Aloha to St. Andrews Day ... with giveaway!

Glenfinnan  Monument

November 30 is St. Andrew's Day, the patron saint of Scotland. How about a few Scottish proverbs to celebrate this day?

A good tale never tires in the telling.

A misty morning may become a clear day.

Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him.

Better bend than break.

Choose your wife with her nightcap on!

Danger and delight grow on one stalk.

Egotism is an alphabet of one letter.

Friends are lost by calling often and calling seldom.

From saving comes having.

Learn young, learn fair; learn old, learn more.

Never draw your dirk when a blow will do it.

To marry is to halve your rights and double your duties.

Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion.

I am giving away a box of Scottish historical romances:

Kathleen Harrington's THE MACLEAN GROOM

Stephanie Laurens' A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER

Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF DESIRE

Mia Marlowe's ONCE UPON A PLAID

Cathy Maxwell's THE DEVIL'S HEART

Paula Quinn's THE TAMING OF MALCOLM GRANT

plus a leather bookmark from Edinburgh Castle!

To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about Scotland - what do you love about it?

2. Comments are open through Sunday, December 4, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, December 5.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Urquhart Castle

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and NEVER RESIST A RAKE- Somerfield Park Book 2

Can he fool his new family?

John Fitzhugh Barrett, surprised to learn he is heir to a marquessate, is determined his new status won’t mean giving up his freedom. But as families from all over England descend upon Somerfield Park for the shooting season, their unmarried daughters are lining up to bag the newest trophy buck—him.

Or is he only fooling himself?

John’s instinct for self-preservation inspires him to divide his attentions between a scandalous young widow, and the safely ineligible Rebecca Kearsey, daughter of a destitute baron.

The charade gives John the illusion of controlling the game but when he loses his heart to the beautiful Rebecca, all bets are off.

Amazon
BAM
B&N
Chapters
Indiebound
Kobo

Ravensworth Castle in Yorkshire
Home of the FitzHugh Family
Image by David Martin (link)

Mia Marlowe is a rising star whose Touch of a Rogue was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s Top Ten Best Romances for Spring 2012. Mia learned about storytelling while singing professional opera. She knows what it’s like to sing a high “C” in a corset, so she empathizes with the trials of her historical heroines. Mia resides in Boston, Massachusetts. For more visit miamarlowe.com.

Castle Barrett in Cork
Image by Mike Searle (link)

Sourcebooks is hosting a special giveaway at this link ... and an excerpt from NEVER RESIST A RAKE:

John Fitzhugh Barrett was not going to make a fool of Baron Kearsey’s daughter. No, sir. From all accounts, the new Lord Hartley had been running with a fast crowd and had no doubt kissed dozens of women.

Fancy women. Loose women. Women whose kisses would turn a man’s knees to water.

Rebecca would show him. A virtuous girl was just as good as a bad girl. Better. She’d kiss him all right. She’d kiss the man into next week.

She prided herself on reasoned thought and knew she was being illogical, but before she could untangle all the invalid syllogisms running through her head, she pressed her mouth against his with such force, their eye teeth knocked together. No matter. He wasn’t going to think her a missish little thing who kissed like an awkward first cousin. She was going to put some passion into it.

As much as she knew about passion, at any rate.

He covered her hands with his and she realized he was trying to encourage her to soften her grip on his ears. So she uncurled her fingers and slid her hands down to palm his cheeks.

He groaned into her mouth.

I’m getting good at this.

Then when he groaned again, she decided it was probably not a good thing. There was a definite edge of pain in the sound. Her fingertips were pressing too hard on the skin around his swollen eye.

Botheration! There were so many things to think about all at once. She eased up. Her lips softened and she slanted her mouth over his.

This time the groan was different—pleased and needy all at once. A little feral.

The thrill of danger danced on her spine. Imagining kissing a man was safe. Holy, almost. She could envision a perfectly acceptable setting for the kiss—a garden in full bloom, an elegant parlor after a well-spoken proposal, before an altar and a church full of witnesses. Heaven knew, she’d dreamed of a kiss often enough.

Kissing a man for real as he reclined in his bed was wicked beyond imagining.

Her imagined kisses were always chaste too. This one was decidedly not. Something inside her went all warm and liquid.

