History Channel's -- History of Thanksgiving

From all of us at History Undressed, we wish all those in the US a Happy Thanksgiving!

Castle of the Week: Ardvreck by Vonda Sinclair

Castles of the Week are back, and we're kicking it off today with a post by my good friend and fellow Scottish romance author, Vonda Sinclair! Awesome post and beautiful pics! Enjoy!

                    Ardvreck Castle by Vonda Sinclair

One of the places that inspired several scenes in my book, My Brave Highlander, was the Assynt area of northern Scotland in what is now Sutherland. Ardvreck Castle inspired my Munrick Castle which I placed on Loch Assynt. The MacLeods are the occupants, just as they were in the early seventeenth century.

The first time I saw Ardvreck Castle in person, I was on a tour bus going sixty miles per hour and the driver said something like, “Oh, by the way, there’s Ardvreck Castle.” I barely had time to take a blurry photo from the opposite side of the bus between other tourist’s heads. LOL Since this castle wasn’t on our itinerary, there was no time to stop, even for a minute, to get a good photo. I had to go back!

As you can imagine, when I was driving and saw this castle in the distance, through the mist with the mountains all around, I was in awe. What a spectacular and mystical setting.

Ardvreck Castle is a ruin which sits on a promontory that juts into Loch Assynt. This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful areas of Scotland. The MacLeods had control of this area from the late 14th Century. The castle is said to have been built by Angus Mor III of Clan MacLeod in the last half of the 1400s. Then, it was only a simple rectangular block, three or four storeys high. In the late 1500s, Donald Ban IX added a tower, vaulted cellars and a vault over the great hall on the first floor. The castle was small and required several buildings around it to house kitchens, servants’ quarters and stables.

The circular part of the tower contained the stair and the square caphouse above it contained two rooms, each with a fireplace. The inhabitants reached the upper floors by stairs in the small turret set in the angle between the tower and the main block.

The most famous tale relating to this castle involves James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. He was a Royalist fighting on the side of Charles I against the Covenanters in 1650. Having lost a battle nearby, he sought refuge with the MacLeods. Neil MacLeod was away and apparently his wife Christine had Montrose captured and imprisoned. Later, he was taken to Edinburgh and executed.

Ardvreck was attacked and taken by the MacKenzie Clan in 1672. They took possession of all the Assynt lands. They lived here at the castle until 1726 when they built a manor house nearby, Calda House, which also now stands in ruins after a fire in 1737.

Ardvreck is said to be haunted by several ghosts including the weeping daughter of a MacLeod chief who drowned in Loch Assynt after marrying the devil in a pact to save her father’s castle. She has been seen on the beach. A ghostly man in grey is often seen in the ruins.

Do you enjoy learning what inspires authors and finding out the history or background behind a specific setting? I will give away a copy of My Fierce Highlander (first book in the Highland Adventure Series) to one commenter. Thanks!

My Brave Highlander: Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?

Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Horrible Histories Pilgrim Song :-)

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I give you this Horrible Histories Pilgrim Song!  Enjoy!

Video of the Week: Horrible Histories -- Victorian Fashion

You all know how I love Horrible Histories! This week's video is on Victorian Fashion.

Hope you get a giggle out of it!

Historical Romance Review: One True Knight by Dana D’Angelo

This book has been reviewed by History Undressed reviewer, Morgan Wyatt...

ABOUT THE BOOK...

When the beautiful yet feisty Rowena de Belleville discovers her father’s plan to remarry, she fears the worst and flees her home — only to be thrust into the arms of a stranger.

Desperate to hide her identity from her pursuers, she embraces the dark stranger. But her reckless act backfires as it awakens a passion buried deep within her soul, while igniting the fuse of her mysterious benefactor.

Unable to escape destiny, their paths cross yet again. This time she learns the handsome man is Jonathan d’Abelard - the Iron Hawk, a legendary knight feared by all save one faceless killer bent on making his life a living hell…

Will her chance encounter draw them together, or ensnare her in a dangerous game of seduction, feverish desire and vengeance?

MORGAN'S REVIEW...

One True Knight by Dana D’Angelo is a medieval romance that highlights the differences in the freedoms enjoyed by men and women of the period. Rowena’s ability to be her own woman, and manage the castle grind to an unexpected halt when her father, Sir Phillip’s announcement that he will marry. Ten years ago, when his beloved wife died he swore to never remarry. He also chose to ignore Rowena because he blamed her for the plague her mother contacted from nursing her. Her impulsive nature forces her into action.

Jonathan is more than a wandering knight he is a man on a mission. His first mission is vengeance against the Grey Knight. The nefarious knight is so bold to send him messages and taunts causing Jonathan to scurry across the country in search of the knight. His cousin has asked him to vet Sit Phillip before she marries. His cousin a widow finds herself forced to choose between her two neighbors to be able to afford some type of protection for her people.

Rowena escapes the castle disguises as a simple servant. She isn’t quite sure of her plans, but she realizes a new mistress will change her role in the house, and maybe even push her out of it. Jonathan disguises himself as a peasant too in an effort to find out more about Sir Phillip. In an effort to escape her father’s guards, she chooses to kiss Jonathan as a distraction, sparking an attraction between the two of them. She flees refusing even to leave a name with the besotted knight.

One True Knight has a great deal going on, besides romance including intrigue and betrayal. There is also the double disguise of Jonathan and Rowena pretending to be other people, always a handy plot device. The chemistry between the two works well. The characterization of the cousin being a pawn in the games of men is accurate for the period. This is a good debut novel, but there are areas where it could be stronger.

