Sally Malcolm's Blog, page 3

A Gathering Storm by Joanna Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A thoroughly enjoyable historical romance, set against the beautiful Cornish scenery. I loved the exploration of mesmerism, and the uniquely Victorian overlap between science and the mystical.

The two central characters were well drawn, as was the whole village of Porthkennack, and their relationship felt real and tugged at the heartstrings in all the right ways. I enjoyed the contrast between the uptight, yet more experienced, Ward with the more down to earth yet inexperienced Nick and the development of their relationship had enough sweetness and angst to keep this romance addict very happy. :)

Although this is the second in the Porthkennack series, all the books can be read as stand alones. In fact, I read this one first. Recommended!

View all my reviews

Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What I loved about this book was the very unique and compelling setting, beautifully drawn with incredible world-building. The writing is extremely good and the central romance touching and heartfelt.

Both central characters are exceptionally well drawn and engaging, as are the secondary characters. The romance is visceral and tugs at the heart. I also loved the nod to the triple goddess throughout, which is something we see in a lot in Harper Fox's work.

Highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
My rating: 5 of 5 starsI usually avoid literary fiction as I often find it more concerned with style and cleverness than with story telling.But I’m glad I took a chance on this book. While often brutal, and with a stylized narrative, I found the book captivating, haunting and (added bonus for literary fiction) warm. The characters are vivid, especially Thomas, in whose voice the story is told, and they lived with me long after I finished the book.While this is in no way a romance, the enduring and romantic love between two hard men, soldiers who have committed acts of horrific violence, sits at the heart of this book. It lifts it from a grim recounting of the brutality of 19th century America to a story of hope, endurance and redemption.Recommended for a serious read.

I relish every review on Amazon, even the bad ones.  No, really.  It's not that I love a one star review, but they can be useful to readers when deciding whether to part with their hard-earned cash to buy your book.  Take this one, for example:  

Hmm, okay.  Not great.  Then again, perhaps 'literary' isn't really the right word to describe my historical romantic adventure.  Wolf Hall it isn't!  So fair enough, if that's what you're after then perhaps it's not for you.  
On the other hand, a really good review - well written and from someone who clearly knows her stuff - can really make an author's day/week/month/year.  Like this little gem I found yesterday. :)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it.ByPSusanon January 13, 2016Format: Kindle EditionThe Legend of the Gypsy Hawk (Choc Lit) by Sally Malcolm is the kind of story that first caused me to fall in love with romance books many years ago. It has a Daphne Du Maurier feel to it. No, not Rebecca but more Frenchmen’s Creek or Jamaica Inn; a bit of dark with the sweet. So whileI do not read as much historical romance now this is one story I could totally get lost in.
There is a to-die-for swashbuckling hero, a spunky passionate heroine,attraction that builds slowly into love, betrayal, danger with thrills and spills adventure. The entire story is written in flowing graceful style providing insight and realism to the events and characters. I especially like the beginning starting with the chest, then going over a hundred years back in time to tell the story of what really happened before it became the legend.
The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk took me back to my roots with all the things I love about a wonderful romantic adventure. I loved it. It's not a novel to read about but one to steal away to read for yourself. I’m looking for more by Sally Malcolm.
The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.
Hard to believe it's the same book!  And each to his or her own, of course. The point is, we authors live for reviews - it's the only proof that anyone's reading our books!  So if you've read a good one, or a bad one, take a couple of minutes to let us know what you think.  And while everyone loves a cracking 5* review, those 1* howlers can be valuable too - just remember, if you can, that the author's probably reading it, so a little sugar-coating would be welcome! ;)

The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk
Grade:B+Sensuality:WarmNote: This book is available in a digital edition from Amazon and other retailer
I can’t be the only one who is tired of the romanticized pirates, the Fabios of the romance novel world. Don’t get me wrong, there are some absolutely wonderful pirate romances out there, and luckily, The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk is one of them. Instead of romanticizing the freedom of the wind and waves, along with the romance, the author gives us the fight for freedom, and shows us the all-too-common consequences of that fight.

