Showing posts with label Cynthia Owens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cynthia Owens. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Day 1 of Two Weeks of Romance

Today's feature is CYNTHIA OWENS and DEBORAH GRAHL.

First- let me introduce you to Cynthia Owens and her book. KEEPER OF THE LIGHT.

Keeper of the Light is the second book in The Wild Geese Series, which features five life-long friends who met on a coffin ship bound for America from famished Ireland. They grew up on the mean streets of New York City, and when war came, they joined up with Thomas Francis Meagher’s Irish Brigade. But now the war is over, and they’re ready to re-start their lives – and find new love.

The hero of Keeper of the Light, Cathal Donnelly, is a handsome, mercurial storyteller who has…well, let’s call them Fenian leanings, to use an Irish expression. It’s 1867, there’s something big coming up in the Fenian community, and you can bet Cathal is eager to be a part of it.

But…something goes wrong, and he finds himself on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he was in a boat that capsized in a wild Atlantic sea storm. The only thing he knows is that he’s desperately attracted to his beautiful rescuer…even though she’s as English as the British soldiers who drove Cathal and his family from Ireland’s green shores during the hunger.

I loved writing Keeper of the Light because it allowed me to combine some of my favorite things: Irish history, Irish mythology, and a very important, but little-known piece of Canadian history. Call it a little Canadian pride!

BLURB-
Like the Wild Geese of Old Ireland, five boys grew to manhood despite hunger, war, and the mean streets of New York…
She was everything he despised…but he didn’t know it

Cathal Donnelly washed up on the shores of an Atlantic island one stormy night, with no memory of who he was or why he was there. But is his lovely rescuer his salvation…or his doom?

She dreamed of a very different life

Laura Bainbridge has spent her entire life on tiny Turtle Island, but she dreams of a Season in London and a presentation to Queen Victoria. Can a handsome Irish stranger with a golden tongue and a disturbing past change her heart and convince her to stay?

As Cathal’s memory slowly returns, both he and Laura must come to grips with his painful past…and fight for a future free of hatred and loss. 

Where to find Cynthia-
www.authorcynthiaowens.com

************

Now, to introduce you to Deborah Grahl. 


Hi, Sarah, and thank you for having me today.

I’d like to share a little about my romance, The Silver Crescent, from the Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House. Also I would like to give a signed copy away to one lucky reader who leaves a comment and contact information.

If you enjoy romance, mysteries, treasure hunts, and ghosts, The Silver Crescent has it all.

From the back cover:

Betrayal, murder and a stolen fortune bring Elise Baxter to Cedar Bend, Michigan, on a quest to solve a family mystery—and recover the missing treasure.

Max Holt impulsively buys a crumbling Victorian mansion and fulfills his dream of restoring it as a restaurant and inn. Aware of its reputation for being haunted, he adds to the mystique by building a garden path of old tombstones, one of which belongs to the original owner of the house, Cyrus Mosby—the man whose legacy Elise has traced, and who allegedly stole her ancestral share of a Colorado silver mine over a century ago.

Following clues gleaned from old diaries and a visit from the spirit of her great-great-grandmother, Elise seeks out Max and his inn. Not knowing if she can trust Max with her family secret, Elise pretends her interest is in researching Cyrus, whose own violent death remains a mystery.

An intense attraction between Max and Elise leads him to believe she may be the girl of his dreams. But when he discovers her true interest in him and his inn, memories of a past betrayal threaten to end their passionate relationship. Elise, finding herself falling in love with Max, fears her deception may cost her more than she is willing to lose.

Once persuaded the stolen silver is hidden somewhere in the inn, and captivated by the idea of a treasure hunt, Max and Elise begin the search together, aided by the resident ghosts, Cyrus and Virginia.

The treasure hunt seems like a harmless adventure until someone tries to steal the diaries. Unknown to Max and Elise, there are others—including an evil presence—who are driven by greed and will stop at nothing to unlock the mystery of the Silver Crescent.



