Emily's Trial by Natalie Wright

Please welcome Natalie Wright author of Emily's Trial.

Natalie will award an autographed copy of "Emily's House", a handmade Celtic-inspired armlet, similar to one worn by Emily in the books and book swag to one randomly drawn commenter (US only -- an eBook of "Emily's House" will be substituted as the prize for an international winner).

Emily’s Trial

by Natalie Wright

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERVIEW:

1.    What or who inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. As a child, I wrote stories, poetry and plays. In first grade, I won a ribbon at the county fair for one of my short stories about my pet rabbit and his tea parties with the other animals on our farm. I remember being praised for my vivid imagination. But in my own mind, I remember thinking, “What imagination? It’s real!”

And it’s still a bit like that! I live much of the time in an imaginary world.

In 2002, I gave birth to my first and only child. That amazing miracle of creation inspired me to get back to my creative self. I began painting, drawing and yes, writing. Little by little, I began putting down on the page some of the imaginary worlds and characters and dialogue that had lived only in my head.

2.    What elements are necessary components for this genre?

In my opinion, there are very few ‘necessary’ components to the young adult genre. I think you must have a teenager as the main character. And the writer needs to be aware of the age of their audience, so you don’t write graphic sex scenes and tone down the language a bit. But other than that, I’m not sure there are any ‘rules’. Like with adult books, teens and those you enjoy YA want to read good stories.

Something I’ve noticed about YA books is that they tend to be linear and not as complex as books intended for adults. I’m not sure why this is. But one of my goals for future books is to create books for teens that are a bit more complex than most of what’s offered to them – multiple first-person narrators, for example (you’ll see that in Emily’s Heart, Book 3 of the Akasha Chronicles). And perhaps more threads that are set up then come together (likely to happen in my speculative fiction series, H.A.L.F.).

3.    As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

Right now I’m working on finishing Emily’s Heart, Book 3 of the Akasha Chronicles. I’ll release Emily’s Heart in 2013. I’m excited to be finished with my first trilogy because I have so many other stories clamoring for my attention! But I’ll also be sad so say good-bye to Emily and the other characters. I’ve spent a lot of time with them, having first met them in 2007!

I have a new series in the works, working title is H.A.L.F. This will be a speculative fiction trilogy. Here’s the setup: Ever since the UFO crash at Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, the U.S. government has had a top secret program to breed alien-human hybrids as weapons to be used in a secret war. At the dawn of the new century, the program succeeded and the first H.A.L.F. (Human Alien Life Form) was born. The H.A.L.F. escapes the government facility and flees into the dangers of the surrounding Arizona desert. When Erika Holt and her friends have a chance meeting with H.A.L.F. in the desert, her choice to help him escape pits her and her friends against the U.S. government. And when they find out the truth of what the government has been hiding, none of their lives will be the same again.

I’m super-excited about this one! It is sooo much fun.

4.    If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

Hmm, a tough question. If I had to pick one, I’d probably be Emily. Her mother is dead and she doesn’t feel at home in her own skin (not yet anyway), but she has magic! Who wouldn’t want to be able to read people’s minds? And make objects move with your mind? Not to mention be able to phase shift to other dimensions or times! And I suspect that Emily hasn’t yet learned all of the magical abilities she possesses ;-)

5.    Can you give us a sneak peak into this book?

In Emily’s Trial, Emily is now sixteen and no longer hides her special abilities. She entertains other bored teenagers at lunch with displays of her powers of levitation and object manipulation. She has a loyal following of sycophants and curiosity seekers, but being truly ‘popular’ and accepted by the ‘in’ crowd has eluded her.

For reasons she doesn’t quite understand, Owen Breen, Mr. Hottest-Senior, suddenly takes an interest in her. Emily falls hard, and finds Owen’s charms irresistible. When Owen asks Emily to open a portal to the Netherworld, she acquiesces, despite misgivings and warnings from her two best friends, Fanny and Jake. Her decision will lead all of them to a world where their worst nightmares come true.

