Monthly Archives: October 2020
A Halloween like no other?
Please welcome writer Alice Renaud!
I’ve always loved Halloween. In the UK a lot of people don’t, they see it as a brash American import. But the festival of All Hallows’ Eve actually originated in Britain and Ireland, and it’s closely associated with the Celtic folklore I grew up with and from which I draw inspiration for my stories. So on every 31 October I hang up pumpkin lanterns in my front garden and stock up on sweets for trick o’treaters.
But this year? The coronavirus pandemic has put the kibosh on many fun things here. No more parties, no mixing in groups of more than 6, no theatres, no singing in church… There won’t be any trick o’treaters this year, or Halloween parties, or people dressed up as ghouls riding the trains. It would be tempting to just… give up. Treat it like any other night. Hunker down on the sofa in pyjamas and watch TV…
But something tells me that, on the contrary, now is precisely the time to celebrate Halloween. The festival has always been about laughing at the dark… making fun of what scares us… defying the onset of the long, cold winter nights. We need All Hallows’s Eve more than ever. So on 31 October I will put pumpkin lanterns outside. I will buy sweets, even if no one knocks on the door. I may meet up with friends for a Zoom Halloween party. I will find a good horror film to watch. What is your favorite? Mine remains the Exorcist, after all these years, but the recent series of Dracula on the BBC was also brilliant. And what better time to read some great paranormal stories? The third and final book of my supernatural romance series Sea of Love, Mermaids Marry in Green, comes out on 1 November and is the perfect Halloween treat. Read an exclusive excerpt below. You will love the feisty shifter mermaid and her hot warlock, as they seek to capture a water monster in London!
Blurb for Mermaids Marry in Green
Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?
Buy Links
https://books2read.com/u/3LglAN
Excerpt
A pile of twigs shuddered and slid to the side. Two yellow eyes peered at her out of the tangle of wood and litter. Excitement exploded in Caltha’s chest, rocking her whole body. She’d found him! But she strove to keep her voice low and soft.
“Afanc?”
A reptilian head that looked like a crocodile’s, but smaller, pushed through a plastic bag. The mouth opened, revealing a row of sharp teeth. “Morwenna?” the creature hissed, in Caltha’s language.
She tried to repress the trembling in her body and appear calm so the creature wouldn’t take fright. “Yes, I am a mermaid.” She lifted her webbed hands to show him. The afanc extended a furry paw, tipped with powerful claws. Caltha brushed the damp fur with her fingers. “I’m Caltha.”
The afanc let out a sigh. “Morwenna Caltha,” he said. He stared at her with shining eyes full of hope. “I am lost. Can you help?”
Caltha’s mind went blank with surprise. She’d expected a powerful water monster with awesome magical powers, not this vulnerable animal pleading for assistance.
The afanc stretched his neck towards her. “Please?”
Compassion engulfed Caltha. “Of course I’ll help you.”
The question was how. She’d been so focused on locating him, she hadn’t really given any thought as to what she would do when she found him. She studied his reptilian head and large, furry body. No way would he go unnoticed in a city full of humans. And dangerous warlocks were on his trail. Her mind worked overtime, searching for solutions. Would he follow her willingly, or would she have to trap him? He seemed friendly now, but he might panic if she tried to lead him away from his familiar surroundings. And how could she keep him hidden?
Bio
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green,” will be released on 1 November. Alice has also written two short stories for BVS anthologies, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” in “Mystic Desire,” out now, and “The Holiday Mermaid” in “Desire Me Again,” out in October. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceRenaudAuthorRomance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alicerauthor
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-renaud-author-4219b6166/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicerenaudauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18670218.Alice_Renaud
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alice-renaud
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Renaud/e/B07L52P17B
Crossing America to save the country from supremacists #MFRWHooks
The Color of Fear series is topical and satisfying– the country is suffering from the aftermath of a deadly virus, and a group of young BIPOC is under attack from a a cult leader and white supremacist. But they have the herbs and seeds, brought by Tzu Lin Kwan all the way from Hong Kong. that may turn the tide and save the rest of those threatened by the now-mutating virus.
