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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'.

Sunday 22 June 2014

The Rheidol Steam Railway

www.Rheidol Railway.co.uk

You may remember I recently recounted the legend of Devil's Bridge and then last week we were at a steam rally.  Today I thought I'd link back to Devil's Bridge, and still continuing the theme of 'steam' tell you a bit about Rheilfordd Cwm Rheidol or the Rheidol Valley Railway.  I used to live on a hill overlooking the Rheidol Valley (pronounced Ray-dol') and the River Rheidol winding it's way through the valley and down to the sea. I could also watch the little steam engines on the narrow gauge railway , chugging their way into the mountains, the same mountains where I spent many happy hours long distance horseback riding.

Of course I rode on the trains myself, many times, and especially enjoyed taking my niece and nephew on the 'Cowboy Specials' where kids, and often their parents as well, would dress up as cowboys.  Then the train would be 'held up' halfway up the mountain by local students dressed up as indians.  I'm not sure if they still have the cowboy specials but  I do know they run a Halloween train and a Santa special.


The train runs from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge, where it stops to give visitors time to look around the famous falls, and have a bite to eat, before the homeward journey.

This is what it says on the Rheidol Railway's website:

"Travelling on the Vale of Rheidol Railway is the finest way to explore the stunning Rheidol Valley. Opened in 1902, the railway has been delighting passengers young and old for over a century.
The clearing in the trees on the hill behind the train is known locally as 'the stag'
Feel the wind in your hair in one of our Open Summer Carriages or watch the scenery passing by from the comfort of our First Class Observation Saloons. See the countryside change as you travel through wide open fields and meadows, woodland and rugged mountain scenery, the line twisting and turning as it clings to the hillside. Alight at one of our recently restored intermediate stations and explore the many walks the valley has to offer. Listen to the sound of a powerful narrow gauge steam locomotive working hard to
climb 700ft (200m) in the 11¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge.

Red Kite
Birds of prey such as Red Kite and Buzzards are regularly seen soaring high above the valley floor and breath taking views can be enjoyed by all. See our timetable below, and book your tickets online here.

The line is a masterpiece of engineering, opened in 1902 to carry lead ore, timber and passenger traffic. The narrow track gauge allows the railway to follow the contours of the terrain with many sharp curves and steep gradients which add to the railway's charm."

Finally, just so you get the flavour of this enchanting train ride, I'll leave you with the Vale of Rheidol's video



I am endebted  to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for their kind permission to use the video and other material on my blog.  Should you visit my beautiful homeland of Wales, and be anywhere near Aberystwyth, do book a ride which I can promise you will never forget, through some of the most breathtaking scenery you will find in the whole of the British Isles.  You can find out more about the Rheidol Railway by going to their website:

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Getting up Steam

Not many people know that apart from my passion for horses, I love steam! (One of these days I fully intend to write a 'steampunk' novel.) There are several steam rallies and festivals in the area where I live, during the summer, and we went to one over the weekend.  I'll leave it to the video to show you these magnificent behemoths of another, gentler age. I apologise for the sound quality, they seem to have had a few problems with the microphones, but it gives you a flavour of the event.


                     As well as large engines, there were small ones perfectly modelled to scale
Also vintage cars , the American ones being especially impressive

But it's the steam engines that I really love, there is something about  these grand old steam engines 
that is just so ... well...romantic! What do you think?

Monday 16 June 2014

Pirate Princess - Review


THE PIRATE PRINCESS

To gain her freedom, Charlee must seduce the prince. To save the pirate, Prince Petra must win her heart.
   
BY HONOR ALONE
PURCHASE LINK
A handsome war hero, Prince Petra can have his pick of any lady in the kingdom. A man of virtue, he’s saved himself for just the right one. But when the corrupt emperor of Isa Vis kidnaps a duke’s daughter to force her into an alliance, Petra sacrifices himself—and his dreams of love—to save her. Betrothing himself to the distant captive, he leads a daring rescue across the stormy South Sea.

