Signs of Sexual Assault

We’re going to get serious here at A Kiss At Midnight Reviews and talk about some possible signs of Sexual Assault.

They always say write what you know. Luckily, I don’t know about sexual assault but I DO know people who have had to go through it. They don’t want to talk about it, so I’m doing it for them. In my book, First Semester, there are some amazing guys and there are some dangerous guys. Unfortunately, that’s life. But like in life, guys leave clues. Well, some of them leave clues. Acquaintance rape has become too prevalent at college campuses. It might be a new guy you’re starting to date, it might be the jealous guy in your math class, or it could be the guy you’ve been with for a while.

What are some signs that a guy might be a predator?

1. He’s aggressive. This aggression can manifest itself in different ways, but at first, it probably won’t be against you. He’s still trying to win you over. So what to watch out for? Does he yell at the waitress if their food order is wrong? Does he get crazy road rage? Unfortunately, that aggression may turn on you one day.
2. He gets jealous fast. One of the ways a predator may deal with jealously is through assault. Why? Control. He wants to control you. If he get’s overly jealous over little things, it might be a warning sign. Sometimes, we think a man being jealous shows that he cares. A secure man doesn’t need to get jealous because he should trust you, but that’s a whole other post.
3. Does he isolate you? Does he refuse to hang out with your friends? Does he insist on spending time with you alone? The reason for that isn’t because he wants to get to know you or he wants it to be more intimate. It’s because your friends will probably call him on his crap. They’re going to look out for you and try to make sure the guy you’re with is good for you. That’s what friends do. But if you aren’t around them as much, then they aren’t there to see what you’re too in love to notice. I’m not saying he needs to be best friends with your friends, but he shouldn’t balk at the idea of spending time with them.
4. Ignoring your wishes is another big no no. If he is continually shutting down what you want to do, shutting down your ideas, or shutting down your beliefs, then there is an issue. By shutting down I mean ignoring, rejecting, or belittling these things. If he isn’t listening about something small, it is a possible predictor he won’t listen when things get serious. You need to pay attention to when he ignores you when you say “no” to little things. It could mean he ignores that all important “no’s” in the future.
5. Encourages or insists you drink or use drugs. This can also fall with ignoring your wishes. If you don’t want to drink or you don’t support drug use, then don’t do it. A predator is going to suggest, usually nicely at first, you indulge because it will lower your inhibitions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling anymore to stay completely sober. That is your choice. However, you need to make sure it is your choice and you have a plan set up. Be smart about it.

These are just some things you need to watch out for. Some of them may seem obvious but they keep happening and they are continually being missed. Why? There are a lot of reasons. You are excited to be getting attention, you want to believe the best of people, you think he’s you’re only chance. Whatever the reason, if you don’t notice these signs in your own guy, just watch out for a friend. But what about if something has already happened and you suspect something could be wrong? How do you know? Change in their behavior. What do I mean by this? This could be a lot of things so we’ll start with their eating habits.

1. Many victims are fighting for control since they couldn’t control what happened to them. One of the more common ways to get control back is to focus on what you eat. This may be eating a lot more or eating a lot less. Pay attention if you notice something drastically change. Obviously, sexual assault isn’t the only reason for a change like this but it’s just something to keep in mind.
2. You also want to be aware of their social habits. Did they stop going out? Do they go out more often than before? When they’re out, are they reckless? These could all be signs that someone is trying to push something aside, or ignore the pain they are dealing with.
3. For social habits, pay attention to their drinking and drug use. If it is significantly heavier than before, they may be trying to self medicate.
4. Now what happens when someone touches them? Do they jerk away? Do they tense up? It could be a stranger causing these reactions but what’s more concerning is when it’s someone they trust or trusted.

I wouldn’t go right in and ask someone if they had been raped or sexually assaulted. I would ease them into it by giving them back some kind of control. Spend the ay with them and have them make all the decisions. They pick where you eat, they pick what movie you see, they pick whatever it is. They may hate it at first but it’s important you remind them that they’re decisions and their words matter.

If all else fails, encourage your friend to get help for whatever is bothering them. It may not be a sexual assault issue, but if they are exhibiting symptoms like this, then something is definitely wrong.

These signs are subjective. There may be other signs and these may not be relevant to the man you’re with. Look at these suggestions as a starting point.

