Weekly Winners and Reader Luncheon

Aloha!  We have winners from last week's blogs - Glenda, Carol, and Debby win a book choice from my convention stash.

I am also a winner for attending the Washington Romance Writers (WRW) Washington Loves Readers' Luncheon.  I sat with Anna Bennett and Sally MacKenzie ....

Each author treated the readers at our table to special goody bags, including copies of their books, chocolate, and other must haves for historical fans!  We also enjoyed the company of Lori Ann Bailey, who just celebrated the release of her debut, HIGHLAND DECEPTION.  We all drooled over the cover.

I chatted with five other readers, including four who drove down from New Jersey with Terri Brisbin. They didn't reveal any secrets about Terri ... but they shared the secret of their book club, which has met for over 20 years.  The secret?  Trying new genres. 

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway, Leave a comment about book clubs - have you participated in any?  The manager from BOOKS WITH A PAST (link) asked me if I would consider leading a book club ... which I am still considering.  Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is open to US residents only. Comments are open through Sunday, October 16, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Romance Every Day: SOS Aloha 6th Anniversary (Part 2): An Old Fashioned Tea Party

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. - Henry James

Last week, I shared how I discovered romance books in the Netherlands (link).  Following our NATO assignment, my family moved to Fort Meade, Maryland. I worked part time, enabling me to volunteer with the Officers' Spouses' Club.

In January 2007, Fort Meade celebrated its 90th Anniversary - the spouses' club polished its silver for the gala.  This inspired the post commander to suggest the spouses' club host an Old Fashioned Tea Party. As the Vice President for Social Events, I took the reigns to execute her idea.  I recruited spouses of senior officers to host tables using their own tea sets. They took it one step further to create themes:

- Bal-TEA-more table hosted by an Army spouse as Wallis Simpson, a native of Charm City)

- Scotland Forever hosted by a Navy spouse who lived in Alba

- Boston Tea Party hosted by an Army spouse from Bean Town

- The Best Damn Scones table hosted by a Canadian spouse
- Children's Tea Party hosted by an Army spouse with a miniature tea set

Duchess of Bedford

Public Domain (link)

As my friends embraced the themes, I researched the history of afternoon tea.  From Historic UK (link),

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

I named Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, as the honorary hostess. As a fan of historical romance, I was familiar with English titles and sought to educate the other spouses. I located a "brief run down" of English titles from romance author Jo Beverly (link). I contacted Jo to ask her permission to reprint the article for the tea party. Jo not only gave me permission, she also donated two books to giveaway. Jo's generosity inspired me to invite romance authors from the Washington Romance Writers (link). I was over the moon when many accepted my invitation, including Binnie Syril Braunstein, Diane Gaston, Sally MacKenzie, Cathy Maxwell, Mary Jo Putney, Tracy Anne Warren, Hope Tarr, and Rebecca York. I also invited Kathryn Falk, Lady of Barrow and founder of RT Book Reviews - she took the train from New York.

I encouraged the spouses to dress the part by offering one raffle ticket for each "vintage" item, including  hats, gloves, pearls, and "must haves" in a purse, such as compact, atomizer, and linen handkerchief.  My appeal was too successful that I had to limit spouses to 10 raffle tickets - they were all decked out for the occasion!

Finally, one of the spouses researched the genealogy of Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, and discovered she was a distant cousin of General George G. Meade, the civil war hero and namesake of the post.  It was fate!

This event demonstrated that readers want to connect with authors, laying the foundation of my blog to come.

General Meade, third from left, in 1863

Commanders of the Army of the Potomac

Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  What is your favorite flavor of tea?  Mine is Chamomile.

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

Check out the Old Fashioned Tea Party in the Fort Meade Soundoff at this link.

Next week:  SOS Aloha's 6th Anniversary (part 3):  Andrews AFB, RT, and RWA

Celebrate Little Victories - WRW Reader Luncheon

Back in August, we bought a home and moved across town. Ah, home ownership!  It's a older home in an excellent school district for our youngest son who is a high school freshman. Alas, it will be at least 4 years before we consider moving back to Hawaii.  Maybe it's a dream ... but one can only hope.