Will Emily’s loyal friendships survive Emily’s Trial?

6.    Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

I do not belong to a critique group. I’ve tried to find a critique group in the past, but it just never happened for me. At this point, I have developed some friendships with other writers and they are my ‘beta’ readers. I also rely on paid freelance editors and paid beta readers to provide critical feedback before I finalize a book.

17. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

Best Advice: READ! Read, read and read.

I’ve always been a reader, but I read a lot of non-fiction books and articles. When I first started writing back in 2007, I read only about 3-5 novels a year. The advice to read came to me from several great writers. So I amped up my reading – a lot! I began reading lots of books in my genre (Young Adult and Paranormal Fantasy), but I also books in other genres.

And I read with a ‘writer’s eye’. You pay attention to plot, structure, character, and all of the other elements of writing. You pay attention to what works – what about the book is making you, as a reader, want to turn the pages. Or you ask yourself why you keep putting the book down, and don’t feel enthusiastic about picking it up again.

Now I see reading as part of my job as a writer and I read fiction every day J

Worst Advice: Honestly, I’m not sure that I’ve gotten any bad advice, or if I have, I probably ignored it! There are a lot of people who claim to know the ‘way’ of writing. I take all advice with a little pinch of salt. If it resonates with me, I take it in. If it doesn’t resonate, I forget it.

8. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I don’t outline, but I do plan. At the end of last year, I used the Snowflake method for the first time to plan Emily’s Trial. It worked well for me so now I’m using it to plan all my novels. The Snowflake begins with the big picture – putting the entire beginning, middle and end into one sentence. Not easy to do! Then you expand into a paragraph, then a few pages hitting the major plot points and how the book ends. My favorite part of this work is writing a synopsis of the story from each major character’s perspective. This helps to create a more character-driven story – something I strive for.

After I have the novel planned out, I begin writing. Usually, my characters stay with the plan for about a third of the book, but then take the story to unexpected places. I love that! When I wrote Emily’s Trial, I had several unexpected plot turns – including an ending I hadn’t planned. I had to re-write the beginning to match what happened at the end! So I plan, but keep myself open to ‘hear’ the characters as I write and follow my intuition.

9. How do you maintain your creativity?

It’s not always easy! Life can seriously get in the way – if I allow it. I usually use music to get into the creative mood. I create a ‘soundtrack’ for my books that I listen to during the planning phase. I find the creative genius of the musicians inspires my creative side. But while writing, I listen to music without words – more ambient stuff – so I don’t have other people’s words cross-pollinating in my head!

I also find daily walks, meditation and yoga help me tune out the clutter of life and get into the creative zone. And, when I’ve tried other things but still don’t feel the creativity flowing, I get a new perspective by trying something new. I may go to a new restaurant in another part of town, a concert, an art show – even reading a book in a genre I don’t normally read. Anything to shake up my routine.

When all else fails, I grab a Diet Coke and some dark chocolate J

10. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?

Emily is probably my favorite character. She’s a normal teenager in our modern world, but with a legacy of ancient magic. I think a lot of people could relate to her – she just wants to be ‘normal,’ and to fit in. But she keeps being reminded of how not ‘normal’ she is. I’m writing the third book right now, and it is interesting to see how what happened in book 2 has changed her.

But I also enjoy writing Ciardha, the antagonist in both Books 2 and 3. In book 3, I’m exploring the bizarre relationship between Ciardha and his ‘pet,’ Dorcha. I haven’t explored a dark and somewhat twisted relationship before – it’s deliciously fun!

And that’s the great joy of writing. I get to go to imaginary places that I haven’t actually been – and some that I sure hope I never see for real! I hope my readers have as much fun exploring the sometimes dark worlds my characters find themselves in, and root for them – like I do – to find their way back.

