Guest Blog: Margaret Mallory

This week, we're welcoming regular contributor Margaret Mallory, as she celebrates the release of THE SINNER, her second book in THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS series. It is available now. Margaret is here to talk about her novel and give away a signed copy!

THE SINNER (THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS)

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.

IRRESISTIBLE DESIRE

Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty-and defiant ways.


Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex's past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives?

**Q&A with Margaret Mallory**

Can you tell us a bit about the historical setting of your new release, THE SINNER?

This the second book in my four-book series, THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS, which takes place in the wake of the Scots’ disastrous loss in 1513 to Henry VIII’s forces at the Battle of Flodden. In the first book, THE GUARDIAN, the four heroes return from France to find their king and chieftain dead, their clan in grave danger, a rebellion brewing, and factions fighting for control of the Crown.

In THE SINNER, my four MacDonald heroes have secured their clan’s castles and lands on the Sleat Peninsula of Skye, but their clansmen on their other lands are still in danger, the rebellion continues, and a new Regent is causing them trouble.

Alex MacDonald volunteers to become keeper of the clan’s crumbling castle on North Uist and to drive away the marauding pirates who have been harassing their clansmen there. Before he undertakes this critical task, however, Alex must travel across the Western Isles and to Edinburgh on behalf of his chieftain in an effort to appease first the rebels and then the new Regent.

So tell us a little about your hero and heroine.

Alex MacDonald is a charming and handsome warrior with a gift for storytelling and a sixth sense on the water. After watching his parents battle for years, he has no intention of ever marrying. He enjoys the company of women, in and out of bed, but he makes certain that the lasses he spends time with are only interested in a bit of fun. And yet, Alex can’t help being intrigued by—and wildly attracted to—the serious-minded Glynis MacNeil.

Glynis MacNeil, whose brief, disastrous marriage ended with her dirk in her philandering husband’s thigh, is every bit as opposed to marrying as Alex is. While the fiery attraction between them is undeniable, Glynis is certain she could never trust him to be faithful. And yet, when Glynis finds herself in trouble, Alex is the one man she turns to.

You often incorporate historical characters into your novels. Any particularly interesting ones in this new book?

My hero and heroine get caught in the conflict between the colorful chieftain, Lachlan Cattanach “Shaggy” Maclean, and his wife Catherine Campbell. I won’t say what happens here, but when Shaggy was murdered in bed in Edinburgh some years later, everyone assumed the dirk found in him belonged to a Campbell.

The Duke of Albany has my hero tossed into a cell in the bowels of Edinburgh Castle for a time. Albany, a Stewart who grew up in France and spoke neither Scots nor Gaelic, was called home from France to replace Margaret Tudor as Regent.

Finally, Antoine D’Arcy, nicknamed The White Knight, was a French nobleman and warrior with a shining reputation who came to Scotland with the new Regent. Naturally, The White Knight is the man I chose to vie with my sinner-hero for the heroine’s affections.

What’s next?

THE WARRIOR and THE CHIEFTAIN, books 3 and 4 of THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS, are up next. Readers can find more information about my books, including blurbs, excerpts, reviews, articles & book group discussion questions, on my website: www.MargaretMallory.com

Follow Margaret on Twitter or  Facebook
  

Thanks for telling us about your new release, THE SINNER!

I’d love to respond to comments!  I’ll give one of the commenters an autographed copy of THE GUARDIAN and a writing journal with the gorgeous cover of THE SINNER on the front.

Excerpt Thursday: The Sinner by Margaret Mallory

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming regular contributor Margaret Mallory, as she celebrates the release of THE SINNER, her second book in THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS series. It is available now. Join us Sunday, when Margaret will be here to talk about her novel and give away a signed copy!

THE SINNER (THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS)

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.

IRRESISTIBLE DESIRE

Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty-and defiant ways.


Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex's past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives? 

**An Excerpt from THE SINNER**'

“What were ye thinking, asking me to meet ye at this hour?” Alex said as he rammed the torch into the sconce on the wall.

“I’m glad ye came,” Glynis said.

“Ye gave me no choice,” he said. “I couldn’t have ye wandering around a castle full of warriors—half of them drunk— looking for me in the dark.”

Alex took a deep breath. He had wanted to say good-bye to her—and to explain about what she’d seen when she walked in on him and Catherine—but he didn’t have a lot of time.

“Why did ye want to see me?” he asked.

“When I talked with your friend Duncan this afternoon, he told me you’re going to Edinburgh.”

How had she’d gotten closemouthed Duncan to share their business with her?

“I want ye to take me with ye,” she said.

Alex could not have been more stunned if she’d sprouted fairy wings and flown over the pots and bags of grain in the storeroom. Just what was Glynis suggesting? His heart gave a big lurch as he considered the possibility that she might actually want to run off with him.

But it seemed so unlikely that he had to ask. “Why?”

“I’ve decided to live with my mother’s family in Edinburgh,” she said.

Alex waited for the relief he should feel upon learning that her request had nothing to do with him, but it didn’t come. A bad sign.

“Ye know verra well that I can’t just run off with ye across Scotland,” Alex said.

“Ye must,” she said, clenching her fists. “My da wants to marry me to Alain.”

Alex wanted to hit something. He didn’t have time for this, but he wanted to help her if he could. “Do ye know where your father is? I’ll speak with him.”

“Does my father strike ye as the sort of man who takes advice well?”

She had a point, but he said, “I can be verra persuasive.”

“So I’ve heard,” Glynis said with more than a touch of sarcasm. “But it will do no good. My father is too stubborn by half.”

As was his daughter. “Have ye considered a compromise with your father? Is there no man ye are willing to wed?”

Glynis gave her head a firm shake and folded her arms. “Ye said ye would be my friend.”

“Stealing a lass away from her father is no being a friend,” he said, though his words felt hollow. Her mother’s family could hardly do worse by her.

“Take me, Alexander Bàn MacDonald,” she said, her gray eyes turning to hard flint. “Or I’ll go tell the Maclean chieftain right now that I saw ye swiving his wife.”

“That wasn’t what it looked like!” Alex was so used to having committed whatever offense he was accused of that he hardly knew how to defend himself. “My clan needs ties to the Campbells, so I couldn’t offend her.”

“Ye sacrificed yourself for the sake of your clan, did ye?”

“I didn’t do what ye think,” Alex protested. “Though it wasn’t easy, mind ye.”

Judging from the grim line of her mouth, Glynis was not impressed with his forbearance.

“Catherine is close to her brothers,” he explained. “If you’ve forgotten, they are the Earl of Argyll and the Thane of Cawdor, so I had to be verra careful about how I told her nay.”

“It looked like ‘aye’ to me—your being naked and all.”

Ach, she was full of sarcasm tonight. Glynis took a step closer and tapped her finger against his chest. Despite the anger in her eyes, the point of her finger sent heat radiating through his body.

“How about I tell Shaggy Maclean what I saw and let him sort it out?” she asked.

God preserve him. If she went running to Shaggy with this tale now, none of the MacDonalds would escape tonight. Alex ran his hand through his hair. He could tie her up and leave her in the storeroom. But he didn’t like the idea of leaving Glynis helpless, not knowing how long she might lie here—or who might find her.

“If ye tell Shaggy, he’ll kill me,” Alex said, attempting to reason with her.

“It wouldn’t be my fault,” she said. “A man should pay for his sins.”

“Ye wouldn’t be that heartless,” he said, though Glynis was looking as if she damned well would. “And I’m telling ye, I didn’t sin with Catherine.”

Not this time, anyway.

“I’ll do what I must,” Glynis said with that stubborn look in her eyes. “There are hundreds of men here. My father won’t know it was you I left with, if that’s your concern.”

“The truth has a way of coming out.” Alex folded his arms across his chest. “Have ye thought of what your father will do if he finds out I’m the one who stole ye away? Angry as he would be, he’d demand a wedding.”

For the first time, Glynis looked uncertain. It grated on Alex that the possibility of being forced to wed him was the only part of her ridiculous plan that gave her pause.

“I’ll have to take the risk,” she said in a hard voice. “Now, do I go bang on Shaggy’s bedchamber door, or will ye take me?”

