This week's video is another Horrible Histories clip (I can't get enough of it!!!) -- Victorian Slang. What do you think, could you figure it out without a translator?
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
History is Going Digital - Bringing Historical Newspapers Online by Christina Appleworth
Welcome to History Undressed, Christina Appleworth. She has written an enlightening article about the future of documents and the digital age.
History is Going Digital - Bringing Historical Newspapers Online
by Christina Appleworth
More and more Internet users will
be able to access local, national and historical
newspapers online as more and more papers are being digitised. With schemes
like the British Library’s Newspaper Archive leading the way, and helped by
partnerships with major search engines, older copies of papers can be used to
provide access to the UK and world history. Some of the chief benefits of this
access, with key titles including The
Times and The Economist, as well as multiple local
papers, will be the ability to more accurately search for and collate data than
ever before.
Offering a contrast to the
patience and time consuming nature of researching bound volumes and microfilm,
online history through newspapers will be much easier to bring together, either
through a limited paywall or free. With more and more archives becoming
available, and becoming linked to major search engines and university access, a
number of different groups stand to specifically benefit from the expansion of
digital newspapers. From people completing historical projects to family
histories and school use, and including the importance of preservation and
archiving, the digital turn for newspapers has many key appeals:
1
- Historical Projects
Being able to access newspaper
archives online, and being able to search through different papers and cross
reference stories will represent a major time saving achievement for
researchers. The ease of use, speed and quality of these searches will arguably
help researchers to complete work remotely, cutting down the need for site
visits and long waits for material to be released. Moreover, while much of the
online papers being archived will be tied to paid subscriptions, university
affiliation and links to search engines and academic databases will gradually
help to spread costs.
2
- Teaching and Schools
The availability of many more
primary sources will be a great resource for different schools and teaching
projects. Particularly important will be the easier access to local papers,
which will allow schools to draw on more detailed documents without having to
make field trips to visit archives. The main benefits of this access will
therefore be to widen the field of reference for schools willing to invest in
the archives.
3
- Family Histories
The availability of newspaper
archives also means that family and local historians will have much more
content at their fingertips with which to research individuals and areas. Local
newspapers, preserved in high quality digital copies, will be particularly
useful in this regard, and should encourage a greater cross referencing and
archiving of family trees, as well as photographs and particular stories.
4
- Preservation
Perhaps
the key benefit of making newspapers available as a digital archive will be the
better preservation of that archive. While many newspapers are being kept in
excellent physical conditions, having a reliable and world class digital
resource means that it will be much easier to avoid damage and losing files.
While having the physical copies in storage will still be important, having
data archives and back ups will help to strengthen the consistency of and wide
access to archives.
Christina Appleworth, freelance copywriter and avid
historian, is currently working along in partnership with Gale Cengage, a
leading provider of innovative teaching, learning and research solutions for
the academic, professional and library markets worldwide.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Scottish Highland Games-What’s the Big Deal? by Nancy Lee Badger
Welcome back to History Undressed, one of our regular guest bloggers (who is sure to entertain you once more!) Nancy Lee Badger!
Scottish
Highland Games-What’s the Big Deal?
By Nancy Lee Badger
My
husband and I have attended the New Hampshire Highland Games since they started
back in 1975 (before we were married). Later, my husband decided to volunteer
at the three day festival. I stayed home with the boys until the youngest
showed an interest in his Scottish lineage, then we joined him as volunteers. Later,
my other sons also joined in the good times. We watched a small family picnic
of a few hundred like-minded people turn into a massive undertaking where over
40,000 people participate.
What’s
the big deal? Why do people travel hundreds (or thousands) of miles for a few
days of marching bands, ethnic food, and colorfully dressed kilts? When coupled
with the spectacular fall foliage of the New Hampshire White Mountains, their
visit makes for a memorable experience.
These types of celebrations—often called Games—are held up and down the coast of North America and Canada. The main goal is to continue the heritage and to further the sights, sounds, and flavors of Scotland. There are more people of Scottish heritage living in the United States and Canada then there are in Scotland, and the exodus was a massive undertaking. Even now, Scottish tourism is reaping a boon of business from those seeking their Scottish roots.
