in common with her and he mutual attraction is undeniable.

Greta Van Der Rohl  manages to combine enough  suspense, romance and political intrigue into ninety four pages to fill a full length novel. There are some hot, sexy love scenes and a satisfying conclusion.

and here's what Greta herself has to say:


Hi and thanks for having me. 

The heroine of my space opera novella, A Matter of Trust, is Princess Amira Hezkurin. You may want to ask if she's based on any of the other ladies in my space opera novels – Jess in Starheart, Allysha in the Iron Admiral books, or Morgan Selwood. I think I can pretty confidently say no. Jess is a slightly shady freighter captain not averse to some smuggling on the side, Allysha is a brilliant information systems engineer, and Morgan is a cyborg who is all woman.

Unlike all these women, Amira is a member of the ruling classes. She's well-educated, with a degree in xeno-archaeology (that's alien archaeology) which she earned at a university on the Empire's capital planet. While there, she mixed with the several sentient, technology-savvy alien species in that Galaxy. She also met her husband, Christoph, the very suitable son of a minor nobleman, who was also an officer in the Imperial Fleet.

But Amira's no shy violet. She learned a little martial arts, and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. When we first meet her, living on her home planet after the death of husband, she's just come back from helping the local aliens, the Tuchaska, who are suffering from a mysterious illness. Here's an excerpt...

Amira strode across the ornate polished stone floor of her father's private sitting room and into his study. "You wanted to see me, Father?"

Prince Fedor Hezkurin looked up from the paperwork on his desk and scowled, his gaze flicking over her. "Amira, my dear, I wish you wouldn't wear those peasant clothes. They don't become you."

"They're very practical for my work with the Tuchaska." She pulled off the clasp that tied back her ponytail and shook her head, sending her hair dancing around her shoulders.

Hezkurin sighed. "That doesn't become you either. You should not be wasting your time with aliens."
Amira pulled over a chair and sat facing him. Yes, she probably did need a shower, and a change of clothes, too. Her boots had probably left a trail over her father's floor. But she wasn't going to apologize. "It was their planet before we took it over."

Who is your favourite SF heroine?
A Matter of Trust is available at all the usual outlets.

Amazon http://myBook.to/AMoT_GvdR
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-trust-greta-van-der-rol/1119191050?ean=2940149518135&itm=1&usri=2940149518135
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id861044048
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-matter-of-trust-23
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428266
Omnilit http://www.omnilit.com/product-amatteroftrust-1477914-153.html






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Wrath Of The Highlander, Guest Post and Giveaway



Thank you so much for welcoming me back to your beautiful blog, Lyn! It’s always such a pleasure to be here. Today I’m celebrating the release of Wrath of the Highlander, book three of five in my MacLomain Next Generation series. An ongoing saga that takes place during wartime, this particular series pairs women from the twenty-first century with men from medieval Scotland. As such I thought it might be fun to share some dialogue between various characters that remind the reader how our way of speaking can be confusing to those from the distant past…
 
A scene from when Cadence first arrives in medieval Scotland.
“Why are you here to save me?”

“I dinnae think I am,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“‘Tis likely we will die.”

“Tell me how you really feel,” she muttered to herself.

“I did, lass.” Malcolm frowned at her. “Are your ears full of water?”

Cadence rolled her eyes. “No, sorry, it’s an expression.”

His brows lowered.

“A bit of sarcasm. Again, sorry.” She nodded toward the ocean. “I’m thankful you saved me from that. I just didn’t expect it to be you.”

A scene when a wolf is being named.

In response, the wolf raised his head and perked his ears.

“I think he likes that,” Cadence said, still smiling.

“Mayhap, if he proves himself, I’ll give him a warrior’s name in time.”

“No way. Kynan’s a good, strong name.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Besides, it’s not cool to rename an animal. It only confuses them.”

“Cool? ‘Tis a wolf, lass. Made for this weather. I dinnae think the temperature—”

“It’s a twenty-first century expression,” she cut him off, “It means great.” She chuckled. “Let’s tackle this later. I’ll teach you some of my words and you can teach me some Gaelic. Deal?”

A scene in which they’re chatting about the wolf’s origins.

