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.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Historical Serenade Pre-order and Giveaway


Historical Serenade: Seven Tales of Romance


I'm excited to announce 
Highland Serenade: Seven Tales of Romance is available for pre-order. The collection is a collaborative bundle of historical romance and historical time travel storiesfrom novellas to full-length novelsthe stories are offered by  Lane McFarland, April Holthaus, Ria Cantrell, Barbara Bettis, Ruth A. Casie, Karen Muir, and myself.

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In celebration, we're hosting a month-long party on Facebook. Fun, games, and giveaways. Join the party!

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Seven Historical and time travel romance tales filled with danger, deception, revenge, honor and passion spanning the Medieval Highlands through England's Golden Age.

TO LOVE AN IMPOSTOR by Lane McFarland
Disguised as Nicholas Barlow, a ruthless, old businessman during the day, the Flintlock Brigand's leader at night, and Captain Randolf, in between, Nicholas ruins constables who failed to show Bristol's orphans mercy.
Diana Fleming, daughter of Bristol's wealthiest gentry, returns to beg her father for help raising ten orphaned children, but instead discovers her father died because of Nicholas Barlow. Now penniless and desperate, she's determined to destroy the man who murdered her father.

HEART OF THE HIGHLANDS: THE RAVEN by April Holthaus
As the king's personal guard, Eamon MacLeish's loyalty has never been questioned until a mysterious lass seeks an asylum for a crime, she claims she did not commit. Adelyn Scott would welcome death over marriage but had no idea her wish would come true when she discovers her husband's body on the night of their wedding. As Adelyn and Eamon piece together clues surrounding her husband's murder, Eamon must choose between his loyalty or his heart.

CELTIC PERIL by Ria Cantrell
Tom Callum landed a spot with Celtic Storm as the lead singer and front man. When he reaches Scotland, he is drawn to seek his heritage and uncover the mysteries of his past. He is fascinated with a painting of a girl, Jenna Brandham of the Clan MacCollum, who lived more than six hundred years ago. Jenna tugs at his long forgotten memory. Tom will soon be plunged into a world of intrigue, deception and peril. The past and present collide in an adventure that brings danger at every turn. Only love will give Tom the strength he needs to thwart an attempt on King Richard's life. Will Tom be able to survive his leap into the past? Will he be able to survive his return to the present, only to leave his heart behind?

SILVERHAWK by Barbara Bettis
Seeking revenge against his father, Sir Giles kidnaps the man's young betrothed, only to find himself thwarting her repeated escape efforts. Lady Emelin won't let a blasted mercenary destroy her last chance at a home and family, yet when she learns they must track down English traitors, she reluctantly assists. Eluding searchers and enemies alike, Giles and Emelin discover their past goals don't matter; only a future together will do.

THE MAXWELL GHOST by Ruth A. Casie
Traitors, deception, murders and ghosts run rampant at Caerlaverock Castle. Jamie Collins and Laura Reynolds, long-time friends, find their destinies intertwined with hidden passions, but all is in jeopardy when Laura becomes the murderer's next target. Jamie will find he needs some ghostly assistance to save Laura and declare his love. No magic...a love that lasts an eternity.

DAGGER'S DESTINY by Karen Muir
In Medieval England, after Lady Katherine de Grey's family is murdered, she is rescued by a childhood friend, Sir Richard Weston, and they are forced to marry. Richard resents the edict and intends to petition for an annulment. But, Katherine has other plans. With each caress of her dagger, she empowers herself to fight for her destiny. All she has to do is convince her new husband that the woman he truly desires is already his wife.

JUST WITHIN A HIGHLAND MIST by Dawn Marie Hamilton
A trio of pesky pixies have plans for Gregor MacLachlan's heart. While hunting, a wayward shot from his bow nearly hits a strange lass who appears as if by magic. Emily Smith follows a child in her care onto a forbidden mound in the woods and wakes in a strange bed, in a place and time not her own. Can she find love in the arms of the dark-eyed stranger who becomes her champion?

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My contribution to the bundle is the novella Just Within a Highland Mist from the Highland Gardens series. Here is an excerpt...



     
At the garden archway, he slipped her hand into his and entered first to ensure naught was awry. He'd vowed to keep her safe. 
"Oh, this is lovely," she said as they traversed the path through the garden beds filled with vegetables and herbs to the rose garden, where he seated her on the turf bench, abloom with small, fragrant white flowers. The gentle scent was heady. As was her beauty. 
"I owe you an apology," she said. 
He frowned. "Whatever for?"
"For not believing your story about the pixies." 
"I guess 'tis hard to believe in something you have never seen." 
"I saw one last night." 
Her admission made his brows rise. "You did?" 
"Yeah. In my room, while I was bathing. Before you came. She wore a purple gown and had sheer lavender wings. Like that one there." Emily pointed to a dragonfly-like creature perched on a shiny rose leaf. 
He held out a hand and the ebony-haired pixie jounced onto his palm. 
Tee teehee hee. Tee teehee hee. Tee teehee hee. 
The wee creature's voice tinkled like the sweetest chimes. 
"Here is another!" Emily leapt to her feet and held out a hand. A blonde pixie with green wings landed on an outstretched finger. "This one has iridescent peridot wings." 
Gregor brought his hand closer to his face for a better look at the one he held. 
Emily did the same with hers. "Hello," she murmured. 
Tee teehee hee. The pixies giggled again, before blowing dust into their faces. Then with more giggles, they flew away, high over the garden wall. 
Emily and Gregor sneezed in unison, and then dropped onto the bench, overcome with laughter. Tears of merriment streamed from both their eyes.
"They are so cute," Emily said, when she sobered.