These types of celebrations—often called Games—are held up and down the coast of North America and Canada. The main goal is to continue the heritage and to further the sights, sounds, and flavors of Scotland. There are more people of Scottish heritage living in the United States and Canada then there are in Scotland, and the exodus was a massive undertaking. Even now, Scottish tourism is reaping a boon of business from those seeking their Scottish roots.
Do
you know the surname you wish to explore? Come to the local Highland Games and
visit Clan Village or the Genealogy Tent. Are you curious about life in merry
old Scotland? Visit the Highland Games historical village. Have you ever
thought about the culture that made you what you are today? Check out the
dancers, bagpipers, and food vendors. It all comes together at any Highland
Games.
The games part of the description is not the
same as the athletics. Athletics are
a vital part of Highland games. Where else can you watch a kilted man or woman
toss a bag of hay over a high pole with a pitchfork? Where can you watch a man
or woman toss a telephone pole? Where can you see 275# or larger muscled men
wearing brightly colored skirts* (oops…call a kilt a skirt and you will be
shunned)
*My husband wants you to know the
difference between a skirt and a kilt is that you wear undies beneath a skirt.
Many
states, communities, and organizations host their own Highland Games and Scottish
festivals. They welcome everyone…a Scottish lineage or kilt are not required.
If you enjoy harps, bagpipes, Highland dance, wonderful food and a sea of sexy
men wearing brightly colored wool kilts, please visit a Highland games or
Scottish festival soon and see for yourself what the big deal is all about!
I have taken my
fifteen years experience as a volunteer at the New Hampshire Highland games to
write a Scottish time travel romance that begins and ends at the Highland
Games. Please check out MY HONORABLE
HIGHLANDER, Book #1 of the Highland Games through Time series. For more
information about the games where I volunteer each fall under the Information
tent, visit www.NHScot.org
Book Blurb
Bumbling present day herbalist, Haven MacKay, gets more than
she bargains for when her love spell goes awry, is cast back in time, and meets
her true love -- Laird Kirkwall Gunn.
Kirk’s plans go slightly off course when he falls in love
with a woman wandering through the Scottish Highlands. After all, he has
pledged to marry another, from an enemy clan, in order to end a century-old
feud.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/Knot6H
NOOK: http://bit.ly/K4TqzH
All Romance EBooks: http://bit.ly/JmqjXJ
ISBN 9781476417400
AUTHOR BIO
After
growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New
Hampshire, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Due to a
Scottish heritage, she and her family volunteer at the New Hampshire Highland
Games each fall. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of
Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers,
and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers. Nancy also writes romantic suspense as
Nancy Lennea and is a proud Army Mom.
Website
http://www.nancyleebadger.com
Twitter @NLBadger
On Facebook as Nancy Lee Badger
Video of the Week: Horrible Histories -- Cliff Whiteley: Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and Pearl Hart
In honor of my wild western romance release yesterday, I thought it appropriate to entertain you with a westernish video this week! Quite funny and educational!
Scandalous Woman
By: Annabelle Weston
Book two in the Desert Heat trilogy.
Carly Buchanan knows who and what she is. She’s the owner of
the Lonesome Saloon, a bawdy place in the harsh West where any man can have his
darkest desires fulfilled—for a price. But life at a saloon isn’t easy. After
hearing too much one night, Carly is caught in the middle of a deadly dispute.
Now no-accounts are shooting up the streets, good men are dying and no one will
do a thing about it.
Until he comes to town…
Sheriff Jeddah Poole is lethally serious about cleaning up
Tucson. But he can’t stop thinking of Carly’s bright eyes and passionate
nature…or the way her lush curves feel pressed beneath him as he takes her
again and again and again. In a town on the brink, caught in a divine passion
they can’t escape, Jed and Carly have only each other to rely on. And only
their love can help them survive.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
SCANDALOUS WOMAN now available!
YAY!!!! I’m so excited for the release of the second book in Annabelle Weston’s Desert Heat series — SCANDALOUS WOMAN. Another emotionally gripping, gritty–and of course completely HOT, western erotic romance.
Book Blurb:
Carly Buchanan knows who and what she is. She’s the owner of the Lonesome Saloon, a bawdy place in the harsh West where any man can have his darkest desires fulfilled—for a price. But life at a saloon isn’t easy. After hearing too much one night, Carly is caught in the middle of a deadly dispute. Now no-accounts are shooting up the streets, good men are dying and no one will do a thing about it.