BLURB:

Two years ago, Emily’s journey began. She learned the ancient magic of her Celtic ancestors,and became a modern Celtic Priestess. The golden torc, forged by faerie hands, is still wound around her arm, fused to her soul. She was entrusted with powerful magic – secret knowledge.

But even a Priestess can feel desire – temptation – and the quest for love. Will passion entice

Emily to use her sacred magic in a forbidden way?  Can new love take root in a world of nightmares? And will her friendships survive Emily’s Trial?

The Journey Continues . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

From Ch. 1:

The Apocalypse didn't start with four horsemen, harbingers of the horror to come. It didn't start with a plague, or pestilence, or even zombies rising from the dead.

It came slowly, and without warning. It crept up on people in the shadows, no more than a vague darkness that spread like an unseen cancer.

And it wasn't set into action by a divine hand. A teenage girl was the catalyst for the End Times.

I should know. I'm the one that started it.

I didn't plan to. I didn't want to start the End Times, and I'm not evil.

Madame Wong taught me to tell the truth, and so here it is. I'm the one responsible for the Apocalypse. And this is the story of how I unwittingly unlocked the door to the darkness; of how a Priestess of the Order of Brighid, entrusted with powerful magic that was supposed to be used for the benefit of all humankind, unleashed a force that would destroy it instead.

And it all began with desire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Natalie is the author of The Akasha Chronicles, a young adult fantasy trilogy. When not writing, blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, Wattpadding or eating chocolate, Natalie nurtures her young daughter, feeds her dog too many treats, and can’t resist watching Ancient Aliens, no matter how absurd the show becomes.

Natalie enjoys travel, good wine, and excellent food shared with family and friends. She was raised an Ohio farm girl, now lives in the desert Southwest, and dreams of living in a high rise in a big city.

“Books are my friends, ideas my passion.”

Natalie enjoys chatting with readers, so stop by and say hi:

Blog: http://www.NatalieWrightsYA.blogspot.com

Twitter: @NatalieWright_

Facebook: NatalieWright.Author

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468945.Natalie_Wright

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/WritesKidsBooks

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/NatalieWright_

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/natwrites/

Meet Trickle

Trickle

The lithe figure gave a flip of the tail and caught the current of rushing water to beyond the spot occupied by the large black creature. Finding her favorite lichen covered boulder, Trickle tucked behind the stone barrier and watched the action above her. The wicked, black cat was in the hunter mode and crouched to attack another victim.

She ran a delicate webbed finger down the jagged white scar marring the beauty of her scales. The vitriolic beast had caught her off guard and nearly made her the object of a meal. Had it not been for… his voice! He’s close by.

She poked her head from behind the rock and noted he held the female in his arms. Trickle allowed a wrinkle to mar her porcelain forehead. Is she dead? Did that monster feline claim another victim? Movement in the man’s arms answered her query. Trickle watched the woman stomped off toward the building where her cousin worked. Must be the one Chrissy calls The Librarian.

He stood on the bank of the river and she jumped when the sound waves carried his issued warning to all who could comprehend.

Lancelot. That is the name of my enemy. Swishing her tail, she moved to the center of the manic flow of water and peered at the bank where the cat had stood. He’s gone—good.

~ * ~

Uther caught the flash of tail and undulation of golden hair.

“Trickle, my friend? Is that you?”

The tiny creature wiggled her way to his side of the river and peered up at him. He held his hands in front of him as he spoke. “I’ve no net and I promise on my honor as a reformed Night Elf of the house of Saun, I intend you no harm.”

The brown speckled green eyes regarded him suspiciously.

“If I had meant harm would I not have kept you after the attack?”

He tried his best to give her an earnest look of honesty. He could only hope it would work.

The water fae slipped a delicate hand on a rock near the bank and pulled up, flipping around to sit in the best position to afford her a quick escape.

“How are you, night elf?” The words from the mermaid flowed eloquently over Uther’s ears.