About Sarah- Sarah received her degree in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic psychology. After that, she began her career in investigations, which she is still actively doing now. In addition to that, she also write romance novels. Her first book is First Semester and it follows a girl in college trying to navigate the complicated world of friends, frat boys, boyfriends, forbidden lovers, and stalkers. Sarah recently went to Richard Stockton University to talk to college women about signs of sexual assault.

First Semester is available on Amazon through paperback and ebook- CLICK HERE

How Well Do You Know Sam Heughan?

To celebrate the birthday of the man who brought Jamie Fraser to life, let’s put on our stalker pants and see how well you know Sam Heughan! Take note of your right answers! But no cheating! Stay off Wikipedia and Google!

1. Let’s start with an easy one, where in Scotland was Sam born?

1. Bydekirk
2. Balmaclellan
3. Borgue
4. Beattock

2. How many times did he audition for parts in Game of Thrones?

1. 7
2. 2
3. 6
4. 5

3. What movie genre does Sam like the best?

1. Historical
2. Action Thrillers
3. Comedies
4. Sci-fi

 

4. What kind of home did Sam grow up in?

1. A split level in the suburbs
2. A castle
3. A stone house in a village
4. An apartment building

5. For whom was Sam named for?

1. Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings
2. Sam Warner of Warner Bros Studios
3. Samuel, the Biblical prophet
4. Samuel Clemens, who wrote under the pen name ‘Mark Twain’

6. What superhero did Sam once play?

1. Superman
2. Aquaman
3. Ironman
4. Batman

7. What is Sam qualified to teach?

1. Gaelic
2. Fencing
3. Horseback Riding
4. Archery

8. How does Sam go the extra mile while playing Jamie?

1. He doesn’t wear anything under his kilt
2. He sleeps outside or in the stables during filming
3. He doesn’t bathe
4. He sews his own clothes with the costume director

9. What Outlander character has he said he would want to play if he wasn’t Jamie?

1. Dougal Mackenzie
2. Black Jack Randall
3. Roger Wakefield
4. Murtagh Fraser

10. What show is Sam’s favorite to binge watch?

1. Ultimate Fighter
2. Game of Thrones
3. Doctor Who
4. Ninja Warrior

11. Who is the only historical royal Sam has played on film?

1. King John
2. Alexander the Great
3. Prince Hamlet
4. Henry VIII

12. What actor does Sam Admire the most?

• Ian McKellen
• Sean Connery
• Liam Neeson
• Anthony Hopkins

13. What is Sam’s favorite American football team?

• Browns
• Patriots
• Seahawks
• Cowboys

14. What Shakespeare play does Sam want to eventually act in?

• MacBeth
• Hamlet
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• King Lear

15. What did Sam do when he first found out he got the part of Jamie Fraser?

• Went to dinner with Diana Gabaldon
• Immediately booked sword lessons
• Went out to the pub with friends
• Bought and read all the Outlander books

16. What characters were Sam’s two horses really named during filming?

1. Beast and Aladdin
2. Sleepy and Pinocchio
3. Sebastian and Charming
4. Prince and Willow

17. What was the name of the prince Sam played in the Hallmark Movie A Princess for Christmas?

1. Ashton
2. Aston
3. Adam
4. Alan

18. What is on Sam’s bucket list?

1. To win a Nobel Prize for his charity work
2. To become a master horseman
3. To climb Mount Everest
4. To get a college degree in Scottish history

19. Which survivalist does Sam admire?

1. Bear Grylls
2. Les Stroud
3. David Canterbury
4. Ray Mears

20. What is Sam’s best feature?

1. His eyes
2. His ripped bod
3. His smile
4. His kilted knees

Did you keep track of your answers? Good! Check yours with the facts and tally up your points. Each correct answer gets you one point!

1. Balmaclellan
2. 7 times! Good thing he didn’t get cast, or we might have a different Jamie!
3. Sci-fi. He’s a huge fan!
4. Kenmure Castle
5. Samwise Gamgee – one of the best friends in literature
6. Batman!
7. Fencing! No surprise there.
8. Nothing under kilt 😉
9. Black Jack. Can you imagine?
10. Ultimate fighter
11. Alexander the Great
12. Anthony Hopkins
13. The Seahawks! He says he wants to see them play.
14. MacBeth
15. He had a pint at the pub
16. Sleepy and Pinocchio
17. Prince Ashton
18. He wants to climb Mt. Everest
19. Bear Grylls
20. All of the above!