John cupped the back of her head with gentleness as he teased her lips to part by tracing the seam of them with the tip of his tongue. She gave up, and he invaded her. His breath swirled into her, filling her, drawing her back into him.

His tongue, oh Lud, his tongue…

Rebecca had never suspected a kiss could be so…so…involving. It wasn’t just their mouths meeting. Every fiber in her body strained toward him.

She had to stop right now or she’d never be able to. She pulled back and, to her surprise, he let her go. She almost expected him to drag her down onto the feather tick with him.

A wicked part of her was disappointed when he didn’t.

Somefield Park Book 1

Celebrating our 5th anniversary at SOS Aloha!

This week is the 5th anniversary of SOS Aloha!   I created SOS Aloha in March 2010 as a means to stay connected to Romanceland after moving to Hawaii.  I've tried different things along the way (author interviews, blog tours, and book reviews), giving me the opportunity to find my own voice.

I thank Mary, the Reading Reviewer (link), for encouraging to create this blog.   I also appreciate Terri, Bodice Ripper Novels (link), for teaching me how to format links and add pictures. Finally, I thank my followers for making SOS Aloha a fun place to visit!

Treasures in the sand 

To celebrate our fifth anniversary, I share five fun facts about me ....

1.  I hail from Safety Harbor, Florida (link).   Contemporary romance author Shirley Jump lives nearby (link), often posting pictures of the Tampa Bay area on Facebook.

2  I attended the University of Tampa (link).  Paranormal author Maggie Mae Gallagher (link) is also an UT alum.

3. I was a math major ... and so was Romantic suspense author Julie Anne Walker (link).  

4.  My first assignment was Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts (link).  Mia Marlowe also lived in the Boston area (link).  

5.  I traded my active duty dog tags for a military spouse ID card ... just like many members of the RomVets, veterans who write romance (link).

Lucky guards the books

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment with a fun fact about you.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 15.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link although I have posted any recent travels.  Still, you can trade real snow for virtual sand in Hawaii.  

Sunset Beach

Best of 2014 - Historical Romance

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

Jane Ashford's THE BRIDE INSISTS (link)

Jayne Fresina's ONCE UPON A KISS (link)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME - Book Review

When his father, Lord Somerset, tumbles off the roof, Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, is called home from his Grand Tour to take the reins of the estate while the marquess recuperates. Somerset is in serious financial difficulty, which can only be remedied by marriage to an heiress, Miss Sophie Goodnight, lately arrived from India with her nabob father.

Unfortunately, Richard believes he has already lost his heart to Lady Antonia Pruett. And Miss Goodnight isn’t too keen on becoming Somerset’s purse with feet, so she foils their families’ attempts to throw her and Richard together at every turn. To make matters worse, the reason Lord Somerset fell off the roof in the first place is a secret that threatens to upend all their lives.

Romain "ruin" at Schönbrunn
Released to Public Domain (link)

As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled. - Victor Hugo

Mia Marlowe once wrote that she's rather have an adventure than a new sofa.  This is a telling statement that is reflected in her writing.   Mia delivers a romantic adventure in the English countryside with A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME.   She brings together the classic elements - an impoverished lord, a merchant's daughter, a scheming family, a flippant friend, an almost fiancee, and a host of "downstairs" staff betting on the outcome.  Just as humor is rolling along, Marlow takes the reader on a few twists to add her unique touch to Regency romance.

Both hero and heroine stand out with their personalities.  Richard is an honorable gentleman who find himself at odds with his conscience - does he follow his heart with Lady Antonia or protect his family with Miss Sophie?   As he comes to know Sophie, Richard realizes she is a "riddle with feet" - a riddle that intrigues him.  Meanwhile, Sophie has no desire to be a "purse with feet", yet she finds herself drawn to Richard as she steals away special moments with him, away from family, friends, and fiancee (once such scene takes place in a folly as pictured above).   Indeed, Marlow swept me off my feet with this heartwarming historical.  The icing on the tea cake is the inclusion of the "downstairs" staff as they also seek a better life.  It would be easy to label A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME as Regency Romance meets Downton Abbey - but it is much more with Marlow's storytelling.

A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME is Book 1 in the Somerfield Park series. I am looking forward to more romantic adventure with the Barrett Family!