Until he comes to town…
Sheriff Jeddah Poole is lethally serious about cleaning up Tucson. But he can’t stop thinking of Carly’s bright eyes and passionate nature…or the way her lush curves feel pressed beneath him as he takes her again and again and again. In a town on the brink, caught in a divine passion they can’t escape, Jed and Carly have only each other to rely on. And only their love can help them survive.
Click here to read an excerpt: http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419938481.htm
Doing a bit of a bar jig and singing a bawdy song!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Happy 111th Would-be Birthday to Anastasia Romanov of Russia (and Giveaway!)
Even now in 2012, one of the greatest mysteries has been the
fate of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov of Russia, the last of four daughters
born to the Tsar Nikolas and his wife Alexandra. After the tragic execution of
the Russian Royal family in1918, officials were never able to recover the
remains of Anastasia. Tales of her supposed escape from Russia have gripped
thousands for decades, fueling speculation that a daughter of Russia’s last
sovereign ruler survived the revolution that destroyed her immediate family.
June 18th marks what would be the 111th birthday of Her
Imperial Highness Anastasia Romanov.
In honor of the lost Duchess, Sourcebooks has offered up one
copy of The Last Romanov by Dora Levy
Mossanen to giveaway to one lucky History Undressed reader! (US and Canada Only) Leave a comment to
win. Winner will be drawn on Friday the
22nd.
About the book...
IN A TIME OF RASPUTIN'S MAGIC AND ROMANOV MYSTERY, A YOUNG
GIRL FINDS HERSELF AT THE HEART OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
She was an orphan, ushered into the royal palace on the
prayers of her majestry. Yet, decades later, her time spent in the embrace of
the Romanovs haunts her still. Is she responsible for those murderous events
that changed everything?
If only she can find the heir, maybe she can put together
the broken pieces of her own past-maybe she can hold on to the love she found.
Bursting to life with the rich and glorious marvels of Imperial Russia, The
Last Romanov is a magical tale of second chances and royal blood.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Video of the Week: Horrible Histories -- Fan Language
This video had me laughing so hard!!! Love it!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Castle of the Week: Arundel Castle
In A LADY'S CHARADE, my initial setting is at fictional South Hearth Castle, which I based off of Berwick Castle on the border of England and Scotland (will post next week!), the rest of the book takes place at Hardwyck Keep, based off of Arundel Castle, which is this week's castle.
*A note! I came up with the fictional town of Hardwyck seven years ago when I began planning the book. It was until a few years ago when working on a non-related Tudor project I found out there was a Hardwick Hall--quite beautiful, but is not in any way related to my fictional town.
Arundel Castle was established in 1067 by Roger de Montgomery, built in West Sussex--named the first Earl of Arundel by William the Conqueror. Throughout the years it became the main family seat for the Dukes of Norfolk. The castle overlooks the River Arun and was meant to be used as fortification against the French.
Originally, the castle was built as a motte and double bailey--which I love. This is when the keep sits atop a man-made or sometimes naturally made hill, as extra protection against invasion.There is a walled inner bailey directly in front of the castle, then below that a second outer bailey also walled. The castle has been restored and is open for visitors. The interior is beautiful with period pieces and paintings, and outside you can enjoy a tour of the The Collector Earl's Garden.
In this era, the castle has been used in numerous productions such as The Young Victoria, Victoria and Albert, Antiques Roadshow and Henry VIII.
If you want to view a slideshow of the castle, here are some amazing pictures: Pictures of England
Here are a few other pics...
 |
| Showing the castle atop the motte and the baileys. |
 |
| A 19th century painting. |
 |
| A drawing of the town in 1644. |
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Bailey on The Georgian Gentleman's Little Black Book
Welcome to History Undressed today, guest author Elizabeth
Bailey! Ms. Bailey writes historical fiction for Berkley books. I LOVE her
cover for her new release, The Deathly Portent.
The Deathly Portent by Elizabeth Bailey
(Originally Published On May 19, 2012 at Sue Perkins Blog)
The Georgian gentleman’s version of the Little Black Book
Women who fell from grace in the 18th Century had few
options open to them. Get married with speed was top of the list. Preferably to
the fellow with whom you did the deed, but frankly anyone of respectability
would do.
