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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'.

Monday 22 September 2014

A free fantasy story from my friend Echo Shea

Roane Free Reads



Today, instead of my usual 'Welsh legends' I thought I'd guide you to a 'free gift'. My friend Echo Shea's short story 'Manor Of Sweet Souls' is released today as part of Roan Publishing's First Birthday celebrations.

Get your FREE story
September is full of free reads in honor of Roane Publishing’s first birthday.

I've read this story already, of course, and Echo has a delightful 'voice' and her stories are highly original and her characters unique and often surprising, with some quirky, humerous twists.

Do take advantage of the chance to download this great story for free and also enjoy all the other stories in this fantastic'giveaway!

http://www.roanepublishing.com/free-reads.html

Echo's Page at Roane 

                                                   ***

Roane Publishing is turning one this month and to celebrate, we’re giving away free eBooks!All you have to do is come by our Free Reads page each Monday and download the stories we are offering that week. Simple and straightforward, just the way we like it.The best part?
The time to release the first two of Roane Publishing’s Free Reads has finally arrived.
 (You can find the entire release schedule and all of the available downloads on our Free Reads page.)

The line up and Smashword links for releases stories:
****
Monday, Sept. 1st:
Any Other Way – Michelle Ziegler
Dragon Eye – Anna Simpson
Monday, Sept. 8th:
Plague of Cats – Sonny Zae
Bourbon Boots and Southern Persuasion – London Saint James
Monday, Sept. 15th:
Pixified – Sheryl Winters
Sisters: A Montana Series Short – Krista Ames
Monday, Sept. 22nd:
Manor of Sweet Souls: Gladys Celebrates – Echo Shea
Love’s Revenge: Chapter One – Terri Rochenski
Monday, Sept. 29th:
All For Nothing – Laurie Tracey
First Date Disaster? – Rebecca Hart

Monday 15 September 2014

Captured by A Laird Release Party

Captured By A Laird - Banner  

BOOK INFORMATION

Captured By A Laird - Book CoverTITLE – Captured by a Laird SERIES – The Douglas Legacy #1 AUTHOR – Margaret Mallory GENRE – Historical Romance/ Highland Romance PUBLICATION DATE – September 15, 2014 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 319 PUBLISHER – Amazon
   

BOOK BLURB / SYNOPSIS

THE DOUGLAS LEGACY
The Douglas sisters, beauties all, are valuable pawns in their family's bitter struggle to control the Scottish Crown. But when powerful enemies threaten, each Douglas lass will find she must face them alone.
CAPTURED BY A LAIRD
Haunted by his father's violent death, David Hume, the new laird of Wedderburn, sets out to make his name so feared that no one will dare harm his family again. The treacherous ally who played on his father's weakness is dead and beyond David's vengeance, but his castle and young widow are ripe for the taking. The moment David lays eyes on the dark-haired beauty defending her wee daughters, however, he knows this frail-looking lass is the one person who could bring him to his knees.
Wed at thirteen to a man who tried daily to break her spirit, Lady Alison Douglas is looking forward to a long widowhood. But when the fearsome warrior known as the Beast of Wedderburn storms her gates, she finds herself, once again, forced to wed a stranger. Alison is only a pawn to serve his vengeance, so why does this dark warrior arouse such fiery passion and an unwelcome longing in her heart?
With death and danger looming, these two wounded souls must learn to trust each other . . . for only love can save them.

BUY & TBR LINKS

 

EXCERPT

David strode through the battle raging between his men and the castle defenders in the courtyard and headed straight for the keep, intent on his goal. The castle would fall quickly. The defenders lacked leadership and were in disarray. His only concern was whether the castle had a secret tunnel for escape. During the siege, he had spread his men out through the fields surrounding the fortress to keep watch. But he had concentrated his forces for the attack and most were now inside the castle. If there was a tunnel, he must secure the widow and her daughters before they had a chance to escape. He did not relish the idea of having to chase them down through the fields with dogs. The defenders had foolishly waited too long to withdraw to the keep, and most were caught in the courtyard when David’s men burst through the gate. He barely spared them a glance as he ran up the steps of the keep.

