Showing posts with label The Sutherlands Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Sutherlands Series. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Aloha to Mary Wine and THE HIGHLANDER'S BRIDE TROUBLE

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Mary Wines is my guest for a cozy chat about her new release, THE HIGHLANDER'S BRIDE TROUBLE, Book 4 in her Sutherlands series from Sourcebooks Casablanca:

Her clan is in chaos...

Raised by her father and brother, Nareen Grant is strong, confident, well-educated—and skilled with a bow and dagger. It’s a tumultuous time for Scotland, and events conspire against her. Betrayed by her family, she makes her way alone, until she lands in the lap of Saer MacLeod. But she wants no help from a savage man of the Isles.

And rivalries are deadlier than ever.

Raised on the rugged Scottish Isles, Saer MacLeod is considered fierce even by Highlander standards. He’s enchanted by the independent and headstrong Nareen. But when an old feud endangers her life, Saer’s fascination with her escalates into a ferocious desire to protect her… and claim her for himself.


Order Print: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | B-A-M | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Order Ebook: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iBooks



I asked Mary, If you fell back in time, how would you blend into the village with your 21st century skills - Be a seamstress? Storyteller? Or something else?

Falling through time….hummm….I suppose becoming a story teller would be the obvious choice. But that might be harder than I think. People everywhere have their own culture and sense of humor. Also, there is the fact that being an actor wasn’t really a very respected profession.

Let’s face it, if I fell through time, my knees would be knocking. I’d have to rely on the kindness of fate and my own wiles. Queen Elizabeth was quoted as saying that ‘If I were turned out in my petticoat tomorrow, I would land on my feet…’. I’d love to think I’d do as well. Elizabeth had such a rocky path in life but made it to the top in the end.

I do love to sew but in order to be a seamstress in ears gone by, you had to own your own needles and pins. Any sort of metal was very expensive. Fabric was very expensive too. Noble families would actually send their servants to watch over the cutting process and all of the bits were gathered up and used. Right down to the tiny ones, those were mixed together into something called ‘cabbage’ and used to stuff hip rolls, shoulder treatments and hat decorations.



Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written over 30 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

Website: marywine.com
Facebook: link
Goodreads: link



Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of THE HIGHLANDER'S BRIDE TROUBLE to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about time travel - if you fell back in time, what talent could you offer Medieval Times?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Breaking News - The first three books in series are on sale from your favorite e-retailer ...

· The Highlander’s Prize - FREE

· The Trouble with Highlanders - $1.99

· How to Handle a Highlander - $3.99


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Meanwhile, Mary offers an excerpt from THE HIGHLANDER'S BRIDE TROUBLE:

He reached out and stroked her cheek. “’Tis a sad thing to see how hard yer feelings are. But there is naught more to fear, she’ll nae have the opportunity to inflict such ills again.”

Nareen jerked away from the contact. She even took a swipe at his hand, but he moved faster, withdrawing in time to avoid being struck. Someone chuckled from where his men clustered near the fires, but Saer was watching her from narrowed eyes.

“I am nae afraid of anything,” she assured him.

“Is that so?” Saer inquired in a silky-smooth tone.

Nareen nodded. Satisfaction began to fill her, but it was cut short as he reached out and stroked her face again. She jumped, completely unable to control her reaction.

“Ye are making sport of me in front of yer men, like a savage.”

His eyes glittered, but it wasn’t with the outrage Nareen had intended to provoke. Instead, there was an unmistakable pleased looked in those dark orbs.

“I am a savage, Nareen.” He stepped forward, placing himself within touching range again. “I do nae let words stand alone. If ye truly have no interest in me, there is no reason to avoid me touch. Stand steady and prove ye are nae moved. I have no taste for a frigid woman.”

She laughed at him but stepped back again. “Then it seems we have a common ground, for I crave no man’s touch.”

His lips thinned. “Now that is something ye shall have to prove as well.”

“I will nae. Me word should be enough on the matter, if ye truly are me brother’s friend.” She didn’t care to hide behind her brother’s name, but the circumstances offered her few alternatives.

“As ye noted, I am a savage, and I always demand proof before I believe.”

This time, she was ready when he reached for her cheek. She stepped aside, avoiding him. She was just beginning to smile with her victory when he closed his hand around her wrist. He really was huge. His fingers closed easily around her smaller wrist, clasping it in an iron grip. She braced herself for pain, but there was none, only a secure hold that defied her attempt to break it.

“Release me.” Her voice had risen, and she shut her mouth before revealing any more of her unsettled state.

“Prove ye are unmoved, lass, and I shall be content to accept yer dismissal.” His tone had deepened, becoming something hypnotic.