If Darcy had not intervened to get Lydia married to wicked
Wickham, as Lizzie Bennet points out, not only Lydia, but her four sisters
would have been tainted and probably doomed to spinsterhood since they had no
money to bribe a prospective bridegroom into overlooking the disgrace.
The Bennet girls were lucky. In reality, the family would
likely have disowned Lydia. When Wickham tired of her, she was young and pretty
enough to have found herself another protector. As time went on, Lydia might
have drifted in the direction of Covent Garden where she could well have found
herself portrayed in a couple of extremely frank paragraphs in the annual
publication of Harris’s List of Covent-Garden Ladies.
This fascinating little volume was started in 1757 by one
Samuel Derrick, as a venture to get himself out of debtor’s prison. His lively
descriptions of the ladies who made themselves available for a gentleman’s
amours proved so popular that he not only procured his release, but he started
a phenomenon that continued until 1795.
Almost all the ladies spoken of as being of good education
evidently fell into “the life”, as it was popularly called, by way of seduction
and subsequent abandonment.
Like Miss Char-ton of No. 12, Gress Street, who “came of
reputable parents…yet the address of a designing villain, too soon found means
to ruin her; forsaken by her friends, pursued by shame and necessity; she had
no other alternative...”
Seduction was not confined to the educated classes. There
was Miss Le-, of Berwick-Street, Soho, who “was debauched by a young
counsellor, from a boarding-school near town, where she was apprentice.”
Then there was Miss We-ls, of No. 35, Newman-Street,
daughter of a Welsh farmer, who is described as being “as wild as a goat, of a
sandy colour, her features are small, and is a tight little piece.” She was
sent to London when young where “a young gentleman ingratiated him so far into
her graces, as to gain her consent to make him happy by her ruin, under a
promise of marriage” and then he subsequently “abandoned her to the reproaches
and calumny of a merciless world”.
The majority of the ladies featured in this entertaining
little black book for your pleasure-seeking young buck were in their teens or
early twenties. An example is Miss Townsend, nineteen, of whom we learn that “the
use of the needle first fired this lady’s imagination with the use of a certain
pin”. This sort of witty euphemism abounds.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the anodyne of choice for
a number of the ladies is strong liquor. Like Miss Godfrey, a commanding
female, who “will take brandy with any one, or drink and swear, and though but
little, will fight a good battle.”
The women are delineated in detail, depending on their
particular attractions: “she is amorous to the greatest degree, and has courage
enough not to be afraid of the largest and strongest man that ever drew weapon
in the cause of love”. Or non-attractions, as “but a middling face, with large
features, a coarse hand and arm, and in stature short and clumsy”, but she is
“an excellent bedfellow”.
Their looks are described: “of a middle size, black eyes,
plump made and her skin good” or another with “fine blue eyes that are
delicious”. We are told about good teeth and “sweet breath”, in a day where
these ere rare. We hear about “yielding limbs, though beautiful when together,
are still more ravishing when separated”.
Disposition is mentioned, whether she is “agreeable” or
“animated with no small degree of vanity” or indeed “a pompous heroic girl,
without either wit or humour”. There is a figure to suit every taste, and an
accommodation for every sexual whim. We learn whether or not she has a keeper
(which doesn’t stop any lady selling her favours elsewhere) and what it may
cost our young man about town to enjoy her charms.
One or two guineas appears the norm, with here and there a
more expensive luxury on offer. The genteel Miss Le- above, who was led into
sin, is only seventeen and a “has a piece of the termagant about her”, but she
commands three or four guineas for her services, which include birching for
those so inclined. While Miss - of Wardour Street, who is “but newly arrived”
and “darts such irresistible glances as can scarcely fail to engage the hearts
of the beholders” will not accept less than five guineas. Mrs Ho-fey, on the
other hand, who “calls forth all her powers to give delight with uncommon
success” will happily settle for half a guinea.
A guinea (one pound, one shilling) seems a pathetic sum to
us. Yet these women were the middling class of prostitute. They could not
aspire to the heights of high-class courtesans like the later Harriette Wilson,
whose clients included the Duke of Wellington, but they were a good deal better
off than the street corner girls who plied their trade for a few pence, or a
few shillings at best.
But whether they earned a pittance or a fortune, many women
ended up selling their bodies to make ends meet. There were 50,000 prostitutes
in London in 1797, according to a contemporary magistrate’s account. That
statistic argues a lack of opportunities for women to find gainful employment.
