Sneak Peek Sunday - Just Beyond the Garden Gate

For today's sneak peek, we'll continue from where we left off last Sunday. Hope you enjoy!

Unsure what had just happened, she gave her head a firm shake. Mistake. Dizziness hit in waves. She swallowed hard. When the nausea passed, she pushed her palms against the ground and rose to her feet. Unsteady, she swayed. The stranger’s image blurred.

Large calloused hands gripped her arms. A strange though familiar jolt of energy coursed through her, causing her heart to beat too fast.

He quickly released her. He must have felt it too.

Again, she swayed. She reached for his support at the same time he took hold of her upper arms.

She blinked to clear her vision and moistened dry lips. The flash of desire in his eyes made her shiver. He smiled for real this time, leaned forward, placed a hand behind her head, and brushed her lips with his. Gentle at first, then with vigor, his tongue delved into her mouth.

Instinct insisted she struggle. Holding her body rigid, she fisted her hands, which he’d trapped within his embrace. She forced her fingers open and pressed her palms against his hard chest—a vain attempt to push him away.

Click here

to join in the fun

and hop along

with Sneak Peek Sunday.

~Dawn Marie

Fierce Romance: Celebrating Spring!

If you adore spring flowers and inspiring quotes, hop over to Fierce Romance: Celebrating Spring!

Lovely floral photos from Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, by Vonda Sinclair.

~Dawn Marie

Urisk—Scottish Solitary Faerie

This article was previously posted at Castles & Guns and Celtic Hearts...

Many a man or woman has sought release from their woes by visiting wild places within the woodland. Seeking ease, they're attracted to secluded pools. Places supportive of contemplation. If you are of the Celtic bent, you probably know that in the dark forests of Scotland, more likely than not, an individual chances meeting a creature so peculiar they'll scurry back to civilization, heart in throat.

'Tis sad. The urisk, a humble creature by nature, is lonely and wants to make friends. Most humans shun the poor fellow because of his uncomely appearance, found by many to be horrifying and frightening.

Still, he holds hope someday someone will come along and befriend him.

"What does he look like?" you ask.

The gangling urisk appears an aging bald creature with pointed ears. His face is long and drawn. He peers at you through soulful rounded eyes. He sports a wiry goatee on his chin. His emaciated, hairless torso is somewhat human-like—his lower half goat-like with shaggy fur. His limbs are long and thin and he walks on cloven feet.

Many confuse the urisk (ùruisg) with the brownie (brùnaidh), though I believe they are each a distinct variety of Scottish solitary faerie. And look nothing alike.

A wonderfully dark depiction of the urisk can be found in the illustrated book, Faeries, by Brian Froud and Alan Lee.


Would you be frightened if you met an urisk in the woods? Or would you make friends with him?

 

~Dawn Marie

I'm at Voices From the Heart Today

Happy Monday! I'm at the Voices From the Heart blog today, talking about The Making of a Highlander Romance Novel Cover. Just Beyond the Garden Gate cover reveal. Hop on by if you have a moment.

~Dawn Marie

Sneak Peek Sunday - Just Beyond the Garden Gate



Available June 2013

Laurie opened her eyes a crack. Her head pounded, her pulse raced. This wasn’t good. Those couldn’t be two, huge, leather-clad feet inches from her face.

She opened her eyes wider. Raised her gaze higher.

Those feet—the ones that couldn’t be there—was it possible they were attached to two muscular calves wrapped in soft napped animal skins?

Higher still. Bare knees. Plaid wool and saffron linen.

Farther up, she took in all of the man who towered over her. Piercing blue eyes blinked. Crinkles appeared in the corners. He was grinning. Not outwardly. The perfectly shaped lips remained tight and straight, but something within this gorgeous man was pleased.

She gasped with recognition. This was her man, the one from her heated dreams and visions. The man she didn’t believe existed. The man who made her insides flip-flop.

Click here

 to join in the fun

and hop along

 with Sneak Peek Sunday.

 

~Dawn Marie

Just Beyond the Garden Gate—Cover Reveal

Coming June 2013

 

 

The Scottish Highlands—a place where faeries and brownies and other fae creatures dance through time. On occasion, so do mere mortals.

Determined to regain her royal status, a banished faerie princess accepts a challenge from the High-Queen of the Fae to unite an unlikely couple while the clan brownie attempts to thwart her.

Passion ignites when a faerie-shove propels burned-out business consultant Laurie Bernard through the garden gate, back through time, and into the embrace of Patrick MacLachlan. The arrogant clan chief doesn’t know what to make of the lass in his arms, especially when he recognizes the brooch she wears as the one his stepmother wore when she and his father disappeared.

With the fae interfering at every opportunity, the couple must learn to trust one another while they battle an enemy clan, expose a traitor within their midst and discover the true fate of the missing parents. Can they learn the most important truth—love transcends time?

Journey from the lush gardens of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to the Scottish Highlands of 1509 with Just Beyond the Garden Gate.

I just love the cover for Just Beyond the Garden Gate. Hope you do too. J

~Dawn Marie

Visiting Across the Plain of Shining Books Today

Just Beyond the Garden Gate—Cover Reveal

Pat McDermott is graciously hosting my debut cover reveal for Just Beyond the Garden Gate at her book blog Across the Plain of Shining Books. I’m so very excited to show off my new cover. Stop by, say hello, and throw some cyber confetti with me.
 
~Dawn Marie Hamilton