tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364537072024-03-13T10:45:40.286-07:00Addicted to WritingWelcome to my blog. I am a writer and avid reader of romances particularly historical romances. Please join me on my journey through time. Feel free to leave a commentChristine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.comBlogger3689125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-45382328485477516232021-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:002021-10-17T00:01:00.229-07:00#RomanceSunday #ShadowFire<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYWlw8-X3xo/YUvXtBAAQeI/AAAAAAAAz7s/vm8Su56qd_cj-dl2tBrQJwkEqXPMXDXPACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Shadow%2BFire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYWlw8-X3xo/YUvXtBAAQeI/AAAAAAAAz7s/vm8Su56qd_cj-dl2tBrQJwkEqXPMXDXPACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2BFire.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Courtney Rene<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EMail:</span><a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">ctnyrene@aol.com</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre:YA/ Paranormal/Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fire-Dancer-Book-ebook/dp/B00N6BTVJ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429137728&sr=1-1&keywords=Shadow+Fire+by+courtney+rene" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">No one really knows who Leif is. They know the man he portrays and the things he has done, both good and bad. He was a boy that came from nothing and grew into a man full of rage that almost killed the one person he set out to save. He roams the realms waiting for death. Waiting for an absolution that doesn’t come. Then a rumor surfaces. A threat has been made against Sunny. Leif sets out to try to right the wrongs of his past. He sets out to do what he was meant to do from the beginning, save the queen. Can he do it alone or will he have to do the one thing that is hardest for him, which is: Ask for help. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I have been looking for you."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I opened my eyes, turned my head, and stared up, way up into a pair of big brown eyes fringed in long lashes. Eyes so dark they looked almost black.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You're a hard person to find."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That was the point. I didn't want to be found. I liked my hermit existence. I didn't have to see anyone or talk to anyone if I didn't want. I liked to roam the realms and see what I could find. There were so many things we didn't know about the four realms. It wasn't so much as fun, as it was time consuming. That was what I wanted, though. The sooner time passed, the better off I would be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You look like crap, Leif," she said when I didn't respond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her voice, although lowered in disdain, was soft and feminine. If I weren't waiting for death, maybe I would have cared more. I tried not to notice her creamy, pink tinged skin. I tried not to notice her high cheekbones, and lush lips. I tried not to, but I did anyway. How could I not? She was beautiful. Not that I cared.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Man, and you stink. God, when was the last time you shaved…"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I lifted a hand up to my face and felt the length of coarse hair that covered the bottom part of my face. How long had it been?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"…or taken a bath for that matter."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A bit longer than I had realized apparently. "What do you want, Cinder?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She was silent for a moment. Was it my voice? It was gravelly with disuse, but the tone was indifferent, not aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Finally she said, "I came to bring you this." This, being a sunshine yellow envelope with my name written in bold calligraphy on the front. She held it down to where I lay on the rocky red ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I hesitated a moment before I took the proffered envelope. I didn't open it. I could only stare at the writing. I knew the writing and, therefore, who it was from without even having to open it. What did she want? What did it say?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Why are you here? Why are you laying down there on the ground like that?" Cinder asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I used her questions as an excuse to put off the inevitable and said, "I like it down here." I lay sprawled out on the rocky red dirt that made up the Fire Realm. The air was hot, the sun even hotter. If I lay there long enough, maybe I would just evaporate and be gone. No more Leif. No more running. No more hiding. Just gone. Finally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Yeah, but why?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't answer, instead my attention returned to the yellow envelope. I lifted the unsealed flap, and slid out the thick ivory card with silver writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">…cordially invited…..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">…..Sunshine…..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">….Lucas….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">….Wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I slipped the card back within the envelope and dropped it down next to where I lay. One grain of the red clay had found its way on top. My eyes fell to that red dot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So, what?" I said still focused on the grain of clay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So, are you going to come?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I stayed silent. Everyone knew why not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"She's not mad at you. In fact, she misses you. She talks about you all the time," Cinder said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She did? Did she talk about how I tried to kill her? What about how I used her?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"She really is hoping you will come. That's why I'm hand delivering your invite. She wanted to make sure you got it. Saw it."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Did she really want me there? Was it all just a joke to get me back for all I had done?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Will you at least think about it?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-79864869574965371372021-10-16T00:01:00.000-07:002021-10-16T00:01:00.241-07:00#SciFiFantasySaturday #DesertBlood<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pirui71xH1w/YUUnOlHF-WI/AAAAAAAAz68/4TLZccZV47IM287whZUMi_DjRCFfKoTeACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Desert%2BBlood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pirui71xH1w/YUUnOlHF-WI/AAAAAAAAz68/4TLZccZV47IM287whZUMi_DjRCFfKoTeACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Desert%2BBlood.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Desert Blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Brain Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Email: byoung0201@aol.com</span><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK108"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a name="OLE_LINK104"></a><a name="OLE_LINK120"></a><a name="OLE_LINK119"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Veins-Brian-Young-ebook/dp/B006RYLFRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385754446&sr=1-1&keywords=Blood+Veins+by+Brian+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK106"></a><a name="OLE_LINK105"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Desert Blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK122"></a><a name="OLE_LINK121"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK107"></a><a name="OLE_LINK103"></a><a name="OLE_LINK102"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">The Dolus invasion rolled over the unassuming Kingdom of Larista leaving ghost towns in its wake. </span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">It brought death and destruction in abundance and left the people of Larista without their king or his heirs. </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">It left the kingdom reeling with the realization that they weren’t alone on their isolated side of the Maker’s Mountain but instead part of a world that desperately wanted and needed the life giving water they took for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">One of the king’s sons, the Prisoner Prince Alexander, is still alive but held captive on the unexplored eastern side of the Maker’s Mountain known as the Wasteland. The man that holds him is the Emperor of the Free Cities, Jameson. His quest for vengeance and conquest has stirred up the other nations of the Wasteland and made them aware of the riches of Larista.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Alexander’s lifelong friends, Percival and Maximus must set out on individual journeys to find their friend, their king and themselves. But they will face a litany of foes along their paths. A horde of Beleick soldiers led by the Dictact threaten to sweep over the land sending everything into chaos while the Sisters of Gnaritas and the Death Stalker assassins weave their own intricate schemes for control of the Wasteland and the water that might flow from Larista.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Amongst so many people blood thirsty for power can Alexander find his way to the Maker’s Path or will he succumb to his own demons and find the Wraith’s Den in Oblivion…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK124"></a><a name="OLE_LINK123"><span style="font-family: Arial;">REVIEW: Desert Blood<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Whiz<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />This was a very fun, action-packed read. Desert Blood has very well-paced POV switches. Also, I love the fact that there are POVs for the villains; it helps us gain an insight into their world and how they think, which is a very good idea. There’s a massive character development arc in just one book! The characters in this book have dimension and their own backstories. I love how throughout the book, each character has a specific subplot and in the end, all these subplots just tie together wonderfully. I like the fact that you feel sympathy for every character — even the villains! I caught myself rooting for them a lot. The author’s writing style is eye-capturing, descriptive and full of action. He has more of a show – don’t tell – style, which I love in books. This book has so many cliffhangers; they kept me up all night reading! Overall, this book is an engaging, tension-filled read with beautiful descriptions and an amazing writing style.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Desert Blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gravel bit at his face and the palms of his hands; it tore at his light shirt as well, causing pain to sear across his chest and elbows and mixing his blood with the grit and dirt of the road. Being thrown from a moving vehicle wasn’t something Maximus had ever intended to experience. <i>Until a couple of months ago, I hadn't even seen one in working condition.</i>The thoughts managed to penetrate the turmoil of his current circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The frayed ropes that had bound his hands together snapped from the impact of his fall. Once he skidded to a stop, Maximus tore the rough sack off his head. Light from a high and hot, late day sun forced his eyes half shut, and he started to cough as the corrosive grit swirling in the air invaded his lungs. He forced himself to suck in more of the dreadful stuff along with the oxygen mixed with it and painfully made his way to his feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The choppers, as the locals affectionately called them, circled around him. Their riders hooted and jeered over the rattling engine noise that provided the bikes with their name. They were makeshift versions of the motorcycles high-priced couriers possessed and cobbled together from whatever spare parts their riders could scrounge up. Tires spit more sand at him and added to the growing cloud of dust. He turned circles, in vain, attempting to follow the dancing mob and make an accurate head count. After a moment, he realized it was pointless as not only was the sun hampering his vision, but his sight was slightly blurry as well. He didn’t remember hitting his head when he was thrown from the chopper, but it throbbed nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He did notice an abandoned building that loomed in the distance beyond the motorcycles; it was distorted from the dust swirling in the air and heat waves radiating from the ground. Its broken windows and sagging roof weren’t very promising, but it would be better than standing out in the open. The only problem was getting to it. He doubted he’d get more than a few steps in any direction before being run down by one of the gangers. And that was definitely all they were. Despite his foreign status, Maximus had spent enough time in the military to tell the difference between a professional unit and a bunch of testosterone teeming punks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s worth a try.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">He sprinted towards it and made it all the way to the ring of riders before realizing he would never get through them. The idea of trying to dive past them and hope his luck held out crossed his mind, but his instincts took over. He skidded to a stop and one of the passing riders gave him a boot to the chest. The rider’s momentum was jarring and Maximus fell on his back hard enough to send the wind rushing from his lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He looked up to see the rider who had kicked him wobble out of line before his bike tipped over and spilled him to the ground. A howl of laughter loud enough to be heard over the other riders was aimed at their fallen brethren. He responded with muttered cursing and a show of rude gestures. Maximus pulled himself to his feet for the second time in as many minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: Arial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Motion caught his attention and Maximus tried to focus his gaze on one of the riders who broke from the pack. The man sped to mere feet in front of Maximus before slipping his rear wheel to the side and coming to a skidding stop, spraying more sand into the air. Maximus didn’t flinch from the display of showmanship; he only closed his eyes and tilted his head aside to avoid the worst of the grit.</span><span style="color: windowtext;">look at his greeter, he allowed himself to slump against the relatively cold stone wall. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-13620358149823652052021-10-15T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-15T00:01:00.237-07:00#Friday'sFeaturedTitle #HighlandMiracle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCk7CrfHNc0/YUUm3zBsrnI/AAAAAAAAz60/Khfry2kyiaA3BBJ6ULhusH5TL_oQd_-OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Highland%2BMiracle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCk7CrfHNc0/YUUm3zBsrnI/AAAAAAAAz60/Khfry2kyiaA3BBJ6ULhusH5TL_oQd_-OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Highland%2BMiracle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK6"></a><a name="OLE_LINK5"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Highland Miracle<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Email: achristay@aol.com</span><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Paranormal/Historical</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK13"></a><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Miracle-Christine-Young-ebook/dp/B00DTX0U1E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385584992&sr=1-1&keywords=Highland+Miracle+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at Amazon: </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Highland Miracle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK8"></a><a name="OLE_LINK19"></a><a name="OLE_LINK18"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">HURTLED THROUGH TIME, Sean Michael Sterling, landed in the midst of a May Day celebration he didn’t understand, assuming the role of Laird Sterling. <o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK12"></a><a name="OLE_LINK7"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">ILLIGITAMATE CHILD OF NOBILITY, Reagan Douglas searches for a way out of her half brother’s house.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Highland Miracle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Look, Tia," Reagan said as she pointed toward a nearby hill. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"What is it?" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"A handsome stranger," Reagan giggled, instantly transfixed by the man. "Coming to dance around the May Pole?" Reagan looked a little more closely. "Oh, it's the Laird of Sterling Castle. Why is he on foot?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You are not thinking what I think," Tia said. "You dinnae know who he is. He looks like the laird but then he doesn't."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"How do I look?" Regan asked, ignoring Tia and smoothing her skirts then hoping she looked beautiful enough to snare this man. She wanted to sweep the laird off his feet. This might be her one and only chance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She heard the celebration in the background and watched as all eyes rose to meet the Laird's. Her brother William's eyes were startled then guarded and thoughtful. Tia's were intrigued. Some of the others gazes were wary and distrustful. They were a superstitious lot here in the Highlands. But even as she watched the people around her, she could not fully keep her attention from the Laird who had never attended this celebration before. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She felt a curious draw as she met his piercing gaze. She had only once before seen the man. He was an illusive creature, usually keeping inside the walls of his castle. Rumor had it the castle was haunted and the ghost was a woman who kept him from finding true love or happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Who do you think he is and where did he come from?" Tia asked peering intently at the man. "I really don't think it's the Laird. No one has spoken to the man in years. He is so withdrawn. A few months ago people were saying he had died."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The man possessed a calm air as if he knew and recognized all the people in front of him. His dark gaze was mysterious, and when he stopped walking, he stood as still as a rock, striking and in clothes she had never seen anyone wear before. She had thought then, though, it would not have mattered what he wore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Reagan could not draw her eyes from his and felt her flesh grow warm. The way he stared at her was unnerving. Her heart thundered beneath her chest. It seemed as if she knew this man from some long ago time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But that wasn't possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was May Day. The very air was filled with such excitement, and now this man was here as if sent for her and her alone. In the meadow maids and youths already danced around the Maypole. A man with a bear had the animal dancing circles upon his hind feet, and a marionette show was in progress. A flutist played in honor of King James, a group of Highlanders played the bagpipes. Noise and confusion flourished. The day was bright, clear blue, and so very beautiful. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She saw a strange gold dusting swirling and dancing in the air around her. Instantly, she felt compelled toward the stranger. For a moment she thought someone spoke to her, encouraging her onward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Reagan was grateful she'd taken so much time with her clothes. Her hose were white silk, and her little leather slippers were blue decorated with glass stones. Next to her flesh she wore a soft silk shift and over it a binding corset and three different petticoats. The dress was blue brocade, with stomachers in velvet, low-cut bodices, and half sleeves with scores of blue lace. Her facemask was covered with feathers and plumes. Her golden hair was done in ringlets, tied through with blue satin ribbons. When she'd looked at herself in the mirror, she had been quite pleased with the results. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So lost in thought, she had lost track of the man. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Until he stood next to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"A...hi," he said. "I'm Sean Michael Sterling." He stared at her with dark dangerous brown eyes as he crossed his arms on his chest.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-27663145357835510282021-10-14T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-14T00:01:00.193-07:00#MySweetBroc #HistoricalRomance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPwz9luhTGk/YUPq3JrhQ1I/AAAAAAAAz6s/0EnaObCZnWEYffVROjQP9475_vc4XW-NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/My%2BSweet%2BBroc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPwz9luhTGk/YUPq3JrhQ1I/AAAAAAAAz6s/0EnaObCZnWEYffVROjQP9475_vc4XW-NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/My%2BSweet%2BBroc.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: My Sweet Broc<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08529CXHZ" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1136517738?ean=2940163062997" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-sweet-broc/id1500638353?mt=11&app=itunes" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-sweet-broc" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_My_Sweet_Broc?id=tTfSDwAAQBAJ" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-my-sweet-broc/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bliss MacTavish finds the repercussions more than she bargains for when she gives herself bad boy, Broc Wallace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: MY SWEET BROC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Broc Wallace is a fun-loving rake who never thought any beautiful woman could melt his heart. He lives life in the present enjoying the camaraderie of his friends and the pleasures of his mistress. When Bliss races into his life, he is ill prepared to deal with her secrets or give up the tenor of his life. When the truth is revealed, he finds himself unable to forgive and forget the betrayal. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">...but she's sweet for him<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bliss MacTavish knows she's playing with fire when she refuses to tell this bad boy her name. He tempts her with sweet whispers of seduction knowing her innocent nature will be unable to refuse all he yearns to give her. Deciding to follow her heart, she finds the repercussions more than she bargains for when she gives herself to this bad boy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: MY SWEET BROC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Broc didn’t want to let go of her hand, at least not until she made it clear she didn’t like this tiny advance. He was inexplicably drawn to her and hoped she wasn’t some debutant who would seek a commitment. He liked his freedom and didn’t mean to lose it anytime soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Bliss,” he paused, “where do you live?” he asked, trying for a bit more information from her. The thought of a debutante seeking him out sent a wave of precaution through his head. But what would some random debutante be doing riding hell bent across a meadow on MacTavish land? A debutant would not have to earn a living.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Why?” Her answer was curt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Just curious. It seems you know more about me than I do you. It’s only fair, don’t you think?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “No, fairness has nothing to do with any of this. I barely know you,” she said. “I’m not going to give you my address. A lady needs an air of intrigue about her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “You know me well enough to watch me half naked chopping wood,” he told her, thinking he’d like to see her naked. Her dress hid her curves fairly well, but he could still tell quite a lot about her body. “I’m sure you know exactly where I live.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “And you weren’t a wee bit bashful either. I also saw a beautiful woman ride to the stables. I saw you kiss her. When you were half naked. So,” she paused gazing at him, her eyes simmering, “I’m sure you don’t care if I saw your chest and rippling muscles.” With that said she looked away as if she didn’t want him to see her reaction. He was sure he saw more than she intended.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Jealous?” Good lord but that was at least two months ago. His mistress paid him an unusual visit and he sent her away with the order to never come to his home again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Of course not,” she protested to quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “The blush rising on your cheeks tells me you’re not speaking the truth. I think you should apologize or let me kiss you. Perhaps we should make a bet. Every time you lie you have to kiss me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “No, I wouldn’t like to make a bet like that with you. I’ve been told you’re a very bad man where it comes to women.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Who told you that?” He could only think of a few people who would say that about him, and it would be in jest or to warn a debutant away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Just heard it. Don’t remember where. Probably one day when I was in town to sell my paintings.” She smushed her lips together, squinting, her eyebrows drawn together as if she was thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Something doesn’t ring true.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Don’t know why you say that?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Back to my question, are you jealous? Should we find out if you like my kisses?” He grinned at her hesitancy, but the way her tongue swept across her lips told him she was thinking about telling him yes, or at least about a kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Probably not a good idea.” She backed away from him, but she didn’t take her hand from his. “A kiss. No something like that could lead to other things a lady shouldn't do.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Other things? What do you know about other things?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Nothing really.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> He decided a bit more persuasion might be appropriate here. He traced gentle circles on her wrist with his thumb and he watched her eyes cross for a second. “Probably not, but what if kissing you is a very good idea? What then? You’d miss something you would enjoy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Again, I barely know you. It’s not proper to kiss a man when you’ve only known him for a few minutes. One must wait...”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Proper!” he roared then chuckling. “You are the least proper woman I’ve ever met. And we’ve known each other over an hour now, not a few minutes. So a kiss would certainly be proper.