FICTION FRIDAY!!

Yep, it’s Fiction Friday again. Though this week I am going to step away from the traditional romance fiction and offer up some new titles I recently have found, but haven’t read. They are historical in the true sense but are mostly mysteries. I have also included two ebooks that looked interesting from one of the very first Ebook publishers, Awe Struck Press. So here are my offerings with hopes that there will more straight historical fiction in the new year:

Those of you looking for a book set in the late medieval period of Scotland you might want to check out author Shona MacLean who as created the protagonist Alexander Seaton in two books. THE REDEMPTION OF ALXANDER SEATON takes place in 17^th century Scotland and Alex is a wayward minister who is now a teacher and when a murder occurs at his school and one of his few friends is named the murder, he sets out to solve this thriller journey the killer but also finds himself. Her second book in the series, A GAME OF SORROWS, has Alexander heading to Ireland to help his family who is cursed

Mystery writer Shirley McKay has a two book series called the Hue Cullen mysteries.

In HUE AND CRY, Hue is a young Scottish university student in 1579 at Saint Andrews, when a young teenage boy is murdered on the campus. As he has recently returned from Paris he is drawn into the complex passions and secrets surrounding one of the Regents of the university and the murder. Add to these secrets are the over bearing atmosphere of the

Protestant Kirk and the academic community and you have a great mystery.

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She follows up with FATE AND FORTUNE where life gets complicated for Hue in 1580 when his father dies, a young woman is found dead on the beach at St. Andrews and he finds a law manuscript in his father’s belongings. He is encouraged to read for the Bar in Edinburgh and before you know it when he has the manuscript published there is another murder and he fears that it is connected with the one in St Andrews. Though as he begins to investigate the two murders the truth may be closer than he wants to know.

From Awe Struck Books here are interesting titles:

Beltaine's Song by Kelley Heckart

For each of them, spring's song has a different meaning. Now king and queen of the powerful kingdom of Dal Riata, Aedan and Domelch have more than just Cailleach'swrath to contend with. Aedan struggles with being a king and being a husband. Domelch struggles with her beliefs, trying to be the Christianwoman Aedan wed, but her heart still thrums with the voices of old gods. They must battle earthly foes—enemy kings and traitorous allies. For the first time, the arrival of spring heralds the sound of a harsh battle horn as their foes close in. Through all this turmoil, can their love survive?” Awe Struck books

Campbell's Reivers by Neil Grant

This new novel is based on the exploits of young Alex Campbell, sent off by his father to join the newly-forming Scots Brigade in the Low Countries of Europe. Romance having been found in unusual circumstances, the young man finds himself forced to part from his new love and leave his native Scotland to take part in the war between His Most Catholic Majesty, Phillip II of Spain, and Prince William the Silent, Prince of Nassau/Orange. Leading troops recruited from the Border area of southern Scotland, Alex rides at the head of his small band of 'reivers' into the pages of the tumultuous history of 16th Century Europe. Awe Struck books.

FICTION FRIDAY!!

This Friday the first two books I am showcasing are authors that were new to me. They both have stories set in Scotland but one’s is erotica and the other is romantic suspense heavy on the suspense.

RAMPANT by SASKIA WALKER is from Harlequin’s Spice, which is their erotica line. Set in Scotland is a young woman bewitched by 18^th century witch whose cottage the heroine lives in? This book has been nominated by Romantic Times for 2010 in their Best Erotic Paranormal Fantasy award. And if you love erotica and haven’t tried Harlequin’s Spice line this is the one to start with.

If you love Scottish romance ( and if not why are you here) but need a story not set in the highlands that has a hero with all kinds of edge to him then I highly recommend TONI ANDERSON'S SEA OF SUSPICION. The story takes place in Fife, Scotland at a marine biology institute, present day. Probably what makes this such a good story is that much of the author who herself has worked toward her PhD at the Getty Marine Laboratory in Fife Scotland. This book kept me turning page after page, Toni was a wonderful new find for me. Check her out for a unique read.

The following are some of my favorite authors who will have new books out in the next couple of months. Some of these book are part of existing series and some start new series. With Christmas just 45 days away they will make great stocking stuffers for your own stocking!!

AMANDA SCOTT has a new book due out January 25, 2011. Set in the Highlands with HIGHLAND MASTER, she begins her new Scottish Knights series.

This is what Amazon has to say…

“When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds”.

KAREN HAWKINS is also starting a new series with ONE NIGHT IN SCOTLAND, which comes out on November 23, 2010. This series is the Hurst Amulet and brings back characters from her successful THE LAIRD WHO LOVED ME and SLEEPLESS IN SCOTLAND. This is one is Mary Hurst’s story and will set the stage for the books on her siblings. For those of us who love continuing stories this looks like a winner.

Romance author VERONICA WOLFF provides her faithful readers with the second installment in her Clan MacAlpin series with DEVIL’S OWN coming out March of 2011. Her first book in this series DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER came out August of 2010 and the series is set in Highlands after the Civil Wars. What makes her books unique is that the books are well researched and the writing is a cut above.

I am sure there are many more book but betweenteaching a class this month and trying to meet my daily goals for NANO, I’ve only had time to read for my class.