Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.
Showing posts with label Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Teaser Tuesday 10-6-2009


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!





She narrowed her eyes at him, willing him to remember. She could hardly think of anything else. He had to have felt the same giddy excitement.
(p155, A Highlander's Temptation (ARC) by Sue-Ellen Welfonder)










Teaser Tuesday is hosted at Should be Reading. Come on over and share your teaser, too!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sue-Ellen Welfonder Shares Her Love of Vikings!


I love Vikings.

Sometimes I suspect the feeling must be mutual because they often pop into my books. When they turn up, expecting to be included, I can’t resist them. After all, they’re bold and full of life, grand storytellers, brave and daring, romantic, and, at times, pretty darn dangerous. I’m sure you’ll agree those are all good traits for potential romance novel characters.

Having them appear suddenly, looking for a story part, is like being kissed by the writing gods.

I haven’t yet refused one.

So readers can expect to find the rare Norseman (or Norsewoman) living happily somewhere in my books’ pages. Or you can travel along when a character visits a Nordic setting. At the very least, there will be a few references-in-passing to Viking times.

A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) has some wonderfully fun Norse characters. When heroine, Arabella MacKenzie, begins her grand adventure, you’ll meet Arnkel Arneborg, shipmaster of the Merry Dancer, the merchant cog she journeys on. Then there’s Olaf Big Nose, neighbor and friend to Arabella’s hero, Darroc MacConacher. I really adored Olaf and loved writing the scenes that took place on his isle. His womenfolk also won my heart and I hope you’ll enjoy spending time with them, too. Asa Long-Legs was especially dear to me. Look for her at Darroc’s own Castle Bane.

These colorful Viking secondaries share the pages of A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) with some fascinating bits of Norse myth and legend.

Clan MacConacher’s fabled Thunder Rod has its roots in Nordic lore. This clan heirloom plays a strong role in A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) and provided me with hours of deadline enjoyment. The Thunder Rod is very special. I smiled each time it appeared on my pc screen. If you don’t yet know what it is, the Thunder Rod is a polished length of fossilized wood. It’s carved with runes and is charmed – though some may say cursed – and it may or may not have been torn from the prow of Thor’s own dragon ship. There’s another, equally romantic, tale about the rod’s origins, but I’ve shared enough for now.

You can surely see that I’m fond of all things Norse.

But some of you might be wondering why I weave such things into Scottish medieval romances.

The short answer is: see above. I just love Vikings.

That’s true enough. It’s also true (again, see above) that I have so much fun writing them. Even so, there’s much more to it. You see, those Vikings have every right to be there.

The Norse ruled the Hebrides for nearly four centuries. Some historians place the earliest invasions as far back as 100 B.C. But the great age of Viking raids didn’t happen until many hundreds of years later. When it came, beginning in the late 700s, the attacks were vicious and terrifying. There isn’t any way to paint them pretty. They were what they were.

But the Vikings weren’t just blood-thirsty sea-raiders.

They were also farmers, fishermen, great shipbuilders, amazing craftsmen, and incredibly far-traveling traders, merchants, and explorers. And like so many people who raid, they eventually became settlers, bringing their own history, culture, and beliefs to the lands they’d once ravaged. Through intermarriage with locals, they also brought new and fresh blood.

Here’s a photo of me (well, my feet) enjoying a picnic at one of my favorite haunts in Shetland. Not surprisingly, a Viking settlement was excavated not far from this idyllic spot.



They obviously knew a beauty spot when they saw one.

Norse hold on the Hebrides began to crumble after the Battle of Largs in 1264. The actual battle wasn’t a grand victory for the Scots, but the weather gods joined the fray and fierce sea storms smashed the Norse longships. King Hakon retreated to Orkney where he died and Norway ceded the Hebrides to Scotland two years later, in 1266.

Scotland’s Northern Isles, Orkney and Shetland, remained under Norse rule much longer. Only in the late 1460s did Scotland gain power there.

Those are cold, hard historical facts. Dates and events carved in time and that are irrefutable.

What is also indisputable is that Viking influence remained strong.

This legacy can still be seen throughout the Hebrides, setting of A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009). To this day, you’ll find these beautiful, windswept islands brimming with Norse archaeological sites. For those who look for such things, Viking influence can be found in place names, local customs and festivals, and myth and legend. Who hasn’t heard of the fabulous sagas? To say the Norse had a way with words is an understatement.

There isn’t room to go into the pagan world of their gods or their spectacular ship burials. I could also wax poetic over how charismatic the men could be. Or sing praises of the women who were so strong and vital and held so many rights. Some of those rights are real eye-poppers for those who like to think women back then were helpless doormats.

Not Norsewomen.

They enjoyed sexual freedom that was unheard of in other societies. A woman could divorce a husband if he didn’t adequately satisfy her. Some wives who are recorded as having made use of this right are also noted as walking away with their dowries returned to them.