He smiled. The first rule to speaking with a merperson was to be armed against the bewitching tone of their voice. He murmured lowly. “Block.”

The mermaid giggled. “Ah, but you are wary.”

“Indeed my watery friend, and still dry on the bank. How is your side?”

Trickle gently moved her hair exposing the wicked white scar she bore from her attack. “It hasn’t disappeared.” She traced the route of the mark.

“Why don’t you magic it away?”

“It’s a reminder to me each time I pass my hand over the hard line to be more alert in my daily life. If you hadn’t come along at the right time… well, I won’t allow myself to become anyone’s lunch.”

Uther nodded. “A very wise move. Be careful. Lancelot appears to be hunting these woods, and I know he hates losing a good catch.”

“I shall, night elf. You be careful. If my cousin Chrissy is right, you are next on the list of targets.” She flipped water with her tail and spattered him. A giggle escaped.

Brushing off the droplets from his breeches, he rose from the bank.

“I will, little one, I will. Until next time.” Uther watched the selkie dive under the turbulent rapids and disappear. Turning from the river, he made his way back to the Library.

~ * ~

He was aware there were selkies in some of the local rivers but hadn’t seen one. On a hunch after the clan meeting where his niece and nephew had been stripped of their magical powers, Uther had followed them out of the building. He’d sent Linda the Librarian off to get him a piece of cake to occupy her while he slipped out the back door.

Using his enhanced vision, he tracked the pair as they crashed through the woods to their home. They still believed their magic was viable and arrogantly issued spells to clear the pathway to walk. On many an occasion that evening, Uther was forced to cover his mouth so he wouldn’t burst into laughter as the two night elves stumbled over bushes and tree stumps which didn’t magic away.

When he’d decided the pair was well on their way to their home, he turned around and headed back. His senses were overwhelmed by fear. Following the path of the terror, he came upon a scene he would not soon forget.

Clutched in the paw of the massive animal Gitty Saun kept as a house pet, was a limp figure. One side appeared to be covered in scales while the other showed bare flesh and flowing yellow hair. Uther acted on instinct and blasted the animal with a magic command.

“DROP HER!”

The cat pulled in the paw bobbling its prize and growling as the creature fell to the ground. It started to reclaim the booty when Uther threw a lightning bolt above the animal’s head. Yowling in anger and fleeing as fast as the padded feet could move, the cat vanished into the dark night.

Uther dashed to the river’s edge and was amazed to find a miniature mermaid bleeding profusely from a slash the length of her body. He knelt and lightly placed a finger on the open wound while uttering a healing spell. He had to repeat the spell twice before the slash closed completely.

Her body fit neatly into the palm of his hand and he was careful not to jar her as he carried her to the river. Water slowly filled his palm as he lowered her into her element. His heart pounded as he prayed this unique creature wasn’t dead. Her eyes fluttered and she opened her mouth to scream.

“Ssshhh!!! We don’t want Lancelot to know you survived.”

Affirmation from the mermaid was all he needed and Uther released her completely, watching her swim slowly on the river’s top then, with a flip of her tail, slipping beneath the water.

He’d not seen her since that time. Spying the little selkie was a pleasant surprise, however, viewing the black monster, Lancelot, was not.

Uther groaned. He just knew Gitty and her brother Morgan were up to something and the rest of the valley would be caught in the backlash.

 

 

I hope you enjoy my little merfae.

 

Sable Angel  

Where have all the Mermen gone?

I might never leave the sea if I were to come upon these two.

Mermen. According to my Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Anna Franklin and The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews, Mermen aren't as beautiful as mermaids. That picture sure fooled me!

Seems they're a bit grumpier, too. They don't normally come ashore to woo human women to produce children for them. They personify stormy seas and are the creators of storms when angered that usually end in shipwrecks for man.

The one constant is Mermen are mentioned in Scandinavian folklore [a handsome creature with a green or black beard living on cliffs as well as in the ocean], Middle Eastern Tales, Arabian Nights, and in cultures as far back as Babylonia and Mesopotamia. Triton, son of Poseidon, Greek God of the Sea, was a Merman. Almost every culture near the ocean shares tales of men/fish creatures and the deeds they do.

Thanks to RavenscraftsRealm.blogspot.com for this amazing visual.


The Samish people of the Northwest have a story of a maiden, Ko-kwal-alwoot, who becomes enamored with a merman, eventually becoming his wife. She still watches over the lands of the Samish and ensures there is always plenty of good salmon to catch.


Maybe it's time to pay more attention to the male part of these Fae. You gotta admit; they're not hard on the eyes.



Sable Angel

Are you a Siren?

Doubleday dictionary defines Siren as: 1)One of a group of sea nymphs who lured sailors to destruction by their sweet singing. 2)A seductive, enticing woman.

My encyclopedia of Faeries notes they come from the Greek island of Anthemoessa near Scylla and Charybdis where they live and surround themselves with the bleached bones of their victims. Early tales picture them as half bird, half women sent to collect the souls of men. Somewhere along the line, they were morphed into mermaids.

Either way, Sirens are known as seducers and every tale we know has at least one Siren in the midst of the story. How else can our hero be set on the wrong path because the words of a lovely woman have him not thinking straight?

If someone refers to you as a Siren, they're either calling you--seductive or destructive. In my story, Defying the Odds, I have a little merperson who'll morph into a Siren and steal the heart of a Night Elf. I've yet to decide if I'll have her let him live or destroy him with her Siren Song.

Sable Angel

Rogues Angels Hosts -- How Is Your Muse doing?

A Back Yard Waterfall

Idyllic

It's check in day at the Rogues Angels blog. 

Time to pay the piper! How did you do?

This is the Rogue's Angels weekly check-in. Every Thursday we encourage the Angels and visitors to let us know how their writing is going.

How well are you doing?

Had problems this week? That's ok. Just sit down this coming week and write. Whatever you do, don't let difficulties from the week before get in your way this week.

Every word is one word closer to the finished product.

Christmas is over, the New Year has passed and Christine missed the check in day after Christmas! I was exhausted. Hosting Christmas with two energetic little grandchildren, well, I have new respect for my parents and the holidays.

So what have I done? I am waiting for Galleys for Catching Meara the first of my Clan McKenna series. And the edits for Highland Miracle are in progress. I now have two books in my head waiting to get out and I don't know which one to write first. Two many ideas and just not enough time.

Had a great week? Keep it up, the momentum is on your side.

Rogues Angels Presents -- The Silver Sphere -- Review

Please welcome Michael Dadich author of The Silver Sphere.

Michael will be awarding a $75 Amazon or BN.com GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tours.

The Silver Sphere

By

Michael Dadich

BLURB:  

Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

REVIEW:

Title: The Silver Sphere

Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Length:

Rating: 3.5  

Reviewed by: Allana Angel

The Silver Sphere is an epic tale of good fighting evil. Travel through time portals, fantasy and mythical beasts are a major part of the story. The Kin, six young adults, have found their way to a new world and discover they are destined to play an integral part in saving Azimuth, a kind of sister planet to earth. The world Michael Dadich has created is well developed and colorful. The battle between the holographs was captivating as was the final battle scene.

However, I found some of the creature's names were confusing and hard to wrap my head around. I like to be able to say the name when I'm reading, not stutter over said name. While the characters could understand the language of the people of Azimuth, I don't understand why the people used strange names for well-known English words and sometimes used the exact name.

This is an action packed adventure from beginning to end. This book will keep you turning the pages.

For me this book is between a 3 and a 4. While the editing was mostly clean, there were some strange sentences that I had to read a couple of times to have a clear picture. As a young adult novel, I also found the vocabulary to be quite extensive. While anyone could read this, I do think only TAG or advanced students would have knowledge of all the words used in this novel.