©

~~~

See Margaret's slide show for readers of photos from castles and settings that appear in THE SINNER here, then click on “show info” on the upper right for descriptions. Enjoy!

www.MargaretMallory.com

Guest Author: Margaret Mallory

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming regular contributor Margaret Mallory, as she celebrates the release of THE GUARDIAN, her first book in THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS series set in 1513. It is available in print and ebook May 1st. Join us Sunday, when Margaret will be here to talk about her novel and give away a signed copy!

Here's the blurb:

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.

TOP PICK!  ★ ★ ★ ★ ½   Mallory’s “sensuous and highly passionate tale grabs the reader and doesn't let go. ~ RT Book Reviews.
 

Can you tell us a bit about the historical backdrop for your new release, THE GUARDIAN?

Most of the story takes place in the Western Isles of Scotland in 1513, shortly after the Scots’ disastrous loss to Henry VIII’s forces at the Battle of Flodden.  Ian MacDonald returns from France to find his king and his chieftain dead, his clan in grave danger, a rebellion brewing, and factions fighting for control of the crown.

So tell us a little about the relationship between your hero and heroine. 
 

When they were children, Ian was always having to rescue his young friend Sìleas from trouble. Sìleas is an awkward 13-year-old and Ian a handsome young warrior when she corners him into saving her yet again. When his good deed leads to a forced marriage, Ian is furious with her and sails for France as soon as the vows are said. Ian returns five years later intent of dissolving their false marriage…but he finds that nothing at home is the same as when he left, including Sìleas.

This is both an ugly-duckling story and a story of second chances.

You incorporate historical characters into your novels. Any particularly interesting ones in this new book?

I found so many intriguing historical figures in this period of Scottish history that it was a challenge not to overcrowd my book with them. Fortunately, THE GUARDIAN is the first in a four-book series so I’ll be able to bring more of these characters into later books.
 

When I discovered that the first chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat had six sons by six different women and that the animosity among the six half-brothers led to two generations of murder, I knew I had found my heroes’ clan. One of these half-brothers causes a lot of trouble in THE GUARDIAN.

I like to include a bit of royal politics, so I sent Sìleas and Ian on a journey to Stirling Castle. Margaret Tudor, who was queen of Scotland and the sister of Henry VIII of England, makes an unpleasant appearance there. Margaret’s husband, James IV, has just died in the Battle of Flodden at the hands of her brother’s forces. Despite being pregnant by her dead husband, Margaret has taken up with the young and handsome Douglas chieftain, whose interest is in controlling the crown.
 

What’s next?

THE SINNER, the second book in THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS, will be out Nov. 1^st.  By the way, readers will meet all four heroes in THE GUARDIAN.
 

Thanks for telling us about your new release, THE GUARDIAN!

I’d love to respond to comments!  I’ll give an autographed copy of THE GUARDIAN to one of the commenters.


Thank you, Margaret! Please leave a comment to win a free copy of Margaret's latest, THE GUARDIAN.

Margaret Mallory, named by Booklist as one of "the new stars of historical romance," is the award-winning author of the medieval series, All the King’s Men. Her newest release, THE GUARDIAN, received a TOP Pick,  ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ TOP PICK review from RT Book Reviews.

Excerpt Thursday: Margaret Mallory

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming regular contributor Margaret Mallory, as she celebrates the release of THE GUARDIAN, her first book in THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS series set in 1513. It is available in print and ebook May 1st. Join us Sunday, when Margaret will be here to talk about her novel and give away a signed copy!

Here's the blurb:

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.

Here’s the Excerpt:

The room fell away as Ian stared at the young woman who stood in the glow of the firelight. Her hair was the most beautiful shade of red he had ever seen. It fell in gleaming waves and framed a face so lovely it squeezed his heart to look at her.

When she lifted her gaze and met his, the air went out of him.  There was something very familiar about this lovely, green-eyed lass, but Ian could not place her.

“Ian.” Alex jabbed him in the ribs.

Ian knew he should stop staring at her, but he couldn’t help himself.

“Hmmph,” Alex grunted as he pushed past Ian. He strode across the room and greeted the young woman with a kiss on her cheek, as if he knew her well.  “Ach, you are a sight to behold,” Alex said. “If I were your husband, Sìleas, ye can be sure I wouldn’t have kept ye waiting a single day.”

Sìleas? Ian shook his head. Nay, this could not be…

The young woman was nothing like the scrawny thirteen-year-old he remembered. Instead of gawky limbs and pointed elbows, she had graceful lines and rounded curves that made his throat go dry.

 “Welcome home,” the young woman said to Alex in the kind of throaty voice a man wanted to hear in the dark.

 “Ye two must be hungry after your travels. Come, Sìleas, let us get these men fed,” his mother said, taking the lass by the arm. His mother gave him a wide-eyed look over her shoulder, the kind she used to give him when he was a lad and had committed some grievous error in front of company.

