EXCERPT
Coast of England 1816
"It's a bloody cursed day."
Damian Andrews swept the child into his arms and waded through the pounding
surf to the beach. He braced himself against the out-going current then sloshed
through the crashing waves. Salt spray clung to the wind, stinging his
nostrils.
Damian turned. Beneath his ribs, his heart
pounded the cadence hard and fast. He swore again as he watched the captain
shout orders to his crew. The French brandy that was supposed to have arrived
this night would have to wait.
Standing in the longboat, the captain of
the ship that brought the brandy as well as the political refugees from the
Germanies held a torch aloft--the only light in the vast darkness. "Hurry,
laddie. We have human cargo tonight and the tide is changing."
A little girl whimpered.
Damian pulled her into his arms, bent on
protecting her at all cost.
"It's all right. You will all be
together soon." The smuggling of French brandy was a cover for the cause
that meant so much to him. Religious and political refugees--at times it seemed
they came in droves. All were seeking a better life. A life of freedom.
"Your mother is coming as well as your baby brother. You will all be
safe."
Damian looked to the captain. "The
father?" he queried.
"He didn't come with his family. He
said he had one more thing to do. You must hurry."
The child leaned into Damian, her little
face nuzzling his shoulder, her silent sobs gut-wrenching. He pulled her
closer, cursing at the elements as well as mankind and wishing he could find a
way to shield the tiny child from all harm. He knew the feat to be impossible.
The little girl touched a place in his heart and for a moment filled that
broken space with light. Yes, the mother would be with her children, but why
had the father stayed where his life was in peril? He had learned long ago one
could come to regret rash actions. And he'd also learned one could lose all
chance at love in one instant.
Lord, but he'd lost his concentration and
in losing that, he could well lose his edge.
No secrets-- no lies. The thought haunted
him.
His life was a lie, but he would change
nothing until his penance was paid. A constant drizzle soaked him to the skin.
The wind sent goose bumps rising on his arms. He reached shore and handed the
girl over to Aric Lakeland, a trusted friend and accomplice in this night's
work, then turned and walked back to the longboat. Her baby brother as well as
her mother waited.
He had never meant to get involved. It was
the greatest of ironies that he was here now. He'd been a man who loved his
family and his home.
He'd been content but that seemed years
ago--a life time.
It felt like centuries.
The captain spoke, his voice hushed.
"Hurry, now, Master Damian.
It's the watch. They are due to ride by
here any time now. The patrols have doubled these last few weeks. I fear it's
not as safe as it used to be." The captain handed over the baby wrapped in
blankets. Damian stared at the child. The babe couldn't be a year old. The
child didn't make a sound, not even a whimper.
This was injustice, a travesty. He looked
at the mother. "Can you make it on your own?" He prayed the fragile
lady standing before him had more courage than she appeared to have. She nodded
and with the captain's help, she stepped into the ocean, struggling for
balance. Yet her shoulders were squared and her spine stiff.
As soon as the captain placed the babe in
Damian's arms and the three of them were headed for land, he gave orders. Two
sailors rowed out to sea, moving toward the black ship that rose and fell on
the distant waves.
On a cliff above, the dark silhouette of a
third man, Ryder McClaren, could be seen for a brief moment. He waved his arms
then disappeared into the shadows once more.
"Hurry," Damian bade the mother,
his hand resting on the small of her back, urging her forward.
REVIEW:
Title: Allura Genre:
Historical Author: Christine Young
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne
Reviewer Email: RJChrissyDionne@yahoo.com
Christine Young’s ALLURA is
a delightful historical novel full of suspense, lovable characters, humor and a
budding romance between two characters determined not to fall in love. Allura
and Hunter’s stubborn, determined natures allowed for some interesting scenes
as they attempted to get one up on each other. As a modern day woman I felt bad
for Allura because technically her husband would dictate every aspect of her
life and the freedom she loves would be a thing of the past. Hunter is
unbending as far as to how he believes a wife should behave but falling in love
changes him and his perception of Allura. Hunter and Allura are the main focus
of this story but there are secondary characters whom I absolutely adored and
would love to revisit in future novels (hint, hint). Especially the youngest
sister Aiden and Hunter’s trusted friend Blade. He doesn’t believe in love and
she’s determined to do whatever’s necessary to get him to notice her. SNIPPET—
Allura has come to treasure her freedom and the adventures she shares with her
sisters and her cousins but her father’s decision to find her a husband
threatens that freedom. He’s placed an ad in the times in search of a man
strong and smart enough to discover where exactly it is that the girls venture
when they leave the safety of the castle.
A REGAL BEAUTY
When the duchess decides to
wed her to a wastrel and a fop, Ravyn Grahm takes matters into her own hands
and declares her engagement to another man. Instead of fessing up and telling
her great aunt what she has done, she goes through with the pretense. Aric
Lakeland is the bastard son of an earl and has a dangerous reputation. But
Ravyn is willing to do most anything to keep the duchess from discovering the
lie.
A DEVIL-MAY-CARE SMUGGLER
He'd bought land in America,
looking to put down roots and end his life of adventure, but Aric Lakeland got
more than he bargained for when he encountered a beautiful heiress who made a
promise she didn't want to keep. But the promise could not be undone and
standing between them were more obstacles than either ever dreamed. Aric had
made plans to spend the rest of his life in America and that was at odds with
Ravyn's plan of living in England and running her father's estate. Now, he'll
have to choose between his dreams and the woman he loves more than life.
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