The Virus of Beauty by C.B. Lyall

 Please welcome C.B. Loyal author of The Virus of Beauty

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

The Virus of Beauty

by C.B. Lyall 

 

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GENRE: YA Fantasy

 

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INTERVIEW

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?

I can honestly say that I don’t wish to be anyone else. There are a number of people I admire, but I don’t want to be them. 

What did you do on your last birthday?

On my last birthday I turned 60. It was March 2020. My husband and I had planned a trip to celebrate, we were cruising around South Africa, playing golf and then going on safari. This trip of a lifetime was, of course, cancelled due to COVID-19. However, we were lucky not to have already left home when the trip was cancelled. It could have been worse – stuck on a cruise ship with nowhere to land.

What part of the writing process do you dread?

Starting a first draft because it’s daunting knowing you have to produce 80,000 words and a compelling storyline with relatable characters. Once I put that thought out of my mind it becomes easier. I use Scrivener to write in and love the project target feature. I can set the word count for the project and for the session. That way I can see the pages growing as the story unfolds.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I like to plot my stories, so I have a road map. Some days the words don’t come as easily and I feel I have to drag them out and onto the page, but I always manage to produce something when I sit down. I also have a list of prompts from my writing instructors which I keep for those times when inspiration needs a helping hand. Plus, I like to interview my characters, sometimes I’ll sit them down for a chat. They often surprise me.

Tell us about your latest release.

The Virus of Beauty is the first book in a fantasy trilogy. It’s set in both Hong Kong and the Magical Realm. Wilf hates magic and wants to hang with his Hong Kong friends and play on the local soccer team. When his father dies under mysterious circumstances, Wilf is plunged into the middle of a political struggle between the witches and wizards in the Magical Realm. He’s forced into taking up wizardry after a powerful virus begins to decimate the witch community. The cure is spellbound in a journal Wilf inherited from his father and when his friend Katryna contracts the virus, Wilf understands that he must overcome his fear of magic to unlock the journal’s secrets – but will it be too late to save her?

 

BLURB:

 

Ugliness is power, and the Virus of Beauty is spreading causing panic throughout the witch population.

 

Wilf Gilvary is a teenage wizard who is terrified of using magic. When his father dies under mysterious circumstances, Wilf is plunged into the middle of a political struggle between the witches and wizards in the Magical Realm. He’d rather play soccer than practice magic, but he’s forced to make a choice between the life of a normal Hong Kong teen and one of wizardry after a powerful virus begins to decimate the witch community. The cure is spellbound in a journal Wilf inherited from his father and when his friend Katryna contracts the virus, Wilf understands that he must overcome his fear of magic to unlock the journal’s secrets – but will it be too late to save her?

 

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EXCERPT:

 

The tattoo pulsed. He shoved the hand into his pants pocket and continued threading his way through the store’s cluttered shelves of T-shirts, Laughing Buddhas, shot glasses, and Happy Cats. The sinking feeling in his stomach grew.

 

A sharp pain shot up his arm.

 

“What the…?” 

 

A rumbling groan echoed around the store. He glanced towards the alcove housing the Mages Crystal. His eyes widened as the mirrored surface glowed red. A loud crack pierced the air like a ball smashing through a window. He ran for the supply closet and forced his six-foot body inside. 

 

Quartz exploded across the room from the crystal’s center. 

 

He felt a whoosh of air next to his ear as he slammed the door shut. He switched on the closet light and stepped backward into brooms and mop handles that banged the back of his head. A large piece of polished quartz, still vibrating from its violent impact with the wall, reflected the shock in his gray eyes. 

 

Thuds echoed in the tiny room as projectiles impaled the door. He touched his ear, but seeing no blood on his fingers, exhaled. That had been too close.

 

Several seconds passed before he braved stepping outside. The store was filled with colliding rainbows as sunlight hit the debris. Wilf blinked rapidly. Crystal daggers studded the closet’s wooden door. All he’d done was look in the crystal’s direction, but his father would blame him for this disaster.

 

“Wilf, is that you?” Reginald’s shout was followed by a creaking sound from the basement stairs.

 

Wilf bolted for the front door. His shoes crunched the broken glass. He jerked open the door and the bell gave a traitorous jingle.