Recommend read for historical fans who enjoy witty banters with non traditional characters.

I received a print ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

Dunmore Pineapple
landmarktrust.org.uk

I am giving away Regency swag to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1.  If you were to build a folly in your backyard, what would it be? The Huffington Post featured follies at this link - naturally I like the Dunmore Pineapple, reminding me of my beloved Hawaii.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 29, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my interview with Mia at this link. 

Coming in June 2015

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME - Interview and Giveaway

Mia Marlowe joins us today to celebrate the release of A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME:

Mia Marlowe is a rising star whose Touch of a Rogue was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s Top Ten Best Romances for Spring 2012. Mia learned about storytelling while singing professional opera. She knows what it’s like to sing a high “C” in a corset, so she empathizes with the trials of her historical heroines. Mia resides in Boston, Massachusetts. For more visit www.miamarlowe.com.

Kim:  Congratulations on your RITA nomination earlier this year! I was rooting for you in the audience! Can you share a special moment from that magical night?

Mia: Thanks so much, Kim! It was very special to have Plaid Tidings nominated for the award. My special moment actually came before the ceremony though. My wonderful editor at Kensington, Alicia Condon, took me out for supper at the historic Menger Hotel. This architectural gem was opened in 1859 and has served such famous folk as Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. Served with timeless elegance, the meal was to die for!

Kim:  I am excited for your Somerfield Park series! Where did you find "research" for the Edwardian era?

Mia: Actually, even though Downton Abbey inspired this series, the setting for Somerfield Park is still my beloved Regency—1817 to be exact. 1816 was known as “the year without a summer” due to a massive eruption of a South Seas volcano which impacted the world’s climate. It also caused the Barrett family, who own the 100,000 acre estate to suffer a devastating financial setback when none of their tenants could harvest a crop or pay their rent. Add to that an unfortunate investment of the rest of the marquessate’s funds in a whaling vessel which sank in a squall and you can see why Lord Somerset needs his son and heir, Richard to marry exceedingly well.

Enter Miss Sophie Goodnight and her father’s bottomless purse!

Kim:  From the book blurb for A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME,

And Miss Goodnight isn’t too keen on becoming Somerset’s purse with feet, so she foils their families’ attempts to throw her and Richard together at every turn.

I am laughing already! From where does Miss Goodnight get her grit?

Mia: Sophie was raised in India, where her father made his fortune, so might have picked up a few unusual ideas. Such as, tiger hunts are far more fun than sipping tea in a doily-laden parlor!

Kim:  Yet I suspect that the hero, Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, has a few noble qualities. How does he stand out among the ton?

Mia: The Barrett’s are not noted for their demonstrativeness, but Richard is fiercely loyal to his family. As his father recovers from a tumble off the manor’s roof, he takes the reins of the estate and tries to solve their financial woes in a way that doesn’t involve him marrying for money. Of course, it’s the done thing when a titled family finds themselves with pockets to let, but Richard isn’t ready to be bought by Sophie’s staggering dowry.

Not even once he falls in love with the lady for herself.

Kim:  What's next for Mia Marlowe?

Mia: The second book in the Somerfield Park series is coming out next May—Never Resist a Rake. Lots of characters from book one return in this story—Porter, the bashful under-butler, and Mrs. Culpepper, the cook he’s smitten with, as well as Sophie and Richard. And I don’t think I could keep the Dowager Marchioness from butting into any book set in Somerfield Park if I tried!

Then in July 2015, I start a new series called the Order of the M.U.S.E (which stands for Metaphysical Union of Sensory Extraordinaires!) It’s sort of a “Leverage” style group of psychics who stand as the first line of defense against objects of a malicious bent being sent to harm the royal family. The Duke of Camden, who heads the Order, believes one must have slipped by them and is responsible for King George III’s periodic descents into lunacy!

If you’d like to be notified when my books come out, please sign up for my newsletter at miamarlowe.com!

Thanks for having me today, Kim!

Mahalo, Mia, for your always enchanting visit!  Given the multiple references to "purse", I share this picture with you!   

I am reading (and loving) A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME:

A Reluctant Lord. A Resistant Lady. A Superfluous Fiancée.

