Skip to content

Tag: book review

NEW WORDPRESS THEME

NEW WORDPRESS THEME

Published by stella on January 27, 2016

OMG! I uploaded a new more mobile-friendly wordpress theme last night.

Then, of course, it crashed. Bad news.

Good news. I called my service provider, (netfirms), the increased the cache size, and Woo Hoo! Here we go.

Bad news? Time to go to work.

Good news? I’ll work on it tonight.

Bear with me while I maximize it! When I checked my stats, almost all my visits are via mobile. Doh.

Thanks, as always, you guys, for stopping by.  Can you leave a comment to see if that is working?

Thanks so much! oh yea… don’t forget to download my book and…

stop by later… I have this HUGE secret to share about my next book.

 

 

CLICK COVER TO ORDER

bestseller - Copy

bestseller - Copy

Leave a Comment

StellaMarieAlden chats on Medieval Romances!

Published by stella on January 18, 2016

Night Owl Reviews

Night Owl Reviews invited me, Stella Marie Alden, to chat!sue

Hoping you will join me! This is SOOOO exciting.

Here’s a chance for us to chat! I can’t wait to meet you!

Readers can RSVP now at the below link.
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Chats#EntryForm
 
RSVP Benefits:
 
* The RSVP gives readers entry into the evenings prizes (must be an active chatter at the event)
* A reminder email around 30 minutes before the event starts.

 

01/25 at 8:00 PM (Eastern Time )  Rebecca Royce, Stella Marie Alden and Tessa McFionn

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

News From Stella

Published by stella on January 15, 2016

Happy 2016!

Medieval Romances

I’m so excited to share all that is going on. First and foremost, I want to thank you all for stopping by my website. I hope it met your expectations!
I just got back from a visit north of Rome, where I stayed in a Medieval village. I ate our dinner of seven fishes a stone’s throw away from the topmost castle in Soriano.

soriano
There’s a hazelnut festival there, where they celebrate how an old woman saved the castle from an attack. In my mind’s eye, it was a young heroine, disguised as her grandmother. Of course the knight in charge refused to listen to her earlier warning. The steward of the castle was murdered…

Ah, but wait. I must first finish my third English Medieval Romance before I tell you about the next series. It should be ready early this summer. Lady Fay, a queen of the Isle of Man meets her match, a bastard step-brother to the famous Bruce.

Also, stay tuned. I may be pairing up with another author and delve into the paranormal.

And for my pitch? Anyone willing to post a review on Amazon, I will gift you a copy. Writers live and die by the number of their Amazon reviews. I must rely on you, my dear fans, to help me out. Without you, I will not be able to compete. Here are the links. All you need do is say what one thing you liked best.
Leave a review for ‘How To Train Your Knight’

https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?ie=UTF8&asin=B00WRNKOOU

Leave a review for ‘How To Marry Your Wife’ :

https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?ie=UTF8&asin=B017KPHKVO

 

If you have a blog, I have over 7K twitter followers. I would be happy to add you to a list!
My newest book has only nine reviews. It takes fifty to start to make a difference in sales! Thanks so much for your help! Send me an email or message me on Facebook. I promise to answer!
I cannot thank you enough! You guys are THE BEST!

Leave a Comment

Midwest Review gives ‘How to Marry Your Wife’ a rating of ‘exquisite’

Published by stella on January 11, 2016

How to Marry Your Wife #4c copy

 $3.99 or available on Kindle Unlimited.
Soul Mate Publishing
by Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Fans of Alden’s prior book How to Train Your Knight might remember the protagonist Thomas in her latest How to Marry Your Wife, who was featured under main character Marcus in the first book.  Set in England in 1276, Templar Knight Sir Thomas D’Agostine has found the ideal woman with whom he will handfast; only a love potion hastens matters and changes their lives – and this is only the beginning.

Anticipate the same solid attention to medieval history and detailed sexual scenes as in How to Train Your Knight; only from a different perspective as a minor character assumes major proportions in this novel. Time moves swiftly using two different, alternating timelines identified by chapter headings, so readers need to be on their toes to absorb a satisfyingly fast-paced story line that revolves around romance.

But the marriage (when it happens) is a farce and is completed only because Thomas won’t have Merry bedding another man nor raising his son, and so love seems to vanish as the consequences of sex and love potions evolve. It’s not often that a brand new bride hates her husband before the marriage takes place, but Merry has been branded a harlot because of Thomas, and her hatred of him is just as intense as her reluctantly ongoing attraction.

The process of turning hate into love and rekindling more than the physical fires of passion is the theme of a rollicking good medieval read that infuses its protagonists with the lingo, culture and social mores of its times, yet includes a healthy dose of sexual description for spicy reading.

Romance readers with an affinity for early history will relish its passionate, powerful protagonists and their diametrically opposing personalities, and will find this saga of scoundrels, secrets, idiots and wise men (and women) is filled with satisfying medieval atmosphere and twists and turns of plot.

Under Alden’s hand, the sexual encounters reinforce and flavor events and the juxtaposition of battle scenes, romance, and the era’s political overtones is exquisite. There’s no need for either a prior familiarity with How to Train Your Knight or with medieval history and culture. As events unfold, Thomas and Merry are continually challenged both in their stormy relationships and in their stubborn natures which will ultimate lead to not just survival, but real love.