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08529CXHZ" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08529CXHZ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes & Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1136517738?ean=2940163062997" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1136517738?ean=2940163062997</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-sweet-broc/id1500638353?mt=11&app=itunes" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-sweet-broc/id1500638353?mt=11&app=itunes</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-sweet-broc" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-sweet-broc</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_My_Sweet_Broc?id=tTfSDwAAQBAJ" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_My_Sweet_Broc?id=tTfSDwAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...Broc Wallace is a fun-loving rake who never thought any beautiful woman could melt his heart...but she's sweet for him Bliss MacTavish knows she's playing with fire when she refuses to tell this bad boy her name. He tempts her with sweet whispers of seduction knowing she will be unable to refuse all he yearns to give her<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-22463584411159442182021-10-13T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-13T00:01:00.227-07:00#Devlin'sAngel #HistoricalRomance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDe6J9xDTdE/YT1V7rW3eQI/AAAAAAAAz5M/wUQV17_SeaA2j0jGhsnlRWIjLa0Fj1zNACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Devlin%2527s%2BAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDe6J9xDTdE/YT1V7rW3eQI/AAAAAAAAz5M/wUQV17_SeaA2j0jGhsnlRWIjLa0Fj1zNACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Devlin%2527s%2BAngel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Devlin’s Angel;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Bad Boys Book Ten<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F8L1LD4" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devlins-angel-christine-young/1140123907;jsessionid=F15217B48A8CE6F7AB34D6EB6C5F9905.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=2940162582021" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/devlins-angel/id1584198455?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ct=books_devlin%27s_angel&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">,</span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/devlin-s-angel" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-H1AEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-devlins-angel/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE: Devlin’s Angel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Posing as a commoner, Devlin Mathews finds dealing with the tiny she-devil, Merry Stewart, exasperating as well as intriguing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Devlin’s Angel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Merry Stewart is wildly unpredictable. Left alone to run wild over the Bordeaux and Scottish countryside she becomes impetuous and daringly bold. Over the years, she's found she can bedevil her softhearted brothers into allowing her exploits to go unnoticed. As a young woman she has learned she can do as she pleases when she pleases. Now, Merry has set her amorous sights on the Duke of Weston—a man she has never met but has every intention of marrying. No other suitor will satisfy her—especially not the exceptionally striking, horse breeder, Devlin Mathews.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">...she's the woman of his desires.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Posing as commoner Devlin Mathews to escape a potentially fatal confrontation, Devlin is enthralled and infuriated by the audacious, duke-hunting dark haired vixen. Bedeviled at every opportunity, he finds dealing with the tiny she-devil exasperating as well as intriguing. Without revealing his true identify, the infamous rogue pledges to thwart Merry's plans to wed the man of her dream-never imagining the bewitching strategist would turn out to be the only woman he would ever dream of marrying.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt: Devlin’s Angel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“A sticky bun.” He grinned accepting the coffee, his mind taking a different route all together than what she would expect. <i>Yes, I would definitely like to try her buns.</i>As he sat down, her stare travelled along his chest, lower then lower until it stopped at his unfastened pants. Heat flamed inside him at her blatant perusal. What had he expected? He chose not to wear a shirt for his own purposes, wanting to see if the heat from the night before still existed between them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It did. Now it flamed brighter and hotter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Daryl taught me. I made some for the bakery. Some of the customers told me they are really quite good.” She sat down on one of the chairs, sipping the hot liquid she held in front of her, watching him expectantly, a hesitant smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I bet your buns are very tasty.” He bit into one, chewing thoughtfully, studying her, realizing she had no idea what he meant.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her brows drew together, chewing over his words. “They are,” she agreed with him. “As is the coffee.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“How did you know, Brat?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Know what?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“That I preferred coffee over tea.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Do you? I always thought coffee tasted better with my buns,” she said straight faced. “Link, my youngest brother brought a lot back from Virginia.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The liquid in his mouth spewed out with a cough. “What did you say?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You heard me. Coffee tastes better with my buns,” she told him so much indignation in her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keeping his laughter behind his teeth, “That’s what I thought you said.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He’d like to try that particular combination as he wondered how much of what she said was feigned innocence or if she knew exactly what he was talking about. He’d like to discover that too. Did she have any clue what he referred to?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“So, what do you think?” She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with anticipation of his response.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">His heart twisted, lightened, changed from his usual jaded thoughts. With his mouth full of sticky buns, his eyes catching her gaze, he said. “They are really very good with your coffee. Or is it your buns with the coffee? Maybe it’s the cinnamon and sugar with the melted butter that makes your buns so delicious.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She smiled, her twin dimples changing her face, so much he gasped, “Thank you. I can make them for you every morning if you like. You can taste my buns every morning along with all the cinnamon, sugar and butter you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He inhaled then very slowly he said, “I would like to taste your sticky buns every morning, thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She beamed even more. “Ask and you will receive,” Her eyes were alight, her smile beautiful, overpowering.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Inwardly, he groaned. <i>Ask and you will receive</i>. There were a lot of things he could think of that he might want to ask of her. Trying to stick his wayward thoughts to the farthest recesses of his brain, he finished eating.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scotland, Glasgow, Romance, Historical<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F8L1LD4" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F8L1LD4</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devlins-angel-christine-young/1140123907;jsessionid=F15217B48A8CE6F7AB34D6EB6C5F9905.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=2940162582021" style="color: #954f72;">Devlin's Angel by Christine Young | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/devlins-angel/id1584198455?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ct=books_devlin%27s_angel&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/devlins-angel/id1584198455?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ct=books_devlin%27s_angel&ls=1</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Kobo: <u><span style="color: #386eff;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/devlin-s-angel</span></u></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-H1AEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=-H1AEAAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-145887382655461032021-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:002021-10-12T00:01:00.220-07:00#TellTaleTuesday #PleasingAri<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVidHG13KdU/YTv_T8TZbsI/AAAAAAAAz5E/F1lDC5wVk_UQvcGk2pHLbGjjGcZMVxNPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Pleasing%2BArie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVidHG13KdU/YTv_T8TZbsI/AAAAAAAAz5E/F1lDC5wVk_UQvcGk2pHLbGjjGcZMVxNPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Pleasing%2BArie.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Pleasing Arie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Bad Boys Book Six<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-pleasing-arie/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alison Fletcher is stunned by the magnificently handsome Arie Demir who buys her and expects her to become his slave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Pleasing Arie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life. He takes what he wants. What he undeniably yearns for is the beautiful redheaded spitfire he sees in a restaurant in Glasgow. At every turn, she confuses him by disputing his power over her. Alison refuses to accept the fact he owns her. While Arie tries desperately with patience and tenderness to drive her wild with new sensations, his scorching kisses ignite the fires of her very soul to make her understand he is all she will ever want. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">...but is she pleasing him?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man who believes he owns her. She is stunned by the magnificently handsome man who awaits her compliance. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. The hidden depths of his mesmerizing dark brown eyes hold her into their power; his muscular embrace makes her weak with desire. She is his to do with as he wishes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Pleasing Arie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arie stared at the doorknob for a few seconds before he slowly opened the door. Alison was still standing at the window, dressed in the see-through lavender harem pants and bolero jacket he gave her a few days past. Without a second thought, he grinned, appreciating the view, the finely sculpted curves. From the back she was just as beautiful as he imagined, her vibrant red hair spilling to below her waist, curling around her, tested all his senses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Alison?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Go away.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Afraid I can’t do that.” He stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. The outside lock turned as he walked toward her. “We need to speak, to understand each other. I need you to comprehend why you are here rather than the brothel.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Who are you?” Her voice quivered when she spoke. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her shoulders were stiff. Still she didn’t turn around. He didn’t need to see her face. Her visage was etched in his memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arie understood this would not be easy between them. Now, he wasn’t sure if she was terrified or angry, perhaps both. He hoped it was anger causing her body to shake. Anger he could deal with much easier than fear. He prayed she didn’t cry. There would be no tears. Despite the lecture from Chelsea, Alison wasn’t going anywhere. She was his for as long as he wanted her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In any case, Ali had nowhere to go. Donovan sold her house after selling her to the whorehouse. She had nothing save what he would give her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My name is Arie.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He stood beside her, looking out the window, his body barely touching her shoulder. A crescent moon stood out in a cloudless sky while brilliant stars emerged as the city lights dimmed even more with the hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Then, Arie, what am I doing here?” she asked, her voice tense. “You have no right to keep me prisoner.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Do you want me to be brutally frank?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He smiled, wondering exactly how she would react when he gave her the truth of her existence now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Brutal?” she queried, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him, her hands fisted at her sides. “Everything that has happened to me in the last couple of days has been brutal. I’m a free woman. You’ve no right to hold me in this house.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You didn’t answer my question. I find I cannot continue on without an honest answer from you.” He smiled, realizing this woman was not afraid of him; defiant yes, angry yes, but not afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She turned away from him, her hands on the windowsill seeming to support all her slight weight. He was afraid when she learned the truth she would no longer be able to stand on her own.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Why would you be anything less than honest?” Her voice quivered while her shoulders trembled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Perhaps you should sit down first.” He turned to the pillows and bedding gracing the floor behind them. “Have something to eat, a sip or two of the fine wine I’ve procured for us. You should relax.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’m not hungry or thirsty. I don’t want to relax.” She moved to look at the pillows then him. “I’ll stand, thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS: Historical, Romance, Scottish, Highlands, Bad Boys, Regency<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">SHORT BLURB: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy... Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life...but is she pleasing him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-18084904123033751272021-10-11T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-11T00:01:00.222-07:00#MysteryMonday #SardinianSunset<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvxyrEO6q9Q/YTv-9PNWpEI/AAAAAAAAz48/wTzaD1HxbVUAm3WN79EEtLZ-9JjBux-vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Sardinian%2BSunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvxyrEO6q9Q/YTv-9PNWpEI/AAAAAAAAz48/wTzaD1HxbVUAm3WN79EEtLZ-9JjBux-vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Sardinian%2BSunset.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Sardinian Sunset<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: C. L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081GBXTXZ" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sardinian-sunset-c-l-kraemer/1134900387;jsessionid=0335804E1817688603E91C35CFE85216.prodny_store02-atgap17?ean=2940163130894" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/sardinian-sunset/id1488218715?mt=11&app=itunes" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sardinian-sunset" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/C_L_Kraemer_Sardinian_Sunset?id=UPK9DwAAQBAJ" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-sardinian-sunset/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Olivia Francesca Porcu Martin buys a home in Ollolai, Sardinia, for one euro. As she rebuilds the home, she’s also repairing her life.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Sardinian Sunset<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">What starts as a crazy idea to buy a house for less than the price of a cappuccino, becomes the journey into Olivia Francesca Porcu Martin’s ancestry. The home she purchases was in her family for generations until her grandmother fled to America.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Olivia is fleeing but not a war-torn island. She is searching for roots and will find them in a small town in the hills of Sardinia. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Crossing paths with a student traveler named Destiny, opens doors Olivia felt had been closed forever. It doesn’t hurt that the licensed Contractor named Rafaele, who wins the bid to help her remodel her home, is good looking and modest. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Two determined, independent Sardinian souls make Destiny’s job difficult on the best of days. But as we all know,you can’t fight Destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Sardinian Sunset<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lightning slashed across the sky and thunder drummed in Destiny’s ears. The strange vessel began to turn on its axis, swirling faster with each passing second. Destiny lost her balance. Her head hit the floor hard. She heard the crack then nothing more except roaring in her ears.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When she opened her eyes, sunshine filled the tiny cabin. She pressed her hands to her temples trying to ease the pain throbbing through her head. Slowly, she found her way to the deck.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The sky was a vivid blue with a few clouds lying close to the horizon, Reid’s ship was nowhere to be seen, although the sailboat sat in the same cove. She didn’t know how to sail a boat; didn’t have any idea how to get to land. Would Reid sail without her? Good Lord, she hoped not. She’d have to find another job, and she’d have to find another man she could trust.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A boat passed by, and she waved at it, hoping someone would rescue her. It came about and headed back her direction. Watching the craft come closer, she held her breath, praying for her safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Can we help?” someone from the vessel asked as it pulled up close. “You look stranded.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’m lost. Yes, stranded,” Destiny admitted, shrugging her shoulders as she tried to assess this man who seemed to be offering aid. “Can you take me somewhere close by?” While she’d made several trips with Captain Stewart, she’d never been on the land, never left the boat. She had no idea what this island had to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Where are we?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Sardinia. I’ll take you to Ollolai. That’s where I’m staying. You know anybody there?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“No,” she was shaking her head and wondering what she would do to survive. “I can cook. Does anyone need a cook?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The man chuckled. “I’ve heard another guest at the hotel mentioning her need. Climb aboard.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">~ * ~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="_Hlk12456655"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Destiny Rose groaned. “Where the hell am I?” Her head pounded and, she surmised, she must have hit it on one of the many rocks covering the interior of this—what the hell was this anyway? She must be in a newer century than the last. Her head throbbed and she placed a hand on the back of her head, flinching at the pain. Oh, right. Boat, water, storm, floor. And a rescuer, not a pirate, assisting her to the shore. How the heck did she get from the coast to this, thing?<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She could only bide her time, of which she had plenty, to discover her final destination. A jet keened overhead giving her the hope this was the 20<sup>th</sup>century. <i>Well, of course it must be, you ninny. You were brought to the center of town in a motorized vehicle.</i><i>I must have walked here. But why?</i>She tested her limbs by stretching; waiting for the inevitable pain of something broken and was pleased to find her parts in good working order. She sat up and observed the three-sided structure. “Hmmm. Manger? Could have been much worse. I’ve a covered refuge, for now. This will give me time to explore where the fates have landed me.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cloaking herself in a cover of wariness, she peeked around the corner of the stone shed. The small out-building was placed at the back of a home two-stories in size and encompassing some area. She noted a path leading around the side. If the shed where she currently stood was a home for animals, they’d been gone for a long time. No fresh hay or <i>presents</i>littered the rocky ground. She listened carefully but detected little movement in the surrounding hills. <i>The area is not heavily peopled.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A movement caught her attention. She noted a face appear in one of the windows on the ground floor. Destiny pulled back into the shed. She stilled her pounding heartbeat, afraid the soul inside the building would hear and chase her away. <i>Don’t be such a ninny. </i>Subterfuge was not her strong point. <i>Doesn’t need to be.</i>Standing against the back wall, she was sweating profusely. Her 19<sup>th</sup>century clothing was hot, scratchy and, with the help of a gentle breeze, alerted her to the smell of brine and oily cooking clinging to her person. <i>Fates be cursed, I need a bath.</i>An abode with four walls and water close by would be deeply welcomed. There may not be creatures seeking her for a midnight dinner, but she wasn’t about to tempt the fates any more than necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A motorized sound reached her ears followed by crunching fading into the distance. Hope she might explore the bigger structure blossomed. A familiar tickle spread across her scalp. This had to be her new assignment. Destiny scratched her head then stepped into the open. No sounds assaulted her ears. The person inside the structure must have left. Marks about the size of a supply wagon showed a vehicle moving toward a faint line down the hill, which must be a road.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She inched her way across the back of the house checking each point of entry. Window—no, unable to open. Second window—same result. Bloody hell, was she going to have to stay in that little…place tonight? Not the optimal choice. She sighed and pulled up tall. One more window. Pulling on the bottom of the frame resulted in movement. The squeal of swollen wood on swollen wood caused her ears to ache. In one quick movement, she pulled up, swung over the frame and landed on smooth stones.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sliding down the sturdy wall, she blew out a breath. Allowing the span of a few minutes to pass in which she steadied her pounding heart, Destiny stood and closed the window. Pulling<i>in</i>the frame didn’t seem to have the same effect. No screeching. Now to do a quick surveillance of the property. She poked her head into an area she presumed to be the sitting room. Down a long hallway to a sleeping room on the first floor complete with a bathing room. <i>Thank goodness</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She peered around for a bucket to fill the white horse trough she thought must be for said purpose. There were some fancy knobs on one side. Her curiosity pushed her to twist them. Nothing. <i>Well, what are they for then?</i>There must be a well close by. Opposite the horse trough was a funny looking chair. Destiny was puzzled by this bit of furniture. It didn’t face a mirror but the trough. <i>Why would people wish to place a chair in that spot? Bugger. </i>There was so much catching up she needed to do before the end of the week. The sands of time were slipping through her fingers. She had the sensation this task wasn’t meant to be but a brief interlude into the life of the assigned.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She poked around some of the other rooms on the first floor. A quick jaunt up the stairs and a brief inventory of the remaining rooms, including another bathing room with the same weird set up of funny chair facing a horse trough. <i>Why would people bring their horses up to the second floor and watch them drink? Were they that valuable?</i>All the exploration in a house covered in decades of dust and dirt was taking its toll on Destiny. Trudging down the stairs to the first floor, she decided if she was going to stay here for the night, it might prove to her advantage to stay near the ground. Recovery would be easier with bumps and bruises as opposed to broken bones should she need to leave in a hurry. Traveling back to the kitchen, she spotted a narrow door at one end of the room. Opening the closure proved to expose storage for cleaning equipment. Thank goodness the broom appeared to be the same, whatever time this was. She grabbed the tool and determined she’d pick one of the rooms and give it a dust up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The chamber, second opening off the hallway, was her choice for tonight’s slumber. She couldn’t recall peering inside this door. The window beckoned. She jimmied it open to allow fresh, cool air to enter and escort some of the dust motes to the exterior of the house. Using skills she’d been called upon to employ at her last location, Destiny dry-swabbed the floor with the broom. The center of the room was covered with a patterned carpet. Once she shuttled the dirt into the hall, she turned to view her chosen sleeping chamber. The sun shone on a carpet of such quality Destiny gasped. She dropped to her knees, ignoring the fine dust marking her dark britches. Gently, reverently, she reached out her hand and caressed the quality fabric. The weaving was the finest she could recall seeing—ever. Much as she hated to admit it, the finished product rivaled her own. This night she would experience the pride of Sardinia. Maybe a good night’s rest might help her come up with a plan to help this assignment—person. She really was going to have to speak to the boss about a vacation. Too many assignments in too short of a time were dulling her ability to relate to them as people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twinges slicing through her forehead drew a moan from the traveler. “Not now. I don’t have time for this.” The warning was a precursor to a raging headache rivaling a drunk’s hangover. It was her recompense for time travel. <i>Bed. Sleep will chase away the demon.</i>Destiny lay on the magnificent carpet and easily slid into a deep slumber.