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Carolyn Lyall was born in Stockton-On-Tees, United Kingdom. As a child Carolyn growing up in Northern England in the sixties Carolyn loved sports, reading and amateur dramatics. She joined a renaissance group, practiced the broadsword and dreamed of visiting other worlds. Her passion for what could be drove her forward when faced with everyday struggles. Her first memorable skirmish with gender inequality came at nine-years old when she was told that only boys were allowed to play soccer. In response, she simply refused to do any classwork until they changed their old-fashioned policies. She won that battle.

 

At the age of 18, she took a role as typist for a nursing school in Middlesbrough. She then moved to London and enrolled in night school. She was quickly recognized for her ability to fit in anywhere and for not being afraid to push back on the predominantly male leadership. She eventually became a project manager in software development and micro-computers, bridging the gap between computer programmers and management. 

 

Her dream to travel was finally realized in 1990 when she moved to New York City, USA with her husband and the first of three sons. This was the steppingstone to a lifelong adventure that has taken her and her family to India, Belgium and Hong Kong.

 

Raising her family in multiple countries around the world, she saw that each move, while a shock, was an opportunity for her sons to redefine themselves against new challenges and different cultural norms. Now, that her sons have left home, Carolyn has used her passion for the fantastic to create a world where every day gender inequalities are at the forefront of a world ending conflict. She shares this story through the eyes of a young man who is suddenly thrust into this new world along with all of his own woes and prejudices. The introduction to this world is in Carolyn’s debut YA fantasy novel, “The Virus of Beauty,” due to be released July 31, 2019 under C B Lyall.  

 

Carolyn has published two short stories in an annual anthology by 25 Servings of Soop. She wrote a number of articles for the American Women’s Associates Magazine.  Fueled by her love of the works of Terry Pratchett, Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Brandon Sanderson and others, Carolyn has completed a number of writing courses, which included a Master Fantasy/Science Fiction writers course with Gotham Writers’ Workshop, a YA Voice class and Advance Novel Writing course at Sarah Lawrence College’s Writing Institute. 

 

Website: cblyall.com

Facebook: @CarolynBLyall

Twitter: @cblyall

Instagram: @carolynlyall

 

Amazon buy link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Virus-Beauty-Book-1-ebook/dp/B08NF1L94T/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3679

Blood of the Dragonfly by Hawk MacKinney

 Please welcome Hawk MacKinney author of Blood of the Dragonfly

Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

Blood of the Dragonfly

by Hawk MacKinney

 

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GENRE: Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

 

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BLURB:

 

While dangling a fishing hook from his flat bottom skiff before dawn, former SEAL-turned-PI Craige Ingram spots grey-black smoke coiling above the treetops across the river in the direction of the Georgia bayous and Corpsewood Manor. Bayou or bogs, fire in the uncut cypress and pines bodes a sense that the river is no barrier to the fire that threatens his ancestral home, Moccasin Hollow. Neither are the bodies later found in the burned mansion of Corpsewood Manor. Craige wastes no time in helping his ex-SEAL buddy Lt. Graysen MacGerald who is now Head of Buckingham Homicide Investigations by unofficially investigating the bodies and an exquisite dragonfly brooch found in the mansion with a reputation for evil, hauntings, and mystery.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

“How many times you got to be told to stay away from this place?” Clenched fist, a threatening stomp through the ashes and rubble of Corpsewood toward Kenyon, was no bluff.

 

Kenyon said, “Ain’t got no other place ‘cept them leaky sheds behind the garage. Least before the fire, I had a place to sleep. Got kicked out of my other place.”

 

“I’ll just bet they let your sweet cheeks sleepover. You’re just the kind of meat they liked to sucker in.”

 

“Now I got no place, an’ nights are gettin’ colder.”

 

“Get a job. Quit blowing your money, and you’d have a place of your own. They the ones that hooked you on crystal?”

 

Kenyon whined, “I told you. I don’t do drugs.”

 

Steady raven-black gaze, “Cut the crap. Ever’body’s heard all your stories. Out’a your mouth never been nothing but pity-me mewling.” Between a snarl and a chuckle, “I suppose you never done meth, push crank up your nose—whatever’s on the streets to stoke in your arms.” Glanced at the needle tracks on both arms, “Or running out’a veins in your arms and using the ones in your ankles. Wash your stringy, greasy hair; take a bath, stop acting like some mangy animal.”

 

“I don’t snort crystal or Nazi dope,” Kenyon griped. “You’re like ever’body else, judging someone by the way we live.”

 

“I don’t care what you’re on, but anyone fool enough to supply you is askin’ for trouble if that goddamn homicide Lieutenant MacGerald starts nosing around, asking questions. And his friggin’ PI SEAL mate Ingram helpin’ him is worse.”

 

Kenyon wiped his nose across the grimy grunge sleeve of his jacket. “If you hadn’t torched the house, I’d still have me a place.”

 

Knotted a fist in Kenyon’s jacket, “Buttin’ into stuff that don’t concern you ain’t good for your health. I ain’t telling you again. I didn’t start no fire. I don’t know who did, but if I find out, they won’t be startin’ no more fires.”

 

Kenyon squinched his face, “Ever’body always puts the blame on me.” Didn’t want no cops finding out he’d done a couple of torch-for-insurance.

 

Yanked Kenyon eyeball to eyeball closer, “Don’t give me shit, and don’t make trouble. Get your ass off from around Corpsewood Manor, and don’t let me catch you around here again.” Shoved Kenyon backwards against charred support beams.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspaper, served in the US Navy for over 20 years, earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history, taught postgraduate courses in the United States and Jerusalem, authored professional articles and chordate embryology texts on fetal and adult anatomy, and is well known for his works of fiction. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. Both his CAIRNS OF SANCTUARIE science fiction series and the MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY series have received worldwide recognition.

 

 

www.hawkmackinney.net

 

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Dragonfly-Hawk-MacKinney/dp/1732918260

 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/698008.Hawk_MacKinney

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

RAFFLECOPTER:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3677

#EditingByAngels

  

Editing by Angels

Rogue’s Angels would like to help make the publishing process a little bit easier. We offer editing, proofreading, and covers at a reasonable price. 

Rogues Angels have years of editing experience, starting in the 90’s. Please check out resumes at the Rogue’s Angels blog: http://roguesangels.blogspot.com

Editing plus proofreading rates are:

$150 for under 50K words

$250 for 50K to 100K words

$350 for over 100K words.

Covers price varies. Once a cover is used it will not be used again. Check out pre-made covers at:

http://www.designsbymsg.com/SpreeSpecials.html and http://www.designsbymsg.com/FastTrackForSale.html

For more information contact Christine Young ~ achristay@aol.com

AVAILABLE  COVERS:

 

#Graham'sWickedKiss #HistoricalRomance

 

Title: Graham’s Wicked Kiss

            Bad Boys Book Seven

Author: Christine Young

Genre: Historical Romance

Book Heat Level:

 

Buy at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple,Kobo, Google Play

 

Read first chapter

 

TAGLINE

 

Why is a badly injured Ria hiding in Graham Chamberlin’s attic room and what will Graham do when he finds her there?

 

BLURB: Graham’s Wicked Kiss

 

Graham Chamberlin is stunned to find three young boys dangling from the trees lining the drive to Runningmead Manner. On further inspection, he is astonished at their obsession to protect a young woman who has been brutalized by her pimp. The woman he discovers hiding in a third-floor attic room is gravely injured. He takes the silver haired stowaway under his wing. Clearly, Graham’s new guest is a lady with many secrets. He is determined to unlock all the mysteries surrounding her. 

 

...But she can’t resist his wicked kiss.

 

The years since Ria left the convent where she was raised have been a nightmare. Her secrets are dangerous—as is the powerful man determined to find her. Handsome Graham Chamberlin is clearly a gentleman with secrets of his own, but staying with him could mean the difference between life and death for Ria. With each passing day, her handsome host turns Ria’s convalescence into an increasingly sensual escape. Now her greatest challenge may be imagining anything less than a future in his arms.

 

 

EXCERPT: Graham’s Wicked Kiss

 

He rose, dusting the snow from his greatcoat before motioning for her to come. He was mouthing some words she couldn’t understand. She wasn’t too sure about finding herself in the falling snow and the cold. The children were inside the stable, warmer at least having given up on the rough and tumble games they played with Gray.

            She grabbed her cape, pulling the hood over her head before starting out the back door to see what he wanted. Snow crunched under feet. White flakes settled on her coat as well as her hair. Sometime when she wasn’t looking, he disappeared. She peeked around the corner of the stable.

            A snowball hit her in the chest. She gasped surprised. When she looked up, he was grinning, another missile formed in his hands. “Graham Chamberlin!” She didn’t know how to feel. Bending down she picked up a batch of snow, pushing it together into a ball. She heaved at him. He ducked before tossing the one he held at her then another. She darted but couldn’t get away from the hail of snow.

            “Stop!” she cried out, tossing more at him until he was beside her, his arms wrapped snuggly around her. “Why did you...?” His lips met hers cutting off her words. He kissed her, tumbled to the ground with her laughing and rolling in the snow.

            She’d never seen him this carefree before. He acted as a little boy. When they stopped rolling, she lay on top of him. Her body tensed as she told herself over and over this was Gray, only Gray, not William or the countless other men he allowed into her room. She inhaled a shaky breath. His hands held her face as she felt the gentleness, the slow intoxication as he stared at her, his eyes darkening as he watched her.

            “Kiss me,” he whispered, still grinning up at her.

She could leave at any time. His hold upon her was easy. “Gray,” she said his name as she kissed him. He tasted as he always did, minus the sweet wine. She ran her tongue across his bottom lip.

            He stopped, his brilliant green eyes shining. “Tongues are alright now?”

            She laughed nodding, “I believe so. Should we try and see?”

            “You first,” he said, his voice soft as she leaned toward him.

            Tentatively, she touched his bottom lip with her tongue then slipped it inside his slightly parted lips. He groaned as she ran it beneath his upper lip then along his teeth. He met hers with his. She felt his smile as they continued, tasting and exploring each other. He rolled her over, his hard body above her as he controlled the kisses now. Hungrily, she responded to him.

            She was cupping his cheeks, staring into his eyes; piercing eyes, hot green, mesmerizing green. It happened then, lips to lips, his to hers, covering opening, flaming hot. She was sucked into the vortex, sinking, whirlpools of sensations taking her deeper and deeper.

            “Storms picking up. Probably should take this inside unless the two of you want to freeze to death.” Charles spoke with a touch of humor in his voice as he stood behind them.

            “Don’t ken why the two of you are rolling around in the snow,” Dodge said with a touch of disgust in his voice.

            Graham laughed, easily bringing Ria to her feet as he stood brushing off the bits of snow covering her. “Someday you won’t ask that question. Should we go inside and get warmed up. Perhaps Millie has dinner almost finished.”

 

 

 

KEYWORDS: Historical, Romance, Scottish, Highlands, Edinburgh, Bad Boys, Regency

 

 

Website: http://christineyoungromancewriter.com

 

Blogspot: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achristay

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/achristay/

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young

 

Triber: https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe

 

 

LINKS

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B

 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436

 

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie

 

Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en

 

 

 

Title: Gotta Have Fayth

Twelve Dancing Princesses Book Six

Author: Christine Young

Genre: Historical Romance

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 4

 

Buy at: Amazon, 

Read First Chapter

 

 

TAGLINE

 

Fayth Graham unexpectedly meets a man with sparkling gray eyes and an infectious grin, Jarret Kingsley, who gets more than he bargained in the beautiful debutant.

 

BLURB: Gotta Have Fayth

 

A regal beauty with raven hair and piercing blue eyes, Fayth Graham is unwilling to parade herself in front of the wealthy Lords of England during the season. Seeking a means to dissuade any man wishing to wed her, she pursues a way to ruin herself for marriage. When she unexpectedly meets a man with sparkling gray eyes and an infectious grin, she decides this is the man who will keep her from agreeing to obey.

 

He returned from six months at sea, looking for a few nights of pleasure with a willing lass, but Jarret Kinsley got more than he bargained for when he met a beautiful debutant who responded to his kisses with a wild innocence that touched his heart. Yet the obstacles looming between them might rip them apart. Both had vowed never to marry, so when consequences of their dalliances got in the way, Jarret would have to choose between the life he's always desired and the woman he loves more than life.

 

EXCERPT: Gotta Have Fayth

 

            “You’re frightening me. I don’t understand anything you’ve been telling me right now.” For a moment, Fayth closed her eyes, realizing she’d pushed him too far. She didn’t know how to remedy this. “I apologize if I’ve done something to change you.”