More detail would give me a sense of being there. Historical references were rather vague, specific ones as a tie-in could help in getting a feel for the period, and the people.  In the beginning, Rowena acts more like a spoiled brat caring more about herself, than anyone else. She doesn’t care about her father’s happiness; she’s just upset because his marriage might mess her life up. She sets up her own nursemaid to get in trouble so she can run the country in disguise. Rowena improves as the book goes on maturing with the chapters.

One True Knight is a good bet for medieval romance fans. Its short length makes it a quick read too.

Romance Review: Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

This book has been reviewed by History Undressed reviewer Morgan Wyatt...

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Evangeline Ames has rented a country cottage far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she finds pleasure in sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds. And when her life is threatened again, she instinctively goes to the gardens for safety.

Lucas Sebastian has never been one to ignore a lady in danger, even if she is trespassing on his property. Quickly disposing of her would-be assassin, he insists they keep the matter private. There are rumors enough already, about treasure buried under his garden, and occult botanical experiments performed by his uncle — who died of mysterious causes.

With Evangeline’s skill for detection, and Lucas’s sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they have a common enemy. And as the energy emanating from Crystal Gardens intensifies, they realize that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long...

MORGAN'S REVIEW:

Amanda Quick’s Crystal Gardens is the first in the series of Ladies of Lantern Street series, which deals with three unusually gifted women who become companions in dangerous situations that require their talents. Crystal Gardens is the story of Evangeline Ames and Lucas Sebastian.

Evangeline Ames escapes to the country to settle her frazzled nerves from her almost murder in London. This is why it is so unnerving to hear a prowler in the house. He isn’t trying to be quiet, probably because he doesn’t expect her to live to report him. Evangeline planned for such a predicament, however, she didn’t plan to end up in the arms of the mysterious owner of Crystal Gardens.

Sebastian Lucas returns the much-rumored Crystal Gardens to investigate the curious death of his Uncle. He realizes things aren’t as they seem from the glowing gardens resulting from botanical experiments to his uncle’s death. On his first day, he meets his new tenant, the intriguing Miss Ames. On the second night, he finds his arms wrapped around the delectable lady.

Crystal Gardens are a menace drawing in treasure hunters searching for Roman gold hidden, only to become fatalities of the gardens’ mysterious power. Paranormal energy fuels the plants, vision pools, and Lucas’s ability to track his uncle’s killer, and the person after Evangeline.

Evangeline and Sebastian have wonderful chemistry together. There are some enjoyable secondary characters in Molly and Stone. The setting is appropriately eerie, which adds to the atmosphere.

Crystal Gardens is another delight from a master author Amanda Quick.  It is a fun, sexy read. I would recommend it for all romance fans.  

Reading as a Writer by Callie Hutton

Today I'd like to welcome, Callie Hutton, not only a wonderful historical romance author, but one of our reviewers too! I can't wait to read her new Christmas story!

Reading as a Writer

By: Callie Hutton

            I’ve been a voracious reader all my life. My mom would take a book out of my hands and point to the door. “Go out and play.”

            At various jobs where I worked, I was known as the woman who always had her nose stuck in a book. When people would ask what I was reading, most times I had to check the cover because I read so fast I didn’t even have a book long enough to remember its name.

            Reading has been my main source of entertainment for years. It disturbs me that now that I have written several books, gone through critiques, contests, and editing with publishers, that now I read, not as a reader, by as a writer. It’s sort of like seeing the faults in your child. You love them anyway, but sad when you discover those little things that you wished wasn’t a part of their makeup.

            I’m currently reading a book by a very well-known romance author. Every time she head- hops, I cringe. I have no problem following the story, and frankly I never could understand the horror that particular issue creates, but I know it’s not acceptable. Then there’s the flat out mistakes. Missing words, wrong words, repetitive phrases. Reversed letters so it reads: “her won” instead of “her own.”

            I suppose at one time that would never have bothered me, or even if I would have noticed it. Or is it just editors are getting sloppy? I allow (but don’t accept) mistakes in self-published books because I realize it’s hard to find your own mistakes, even though any decent self- published author uses beta readers and critique partners to catch them.

            But when you’re reading a book by a well-known author, coming from a “big” house, and you see these mistakes, it irks me. Have I always been this fussy? Or is this a new trend? In any event, even though I never intend to give up my favorite past time, it’s now riddled with annoyance.

            How about you? Do mistakes bother you? Does it pull you out of the story? Do you think there are more mistakes in books now then, say, twenty years ago? And lastly, when you see mistakes in a book, do you try to contact the author and let him/her know?

            Inquiring minds want to know.

Callie has been making up stories since elementary school, and writing gave her a way to turn off the voices in her head.  She’s had a number of articles and interviews published over the years, and finally decided to put her writing skills to the test and write novels.

            Oklahoma is where she hangs her hat with her husband of thirty-six years, two young adult children, and three dogs.

You can catch her hanging out at Facebook, Twitter- @CallieHutton, and her home base, www.calliehutton.com. Stop by sometime and say hello.

Blurb for Miss Merry’s Christmas:

The Duke of Penrose is not happy with Miss Meredith Chambers, the American governess his new wards have arrived with. He quickly replaces her, happy to have his unwanted attraction to the unsuitable woman behind him. Until his mother hires her as a companion…

England, 1817.  David Worthington, Duke of Penrose dislikes Miss Meredith Chambers, the American governess who accompanied his new wards. He especially detests his attraction to the insufferable woman, and is anxious for her replacement to arrive.

Merry is thrilled when the Dowager Duchess Penrose hires her as a companion. Now she can stay with her beloved charges. But can she ignore how her heart thumps when the pompous duke gets close?

Two people determined to ignore each other, despite the pull between them, and the sparks that fly whenever they're together.

Buy link: http://amzn.to/TSKlw1