Celebrate Little Victories - Avon Addicts Bonanza

I received a surprise in the mail this week - an Avon Addicts Bonanza!  Avon's publicity team gave us a special treat - a copy of each addict's favorite Avon book.  You know mine - blue cover, second row from top, first from left - Cathy Maxwell's THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT.

We also received a special pendant of our favorite Avon cover.   Yes, I love Cathy Maxwell, red tartan, and Scottish curses! Thank you, Avon, for making blogging fun!

I am giving away one book from my book stash - winner's choice - to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  What is your favorite Avon romance book and/or author?   I know, I know, so many to choose from ... so here's the Avon Authors website (link).

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 9, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 10.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

The book fairies were good to me ....

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.

Book Review - THE SCOTTISH WITCH by Cathy Maxwell

The course of true love never did run smooth – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene 2

Cathy Maxwell’s THE SCOTTISH WITCH is Book Two in the Chattan Curse series. The series focuses on a 17th century curse cast by a Scottish witch, Finella, on the Chattan family,

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

Book 1, LYON’S BRIDE, introduces us to the Chattan Family in the Regency Era - Neal, Harry, and Margaret. Neal, Lord Lyon, wants children, so he seeks a bride he cannot love. He falls in love with his matchmaker and falls ill from the curse. Inspired by his brother's love, Harry sets out to save his brother in Book 2, THE SCOTTISH WITCH.

Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, Did my heart fly at your service - The Tempest, Act 3, Scene 1

Maxwell provides readers new to the series with another prologue (different from LYON'S BRIDE) to join Harry in his desperate mission. He travels to Scotland to search for a witch to reverse the curse, leading him to Portia Maclean. Like Harry, Portia has Scottish blood but lived in England. Like Harry, she came to Scotland to save her family. Like Harry, she feels romantic love has no room in her heart. When they first meet, with Portia in disguise as a witch, they feel a mutual bond. In their second meeting, at the Christmas assembly, they feel a mutual attraction. As they engage in a passionate affair, they inadvertently open their hearts to the other … but also to the curse. They feel Finella’s wrath surrounding them .... but they find an unexpected ally.

My picture of Glenfinnan.

Doubt that the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move his aides, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love – Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2

Maxwell steps outside the Regency Ballroom with the “paranormal elements” akin to Shakespeare’s MacBeth. I applaud her for setting THE SCOTTISH WITCH in Glenfinnan – oh, the symbolism! Glenfinnan is where Bonnie Prince Charlie returned to Scotland to reclaim the throne ... and Glenfinnan is where Colonel Harry Chattan returns to his ancestor’s crime to reclaim his brother's life.   The Glenfinnan Viaduct delivered Harry Potter aboard Hogwart’s Express to his destiny … and Glenfinnan delivers Harry to his destiny with Portia. I have walked through Glenfinnan, traveled over the viaduct, and scoured the Highlands in search of crumbling castles – Maxwell’s storytelling took me back to this beloved vacation. 

Glenfinnan Viaduct
Image by Nicolas Benutzer via Wikipedia

A heart to love, and in that heart, Courage, to make’s love known - MacBeth, Act 2, Scene 3

Maxwell is known for her heartfelt characters and she delivers in THE SCOTTISH WITCH. Readers will sympathize with sweet sisters Portia and Minera; hiss at the selfish gentry Lady Maclean and Lady Emma; and cheer for the hapless dog loving General.  Harry is the pièce de résistance with his transformation from the alcoholic womanizer to the desperate brother begging for Neal’s life – a scene that I will never forget. Or as a lovestuck rogue bursting through the church door to ... oh, you have to read the book yourself.   I also applaud Maxwell for subtly addressing social issues of addiction, loneliness, and post traumatic stress of war weary veterans.

Thank you, Cathy, for reminding us that love is everlasting!

I received a print copy of THE SCOTTISH WITCH from Avon for this review.

My picture of Loch Ness

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