Aloha! Mia Marlowe prepared a brilliant post ... but I am inept with tech skills. While I work on her guest post, I will entertain you with six degrees of separation.
1. On this date in 324, Constantine I defeats Licinius, his rival for Rome, in the Battle of Adrianople. Licinius flees to Byzantium.
2. Several centuries later, Byzantium is home of the Varangian Guard - Vikings who served in an elite army as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine Emperors.
3. The Viking hero in LORD OF FIRE AND ICE, Brandr, served in the Varangian Guard for five years. He returned home to Hardanger Fjord, where the real adventure begins.
2. This giveaway is open to US residents only. For the international readers, I offer a a Hawaiian "Fire and Ice" souvenir.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, July 7, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 8.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Mia and her books, check out her website at miamarlowe.com.
To learn more about Connie and her books, check out her website at www.conniemason.com.
4. The Hardanger Fjord is considered the birthplace for Norwegian tourism. In 1875, travel entrepreneur Thomas Cook offered weekly cruise departures from London to Hardanger Fjord, giving Victorian tourists an adventure among Norway's glaciers and waterfalls.
5. If she lived in that time, I believe Mia Marlowe would have booked passage on Cook's tours. From her bio, "Mia would rather have an adventure than a new sofa."
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| Two ladies a sofa, looking at a sketch-book by Charles Emile Wattier |
6. The sofa is the perfect place to read LORD OF FIRE AND ICE. The book will transport the reader to Hardanger Fjord in the comfort of indoor AC. You'll need the AC as the pages heat up with passion ...
His duty is to fulfill her every desire...
Brandr the Far-Traveled has seen the world and a good many of the beautiful women in it. His bed skills are the stuff of steamy legend, his sword sings death, and he can call up fire from thin air. No one ever thought he could be enslaved through trickery and forced to wear the iron collar of a thrall—least of all him.
Until all she desires is him...
Katla the Black isn’t just called so for her dark, silky hair. His new mistress has a temper as fierce as a warrior’s and a heart as icy as the frozen North. But inch by delicious inch, Brandr means to make her melt...
His duty is to fulfill her every desire...
Brandr the Far-Traveled has seen the world and a good many of the beautiful women in it. His bed skills are the stuff of steamy legend, his sword sings death, and he can call up fire from thin air. No one ever thought he could be enslaved through trickery and forced to wear the iron collar of a thrall—least of all him.
Until all she desires is him...
Katla the Black isn’t just called so for her dark, silky hair. His new mistress has a temper as fierce as a warrior’s and a heart as icy as the frozen North. But inch by delicious inch, Brandr means to make her melt...
I posted my review of LORD OF FIRE AND ICE on Amazon at this link and Goodreads at this link. Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of LORD OF FIRE AND ICE to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about your travel adventures - have you seen any Vikings? Glaciers? Waterfalls? Other enticing sights?
We visited Kaua'i last week and spotted several beautiful waterfalls!
1. Leave a comment about your travel adventures - have you seen any Vikings? Glaciers? Waterfalls? Other enticing sights?
We visited Kaua'i last week and spotted several beautiful waterfalls!
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| Wailua Falls |
2. This giveaway is open to US residents only. For the international readers, I offer a a Hawaiian "Fire and Ice" souvenir.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, July 7, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 8.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Mia and her books, check out her website at miamarlowe.com.
To learn more about Connie and her books, check out her website at www.conniemason.com.
Other than the continental USA, most my travels are within the covers of books! I have never been to Hardanger Fjord , but I look forward to visiting it through Mia and Connie's book! It sounds like a real winner.... which is what I am hoping to be! TY for this opportunity to win a copy!!
ReplyDeleteI love Connie and Mia when they get together and create a red hot book, especially with Vikings.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing several waterfalls throughout England when I was growing up, and always thought how beautiful they were. The last waterfall that I saw a few years ago was Niagara Falls. Wow, I was totally blown away by how stunning, and also very intimidating it was.
I'd really,really love to read "Lord of Fire and Ice". Thank you for this opportunity.
I have seen some wonderful things in my travels. I love visiting castles.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteHmm... well, I saw Niagara Falls before since I live about an hour away from there. It is impressive but way too many tourist...
Hi Everybody! My sincerest apologies to Kim. I thought I'd get cute and send my post in HMTL with all the pics and links already embedded and I ended up sending a snarl even Kim's techno-savvy husband couldn't unravel. But hasn't she done a beautiful job taking elements of this story and highlighting them? Mahalo, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI love travelling to see Waterfalls :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool post, Kim. I've spent my life traveling. Learned a lot about Vikings in The Shetlands. I've seen waterfalls in HI, NY, and other places. Haven't seen any glaciers. However I want to take a cruise to Alaska. Perhaps I'll visit the blog one day and say I have seen them. *grin*
ReplyDeleteHi Kim and Mia! Kim, I loved your post and am looking forward to reading SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. I love reading about Vikings.
ReplyDeleteI have seen glaciers and waterfalls in Canada and Alaska. They were beautiful!
kscathy@yahoo.com
Woops! Sorry! Must have fallen asleep. Lord of Fire and Ice is the one I want to read first.
