Donna Fletcher winner!

The random winner of a $10 Amazon gift card courtesy of the wonderful Donna Fletcher is:

StacieD

Congratulations, Stacie! Please email me at theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Donna's winner" as the subject and I'll forward your email and email address to Donna so she can send you your gift card. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made Donna's day!

Today's Special -- Donna Fletcher

It's my pleasure to welcome USA Today bestselling historical author Donna Fletcher back to the Romance Dish! Donna has been lucky enough to visit many of the places she writes about in her books. From her website: "She has walked the fields were battles were fought centuries ago, toured haunted castles, stood where beheading were commonplace, explored the mystic mounds of long ago and collected a plethora of memories and research that will live long in her heart and mind." Doesn't that sound amazing? I'm so jealous. *g* Her newest book, A Warrior's Promise, hits shelves tomorrow, April 24th! It's the third book in her popular Warrior King series. Please welcome Donna as she dishs about one of our favorite topics--heroines!


It’s great to be back at The Romance Dish.Thanks, ladies, for having me.


Some hero and heroines are unforgettable. You just don’t want their story to end. Naturally, all my heroines have lingered in my memory, each having been unique in their own way. Though I have to admit that I had great fun writing about heroines I posed as lads. The very first book I wrote, San Francisco Surrender, the heroine Victoria/Vic posed as a lad who takes to robbing wealthy men in an unconventional way to help her ill sister. Irish Hope was the next book where Hope/Harold wanted an adventure before she was to enter into an arranged marriage and she comes across more than she counted on. And now there’s Charlotte/Charles in A Warrior’s Promise, the third book in my Warrior King series. She’s desperate to save her father who has been taken by soldiers at the king’s command. Feisty, tenacious and petite she manages to get herself into endless situations.

Here’s a peek at Charlotte and the mighty Highlander warrior she drives crazy with her brave antics and along the way steals his heart.        

Charles ran like the devil was after him. His worn boots pounded the dirt, leaving a wake of dust in his trail. He couldn’t let the soldiers get him. He couldn’t His dark eyes darted in panic, desperate to find an avenue of escape. At the last minute he spotted it: big, broad and solid. Surely, he could take shelter beneath it. With all the strength he had left, he dove for the solid mass sliding along the ground and coming to rest on his belly between the two limbs that stood rooted to the earth. Then he hurriedly wrapped his arms around one thick leg and held on for dear life.

A quick tilt of his head had his eyes settling beneath the Highlander’s plaid, and he gulped. Good lord, he was a big one, which meant he was strong and could protect, and the lad needed protecting.

“Please. Please, help me,” he begged, peering past the plaid to the giant Highlander, who stared down at him with a look of bewilderment.

“Hand him over,” one of the three soldiers ordered, while almost colliding as they came to an abrupt halt.

The urchin hid a smile, relieved at their reluctance to approach the large man. “And what will you do with him?” The urchin liked the sound of the Highlander’s voice; it confronted and dared all in one breathe. He was not a man to argue with, but one to fear and respect.

“That doesn’t concern you,” the soldier said with trembling bravado.

“Why wouldn’t it?” the Highlander demanded sharply.

“He stole from this woman and must pay the price,” another soldier spoke up, not daring to step from behind the soldier in front.

“What will you take for him?” the Highlander asked.

The woman stared down at the urchin. “He’s worth a good amount.”

The Highlander lurched forward, causing the soldiers and woman to retreat in haste and huddle closer together. While the urchin, having no intention of letting go of the intimidating Highlander’s leg, was dragged along with every step he took.

“Don’t think me a fool, madam,” the Highlander snarled. “He’s a skinny lad not fit for most chores. He isn’t worth a pittance.” And with that said, he tossed a meager trinket at her feet. “Take it and be satisfied.”

The one soldier was quick to pick it up and hand it to the woman. She took it and, with a snort and toss of her head, stomped away.

“We’re done here,” the Highlander said.

Charles heard the tight anger in his tone and as the soldiers turned and walked away, he grinned. That is until the Highlander’s large hand reached down, grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and lifted him clear off the ground to dangle in front of his face.

