Reunited….

I feel like I’m about to be reunited with an old friend. Okay, not that old but my looming release…My Fair Highlander….was written over a year ago. The cover is gorgeous but as I begin to post about the book, I’m trolling through the pages looking for excerpts and find myself lost in the story again. It sort of works though, because it’s summer and vacation time. Do you ever look back through the pictures of last years vacation right before you embark on this years expedition?
I do. Especially when that ‘short timers’ is setting in and even thought you aren’t on vacation for another day or so…you just have trouble settling down.
I’m moving on to my next book but ‘My Fair Highlander’ is defiantly one of my favorites. I loved Gordon, he has a sense of humor that just enthralled me. Even when my heroine wanted to give it to him, it was hard because he would lay out some of that humor. That’s not to say he couldn’t be tough but I had a lot of fun with his playful side.
My Fair Highlander is up for preorder now and there is no greater way to let the publisher know who you want to see more books from than to preorder.
Cheers!
Mary Wine
MaryWine.com

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I find that I’m a seasonal reader. Now, when talking about holidays, that’s normal enough but this past weekend I was sorting through my ‘to read’ pile…yeah…you know the one, the stacks you reorganize while attempting to make your newest purchases not look additions you could never possibly get through in one life time but will try anyway all while keeping tabs on what is coming out next month…lol.
So I noticed something about myself, I like to read my action/thrillers during the summer. There are some titles I’ve been looking forward to waiting in my stash.
On the flip side, I seem to have worked my way through historicals this past winter. Maybe there is something about a castle that just makes me feel cozy. Now that stash of books isn’t my only one. Yup…confession time. I have a book case full of historical dress making books. A new one showed up yesterday, something I pre-ordered. Isn’t that a wonderful service? Pre-orders? I am laughing and groaning at the same time but it is nice to not have to miss a title I’ve been looking forward to because I forgot what month it was coming out in.
So what are you going to dive into now that the season has changed? Dose it matter to you?
My next release is coming in August. My Fair Highlander and it is indeed up for pre-order. I thought I’d include an excerpt today and an invitation to drop by my FaceBook page to chat. Cheers!
Mary Wine
MaryWine.com

My Fair Highlander…..