“I am irritated.” And remaining still was proving too difficult. She twisted her hand, trying to break his hold again.

“Aye, ye are that.” He lifted her hand to his face and pressed a kiss on the delicate skin of her inner wrist. She shuddered, the touch intensely intimate. She’d never realized her skin might be so sensitive. The simple touch of his lips unleashed a bolt of sensation that shook her all the way down to her toes. His eyes filled with satisfaction.

“But ye are also affected.”

He released her, and she stumbled back a pace because she’d been resisting his hold so greatly. Laughter erupted from his men. Saer stiffened, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

“What?” she said. “Are ye trying to impress me by controlling yerself now that ye see yer men are enjoying the sport ye are making of me?”

“Aye, I am,” he answered darkly. “I am nae the one who chose this setting for our meeting, Nareen. Ye should nae have refused to see me again at court. That left me no choice but to chase ye.”





Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Aloha to Mary Wine and HOW TO HANDLE A HIGHLANDER

How to Handle a Highlander

I signed up to host Mary Wine as part of her blog tour.  I suggested the following topic - Mary's beautiful Medieval gown she wears at readers' events.    Please join me in welcoming Mary Wine!

Mary, left, with two readers at the Scottish Fairy Ball, RT/2012.

Good Morning!

Thanks so much for hosting me!

Let’s see my dresses. I’ve always loved dressing up. I used to get into the rag bin and make things for my Barbie dolls. My mother was a basic seamstress and would often make my pajamas and sometimes vests and skirts for school for me. I learned the very basics from her and I recall one Christmas when I was about ten or eleven when I received my first sewing machine. Boy was that exciting. Well for me it was.

My first gown was one I made for a renaissance dinner at my brother’s high school. I looked up pictures from the era and did my best to make the dress using several different patterns. It was my Mom who helped me make onto the path of true historical costuming by giving me a book by Janet Arnold. Janet is an amazing woman who went out and looked at surviving garments and figured out what the shapes of the pieces were. She drew them out on a grid. Now I could see how to cut my fabric and put it together. Sizing was still a major issue as well as researching fabrics and techniques.

Today, I’ve amassed a collection of books on undergarments and historical sewing. I’ve got a wonderful collection of pictures from museums around the globe. Interestingly enough, I still sew on very basic machines. I’ve even got my eye on one from around the turn of the century because it’s powerful. I actually own a treadle powered machine that I have used. I wanted to see what the difference was, if any and I also challenged myself to make a garment with no power. I even used a pair of ions that I have to heat on the stove. It was a very interesting experiment.

A new dress begins with having some place to wear it. There are many designs I’d like to make. Once I have an event, I’ll decide on the photo or painting I’m going to try and make. Then it’s off to the down town garment district for the fabric hunt. Choosing your fabric is key. Through trial and error, I’ve learned to stick to natural fibers and even though that polyester might be attractive price wise, it is NOT the right choice. First off, polyester holds your body heat in, when you are talking a historical gown, you want it to breathe. Also, silk just moves differently and therefor, looks different.

It can take a long time to find the right fabric. I pay attention to details like what sort of fabric was popular during the period? Stripes? Brocades? Trims? What did they use? I end up going back to those photos over and over.

The first step in any costume is the undergarments. They need to fit and fit well. We all know how a bad bra can ruin your day, well it’s the same with a corset. Once you’ve got your foundation garments done, the dress is really the simplest part. Then it’s on to accessories. Gloves, hats, purse and all the little things that you need to use during the day.

Do these bring life to my books? Sure they do. I really do know what they have on under there and in many cases, what they don’t.

I hope you all get a chance to pick up a copy of my newest book…How to Handle a Highlander.

Cheers!

Mary Wine
MaryWine.com


Mahalo, Mary, for giving a glimpse into your gowns ... and books!  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of Mary's new elease, HOW TO HANDLE A HIGHLANDER, Book Three of The Sutherlands series:

Moira Frazer is betrothed to a man who is old enough to be her father, but it’s her duty to her clan to marry him, and she’s determined to see this through…until she meets Gahan Sutherland.

Gahan knows this match is designed to start a feud between the clans which is why he decides to stop the wedding. But when Moira awakens a passion within him that he never knew existed, he realizes that the outcome of this perilous situation will determine the future of his own happiness.

As trust and honor clash with forbidden attraction, manipulations, rivalries, and schemes will threaten to blow the Highlands sky high…

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about sewing - are you handy with a needle?  I am not ... thus I am dependent upon the seamstress at the dry cleaners on post.   

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 9, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 10.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

The Highlander's PrizeThe Trouble with Highlanders