Amelia Dauphin, Amy, has grown up on Ile Sainte Anne, an island free of any empire, where people are equal and grow up outside conventional laws. Of course, they are also mainly pirates and pirate relations. Amy is the daughter, the only child, of Captain Dauphin, the pirate king, protector of the island and the Articles of Agreement. Like her father, and many of her friends, Amy is willing to give her life to protect their freedom and the Articles, but Captain Zachary Hazard, son of the pirate king’s second in command, has a different idea of freedom and what is worth risking your life for. And the Articles are definitely not one of those things.
Although Amy is dedicated to Ile Sainte Anne, and doing her duty (which apparently includes an engagement to French privateer Luc), Zach has always looked to himself as number one. And despite his best efforts to move on, he has loved Amy for years. So when, four years later, Zach discovers the burned remains of Ile Sainte Anne, and hears of Amy’s capture, he sails to London to try to help her escape despite his constant protestations that he doesn’t care. (And I do mean constant.) Together, they have to find their way back to the sea without being caught.
On top of all that, there is some sort of mysterious cabal, along with all the regular dangers, and Amy's fiance Luc is somehow involved in all that. Which is utterly fascinating. How does a French privateer get involved in a British scheme? Is the cabal British after all? Hopefully the series will go into that more in future books, because I find myself insanely curious.
The characters of Amy and Zach were well done - both have their flaws, certainly, but they work well individually as well as together. Amy is more than a bit naive, having grown up on Ile Sainte Anne, but well capable of caring for herself as well as those around her. And she does care a lot. She sees her duty as first to others, in exchange for the privileges she has known. Zach, on the other hand, is much more a selfish character. Being selfish isn’t always a bad thing - it has kept Zach and his crew alive and well for years, and (mostly) out of the hands of the British that have hunted him. However, it does put him very much at odds with Amy, as he not only doesn’t agree with her outlook on life, but doesn't even seem to understand it. This one, intrinsic difference leads to a very interesting character conflict that moves the story along during down-times in the action.
I really enjoyed this book, but do have to preface it with one caveat - it was very slow going in the beginning. We get characterization and a lot of background, but not much relationship movement. Plus, we have Zach constantly saying he’s going to leave, but never actually leaving - that was pretty annoying. Luckily, once we get a bit further into it, we find the plot and the romance, and everything picks up the pace quite a bit. The action scenes were particularly well done (apparently the author has written Stargate franchise novels previously), something that can be difficult to find in the romance world.
Overall, this novel is an interesting take on historical pirate romances. It’s about more than just sailing the seven seas, it’s about what exactly freedom means to these characters, and what they are willing to do for it and for each other. It’s definitely interesting, and there will be a sequel. And I will definitely be reading it. I just hope that it ties into this first one like I suspect - Luc’s story is bound to be interesting.
Note: This is also a reprint (and, it appears, a revision) of Beyond the Far Horizon, originally published in 2012. It looks like this version is a bit longer, but other than that, I’m not sure what all was added.
-- Melanie Bopp

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Wow, what an amazing weekend at Creation Entertainment’s Official Stargate Convention in Chicago!
After months of planning, Tom and I arrived full of nervous anticipation at the Westin O'Hare.
Our home for the weekend!We had books and authors arriving from all directions, a ‘Meet the Readers’ breakfast to organise, and a Stargate Novels panel to host.  It promised to be a fun-packed but hectic weekend!
Things kicked off on Thursday night when I dropped off copies of STARGATE SG-1: Hostile Groundand STARGATE SG-1: Exile with the wonderful Keith Homel. Keith had organised a pre-event auction to raise money in support of research into Dysautonomia. Along with signed copies of our books, Laura and I offered to name a character in book three of the Apocalypse trilogy after the winning bidder. To our total shock and delight, on Friday morning we discovered that our auction item had raised $1000 for the charity!  Stargate fans are seriously awesome.
But there was no time to dwell in the warm glow, because we had work to do.  Tom and I set up our stand in a prime location outside the dealer’s room, just in time for the convention to open at midday. 
Stargate Novels...you have a go!
We had a fun afternoon meeting the early convention arrivals while we waited for the rest of our authors to fly in.  First to arrive was Laura Harper, all the way from Scotland.  A little later in the afternoon Melissa Scott and Jo Graham arrived from North Carolina, and in the evening Diana Dru Botsford flew in from Texas: the Stargate Novels Team was ready to go!