Xi San saved the life of a mysterious girl one night in his ravaged San Francisco neighborhood. He can’t get her out of his mind, but believes that she’s lost to him.
Lin Kwan came to America to bring her scientist father Chinese medicinal herbs, hoping to stop the virus that killed most of the world’s Caucasians before it mutates to infect the rest of the world. On her way to finding him, she meets again the man who once saved her, a man she can’t forget.
With a diverse group of fellow travelers, they head for St. Louis, where civilization is being rebuilt. Between them and safety, danger lurks—Gabriel, a self-styled religious leader and white supremacist, who has organized his army from Upper Midwest survivalist and militia followers, determined to take revenge for the white man.
But Gabriel isn’t their only enemy. Before they reach their destination, they will battle nature, prejudice and even those hidden among them who wish their destruction.
EXCERPT:
“Oh, my God!” Valery squealed, staring at another brochure. “Look at this. We have so got to stay here.”
“Stay…here?” Kwan’s features tightened into a frown. “We have far to go—”
“Just for tonight, chica. Look, while I love looking at the stars, camping out with you, my aching bum also loves sleeping in a real bed.” She handed over the advertisement.
Kwan examined the photos of the cream-colored Victorian house with the blue trim, surrounded by flower gardens. It looked magical, like a castle built to attract the seven daughters of the Jade Emperor.
Valery jabbed her finger at the picture. “They’ve got a veranda. A real veranda.”
The word unfamiliar to her, Kwan deduced a veranda must be some sort of railed porch. “It also says high tea from eleven until two. It takes three hours to make tea? Quite a long ritual.”
Val laughed. “It doesn’t take three hours. High tea was a Brit tradition, you know. The rich used to eat meals a couple times a day, like, breakfast and dinner. About halfway through the day, the ladies would get faint from hunger and being squished by those damned corsets and so they started a tradition, more like what we’d call lunch.” She took the brochure back. “You know, they have, like, finger sandwiches—”
“Finger…sandwiches?” Kwan gasped. The thought brought flashbacks of the ocean voyage with Zhong. Then, people ate many things to survive.
“They don’t put real fingers in them, silly.” She pointed out the menu. “Kind of prissy ladies’ lunch with tea, fruit, scones…that stuff.” She sighed. “Although something tells me there won’t be table service today.”
Kwan considered the pictures of the three guest rooms, two with four-poster beds and cozy teddy bear themes, and the other a watercolor brush of white and pale blue with a sea motif. She hadn’t slept on such a soft mattress since before her parents had left Hong Kong. At her aunt’s, she had slept on a futon, and at the Hsus’, on a thick mat. The thought of a real bed appealed to her, too. Very much.
************************************************************************
Hop on to the other blogs and read more great excerpts!
https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=299080
Writing doesn’t always come naturally–but hard work brings the real payoff
Welcome to Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend McKenna Dean!
Several years ago, I was warming up my horse for a dressage clinic when one of the women in the class asked, “Does he always just go on the bit like that?” Her tone was clearly one of admiring envy.
I had to laugh. ‘Going on the bit’ requires the horse to round his back and be compliant to the rider’s hands, the impulsion of movement coming from the hind end. It is a measure of the communication between horse and rider, and in certain disciplines, it is highly prized. It is impossible to do if the horse has his head flung up high and his back hollowed out.
I’d bought my horse as a young gelding from a slaughterhouse, at the going rate of eighty-nine cents a pound. Most likely he was an accident—a cross between a high-stepping Saddlebred and a “daisy-cutter” Appaloosa. One breed was designed to move with his head up in the air and back so curved riding feels like you’re sitting in a rocking chair. The other was meant to be a flashy-looking cow pony whose economical movement meant you could work the livestock all day. The combination resulted in the world’s ugliest three-year-old. Picture a horse with a cinder block head on a swan neck and a scruffy little bottlebrush tail. Saddlebreds are the fashion models of the competition world, and the nicest thing anyone could say about my horse is that he had “kind eyes.” He was the last horse anyone would expect to become a dressage champion, and when I first began appearing at the local shows, people shook their heads and wondered what I was doing there. Over a period of nearly a decade (and many hours of diligent training), we went from being the horse and rider that made people snicker to the team that came home with the ribbons.
