"Sarah Faire" on Kickstarter

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to take a few minutes to spread the word about an awesome children's book project on Kickstarter! "Sarah Faire and the House at the End of the World" by Alex Giannini and illustrated by Abigail Larson. My wonderful fiance backed this project because he thought I would love the book! He's right, the illustrations are so beautiful and the story sounds delightfully spooky! With 62 hours to go, this project is 97% funded! I hope it gets funded so I can read this beautiful book!  







*I was not compensated for this post or contacted by the author. I just wanted to spread the word!!

Excerpt and Giveaway: "A Match for Marcus Cynster"

 As part of the excerpt tour for "A Match for Marcus Cynster", I have excerpt #4 along with a tour-wide giveaway!

"A Match for Marcus Cynster"
by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Source: n/a


Excerpt #4:



*
It took several hours to bring both bodies up from the depths of the crevasse and transport the remains to Carrick Manor. Despite the depredations of small animals and the passage of time, Nigel’s body was easily identified. His remains were garbed in the clothes he’d worn to the wedding of their cousin, Thomas Carrick, and Lucilla Cynster—the last time anyone other than Nolan had set eyes on him.
Niniver spent the rest of that day closeted in the library with the clan council. Norris was present, too. Although he was several years younger than she and therefore had fewer memories of Nigel and Nolan as children, his assessments of their older brothers matched and supported her own.
Fact by fact, she and the council assembled the true sequence of events. Recalling a statement Nolan had made at the inquest into the Burns sisters’ deaths—an inquest that had reached no final conclusion but had left the suspicion of murder hanging over Nigel’s head—Niniver sent Sean to Ayr to pose what were now clearly pertinent questions to certain people there.
It was the following morning before Sean returned. The clan council reconvened to hear his report. Once they’d digested the no-longer-unexpected news, Ferguson turned to Niniver. “What now? Do we summon the authorities, or what?”
Seated behind the desk her father had used throughout his long reign as laird, Niniver met Ferguson’s gaze, then looked at Mrs. Kennedy, the housekeeper, seated alongside him, then at Canning, Phelps, Bradshaw, Sean, and the others on the council. All regarded her levelly, expectation in their eyes.
The vow she’d uttered over her father’s grave resonated in her mind. I will do whatever’s necessary to ensure that all mistakes made by your children are put right and that the clan is made whole, strong, and prosperous again. I will do all I can, and whatever I must, to preserve your legacy and to steer the clan as you would have wished.
It had been all she’d had to offer in reparation for her father losing his life; she hadn’t known enough to save him from being poisoned by one of his sons.
The least she could do now was to ensure the blame fell on the son who deserved it, thus clearing the name of the son who had been another victim. That way, Nigel—Manachan’s firstborn and best-loved child, the one who, despite his weaknesses, had been groomed to take the lairdship—could be buried next to Manachan in the family plot.
Yet her vow demanded she put the clan first. “We need to inform the authorities of Nolan’s death, and of all we’ve now realized. But if at all possible, I think we should endeavor to keep the matter quiet. I see no reason for the news sheets in Ayr and Dumfries, much less Glasgow and Edinburgh, to be encouraged to revisit the clan’s difficulties.”
Everyone was nodding. Phelps glanced around. “Clearly, you’ll get no argument from us on that score. The clan have suffered enough—we don’t need our dirty linen hanging out for the rest of the county to gossip about.”
Seeing agreement writ large in every face, Niniver nodded. “We’ll summon the doctor to examine the bodies—he’ll confirm what we already know. Meanwhile, I’ll send notes conveying the bare facts to…” She paused, considering, then went on, “Sir Godfrey Riddle, Lord Richard, and Thomas, and ask them to meet here this afternoon. Let’s see if we can manage things with just those three—they know the clan’s situation and will most likely be willing to help us arrange matters with the minimum of fuss.”
No one argued. Half an hour later, Sean took the notes Niniver had written and rode out to deliver them.
*






Follow along with the rest of the tour:


 A lucky winner from the entire excerpt tour will win:

·        1 copy of By Winter’s Light
·        1 copy of The Tempting of Thomas Carrick
·        1 copy of A Match for Marcus Cynster
·        1 tartan-pattern infinity scarf
·        1 Fabulous Scotland candle in tin (made in Scotland!)
·        1 Harrison Tweed bag (made in Scotland!)


 OMG! I want that Harrison Tweed bag!!!!! Good luck, everyone!!

This contest and Rafflecopter widget is run by the publicist, not In the Hammock, the info you submit, prizing and emails will be handled and administrated by the publicist.

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Disclosure: I received this promotional information from the publisher and was not compensated for this post.

"The Shell Seekers" New Trade Paperback

"The Shell Seekers"
by Rosamunde Pilcher
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Source: n/a


Summary from the publisher:
 An instant bestseller when it was first published in 1987, The Shell Seekers is an enduring classic which has touched the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. A novel of connection, it is the story of one family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. It is filled with real people--mothers and daughters, husband and lovers--and inspired with real values. Now for the first time in trade paperback, this magical novel—the kind of reading experience that comes along only once in a long while—is the perfect summer read, whether you are returning to it again, or opening the cover for the first time.