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website URL: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blog URL: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081GBXTXZ" style="color: purple;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081GBXTXZ</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sardinian-sunset-c-l-kraemer/1134900387;jsessionid=0335804E1817688603E91C35CFE85216.prodny_store02-atgap17?ean=2940163130894" style="color: purple;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sardinian-sunset-c-l-kraemer/1134900387;jsessionid=0335804E1817688603E91C35CFE85216.prodny_store02-atgap17?ean=2940163130894</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #23527c; font-family: "Myriad Set Pro Text", serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/sardinian-sunset/id1488218715?mt=11&app=itunes</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sardinian-sunset" style="color: purple;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sardinian-sunset</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/C_L_Kraemer_Sardinian_Sunset?id=UPK9DwAAQBAJ" style="color: purple;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/C_L_Kraemer_Sardinian_Sunset?id=UPK9DwAAQBAJ</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-85092611079729909932021-10-10T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-10T00:01:00.261-07:00#RomanceSunday #ShadowDancer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYJmwXqubRo/YTks_7nk4gI/AAAAAAAAz4U/z33MFomwIsIEeQ7GZF2YyBZm1W5J8maegCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Shadow%2BDancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYJmwXqubRo/YTks_7nk4gI/AAAAAAAAz4U/z33MFomwIsIEeQ7GZF2YyBZm1W5J8maegCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2BDancer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Courtney Rene<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EMail:</span><a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">ctnyrene@aol.com</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre:YA/ Paranormal/Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fire-Dancer-Book-ebook/dp/B00N6BTVJ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429137728&sr=1-1&keywords=Shadow+Fire+by+courtney+rene" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">No one really knows who Leif is. They know the man he portrays and the things he has done, both good and bad. He was a boy that came from nothing and grew into a man full of rage that almost killed the one person he set out to save. He roams the realms waiting for death. Waiting for an absolution that doesn’t come. Then a rumor surfaces. A threat has been made against Sunny. Leif sets out to try to right the wrongs of his past. He sets out to do what he was meant to do from the beginning, save the queen. Can he do it alone or will he have to do the one thing that is hardest for him, which is: Ask for help. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Shadow Fire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I have been looking for you."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I opened my eyes, turned my head, and stared up, way up into a pair of big brown eyes fringed in long lashes. Eyes so dark they looked almost black.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You're a hard person to find."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That was the point. I didn't want to be found. I liked my hermit existence. I didn't have to see anyone or talk to anyone if I didn't want. I liked to roam the realms and see what I could find. There were so many things we didn't know about the four realms. It wasn't so much as fun, as it was time consuming. That was what I wanted, though. The sooner time passed, the better off I would be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You look like crap, Leif," she said when I didn't respond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her voice, although lowered in disdain, was soft and feminine. If I weren't waiting for death, maybe I would have cared more. I tried not to notice her creamy, pink tinged skin. I tried not to notice her high cheekbones, and lush lips. I tried not to, but I did anyway. How could I not? She was beautiful. Not that I cared.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Man, and you stink. God, when was the last time you shaved…"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I lifted a hand up to my face and felt the length of coarse hair that covered the bottom part of my face. How long had it been?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"…or taken a bath for that matter."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A bit longer than I had realized apparently. "What do you want, Cinder?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She was silent for a moment. Was it my voice? It was gravelly with disuse, but the tone was indifferent, not aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Finally she said, "I came to bring you this." This, being a sunshine yellow envelope with my name written in bold calligraphy on the front. She held it down to where I lay on the rocky red ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I hesitated a moment before I took the proffered envelope. I didn't open it. I could only stare at the writing. I knew the writing and, therefore, who it was from without even having to open it. What did she want? What did it say?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Why are you here? Why are you laying down there on the ground like that?" Cinder asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I used her questions as an excuse to put off the inevitable and said, "I like it down here." I lay sprawled out on the rocky red dirt that made up the Fire Realm. The air was hot, the sun even hotter. If I lay there long enough, maybe I would just evaporate and be gone. No more Leif. No more running. No more hiding. Just gone. Finally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Yeah, but why?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't answer, instead my attention returned to the yellow envelope. I lifted the unsealed flap, and slid out the thick ivory card with silver writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">…cordially invited…..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">…..Sunshine…..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">….Lucas….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">….Wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I slipped the card back within the envelope and dropped it down next to where I lay. One grain of the red clay had found its way on top. My eyes fell to that red dot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So, what?" I said still focused on the grain of clay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"So, are you going to come?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Why not?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I stayed silent. Everyone knew why not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"She's not mad at you. In fact, she misses you. She talks about you all the time," Cinder said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She did? Did she talk about how I tried to kill her? What about how I used her?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"She really is hoping you will come. That's why I'm hand delivering your invite. She wanted to make sure you got it. Saw it."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Did she really want me there? Was it all just a joke to get me back for all I had done?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Will you at least think about it?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-18607919747812699172021-10-09T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-09T00:01:00.246-07:00#SciFiFantasySaturday #defyingTheOdds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoS9c7tSfg8/YTUbQYPvC3I/AAAAAAAAz3A/kkh88P90TfwiIgxf9MzcwTR1eP_hPMdiACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Defying%2Bthe%2BOdds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoS9c7tSfg8/YTUbQYPvC3I/AAAAAAAAz3A/kkh88P90TfwiIgxf9MzcwTR1eP_hPMdiACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Defying%2Bthe%2BOdds.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Defying the Odds<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: C. L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Email: clkraemer1@gmail.com</span><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Paranormal</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK48"></a><a name="OLE_LINK47"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK101"></a><a name="OLE_LINK100"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span></a><a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Defying the Odds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK99"></a><a name="OLE_LINK98"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">The night elves on the hill aren't happy without their magic. They concoct a plan to punish those who were involved in the act that rendered them almost human. Meanwhile, Uther, the rogue night elf, has returned to woo the Librarian to be his eternal mate.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Defying the Odds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">In a meadow east of Eugene, Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bram ambled up the roughly hewn stairs to the willow lounge chair located at the front of his home. He pulled the scrimshawed pipe from his pocket and filled the bowl with his favorite blend of black cherry tobacco. The paced routine of loading the ivory bowl with fragrant leaves and tamping them firmly into place was one of his favorite after dinner rituals. Withdrawing a matchstick from the inner pocket of his vest, he struck the sulfured end against a river rock he'd placed on the root of the towering oak that served as his home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The fading evening sky showered the mountains in hues of gold and red. Pushing away the light, a blanket of dark blue velvet sprinkled with luminous star points soon prevailed. Bram puffed smoke rings at the darkening heavens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Evenin'." A scruffy black and tan terrier mix meandered up and, after circling three times, lay next to the chubby gnome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Evening, Silas. How's the family?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Well, thank you. Daisy announced we're expecting--again."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bram chuckled into his beard. "Congratulations."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Humph. I'll be glad when we're both too old to care. I came over to ask if there are any jobs in sight. I'll need to be working as much as I can now."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It seemed he got one batch of kids out of the house and another was on the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Silence stretched between the business partners. Bram pulled deep draughts on his pipe, blowing the smoke away from his friend. His eyes were drawn to the large block of light spilling from the picture window of the behemoth on the hill. The Saun clan, night elves whose callous actions nearly destroyed the fae population of the meadow and surrounding forests, owned the out of place monstrosity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bram squinted his eyes to focus his vision on the methodical movement that broke the beam of light. He could just make out a figure pacing rhythmically in front of the casement. Unable to ascertain which of the night elves was engaged in the determined striding, Bram was sure of only one thing…if the night elves were restless and unhappy, the rest of the valley was in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">~ * ~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gitty paced in front of the picture window, ignoring the expansive view of the green valley below. The thick carpet covering the hand selected hardwood floors muffled the angry stompings of her boots. At the end of each turn, she jabbed the air with her finger.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Think you can take away my magic, do you?" She spun on the ball of her foot and stamped to the other side of the room. "We'll see about that!" Jab, jab.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Morgan, the younger of the two siblings, stretched his limbs languidly across the fine leather couch, watching the angry display being played out in the living room, a smirk residing on his lips.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"What has your knickers in a twist?" His leg, hanging over the arm of the couch, swung slowly back and forth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gitty broke her tirade for a moment. "I'm surprised yours aren't. How can you tolerate not having magic to use?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Because, dear sister, I don't <i>need</i>magic to get my way. I have my," he waved a hand up and down his body, "<i>obvious</i>attributes."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gitty grimaced. "Please. Don't make me sick."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pulling to an upright position, Morgan stretched his long legs in front of him, tucking his hands behind his head.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You're just jealous."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Hardly."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Then what's your problem?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I don't fancy living my life in pubs among the scum of the valley sponging off the pity of strangers. My plans include owning all I see."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Morgan rose from the couch and faced his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Good luck with that. Even the Others are wise to your quest for power. I'm going out. See you later." He moseyed out of the living room and down the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gitty gritted her teeth. Morgan might be her brother, but he was useless when it came to thinking beyond his next good time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She glared at the source of the fingers of light stretching over the meadow. The owner of the Lending Library was an Other the local fae had embraced with open arms. Even Uther, the one-time leader of the night elves and her uncle, had taken a personal interest in the older female.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Must be losing his sanity."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She spotted a pinpoint of red light glowing in the far distance. As hard as she tried, she couldn't sense the origin of the light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I hate not having my magic!" She smacked the wall with her hand, immediately regretting the action. Bolts of pain shot up her arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Damn it!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in -0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Turning on her heel, she tramped out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="Body1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-54570179300267113002021-10-08T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-08T00:01:00.240-07:00#Friday'sFeaturedTitle #HighlandMagic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOsDCa483wM/YTUasAVyuWI/AAAAAAAAz24/I0RB6FAbknAAoxHgIkg-5L3J8ur3jRZ5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Highland%2BMagic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOsDCa483wM/YTUasAVyuWI/AAAAAAAAz24/I0RB6FAbknAAoxHgIkg-5L3J8ur3jRZ5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Highland%2BMagic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Highland Magic<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK99"></a><a name="OLE_LINK153"></a><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a name="OLE_LINK108"></a><a name="OLE_LINK96"></a><a name="OLE_LINK19"></a><a name="OLE_LINK18"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Magic-Christine-Young-ebook/dp/B006IGSYHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385500607&sr=1-1&keywords=Highland+Magic+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Highland Magic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK98"></a><a name="OLE_LINK97"></a><a name="OLE_LINK152"></a><a name="OLE_LINK151"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Throughout the Highlands she is known as Keely, the witch woman. She is a great healer-a woman whose dreams come true. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ian MacPherson is a man who puts honor, loyalty and duty above everything. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Their lives are entwined when Ian is sent by the Scottish King to bring Keely to trial for witchcraft. He is attacked and left for dead, but Keely rescues him. When he wakes, he discovers he has no memory. As he remembers his lost past, Ian finds that his need to protect the woman who has saved his life eclipses his duty to his king and country. He is a man torn between honor and duty to his country and the woman he loves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">REVIEW: Highland Magic<o:p></o:p></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; color: black;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 916pt;" width="916"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4.0 out of 5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">February 24, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">By <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1U0ZIV3AUNRGP/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">H. Murphy "H"</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have enjoyed this series. Strong alpha highlanders....what more could a girl want. The heroin is strong but sometimes just doesn't think....but that makes for the drama. Off to the third book.</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt: Highland Magic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scotland, Summer 1513:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For a moment the man's gaze met hers, bored into her heart, questioned. Blood curdling war cries rode the wings of death through the timeless night. Claymores clashed. Dark eyes the color of midnight flashed a challenge. The holy man's opponents hesitated then lunged once more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Moonbeams reflected light from the gold chain he wore around his neck. Brown robes fell from massive shoulders. Three more enemies appeared from the trees. The priest fell to the ground, wounded by the broadside of his enemy's weapon. Motionless, he lay on her flower-strewn meadow, blood staining the grass and wildflowers, marring the colorful, summer landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keely Gray woke, heart pounding a rapid staccato. She pressed against her throbbing temples with sweat-slick palms, hoping to ease the horrific pain that always accompanied the dreams. Death--the scent of blood, fear and treachery still hung heavy in the darkened hut. The prickling sensation radiating from her spine to encompass her body was too familiar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She listened and heard nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A dark void impaled her. The usual night sounds stilled. She heard no hoot of owl, no chirp of crickets, no croak of frogs, nor could she hear the mournful sighing of the wind through the branches of the old oak trees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Silence emptied her heart as well as her soul, leaving only an ever-present loneliness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keely wanted nothing more than to cuddle into her bed and pull the covers over her head. Despite the unspeakable agony deep in the pit of her stomach, she rose from her pallet. Her limbs trembling, she slipped a shapeless tunic over her head and soft-soled shoes onto her feet. As she swept past the front door, she grabbed her woolen cloak.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Light from a full moon illuminated the path. She could see, but she could also be seen, the moonlight both a curse and a blessing. Approaching the meadow she'd watched in her dreams, she slowed her pace and waited. Her fingers wound tightly around the amber pendant she always wore, her only keepsake from her mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The sounds and scents hovering on the wind would tell her if danger still lurked. Caution guided her. A vigilance she'd learned long ago held her motionless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> A familiar dragging sound reassured her she wasn't alone. "Whipple?" she whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A self-appointed guardian angel appeared as if from nowhere then nodded, though there was a wary cast to his faded blue eyes. "Aye, lass, I'm here. I heard ye leave your hut. I would not leave ye alone to face whatever dangerous mission awaited."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keely waited for Whipple to close the distance between them before she spoke. "I would argue with you about your appearance here at this great hour, but I ken it would do no good. You should not be here. Your heart--"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whipple spat. "My heart is fine."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She determinedly stepped forward, approaching the meadow of her dream, knowing she wouldn't like what she found.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Have it your way, then." Given a choice, Keely wouldn't have come to this meadow. But she had to know the truth--had she seen the future or something happening at that very moment?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whipple didn't reply. On his clubfoot, he followed her, his trailing leg sliding behind him with a soft swish. The hard thud of his crooked oak cane followed at a slightly skewed interval.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Together they crested the hill. Below her, she saw her dream. A priest lay on the ground, his head twisted at an odd angle. For a moment her heart stopped. She bit down on her lower lip while she studied the man.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-11721921623523859762021-10-07T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-07T00:01:00.235-07:00#MyAngel #HistoricalRomance<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srTE-Y5djKE/YTK95-edJ3I/AAAAAAAAz2w/qk0OOhjedCct4fZMQi8hE3ZFS2qYtkOuACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/My%2BAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srTE-Y5djKE/YTK95-edJ3I/AAAAAAAAz2w/qk0OOhjedCct4fZMQi8hE3ZFS2qYtkOuACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/My%2BAngel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">My Angel by Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Book Heat Level: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK40"></a><a name="OLE_LINK125"></a><a name="OLE_LINK97"></a><a name="OLE_LINK96"></a><a name="OLE_LINK70"></a><a name="OLE_LINK69"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Angel-Christine-Young-ebook/dp/B003Z9K95E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387142875&sr=1-1&keywords=My+Angel+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Buy at Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">BLURB: My Angel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A BEAUTY IN BUCKSKINS <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK219"></a><a name="OLE_LINK39"></a><a name="OLE_LINK38"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">When her father decided to send her to a finishing school back East, Angela Chamberlain refused to be confined to stuffy drawing rooms. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Instead, the daring spitfire who could shoot like a man and ride like the wind longed for a life of adventure and romance—and she knew exactly who could give it to her. Devil Blackmoor was a hired gun with a dangerous reputation. But Angela was willing to go to the ends of the earth to capture the handsome devil's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A DEVIL IN DISGUISE <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK68"></a><a name="OLE_LINK67"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">He'd come to America looking for excitement, but Devil Blackmoor got more than he bargained for when he encountered a beautiful rebel who answered his kisses with a wild innocence that touched his very soul</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">. Yet standing between them were more obstacles than either ever dreamed. For Devil had strapped on a gun for the wrong man. And that made Angela his enemy. Now he'll have to choose between his duty and the woman he loves more than life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">EXCERPT: My Angel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK95"></a><a name="OLE_LINK94"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Denver, 1893<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A polished azure sky looked down on a day that vacillated between winter and spring--a day unable to make up its mind. Cool breezes lifted Angela Chamberlain's brand-new canary yellow skirt off the moisture-laden sidewalk. A blazing hot sun dried the puddles in the street left over from last night's deluge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Unlike the day, Angela had no trouble making up her mind. Angela knew what she wanted out of life. She touched one finger to the sapphire earrings adorning her newly pierced ears.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">She wanted adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">She had a terrible craving to see the world--to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, to walk the Great Wall of China. She yearned to fly in a hot-air balloon high above the earth, or ride in a gondola in Venice. She wanted to fall in love with a man who was as brave and smart as her father and as dangerous as Devil Blackmoor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Angela's wish list had no end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of adventure and romance, in three short weeks she'd be enrolled in Miss Somebody's finishing school for young ladies, where knowing which fork to use was more important than riding with the wind on her favorite horse, Kangee. A place where changing one's clothes three times or more each day was common practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Two days ago she'd told her father she didn't want to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">And two days ago her father had told her she would learn to appreciate the schooling and that she was a very lucky young woman. He'd also promised her a trip to the continent for a graduation present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A graduation present! She wanted to yell at him, but wisely kept her mouth shut. She wanted to travel now. Today. But more than anything, she didn't want to be confined to the stuffy drawing rooms in the East. Just like her father, she needed freedom. But her father meant to take the choice from her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">To gossip and chatter with rich society women was not her destiny. To know which wine was served with fish would not make her happy. This was his dream for her. Sam Chamberlain needed to look to his own heart and remember the choices he had made twenty-five years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Her destiny was out there somewhere, waiting for her to snap it up and hold the moment close to her heart. She knew what she wanted, and to prove her point, she'd bought a camera and had the machine sent over to the hotel. She meant to photograph all her adventures, every nook and cranny, every monument, every intriguing person.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Across the street and down two blocks, Devil Blackmoor had just taken the saddle off his horse. He brushed the stallion's back, all the while petting the animal's sleek coat and crooning into the horse's ear. Mesmerized, she watched his hands and the gentle way he stroked the horse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">She wished she had her camera.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Devil Blackmoor commanded her attention. He symbolized everything a father cautioned his daughter to be wary of. Despite the warning, Devil's strong jaw, his powerful shoulders and the confident way he held himself beckoned to every feminine nerve in Angela's body.