But The Light has other plans. On the voyage, Petra runs afoul of Charlee. Once a prisoner, now a pirate captain, the sultry siren holds him captive with more than just her sword. And when she offers a seductive wager—if he takes her body before they reach the City of Light, she wins absolution for her crimes—it is all he can do to hold firm. While he has every reason to bring Charlee to justice, he’s also finally found a woman he wants more than honor. And he can no more trust her than he can trust himself.
Reign of Light Book One
Kary Rader 
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
 Date of Publication: May 27th 2014 
  Word Count: 64,400


My Review

I never take a book to review unless I am pretty sure I am going to enjoy it, and The Pirate Princess was no exception.  From the first page it had me hooked.  I wasn't too sure if I liked the heroine, Charlee, to start with, but she certainly intrigued me and as the story developed I realised she had good reasons for her actions, and her seeming disregard for life. She also harbours a secret which is only revealed toward the end of the story.

Petra is one of those heroes who is almost too good to be true,charming,  handsome, noble and courteous. However, he is also very caring and sensitive - and very difficult to resist as Charlee soon finds out. What  really sets him apart is his unassuming manner and unswerving sense of honour.  He has sworn only to marry a woman he really loves - whom he can give his heart and soul to.  However, the daughter  of a Duke is kidnapped by the Emperor, and Petra offers to make her betrothed, in order to save her from an arranged marriage to a stranger.  Having lost the one woman he felt he could love he believes he has nothing to lose. His sense of honour is strained to the limit though, when his and Charlee's paths cross and there is an instant attraction between them, despite their differences and the fact he is her prisoner. She makes things even more difficult for him by using less than fair means to try to win her wager and entice him to give in to the desire that burns between them. 

I won't spoil the story by giving away any more, but there are several twists to the plot before Petra is able to make his final decision, and I have to admit I was rooting the whole time for him and Charlee to get their respective happy-ever-afters. I loved  the main supporting characters too - so much so that I need to read the other books in the series to find out more about them!

I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, mystery, a large helping of sexual suspense and   two very strong, likeable main characters.




About the Author:
Kary Rader is a stay-at-home mother of three, avid reader and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she’s drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished. And it’s the power of words that creates and destroys.
Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day’s work. And with the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.
Come join her for an adventure and maybe you too will be claimed by passion and changed by love. Because there is no greater power than the human spirit and anything is possible if you believe.

Let the fantasy begin…

TOUR GIVEAWAY

A ten-book subscription to Boroughs Publishing’s Lunchbox Romance line sponsored by the publisher
1 Prize Pack US Only: A Sword Pendant Necklace Signed Copy of "Queen of Jastain"
 1 $25 Gift Card to either Amazon or B&N Gift Card (Winner's Choice open Internationally)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Friday 13 June 2014

A Bloody Good Cruise by Diana Rubino - released today

I'm so happy to help fellow Wild Rose Press author Diane Rubino celebrate the release of her latest book today.  So settle back, take a sip of something sparkling and let's find out more about 'A Bloody Good Cruise'.

PURCHASE LINK
A BLOODY GOOD CRUISE is a fun-filled blend of the vampire world and luxury cruises.

Romance writer Mona Rossi's book sales are slipping. She needs new ideas and fast! Her vampire love, Fausto Silvius is a doctor aboard the Romanza, a luxury cruise ship. Holding a "Motion on the Ocean" writer's cruise sounds like a great idea. What better way to combine a career boost with romance? But they soon discover hunters on board who give chase to Fausto and his fellow vampires. While he longs to bring Mona into his world, how can he convince her to join him with fringe lunatics on the hunt? In the prime of her life she's not sticking her neck out for a shot at eternity.

Excerpt:

Fausto took command of a standing mike. When she heard him address the crowd with a simple Good evening, she stumbled back in shock, almost landing ass first in the punchbowl.