With several of his warriors at his back, he burst through the doors brandishing his sword. He paused inside the entrance to hall. Women and children were screaming, and the few Blackadder warriors who had made it inside were overturning tables in a useless attempt to set up a defense. “If ye hope for mercy, drop your weapons,” David shouted, making his voice heard above the chaos. He locked gazes with the men who hesitated to obey his order until every weapon clanked to the floor, then he swept his gaze over the women. Their clothing confirmed what he’d known the moment he entered the hall. Blackadder’s widow was not in the room.


 “Where is she?” he demanded of the closest Blackadder man.

“Who, m’lord?” the man said, shifting his gaze to the side.

 “Your mistress!” David picked him up by the front of his tunic and leaned in close. “Tell me now.”

“In her bedchamber,” the man squeaked, pointing to an arched doorway. “’Tis up the stairs.”

David caught a sudden whiff of urine and dropped the man to the floor in disgust. The wretch had wet himself. “Take him to the dungeon,” he ordered. The coward had given up his mistress far too easily. David started up the wheeled stairs to the upper floors with his sword at the ready. He expected to encounter Blackadder warriors, protecting the lady of the castle. But there were none on the stairs and none guarding the door on the first floor. Damn it. She must have escaped. He gritted his teeth as he envisioned the lady’s guards leading her through the tunnel. He was about to open the chamber door to make sure it was empty when Brian, one of his best men, came down the stairs.

“Laird, I checked all the chambers while ye were in the hall,” he said. David’s jaw ached from clenching it. “There’s one door on the floor just above us that wouldn’t open with the latch,” Brian said. “Shall I break it down?”

David waved him aside and pulled the ax from his belt as he raced up the stairs. “Open it!” he shouted and pounded on the door. He did not wait. She could be escaping through a secret door this very moment. Three hard whacks with his ax, and the door split. He kicked it until it swung open, then stepped through. At his first sight of the woman, his feet became fixed to the floor. He felt strange, and his vision was distorted, as if as if he had swallowed a magical potion that narrowed his sight. He could see nothing in the room but her. She was extraordinarily lovely, with violet eyes, pale skin, and shining black hair. But there was something about her, something beyond her beauty, that held him captive.

She was young, much younger than he expected, and her features and form were delicate, in marked contrast to the violent emotion in her eyes. David knew to the depths of his soul that a brute like him should not be the man to claim this fragile flower, even while the word mine beat in his head like a drum. He had no notion of how long he stood staring at her before he became aware that she held a sword. It was longer still before he noticed the two wee lasses peeking out from behind her like frightened kittens.

Anger boiled up in his chest. Every Blackadder man in the castle who could still draw breath should have been here, standing between him and their lady. Instead, she faced him alone with a sword she could barely lift with both hands. It was a brave, but ridiculous gesture. There was no defense against him.
 

AUTHOR BIO

Captured By A Laird - Author PhotoMARGARET MALLORY surprised her friends & family by abandoning her legal career to write tales of romance & adventure. At long last, she can satisfy her passion for justice by punishing the bad & rewarding the worthy--in the pages of her novels.
Margaret lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, goofy dog & crabby cat. With her two children off to college, Margaret spends most of her time working on her next Scottish historical romance. Visit her website for Book Group Discussion Questions, photos of Scotland, excerpts, & other info. Margaret loves to hear from readers!

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

 
This Release Blitz Was Organized By Authors Write Hand & 1-MINIBUTTON

Wednesday 10 September 2014

New Seion by Diana Green - My review

New SionNew Sion by Diana Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love romance, Science Fiction and historical Westerns, so it's not surprising I loved this book!

