Dark Highland Skies ~ (Lizzie’s Scottish Romances)Dark Highland Skies ~ #Scottish Historical Romance #Review @lizzie_lamb

Astrophysicist Halley Dunbar has spent her career searching for the one-in-a-billion exoplanet outside our solar system capable of sustaining life. Required to travel to Lochaber, Scotland to arrange her great-uncle’s funeral, she leaves the world she knows behind and encounters people who make her realise there’s more to life than searching for something that might not exist.

Laird’s son, Tor Strachan rocks up, and she discovers the one man capable of making her happy. However, there are obstacles in the way, and it becomes clear that Afghan veteran Tor must confront his demons before he can be the man Halley deserves. As for Halley, she has secrets of her own; ones she can’t share with anyone – not even Tor.

A good man is hard to find.

Early Reviews for Dark Highland Skies

“I knew by the end of Chapter One that Halley Dunbar was another of Lizzie Lamb’s fabulous heroines who was going to make me laugh out loud, root for her all the way and feel every emotion going. Lizzie’s portrayal of Scotland and all things Scottish, from the landscape to the mannerisms and customs is outstanding. Janet Brigden

Another unputdownable Highland tale from the Queen of Scottish contemporary romance – 5 Stars
When Halley Dunbar returns to the Highlands of Scotland to say her final farewells to her beloved uncle, memories, past prejudices, and strong emotions are reawakened − despite her determination to stay grounded in the present and focused on her future. Adrienne Vaughan

“I love Lizzie Lamb’s novels. You can guarantee there will be not only a handsome kilted hero, but also a feisty heroine. There is also a certainty that they will be surrounded by a great supporting cast (some you’ll love, others you won’t) and, of course, stunning Scottish countryside. Highly recommended.” Jo Lambert

Our Review

From the very first page, I wondered why a dedicated astrophysicist would travel thousands of miles, leaving Hawaii for a man she hasn’t seen for twenty years?

Or was something else calling her?

I visited Scotland when I was a child and looked forward to experiencing more of the Scottish way of life. The glorious descriptions in Dark Highland Skies took me back there in no time at all. This was when I made a mental note to read more of Lizzie’s stories!

It is always interesting to see and feel the growth of a relationship first-hand. Judging their progress and their failings.

We judge them against some internal chart. None of us is an expert in romantic endeavours, but we always have an opinion, don’t we?

I enjoyed the way both characters show their true feelings, not always to each other, but at least we knew what was going on. This is one of the best romances I have ever read, as the electricity between Tor and Halley was brilliantly captivating.

But how can their romance come to anything if they prefer to live at opposite ends of the world?

Lizzie Lamb

Hi, I’m Lizzie and I like writing about the ‘moment’ when the hero and the heroine fall in love. That, and trying to track down the all-elusive hero-in-a-kilt, is what gets me in front of the computer each morning. Since 2012 I’ve published six novels: Tall, Dark and Kilted, Boot Camp Bride, Scotch on the Rocks, Girl in the Castle, Take Me, I’m Yours and Harper’s Highland Fling. My latest novel, Dark Highland Skies is due to publish February 2023 and I’ve loved writing it. I organise the Leicester Chapter of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and present workshops on indie publishing to new writers. My feel good/uplit novels would be very happy to sit alongside Jilly Cooper, Jenny Colgan, Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews on your bookshelf.

I love writing because it’s given me the chance to celebrate everything I love about my homeland – Scotland, and to share those feelings with my readers. When I’m not writing, I spend summer with my husband touring Scotland in our caravan researching my next novel and avoiding the midges.

Slainte Mhath.

To Write…

That is the question…

At the end of last week, I summoned up a ton of enthusiasm for my so-called writing life and the future of my current WIP. I say so-called, for it hasn’t amounted to much so far this year. There have been a few lively patches of activity, which I thoroughly enjoyed, followed by periods of other such business.