Tally up your points? Lets see how well you know Sam!

0-5 Points – You’re a true Outlander fan, but no Sam Stalker!

6-11 Points – Wow! Someone follows Sam on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and on set…

12-20 Points – You must be Sam, his mom, or maybe a cast member? Let us know!!

PS. Sam Heughan, if you read this, I pink promise I’m not a crazy person. Mostly.

Have fun? We have plenty of other Outlander themed posts, articles, and quizes HERE.

And if you like our articles, You’ll love our books! I have a historical romance set in Scotland, Queen of Emeralds, that follows the tale of a British heiress trying to escape a brutish man and the roguish Scottish laird who longs to save her (order it HERE). I also have a new contemporary romance available, The Non-Disclosure Agreement, that’s a sinfully steamy tale of an arrangement gone wrong (order it HERE). And the lovely Sarah Fischer has a college romance that will have you craving your university days. There’s sex, secrets, and a mysterious stranger that just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer (order it HERE).

 

 

The History Behind ‘The White Queen’

I’ve been a huge fan of Philipa Gregory for a long time. I loved how she was able to use history, legend, gossip, and lore to make enthralling books. With all the hype that the show version of The White Princess is getting, I wanted to go back through my notes and talk about both books/shows and the true history that inspired them! We’ll go into The White Queen first and then delve into The White Princess…

Melusine

Melusine is a mythical mermaid-like creature that exists in various European folklore, but exists mainly France. Historically, the Luxembourg family is one of many who claims ancestry from Melusine. It fed into the thought that Jacquetta claimed strong heritage from Melusine, as well as mystical powers. The fact that a text of the tale of Melusine was found in her personal collection didn’t help matters, but seeing as it was a popular story of love and loss, it wasn’t rare and her involvement in the legend is probably very much exaggerated.

To give you a short version of the legend of Melusine, she was a beautiful half woman and half mermaid/serpent that only took on her mythological form once a week. A man hunting came upon her and offered her marriage. She accepted as long as he would leave her alone in total privacy once a week to bathe. For a time, they were happy, but the man soon grew too curious and spied on his wife, seeing her true form. Enraged, Melusine flew from the castle, never to be seen again, although she still thought of herself as the protector of her family and would wail when a member passed and help them if she could.

BTW Does this double tailed beauty look familiar? If you’re a coffee drinker like I am, you’ll recognize her as the Starbucks mermaid. Think about that next time you stop for your morning cup.

Jacquetta of Luxembourg

The Luxembourg family is an old French one, claiming lineage from the fabled Melusine. Jacquetta had many royal ties in different countries due to her high birth, and her first marriage was to a son of King Henry IV of England. They had no children by the time he died two years later, leaving Jacquetta a young and extremely wealthy duchess. As her title made her the second most powerful woman in the English court, next to the queen, she could have had her choice of husbands…

Lowly English knight Richard Woodville was tasked by the king to bring the newly widowed Jacquetta to court. But the pair fell in love. Despite it being illegal due to their difference in status and their refusal to wait for royal permission, they still married in secret. When it came out, no one could really be the mad, and they were merely fined. But Jacquetta was BFFs with Henry’s queen Margaret and Margaret made sure Richard got a title to put him on more even footing with his wife. So, he became Earl Rivers and the Lord High Treasurer.

Jacquetta and Richard had 14 children during their marriage, including “The White Queen”, Elizabeth. As she, obviously, made sure her children received titles, position, and even a crown, she was thought to be a witch by many. Most notably, she was accused of using sorcery to seduce King Edward into the bed of her daughter Elizabeth. While the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence, the gossip followed her until her death…and followed her daughter for the entirety of her life as well.

Elizabeth Woodville

Born around 1347 to a well respected genteel family. She married first to a man who died a Lancaster supporter, leaving her a widowed mother of two sons. Luckily, she was still young enough to marry again and was “the most beautiful woman in the isle of Britain…with heavy lidded eyes like those of a dragon.” Might not sound like a compliment, but it totally was. If it wasn’t for being named a Lancastrian traitor, the obviously fertile mother of two boys could have married again easily. But it was almost lucky for Elizabeth that she wasn’t one to hop on the first man who came by her home. No, Elizabeth had her sights set on a man worthy of her.

Anyway, historians can’t agree as to how Elizabeth met the young King Edward IV, although the general lore says that Elizabeth dressed plainly and waited by the side of the road for Edward to pass with her two sons. Her original plan is said to have been to merely receive some sort of pardon for her dead husband (who fought and died after fighting against Edward and his York army, thus losing his wealth). But when Edward saw her, he was taken by her innocence, her maternal glow, and the graceful elegance she held even when not decked out in jewels. Edward wanted Elizabeth and would do anything to have her, even defy his family and his advisers to marry her in secret.

They had a strong marriage where 10 children were born and no matter what mistresses Edward took, he always came back to his wife. Again, not suuuuper romantic, but there weren’t many kings out there without a bevy of mistresses, and at least Edward actually did love Elizabeth. Their marriage is said to be one of the early examples of true love in a royal marriage. But her ability to sway the gaze of a king and make herself his queen made some believe that she was witch, just like her mama.

Edward IV

Yeah, not the glowing blonde god we saw in the show, but for a guy back then, he was the Jake Gyllenhaal of his time. He is noted as being “a man so vigorous and handsome that he might have been made for the pleasures of the flesh”. His hot bod got him at least 15 children that history knows of, but I’m guessing there were more little Eddies stashed around England. For Edward, he was born in France, the oldest living son of Richard of York, who believed he was the true king of England….Well, he might have been, or he might have been the illegitimate product of an affair by his mother. That story was drug up throughout his reign, and even after his death, to weaken his claim to the throne as well as that of his children’s. No matter who is daddy was, Edward really took the York mission to heart and fought to become the first York king of England…and the tallest one in history! He and his two brothers were known as the three suns in the sky and the three sons of York.

As I’ve said, he spied Elizabeth and her boys and thought she’d make a hell of a wife. She was a bit older and not a princess like he “should” have wed, but when Edward wanted something, he was sure to get it. Besides, the fact that she was obviously capable of birthing children mainly sons, was particularly attractive. So he put a ring on it and made her his queen. It ended up that the ex-Lancaster supporter was well loved but the people! Elizabeth’s 12 unmarried sisters soon found top notch marriages and Edward was basically surrounded by his in-laws. Much of the other nobility was angry, but Edward told them to shut up or shove off.

There was some rebellion against Edward’s reign, sometimes headed by his own brother George, but there was no other strong claim to the throne besides a little guy named Henry Tudor who was living in exile. The rest of Edward’s short life kept him in power and when he died at the age of 40, he made his brother, Richard, the protector of England until his son Edward could be crowned.

Richard III

Spoiler alert! Prince Edward (now known as lil’Edward) was never crowned and Richard became king. When King Edward died, he thought his little brother Richard would keep his crown safe for his son, but he was super wrong. Richard placed his nephew in the Tower of London to await the coronation that would never come.

To take the crown, he began by ousting the Woodvilles from power, imprisoning the men and forcing the women into hiding. Queen Elizabeth herself went into sanctuary with her daughters and youngest son Richard (now known as lil’Richard) while Richard worked on making her marriage to King Edward illegitimate, thus ruining lil’Edward’s claim to the throne. He ended up imprisoning both boys in the tower, where they never left (more on that later).

Richard finally got his just desserts when he was killed in battle by Henry Tutor’s forces at the age of 32. Recently, his battered bones were found in during construction and it was found that he did have uneven shoulders and a curvature of the spine as many have said. He was also found to have been mutilated before being unceremoniously dumped in a ditch. While he wasn’t a handsome man in his prime, it’s a wonder that he was able to start some kind of relationship with his niece Elizabeth of York..but that’s a tale for my next post.

The Princes in the Tower

Once lil’Edward was already in The Tower of London “for his safety”, Richard plucked lil’Richard from sanctuary and had him join his brother. Over the next few months, Richard was made king, Elizabeth and Edward’s marriage was made illegitimate, and the boys were seen less and less until they were never seen again.

It is widely accepted that Richard had a hand in the boy’s disappearance and even at the time he was thought to be the murderer, well that he ordered it anyway. With them out of the picture, he thought there wouldn’t be any issue with him retaining the throne.

