October...
Yes, somehow this is the last day of September, and October 2013, that for so long seemed so far away, will be here in a blink of an eye. Almost two years ago, my son and his fiancée set a date of October 12,2013 for their wedding. Plans that were made months ago, years ago, are finally all coming together. The bride is getting a little stressed out as she strives to make sure everything runs according to plan, but I've told her that no matter what happens, at the end of the day they'll still be married. It will be an outdoor wedding in the middle of October in western New York and while the leaves should be in brilliant color, the temperature is unpredictable, so I'd appreciate any good thoughts you can send our way. And look forward to pictures.
The other event I've been looking forward to in October is the release of my first royalty romance, Her Royal Masquerade. The release date is October 21st. If you enjoy classic romances like Harlequin Presents or Desire, or any emotional romance with a hot-blooded hero and a heroine who gets in over her head, I hope you'll give it a try.
Time is running out for Prince Vittorio. His father’s health is failing and he must find a royal bride. Fast. He’s never forgotten his glimpse of a beautiful Scandinavian princess and lures her to his Mediterranean country with an invitation to his father’s birthday ball. He’d planned to propose a marriage agreement as cold as her icy reputation, but then he discovers she's as colorful and warm as a summer sunset. The heat between them flares red-hot and when she allows him to seduce her, Vittorio sees his future unfolding just as he had planned. But what he doesn’t know is that the woman in his bed is not a princess at all.
The last thing schoolteacher Mia Holmberg expects when she masquerades as her royal cousin is to be swept off her feet by a charming prince. The incredible night in Vittorio’s arms is like a fairy tale come true, but she’d never want the life of a real princess, with all its pomp and politics. Knowing they can never have a future together, she slips out of his bed and back to reality, where she belongs.
But Vittorio discovers the deception and kidnaps Mia back to his palace, demanding she be his mistress until the real princess appears. Despite her attempts to stay aloof, Mia soon learns there’s more to the prince than arrogance and attitude, but now she’s in danger of falling in love with a man she can never have.
I'm writing book #2 in the Her Royal Romance series, titled Her Royal Bodyguard. You can look for that in 2014. I'll keep you updated when I have the release date. And book #3, Her Royal Mistake, will follow later in 2014.
And speaking of keeping updated on any upcoming releases and other news. You can sign up for my mailing list. I promise I won't clog your inbox. I'll only send you info on my releases. And it's possible I may have a mailing-list-only contest from time to time.
So what do you have going on in October?
Natasha
Voluptuous - available now
Her Royal Masquerade - coming Oct 21
Silken Canvas - coming in print Nov 5, e-book available now
Playing for Real - coming Feb 4
www.natashamoore.com
Morals, Bedtime Stories and Crime…Oh My!
Today we have
best-selling mystery and suspense author Kathy Bennett guest blogging with us. Kathy
spent twenty-one years as a police officer with the LAPD, and draws on her career
experience to write her ‘arresting’ stories. Her latest book, A Deadly Justice,
was released in September 2013. Welcome, Kathy!
Thanks,
Leigh, and thanks to everyone here at Fierce Romance!
At
bedtime when I was a little girl, my mother would read me a story from a book
of fairy tales, or relate a story she'd been told by her parents as a little girl. Who could forget The Boy Who Cried
Wolf, The Little Red Hen, or the Emperor's New Clothes? Every story had a
purpose or a lesson.
That
fact would be summarized at the end of the story when my mother would say,
"The End." Then she'd pause, look at me intently and say, "And
the MORAL of the story is…" and then I'd be expected to tell her the
lesson I'd learned from the tale she'd just read. Usually I was successful in
reciting what I'd learned.
So
now, as someone who makes up her own stories, it doesn't come as a big surprise
to me that there are little lessons or things to be learned in my books. I'm
not talking about the police jargon or procedures I sprinkle into my stories,
and I'm not talking about research I've done about a particular location or
profession.
No,
I'm talking about the predicaments my characters face. I try to make those
circumstances as authentic as I can. Usually, the situations are crime-related,
and I hope that my readers will put themselves in the character's positions.