Excerpt from the Prologue:

Cedar Bend, Michigan, Circa 1900

At fifty-two, his once thick, dark hair was thinning and now completely gray. Lines of age and sorrow creased his weathered face. His well-tailored, pinstriped suit fitted his slim frame to perfection. It’s been a long, hard road to get where I am today. And it all may have been for nothing. Resigned to meet his fate head-on, he opened the front door.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes as he took in his fastidiously attired brother-in-law Garrison and the unkempt older man at his side.

Garrison smiled. “Good evening, Cyrus. How are you this fine night?”

It took everything Cyrus had not to slam the door in his face, but without a word, he stepped back and directed the two men into his library. Concealing his unease, he took what he hoped was an intimidating stance behind his desk.

“All right, Garrison, I’m here. Now would you be so kind as to explain what this is all about?”

The smug smile Garrison gave Cyrus didn’t extend to his cold, green eyes. “Are you not at least going to give us the courtesy of inviting us to sit? Also, the offer of a glass of your excellent single malt would, I’m sure, be appreciated.”

Cyrus wanted nothing more than to throw the young reprobate out on his ear, but in deference to the older man’s frailty, he waved them into the two leather chairs facing his desk. He took his own seat, and with no attempt to disguise his disdain, addressed Garrison.

“I’m a very busy man. I don’t appreciate getting mysterious notes demanding my presence, so I suggest you tell me what this is all about. Then kindly take your friend and leave.”

Before Garrison could respond, a raspy voice said, “You don’t know who I am, do ya’, you son of a bitch?”

To Cyrus’s disbelief, the old man lurched from his seat. Reaching across the desk, he grabbed Cyrus’s coat by the lapels, bringing their faces inches apart, and said, through gritted teeth, “I’ve waited twenty years for this moment and here you sit in your fancy house, with your fancy new name, behind your fancy desk, wearin’ your fancy clothes, and you ain’t got a clue who I am, you lyin’, cheatin’, murderin’, thievin’ bastard.”

Icy fingers of fear began to run up and down Cyrus’s spine; his gut clenched with every word the old man spoke. He fought to maintain a haughty expression as he stared into those hate-filled eyes.

“Release me, sir, and control yourself,” he said before Garrison spoke.

“Yes, my good man, this kind of behavior will gain you nothing. We’re all civilized men here. I’m sure, after hearing what you have to say, our good friend Cyrus will be more than happy to atone for his past sins and give you your due.”

“He damn well better.” The old man sneered as he retook his seat.

In a gruff voice, throat gone dry, Cyrus demanded, “For the last time, what is this about?”

Garrison paused to light his thin cigar. “Well, Cyrus, it’s about a Colorado silver mine and murder.”



Please visit my website: www.debbygrahl.com


Where to purchase:

The Silver Crescent is available from Amazon in paperback or Kindle and Barnes & Noble in paperback or Nook.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Crescent-Debby-Grahl/dp/1612132081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391261974&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Silver+Crescent



HERE IS HOW TO WIN and WHAT YOU WILL WIN!
Cynthia Owens is giving away a handmade ribbon and beaded bookmark, a beaded key chain, and a copy of DECEPTIVE HEARTS, book 1 in The Wild Goose Series. 

Deborah Grahl will be giving away a copy of her book, THE SILVER CRESCENT. 

All you have to do is leave a comment. Two winners will be chosen. One for each author. Check back tomorrow right here in this thread to see if you won! You will have two days to contact me at sarah-hoss@hotmail.com to claim your prize or I will have to choose another winner. 

Thanks for joining us today. I want to thank Cynthia and Deborah for participating! It's been fun and don't forget to check back each day in the next two weeks for new authors and prizes!








Monday, November 12, 2012

Interview with Author CYNTHIA OWENS





Hello to everyone, and especially Sarah, my Celtic Hearts Clan sister and friend. Thanks so much for having me here, and thank you for allowing me to talk about my historical romance novel, Coming Home, the second book in my Claddagh Series. I’m so pleased to be here. AND I’ll be giving away an autographed paperback copy of Coming Home to one lucky commenter. So put the kettle on the hob, settle into your favorite chair, and share some of my memories of Ireland.

Coming Home is the unintentional sequel to my first book, In Sunshine or in Shadow. I hadn’t planned to write a sequel, but the characters called me back to Ballycashel, the tiny, wind-swept West-of-Ireland village where both books are set.

