Today at Book Savvy Babe, historical romance author Vonda Sinclair is here with an interview and giveaway of her book My Fierce Highlander.  I loved this Highlander story, I rated it 4.5 of 5 stars! (read my review)

BSB:To Kick this inteview off, why don’t you tell us about My Fierce Highlander.

VS: Sure! Here is the official blurb:

Gwyneth Carswell, an English lady banished by her father to the harsh Scottish Highlands, wants nothing more than to take her young son away from the violence of two fighting clans–her own distant kin, the MacIrwins, and their enemies, the MacGraths. She risks everything to rescue the fierce MacGrath warrior from the battlefield where he’s left for dead by her clan. She only knows she is inexplicably drawn to him and he wants peace as she does. When her clan learns of her betrayal, they seek vengeance. Dare she trust the enemy more than her own family?

Laird Alasdair MacGrath is driven to end two-hundred years of feuding with the MacIrwins. But by taking in and protecting Lady Gwyneth and her son, he provokes more attacks from his mortal enemy. As the danger and conflict surrounding them escalate, Alasdair and Gwyneth discover an explosive passion neither of them expected. With the arrival of a powerful man from her past, a horrible decision confronts her–give up her son or the man she loves.

BSB: What made you decide to start writing Highlander Romances?

I’ve always loved Highlanders and Highland romance novels. Fierce warriors wearing kilts and swinging big swords to protect clan and country is irresistible. Also the Highlands are a romantic, atmospheric and forlorn place. At times the scenery is so beautiful and picturesque it seems unreal. But the reality is that the weather is harsh. Highlanders had to be strong to survive the tough conditions. What makes it seem forlorn is that sometimes when I visit a site, I remember that hundreds of years ago a clan or village of people would’ve been living there in groupings of stone cottages. Now, only the foundations remain. This is when my imagination kicks in and I try to imagine what it must have been like. When walking through the castle ruins, I try to imagine who lived there and what life must have been like. I’m a romantic at heart, so I always imagine sexy, strong chiefs and lairds who do their best to protect the clan.

BSB: If you could cast your characters in a movie, who would you choose to play your main characters?

VS: I would say perhaps Jason Momoa and Keira Knightly.

BSB:  Oohh, I love Keira Knightly, great choices!  What character in My Fierce Highlander is most like you?

VS:Probably the heroine, Gwyneth. She’s very practical and she deals with things as they come. She’s a survivor and refuses to give up when she wants something.

BSB: How do you research the setting and time period for your books?

VS:The best way for me to research the settings in Scotland is to visit to get a sense and feel of things for myself. The best way to learn about something is to experience it. Plus, trips to Scotland are among my favorite, most treasured times. I did write the first version of My Fierce Highlander before I visited Scotland. When I came home, I had to change a few details. Scotland is a lot more drenched with water than I realized. LOL Also visiting a furnished castle puts everything in perspective and makes it seem more real. As for the time period, I read nonfiction books on history and culture.

BSB: What 3 qualities must romance heros have?

VS: I love heroes who are strong, tough alphas, but at the same time they are compassionate and protective of those they love. I love that sort of fierce-tender duality they have going on. And they must be sexy!

BSB: Just for fun, I always play a game of Would You Rather.  Please have fun with the questions and explain your answers:

Would You Rather: have your flight delayed by 8 hours or loose your luggage?

VS: Oh wow, I hate layovers and flight delays with a passion. But I really can’t lose my luggage. So I’d have to say the lesser of two evils here would be the flight delay. LOL

BSB: Would You Rather: Watch a marathon of the TV show Mash OR watch the Food Network all day and not be able to eat?

VS: I’m not a Mash fan but I am a Food Network fan. Still, I like to eat when I’m hungry. I suppose I could tune out a Mash marathon and write while it’s going on.

Thank you so much for interviewing at Book Savvy Babe! To learn more about Vonda Sinclair, visiter her site: http://www.vondasinclair.com/

To buy the book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble  | Smashwords

Vonda Sinclair is offering a giveaway with her stop at Book Savvy Babe today!  One commenter will get an e-copy of My Fierce Highlander!  Contest open to anyone who reads e-books, US and International.  Must be at least 18 to enter.  Contest will run one week, from today (Monday the 27) through Sunday March 4th at midnight.  How to enter:

Leave a meaningful comment, ask a question, answer a would you rather, comment on the interview, etc… 

Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn

by Persia Woolley

Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark

My Rating: 

Surrounded by traitors, trapped by destiny, Britain’s spirited Queen Guinevere recounts the last, dramatic years of Camelot. At King Arthur’s side, she reigned over the fabled heroes of the Round Table as her heartbreaking honesty, courage, and integrity were challenged by those she loved most. Torn between duty and desire as he rescued his Queen, condemned to the stake for treason, Lancelot swept her away as she bartered her soul to save Arthur and Camelot from the furies of fate. This is Arthurian epic at its best-filled with romance, adventure, authentic Dark Ages detail, and wonderfully human people.

My Review: 

Giving a new viewpoint to the Arthur legend, Persia Woolley creates an enchanting and believable tale.  Guinevere, The Legend In Autumn is told from Guinevere’s perspective.  I did not get to read the first two books in the trilogy, but I am familiar with the Arthur legend, and I was able to follow along quite well.  The story in this last installment of the trilogy details the Arthur legend, it describes the search for the Holy Grail and how Guinevere comes to be tried for treason.  All the basic elements of the traditional Arthur legend are present in the book from Excalibur, the round table, and the popular characters as well.

