Cathie Dunn writes...

May is almost upon us, and with it hopefully more sunshine and warmer temperatures. I hope you'll enjoy spring where you are. Today, I welcome another fabulous author, fellow  Rose Isabella Macotte . Let's hear it from Isabella. I’m Isabella Macotte , author of The Heart Gem , published by The Wild Rose Press. I love books. My love of reading goes all the way back to my childhood. I still remember my first elementary school field trip. The whole third-grade class marched over to the public library in Chicago, and we received our first library cards. Since then, you can always find me with a new book in my hand or on my e-reader. After working in accounting for a number of years, I’ve made my way back to the library. One of the best things about my job in a library? Spending my lunch break up in the book stacks looking for a new story to read.  My Place: The Heart Gem is my current release. A historical romance novel set in England , the s...

Today, I'm taking you on a visit to a dear old friend: Nessie ! Loch Ness is the most popular loch in Scotland. Perhaps not quite with the romantic reputation of Loch Lomond, but its long-standing inhabitant, Loch Ness attracts millions of visitors. Urquhart Castle on the shore of Loch Ness We are fortunate in that my in-laws (or outlaws, as I call them) live only a mile from Nessie Town, also known as Drumnadrochit  (where you can find the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition). So we have plenty of opportunities to visit over and over again. As if we needed an excuse... I love the atmosphere around Loch Ness. Its deep, dark waters lapping against the shore, the high-rising hills either side, it's a beautiful area. The rugged ruin of Urquhart Castle peeking out over the water is a magnet for tourists and a fabulous site to visit. I've taken a boat out several times, always amazed by the calm, black waters. It's incredibly soothing, both from a boat and from ...

It's time to welcome another fantastic author to My Place. Please say 'hi' to the lovely Jacquie Rogers. Handing over to Jacquie: I'm a former software designer, campaign manager, deli clerk, and cow milker, but always a bookworm. Reading is my passion--westerns, fantasies, historicals of any era, and all with a dash of romance. If an author can make me laugh, I'll buy every book he/she ever wrote. While I'm a country girl by birth, I currently live in suburbia with my very patient husband (important point: we are the staff of one cat) I don't think you can ever take the country out of a girl's heart. That's probably why my stories often take place in Idaho where I grew up. (Hearts of Owyhee series and some of my short stories, too.) My Place: I’d love to introduce you to God’s Country today.  I’ve since found out that many places on this planet are truly marvelous, but as a chilld, I was told and firmly believed that th...

I need your help, dear friends! Today marks the start for voting in the YGR Best Video Poll April 2012 from You Gotta Read ! Voting ends 12.01am 27th April 2012. The Dark Deceit trailer is at no. 6 . Please click on it, then scroll down to submit your vote. I appreciate it. Here's the link:  http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/ Below is the trailer again, which I'm still quite chuffed about... ;-) Thanks a bunch, my lovely friends! xxx

Today, I want to share an incredible building in one of my favourite towns: La Tour Marguerite  in Argentan. Back in October 2007 (that long ago, sob!), hubby and I took the car to Normandy, France, and stayed in a farm B&B on the outskirts of the pretty, old market town of Argentan . It was one of our best ever breaks, full of touristy stuff, historical visits, relaxation, walks, good food and friendly people. You can find photos of our trip on Flickr . Argentan is first noted officially in the 11th century, and it was an important town during the day of the early Norman dukes, then the Plantagenents, and later the French. Not far from Falaise (William the Conqueror's home town), it played a strategic role. Eleanor of Aquitaine stayed for a while and talks were held here to reconcile Henry II with Thomas Becket. Argentan is full of historic buildings - churches, houses, a donjon. Folk were very friendly, especially as we spoke in broken French rather than English. ...