Diana Dru Botsford, Melissa Scott, Jo Graham
Laura Harper and me!
Saturday morning started early with our ‘Get to know the Readers’ breakfast.  Five authors and twenty-one Stargate fans sat down to eat breakfast together and talk about all things Stargate. Thanks so much to everyone who came along. It was wonderful to meet you all and to find out what you love about Stargate and Stargate novels. The breakfast was pretty delicious too – thank you Benchmark Restaurant!
Say cheese! Our 'Meet the Readers' breakfastLater on, we were back at our table ready to talk some more and to sign our books. Again, we were blown away by the generosity of Stargate fans and the amazing stories they told us about the significance these shows have had in their lives. Truly inspiring! 


But we also had time to check out the actors signing nearby…  
Gary Jones on Gary Jones!
Peter Williams (aka Apophis!) … and to get up close and personal with a trio of Goa’uld!
Peter Williams, Suanne Braun, Cliff Simon (aka Apophis, Hathor and Baal!)We had a more leisurely start to Sunday, and Laura and I had the great pleasure of meeting James O’Kane, the winner of our auction item.  We had a really good chat with James, and the character we developed while talking to him is actually going to become pretty pivotal to book three of the Apocalypse series. So it was, literally, a win-win situation for all of us. We’re excited to get going on the final book – and to introduce you all to James’ character!
After that, it was time for the Stargate Novels Panel: Keeping the Gate Open. It was an enormous privilege to spend an hour answering people’s questions about what we do, and we were overwhelmed by the support we received from our readers. Thank you all so much for coming – we really appreciated it.



Below are a few pics, but if you’d like to see the whole panel you can watch it here:


  
And look out for the moment when a special guest joins us - that was definitely a highlight! (Warning: spoiler pic below!)

Jo, our compère Laura's not singing, I promise Melissa gets a tricky question... Me! Diana gets serious Paul McGillion makes a surprise appearance!After our panel, things got busy on the stand.  We were thrilled that so many people told us how much they’d enjoyed the panel, and how our enthusiasm for the show had convinced them to pick up one of our novels for the first time.  It was a pretty humbling experience.



As Sunday wound down, it was time for us to pack up and head our separate ways - although, sadly, not through the Stargate.  
Would you send this team through the gate?We had a wonderful time in Chicago and would love to come back next year.  A huge thank you to the people at Creation Entertainment for making it happen, and to our authors for all their tireless enthusiasm.  
And an enormous thank you goes to the wonderful Stargate fans that made us feel so welcome throughout the weekend - and, without whom, we couldn't keep the gate open. 
You guys are the best!

In celebration of the e-launch day for Alison May’s brand new romantic comedy, Midsummer Dreams , I'm posting today about daydreams.  
Alison's invited us to use the prompts 'I had a dream', 'I had a nightmare', and 'My dream for the future' so I thought I'd use them to introduce my current obsession. Over the past couple of weeks I've been daydreaming about a new story.  I can't seem to shake this character, which probably means I'm going to have to write about him. 

So, without further ado, meet Detective Joshua Dalton of the NYPD Organised Crime Control Bureau:
I had a dreamI dreamed about being a cop my whole life. Not just any cop, but an officer of the NYPD – no one finer than New York’s finest, right?
It started that first Christmas, the one after Dad left.  Mom was working and I was home alone, eating peanut butter right out of the jar and watching Die Hard on continual loop.  I was seven.  Man, I wanted to be John McClane so bad.  Nothing stopped that guy. No matter how hard things got, he got harder. No matter what got in his way, he got through it. No matter how beat-up he was – how much it hurt – he survived. 
And it did hurt.  Seven year old me hurt a lot.
But, hey, fun fact: I stopped dreaming about my dad after that Christmas. From then on, I only dreamed about John McClane. 
I had a nightmareI’d been a detective eight years, on temporary assignment to the OCCB, when it happened. Juarez and I were digging into links between the mob and the Sinaloa cartel – a new cell operating out of Texas but with big ambitions. We thought we were smart, but I guess they were smarter.
They took Juarez out a half block from Grimaldi’s with a single shot to the head.  I was standing right next to him when he dropped.  One moment we were laughing, the next he was gone.  We weren’t even on duty; it was his daughter’s eighth birthday and we were picking up pizza. 
When we caught the perp who made the hit, it turned out he was just a kid.  A fifteen year old kid. And that’s all kinds of messed up.
But that wasn't the end of the nightmare, because I was next on the cartel’s to-do list.
My dream for the futureSo here I am, running on the beach. 
I'm overseas, exiled to some place safe, waiting for the heat to die down.  They've saddled me with close protection too – one Ellie McKenzie, a local cop who’s somewhere between neurotic and cute – and a cover story so transparent it’s practically indecent. Ellie and I are supposed to lay low in this cosy little coastal town, pretending to restore her crumbling old family home until they’re ready for me to testify back in New York.

