Amazon

This is your last chance to get the Timeless Collection for just $0.99! HURRY! Goes back to full price on June 1!

Presenting 6 full-length novels in one collection for only $0.99!

Her Reluctant Groom by Rose Gordon
To Walk in the Sun by Jane Charles
A Scandalous Pursuit by Ava Stone
More than a Governess by Jerrica Knight-Catania
The Devil's Daughter by Suzie Grant
The Healing Tree by Amy De Trempe

HER RELUCTANT GROOM ~ Marcus Sinclair, sixteenth Earl of Sinclair, has lived the last thirteen years as a recluse following an accident that left him heavily scarred. Though a recluse, Marcus has still managed to fall in love. The problem? The woman he’s taken with is none other than the sister of the lady he was once betrothed to!

~*~*~*~

TO WALK IN THE SUN ~ Hiding from a dangerous man, Tess Crawford thought The Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies would be the perfect place to disappear. Vincent Latimer, Viscount Atwood, is not a vampire and He wishes the book, Wake Not the Dead, had never been written. When a storm thrusts Tess into Vincent’s path and destroys the school, both of their pasts collide.

~*~*~*~

A SCANDALOUS PURSUIT ~ A very proper English lady has all her plans for the future disrupted when she innocently stumbles headfirst into a compromising situation with a very improper English duke.

~*~*~*~

MORE THAN A GOVERNESS ~ Becky Thorn has been keeping a secret for more than seven years. A secret that could destroy her. So before she gets too ensconced in London society, she accepts a position as a governess for a reclusive Viscount, far away from the ton.

~*~*~*~

THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER ~ A bounty hunter facing his past, Gade Ryder returns to Eden, Texas, after twelve years to investigate a gang of rustlers on the family ranch. Had he accepted the job out of misplaced family loyalty or was it the compelling mystery of the devil’s daughter keeping him in the one place he didn’t want to be? Confronted by the memory of his mother’s suicide and the father he blames for her death, Gade finds himself seeking comfort from the one woman he couldn’t trust.

~*~*~*~

THE HEALING TREE - Lady Lilian Bliant is determined to thwart her manipulative father’s plan to shackle her to a weak-willed man of the ton. Lord Maxwell Warrick is anything but weak-willed, yet Lily wreaks havoc on his heart. Will their differences be put aside and will Lily one day accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.

Amazon

*Previously published on the Lady Scribes yesterday 5-1-13*

I’m currently working on two projects at one time. I know it sounds crazy, especially when you consider that they’re from two separate time periods in history and wonder how in the world do I keep them separate. I have a research notebook dedicated to each time era, full of information. So when I pulled down the one I use for westerns I started thinking back to my trip across country to New Mexico two years ago. We stopped to visit the St. Louis Arch for a day which is fondly called “The Gateway to the West.” 

The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century.  The Jefferson National expansion memorial museum below the surface though was my favorite part of the trip simply because of all the interesting history of our country packed into this space. What a fascinating history we have right here at home. 

So I thought I would share some of the photos from the museum. The Arch is the nation's tallest monument at 630 feet. The Museum of Westward Expansion at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial contains over 150 quotes from diaries, journals, letters and speeches.

During a nation-wide competition in 1947-48, architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Construction of the Arch began in 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, for a total cost of less than $15 million. 

And of course, I headed right for the information on ships. =D

This tipi is constructed of nine buffalo hides stretched around a frame of fifteen, 18’ lodgepole pine.

The Exhibits on the American Indians. Generally, the cultures of American Indians were not monetary and they bartered for their needs. They utilized the land and did not understand the European concept of land ownership.

The Exhibits of Buffalo soldiers. Four African-American regiments are established in the peacetime U.S. Army, and designated as the 24th and 25th Infantry and the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The units eventually acquire the nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" from the American Indians.

I hope you enjoyed my trip to the Western frontier and perhaps decide to take a trip there for yourself. It's a fascinating collection of American history and a trip that even my three-year-old enjoyed. They have several programs available for kids and make sure to take a trip to the top!

