Skip to main content

The Highlander Hour


Can there ever be enough men in kilts? My next blog guest doesn't think so and I agree with her! When Connie and I decided to place our first collaborative novel in Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, I had some serious researching to do. 

One of the fascinating things I discovered was that the use of specific tartans to designate different clans was actually a post-Regency era construct. When King George IV made his unprecedented trip to Scotland in 1822, Sir Walter Scott, who organized the visit, envisioned a Scottish pageant to celebrate the glories of the Highlands. English lords who followed their monarch were all scrambling to find the slightest link to a Scottish clan in their lineage so they too could don the newly fashionable plaid!

Of course, putting George IV in plaid would have made Brummel tear out his hair if he hadn't already been banished from court. Fortunately in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER, all the men in kilts do them justice!

Now for a bit from my guest blogger and fellow kilt-aficionado, Amanda Forester!
_____________________________

Amanda Forester: Happy New Year!  I have spent the last few weeks of 2011 doing something I rarely get the chance to do - bake!  I've made snowball surprise cookies, peanut butter chocolate cookies, saltine yums (tastes better than it sounds), apple brandy bread pudding, and caramel brownie cheesecake.  Oh, so good!  So as I ring in the New Year with the obligatory diet resolution, let's talk about some of the highlights from 2011. 

I am thrilled that 2011 saw the publication of my second novel, The Highlander's Heart.  A historical setting with some adventure, a little humor, and of course a hunky dude in a kilt is my favorite way to have an armchair romance.   So of course I'm super excited to get my hands on a copy of Sins of a Highlander by Mia Marlowe and Connie Mason!   It's hard to decide whether I enjoy writing or reading more, but I had a blast writing about a directionally impaired English countess who accidentally crosses paths with a Highland laird. 

Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only to be abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom.  Her determination to break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing between her and the Highland Laird.  David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle for ransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where she belongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant for finding trouble.  Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throne of Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride.  Standing on the brink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart.

One lucky commenter on today's blog will win a copy of The Highlander's Heart!!  Woohoo!  Get to commenting!  Read an excerpt from The Highlander's Heart here. 

 And while you're at it, check out the fabulous sale on Sourcebook romances and download my first book in the Highlander series, The Highlander's Sword  - today it's only $1.79!!!

Happy New Year!
_________________________

Mia again: Only $1.79! Ok, excuse me for a minute while I pop over to Amazon and load up your THE HIGHLANDER'S SWORD. While we're talking eBook deals, let me just share that my TOUCH OF A THIEF is now available for only $1.99 for a limited time. Since the print tradebook version is $14.00, that's a significant savings for a story that garnered a Publishers Weekly Starred Review!

Since Amanda's offering a copy of THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART to a commenter this hour, I'll toss a signed SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER into the pot as well to make this a true Highland hour on the Blog Bash. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment in order to be entered in the drawing. 
And be sure to take a minute to enter my website contest at MiaMarlowe.com for a chance to win a new KINDLE!

Comments

  1. I love Highlanders. All the books sound good. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I absolutely LOVE the Highlander romances! I would love to win.
    bettysunflower@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. The book sounds good, but I do have a question: if she is married, and running away from her murderous husband, and the laird is looking for a bride, that is not a match made in heaven? Or does the husband meet with his timely end?

    I love the cover though.

    auriansbooks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amanda is one of my most favorite authors. I loved both books and do have autographed copies of each. ;o) Looking forward to reading more!

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW!

    This is a dream come true! I loved THH and reviewed it for Romance Reader At Heart (http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2011/nov11/HH_AF.html), and I have a copy of THS that should be read ASAP :)

    Happy New year Amanda :)

    Loved your post!

    Mel

    ReplyDelete
  6. Crystal - I love HIghlander romances too!

    Betty - starting off the New Year with a nice Highland romance sounds good to me!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aurian - oh yes, things are not always what they seem! I do like a book with a little adventure and some intrigue!

    Suzan - thanks for the shout out! Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love highlander romances.... Got into it through Julie Garwood and never looked back...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Melanie - thank you for yor wonderful review! It is so rewarding when someone really enjoys my stories. Hope you have a delightful New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  10. May - Julie Garwood is the best!! I blame her for inspiring me to write a Scottish romance!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Amanda! I think we will always need men in kilts. Somehow men in kilts look more interesting than another man. L.o.l I also think it would be funny to see George brummel in kilt, can't stop laughing while imagine this thing. Love highlander books since I read Julie garwood bOok the ransom:). Thank you for the giveaway! This is super great ! Aretha zhen, aretha_zhen@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, I just love my hot and hunky Highlanders and the strength and earthiness that surrounds them. Put them in a kilt and it's enough to make me swoon.

    rjofus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for sharing a great excerpt with us. I love the covers of both of your books, they're both very enticing.

    I adore Highlander books. I love the brawny Scots in their kilts, brandishing their swords and swinging their claymores. I follow their battles, and roam their castles with them. Ultimately, I like to end up in their bed (figuratively speaking of course).

    dpd333 (at) aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. You've got me - just mention Highlanders and I'm in. Love those rugged Highlanders, with their kilts and lovely homeland.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love Highland romances! Now that Amanda mentioned the Apple Brandy Bread Pudding...I'm going to have to look that up...it sounds great! I have "The Highlander's Sword" on my Kindle...couldn't pass up the sale..lol

    junegirl63 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I adore Highland romances! Sexy hot men in kilts, what can beat that? LOL! Thanks for sharing with us today!

    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aretha - I have a hard time imagining Brummel in a kilt! I also loved Ransom! In fact I enjoyed it so much I had to try my hand at writing my own Highland adventure.

    Chris - I'm swooning right along with you! I also enjoy the rugged manly man type, which of course all Highlanders are!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Diane - wish I could take credit for the covers, but that's all my publisher - they have some great covers! I do enjoy a little Highland adventure too!

    Barbara - have you ever been to Scotland? I have heard so much and studied so much I would love to visit someday!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Maria - apple brandy bread pudding is *almost* as good as a Highland romance. Best of all is eating apple bread pudding while reading a Highland romance! Mmmmmmmmm

    Johanna - sexy men in kilts pretty much says it all!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Really great prices for those books! Love Highlander's but don't read enough books featuring them... maybe this year I will do that!

    yadkny@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yadkny - hope you enjoy trying a little Highlander romance!

    ReplyDelete
  23. wow.. that is really great

    who can resist highlander?? i really love reading highlander story ;)

    thank you for a chance to win it ;)

    eli_y83@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Who can love highlanders? LOL

    Dannyfiredragon@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I SWOON for Highlanders! They take my breath away...and give me the giggles! Does anyone else love that accent?! I get all girly and giggly around it (ok, even if I am only hearing it in my head, lol!).

    Thank you so much for the awesome blog bash with the even more awesome giveaways!

    Happy New Year!!

    Gena Robertson
    robertsongena@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, Amanda, your books sound fantastic! So glad I was introduced to them!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment