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Blood Line
A FAIRY TALE ROMANCE about sacrificial love and the rite of passage from teenage angst and confusion to maturity.
CIDRIEL deals in a most subtle and clever way with the reality of true love.
When Lauren MacBreach's angel turns up and offers to save her from a fate worse than death she turns him down. It does not take her very long to regret her decision as she is catapulted across the Atlantic to an unknown destination filled with crazy people who attempt to do away with her.
She meets Euphemia - 'Mia' - a distant cousin who has more than a little interest in the Laird; Ginger, who is a little too trigger happy for comfort; Erroll, who has a strange take on eightsome reels.
Historical enactments of the Boston tea party and a Haggis Hunt add to the fun.
But why does the vicar have a sacrificial altar in his bedroom? What was the Laird of Tomindoul doing on his visit to the King of Spain? And just who is The Tawny Man?
Fortunately her angel is there to save her. After all she is his first case. But even he isn't fallible. In doubt as to whether the stunningly tall, dark and handsome Laird of Tomindoul is to be her husband or her killer, Lauren trusts her angel will save her from that fate worse than death. But she does not know when or how.
A hilarious romp in the Scottish Highlands, CIDRIEL is a Gothic comedy.
"Hamilton has an incredible sense of character voice and behavior."
"I especially loved the perfect ending."
"A real corker of a novel . . . earthly and angelic."
CIDRIEL is the revised edition of the book Blood Line
CIDRIEL deals in a most subtle and clever way with the reality of true love.
When Lauren MacBreach's angel turns up and offers to save her from a fate worse than death she turns him down. It does not take her very long to regret her decision as she is catapulted across the Atlantic to an unknown destination filled with crazy people who attempt to do away with her.
She meets Euphemia - 'Mia' - a distant cousin who has more than a little interest in the Laird; Ginger, who is a little too trigger happy for comfort; Erroll, who has a strange take on eightsome reels.
Historical enactments of the Boston tea party and a Haggis Hunt add to the fun.
But why does the vicar have a sacrificial altar in his bedroom? What was the Laird of Tomindoul doing on his visit to the King of Spain? And just who is The Tawny Man?
Fortunately her angel is there to save her. After all she is his first case. But even he isn't fallible. In doubt as to whether the stunningly tall, dark and handsome Laird of Tomindoul is to be her husband or her killer, Lauren trusts her angel will save her from that fate worse than death. But she does not know when or how.
A hilarious romp in the Scottish Highlands, CIDRIEL is a Gothic comedy.
"Hamilton has an incredible sense of character voice and behavior."
"I especially loved the perfect ending."
"A real corker of a novel . . . earthly and angelic."
CIDRIEL is the revised edition of the book Blood Line
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 12, 2011
"Blood Line" combines many of the typical elements of a gothic romance with some of the elements of a romantic comedy. It still has castles, but it is set in modern times. For another twist the protagonist Lauren's guardian angel, a novice at the job, keeps popping in to help.
While a strange combination of gothic, romantic-comedy, and whatever genre a guardian angel fits, maybe supernatural, the story is fun, different, and creative. The setting for most of the book, a Scottish castle, is foreign to the American born Lauren and gives plenty of comedic opportunities as she deals with differences in culture and custom. After a warning from her guardian angel, Lauren is constantly trying to decipher potential hidden agendas, decide who is friend or foe, and working to figure out how to escape her strange situation.
I expect many readers who find what I've described appealing would be happy reading "Blood Line." I wasn't for two reasons, both items that bothered me early on that I was never able to get past.
The first is a matter of language. I believe if you're English speaking you should be able to adapt to variations in spelling and word usage. I believe an Aussie author writing about characters and events in Australia using the spelling conventions and local slang of their home country adds to the reading experience. The same rule goes for someone who is British, Canadian, or any other country. If the usage fits the character and locale, I'm happy.
Since most of the events in "Blood Line" take place in Scotland and most of the characters are from there I shouldn't have any issues with spelling and language consistent with Scotland. I don't with the exception of Lauren. Knowing she was an American I found myself questioning dialog that didn't ring true. Sometimes it was the syntax, correct, but not how a character with Lauren's background would speak. Other times it was the use of a specific word. One example is Lauren referring to the restroom as "the loo" multiple times before she'd even set foot in Scotland. Virtually no eighteen-year-old American girl is going to use that word habitually.