The woman at the riding clinic was stunned when I told her of my horse’s background and how much work it had taken to make coming on the bit look natural for him. In the world of competitive riding, most people buy the right horse for the job. The right horse, the right saddle, the right boots, the best equipment money can buy; these can make a huge difference in where you place in the ribbons. It doesn’t eliminate the need for disciplined training, but your starting point on the podium is higher simply by virtue of having an athletic horse and a saddle that prevents you from making a wrong move. It’s possible for sheer hard work and determination overcome genetics and natural ability, however. I competed with my meat-market nag because he was the only horse I had, and the hours I put in riding him were a labor of love. Winning ribbons wasn’t the goal. The horse shows just gave me a structure for the time we spent together.
So I have to laugh when people ask me if I’ve always been a writer, in that same sort of wondering, envious tone. As though having a natural gift for something is more valuable than working your butt off to achieve the same results. The truth is, I wrote passionately as a child, only to give it up entirely as a teenager because I didn’t think I was good enough to be a ‘real’ writer. I thought it was time to put away childish dreams and get on with the business of making a career for myself. I wasn’t a natural.
It wasn’t until I discovered online fanfiction archives as an adult that I rediscovered my love for writing. My creative self, having been ruthlessly starved and repressed for several decades, woke with a vengeance. I read everything I could lay my hands on regarding my favorite show, and then tentatively, I began writing my own stories. Not because I thought I was any good. Not because I ever thought I’d be any good. Because I loved the characters so much I wanted to spend more time with them. Because I felt compelled to tell stories about them and share them with like-minded souls. Over a three year period of time, I wrote over a million words of fanfic. The enthusiastic support of friends gave me the courage to try my hand at original fiction, and eventually go on to submit my stories for publication. Making the transition to original fiction was tougher than I’d imagined, but in the end it was no different from moving up a level in dressage: everything that was once seemed effortless becomes hard work as you increase the challenge and have to master a whole new set of skills.
Being a natural is over-rated. It tends to teach poor work habits because everything is easy for you at first, and then when it gets harder, as it always does, you get discouraged and frustrated because you’ve never learned how to put in the hours to reach a specific goal. If you want to get better at anything, you have to put your hours in: under saddle, swimming laps, on the dance floor, at the keyboard. You ‘train’ when you don’t feel like it, when it’s raining, when you’ve had a bad day. That’s what it’s like to be a writer, too.
One of my favorite quotes is from Calvin Coolidge:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
They are words to live by—but especially if you’re a writer. You don’t wait until the muse strikes you. You don’t let reviews sink your confidence. You don’t compare yourself to others. You write, pure and simple. Every day, without fail. You hone your skills by practicing. Your creativity is a muscle you exercise. The more you write, the stronger you get. The better your sentences become. Sure, you can sigh and wish you had more talent, but in the end, it is the person who puts the words to paper who is the winner. It is the person who persists who achieves their dream. That person can be you.
Redclaw Origins: The year is 1955. Rebel without a Cause and The Seven Year Itch are playing in the movie theaters. The Chevy Bel Air is the most popular car in America. Gas is 25 cents a gallon and you can get a hotel room for $4 bucks. This flirty, fun series takes us back to the beginning and shows us how Redclaw Security got started.
If you like Gini Koch’s “Kitty” Katt alien series, you’ll love Redclaw Origins! It’s Bringing up Baby meets WH-13! It’s the X-Files meets Leave it to Beaver!
Bishop Takes Knight is a Top Pick at The Romance Reviews and a Crowned Heart of Excellence recipient at InD’Tale Magazine and has been nominated for a RONE Award! Bishop Takes Knight was voted Best Paranormal/SFF Romance in the 2020 New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Best Light Paranormal Romance in the 2020 PRISM awards, and is a Finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards!
