Blue Bells of Scotland Virtual Book Tour
10:22 AM
Join Laura Vosika, author of the historical fiction novel, Blue Bells of Scotland: The Trilogy (Gabriel’s Horn Publishing), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in September and October ‘10 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!
Publisher: Gabriel's Horn Publishing (September 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0984215107
ISBN-13: 978-0984215102
About Blue Bells of Scotland: The Trilogy
Shawn Kleiner has it all: money, fame, a skyrocketing career as an international musical phenomenon, his beautiful girlfriend Amy, and all the women he wants—until the night Amy has enough and leaves him stranded in a Scottish castle tower.
He wakes up to find himself mistaken for Niall Campbell, medieval Highland warrior. Soon after, he is sent shimmying down a wind-torn castle wall into a dangerous cross country trek with Niall’s tempting, but knife-wielding fiancee. They are pursued by English soldiers and a Scottish traitor who want Niall dead.
Thrown forward in time, Niall learns history’s horrifying account of his own death, and of the Scots’ slaughter at Bannockburn. Undaunted, he navigates the roiled waters of Shawn’s life—pregnant girlfriend, amorous fans, enemies, and gambling debts—seeking a way to leap back across time to save his people, especially his beloved Allene. His growing fondness for Shawn’s life brings him face to face with his own weakness and teaches him the true meaning of faith.
Blue Bells of Scotland is both a historical adventure and a tale of redemption that will be remembered long after the last page has been turned.
Read the Excerpt!
“Give me the car keys.” Amy thrust her hand out.
“You didn’t get your international license. You can’t drive.”
“Watch me.”
Shawn laughed, digging in the pocket of his baggy, medieval trews. “I know you, Amy. You won’t jaywalk on a deserted street. I paid good money for this meal. I’ll be out when I’m done.” He flipped the keys at her, much harder than necessary.
She caught them in a neat overhand. “I will expect my grandmother’s ring back as promised,” she said in clipped tones, “or I will cause so much trouble in every possible corner of your life, you’ll wish you’d never thought up that idiotic story about tinagle connectors.” She threw the tartan down at him.
“I didn’t make….”
“Stuff it, Shawn. I saw Jim while I was waiting in the lobby. He almost died laughing, said there’s no such thing on a trombone. Thanks for humiliating me, on top of it. Maybe some day you’ll come clean about what you needed—make that wanted—the money for.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” He jumped to his feet. “I needed that money! There was this big Scot. He was coming with his friends to beat the living daylights out of me!”
“Did you sleep with his wife? You probably deserved to be beaten to a pulp.” She shoved past him, glaring back from the arched doorway at the top of the stairwell. “I cannot believe I’ve stayed with you this long!” She spun on her heel. Her voice floated back up from the dark staircase. “I cannot believe I kept thinking there was something better in you!” He ran to the western wall to see her emerge from the tower into the courtyard. Mist swirled around her ankles. “Everybody told me there was nothing better there!” she shouted up at him.
“Bull!” he shouted back, leaning over the tower. “They love me!”
“You have no idea what they say behind your back,” Amy yelled. “Selfish, self-centered, obnoxious, loud! They’re just afraid of your temper. Arrogant!” She turned and stormed across the courtyard, tearing through tendrils of mist grabbing at her legs.
“I am not loud!” he bellowed.Here’s what critics are saying about Blue Bells of Scotland:
“You didn’t get your international license. You can’t drive.”
“Watch me.”
Shawn laughed, digging in the pocket of his baggy, medieval trews. “I know you, Amy. You won’t jaywalk on a deserted street. I paid good money for this meal. I’ll be out when I’m done.” He flipped the keys at her, much harder than necessary.
She caught them in a neat overhand. “I will expect my grandmother’s ring back as promised,” she said in clipped tones, “or I will cause so much trouble in every possible corner of your life, you’ll wish you’d never thought up that idiotic story about tinagle connectors.” She threw the tartan down at him.
“I didn’t make….”
“Stuff it, Shawn. I saw Jim while I was waiting in the lobby. He almost died laughing, said there’s no such thing on a trombone. Thanks for humiliating me, on top of it. Maybe some day you’ll come clean about what you needed—make that wanted—the money for.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” He jumped to his feet. “I needed that money! There was this big Scot. He was coming with his friends to beat the living daylights out of me!”
“Did you sleep with his wife? You probably deserved to be beaten to a pulp.” She shoved past him, glaring back from the arched doorway at the top of the stairwell. “I cannot believe I’ve stayed with you this long!” She spun on her heel. Her voice floated back up from the dark staircase. “I cannot believe I kept thinking there was something better in you!” He ran to the western wall to see her emerge from the tower into the courtyard. Mist swirled around her ankles. “Everybody told me there was nothing better there!” she shouted up at him.