John Clare was an English poet who came to be best known for his stimulating representations of the English countryside.  In fact, his poetry underwent a major re-evaluation about 50 years ago reclassifying John as one of the most important 19th century poets.  Clare was born on July 13, 1793 in Helpston, Northamptonshire, England.  He was the son of a humble farm laborer, which made it difficult at times.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he learned the skills as an agricultural laborer during his early childhood.  The only kind of formal education Clare received was at a church in Glinton up until the age of 12.   Then in 1812, Clare decided to expand his horizons by entering the militia.  He also attempted living with gypsies and working in Pickworth as a lime burner. 

In an attempt to hold off his parent’s eviction, Clare offered his poems to a local bookseller.  Amazed by the profound craftsmanship of the poetry, the bookseller sent the work to his cousin who was partner at Taylor & Hessey publishing firm.  Ironically, the same firm who was responsible for publishing John Keats.  Without hesitation, Taylor published Clare's Poems; Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery in 1820 and by the following year Taylor published his Village Minstrel and other Poems. 

John married Martha Turner in 1820 and was granted an annuity of 15 guineas from the Marquess of Exeter for his extensive service.   Unfortunately, his income became insufficient and by 1823 they were almost penniless.  In 1827, Clare gave Taylor The Shepherd's Calendar which was released soon after.   Unfortunately, it was met with little success.  Clare didn’t allow this to shake him; he jumped right back into work and took to the fields with no issues.  However, after a short time of working he fell ill with malnutrition on top of severe depression and anxiety.  Fortunately, Earl Fitz William presented John with a new cottage and a piece of ground, but Clare couldn’t comfortably settle in his new home.  He was torn between the two worlds of literary London and his illiterate neighbors.  He struggled with the desire to follow his heart and write poetry over the need for money to feed and clothe his family.  His health began to deteriorate at an increasing rate after the birth of his sixth child in 1830.  Five years later, the Rural Muse was released, getting noticed by Christopher North and other reviewers.  As it turns out, it was not enough to support his wife and seven children.

Sadly, John’s depression didn’t get better.   By July of 1837, under the recommendation of his publishing friend, John Taylor, and his doctor, Clare admitted himself into the private asylum, High Beach near Loughton, in Epping Forest.   During his first few asylum years, Clare re-wrote famous poems and sonnets by Lord Byron.  Then, in 1841 John escaped from the asylum to find his first love Mary Joyce who he thought he was married to.  After finding out she had died in an accidental house fire 3 years prior, John remained free for 5 months.  Sometime between Christmas and New Years, Clare was committed to the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum where he spent the remaining 23 years of his life.  While there he wrote possibly his most recognized and famous poem, “I Am”.  He died on May 20, 1864 at the age of 71.  Clare was returned to Helpston for a formal burial at St Botolph’s churchyard.


I Am

I am: yet what I am none cares or knows,
My friends forsake me like a memory lost;
I am the self-consumer of my woes,
They rise and vanish in oblivious host,
Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost;
And yet I am! and live with shadows tost

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,
Into the living sea of waking dreams,
Where there is neither sense of life nor joys,
But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems;
And e'en the dearest--that I loved the best--
Are strange--nay, rather stranger than the rest.

I long for scenes where man has never trod;
A place where woman never smil'd or wept;
There to abide with my creator, God,
And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept:
Untroubling and untroubled where I lie;
The grass below--above the vaulted sky.

John Clare

As many of you might already know, I'm a HUGE fan of Pinterest. Love, love, love filling up my boards with all my favorite things. One of my favorite boards that I pin to often is My Favorite Places & Spaces. This board is a collection of places I've either visited or have a deep desire to visit in the future. The pictures are gorgeous! They capture a moment in time, a mood, or simply an angle that makes you long to be there.

So, because I love you all so much, I'm sharing this very special board with you today :) And I'd love for you to share your favorite Pinterest boards with me, too! I'm always looking for new, fun boards to follow!