            “I stole your innocence instead of keeping you safe.” His voice sounded bitter to her. “I wanted you for myself, only myself, without acting on what was in your best interest.’’

            She focused on Jarret, blinked and smiled slightly. “If you remember, I asked you to ruin me,” she murmured, hoping the truth would help. “I wanted you the instant I saw you.”

            “You had no idea what would happen in the aftermath of the tempest we created. I did. The pain I feel at the thought of what I’ve put you through is an agony I’ve never felt before. You trusted me without reservation, yet I’ve brought you nothing but challenges you never asked for and compromised you so thoroughly there is no way to rectify the situation.”

            “You’ve misconstrued everything about me,” she murmured, wishing he would give her credit for some intelligence and understand she had no misgivings. “I wanted everything we did with all my heart. You should have no regrets unless you regret me.”

            “I’m a bloody fool.”

            “Then I’m a blithering idiot,” she told him, unwilling to make this about him. “I’m a willing and eager partner in everything we’ve done. Perhaps you are a bloody fool if you still think this is all about you.”

            “I could’ve stopped us before we were buried in lies. Nothing will happen to me and I knew it. The town will ostracize you, and they will applaud me and my manly prowess.”

            Fayth smiled and touched Jarret’s hard jawline. “I won’t let you dictate what I do and you’ve always known that fact. You’ve gone far beyond what we discussed in the beginning. I’ve no expectation of marriage, nor do I want any part of the institution that involves weddings and a commitment to obey.”

            Jarret’s mouth flattened. “I’m going to leave and let you have what you’ve made damn clear to me, your independence.”

            “I don’t want you to go, you hard-headed man. I want you to make love to me and hold me in your arms. I don’t want that to end.”

            “I can’t do that without the commitment you will never make. There is no other choice for me. This has become a living hell.”

            “I can still be your mistress.” She’d wanted that from the beginning. “I’ll wait for you and I won’t betray you in anyway. Not like your father betrayed your mother.”

 

 

EXCERPT

 

Their attention once again was directed to the entrance. A young woman stepped through the door. Jarret’s mind centered on her face; she was so beautiful he couldn’t keep his jaw from dropping. She could have been the largest woman he’d ever seen, but her face seemed angelic. Gorgeous. Stunning. Yet she was petite with coal black hair, intricately coiffed with a few tendrils framing her cheekbones. She wore a travelling dress that had seen better days, but it didn’t distract from her slim delicate figure.

He swallowed hard and his breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure he could speak. “I want her. Gotta have her. Tonight.” Maybe my fortune is changing for the best.

“What did you just say?” Logan turned to stare at Jarret.

“My wishes for this evening have just been answered. This is the woman I’ve been waiting for. The next lady who will find my bed and enjoy all the pleasure she deserves.” Jarret rose, striding to the enchanting vision.

He reached her, feeling for the first time he could remember, tongue-tied. The air around her was filled with the scent of lemons. “Can I help you?” He touched her elbow, gently guiding her to the corner of the room where he’d been sitting. He couldn’t resist her aqua colored eyes or the tilt of her chin. When she moistened her lips, all he could think was that he had to taste them, breathe in their essence.

She stared at him, appearing a bit bewildered. “I...”

“I...” One eyebrow rose and the smile inside him grew realizing this woman, whoever she was, would be his next affair. All that remained was convincing her. He didn’t think that would be too difficult.

“I need directions.” She said, her voice assuming a note of command, yet at the same time breathless.

“You entered a tavern for directions?” he queried skeptically. “Then direction you will have.” His heart pounded in his chest, a sudden heat sweeping through his body. More than willing to give instructions to the captain’s cabin of his ship.

She let him lead her across the floor and pulled out a chair for her. “This is...” he began, only to shift his attention from his friends to this gorgeous lady.

“Fayth,” she said.

"And I'm Jarret Kingsley."

An easy peace swept through him. Gotta have Fayth. He touched the top of her hand with his. Its softness sent a warm shimmer spiraling straight to his heart.

“Fayth, a beautiful name,” Logan said, grinning at Jarret as if he knew his intentions.

Jarret slanted him the best hands offlook he could manage. Logan appeared to receive the message, and Drake downed his second pint, signaling for another.