I like to think they were also as generous, good, and big-hearted as they were free-spirited.

That’s how I saw the Norsewomen you’ll encounter in A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) when the story takes you to Olaf Big Nose’s isle. Asa Long-Legs’ tale is a bit different, and tinged with tragedy. But she, too, could well have existed and her fate isn’t really a stretch. Although she is entirely my own creation, as is what happens to her.

Asa hailed from Shetland and she missed her northern home. The following two photos were taken at a place she would have known. These cliffs are the northernmost point of land in Great Britain. I thrilled to walk those cliffs. Being at the very top of Shetland, they’re closer to Norway than mainland Scotland. I like to think Asa loved this place, too.

My portrayal of other Vikings in the story, namely the villainous ones, is also how I truly believe those particular sea raiders would have been. The Hebrides are vast and provided many hiding places for sea raiders. Such marauders did exist and some Hebridean isles were notorious lairs for them, the surrounding seas perilous to the traveler.

They certainly posed a danger for Arabella in A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009). But everything worked out in the end and I like to think she’s forgiven me for some of the trials she had to endure on her journey across the Hebrides. After all, if everything had gone smoothly, she never would have landed in Darroc’s arms.

So I don’t think she minded overmuch.

Although I’ll share that she blanched the day I was sitting at my desk, dreaming up her adventure, and the Black Vikings stormed into my office to announce that they were my villains.

She knew then that her path wouldn’t be easy.

She’s also been ‘working with me’ through many books (she was born at the end of my third book, Bride of the Beast (GCP, Jan. 2003) so she was aware of my affection for Vikings. She’ll have known I couldn’t have just looked the other way and pretended those fearsome, fire-in-their-eyes, sea-raiders weren’t in the room with us, demanding a piece of the action.

Obviously, Arabella trusted me to see her safely through a 450 page manuscript and into her happy ending, Vikings or no Vikings.

I’m also sure she understood their presence in her book.

With Norse legacy still such a tangible part of today’s Hebrides, imagine how strongly she would have been aware of their influence in her time, living when and where she did.

I hope you’ll agree that the Vikings you’ll meet in A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) fit in well and add some lovely color and excitement to the story.

Here are a few Viking fun facts you might not have known:

1) They didn’t wear horned helmets. A Viking warrior’s head protection of choice was most often a simple pointed helmet with a nasal bar. These helmets sometimes had mail ‘curtains’ at the back to safeguard the neck.

2) Vikings cared about appearance. They bathed frequently, braided their hair and beards, wore colorful clothes, and were fond of jewelry.

3) They were world travelers. A runic inscription at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul shows they reached Turkey. And archaeologists in Scandinavia have uncovered countless stashes of dirhams (Arab silver coins), proving trade with those distant lands.

4) They could charm. One Norse trader was so well-liked for his engaging tales about his sea-journeys, that he was always an honored guest at King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon court. This would have been at the height of the worst raiding years.

5) Their powerful sagas speak for themselves. These men had silver tongues. As proof: they had over a dozen beautifully evocative words just to describe the wind.

I could keep on – there are so many other fascinating bits I’d love to share - but space and time sets limits. You can probably tell already how much I love exploring the places I use as settings. And that I love, love, love research. Visiting such places first hand and learning as much as I can about something that fascinates me, is my idea of heaven.

Though just now, I should probably say Valhalla.

Question: do you enjoy research?

Or are you like some (not-to-be-mentioned) people I know who would rather have their toenails pulled out than be forced to wade through history books?

Visit my website to learn more about A Highlander’s Temptation (GCP, Oct. 2009) and see photos from my travels to sites of Viking interest in the Hebrides and Northern Isles: www.welfonder.com

Friday, September 25, 2009

A Highlander's Temptation Blog Tour!


A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. Yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul? (Hachette)


Sue-Ellen will be featured here on October 3 with a guest post and I will be reviewing her book. I also have a giveaway going on for A Highlander's Temptation that ends Oct 8. If you leave a comment on her guest post/review - I will throw in an extra entry in the giveaway!

In the meantime - please visit these blogs who are on the tour:

