Review + Giveaway - The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

TITLE:    The Guardian
AUTHOR:    Margaret Mallory
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 354 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

FROM THE PUBLISHER:    THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I



Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

PASSION IGNITED


After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

MY TAKE:    I had heard of Margaret Mallory, but hadn't had an opportunity to read anything by her.  That was until I was introduced to her writing in this FREE bonus content from Hachette:  We Love Scotland.  It included a lovely sneak peek into The Guardian - I was hooked!  When I was offered a chance to review an ARC, I jumped at it.

The author now has a semi-rabid fan.  Her writing style draws the reader right into the world she has created.  I felt like I could almost feel the cold and damp in some of the scenes.  She is very descriptive without overloading you with too much detail.  The action flowed very smoothly, the danger felt real and the romance was sweet and steamy at the same time. 

Characters are what make this story a must read.  The four warriors:  Ian, Connor, Duncan and Alexander are what Highlander dreams are made of!  I want one..or all.  Ian is a bit of a mess in the beginning.  He is fighting his head against his heart with duty and honor weighing in.  When he was forced to marry his childhood friend Sileas, she was just that ~ a child.  He is away for five years and doesn't even recognize her when he returns.  His wife is a raving beauty who is thoroughly ticked at him, as he deserves.  You can't help but falling for Ian as the story progresses.  He is loyal to a fault, as well as stubborn. But, he is a Scot you know..

Sileas (SHEE-las) is a heroine that I found very easy to become fond of.  She is hard-working, loving and quite smart.  Her beauty is pretty much a distraction to all of the men around her, including her errant husband.  They all tend to overlook the fact that she has a brain and puts it to good use.  She has kept Ian's family intact while he's been away and he has a hard time processing that.

I really enjoyed this story and read it quickly as I had a few hours with no interruptions (how rare!).  It was very engrossing and I can't wait for the next installment, The Sinner, to be out in November - so far away :(  But I do know it will be well worth the wait as we will learn how Alexander fares with the lovely Glynis.  I highly recommend this series and am looking forward to reading the other series by Margaret Mallory: All the King's Men.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:  Amazon and The Book Depository

To learn more about Margaret Mallory and this fantastic new series as well as her other books, you can find her at:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

MargaretMallory.com

The lovely Ms. Mallory and Hachette Books are offering THREE of you equally lovely readers a chance to win your own copy of The Guardian!  Aren't you the lucky ones?

• Must be at least 13 years old
• US and Canadian residents
• NO PO Boxes
• Leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL and tell me if you'd prefer an Ian, Connor, Duncan or Alexander.  If my husband wouldn't complain, I'd order one of each!  Wouldn't want to break up a complete set :)
• Contest ends on May 16th
• Only one copy of this title may be won in any of the drawings being held in conjunction with this blog tour
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to win notification

Good luck and as always,

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review + Giveaway - Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart

TITLE:    Title  Treasure Me
AUTHOR:    Robyn DeHart
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 315 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011

SOURCE:   Received from Hachette for Review and Blog Tour

 

FROM GOODREADS:    The Legend Hunters . . .The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

MY TAKE:    Fun is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book.  It is a truly light-hearted treat full of laughs and high adventure.  It moves along at a fast pace and keeps you turning the pages, ready for more.

Robyn DeHart has created an outstanding saga in her Legends Hunters series.  (This book can be enjoyed immensely on its own as well as being the third book of the set.)  It is full of mystery, romance, fantasy, Scotsmen :), adventure and FUN!  There were several laugh out loud moments in this story.  The author is a master at creating threads in a story that go opposite directions, run alongside each other, intersect and then finally tie together. 

The characters immediately pull you into their world.  You root for Graeme in his search for the stone and for his desire to find balance with his duty to the crown and his love of Scotland.  Vanessa is quite the heroine.  You feel like you're right there with her as she stoically deals with heartbreak while searching for proof of Nessie.  What she ends up with is far more than she could have ever imagined. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository

   

Seduce Me,   Desire Me,   Treasure Me

The author and Hachette Books have generously offered to treat THREE of you a copy of

Treasure Me for your very own.  Easy peasy entry:

• You must be 13 years old or older
• Open to citizens of the US and Canada
• NO PO Boxes
• Leave a comment WITH your email address on this post
• Contest ends on 3/25
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond
• One prize (of this title) per household

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review + Giveaway - Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

TITLE:    Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing
AUTHOR:    Kathy Cano-Murillo
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 323 pages
PUBLISHED:   Grand Central, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-446-50923-7
SOURCE:   Received from publisher for review and blog tour

FROM GOODREADS: Scarlet doesn't do things like other people. Unfortunately, this leads to some misunderstandings, like when her manager at the fabric store mistakes her measuring methods for assault. But while she may not be as wealthy as her siblings, or as respected as her grandmothers-strict seamstresses whose criticism left Scarlet permanently pattern-phobic-she will be soon. She's been offered a position with Johnny "Scissors" Tijeras, the hottest young designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, attracting a surprising mix of students. Future freeform garment makers include a high-strung office manager whose marriage counselor thinks she needs to learn to break some rules, and an elderly seamstress with a secret past. But as friendships grow, the lines between teacher and student blur, proving there is no single pattern for happiness-it is always a custom fit.