It was Fausto, in the most stunning outfit he'd ever worn. A black velvet cape swirled like liquid onyx. A gold medallion rested on his chest. His black hair was slicked back, revealing a widows peak. His look bordered on sinister. His dark eyes penetrated the room with a devilish twinkle. A smile revealed two gleaming white fangs. He projected a picture of menacing confidence.
But to the crowd who saw a familiar figure they all feared, he was simply Dracula. Its Dracula!

Kindle link: www.amzn.com/B00ILXYAI6

Paperback Link: Bit.ly/1k8Vlrs

"The best we can do is tell a likely story." - Plato

www.DianaRubinoAuthor.blogspot.com
www.DianaRubino.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/dianarubino
https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthorhttps://twitter.com/DianaLRubino

BIO
I'm a self-confessed history nut, my favorite eras being Medieval and Renaissance England, and all American history. I've written several novels set in England and the U.S., two time travel romances, a vampire romance, and a fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT which received a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I'm a longtime member of Romance Writers of America and the Richard III Society. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre.



Congratulations Diana, wishing you many sales for what sounds like an amazing read!

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Interview and Giveaway with Mary Morgan - Author of Dragon Knight's Sword

I'm thrilled to have fellow Wild Rose Press author Mary Morgan on the Flight Deck today. She has very kindly offered a copy of 'Dragon Knight's Sword to one lucky reader of this post.  So don't forget to leave a comment with your email address when you've read her fascinating interview answers.

 Good morning Mary.  Let's sip a glass of something sparkling, make ourselves comfortable and find out more about your new release: Dragon Knight's Swords, first in series of the Order of the Dragon Knights


PURCHASE LINK
                             

Duncan Mackay will do anything to lift the curse from his family — even forfeit his own life. But his plans change when he encounters the woman from his dreams, literally. She is from the future, somehow has his lost sword, and can talk to the Dragon that is able to lift his family’s curse.

Brigid O'Neill has spent her life listening to the mythological legends from Ireland and Scotland. So, when an ancient sword lands at her doorstep and she starts dreaming of a rugged Highlander, she drops everything and takes on a quest that will alter everything she believes.

Before their journey ends, not only will Duncan and Brigid battle an ancient curse, they must also find the courage to believe in the destiny that brought them together.

Time Travel
Rating: Spicy (PG13)
Page Count: 380
Word Count: 91636
978-1-62830-397-1 Paperback

978-1-62830-398-8 Digital


Excerpt:

He stood next to the waterfall. Beads of water glistened from his dark locks.

Brigid watched as they trailed down his chiseled torso, traveling down to where his tartan was wrapped low on his waist. The wind whipped at the folds of his plaid, the power coiling within and around him, as mystical as the land he stood on.

Ancient warrior,” she uttered softly.
When she looked up into his eyes, they smoldered with desire, and it startled her. A sensual shiver ran through her, wanting to be crushed within his embrace. The raw desire to be in this man’s arms, touching and tasting him, was so potent, she could feel her heart hammering inside her chest.
He tilted his head to the side, as if studying his prey.
Brigid didn’t know if she should run or step into his massive arms.
He took a step toward her, and her pulse quickened. The very air around her seemed electrified. He then took another...and another, until he stood merely inches in front of her.
Her breathing became labored, as he bent his head leaning close to her ear. She was engulfed in a sensual haze wanting his lips to touch her anywhere and put an end to her torture. His mouth was so close, she could feel a dark lock of his hair against her cheek, and she shuddered.
“Bring me back my sword,” he growled into her ear.
Brigid’s eyes flew open, clutching the sheets as the last fragments of her dream faded.

Oh this sounds like a wonderful read Mary, I need to get this book!  Tell us a bit more about it, and what was your favourite part of writing the book/series?

MM: Dragon Knight’s Sword, which was just released, is the first in The Order of the Dragon Knights. I always thought I was telling the story, but the characters would often lead me down different paths. I had the ending plotted out for a year, but in the end, the hero took over surprising me with his vision.

LOL - the heroine of my first book did that to me, too!  So what comes first in your stories: the plot or the characters?

MM: Definitely the plot. I always have these scenarios running through my mind, and then all of a sudden the characters start to enter the scene.

If someone were to play one of your characters in a movie, which character and actor would it be and why?

MM: Ahh…Richard Armitage. He has this intense look, as if he can see right through you. Yet, there is also a softer, gentler side to him, too. I love the contrast, which is exactly how I envision Duncan. Besides, Richard and Duncan are both very sexy alpha males.

*Squeal* Ooh sorry, it's just that he's one of my favourites too - I couldn't agree more about his intense look - and the softer side. I was crazy about him in the
 Robin Hood series, and although he was even darker in 'Spooks' I loved him in that too.  *Sigh* If he's a model for Duncan I've definitately got to read the book now!
Andy Android - another cool drink please, and lower the atmosphere a notch, Mary and I suddenly feel very warm! :)  Phew let's get back to the interview again. What’s your writing process Mary? Has it changed since writing your first book?

MM: Absolutely! In the beginning, all I had to focus on was the writing. Now, I have to find the balance between the business of promoting and the writing. I find that it’s easier to take care of the business side in the early mornings and focus on the writing in the early to late evening. Of course, I have to find time for my husband, too – chuckling here. 

Ooh, the dreaded promotion - it can be a real time suck! Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what kind of music – or do you find it distracts you?

MM: I definitely listen to music when writing. It’s a huge part of my inspiration and contributes immensely to my writing. I listen to a lot of Celtic instrumental, since my books are steeped in Celtic mythology. With Dragon Knight’s Sword, I listened to Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. No matter how often I hear this piece, it helps to open up the well of creativity.

A lady after my own heart. I love Celtic instrumentals too, and of course being a Celt myself, I love Celtic mythology.What sort of research do you do for your books and what’s your favourite source of information?

MM: I love delving into the research for a book. It’s positively fascinating finding out information to add or support to my writing. I tend to have many resources for research – from books, magazines to historical sites on the internet. At the moment, my favorite is Google Earth! I love whisking myself over to the ruins at Urquhart. I can almost touch the stones.

Yes, Google Earth is amazing isn't it.  And I've been to Urquhart myself, a beautiful part of Scotland! What is your personal definition of success?

MM: If you can feel my story, then I have accomplished what I set out to do – tell a great story. I have been successful in the “telling of the tale.”

Absolutely! Is there any advice, as a new writer, that you were either given, or wish you had been given.

MM: If you want to write, then write every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 words, or 1,000, just write. It helps to keep the creativity flowing.

Great Advice Mary, and finally, before you board the shuttle back to Earth,  if you were an animal, which one do you think you would be, and why?

MM:I would want to be a falcon. I could watch them all day, jealous of their capacity to fly. It would be so freeing to soar to any destination. Perhaps, that is why I love to travel in planes. I probably was a falcon in my past life. 

LOL wouldn't it be just wonderful to fly like a bird of prey!  Well thank you so much for being my guest, Mary, and for your fascinating answers to my questions.  I  can't wait to read your book myself.  Before you leave, can you tell us where we can buy 'Dragon Knight's Sword'?

You can purchase it from


Barnes&Noble

Thanks again Mary - and wishing you much success.

AUTHOR BIO
I am a constant daydreamer and have been told quite often to remove my head from the clouds. Yet, this is where I find the magic to write my stories. Not only do I love to weave a good tale, but I have a voracious appetite for reading. I worked for Borders Books for almost fourteen years. Imagine my delight to be surrounded by so many books, talking to others about them, and getting paid.

Pure bliss!

I have traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. There are those who know me well when I say, "My heart is in the Highlands." I believe I have left it there, or maybe in Ireland.

When not writing, I enjoy playing in my garden-another place where magic grows. Of course, there is time spent with my family. They are the ones that keep me grounded.

