I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother, who instilled in me a love of the Highlands and our Scottish heritage, to seek out the truth about our Highland roots, and to keep our oral history alive.
And so because of my mother, I wrote HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF, with more Highland tales to come.
Heart of the Highland Wolf
~Terry Spear
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: June 1, 211
ISBN-10: 1402245521
ISBN-13: 978-1402245527
ASIN: B004Y5AV1K
Each holds a secret they can't possibly overcome alone...
Julia Wildthorn is sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic,but reluctant laird Ian MacNeill may be the key to unlocking the one answer she really wants discovered...
From brilliant storyteller Terry Spear, modern day werewolves meet the rugged Highlands of Scotland, where instinct meets tradition, and clan loyalties give a whole new meaning to danger...
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All month, I've been guest blogging about Highland wolves and why I write them, but at the root of all of it was my mother, who was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and came to the U.S. as a young woman with her own mother to become citizens. Although our MacNeill Highlanders actually settled in Prince Edward Island to begin with.
My mother has since died, but at least she saw my first Highland romance stories published. And so the Highlanders will live on--only she'd never envisioned the wolfish kind would be a possibility!
When I'd ask her for ideas for the wolf stories, she'd give me beastly wolf ideas and I'd have to remind her that I didn't write about werewolves in the horror sense, but about romance! And they are majestic wolves. She'd grin and give me a beastly vampire story idea--a cruise ship where the vampire began biting all the women...no, no, Mom, romance. She'd come up with something else that was even more bizarre. But I loved her for always promoting my works to all her friends and being so proud of what I did. Well, in part. She kind of stumbled over telling folks I wrote werewolf romance. She'd wave her hand and say, "You know this fantasy stuff is all the rage now."
And everyone would nod sagely as if it was just one of those fads like Rock 'n Roll and would eventually go away. :)
But my mom always loved horror stuff--although she wouldn't let her friends know this. My dad did too, so we watched the old vampire and werewolf and other bogeymen stories that went bump in the night. We watched our weekly show of Star Trek too, with doritos topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese crowned with a half of Spanish olive. Hmm, those were the days.
So here's to a "with it" mom, who though was never really into romance, would watch the horror stuff with me, when neither of my kids will!!! Where did I go wrong? But at least they love fantasy and scifi, so I didn't lose them entirely.
Thanks, Mom, for being my greatest fan and making me laugh with all your horror story ideas...
I wanted to share also with everyone that Cheryl and I made a Best Selling list at Books on Board last week! As you can see there are some really big author names on the list that we were competing with!
Bestselling Romance eBooks
1. Seduced by the Wolf -- Terry Spear
2. Cotillion -- Georgette Heyer
3. Outcast -- Cheryl Brooks
4. Summer Secrets -- Barbara Freethy
5. Just Like Heaven -- Julia Quinn
6. Yours To Keep -- Shannon Stacey
7. Kiss of Snow -- Nalini Singh
8. When Tony Met Adam -- Suzanne Brockmann
9. The Reluctant Vampire -- Lynsay Sands
10. Dating Mr. December -- Phillipa Ashley
Bestselling Romance Authors
1. Terry Spear
2. Georgette Heyer
3. Cheryl Brooks
4. Julia Quinn
5. Phillipa Ashley
BooksOnBoard (www.booksonboard.com) is the largest independent online retailer of eBooks, with an inventory of over 425,000 unique titles. BooksOnBoard is also one of the largest retailers of downloadable Audio Books, and carries formats compatible with eBook Readers such as: Android devices, Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Sony PRS-300 eBook Readers, Cybook Opus Pocket eBook Readers, Cybook Gen3 eBook Readers, and Astak EZReader Pocket Pro eBook Readers.
I was so excited to see this! And the other great news is that Ian MacNeill of Heart of the Highland Wolf made All Romance ebooks finals for one of 32 hottest heroes this summer! Voting starts July 1st!
Also, Olivia and Mary Margaret's heroes made the finals! So there are 3 of us competing against the other 29! Let's see some tearing off of shirts, heroes! We're ready to vote! Right, ladies?
And I just learned of Sia's lovely review of HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF also!
My thoughts:
This story is wonderful blend of contemporary suspense; romance, with just the right mix of paranormal. Terry has a wonderful sense of humor and you can’t help but laugh out loud at some of the situations. The cast of characters is well-drawn and distinct with strong family ties with Ms. Spear’s trademark pack dynamics.