They’re back and the fun–and trouble–is just beginning! Join Bishop and Knight as they must pose as a married couple to root out the strange disturbances occurring in an upscale suburban neighborhood!
Bishop’s Gambit (Redclaw Origins Book 2)
Newly-minted secret agent Rhett Bishop would rather face down a horde of angry wolf shifters or her father’s former mob contacts than accept her current assignment: pose undercover as a suburban housewife, complete with a husband, slippers, and pipe.
But after the debacle of her previous mission, Rhett has a lot to prove.
To redeem herself in the eyes of Redclaw Security, and to carry out her mission without distractions, she must table her budding relationship with Peter Knight while the two of them uncover the secrets of Forest Grove.
Armed with her trusty ray gun, her unique little dog, and Knight’s brains, Rhett is confident she can handle whatever the suburbs can throw at her.
Until they lob a curveball.
Available from Amazon and these other retailers.
EXCERPT:
A yellow taxi pulled over to the side of the road. I’d just given my hotel address to the driver through his open window when I heard the sound of running footsteps behind me. My James Cagney follower pounded the concrete in a dead run toward me. Without waiting for the driver to let me in, I dove into the back seat and slammed the car door shut.
“Drive. Now!”
The cab driver let out an oath and gunned the engine, cutting the wheel hard and pulling into traffic as my pursuer wrenched open the rear door. The stranger’s mouth fell open in surprise as I pointed the ray gun at him, but then his expression hardened. Either he didn’t believe the gun was real or he didn’t believe I’d shoot. With a snarl, he reached for my hand as he ran alongside the cab.
A serious mistake on his part. I don’t bluff.
The ray gun let loose a concentrated beam of energy, not enough to kill, but certainly enough to injure. With a yelp, the stranger fell back clutching his hand. The car peeled away from the curb, and I leaned out to grab the door handle and pull the door shut before it banged into a newspaper stand on the corner. Breathless with the near miss, I settled my hat back on my head and replaced the gun in my clutch.
The driver met my eyes in the rearview mirror. “You okay back there? What was that about, lady?”
I looked thoughtfully back at the man on the street whipping off his hat and throwing it to the sidewalk in frustration.
“I wish I knew.”
***********************************************************************
McKenna Dean Bio and Social Media Links:
McKenna Dean has been an actress, a vet tech, a singer, a teacher, a biologist, and a dog trainer. She’s worked in a genetics lab, at the stockyard, behind the scenes as a props manager, and at a pizza parlor slinging dough. Finally she realized all these jobs were just a preparation for what she really wanted to be: a writer.
She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her family, as well as the assorted dogs, cats, and various livestock.
She likes putting her characters in hot water to see how strong they are. Like tea bags, only sexier.
Links:
Newsletter: https://motivated-teacher-3619.ck.page/8ce3b5d956
Website: http://mckennadeanromance.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B075CRHQ7B/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/McKenna-Dean-Author-262328784224302/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McKennaDeanFic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennadeanromance/?hl=en
Tumblr: https://mckennadeanromance.tumblr.com/
Email: mckennadeanromance@gmail.com
Adventures in ice cream–yum!!
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. Sometimes it’s the mundane things in life that are an adventure. Stepping out of your lane and trying something new. Starting a business. Trying a new recipe. Facing life head-on. Eating ice cream on a cold day. I know it’s October, but it’s never too cold for a bowl of chilled sweetness. Believe it or not, my favorite is plain ole vanilla, not too adventurous, huh.
Many years ago, I bought an ice cream shop in New Jersey. We made our own super-premium. The thing I enjoyed most was creating different flavors. Since I also had a coffee shop, I’d use the liquid syrups, which flavored specialty coffee drinks and frozen concoctions. Some of the ice cream had chocolate covered coffee beans and the addition of espresso. I always tried my flavors except for coconut. I despise coconut. In that case, a multitude of volunteers was willing to put their taste buds on the line.