That way, the reader can think about what they'd do if they experienced the
same dilemmas.
In
my second book, A Deadly Blessing, I had a sixteen-year-old girl get drugged
and kidnapped from an unsupervised party. In a review of the book, one reader
stated she'd used the events in my book to open a discussion with her teenage
children about the dangers they might face when out with their friends.

I
don't intentionally put these examples or warnings in my book. They just grow
from the plot. Of course, it's my hope that my characters and the situations
they face permeate the reader's mind and get them thinking about the
consequences of their actions…or inaction.
Is
it my duty to subtly educate my readers? No. Is it necessary to my stories that
I try to enlighten the people who buy my books? No. So why does my subconscious
seem to turn my tales into learning adventures? Maybe because I suspect most
parents today aren't telling bedtimes stories to their children – and I believe
they should. What do you think?
Oh,
and the moral of this story is…once
you've been a cop for over twenty years, it's hard to break the habit of trying
to protect people from the evil in the world.
Kathy
Bennett
Positively Toxic
I've had an early autumn epiphany, quite by accident. This has been an interesting year
career-wise, and I don’t just mean writing. No, my day job has been a ride and
a half, and I didn’t even know it until last month. Funny, but until then I’d
grown to accept everything as normal, when, in fact, it wasn’t. It was a bad
situation I’d gotten used to, just like the heroine of a chick lit novel who
tolerates her louse of a boyfriend until she meets The One. I didn’t realize it
until I accidentally landed somewhere else and saw how other people work together
without driving each other bonkers.
A couple of years ago, my now ex-boss
decided to re-group staff and re-organize the organizational chart, for
whatever reason. I went along with it assuming he knew what he was doing. I
mean, he had over two decades in the business after all. So, for the last two
years I’ve been working with one guy who is completely incompetent but
apparently immune to being fired and with another who—even worse—is so positive
all the time that he makes a smiley face look depressed.
I never realized what an effect this had
on me until I got transferred to another department due to a company-wide reorganization
that my ex-boss had no control over, otherwise I think he would have kept me
where I was forever. I’ve been in this new department for a little over a month,
and…wow! What is so different? Most people would think I’d be glad to get rid
of the goober who screwed up every project he did and expected me to pick up
the pieces, which is true. That was a relief. However, the real relief surprised
me.
The guy I worked with most closely, Mr.
Smiley, drove me crazy with his ultra-positive attitude. I’m not a negative
person by any means, but his constant “look on the bright side” philosophy went
overboard. The biggest problem was it only extended as far as his needs. If I
needed to discuss product issues or a problem we needed to address, I got a
wall of “Negativity is not accepted here! Just be positive and a solution will present itself.” However, when he had an issue with a colleague, I heard
all about it in technicolor. What?
So, I learned how to positively report
that our sales were poor or that our employees were mounting a revolt in such a
way as to offset his initial response of “Be positive!” and actually get
something done. Ever have to justify everything you do to someone who believes
in his/her heart that you are coming from a mindset that you aren’t coming
from? He always thought I was a negative, a Polly Party-pooper, if I brought an
objection to one of his ridiculous ideas, even just playing Devil’s Advocate. That
was what this working relationship had devolved into, and it was maddening. I
couldn’t just go in and say there was a problem; I had to justify why my
positive attitude hadn’t dealt with the problem before we could discuss
solutions that didn’t involve me getting sensitivity training or signing up to
confer with a guru about how to make success come to me just by wishing.
In my new position, my boss asks me for
the “bad news” so we can figure out what’s going on before our sales fall so
low they become non-existent. He wants to know the negative so he can turn it
around before it becomes a problem. No longer do I feel like I’m the harbinger
of doom, peeing on everyone's delusional parade. Instead, I feel like a professional doing a job, and it feels really good.
So the short of it is that I’m in a much
better place. I didn’t realize what a bad place I was in until the first time
my new boss asked my best educated opinion about an production issue and
expected, well, my best educated opinion, despite whether it was positive or
negative. No more fake smiles or coating everything with an insincere attempt
at glee, and it's so great.
