Catriona Virtual Book Tour August and September 2011

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Join Jeanette Baker, author of the historical romance, Catriona (Sourcebooks Casablanca), as she virtually tours the blogosphere August 1 – September 30,2011 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About Jeanette Baker

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Jeanette Baker is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, published by Pocket, Kensington and Mira Books, many of them set in the lush countryside of historical and contemporary Ireland where she lives and writes during the summer months. Her ancestors, the O’Flahertys, hail from Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands located off the coast of Galway. She takes great pride in the prayer posted by the English over the ancient citygates, ‘From the wrath of the O’Flahertys, may the good Lord deliver us.’

Jeanette graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in journalism and international relations and holds a Masters Degree in Education. When not in Ireland, she teaches in Southern California, reads constantly, attempts to navigate the confusing world of Facebook and, more recently, e-publishing, concocts creations from interesting cookbooks and enjoys the company of friends and children. She is the RITA award-winning author of NELL.

Please visit and blog with her at www.jeanettebaker.com.

About Catriona

Kate Sutherland has always felt out of step growing up in Southern California, but it isn’t until her adoptive mother’s death that she travels to Scotland to discover the truth about her heritage. There, with the help of a high-priestess of an ancient Scottish sect, she experiences the visions that reveal she is one of the twice-born and that five centuries before she walked the earth as Catriona Wells, daughter of an English earl and a Scots princess, first cousin to James IV of Scotland, English spy and harbinger of a shameful secret.

Catriona, determined to save her young brother from the deadly political clashes of 15th century England and Scotland, embarks upon a fragile balancing act between the court of Jamie Stewart and his arch rival, Henry Tudor, King of England. But Cat’s cunning is no match for Patrick MacKendrick, laird of Hermitage, legend of the borders, right hand to Jamie Stewart who suspects her story for the lie it is. As intrigue in the Scottish court builds and Jamie Stewart’s enemies are unveiled, Cat realizes that the man who deserves her loyalty is the one she has bargained to destroy.

Meanwhile Kate, whose visions rapidly take on a reality of their own, is caught between a present-day attraction to Niall MacKendrick, a Scots historian, the drama of her own adoption—and risking everything in Catriona’s world of passion and bloodshed.

Read the Excerpt!