Without revealing spoilers, suffice it to say that the conclusion of How to Marry Your Wife leaves the door wide open for more – and readers who relish historical romances will welcome this possibility!

 

 

 

Leave a Comment
Changed by Italy

Changed by Italy

Published by stella on January 5, 2016

SorianoCouple

As I return from my third trip to Italy, and my fourth trip overseas, I am filled with wonder. How can this happened yet again? I look in the mirror and it seems incongruous that the same face stares back.

Like a balloon that has been filled with air and then deflated, I am stretched and changed. I’m filled with sights and sounds of another age. I walked along Medieval paths and touched the slits in the walls from which arrows flew.

darkMedieval

 

I stood in the square where traitors were burned at the stake. As I hiked up the narrow village paths, I ducked, hoping the over-ripe persimmons, known as cachi, would not fall upon my head.

cachi

I passed the old church wine cellar gate on the way to the castle where knights once held their ground.

winecellar

We lit an ancient fireplace and cooked fish over the embers of beechwood; the best, I am told, for cooking.

 

fireplace

I drank new wine from Uncle Tio, was fed by Luisa, and laughed with Fulvio, Stefano and the rest as we shared Christmas and the New Year. I stuffed myself on Panettone and drank cappucinno. I fell in love with my daughter Sarah’s extended family.

Truly, I am blessed beyond measure and I am not the same.

I have wonderful new ideas for my next set of Medieval Novels. Stop by occasionally and I will share!

For now, I hope you will enjoy a Romance in Medieval England. Choose one or both!

tower

US: http://ow.ly/WjTXG
CA: http://ow.ly/WjU15
UK: http://ow.ly/WjU58

Leave a Comment

New Year’s In Rome

Published by stella on December 31, 2015

20151229_085138[1]

Hi All,
Leaving beautiful Soriano nel Cimino today and going back to Rome for the New Year! I have many beautiful pictures and dreams of knights and heroines to bring home with me. The ghosts of these people walk the streets and night and call to me to write their love stories!

My First Books Are here:
Please enjoy!

How To Marry Your Wife

How To Marry Your Wife

How To Marry Your Wife

Leave a Comment

Christmas Week in Italy – part Two

Published by stella on December 27, 2015

Soriano1

The view above is from the lounge of my hotel room. I just took a walk in the small market, bought a capello rosa and went to the Supermarcato. My husband, Rich, has the sniffles so we may take it easy today.

I learned about the history of this village, where an old woman warned the villagers of an approaching army. In my mind’s eye? It was a beautiful young woman, dressed as her grandmother. And so the imagination takes off.

If you want to read my first two books, here are the links:

US: Stella Marie Alden

Canada: Stella Marie Alden

UK: http://ow.ly/WltB

Soriano2

Soriano3

Leave a Comment

A New Interview With Myself

Published by stella on December 14, 2015

sue

Hey! Where’re you going? I thought we were going to blog for a moment?

I’ve got a Zumba class in 15 minutes. Sorry. I hate interviews. Have I mentioned that?

 

Zumba? Really? I mean you’re getting on in years. I hope you take it easy…

Hell no. I take it to the max. I got calories to burn. I sit at a desk all day long.

 

What other workouts do you do?

I exercise at least six times a week. One step class, three Zumba classes, and two yoga classes. Listen, I really need to go…

 

That seems like a lot. When do you find time to write?

I get up at 5:30 seven days a week and write for at least two hours.

 

How impressive. How do you force yourself to do that?

Huh? Force? I’ve heard other people say what ‘hard work’ writing is. It’s not like that for me. What is hard, is to STOP writing. I wish I could write all day and all night.

 

I see you’ve published two medieval romances. Is there a particular reason you chose that genre?

Ha. ‘How to Train Your Knight’ was the first to get noticed by a publisher and my best at that time. I have a couple contemporary novels and a paranormal story just waiting for me to go back and get them ready for print. I wish I had more time…

 

Did you always want to be a writer?

Uh… no…. Honestly? For the longest time, I didn’t think beyond saving for my kids’ college, paying my bills, and getting a good night’s sleep. Being able to write is a recent discovery. I learned I can paint watercolors, as well. I sold a few in a gallery. And I learned to tile, and ah, code, manage a software project… I think as we get older, our capacity to learn increases. Don’t you?

 

Hmmm. Most would disagree.

You really are a Debbie Downer. Got a case of the Mondays? You get one more question. As I said, I have a workout.

 

What advice would you give new writers?

First of all? Do you love it? If not, find something else to do. If yes, then write every spare minute you have and then, if you are serious? Get some professional feedback and get better at your art. Then write some more and get more feedback, and write some more and get your work out there. And dream big and get published and write some more.

Sorry self. I gotta go. We can talk later.

Leave a Comment

Stella channels the past?

Published by stella on December 8, 2015

af0c84d5492a484b8076b638c3574d68The weirdest thing happened this morning and I just have to share it.