I hope this September has brought you unexpected joys, too. Please feel free to share if it has, or even if it hasn't. Next time I post it will be October, and I am looking
forward to a lovely autumn. See you then!
McCaig's Tower – Oban
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View of MacCaig's Tower from Oban |
Toward the beginning of our trip to Scotland in July, we
stayed in a cottage near Oban. This is one of our favorite places to stay. We
had seen McCaig's Tower in the distance on the hill over Oban on previous trips.
You can't miss it because it dominates the skyline. One day we walked through
town and up the steep hill (Battery Hill) to McCaig's Tower. This is a landmark
that's easily seen from almost anywhere in Oban and it resembles a Roman coliseum.
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McCaig's Tower |
Even though streets lead up to it, we decided to walk instead
of drive for a few reasons. We enjoy walking. The streets are narrow, one lane,
very steep, and difficult to navigate because many of them are two way, and
people park on the street. Also I wasn't sure if there would be parking at the
top. Following the signs, we walked along the streets and up a very long set of
steps. Once we'd climbed what seemed like a million steps, we came out onto another
street. There are streets and homes all over this large hill. They have a great
view out over Oban Bay.
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The steps leading up toward the tower. |
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The cliff next to the steps. |
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View of Oban Bay from a seating area off the steps. |
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Beautiful historic homes and gardens. |
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McCaig's Tower from the street below it. |
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Beautiful, unusual flowers. |
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Two way street. |
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Entrance to McCaig's Tower |
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Inside |
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Click to enlarge. View of Oban Bay |
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Boats in the harbor |
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Rose |
The day started out cloudy, but by the time we reached the
tower, the sun had come out and it was warm enough for short sleeves.
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I love the very Scottish look of this lovely house. |
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Roses and butterfly bushes. |
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I love this creative house number. |
The first book in my Highland Adventure Series, My Fierce Highlander, is on sale for .99 cents for a limited time at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
Gwyneth Carswell, an English lady banished by her father to the harsh Scottish Highlands, wants nothing more than to take her young son away from the violence of two fighting clans--her own distant kin, the MacIrwins, and their enemies, the MacGraths. She risks everything to rescue the fierce MacGrath warrior from the battlefield where he’s left for dead by her clan. She only knows she is inexplicably drawn to him and he wants peace as she does. When her clan learns of her betrayal, they seek vengeance. Dare she trust the enemy more than her own family?
Laird Alasdair MacGrath is driven to end two-hundred years of feuding with the MacIrwins. But by taking in and protecting Lady Gwyneth and her son, he provokes more attacks from his mortal enemy. As the danger and conflict surrounding them escalate, Alasdair and Gwyneth discover an explosive passion neither of them expected. With the arrival of a powerful man from her past, a horrible decision confronts her--give up her son or the man she loves.
Thanks!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com
Labels:
Argyll,
Highland romance,
McCaig's Tower,
Oban,
Scotland travel,
Scottish historical romance,
Vonda Sinclair

Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper - Recommended
I rarely write reviews. I may be a writer, but the craft of reviewing is a totally different animal than writing a book. I salute reviewers who can sum up a story in a few succinct words. All I can say is that I loved this book! In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say that I know Jess Topper, but I had not read this book until it finally appeared on my Kindle after pre-ordering it months ago.
Blurb:
In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.
It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.
Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.
Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?
I can't express how much I loved this book. (I'm not a reviewer, remember?) But I can say that the characters were so real I felt like I knew them and their story touched me on a deep level. I loved going along on their journey as they rebuilt their lives and fell in love. Along the way, I was also treated to an intimate view of New York City and a peek at the world of heavy metal rock and roll.
My words don't do this book justice, but believe me when I say, in the words of British rocker Adrian Graves, it's "brilliant." And I recommend this book to anyone who loves emotional romances about second chances.
Here's the link to Louder than Love.
Natasha
Voluptuous - available now
My Royal Masquerade - coming Oct 21st
Playing for Real - coming Feb 4th
www.natashamoore.com
Blurb:
In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.
It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.
Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.
Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?
I can't express how much I loved this book. (I'm not a reviewer, remember?) But I can say that the characters were so real I felt like I knew them and their story touched me on a deep level. I loved going along on their journey as they rebuilt their lives and fell in love. Along the way, I was also treated to an intimate view of New York City and a peek at the world of heavy metal rock and roll.
My words don't do this book justice, but believe me when I say, in the words of British rocker Adrian Graves, it's "brilliant." And I recommend this book to anyone who loves emotional romances about second chances.
Here's the link to Louder than Love.
Natasha
Voluptuous - available now
My Royal Masquerade - coming Oct 21st
Playing for Real - coming Feb 4th
www.natashamoore.com
Cape Cod Dreaming
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Provincetown beach |
The Cape is actually a long, narrow island. You're never too far from water, not only the Atlantic Ocean, but also many ponds, bays, and marshes. Provincetown, shown on the left, is at the easternmost tip of the Cape.
What used to be a fishing village is now a tourist mecca, with a particular appeal to gays. The streets are narrow, the shops souvenir-ish, but the overall ambiance is fun.
Look at what's important to the residents of town - the library! Isn't that just a perfect library?
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Provincetown library |
Another town we visited is Wellfleet, also on the "outer Cape" meaning the easternmost part, which is less built up and less visited than the areas closer to Boston and New York. The outer Cape is also the home of the Cape Cod National Seashore, a long stretch of public beaches saved from commercial development by President John F. Kennedy.
All coastal towns in New England were originally working hubs for fishermen. Wellfleet still is, although it also attracts artists now as well. Here's the Wellfleet harbor, with a typical Cape mix of sand, rocks, boats, and gray-shingled houses.
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Wellfleet Harbor |
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Wellfleet house |
This is just the cutest store (in Provincetown). The signs say: "Best Store Ever" and "Love and Happiness". Who could resist?
I have more pictures of Cape Cod on my Pinterest account.
http://www.pinterest.com/carlycarson/
Sunset Tryst Cover Reveal
I'm so excited to reveal the cover for Sunset Tryst here on Fierce Romance! This was such a steamy, sexy and fun book to write. Look for it coming soon from Ellora's Cave.
Blurb:
Excerpt:
Garrett held on tighter and danced them in a loop to face the bar. Evan was standing there with his arms folded over his wide chest, leaning against the center island, just staring at them. He held his jaw firm and his chest rose slow and even with each breath, but nothing could mask the undeniable want in his eyes.
“Yes, Garrett. I want you. And I want him. I want you both, and I want you together.”
Have a sexy weekend, y'all!
Kristin
www.kristindaniels.com
www.facebook.com/authorkristindaniels
http://twitter.com/Kristin_Daniels
Blurb:
Sun, sand,
surf…and sex.
Riley Watson is looking to kick off her vacation a little
early as the medical convention she’s attending in a gorgeous Florida beach
town winds down. When two
sexy men offer her an unforgettable night of heat and passion, the last thing
she expects is to get tangled up in a maelstrom of searing emotions. Together, Garrett
and Evan are her most vivid erotic fantasy—and her most heartbreaking
reality—all rolled into one. As red-hot desire and aching intimacy escalates, Riley
is forced to pack a lifetime of ecstasy into mere days. But after nature takes a
bite out of her unexpected affair, will their gut-wrenching goodbye be
all they have left as a reminder of their sunset tryst?
Excerpt:
Garrett held on tighter and danced them in a loop to face the bar. Evan was standing there with his arms folded over his wide chest, leaning against the center island, just staring at them. He held his jaw firm and his chest rose slow and even with each breath, but nothing could mask the undeniable want in his eyes.
Garrett
worked his fingertips against the silkiness of her blouse and hooked the thumb
of his opposite hand under Riley's belt. Her nipples tightened even more, as did
every cell centered around her core.
“Looks
like our friend over there isn’t too shy about what he wants,” Garrett mused at
the edge of her ear. “Can’t say as I blame him, though. Seems to be a lot of
that going on here.”
