Aloha to Nancy Scanlon and AN ENCHANTED SPRING (Mists of Fate Book 2)

Reminder: I have a special giveaway for Military Appreciation Month at this link.

Nancy Scanlon continues the timebending saga she began with The Winter Laird, pulling heroes and villains alike through the portals of time to help save their futures and find their truest loves.
A time travel accident has left Aidan MacWilliam, younger brother of a medieval Irish laird, trapped in the future. Though he’s become a successful entrepreneur in the twenty-first century, Aidan still can’t banish thoughts of the world he left behind. In search of distraction, he heads to New York to scout a PR person for his cousin’s matchmaking firm, Celtic Connections.

Emmaline Perkins might be the perfect candidate. A PR expert and closet medievalist, Emma has always put work before her social life. When a breathtakingly handsome man who looks like he stepped straight out of the Middle Ages proposes business, she struggles to keep her professional and personal lives separate.

Then Emma's ex-fiancé resurfaces, threatening Emma’s livelihood, her home, and ultimately her safety. Aidan jumps to protect her and not just because she’s good for business. He feels a primal need to defend the alluring young woman. But the question is not where she'll be safe, but when.

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Born and raised near Boston, Massachusetts, Nancy Scanlon wrote her first romance novel at age 16, when she realized that fictional boyfriends were much easier to figure out than real ones. In the time since, she managed to earn a degree in English, obtain a graduate certificate in creative writing from the University of Cambridge, and marry the man of her dreams (but she still holds tight to her fictional boyfriends).

Currently, she resides in Puerto Rico with her husband, two children, and two dogs. When not writing, Nancy spends her time reading, reviewing and blogging about romance novels, watching too much HGTV, and taking care of her family.

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Nancy offers an excerpt from AN ENCHANTED SPRING ...

He stopped directly in front of her, his body inches from hers, and slowly leaned in. Emma’s breath hitched, and her body went on full alert, her senses hyperaware of him. His clean scent filled her nose, and his nearness made her knees turn to jelly. When her eyes locked on his clean-shaven face, it took every fiber of her being not to rise up on her toes and run her tongue along his jawline.

His eyes met hers, and she saw it—raw hunger. As he raised his hand slowly, she parted her lips, hoping for a second taste of Aidan MacWilliam.

The sound of something rustling above her head forced her to look up.

Aidan brought a bag of coffee down to the counter and trapped her between his arms.

She couldn’t move. She didn’t want to move.

They stood like that for a long moment before he shook his head a little, as if questioning his sanity, before he placed his hand on her jaw, tugged it open, and melded his firm lips to hers. Her eyes fluttered closed of their own accord, and she was suddenly enveloped in his arms, his hand stroking her neck. He cradled her head and flicked his tongue to hers. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and brought them up to his neck, as he kissed her gently, carefully, as though she would break.

She sighed softly and leaned into him, and he growled into her mouth. Aidan kept one hand in her hair, his fingers gentle, and pressed his other hand into the small of her back, bringing her body flush with his. He deepened the kiss, devouring her in the best of ways. Emma felt cherished, branded, and hot all over.

She pressed into him harder, and he slid his hand up her spine, sending chills throughout her overheated body. She ran her fingers through his hair, surprised at its softness. He drew her attention away from wandering thoughts, though, when, without breaking the kiss, he grasped her waist and lifted her onto the counter. He angled her head and kissed her as though his life depended on it.

She lost all coherent thought.

His hands were on her back, her shoulders, her hair, her legs. She dragged her hands up his abs, feeling the ridges of muscles and flesh; she wanted to tear his shirt off and kiss him everywhere, all at once.

“Ahem.”

Dimly, she registered that someone was standing on the other side of the island, and she tried to disengage from Aidan.

“Kitchen’s closed,” Aidan said, his voice rough. He rested his forehead against Emma’s.

“Let me know when it’s open, all right? I need some coffee before I start working,” Colin replied, the grin in his voice unmistakable. A few seconds later, a door opened and closed.

They looked at each other for a moment, breathing hard, and didn’t say anything. Aidan flicked his gaze to her lips, and kissed her hard and deep before pulling away. “I won’t apologize for that.”