“I believe that the idea is for us to have a conversation, lass.”
She jumped. “Ah…well…I suppose so.”
Maids were carrying in food now, but they didn’t stay long. They left two large platters, removing the tops to reveal beautifully arranged plates. There were summer vegetables, roasted chicken and even baked apples.
“Ye sound unsure? Does that mean we may dispense with the English tradition and go back to the Scottish ones?”
Jemma offered him a roll of her eyes but she couldn’t help smiling at him. “You are a boy.” She pointed her knife at his chest. “Right there inside you is a boy no more than ten.”
He chuckled and speared a piece of chicken with the point of his eating knife. “Well now, that’s just the playful side of me nature. Ye have one, too.”
Jemma shook her head. “I have matured, sir.”
His face turned pensive for a moment while he chewed. “Nae, lass, ye just pushed yer own desires aside to take care of yer father. It’s time for ye to allow them freedom from that chest ye have them locked inside of.”
“I see, and does that mean you would have to wife a woman who was busy coddling her heart’s desires?” Jemma shook her head. “Marriage is duty and it is best met with maturity.”
He frowned. “Now that is just plain pitiful. I swear I don’t know if I need to put ye out of yer misery or…” His lips parted to show her his teeth “Chase ye around this table.”
One of the musicians struck a wrong note, proving that they were listening intently to every word.
“Both would defeat your effort to court me gently.” Jemma had to bite her lip to keep from smiling at the idea because it was so absurd.
It was also quite exciting, because she had no doubt that he would capture her.
“Ah, but I think we might enjoy chasing more.”
He pressed his hand flat on the tabletop, rising partially from his chair. Jemma gasped and dropped her knife.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
The words had barely left her mouth before she recalled his words from that morning.
“…I’ll show ye how much daring I have inside of me…”
He growled and his chair flew backwards. The musicians stopped but there were several smothered sounds that were anything but horrified. Jemma was grateful for her plain dress because it allowed her to slip out of her chair and make it around the table before Gordon gained the upper hand.
“This is absurd.” But she was breathless and far from outraged.
“Aye, but ‘tis fun.” He lunged for her and she danced away from his grasping hands.
“Stop it, Gordon, you are going to ruin all this fine table dressing.”
“I employ good laundresses and I know a competent silversmith.”
This time he thrust his hand over the table, using his large body to bend over the table and catch her skirt.
She let out a shriek but no fear crossed her mind. It was simply too ridiculous to become frightened over. Gordon growled with victory and pulled her into his embrace. He ended up behind her, crossing his arms over her body to cage her.
“My prize!”
“I believe the idea was to court me, not capture me, you brute.”
“’Tis the same thing in Scotland.”
Jemma wiggled but he held her firmly in place. It was an oddly comfortable position, one that didn’t overwhelm her but allowed her to feel him against her without triggering the need to fight him off.
“Ask any Highlander and they will tell ye that stealing women is a time-honored tradition. In fact, I’m nae sure they get their wives any other way.”
“I heard that one of your kings married his mistress.”
“Ah…” He released her, keeping only one wrist clasped in his hand, and she turned to face him.
“Now that is seduction and I like that, too.” He raised her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against the tender skin of her inner wrist. Sensation raced down her arm raising gooseflesh as it went. The excitement that burned in her belly began spreading through her, touching off a desire that made her breathless. He lifted his lips away and rubbed over the same spot with his thumb, clearly feeling the accelerated throb of her heart.
“I think ye may be liking it as well, Jemma Ramsden.”
He folded her gentle into his arms, moving slowly enough for her to evade him if she chose. Jemma was too mesmerized by him to do anything but comply. This was a side of him that intrigued her and threatened to undermine her resistance. His hand threaded through her hair, lifting the stands and drawing a handful up to his cheek. He rubbed against it for a moment.
“Silk. Rare and coveted and worth every bit of effort it takes to get yer hands on it.”
She suddenly stiffened, recalling the musicians. Jemma turned to look across the room to where they had been. Gordon turned her face back to him with a hand on the back of her head.
“They’re gone and not a moment too soon. I need to kiss ye.”
Yes…
It was the only thought in her head. Her lips parted and her chin lifted, even without the hand on the back of her head guiding her. The first touch of his mouth against hers sent a shiver down her back. Just a brief touch, a mere whisper of a kiss that teased her more than it satisfied.

Who’s allowed to roam your home? What’s the name of that critter who get’s to be messy in spite of the fact your own children can’t get away with tossing food onto the floor?

We love them…those other members of the family who aren’t human. This is Apollo. He’s a Hyacinth Macaw. I’ve fallen in love with him and it got me to thinking about all the pets we adore. Now Apollo is an attention sponge. If you look closely at this picture, you can see he’s chewing on my purse strap. Put a hole right through it and…I still love him. LOL!

Love is blind. I think that’s the best quality about affection. It makes it elusive and unpredictable but that only adds to the rush when you encounter someone or thing your heart melts over.

I just adored Curan, my hero in ‘Improper Seduction’. He was so strict, so devoted to his honor it was a real chore bringing him around to allowing my heroine to see his softer side. But Bridget wrung it out of him, simply because she refused to bend.

So I’m curious…what critter has wormed its way into your heart? Apollo isn’t actually mine, I wish he were. Maybe someday. For the moment, I enjoy visiting him and the bird store is happy to see me because as I said, he’s an attention sponge.

Leave me a comment below or drop by my FaceBook page or website MaryWine.com. You can find an excerpt of Improper Seduction and other tidbits.

Cheers!

