Coming to SOS Aloha - Strive for the Summit

May - Kulia i ka nu'u
Strive for the summit.

5/1: Roxanne St. Claire's BAREFOOT IN THE SAND
5/2: Stephanie Sloane's THE SAINT WHO STOLE MY HEART: A Regency Rogues Novel
5/3: Joshua Graham's DARKROOM
5/4: Kendall Grey's INHALE
5/5: Honolulu Book Festival
5/6: Weekly winners 
5/7: Roberta Rich's THE MIDWIFE OF VENICE
5/8: GREAT ESCAPES by Linda Wisdom and Lynda K Scott
5/9: Sherry Jones' FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS
5/10:  Karen Kelley's WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
5/11: Grace Burrowes' LADY MAGGIE'S SECRET SCANDAL
5/12: Military Spouses' Appreciation Day
5/13: Weekly winners plus Mother's Day with Kat Martin's A SONG FOR MY MOTHER
5/14: Catherine Mann's UNDER FIRE
5/15:  Amelia Grey's A GENTLEMAN SAYS "I DO" 
5/16:  Jill Mansell's NADIA KNOWS BEST 
5/17:   Paula Quinn's CONQUERED BY THE HIGHLANDER
5/18:  Laurel McKee's ONE NAUGHTY NIGHT 
5/19:  Chrissie Wellington's A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS  
5/20: Weekly winners
5/21: Jill Shalvis' LUCKY IN LOVE
5/22: Shane Stanford's MAKING LIFE MATTER: EMBRACING THE EVERYDAY
5/23: Gina Robertson's DIAMONDS ARE TRULY FOREVER
5/24: Nancy Stewart's KATRINA AND WINTER: PARTNERS IN COURAGE 
5/25: Carol Henry
5/26: Kathryn Johnson
5/27: Weekly winners
5/28: Ruthie Knox's ABOUT LAST NIGHT
5/29: FOR LOVE AND HONOR - an ebook anthology celebrating military heroes with Cathy Maxwell, Lynne Hinton, and Candis Terry
5/30: Jennifer Estep's DARK FROST
5/31: Kate Angell's NO TAN LINES

June - A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia.

No task is too big when done together.

6/1: Susan Higginbotham's HER HIGHNESS THE TRAITOR

6/2: Kristine Grayson's THOROUGHLY KISSED 

6/3: Weekly winners

6/4: Sally MacKenzie's BEDDING LORD NED

6/5: D-Day: Remembering the Normandy Invasion

6/6: Open

6/7: Jayne Fresina's THE MOST IMPROPER MISS SOPHIE VALENTINE
6/8: Linda Ferguson's STAYING GROUNDED IN SHIFTING SAND

6/9: Elaine Coffman's LORD OF THE BLACK ISLE 

6/10: Weekly winners 

6/11: King Kamehameha Day

6/12: Erin Knightley's MORE THAN A STRANGER
6/13: Joanne Kennedy's COWBOY CRAZY
Elin Hilderbrand's SUMMERLAND
6/14: US Army's birthday and US Flag Day
6/15: Nancy Lee Badger's MY HONORABLE HIGHLANDER

6/16: Trooping of the Colours
6/17: Weekly winners

6/18: Linda Schroeder's ARTISTS AND THIEVES'

6/19: CH Admirand's JESSE

6/20: Open

6/21: Barbar Delinsky's classics

6/22: Open

6/23: Open

6/24:  Weekly winners

6/25: Kari Lee Townsend's CORPSE IN THE CRYSTAL BALL

6/26: Open

6/27: Open

6/28: Elizabeth Barrett's DEEP AUTUMN HEAT

6/29: Open

6/30: Open

July - 'Ike aku, 'ike mai, kokua aku kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohana 'ohana.

Recognize others, be recognized, help others, be helped; such is a family relationship. 

7/1: Weekly winners

7/2: Suzanne Jenkins' PAM OF BABYLON

7/3: Pamela Clare's DEFIANT

7/4: Jeanette Murray's THE OFFICER SAYS "I DO"

7/5: Amanda Usen's LUSCIOUS

7/6: Open

7/7: Sarah Anderson's A MAN OF PRIVILEGE

7/8: Weekly winners

7/9: Open

7/10: Open

7/11: Open

7/12: Open

7/13: Open

7/14: Open

7/15: Weekly winners

7/16: Open

7/17: Open

7/18: Open

7/19: Open

7/20: Open

7/21: Open

7/22: Weekly winners

7/23: Open

7/24: Flying to LA!