But there’s another theory that at least one of the boys survived. Now Elizabeth Woodville was a smart woman and knew how hard it had been for Edward to keep his throne. She knew that if she let lil’Richard go to the tower like lil’Edward, he would never come back. It’s thought that she was able to smuggle lil’Richard out of sanctuary to take a new identity with a trusted family and replaced him with a local boy. For years afterwards, several people came forward claiming to be the lost prince, but none was ever confirmed. Since then, two sets of children’s skeletons have been found, but neither have been tested. So it’s possible that we will never know what happened to Elizabeth’s sons.

♦♦♦

I hope you found this little look into the world of The White Queen fun and informative. I’ll be working on something for The White Princess soon, so keep checking back for more historical fun! And if Scottish history is your thing, read some historical articles with a fun twist on our Outlander page HERE!

If you enjoyed this write up, you’ll probably love my book, Queen of Emeralds! It’s a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE in paperback, ebook, or free on kindle unlimited!

New Adult Scavenger Hunt- Team Blue

Closed

HOWEVER: If you are interested in my New Adult Book called First Semester

CLICK HERE

If you are interested in Erin Lee’s New Adult Book called From Russia With Love

CLICK HERE

Welcome to New Adult Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was inspired as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 96 hours!

Go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAM BLUE–but there is also a TEAM PURPLE  for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page.

***THE SCAVENGER HUNT***
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my lucky book number. Collect the lucky book numbers of all the authors on TEAM BLUE, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!). MY LUCKY NUMBER IS 8!

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 30th, at noon Eastern Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

On this page, I’m gonna tell you about Erin Lee’s new book

The little girl peered up at her older-by-a-year brother. Even at four, she knew there wasn’t much he’d be able to do to protect her. He didn’t even know how to pour cereal. That was her job. Everything was, and always had been, for as far back as she could remember – not that her memory went back all that far.

She clutched the house key around her neck. Her mother had started tying it on a leather cord and putting it on her neck a few months ago, after the time she fell asleep and accidently locked Ahha and her brother out of the house on a chilly afternoon. Ahha was just big enough to unlock the door. She could do it on her tippy toes and having the key made her feel safe. Her brother, Abram, still couldn’t figure out how to work a lock. It made her laugh. Boys were supposed to be smarter. It’s what everyone said. Maybe it was why Momma always brought new boys home. Maybe Momma just wanted to learn.

It was getting frigid fast. Of course, it was always cold in Russia, but this afternoon seemed particularly chilly to Ahha, who only wore a thin sweatshirt and a winter hat donated by the ladies at the church her mother got free bread from. She wished Abram would let her wear his jacket, which looked so fluffy and warm. She thought about asking him for it, but decided against it. She didn’t want her big brother to be cold. Besides, Momma would come back soon. She always came back. It will be okay, the little girl told herself.

Only, it wasn’t. Momma never came back. This time it was different…

*****Based on actual events, “Fearless” is the story of a real-life Russian-born soldier who risked it all to be free to marry her true American love in the country she loves most.********

Thanks for playing now get your Scavenger Hunt On by heading over to see Author Kim Briggs

Their Confession

It’s finally here! The third and final installment of Sophia Valentine’s Black Door Trilogy, Their Confession. I’ve read and reviewed the first two, His Confession and Her Confession, and really enjoyed both. So grab all three on Amazon if you’re into spicy spring reads.

Heat Level:♥♥♥♥♥♥

Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Genre: Erotic Romance

Gabrielle and Darion have been through a lot, but it seems that Darion has truly decided to be a one woman man. He’s left behind his scandalous life at the club in favor for something more mainstream with Gabrielle. In fact, he ditches it all together just to be the man he thinks she wants and deserves. But she fears that the easy life won’t be enough to keep him satisfied in the long run.

Still, the pair work together to keep the spark alive, which seems to be no problem for the two of them! They can barely keep their eyes, and hands, off each other. Still, the insecurities Gabrielle feels seem to never let her rest. Darion’s inability to be completely emotionally available, thanks to his ex-wife, doesn’t help things either. And when Gabrielel finally learns Darion’s biggest secret yet, will it be too much for her to take?

Ugh, I love a good trilogy and Valentine did not disappoint. There was steamy sex, passionate love, and the heartbreak of insecurity that felt very real. I think it’s great when characters are allowed to be fully fleshed out over time so you can feel more of their emotions when you real.