Mary Wine

MaryWine.com

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Isn’t it amazing how many different sort of collections there are out there? I know that I’m constantly amazed when I catch a report of some persons passion for an item which I wouldn’t have considered valuable…like the lady that collects dryer lint. Yes, you read that right. That little vent in the front of the dryer that most of us empty straight into the trash is something that at least one woman considers worthy of being collected. She makes art out of different colors it seems.
Now most of us, myself included will most likely claim that we drive our living partners insane with the stacks of books we have carefully stored in our closest and on shelves. Yes…I know where each and every book is dear!!!!So no thinking you can sneak a few into the donation bags, that will be the book I go looking for next. LOL! I really do have a collection of paperbacks that I consider quite worthy of taking up space in my home. My passion for writing grew out of a very healthy appetite for reading.
The other thing that I’ve always enjoyed is sewing. I adore fabric. My family might try to tell you that I’m insane about it but…really….I can pass up a fabric store. Just not on sale day. The type of sewing that I enjoy most is historical. I can spend hours reading old tailor’s notes to decipher just what they were talking about. More than half my closets are full of vintage creations that I actually find a surprising number of events to wear them too. My husband and I normally attend formal night on a cruise ship in our Victorian evening attire. Hey, they said formal but they didn’t give a year. But we also often go to tea with friends that have a similar passion for dressing retro. Searching for gloves and silk top hats is a major pass time for us.
So what do you enjoy seeking out and claiming as your own? One of my friends reveled recently that she has been collecting spoons. I never knew until one of our vintage outings snared her an old spoon rack. She proudly unrolled the fabric she’d been keeping her spoons in when we got that rack mounted on her wall. She has over sixty! I also keep a list of what my friends collect so that I can present them with truly unique gifts at the holiday seasons. My mom loves humming birds, another close friend likes dragonflies and still another is enthralled with tea cups.
This topic snared my attention because when I’m writing about history, I notice how these people didn’t have time for all the things that we get to enjoy today. Every item they owned was hand made and often produced within twenty miles of their location. People crafted during the winter and farmed when Spring melted the snow. They did amazing embroidery and leather work with tools that would drive us insane with frustration today. They chiseled stone because it was what they had at hand and raised monuments that we still struggle to comprehend how they achieved what they did. But it all began with one persons enjoyment of something…So what is yours?

Mary Wine
MaryWine.com

Hello Everyone..I’m a little late but here!

Since my ‘Bedding the Enemy’ is set in Scotland, I thought I’d blog about this today. I think it isn’t so much what they wear as who they are. Those Celts are tough people, Scotland itself isn’t the easiest place to survive. The soil is thin in many places and it rains…a lot! But these northern lands have been home to people that flourish where I fear I might raise my white flag of surrender.
The kilt itself is a garment that comes from practicality. First of all, it’s wool. For centuries, this was one of the only textile fibers being produced in the area. It is the easiest one to cultivate because sheep can graze freely. Wool maintains ninety percent of its insulting factor when wet when cotton keeps only ten. Something very important if you are talking about surviving in a time when there is no central heating. The kilt was a length of wool, which might be sheered off a sheep, carded by hand and spun into yarn which could be woven by even the most rural family.
But that’s not what draws me to the Highlands for my stories. I do love reading the historical facts because it puts me in touch with the time period. I think that’s vital to a good historical novel. As a reader, I want to have enough detail to believe I’m there and as an author, I try to make sure that happens. There’s a delicate balance to maintain it but Highlanders are worth the effort.
They were hardened by the land they lived on but had a great sense of humor too. These men held themselves to noble ideals and that is what brings to my mind as my heroes. The kilt, that so many poke fun at is actually another detail of their ability to preserver. Textiles were hard to produce, meaning you had one garment and they belted it during the day and unpleated it at night to use for bedding. Rather ingenious of them in my opinion.
Beyond that…the clans of Scotland draw the imagination because of the unity they are heralded to have had. I think that’s part of every humans desire to be part of something. There are certainly times that you long for privacy but for the most part, we all value knowing that we are missed. When I’m writing my story, my hero has to care about more than just himself. His dedication is what proves he’s noble. Drop by my website for excerpts!