7/25: RWA: Librarians' Day and Literacy Signing

7/26: RWA in Anaheim

7/27: RWA in Anaheim

7/28: RWA Awards Ceremony

7/29: Weekly winners
7/30: Jodi Thomas' WILD TEXAS ROSE

7/31: Jennifer Haymore's PLEASURES OF A TEMPTED LADY

Coming in the future ...
8/4:  Coast Guard's birthday
8/7:  Suzanne Jenkins' DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME
8/20:  Hawaii Statehood Day
8/23: Anthology, "Born To Bite," with Hannah Howell, Erica Ridley, and Diana Cosby
8/24:  Duke's Day
9/17: Suzanne Jenkin's DREAM LOVER 
9/18:  Air Force's birthday

Aloha to Caridad Pineiro, THE CLAIMED, and HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS

We have a special guest at SOS Aloha - paranormal author and RITA nominee Caridad Pineiro! We recently chatted at the RT Booklovers' Convention - she asked me how she could support military families, particularly those of wounded warriors. I introduced her to Tamara, a Navy surgeon who was our guest last August (at this link). Together, we came up with a plan! Please join me in welcoming Caridad Pineiro!

We have many liberties in this Nation, but those liberties are due to the sacrifices of our military men, women and their families. I wish to honor the sacrifices that they make by remembering them and helping them in their time of need.


In THE LOST, I remembered them by having the heroine, Bobbie Carrera, be a wounded Marine veteran. I also dedicated the book to our military women, men and families.

For THE CLAIMED, I knew I had to do something more. Because of that desire to do more, a portion of my royalties for sales of my paranormal romance THE CLAIMED will be donated to HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS, an organization that seeks to enhance the quality of life for U.S. service members and their families who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Also, if you’re one of the first fifty (50) to e-mail me with a proof of purchase of THE CLAIMED or proof of a donation to HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS, I’ll send you either a HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS pin or tote bag along with other swag.

From the HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS website,


On their own, our service members and their families are awe inspiring in the face of their disabilities and hardships - courageous and resolute. However, it is with the support of a grateful nation that they remain unfaltering in their determination and find hope and purpose beyond recovery. As a united support network, all individuals, whether of great or small means, can find an opportunity to honor those who have willingly sacrificed to defend and protect our freedom.


We hope you’ll consider helping out this worthy cause and assisting our military men, women and families in their time of need.


To order THE CLAIMED, you can do so here:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Powells
Target
Walmart
IndieBound


THE CLAIMED is also available as an e-book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble


If you wish to make a donation to HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS, please visit hopeforthewarriors.org.

Mahalo, Caridad, for your support for our military families! To learn more about Caridad, check out her social media at this link.   To learn more about wounded warriors, check out my post ALOHA TO GREG GADSON - THE SHINING STAR OF BATTLESHIP at this link.   In honor of HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS, I am giving away military gift pack with goodies from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about which liberty you value most.


I value free speech as it inspires imagination!


2. This giveaway is open to all readers.


3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 5, 10 pm in Hawaii.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii


Tomorrow we play Seven Degrees of Separation with Caridad, THE CLAIMED, and HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS at THE READING REVIEWER (at this link).

The beginning and ending of WWII -
USS Arizona and USS Missouri. 

Aloha to Greg Gadson - The Shining Star of BATTLESHIP

As I mentioned yesterday, Renee and Nadja stood in line for the advance screening of BATTLESHIP on Pearl Harbor.


Renee posted her review here and the experience here.  She took pictures of the cast, including a double amputee. 


Nadja posted her review and experience on Facebook here.  She identified the double amputee - Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson.  

au.news.yahoo.com

Greg is the real star of BATTLESHIP.  From Yahoo in Australia (at this link):

However, when Lt. Col. Greg Gadson agreed to play the part of a double amputee in Battleship - he himself lost two legs while serving in Iraq in 2007 when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb - little did this 46-year-old career soldier realise how much screen-time he would get.

"I thought I'd be in the movie for just a couple of moments," admits Gadson. "So I was shocked when I found out that I wasn't just doing a cameo but that I was an integral part of the whole film."

Greg Gadson is a rock star.  My children met him through a mutual friend, Beatrice, on Fort Meade.  (Beatrice was my neighbor and her husband played football with Greg at West Point.  My children just happen to be playing football outside Beatrice's house when Greg arrived with his service dog).  In fact, Beatrice asked our neighborhood to support Greg and his family when they relocated to the DC area for his recovery at Walter Reed.   I called Beatrice today with the news of Greg's appearance in Hawaii.   She replied, "One door closed in his life.  He opened others for himself."