ReplyDeletekscathy@yahoo.com
I've heard such good things about this book! I've seen waterfalls in Hawaii and New York and Canada. As to enticing, I think anywhere I travel it is all so amazing such as the Grand Canyon to islands to mountains and monuments and castles and churches etc. etc. etc. lol.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger we visited the Grand Canyon and the Crystal Caverns. I loved the caverns and when they turned off the lights to show you how dark it was...omg you couldn't see a thing. But there was a trickle of water running through the rocks on either side of the path in and out and it was such a nice hike to get in and out of the place.
ReplyDeletei have traveled over the continental US, but never out of the country (hope to soon)...I am looking forward to reading Fire and Ice.
ReplyDeleteBetty--Glad to see you at this stop. I love it when friends follow me around cyber-space! ;-)
ReplyDeleteDiane--When the DH and I moved from the midwest to Boston, we made time to run up to Niagra. I'd never seen it before. It's awesome! And I use that word in its full meaning, as in I was struck with awe and wonder at the power of that mighty fall. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteDebby--I'm a castle junkie too. One of my favs is Leeds Castle in England. It's got a moat, a grotto and a tower that was standing when William the Bastard and his horde came roaring over the green hills.
ReplyDeleteMay, May, when you live by such a natural wonder, you have to expect the less fortunate will drop by to see it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEli--Me too. My DH is especially fond of them. We had to hike down Uncle Tom's Trail in Yellowstone so he could get a closer look at the falls in the canyon there. Its about half a mile down and 4 miles back up. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMelj--I envy you your time in the Shetlands. I've been fascinated by those quixotic little northerly islands--the Hebrides, the Faroes, they seem so remote and forbidding.
ReplyDeleteWe have Gold and Silver Falls and Multnomah Falls here in Oregon. I have seen both and they are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteCathy P--If you love Vikings you might also enjoy my MAIDENSONG and ERINSONG. Check them out on the Books page of my website-- MiaMarlowe.com
ReplyDeleteCatslady--Glad to hear you've heard good things about LORD OF FIRE AND ICE.
ReplyDeleteMary--I have no problem going into a cave that's been commercialized--smooth floors, handrails, and strategic lighting. But once our daughter led up up to a cave in the Big Horn Mountains so we could truly explore one. It creeped me out big time. A flashlight doesn't begin to cut the darkness and with every step I was sure I was going to step in a fissure and twist my foot off! I know I always say I'd rather have an adventure, but this was maybe a bit TOO adventurous. I was sooooo thankful to get back out under the sky.
ReplyDeleteKerry--I love to travel abroad and have been blessed to do so many times. But I'm always glad to come home to the US. I understand the plumbing here.
ReplyDeleteEstella--Even the names of those falls sound lovely. And isn't there a publisher called Multnomah too? Are they based in Oregon?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the waterfalls along the Road to Hana. No so much the twists and turns.
ReplyDeleteMia's book comes just in time for a break from this record heat!
Sue
My husband is an OTR truck driver and I have been traveling with him for the last two months (and will for July,too). I've seen some truly amazing scenery - we've been to/through 35 states in two months - some several times. Don't get to see a lot of specific attractions, but it has been a terrific experience. On other trips I've seen Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. I've also seen some beautiful waterfalls in Oregon, but can't remember the names. Sad to say - no Vikings!
ReplyDeleteSo excited I love Mia so want this book,
ReplyDeleteWaterfalls there are so many, I have to say that there is nothing more majestic than the Water running down to the burns & Loch's in My beloved Scotland.
A wee bit of trivia. Highlands Scotland Glomach waterfall Is the 3rd highest in the UK.
The west coast of Scotland is my favorite drive.
Have a good one Ann/alba
Pick me! I love Mia and time travel and vikings and highlanders! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't travel much, but one of the amazing places I remember called Seven Falls. It was absolutely breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteMel
I haven't had a chance to travel too much, but I've enjoyed the sights I have seen. My favorite sights these days have been man made ones at the amusement parks in Orlando. They might not be natural, but they're pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI've seen waterfalls.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some truly magnificent waterfalls in Far North QLD during a wet Summer.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture from Thornews, amazing. And I love stories about Vikings, why oh why aren't there more out there? But I am glad the writing team came up with Lord of Fire and Ice!
ReplyDeleteHmm...I have seen waterfalls in Hawaii. Breath taking mountains in CO and WY. Amazing blue waters in the Caribbean. And peaceful sunsets across the plains. So yes, my ideal vacation is to enjoy nautre and avoid packed touristy places. =)
I saw Niagra Falls when I was a kid & Bridelveil Falls in Yosemite - they were both very impressive. I've seen some Alpine Glaciers - very strange to be on snow covered mountain in the summer. I've only seen Vikings in movies & read about them.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen waterfalls or glaciers or Vikings. Now I have seen the ocean (Atlantic) and truly that is spectacular around here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful blog, truly making the best of a problem. Mia, I'm so glad LORD OF FIRE AND ICE is finally out. I love your Viking stories and I know your and Connie's Viking story will be twice as much fun.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a truly big waterfall in person *hanging head*. But I've enjoyed all the things I've seen in my travels. Among them is the North Sea, which Vikings must have viewed from the other side LOL. I loved standing on the shore of the Sea when I visited the Netherlands, gazing out at the endless steel gray water (it was stormy that day) and imagining what it must have been like for women, waiting for their men to come home--from fishing, or from 'a'Viking.'
I've seen waterfalls and been on glaciers :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen waterfalls at a state park we have here in Pennsylvania.
ReplyDelete