Much like when I finish any series, I’m a little sad that it’s done. The red carpets of the club have been rolled up for me and I’m no longer on Darion’s list! But if you didn’t have the change to read The Black Door Trilogy, you can be a VIP now and experience all the forbidden has to offer.

Wedding Dreams

 

Wedding Dreams: 20 Delicious Nuptial Romances
Publication date: April 18th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance

**You are invited to the weddings of your dreams**

Twenty award-winning, USA Today and International best-selling authors have come together to bring you over 3,000 pages of love, lust, and lusciously sexy men.

From sweet second chance romances to bad boys, BBWs, and brides looking for revenge, this is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys Romance or Women’s Fiction. These pages are packed with cozy romances, thrilling international and holiday adventures, and sweet heart-melting stories. Our authors bring you everything from hot cowboys to rockstar romances, elegant weddings to nuptial disasters, and blushing brides to bold women, all in a delightful celebration of love.

You’re in for a wild, passionate ride on a breathtaking voyage to make your heart soar. This box set will leave you craving all things marital and wishing the honeymoon would never end.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Let’s meet a couple of authors from this boxed set!

—

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Never Have I Ever- Vanderpump Rules Style

 

I think it’s safe to say that the cast likes to have fun. But how do you compare to them? Obviously we aren’t able to have a giant sleepover with the cast and play Never Have I Ever, so let’s do it here. If you don’t know the rules, here we go. Even though it says Never Have I Ever, that actually means you’ve done it. So if you have done one of the things on the list, then you get one point. And remember, even Jax comes clean eventually, so be honest!

1. Never Have I Ever stolen anything worth over $50.

2. Never Have I Ever called out of work for a vacation (No matter how I paid for the trip)

3. Never Have I Ever cheated on more than one significant other

4. Never Have I Ever gotten a perm

5. Never Have I Ever gotten plastic surgery

6. Never Have I Ever slapped a friend

7. Never Have I Ever posed naked with another person

8.Never Have I Ever moved across the country for a relationship

9. Never Have I Ever gone swimming topless…or naked

10. Never Have I Ever drank while at work

11. Never Have I Ever been the other woman

12. Never Have I Ever reformed a bad boy

13. Never Have I Ever rage texted after drinking too much tequila

14. Never Have I Ever been kicked out of a club

15. Never Have I Ever shared my ex-hook up’s penis with an entire room of people

So how did you do?

11- 15 points

You’re a crazy one! You could definitely party with the group but be careful you just may end up the star of a twitter scandal. Don’t worry, we won’t judge you too harshly.

6-10 points

You like to have a good time but you don’t quite take it to extremes. While you probably didn’t come up with the plan, there’s a chance you may join in the fun if it doesn’t mean jail time.

1-5 points

You’re the voice of reason…even when your friends don’t want to listen. In fact, you’re usually the photographer in the group. You stand by and just enjoy the show your crazy friends are putting on.

About the Author- Sarah Fischer is a romance author who loves talking about reality tv. She watches it when she writes and frequently uses it for inspiration. Her book, First Semester, is out now and it tells the story of Violet as she learns about love, lust, friendship, and the dangers of all thee of them.

First Semester can be purchased in paperback or ebook. Click Here

Outlandish Mother’s Day Gift Guide

The UK already had their Mother’s Day, so now it’s America’s turn! Since I’m a mom, and I love Outlander, I thought I’d make up a handy little list for you own shopping needs! So here are some cards and that will brighten up the day of your Sassenach mama for sure! Let’s start with some cards…

Mum, yer’ pure dead brilliant!

Show your mom you think she’s the bloody best with this cheeky card. Grad one HERE!

You Kilt It

Tell your mom who really ‘kilt’ it at being the best mom ever. Order yours HERE before it’s too late!

You’re Pure Brilliant

This card is pretty self explanatory. They’re available HERE!

Now, onto the meat…

The WeeBox

Now, Sarah and I both received and reviewed the WeeBox, which you can read and watch HERE, and I think it deserves a place on our list. It’s a carefully cultivated subscription box filled with authentic Scottish goodies, straight from the source! Now, Mother’s Day is only one day a year, but why not show your mom you care every month by setting her up with a subscription? Every month she could get a little something Scottish to make her smile, and you get to be the favorite kid with no more effort than plugging in your credit card info. Talk about a win! PS. The kind people at WeeBox have scheduled their Outlander box for September, so if you want a special delivery of Outlander items from Jamie’s homeland, plan your subscription accordingly!

