Blog by VONNIE DAVIS -- International, Award-Winning Romance Author: Adventurous...Humorous...Amorous.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Coffee, Chocolate, and Time Travel


I have a special guest at Vintage Vonnie today and I'm excited to have her. Some of you know I'm trying to write my first paranormal--Scottish shape shifters. So imagne my glee at having Dawn Marie Hamilton as a guest. It's a **SQUEE!!** moment, folks. Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream, so she does. She is a 2013 RWA®Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. She is a member of The Golden Network, Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and From the Heart chapters of RWA. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks with her husband.
 
Thank you, Vonnie, for having me on your blog today.

 
Coffee and chocolate and cabernet sauvignon are some of my favorite things. Can you hear the song from the Sound of Music?

Now, imagine being tossed back in time to a world not your own. Let’s say, the Scottish Highlands of 1509. What? No coffee. No chocolate. Only watered-down sweet wine. What’s a gal to do?

Figure out a way to get home, of course. But, what if there is a hunk worthy guy, wearing a great kilt, showing off gorgeous assets? Oh, yeah, he also kisses like a dream. Makes your toes curl. 
 

Perhaps you could delay going home. Perhaps you could give up some of your favorite things. Perhaps you could fall in love with your very own Highlander. I would.


      Question to readers: what would you miss if you accidently landed in the past?
Giveaway: A $5 Starbucks e-gift card to one lucky commenting visitor.

 
Just Beyond the Garden Gate, A Highland Gardens Novel

Blurb:

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?


Excerpt:

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.

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.

The current flowing between them became overpoweringly seductive. No man had made her feel this way before. For several moments, she wavered between fighting him—a familiar stranger—and succumbing to the delicious sensations swamping her. He deepened the kiss, and the internal battle ended. Desire won. She clasped hold of the front of his shirt with shaky hands and kissed him back with pent-up passion.

Satiny lips anchored her in a storm of unfamiliar sensation. Pleasure vibrated along her body. She opened her eyes a slit. The intensity of the man’s shocking kiss matched the masculine power burning in his startling blue eyes.

His grip tightened. His fingers burned through her clothing, searing her skin. She closed misty eyes and sank into the reality of her dream lover’s embrace.
 

Links:
 


Blog:  http://dawnmariehamilton.blogspot.com/

Website:  http://dawnmariehamilton.com/

12 comments:

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Hello, Vonnie! I'm so excited to be visiting your blog today. Thank you for having me. Can't wait to read your Scottish shifter story. :)

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

I don't know Dawn. I'm having trouble keeping my humor in check. Is there a market for light-hearted paranormal? *slaps forehead* Me thinks I'm wasting my time. Sigh...

debjulienne said...

Holy Fae fantasy, I love a good time travel and what I see from the blurb and excerpt look to lead me to a GREAT one. This is the first book I will have searched out in a long time..can't wait to get lost in their world and see what happens!

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Hey, Vonnie, I hear all sorts of comments on the loops about the paranormal market--light and dark--fading, but a good story is a good story.

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Hello, Deb! I love fae creatures, time travels, and men in kilts. If you read 'Just Beyond the Garden Gate', I hope you enjoy it. It's fun to get lost in another world. :)

Angela Adams said...

You asked what would I miss if I traveled back in time? My coffee and my laptop.

Jan Hougland said...

Hello Vonnie, Dawn! My, that excerpt has my heart pounding. I love time travel AND Scots stories...so the combo really "flips my switch," as they say. I gotta get it and read it! And what would I miss most if I landed back in time? Baths and shampoos. I'm a once-a-dayer (spoiled I know) for those two things so I would really miss them. jdh2690@gmail.com

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

The thought of NO coffee is disturbing, Angela. :) It's hard to imagine writing by whatever technique was available. Parchment and quills, for example, could be very expensive. We are quite lucky in our time.

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Hi, Janice! I imagine soaps of the past being harsh on the skin. *grimace* If you read 'Just Beyond the Garden Gate', I hope you enjoy the story. It's fun to get lost in a fantasy world.

Anonymous said...

If I went back in time, I'd miss my Grandkids. Obviously! But, I'd also say, Harry Potter books.

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Hello, Anonymous. It would be difficult to leave behind those we love. Harry Potter books- good choice. :)

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Thank you, Vonnie! And thank you to everyone for stopping by.


Congrats, Janice Hougland! Watch your email for a Starbucks e-gift card.