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

Best of 2013 (part 1) - Historicals

Aloha!  We celebrated Boxing Day by visiting the Montpelier Mansion - check out my photos on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link.  

I offer you my top 13 books from 2013 ... or least the first six which happen to be historicals, my favorite genre.  They are numbered in chronological order of release date in 2013:

1.  Jennifer McQuiston's WHAT HAPPENED IN SCOTLAND (Avon)

Link to my blog post.
Link to my review on Goodreads.

2.  Cathy Maxwell's THE DEVIL'S HEART (Avon)

Link to my blog post.
Link to my review on Goodreads.

3.  Shana Galen's TRUE SPIES (Sourcebooks)

Link to my blog post.
Link to my review on Goodreads.

4. Mia Marlowe's PLAID TIDINGS (Kensington)

Link to my blog post.
Link to my review on Goodreads.

5. Anne Cleeland's THE DAUGHTER OF THE GOD-KING (Sourcebooks)

Link to my blog post
Link to my review on Goodreads

6. Susanna Ives' WICKED LITTLE SECRETS (Sourcebooks)

Link to my blog post
Link to my review on Goodreads

I am giving away a print copy of PLAID TIDINGS (courtesy of Kensington) to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you have a favorite historical from 2013?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 28, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and PLAID TIDINGS - Review and Giveaway

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. - John Muir, Scottish American founder of The Sierra Club

This is an apt quote to kick off my review of Mia Marlowe's PLAID TIDINGS, Book 1 of Spirit of the Highlands:

Christmas in the Highlands...

Not any dashing English lord’s idea of a good time. But now that Lord Alexander Mallory has won a Scottish estate in a hand of cards, he is the unlikely laird of the wild, snowy Bonniebroch. Worse yet, the ancient pile of stones comes with a betrothal. To a fiery red-headed virgin. And a curse.

Alex will have his hands full honoring the first, seducing the second and breaking the third … all by Twelfth Night.

Bonnie is pretty; broch is tower.
Craigievar Castle could be Bonniebroch!

PLAID TIDINGS is one of the best books of 2013 ... 

1.  Marlowe delivers the majesty of Scotland - her customs, her people, and her landscape can't help but serve up a romantic backdrop for two unexpected lovers across different borders.

2.  PLAID TIDINGS allowed me to cuddle up for a holiday adventure.  Yet  PLAID TIDINGS is an endearing story that would be a great read anytime of the year ... including a summer fling in the Highlands!

3.  Marlowe incorporates the pageantry of the Regency Era ... Scottish Style! 

4.  Alexander is honorable yet conflicted.  Lucinda is determined but pragmatic.   As they clash with each other, the reader is treated to the Alexander's wit, Lucinda's warmth, and their ignited passion.

5.  Marlowe captures the mystique of Scotland with the spirits who interact with Alexander and Lucinda.   Their good intentions add a lighthearted paranormal element to PLAID TIDINGS.  And it is the ethereal beings who inspire Alexander and Lucinda to climb the mountains and find their good tidings!

The Highlands

I received an ARC from Marlowe for this review.  I posted this review on Amazon (link) and Goodreads (link).  I am giving away a print copy of PLAID TIDINGS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about mountains - do you have a favorite mountain?   I felt a real connection with the Wai'anae Mountains - I enjoyed the view every morning during my walk along the Pearl Harbor channel.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Mia and her books, including the prequel novella PLAID TO THE BONE, check out her website at miamarlowe.com.

For more kilted men, check out my pictures from the Maryland Renaissance Festival at this link and link.

Aloha to Mia Marlowe and PLAID TIDINGS

This weekend, I am meeting a friend at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (link) to see Cu Dubh:

Cu Dubh consists of musicians who have dedicated their lives to the study and performance of ancient music. David Macejka (2012 Grammy nominee), Mike McNutt and Elijah Woolcott have brought together their personal influences to create dark, orginal compositions played on the Great Highland Bagpipes and a barrage of drums from around the world. With influences from Scotland, Gaul, Galicia, Norway, Brittney, Ireland, Wales, German, India, Aradia, Africa and beyond, they call back to the ancient tribes in all of us.

It is music for the warrior in all of us. The long boat is here. The wolves are loose. The Ould Ways are back! 

Sigh.  Scotland.  

Mia Marlowe is feeding my appetite for Alba with her new Scottish Regency, PLAID TIDINGS:

Not any dashing English lord’s idea of a good time. But now that Lord Alexander Mallory has won a Scottish estate in a hand of cards, he is the unlikely laird of the wild, snowy Bonniebroch. Worse yet, the ancient pile of stones comes with a betrothal. To a fiery red-headed virgin. And a curse.

Alex will have his hands full honoring the first, seducing the second and breaking the third … all by Twelfth Night.

Read an excerpt at this link.

ORDER IT
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books a Million
IndieBound.org
BookDepository

EBOOK EDITIONS:
Amazon Kindle US
Barnes & Noble Nook
iBookstore
Kobo
AllRomance eBooks

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Mia, check out her website at miamarlowe.com.