Never in
her life had she felt so free. Wild, even. She covered Garrett’s hand with one
of her own and worked her fingers between his to hold it there while lifting
her other to that silky place along the nape of his neck. She gripped those
short curls and reveled in the quiet growl he let loose when she tightened and
tugged a little.
“Ah, baby.
You’re some wicked sexy, you know that?”
She had to
smile. “You’re the first person to ever call me that.”
“What?
Sexy? I highly doubt that.”
She shook
her head ever so slightly. “No. Wicked. I’ve never been called wicked before.”
More heat centered
in her core when he pressed his lips against her temple. “Then I’m the first
person to see who you really are,” he whispered.
As
revelations went this one floored her, simply because she couldn’t help but
think that, in this moment, he might be right.
They
stayed like that for a few beats, gyrating together, mimicking a slow, rhythmic
f***ing, all the while being watched intently by Evan. Her breath came quicker
and her knees started to feel like jelly.
“You want
him,” Garrett continued at the shell of her ear. “Don’t you?”
Her throat
constricted, but whether it was from nerves or excitement, she couldn’t be
sure. Gripping him tighter was the only answer she could give.
“I watched
you today. Whenever you stopped in here, you’d flash these looks at him.”
“Did I?”
she managed.
His
chuckle rumbled in his chest and penetrated through her back. “Yeah, you did.”
“Mmm.”
“You’re
not denying it, are you?”
The devil
in her just kept staring into Evan’s eyes. She remained silent.
“I know
you’re thinking it,” Garrett kept going. “My hands all over you. His hands. Our
mouths.” He pushed against her ass again. “Among other things.”
God, he
was reading her mind. “And you’re calling me wicked?”
“Come on, Riley,”
he nearly growled. “Let me hear you say it. Let me hear you say how much you
want him. How much you want us.”
She peered
over her shoulder and caught his gaze. Lust, desire, need—all were heady
emotions in and of themselves. But weaved together in the depths of Garrett’s
near-black eyes... She found herself lost and grounded all at the same time as
an easy truth spilled past her lips.
“Yes, Garrett. I want you. And I want him. I want you both, and I want you together.”
Have a sexy weekend, y'all!
Kristin
www.kristindaniels.com
www.facebook.com/authorkristindaniels
http://twitter.com/Kristin_Daniels

A Fashion Public Service Announcement
By
now you know that I’m a bit of a wannabe fashionista, whether anyone cares or
not. I’ve been fashion-challenged all my life, but somehow, in my middle years,
I’ve suddenly decided that I’m some kind of fashion guru because I’ve worn the
worst of the worst and am now somehow better for it. A couple of posts ago, I blogged
about visible bra straps with no purpose. Today I tackle the topic of short
skirts and big bags, which by themselves do not cause problems. However, together
they can be very, um, revealing.
My
job puts me in the way of hundreds of people a day, so I have plenty of time to
observe what the general population is wearing. Lately, I’ve noticed on several
occasions a phenomenon that I think I need to mention, if only to inform the public at large about the potentially toxic mix of short skirts and big, bulky bags.
I don’t
mind short skirts. I’ve worn enough of them over the years that I’ve developed
the attitude that if you want to wear something that shows your thighs, no
matter how sightly or unsightly, you should. Doesn’t matter to me. Short skirts
serve a number of purposes, especially on hot days. But here’s what you need to
remember…
If
you carry an over-the-shoulder bag that rests against your body, it might catch
on the fabric of your skirt and cause it to hike up and show everyone your
panties.
It’s
true. I’ve seen it, in some cases unfortunately. Young women will totter off
down the street completely unaware that their undies are showing in the back
because their tote bags, as they rest against their hips, have captured their
skirts and are holding them in place while the rest of their body moves
forward, thus exposing their underwear, and, in some cases, butt cheek.
I’d never thought of this before, but now I’m super aware of where my purse touches my body in case it catches on my clothing. I’m also hyper-sensitive to red skin caused by purse straps, such as when you wear a tank top and your purse strap rubs your skin red where it touches. I used to vainly think that people were scoping my Michelle Obama arms, but then when I looked in the mirror I saw red splotches where my purse strap had been. This also happens when you wear a tank top and lean back in a chair—red skin everywhere.