When Ian started to follow the two women to the table, Alex hauled him back. “Are ye an idiot?” Alex hissed in his face. “Ye didn’t even greet Sìleas. What’s the matter with ye?”

“Are ye sure that’s Sìleas?” Ian said, leaning to the side so he could see past Alex to the red-haired lass.

“Of course it is, ye fool,” Alex said. “Did ye no hear your mam just say her name?”     

  From the corner of his eye, Ian saw the back of Sìleas’s skirt disappearing up the stairs. It occurred to him he had the right to follow her up and take her to bed. Tonight. Right now. Before supper, if he wanted. And again, after. The part of him between his legs was giving him an emphatic “Aye!”

His reaction startled him. For five long years, he had planned to end the marriage as soon as he returned. He’d harbored not a single doubt.

But he made that plan before she turned into this enchanting lass with curves that would have him dreaming of her naked as soon as he closed his eyes.

Aye, he most definitely wanted to take Sìleas to bed. Any man would. The question, however, was whether he wanted her to be the last woman he ever took to his bed.

***

Margaret Mallory, named by Booklist as one of "the new stars of historical romance," is the award-winning author of the medieval series, All the King’s Men. Her newest release, THE GUARDIAN, received a TOP Pick,  ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ TOP PICK review from RT Book Reviews.

Weekly Announcements - 4 Feb 2011

Blythe Gifford will be quoted in the upcoming April issue of RT Book Reviews. The magazine is taking "Jane and John Doe" time traveling, and Blythe served as the expert on medieval sex, words, and undergarments. Expect some shocking tidbits!

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Don't forget, you have until Sunday to enter for your chance to win a free download of Michelle Styles's Harlequin Historicals Undone, "THE PERFECT CONCUBINE." In addition, Michelle is sponsoring a Goodreads giveaway for BREAKING THE GOVERNESS'S RULES.

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Great news from Lila DiPasqua! The Romance Dish named AWAKENED BY A KISS and THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED Top Picks of 2010!

She also received the cover for her August release, A MIDNIGHT DANCE, the next in her "Fiery Tales" series from Berkley Sensation. Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila weaves a steamy story that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince...and make him pay. Pre-order it now! Here's the blurb:

Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father's prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming--the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.

That was before the loss of her sister and her family's fall from grace--a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father's death, she's inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine's eccentric friends--the balance of her father's acting troupe--she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake--and make away with a fortune.

Resisting Jules's skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince...

***


If anyone with e-readers missed Margaret Mallory's first book, KNIGHT OF DESIRE, her publisher is running a $1.99 special on the e-book version. Here are B&N & Amazon links. Enjoy!

***

Reader and author E. D. Walker let me know that the Hearts Through History RWA chapter needs more entries for their historical-themed contest, which is open to published and unpublished authors. They've just extended the deadline to Feb. 11. For more information or to enter, visit their website.

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Join us Sunday when Beth Elliott will be here to chat about APRIL AND MAY, a Regency romance set in Constantinople. She'll also be giving away two copies! Be sure to join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Laura Navarre's latest steamy medieval romance, THE DEVIL'S TEMPTRESS. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.


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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! E. D. Walker, Kristina McMorris, Denise Agnew and Michelle Styles will be coming up. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Weekly Announcements - 28 Jan 2011

Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF PLEASURE is a finalist in the 2010 Picture Perfect Cover Contest from the Dunes & Dreams chapter of RWA. Winners will be announced February 14, 2011. Good luck, Margaret!

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Join us tomorrow when Laura Navarre will be here to chat about her latest sexy historical romance, THE DEVIL'S TEMPTRESS, set during the Crusades. She'll also be giving away a copy to one lucky commenter! Be sure to join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Stephanie Dray's ancient world historical fiction debut, LILY OF THE NILE. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.


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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Beth Elliott, E. D. Walker, Kristina McMorris, and Denise Agnew will be coming up. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Weekly Announcements - 8 Jan 2011

Welcome to 2011, dear readers! Now that the holidays have been consigned to history, I am happy to report that our weekly announcements posts will resume.