And a Devastating Family Secret…

When Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, is abruptly called home to take the reins of the estate, he discovers the extent of the family’s financial straits. The remedy: marry the heiress their families have picked out for him. Unfortunately, he’s already planned to marry someone else.

Miss Sophie Goodnight isn’t too keen on becoming his purse with feet…and she sabotages all attempts to woo her. But when Lord Hartley discovers the shenanigans in his father’s past, he realizes that deciding between two beautiful women is the least of his problems.

Amazon: link
Apple: link
Barnes & Noble: link
BAM: link
Book Depository: link
Chapters: link
Indiebound: link
Kobo: link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alohat Mia Marlowe and ONCE UPON A PLAID

Mia Marlowe is celebrating the release of ONCE UPON A PLAID,  a Medieval Highlander romance laced with holiday spirit from her Spirit of the Highlands series ...

Many would count Katherine Douglas fortunate indeed. Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. But after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart. And she has yet to bear him an heir. The distance between them is too great—and so she flees over the snowy highlands to Glengarry Castle, home of her childhood, to set her husband free.

But William won’t let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he’s at her father’s threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved…

My mother recently returned from a trip to the UK, including Scotland, bringing back bookmarks for me to giveaway.  One randomly commenter wins a choice of bookmark!  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about a special holiday tradition in your family (commenter's choice of holiday).

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 11, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Mia and her books at miamarlowe.com. 

Check out my review of PLAID TIDINGS, Book 1 in the series, at this link.

Celebrate Little Victories - Learner's Permit, Eagle Scout, and RITA Nominations

We have several victories to celebrate!

1.  My oldest received his learner's permit last weekend ... I shared our adventure with the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link.

2.  My oldest and I attended the Baltimore Area Council's (BAC) annual reception to recognize the 2013 Class of Eagle Scouts.   I am grateful to the BAC for included Andrew even though he completed his Eagle Project in Hawaii.   His project was the Hickam Heritage Trail at link, link, link, and link, which started and ended at the Hickam Library.

3.  RWA published its nominees for its annual RITA awards at this link.   Congrats to all the nominees!

Two nominated books appear on my best of 2013 at this link.

Paranormal Romance

The Devil’s Heart
by Cathy Maxwell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Lucia Macro, editor

Historical Romance

Plaid Tidings
by Mia Marlowe
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra
Alicia Condon, editor

Both novels are set in Regency Scotland and feature Alba's "magic".   I am rooting for both to win their categories!

I have an extra copy of PLAID TIDINGS to enchant you.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about the RITA nominees - who are you rooting for?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 5, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 6.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE

Mia Marlowe joins me today to celebrate BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE, Book Three in the Regency Rakes series with Connie Mason.

Kim: You frequently travel to exotic locales ... can you share a favorite memory or even a funny one?

Mia: One of my favorite travel memories is the day my family and I spent with you in Honolulu, Kim. We were blown away by the “behind the scenes” tour of Pearl Harbor and Hickam AFB you gave us. What a treat. As far as a funny memory goes, one time when the DH and I were on a different Hawaiian cruise there was a lounge singer who favored an odd little tune that went “I’m going to Maui to marry Tamara tomorrow unless I get lucky tonight!” The first time I heard it, I made the mistake of showing with round eyes and dropped jaw how scandalized I was by the lyrics (I wasn’t a romance writer then. I’m much less easily shocked now. In fact, I’m far more likely to be doing the shocking!) But every time he saw me after that he started in on that song. I think he even dedicated it to me once. 

Kim:  You also host "Red Pencil Thursday" on your blog (link). What inspired you to offer feedback? What have you learned by sharing with others?

Mia:  When I first started writing, I was amazed by the willingness of other writers to share what they knew about the writers’ craft. It seems only fair to pay that forward on my Red Pencil Thursdays. The way it works is that a volunteer sends in the first 500 words of their WIP. I do a critique, invite them to respond and then we let my readers and writer buddies weigh in as well. Kristan Higgins and Grace Burrowes are only a couple of the heavy hitters who frequently drop by to share their pearls of wisdom. But we can’t have Red Pencil Thursday without our volunteers so if you’d like a ride in the RPT hotseat, please check out the details on how to submit your material. 