What type of heroine is your favorite? Leave a comment and take a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. And when you have time visit me at http://www.donnafletcher.com/

Donna Fletcher winner!

The random winner of a signed copy of Bound to a Warrior by Donna Fletcher is:

Jennifer

Congratulations, Jennifer! Please send your full name and address to donnaATdonnafletcherDOTcom with "The Romance Dish winner" as the subject and Donna will get your book in the mail.

Thanks to all who stopped by to comment!

Today's Special -- Donna Fletcher

USA Today bestselling author Donna Fletcher has loved to read since a young age. She says her mother fed her passion by signing her up for a Young Adult book club, and from then on she was never without a book. Her passion for reading naturally led her to try her hand at writing, but not before she studied every book on writing the library stocked. She started writing short stories and placed second in a magazine contest, which encouraged her to continue and then join the New Jersey Romance Writers. Shortly after, she sold her first book and has since written for three publishers, including her current one, Avon. Her latest book, Bound to a Warrior, is the first in her new Warrior King series and releases August 31st. Please help us welcome Donna Fletcher back to The Romance Dish!



Characters fascinate me, not only in books but in reality.

I can’t go anyplace without being caught up in people watching. Standing on lines (e.g. bank, supermarket, department store) is a good place to watch people and how they interact with each other. I always smile when I see young people in love. They’re holding hands, leaning against each other, whispering, laughing; their faces aglow with the magic of first love. The older couples are just as interesting, some stand patiently together talking and smiling. Others argue though I’ve noticed they still help each other (carrying packages, opening a door, assisting to walk down steps) even though they’ve had a spat. The looks they exchange are more ones of concern and though-I’m-annoyed-at-you-I-still-love-you. Then there are the couples with the kids who barely get to talk or hold hands since they’re too busy watching the kids and getting the shopping done. Their looks say, later, if I’m not too tired or rather let’s get some sleep while we can.

It amazing how, in so many different ways, love binds people together. Perhaps it’s like glue that fastens firm and hard and keeps hold through the years so that even during the difficult times it keeps love solidly bound.

Naturally, the characters in my books go on loving forever and I wonder sometimes that if we recall that magic of first love, does it help renew old love, does it help the glue to stay strong?

Of course all that got me wondering about first love and how it binds and that’s when two characters suddenly popped into my head and introduced themselves and insisted that their story had to be told. I didn’t expect, though I was certainly intrigued when I realized they were shackled together by a chain. Now that’s truly a binding first love.

I did wonder how the heck I would work with a couple who never met, but were tethered by a chain. I was eager to get to know them while they got to know each other, a challenging prospect. After all, they were never more than a step away from each other.

This was my introduction to Duncan MacAlpin and Mercy in my book Bound To A Warrior and the first in my new Warrior King series. No soon as the book opens the two are already shackled together and running for their lives from the King’s soldiers. To make matters worse the pair winds up going over the edge of a cliff and into a raging river.

After nearly drowning you would expect things to get better, but think about it. Wet clothes, chilled air, gooseflesh and the next thing you know... of course, the pair is naked.

Duncan and Mercy have quite an adventure; especially since they remain bound together longer then they had anticipated. When the chain is finally removed, they discover that love binds them far more permanently than a chain ever could. Though their love remains strong, there are other troubling issues that could force the pair apart.

Having enjoyed spending time with Duncan, I became curious about the other three Highlanders in the series, Reeve, Bryce and Trey. The four, close as brothers, are on a mission to seat the true King of Scotland to the throne, the true King being one of them. Each has pledged their loyalty to the task and thought, foolishly, that there was no time for love. It would simply have to wait... of course they were wrong.

But as we all know... love waits for no one.

So what do you think is a good binding substance for love?

If you’d like to take a chance to win an autographed copy of Bound To a Warrior leave a comment and you’ll be entered. And do stop by and visit me at http://www.donnafletcher.com/.

Thanks all for having me here at The Romance Dish again!