The better bred, the fewer the options.
It’s tempting to withhold sympathy for our Covent-Garden
ladies when you convert their earnings to the present day. In today’s money, a
guinea is worth around £60. A lady’s maid was paid less than that in a year!
And no doubt worked a lot harder. While Miss Le- with her five guineas was
getting buying power to the tune of our £300 every time she lay flat on her
back!
What’s more, these ladies of the night could afford to
please themselves how they lived, which was more than could be said for most
wives, be their husbands lord or boot boy. They lived in comfortable
apartments, had a great deal of freedom, could pick and choose among their
clientele, and enjoy all the entertainments on offer in the shops and theatres
of the time. And all at the trifling cost of respectability.
The downside was the future. The lifestyle was no sinecure.
There are very few females over thirty in Harris’s List. Assuming one could
avoid a dose of “the pox” or any other disease and live, what to do when the
charms of youth faded? How many of them were canny enough to salt away a
quantity of takings as insurance?
A few, one assumes, if they had garnered sufficient fortune,
might be lucky enough to marry. Others are mentioned as having moved into
brothel-keeping themselves. But the rest?
What happened to Sally Robinson, who was given five
shillings at the age of fifteen to cure her of the clap “which she got from her
deflowerer”? On the town in 1761, what hope had “a tall, fat girl” of any kind
of living thirty years later? Or Kitty Buckley, who was one of the few older
females and already 35 in 1761? She was “reported to have ruined twenty
keepers” because she was “as wicked as a devil, and as extravagant as Cleopatra”.
Since she had been in the bailiff’s hands about three times a year, did she end
her days in prison?
While Harris’s List is a delight in many ways, there is
something a little distasteful in the warts-and-all public exposure of a whole
generation of unfortunate females, whose only mistake was to succumb to the
lure of sensual gratification.
Besides marriage or prostitution, was there any other way
out for the fallen woman? If they were lucky, or had kind and generous
relatives, there was hope. Transported to another place, perhaps with an
allowance, they could start a new life under an assumed name - but with the
shadow of the past always ready to catch up with them.
This is of course a familiar theme in our modern take on the
historical romance. Our heroine is plucked from this life of shame and
obscurity by the love of a good man. What better way to compensate her for
enduring such punishment for what was, to our twenty-first century thinking,
perfectly natural behaviour?
As for the luscious Covent-Garden Ladies, who had the
gumption to use the only means they had of making a decent living - good for
you, ladies!
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ABOUT THE BOOK...
Her charm and cajolery may fool the unwary.
Unscrupulous and cunning, as dauntless as she is resolute, the incomparable "Lady Fan" is as ruthless as the killer she is tracking in...
A violent murder has left the village of Witherley aghast.
The locals are convinced that a witch doing the devil's work is to blame-a
young woman believed to have second sight. The new vicar, Aidan, taking up the
cudgels in her defence, fears the witch hunt is escalating out of his control.
But help is at hand.
The bright and perceptive Ottilia, once a lady's companion
and now bride to Lord Francis Fanshawe, is drawn to Witherley by an insatiable
curiosity. Ottilia rapidly uncovers a raft of suspects with grudges against the
dead man, one of whom is determined to incriminate the "witch." And
as foul play runs rampant, Ottilia must wade through the growing hysteria to
unravel the tangle and point a finger at the one true menace...
Elizabeth Bailey’s latest Georgian historical crime
was published by Berkley Books (Penguin) in the US on 3rd April 2012, and
comes to the UK on 7th June. Her sleuth Ottilia, now wife to Lord Francis
Fanshawe, is drawn by insatiable curiosity to investigate the murder of a
blacksmith in the village of Witherley, where Cassie, a young woman with second
sight, is stigmatized a witch and blamed for the death. What terrible secret is
Cassie hiding that makes her feel unworthy of the love of Aidan, the new vicar,
who has taken up the cudgels in her defence? More info at
www.elizabethbailey.co.uk
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Featured Author: Elysa Hendricks (This Heart for Hire)
MEET ELYSA HENDRICKS...
Elysa Hendricks is 5'6" tall. She has brown eyes and
curly hair. She's an author, a wife, a mother and a daughter. Everything else
is subject to change without notice. Oh, and she loves hearing from readers and
other authors. You can reach through her Website or Facebook page.