My Favorite Places & Spaces

Have you ever pondered where the sensational bubbly and frothy taste of a nice cold Guinness came from?  Benjamin Guinness was a man of many capabilities and talents. He spent his life living up to his great namesake, in which he was born into.  This was achieved not only by fulfilling his destiny as an entrepreneur extraordinaire at his family’s brewery, but by also becoming a great philanthropist and a prominent politician.  Benjamin Guinness was born on November 1, 1798 to Arthur Guinness II and his wife Anne Lee, grandson of Arthur Guinness I who founded the Guinness brewery in 1759.  By working side by side with his father from early on his father trusted him enough to hand over the sole control of the company by 1839.  On February 24, 1837 Benjamin married his first cousin Elizabeth Guinness.  They had three sons and a daughter together and obtained residence at Beaumont House in Dublin for the majority of the children’s youth.  Upon the death of his father in 1855, Guinness had become the richest man in Ireland.

Benjamin’s first play at politics started in 1851 when he was elected the first Lord Mayor of Dublin under the reformed corporation.  Then, in 1863 he was made an honorary LL.D.  by Trinity College Dublin.  By 1865, Guinness was elected to the House of Commons as a Conservative representative for Dublin City, where he continued to serve until his death.

Benjamin’s next creative task began in 1860 and lasted until 1865.  During this time, he undertook the restoration of the city's St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Benjamin fully funded and contributed a tremendous amount of his time, effort, and ideas toward cost over $230,000 or £150,000.  In 1865, the building was restored and a grand reopening took place on February 24th.  Ironically, the grand opening took place on his and Elizabeth’s 28th anniversary.  As a demonstration of their great appreciation and gratitude, the citizens of Dublin in addition to the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's presented Guinness with addresses on December 31, 1865.  In recognition of his generosity and hard work, Guinness was honored with being made a baronet in 1867. Additionally, he was one of the ecclesiastical commissioners for Ireland, a governor of Simpson's Hospital, and vice-chairman of the Dublin Exhibition Palace. Sadly, he died the following May 19th at his Park Lane, London home.   Benjamin was then transported and buried in the Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, at the family vault, on May 27th.

Now let’s kick off this week with a nice cold one in hand and here’s to a fabulous brewer.  As they say in Ireland, “is Slainte!” and “Guid Forder”.

Enjoy this little video of some of your favorite authors, including Sabrina Jeffries, Jane Charles, Ann Lethbridge, Julie Johnstone, Samantha Grace and, of course, Ava Stone and Jerrica Knight-Catania of Romance Ramblings...

Answer our question in the comments for a chance to win a $10 gift card to Starbucks!

Jude Devereaux and Julie Garwood during an Author chat. I can't remember the moderator's name. She is the one in the middle.

Julie Garwood, Catherine Gayle and Jane Charles
 

Ava Stone and Jane Charles

Ava Stone leading the Regency Feud game

Best meal ever - lobster thermadore, garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus

One of the many male models

Kamehameha the Great also known as Paiʻea, King of the Hawaiian Islands was Hawaiian royalty who went on to accomplish many things including; conquering the Hawaiian Islands and officially establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810.  Another remarkable historical accomplishment that sets Kamehameha apart from other Hawaiian Kings is his hand in creating the Kanawai Mamalahoe, or the "Law of the Splintered Paddle".   In 1797, he helped mandate this law which protects human rights of non-combatants in times of battle.  Although there has been much debate from historians about his exact date of birth, legend reads that a great king would one day unite the islands, and that the sign of his birth would be a comet.  This connects to Paiʻea because in 1758 Hailey’s Comet was visible and it is likely Kamehameha was born shortly after its appearance.  The story goes, once Alapaʻi, who was the then present king of Hawaii, found out about the birth of the child who would become "the slayer of chiefs" he became so livid he removed the boy from his parents and everything for the first 5 years of his life to live with Naeʻole, who was a famous runner of chiefs.  Close to five years after his birth, Alapaʻi, perhaps remorseful of his actions, invited Kamehameha back to live with his family. There under the guidance of his kumu or (teacher), Kamehameha learned the ways of court, diplomacy, and war.  Sadly, within a few years of r Kamehameha’s return his father was poisoned or to death by Alapaʻi.  "Kamehameha" was not Paiʻea birth name, however given to him at a young age by Alapaʻi after he was brought into his court because for most of his childhood life Pai’ea lived in solitude. 