The other thing I had a hard time with was the idea that a mother and father would arrange a marriage without their daughter's knowledge or consent and essentially arrange for her kidnapping to carry out that arrangement. In another time, place, or maybe just a set of parents with a different situation than Lauren's I might have been able to suspend my disbelief. In this instance, I wasn't able. An arranged marriage, while not completely unheard of, is very rare in modern America. If you have a hard time understanding how I can believe the guardian angel and not this part, I'm aware of the inconsistency.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
While a strange combination of gothic, romantic-comedy, and whatever genre a guardian angel fits, maybe supernatural, the story is fun, different, and creative. The setting for most of the book, a Scottish castle, is foreign to the American born Lauren and gives plenty of comedic opportunities as she deals with differences in culture and custom. After a warning from her guardian angel, Lauren is constantly trying to decipher potential hidden agendas, decide who is friend or foe, and working to figure out how to escape her strange situation.
I expect many readers who find what I've described appealing would be happy reading "Blood Line." I wasn't for two reasons, both items that bothered me early on that I was never able to get past.
The first is a matter of language. I believe if you're English speaking you should be able to adapt to variations in spelling and word usage. I believe an Aussie author writing about characters and events in Australia using the spelling conventions and local slang of their home country adds to the reading experience. The same rule goes for someone who is British, Canadian, or any other country. If the usage fits the character and locale, I'm happy.
Since most of the events in "Blood Line" take place in Scotland and most of the characters are from there I shouldn't have any issues with spelling and language consistent with Scotland. I don't with the exception of Lauren. Knowing she was an American I found myself questioning dialog that didn't ring true. Sometimes it was the syntax, correct, but not how a character with Lauren's background would speak. Other times it was the use of a specific word. One example is Lauren referring to the restroom as "the loo" multiple times before she'd even set foot in Scotland. Virtually no eighteen-year-old American girl is going to use that word habitually.
The other thing I had a hard time with was the idea that a mother and father would arrange a marriage without their daughter's knowledge or consent and essentially arrange for her kidnapping to carry out that arrangement. In another time, place, or maybe just a set of parents with a different situation than Lauren's I might have been able to suspend my disbelief. In this instance, I wasn't able. An arranged marriage, while not completely unheard of, is very rare in modern America. If you have a hard time understanding how I can believe the guardian angel and not this part, I'm aware of the inconsistency.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
April 29, 2011
Blood Line
By Kate Hamilton
Copyright 2011 by Kate Hamilton
Amazon Kindle ASIN B004KZOU3E $4.50
Blood Line by Kate Hamilton is one of the more interesting romances I have read lately. I found its plot line unique and highly interesting. I enjoyed a few good chuckles as I read through the book. It is the tale of Lauren, a reluctant bride promised in marriage to the Scottish Laird Hugh MacBreach, and of Lauren’s guardian angel, Cidriel.
Lauren is Cidriel’s first assignment and some of his skills, especially those in human communication could use a bit of polishing. On his first visit to Lauren he fails to impress upon her how serious her plight is and he then finds himself in one position after another where his skill and timing are sorely pressed as Lauren seems to continually land herself in hot water.
Lauren finds herself embroiled in a Gothic suspense of the first caliber as she ties to avoid marrying the one man who might possibly be able to make her happy. But before Lauren can hope to find to find happiness she has to avoid the attempts on her life and try to discover her role in a prophecy she finds in a book in her library. All signs seem to point to something dark and terrible for Lauren, but can her angel help her out of her bind, and speaking of her angel, there’s sparks flying between Lauren and Cidriel. Maybe things are even more complicated than they appear on the surface. Could the right man not be a man at all?
Kate Hamilton keeps you guessing on this one up till the final paragraphs. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think you’ll find the ending quite satisfying. I know I did. Until you reach it you’ll be kept turning pages by Hamilton’s excellent storytelling skills and her ability to continually draw you deeper into the story. I read the story through in two evenings as I did not want to put it down. When it was over I enjoyed the glow that comes from experiencing a tale well told and a romance that was exactly that, something that made your heart pound with excitement and joy. It was a wonderful experience.
By Kate Hamilton
Copyright 2011 by Kate Hamilton
Amazon Kindle ASIN B004KZOU3E $4.50
Blood Line by Kate Hamilton is one of the more interesting romances I have read lately. I found its plot line unique and highly interesting. I enjoyed a few good chuckles as I read through the book. It is the tale of Lauren, a reluctant bride promised in marriage to the Scottish Laird Hugh MacBreach, and of Lauren’s guardian angel, Cidriel.