ABOUT THE BOOK...
Abandoned by his father and betrayed by his half-brother and fiancée on the eve of his wedding, JAKE GALLAGHER no longer believes in love. Though he longs to go home, his undercover work for the Texas Rangers keeps him in a lawless Texas border town. Even though it jeopardizes his mission he refuses to stand by and watch outlaws rape and murder a young woman. Getting shot and losing his memory wasn’t part of his plan.
While fleeing from her stepfather’s plans to steal their ranch, CHRISTINA GOODWIN witnesses her brother’s murder and is left in the hands of a merciless band of outlaws. Raised in a strict convent, Christina has little knowledge of men or the world, its dangers and temptations. Frightened and alone, she is forced to accept the help of the dark gunslinger who rescues her. Though drawn to Jake’s potent masculinity, she hesitates to trust him, fearing her stepfather has sent him to bring her back. Unsure of Jake’s motives for helping her, she struggles against him, determined to find a way to avenge her brother’s death and regain control of her ranch from her stepfather.
READ AN EXCERPT...
"You did just fine. I'm living proof." Jake
watched with pleasure as a smile lit up her face. He returned it. "Tell me
how your brother came to hire me? Where we met? Maybe you can help jog my
memory."
A panicked looked crossed her face and she went suddenly
pale. "I-I, w-we..." Her gaze darted around refusing to settle on
him. Then with an audible breath she regained control. "I'm not sure how
or where Christopher met you. He never said. I was staying in, um, in Ramblin
waiting for him. He brought you there and we headed out for St. Louis."
Jake listened to the girl's lies. Like before, she didn't do
it well. Her nervous plucking at her skirt and the way her gaze avoided his
gave her away. "If we met in Ramblin for me to guide you north to St.
Louis, how did we end up in Peaceful which is southeast?"
Color crept into her cheeks as she stared at him in horror.
"You remember?"
For some reason she didn't want him to remember, which made
him more determined to do so. "No, but I know where Peaceful is and it isn't
on the way to St. Louis from Ramblin. So how did we end up there?"
"You had some business there." Her chin came up,
but her eyes didn't quite meet his. "I don't know what it was. You didn't
say. But that's where Christopher died. Can we not talk about this anymore?
Please." Her voice broke on the last word and she bent her head to hide
the tears he saw gathering in her eyes.
As much as he needed the truth, he found himself unwilling
to push her. Her tears softened the hard knot of anger inside him.
A tendril of hair fell forward across her face and he
reached out to brush it away. His knuckles touched the tender skin of her cheek
and lingered. She looked up with startled eyes, her lips parted in question.
Her lies forgotten, his gaze locked with hers. He caressed her face then
threaded his fingers through her hair. Like silk it flowed over his hands.
Cupping the back of her head in his hand, he leaned toward
her. The tempo of her pulse increased beneath his fingertips. Her breathing
grew shallow and her eyelids fluttered shut. At his gentle tug, she swayed into
him. His other arm went around her back and pulled her into his embrace. With a
soft sigh she surrendered to his caress. Without hesitation he slanted his lips
across hers.
Sensations swamped him, his own hot, pounding hunger and her
sweet, warm yielding. His arms tightened as he deepened the kiss. With a gentle
probe he urged her lips apart. After a slight hesitation, she allowed him
entrance and his tongue explored the moist recesses of her mouth.
Take it slow, gentle, Jake warned himself. One hand massaged
the small of her back and molded her slim frame to his harder one. The other
anchored her head so she could not escape his kiss, even though she showed no
signs of wishing to. With difficulty he held his passion in check.
He filled his nostrils with her scent, the smell of warm,
willing woman. Pulling his lips from hers he buried his face in her hair and
struggled to control his desire.
"So sweet, so soft," he whispered. "Do you
know how I want you?"
How he longed to strip her of her clothing. The urge to lay
her in the fragrant grass and drown in her velvet warmth beat like a drum in
his blood.
Her hands clutched his shoulders, her fingers kneading his
flesh as she pressed herself against him. Her lips sought his. She whimpered
when he pulled back.
"Slow and easy, Kitten."
REVIEWS for This Heart for Hire...