To start with, it has a real 'frontier' feel to it, with a guntoting heroine, Flynn, pretending to be a young man, and a handsome, chivalrous bounty hunter. The sexual tension between them fairly sizzles, as Flynn tries to keep her true gender a secret from Eamon despite slowly falling in love with him. It's not all a 'Wild West' scenario though, there are several alien species, from the vicious and unpleasant raiders who killed Flynn's parents and raped and kidnapped her sisters, to the honorable Jor, from Krell who is desperate to rescue his Princess after their spacecraft crashes and she is abducted.

Add to the mix a space battle and some interesting world building, including some exotic beasts of burden, and you have an exciting Science Fiction adventure with a light dash of romance. The only negative thing I can say about the story is that, for me, it ended too soon. Although it did have the requisite 'happy ever after' for the protagonists and the ends were neatly tied, I wanted more. I hope there might be a sequal and will certainly be reading Diana Green's other books.


Monday 8 September 2014

An interview with Cate Masters - author of Goddess Awakened and other amazing fantasies


I'm delighted to welcome fellow paranormal author Cate Maters to my blog today.

Hi Cate - I kow lots of readers would love you to tell us a little more about yourself  - and is there something that most people don’t know about you?

CM  Hi Lyn! Thanks so much for having me on your lovely blog. Hm, tough question. I feel as if I’ve already bored everyone with details of my life. Let me try to spice it up. ;) Thirty-seven years ago, I married a Wild Man and tamed him into a wonderful husband, father and now grandfather to three Wild Boys, lol. Along with my son, we’ve been raising the older two for the past three and a half years. I never thought I’d have baby brain in middle age, but I do. And I need a nap! 

HL Lol, I can certainly relate to that one Cate - the 'baby brain' I mean, the older I get the younger my brain seems to get LOL! Tell us about your latest release and what was your favourite part of writing this book/series? 

CM  My mythology-based paranormal/fantasy, Goddess, Awakened is the first in The Goddess Connection series. I love the idea that every woman should embrace her talents, quirks and flaws – everything that makes her uniquely her – and nurture themselves from a place of acceptance and love. In Goddess, Awakened, the heroine, Joss, must begin her life over after her husband dies. Her family has its own unique quirks, one of them being they’re descended from the goddess Iris. Joss purchases an old bed and breakfast, not knowing it sits atop powerful ley lines, or that those in the Underworld would not take kindly to her living there! It’s a very fun mix of paranormal, fantasy and contemporary with some mythological figures playing some fun roles too. 

HL  Oh it sounds wonderful Cate - and very inspiring! Now, I 'm always interested in what other authors do  for fun when not writing - can you share something with the readers? 

CM I love to take photos -- of my grandboys (they grow too fast!), our local landscapes, my dog Lily, or whatever strikes my fancy, and I post many of these on my FB page (though never the kids, unless their faces are obscured). My pile of TBR books keeps growing and I winnow them down little by little, but spare time’s fleeting. 

HL  Again I can relate to the books TBR *Sigh* sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get to the end of the pile.  So many books, so little time! In your own books, what comes first: the plot or the characters? 

CM Depends on the book. Sometimes an inkling of a story line will come to me, sometimes a character will step out of the shadows and introduce him/herself to me. In one lucky instance, the title popped into my head of its own accord and I began writing Death Is A Bitch. 

HL  Oh isn't it great when that happens, ! Tell us about your latest release and what you think readers will enjoy about it. 

CM The heroine of Goddess, Awakened is in her forties, not your typical leading lady but a very interesting one! All the female characters are very strong and feisty. Grandmothers play an important part in each of these books (so far; I just finished the second), and Joss’ Gram helps lead her back to her familial ties to the fae.

The hero, Eric Hendricks, is also widowed, and shuts out the world by focusing on his veterinary patients. Many of the animals in this book represent my own beloved pets – Taz the border collie/lab is a mix of my childhood dog Tippy, who lost his leg after a car accident, and our border collie/lab who died unexpectedly. Now he can roam the fields again with our old horse Triple Power, who’s also in the book. Some of the other horses mentioned were once in the same stable as ours. 

