Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

From Genevieve Graham, author of Under the Same Sky, comes a sweeping romantic historical novel of one man’s strange gift and dangerous battles . . .

Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold. Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies. There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

"Graham's sweeping tale unfolds with the kind of luscious, unrushed prose that feels rapturously close to epic."- Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Time Weaver

"Beautifully written, riveting novel. Graham is a remarkable talent."- Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of Dangerous in Diamonds

The Book
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance
Formats: Trade Paperback/All eBook types
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley Sensation / Penguin US

Meet The Author

Genevieve Graham graduated from the University of Toronto in 1986 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (playing oboe). While on a ski vacation in Alberta she met a really cute guy in the chairlift line-up and they skied together for two days. After the second day she decided she had to have him . . . permanently. The couple (now husband & wife) subsequently moved to Calgary and brought two beautiful and talented daughters into the world. They have recently settled in a small, peaceful town in Nova Scotia and are loving their quiet life.

Writing became an essential part of Genevieve's life a few years ago, when she began to write her debut novel, "Under the Same Sky". Her second book, "Sound of the Heart" was released on May 1, 2012.

Learn more about Genevieve at: http://www.genevievegraham.com. 

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An Excerpt

“How ye manage to be such a skilled hunter, I’ll ne’er understand,” she said. “I could hear ye breathin’ a mile away.”
          “Ye’ve the ears of a squirrel,” he grumbled.

She nodded, then returned to her earlier line of questioning. “What were ye doin’ there?”
“I came to see . . . I was worried that . . . I thought maybe . . .” He winced, realising how pathetic he sounded. He leaned down to pluck a tiny purple flower from the grass and snapped the bloom between his fingers.

“You were worried? About me? Since when? After all ye’ve seen me do, ye’d ken that most of the time I’m just fine on my own, thank ye very much.” She glared at him. “I’m no’ delicate flower, Dougal MacDonnell.” She gestured toward the torn flower between his fingers. “I’m no’ shrinkin’ violet, either. If I’m a flower at all, I’m maybe . . .” She paused and grabbed the crushed flower from Dougal’s grip. “Maybe I’m a thistle. Ye’d best not squeeze me too hard.” She slid her knife back into its sheath, keeping shrewd eyes on him. “Ye know what? I’m sick o’ this, Dougal. O’ the way ye treat me these days. I’m no different, but ye are. What is it wi’ ye? Why do ye sneak around behind me all the time, watchin’? Why can ye no’ be yerself anymore?”

He shrugged. “I’ve no idea.”

“Ye’d best just say it,” she demanded. “For if ye dinna speak yer mind, this will never ease between us an’ it will end badly.”

“I canna say what I am thinkin’, because I dinna ken what it is.”

“Ye do.”

“I don’t.”

She shoved his shoulder and he stepped obligingly back. She came closer and pushed him again, harder this time. He frowned and his backward movement was less.
“That’s right,” she said. Her eyes glittered with anger. “I’m askin’ ye to be the man ye were. The man ye are now isna worth a pot to piss in. Ye dinna speak of anythin’ worthwhile, ye dinna laugh, ye dinna do anythin’! Ye’re dull as a stone!” She shoved him hard again. This time he tripped back, then stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, holding it in place.

“Don’t do this,” he said, almost pleading.

In response, she slapped his face with the hand he wasn’t holding. He shook his head to clear the sting, then grabbed that wrist as well. She leaned toward him, trying to put her face in front of his, but he was a foot taller. She hissed up at him through bared teeth.

“Do somethin’, Dougal MacDonnell. Dinna turn into some ninny. Do somethin’.”

“I dinna have to do anythin’. I’ve no need to prove myself.”

“Oh no? Then why is it ye’re spendin’ so much time talkin’ of things that dinna matter? Why do ye try to do more than ye did before? Ye need to show me what a big man ye are? Is that it?”

“No . . .” he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

She pressed even closer to him. Her voice lowered to a dangerous level, almost a whisper. Almost the sound he’d heard her make in her sleep. “Do ye think I canna take care o’ myself anymore? Is that why ye came out here jus’ now? Well, I can do jus’ fine on my own, sir. I heard ye comin’, an’ I’d hear that lot if they came within a mile o’ me.”

