In the Pink with Avon Romance - Lyons, Witches, and Curses, Oh My!

Follow the cobblestone road to Glenfinnan where Cathy Maxwell's THE SCOTTISH WITCH unfolds with a witch's curse, a desperate brother, a curious lover, and a surprise ally:

When a Chattan male falls in love, strike his heart with fire from above . . .

Portia Maclean believes she is beyond love and marriage. Then one moonlit night, while attempting a daring masquerade in a desperate bid to protect her family, she finds herself swept off her feet by a powerful stranger. But what will he do once he discovers she has betrayed him?

Harry Chattan is fighting for his family. For two hundred years the Chattan men have been destroyed by love . . . and now he's come to Scotland on the hunt for a witch to break the curse. Instead he finds himself bewitched by Portia. Harry has vowed to fight the demons that torture him.

But will that battle destroy her as well?

We first met Harry, an alcoholic womanizer, in LYON'S BRIDE.   He was inspired by his brother's belief that love was worth the risk to find the Scottish witch to reverse the curse.    The story takes place in the Regency Era - a relatively modern time in Scottish history.  Yet superstition still influenced every day life, particularly in the small villages such as Glenfinnan.    Consider this folklore from Alistair Briggs (at this link),

It is bad luck to:

- See a pig on the way to your wedding.
- Take pigs on fishing boats.
- Cross two knifes on a table.

It is good luck to:

- Have a rowan tree outside your house to keep witches away.- Touch iron if you see or even hear evil.
- Wear a sprig of white heather.

Glenfinnan

Hawaii has its own superstitions - most center around the Volcano Goddess, Pele:

- do not take home any pieces of lava; you are taking a part of Pele away from her beloved Hawaii.  It is illegal do so from the perspective that lava is a limited resource and it may contain bugs that could contaminate your area.

- do not carry pork over the Pali Highway.   The Pali divides Oahu into windward, where Pele visits, and leeward, where she banished her spurned lover, a man-pig.   Hence, bringing pork from the leeward to windward violates her edict.

Even H50 opens each season with a blessing
cbs.com

For good luck, always start with a Hawaiian blessing.   The US Navy learned the hard way.  From Hawaii History (at this link),

In 1909, work to build a drydock began over caves Hawaiians believed were home to a shark goddess. The drydock was nearly finished when it collapsed. Workmen clearing debris found the skeleton of a large shark in the foundation, after which Hawaiians advised that a kahuna priest cleanse the area with prayers and ritual offerings. After this was done, there were no further problems with the project. 

When it comes to dealing with Madame Pele, the Hawaiians turn to their ali'i (chiefs).   From Hawaii Alive (at this link),

When Madame Pele threatened the town of Hilo with a voracious lava flow in 1881, the people asked Ke‘elikōlani to intercede [she was the granddaugher of King Kamehameha I].  Ke‘elikōlani offered traditional oli (chants) and ho‘okupu (tribute) to Pele and later reportedly camped at the foot of the flow. The flow stopped just short of town.

Madame Pele devours all in her path.

There is something about Hawaii, and Scotland, that makes it easy to believe the supersitions ... and curses!   Cathy Maxwell will have you believing, too, with THE SCOTTISH WITCH!   I posted my review on SOS Aloha (link), Amazon (link), and Goodreads (link).   I am giving away a special Lyons, Witches, and Curses gift pack:

- print copy of LYON'S BRIDE

- print copy of THE SCOTTISH WITCH

- tote bag from Cathy Maxwell

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about superstitions from your part of the world.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

To learn more about Cathy and her books, check out her website at cathymaxwell.com.

To increase your chance of winning, check out these blogs who are also featuring Cathy and giving away THE SCOTTISH WITCH:

- Ramblings From This Chick at this link.

- Romantic Crush Junkies at this link.

- The Reading Reviewer at this link.

- The Romance Dish at this link.

In the Pink with Avon Romance - On This Day in Scottish History

On this day in 1305, the English captured William Wallace near Glasgow.  Scotland's Guardian was found guilty of treason, to which he responded,

I can not be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance. He is not my Sovereign; he never received my homage; and whilst life is in this persecuted body, he never shall receive it. 

I knew little of Scottish history until I discovered romance through Cathy Maxwell's A MARRIAGE CONTRACT, weaving Scottish life after the Jacobite Rebellion into its story:

He was a man exiled from society - handsome, unpredictable, and proud. Dark rumours surrounded his name. But Anne Burnett had signed a marriage contract binding her to Aiden Black, the Earl of Tiebauld. And although she′d never met him, she′s determined to keep her word and make theirs a marriage in truth. Because a well-bred lady with little fortune to recommend her has no choice.

Cathy's novel, and many more Avon romances to follow, inspired me to visit Scotland. I searched out crumbling castles,  listening for romantic spirits as the wind blew through the ruins.  Alba - the Gaelic name for Scotland - mesmerized me with its magic and mystery.  Eleven years after THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT, Cathy returned readers to Alba in LYON'S BRIDE, Book One of the Chattan Curse:

When a Chattan male falls in love, strike his heart with fire from above... 

As I look at my pictures from Alba, I imagine these words whispering through the fallen strongholds that once proudly guarded the Scottish Clans. The clans who wept for William Wallace. The clans who remain proud of his legacy.

THE SCOTTISH WITCH, Book Two of the Chattan Curse, will be available October 30.  If only I could read it in Scotland .... 

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

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!