HL  Oh that sounds like an amazing read - yet another one to be added to the pile!  I also include my animals in my books, as you say, it's a way for them to live on I hadn't realised you were a fellow horse lover too! Getting back to the book, if someone were to play one of your characters in a movie, which character and actor would it be and why? 

CM  Love this question! I already have this worked out for most of the characters in Goddess, Awakened (as you already know, lol)  Diane Lane is my heroine, Joss Gibson, and Josh Brolin is Eric Hendricks, the hero. You can find a peek at the full cast on my blog: 
http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2014/07/casting-call-goddess-awakened.html

HL  Oh what an amazing cast list! What have you learned about writing since you were published that surprised you the most? 

CM How wonderfully supportive the writing community is. I love how helpful other authors are, whether answering questions for a newbie, or spreading word about other writers’ books, or just there to pat your back when you need support. Friends like you are worth your weight in gold. :)  

HL  Aw, what a lovely thing to say - and I have to agree - I've found exactly the same thing, The support of all my friends and fellow authors means so much to me too.  And do you have a support system? Do you have a writing community? What  valuable lessons have you learned from them? 

CM Yes, absolutely, I couldn’t get by without them, whether local writer friends or online friends. My crit group celebrated its tenth anniversary, and we cheer each other on through thin. They’ve all taught me the importance of giving back, of lending a hand when needed and especially, supportive ear (or shoulder to cry on).
 

HL What is your personal definition of success?

CM  Love this question. It’s one all artists should ask of themselves before starting down this road, because with all its related hardships, it can be such a difficult path to stay on. Although I would love to be on all the bestseller lists and see my books made into blockbuster films, the writing is what’s most important to me. Being able to do what I love best is a blessing, made all the sweeter when readers enjoy my stories.


HL  Excellent answer Cate, and one I think most writers would agree with.  Sadly it's nearly time for the shuttle to arrive to take you back to Earth, so I have one more question, just for funIf you were an animal, which one do you think you would be, and why?

CM    A wild horse roaming the plains. If I could also be a mythical creature, then Pegasus. How cool would that be to be a horse *and* fly too?



HL We are so much alike! a horse running free is wonderful - a horse flying, even better!Thank you so much for visiting, Cate, I’m so happy to have you featured on my blog.



CM Thanks again for having me, Lyn. It’s been a real pleasure. If only I could visit you in Wales for real!


You can find out more about Cate's wonderful fantasy romance below  (and don't miss her video at the end of the post:


Blurb

With a little help from a goddess, battling evil is a piece of cake for Jocelyn Gibson.
A descendant of the goddess Iris, Jocelyn Gibson may have forgotten about the realm of magic, but it hasn’t forgotten her. When Eric Hendricks is targeted by a demon, Joss must step in to battle the evil and save the town’s awkward, but endearing, vet…who also happens to be the man she loves. 
Joss’s new inn, a culinary career specializing in cooking with lavender and a new love all make for a fine recipe of disaster. She needs to embrace her inner goddess and harness the powers she never knew she had before it’s too late.
Goddess, Awakened
The Goddess Connection, 
Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance novel
About 89,700 words

The Goddess Connection Series
Every woman should embrace her inner goddess. What’s your connection?

In each novel of The Goddess Connection series, the heroine is somehow connected to a goddess. Her lifelong quirks will become strengths once she finds her true place in the world, and accepts herself for who she really is.

And in each, the heroine is encouraged to embrace her inner goddess. And the hero treats her like one! As it should be for every woman.