I kinda feel like I should hate it here more than I do; it’s a long way from Brooklyn, after all.  But there’s something timeless about this corner of Merry Olde England, as if the clocks stopped a couple decades back and no one’s really noticed.  
I don’t dream about the future here, which is good because at the moment I can’t see that far ahead. I've lost all sense of direction. But I know I don’t want to be John McClane anymore. That guy sold me a lie; dying’s not hard, it’s horribly easy. 
So for now I'm just running on the beach.  The sun’s rising over the dunes and in the distance I can see Ellie.  She’s watching me, waiting, and I find myself running towards her…
***
So that's what's currently, and compulsively, occupying my daydreams. I'd love to know what you think...
Meanwhile, if you'd rather read a book that's, you know, already been written then why not download Midsummer Dreams? It's a lovely, summery romcom - the perfect midsummer escape.

Midsummer Dreams 
Four people. Four messy lives. One party that changes everything …
Emily is obsessed with ending her father’s new relationship – but is blind to the fact that her own is far from perfect. 
Dominic has spent so long making other people happy that he’s hardly noticed he’s not happy himself. 
Helen has loved the same man, unrequitedly, for ten years. Now she may have to face up to the fact that he will never be hers. 
Alex has always played the field. But when he finally meets a girl he wants to commit to, she is just out of his reach. 
At a midsummer wedding party, the bonds that tie the four friends together begin to unravel and show them that, sometimes, the sensible choice is not always the right one.
Available for Kindle now: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00XJOEJTM

Thrilled to have been reviewed today by Maria Almaguer from Romantic Historical Reviews ! 

The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk by Sally MalcolmJun5
Purchase Now from Amazon

Come then, and I’ll tell you the tale of the Gypsy Hawk and her wily captain – the infamous Zachary Hazard …’To Amelia Dauphin, freedom is her most prized possession and she will stop at nothing to keep it. Daughter of a Pirate King and the youngest captain in her father’s fleet, she lives on the island of Ile Saint Anne, where pirates roam free and liberty reigns.Zachary Hazard, captain of the Gypsy Hawk, hasn’t been seen on Ile Saint Anne for six years but his reputation precedes him. To Zach, liberty is the open water and he has little time for the land-bound pirate island.But when he hears that Amelia’s people could be in danger, he has no choice but to return. And what begins then is a desperate fight for freedom and a legend in the making…