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Angela clutched her hands to her chest, willing her gaze to shift to something or someone who wouldn't shatter her senses and set her blood boiling. Helpless to control her wayward heart, she kept looking back at Devil. She noticed everything about him, the way he moved, the way his denim jeans clung to his legs and the way they molded to his backside. Devil laughed at something the bouncer from the saloon said, and</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">when he smiled, one edge of his mouth tilted crookedly. Angela's heart swooned and fluttered, and she thought she might never breathe again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-43101542945914266072021-10-06T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-06T00:01:00.252-07:00#LovingLeslie #HistoricalRomance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdoeQuKS7Y8/YTFVbSccDbI/AAAAAAAAz2E/U52AN-ks1q4tBYUVJv9pLcTToXSTHvz_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Loving%2BLeslie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdoeQuKS7Y8/YTFVbSccDbI/AAAAAAAAz2E/U52AN-ks1q4tBYUVJv9pLcTToXSTHvz_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Loving%2BLeslie.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Loving Leslie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Bad Boys Book Five<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Historical romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at:</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HW9S34P" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loving-leslie-chirstine-young/1137638492;jsessionid=928CE1573A0115BEAD2FD870E4A561D8.prodny_store01-atgap14?ean=2940162644682" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, Apple, Kobo, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Loving_Leslie?id=jnb8DwAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-loving-leslie/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Leslie Stewart is used to having his life well ordered until he meets Lacie McTavish who has known since the tender age of fifteen this is the man of her dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Leslie Stewart, Duke of Southcliff is stoic, set in his ways, a spy who is used to having his life well ordered. He expects life to continue on in this perfectly conventional fashion. He assumes his bad boy status while keeping mamas and debutantes at arm's length. An heir is needed but Leslie has every intention of finding a woman who doesn't covet his wealth and tittle. He is irresistibly drawn to the headstrong young lady who becomes more beautiful as she develops into a woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">...but she is loving him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Leslie kisses Lacie MacTavish, she knows even at the tender age of fifteen this is the man of her dreams. Forced to wait until she comes of age, Lacie withdraws into herself. Now she is eighteen and Leslie has returned from a mission for the British Government ready to claim her as his bride. She refuses him and he must find a way to seduce her and in the process create a burning passion within her, which she cannot deny.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A storm was coming. Maybe more than one if he had to guess. Sunshine would disappear and be replaced with snow or rain. Looked like snow to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pushing his hat back, he spotted a rider due east of the house. It was Lacie, racing the wind as well as the darkness. He watched her as she neared the house and veered toward the stables. She would take care of her horse first then leave for the house. In the stables where he kissed her for the first time, he would confront her. Perhaps this scrape of hers was really nothing and could easily be dealt with.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The gallop looked reckless, but he knew her expertise when it came to riding. Still he worried a hole in the ground, a small animal, anything could spook a horse and throw its rider. For the duration, he held his breath, his heart beat doubling in time as his breath held steady in the back of his throat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Once she was safely inside the stables, he walked Garth toward the barn, handing the reins to the stable boy then proceeding to the stall where Lacie was brushing down her horse. Her dark hair had come lose from all its pins and was in glorious disarray framing her delicate features.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He crossed his arms, leaning against the stall door, much like he did the day he first kissed her. Watching her was like seeing heaven, and he’d been away for so long all he wanted was to pull her into his arms, feel her soft warmth against him, filling his soul with heat and fire. He realized he missed her. Her face was flushed from the ride. He was sure her skin would have a sheen of moisture covering it, much like he imagined when they finally made love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tonight he hoped if everything went as planned, she would be in his arms and sweetly beneath him. Perhaps a start on an heir, he needed to stop tongues from waging and his mother from nagging.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her start of surprise made him grin and raise one eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“It’s you.” She sounded panic struck, one hand just above her heart as she gasped for air. She closed her eyes for a second, her breasts heaving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Welcome home would be nice.” He stepped forward only to see her back away from him, terror on her face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He stopped midstride but had no words, unsure of how to proceed. He couldn’t fathom why she was afraid of him, why her eyes were wide with terror.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She swallowed, wiping her hands on her riding habit. “I’m sorry. You did surprise me. Welcome home, Leslie.” Then she turned her attention back to her horse just as if her husband wasn’t standing two feet away from her. Picking up a blanket she started to cover the animal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“A hug would have been nice, too, as well as I missed you my dear husband. Perhaps even I’m glad to see you or a kiss on the cheek. At the moment you look as if you detest me, or are terrified of me. I don’t know which scenario is worse.” He wanted more than a kiss on the cheek, but he knew by the sheer terror he saw in her dark blue eyes flecked with tiny particles of green even that intimate gesture wasn’t going to happen any time soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What to do?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You’ve been gone so long. I nearly forgot what you look like,” she spoke softly, unable to look at him, continuing to administer all her affections on her mare. She stopped to stare at him, her eyes still wide but this time more uncertain than terrified.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This was not like Lacie. So foreign, he didn’t understand. Couldn’t comprehend what was happening here. For the longest time, he stood unmoving, watching the jerk of her muscles as she worked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She turned back to her horse as if she was hiding from him. He knew he wasn’t going to pull her into his arms then kiss her as he did that day so long ago. Now, it seemed, he needed to tread lightly until he could figure out what was going on with her. That scrape must have been devilishly more than a minor incident. He needed for her to tell him what it entailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“What do you want, Leslie.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She didn’t look at him. No, she sounded as if she wanted him to go away. Her voice was cold, icy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You know what I want.” He didn’t move toward her, just settled for watching her for the time being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS: Historical, Romance, Scottish, Highlands, Bad Boys, Regency<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HW9S34P" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HW9S34P</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loving-leslie-chirstine-young/1137638492;jsessionid=928CE1573A0115BEAD2FD870E4A561D8.prodny_store01-atgap14?ean=2940162644682" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loving-leslie-chirstine-young/1137638492;jsessionid=928CE1573A0115BEAD2FD870E4A561D8.prodny_store01-atgap14?ean=2940162644682</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><u><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/loving-leslie/id1531794972?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo: </span><u><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/loving-leslie</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play:</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Loving_Leslie?id=jnb8DwAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Loving_Leslie?id=jnb8DwAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He's a bad bad boy...but she is loving him. When Leslie kisses Lacie MacTavish, she knows even at the tender age of fifteen this is the man of her dreams. Forced to wait until she comes of age, Lacie withdraws into herself. Now she is eighteen and Leslie has returned from a mission for the British Government ready to claim her as his bride.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-60782314355337712762021-10-05T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-05T00:01:00.320-07:00#TellTaleTuesday #PicturePerfectLegacy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEDe59xF2Xk/YTFS2QtJE7I/AAAAAAAAz18/7lE816lqmf4maMvQEgycWCALKgZHjYvBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Picture%2BPerfect%2BLegacy%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEDe59xF2Xk/YTFS2QtJE7I/AAAAAAAAz18/7lE816lqmf4maMvQEgycWCALKgZHjYvBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Picture%2BPerfect%2BLegacy%2BNew.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Picture Perfect Legacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Suspense/Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK136"></a><a name="OLE_LINK135"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Perfect-Legacy-Halo-ebook/dp/B007G1DZ12/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384879783&sr=1-1&keywords=Picture+Perfect+legacy+by+genie+gabriel" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/picture-perfect-legacy-genie-gabriel/1109232491?ean=2940013908536" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Picture Perfect Legacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Social worker Marly O'Shea is determined to find the birth mother of a stolen baby, which leads to Halo, Oregon, and an accidental marriage to Deputy Dawson Browning. Haunted by memories of an abusive childhood, Dawson vows to protect this child from a similar fate. Marly and Dawson's conflict over the best home for the baby changes to teamwork when crimes linked to the child hit small-town Halo. As they track an elusive villain who is supposed to be dead, they must also decide if their partnership can be personal as well as professional.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Picture Perfect Legacy <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Don't take my baby. Please don't take my baby.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">The woman's plea whispered in the steady swish, swish of the wipers. Her image wavered among the falling flakes of snow, horror streaking in anguished tears down her face. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Marly O'Shea shivered and forced her attention back to the narrow, twisting road grudgingly carved out of the side of the mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The heater of her Jeep Wrangler valiantly battled the fingers of icy air creeping through the gaps in a canvas top that seemed to shrink each summer while it lay bundled in Marly’s garage. She much preferred the heated summer breezes that tangled her over-curly hair in wild abandon to the frigid winds laying icy sheets of moisture in the dips and shadows of the road she now traveled. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> A gust of angry wind blasted around a curve, rattling the canvas top of the Jeep. The flurries of snow grew heavier, layering the road in a relentless white. Marly shifted into a lower gear and concentrated on what she could see of the road illuminated by her headlights. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Until she realized the headlights careening through the darkness weren't hers. They bore down on her, like a missile seeking its target. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Adrenaline spurted through Marly’s veins. She leaned on the horn and steered the Jeep as far to the side of the road as possible without sliding off the edge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Brighter and brighter, the lights obliterated the darkness until Marly thought they would explode. Then, as suddenly as they appeared, the lights jerked away, bouncing down the road behind her and quickly disappearing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The tires of the Jeep hit gravel, then slushy mud. Frantically down-shifting, Marly eased to a stop and sat frozen. Nothing dared intrude on the deafening silence of the night but the roar of a creek echoing in a canyon far below. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Another brilliant light flashed on, and Marly jerked her arm up to shield her eyes. A sharp rap on her door sent her grabbing for the purse that had slid onto the floor. Reaching inside, her fingers wrapped around the taser her overprotective brothers presented to her as a moving-away-from-home gift.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Cradling the weapon on her lap, Marly turned to confront the man standing beside her Jeep. A halo of light silhouetted the man’s bushy hair and beard, but his features remained obscured in shadows. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Are you hurt?” His voice flowed like melted honey, its comforting tones at odds with his unkempt appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Slowly, Marly shook her head. "No."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “We need to get you off this curve before another car comes through. I’m going to hook my winch to your vehicle and pull you back onto the road.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> He disappeared into the curtain of light, leaving Marly with only the impression of broad shoulders encased in black leather. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Her heart raced. It was the near accident, she told herself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Soon, metal clunked against metal as the man hooked a cable to the underside of her vehicle. After a moment’s token resistance, the Jeep moved back onto the solid surface of the road. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> A sigh of relief flowed through Marly’s body, brought up short by the sudden reappearance of the man beside her vehicle. Many times her brothers scolded her for being too trusting. Narrow hips and long legs snugly encased in worn blue jeans could belong to a serial killer as easily as a white knight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Step out while I check your vehicle for damage.” A jagged scar over the man’s right eyebrow gleamed as he reached for her door handle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Every murder mystery she read as a teenager gave the bad guy a scar. She wasn’t taking any chances. Adrenaline pumped through Marly’s body once again as she leveled the taser at the man’s chest. “Stop right there.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Irritation briefly crinkled the man's brow. “The undercarriage of your vehicle might be damaged.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Step away from the vehicle.” Marly juggled the taser in one hand while using the other to crank the key in the ignition. The Jeep sputtered to life, rocketing relief through Marly’s veins. The man quick-stepped backward as she shoved the vehicle into gear and stomped on the gas, leaving her mystery rescuer--or would-be attacker--standing with the snow falling on the dark velvet of his tousled hair.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-56966162836320178702021-10-04T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-04T00:01:00.284-07:00#MysteryMonday #SafariMoon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBLCgRG8xeI/YS_WhgQ_HHI/AAAAAAAAz1s/_3Y5LW-RQqECYcFJp8shJX2L3LMiVuT6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Safari%2BMoon_Christine%2BYoung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBLCgRG8xeI/YS_WhgQ_HHI/AAAAAAAAz1s/_3Y5LW-RQqECYcFJp8shJX2L3LMiVuT6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Safari%2BMoon_Christine%2BYoung.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a name="OLE_LINK5"></a><a name="OLE_LINK49"></a><a name="OLE_LINK48"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Safari Moon<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a><span style="font-family: Arial;">achristay@aol.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK54"></a><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy </span></a><a name="OLE_LINK148"></a><a name="OLE_LINK147"><span style="font-family: Arial;">at</span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Moon-AnnChristine-ebook/dp/B001PKU2S4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386347767&sr=1-1&keywords=Safari+Moon+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a name="OLE_LINK6"></a><a name="OLE_LINK13"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Safari Moon<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK146"></a><a name="OLE_LINK145"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Solo St. John, a wildlife photographer, is preparing for a trip to Alaska</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Suddenly, Solo finds women of all sorts invading his privacy, his home and his office, all cooing nonsense words and blatantly throwing themselves at him. Solo doesn't know why, and he has no idea how to rid himself of the persistent women. He finally decides to beg a favor of his best buddy Nyssa Harrington. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">REVIEW: Safari Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Safari Moon by AnnChristine<br /></span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press<br />Genre: Contemporary Romance<br />Length: Full Length (154 pgs)<br /><a name="OLE_LINK152"></a><a name="OLE_LINK151">Rated: 5 Stars<br />Reviewed by It's Raining Books<o:p></o:p></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Funny and Sweet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK8"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Imagine, if you can, our hero, sound asleep and dreaming a delightful, erotic dream. Suddenly he is awakened by an almost naked, sexy woman, walking into his bedroom accompanied by her pet skunk.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />And that is how Safari Moon begins. I chuckled to myself as I continued reading. It seemed that he, a wild life photographer, put an ad in the paper for an assistant, but somehow his Grandfather changed the ad and it now stated that he was desperately in need of a wife. Immediately our handsome, confirmed bachelor is surrounded by a bevy of giggling, panting, eager women wanting to marry him.<br /><br />How he plans his escape from all the desperate women involves an old friend he gets to help him. Since the friend is presently engaged to someone else and doesn't really want to get involved, it's more than a little complicated. They arrive in Alaska, planning on pretending they are an item. Then Grandfather and Grandmother arrive. The story continues with much laughing on my part, and many misunderstandings, especially when the fiancé shows up.<br /><br />The story is funny and complicated due to the fact that each of the two main characters are trying to pretend that they really don't care about each other. And since neither is able to keep his or her hands off the other, the story becomes hilarious.<br /><br />Safari Moon is not your typical romance, and I really loved it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt: Safari Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK150"></a><a name="OLE_LINK149"></a><a name="OLE_LINK87"></a><a name="OLE_LINK86"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wanted: A professional wildlife photographer to take pictures in the Alaskan wilderness. Experience first hand a real safari moon. Call(555)381-1252 or send resumes to 2286 Main, Suite 2D Bend, Oregon.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Solo St. John was in the middle of an erotic dream about his buddy, Nyssa Harrington, when the click of his front door shutting brought him to instant alert mode. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Solo looked up, caught a flashing glimpse of a good deal of naked flesh; long legs, perfectly rounded derriere, and a waist he could span with his hands. The intruder's long blond hair curled around her shoulders an inch above the ties of her bikini top.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then he saw the skunk. He blinked twice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This woman and the skunk were not the subject of his brief and very strange dream, a fantasy that made his mind speed along at sixty in a residential zone. This was someone he had never seen before and he resented the intrusion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Hello," she cooed seductively from his living room. "Will you come out and play?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The skunk stuck a black and white head around the open door to his bedroom. A second later the animal turned and lifted his tail before disappearing into the living room. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Solo was out of bed and pulling on his jeans before the count of five. Yet in that short time, the lady in question, along with the skunk that was now exploring his fireplace hearth, had taken over his living room. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The lithe, supple blond sported an expensive camera, and all the while the lady in question babbled nonsense words.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I'm willing, able, and eager." She posed for him, a pose meant to entice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You're insane?" He hesitated then said to the lady, "Get that animal out of here!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I read the ad in the newspaper for a wildlife photographer, and I wanted to be the first one here." She smiled and tugged on a leash which was connected to the skunk. "Juniper is my pet. She's deperfumed or whatever." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pet? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He had never, to his recollection, set eyes on this woman. Frozen stock-still in his bare feet between the bedroom and the living room of his rustic forest retreat in the hills outside Sisters, Oregon, Solo St. John was completely, utterly baffled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After all, he had placed the ad in a few of the most widely distributed papers in Oregon. That was two days ago. Yesterday, having second thoughts and knowing he didn't want to train an assistant, he pulled it. Although none of this made sense, instinctively, he knew she told the truth. The ad was the cause of this phenomenon in his cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Come here and play." Posing seductively once again, she beckoned him with one slim index finger. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why didn't he want to play? Wouldn't any normal, warm-blooded American male dream of waking up to an almost naked blond bombshell in his living room? Wouldn't that male want to play?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why didn't he feel turned on and excited. Why didn't he fantasize about what would happen if he obeyed? All those lush curvaceous parts on display didn't interest him in the least.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-53279141251111011412021-10-03T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-03T00:01:00.263-07:00#RomanceSunday #ShadowDancer<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0cuyJOq5LE/YS_W8tj1FwI/AAAAAAAAz10/Dp-4MW7tywg1jl9Lghe3zt-c3Fhe0CnkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Shadow%2BDancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0cuyJOq5LE/YS_W8tj1FwI/AAAAAAAAz10/Dp-4MW7tywg1jl9Lghe3zt-c3Fhe0CnkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Shadow%2BDancer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Shadow Dancer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Courtney Rene<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="OLE_LINK15"></a><a name="OLE_LINK14"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Dancer-Courtney-Rene-ebook/dp/B00433TD6C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387426676&sr=1-1&keywords=Shadow+Dancer+by+Courtney+Rene" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon:</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Shadow Dancer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="OLE_LINK13"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunny has a gift that she has no idea how to use, until she meets Leif, a boy from the kingdom of Acadia, on the other side of the shadows. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Leif teaches Sunny about Shadow Walkers and how to use her new found gifts. As they grow closer and their gifts grow stronger, a threat arrives. The Shadow Guard has been sent to bring Sunny back to Acadia, to determine if she is a threat to the king as the rightful ruler of Acadia. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As Leif and Sunny prepare to defend themselves, Sunny finds that Leif has also been sent to bring Sunny back to the kingdom but for very different reasons. As a battle for possession of Sunny wages, she is struggling to come to turns with her feelings of inadequacy regarding controlling her gifts as well as the hurt regarding the lies and deceit of everyone around her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Shadow Dancer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My Lady? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what else...I think we need to call for help.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Where is she? I can’t see her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“She’s fine, my Lady. She’s sleeping, right over there. Can you see her?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Bring her to me. I want to hold her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My Lady, you have lost too much blood. We need to get you to a hospital or something. Please.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Star, it’s already too late. You know it. We can’t call for help. We have to keep her safe. She’s all that’s left. She is worth that and so much more. God, I am so tired. Please bring her to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My Lady...“<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Even now Star, after all these years, can’t you just be my friend?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I will always be your friend, my Lady, but you will always be my Queen. Even now, even later, that will never change. Here she is. Do you have her?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’ve got her. Please don’t hover over me, Star. I’m alright. Look how beautiful she is. Can you believe Malcolm and I made something so beautiful?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Yes, I can. She looks like you. She has your hair, all golden and soft. She has your mouth too. Don’t you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Yes. Oh God, I want to hold on to her forever. I never want to let her go. Star, you have to promise me that you will keep her safe. Whatever you have to do, you have to keep her safe. Promise me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“No, my Lady, we will keep her safe. You and I together.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“No, Star, this burden will fall to you. You already see the truth of it, right here in front of your eyes. I’m just so tired. Here, you’d better take her. Bye, my baby girl. I love you so. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Star, promise me. You’ve done all you can here. All that is left is her. Malcolm is gone, and I…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Stop it! You can’t just give up! Don’t laugh! Can’t you see that it’s tearing me apart? I can’t do this without you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Star, I’m not laughing. I promise you. There just isn’t anything I can do to stop it. You can do this. I believe in you. Star?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Yes. My Lady?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“All right. I promise I will do everything I can to keep her safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Do you think you will ever return?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I don’t know. Everything is changed now. Our whole world has changed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Star?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Stay safe. You have always been my very best friend. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you, so much, for everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My Lady...“<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MssBodyText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Keep her safe...“<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Shadow Dancer is a fun, light read with some action, some romance and some kick-butt abilities. <br />LunaMoth for Far from Reality Reviews<o:p></o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-36645239874005925412021-10-02T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-02T00:01:00.257-07:00#SciFiFantasySaturday #Connal'sLove<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JviSqljxokk/YS1Draiy_YI/AAAAAAAAz0c/PLTHbrKCs6kwHsMk9xv97-vZZU54zUW9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Connal%2527s%2BEternal%2BLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JviSqljxokk/YS1Draiy_YI/AAAAAAAAz0c/PLTHbrKCs6kwHsMk9xv97-vZZU54zUW9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Connal%2527s%2BEternal%2BLove.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Connal’s Eternal Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Sweet McKenna Book One<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Paranormal Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WHWBKSX" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/connals-eternal-love-christine-young/1138815900;jsessionid=A03E1A028BC9EC5E24A0E085926B79A4.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=2940162219156" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">,</span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/connals-eternal-love/id1554003307?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_connal%27s_eternal_love&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/connal-s-eternal-love" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=A80cEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-connals-eternal-love/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Setting out to discover the wickedness that is calling to him, Connal McKenna, Laird of Clan Chattan, discovers his mate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><h3 style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard, serif;">Connal’s Eternal Love<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A few days shy of All Hallows' Eve Connal McKenna, Laird of Clan Chattan stands on the parapets of his castle. Bonfires line the hillsides while his clan prepares for the upcoming festivities. Drawn by the whispering of the wind, Connal McKenna feels a strange restlessness in his soul. Setting out to discover the wickedness that is calling to him, he discovers his mate. With gentle words and sensuous kisses, the auburn-eyed highlander conquers his mate, the beautiful, defiant Wynnie Adair who he comes upon during an evening ride. She must ultimately put her trust in the only man who can save her from the ruthless plans of her father and succumb to his gentle coaxing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Connal’s Eternal Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He heard the pounding of the hooves, a single horse, but racing down the darkened road, shadows hiding the horse and rider. Suddenly, the silhouetted form raced around the bend in the road, cape and brilliant hair flying behind. Moonlight caught the vibrant strands for a brief moment sending slivers of color to greet his gaze. Connal’s heartbeat stopped then slowly began to beat again, the brilliance or the color, shimmering a deep red catching all the meager light until the elements appeared on fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Connal’s breath caught in his throat, captivated by the site as the woman drew closer. She didn’t seem to see them, continuing on her wild ride toward him. Yet to Connal, she seemed remarkably skilled for a woman, vulnerable as well. He only knew of one other woman who could ride that well and that heedlessly without injury. His sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> When the woman was too close to turn around and race in the opposite direction, “Hold!” Connal raised his sword, moonlight glinting off the steel. Behind him, his men did the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> She pulled on the reins to stop the stallion’s mad dash down the road before she would run into him. The horse reared its front legs rising high, pawing in the air as she clung to him, desperately hanging on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “No,” her whispered word did not escape Connal. The single word sounded and felt like a cry for help.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Yet perhaps he was mistaken. As soon as the young woman controlled the horse, she dashed through the woods away from them. A moment of breathless silence followed before Connal regained his wits, pushing the cobwebs from his brain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Stay here and wait for me,” he ordered then followed the woman into the trees, hell bent on catching up with her. He suddenly felt alive and whole, all instincts driving him forward to claim the prize that had suddenly appeared in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> He couldn’t see or hear her. Pulling to a stop he listened and the silence was foreboding, unnerving. The wind’s murmurs no longer sounded evil to him, just fearful. She must have done the same. With nothing to lose, he would wait for her to make her move and when she did, he would have her and discover what caused her frantic and wild race this evening. He would ascertain what motivated her to put herself in such danger.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> It did not take long. A few minutes later he heard the swish of movement through the bushes. He smiled; his keen hearing would pay off. She must not realize it, but she was slowly moving toward him. When she was close, he spurred his horse, capturing the reins of hers before she could flee again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “You are mine now.” And he understood his words were true despite the fact she would gainsay him at every turn. His heart beat stronger suddenly and his mind cleared.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “No!” This time her cry was of alarm and horror. “Leave me alone.” She tried to push his hand away, swatting at him but to no avail. “I weel nay go back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “I won’t hurt you, lass,” he said as her fist hit his jaw. Then needing to laugh, “I suppose I didn’t see that coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “I’ve heard that before,” she grit out, still pushing at his hands, struggling away from him. “You’ve no right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Which part? I won’t hurt you or I didn’t see it coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Let me go.” She jerked on the reins to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Stop it.” He tried to grab her around the waist to lift her onto his horse, hoping to control her struggles and subdue her in the process yet he realized that would not be an easy feat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Never,” she said, still hitting at him, her fingernails raking across his face, drawing rivulets of blood. This time she pushed so hard, she fell from her horse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For a moment, she lay stunned on the ground, gasping for air. That tiny second gave him time to dismount and reach for her. He held her now, once again her arms and legs flying through the air, her efforts directed at him. He wanted to shake some sense into her and tell her she didn’t need to fight him. He meant her no harm, but he also understood she wouldn’t believe him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He didn’t know what to tell her. She needed to stop this foolishness before one of them got hurt. At this moment, he suspected it would be him who took the brunt of her blows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Let me go. You’ve no right.” Her words were short and pained. She was very nearly breathless, exhausted by her desperate thrashing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The pounding on his chest weakened her until she fell limp in his arms, her head resting against his chest. He heard the long raspy attempts for air, felt the rapid beat of her heart against him. In her gasp for air, a sob rumbled forth. A moment of sympathy or perhaps it was empathy that filled his soul for this lass.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Now are you going to stop fighting me?” he asked, even as she pulled back, hitting him in the chest with her head then with one last and very weak punch she quit for the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Scotland, Highlands<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WHWBKSX" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WHWBKSX</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/connals-eternal-love-christine-young/1138815900;jsessionid=A03E1A028BC9EC5E24A0E085926B79A4.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=2940162219156" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/connals-eternal-love-christine-young/1138815900;jsessionid=A03E1A028BC9EC5E24A0E085926B79A4.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=2940162219156</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/connals-eternal-love/id1554003307?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_connal%27s_eternal_love&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/connals-eternal-love/id1554003307?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_connal%27s_eternal_love&ls=1</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/connal-s-eternal-love" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/connal-s-eternal-love</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=A80cEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=A80cEAAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-14546589714535614552021-10-01T00:01:00.001-07:002021-10-01T00:01:00.230-07:00#Friday'sFeaturedTitle #HighlandHonor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1qX_RuUMPw/YSupo3isEXI/AAAAAAAAz0M/o0oDun9Jybsi_t0VUMwyijPfP6y-hGnawCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Highland%2BHonor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1qX_RuUMPw/YSupo3isEXI/AAAAAAAAz0M/o0oDun9Jybsi_t0VUMwyijPfP6y-hGnawCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Highland%2BHonor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a name="OLE_LINK13"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Highland Honor<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a name="OLE_LINK132"></a><a name="OLE_LINK107"></a><a name="OLE_LINK15"></a><a name="OLE_LINK14"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Honor-Christine-Young-ebook/dp/B0064FJ8Q2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385604308&sr=1-1&keywords=Highland+Honor+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-honor-christine-young/1008444375;jsessionid=316B318EC467170FD9350C4415EB4A15.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=2940013250291" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Highland Honor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK131"></a><a name="OLE_LINK130"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Highland Honor</span></i></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The first book in the Highland Series<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK22"></a><a name="OLE_LINK8"></a><a name="OLE_LINK6"></a><a name="OLE_LINK129"></a><a name="OLE_LINK128"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the Macpherson castle. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK106"></a><a name="OLE_LINK105"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK17"></a><a name="OLE_LINK16"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Highland Honor<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scotland November 1512: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A heavy frost sat on the frozen earth, and a full moon shone clearly between the heavy clouds dotting the sky. Lady Callie Whitcomb looked over her shoulder as she raced through the deepening gloom toward the lighted tavern ahead. Every shadow, every mournful sigh of the wind sweeping through the trees, every chilling animal sound filled her with terror. Fear for her life drove her to put all thoughts of danger aside. He would follow her, find her, and drag her home. <o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Don't think of that now," she reminded herself fiercely, even while tears stung in the back of her throat and fear made her limbs tremble. "Don't ye dare think of home. It no longer exists." Nothing and no one could coax her back or make her believe there was naught but terror in the home where she'd been born. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I will never marry Lord Huntington. Never!" she whispered fiercely, the chill night air solemnly echoing her words. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her stepbrother, Archibald Covington III, made sure she could never return. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"There ye be, lass! I've been waiting for you." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The voice rose from nowhere and surprised her. Her heart froze, lurched, then began an erratic beat, while raw nerves snapped, sending a myriad of sensations racing down her spine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Archibald--" she whispered, panic sweeping through her. "He's found me." All she could hear was the pounding of blood in her ears. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Before she could reach her destination, before she could find safe refuge from him, his men had found her. No! Not now. Not when she thought she had eluded them all. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A wave of fear sweeping through her reminded her, that if caught, she would be taken back to Archibald and forced to marry Lord Huntington. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I'll help you down, lass." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Before she could react and spur her horse forward, callous, rough hands centered on her waist then pulled her from her mount. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No!" She cried out to no avail. Regaining her wits, she beat fiercely upon the man's broad chest, tearing at his face and his thick beard with her fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Ach, lass! Hold still! I mean ye no harm. Stop this--" His voice was gruff and impatient. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fear for her life had spurred her haste. Terror she might see Huntington or Archibald with each turn of the road haunted every hour of her journey. Archibald had retainers everywhere. Messages would have been sent. A highlander could be bought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Ruffian! Unhand me! Ye barbarous Scotsman." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If Archibald had guessed what path she followed... <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Verra well, ne'er let it be said that I dinna do a lass' bidding." Just as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, his hold upon her vanished. She stumbled backward. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instantly, she found herself sitting on the frozen earth. The man towering above her watched her with concerned dark eyes. Despite the scar stretching from forehead to chin, his mouth quirked upward in a humorous slant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Ye be a handful, lass." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mary of <i>A Romance Review </i>says, "Overall I liked the story and can recommend it as a worthwhile read. The author has a lot of talent and the plot and tension of the story are well handled."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064FJ8Q2" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064FJ8Q2</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-honor-christine-young/1008444375;jsessionid=316B318EC467170FD9350C4415EB4A15.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=2940013250291" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-honor-christine-young/1008444375;jsessionid=316B318EC467170FD9350C4415EB4A15.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=2940013250291</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Highland_Honor?id=MA8BEAAAQBAJ" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Young_Highland_Honor?id=MA8BEAAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Apple: </span><a href="https://tools.applemediaservices.com/book/1536222317?country=us" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://tools.applemediaservices.com/book/1536222317?country=us</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highland-honor-11" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highland-honor-11</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-68997495883319879982021-09-30T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-30T00:01:00.276-07:00#Larena'sFascination #HistoricalRromance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1O6iMslMPI/YSqcMrK5w6I/AAAAAAAAzzc/fnQ_eTLc6AU0Cqc6H1tADZs4OrgXxx5LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Larena%2527s-Fascination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1O6iMslMPI/YSqcMrK5w6I/AAAAAAAAzzc/fnQ_eTLc6AU0Cqc6H1tADZs4OrgXxx5LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Larena%2527s-Fascination.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Larena’s Fascination<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Twelve Dancing Princesses Book Ten<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Historical Romance/Regency<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QDPP6PC" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-larenas-fascination/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Free spirited Larena Graham must learn to trust Gavin Broom, the handsome Scotsman, to protect her and keep her from harm.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Larena's Fascination<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whispers of Fascination<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fiery, free spirited Larena Graham never wanted to marry a duke. She is thrilled to be in love with the fourth son of an aristocrat, Gavin Broon. But when it seems Gavin ignores her, she sets her sights on politics and bettering human life. Unsuspecting intrigue and a plot against her, she continues her dangerous plans despite Gavin's wishes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Whispers of Trust<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gavin has every intention of properly courting the beautiful Larena until he must leave the city in order to put his affairs in order. Returning to London, he finds the woman he means to make his own is embroiled in political protests that could lead to a prison ship. Larena must learn to trust the handsome Scotsman whose most pressing mission is to protect her and keep her from harm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Larena's Fascination<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Strange noises emanated from the adjoining room, grunts mostly and muffled yells. She straightened on her bed, pensive and so very curious. She tried to concentrate and hear the words. Tempted to check on Gavin, she stood but thought better of intruding on his privacy. Still intrigued as the noise continued and trying to ignore it, she found herself at the window looking out on the blackness of the night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A loud crash caused her to jump. Unable to stay away, she strode to the door between their rooms and cautiously opened it. She inhaled a startled gasp. Gavin faced her, his chest bare and covered in a sheen of moisture that seemed to glow when the candlelight flickered across him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I didn’t mean to wake you.” He let his hands fall to his sides, his bared feet braced apart. Suddenly as if realizing he was practically naked, she searched the room in an attempt to keep from staring at his imposing frame.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You didn’t.” Mesmerized by him, by his body in a trance she stepped to him, touched her hand upon his chest and heard the quick inhalation of air, felt the beating of his heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He set his hand upon hers. “Larena,” he spoke her name slowly, his eyes gazing into hers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She yearned to see into his mind, read his thoughts, “You’re so different from me.” With the slightest twist of her fingers she touched his nipple and delighted in the feel of him. She regarded him closely, smiling into his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He didn’t laugh as she thought he would. His voice so sincere and strangely deep, he said, “I’m glad of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unable to help herself, she brought her other hand and set it on his other nipple. “I like the way you feel. What were you doing that caused all that noise? What crashed to the floor?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Trying to get rid of pent up emotions, but I don’t think it’s going to help after this.” He spoke slowly then, “The basin, as you can see it’s shattered. I’ll pick up the pieces in the morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Pent up emotions?” She didn’t understand what he tried to do, why he was grunting and yelling albeit quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“My body wanted to do something my mind didn’t.” He ran his fingers through the length of her hair, bringing a strand to his face, touching his lips to it. “Silken fire, so soft I want to wrap it around me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You speak in riddles.” She moved her hands lower, tracing the hair on his chest to just above the fastening of his pants then back, marveling in the play of his muscles where her fingers travelled. Intrigued by the obvious change in his breathing and fascinated she could do this to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“And, Larena, you really need to stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Not unless you make me.” She continued running her hands along his chest and upward to sweep them across his shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“It’s best for you if I tell you no.” He held her hands in his in front of him, placing light kisses on her knuckles. “You should go to your bed now before we both regret this night.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’m not sleepy. Indeed, my heart races and it seems I’ve grown hotter by the second. Don’t want to spend the night alone. Want to be in your arms.” She remembered when he barely touched her breast and the way her body quickly responded, and she marveled that perhaps she had the same effect on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Come,” he drew her to the door. “What you’re innocently creating here is best left for the marriage bed. I’ll walk you to your chamber.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I want to stay with you.” She realized she didn’t care what others thought but rather she wanted to live in the moment. Only two of her sisters and cousins combined had waited for marriage to find out what happened to a woman in bed with a man. She didn’t even know if she loved Gavin or wanted to marry him. She liked him though and who better to teach her?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“No. Not tonight,” he told her, drawing her toward her room. Inside, he pulled her close and lightly pressed his lips to hers then let her go as if the touch burned him. “Your bed.” He pointed in that direction then watched as she sat forlornly on the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She watched the door close behind him then found herself at the window again. Shadows played across the street, and moonlight brightened the darkness. Below her a shadowed form strode quickly from the townhouse and a few minutes later she saw Gavin gallop down the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book bub</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blog URL</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/?logout=1555512244585" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter handle</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tribe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">rr: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-6800884595537513112021-09-29T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-29T00:01:00.261-07:00#InBrady'sArms #Paranormal/HistoricalRomance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAtI9bpcrEw/YSqbzVTAxqI/AAAAAAAAzzQ/NiCjIpd9DVM6vULckt0ybJoAqd2F4pL2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/In%2BBrady%2527s%2BArms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAtI9bpcrEw/YSqbzVTAxqI/AAAAAAAAzzQ/NiCjIpd9DVM6vULckt0ybJoAqd2F4pL2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/In%2BBrady%2527s%2BArms.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: In Brady’s Arms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Sweet McKenna Book Two<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Paranormal/Historical Romance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092SX4M18" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-bradys-arms-christine-young/1139301437;jsessionid=B04B457D038D43E1B77803536F33727C.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=2940162511311" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, Apple, Kobo, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DwgqEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-in-bradys-arms/" style="color: #954f72;">Read first chapter<o:p></o:p></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Trying to avoid a betrothal contract signed by her stepfather Lillian Townsends seeks shelter in the wild Scottish Highlands where Brady McKenna lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blurb: In Brady's Arms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Forced to run from the only home she knows, beautiful, headstrong Lillian Townsends seeks shelter in the wild highlands where the McKenna clan live. Trying to avoid a betrothal contract signed by her stepfather to an aging lord, she is desperate to find a means to sidestep the inevitable, including a marriage to the oldest son of the laird. Lilly is enamored of the young lord who pursues her with unrelenting determination flashing his devilishly handsome charms. She is hard pressed to resist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Besotted from the first moment Brady McKenna sees Lilly, he is determined to find a means to coax her into his arms and bed. With only the promise of carnal pleasure as his mistress, Brady relentlessly pursues the woman who has unwittingly forged a place in his heart. She is like no other woman, proud, defiant and enchanting. Despite his father's advice to stay away from her, he cannot. He boldly seeks her out and makes her his own.