Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Aloha to Sherri Browning and AN AFFAIR DOWNSTAIRS

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The attraction of the forbidden cannot be suppressed…

Lady Alice Emerson is entirely unsatisfied with the endless stream of boring suitors her family finds appropriate. She wants something more. Something daring. Something real. Each tiresome new suitor only serves to further inflame Lady Alice’s combustible attraction to Thornbrook Park’s rugged, manly estate manager, Logan Winthrop. Despite Logan’s stubborn attempts to avoid her, Lady Alice is irresistible, and so is the forbidden desire exploding between them…

If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, don’t miss the fascinating Edwardian world of Thornbrook Park.


Amazon: link
Apple: link
BAM: link
B&N: link
Chapters: link
Indiebound: link

Sherri Browning writes historical and contemporary romance fiction, sometimes with a paranormal twist. She is the author of critically acclaimed classic mash-ups Jane Slayreand Grave Expectations. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Sherri has lived in western Massachusetts and Greater Detroit Michigan, but is now settled with her family in Simsbury, Connecticut. Find her online at sherribrowningerwin.com.



An Excerpt:

“The countess enjoys a bit of matchmaking. Before you came along, she tried to pair me with her maid.”

“Mrs. Jenks?” Alice wrinkled her nose at the idea. Jenks was a mousy slip of a woman, no match for a robust, vigorous man like Winthrop.

“No, the one before her. Mrs. Bowles.”

“Dear, no.” Worse than Jenks, Bowles was a snip-nosed shrew and certainly far too old for Mr. Winthrop. “I’m sorry. Sophia clearly has no talent for making matches.”

“Perhaps not. You were wise to run away instead of sitting through another conversation about yet another bachelor. I don’t blame you a bit.”

“You—you don’t?” Ah, a man of sense. She knew she could rely on his sound judgment, at least. And she appreciated it, though it would make seducing him more of a challenge.

“Any pretty girl in her right mind dreams of a dashing suitor to sweep her away, doesn’t she? Alas, Lady Averford’s only suitable choice for you so far had eyes for another.”

“Captain Thorne.” Alice rolled her eyes. “He’s better off with Eve Kendal. They’re perfectly suited. I didn’t care for him much myself, if you must know.”

“I mustn’t.” He shrugged. “It’s none of my affair.”

Alice bit the inside of her cheek. How she wanted it to be his affair. “There isn’t a suitable choice. I’ll never marry.”

“Don’t despair, Lady Alice. There’s someone out there for you. Your sister simply hasn’t found him yet.”

“It’s not despair.” Defensive, she crossed her arms. “I’ve no interest in marriage. None.”

His eyes narrowed as if he tried to peer inside her soul. “I shouldn’t have said anything. You might like Lord Brumley. I must go.”

“No.” She reached out, eager to stop him, and ended up with her hand on his sleeve, over the thick muscles of his upper arm that she had seen in full daylight, bared to the sun, when he’d removed his coat, undid his collar, and rolled up his sleeves while out raking the early autumn leaves. “Please, tell me about Brumley. You know him?”

His gaze went to her hand and trailed back to her face. “We were at Harrow together. I believe he made Lord Averford’s acquaintance later, at Oxford. He might have changed considerably in so many years.”

“Fourteen years?” She did the math. “If you’re the same age as the earl, then it has been fourteen years since you were at Harrow.”

“In fourteen years, a man can go through remarkable changes in his life.” His full lips drew to a grim line. “In our youth, Brumley was a bit of an oaf. To be fair, I’ve no idea what kind of man he has become.”

“I suppose we’re about to find out. Sophia is probably already making out the invitation. But just in case, our mission should be to see the lemon trees replanted and thriving as soon as possible to send him on his way.” Our mission. She liked the idea of them sharing in something. It was a start.

“Agreed, Lady Alice, on that point. I’m not looking forward to seeing the man any more than you are, I suspect. Perhaps much less.”

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Check out my pictures from the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibition at the Winterthur Museum at this link.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Best of 2014 - Contemporary Romance


Here are my favorite contemporary romances from 2014 ...