Publisher and Release Date: Choc Lit, February 2015RHR Classifications:
Time and Setting: 1716, 1720 on the high seas, Ile Sainte Anne, and England, told in flashback from 1848
Genre: Historical romance adventure
Heat Level: 1.5
Reviewer Rating: 4 starsReview by Maria AlmaguerThis thrilling adventure tale, the first historical romance by Sally Malcolm, opens in 1848 and is told in flashback about the legend of an infamous ship, The Gypsy Hawk, and its equally infamous captain, Zachary Hazard.This is a gritty, raw, and real love story but the hero and heroine, Amelia (Amy) and Zach, hold their passion close to their hearts for almost the entire novel, and is only revealed by Ms. Malcolm in teasing bits and pieces. There’s a constant push and pull where both are fighting their feelings as both are stubborn and cling to their principles and pride. But it also sometimes makes for a frustrating and angsty read. I often wondered when they would ever admit their feelings and finally get together which had me quickly turning the pages, hanging on to every word and action.Amy Dauphin is a rather spoiled and unsullied young woman who exudes a tough girl attitude while viewing the world through rose-colored glasses. She’s the privileged and only daughter of James Dauphin, a man with idealized dreams and who has built a sort of utopian world on Ile Sainte Anne, an island along the west coast of Africa. The island is a safe haven for pirates and Amy runs free in the sun and the sand, is captain of her own ship, and is unafraid to stand up to any man, especially Zach Hazard.Amy and Zach, whose fathers are old friends, have long been attracted to one another, yet they have also long denied it; pride, willfulness, and stubbornness often get in the way. Amy knows all too well that Zach is very well-liked by the ladies and she doesn’t wish to succumb to his charms like all the rest. But one magical night, under the stars on the beach, she comes very close. But she is also true to her father’s dreams, even if that means sacrificing Zach, something that cuts to his core.This part of the story is a bit hard to swallow. The decisions that Amy makes regarding Zach are ruthless and often painful to read, yet he continues to love her no matter what. To his credit, he tries to distance himself from her, both physically and emotionally, but she always somehow draws him back. In short, she’s dangerous not only to his heart but also to his life. Zach always saves Amy because he loves her and he never, ever stops. His love is obvious in actions rather than in pretty words, typical of most men.Ile Sainte Anne’s idyllic paradise doesn’t last forever, however, as the outside world turns its greedy eyes to their special place. Zach has returned to the island after six years away to warn his father and James Dauphin of the dangers that threaten them and their lifestyle. But they refuse to listen until it’s too late.Zach loves the sea more than anything else and thinks Amy and the island’s inhabitants live in a dream world. Freedom to him means the ability to sail the high seas; it’s definitely not the beloved Articles his and Amy’s father hold dear, especially Amy. To her it means everyone living equally, from the poorest man to the richest, yet she herself lives a privileged life so I had a hard time believing her rationale and firmly held beliefs.There is a lot of hardship and sadness in this book; and agonizing choices, torture, and the brutal consequences of betrayal infuse the pages. But thankfully it’s not gratuitously graphic; it’s more implied than blatantly depicted.Amy was born in England but left as an infant so she has no ties to England. But Zach remembers harsher times, and England is a place he’d rather forget.There are tantalizing hints of a story to come about the complex and multifaceted Luc Geroux in the second book in the Pirates of Ile Sainte Anne series. In The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk, we learn the reasons for Luc’s actions and are kept guessing about him until the very end.Ms. Malcolm writes an exciting novel with plenty of action, adventure, and danger. If you like strong and fearless female heroines, devoted and protective heroes and high sea settings, you will enjoy this book.

So I, and my more technically gifted OH, have made a book trailer for The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk.  I love it!  This was really so much fun to make and it makes me smile every time I watch it.  
I'd love to know what you think, especially if you're one of the horribly gifted fanvid makers out there!  
All tips, comments, and feedback welcome.  If you haven't read the book, does this make you want to pick up a copy? If you have, how well do you think it sums up the book?

On World Book day, my daughter was asked to go to school dressed as an 'empowered female character'.  She chose Arya Stark from Game of Thrones.  I love Arya, she's a fierce fighter who never gives up and never gives in.  There were, apparently, a fair few Katnis Everdeens (Hunger Games) and Tris Priors (Divergent) at school too - both strong, kick-ass heroines. 
But it got me wondering - do you have to kick ass and/or wield a sword to be a heroine?
On Mothering Sunday I want to talk about some of the women I find most inspirational, women who work for my favorite charity: SOS Children's Villages. 

SOS mothers are the inspiring women who provide long-term and nurturing care to orphaned or abandoned children growing up in an SOS Village. Each SOS mother looks after a group of children, and together they live as a family. The close bond and attachment that children have with their SOS mother often lasts a lifetime. 

This video shows what impact just one of these incredible women has had in her life. (Warning: have a tissue to hand!)





Worldwide there are more than 5,250 SOS mothers who care for almost 62,000 children in 546 SOS Children's Villages.

As a mother of two, I am humbled by the strength and spirit of these women who give their love to so many children who desperately need it.  They are truly inspiring; they are my heroines.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.