At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father, and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart.

Author Info: ROSAMUNDE PILCHER has had a long and distinguished career as a novelist and short-story writer, but it was her phenomenally successful novel The Shell Seekers that captured the hearts of all who read it and won her international recognition as one of the most-loved storytellers of our time. The Shell Seekers was followed by September and then by Coming Home and Winter Solstice, which also became worldwide bestsellers. She lives in Perthshire, Scotland.


For the first time since the original printing in 1987, the #1 bestselling "The Shell Seekers" will be released in a trade paperback edition. Trade paperbacks of "September" will be released in September, and "The Winter Solstice" will release in December.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shell-Seekers-Rosamunde-Pilcher/dp/1250063787/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1429027311

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shell-seekers-rosamunde-pilcher/1102933748?ean=9781250063786

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250063786

Disclosure: I received this promotional information from the publisher and was not compensated for this post.

"The Scoundrel and the Debutante" Q&A with Julia London

Today, I'm happy to welcome Julia London to In the Hammock for a Q and A. Let's celebrate the release of "The Scoundrel and the Debutante" the third book in the Cabot Sisters series.

THE SCOUNDREL AND THE DEBUTANTE
by Julia London
Harlequin; May 1, 2015

The dust of the Cabot sisters' shocking plans to rescue their family from certain ruin may have settled, but
Prudence Cabot is left standing in the rubble of scandal. Now regarded as an unsuitable bride, she's tainted among the ton. Yet this unwilling wallflower is ripe for her own adventure. And when an irresistibly sexy American stranger on a desperate mission enlists her help, she simply can't deny the temptation.

The fate of Roan Matheson's family depends on how quickly he can find his runaway sister and persuade her to return to her betrothed. Scouring the rustic English countryside with the sensually wicked Prudence at his side—and in his bed—he's out of his element. But once Roan has a taste of the sizzling passion that can lead to forever, he must choose between his heart's obligations and its forbidden desires.

 

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than thirty romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular Cabot Sisters historical series, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. She lives in Austin, Texas.


Q and A with Julia London: 


1.      If you could live during any time period from the past, when would it be and why?
I guess it’s obvious that I would have to try living in the Regency era. But I would have to be among the wealthy. I wouldn’t want to be crammed into any tight living quarters with a lot of people and maybe even some animals. I would need one of those big Georgian mansions, a butler, a ladies’ maid, and a very handsome and rich husband. Oh, and the gowns. I would need a lot of those beautiful gowns. I have always been a student and fan of history, but, in the end, knowing what I know, I like the creature comforts of the twenty-first century.

2.      How much research goes into writing historical romance?
That depends on the period. I have written so many historical romances set in a very confined time period (the Regency era spanned about twenty years), and have collected so many research books, that I have become a bit of a mini-expert in that time period. I know what was going on, and if I have any questions, I know exactly where to look to find the answer. However, I am starting a new historical series and setting it about one hundred years earlier, when Scotland and England united. I’m reading a couple of different books to get up to speed. But, unlike historical fiction, where the actual history is often a character in the story, in historical romance the history is always part of the background and not the main feature—the love story is—so a writer needs to know enough to set the tone, the milieu and the place, but doesn’t need to memorize any acts of Parliament or know the names of the king’s children.

3.      You’ve written over thirty historical romances and you’ve also published several contemporary romances. What is it like to switch back and forth from one type of romance to the other?
First, I don’t think of them as different subgenres although, technically, they are. I just think of them as another story. No matter what the setting, these books are about people and falling in love, and that is timeless. The inherent conflicts between men and women are timeless. So if a man is wearing pantaloons or jeans, when he falls in love, he feels the same way. From a technical standpoint, I like switching between time period settings—I think it keeps me fresh. The cadence of the language changes slightly, and sometimes I am so relieved I can just put people in a car and move them somewhere as opposed to readying a coach and a team of four and having to deal with a coachman and the butler just to get out the door. But those are minor details. Historical or contemporary, women’s fiction or whatever I am writing, it’s all about the story to me.




Buy the book here: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=58878




Disclosure: I received copies of the books from the publicist in exchange for this post. Questions in the Q and A were provided by the publicist.

Giveaway: "The Italian's Deal for I Do" Autographed Copy!

Today, I have an autographed copy of Jennifer Hayward's "The Italian's Deal for I Do" up for grabs!! Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form below!

"The Italian's Deal for I Do"
by Jennifer Hayward
(synopsis from publicist)
He's conquered global markets and immeasurable hearts, but to regain control of the fashion empire that's rightfully his, Rocco Mondelli must prove his playboy days are over. His secret weapon? Supermodel-in-hiding Olivia Fitzgerald and the power to ruin her if she refuses to play his loving fiancée!
   




GIVEAWAY RULES: The publicist has generously provided a paperback copy of "From Fake to Forever" for a lucky reader of my blog!
All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
  • US only
  • Books will be mailed out by the publicist
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends May 12
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
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Disclosure: I received copies of the books from the publicist in exchange for this post.