Disclaimer: This ebook was provided free to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

3 Angel Eyes — Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Angel Eyes — Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.

Rogues Angels Features A New Release -- Legacy Under Fire

New Release

Title: Legacy Under Fire

Author: Genie Gabriel

Genre: Women's Fiction

Email: genene@genenevalleau.com

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

Mystery/Suspense with a hint of romance

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

After being trapped in an arson fire that destroyed her clinic and her memory, a doctor struggles to regain her courage as well as solve the mystery of why someone would want to kill her. A different kind of heat fills her life when she falls in love with the firefighter who rescued her, but can he protect her from the man determined to snuff out her life?

EXCERPT

As Shiloh stood watching the dancers, butterflies swooped in her belly like the rainbow of satin gowns swirling across the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?"

Shiloh gazed at Jeremiah, her handsome escort. No smudges on his face from smoke and ashes. No sturdy turnouts with its fabric rough against her cheek.

Handsome. Serious. Sexy.

Though he barely touched her fingers, the heat shimmered between them.

Shiloh's breath caught in her throat. Tonight was different. He wasn't a hero doing his job. He was a man whose gaze looked into her soul.

And found what?

Did he see the holes where her memory had been? Did he sense her fear and wonder at her doubts?

"I-I can't."

A frown settled briefly on his brow.

"I've never learned any dance steps--I just to sway to the music." Shiloh shrugged ruefully.

"I can teach you."

Shiloh's mouth went dry. She struggled to swallow as the fantasy of Jer teaching her more than dance steps raised goosebumps across her skin.

"It's easy." Jeremiah turned his hand over so her palm rested against his. "Just a few simple steps in a box pattern."

His other hand moved to her hip, and he quietly counted the steps as they moved to the music. "One, two, three. One, two, three."

Mesmerized by the movement of his lips, Shiloh simply followed his lead. Until he turned and she stumbled against his feet. She jerked upright, flushed, and stammered out an apology. "I guess all my skill is in my hands--or used to be..."

"You can stand on my feet if you want to until you get the hang of it. Marly used to when she was a kid and Tallie was trying to 'give us some culture', as she said."

"That sounds nice." Wistfulness wove between Shiloh's words.

"Trampled feet or culture?" A dimple appeared in Jeremiah's left cheek when he smiled.

Why had she not noticed that before? "Having lots of siblings must have been nice."

"Intrusive sometimes."

"Better than being alone."

"Were you lonely as a child?" Jeremiah continued dancing with Shiloh as they talked.

"I knew my parents loved me and were doing important work. But I missed being around kids my own age."

"Yeah, you missed out on bruises and elbows in the ribs during basketball games."

They laughed together.

"I didn't realize how lucky I was," Jer said. "Until lately."

"Much has happened lately," Shiloh agreed.

Jer swung her under his arm and she concentrated on keeping her feet moving so she didn't stumble. For the rest of the song, Shiloh focused on dancing rather than talking. As the dance ended, a cautious pride bloomed in Shiloh's chest.

"You're a fast learner."

Jer was staring at her. With something different in his eyes Shiloh hadn't noticed before. Speculation. Desire perhaps.

The orchestra began playing again and she melted into his arms. In this beautiful old house, time seemed to have receded to a gentler era when gentlemen and ladies put on their best manners with their fine clothes for a special night on the town.

Shiloh let her eyes drift closed, wondering what making love would be like with Jeremiah. She fancied it would be much like dancing with him. A slow, tantalizing journey unlike any other she had taken.

Is this what she had missed in younger years by focusing on her studies? Or was this magic reserved for a special someone? Someone she hadn't met until Jeremiah.

When she opened her eyes, Jer was gazing at her. A slight smile on his lips and banked fire in his eyes. He wanted her. Yet made no move to put his desires into action. Truly a gentleman. A hero.

The man she had fallen in love with.