I have been caught up in cleaning out the house that sat vacant for 6 months.  But a chance came last week for me to take a break and enjoy Romanceland.   Kim from Books Obsessed Chicks (link), her side kick Janet (link), and breakout author Stacey Agdern (link) drove down from New York for the WRW Reader Luncheon (link).   Attending authors included:

Anne Barton
Christi Wagner Barth
Caryn Block
Karna Bodman
Meredith Bond
Joanna Bourne
Terri Brisbin
Linda Acorn Budzinski
Robin Covington
Avery Flynn
Solara Gordon
Cristin Harber
Madeline Iva
Lavinia Kent
Harper Kincaid
Kimberly Kincaid
Eliza Knight
Geri Krotow
Sally MacKenzie
MK Meredith
Cat Miller
Deborah Munroe
Wendy La Capra
Tamra Lassiter
Mackenzie Lucas
Hope Ramsay
Rachel Rawlings
Sarah Robinson
Lynne Silver
Shari Slade
Elisabeth Staab
Delancey Stewart
Tracy Anne Warren

I sat with Sally MacKenzie and MacKenzie Lucas ... a tongue twister!  Our table also included two readers from Harper's Ferry and one reader from Baltimore.  The atmosphere was crackling with excitement which only Romanceland can deliver.  

Kim, Janet, and Stacey stayed overnight with me, giving us a chance to gab like sorority girls!   On Sunday, we ventured to Washington, DC - check out pictures from my travel blog at this link and link.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including books from Sally MacKenzie and Mackenzie Lucas, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Which author would you want to meet at the WRW Reader Luncheon?

I chatted with Joanna Bourne, who was wearing a lovely Aloha shirt! 

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 24, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 25.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Lucky wants to meet Joanna Bourne ...

May is National Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Sally MacKenzie

Sally MacKenzie cohosted the Battle of Trafalgar table at the SOS America Military Tribute during the RT Booklovers Convention (pictures to come).   From her bio,

When not at her keyboard or staring into space musing on her next story, Sally can be found at the gym or in the middle lane of her Masters swim practice, trying to keep all her moving parts working. She loves to travel, particularly to England where she drags her poor husband to historic sites in the name of research or—as he puts it—to look at spoons. But since she also enjoys hiking over the English countryside, he remains relatively content. Sadly she doesn’t cook (but her husband does!) or clean, but she has good intentions...sort of.

I walked 5+ miles several mornings in Dallas - she has a fast clip!

Above, Sally (second from right) attended the SOS America Military Tribute in Chicago in 2012.  Sally is ready to celebrate the release of IN THE SPINSTER'S BED, available June 30:

At Spinster House, a woman can enjoy the spoils of single life—or find the love of a lifetime…

It has been twenty years since Lord William Wattles laid eyes on Annabelle Frost. Still, he remembers everything—her ethereal beauty, her bookish intelligence, her surprisingly modern attitudes about love...and lust. But Belle's allegedly wanton behavior led her father to send her away to save the family's reputation. Now she resides at Spinster House in the village of Loves Bridge, where an unmarried lady can live—and in Belle's case, support herself as a librarian—in peace...

Beautiful, passionate Belle—sworn off marriage? William can't believe the woman he once knew could end up like this. But when the hands of fate bring him to Loves Bridge, his long-lost love might just end up back in his arms. Is their unwavering desire worth the sweeping scandal that is sure to follow them both? Absolutely.

It is the prequel for her new series, The Spinster's House, with Book 1, WHAT TO DO WITH A DUKE, coming August 25.

May is National Military Appreciation Month. For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1. Both covers from Sally's new series feature a Calico Cat in the corner.  Do you like pets in romances?  Do you like cats?  I have four cats, three from Hawaii.

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Sally and her books at sallymackenzie.net.

Spring Fling with Kensington - Sally MacKenzie's LOVING LORD ASH

The sun is shining in Maryland ... perhaps Spring is around the corner!   Kensington recently sent me a package of books to ring in the good weather.   Let's kick off Spring Fling with an author is always blooming with joy, Sally MacKenzie.  She is celebrating the release of LOVING LORD ASH, Book 3 in The Duchess of Love series ...

Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, is in a sticky wicket. He married young and for love—how naïve. He discovered his mistake the very day of his wedding, but he is saddled now with a wife he’s reluctant to trust. And however much evidence he gathers against faithless Jess, he can’t seem to prove her guilt to the final judge—his foolish heart.