Check out their website HERE and see if the WeeBox is right for your mom…or you!

A .Malcolm Mug

Waiting for season three is a killer, even for us book lovers! What better way to classically may homage to Jamie and his new life in Edinburgh, then with this mug that looks straight out of 1700s Scotland? Grab yours HERE and end each day with a sip of tea as you wait for September.

Claire’s Medicinal Tea

I found a shop that caters to the White Witch in all of us called Megan’s Marvelous Medicinals. Using Outlander as an inspiration at times, she’s created some organic, natural tea blends to sooth coughs, cures what ails you, and helps you fall asleep easily. Grab some bags here and pack it up with some a lovely mug for mom! Take a look at her blends HERE and see what might work for you.

Everyday Regalia

A store so nice, I’ve shopped there twice! We’ve done a product review for this Etsy shop in the past, which you can see HERE, but I’ve recently taken advantage of her ability to rapidly create custom pieces to have bracelets made to commemorate my historical book series (which I’ll obvi share pics of when I get them). The shop’s owner is very fast and willing to work with you to create exactly what you have in mind, so if there’s a particular quote or picture you, or your mom, favors, then just let her know and she can make something awesome! You can even have pics put in. For example, if you don’t know what your mom would like for Mother’s Day and you have kids, make her a “grandma bracelet”! Always a winner.

So if you’re looking at some quality jewelry that cane be made to your absolute liking, is cost effective, and durable, look no further than Everyday Regalia! Check out her shop HERE!

This Lovely Sassenach Shirt

I always find that this style of shirt is always flattering. I think half the shirts in my closet have type of neckline. This particular shirt from Esoteric Rhythms comes in 17 different colors from black to hot pink to a lovely plum. And at $24 it’s a total steal for something so cute. Grab one for the Sassenach in your life HERE…and one for yourself because matching is always adorable.

Outlander Apron

Is your mom head cook of your household? Give her something to protect her clothes that also stakes her claim to the kitchen! Grab an apron HERE and give her some more joy in the kitchen for next year’s holiday season.

Claire’s Ring (Show Version)

Always a classic Sassenach gift, Claire’s wedding ring is a tasteful way to show your Outlander pride without wearing a shirt with Jamie’s face on it (not that there’s anything wrong with that! This Italian Etsy shop offers just the item to add to your jewelry box! Grab one HERE for dear old mom.

Claire’s Ring (Book Version)

Is mom a traditionalist who favors the book? Don’t worry, Author’s Corner has the perfect ring to reflect the one Diana envisioned when she wrote the series. It even has “Da Mi Basia Mille” engraved inside to finish it off. Order yours HERE now!

Outlander Tank Tops

You know what they say about summer; “sun’s out, guns out”! Add some of these shirts from Glamorously Geeky to your mama’s summer wardrobe. Starting at $15, it’s really a great price for nice shirts you can get in a variety of colors. Order one (or more) HERE!

Lallybroch Teapot

Is there a tea drinking lady in your life that you’d like to spoil? Make her think of her literary home every time she makes a cup! Order one HERE and prepare a cup of something special.

Dixie Sisters

This shop has quite a few Outlander items that are suuuper cheap. You can get the notebook for $7.50 and the coasters for $6! You could basically make up a whole gift basket in a cost effective manner. Check out the Outlander line HERE.

A Druid Lantern

Get mom in touch with her druid side with an Outlander inspired lantern to lead the way. Fitted with a flame-less candle, it’s a great little piece to have to brighten up a room (literally), up your Halloween game, or make a power outage a little more fun. Order one HERE!

See the rest of our gift guides, lists, quizzes, and Outlander posts HERE!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE. Both of them come in paperback, ebook, and Kindle Unlimited.

Above the Flames

There is a battle brewing and it is likely to take you off guard. However, there is a plus side…book 2 is out! Above the Flames is book 1 and book 2 is Surrounded by Flames. Both are by Cassandra Fear and Surrounded By Flames is out today, so get ready to get your binge on!

Jasmine Reynolds has this ability to conjure blue flames that she discovers on her 16th birthday. But who cares? She continues to live her life as normal until she turns 18, when all chaos breaks loose after an earthquake releases the demons. Yes, I said demons. As it turns out, that battle I mentioned earlier is between demons and angels. Well, she was not prepared for this and she is captured.

But don’t fear! There is someone out to save her. Well, okay, he isn’t necessarily out to save her. Amon wants to get back into God’s good graces, as he is a fallen angel. What better way than to rescue the beautiful girl with the power to make all the difference?

As you may have guessed, Amon is gorgeous and Jasmine noticed. Hell, everyone has noticed. But they can’t run off and make eyes at each other because they’re still in the middle of a war. So, do they have the power to take a stand, or will they succumb to, not only their emotions, but also to their circumstances? Sometimes, you’ve fallen too far to come back.

One of the things that I liked about this book was it seemed real. Okay, Sarah have you lost your mind? How can the book be real? Stay with me here. The characters had the angst and attitude of characters of their ages. Jasmine was 18. She was filled with frustration, and had a vulnerability about her that sometimes shifted to the confidence of a woman with the sexuality of a lady. I love this age group because  I think watching them come into their own is one of my favorite parts of these books. Well, that and Jasmine was feisty and hysterical. I loved reading her.

This is a great book, but fyi, there is a good amount of violence. This book is about a war, so the violence should be assumed, but I’m just putting that out there in case you missed it. It’s an older young adult novel, but I thought it was enjoyable anyway.

With book 2 coming out tomorrow, I am so excited. Don’t bother me! I will be in a reading nook with my kindle and a nervous tickle in my stomach because I can’t wait to see what happens!

Be sure to check out First Semester. It is my college Romance and it’s available now on Amazon. Click Here

The Bowie Bride

It’s never been a secret that I love Suzan Tisdale and all her books. She’s just a lovely person and so nice to talk to on Twitter. Seriously, she’s awesome. If you recall, she even allowed us to interview her, which you can read HERE. Anyway, I applied to be on her review team and was accepted! Be still my beating heart. And the book in question? Book two of the The Mackintoshes and MacLarens series, The Bowie Bride. I’ve read the first book, Ian’s Rose, but on my own time and I highly recommend it. Now, let’s delve into the latest in Scottish Romance…

Heat Level: ♥♥♥♥

Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Genre: Scottish Historical Romance

We begin our tale with a grieved Alec Bowie, his evil older brother being killed by Ian Mackintosh. Now Alec is chief of clan with a bad reputation and in need of a bride to keep the peace with his friend Ian’s clan. While the ideal of being wed sickens him, he’s the only one than can keep his clan together. But no woman is too keen on becoming a Bowie…except Leona Mackdowall.

Leona isn’t known for her ravishing beauty, as he has one olive green eye and one an ice blue, and some think she’s a witch. But Alec knows and likes her well enough to make her a passable bride. She’s a loyal woman and promises to not tether him to home and hearth, making her the best prospect Alec has. But Leona isn’t entering into this marriage out of love either, but to escape her brute of a husband. And when Alec promises her a home, children, to never flaunt his mistresses, and to never beat her, she’s ready to walk down the aisle.

It’s a good enough match, as both parties know exactly what the other requires, but Leona is mistrusting after a lifetime of ill-treatment and Alec doesn’t always have the finesse needed to put her at ease. However, they make a fine pair and learn each others ways easily enough and appear to have a good future ahead of them, especially when what starts out as a contract begins to turn to love. Except there are some mysterious accidents that seem to follow Leona. It might be that someone wants the Bowie bride gone…for good.

The first thing I adored about this book is the continuation of Ian and Rose’s story from book one. Yes, this novel was basically still about Alec and Leona, but It was nice seeing Ian and Rose again and to get a peek into how their married life was progressing. And they also added to the story, not took away from it or absorbed all the attention as in some other books. It was almost as if Ian and Rose were passing the gauntlet to Alec and Leona.

Another thing I liked was the evolution of the characters from odd, contractual understanding to love. Without giving too much away, their relationship was sometimes steamy, always sweet, and forever honest. It made them very relatable because of their imperfections, but you were still completely capable of swooning when you imagined some of the fine Scottish brogue in this book.

I highly recommend this novel, and the entire series, to all historical romance lovers, particularly ones who can appreciate a man in a kilt and the old clan ways we love. So read book one, if you’re a bit behind, then grab a copy of The Bowie Bride, the perfect summer read.