Today I am so pleased to welcome Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell to Joyfully Jay. Lou and Anne have come to talk to us about their new release, The Harp and the Sea. They have also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving them a big welcome!

Hi! Lou Sylvre here, glad and grateful to be visiting readers here on Joyfully Jay.

If anybody has seen any version of my author logo, the words say, “Gay romance, happy endings.” It’s no secret it’s important to me that love always wins in my stories, and fortunately my co-author for The Harp and the Sea shares that drive. Call us die-hard romantics if you will, you won’t be wrong. Given that, it can’t possibly be a spoiler to say there’s a happy ending for Robbie and Ian in this book.

But that’s not to say we authors aren’t both willing to make our characters work for it, and historic Scotland provided fertile ground for all sorts of troubles.

I mean, how exactly can a lowland harper born in the 16th Century become lovers with a Highland warrior in 1745. Seems a bit of an obstacle right there. But… well there’s magic. Then again, that magic is a curse, and demanding one at that. And what about those bad guys on their tail, and storms on the sea, and that pesky war looming just on the horizon?

This romance isn’t exactly a cake walk! But it is a romance, soul-deep, and even in the midst of tribulation, joy happens, and heat, and laughter, and quiet comfort.

Pick up the book and you’ll find mystery, and quest, and adventure. Despair quelled by determination. Blue skies and rain. Songs and treasured silence. And, as mentioned, magic. But most of all you will find love.

Anne and I hope we’ve accomplished our goal with The Harp and the Sea—to bring you a love story that you will read, savor, and remember. And then perhaps you’ll read it again.

Thanks, readers!

Blurb

In 1605, Robbie Elliot—a Reiver and musician from the Scottish borders—nearly went to the gallows. The Witch of the Hermitage saved him with a ruse, but weeks later, she cursed him to an ethereal existence in the sea. He has seven chances to come alive, come ashore, and find true love. For over a century, Robbie’s been lost to that magic; six times love has failed. When he washes ashore on the Isle of Skye in 1745, he’s arrived at his last chance at love, his last chance at life.

Highland warrior Ian MacDonald came to Skye for loyalty and rebellion. He’s lost once at love, and stands as an outsider in his own clan. When Ian’s uncle and laird sends him to lonely Skye to hide and protect treasure meant for Bonnie Prince Charlie’s coffers, he resigns himself to a solitary life—his only companion the eternal sea. Lonely doldrums transform into romance and mystery when the tide brings beautiful Robbie Elliot and his broken harp ashore.

A curse dogs them, enemies hunt them, and war looms over their lives. Robbie and Ian will fight with love, will, and the sword. But without the help of magic and ancient gods, will it be enough to win them a future together?

Bio

Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with a cat with “tortitude” who is convinced that the house is run to suit her; this is an ongoing “discussion,” and to date, it appears as though Kaylee may be winning.

In 2008, Anne completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra.

She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as “too many.” These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of “spare time” is really just a myth. She also hosts and reviews for other authors, and writes monthly blog posts for Love Bytes. She is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance writers, and a member of RWNZ.

Anne’s books have received honorable mentions five times, reached the finals four times—one of which was for best gay book—and been a runner up in the Rainbow Awards. She has also been nominated twice in the Goodreads M/M Romance Reader’s Choice Awards—once for Best Fantasy and once for Best Historical.

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Lou Sylvre loves romance with all its ups and downs, and likes to conjure it into books. The sweethearts on her pages are men who end up loving each other—and usually saving each other from unspeakable danger. It’s all pretty crazy and very, very sexy. As if you’d want to know more, she’ll happily tell you that she is a proudly bisexual woman—a mother, grandmother, lover of languages, and cat-herder—of mixed cultural heritage. She works closely with lead cat and writing assistant, the (male) Queen of Budapest, Boudreau St. Clair. She lives in the rainy part of the Pacific Northwest, and hearing from a reader unfailingly brightens the dreary weather. Find her through her links listed here, or drop her a line at lou.sylvre@gmail.com.

Giveaway

Lou and Anne brought a $10 NineStar Press gift code to give away to one lucky reader on the tour. Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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