Kamehameha achieved prominence in Hawaii in 1782 at the death of his uncle receiving a prominent religious position.  At this time, there was already bad blood between the two cousins when a group of chiefs from the Kona district presented an offer to back Kamehameha against Kīwalaʻō.   Overjoyed, Paiʻea immediately accepted their generous offer. The five Kona chiefs supporting Kamehameha were: Keʻeaumoku Pāpaʻiahiahi (Kamehameha's father-in-law), Keaweaheulu Kaluaʻapana (Kamehameha's uncle), Kekūhaupiʻo (Kamehameha's warrior teacher), Kameʻeiamoku, and Kamanawa (twin uncles of Kamehameha). With the untouchable forces behind Kamehameha, Kīwalaʻō was soon defeated in the battle of Mokuʻohai, and Kamehameha took control of the districts of Kohala, Kona, and Hamakua on the island of Hawaii. Kamehameha's dreams included far more than the island of Hawaii.   In 1795, Kamehameha set sail with a fleet of 960 war canoes and over 10,000 soldiers.   After a long arduous battle Pai’ea took home victory.  Kamehameha was now ruler of all the Hawaiian Islands from Oʻahu to the east, but the western islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau continued to elude him.  In 1803, Kamehameha tried once again to persuade the islands to unify, however before any headway could be made disease broke out making many sick including Pai’ea, himself.

 Kamehameha was a man who prided himself on his integrity and following through on each task as King.  His meticulous attention for details ensured that the security of the islands remained a united land even after his death.  Furthermore, during his reign he unified the Hawaiian legal system and he used the products he collected in taxes to promote trade within Europe as well as the United States.   It was unifying the Kingdom of Hawaii that earned Pai’ea the title of "Napoleon of the Pacific" because of his part in establishing and retaining the islands independence.  In 1812, Kamehameha decided to spend the majority of his time with most of his family at Kamakahonu, a compound he built in Kailua-Kona.  Kamehameha died on May 8, 1819.  His body was hidden by his trusted friends, Hoapili and Hoʻolulu, in the ancient custom called hūnākel to protect his mana. 

In my haste to get up the Travel Tuesday post, I completely left off one of our TQ ladies in the RT lineup! Gah!

So, just in case you're at RT this week, here is where you will be able to find the lovely ROSE GORDON...

Thursday 2 May
Club RT @ 2pm
&
E-Book, Indie Publisher & Graphic Novel EXPO @ 4p-6p

And to recap, here are where you'll find Ava and Jane as well...

AVA:

Thursday 2 May
Lady Lavinia's Regency Bridal Shower @ 11:15a - 12:15p

Friday 3 May
Name that Playlist @ 11:15a - 12:15p

Saturday 4 May
Regency Feud @ 2:30p - 3:30p

JANE:

Thursday 2 May
E-Book, Indie Publisher & Graphic Novel EXPO @ 4p-6p

Saturday 4 May
FAN-tastic Day Party @6:30p

And remember, they're all walking around with FREE giveaways! So don't be shy! Get your SWAG on! :)

As I write this, two of our very own TQ ladies are packing their bags, getting ready to head to Kansas City for the super fun Romantic Times Convention.

Ava Stone and Jane Charles will be partying the week away with readers and writers alike, celebrating romance novels and all the people who make them possible: authors, editors, agents, cover artists, cover models, etc...

If you want to get up close and personal with Ava and Jane, just look in the bar. I promise at least one of them will be holding down the fort at all times ;) They have giveaways, too! So don't be shy!

And if you want to spend even more time with them, here are their itineraries...

AVA:

Thursday 2 May
Lady Lavinia's Regency Bridal Shower @ 11:15a - 12:15p

Friday 3 May
Name that Playlist @ 11:15a - 12:15p

Saturday 4 May
Regency Feud @ 2:30p - 3:30p

JANE:

Thursday 2 May
E-Book, Indie Publisher & Graphic Novel EXPO @ 4p-6p

Saturday 4 May
FAN-tastic Day Party @6:30p

If you're going to RT, have a wonderful time! And be sure to comment here so we can tell Ava and Jane to keep a look out for you!