About the Author
Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Contact Details
Twitter:  @CateMasters

Reviews for GODDESS, AWAKENED
The book will keep you gripped. It's unique, has much conflict, and the romance keeps you hooked.” – Sugar and Spice

Author Cate Masters breaks so many tropes I could hardly keep up with her. But the good news is that this is just the first book of the Goddess Connection series. I can't wait to see where else Cate Masters takes us.” – The Romance Reviews

“A beautifully written novel with lots of paranormal excitement and romance to keep me thoroughly happy and entertained.” - Suzy Turner’s Fiction Dreams

Excerpt

The sting remained with Joss long after Eric fled the inn. Deep-rooted pain emanated from him when he’d first entered, and his palm against her arm sent an electric shock straight to her bones. The poor man. Grief kept him its prisoner. Joss understood how easy it was to fall into that dark trap. The way he’d held her, he sought escape. Comfort. He awakened deep-seated sensations in her. In the few moments with him, she’d felt more alive than she had in three years.


So strange. Normally, one look allowed her to see the person inside. With Eric Hendricks, her receptivity went into overload. His soul, pent up for years, stirred to life and churned up love, fear, joy, hopelessness, yearning, jumbled and shifting faster than light. He displayed great strength in his firm stance and gentle touch. Beneath a hard veneer of sheer pain, one other trait came through clearly—purity of spirit, and integrity enough for many men.


The arrival of more guests drew Joss to the foyer again. Another matronly witch and an older man wearing a checked flannel shirt, jeans, and boots stepped inside, followed by a princess and a boy in a fabric turtle shell.


Joss recognized the girl as one of the riders whose horse was boarded at the inn’s stable. After greeting them and pointing them toward refreshments, she returned to Lydia. “Sorry about Dr. Hendricks.”


“Don’t apologize. It’s wonderful you have so many guests.” Lydia fingered the flowers in the vase on the table.


One woman stood in the archway to the front room, her bright-eyed glare directed at Joss. Wearing a short white shift adorned with large red hearts, the woman held a wand topped with a glittering red heart.


Confused by the woman’s malevolence, Joss approached and fought to overcome the negativity oozing from her. “Did you try some of the booscotti?”


The woman tilted up her chin. “I’m not hungry, Mrs. Gibson,” came her familiar nasal reply.
Recognition finally hit. Of course—the girl who worked at the diner in town. “Sheree?”
At her curt nod, Joss forced a smile. “I love your costume.”


Sheree’s gaze darted her length. “Likewise.”


What could be her problem? The woman wielded her wand like a weapon, ready to strike. “Please have a drink and make yourself at home.”


“Thank you.” Her narrowed eyes swept the room as if suspecting an ambush, and then she moved stiffly away.


Joss crossed the room to Lydia. “That was weird.”
Lydia whispered, “Be careful of her.”


“Sheree? I can’t imagine why.” Could she be nervous the inn would take away some of the diner’s business? Though Joss would have liked to think it was the cause of her strange behavior, Sheree’s vibes told Joss otherwise. Business had nothing to do with it. The waitress directed her bad juju at Joss personally. Had Joss unintentionally insulted Sheree? She’d barely met the woman.
Leaning close, her aunt spoke sternly, “I warned you to watch for others who seek the power of this place.”


Sheree? Her aunt must be mistaken. The woman’s terrible attitude resulted from something. Maybe an imagined slight? Joss would find a way to put Sheree at ease.


More guests entered, and Joss excused herself. She left Lydia deeply inhaling the air. Joss couldn’t deny the charged atmosphere was one of the reasons she’d bought the place. Not to tap into any lines of power for herself, but maybe to enhance the lavender field she planned. Joss needed the garden to thrive so the inn would as well.

The story of the giant' s stones - Monday's Welsh Legend

In North Wales lies an ancient road, stretching between the Island of Anglesey in the west and the Welsh border towns to the east.One summer's day, two red faced, ginger haired giants, trudged along the road. As is the wont with giants, they were ill tempered and quarrelled as they walked along. They intended to build a large house for themselves on the island of Anglesey. (some variations of the legends say they were going to build a bridge.) One of the gaints carried a large stone under each arm, which would form the window frame of the house. His wife held in her apron a bundle of smaller rocks to be used for the walls of their new home.