Jess knows she’s bobbled her marriage, however innocently. A fairytale wedding makes no difference if she hasn’t got the marquis charmed to show for it. Well, she’s had enough of accidental encounters with naked gentlemen and near misses explaining things to her husband. It’s time to buck up and go win her man back—even if she has to fight very dirty indeed.

Kit (the dog) joins the fun in LOVING LORD ASH

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. – George Burns

The Marquis of Ashton is grateful for his large, loving, caring, close knit family.   Unfortunately, he lives with them since he abandoned his bride eight years ago in his manor house.   Granted, he loved Jess since childhood - she saw past the "marquis" facade and appreciated him for his true self.  But she was unfaithful.  Yet he wants, no, needs to sire an heir so he sets out to reconcile with her.  Unfortunately, he finds Jess, once again, in the arms of another man.

Jess could use George Burns' charm to convince her estranged husband that the naked man in her art studio is not a lover but a model.  And one of several men who live in her manor home.   The village thinks they are all her lovers but they are not.   Jess has given them a sanctuary ... a sanctuary that Kit threatens when he barks out the words "divorce".   Jess convinces Kit to give their marriage - and children - one last try as a divorce is expensive ... and would be scandalous for his mother, known as the Duchess of Love.   

Sally MacKenzie follows George Burns' example in delivering good spirited humor in this Regency Romance.   Perhaps George Burns and Gracie Allen were the role models for the Duke and Duchess of Greycliffe, life long partners who parented the rambunctious boys in The Duchess of Love series - BEDDING LORD NED, SURPRISING LORD JACK, and LOVING LORD ASH.   MacKenzie creates a comfortable atmosphere for readers to join the fun in LOVING LORD ASH as Kit and Jess give their marriage a second chance.   They come from different classes and they have different personalities - Kit is reserved while Jess is vivacious.  Yet they belong together, no matter what the ton may say or how the villains will interfere.    

MacKenzie's books create laugh-out-loud moments - the characters' hijinks in LOVING LORD ASH is simply amusing. I found myself humming Fleetwood Mac's YOU MAKE LOVING FUN:

Sweet wonderful you,
You make me happy with the things you do,
Oh, can it be so,
This feeling follows me wherever I go.

No matter what Kit thinks he sees, or what others may gossip, he still loves Jess.   Kit enjoyed the hijinks (a departure from marquis behavior) as he finally claimed his wife.   MacKenzie delivers that final "aw" moment in LOVING LORD ASH.  

Recommended read for fans of Regency romance, off-the-wall characters, and large families who tend to interfere.

I received an ARC from Kensington for an honest review.  I am giving away my ARC to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you ever find yourself humming ... and what do you hum?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Sally and her books, check out her website at sallymackenzie.net.

RT Recap - Kensington Boas, Kilted Men, and Scottish Fling

Thursday brought us Kensington authors, kilted men, and tartan fairies!

Jodi Thomas and Sally MacKenzie jazzed the
Kensington book signing.

Marilyn Brant and Mia Marlowe also signed in boas!

Under the Kilt - the Naked Truth about Scotland - 
a kilted hunk escorted Kimberly Killion to the panel.

  

Cathy Maxwell renamed the the panel, "50 Shades of Scotland".  Katharine Ashe hid her laugh.

Veronica Wolff and Kimberly agreed that Scotland's 
mystique will always capture readers' attention.

This haggis maker shared how to cook the Scottish delicacy.
Sahara Kelly exclaimed, "Exploding Sheep's Stomach!"

The Clan McFae Scottish Fling brought out the
tartan in every reader .... 

  

... even in the Aussies Andrew, Megan, and Jennifer!
(the sporran holds the Tim Tams).

Megan brought the materials from Oz to assemble her wings.

Megan spreads her wings over historical author
Mary Wine (left) and a historical reader.

This reader added "tattooed" fairy wings!

This reader captured Nessie!

Renee Bernard found her next hero.

What would you prefer to wear - boa?  kilt? mask?  One randomly selected commenter will win a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 21, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

The Highway Bandit (left) and the Scottish Lady

April's month long promotion is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.