Lauren is Cidriel’s first assignment and some of his skills, especially those in human communication could use a bit of polishing. On his first visit to Lauren he fails to impress upon her how serious her plight is and he then finds himself in one position after another where his skill and timing are sorely pressed as Lauren seems to continually land herself in hot water.
Lauren finds herself embroiled in a Gothic suspense of the first caliber as she ties to avoid marrying the one man who might possibly be able to make her happy. But before Lauren can hope to find to find happiness she has to avoid the attempts on her life and try to discover her role in a prophecy she finds in a book in her library. All signs seem to point to something dark and terrible for Lauren, but can her angel help her out of her bind, and speaking of her angel, there’s sparks flying between Lauren and Cidriel. Maybe things are even more complicated than they appear on the surface. Could the right man not be a man at all?
Kate Hamilton keeps you guessing on this one up till the final paragraphs. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think you’ll find the ending quite satisfying. I know I did. Until you reach it you’ll be kept turning pages by Hamilton’s excellent storytelling skills and her ability to continually draw you deeper into the story. I read the story through in two evenings as I did not want to put it down. When it was over I enjoyed the glow that comes from experiencing a tale well told and a romance that was exactly that, something that made your heart pound with excitement and joy. It was a wonderful experience.
March 31, 2011
Imagine you've had one Hell of a day. Nastiness at work or school, problems with the family and everything in between. Then you find an angel standing in your bedroom, telling you that your life is in danger. Sound fun? That's what Lauren MacBreach finds herself facing in the first pages of Kate Hamilton's Gothic rom-com, Blood Line. And the book only gets more outrageous from there.
Lauren, our spunky, imaginative and very likeable heroine, is swept off to Scotland after her parents arrange for her to marry the Laird of Tomindoul, and once she's there, she meets a variety of colorful and intriguing characters who may or may not want her dead, including the envious Euphemia and the gun-happy Ginger. Luckily, she has her guardian angel, Cidriel, to watch after her.
The characters are one of the strongest points of the book. Hamilton has an incredible sense of character voice and behavior that allows Lauren and Cid to jump off the page. I adored Cidriel and often found myself eagerly awaiting his next appearance. In addition that, the book is rich with Scottish culture and custom, bringing the setting to life. As Lauren explores the castle of Tomindoul and the surrounding villages and islands, the reader feels as though they are following every winding staircase and corridor along with her.
Also, it is fascinating to witness Lauren's transformation, we'll say, throughout the book. I won't give anything away, but she is quite a dynamic character.
However, I feel the book's primary weak point is its ending. Again, I won't give it away, but the ending feels very sudden, and it's very ambiguous. The rest of the story is fairly straightforward so that it feels somewhat out-of-place to have such an ambiguous ending. The book, in general, requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, but if you're willing to give it that, it won't be a problem. The editing could also use a little work; there are various misspellings and formatting problems.
Overall, though, I would recommend Blood Line. It's clever and quirky and certainly fun to read. (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)
Lauren, our spunky, imaginative and very likeable heroine, is swept off to Scotland after her parents arrange for her to marry the Laird of Tomindoul, and once she's there, she meets a variety of colorful and intriguing characters who may or may not want her dead, including the envious Euphemia and the gun-happy Ginger. Luckily, she has her guardian angel, Cidriel, to watch after her.
The characters are one of the strongest points of the book. Hamilton has an incredible sense of character voice and behavior that allows Lauren and Cid to jump off the page. I adored Cidriel and often found myself eagerly awaiting his next appearance. In addition that, the book is rich with Scottish culture and custom, bringing the setting to life. As Lauren explores the castle of Tomindoul and the surrounding villages and islands, the reader feels as though they are following every winding staircase and corridor along with her.
Also, it is fascinating to witness Lauren's transformation, we'll say, throughout the book. I won't give anything away, but she is quite a dynamic character.
However, I feel the book's primary weak point is its ending. Again, I won't give it away, but the ending feels very sudden, and it's very ambiguous. The rest of the story is fairly straightforward so that it feels somewhat out-of-place to have such an ambiguous ending. The book, in general, requires quite a lot of suspension of disbelief, but if you're willing to give it that, it won't be a problem. The editing could also use a little work; there are various misspellings and formatting problems.
Overall, though, I would recommend Blood Line. It's clever and quirky and certainly fun to read. (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews