Dawn Marie Hamilton: Just Once in a Verra Blue Moon

Please welcome Dawn Marie Hamilton as my guest today. She's giving away a free copy of her book. Details at the end of the post.

Thanks, Anna. Good to be here.

Burly men in kilts with big swords make me swoon. So, of course, I write about them. But how does an author that grew up in New Jersey know enough about Scottish Highland weapons to write a fight scene or two or three?

Fight scenes that use claymores. Claymores are large two-handed swords that classically weigh about five to six pounds with downward sloping guards (crosspiece). The blade is usually as long as a broadsword and the hilt long enough for a two handed grip.

First, she watches movies with sword fight scenes over and over. Not a bad way to spend time. If she’s lucky, she finds good research material. One such book is The Cutting Edge, A Practical Guide to the Use of Scottish Highland Weapons by Larry L. Andrews.

If she’s lucky, she has a critique partner who’s interested in martial arts and swung a sword or two himself. And if she’s even luckier, she gets in contact with the author of said research material above and grills him. Thanks, Larry!

Mr. Andrews’s book describes the use of the broadsword and targe, the claymore, the Lochaber axe and the dirk. Makes a girl who’s always liked pointy objects heart go all a flutter.

What about women with swords? There is a saying around our house: Watch out for the Scottish woman holding a knife. What? I like to cook.

Blurb for Just Once in a Verra Blue Moon:
What happens when a twenty-first century business executive is expected to fulfill a prophecy given at the birth of a sixteenth-century seer? Of course, he must raise his sword in her defense.

Believing women only want him for his wealth, Finn MacIntyre doesn't trust any woman to love him. When, during Scottish Highland games, faerie magic sends him back in time to avenge the brutal abduction of his time-traveling cousin, he learns he's the subject of a fae prophecy.

Elspeth MacLachlan, the beloved clan seer, is betrothed to a man she dislikes and dreams of the man prophesized at her birth, only to find him in the most unexpected place—face down in the mud.

With the help of fae allies, they must overcome the treachery set to destroy them to claim a love that transcends time.

Excerpt:

Finn gripped the rowan staff in one hand and leaned against the castle’s outer wall, trying to catch his breath. The short trip from the garden left him weak. If his stamina didn’t return soon, he’d go crazy. He needed to be healthy and strong so he could go after Maclay. Then he must travel home before he did something rash concerning Elspeth.

He stopped again at the castle gate and gulped air to remain standing.

Motion on the bay caught his attention. Men rowed toward the castle in several small boats of the type made from skins and wicker, the kind Highlanders called currachs. When the crafts beached, he recognized Donald MacLachlan as the man jumped from one, strode across the pebbly beach and headed toward him.

Suddenly a weight slammed against Finn, knocking the hard-won air from his lungs. His walking stick flew from his hand as he fell to the ground. Pain shot from his thigh, to his groin, to his chest. Gasping for breath, he found Elspeth’s soft body entangled with his.

Her lush curves wrapped around him, filling his senses with all that was missing from his dreams. The scents of sunshine and roses intoxicated him. His hard-on was instantaneous.

Shit! He attempted to detangle their limbs and set her away from his ill-timed erection, but her body melded with his. She felt so right in his arms. He was tempted to hold onto her and never let her go.

Elspeth caught her breath. Everywhere Finn touched her as they tried to break apart, her skin tingled. When their gazes met, everything else faded away. The world reduced to only the two of them, and his mouth dipped toward hers.

His lips grazed hers and fire blazed through Elspeth to her toes, the moment lasting an eternity. Finn’s tongue pushed between her lips, seeking entrance. Her mind reeled. With little thought, she wrapped her arms around his waist and twirled her tongue around his. Passion. Unlike the minimal pecks she’d received from Alexander, Finn’s fierce kiss conquered, possessed.

She wanted more.

The sound of a throat clearing broke the spell, and Finn’s sinful mouth pulled away, leaving behind a fracture in the foundation of Elspeth’s expectations for the future.

How could she go on as before?

“Let me help you.”

She gazed up through the haze of awakened sensation. Uncle Donald stared at her, a sly gleam in his eyes. He reached a hand down and helped her rise before assisting Finn. Unstable on his feet, Finn leaned on her while her uncle retrieved the walking stick.

She swayed—not from the burden of Finn’s weight, but the desire awakened by their kiss.
Just Once in a Verra Blue Moon is available for:

Kindle: http://bit.ly/K-BlueMoon
Nook: http://bit.ly/BN-BlueMoon
Bio:
Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a 2013 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. She is a member of The Golden Network, Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and From the Heart chapters of RWA. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks with her husband.
Blog: http://dawnmariehamilton.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.dawnmariehamilton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorDawnMarieHamilton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DawnM_Hamilton
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/DawnMarieHamilton
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/dawnmariehamilton

Giveaway: Dawn Marie will gift a Kindle edition of Just Once in a Verra Blue Moon to a lucky commenter who answers the question: If you could use a bit of faerie magic to travel through time where would you go? Be sure to include your email addy. Feeling shy? Email Dawn Marie at Dawn at DawnMarieHamilton dot com. A name will be pulled out of the garden hat on Monday, September 9.