Dougal felt the air buzzing between them, felt the pulse hammering in her wrists beneath his fingertips. Her eyes were furious, glowering at him like blue flames, challenging him.

“What do ye want?” he demanded. “What do ye want me to do?”

“Anythin’! Just be the Dougal ye were, man. Dinna tend to me as if I were a child. I’m still me. Why aren’t you still you? Do something, Dougal. Do something!”

So he kissed her. He dropped her wrists and seized the sides of her face, bringing her lips to his. She pulled instinctively away, but he held on, kissing her mouth, slightly open with surprise. He touched the skin he had longed to touch ever since he’d first found out the truth about her. It was warm, hot even, because she was angry. He felt his own face warm as he sank into the kiss.

She was so small, just like she’d said. Despite what she claimed, the bones he held between his hands were so wee, so delicate, fitting into the palms of his hands like she was made to be there. He slid one hand down her back so it rested on her waist and pulled her snug against him. He felt her body adjust, felt her muscles bunch up in response. Yes! Yes, this was what he’d been wanting. His blood sang, tingling his fingers, dancing in his lips—
And she bit him. He yelped and stepped back, rubbing his lower lip.

“What—” he cried, but she was there first.

“What was that?” she shrieked.
  
Book Content
The book contains attempted rape and rape. The situations are not overly done or    vulgar.

Tour Giveaway!

$35 Amazon Gift Card. Readers may leave a blog post comment, but the winner will be chosen from the Rafflecopter!

Ends 12/21/2012 

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 Official Tour Page

Stories of Chance Romance by Roxy Boroughs and Brenda M. Collins - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Today we're welcoming authors Roxy Boroughs and Brenda M. Collins to the blog on their tour with Black Lion Tours for their romance anthology, "Stories of Chance Romance". Note: All authors’ profits from the sale of this anthology are being donated to advance the research, education, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. What a great cause! As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, this is something near and dear to my heart.

The authors will give away Kindle copies of “Crazy for Cowboy” by Roxy Boroughs (a sweet romantic comedy) and “Witch in the Wind” (a sweet paranormal/fantasy romance) by Brenda M. Collins. One each at every stop! Readers just have to comment for a chance to win(if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to great new authors AND win prize!

Roxy Boroughs was awesome enough to answer my questions. Take a look, then make sure you leave a comment (there's a question for you at the bottom... don't leave the authors hanging)! 

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

Thanks so much for having us on your lovely site. I took a look around and I’m adding quite a few of your recommends to my reading list.

I write in several different genres. I have a romantic comedy, a couple of romantic suspense titles, a play, and STORIES OF CHANCE ROMANCE which is a collection of short tales. I collaborated on this last title with my buddy Brenda M. Collins.

All my writing has a love theme. That certainly fits in with my life because I’ve been with the same man since I was 19. I’m much older now, but we’ve never lost the romance in our relationship.

I like a guy who can make me laugh, and my hubby certainly does that—every day. I want the heroes in my books to do the same. Even in my romantic suspense titles, there’s humor. The same with Brenda’s WITCH IN THE WIND novella. And, like Brenda, I have a paranormal element in my romantic suspense titles. We both grew up watching shows like Star Trek, The Twilight Zone and Bewitched so our appreciation of the extraordinary probably stems from there.

As to the suspense, we’ve always been fascinated with mystery, crime and justice. Interestingly, we’re both born under the sign of Libra—The Scales. Maybe that explains it all.

But in STORIES OF CHANCE ROMANCE the tales are short and sweet, capturing that first meeting, that first hint of romance.

What research is required?

Brenda did quite a lot of research into witchcraft and superstitions for her Bandit Creek novella WITCH IN THE WIND. And her hometown of St. John’s Newfoundland is rich with folklore.

The hero of my romantic comedy CRAZY FOR COWBOY is an actor who’s playing the role of a cowboy in a movie. I studied theater in university and have performed on camera, so with that part I was well acquainted. The cowboy stuff? Not so much. Fortunately, I have a friend whose family owns a ranch. He showed me around it and let me take a spin on a horse bareback. Very exciting.