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Enter to win a Kindle Fire during the Historical Serenade: Seven Tales of Romance pre-order celebration. Release Day is March 31st! 





March 1 - March 30


 Enter to Win a Kindle Fire during the
Historical Serenade : Seven Tales of Romance
Pre-order Celebration


**Earn Five Entries**
First pre-order the bundle.
Then fill in the form with your order/transaction number.





*No purchase necessary to win. Open to US RESIDENTS ONLY. 





~Dawn Marie

Saturday, February 1, 2020

February Historical Romance Giveaway



February Historical Romance Giveaway
 at Love Kissed Book Bargains!

 February 1 - February 29!


 Sixty Featured Historical Romance Books
at rock bottom prices (some free)
Plus a great giveaway!
Enter to win one of two $50 Amazon Gift Cards.

ENTER at Love Kissed Book Bargains!


~Dawn Marie

Friday, January 17, 2020

Twelvetide by Dawn Marie Hamilton: Free at Amazon January 17th - 21st 2020



Happy New Year!!

Twelvetide: Twelve Nights of Highland Magic
Free at Amazon Jan 17th - Jan 21st 2020
Get your copy here.



Fulfilling a childhood promise, Ashley Dumont returns to an ancient Druid garden in the Black Hills of Scotland on the eve of the winter solstice—a time when magic hums and the veil between realms thins and tears, allowing all manner of supernatural creatures through. Will the ghost who claimed to be her destiny still be there?

Caelan Innes awaits her arrival. Unjustly murdered in the sixteenth century, a second chance at life depends on this woman. The Druids grant them the twelve nights of Yule to find love and save Cael’s soul. Will a trip through time and the treachery of enemies make the sacrifice too dear?

Enjoy!

 ~Dawn Marie

Saturday, January 11, 2020

My Favorite Books From My 2019 Reading List

I enjoy writing stories, but I love to read. So I thought it would be fun to share the books I enjoyed reading most during the year. Since I started my writing journey, the number of books per year has lessened considerably, which makes each read that much more precious.

Although my preference is historical and paranormal romance, in 2019 I enjoyed several contemporary romances, too. Here are the books/series I enjoyed most...


The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness


My niece brought these books to my attention. I enjoyed the whole series plus the companion novel, but my favorite was the first storyA Discovery of Witches.



In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Find A Discovery of Witches at Amazon.





The Dogfather Series by Roxanne St. Claire


I discovered this series while judging a contest. I look forward to each new release from this series and the spin-off seriesThe Dogmothers. If you like romance and dogs these books are great reads. This year's favorite was the last book in the Dogfather seriesOld Dog New Tricks.

Daniel Kilcannon, the veterinarian known as the Dogfather, has been widowed for four years. He's spent the time running the largest canine rescue and training facility in North Carolina and pulling some strings to make sure each of his six grown children find a love like the one he lost when his beloved Annie died.

But as the years slip by, Daniel's vow to never love again is starting to make him restless. When a woman who was pivotal to his past arrives in Bitter Bark, he wonders if her appearance is coincidence or the guiding hand of his dearly departed wife...but the truth is neither. She's about to change his life in ways he could never have imagined. And Daniel isn't sure if his heart  or his family  will ever recover from the impact.

Find Old Dog New Tricks at Amazon.



Diamonds in the Rough Series by Sophie Barnes


Here is another series I discovered by judging in a contest. I've enjoyed many of the stories in the  series, my favoriteA Most Unlikely Duke

He never thought he'd become a duke, or that the secrets of his past would cost him his greatest love...

Raphe Matthews hasn’t stepped foot in polite circles since a tragedy left his once-noble family impoverished and in debt. The bare-knuckle boxer has spent the last fifteen years eking out an existence for himself and his two sisters. But when a stunning reversal of fortune lands Raphe the title of Duke of Huntley, he’s determined to make a go of becoming a proper lord, but he’ll need a little help, and his captivating neighbor might be just the woman for the job…

After her sister’s scandalous match, Lady Gabriella knows the ton’s eyes are on her. Agreeing to tutor the brutish new duke can only lead to ruin. Although she tries to control her irresistible attraction to Raphe, every day she spends with him only deepens her realization that this may be the one man she cannot do without. And as scandal threatens to envelop them both, she must decide if she can risk everything for love with a most unlikely duke.

Find A Most Unlikely Duke at Amazon.



Wishing you a magical 2020!


~Dawn Marie

Wednesday, January 1, 2020