Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Back in Time: Knights and Vikings (with a Giveaway!)

Let's face it--romantic time travel books and movies rock! (Hence, the reason for a themed week all about time travel...) And today it is my great pleasure to feature author Michelle Griep, whose time travel book, Gallimore, won me over a couple of years ago with a crazy cool plot and a crazy but ultimately charming, swoon-worthy knight!!

I don't have an interview with Michelle to share with you today (although I'm hoping to set one up in the future!), but I simply have to talk about her books anyway! And if you stick with me for a discussion about knights and vikings, you'll have a chance to win a Kindle e-book of either Gallimore or her latest release Undercurrent!

First, here's a description of Gallimore from Michelle's website:

"Jessica Neale turns her back on everyone the day her husband dies. After conceding to a vacation in England, a bizarre storm and near-fatal accident alters her reality, and she finds herself in the past. When confronted by a knight bearing the mirror-image of her apathetic heart, it's a rude awakening to what she's allowed herself to become.

Colwyn Haukswyrth, as cold and unfeeling as the armor he wears, is a knight who has one focus in life-himself. The product of a family rooted in hatred and greed, he never understood the significance of forgiveness. Until he meets Jessica Neale. More vexing and irksome than any wench he's ever encountered, this provoking bit of a woman teaches him what genuine love is—a lesson he'll take with him to the grave."

A Knight in Shining Armor

OK, if you're not intrigued by that description, then I suggest you just give up on this post right now! (Just kidding! But I hope you are intrigued, nevertheless!)

I started Gallimore on a Saturday afternoon, and I finished it the following morning/afternoon. I simply could NOT put the book down! I was completely drawn into Jessica's story, from a topsy-turvy European vacation to a medieval land where she comes across the most arrogant, frustrating, and ultimately wonderful knight you'll ever meet! ;) *Sigh* The story is well-rounded, exciting, and just plain fun to read!

But wait, there's more!

Honestly, I wasn't paid to write this! ;) I did get my copy of Gallimore for free, but that's because I won it on author MaryLu Tyndall's blog. (Thanks so much, MaryLu, for introducing me to Michelle's work!)

Anyway, now Michelle has a new book out called Undercurrent. And this time, instead of knights, there are vikings! I haven't had the pleasure of reading this book yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll LOVE it! Here's a description of the book:

"Professor Cassie Larson leads a life her undergrad students hope to attain, until she tumbles into the North Sea and is sucked down into a swirling vortex…and a different century.

Alarik, son of a Viking chieftain, is blamed for a murder he didn't commit—or did he? He can't remember. On the run, saving a half-drowned foreign woman wasn't in his plan.

Ragnar is a converted pagan shunned by many but determined to prove his Cousin Alarik's innocence. He didn't count on falling in love with Cassie or the deadly presence of evil that threatens his village in Alarik's absence."

A Charming Viking Demeanor...

I couldn't resist the How To Train Your Dragon reference. ;) If you haven't noticed how much I mention this movie on this blog, then let me reiterate--it's fantastic and you really should see it!! Here's an instrumental song from the movie to get us in an epic viking mood:



*Blissful sigh* My copy of Undercurrent can't get here soon enough!! If you want to read my review, it will hopefully be going up on The Borrowed Book blog sometime in the not too distant future!

Giveaway

Here's your chance to win a Kindle e-book copy of Gallimore or Undercurrent by Michelle Griep! (If you don't have a Kindle, you can download Kindle for PC for free and read the book on your laptop/computer.)
  • To enter, leave a comment sharing your thoughts about knights, vikings, Michelle's books, time travel, or whatever!
  • Please leave your e-mail address so I can contact if you win!
  • 1 Extra Entry: Be a follower of this blog (through GFC, e-mail, etc.).
  • Please note: Your comment today can also count for Sunday's Kindle book giveaway (Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy). However, the only extra entries for today's giveaways are the ones stated above, NOT leaving comments on the other posts. I hope that makes sense!
Yay for knights and vikings!

16 comments:

Michelle said...

Many years ago, I read a time travel book involving a knight. I won't recommend it because it was a general market romance book, and somewhat graphic in a couple of scenes. But there's one sentence from that book that has stayed with me over the years. "My soul will find yours." Swoon.

I've noticed you and Renee mentioning Michelle Griep's books, and I think I'd love to read one of them. Please enter me. I'm a follower of your blog.

mchapman (at) windstream (not) net

Casey said...

Never really have gotten into the whole "viking" thing, LOL! Maybe because I've never read any books set in that era. :-))

Email in profile and I'm your follower. :)

Katie Marie said...

I *love* medieval fiction!! Knights are just totally awesome and I LOVE read about em. Vikings, too!

Time travel, when written well, is fun to read!! The most recent medieval time travel book I read was Lisa Bergren's Waterfall.

Oh. My. Word.
That book was AWESOME!!