For those of you that don’t know me, I’m generally considered an extremely level-headed woman, I know well the difference between making things up and reality.

So that is why I am FREAKING OUT!

The heroine in my third book is entirely fictional and is supposed to be the only living survivor of King Magnus, the last of the Norse rulers on the Isle of Man. In my story, the King of Scotland, who conquered the Manx,  decides to put her on the throne, as an effort to win the goodwill of the people. I made up a haughty female to be able to spar with the alpha knight I have in mind.

This morning, while doing some research on the ‘Isle of Man,’ I found an obscure reference to another,  written by a scholar at Western Michigan University. In it, I read that there actually was a queen on the isle of Man in the same decade in which I am writing!  She was the closest living heir to the last king of Man,

I had no idea.

SHIVERS.

http://www.medievalists.net/2012/09/16/viking-women-in-the-isle-of-man/

http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=hilltopreview

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

THE BLOG EXTRAVAGANZA CONTINUES! $25 RAFFLE!

Published by stella on November 23, 2015

Hi to All of You AWESOME folks who landed here today!!!
 99CentsAndNever

First of all, I say Good luck on the $25 Raffle.

 

HERE IS THE LINK!!!
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f34356f18/

Secondly, I’ve had so many friends and new authors ask me these few questions.

What is a Blog Tour?
It’s a whole lot of websites who’ve agreed to host your content for a day, or a few days.

How can I get myself one of those?
I thank likeabossbookpromotionsblog@gmail.com for arranging this second of two wonderful tours.

I can get over forty folks to blog for me?
Well, it isn’t quite that easy. If you want to be successful, you should help promote the promoter! To do that, I suggest that you think to ‘give back.’ Create safe places where romance writers can post. You can make a Facebook page or a Goodreads group or a Pinterest board. Or find some new way! Tweet your favorite authors!

 

Medieval has never been better

 

Here is a list of bloggers who’ve agreed to share in my release day!! I have posted their Facebook and their Blog sites. I’ve also made sure to ‘tweet’ them all at least once today!

I’ve made sure they have a ‘never seen before’ excerpt!!!

You can catch us on FACEBOOK as well!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/494523867375360/

THANK YOU ALL!!!

  • http://www.sugarandspicesmuttyandnice.com/ https://m.facebook.com/morrisonmagee?ref=bookmarks
    http://romancenovelgiveaways.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RomanceNovelGiveaways
    http://jjbookbangers.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jjbookbangers/
    Readinginsarahscorner.blogspot.com Https://www.facebook.com/readinginsarahscorner
    http://sweet-n-sassy-book-a-holics.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sweetnsassybookaholics
    https://m.facebook.com/ThePowerofThreeReaders?_rdr
    http://jodieswinelist.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/JodiesWINEListReviews
    http://hereiswhatireadblog.wordpress.com http://facebook.com/hereiswhatiread
    https://www.facebook.com/thecatsmeowbookstop/
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-Reviews-Virginia-Lee/650529651718400
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-Reviews-Virginia-Lee/650529651718400
    https://m.facebook.com/badboysandbedtimestories/…
    http://sinfullysweetpromotions.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SinfullySweetPromotions/
    http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/fictionalrendezvousbookblog/
    https://www.facebook.com/sharingmybookboyfriends
    https://www.facebook.com/myreadingreality
    http://readingdrinkingandrelaxing.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/readingdrinkingandrelaxing?ref=hl
    http://mbrennanbrokensisters.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MaureenBrennan.Author/
    http://lynnsloveofbooks.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/lynnsbookblog/
    agirlandherbooksblog.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/LoverOfAllBooks
    www.facebook.com/groups/bookdreams
    http://shoutoutreads.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/shoutoutreads/
    http://2gbgw.com/ https://www.facebook.com/2girlsabookandaglassofwine
    http://jazzyworldofebookshelf.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/Jazzyworldofebookshelf/
    Http://www.blowpopsbooks.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/blowpopsbookreviews/
    http://fromchikawithlove.blogspot.co.il/ https://www.facebook.com/From-Chika-With-Love-184821012873…/
    http://twoangelsandadevil.com/ https://www.facebook.com/2FeistyAngelsandaDevil/
    http://anythingbutvanillablog.blogspot.com/ and http://digitaldirtygirlbookblog.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AnythingButVanillaBookBlog/ and https://www.facebook.com/DigitalDirtyGirlBookBlog/
    https://book-loverblog14.blogspot.co.uk https://facebook.com/bookloverblog2014
    Http://www.SassyMomsSayReadRomance.com Https://www.facebook.com/SassyMomsSayReadRomance
    www.danisbookreviewblog.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/danisbookreviews
    http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/fangirlmomentsandmytwocents
    http://fabulousladiesbookblog.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/fabulousladiesbookblog/
    http://nicolesbookmusings.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/nicolebookmusings
    http://www.facebook.com/outrageousheroes
    http://nicelyphrasedbookblog.com/ https://www.facebook.com/NicelyPhrasedBookBlog/
    http://love2readblog.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/love2readblog/
    http://dusgadh.weebly.com/my-book-blog www.facebook.com/bargain4books
1 Comment