The tales in STORIES OF CHANCE ROMANCE are contemporary, so the worlds created are more commonplace—a school gym during a high school reunion, a gas station, the San Diego Zoo. All spots one or both of us have visited.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

From our heroes and heroines in STORIES OF CHANCE ROMANCE we learn that love is out there waiting for you. Even when you least expect it.

Also, generosity of spirit. Which is why we decided to give all our author royalties to the fight against breast cancer, a cause we both feel strongly about, since I’m a breast cancer survivor and Brenda lost a dear friend to the disease.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

There are a lot of theater superstitions. One that I’ve seen in action involves the dangers of quoting from Macbeth while backstage. Whether it was the power of suggestion or a real curse, the night someone spoke one of Shakespeare’s lines from that play in the dressing room, everything on stage went wrong—actors missed their cues, props misbehaved, costumes malfunctioned. That’s why performers always refer to Macbeth as “the Scottish play.” They don’t even want to say the title out loud!

Newfoundlanders, like Brenda, have a whole host of superstitions. And, if you’ve ever been to The Rock, you’d know why. It’s ruggedly beautiful, and often there’s a mist that rolls over the land and makes you think of the moors in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Very gothic.

As for writing superstitions, we like to surround ourselves with things that make us happy—framed copies of our book covers and paintings we enjoy. In my office, I have a rendering of my husband in a theatrical pose. Actually, it looks like he’s pointing at me and telling me to get to work. I also have a little sign taped to my desk that says, “Quit Piddling and Write Your Book.” Both of these visuals help keep me on track.

Plotter or pantser?

We’re both plotters. I’ve tried pantsing it and met with disaster—on par with that Macbeth fiasco I told you about earlier.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A pile of papers I should file. In Brenda’s office she’d see her computer tower. Much neater.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Brenda is working on a sequel to her WITCH IN THE WIND novella, as well as a diamond laundering mystery.

I’m doing the final edits on a full length action adventure and a shorter light romance that combines a secret baby plot and a matchmaking ghost.

Do you have a question for our readers?

What do you look for in a hero? Who are your favorites, either in films or books?

And thanks so much for visiting with us today!

Here’s to finding love in any place, at any time!

This collection of eleven short stories of chance romance reflects the hope that comes with the first bloom of romance, whether you find it in your youth, midlife, or the twilight years.

We dedicate Stories of Chance Romance to all the women who face breast cancer and to the teams of family, friends and medical professionals who support them on their journey.

Like so many woman, we have been closely and personally touched by this disease. Roxy was diagnosed and successfully treated in 2010—the same year Brenda lost her very dear friend, Mary Beggan, to breast cancer.

All authors’ profits from the sale of this anthology are being donated to advance the research, education, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Roxy Boroughs got the acting bug in elementary school, creating skits at recess and performing them for the class, thanks to her very indulgent teacher. She went on to study theater in university, met the love of her life there, and spent many years performing in movies, commercials and on stages across Canada and the US. Soon, portraying one character wasn’t enough. She wanted to be them all. So she poured her years of drama experience into writing plays and novels.

Look for her award-winning romantic suspense A STRANGER’S TOUCH, as well as its sequel, A STRANGER’S KISS, along with a sweet, romantic comedy called CRAZY FOR COWBOY. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and her website http://www.roxyboroughs.com/.

***

Brenda M. Collins has wanted to write romance since she was twelve years old. At the age of twenty, she spoke to an editor in Toronto, Canada, who expressed an interest in her story; however, she soon realized it takes more than an idea to be an author. She joined a number of writing groups to learn about ‘the craft’ and completed two mystery manuscripts. To help her fellow writers develop strong business skills, Brenda has published articles, and delivered workshops to hundreds of writers, on career planning, professional networking and presentation skills. Her most recent article, entitled How to Improve your Presentations, is in the 2013 Writer’s Market (Brewer, R.L., ed. F&W Media Inc. p. 153).

Brenda’s debut novel, WITCH IN THE WIND, starts with a murder, but comes to life with witches, warlocks, a canine familiar and a magical dimension called The Otherland. For upcoming titles in The Otherland Chronicles, and other stories, keep an eye on Brenda’s website www.brendamcollins.com  and follow her on Twitter .