Let me repeat that.

 "One door closed in his life.  He opened others for himself." 

Again from Yahoo,

Battleship director Peter Berg had seen Gadson in a feature in National Geographic about "tomorrow's people", a group whose missing or ruined body parts were being replaced by devices embedded in their nervous systems that respond to commands from their brains.

As Battleship is about the US military fight against an army of robot-like aliens, Berg had the nifty idea to cast a real-life soldier who had lost both limbs above the knee and who could now walk because of breakthroughs in bionic prosthetics.

But Gadson proved to be such a charismatic, commanding presence as the gruff, gutsy veteran and amputee treated by Brooklyn Decker's physical therapist that he ended up showing his stuff in at least a dozen scenes - even getting the big heroic moment usually reserved for a major star.

I'm getting a bit teary eyed - this is powerful stuff.   

One more time from Yahoo,

For the past two years Gadson has been director of the Army Wounded Warrior Program, using his horrific experiences of war to salve the wounds, actual and emotional, of those who have returned with injuries even worse than his."We can help those who have been badly injured but ultimately it is about their personal resiliency and the resiliency of their families. There was one kid who was the first quadruple amputee and he had a heart of gold. You wouldn't know he was missing anything."

In honor of Greg, I am donating $1 per comment, up to $100, to HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS (at this link). 

The mission of Hope For The Warriors® is to enhance quality of life for U.S. service members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® actively seeks to ensure that the sacrifices of wounded and fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten nor their needs unmet.

On their own, our service members and their families are awe inspiring in the face of their disabilities and hardships - courageous and resolute. However, it is with the support of a grateful nation that they remain unfaltering in their determination and find hope and purpose beyond recovery. As a united support network, all individuals, whether of great or small means, can find an opportunity to honor those who have willingly sacrificed to defend and protect our freedom.

Comments are open through Memorial Day - May 28.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Weekly Winners, Casting Call, Spam Jam, and Earth Day

  

We have winners at SOS Aloha!


Giant Book Fair and SOS Military Mixer
- Rhonda S. is the winner of a book choice from my convention stash!

H50 welcomes NCIS: LA
- Girlygirlhoosier52 is the winner of a book choice from my convention stash!

Cara Elliott's TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST
- LSU is the winner!

Cathy Maxwell's LYON'S BRIDE
- Jeanne M is the winner!

Anne Ashby's WILDERNESS LIAISON
- Sue is the winner!

Michelle Diener's KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS
- Liz is the winner!

Winners - please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.   Here's a second chance to win a Hawaiian prize from my guest posts at a double blog anniversary party:


- Romancing Rakes For the Love of Romance (at this link)
I "casted" Gina Robinson's THE SPY WHO LEFT ME for the big screen ... because the book is set on Maui!

- Ramblings From This Chick (at this link)
I "casted" Jill Marie Landis' MAI TAI ONE ON for the big screen ... because the book is set on Kauai!

Hawaii Food Bank was the winner of today's 10th Annual Spam Jam in Waikiki Beach at this link.

Finally, we are all winners when we celebrate Earth Day!  Elf posted a thoughtful reminder at this link.   I recall my English granny stashed "carrier bags" in her hall closet for daily trips to the local market as she did not have a refrigerator!   In celebration of Earth Day, and in memory of Granny Milly, I am giving a Hawaiian tote bag!   To enter the giveaway,


1.  Leave a comment about Spies, Mai Tais, and/or Spam Pies (that almost sounds like the CIA cookbook below).  


2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.


3.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 5, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 6.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to Jodi Thomas and JUST DOWN THE ROAD

I keep "bumping" into Jodi Thomas at book gatherings!  Last year we shared a table at the RWA Awards Ceremony.   Jodi's WELCOME TO HARMONY won the RITA for "novel with strong romantic elements".

This year, Jodi hobnobbed with Sally MacKenzie at the Kensington party during during the RT Booklovers' Convention.

I look forward to seeing Jodi again at the RWA National Conference in Anaheim!    Jodi is a breath of fresh air and I'd like to share her with you.  From her bio,


Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels and 11 short story collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.


Contact her through social media at:


www.jodithomas.com
Twitter.com/jodithomas
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor

I am giving away a print copy of JUST DOWN THE ROAD, the fourth novel in her award-winning Harmony series.


When Tinch Turner lost his wife, he gave up on living. Now he spends his nights brooding, boozing and brawl-ing. When one of his escapades lands him in the ER, he finds himself staring up at the beautiful new doctor in town. For the first time in years, he feels a spark, but Addison Spencer wants nothing to do with the unruly rancher—or any man for that matter. She’s only in Harmony four months, long enough for the trouble she left behind to be over. But then a vulnerable little boy barrels into both of their lives, forcing them out of the past —and into a future where love is just down the road…


“Extremely powerful and gripping writing...full of passionate moments, hidden secrets, and likable characters.
~ Roundtable Reviews


“ Even for readers new to the series, the intricate relationships between these affable men and eccentric women are easy to follow and even easier to love. “
~Publishers Weekly


JUST DOWN THE ROAD
Available April 3, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0425246924
Retail price: USA $ 7.99

To enter the giveaway, 


1.  Leave a comment about what is down the road from you - family?  friends?  good eating?  fun shopping?


I have a beach ...


2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.


3.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 5, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 6.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to Michelle Diener and KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS

This weekend is filled with Royal Events, including the first wedding anniversary for William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.   Their "Orange" cousin, Queen Beatrix, celebrates Konininnedag - Queen's Day in the Netherlands. 

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

Keeping with the Royal Theme, I spotlight Michelle Diener's innovative story of Tudor England, KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS:

A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . .

The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .

With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.

THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS follows last year's debut, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT, which introduced us to non aristocrats characters who serve King Henry VIII.  John Parker is the king's trusted courtier and Susanna Horenbout is a distinguished painter from Belgium. In the first book, they formed an accidental alliance to identify a traitor who threatened Susanna. Along the way, they found love. 

 
THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS offers another mystery for the engaged couple to solve. Once again, Diener delivers a roller coaster ride through the viper pit disguised as the King's Court. Susanna and John rely on their wits - and each other - to find the stolen jewelry and secure Henry's power. Fans of Showtime's THE TUDORS and even THE BORGIAS will enjoy Diener's "out of the box" look at Medieval Times (the historic era, not the entertainment venue) with an independent heroine, a resourceful hero, a riveting plot, and a genuine romance.

THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS can be read as a stand alone story. But history buffs will want to read the first book, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT, to see how Diener introduces the characters.   One particularly intriguing villain is the Duke of Norfolk, who remains in the shadows as the Machiavellian player in royal politics.

To learn more about Michelle Diener, including links to purchase her books, check out her website at www.michellediener.com.  I am giving away a print copy of THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about a dynasty that intrigues you - Egyptians? Greeks? Vikings? Crusades? Renaissance? Regency? Victorian?

2. This giveaway is open to all readers.

3. Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

April's month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.

These beach goers have their own secrets ...

Aloha to Anne Ashby and WILDERNESS LIAISON - a special guest from New Zealand

Yesterday was ANZAC Day - a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.  From the Australian War Memorial (AWM) website (at this link):

ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.

In honor of ANZAC Day, I invited Anne Ashby - a New Zealand writer and a New Zealand veteran! From her bio (at this link),

I grew up in the tiny town of Colac Bay, in New Zealand's most beautiful province, Southland. Books and my widowed mother's storytelling filled a huge part of our family life when I was young, mainly because it felt like we were the last family in New Zealand to get a television set. I guess I'm a chip of the ole block.

Kim:  We love international travel here at SOS Aloha! Tell us about New Zealand - your favorite sight, smell, and sound! 

Anne:   If you’ve ever heard of New Zealand, I bet you’ve heard some interesting tales. You’ll know our beautiful little island nation is populated by 40 million sheep and little else. You’ll know people pop across the Sydney harbour bridge to New Zealand for tea. You might also know we bred the best rugby players in the world. I wonder if you can pick which sentence is actually true? In case you’re not sure, I’ll tell you. We do have 4 million people so we’re catching up with the sheep. The Sydney harbour bridge might be quite big but I don’t think any engineer has figured out how to bridge 1200 miles of water yet. So, yep, you’ve got it, go to the head of the class – NZ has the best rugby players in the world. Come visit us anytime from February until September and you’ll find a rugby game happening somewhere. 

Kim:  What kind of stories did your mother share while you were growing up?

Anne:  I was so fortunate to have a mother who is a born story-teller. Before television stole much of family interaction, she filled our heads with stories, mostly of her family and childhood. Some were tragic and poignant while others were hilarious. My intense interest in genealogy began at her knee and has never waned. It’s taken me across to the other side of the world to joyful ‘reunions’ with cousins so far removed we lost count. But the best thing Mum shared with us was the joy and satisfaction a book can bring by reading to us until we were old enough to read ourselves. 

Kim:  You are a Navy Vet - can you share a reward and challenge of being a woman in the New Zealand Navy?

Anne:  Gender issues never concerned me during my 21 years in the RNZN. I found working alongside men and women equally rewarding. The 70’s and 80’s were changing decades, both in the world and in the Navy. The transformation and integration of women into former male roles was the most dramatic during my service. Fortunately I was too senior to be eligible for re-training for sea service – I’d always hankered to try sea service, but only for a couple of weeks, I’d never wanted a two year posting to a floating unit. Where would I put all my books? Remember this was pre-ereaders. I was fortunate to have served in all RNZN shore communication stations including Singapore where I spend a wonderful two years. But my heart lay in training and I spent much of my service in this challenging role. My greatest reward? An invitation to the thirty year reunion of a class of new trainees, where 12 of my 14 girls congregated to celebrate their own varied service time. I was a very proud mother hen. 

Kim:  Who or what helped you become a published author?

Anne:  I accredit my achievement to Silhoutte author, Loree Lough from Maryland. I was a closet romance reader before attending a “writing romance” course she ran in MD. Within a few months I had written my first story, “Worlds Apart” and had found the courage to accept Loree’s offer to edit it for me. Along with her mass of red pen scribbles on my virgin work was her encouraging comment “this will get published” – it took eight years circumnavigating the planet numerous times between publishers, but finally it happened. I’ll never stop being grateful to Loree for giving me the confidence to pursue my dream. 

Kim:  Tell us about your new book!

Anne:  My latest release is called Wilderness Liaison and was released by The Wild Rose Press in March. I’ve been finding my writing feet a little, I thought combining US/NZ characters and playing on the many varying differences between our customs and language (as I did in Worlds Apart) was a solid idea, but since I returned from our sojourn in USA I’m hankering to include more of NZ in my stories. Half of Wilderness Liaison takes place in a generic bush (forest) setting where my heroine is in her element as the guide for a team-building exercise. Her hero is a city boy, born and bred, and initially sees nothing interesting about the wilderness. We see another side of Jodie when the story shifts to the city, she’s confused and uncertain, volatile and determined to ignore her handsome hero, but guess what? It ends happily. 

  
Kim:  What's next for Anne Ashby?

Anne:  I needed to avoid the favourite “lose weight” New Year’s resolution so instead I pledged to submit at least four stories this year. I started with a hiss and a roar and got one away in February (I have to admit it was finished late last year – but my pledge was four submitted stories, I was very careful with my resolution wording lol). I’ve just been offered a contract so I’m very happy. In my current WIP, I’m taking a secondary character from Worlds Apart and writing his story. He’s been bugging me for years, and it’s about time to find out why he was so unhappy. Only problem is, being ‘part’ of another story, I have no choice about the setting. Justin’s Story (working title) takes place in Washington DC.

I have other ideas for stories set in NZ, showcasing our natural environment while pitting my characters against the elements/terrain/each other. And somewhere along the line, genealogy will certainly raise its head in a story or two. 

Mahalo, Anne, for joining us at SOS Aloha!  To learn more about Anne, check out her social media:

www.anneashby.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneAshby
Twitter @AuthorAnneAshby
Plus her books from The Wild Rose Press at this link.

Anne's website offers an excerpt of WILDERNESS LIAISON at this link.  I am giving away an ecopy of WILDERNESS LIAISON to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your New Year's Resolution - what was it?  Have you been successful so far?

I'm still battling the bulge ...

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

April's month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.

Aloha to Cathy Maxwell and LYON'S BRIDE

Readers, we are not in Kansas anymore ...  


Glinda:  Have you read Cathy Maxwell's new book, LYON'S BRIDE?


Dorothy:  Yes!  A Scottish witch cast a curse on the Chattan family.

Glinda: Oh, my, what was the curse?

Dorothy: "When a Chattan male falls in love, strike his heart with fire from Above."

Glinda: How can the family defeat the curse?

Dorothy: The three siblings are trying to live without love. Yet the eldest, Lord Lyon, desires children. His solicitor suggests he use the match making services of the widowed Mrs. Martin. Unknown to Lord Lyon, Mrs. Martin is his childhood friend who he forsake because of the curse.

Glinda:  Should we send them the ruby slippers?

Dorothy: Lord Lyon just needs to remember There's no power like love.

