Welcome to my home on the web. You may have noted the mountains in the banner are the misty Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Did you know time traveling Highlanders live there? Read about them in the Highland Gardens series. Curious about the big cat? Florida panther~from the Crimson Storm paranormal novel, Sea Panther.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!



Thank you to my readers for making 2014 such a special year for me.

Wishing you the best in 2015!


~Dawn Marie

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday #SPeekSunday: Just in Time for a Highland Christmas #9

Continuing from last week, Munn, the MacLachlan clan brownie, is meeting with the fae Caitrina...


Available at Amazon for Kindle
and in trade paperback.
 FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Emerald eyes flared. “How would you ken the mind of the fae queen? You are naught but a wee brownie.”

“Stop calling me wee.” Munn glared at the halfling princess. “The queen requested my help once before.”

“And you made a mess of things.” Tall and willowy like most of her kind, Caitrina looked down her pert nose at him. He leaned forward, hands fisted.

“Did not.”

“Did so.” Caitrina pressed a palm against his chest and pushed. He fell back a step, losing balance, but recovering quickly, glared at the faerie.

She had the gall to smile. “Well, if you are so knowledgeable, who are the pawns in the queen’s game?”


Thanks for stopping by!


For more Sneak Peek fun, check out the other participating authors by clicking the link below.

Click HERE
to join in the fun
and hop along
with Sneak Peek Sunday.



~Dawn Marie

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Spider -- Merry Christmas


Here is a little Christmas story I hope will make you smile…

When I was young, my mother gave me an ornament each Christmas for my hope chest. Remember those? When I moved out of the family home and into an apartment, she made this ornament for my first Christmas tree. Along with the delicate spider ornament came a story:

Once upon a time, far to the north, snowflakes drifted past frosted windows. Inside, a good mother busily cleaned the house, for 'twas Christmas eve. On the morrow, Christmas day, the most wonderful day of the year, the little Christ child would come to bless the house. When she finished, not a speck of dust remained. Even the spiders had fled their cozy corner on the ceiling to hide in the attic.

Beautiful ornaments adorned the Christmas tree. The children gathered round, clasped hands and sang blessed songs. While the family enjoyed the evening festivities, the spiders became frantic, for they couldn't see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. The oldest and wisest among them suggested they wait until the family slept then sneak below stairs.

At midnight, the house darkened and fell silent. The spiders crept from their hiding place, crept down the stairs, crept to the tree. Delighted with its beauty, they scurried all over the tree, up and down, over and under braches, viewing all the precious decorations.

The spiders loved the Christmas tree. For the remainder of the night, they danced amongst the branches, leaving the needles covered with webs. When the Christ child arrived in the morning to bless the house, he was amazed yet disturbed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures, but the mother worked hard to make everything perfect and would be disheartened when she saw what the spiders had done.

With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the Christ child touched the spider webs. The webs sparkled and shined, turning a shimmering silver, like tinsel.

Thus a legend was born: A spider among the Christmas tree decorations brings good fortune.

Do you have a favorite Christmas ornament?

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

~Dawn Marie

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday #SPeekSunday: Just in Time for a Highland Christmas #8

Good day. Click HERE for the Winter Wrap-Up blog hop, but I hope you'll read today's sneak peek too.

Munn, the MacLachlan clan brownie, meets with the fae Caitrina...


Available at Amazon for Kindle
and in trade paperback.
 FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Munn whirled onto the Sithichean Sluaigh, the knoll of the fae within the Fir-wood, spinning in tight circles, sucking leaves and other forest debris into the whirlwind surrounding him. Fuel for an all-consuming anger. When the rage petered out, he halted in front of Caitrina in a puff of smoke-infused dust.

The irritating sithiche coughed delicately and, with the flick of a slender wrist, the dust settled on the ground at her feet and dissolved. A wave of a graceful hand, and foliage poked through the velvety green grass, presenting vanilla scented phlox blossoms. Showoff.

She arched an auburn brow and tossed long flowing locks over a shoulder. “What do you want, wee man? Your summons interrupted important machinations.”

“’Tis past time to make the third match.”

Caitrina shrugged. “The queen refuses to reveal the couple’s identities.”

“I ken who they are.” Munn jounced, hardly containing growing excitement.




Thanks for stopping by!


For more Sneak Peek fun, check out the other participating authors by clicking the link below.

Click HERE
to join in the fun
and hop along
with Sneak Peek Sunday.



~Dawn Marie

Friday, December 19, 2014

Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop - #Giveaway - #HopswithHeart : Romance on Christmas Eve


Update: 12/24

And the winners are:

Dawn Marie Hamilton Writes winner - Beaded Holiday Key Chain - Dawn Hagan

The Hop Grand Prize winner - $75 Amazon Gift Card— Stephanie Osborn


Congrats Dawn & Stephanie!!




http://www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com/



Welcome!
to the
Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop












Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday season so step on through the garden gate and spend some time with me and a few of my characters during this festive time of year. Then scroll down to the bottom of the post and enter the giveaways. Merry Christmas!







Available at Amazon for Kindle
and in trade paperback.
 FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Meet Isobell and Archibald from Just in Time for a Highland Christmas. They've unwittingly traveled forward in time from 16th century Scotland to the present day Village of Anderson Creek nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and are having trouble reconciling their differences. Of course, the fae have been interfering and only have until midnight Christmas eve to unite the couple. The deadline is fast approaching. Christmas dinner is over, and Isobell...

~~()~~

“Can we make snow angels?” Scott hollered over bantering voices.

“Yes, please,” Young Iain begged too.

Laurie urged the lads into jackets and the entire family trudged out into the snowy garden. Patrick flicked a switch. Light illuminated the area, making the snow sparkle. The lads fell onto their backs in the snow, waving their arms and legs. The imprints left behind were the images of angels. Laurie made a large one. Patrick’s even larger.

If a once powerful warrior could display a playful side so could she. Isobell dropped onto her back to make an angel of her own. To her utter surprise, Archie threw off his plaide and plopped beside her in naught but his trews and leine. As they spread their arms to make angel wings their fingers touched. Their gazes met. A thrill shot through her.

Archie’s eyes flared. He must have felt it too.

She couldn’t let the moment pass without making one last memory with him. Isobell squeezed his fingers. “Come with me. I ken a special place.”

Archie grabbed his plaide and they slipped away from the others frolicking in the snow. She guided him through the inn’s garden, along the well-trodden woodland trail, through the meadow and into Laurie’s garden and the privacy of the orchid room. Was doubtful the family or guests would visit on this most special of nights—Christmas Eve.

“Why have you brought me here?” he asked.

“Why do you think?” She hoped her smile appeared sensual.

He raised a brow. She pressed against him, grasped his hands and pulled his arms around her, placing them on her bum. His response, a firm squeeze, urged her on. Stretching up onto the balls of her feet, she leaned in and kissed him as sweetly, as passionately, as her heart demanded.

A rough sound erupted from deep within his throat, a growl, a demand, and the kiss intensified into a meeting of mouths and tongues, wet and wild. Isobell’s breath came from Archie and his from her. When the fever calmed, forehead resting against forehead, they gasped for air.

“So, that is your answer, lass?”

“Oh, aye!” She melted against him.

He glanced around the small glass chamber then stepped away. He grabbed a cushion from one of the chairs and tossed it on the floor. Then another and another. Using all the cushions, he made a fine bed.

Archie dropped onto the cushions, tested their comfort then offered an inviting hand. “Join me.”

She fell on knees on the cushions beside him. Suddenly feeling shy, she tentatively touched his smooth cheek. She had no experience seducing a man.

Archibald wrinkled his nose in the sweetest way. “What?”

“You have been with so many other women. I dinnae ken…”

“Nae so many.”

“But Da said—”

“He said a lot of things that were not true. Aye?”

“Aye.” She lowered her gaze embarrassed for having believed all the lies.

Archie slid a palm over her hair and down an arm. “I will be gentle.”

~~()~~

Ahhh. Romance on Christmas eve. So nice. Oh, look, another couple has joined us.


E-book available from Amazon,
Amazon UKApple,
  Smashwords, kobo, and Barnes&Noble.
Trade paperback available
at AmazonBAM, and Barnes&Noble.
Meet Kimberly and Robert from Sea Panther. Kimberly is running from a hit man and has taken a crew position on a yacht, unknowing of the captain's dark secret. Robert is a vampire-shifter looking for a cure. On Christmas eve they sail into New Bern North Carolina and head for the Irish pub in town, and Kimberly...

~~()~~

A drunk banged into the table and broke the steamy spell holding Kimberly and Robert enthralled. She choked on a flat laugh. He cleared his throat.

The awkward moment thickened the air. Made it hard to breathe.

Kimberly twitched her nose. Now would be a good time to find a hidey-hole to crawl into. Perspiration glazed the skin between her breasts. God, her face must be the color of a ripe strawberry.

“I overheard you,” Robert said.

“Did you?” Just great.

“Aye.” His gaze dropped to the tabletop. He picked up a drink stirrer and fiddled with it.

Mesmerized, she watched large fingers nimbly tie the thin strip of plastic into a bowline knot. The naughty image of him using the same knot to tie a silk scarf around her wrists flashed in her mind. Where had that idea come from?

“What the rest of the crew has been trying hard not to tell you is I have a rare blood disease.” Her wayward thought splintered at the unemotional statement of fact.

She gazed into his eyes, searching for something empathetic to say.

“I have to take it easy until my doctors find a donor with the right DNA makeup to help me. That is why I sleep a lot.”

“I’m sorry.” Oh, that sounded lame. Worse yet, she’d been thinking about sex. Kinky sex. My God, what had come over her lately? She’d never thought of having that kind of sex with Jason. Heat rose from toes to face. Thank God Robert couldn’t read minds. She reached for her mug, but it was empty.

“Dance with me?” He grasped her hand.

She nodded, and followed him onto the dance floor. “When they find a donor, will they be able to make you well?”

His eyes clouded. “I hope so.”

So did she.

He tucked her close, held her tight, smooth cheek against the rasp of whiskers, as they swayed with the other couples to the sweet melody of an Irish love song. She embraced hard muscle as she wrapped her arms around him.

How could a virile man like Robert be critically ill?

When the song ended, she pulled away, feeling awkward. He seemed uncomfortable too. They returned to the booth at the same time as the twins.

The moment Robert sat, his cell phone buzzed. He grabbed it from his belt. “Aye.” A dark expression hardened his features. “Do what you can. Tell Colin to be ready to motor out and set sail as soon as we arrive.”

Alarm pinched. Something bad must have happened.

He returned the phone to his belt and pulled her to her feet.

“What’s up?” Davey asked.

“We have trouble.” Robert pushed Kimberly through the crowd toward the back door. Davey and John followed. Once they were out in the night air, Robert answered Davey’s question, “It appears Miss Scot is wanted by the sheriff’s department.”

Kimberly wanted to explain, but he cut her off.

“Colin is stalling the deputies, which will buy us some time but not much. You two…” He directed an intense stare at the twins. “Go to the boat and make ready to cast off on Colin’s order. I will borrow a launch, and we will rendezvous offshore.”

John and Davey disappeared into the shadows.

“Come.” Robert tugged on her arm.

They ran down the back alley away from the Christmas gaiety. By the time they reached the outskirts of town, Kimberly panted for breath. She still hadn’t figured out how to explain the situation. “Captain, I—”

“Just answer one question. Did you break the law?”

“No.” She shook her head with force. “Definitely not.”

“Then you can explain later. Now, we need to hurry.” He led her behind a waterfront hotel. They jogged across the manicured lawn to a private dock with a Zodiac tied to it. Luck was with them. Keys dangled from the ignition.

The inflatable boat raced out into the dark night. When the town with its twinkling lights looked like a miniature holiday village, Robert idled the engine, and they drifted.

“I’m sorry. I’ve done nothing wrong.” Kimberly found it hard to believe the mess that had caught up with her.

~~()~~

Perhaps not the best Christmas eve, but romance is in the air and their happily-ever-after is coming. That is the thing I love about romance novels. There is always a happily-ever-after. Thanks for visiting with me and my characters. Now for a contest...



Dawn Marie's Holiday Giveaway







For a chance to snag one of these lovely holiday key chains crafted by Nicole Laverdure, just leave a comment below with your favorite holiday activity. One name will be drawn after the hop has ended. Good luck!







Grand Prize Giveaway
Thanks for participating in the Winter Warm-Up blog hop. Be sure to check out: Hops with Heart for future blog hops. Now, hop along to some of the other participating blogs...

~Dawn Marie




Sunday, December 14, 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday #SPeekSunday: Just in Time for a Highland Christmas #7

Continuing from last week's sneak peek...Archibald has found the devastating remains of a cattle raid committed against his clan and suspects the neighboring Lamont clan with whom a feud has lasted generations.


Available at Amazon for Kindle
and in trade paperback.
 FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Munn’s throat grinding made Archibald stiffen, certain he wouldn’t care for the brownie’s counsel. “Dinnae lecture, wee man.”

“Said naught.” Munn jumped from the horse and marched about the scorched land. “Nae Campbells.” He sniffed the ground, glanced at the overcast sky, and scrunched his nose in distaste. “Nae Lamont warriors.”

He paced, shaking his head and muttering.

Archibald banged a closed fist on his thigh in quick repetition. “Well? If ’tis not Campbells nor Lamonts, who?”

“Renegades.”

“How do you ken such?”

“Just ken.” Munn wrinkled his nose and sniffed again. “Ach, a female.”



Thanks for stopping by!


For more Sneak Peek fun, check out the other participating authors by clicking the link below.

Click HERE
to join in the fun
and hop along
with Sneak Peek Sunday.



~Dawn Marie

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Hugs of Hope for Victoria Zak


The romance writers community is reaching out to help Victoria Zak, a sister author and young mother with breast cancer, by holding a silent auction from December 12 at 5:00 pm EST to December 14 at 6:00 pm EST with awesome items up for bid—signed books, gift certificates, jewelry, and much more. Check out the list and follow the link at the top of the listing page to bid...click HERE to view the silent auction items.

My donation is item #37...


Four signed trade paperback books, beaded and beribboned bookmark with sterling silver Florida panther charm, beaded and charmed holiday key chain, assorted swag, chocolate, and Walker shortbread. (US only)

Please join some of your favorite authors on December 12, and 13 on Facebook for a weekend of fun and hope. I'll be hosting the event from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm EST on Saturday December 13th.

~Dawn Marie

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday #SPeekSunday: Just in Time for a Highland Christmas #6

Continuing from last week's sneak peek...Archibald has found the devastating remains of a cattle raid committed against his clan and suspects the neighboring Lamont clan with whom a feud has lasted generations.


Available at Amazon for Kindle
and in trade paperback.
 FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Yet the description of the lad and horse resembled that of another lad who’d daringly crossed MacLachlan land a year ago. At the time, they’d thought him a Campbell, but he could have been anyone. No Campbell, to Archibald’s knowledge, possessed dark hair.

Dark hair reminded him of Lamont’s daughter Isobell, his betrothed, missing for the past year, and brought another dagger slice to an already-damaged heart. Their marriage had been meant to bring an end to the feud and peace to the neighboring clans.

“And you, Isobell, let me guess, you wish to wed Archie.”

She nodded. “Aye. With all my heart.”

Patrick and Isobell’s words from so long ago haunted him, driving the breath from his lungs. What happened to harden her heart against him? Her father claimed she ran away so she wouldn’t be required to wed. Why? They’d been in love. Why would she stay hidden? Could it be she wasn’t in hiding—what if something had happened while she’d been out riding?

“Chief?” Duncan’s voice startled Archibald.

He unclenched his fists and shook off the troubling memory. He would fulfill his vow to find her. Just as soon as he punished those who perpetrated the destruction that lay before him. Failure was unacceptable. The clan’s survival depended on success.



Thanks for stopping by!


For more Sneak Peek fun, check out the other participating authors by clicking the link below.

Click HERE
to join in the fun
and hop along
with Sneak Peek Sunday.



~Dawn Marie