"Elysa Hendricks keeps the pace of this story moving
quickly and provides great detail. She weaves a rich plot that draws the reader
in and keeps them turning pages to find out what happens next. Characters are
well drawn, believable and lovable. I highly recommend this romance, especially
for readers who want to fall in love all over again, right along with Christina
and Jake."
Cindy Keen Reynders
"This is a very good romance with an old west setting
that will keep you turning the pages. It did for me. Very enjoyable book."
Karen Bryant Doering,
Parents' Little Black Book
"If you like historical western romances, you'll love
This Heart for Hire, by Elysa Hendricks. At $3.99 this more than 100,000 word
story is great value for money. Elysa takes us, and her hero and heroine, on a
harrowing odyssey across Texas and New Mexico. Her descriptions of the
landscape are rich, and you can imagine yourself travelling with them."
OnTheMark
Check out This Heart for Hire on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Video of the Week: Horrible Histories Tudor Football
You know... I was at my daughter's soccer tournament last weekend, and it was a bit like this...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Castle of the Week: Bunratty Castle
Back to my arrival in Ireland... We took the red-eye, and although we found little sleep on the flight we were determined not to lose a minute of touring time. Minutes after landing and getting our rental car, we found ourselves at our first Irish castle: Bunratty.
The castle as it stands today originally built in 1425, was the fourth castle to be built on the spot. The site has been used since 970 when it was held by the Vikings as a Trading camp. It has since been restored and filled with furnishing from the 15th and 16th centuries, along with tapestries and other art work. I often point people in the direction of this website to view the Bunratty Collection. 'Tis impressive!
Also, if you want to see a great picture of the layout of the castle, I suggest visiting this page: A Tour of Bunratty Castle. I actually use this model a lot for my fictional stories.
Shannon Heritage takes care of the grounds and has created a folk park surrounding the castle. A real-life little village with re-enactors, so you feel like you are really in that time period. It was truly a fascinating place. The scent of the peat fires still linger in my mind. I did not get to stay for the medieval banquet, but they do have one I think almost every day. There is also a hotel you can stay at to enjoy the park day in and day out.
While I was at Bunratty, I enjoyed the village, got put in the stocks and learned a lot about Irish history. We finished our tour with tea at the Bunratty Hotel. It was truly a memorable time, and I look forward to returning there soon!
Some pics...
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| The great hall |
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| Outside the keep... just around here that I was put in the stocks |
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| Part of the folk park |
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| A very short bed. I asked if the Irish were shorter and the guide told me they slept sitting up as lying down was for the dead. |
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| Another folk park pic |
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| The hotel where we had tea. |
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Non-Fiction Review: The Real Elizabeth by Andrew Marr
A surprising and very personal biography of a woman who may be the world's last great queen, published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of her reign
Elizabeth II, one of England's longest-reigning monarchs, is an enigma. In public, she confines herself to optimistic pieties and guarded smiles; in private, she is wry, funny, and an excellent mimic. Now, for the first time, one of Britain's leading journalists and historians gets behind the mask and tells us the fascinating story of the real Elizabeth.
Born shortly before the Depression, Elizabeth grew up during World War II and became queen because of the shocking abdication of her uncle and the early death of her father. Only twenty-five when she ascended to the throne, she has been at the apex of the British state for nearly six decades. She has entertained and known numerous world leaders, including every U.S. president since Harry Truman. Brought up to regard family values as sacred, she has seen all but one of her children divorce; her heir, Prince Charles, conduct an adulterous affair before Princess Diana's death; and a steady stream of family secrets poured into the open. Yet she has never failed to carry out her duties, and she has never said a word about any of the troubles she has endured.
Andrew Marr, who enjoys extraordinary access to senior figures at Buckingham Palace, has written a revealing and essential book about a woman who has managed to remain private to the point of mystery throughout her reign.
MY REVIEW...
WoW! I started reading this book while riding a stationary bike at the gym... Let me just say my legs hurt incredibly the next day. This book was a fascinating, in-depth look at the life of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
A truly remarkable and admirable woman, Mr. Marr takes us through a history of her family, her childhood, her ascension, up until today. Queen Elizabeth has always been somewhat private, not allowing anyone to see inside who she really is, however this book shows us the kind, generous, intelligent, philanthropic leader that she is. We see the ups and downs, the history behind her decisions. Just fascinating.