Visiting Ireland was a long-held dream of mine, not just for research purposes, but because I’ve always felt connected to the country somehow. And on July 11, 2009, when the ferry docked in Dublin, I felt I’d arrived at my heart’s true home.

We drove off the ferry and into a curtain of magical mist that turned into a true Irish downpour. It rained steadily throughout the day, as we drove from Dublin to the village of Feakle, in County Clare. Our cottage there could have belonged to Ashleen and Cavan Callaghan, hero and heroine of Coming Home. Its stone walls, thatched roof, and the lovely warm hearth sizzling with sods of turf made me feel as if I’d gone back in time. That night, I sat in a rocking chair before the turf fire, listening to Irish music and just absorbing the Irish atmosphere.

And I felt like a character from one of my own stories.

Naturally a visit to Ireland isn’t complete without touring at least one castle. The first one we visited was Bunratty Castle, located in County Clare. It’s a spectacularly beautiful castle dating back to Medieval times, complete with winding staircases and amazing views from the battlements. It was also a gold mine of research opportunities because it has a folk park designed to look like a Nineteenth Century Irish village. It was at Bunratty Castle that I found Tom Flynn’s cottage. Loop Head House was the cottage of a farmer/fisherman, just like Tom Flynn, one of my favorite characters in Coming Home, and one of my favorite secondary characters in the Claddagh Series. A minor character in In Sunshine or in Shadow, Tom plays a major part in the love story in Coming Home.

On another day, we had the great good fortune to visit Thoor Ballylee, a fortified 13th Century Norman tower, once home to the great Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. The grounds were lovely, the “Winding Stair” dizzying, and the view from the very top of the tower was both breathtaking and terrifying – at least for me, as I’ve always been afraid of heights. We even got to see Yeats’s bed! Three years later, I feel incredibly lucky to have visited Ballylee. The autumn and winter of 2009 were severe, and the tower was damaged by heavy flooding. Sadly, the tower remains closed to visitors to this day.

It was hard to leave Ireland. The green fields, the soft mist, the incredibly friendly people, the atmosphere, was sheer magic. Ireland is like a lover, and once you meet her, she’s impossible to forget. She takes your hand in a gentle clasp, urging you forward into a world of mist and magic. She touches your heart, fires your spirit, and fills your soul with a yearning to remain always.

And I can’t wait to go back!

Sarah, thanks so much for hosting me on your beautiful blog!

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Coming Home.

And watch for Playing For Keeps, Book III of the Claddagh Series, coming soon from Highland Press!

Book Blurb:
“A woman’s love is strong, more powerful than all the ghosts in Ireland..”

Daughter of an Irish village girl, step-daughter of the landlord, Ashleen O’Brien has lived between two very different worlds. But after a year in America, she yearns to return to the green land that is her heart’s home.

War and betrayal have taken everything from Cavan Callaghan – his home, his family, and the woman he loved. A hero of the Irish Brigade at Antietam, he’s searching for the family he never knew.

Love and deception await Cavan and Ashleen along those emerald shores, as the ghosts of a past that can never quite be forgotten rise to threaten their newfound happiness.

You can find me at my website: http://authorcynthiaowens.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaOwens


Follow me on Twitter: @Cynwrites1 Buy Coming Home here: http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Cynthia-Owens/dp/0983396000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303209296&sr=1-1

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Good reads!



Today is Wednesday, hump day, and if you are finding yourself wanting something new to read, then I would like to make a suggestion. I just finished reading Cynthia Owens' book, "In Sunshine or in Shadow."

BLURB-
Siobhàn Desmond will do anything to keep the tattered remains of her family alive, even if it means working for the new landlord-a darkly handsome stranger with secrets in his eyes and pain in his smile. As she watches her village return to life and begin to thrive under Rory's care, she comes to understand his true nature and soon finds herself falling under his dangerously sensual spell. As danger ignites all around them, Rory and Siobhàn fight to right the wrongs of the past-and protect their newfound love.

This book is set in Ireland with an action packed story that provokes great emotion!