“Bull!” he shouted back, leaning over the tower. “They love me!”
“You have no idea what they say behind your back,” Amy yelled. “Selfish, self-centered, obnoxious, loud! They’re just afraid of your temper. Arrogant!” She turned and stormed across the courtyard, tearing through tendrils of mist grabbing at her legs.
“I am not loud!” he bellowed.Here’s what critics are saying about Blue Bells of Scotland:
My Thoughts
Wow! The title and cover of this book might lead one to believe that it will be a sweet, bland story, but will find that it is anything but that. This book is fun, exciting and will keep you enthralled with this very original story. If you are like me, you will have a hard time putting it down to get anything else done. I was completely caught up in the story and absolutely loved it! It takes a talented writer to keep switching from medieval to modern times without it being an awkward transition, but Vosika manages to make that switch effortlessly. She takes two characters who are complete opposites, but happen to look identical, inserts them into the cultures of the other, separated by centuries, and makes it all work. This book is a treat to say the least. I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!
Here’s what critics are saying about Blue Bells of Scotland:
“Blue Bells of Scotland is the first in the Blue Bells Trilogy and when asked if I would review this book I immediately accepted. The story line sounded promising and Laura Vosika does not disappoint.– Rundpinne
Blue Bells of Scotland is a delightfully intricate tale of time travel, life lessons, challenges of faith, and redemption, alternating between present day Scotland and 1314 Scotland, where the lives of Shawn Kleiner and Niall Campbell become intertwined. In a superb twist, Vosika has Shawn, an arrogant, self-centered, brilliant trombone player travel back in time to 1314 Scotland where the MacDonald clan is preparing for the Battle of the Pools. Meanwhile Niall, the next Laird in the MacDonald clan travels forward in time to take the place of Shawn. The results of this fantastically seamless time travel bring about a rather exciting first novel in Vosika’s Blue Bell Trilogy. Shawn must learn to live as a warrior, while Niall must learn to live 700 years in the future, both determined to find a way back to their own time….This was indeed a page-turner and I look forward to finishing the trilogy. I highly recommend this novel to anyone. It makes for a fantastic read and would make an excellent gift.”
Watch the trailer!
About Laura Vosika
She earned a degree in music, and worked for many years as a freelance musician, music teacher, band director, and instructor in private music lessons on harp, piano, winds, and brass.
Laura is the mother of 7 boys and 2 girls, and lives in Minnesota.
Her latest book is Blue Bells of Scotland: The Trilogy.
You can visit her website at www.bluebellstrilogy.com.
Blue Bells of Scotland Tour Schedule
Tuesday, September 7
Book spotlighted at Examiner
Wednesday, September 8
Guest blogging at The Book Boost
Thursday, September 9
Interviewed at Literarily Speaking
Monday, September 13
Interviewed at Blogcritics
Tuesday, September 14
Interviewed at Working Writers
Wednesday, September 15
Guest blogging at Fictionary
Thursday, September 16
Interviewed LIVE on A Book and a Chat Radio Show
Friday, September 17
Interviewed at The Writer’s Life
Monday, September 20
Guest blogging and book giveaway at The Burton Review
Tuesday, September 21
Interviewed at Beyond the Books
Wednesday, September 22
Book reviewed at Must Read Faster
Friday, September 24
Book reviewed at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Tuesday, September 28
Guest blogging at Blog O’ the Irish
Wednesday, September 29
Interviewed at As the Pages Turn
Thursday, September 30
Guest blogging at Blogging Authors
Monday, October 4
Book reviewed at DK’s Everything Romance Blog
Tuesday, October 5
Guest blogging at Beyond the Books
Wednesday, October 6
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Thursday, October 7
Book reviewed at Marta’s Meanderings
Friday, October 8
Book reviewed at Blog O’ the Irish
Monday, October 11
Guest blogging at As the Pages Turn
Tuesday, October 12
Guest blogging at Night Owl Reviews
Wednesday, October 13
Interviewed at The Hot Author Report
Thursday, October 14
Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz
Friday, October 15
Guest blogging at As the Pages Turn
Monday, October 18
Book reviewed by Rundpinne
Tuesday, October 19
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Wednesday, October 20
Guest blogging and book giveaway at Acting Balanced
Thursday, October 21
Book reviewed and book giveaway at Acting Balanced
Friday, October 22
Book reviewed and book giveaway at Mandy’s Escape
Monday, October 25
Book reviewed at Books and Movies Reviews
Tuesday, October 26
Book reviewed at Crazy Cat Lady’s Library
Wednesday, October 27
Interviewed at Review From Here
Book reviewed at Teresa’s Reading Corner
Thursday, October 28
Book reviewed at My Favorite Things
Friday, October 29
Interviewed at Broowaha
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