I have always enjoyed different variations of the Arthur legend.  There is a combination of magic, destiny, and chivalry that make this legend stand out.  What I loved about Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn was that the story was believable.  This is not a fanciful, whimsical fairy tale or legend.  Persia Woolley wrote a highly engaging story that provides explanation for the discord in King Arthur’s family and the blood feuds that constantly simmer under the surface of a refined Camelot.  Through Guinevere’s prospective, Arthur is portrayed as a man.  He is a man dedicated to his vision, a noble and worthy vision, but that same dedication to his cause makes Arthur falter in some of his relationships and decisions.  Even the destined King makes mistakes.

The relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot was not what I expected.  Persia Woolley gives both characters a strong moral compass and shows their dedication to their King and their cause.  I was very pleased by the depth of character both Lancelot and Guinevere showed.  I did not always agree with their actions, but I was able to understand why they acted in certain ways.

I have said that this book is a believable story.  That is very true, but that does not mean that Persia Woolley left out magic and myth altogether.  There are references to the fae, celtic rituals, and the magic of the old ways.  A big part of the story is the “old ways,” clashing with the new religion and the “white christ.”  The new ways challenge the perceptions of women, at least that is how Guinevere perceives some of the changes.  As the new religion grows stronger, Guinevere’s place as High Queen holds less respect.  All of this, combined with blood feuds and old resentments, comes down to how Camelot, Arthur, Guinevere, and the round table fall and deteriorate to legend.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I enjoyed seeing the world of King Arthur through Guinevere’s perspective.  Readers who enjoy Arthurian legend or historical fantasy will also like this book and the series.  King Arthur fans, while I enjoyed this book without reading the first two books in the series, I would recommend reading the entire series to get the full effect of the story.  The Reading order of the trilogy is: Book 1-Child of the Northern Spring. Book 2- Queen of the Summer Stars.  Book 3- Guinevere, Legend in Autumn.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home With Books.  To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at At Home With Books). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

I know that I haven’t posted a Saturday Snapshot for a few weeks, but I have a great picture for you today! I took this photo at a tiny little town outside of Bullhead City, Arizona (in the Laughlin, NV area) when I went to the river a few months ago with my friend Keri from The Book Heroine.  I call this photo:

The Hitch-Hiking Donkey

I don’t know about you, but if I was a donkey living in this teeny-tiny mining town, I would totally try to hitch a ride out of town with a Porshe too.  Donkey has great taste, and I find this picture pretty funny.  Also, if you look close, you will see that there is a line of Porshe’s driving out of town.  Talk about random sites, I don’t know if I was more surprised by the donkeys wandering the town or the fact that a group of Porshe’s were visiting…

  This picture is just cute, I made a new friend, a baby donkey!  There is a sticker on the poor donkey’s head that says “Please DO NOT feed me.”  This town was fun because these donkey’s just wonder wherever they want.  They park themselves in the middle of the road and stop traffic, they follow you around, and they let you pet them.  I was entertained

The Rake and The Recluse: Redux

Ruination (part 4)

by Jenn LeBlanc

Published by: Iris Photo Agency

My Rating:

A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn’t know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part FOUR is full of revelations, celebrations, protestations and one surprise that will have you holding your breath for the final chapters. What has Perry done?Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.

My Review: 

Ruination is another sensational installment in the already exceptional The Rake and the Recluse Series.  I was not sure, when I first began the series, if the serial nature of the novellas would enhance or detract from the story line.  Now that I am more than half-way through the series, I can safely say that the serial series is even better than the original novel.  Each serial novella is more detailed, better edited, and gives more depth to the story.

A Duke provoked and a scandalous kidnapping make Ruination the most emotionally-charged and thrilling installment in The Rake and the Recluse series yet.

Ruination picks up right where novella 3, Taken, ends.  Francine has been abducted and Gideon is racing to save her.  Despite Gideon’s best efforts, miscalculations cost both him and Francine.  Francine is in a horrible situation (as you might expect for a kidnap victim), but she maintains her spunk.  When Francine and Gideon are reunited, there is no keeping them apart.  Neither want to loose the other again, and Francine becomes more at ease with being in this new time period.  While Gideon and Francine’s relationship solidifies, Perry begins acting strangely.  Perry is not settling into his new role as guardian very well.  Ruination sets the scene for Perry’s secrets and story to unfold in the next installments, and I can not wait to read about it.

I have not at all been let down with this series.  I had expected that these middle novella sections might taper off a bit, or show some weak points.  However, my fears evaporated as I read Ruination.  The storyline in Ruination kept me reading as fast as I could and the more I read the more I loved the characters.  I get the feeling that from here on out, the focus of the story will shift a little bit, and I am eagerly anticipating the next installments in the series.

Notes on the series: Jenn LeBlanc’s photography interspersed throughout the story only enhances the story. Illustrated novels are a very new concept (as far as I know, unique to Jenn LeBlanc), but with both visually stunning photographs and impressive writing Jenn LeBlanc has created a new format for a literary masterpiece.

Each installment of this series is uniquely crafted to focus the storyline and engage readers. With the story broken into segments, the reader is able to really learn each of the characters and understand the setting. The reader is transported from the pages of the book into the story.

Do you want to read this series?  The books below are in series order, be sure to grab your copies!