If you've ever had an interest in the monarchy and the life of the current queen, I would highly recommend reading this book. And if you've never had an interest--I highly recommend reading this book!
Historical Romance Review: True Highland Spirit by Amanda Forester
ABOUT THE BOOK...
A HEATED RIVALRY...
Morrigan McNab is a Highland lady, robbed of her birthright and with no choice but to fight alongside her brothers to protect their impoverished clan. When she encounters Sir Jacques Dragonet, she discovers her fiercest opponent...
IS GETTING EVEN HOTTER...
Sir Jacques Dragonet will give his life to defend Scotland from the English. He can't stop himself from admiring the beautiful Highland lass who wields her weapons as skillfully as he does, and endangers his heart even more than his life...
MY REVIEW...
The book starts off right in the action, and our heroine is the one putting foot to arse. Normally when a heroine dressed up like a man, I find it to be rather cliche, but in TRUE HIGHLAND SPIRIT it fits our female Robin Hood to a T. Normally, the woman dressed as a man is a cliche, but Ms. Forester truly makes this plot point unique again. Morrigan has so much pressure to take care of her poor and ill-reputed clan. She'll do whatever she can, including risking her life. The one thing she doesn't want to allow herself is love (even though she dreams of it!)--but her intense attraction to Dragonet thwarts her attempts to remain who she's become. I also truly enjoyed having a Scottish heroine and a French hero. Something new to the Highlander romance genre.
This story was filled with action, twists and turns, sensuality. A real page turner.
Loved it!
This story was filled with action, twists and turns, sensuality. A real page turner.
Loved it!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Featured Author: Callie Hutton
An Angel in the Mail, set in 1861, unites
newly penniless society belle Angel Hardwick and Nathan Hale, father of five,
who is desperate for a wife to straighten his life out. Nate’s looking for someone who loves
children and can easily take over the cooking, cleaning and laundry. Instead, he is getting Angel, whose culinary
knowledge consists of weekly meetings with Cook to decide the family’s menu.
Angel
is a strong-minded young woman, resigned to her fate, and determined to make
the best of her situation. But will her
new husband allow for mistakes? Or will
he send her packing when she burns meals and misplaces children?
Nate
just wants a peaceful, well run household, without the distraction of an
attractive wife. However, his beautiful
wife with a very distractible body is not giving him peace. Somebody lied, because despite what he was
told by the Bride Agency, this beauty knows nothing about running a home, but
she sure sets him on fire at night.
Nate
and Angel have to come to a working arrangement, overcoming problems between
them. But will they be able to find a happily ever after with someone
desperately working behind the scenes to destroy their relationship?
EXCERPT:
EXCERPT:
A small wooden table in the corner drew her. She
placed the glass on the table and eased her sore and tired body onto the chair.
One leg shorter than the other three, the chair rocked as she settled. A woman
the size of the counterman came through a curtain separating the area from
whatever was in the back. With a brisk nod in Angel’s direction, she headed her
way.
“Y’all one of them new whores Dolly’s expectin’? She asked
me to look out for ya.” She jerked her thumb in the counterman’s direction.
“Jedediah’ll git you out there as soon as the stage pulls out. Dolly’s sure
needin’ the help. She cain’t never take a break herself.”
Angel sat in silence, her eyes wide and mouth slack as the
woman continued. “Ya’ll gonna have to git rid of them black clothes, though.
Dolly’ll fix ya up nice and fancy.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and she gasped, vigorously shaking
her head. “No, ma’am, I am not one of the new wh-whores.” She stumbled on the
word, and backed the rickety chair against the wall.
“Well, gosh darn. Thadda be a pity.” The woman shifted a wad
of tobacco from one cheek to the other, expelling a stream of juice right next
to Angel’s shoe. Her gaze roamed over her. “A looker like you’d make a lot of
money for yerself. Men around here are dying for some new faces.” Then
she thought for a minute and grinned. “And new bodies, too.” She threw
her head back in laughter, spaces from missing teeth exposed.
“Jedediah, git yoreself back to work.” The woman
shouted in the counterman’s direction as she returned to the back area.
Angel got up from the table and quickly headed for the door.
I’d rather sit in the blazing sun. What have I gotten myself into?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Visit Callie at:
Follow on Twitter: @calliehutton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callie.hutton
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