They  set out at sunrise from Chester but had lost their way on the tricky narrow pathways. When they finally found the right road, it was steep and stony, climbing and winding into the mountains, and by now the giants had spent a long day walking under the hot summer sun and were becoming weary. Grumbling and complaining, they eventually reached the highest point of a pass between the mountain ranges and looked out toward the Island of Anglesey.

They were stopped in their tracks by the sight of a young man coming toward them,  carrying a sackful of worn out leather shoes and  sandals.

The giants stared down at  the young man and asked him how far it was to Anglesey.
 "Well," the mischievous cobbler said, opening his sack, not at all afraid of the giants, "all these shoes were new when I left there!" Of course this was not really the case and he intended to repair the shoes and sell them at the next market town.


Dismayed by the belief that they still had  a long journey ahead of them, the giant cursed and threw down his boulders, which stuck upright in the soft earth on either side of the track. The giantess also emptied her apron full of rocks and tipped them out on the side of the path, where they can still be seen if you walk along the old Roman Road, through Bwlch y Ddeufaen the Pass of Two Stones.

I imagine there are many similar legends from around the world - do you know of a similar one referring to the area where you live?

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Return to Me - Book Blast Tour


I'm always happy to welcome a fellow SF/Fantasy romance author to the Flight Deck and today I'm thrilled to be able to host Melissa MacKinnon and her release 'Return To Me[.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melissa will be awarding $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn host. Please click the banner to see additional stops on the tour.

Archaean bounty hunter Marek Coinnich isn't particularly fond of Engels. In fact, he prefers them dead. But to save his injured brother, he must enter the manor of an Engel enemy. Marek finds himself enthralled by the slave girl nursing his brother back to health. When his enchantment with her lands them in a compromising position, he refuses to let the young beauty pay for the misunderstanding with her life.

Brynn of Galhaven prefers to keep to the shadows. When she is ruined by an outsider, she barely escapes with her life and finds herself left alone in an unforgiving land. Through her struggles to survive, Brynn discovers a world she never imagined and never forgets the enemy Archaean who stole her heart.

Marek can’t deny his desire for Brynn, but these are wartimes, and she is the enemy. And though love knows no prejudice, the world in which he lives isn’t nearly as forgiving.
Now enjoy an excerpt:

Shrieking out in agony, Brynn pleaded for her life. Another lash dug in. Then another. Her wails did not deter the earl. Her body went limp.

Marek elbowed his way through the blood-crying mob. With every crack of the whip, he pushed himself farther. He would slice these fools through if it would clear him a path. The girl’s screams echoed in his ears, signaling every lash reached its target. The crowd cheered with each crack. Five lashes.

Six. He cursed, finally stumbling from the spectators. The girl hung lifeless before him.

The seventh lash cracked through the air, and the earl pulled his arm back to deliver the eighth when Marek charged. He wrenched the leather from Bertram’s fist. Bertram lost his footing and tumbled to the ground.

Marek tossed the whip aside. Standing over the shocked man, Marek pulled his sword from its sheath. The edge lingered dangerously close to the earl’s throat. He wedged the tip under the man’s chin, pressing it into the fat. “Why do your people not rush to protect you, Earl of Galhaven?” Kneeling beside Bertram, Marek chose the words with care. “Touch her again, and I will kill you. I do not make idle threats, Engel.”


Melissa grew up surrounded by dragons, fearsome creatures, and damsels in distress from the wonderful world of make believe. She soon found her ideas on paper, littering her desk with world maps and character biographies. Study hall was used not for homework but for writing. Although she pursued a career in theater, the written word never left her. Melissa now leads a full life with her husband and children (five amazingly adorable clones to be exact), though she still finds time to write in her “spare time”. She sports a Military Wife badge of honor, and is lucky enough to have her own knight in camo armor.

Melissa enjoys writing everything from sexy, sword-toting heroes to spit-out-your coffee funny romantic comedies. Her passion lies within the ancient walls of fantasy and historical romance, where anything is possible.

Melissa MacKinnon: http://melissamackinnon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMacKinnon602?fref=ts

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/melissa.mackinnon.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_MacKinnon

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