What I love about Terry Spear’s series, especially in this particular story, is this isn’t fantasy. It’s set in the real world and crafted in such a way you feel there could actually be werewolves hiding in plain sight.
Terry sets it in the Highlands (yay!) and combines a touch history (how can you not?), a secluded castle, a ghost, a family feud going back generations, a hidden betrothal contract, and a villain who’s determined to take what he sees as his right, Julia Wildthorn. One tough and mouthwatering Scot Laird (Ian) who has already determined that Julia is all his and said villain will take her his dead body. Believe me, Sutherland tries.
Did I mention there is not just one sexy Highland wolf, but four of them! None of them are quite prepared for two independent and unprotected female (what is wrong with their pack leaders anyway?) American werewolves in Scotland, especially one who writes (gasp) werewolf romances.
This is such a fun story to read. I love that Terry has set this and the next one in Scotland (I’m hoping a story for each brother).
Let me go on record and say, Terry Spear just gets better and better.
Terry Spear's sexy Highland wolves can bite me any time.
Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE
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I'll be at Sia's Thoughts over Coffee on June 24 with a free giveaway!
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Next Week's Schedule for the last of the blog tour!
Jun 20-Anna's Book Blog
Jun 21-Fang-tastic Books--Werewolf in a Kilt!
Jun 22-The Royal Review
Jun 23-Urban Fantasy Investigationshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Jun 24-Sia's Thoughts over Coffee.
Today is the 1st Day of Summer, though with 90+ days for several weeks, I disagree with the calender! I'm definitely looking forward to the end of summer, already!
And I wanted to say that I was so proud of Carolyn and Grace for making NYT best seller! Way to go, Ladies!
Hmm, I wonder what my mother would say about me writing about a jaguar shifter this time???
Have a great day!!!
Terry Spear
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
Congratulations, Terry and to the other Casablanca authors on the list. You must be thrilled.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like having Mom in your corner--nothing. She's rooting for you from her cloud, Terry, and no doubt telling all and sundry about your many successes. May the Highlands AND the bestseller lists always be filled with your kind of wolves!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phillipa, congratulations yourself, lady! Well done!!!
ReplyDeleteGrace, you made me cry, but they're good tears. Thanks so much!!!
Terry, your mother sounds awesome. My momma passed on last year. Everyone that played bingo with her, came to visit or that she met on the street, and later who entered her nursing home room, heard all about my books. I like to think she's smiling about the bestseller lists from her cloud like Grace mentioned. And thank you for the remembrance in your blog.
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely, Carolyn!! She is SOOO proud of you!!! You better believe it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Great story about your mom - sounds like even though she wasn't inot romance she was very supportive!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maria, she was, and she was a total inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSuch great reviews and success for you! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Axcell, thanks so much! It's wonderful when your writing resonates with readers!
ReplyDeleteTerry, congrats on your bestsellerdom! I'm not sure my mom gets the whole cowboy thing, but she's definitely my biggest fan anyway. Moms are the best!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Terry...and how cool that your mom enjoyed werewolves and vampires!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all of the great reviews, news, especially the bestseller lists!
Thanks, Joanne, on the sales and all. I would have thought your mom would have been into the cowboys!!! They're easier to talk about than werewolf romance! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, CH, yeah, she was really cool! I don't have a scanner or I would have shared a picture, but one of these days I will. :)
Toot Toot!! That's a little Horn!! congrats to our of you Casa Babes making the list. Terry, your Mother sounded like a really with it lady. Your folks did something really right with you. Gave you the gifts of imagination and sense of adventure. And I have to say I'll vote for IAN Terry. He's a man to dream about. LOL
ReplyDeleteShe was, Donna, and they both were great at encouraging me to write. LOL, about Ian. I hope I'm not getting you in trouble with your hubby! :) Thanks so much, lady!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! Here's to moms who support us, even if they don't fully understand. There is nothing like mama love!
ReplyDeleteWhat a post! I'm sure your mom is very proud and is still cheering for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda and Cheryl. No electricity at home, so had to go to work 2 hours early. Which is the pits!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Congrats on all your wonderful news, Terri! And bravo to the homage to your mother!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say Congrats Terry on all your achievements . And Mama love is the strongest love we;'ll ever know. As long as we believe in it they'll stand behind us everytime. :)Look forward to reading about Ian and his brothers.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 at aol dot com
Thanks, Kathryne! My mother and I were best of friends. It was so hard losing her so all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love Ian and his brothers, Carol! And I so agree she is standing by me, and my dad too! :)