As you may guess, its a favorite and I am constantly picking it up again to reread. :-)

I have scene Michelle Griep's book around, but have not read it yet. I'd love to be entered into the giveaway for a chance to be introduced to her work.

Time-traveled damsels coupled with brave knights and vikings? Sounds like my kind of book!! :-)

~ Katy
agirlslegacy(at)yahoo(dot)com

Oh, and I am a follower of Seasons of Humility and The Borrowed Book. :-)

Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...

Ahhh well I haven't had the pleasure of reading Gallimore yet but I have read Undercurrent and it was amazing. I love time travel soooo much and I've been on quite the time travel kick lately. I read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander (secular romance) a few weeks ago and let me tell you finishing a 600 plus page book in two days is no easy task but I did it! Put a time travel book in my hands and I'll read it LOL!

+1 follower
+1 TBB follower

Thanks for the note reminding me to stop by today!

XOXO~ Renee C.
steelergirl83atgmaildotcom

Kav said...

Ohhh -- I agree about Waterfall -- it was awesome and I think the sequel is out this summer! Whooohooo. I haven't read Gallimore but I'm going to hunt it down because I ADORE time travel stories and you usually only find them in kid lit. And the Viking angle is fresh so I'll have to see if I get get a hold of a copy of Undercurrent too. You know how to sell a book, Amber!

Oh -- and don't enter me in the giveaway because a) I'm a Canuck and b) reading a whole book on a PC = tortue to me!!!! I love the real thing -- all those lovely hard copies teetering on my TBR pile!

:-)

Renee said...

Thanks for introducing this author to me, Amber! I'm intrigued and will have to put her on my list for some summer fun reading.

Michelle Griep said...

That does it. Amber...you're queen of my fan club. Thanks for the fantabulous endorsement on my writing! I think you'll be smitten even more with Ragnar than you were with Colwyn.

As for the rest of you somewhat hesitant Viking readers, I wish you could all win. I think these lovable marauders will pillage your heart.

And allow me to recommend a few other time travels:
My personal favorite is the Hourglass Door series by Lisa Mangum and I adored Timeline by Michael Crichton.

Now then, off to buy Waterfall. I hadn't realized it was a time travel and I love Lisa Bergren.

Michelle Griep said...

For whatever freaky reason, my original comment didn't come through. So let's see if I can remember what I said....

1. Amber, I dub thee queen of my fan club.

2. Kav and Katy, I didn't realize Lisa Bergren had a time travel out. I'm on my way to Amazon to pick that puppy up.

3. And for everyone... Recommendations of my favorite time travels:
Lisa Mangum's Hourglass Door Series and Michael Crichton's Timeline.

Amber Holcomb said...

Michelle,

Swoon is right! That is a beautiful, memorable line! :D

I already picked this giveaway's winner, but I highly recommend Gallimore if you enjoy time travel with a dashing knight. ;)

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Casey,

Oh, then you haven't read Undercurrent yet, have you??? Seriously, you will LOVE vikings after reading this book. ;) And have you seen How to Train Your Dragon? It really is such a fun, sweet, amazing movie!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Katy,

Congratulations on winning one of these books! :)

And yes, time travel with dashing knights and warrior vikings is my cup of tea, too! ;) I haven't yet read Waterfall, but I've heard such good things about it!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Renee,

I'm sorry you didn't win Gallimore here, but I do hope you can find a copy soon, because I know you'll love it!! It's different than Undercurrent but oh so awesome! ;)

And yes, Undercurrent is totally amazing!!!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Kav,

Oh, Waterfall does sound really good!!

I think you'll love Gallimore and Undercurrent! I read all of Undercurrent last night--I just couldn't put it down!! LOVE it! :D

And thank you--for a book reviewer, it really means a lot to have you say I can sell a book. :) You can, too! Your reviews are great!

I'm sorry this giveaway wasn't for a physical copy! I much prefer physical copies, too--looking at them on my desk and holding them in my hands. :)

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Michelle,

I'm sorry Blogger ate your comment! I did actually see it before it disappeared... Unfortunately it must have been lost when Blogger was having maintenance issues yesterday. :(

However, I gladly accept the position of queen of your fan club!! Can't wait until your next book! :D

~Amber

Michelle Griep said...

You read the entire book in one night? Wow. You must have bloodshot eyes today, honey. Glad you enjoyed it! Now if you'd really like a sequel, you'll have to drop my publisher a note and suggest it. I'd be happy to write it...and bring Tammy back in time (cue evil laughter).

Amber Holcomb said...

Michelle,

Yes, yes I did!! ;) It was so good, and I simply could not put it down! You were right--I fell in love with Ragnar. :) *Sigh* You know how to write heroes, Michelle!

I have to admit, those scenes at the beginning with Tammy had me laughing out loud. ;) I would be a bit scared to see what would happen to her in the past, but I have to admit, it would be neat to see her mature a little and maybe find true love! ;)

~Amber