***

Long-time contributor Karen Mercury is happy to announce that her latest is now available. WORKING THE LODE is an erotic romance set during the California gold rush and can be purchased in ebook formats from Siren Bookstrand. We'll be featuring Karen as a guest author later this winter. Congratulations! Here's the blurb:

Going to California. It's three thousand miles nearer to hell.

Mountain man Cormack Bowmaker meets up with Zelnora Sparks on the eve of California's great rush--the discovery of gold. Zelnora is fleeing from her mentor, the mighty businessman Brannagh. They are being shadowed by the most scandalous Spanish bandit in the frontier. Joaquin Valenzuela wants to rob them of their gold, but soon discovers a desire for much more. Californians call for the pickled head of Valenzuela in a jar, but his passion for the two Americans overpowers his zeal for mayhem.

They band together in their quest for riches, love, and the good life. Bowmaker is a sharpshooter, his aim true. Valenzuela will slit the throat of anyone who wanders by. Zelnora knows where to find the gold. And Brannagh will do everything it takes to stop them.

They are about to discover the frontier--within themselves.

Karen was also featured this week in an interview on Babbling About Books.

***

The final chapter of Michelle Styles's serialized romance, HIS STAND-IN BRIDE, is available now, which means you can read the entire free book in its entirety!

In addition, she received the cover and blurb for "THE PERFECT CONCUBINE," a Harlequin Historicals Undone set in ancient Rome. This short story will be available in February. Here's the information:

Rome, 68 B.C.

Valeria's life is in the hands of Piso the Greek--the very man who had risen from a common sailor to wealthy ship owner following their doomed romance. He is the only man brave enough to sail the dangerous seas to Alexandria to reunite Valeria with her missing brother and restore her family's fortune. But Piso demands a high price for his help: Valeria must become his concubine and share his bed once more...

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It's been gratifying to see so many Unusual Historicals authors and past guests make year-end "best of" lists for 2010. If any of your books made such a list, please let us know!

Among the best of the year are Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF DESIRE and Lila DiPasqua's THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED, which both made the list of Rita's Best Reads of 2010. In addition, Carrie Lofty's SONG OF SEDUCTION and SCOUNDREL'S KISS made Wendy the Super Librarian's Best of 2010. And finally, Lorelie Brown received a special mention on Babbling About Books for her debut, JAZZ BABY.













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Join us tomorrow when Lorelie Brown will be here to chat about her Roaring 20s debut, JAZZ BABY, which is now available in paperback from Samhain. She'll also be giving away a copy to one lucky commenter! Be sure to join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Alex Rickloff's Irish paranormal-tinged historical romance, EARL OF DARKNESS. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.


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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Gillian Bagwell, Stephanie Dray, Laura Navarre, and Beth Elliott will be coming up. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Anniversary Bash: Day One!

Welcome to a huge week here at Unusual Historicals. It's our fourth anniversary! Amazing, right? It's been wonderful to gather such a vibrant community of authors and readers who love not only historical romance, but who love the places and settings that sparkle with extra verve.

So what better way to celebrate an anniversary than with a party? And what better way to party than to give away free books? We've cleared the decks here at UH and all this week we're giving away freaking stacks of books. Huge shindig time, people. Tell all your friends. (No, seriously. Tell everyone. Just like a real world party, it'll only make the place rock harder.)

The thing about Unusual Historicals is that we've gathered such a wide crew, it makes theming out the days just a wee bit tough sometimes. (I'm not even sure I can describe how much I love that. No pigeonholing our authors.) But I tried. I promise that much.

On that note, today's awesome-sauce covered giveaway:

Medieval day! With some cool castles and wonderfully steamy, sexy fairy tales as a bonus!

Castles and princesses and knights, oh my! They've all long been prevalent in the romance genre. And why not? Who doesn't love a good princess--or even better, a slightly naughty one? So we've got nine books to give out today. That's right, I said NINE. It only gets better: they're all signed. I told you our Unusual Historicals authors are awesome, didn't I?

If you're super-duper lucky enough today, you'll get:

Lila DiPasqua:
Awakened by a Kiss and The Princess in His Bed

Carrie Lofty:
What a Scoundrel Wants and Scoundrel's Kiss

Lindsay Townsend:
A Knight's Vow, A Knight's Captive, and A Knight's Enchantment

Margaret Mallory:
Knight of Pleasure (This one is a RITA finalist, y'all. How cool is that?)

Blythe Gifford:
Innocence Unveiled




I gotta say, I'm a little jealous of that stack. I kind of want to keep them for my own. So help me save my toppling TBR pile: every entry absolutely MUST have a valid email address. If there is not an email, I'll pick another at random.

Ok, I promise I'm done spiking this post with exclamation points. And done with my over-abuse of parenthesis too, at least for today.