Kim:  You wrote in your bio that relationships fascinate you. How did you come to be in a writing relationship with Connie Mason? 

Mia:  Mia: I first met Connie in 2006 when she graciously gave me a cover quote for my debut novel Maidensong. We shared the same agent and editor and between the two of them, the idea to pair us up for some projects was born. Connie and I have joined forces for 6 novels, Lord of Devil Isle, Sins of the Highlander, Lord of Fire and Ice and the Royal Rakes series—Waking up with a Rake, One Night with a Rake and our final collaboration Between a Rake and a Hard Place. Check out the fantastic covers at this link.

Kim: Tell us about BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE ... and what is one your list of secret pleasures? Mine is not so secret - chocolate!

Mia: Sir Jonah Sharp is the kind of man who can do what needs to be done. He’s been an assassin for the Crown and still sleeps like the just each night. So how complicated could it be to seduce one little debutante when he’s ordered to do so?

Pretty darn complicated when the debutante is Lady Serena. She knows she’s on the royal duke’s short list, but before she accepts a royal match, she has a list of forbidden pleasures she wants to experience. When Jonah realizes he’s on her list, he wonders just who’s seducing whom…

I don’t know that I have a secret pleasure. I’m pretty open about what gets me going and when I set my mind to something, like Lady Serena, I find a way to do it. 

Kim:  What's next for Mia Marlowe?

Mia:  Next October, Once upon a Plaid will come out from Kensington. My hero and heroine have been wed for 4 years, but there is trouble. In an age when a man needs an heir like he needs a strong sword arm, Katherine is barren. She’s determined to seek an annulment to set William free, but he’s unwilling to give up on the woman he loves.

Last year my sister served as a gestational surrogate for a childless couple and it got me thinking. So many deal with infertility issues now, I wondered how a couple would work through the pain of an empty cradle in 16th century Scotland. The result is a deeply emotional story I hope readers will take to their hearts.

I just finished the first book in a brand new series called Somerfield Park, which is a Regency era Downton Abbey-esque world with plenty of romance and intrigue both above and below stairs! Look for A Rake by Any Other Name in November 2014 from Sourcebooks.

I’m also working on a new adult/romantic suspense that should be out this spring. Sign up for my newsletter if you’d like to be notified when it’s available (link). 

BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE by Connie Mason and Mia Marlow - In Stores January 2014

Lady Serena's List of Forbidden Pleasures

Attend an exclusively male club.
Smoke a cigar.
Have a fortune told by gypsies.
Dance the scandalous waltz.

Sir Jonah Sharp thinks Lady Serena Osbourne will be just like any other debutante, and seducing her will be one of the easiest services he's ever done for the Crown. Then he catches her wearing trousers and a mustache in his gentleman's club and she demands he teach her to smoke a cigar. But what will truly be Jonah's undoing is finding out he's an item on her list too, which makes him determined to bring her all the forbidden pleasures she can handle.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mia Marlowe is the award winning historical romance author of the Touch of Seduction Series and various Rock*It Reads. She lives in Boston. Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Together, Mia and Connie have written Sins of the Highlander, Lord of Fire and Ice, Lord of Devil Isle and the other books in the Royal Rakes Series: Waking Up with a Rake and One Night with a Rake. For more information, please visit miamarlowe.com.

To Purchase Between a Rake and a Hard Place:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Chapters/Indigo
iBookstore
IndieBound
Discover a New Love
Sourcebooks

Thanks so much for having me here today, Kim.  Sourcebooks is offering a giveaway copy of Between a Rake and a Hard Place (open to US and Canada) and I’d like to add another from me to sweeten the pot. Two winners will be chosen—one for the Sourcebooks print novel and one for a Kindle or Nook version of my newest Rock*It Read, Dragonsong. This sensual, adventurous story is perfect for readers who love the History Channel’s Vikings, but want a hero who knows how to love with faithfulness!

All you have to do to enter is answer this question: I write love stories set in Regency England, Scotland, the Viking era and am getting ready to branch into contemporary times. What’s your favorite setting for a romance?

Mahalo, Mia, for the fabulous giveaways!   Comments are open through Saturday, January 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winners on Sunday, January 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my five star review of BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE on Amazon (link) and Goodreads (link).