Commonly called life, although I really wish it wouldn’t bother me as I can do without it. This week, for instance, has filled up over the weekend with repairmen, doctor visits and a visiting relative, culminating in Milo’s vet appointment for the snip and chip.

It could be worse, I suppose, as the minute the weather gets warmer, I will need to show my face out there and go through the motions of being a gardener. It has to happen soon, I suppose.

All this lack of writing progress has happened because I have lost my early morning window. This was when I would be the only one awake, and for at least two hours, the writing world would be my oyster.

I have tried to cultivate an evening slot, but I am so tired by then that it hasn’t happened yet. It is beginning to look like I must choose between promoting and/or advertising to get the job done.

Of course, all of this is most distressing, as I have always managed to cope with as many irons in the fire as needed.

Added to all of this is the certain knowledge that time is definitely speeding up.

There used to be time to think, for a start…

Counting Stars

Lost In Amberland

Infinite layers of love
Spiraling all the way down
Nervous system overload, exhaustion
Millions of shining lights
Out of darkness emerges a new light
Infinity’s afterglow is Amber
Supernova in the sky above
After all this time
My spaceship left the atmosphere
And she walked out that door

View original post

Spotlight Poetry – Exiled – A Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Art, Music, Photography, Poetry and Quotations

(PAINTING) (TITLE) (SEA STORM 20 (ARTIST) (GORAN ŽIGOLIĆ) (POEM) (EXILED) (POET) (EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY)

© Goran Žigolić, Stormy SeaII, 2020

Exiled by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Wanting the sticky, salty sweetness
  Of the strong wind and shattered spray;
Wanting the loud sound and the soft sound
  Of the big surf that breaks all day.

Always I climbed the wave at morning,
  Shook the sand from my shoes at night,
That now am caught beneath great buildings,
  Stricken with noise, confused with light.

If I could see the weedy mussels
  Crusting the wrecked and rotting hulls,
Hear once again the hungry crying
  Overhead, of the wheeling gulls,

I should be happy,—that was happy
  All day long on the coast of Maine!
I have a need to hold and handle
  Shells and anchors and ships again!

Poem Attribution © Edna St. Vincent Millay, Exiled

Source Attribution https://hellopoetry.com/poem/2165/exiled/

View more Spotlight Poetry

Painting Attribution © Goran Žigolić, Stormy SeaII, 2020

Source Attributionhttps://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Stormy-sea-2/782678/7780766/view

Thank you for your…

View original post 7 more words

Revising a Novel & Dress Making – The Similarities #MondayBlogs #Writerslife

Lucy Mitchell Author Blog

Revising a novel is important. Going through a series of drafts and focusing on things like characterisation, plot, setting and pacing is where I think a novel is really created. Sadly it’s not produced on the first draft.

The thought of going through the revision process once you’ve slaved away at your first draft can be daunting and leave you with an uncomfortable feeling. Trust me, I feel the same at the end of every first draft. The thought of taking it apart and undoing all my hard work is enough to put me off my dinner.

However, after a few weeks when you return to your first draft and read back what you wrote, you realise why revision is so crucial. Seriously time away from your first draft is so valuable. That’s where you read your first draft through the gaps in your fingers whilst groaning.

For this blog…

View original post 556 more words

Silent Sunday… #Time

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay 

We did remember to change the clocks this morning, all six of them. With each one we altered, we bemoaned the loss of that precious hour, as all time is precious without having it stolen from us. And before you mention it, we know we get it back again in October!

It’s probably something to do with old age, but time does seem to be speeding up at an alarming rate. It seems we only have to blink and that’s another month gone. It’s as if we are racing to get somewhere, and if that is the case, a few clues would be nice!

Image by Thought Catalog from Pixabay 

There is a light in us…

Time for Memory… #Poetry

Time for Writing…

Today, I am spending time with my WIP, hoping to discover the magic that I know hides between the pages…

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend, and we will see you on Monday…