Hi Kaz, thanks for having me here today. I’m on a total buzz right now! My debut book releases on Monday [that's today for me and j-u-s-t today for Claire! --ksa] and I’m in total awe of what the Carina Press authors have achieved so far. I’ve done no writing this last month, every time I start another fabulous Carina Press book I promise myself it will be just this one and then I’ll get back to my own writing. And lol, no sooner have I finished reading and I’m off to the Carina Press e-store again. I blame all the launch authors!
Two Feuding Families
Amber Jardin has no taste for the bitter feud started before her father’s banishment. But now that he’s passed, she’s had to return to Scotland and his barbaric people. After her bloodthirsty uncle kidnaps one of the family’s rivals, Amber is in turn captured by Krayne Johnstone, the enemy laird. Despite their enmity, their attraction is immediate—and unfortunate, as Amber has sworn to escape.
One Lusty Temptation
Krayne is amazed at the wildcat’s repeated attempts to flee. He should steel himself against her beguiling ways—yet with time, he is driven more witless with lust. When the ransom exchange fails and Krayne is left with Amber, he finds he cannot tolerate the thought of her with another man—and she cannot tolerate the thought of returning to her uncle’s home.
Will passion and love win out over mistrust and betrayal in time to prevent an all-out war?
Betrayed ~ available from Carina Press, 5 July 2010
There’s just something about medieval warriors that gets me feeling all toasty from the toes on up. These guys are so serious about their honour and responsibilities and there’s no law on this planet that will stand in their way if they believe vengeance is called for. Scottish lairds are the best, they were such a wayward bunch of unscrupulous thugs ~ all in the name of honour!
I grew up in South Africa, so when my British husband suggested we move to the UK, I was totally up for it. At last, I’d get to explore the majestic castles of England, the tumbling down peel towers of Scotland and the grassy ruins of Ireland. We sat down to an authentic medieval banquet in a tiny peel castle in Ireland, lived a few miles from Warwick castle for the first 2 years and thoroughly toured Scotland from the lowlands all the way to the Isle of Skye. In no time at all my head was crammed with romantic tales and Betrayed was bursting to be told. My exploration is nowhere near done and never will be.
Krayne Johnstone became laird of Wamphray at the age of 12. He’s a man shaped by the harsh land. His heart is for pumping blood to his sword arm and nothing else. Before he could even start to fall in love with Amber, I had to teach the poor man what love is. But he is honourable and noble, and he has excellent reasons for distrusting scheming women.
Amber Jardin has led a pampered life in England and is totally unprepared for the barbaric realities of Scotland. But she’s not one to simper and bemoan her fate. She’s determined to shape her future and use whatever means on hand to do it. In this case, it’s her body. Amber is not perfect, far from it, but then I’ve never liked my heroines flawless. I don’t necessarily approve of everything she does, but I admire her courage and determination.
You can read an excerpt at http://www.clairerobyns.com/Betrayed.html
Well, it’s been fun and once again, thanks to Kaz for having me here.
You can connect with Claire Robyns on
Website: http://www.clairerobyns.com/
Blog: http://www.clairerobyns.blogspot.com/
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*waving* to everyone and thanks to Kaz for sharing her blog with me today.
Timezone challenges!
Hi Claire! congrats on your debut book
I have a question about castles. How cold are they? Short sleeves, shirt sleeves, jumper, coat? Back in high school our English teacher was actually English and studying Macbeth he told us castles were cold and miserable. Is it true?
Hey Claire, happy to have you here! Don’t worry about “Jammy” Schwartz, all she knows about is desert!
Off to read the excerpt for your book. The blurb and your description sound fabulous.
Hi Claire I’ve just started reading Betrayed and it is gripping! I feel like I’m right in medieval Scotland, so your research obviously paid off! Other than exploring old castles, how much other research did you have to do? (language, clothing, terminology). Did you find doing the research helped you write the story? The setting is so authentic and the pace so cracking that I’m having to drag myself away to do my chores! Congratulations on a great debut book!
Judy Croome
LOL about the time challenges, Jenny, had to go off to bed so very late responding here. Your teacher was spot on about those castles! As romantic as castles sound, they are cold and drafty and have that musty smell of constant damp. Buuuuut, we won’t think about that. They are also magnificent with those high ceilings and beautiful stone walls and towers and seat windows.
Kaz, thanks for having me here
Judy, thanks for stopping in and I’m so pleased you’re enjoying Betrayed. As for research, I absolutely love history so I had a blast doing the research – didn’t feel like work at all. What I find works best for me is reading biographies of people in the period I’m researching, that way you get a feel for the small interactions in life besides the main “what did they eat, wear, drive, etc” stuff. Right now I’m reading Mary Queen of Scots for my next story. It’s also amazing how much research data and reading one has to do to get the right feel and how very little actually makes it into the book:)
My greatest source for actual plotting (and, oh boy, enjoyment of reading) was “The Steel Bonnets” –> this actually concentrates mainly on a slightly later period than which Betrayed was set, but it gave me an excellent feel for the way the Scottish lairds tore about the countryside with their feuds and raiding, This is like short documentaries of the various clans throughout the years, documenting certains feuds and zooming in on a few of the really wayward lairds and what they got up to
The idea of reading biographies is a great tip!
Hey Kaz, it’s a cold desert at the moment–about zero degrees for I don’t know how many mornings and I hate it. Might have to borrow one of Claire’s castles (musty though they are–thanks, for the first hand experience, Claire!) to warm up
All snuggly in the laird’s castle–did the Scots call them castles or keeps? Just rambling while I wait for the morning coffee to kick in.
Hey Jenny! I know what you mean. The kids were complaining over the weekend that it got down to a chilly 26 at night! Can you believe it?! They had to use blankets, poor mites, so I can well empathise…….. Mwahahahahahahaha