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt: In Brady's Arms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Is there something wrong with the food?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The sweet sultry voice next to him shook him out of his melancholy musings. He looked up into the soft blue eyes he noticed earlier. Felt his body become fully aroused. He shifted in his chair as he tried to hide the evidence she caused. She smelled of vanilla. He reached up and swiped away the flour on her nose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> She inhaled a sharp breath, stepping back so quickly she lost her balance for a moment. Brady reached out, stopping her fall. “My apologies. I only meant to rid your nose of the flour left from your baking today. It’s charming,” he said with mocking disdain, still wondering about her as well as her intentions. “You don’t<i>ken</i>much about cooking, do you? Perhaps you’re better suited for cleaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Lillian touched her nose, staring at him as if she thought he’d lost his mind. She was a skittish little thing, almost as if she wasn’t used to men. He decided she was a good little actress. She had the emotions correct right down to the hand at her throat and the widening of her eyes, a deceitful little thing. Amused, he slanted her a mocking grin. Unraveling her would be interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “You had no right to touch me,” she blurted suddenly, her eyes fixed on Roby as if she couldn’t bear to look at him or she saw something she disliked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “I was just trying to help,” he growled, no longer amused. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> His gaze riveted on his brother who was grinning, clearly enjoying this encounter along with the woman’s attention on him. His brother knew how he felt about the girl. Was using this opportunity to mock him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “I beg of you, don’t help again. I’m quite capable of getting the flour dust off my own nose.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> She stuck her chin in the air, her nose higher. The regal tilt, the stiffness of her shoulders spoke of nobility.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Not a common serving wench. His thoughts returned to the silks and satins he saw in the trunk. The voluptuous pillows on the large bed, it was a bed designed for two.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Another piece of the puzzle that was Lillian Townsend he meant to vanquish.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> She cleared her throat, looked at him with an imperious glare in those soft blue eyes, repeating her earlier question. “Is there anything I can get for you, sir?” she stood back, waiting. Her toe was tapping impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> He reached out, confronting her earlier statement that he had no right to touch her as he placed his hand around her wrist, closing tightly, tugging her closer. “I want you,” he said, his voice assuming a husky gentle timber.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Scotland, Highlands<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogspot: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triber: </span><a href="https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bookbub: </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092SX4M18" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092SX4M18</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-bradys-arms-christine-young/1139301437;jsessionid=B04B457D038D43E1B77803536F33727C.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=2940162511311" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-bradys-arms-christine-young/1139301437;jsessionid=B04B457D038D43E1B77803536F33727C.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=2940162511311</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-bradys-arms/id1564426472?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ct=books_in_brady%27s_arms&ls=1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-bradys-arms/id1564426472?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ct=books_in_brady%27s_arms&ls=1</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-brady-s-arms" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-brady-s-arms</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DwgqEAAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DwgqEAAAQBAJ</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-29350461889207022902021-09-28T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-28T00:01:00.254-07:00#TellTaleTuesday #OnceUponAChristmasMoon<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar3RPsG3UBA/YSlLobysfqI/AAAAAAAAzy8/TU4npDv0hSEM87XZ4090vTzGbsf-60gEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Once%2BUpon%2Ba%2BChristmas%2BMoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar3RPsG3UBA/YSlLobysfqI/AAAAAAAAzy8/TU4npDv0hSEM87XZ4090vTzGbsf-60gEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Once%2BUpon%2Ba%2BChristmas%2BMoon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Once Upon a Christmas Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Authors: Christine Young, C. L. Kraemer, Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Anthology/Roamnce/Fantasy</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK155"></a><a name="OLE_LINK154"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a name="OLE_LINK220"></a><a name="OLE_LINK193"></a><a name="OLE_LINK165"></a><a name="OLE_LINK164"></a><a name="OLE_LINK157"></a><a name="OLE_LINK156"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Christmas-Christine-Young/dp/1979071098/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511032006&sr=8-1&keywords=once+upon+a+christmas+moon" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kindle Unlimited<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK17"></a><a name="OLE_LINK16"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">A collection of stories about the magic of romance at Christmas time.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURBS: Once Upon a Christmas Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TWELVE DAYS TO LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Archer Steele shows up at Calanthe Durand's failing plantation with<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">an alligator over his shoulder, Cali thinks she's never seen a more<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">handsome man. During the war she had to defend herself and her servants<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">from both union and confederate soldiers. Independent and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">self-sufficient, she vows to never marry. But Archer Steele has<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">different ideas. The first time Archer sees Cali in town, he feels an<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">instant attraction. He decides he will do everything and anything to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">convince the beautiful Miss Durand he is worthy of her love. During the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">weeks leading up to Christmas, he gives her twelve gifts in hopes she<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">will fall in love with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BOOTS AND BLADES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">An ancient evil from the old country has arrived in the high desert of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Oregon. Gnome children are vanishing then re-appearing, showing various<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">stages of traumatization. Tiamoon, warrior gnome, will put her skills to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">use alongside Killian, a handsome warrior, also in need of a cause.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">CHRISTMAS PAWSIBILITIES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With their world destroyed and their space ship malfunctioning, the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">dogizens of Planet Canid have little choice but to crash land on Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They face tortuous experiments at the hands of the Geeks in Green...or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">they can trust an eccentric inventor and his zany family to deliver the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Canine Queen's puppies and help them celebrate new lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">REVIEW: Once Upon a Christmas Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Title: Once Upon a Christmas Moon<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Author: Christine Young, C. L. Kraemer, Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Rating: 5<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Reviewer: James Charles<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Three delightful short stories. Each one takes the reader into a fantasy world, even the one set post-Civil War, and serves up a well-rounded tale. Perfect stories for the cold months of winter. Wrap up in your blanket and grab a warm eggnog, and settle in to three different enchanting worlds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPTS: Once Upon a Christmas Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Twelve Days to Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Near New Orleans October 2,1867<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Sam! Close the shutters on the back landing. I’ll get the front. Hurry. There’s a storm coming.” Calanthe Durand felt the small hairs on the back of her neck rise and shivers run down her spine. A big storm was on its way, probably a hurricane. Energy and fear poured through her like the pounding rain and flooding that accompanied high winds. Closing the house to the storm was imperative.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cali took a moment to smile. She’d heard Sam grunt. He didn’t talk much, but she wouldn’t have survived the war or these last two years without Sam and his daughter Daisy. Both sides, the North and the South, had occupied their home. Daisy and Sam were family, the only family she had. She’d do whatever was necessary to protect them. Even with emancipation, life wasn’t easy for blacks in the south.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’ve got them, Miss Cali.” Daisy rushed past her and out the door. Wind whipped her hair and tugged at her dress. Branches torn from trees landed on the porch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cali followed, the storm swirling around her, her hair beating against her face. Her breath was ragged, and fast as her heart thundered. She pushed and tugged at her skirt, trying to detangle the fabric from her legs. “Get inside!” The tempest raging around them swallowed her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Not until we’re finished here.” Daisy fastened a shutter before moving on to the next one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They worked together to protect the windows from the storm on the raised porch which stood five feet off the ground as wind howled around the eaves. A steady rain poured from the black sky, and lightning slashed the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cali pushed dripping strands of hair that had slipped from her chignon away from her face. “I’ll light the candles. It could get dark here pretty fast.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Horses and livestock are safe for now.” Sam stepped beside her. “Hope it’s not a big one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Hello up there. Hello, bonjour, anyone home?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hearing the voice from below, Cali left the protection of the house to lean over the porch railing. Below her a man stood, with cupped hands to his mouth and a dead gator slung over one shoulder a quiver filled with arrows on the other. “Hello. Can I get shelter from the hurricane?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Don’t know if it’s a hurricane.” Terrified of unknown men, Cali didn’t want to do the charitable thing. She pursed her lips, thinking, but all that came to surface was memories of troops commandeering her home. Good lord but she’d had to hollow out a bedpost to hide her jewelry. The soldiers had taken everything they could see. Sometimes she felt as if the war had ripped her soul from her body.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Maybe not a hurricane. Could be just a bad storm, but I don’t want to be on the swamp right now. The water’s rising.” A loud roar and a thunderclap followed his pause. Behind him an old Cyprus tree crashed to the ground, uprooted by the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“You can take shelter in the stable.” Cali watched his back stiffen, while she swallowed hard, but she wasn’t about to back down. The stable was good enough for some wandering man who she owed nothing. Besides, there was a tack room with a bed. No one slept there anymore, but she kept it clean and the moss in the mattress was fresh. Daisy had rolled it out two days ago. Yet a small niggling in the back of her head kept telling her this wasn’t a traveling man but one of means. He was a man she should treat as a gentleman. She’d been taught better but the war had changed all that and the lessons she learned were not served to her with a silver spoon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Much obliged.” He nodded before turning toward the barn. His natural swagger and broad shoulders sent a different kind of sensation through her. Warmth swept inside, swirling within and heating her frozen heart. For a moment he looked back, a strange expression on his well-chiseled face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Boots and Blades<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">C.L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">High Desert, Central Oregon</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Killian stared at the rise of rock from the desert floor. The emerging sun tricked the sky into revealing pink and blue streamers across the horizon exposing the severe lines of craggy mountains. Pine trees scented the air, and the slightest hint of sage tickled his nose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Where are they disappearing to? They’re much too young to be running away.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Master Killian?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The young man turned his blue gray eyes from the mountain to answer. “Yes, Ms. Luna. What can I do for you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Are you sitting out here at this early hour worrying about the young ones?” Luna’s black hair was braided down her back and she sported a shawl bright with her clan’s colors. She handed the young man a steaming cup of coffee. “I hope you don’t mind black. I’ve yet to milk the goat.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Killian flashed her a seldom seen smile. “Ms. Luna, you make the best coffee in the desert. Black is fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Taking up a spot next to him on the porch, she turned her attention to the mountains admiring the soft colors of rose and tan springing to life in the morning sun. “What is it that haunts you so?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“The illogicality of it all.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Aye, I figured that. It is indeed illogical. The children are too responsible to leave unannounced, yet they are snatched from their beds in the middle of the night with no clues.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Killian sipped the wicked black brew and allowed the liquid to spike his taste buds. The brilliant light of a new day was caressing the landscape and warming the air. “The kinders disappearing are not inclined to run off. They are the eldest and most reliable. These missings make no sense. They don’t happen in the same area or at the same time. They’re completely arbitrary and being so—random—has given me pause to find a method. If I were to discover a pattern, the recovery would be simpler.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Luna watched the anguish distort his handsome young face. His blue eyes clouded to a dark grey when he spoke of the missing children, and his normally full mouth stretched to a tight slash across his face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I don’t wish to sound cruel, but none of these are young ones of your own family. Why take their absence to heart?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Killian relaxed his scowl a bit, and a smile began to touch his lips. “Because it is they who will be the leaders of our clans in but a few short years. I had hoped to retire my sword someday to warm my boots by a fire. Having a mate and young ones around isn’t such a bad idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He automatically sipped his dark brew. <i>It would indeed be nice to warm my feet by a fire with a mate and children. The problem being I’ve found no person who makes me think in such terms.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Well, I must admit, Master Killian, I never would have thought you to be the settling type.” She picked up his cup, returning from the kitchen minutes later with fresh coffee in the container.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Neither had I, Ms. Luna, neither had I, however, aside from our missing young ones, there has been no conflict between the clans, nor have the Others tried to interfere in our affairs in a very long time. It is a good thing for many but for me, what good is a warrior without a war?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Luna could only agree with his forlorn assessment; what good, indeed, was a warrior without a war? “Maybe a solution will arrive in the near future. You never know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Killian shrugged his shoulders. Who knew indeed?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Christmas Pawsibilities<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“So where is this alien craft?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Fletcher had never completely trusted Commander Viktor Atrocitor. Since he had taken command of GIG two years ago, the atmosphere at the agency had become cold and suspicious, like the man himself. He seemed carved from six and a half feet of granite, blocky and scowling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“It has disappeared.” Fletcher knew this statement would draw Atrocitor’s ire and disdain, but what was the use of denying the obvious?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Fool! Can you do nothing right?” Atrocitor turned to the GIG agents waiting at a wary distance. “Search the neighborhood. Someone must have seen something or is hiding them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">While Atrocitor berated Fletcher, other GIG agents spread throughout the neighborhood, offending pretty much everyone by demanding they stay in their houses while their property was overrun and searched.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">After two hours of fruitless searching, Commander Atrocitor called a halt. “If you want to save your career and this town, you will bring me these aliens within twenty-four hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">As Fletcher watched the caravan of GIG vehicles disappear down the road out of Watermark, he felt like a six-year-old kid again. Bullied and humiliated for his belief that beings from distant galaxies simply wanted to explore and build alliances. They weren’t like aliens in movies who wanted to destroy humanity.</span><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">That’s why Fletcher started working at Geeks in Green. He thought he found other humans like himself who believed alliances with aliens could benefit everyone. Now he was starting to believe the rumors about Commander Atrocitor being heartless and determined to eliminate aliens were true. How could he know for sure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">His thoughts were interrupted when Agnes staggered out the back door toward the barn. “Who’s disturbing my goats?”</span><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">With her hair disheveled and her clothes askew, she did indeed look as if she had spent a raucous night of partying—the after-effects of being zapped by a ray gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Laycee and Fletcher followed Agnes into the barn, where the spacecraft was once again visible. Now the hatch was open, with guards standing on either side pointing ray guns at Agnes, Laycee and Fletcher.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Holy extraterrestrial!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">With a sizzle of purple, one of the alien guards fired his gun and Fletcher crumpled to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Why did you do that?” Ryan hustled out of the spacecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“He is of GIG,” one of the guards stated. “He is a danger to our Queen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Is he dead?” Ryan knelt over Fletcher’s inert body.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Simply stunned. We will revive him when the danger to our Queen is gone.” The two guards loaded Fletcher onto a transport board, which levitated and moved inside the spacecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Your mouth isn’t moving but I can hear your words.” Laycee’s shocked whisper matched the stunned expression in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Our Canine Queen is birthing and is not to be disturbed.” This time the alien’s mouth moved as he spoke, and he looked like any other human except for a twinkle of star light in his eyes. “Weren’t you getting milk for the royal puppies?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Yes.” Ryan refocused his attention on this task, determined to ignore Laycee’s presence. What was she doing here anyway? “Agnes, do you have milk from your goats?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“My goats don’t much like to be milked.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Surely it can’t be that difficult,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Agnes lifted an eyebrow. “You’re welcome to try. I’ll get a clean bucket.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Determined to get milk for the Queen’s puppies, Ryan began stalking one of the goats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“I think it should be a female,” Laycee said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Ryan felt like a first grader again. “I knew that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Laycee coughed behind her hand to cover her laughter. “There’s a girl goat on top of the space ship.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Ryan looked up the curved, smooth surface. “Maybe there’s another girl somewhere easier to reach.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">He stepped around the space ship and over the boards broken when the craft crashed through the roof. “There’s a girl! Help me get her into a stall.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Um-kay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">While Ryan circled around the nanny goat one way, Laycee closed in on her from the other side. The little goat narrowed her eyes at the humans and, when they were within a couple feet of her, she let out a bleat and ran between Ryan’s legs. Startled, he stumbled and dropped to one knee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Watch out!” Laycee’s shout made Ryan turn in time to see an irritated male goat charging toward him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">REVIEW:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">REVIEW</span></b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.5pt;">4 STARS</span></b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">This anthology contains three Christmas-themed stories. The first and longest story, "Twelve Days to Love" by Christine Young, is set in Louisiana just after the Civil War. It was my favorite in this book; exciting and romantic with an independent, likable heroine and a studly, honorable hero. This story did a fantastic job encapsulating the emotions, tensions, and uncertainty of the times.</span><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">The other two tales were fantasies.</span><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">In "Boots and Blades", Children mysteriously disappear from a small community in Oregon. Some later return, but are different. No one believes their recollections of their terrifying experiences until help arrives in a most unexpected way. I loved the chemistry and bantering between Kiamoon and Killian. Their strong bond and their determination to help the youngsters trapped in the high Oregon dessert made this story heart-touching.</span><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Christmas Pawsibilities" was an up-lifting and joyful ending to this holiday anthology. Not as dark as "Boots and Blades" this story dealt with an alien ship crash-landing on Earth which led to the capture of the Queen's consort. This story deals with ingrained attitudes and cultural differences with a deft touch. Handled in a compassionate and sometimes amusing way, this was a fun-to-read story that none-the-less delivers an important message.</span><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">I enjoyed reading Once Upon a Christmas Moon but thought the story combination would have been improved by making the individual stories a bit more homogenous. For example, I love stories set in the 19th century American South, but it was quite a shock to my mind to finish "Twelve Days to Love", and then jump into the somewhat dark fantasy about missing gnomes and warrior goddesses. Still, all three stories were original and entertaining. They make for a cozy holiday read - just tuck up under your favorite warm afghan while sipping hot chocolate. All the stories are clean and wholesome, sure to appeal to most readers regardless of age.</span><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reviewed by Laurie-J <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Review: </span></b><a href="https://hello-booklover.tumblr.com/post/168781142865/once-upon-a-christmas-moon-by-christine-young-cl#disqus_thread" style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Books are Love</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Twelve days to love</span></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">A sweet story of a man who has his eye caught by the proud stubborn girl and is trying to get her to like him. I love how he treats her with respect and lets her make up her own mind. In the era this is written in that is rare for a woman to get to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Asher fell for Cali the moment he saw her but knew she had been through alot. She survived the war and kept her home at the same time. She is strong, smart and stubborn. And not one to take charity or be trusting of others. So Asher comes by and begins his campaign to get her to like him first and than love him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">ONly another tries to thwart him because he wants her land. Asher helps Cali with this as well as other things. The story is entertaining and fast paced. YOu enjoy watching Asher wear down Cali and see her fall in love. The characters are ones you like from the get go and root for them to get their HEA.