More confused than ever, she glared at him. “I don’t know whether to slap you or…or…”

His green gaze locked on her for another moment, and he let out a sudden chuckle. “Christ, Emma, what you reduce me to. Kissing you in my cousin’s kitchen.”

“That felt more like ravishing,” she snapped before she could stop herself. She slid off the counter.

He brought his body against hers once more, and she cursed herself for freezing in place. He leaned down, his mouth on her ear, and ran his tongue along it. “Then you’ve never been properly ravished,” he whispered.

Book 1 in the series ...

Aloha to Nancy Lee Badger and WHEN LOVE CONQUERS TIME

Nancy Lee Badger has banded together with three other talented authors to create a boxed set released on March 2nd. The collection, When Love Conquers Time, contains over 1,000 pages of time travel romances set from the 14th century to the late 20th century. Kilted Highlanders, shape-shifters, vampires, pirates, dragons, soldiers, and more will give readers hours of adventurous reading. Here are the Book blurbs:

MORAG'S TEARS (Celtic Storm Series Book 5) by Ria Cantrell

Step back in time to the beautiful Highlands of Scotland in the 14th century. Come and sit with us by the warm peat fire as Morag, the much loved character from Ria Cantrell's bestselling Celtic Storm series tells the story of her life. From a child, gifted in the ancient ways, to a beautiful young woman in love, Morag weaves her rich tapestry of tales. She is a mystical seer, healer, manipulator of time and chatelaine to the clan MacCollum. You will feel as if you are walking alongside her on her life's journey. Share her tears of joy as well as a few sad ones, as she recounts the triumphs and tribulations of a long life filled with love in its many guises.

SEA PANTHER by Dawn Marie Hamilton

Can love mend a fractured soul? After evading arrest for Jacobite activities, Scottish nobleman Robert MacLachlan turns privateer. A Caribbean Voodoo priestess curses him to an eternal existence as a vampire shifter torn between the dual natures of a Florida panther and an immortal blood-thirsting man. For centuries, he seeks to reverse the black magic whilst maintaining his honor. Cruising the twenty-first century Atlantic, he becomes shorthanded to sail his 90-foot yacht, Sea Panther. The last thing he wants is a female crewmember and the call of her blood. 

Although she swore never to sail again after her father died in a sailing accident, Kimberly Scot answers the captain's crew wanted ad to escape a hit man. She's lost everything, her fiancé, her job, and most of her money, along with money belonging to her ex-clients. A taste of Kimberly's blood convinces Robert she is the one woman who can claim the panther's heart. To break the curse, they travel back in time to where it all began—Jamaica 1715.

MY RELUCTANT HIGHLANDER by Nancy Lee Badger

Skye Gunn could not prevent her husband’s death, and will risk everything to defeat the sorcerer she blames. When he attacks her nephew, she is taken, instead. She escapes by plunging into the North Sea, and a spell takes her back to the future, to Jake. The woman who haunted his dreams since she blackmailed him into traveling back in time falls from the sky, beaten and bloody. He must trust her as they return to ancient Scotland. To survive, he and Skye must dare to love in the time they have.

REFLECTIONS OF LOVE by Paul A. Crust

As a result of a head injury suffered in the Gulf War, antiques dealer, Jason Hobbs is the victim of total amnesia. After investing a great deal of time and money trying to unlock his past, he has resigned himself to the fact that he may never fully know his own true identity. Life goes on and in the course of his business Jason acquires an old dresser with an oval mirror among a shipment of antique pieces from England. That same evening, strange images start to appear, reflected in the old mirror, and the mournful sound of a woman weeping can be heard, echoing through the night air. As he searches for answers to the mysterious events which began the day the dresser came into his possession, the past and present collide, bringing events from World War 1 crashing to his doorstep. A shocking revelation will rock his world, changing his perception of who he really is.

