CAMELOT FANTASIES

ahhhh.... chew! Yup. I caught a cold.

My nose is red and my head is clogged
My throat a bit sore, my brain is fogged.
I never get sick, I said yesterday, I knocked on wood
Obviously it was too late...

A RED LETTER DAY!

WEE HOO!

Yesterday evening, D. Donovan, a senior reviewer for Midwest Book Review. Contacted me.
Who is Midwest Book Review?  A prestigious review house best defined here, I would guess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Book_Review

"A visitor to the website Amazon.com emailed Cox in 2006 and asked about the organization's practice of giving all reviews posted to the site a five-star recommendation.[21] Cox replied explaining that he disagreed with the star-rating system in general, and noted, "If a book isn't good enough to pass our initial screening then it doesn't get reviewed in the first place."[21"

Inside of my email from Ms. Donovan.
Our Midwest office will also archive the review on our web site for 5 years and will send it to Cengage Learning for inclusion in the Book Review Index that goes out to thousands of school and community libraries throughout the US.


So yes! Getting a review from Midwest Book Review is a BIG DEAL.

Can I share it with you here? The coolest thing about Ms. Donovan's review, is that she 'gets' me. Like any artist, damn it, I want to be understood. I don't just write any 'ol stuff down onto the screen of my computer. IT HAS MEANING! She understands that meaning. My art is not about the history, (although that's fun to research). It is about relationships. It is about overcoming adversity. It is about...becoming...

Sometimes I get negative reviews because I may have missed some Medieval minutiae. For example, there were no pews in medieval churches. Oops. But I want to ask these people who panned me, but did you GET IT? Did you understand what this couple had to go through to find love? Do you get that love is HARD WORK?

hahah. oh well. Probably not. They were too busy scanning the manuscript for history misses.  Anyhow. Here is Diane Donovan's review of 'How To Marry Your Wife.' I could not be more pleased.


The price of the ebook is  $3.99 or available on Kindle Unlimited.
The Amazon link is:  http://a-fwd.com/asin=B017KPHKVO

Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer
How to Marry Your Wife
Stella Marie Alden
Soul Mate Publishing
9781619359864      $3.99


Fans of Alden's prior book How to Train Your Knight might remember the protagonist Thomas in her latest How to Marry Your Wife, who was featured under main character Marcus in the first book.  Set in England in 1276, Templar Knight Sir Thomas D'Agostine has found the ideal woman with whom he will handfast; only a love potion hastens matters and changes their lives - and this is only the beginning.

Anticipate the same solid attention to medieval history and detailed sexual scenes as in How to Train Your Knight; only from a different perspective as a minor character assumes major proportions in this novel. Time moves swiftly using two different, alternating timelines identified by chapter headings, so readers need to be on their toes to absorb a satisfyingly fast-paced story line that revolves around romance.

But the marriage (when it happens) is a farce and is completed only because Thomas won't have Merry bedding another man nor raising his son, and so love seems to vanish as the consequences of sex and love potions evolve. It's not often that a brand new bride hates her husband before the marriage takes place, but Merry has been branded a harlot because of Thomas, and her hatred of him is just as intense as her reluctantly ongoing attraction.

 The process of turning hate into love and rekindling more than the physical fires of passion is the theme of a rollicking good medieval read that infuses its protagonists with the lingo, culture and social mores of its times, yet includes a healthy dose of sexual description for spicy reading.

 Romance readers with an affinity for early history will relish its passionate, powerful protagonists and their diametrically opposing personalities, and will find this saga of scoundrels, secrets, idiots and wise men (and women) is filled with satisfying medieval atmosphere and twists and turns of plot.

 Under Alden's hand, the sexual encounters reinforce and flavor events and the juxtaposition of battle scenes, romance, and the era's political overtones is exquisite. There's no need for either a prior familiarity with How to Train Your Knight or with medieval history and culture. As events unfold, Thomas and Merry are continually challenged both in their stormy relationships and in their stubborn natures which will ultimate lead to not just survival, but real love.

 Without revealing spoilers, suffice it to say that the conclusion of How to Marry Your Wife leaves the door wide open for more - and readers who relish historical romances will welcome this possibility!

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/cagetheelephant/aintnorestforthewicked.html

[Chorus:]
 Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked
 Money don't grow on trees
 I got bills to pay
 I got mouths to feed
 And ain't nothing in this world for free
 No I can't slow down
 I can't hold back
 Though you know I wish I could
 No there ain't no rest for the wicked
 Until we close our eyes for good

I am super excited about next Monday Night!

Night Owl Reviews has invited me to do a chat. Wow. Big Time!
But...
It's like having someone else throw you a party...
What if no one comes?

Hoping you will join me! This is SOOOO exciting.

Here’s a chance for us to chat! I can’t wait to meet you!

Readers can RSVP now at the below link.
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Chats#EntryForm
 
RSVP Benefits:
 
* The RSVP gives readers entry into the evenings prizes (must be an active chatter at the event)
* A reminder email around 30 minutes before the event starts.
 

01/25 at 8:00 PM (Eastern Time )  Rebecca Royce, Stella Marie Alden and Tessa McFionn

Rebecca Royce
Stella Marie Alden
Tessa McFionn

 

 Dark Vortex, Mated by Magic

by Stella Marie Alden & Chantel Seabrook

Wow! I can’t believe how fast Chantel is getting this book out to you!

It seems like just yesterday that she and I were thinking we should do a novel together. I mentioned I had a work in progress and asked if she would like to run with it. Now, here we are, just a few weeks later, with our cover reveal!

Of course, what’s a reveal, without a Facebook Party?

Here’s the links, for those authors who would like to get involved!

Cover Reveal Doc for Blogs: http://goo.gl/forms/qy3CR0OpLz

Cover Reveal Party Sign-up for Authors: http://goo.gl/forms/UY863id9bo

Party Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/996229597079177/

 

 

 

Here’s the cover blurb:

For the survival of his clan, Jack Fialko needs to mate with a witch of equal power before the end of the solstice. He found the perfect woman, except for one serious flaw. She has no idea how to engage in the dangerous magical foreplay–the duel for sexual equality. The task of training her in two days seems insurmountable, especially while other warriors are trying to kidnap her.
Zoe is a warrior-healer hybrid. The trouble is, she has no idea what that means. It’s all a harmless game until one night a dominant, brooding, sexy as sin warrior touches her and ignites a shameless craving to mate. Zoe must decide if the scorching chemistry between is worth fighting for.
Can love and lust can exist together in an exhilarating magical combination? Or will their bond combust?
Warning: This book contains some graphic material. If lusting magic is not your cup of tea, then pass on this one.