MY TAKE:    The Goodreads blurb above doesn't do this book justice.  It is so much more. The initial reason I chose to review this book is because I love to sew ~ sometimes without using a pattern.  The fact that the story is such an enjoyable read was a treat.

The character of Scarlet Santana is quite the hoot.  She is vibrant, creative and ambitious.  It's too bad her family doesn't support her unorthodox methods of making a living.  All of her family that is,  except for her beloved grandmother.  She is the one who taught Scarlet how to sew and is her biggest fan. 

Scarlet's dream is to be a celebrated designer like her idol Daisy de la Flora.  Her life and creations have inspired Scarlet since she was a child.  When Scarlet is finally accepted into a prestigious training program with the nephew of Daisy, she will do anything to make it happen.  Unfortunately Scarlet soon finds out exactly what "anything" entails.

The growth of several of the characters throughout the story really pull the reader in.  I became very invested in Mary Therese's marital issues as well as the mystery of Scarlet's oldest student Rosa.  They were all well written and full of depth.  I warmed to them immediately and really cared about their tale.  Scarlet's family wasn't at the top of my list for a while, but they grew as well as the story progressed.

This was one of those stories that makes you feel good, makes you mad, makes you cry and pretty much hits all of the range of emotions.  I highly recommend this story and am looking forward to getting my hands on Kathy's first book, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter.  Be sure to read my interview with Kathy from earlier today.  She's an interesting lady!

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon or The Book Depository

I'm sure none of you missed it when I mentioned the big G-word, you know.. GIVEAWAY!  The author and publisher have generously offered one lucky reader a prize package that includes BOTH of Kathy's books:

   

I'm jealous!  I haven't yet had a chance to get my hands on the first book:  Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel  You lucky ducks!  To enter:

• You must be 13 years of age or older
• You must have a shipping address in the US or Canada, NO PO BOXES
• Leave a comment on this post and tell me if yous sew and what you make if you do
• Leave your email address in your comment, I don't want to have to hunt for it
• Drawing closes 3/23.
• Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.
• One winner per household.  In other words, you can't win this particular prize package more than once!

Good luck and as always,

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

From Scotland, With Love - Blog Tour & Giveaway

Starring Kira Morgan and Amanda Scott

I am really excited to be part of this fabulous double tour featuring two wonderful authors and their new books:  Kira Morgan with Seduced by Destiny and Amanda Scott with Highland Master.   (I apologize that my reviews aren't ready yet ~ long story.  I'll have them up at a later date.)  So on to the stars of the day:

TITLE:    Highland Master
AUTHOR:    Amanda Scott
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 375 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-446-57431-0
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Blog Tour and Review

FROM GOODREADS:    When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.

Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other.

WHERE TO BUY IT:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

TITLE:   Seduced by Destiny
AUTHOR:    Kira Morgan
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 330 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-446-54817-5
SOURCE:   Received from Blog Tour and Review

FROM GOODREADS:   SWORN TO REVENGE

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

SHROUDED BY SECRECY

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

To learn more about the authors and their books, you can check out their sites:  Kira Morgan and Amanda Scott. 

Another little FREE treat for all of you is We Love Scotland.  This is "The True Tales Behind Our Hottest Scottish Historicals" by Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Kira Morgan, and Margaret Mallory. 

~~~~~

So...I'm sure you noticed that little word GIVEAWAY in the title?  Well, you lucky ducks are in for a treat.  THREE of you will each win a copy of BOTH books!  How exciting is that?  As usual, entry is easy:

• You must be 13 years of age or older.
• Open to those with US or Canadian mailing addresses ~ NO PO Boxes
• Comment on this post and leave your email address - if it's not in the comment, I'm not going hunting for it.
• Drawing closes 3/17.  Winners will be notified by email & have 48 hours to respond.
• One copy of each title per household.  If you win either or both of the titles from another blog, you won't be eligible for this prize.

Thank you very much to the authors and Anna at Hachette for including me in this fabulous Scottish tour and offering the giveaway books for the winners!

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.