I
realize that as far as public service announcements go, this is pretty lame.
However, from the grateful response I got from the young lady who wasn’t
wearing panties with her tiny skirt and large tote bag ensemble, I think it could be pretty important. It might help someone out there who’s been wondering why all those people stare
as she walks by. Is it her figure? Her cute blouse? Her jaunty step? Or her Wonder Woman boy shorts showing?
What about you? Is there something you see happening fashion-wise that people aren't aware of? You can help a tremendous number of folks by pointing it out here. Not as many probably as were impacted by learning that you're supposed to push in on the ends of the foil box to hold the spindle in place, but a large number nevertheless, so please do share. :)
Isle of Lewis: Stornoway
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Stornoway Town Hall |
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Martin's Memorial Church |
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County Hotel |
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Lews Castle |
Lews Castle was built between 1847 and 1852 by James
Matheson who had bought Lewis in 1844. The castle was built on the site of the
former Mackenzie's Seaforth Lodge (The Seaforth Lodge is said to have hosted the planners of the 1719
Jacobite Uprising.) Lews Castle was luxuriously furnished with
crystal chandeliers, carved panels and tapestries. Lord Leverhulme, founder of
Lever Brothers soap company, bought Lewis in 1917. In 1923, he gifted the vast estate of the Isle of Lewis to the citizens of Stornoway. It is administered by the Stornoway Trust on behalf of the townspeople.
No one knows when Stornoway was settled, but it was long
before the Vikings started raiding in the ninth century. Chambered cairns
nearby suggest the Stornoway area was settled before the Iron Age. In addition
to the safe, natural harbor, other features no doubt valued by early inhabitants
include fertile soils, shallow waters of Broad Bay for fish spawning,
freshwater rivers that drew in salmon and sea-trout and safe anchorage.
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Herring Girl Statue |
Stornoway is home to the Western Isles Council and other educational, sporting and media establishments. Education is important on Lewis, and our tour guide pointed out many of the newly build schools.
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Stornoway Harbour |
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Carved Viking outside the ferry terminal |
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The ferry terminal |
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Boats in Stornoway Harbour |
Lewis was under the leadership of the Lord of the Isles from 1354 to 1493. By the end of the 14th century, Lewis was held by one branch of the Clan MacLeod, with Harris (which connects to Lewis) being controlled from Skye by another branch of Clan MacLeod.
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You can see the Stornoway War Memorial on the hill above the town. |
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Leaving Isle of Lewis |
Thanks so much for visiting Stornoway with me! :)
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com
Excerpt from My Daring Highlander:
Seona's
horse bolted during a gale storm in the Highlands. Keegan chased after her and
pulled her off the terrified horse.
He drew up beside the
rocks that appeared stable enough and helped Seona slide to her feet, before he
dismounted. He guided her toward the stones which blocked much of the fearsome
west wind that pounded them and led Curry behind him. Keegan glanced upward, determining
the stone was solid and that nothing would fall on their heads.
Immediately they were
out of the wind and rain. He turned back to watch the gale rage across the moor
behind them, the grasses, bushes and plants twisting and almost lying flat at
times.
“There goes your
horse,” he said, pointing. Seona’s mare was a distant black spot, running along
the burn. The animal likely wouldn’t calm down until the gale had passed.
“We’ll recapture her later.”
Following his gaze,
Seona nodded.
“This is a decent
shelter.” He was glad to get her out of the wind and rain.
“Aye,” she said, her
breathing still elevated. Arms wrapped around herself, she shivered and her
teeth chattered, though she tried to hide it.
“Come. I’ll warm you.” He
took her into his arms, but he knew it wasn’t only the temperature of the chill
wind that made her shiver. ’Twas also the waning of the extreme fear she must
have felt taking a wild ride on that daft horse, tearing across the
countryside. “’Tis all right, lass,” he murmured in her ear. “You’re safe now.”
Her body still
trembled, but she nodded. He would do anything to keep her safe. Did she not
know that?