Guest Author -- Donna Fletcher

USA Today bestselling author Donna Fletcher has always loved to read. Her mother fed her passion by signing her up for a Young Adult book club, and from then on she was never without a book. Her passion for reading naturally led her to try her hand at writing, but not before she studied every book on writing the library stocked. She first sold to Kensington and has since written for Berkley and now Avon. Please help us welcome Donna to The Romance Dish!

A big thank you to Buffie, Andrea, PJ & Gannon for having me here today. It’s an exciting time for me. Tomorrow is the release date for the last book in my Sinclare brothers’ series, Highlander’s Forbidden Bride. It seemed like only yesterday that the four Scottish Highlanders introduced themselves to me. The brothers immediately stole my heart as did their stories. I couldn’t wait to write about them, and they were just as eager to have their stories told.

In my night dreams and my daydreams they showed me their home in the northern most region of Scotland. They walked with me over the desolate yet beautiful moors that spread around their keep and through the lush forests that bordered their vast land holdings. They shared with me their hopes and dreams and I knew there and then it would be a challenge to find each of them the perfect woman. Especially since their personalities ranged from stoically quiet (Cavan), to overly pragmatic (Artair), to outrageously charming (Lachlan) and finally to the youngest brother (Ronan) who was once playful and kind and who was now bitter and vengeful, though with good reason.

It all starts in the first book, Return Of The Rogue, when Cavan, his brothers and clan members fight a barbarian horde. As the battle draws to an end Cavan and Ronan are captured and no soon as they are, they’re separated, neither knowing what happened to the other. After a year in captivity Cavan escapes, but he swears he will find his brother Ronan.

Cavan returns home a changed man, a man harboring demons, a man not ready to love. However, he arrives home to a surprise, it’s his wedding day. He isn’t ready to deal with a woman, especially one who is weak. He had asked me for a strong, courageous woman and, of course, I gave him what he wanted. It simply took time for him to realize it. Cavan learns his brother Ronan is alive and so the search to find him and bring him home begins.

That search starts Artair’s book, Under The Highlander’s Spell. Word was received that the healer Zia had cared for Ronan and so Artair goes in search of her. He finds her tied to a stake ready to be burnt for being a witch. Being practical, Artair wanted a woman who would make a good wife and mother. Love, he felt, could follow. I gave him exactly what he was looking for in a woman, though with a touch of zeal to her nature. Artair soon learns that being sensible doesn’t help when it comes to love. It is through Zia the brothers learn that Ronan has been taken by mercenaries.

Lachlan’s book, The Angel And The Highlander, finds him on a duel mission. While sent to collect the shrewish daughter, of a neighboring clan laird, from a remote abbey and return her home to enter into an arranged marriage, Lachlan’s to see if the mercenary group in the area holds Ronan. He arrives at the abbey and is shocked to learn that the woman he has come for is dead and that he is much too attracted to a beautiful nun. Lachlan was certain he’d find the right woman for himself without a problem. We all know that love isn’t easy and that was a lesson the charming Lachlan had to learn. The brothers discover that to find Ronan they have to find the daughter of the barbarian who had captured Cavan and Ronan.

That brings us to Ronan’s story, Highlander’s Forbidden Bride. Beaten to the point of not being able to see, Ronan had been cared for by a slave while held captive by the barbarians. He fell in love with her. Sold to mercenaries, he battles to return and free her. He’s too late and when he learns that she has died at the hands of the barbarian leader’s daughter, Carissa; he swears vengeance. Gone is the young playful and kind man replaced by a seasoned and hardened warrior, who intends to have his revenge.

It’s been a long journey home for Ronan. He has so much yet to settle not only with Carissa but with his brother Cavan. His homecoming isn’t easy, just as his brothers have learned neither his love. It’s Ronan’s turn now and he had no particular woman in mind. He told me he simply wanted to fall in love, a deep abiding love. I gave him the perfect woman, yet the most difficult love, for it necessitates forgiveness.

Finding a good love can be difficult enough, but as my heroes and heroines learned it’s recognizing a good love and keeping hold of that love that is the most difficult of all. What do you think it takes to keep love going?

I’m celebrating the end of the Sinclare brothers’ series with a special contest. I’m offering a short graphic novel that details Ronan’s journey home. For details go to my website http://donnafletcher.com/.