“I know there’s a feel of Fionn Mac Cumhail about him.” He stared into the forest. “A gift from a god but not a god at all.”

Cadence looked between Malcolm and Adlin. “What do you mean?”

The arch wizard cocked a brow and only offered a crooked grin. “‘Tis not for me to say.”

“But you did just say it,” Leslie remarked. “And now opened a can of worms.”

“He doesnae speak of worms, lass,” Bradon enlightened. “But of a wolf.”

Sheila chuckled.

Leslie shook her head, smirking at Bradon. “Let me rephrase. He brought up a subject that won’t be put to rest until he reveals the rest of what he knows.”

Wrath of the Highlander
The MacLomain Series
Next Generation
Book 3
Sky Purington

Genre:  Time Travel Fantasy Romance

Date of Publication:   July 9, 2014
ASIN:  B00LNU0PLK

Number of pages:  254
Word Count:  76,500

Cover Artist:  Tamra Westberry

Book Description:

Bookstore owner and ghostwriter, Cadence wants nothing more than to be part of the unending draw between her Broun heritage and the medieval MacLomain clan. When an unexpected Claddagh ring appears on her finger, the distant past soon becomes her future. Though sure she was brought back in time for another man, the laird’s cousin soon draws her eye, then her every thought.

Recently widowed by a traitorous wife, Malcolm MacLomain has no use for love. Merciless, he swears revenge on his enemies and embarks for war. When courageous and persevering, Cadence becomes part of his endeavor his broken heart starts to mend. Caught in an unexpected journey of forgiveness and discovery, two worlds collide and heal despite the, Wrath of the Highlander.

Available Now- Mark of the Highlander (Book 1), Vow of the Highlander (Book 2) and Wrath of the Highlander (Book 3). Coming Soon- Faith of the Highlander (Book 4) and the final in the series, Plight of the Highlander (Book 5).

Available at Amazon  BN  Kobo
EXCERPT
“Have you found your mystery man yet, lass?” he said, so low she would feel the rumble of his inquisition through the thin material of her silky, smooth dress.

Her lips trembled, eyes wide, but she gave no answer.

Oh, but to close his lips over hers.

“No,” Cadence finally murmured, her eyes still locked on his. “But I will find him.”

When she licked her lips, his eyes drifted down. Wide and full, they were created for pure sin. He could only imagine them running down his body. Damnation, he needed her closer.

Though he wouldn’t kiss her, he’d sure as hell dance with her.

Ignoring her assurance that she was meant for another man, Malcolm pulled her into the dancing crowd. It didn’t matter if the music was merry. He wasn’t in the mood for speed. Besides, he was viciously aroused. She’d feel his need while she tried to keep focus on the man she so eagerly sought. 

“Goddess above, what are you doing to me,” she whispered, voice strangled.

Arms wrapped around her lower back, he brought his mouth against her ear. “‘Twill be no goddess giving you answers, only me.” He tightened his hold. “Do you feel me then, lass?”

“How could I not?” she gasped. Hands clamped on his upper arms, she turned her face into his chest and mumbled, “You show ill respect to a man you have not met.”

“I dinnae respect a man until he earns it.” Malcolm closed his eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair.

As each individual note trilled from the bagpipe, she melted against him more thoroughly than the icy snowflakes speckling his heated skin. Fire and drink might warm the crowd but where they stood his breath hit the air in foggy puffs. Always a fan of the cold, but an even bigger fan of a bonnie wee lass against him, he cupped one hand around the back of her neck.

Her heart thundered against his.

Her body shuddered.

“Easy, lass,” he whispered. “I willnae take what you’re unwilling to give.”

“Yet you hold me prisoner,” she murmured.

“Nay, we but dance.”

“If only.”

Her words were so soft he barely heard them.

Jaw grinding, he held her securely while pressing tighter against her.

“No,” she whispered. Then she pulled back, her voice stronger as her eyes met his. “No.”

“Aye, lass.” But he loosened his hold and gave her one more word before he let her go. “Soon.”
About the Author:
Sky Purington is the best-selling author of eleven novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Sky loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com

Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.

Website:   www.skypurington.com






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