“You’ve lived too long in England,” he said at last, breaking the lengthy silence. “Has no one ever remarked that you’ve the look of your mother?”
“Many times,” Cat replied shortly. The wound of her mother’s death was still fresh. She would not speak of it to this stranger. “Who are you?”
“Patrick MacKendrick, Laird of Hailes.”
The name hung between them for an endless moment. Cat was unprepared for the surge of anger raging through her at his open admission.
“You!” she cried. “I know you! Everyone knows of you! You are the MacKendrick of Hailes!”
His eyes were remote, guarded against her. “Aye.” He nodded.
Her voice shook in a furious whisper. “You whoreson traitor!”
Patrick MacKendrick said nothing. A muscle worked in his tight jaw, and those who knew him well would long since have backed away.
“You are a peasant attempting the impossible,” she railed at him. “Do you imagine you’ll keep your position? Jamie is wise enough to know if you betrayed one king, you’ll betray another.”
He seized her arm and pulled her against him, his eyes glittering dangerously. “Pull in your claws, Lady Cat.” His voice was as smooth and soft as polished satin. “I would like a private word with you.”
“You may not have it.” She struggled against the arms that bound her like bands of steel.
“You have no choice,” he murmured against her ear. “’Tis undignified to struggle. Do you wish the entire court to witness your display of temper?” Jamie dislikes scenes. Submit or I will persuade him to send you back to England.”
She smiled sweetly and relaxed, her voice as cloying as warm honey. “Very well, I’ll go with you.” Under the veiled lashes, her eyes glittered and her whisper cut like the lash of a whip. “But understand this, you arrogant bastard: if you manhandle me again, you’ll live to regret it.”
Patrick’s mouth twitched. “Make all the threats you wish, m’lady, but refrain from maligning my mother. She was lawfully married to my father, and ’tis a sin to speak ill of the dead.”
Cat glared at him. The laughter in his voice enraged her. She would not dignify his comment with a reply. Coldly, she withdrew her arm from his grasp. Head held high, she preceded him out of the room into a recessed antechamber furnished with a small table and a single chair.
Only when she heard the door close did she turn to face him. “Say what you must and then release me. I tire of your presence.”
His face looked grim and very dangerous in the light of the flickering torches. Cat was suddenly afraid. She stepped back and felt the wall behind her.
A tight smile crossed his lips and then vanished immedi¬ately. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “Do you fear me, mistress?” His voice was velvety smooth, but she could hear the anger beneath the mild words.
“I fear no man,” she retorted, lifting her chin.
“Then you are a fool.” He pushed away from the door and came toward her until his face was inches from her own.
His breath fanned her cheek. She could smell the scent of soap-root that clung to him. His cheeks were very hollow under the high, jutting bones, and once again, Cat noticed the remarkable color of his eyes. They were a deep, unrelieved gray, the gray of rain and mist and tempered steel. She held her breath, but he made no move to touch her. She was oddly disappointed.
“Jamie Stewart is yet an uncrowned king,” he warned her. “The slightest hint that he is undeserving could mean death.”
“I’ve no quarrel with Jamie,” she whispered, “nor do I question his right to the throne. After all, my uncle is dead.”
He reached out for a lock of shining hair, tugging at it to bring her closer. “You spoke of murder and traitors, lass. Is your quarrel only with me?” Her eyes were as green as the emerald resting in the hollow between her breasts.
“My cousin would never have committed his foul act without the likes of you!”
“Nay, you are wrong.” His denial was swift and forceful. “’Tis true, I wanted a strong king for Scotland, but never doubt that Jamie always intended to rule. He sought me out, although I must admit, neither of us needed a great deal of persuasion.”
“I don’t believe you!”
The MacKendrick was silent. He was aware that she continued to rail at him, but her words ceased to hold meaning. Her hair felt like black silk in his hand. In the shadows, in the firelight, everywhere he saw her face, she was beautiful. The pure curve of her cheek, the line of her throat, the odd slant of her eyes, the very scent of her stirred his blood.
“Are you betrothed?” he asked, interrupting her.
Her eyes widened. “How dare you?” she breathed. The rise and fall of her breasts was very pronounced. “The blood of kings runs through my veins, MacKendrick.” She lifted her head proudly. “When I wed, it will be to a man of my own order.”
His eyes danced with amusement. “Are you always so presumptuous?”
Cat flushed. “Why would you ask such a question?” she muttered, ashamed of her lack of composure.
His hands slid under her sleeves and gently gripped her elbows. The very presence of him threatened to overpower her. She could feel her knees weaken. Swaying, she braced herself against his chest for balance. “Look at me, Cat,” he ordered.
As if she had no will of her own, she lifted her head. She met his burning glance with heavy-lidded eyes.
“There is more that binds a man and woman than holy vows,” he murmured, his breath tickling her ear. “I’ve no inclination for marriage. When the time is right, I’ll see to it.” His lips brushed the hollow of her cheek
Reacting to the warmth of his chest and the persuasive seduction of his words, her eyelids closed. Every instinct clamored to accept his invitation, to lay down her guard and melt against him, succumbing to the magic of his touch.
He chuckled. Immediately her eyes flew open. He sounded amused and much too sure of himself. Cat blinked, struggling to rid herself of the bone-weakening spell his lips and arms evoked.
“Release me, MacKendrick,” she demanded.
Immediately, he dropped his arms.
She met his gaze steadily, without embarrassment. “If you burn, ’tis your own fault. There are women enough who would gladly warm your bed.”
He grinned, his eyes resting on the arrogant tilt of her chin. Holy God, she was a woman worth having. “I’m flattered you noticed.”
“I could scarcely help it,” she retorted. “They practically fall at your feet.”
“But not you.” His voice was almost a whisper. “You will not fall at my feet, will you, Cat?”
She stood her ground, her voice strong and sure. “My mother was a Stewart princess. I am cousin to the king. You are not my equal, MacKendrick. Jamie may call you friend, but he would never allow a marriage between us. You must look elsewhere for your bride.”
Patrick MacKendrick was born eight and twenty years ago. He had hacked out his fortunes with his wits and his own two arms, asking favors from no one. For a long time his power had gone unquestioned in the borders. Now, thanks to Jamie, he had the rest of Scotland as well. He considered the lovely face before him. Neither in war nor politics had he experienced the taste of defeat. He wondered, for a brief moment, if he might suffer it at the hands of a woman.

Here’s what critics are saying about Catriona!

” Jeanette Baker moves to the head of the historical romance class with CATRIONA, an absolutely stunning and unique mixing of several genres (supernatural, historical, and contemporary romances) into a great novel that will delight fans from all three genres. The characters from both sides of the Atlantic and from both centuries are first rate, well described, and humanized, turning a brilliant story line into one of the top novels of the year to date.”

– Harriet Klausner, Amazon reviewer

Catriona Virtual Book Tour Schedule

COMING SOON!

Jeanette Baker’s CATRIONA VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 will officially begin on August 1 and end on September 30 ’11. Please contact Tracee Gleichner at tgleichner(at)live(dot)com if you are interested in hosting and/or reviewing her book or click here to use the form. Thank you!

If you would like to book your own virtual book tour with us, click here to find out how!

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