Jenny Colgan and THE LOVELIEST CHOCOLATE SHOP IN PARIS (link)

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Diane Kelly's PAW ENFORCEMENT (link)

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Patience Griffin's TO SCOTLAND WITH LOVE (link)

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Leslie Wells' COME DANCING (link

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Tracy Solheim's RISKY GAME (link)

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Tracy Brogan's HOLD ON MY HEART (link) and THE BEST MEDICINE (link

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Michele Gorman's THE CURVY GIRLS CLUB (link) and PERFECT GIRL (link)

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And one novella, Ophelia London's MAKING WAVES (link).


Can you recommend a favorite contemporary romance from 2014? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Monday, December 29, 2014

Best of 2014 - Cozy Mystery


Here are the best cozy mysteries I read in 2014 ... all are set in places where I have a connection!

Hannah Dennison's MURDER AT HONEY CHURCHHALL (link) ... Devon!

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Jennifer L. Hart's FINAL NOTICE (link) ... Miami!

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Jill Marie Landis' TOO HOT FOR HULA (link) ... Oahu!


Chip Hughes's Surfing Detective Series ... Moloka'i, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island!

MURDER ON MOLOKA'I (link)
WIPEOUT (link)
KULA (link)
MURDER AT VOLCANO HOUSE (link)

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Do you have a favorite cozy mystery from 2014?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Best of 2014 - Historical Romance


Here are my favorite historicals I read in 2014 ...

Jane Ashford's THE BRIDE INSISTS (link)


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Jayne Fresina's ONCE UPON A KISS (link)

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Lillian Marek's LADY ELINOR'S WICKED ADVENTURES (link)


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Mia Marlowe's A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME (link)


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Darlene Marshall's THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY (link)

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Catherine Lloyd's DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE (link) and DEATH COME TO LONDON (link).  

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Cathy Maxwell rings in three books on this year's list from the Brides of Wishmore Series:

THE BRIDE SAYS NO (link)
THE BRIDE SAYS MAYBE (link)
THE GROOM SAYS YES (link)

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Can you recommend a favorite historical from 2014?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City


Saturday, December 27, 2014

Weekly Winners


Gibson Island Church

I am a winner for visiting the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit (link) and Yuletide Decorations (link) at the Winterthur Museum.  

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

Robyn Neeley's CHRISTMAS DINNER
- Diane D. wins a print copy from me.

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Colleen Shannon's FOSTER JUSTICE
- Glenda wins a digital copy from Colleen.


TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT with Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis, and HelenKay Dimon
- Di wins a print copy from me.

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State of Romance - Washington
- BN100 wins a book choice from my convention stash.

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Kandy Shepherd's A DIAMOND IN HER STOCKING
- Kim H. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

A Diamond in Her Stocking

Boxing Day - Going to the Movies
- Mary P. wins a book choice from my convention stash.


Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City



Celebrate Little Victories - Djibouti goodies, Avon books, and Downton Abbey costume exhibit


This week yielded many treats ...


I received a care package from my friend in Djibouti, Africa. My kids will enjoy the ball caps and I will enjoy the jewelry!


Avon Romance sent holiday gifts to the Avon Addicts!


My mother and I visited the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit at the Winterthur Museum at this link.

Do you have a little victory to celebrate?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City



Thursday, December 25, 2014

Boxing Day ... Going to the Movies!


Boxing Day seems like the perfect time to skip the mall and head for the theaters ....

UNBROKEN - a true story adapted from Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling book of the same name.

From IMDB (link),

After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

Director: Angelina Jolie

Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)

Stars: Jack O'Connell, Takamasa Ishihara, Domhnall Gleeson


THE IMITATION GAME - another true story from WWII.

From IMDB (link):

English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, helps crack the Enigma code during World War II.

Director: Morten Tyldum

Writers: Andrew Hodges (book), Graham Moore (screenplay)

Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode


And returning Sunday, January 4, to PBS is DOWNTON ABBEY.   From PBS (link),

New loves, new secrets, new Downton! Season 5 of the international hit series from writer and creator Julian Fellowes returns to MASTERPIECE on PBS January 4, 2015. Immerse yourself in Season 5, and explore exclusive features, cast interviews and more from all the seasons.

This season brings George Clooney for a guest appearance!


I am giving away a Downton Abbey special souvenir to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about holidays movies, current releases, and/or Downton Abbey.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 27, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 28.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City