Recently I bought an old-time ice cream maker. My granddaughter is diabetic, and I wanted to control my ingredients. Both grands were so excited when I pulled it out on a recent driveway camping sleepover. Is it done? Is it done? When will it be done? joined the bouncing up and down and peeking into the lid. What a pleasure it was to see everyone enjoying such a simple thing as homemade ice cream. That’s what my character Gloriana Jones had dedicated her life to—bringing joy one scoop at a time in Rainbow Sprinkles.
Life had thrown some devastating issues into her life. Lost love. Nearly losing her business. But with some heavenly assistance and Nathan James, she finds happiness at the end of her rainbow.
So, get yourself a scoop or two of your favorite flavor and enjoy this little peek into Rainbow Sprinkles, a One Scoop or Two story from The Wild Rose Press series. Oh, I almost forgot. Rainbow Sprinkles’ signature treat is a Salted Caramel Sundae.
About the book:
Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream.
A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he’s lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop.
With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?
Check out the video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJJ0XY4tt7Y
AVAILABLE at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rainbow-sprinkles-d-v-stone/1137041768
and Amazon
Check out the cover for Slash, the latest from Harley Wilde
Slash (Devil’s Fury MC #7)
Written by Harley Wylde
Published by Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller
Wide Release: November 13, 2020
Genres/Themes: Contemporary Romance, MC Romance, Action Adventure, Age Gap, Pregnancy
Add to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55584816-slash
Shella – The Devil’s Fury are the only family I’ve ever truly had. My mom was a junkie. When she died, no one wanted me. Except Grizzly. I had a home, until things went horribly wrong. I went wild, pushed too many boundaries, and overstayed my welcome. So I ran and didn’t look back. Trouble always seems to find me, so it’s no surprise I ended up pregnant, alone, and scared out of my mind. Then Slash shows up. Out of all the Devil’s Fury brothers to come for me, why did it have to be the one I’ve been crushing on since I was a teenager?
Slash – Little Shella was always a pretty girl. Spoiled. Outspoken. A complete terror. Now that she’s all grown up, she’s stunning. I needed to keep my hands to myself, and maybe I would have if she hadn’t been adamant not to disclose the name of her baby-daddy. Only way to protect her is to give her my name. Doesn’t matter I’m old enough to be her father. When I find out her secrets, and the reason she’d behaved so badly, I know I’ll do whatever it takes to make her feel safe… even if it means burying a few men. I already have blood on my hands. What’s a little more?
WARNING: Slash’s book contains graphic violence and sex, bad language, and scenes that may be difficult for some readers.
About Harley Wylde
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
Visit Harley Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
“Her characters are phenomenal and have a lot of depth to them. She is absolutely fantastic at writing an engaging sexy story. Harley Wylde keeps the words flowing so that you have to turn the page to see what happens next.”
— All Author
Rafflecopter Giveaway Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c66b358158/
ADVERSARIES–The Color of Fear series comes to a bloody conclusion #mfrwhooks
A journey 10 years in the making comes to an end for both this author and the characters in ADVERSARIES, being released from Zumaya Publications this week.
This third book takes places over the course of two weeks in St. Louis, which has become to new seat of government for the USA after a terrorist attack sends an airborne plague around the world. The disease targets mainly Caucasians, and many have died. Not so with Gabriel, the self-proclaimed leader who is bent on revenge against the other races he blames for the losses. His army of Angels has gathered, and he is ready for the slaughter:
Gabriel was amazed how quickly the ranks of his followers had grown. When he’d first founded the compound back in Great Falls, Montana, he’d heard whispers within the community that he was a “right-wing nut,” a “neoreactionary,” and even a “mountain Klansman.”
He’d been none of those things, of course.
Or all of them.
He was mostly just looking out for himself and worried about the direction the government was once again taking the country.
Now that he and his followers had emerged from their isolation, he was in exactly the right time and place. People were terrified by a virus that targeted the backbone of America, the White population. The road to his success was traveled by those who’d survived, particularly the Whites with conservative leanings, less education, and anti-elite views.