Yankee Romance Reviewers - Sept. 24 review and giveaway
Book Soulmates - Sept. 24 review and giveaway
Seductive Musings - Sept. 24 review, giveaway, and Q&A
Just Another New Blog - Sept. 24 giveaway
Starting Fresh - Sept. 25 review, giveaway, and Original Essay
Bloody Bad - Sept. 25 giveaway
Sapphire Romance Realm - Sept. 26 giveaway
The Plumber's Wife - Sept. 27 review and giveaway
Found Not Lost - Sept. 27 review, giveaway, and Original Essay
Readaholic - Sept. 27 review and giveaway
Bookin' With Bingo - Sept. 28 Original Essay
Drey's Library - Sept. 28 giveaway and Original Essay
Bookwormy Girl - Sept. 29 giveaway
My Guilty Pleasures - Sept. 30 review and giveaway
Revenge of the Book Nerds - Oct. 1 Original essay
My Book Addiction and More - Oct. 1 review, giveaway, and guest post
Libby's Library News - Oct. 2 original essay
Foreign Circus Library - Oct. 2 review
Bibliophiles 'R' Us - Oct. 2 review and giveaway
Books and Needlepoint - Oct. 3 review
A Book Blogger's Diary - Oct. 3 giveaway
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk - Oct. 3 Guest and giveaway
A Journey of Books - Oct. 4 review, giveaway, and Q&A
Cheeky Reads - Oct. 5 Q&A and giveaway.
Pudgy Penguin Perusals - Oct. 6 review and giveaway
Hodgepodgespv - Oct. 7 review
Park Avenue Princess - Oct. 7 giveaway

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Time to Tempt you with a New Giveaway: A Highlander's Temptation

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.


But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. Yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul? (Hachette)

This book is going on a virtual tour soon, so you will have the chance to read original essays by Sue-Ellen, get to know her through her interviews, and I am sure win her book on other blogs - so watch for all the fun starting Sept 24. For now, I have 5 copies of A Highlander's Temptation to giveaway courtesy of Anna and Hachette Books!

Rules - rules - rules
  1. Five copies to giveaway.
  2. Open only to U.S. and Canada.
  3. No PO Boxes
  4. All entries can be in one comment.
  5. +1 Must leave email address in comment.
  6. +2 if you are a new or old follower - but please let me know. How ever you follow - all will count for 2 entries (Twitter, Facebook, Google, Feed Reader, Email, etc, etc, etc)
  7. +3 if you post this on any social network or blog LEAVE A LINK TO GET BACK TO THIS POST OR IT WILL NOT COUNT - If you post on Twitter - please use @kherbrand and link to this post. Go Crazy! No Limits on Entries!
  8. +3 for referrals of NEW followers - if you already follow, you will not get entries for saying someone referred you - you can however get entries for referring new people...
  9. Giveaway ends on Oct 8.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

ARC Arrivals: Six Romance Books From Hachette

I received all of these in a goody bag from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette. They look yummy!



Chosen by Desire by Kate Perry

About the book: Carrie Woods just can't resist temptation. To solve an ancient mystery, she "borrows" a precious, legend-cursed scroll form a Chinese monastery. But with the scroll comes danger: bizarre powers, life-threatening accidents, and, most frightening of all, one sexy Guardian's icy-hot gaze.

Maximillian Prescott is all too happy to strip this innocent-eyed thief of her secrets and the scroll, yet he's determined to fight the undeniable attraction pulling them together. But Max isn't Carrie's only pursuer, and there's just one way to keep the scroll safe. This adventurous blonde and brooding Guardian must dare to join forces and bare their souls to each other. . .before their enemies take not only the scroll but Carrie's life. (from the book cover)

Chosen by Desire
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-54101-5
350 pages



Love You to Death by Shannon K. Butcher

About the book: It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her. . .

The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman. (from the back cover)

Love You to Death
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-51029-5
400 pages


Show no Fear by Marliss Melton

About the book: Lucy Donovan always gets her man. As a fiercely independent CIA agent, she's survived hundreds of death-defying missions. But her latest may just get her killed. Weighed down with a secret she's desperate to keep, the last thing Lucy needs is to be sent undercover with a man who brings out the best--and the worst--in her.

Navy SEAL Gus Atwater never turns down an assignment, even if it means working with the only woman he's ever loved and lost. So with a volatile mix of desire and distrust, Lucy and Gus confront their tangled past. Pretending to be man and wife is risky enough, but now the clock is running out. As their mission escalates from desperate to deadly, will Lucy's secret expose them both? (from the back cover)

Show no Fear
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-50927-5
320 pages



Lucan by Susan Kearney

About the book: Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .

Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth's only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can't afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion. . .even when the terrifying truth of Cael's heritage threatens to shatter Lucan's every belief--and the galaxy itself. (from the back cover)

Lucan
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-54331-6
352 pages



Tall, Dark & Fansome by Michelle Rowen

About the book: Sarah Dearly's vampire life is not all B-positive cocktails. A curse made her a nightwalker, the most vicious vamp there is; the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing its juice; and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill the ones she loves most if she doesn't obey his orders. That includes breaking up with master vampire Thierry and turning Gideon into an immortal vamp so he can escape a doom of eternal hellfire.

Making things worse are Sarah's growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy who keeps showing a vulnerable side. . .but is it for real? Will Sarah's dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the nightwalker curse in time to stop Gideon and finally live happily ever after with Thierry. . .forever? (from the back cover)

Tall, Dark & Fangsome
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-50585-7
352 pages




A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

About the book: Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul? (from the back cover)

A Highlander's Temptation
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-19530-0
400 pages




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