Mary Wine….MaryWine.com….romance that’s intoxicating.

Is it time for ‘Bedding the Enemy’?

It seems like I wrote this book a long time ago. Honestly though, that’s just my inner child stomping her foot and demanding instant gratification. There’s something about finishing up a three book set that just makes an author want to scream until she finds out if anyone likes what she’s written. Needless to say, I’m really happy to see Bedding the Enemy making it’s way onto shelves.

People often ask me if I know where my sagas are going when I begin them. sure…ah…why yes…I always plot out the books, constructing a neat outline for each book. Excuse me while I roll my eyes here because there are just times when my characters refuse to follow the outline. Keir McQuade was one of those. I think it’s a darn good thing I’d already penned him as a Scot because he certainly had the stubbornness of one.

But I love him that way. Isn’t it amazing the way those Scottish men capture our attention and hearts? I’m not so sure it’s the kilt. In fact, the poor kilt is so often snickered at, I find it doubly intriguing why men wearing them are so wonderful as heroes. Nothing seems to distract from those Celtic men.

The kilt itself was a wonderful creation of textiles. Wool keeps ninety percent of its warmth when wet, something very necessary in a place where it rains so often. Because the kilt wasn’t sewn, it could be spread out and used as bedding at night. It’s sort of hard to understand why that might be a good thing, but five hundred years ago, every yard of fabric took a great deal more effort to produce. The wool was carded by hand, spun by hand and woven…again by hand. The Scottish people carved a living out of a country the might Romans couldn’t march over. Their music and humor still enchant us today.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed these books as much as I loved writing them. Drop by my website for excerpts and news on what I’ve got cooking now. MaryWine.com

Cheers!

Some of our best friends….

I’ve always been an odd-ball. Really…it’s a fact that I’ve come to consider a valuable quality. When it comes to pets…well…we’ve never had the normal ones. Yesterday I found myself having a conversation with our parrot. It struck me as really funny when I realized that I was just talking away to him because we were in the same room…lol. But it made me think about how many of our ‘best’ friends are pets. Our parrot is a member of the family and I realized he’s the only one that gets away with making such a mess…Hey, I make the kids clean up more. It must be nice to be blessed by such cuteness.
Parrots have been kept as pets for a very long time. My next book, Bedding The Enemy is set in 1603 and before that in the 1580’s Henry VIII kept an African Grey parrot. But their history goes further back into the Roman Empire. Parrots were often kept by the rich and taught to talk for amusement. Exotic birds were also popular during the Regency and Victorian periods. Although, the white birds were more popular with the Victorians than the colorful Macaws.
Our pets are in many cases one of our best friends, we spend more time with them and they manage to get away with more too. So I’m curious….What sort of furry or feathered or reptile pet do you allow to run your house?

Mary Wine
MaryWine.com

Hello everyone! Yea…I am searching for a noble knight. In fact, I tend to find them when I’m writing. There is a little lady inside me that just loves to open up my currant work in progress because I know that my hero will be waiting there. Writing historical romance for the Brava line has been a complete BLAST! History has always been something I enjoyed reading about and my imagination always wondered just how the people lived….well…and loved….In Bed With A Stranger and In The Warrior’s Bed both came to me while I was reading history……well, the setting anyway…wink.Next week ‘Undone’ will release. This is my first short story but I really had fun writing it. I hope you enjoy it!

And I’m giddy! In The Warrior’s Bed will be out next week. It’s been a bit of a wait but I’m really excited to see some of my books hitting the shelves. I know that its cold enough to make me want to snuggle down beneath a warm blanket and just read. My husbands parrot has the space heater, he’s so happy, basking in it’s glow that I can’t bring myself to take it into my office where it normally sits. The parrot would love to sit in my office with me but I think I’d discover myself writing nothing but pirate books….lol. Happy reading!