“We’ve been led in the proper direction, my friends. Coming east from the bunker was the best thing we could have done. These red states have done well by us.” He counted off on his chunky fingers. “Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, now Iowa. Soon Kansas and Missouri, too.”
He grinned and wiped his forehead.
“True that more brown and yellow people survived, but it’s the White men and women who made it through who are ready to fight to take their country back.”
And I’m here to guide them along.
His “Adversaries” are Tzu Lin Kwan, who has brought Chinese herbs from Hong Kong for her scientist father to make a cure; Xi San, a pre-med student turned street vigilante; Valery Paz, a Latina Valley Girl who knows how to use a gun; Eddie Garrick, a techno whiz and electrogeek, who has re-animated KMOX radio in St. Louis to gather survivors; Teremesha Johnson, formerly a petty thief, now on his way to genuine hero, house mother Marie Westbrook, and so many more.
A virtual launch party–with prizes!!– will take place Oct. 9 over Zoom– leave your name below so we can get your email and add you to the list if you’d like to attend!’
Video trailer for the series available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5HtphfL7TE&t=21s
Check out other folks’ books in the blog hop here!
https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=298519Wonder, wizards and dragons— what a combination!
Today I ask you to welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend Darcy Carson! Take it away, Darcy!
I thought I’d tell you a little bit of the process when it came to writing Woman in the Woods. She had a cameo role in the first book in the Dragons Return series. She stayed in the back of my mind, nagging me, wanting her story told. She was on a mission and until I wrote her story, she wouldn’t leave me alone. She came from a land, The Wilds, where people didn’t usually travel to, because if they did, they didn’t return.
Wonder Woman was in the news a lot while I was writing Becca’s story and I realized she was the Amazon of her world, so I made her a wonder woman. It really helped to compare Becca with Diana Prince. It made her strong, and independent.
Wizard Cress was only a name in the first book. He took a lot of development to bring to life, but when I did. Oh, la la! I entered him in a contest once and he actually came out in the top three of Romance Through the Ages. Nice surprise.
And, of course, I hinted at some teeny-tiny dragons in the first book. The actual idea for them came from some friends who visited Central Park in NYC at night and saw fire-flies. They returned to the hotel, all excited, bubbling about these fire-flies. I thought it would be cool if people mistook those lights as fire-flies, not dragons. It was the only way they survived the Great Dying of life-sized dragons. They became Guardians of Secrets, and they have their own secret quest in Woman in the Woods.
The general theme of the Dragons Return series is, of course, the return of life-sized dragons to a world that killed them off. It takes Cress, Becca and the Guardians to make that happen. But first, they must set aside misconceptions and build trust in each other. It’s a journey everyone must travel to succeed.
Someone once told me that I had a lot of themes in this story, and to be honest, I never realized it until it was pointed out to me. Guess, you’ll have to read the book to see if you concur.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: https://darcycarsonbooks.com/
EXCERPT:
“For you,” he said.
She cried out in awe and joy. Never did she believe Cress would offer her his beads. “Why are you doing this?”
He lowered his arm. “I’m not quite sure. But will you accept my beads?”
She leaned close to his side and nuzzled his neck. A low moan of pleasure vibrated up his throat. Teasing him with her movements, she unplaited several inches of her braid and with shaking fingers, picked up a glowing orb. Rolling it between her forefinger and thumb to admire, she saw a tiny hole pierced its center.
He never looked away. Not until the last bead had been strung and she replaited the braid did Cress move.
He reached over and stroked the glowing orbs in her hair. “I thought beads were worn afterwards.”
“I’m making a statement.”
“Can we not stay and continue this…this conversation?” he asked softly.
She grunted in frustration. “Duty calls. For a male, you are unduly correct too many times for my comfort. On the other hand, you possess many attributes I find admirable. The contradictions are confusing.”
Cress gathered her into his arms and smiled down at her. “Poor Becca, you have much to learn about men.”
Lyndi Alexander's worlds of fancy 