Glinda:  (dabbling tears from her eyes), who is this storyteller?

Dorothy: From Cathy's website (at this link), "I was raised in Olathe, KS. I am a Kansan by nature–stubborn, loyal, independent. I now consider Virginia my home and think I have adapted well to the Southern way of life (although I’ll never be a good cook!)"

Cathy (left) and Kieran Kramer at the SOS Military Mixer

Glinda: Tell me more about Cathy!

Dorothy: She also wrote on her website, "I’ve spent six years in the Navy. I worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence. I’ve also managed a watch factory, been a news broadcaster, and done costumes for local theater. Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy."

Glinda: Cathy sounds intriguing!

Dorothy: She quotes Debby Macomber, “Attitude is the key . . . each one of us is as successful as we make up our minds to be.”

Glinda: I think there must be some of Cathy Maxwell in Lord Lyon to face this curse!

Dorothy: I know there is some of Cathy Maxwell in Mrs. Martin as she gives Lord Lyon the reason to face this curse.  In fact, Lyon could borrow a quote from my friend the Lion, "I would never have found my courage if it hadn't been for you."

Glinda: Where can we learn more about LYON'S BRIDE?

Dorothy: Cathy posted an excerpt on her website at this link. You can also buy it from

Amazon at this link.
BAAM at this link.
Barnes & Noble at this link.
Book Depository at this link (free world wide shipping)

Glinda: What's next in the series?

Dorothy: Referring back to Cathy's website, "The second book of the series is THE SCOTTISH WITCH. Look for it in November ’12. The third book of the trilogy, THE DEVIL’S HEART (I love that title) will be out in early 2013. I think these books are some of my best. I can’t wait for you to read them."

Lion: (roar) Kim posted her five star review of LYON'S BRIDE on Goodreads at this link.

Tinman:  (squeak) Kim is giving away a print copy of LYON'S BRIDE. Just leave a comment about your favorite quote for success.

Scarecrow: (rustle) This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii. Kim will post the winner on Sunday, April 29.

Toto: Ruff!

Aloha to Cara Elliott's TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST

Mea culpa.  CBS featured several promos for H50 and NCIS: LA crossover throughout the weekend.  I assumed this epic event would take place last night.  Instead, CBS broadcast a rerun.  The crossover is scheduled for Monday, April 29.


In my excitement for the H50 crossover, I forgot yesterday was St. George's Day - the patron saint of England.

Let's make up for my error with Cara Elliott's TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST:


In the Wolf's Lair . . .

Determined to stop her wayward brother from squandering their dwindling fortune, Lady Eliza Brentford decides to follow him to his favorite den of depravity. There, among the candlelight and raucous revelry, she encounters her brother's role model in debauchery, the notorious Marquess of Haddan, Gryffin Dwight. Staring into his smoldering green eyes, Eliza can't help but find the rakehell nobleman seductively charming-and sinfully attractive.

In a Lover's Paradise . . .

When Gryffin appears on Eliza's estate as a guest of her brother, a stolen kiss among the garden's blooms leads to a night of unbridled passion. Suddenly the lovely widow feels herself opening up, like the petals of a rose. Could this master of seduction possibly feel true emotion for Eliza? Or is he leading her down the garden path to an Eden of delights no woman can resist-and a fall no woman can escape?

Time to play seven degrees of separation ...

1. St. George is portrayed as a slayer of a dragon.

2. The dragon is a proud symbol of Wales.

3. TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST offers a rakish hero, Gryffin Dwight, with a delicious dragon (read the book).

4. The Gryffin is a "legendary creature with the body of a lion with the head and wings of an eagle." The Gryffin is prominent in the crest of Trinity College, University of Oxford. 

5.  The University of Oxford is home of the Ashmolean Museum, including works of art by Michelanglo, Leonardo da Vinci, Turner, and Picasso.


6.  Art is a central theme in TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST.  The heroine, Lady Eliza Brentford, is an artist and illustrator.  It is her passion.   Gryffin admires Eliza's artistry ... and other talents.


7.  Cara Elliott also admires art and features Regency portraits under "Diversions" on her website at www.caraelliott.com.  

Thomas Lawrence's portrait of
Margaret, Countess of Blessington

I posted my five star review of TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST on Goodreads at this link.  I am giving away a print copy of TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,


1.  Who is your favorite artist and/or what is your favorite painting?


My new favorite is THE LEI MAKER by Theodore Wores, 1901.


2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.


3.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 29.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

April's month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too! 

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.