His face against her
cool damp hair, Keegan closed his eyes and drew in her sweet scent. She felt
perfect against him, but he fought down his need to pull her even closer, to
feel her body completely aligned with his.
Finally, her shivers
diminished and her breathing returned to normal. Reluctantly, he removed his
arms from around her and backed up a step. “Better?”
“Aye. I thank you for
helping me. I don’t know what got into Juliana.”
“Juliana?” he asked.
“My mare.”
“’Tis a fancy name for
a mare,” he said, unable to hide his amusement. But his main reason for
smiling… he was thrilled she had not been injured.
She grinned, her dark
blue eyes gleaming with happiness. Saints!
He had never seen her look more beautiful.
“Did you know your eyes
are the color of bluebells?” he asked.
She glanced away, but
her smile widened and her cheeks turned an adorable pink, replacing the earlier
paleness. She bit her lip, making him wish he could do the same.
Finally, her eyes met
his again. He had the urge to tell her how incredibly beautiful she was, but he
feared he might overdo it.
“You are mad to say
such things,” she said. He barely heard her above the roar of the wind
overhead.
He held up his hands in
surrender. “I speak the truth.”
Seona felt her face
burning despite the icy wind, but she forced herself to meet Keegan’s gaze.
There was so much she wished to tell him, but fear held her back. He was
perfect… or he would be perfect for her, at least. Simply gazing into his
enchanting sky-blue eyes made her feel happy. And his grin was naught but charm
and seduction. Most impressive of all, he was a strong, heroic man who didn’t
fear anything.
“You are…” What should
she say?
He moved his head
closer to hear her better, and turned slightly so one of his ears was near her
mouth.
“You are very brave and
heroic. You saved my life,” she said, finding it easier to talk to him when he
wasn’t looking directly into her eyes. “Twice.”
He pulled back a few
inches, his lips twisting into a lopsided grin. “I thank you, m’lady,” he said.
“I could never allow you to be injured.” He shook his head. “Over the past few
months, I have wanted to talk to you or… dance with you but… you ken your aunt
doesn’t like me.”
“Nonsense,” she said to
be polite. Truth was Aunt Patience didn’t want her to go near him because she
deemed him unacceptable as husband material for Seona.
“Come now, Lady Seona,
you ken I speak the truth,” he said in a light tone. “Her glares are like sharp
blades.”
She nodded. “My aunt is
much like a guard dog.”
“Well, she has a right
to be. You’re a beautiful lady and
I’m…” He shrugged. “Just a guard.”
She frowned. “You are
much more than that.”
’Twas obvious he was
trying to maintain his pleasant expression, but a hint of sadness crept into
his blue eyes that near broke her heart.
He shook his head.
“Nay, I fear when it comes to you, Lady Seona, I’m naught but a knave and a
rogue. I’ve hardly been able to concentrate today because of memories of that
amazing kiss.” After shoving his fingers through his windblown, damp mane, he
backed away and stared out at the blowing rain. “I must behave myself,” he
muttered, as if to himself, but she heard it despite the roaring wind.
She could not take her
eyes off him and the stunning passion in his gaze. He was right… completely and
unequivocally right. He should never touch her again. She should’ve never
allowed him to kiss her the night before, but she could not have stopped him
any more than she could’ve stopped breathing. Speaking of which, her own
breaths were now short and shallow. Her chest ached with the need to be closer
to him. To touch him.
His gaze shifted to
her. “Hell. Seona, don’t look at me like that.”
She pressed her eyes
closed, the moisture gathering there burning. Why did she feel the urge to cry?
’Twas insanity. She was not normally a very emotional person. She should face
facts now—she could never have Keegan. Even though he had owned her heart for
months.
His warm, rough fingers
touched her face. Her eyes popped open and she sucked in a sharp, surprised
breath.
Labels:
excerpt,
Highland romance,
Isle of Lewis,
My Daring Highlander,
Scotland travel,
Scottish Castles,
Scottish Highlands,
Scottish historical romance,
Vonda Sinclair

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