You can visit my website: http://www.marymorganromancewriter.com

Monday 9 June 2014

Rhiannon goddess of the moon and protector of horses in Celtic mythology


Continuing with my legends of Wales, Rhiannon is one of the characters who appears in The Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh-language tales which  Lady Charlotte Guest translated into English, and which were first published in three volumes between 1838  and 1849. The original stories were to be found mainly in two collections of medieval manuscripts known as the White Book of Rhydderch (c.1350) and the Red Book of Herge.

I share Rhiannon's love of horses, so it is only fitting that she features on my blog!

 The goddess Rhiannon's name meant “Divine Queen” of the fairies, and she loved horses. Rhiannon was promised in marriage to an older man. However, she fell in love with the mortal Prince Pwyll (pronounced Poo-ulch, translated as Paul) She appeared to Pwyll one afternoon while he stood with his companions on a great grass-covered mound in the forest surrounding his castle. The  prince was enchanted by the vision of the beautiful young goddess Rhiannon, dressed in  gold as she galloped by on her graceful white horse. Pwyll sent his servant, riding his swiftest horse to catch her and ask her to return to meet the prince.  But the servant soon returned and reported that she rode so swiftly that it seemed her horse’s feet scarcely touched the ground and that he could not follow her.

 The next day, ignoring his friends’ advice, Pwyll returned alone to the mound and, once more, the Celtic goddess appeared.   Pwyll pursued her but could not overtake her. Although his horse ran even faster than Rhiannon's, the distance between them always remained the same.  When his horse was exhausted,  he stopped and called out for her to wait.   


She allowed him to draw close, saying it would have been much kinder to his horse had he simply called out instead of chasing her. She told him she knew he had come seeking her love, but that they must wait a year. Then she disappeared

One year later, she reappeared on the same tor. She led him to her father’s palace, a magnificent castle surrounded by a lake.   There they were married but at the wedding feast the man she’d once been promised to marry made a scene, saying she should not be allowed to marry outside her own people. 

Rhiannon slipped away from her husband’s side to deal with the situation in her own way. She turned him into a badger and caught him in a bag which she tied up and threw into the lake. They returned to Wales the  next day, with Rhiannon forsaking the fairy kingdom of her childhood, but she had no regrets.

Three years later, she bore Pwyll a son.As was the custom, six women servants were assigned to stay with Rhiannon in her lying-in quarters to help her care for the   infant. However, they fell asleep and the baby disappeared. When they woke to find the cradle empty, they were fearful they would be punished severely for their carelessness. They smeared Rhiannon with the blood of a dead puppy and accused her of eating her own child.

Rhiannon swore her innocence, Pwll refused to divorce her and begged for her life to be spared. Rhiannon’s punishment was announced. For the next seven years she must sit by the castle gate, bent under the heavy weight of a horse collar, greeting guests with the story of her crime and offering to carry them on her back into the castle.


In the autumn of the fourth year three strangers appeared at the gate—a well-dressed nobleman, his wife, and a young boy. The boy handed her a piece of an infant’s gown.  Rhiannon saw that it was cloth that had been woven by her own hands.  The boy then smiled at her, and she realised she was looking at her own son. The nobleman farmer told his story.  Ever year on the 1st May, his mare  foaled and every year the foal disappeared. Four years earlier, he had slashed with his sword at a claw that came through the open window of the stable, to snatch the newborn foal. Running outside, he heard the infant’s cries and found him lying abandoned by the door. He and his wife took the baby in, raising him as if he were their own.

When the rumors of the goddess Rhiannon’s fate reached him, the farmer realized what had happened and set out at once to return the child to his parents. It was rumoured that the  the enraged suitor that Rhiannon had rejected and turned into a badger, had escaped and taken his revenge by kidnapping Rhiannon's infant son.

Rhiannon was restored to her  her place beside her husband.  Although she had suffered immensely at their hands, Rhiannon, she saw that the people who had condemned her were ashamed and forgave them.

In some versions of the legend, Rhiannon was the Celtic goddess who later became Vivienne, best known as the Lady of the Lake. She was the goddess who gave Arthur the sword Excalibur, empowering him to become King in the legends of Camelot.