Here's what you've been waiting for all along -- how to win the fantabulous books! It's easy. (Coz I like easy... Or am easy, some of my best friends would say) (Dang, there went another parenthesis.)

To enter, all you have to do is tell me what kind of princess you'd have been in medieval times! A feisty foot-stomper, or calm and benevolent Disney-style? Or something else I haven't even thought of?

See? So easy. And there's great books just begging you to crack 'em open and read 'em. So comment away!

Oh, and void where prohibited, of course. Due to all those annoying considerations, we can only ship to the US.

Lorelie Brown's first book, JAZZ BABY, is currently available from Samhain Publishing and will be released 4 January in paperback. Her second romance, an 1880s-set western, will be published by Carina Press in Summer 2011.

Real Life Heroes: Donald Dubh MacDonald

By Margaret Mallory

Whether Donald Dubh "Black Donald" MacDonald (1490?-1545) was a hero depends on which side you were on. For more than fifty years, he led or inspired rebellions by the branches of the MacDonald clan and their former vassals against the Scottish crown with the aim of resurrecting the Lordship of the Isles.

Lord of the Isles*
The Lords of Isles traced their ancestry to Irish and Norse royalty, and they controlled the Western Isles and parts of the mainland of the Scottish Highlands for more than a hundred and fifty years. The Lord of the Isles was leader of all of the MacDonalds, and his vassals included the MacLeods, Mackenzies, MacNeils, and Macleans. Although the Lordship of the Isles was nominally subject to the Scottish King, the crown's attempts to reign in the Lordship's power were repeatedly met with violence and limited success.

James IV*
Finally, in 1493, the fourth and last Lord of the Isles submitted to James IV, the Lordship was dissolved, and its vast lands forfeited to the Crown.
For the next fifty years, Donald Dubh MacDonald, the grandson and heir of the last Lord of the Isles, and other rebels showed remarkable perseverance and dedication to the goal of resurrecting the Lordship of the Isles.

Rebellion was in Donald Dubh's blood. His father, Angus Òg, fought against the Crown and also challenged his own father for leadership of the Lordship. Angus achieved victories against both before he was assassinated by his Irish harper in 1490. Three years later, his father submitted to the king and spent his last years as a pensioner of the crown.

Donald Dubh was born around the time of his father's death. For years, he was held by his mother’s family, the Campbells, who were supporters of the Crown--and had their own ambitions.

Innis Chonnel on Loch Awe*
While Donald Dubh was in the "care" of his Campbell relatives, his MacDonald kin rebelled on his behalf. In 1501, he escaped from Innis Chonnel Castle, where he was held by his uncle Archibald Campbell, the Earl of Argyll. He was taken to the island of Lewis and kept under the protection of his uncle Torquil MacLeod. Interestingly, Torquil's wife was another sister of the Campbell chieftain.

In 1503, around the time his MacDonald grandfather died in a boarding house in Dundee, Donald Dubh was proclaimed Lord of the Isles and led an insurrection. He had strong support among the MacDonalds and the clans who were their former vassals. Suppression of this rebellion took an all-out effort by the crown, but Donald Dubh was finally captured around 1506.

Donald Dubh was held in Edinburgh Castle for thirty-seven years.

Edinburgh Castle**
During Donald Dubh's long imprisonment, his close kin periodically led rebellions in his name. After the last one, James V sailed around the Western Highlands with twelve ships armed with canon and collected chieftains as prisoners. Although he eventually allowed some chieftains to substitute other hostages to guarantee their good behavior, he kept the worst offenders in Edinburgh Castle.

James V*
All this might have brought an end to the rebellions had James V not died after the Battle of Solway in 1542. A year later, Donald Dubh escaped after being held prisoner for thirty-seven years. The Regent, persuaded it would harm the opposing faction at court, then released the captive Highland chieftains. After a couple of years in prison, the chieftains were in a mood for rebellion.

Donald Dubh was welcomed home with open arms, hailed as the Lord of the Isles, and another rebellion was born. He re-created the Council of the Isles in the old tradition. Fifty years after the Lordship was dissolved, nearly all the clans which had once been under the Lordship were represented on the Council.

Donald Dubh now had a formidable force of 8000 men at his command. He made an alliance with Henry VIII, which made him an even greater threat to the Scottish crown. While sailing to Ireland in 1545, however, Donald Dubh died of a fever. He was buried with great pomp, and the cost charged to Henry VIII.

No other leader could engender the unified support of all the branch clans of the MacDonalds and their former vassals, and this final MacDonald rebellion of the 16th century ended in failure.

Dunscaith, a MacDonald castle on the Isle of Skye**
* Photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
** Photos by me or my daughter

Margaret Mallory, named by Booklist as one of "the new stars of historical romance," is the award-winning author of the medieval series, "All the King's Men." Her latest book, KNIGHT OF PASSION, is an RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee. Watch for her new series, "Return of the Highlanders," starting with THE GUARDIAN in May 2011.