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Boots and Blades</span></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">This was fun and entertaining. I love how the two warriors drove people crazy because they did not know what to do with themselves. Watching Ender fight for those little ones and sacrifice was so wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Here we children being snatched and when some come home they are different. So Luna sends out Killian to find the truth of the matter but also a letter to her sister for help. what transpires is a tale of gnomes, gnomepires, kidnapping for the sake of being lazy, two woman show their power and show up the evil gnomepire and a budding relationship that is being denied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">This was fun, uplifting and entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Christmas Pawsibilities</span></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">So funny with the blue haired ladies and how they come to the rescue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">I enjoyed seeing Fletcher’s eyes open up to what is going on around him and also he gives Laycee a chance. You can see the attraction there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Ryan and Dodi perfect together and he has you swoon with his declaration for her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">The story is one where second chances are given, a woman is trying to chance, a man’s ideals are tested and he comes out on the right side, dogs are talking, time machines are used and the blue haired old ladies save the day. So fun and sweet. It goes by quickly and has you smiling in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AUTHOR BIOS:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14pt;">Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, <i>Dakota's Bride</i>, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My<i>Angel</i>to Kensington. Each fall, Christine returns to the classroom as a high school math teacher. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">C. L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">C. L. Kraemer is a wanderer, a way of life started when her father served in the U.S. Marine Corp. She’s carried on the tradition seeing most of the continental United States as well as Hawaii and Alaska. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: navy;">Three contemporary romance novels written under the nom de plume, Celia Cooper: <b>Old Enough to Know Better; Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Mazatlan; </b>and<b>If Only</b>were gifts from the writing gods. A fourth novel, <b>Cats in the Cradle of Civilization, </b>written as C. L. Kraemer is her first venture to the mystery genre. <i>Wings ePress, Inc.</i>is the publisher of these four offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="color: navy;">Healthy Homicide, </span></b><span style="color: navy;">the<b></b>October 2008 launch book for a new publishing house, <i>RoguePhoenixPress,</i>picks up the torch again in the mystery world. In February 2010, she contributed writings to two Valentine’s Anthologies at <i>RoguePhoenixPress</i>:<b>A Valentine Anthology<i>, </i></b>with <i>The</i><i>Lending Library</i>and <b>A Different Kind of Valentine</b>with <i>The Prize.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: navy;">She completed the base story in a Dragon fantasy series, <b>Dragons Among Us</b>, for <i>RoguePhoenix Press</i>. The second in the series, <b>Dragons Among the Eagles</b>, was released June 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: navy;">Meadows of Gold</span></i><span style="color: navy;">, another faerie story, was released March 2011 as part of <b>A St Patrick’s Day Tale</b>.<i></i>A novel based on one of the first mass shootings, which took place in Salem, Oregon in 1981,<b>Shattered Tomorrows,</b>was released August 2011. Currently in the works for publication is a commuter book featuring a motorcycle poker run, <b>Joker’s Wild,</b>and the third in the dragon series, <b>Dragons Among the Ice.</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_Hlk486535580"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Fur against my face and the soft smell of a dog curled protectively around me existed before my first memories of this life. So began my journey of being more in tune with animals than with people. </span></a><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">I went through the expected motions of marriage, kids, divorce, and career, but usually out of step with most of the human population. This proved to be an advantage in developing an independence and a curiosity about things most people don’t even consider. </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">A minor health issue led to energy healing and becoming a master level Reiki practitioner. Working at the local animal shelter flipped on the switch to communicating with animals. Each dog I adopted showed miraculous changes most people couldn’t believe. </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">As a writer, I explored the mysteries of why people behave as they do, and also became fascinated by science, especially quantum physics. But perhaps my favorite way of writing stories is to ask the question, </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">“</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">What if?” and dive into those imagined worlds—surrounded by my beloved furbabies, of course!</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Christmas, anthology, romance, fantasy, adventure, mystery<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">SOCIAL LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Rogue’s Angels<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Blog: </span><a href="http://roguesangels.blogspot.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">http://roguesangels.blogspot.com/</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/roguesangels" style="color: purple;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/roguesangels</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="_Hlk498762609"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Website:</span></a><a href="http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Blog: </span><a href="http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Facebook page: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Twitter:</span><a href="https://twitter.com/achristay" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/achristay</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Pinterest:</span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">BookBub:</span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> Instagram:</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achristay/" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #386eff; font-family: Helvetica;">https://www.instagram.com/achristay/</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> Google +: </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">https://plus.google.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">C. L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.clkraemer.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">http://www.clkraemer.com/</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Blog: </span><a href="http://mistressoftheredinkpen.blogspot.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">http://mistressoftheredinkpen.blogspot.com</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Facebook page: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/christie.kraemer" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/christie.kraemer</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/kraemerc" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://twitter.com/kraemerc</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Website URL: </span><a href="http://www.geniegabriel.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">www.GenieGabriel.com</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Blog URL: </span><a href="http://quantumcanines.blogspot.com/" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">http://quantumcanines.blogspot.com</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Facebook page: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/genene.valleau" style="color: purple;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">https://www.facebook.com/genene.valleau</span></a><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="FR" style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-81007367202790918072021-09-27T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-27T00:01:00.294-07:00#MysteryMonday #RoyalStreetDogs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAXu0lcf_rk/YSgH3ybU3kI/AAAAAAAAzyA/QZo8VlrMt9wiDmIYexWXJ1H7JkiINDdHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Royal%2BStreet%2BDogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="247" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAXu0lcf_rk/YSgH3ybU3kI/AAAAAAAAzyA/QZo8VlrMt9wiDmIYexWXJ1H7JkiINDdHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Royal%2BStreet%2BDogs.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Royal Street Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Aunt Maddie’s Doggone Misadventures Books 4 and 5<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Humor/Animals/Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZ75ZGJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=royal+street+dogs&qid=1594869251&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/royal-street-dogs-genie-gbriel/1137343846?ean=2940162811978" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/royal-street-dogs/id1523708698?mt=11&app=itunes" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/royal-street-dogs" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Genie_Gabriel_Royal_Street_Dogs?id=Ke_wDwAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-royal-street-dogs/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The last two books in Aunt Maddie’s Doggone Misadventures, <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">where exploding inventions,</span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">hilarious misadventures and sweet romance are part of everyday life.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Royal Street Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">CHRISTMAS PAWSIBILITIES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">With their world destroyed and their space ship malfunctioning, the dogizens of Planet Canid have little choice but to crash land on Earth...into the barn next door to Aunt Maddie's castle. With the Canine Queen in labor, elfenchaun Dori and Aunt Maddie help deliver the royal puppies and hide them from the evil commander of the Geeks in Green, who wants the aliens for tortuous experiments. Using Uncle Horace's invention of portable cloaking devices, Ryan and his zany family sneak into GIG headquarters to foil this dastardly plan while the Blue-Haired Ladies stage a Nertz tournament as a distraction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">STREET DOG DREAMS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Rescued and bored, the Royal Canines dream of a new dogdom. The search takes Aunt Maddie and Uncle Horace to an abandoned village in Sardinia, Italy, where they become caught up in rescuing dogs captured by a crime lord who wants all the kibble for himself. Using a retro-fitted space ship, they work cheek to jowl with their niece, who walks the streets in a dog suit to rescue street dogs who dream of home and family. A passionate Sardinian actress joins the rescue efforts when her beloved poodle is dognapped. She rallies her show dog friends to send the crime boss to the dog house–er, prison–and give street dogs the loving homes of their dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Royal Street Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“The cloaking device is activated.” Horace pointed to the drone’s monitor that showed a gaping hole in the roof of Agnes’ barn next door, but nothing in the barn other than goats and hay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Quickly! Let’s get into the barn while Fletcher is inside the house.” Aunt Maddie led the way, with Daphne, Ryan and Dori quick-stepping behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Maddie explained who they were, the aliens huddled in a whispered conference, then ushered them into the spacecraft where their Canine Queen lay in her chamber in obvious distress.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Humans are not usually allowed to be present at this most sacred of events. However, we are a simple exploring vessel without a doctor. When the main ship was threatened by GIG, we slipped away with our Canine Queen. It is not her time, but the stress of the past few weeks…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Another alien added, “Since the Queen’s physician is not with us, one of your females will take on that role.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maddie, Daphne and Dori looked at each other. “We’re not doctors.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“But all females have the healer’s touch.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maddie looked at Daphne, who looked at Dori.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“In my elfenchaun form, I have the healing touch,” Dori said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Then you will attend our Queen.” The alien leader seemed relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maddie and Daphne nodded at Dori in encouragement, so she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Then she shifted into her elfenchaun form. When she opened her eyes, the alien leader was looking at her strangely. “Is something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“What is that thing you just did?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Anxiety flooded through Dori. If the aliens had not seen a transformation, perhaps she really was the only elfenchaun left in this modern time. “I transformed. Sometimes I am human, but I can also be an elfenchaun. In this time period, my healing touch is strongest as an elfenchaun.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I have heard of transformations, but have not had the honor of seeing one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope surged through Dori again that other elfenchauns might exist somewhere in the universe. Then another moan from the Canine Queen redirected her attention. “I would like to talk more about what you have heard—after we welcome these royal babies into the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The first puppy arrived with minimal fussing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Snuggle him next to the Queen,” Dori instructed. “He will need to be cleaned.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The three aliens looked horrified. “One of the menials performs that duty, not the Queen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With a frown, Dori cleared the mucusy sac from the puppy’s face. “The babies must be cleaned immediately so they can breathe properly.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dori looked expectantly at those assembled, who stared back at her with confused expressions. “Quickly, bring warm, damp cloths and warm towels or blankets. We must be prepared for the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As one of the aliens hurried to fetch the cloths, another puppy made her appearance. Dori handed the first puppy to one of the aliens, then gently cleaned birth goo from the second puppy’s nose and mouth. She wiped the rest of the puppy before wrapping her in a soft, fluffy blanket and handing her to Rissa. “The Queen’s milk may not be in yet, since the babies are a bit early. Does anyone have a small bottle—perhaps from a doll—and milk? Goat milk would be acceptable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“J-J should have doll bottles,” Daphne said. “I’ll ask Brenner to bring them here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I’ll make sure GIG is gone and ask Agnes if she has milk from her goats,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">KEYWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">humorous, talking dogs, sweet romance, street dogs, enchanted tapestry, Christmas, fantasy, Alien Dogs, adventure<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Website URL: www.GenieGabriel.com</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Blog URL:</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">http://quantumcanines.blogspot.com</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/genene.valleau</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Twitter handle: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Triberr:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZ75ZGJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=royal+street+dogs&qid=1594869251&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZ75ZGJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=royal+street+dogs&qid=1594869251&s=digital-text&sr=1-1</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/royal-street-dogs-genie-gbriel/1137343846?ean=2940162811978" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/royal-street-dogs-genie-gbriel/1137343846?ean=2940162811978</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apple: </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/royal-street-dogs/id1523708698?mt=11&app=itunes" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/royal-street-dogs/id1523708698?mt=11&app=itunes</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/royal-street-dogs" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/royal-street-dogs</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Google Play: </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Genie_Gabriel_Royal_Street_Dogs?id=Ke_wDwAAQBAJ" style="color: #954f72;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Genie_Gabriel_Royal_Street_Dogs?id=Ke_wDwAAQBAJ</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-52122171486295877642021-09-26T00:01:00.000-07:002021-09-26T00:01:00.261-07:00#RomanceSunday #RekindledLove<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beTJkLs8CG8/YSaaveYFi_I/AAAAAAAAzxg/nOd2pghRmT04Nxv2lMAmhYn7hGwPhS3VwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Rekindled%2BLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beTJkLs8CG8/YSaaveYFi_I/AAAAAAAAzxg/nOd2pghRmT04Nxv2lMAmhYn7hGwPhS3VwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Rekindled%2BLove.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rekindled Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rosemary Indra<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK8"></a><a name="OLE_LINK7"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Love-Rosemary-Indra-ebook/dp/B003IKN2LS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386893203&sr=1-1&keywords=Rekindled+Love+by+Rosemary+Indra" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon:</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Rekindled Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK6"></a><a name="OLE_LINK5"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Forest Ridge, Oregon is terrorized by an arsonist, Fire Chief Mitch Chambers vows to do whatever it takes to protect the community</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">--even work with the woman who left him four years ago. Professional sketch artist Abby Denton, still loves Mitch and hopes to regain his trust and respect by working with him. However, she fears when he discovers the truth about their daughter, he will never forgive her. As they work together, Mitch once again falls in love with Abby, but this time he refuses to let her walk out of his life. Can they rekindle the love that burned between them and uncover the identity of the arsonist before he turns their dreams and the town to ashes?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Rekindled Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He saw no one as he made his way up the incline to the dilapidated storage shed. Situated on the edge of an older residential area, the structure he’d picked was perfect. The weathered building appeared vacant, and a large empty lot separated the shack from the nearest house. He pushed opened the unlocked wooden door and removed the backpack full of supplies from his shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After wiping his sweaty palms on his pant legs, he opened two small containers and sloshed the liquid on the wooden floor. Soon the pungent aroma of gasoline filled the room. He placed the igniter in a bed of steel wool then attached the wires to the small batteries and the timer. After picking up his backpack, he hurried from the shed closing the door behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He glanced in both directions. Confident no one was in the area, he walked up the dead end street. His heart hammered in his chest. Ignoring his trembling hands, he removed a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. After he flicked his lighter, he stared at the bluish-yellow flame. Excitement raced through his veins.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A foggy mist hugged the ground and darkness shrouded the sleepy little town. Despite the wetness from the damp, January air, he crouched at the edge of the trees across from his target and waited.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He pulled a long drag on his cigarette then checked his watch. Two minutes before the hour. He’d completed his work on schedule. He had everything under control. Nothing would stop him. With the heel of his shoe, he ground out the butt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The ignition flared to life. Shattering glass and splintering sounds of wood interrupted the stillness. Debris shot in every direction. "Damn," he muttered as he covered his ears with his hands, blocking the pressure from the explosion. The detonation was more powerful than he’d anticipated. The flames were clearly visible through the gaping hole in the side wall. No alarms, no security, and no advance warning. Everything had gone according to his plan. His gaze locked on the growing flames.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Fire! Fire!" A man pounding on a neighboring house drew his attention down the street. "There’s a fire over there. Call 911," the Good Samaritan shouted as he pointed up the street. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He didn’t plan for anyone to discover the fire until it was too late. He needed more time. The firefighters would destroy his masterpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In the distance, the fire alarm clanged to life at the station. Within minutes, he tuned into the sound of sirens growing louder with the approaching trucks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Anxiously, he looked at the shed. A smile formed on his lips when he noticed the flames reach the top of the window frame. Hopefully, the fire would finish the building before the crew arrived. He drummed his fingertips against his forehead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Red lights from the approaching trucks flashed, brightening the pre-dawn darkness. He didn't intend to stay once the crew disembarked. On second thought, he'd enjoy watching their futile efforts to extinguish his creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Definitely not your normal run of the mill romance novel. On the whole a very good book and well worth reading. <o:p></o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Orchid for Long and Short Reviews<o:p></o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-66057552356472160742021-09-25T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-25T00:01:00.270-07:00#SciFiFantasySaturday #ChristmasPaws<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMDbscuXnZ8/YSaaNd9G6tI/AAAAAAAAzxY/tU_O4kOG0YsDBIBbGpIvQ-XVDTSfEfvGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Christmas%2BPawsibilities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMDbscuXnZ8/YSaaNd9G6tI/AAAAAAAAzxY/tU_O4kOG0YsDBIBbGpIvQ-XVDTSfEfvGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Christmas%2BPawsibilities.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Christmas Pawsibilities<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: Genie Gabriel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: Fantasy/HUMOR<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Pawsibilities-Genie-Gabriel-ebook/dp/B07L55DK45/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544647344&sr=8-1&keywords=Christmas+Pawsibilities+by+Genie+Gabriel" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://roguephoenixpress.com/first-chapter-christmas-pawsibilities/" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read first chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TAGLINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The dogizens of Planet Candid crash land on Earth in the midst of Aunt Maddie’s zany family planning a Christmas wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Christmas Pawsabilities <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: ArialMT, sans-serif;">With their world destroyed and their space ship malfunctioning, the dogizens of Planet Canid have little choice but to crash land on Earth--in the midst of Aunt Maddie's zany family planning the Christmas wedding of Ryan and elfenchaun, Dori. Under cover of a Nertz tournament staged by the Blue-Haired Ladies, the family hides the royal dogizens from a dastardly plan to use them for tortuous experiments by the evil commander of the Geeks in Green.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Christmas Pawsabilities<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“So where is this alien craft?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Fletcher had never completely trusted Commander Viktor Atrocitor. Since he had taken command of GIG two years ago, the atmosphere at the agency had become cold and suspicious, like the man himself. He seemed carved from six and a half feet of granite, blocky and scowling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“It has disappeared.” Fletcher knew this statement would draw Atrocitor’s ire and disdain, but what was the use of denying the obvious?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Fool! Can you do nothing right?” Atrocitor turned to the GIG agents waiting at a wary distance. “Search the neighborhood. Someone must have seen something or is hiding them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">While Atrocitor berated Fletcher, other GIG agents spread throughout the neighborhood, offending pretty much everyone by demanding they stay in their houses while their property was overrun and searched.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">After two hours of fruitless searching, Commander Atrocitor called a halt. “If you want to save your career and this town, you will bring me these aliens within twenty-four hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">As Fletcher watched the caravan of GIG vehicles disappear down the road out of Watermark, he felt like a six-year-old kid again. Bullied and humiliated for his belief that beings from distant galaxies simply wanted to explore and build alliances. They weren’t like aliens in movies who wanted to destroy humanity.