When Love Conquers Time, a four-author boxed set, is available at AMAZON for only $.99 (Free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers) Learn more about the authors:

Morag’s Tears by Ria Cantrell: Facebook Twitter

Sea Panter by Dawn Marie Hamilton: Facebook Twitter

My Reluctant Highlander by Nancy Lee Badger: Website Facebook

Reflections of Love by Paul A. Crust: Facebook

Mahalo, Nancy, for sharing WHEN LOVE CONQUERS TIME with us!  Nancy is giving away a digital copy of WHEN LOVE CONQUERS TIME to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Answer Nancy's question, If you could go back in time, WHEN would you visit?
I'd love to see the Hawaiian Kingdom during its close relationship with Victorian England.  Notice the clock atop of the Aloha Tower

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 19, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 20.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Gwyn Cready and JUST IN TIME FOR A HIGHLANDER

Today is the 256th birthday of Robert "Rabbie" Burns, Scotland's poet:

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, 

The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth ; 

Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, 

The hills of the Highlands for ever I love

It's just in time for Gwyn Cready's time travel romance, JUST IN TIME FOR THE HIGHLANDS, Book 1 in the Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands series, available February 3 from Sourcebooks:

For Duncan MacHarg, things just got real…

Battle reenactor and financier Duncan MacHarg thinks he has it made—until he lands in the middle of a real Clan Kerr battle and comes face to face with their beautiful, spirited leader. Out of time and out of place, Duncan must use every skill he can muster to earn his position among the clansmen and in the heart of the devastatingly intriguing woman to whom he must pledge his oath.

Abby needs a hero and she needs him now

When Abigail Ailich Kerr sees a handsome, mysterious stranger materialize in the midst of her clan’s skirmish with the English, she’s stunned to discover he’s the strong arm she’s been praying for. Instead of a tested fighter, the fierce young chieftess has been given a man with no measurable battle skills and a damnably distracting smile. And the only way to get rid of him is to turn him into a Scots warrior herself—one demanding and intimate lesson at a time.

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Gwyn offers an excerpt from excerpt:

“Undine, do you see what your magic has wrought?” Abby stabbed a finger in Duncan’s direction.

The woman gave him a full look and her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, dear.”

“What magic?” Duncan demanded.

Undine regarded him thoughtfully. “He’s handsome, at least. And tall. That could be useful. But that hair…”

“If I wanted handsome, Rosston would certainly do. He at least wields a real sword.” She took Undine by the elbow and turned her away from Duncan. “The poor man appears to have no skills beyond his fists,” she said in a lowered voice. “And I think he’s addled in his head—like Hal the sheep shearer.”

“What were you thinking?” Undine demanded.

“What was I thinking?! ’Twas your herbs.”

“I mean when you opened the paper.”

“I didn’t open the paper. It was shot out of my hand.”

“All of it?!” Undine paled.

“Except for the part that flew in my mouth.” Abby wiped the back of her hand across her tongue and made a sharp sound of disgust. “It tasted like burnt groats.”

Duncan had had enough of being ignored. “What herbs? What magic? What are you talking about? Did you bring me here?”

Undine considered. “You could try to make do with him.”

“Make do?!” Abby cried. “You make do with him! Can’t you see this is the last thing I need with the clans right now?” She pulled herself onto the horse. “You need to get rid of him.”

The “get rid of him” made Duncan’s stomach tighten. “No. Wait—”

“Abby?” a voice called from beyond the trees. “Abby, are you there?”

“Oh, God help us, it’s Rosston.” Abby gave Duncan a warning look. “Don’t say another word.”

“No!” Duncan grabbed her pommel. “I want to go home! Send me home! I don’t know what you two witches have done.”

“Silence, you fool.” She jerked the reins in an effort to keep the beast from lurching. The arrow fell from her bow.

A kilted clansman crested the rise.

“You, there!” Duncan called to the man. “Help me. These women have—”

Duncan felt a thwack on the head, and the world went dark.

Aloha to Gina Lamm and GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES

On this day in 1964, Queen Elizabeth opened the Forth Road Bridge, making it Europe's longest suspension bridge (at the time), linking Edinburgh to Perth across the River Forth.  From the BBC website (link),

Tens of thousands of spectators turned up to watch the royal cavalcade slowly cross the 3,300ft (1,005m) central span of the bridge.

Soldiers of Lowland regiments from the south linked up symbolically with a Highland brigade from the north to mark the opening of the new crossing, which cuts more than an hour off the journey-time by road.

Twenty-five Royal Navy ships fired a salute of guns and after a brief opening speech from the Queen there was also a fly-past.

Afterwards the Queen returned across the Forth by ferry, marking the final trip in the 800-year-old service.

Released to Public Domain by Euchiasmus

Gina Lamm bridges the present to the past in her time travel romances.  She joins me today for a cozy chat ....

