A Marriage of Inconvenience by Christine Young - Virtual tour and giveaway

Today we're spotlighting author Christine Young on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the historical romance, "A Marriage of Inconvenience". She's sharing an exclusive excerpt with us.

Christine will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner above, 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 a great new author AND win a GC!

A REGAL BEAUTY

When the duchess decides to wed her to a wastrel and a fop, Ravyn Grahm takes matters into her own hands and declares her engagement to another man. Instead of fessing up and telling her great aunt what she has done, she goes through with the pretense. Aric Lakeland is the bastard son of an earl and has a dangerous reputation. But Ravyn is willing to do most anything to keep the duchess from discovering the lie.

A DEVIL-MAY-CARE SMUGGLER

He'd bought land in America, looking to put down roots and end his life of adventure, but Aric Lakeland got more than he bargained for when he encountered a beautiful heiress who made a promise she didn't want to keep. But the promise could not be undone and standing between them were more obstacles than either ever dreamed. Aric had made plans to spend the rest of his life in America and that was at odds with Ravyn's plan of living in England and running her father's estate. Now, he'll have to choose between his dreams and the woman he loves more than life.

"I have nothing to lose. That’s why you’re staying with Sarah. If anything happens to you, the baby will die. If anything happens to me…" Ravyn paused then spoke the bitter truth with no bitterness in her voice. "No one else will die of it."

Amorica clasped her hands together until the knuckles gleamed whitely. "Ravyn, you mustn’t go out. You don’t know this land. You could get lost just as easily as not."

"I know about storms and rain that never stops. I’ve seen animals drown trying to reach dry land. You, better than anyone else, know these things were all once part of our lives."

Amorica’s expression turned grim. "I know. It’s just that I want you to be happy and safe."

"If he loved me, he’d forgive me a promise broken."

"Ravyn--"

"You’re right of course."

"Do you have raingear that would fit me?"

"In the bedroom. I’ll show you." Amorica smiled oddly. "There’s a pistol beside the front door. It’s loaded. Take it."

Very quickly, Ravyn was on the way out of the house, wrapped in layers of wool and buckskin and a hooded fur jacket. She wore pants instead of a skirt and carried a borrowed gun. The only horse left in the corral was a tall black gelding. He didn’t want to be bridled, saddled, or ridden. Ravyn managed the first two, but was very nearly thrown before the horse gave up and left the corral with ears laid back. As she rode out into the storm, she was grateful her father had always given in to her need to ride. There were many times she was the only one able to ride the difficult horses.

Ravyn rode into the line of trees. She kept in the direction Amorica had seen the black people. She wasn’t sure if they would come out of hiding or try to ride out the tempest where ever they could find meager shelter.

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

Highland Magic by Christine Young - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Today we're featuring an exclusive excerpt from the historical romance, "Highland Magic" by Christine Young on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions.

The author is giving away a $15 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during her tour, so comment today AND follow her tour (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 a great new author AND win a GC!

Throughout the Highlands she is known as Keely, the witch woman. She is a great healer-a woman whose dreams come true. Ian MacPherson is a man who puts honor, loyalty and duty above everything. Their lives are entwined when Ian is sent by the Scottish King to bring Keely to trial for witchcraft. He is attacked and left for dead, but Keely rescues him. When he wakes, he discovers he has no memory. As he remembers his lost past, Ian finds that his need to protect the woman who has saved his life eclipses his duty to his king and country., He is a man torn between honor and duty to his country and the woman he loves.

He stopped, his arm stretched out to keep Keely from moving closer to the entrance. Dropping to the ground, he crawled forward and peered downward, toward the house.

Flames shot skyward. On horseback, men circled the house, tossing burning brands onto the thatched roof.

"Keep down," he whispered to her, his voice hoarse with emotion. She crept closer. He heard her swiftly indrawn breath of air and felt her tremble against him. If he'd had any thoughts of returning, they vanished while he watched the flames reaching into the sky.

"My home!" She rose, yet he pulled on her dress, tumbling her to the ground and swiftly rolling on top of her.

"Nay, you can do nothing."

"But--" she began, still struggling against him, then broke off in a sob, her face in her hands.

"We will stay here."

"We cannot." Her desperation flowed into him.

"We must and we must make plans." With Keely in his arms, he scooted back to lean against the cold stone of the cave. He held her close and let her cry out her terror and her heartache.

She nestled into him, soaking his shirt with her sorrow-filled tears. He stroked her back, knowing his futile efforts did little to ease the pain simmering inside. Deep in the back of his mind, he wondered about Whipple and what part he played in this.

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Blog: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com
Buy Links: http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category.aspx?categoryid=72&startpage=2

Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Highland Honor by Christine Young

Today we're welcoming author Christine Young to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the historical romance, "Highland Honor".

Christine is giving away the following:

* a $50.00 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter for the blog tour.
* a Clan MacPherson book mark awarded at each stop to one randomly drawn commenter.
* Antique Gold Double Thistle Broche for the blog host with the most comments (excluding Christine's and their own).

So make sure you comment and follow her tour -- click on the above banner for a list of stops.

And now, without further ado, please welcome Christine!



Christine, I'm always fascinated by historical romance and wonder how the authors get even the smallest details right. Tell us about how you did your research on this book to make sure your details were accurate.

Research is so important to historical books. I spend a lot of time at the library reading about the country as well as the time period I am writing about. I take notes on details I want to incorporate. Dialect, clothing, food, as well as the geography of the area are important.

The Highland Games can be attended in many parts of the country. The Games in Oregon are at Mt. Hood Community College. I bought books, ate authentic food, watched dancing and cabers tossed by men in kilts. The bagpipes—wow!

Some of the maps I obtained gave clan locations, other monasteries and old churches. They showed roads and towns situated along well-traveled roads. I have a book of castles and their layout among other things.

By using my name book I am able to give my characters names that suit them as well as the particular country they reside in.

And last but not least I will pull the family card. My great grandparents on my mother's side migrated to Canada in the early 1900's. Many stories of their lives were passed down to my mother who passed them on to me. Granted they were stories, perhaps a bit embellished but they sparked an interest in the Highlands and the Scottish way of life.


Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the MacPherson castle. Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.
As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.


Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. She is the author of 10 published romance books and 2 novellas.

Christine is a retired high school math. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Links:
http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com
http://www.roguesangels.blogspot.com
http://www.roguephoenixpress.com