</span><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">That’s why Fletcher started working at Geeks in Green. He thought he found other humans like himself who believed alliances with aliens could benefit everyone. Now he was starting to believe the rumors about Commander Atrocitor being heartless and determined to eliminate aliens were true. How could he know for sure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">His thoughts were interrupted when Agnes staggered out the back door toward the barn. “Who’s disturbing my goats?”</span><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">With her hair disheveled and her clothes askew, she did indeed look as if she had spent a raucous night of partying—the after-effects of being zapped by a ray gun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Laycee and Fletcher followed Agnes into the barn, where the spacecraft was once again visible. Now the hatch was open, with guards standing on either side pointing ray guns at Agnes, Laycee and Fletcher.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Holy extraterrestrial!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">With a sizzle of purple, one of the alien guards fired his gun and Fletcher crumpled to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Why did you do that?” Ryan hustled out of the spacecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“He is of GIG,” one of the guards stated. “He is a danger to our Queen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Is he dead?” Ryan knelt over Fletcher’s inert body.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Simply stunned. We will revive him when the danger to our Queen is gone.” The two guards loaded Fletcher onto a transport board, which levitated and moved inside the spacecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Your mouth isn’t moving but I can hear your words.” Laycee’s shocked whisper matched the stunned expression in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Our Canine Queen is birthing and is not to be disturbed.” This time the alien’s mouth moved as he spoke, and he looked like any other human except for a twinkle of star light in his eyes. “Weren’t you getting milk for the royal puppies?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Yes.” Ryan refocused his attention on this task, determined to ignore Laycee’s presence. What was she doing here anyway? “Agnes, do you have milk from your goats?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“My goats don’t much like to be milked.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Surely it can’t be that difficult,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Agnes lifted an eyebrow. “You’re welcome to try. I’ll get a clean bucket.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Determined to get milk for the Queen’s puppies, Ryan began stalking one of the goats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“I think it should be a female,” Laycee said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Ryan felt like a first grader again. “I knew that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Laycee coughed behind her hand to cover her laughter. “There’s a girl goat on top of the space ship.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">Ryan looked up the curved, smooth surface. “Maybe there’s another girl somewhere easier to reach.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">He stepped around the space ship and over the boards broken when the craft crashed through the roof. “There’s a girl! Help me get her into a stall.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Um-kay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">While Ryan circled around the nanny goat one way, Laycee closed in on her from the other side. The little goat narrowed her eyes at the humans and, when they were within a couple feet of her, she let out a bleat and ran between Ryan’s legs. Startled, he stumbled and dropped to one knee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="border: none; font-family: Arial;">“Watch out!” Laycee’s shout made Ryan turn in time to see an irritated male goat charging toward him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_Hlk489975718"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Website URL: www.GenieGabriel.com</span></b></a><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Blog URL:</span></b><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">http://quantumcanines.blogspot.com</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="border: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">Facebook page: </span></b><b><span lang="IT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;">https://www.facebook.com/genene.valleau</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-22342074889708841862021-09-24T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-24T00:01:00.291-07:00Friday'sFeaturedTitle #HealthyHomicide<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lQz3Ux9Zms/YSWVRLhVfUI/AAAAAAAAzw0/XaeBZ1D9kDQ69dznGviLs_aDc3widQx9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Healthy%2BHomicide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lQz3Ux9Zms/YSWVRLhVfUI/AAAAAAAAzw0/XaeBZ1D9kDQ69dznGviLs_aDc3widQx9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Healthy%2BHomicide.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK42"></a><a name="OLE_LINK41"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Title: Healthy Homicide<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Author: C. L. Kraemer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Email: </span><a><span style="font-family: Arial;">clkraemer1@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mystery</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Homicide-C-L-Kraemer-ebook/dp/B001PKU0YA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385162889&sr=1-1&keywords=Healthy+Homicide+by+C.L.+Kraemer" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Just $0.99<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Healthy Homicide<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Two murders have occurred at the Barrel Springs Day Spa. Police hurry to find the method and reason before anyone else is murdered.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: Healthy Homicide<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Barrel Springs Day Spa had many features, but the one that had set it apart from its closest competitor, West Palmdale Rejuvenation Clinic and Fitness Center, was the No Cellphone rule. On the one occasion Alexa had scheduled a massage at West Palmdale, the masseuse’s cellphone had rung--and she had taken the call! That pretty well convinced Alexa she wouldn’t visit again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As she turned her phone on, it immediately began to ring. Alexa sighed, checked the time-11:30-and answered. Not soon enough her time would be her own.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Alexa Bond."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Ms. Bond? Are you still on the property? This is Cyndi Palmer, and I really need to speak with you. Can you spare a moment? I promise it won’t take long."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Something about the note of desperation in Cyndi’s voice touched Alexa.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Okay, but I’ve got a noon meeting with the mayor pro tem, and I can’t miss it."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She turned and walked back into the spa’s lobby. A piercing scream rent the air. Alexa’s skin prickled in goose bumps. She stepped aside of the uniformed employees running in the direction of the Vitamin Verandah. Spotting Cyndi Palmer, her normally tanned face ashen, Alexa raised an eyebrow. Behind Cyndi was the spa’s assistant manager, Marilyn, who strolled to Alexa’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I’ll bet it’s just Vonnie Spencer trying to get her session for free. That woman is a menace. She’s badmouthed and scared every employee here except the head masseuse. He’s so stoic even she can’t ruffle his feathers. Why don’t you wait here? I’m sure this will take only a moment." Marilyn winked, her bright, green eyes twinkling as she strolled in the direction of the current crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alexa watched as Cyndi dashed past Marilyn nearly knocking her over in the process and instructed the receptionist to call 911. She picked the microphone up and flipped the switch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Ladies. I’m sorry but we’ve had an emergency arise. I’d like to ask all of you to please dress and come to the lobby. I’ll explain in more detail when everyone is out front. Your appointments today are courtesy of the spa. Thank you." Returning the microphone to the desktop, head in hands, Cyndi faced the wall mural located behind the reception desk of a serene Tahitian beach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alexa moved to her side. "Cyndi? Is there anything I can do to help?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sighing deeply, the tall, elegantly muscled, tanned spa manager offered a lopsided smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No, Ms. Bond. I’m afraid you’re going to miss your meeting. When my appointment secretary went to notify Ms. Spencer it was time for her Swedish sauna, well, she, she found her…dead."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36453707.post-16236165520634357962021-09-23T00:01:00.001-07:002021-09-23T00:01:00.256-07:00#HighlandSong #HistoricalRomance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5i2YX_4D8/YSP2vZss5pI/AAAAAAAAzwM/mcqfRnxz2KMS-vphhZKTBLaKQOmwa2XOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/Highland%2BSong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5i2YX_4D8/YSP2vZss5pI/AAAAAAAAzwM/mcqfRnxz2KMS-vphhZKTBLaKQOmwa2XOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Highland%2BSong.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK5"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Highland Song<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Christine Young<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Excerpt Heat Level: 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Book Heat Level: 4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK104"></a><a name="OLE_LINK103"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK43"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"></a><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK8"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Buy at </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Song-Christine-Young-ebook/dp/B006PJ3HMS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388888117&sr=1-1&keywords=Highland+Song+by+Christine+Young" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">BLURB: Highland Song<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With her white-gold hair and azure eyes, Lainie MacPherson is as wild and untamed as the rugged Scottish Highlands where she was raised. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie vowed to avenge a crime against her. Recklessly, she defies English laws and the man who raped her puts a bounty on her head. The man who is sent to bring her to Edinburgh sets a dangerous trap. With nothing left to live for the beautiful Scottish spy steals the sealed documents the English soldier has tempted her with.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK42"></a><a name="OLE_LINK41"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When the exquisite temptress takes the bait and runs off with not only the forged documents but the purses of the men in the tavern, Aaron Slade vows to hunt her down and bring her to justice, never dreaming she will tame his jaded soul. </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Aaron discovers the truth about the tempestuous woman who stirs his passion to the point of madness, he dares not love her, but desires her with all his soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;">EXCERPT: HIGHLAND SONG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a name="OLE_LINK6"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ayr, Scotland<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1514<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie MacPherson let the crumpled wanted poster drop to the ground. Her stomach knotted and fear snaked down her spine. Beneath the shadows of the hooded cape she wore, Lainie searched the room for her enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Every man here fit that description.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Forced into a trap of her own making, out of courage, friendless, and terrified Lainie did the only thing she could think of to bring the pig Bertram to his knees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She would steal the temptingly displayed secret papers that were on the table in front of her. Papers she hoped showed troop movements--papers stamped with the King's seal--papers she could hand over to her brother, Hawke.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">First Lainie made sure the shadows in the tavern hid her from view, shrinking into the dark interior, hiding her face with the hood of her cape. She tried not to stare at the dark-haired stranger who had absent-mindedly set his jacket and satchel on a table with the documents she sought poking out almost as if they challenged her with a secret invitation. The man’s dangerous, dark looks sent a strange sensation of heat coursing down her spine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">English soldiers like Jericho Manning and Rory Slater were more dangerous and more terrifying than any highland lass should have to deal with. To make the situation worse, she didn’t need a dark-haired stranger to make her fingers shake and her insides quake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie inhaled a deep steadying breath. Easy, she told herself. Go nice and slow. The stranger looks half-drunk and the tavern maid sitting on his lap has all his attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"What’s in it for me?" Rory asked Jericho, his haggard features lighting up with anticipation and snagging Lainie’s attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Only what Bertram wants to give you himself." The dark stranger looked at the <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">English officer. The fingers on one hand tapping the oaken table top impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rory’s toothless grin sent a shiver of fear down Lainie’s spine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Jericho always gives me his left-overs," Rory said. “You going to give me this one?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rory’s diabolical laughter sealed the darkness in her heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jericho nodded then leaned forward. "I want the lass. And I’ll have her before I give her over to Bertram. She’s only a whore."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie nearly gasped but stopped herself. <i>Courage, Lainie, you’ve been in tighter spots than this</i>. It was not her plan to give herself away to these men. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She inhaled a long, deep breath once more and reached for the satchel beneath the soldier's jacket. A few more seconds and all would be hers. A few more seconds and she would hand the papers over to a friend. Someone who would carry them to the Scottish King.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She committed no treason here. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She was Scottish to the core. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This was for the good of her country--not England. Besides she’d already been labeled a traitor by the crown of England. She had nothing to lose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If Bertram suffered a set back, his lack of attention caused the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron Slade let his hands slide up and down the arms of the lass sitting on his lap while his steely gaze seemed to be riveted on Lainie MacPherson. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He knew what the young woman was up to before she’d committed herself to stealing. He had read the determination in the girl's posture when she backed into the shadow-filled corner of the tavern, pulling her dark cloak around her slender frame and letting her hood shadow her face. The combination of steady eyes and slightly trembling fingers had given her away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He would make sure neither Jericho nor Bertram could get their sweaty hands on the girl. He’d heard stories. He believed them--every word.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jericho didn’t even realize the girl he sought stood in the corner. Moreover, Slade didn't mean to tell Jericho. Slade had his orders. He was to find her and bring her to Edinburgh where she would be tried for high treason. The charges were lame. Now that he watched her stealing the phony papers he’d planted in the pocket of his jacket, he wasn’t quite so sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The rumors had it that a lot of men had wanted the lass, but none had gotten her. He’d thought all along Bertram had been one of those men. A cynical smile shifted the line of Aaron’s black mustache. There was nothing new in that particular game. Teasing and promising men something they wouldn’t give was a primal game played by every woman ever born.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But there was something very different about this woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">An air of sadness and vulnerability emanated from her. Aaron methodically lowered his lids when he glanced from the girl who sat in his lap to the woman whose fingers were closing over the sealed documents. He couldn't help but stare at her. The woman's eyes were a clear, uncanny blue that matched the color of the sky on a bright summer day. The few strands of hair escaping her hood were so blond they were nearly white. The cloak she wore was plain, but did nothing to hide the lush fullness of her figure beneath the cloth. The vision he imagined set him to thinking about what it would be like to unfasten the cloak, strip away all the other fabric covering her and touch the luminous skin that lay beneath the tattered cloak.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron was irritated at the direction his thoughts went. He was certainly experienced and old enough to keep sexual need away from his mission. He had been taught and teased by the most expert females on this earth. He’d learned more than one lesson at their hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Looking at Aaron, Jericho swirled the contents of his tankard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I don’t figure I can trust any man. Who’s to say that if you find the girl, you won’t want to keep her for yourself," he said to Aaron. "She might be worth a damn sight more than what old Bertie is paying you to bring her to him."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The devil you say," Rory retorted with a smug grin. "I have it on good authority and knowing old Bertie for years, he likes nothing better than to share soiled goods. We both know he’s the only one who can save the girl from a conviction of treason."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jericho looked coldly at Aaron but didn’t refute Rory’s statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron urged the tavern wench from his lap and kept his eye lids lowered slightly. He watched the girl, and if he was right, she was about to dip her hand into the pocket of another man. She had moved from her spot near his table, using the shadows in the tavern to hide herself. She brought up a fat purse and slipped it inside a different sack than the one she’d put the papers she’d stolen from his satchel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The stories about her were intriguing enough, but it was the rumors of Lainie MacPherson’s spying that held his interest. To him any one who could spy on his country was a traitor. But Lainie MacPherson, if she was anything like her brothers, was Scottish bone deep. To Lainie, what she did here would not be treasonous because she would be loyal only to the Scottish King James. In addition, the rumor--the ones of Lainie prostituting herself for information--didn’t bother him. Women did what they had to do to survive. And if the rumors were true, he would find a way to enjoy her charms while he took her to Edinburgh for trial. To him women’s flesh was sweet and soft, but women were as fickle as newborn kittens. They were far too easily corrupted, and so many times they turned out to be less than they seemed. He never let any woman touch his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Silently, Aaron measured the distance between the door and the MacPherson wench and wondered at the innocence, or was it guilt, he saw flash in her eyes for one brief moment when she met his glance. From what he’d heard, the Scottish cause was everything to the MacPhersons. This would not be the first time they pitted their clan against the English crown. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But this time it was the most foolhardy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The smile he gave Lainie made her look away. He watched as her shoulders quivered, and she shrank back into the shadows. He felt a wave of nausea sweep through him when he thought of Lainie being at the mercy of a man like Bertie for even a single night, much less until Bertie grew bored with her and gave her to Jericho and Rory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Silently, he told himself he would never let her fall into Bertie’s hands, because he meant to bring her straight to the authorities in charge. If she were guilty of treason, she would be prosecuted. If she were not guilty, he would see she was set free and he would personally escort her home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For the first time, he felt justified in his mission and the exorbitant pay he would receive for handing the girl over. If anything, there was a certain justice in cheating Bertie out of his spoils. He acknowledged that once he caught Lainie, he would have not only Rory and Jericho after him, most likely the MacPherson brothers would be on his tail as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A man bumped into Lainie near the door. Aaron thought he would see her pick this man’s pocket too. The movement was quick. Except for the slight of hand and Aaron’s vigilance, he would have never seen the exchange of the satchel from Lainie’s hand to the man's. The document Lainie just handed over was worthless, but the stolen goods were not. They would find out soon enough he had baited her, set the trap, and she’d fallen for it. Would he have Lainie in his possession when that was accomplished? Or would Jericho?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron shifted slightly, not wanting to give Jericho and Rory any indication that he meant to leave. His hand was on the hilt of his sword. Silently, he measured the catlike elegance of the girl with the determined posture and long back. It would not be much longer when Jericho and Rory discovered their own missing goods.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He rose and walked toward the door, barring her way if she meant to flee yet he was not sure he would stop her. "You sure you wouldn’t want to stay a while and keep me company, Miss…what was the name again?" Aaron asked, though he knew very well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"’Tis naught your business," she said softly, lowering her dark sooty lashes as if she meant to flirt. "A gentleman would not ask a lady he didn’t know."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie MacPherson’s voice sounded calm and controlled. Nevertheless, he knew she’d been in this position often enough, that she knew how to handle herself and no longer hesitated, knowing full well the consequences if she did. In any case, her compliance was not a part of his plan for her abduction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron’s instincts kept whispering that this woman was somehow different from women like Sarah and Anna, unfeeling women who cared nothing about anyone save themselves and the fortune and titles that could be gained from marrying into the right families. At the same time, he had no doubt Lainie MacPherson could kill a man.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You should take heed," Aaron said softly, ignoring the other man who had now slipped quietly out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Remove your hand. sir," she told him indignantly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron shrugged, outwardly indifferent, his fingers settling once more on the hilt of his sword, ever wary of the girl and her next move.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The tavern’s hush changed into a humming of male voices as people left their drinks and focused on the pair standing so close to the door where unbeknownst to them an unspoken challenge had just been issued by both parties. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The stakes revolved around a woman named Lainie MacPherson and release from the commission he’d bought so many years ago he couldn’t remember. As for the bounty, Aaron Slade didn’t care a damn about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron was certain he would end up the winner in this cat-and-mouse game. Besides the obvious, he wondered how the woman with trembling mouth and steady blue eyes had ended up on a wanted list issued by King Henry himself and standing in one of Scotland’s most infamous taverns. So intrigued by her he would move heaven and earth to learn her story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I know what you handed over to your companion," Aaron said with a bit of impatience, trying not to give away his purpose before it was necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I don’t know what you mean," she said softly with a sardonic smile gracing her intriguing mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"You stole something that was mine. I mean to get it back. You need to remember that England rules this land--all of it." He inhaled deeply the soft scent of her that seemed to be hers alone. It seemed to possess all his senses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Her shoulders stiffened as her gaze raked over him. "I’m Scottish, and loyal to James," she said, her voice wavering. "Henry doesn’t rule me or my kin."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Slade," Jericho said, stepping forward, "what’s--"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The wolfish smile Aaron gave Jericho stopped him cold in his tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Who’s the girl?" Jericho asked pointedly. "You the sharin’ kind, Slade?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"No one of interest," Aaron said smoothly lying to Jericho.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Aaron moved in front of Lainie, blocking the men from seeing her face and her hair. He didn’t know if they’d recognize her but something Rory had said earlier made him think Rory at least had met her. Given a choice, he would have taken her by the arm and escorted her away from these two cutthroats. Now he didn’t have a choice. He would have to let her go and hope he could catch up to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lainie could melt into the forest if given a chance. She knew these lands better than most. And her companions were sure to be waiting for her a safe distance from the tavern. If her friend wasn’t waiting for her, where would she go? A sudden and unmistakable sickening feeling swept through him. Fear for this slip of a woman clouded his judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Christine Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009319154924162270noreply@blogger.com0