Gina:  Hi, and thanks so much to Kim from SOS Aloha for having me back! I had such a great time guest posting here for THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL (link), so coming back for book two, GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES, is extra exciting. I know you’ve got some questions for me, so I’ll dive right in!

Kim:  We are nosy here at SOS Aloha. What is your favorite sight, sound. and smell of rural NC?

Gina:  I have to say that the best part of my home is right at the edge of the day, just before night falls. When the sun starts to fall, and the heat and mugginess of the day eases, the first breezes of night bring a bit of relief to overheated skin. The crickets start to sing, and the whippoorwills and doves call. Sitting outside on a porch swing with my family at the beginning of night is my favorite thing about where I live. But if I had my “druthers” (which is a thing people really say out loud around here) I’d be doing that at the Outer Banks. We only live a couple of hours from there, and that is really my favorite place on earth. Add the smell of salt water and the rushing sound of waves to the above? You’ve got a recipe for heaven on earth to me. :) 

Little Egypt Belly Dancer
Photographer Benjamin Falk 1890's
Public Domain (link)

Kim:  Belly dancing - what inspired you to learn it? What are some of the misconceptions you encounter as a teacher?

Gina:  I started bellydancing because a friend of mine was interested in it, but I quickly fell in love with the expression on my own. It’s so freeing, and honestly empowering. Women of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels can bellydance, so it’s very versatile. Of course, the biggest misconception most people have is that bellydancing is the same as stripping, or they think it’s very suggestive and sexual. It’s not. Of course, you can make it as sexual as you want, but the same can be said of any form of dance. It’s an elegant art form, and while I’m not currently teaching, I’m still a huge fan and I love dancing whenever I get the chance.

Kim:   You write a wide range of romance genres - what are the challenges and rewards of being multi-dimensional?

Gina:  Oh gosh, keeping up with myself! I love the challenge of genre-hopping, but I am finding out that it’s important to give my readers a common thread they can expect when they pick up my different books. After all, I love knowing what to expect when I pick up a certain author’s books, so it’s only fair that I give my readers the same treatment! Going forward, I plan to concentrate on only 2 or 3 different genres, instead of the 4 or 5 I’m currently dabbling in!

Kim:  Tell us about GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES!

Gina:  This is the second book in the “Geek Girls” series, and it’s all about Jamie’s best friend Leah. When Leah gets the chance to go back in time and find her own perfect love, she thinks she’s got it all figured out. After all, titled and rich gentlemen are the way those stories always go, right? But things don’t exactly work out how she expects. She finds herself as a maid in a duke’s household, juggling a difficult job and her own expectations. Not an easy combination, especially when ex-pugilist and valet Avery Russell is always there, being wonderful and noble and completely gorgeous. Leah and Avery have to overcome a lot, and I really hope that readers enjoy their story.

Kim:  What's next for Gina Lamm? 

Gina:  Well, I’m actually hard at work on the third and final book in the “Geek Girls” series, THE GEEK GIRL AND THE RELUCTANT RAKE! The heroine, Ella, gets a brief introduction in GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES, and there’s a wee bit of a teaser in the back of the paperback copy of GGDDD for book 3. I’m calling this one my “Regency Road Trip,” and I’m having a blast writing it. :)

Thank you so much for having me!!

Mahalo, Gina, for joining us today!  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES to one randomly selected commenter.  

All Leah wanted was a little gallantry, a bit of chivalry. What she had was Kevin, the ex-boyfriend who’s asked her to be his new fiancee’s bridesmaid. Fat chance. Why can’t it be like the good old days? It’s as though someone hears her plea because the next thing she knows, a plump housekeeper full of mischief sends her back in time to Regency England. And now Leah is determined to snag her very own duke…

Avery Russell was polishing boots when the woman fell through the mirror into his arms, breathlessly babbling some nonsense about “my one true love, Your Grace.” If the chit couldn’t tell a valet from a duke, she was in a sorry state indeed. And as much as he wanted to give in and give her a good tumble, he knew it wouldn’t be proper. No, he’d take his time wooing this one… as long as necessary to convince her that sometimes a duke just won’t do.

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about chivalry - what attribute do you admire most in a chivalrous hero?   

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 7, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Gina and her books, check out her website at ginalamm.net.