“Kingsley, if I haven’t missed the clues, I believe your wishes for tonight have been granted.” Drake told him. Guess you won’t be going with Logan and myself.”

Now I just have to convince my lady. “Don’t the two of you have somewhere to go?” Jarret asked, nodding his head in the direction of the door.

Fayth slipped her hand from beneath his and placed it on Jarret’s arm. “I came in here for help. Can you help me?”

“Of course, directions where?” Jarret asked, knowing where he wanted her but still trying to figure out the details.

“To my new lodgings. I’ve been travelling for days and I’m confused. I’ve never been in London and I thought...”

“No fears. I’ll make sure you get where you want to go.” Jarret had every intention of taking her wherever she pleased but only after he knew her better, intimately.

The pint of ale Jarret had ordered for her appeared. She licked her lips and stared at the glass. “I don’t know if I should drink that.”

“Only if you want to. I can get you water or wine. The water is horrible, but the wine might be better if it comes from Logan’s vineyard in Bordeaux.” Jarret ignored the conversation between his two best friends. Without listening, he knew what it was that they talked and laughed about and he didn’t care, knowing he was smitten he wasn’t about to deny the emotion.

“I’ll try this.” She sipped the cold brew, a strange expression appearing on her delicate features.

“What do you think?”

“Good.” She licked her lips, and he wanted to follow the path of her tongue with his fingertip.

 

 

KEYWORDS

 

Historical, Romance, Regency, England

 

SOCIAL LIINKS

 

Bookbub

http://christineyoungromancewriter.com/

http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

https://twitter.com/achristay

https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/

 

 

Title: A Touch of Blarney

Author: Christine Young, C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau

 

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 1

 

Buy at: AMAZON

 

BLURBS; A Touch of Blarney

 

Tumble through time… 

 

…to Ireland in 1817, when tensions are high between Protestants and Chatolics and faey people guide the fate of villagers. A lovely Catholic lass stumbles upon the weakly ritual fisticuffing between Irish lads. She falls into the lap of a handsome young Protestant. Family ties, grudges, and two conniving faeries threaten their budding love. But the faeries outsmart themselves when they hijack a time machine that has mysteriously appeared in their forest and are whisked to…

 

…Eugene, Oregon in the 20th century, amid a property feud between the local faeries and night elves. The conniving faeries from Olde Ireland try to stir up more mischief. However, a warrior gnome convinces the magic folk to control their own destiny, and forces the intruding faeries to take refuge in the time machine again, spinning their way toward…

 

…A modern day castle in western Oregon. An eccentric inventor is determined to reclaim his wayward time machine and save his beloved wife from her latest misadventure. If only they can travel safely past the black hole…

 

 

EXCERPT: A Touch of Blarney

 

Star Crossed

Christine Young

 

Ireland 1816

 

The ring of knuckles hitting flesh thundered through the brilliant spring morning. Casey O'Connell lifted her skirts and raced up the little knoll behind the old white church. She knew her big bro was fighting. They always fought after church on Sunday. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

"No! Stop it, I say. Patrick O'Connell, you--" Breathing hard Casey barreled through the ring of brawling men.

"Of course, Casey, anything you say," her brother and his friends laughed as he stepped aside.

"Get him, Casey! Land a punch for your big brother and St. Patrick," one of the young men called out.

"The O'Connell's are getting their women folk to fight their battles now?"

"I'll have your head for that, Shaunasey," another joined in.

"Watch your mouth and where you're a starin' or you'll have a black eye so swollen you won't be able to see."

"Woo--eee!" The brawl escalated then seemed to settle around Casey and her off-balance charge through her brother's foes.

Surrounding her she heard raucous cheers, cat calls, and whistles as well as her name. Her arms flailing, she ignored them all and tried desperately to keep her balance.

"Hmph!" She hit hard--a solid rock of muscle--heard the slightest grunt from the object in front of her. Air rushed from her lungs and stars seemed to circle inside her head.

"Oh…" she wailed as the object she hit cradled her with his arms on their way to the dampness of the ground below. Dizziness overwhelmed her. She let her head rest on a muscled chest. She heard a slow even heartbeat then a low rumble of laugher.

 

 

Meadows of Gold

C.L. Kraemer

 

A gentle breeze sighed, undulating the meadow grass lazily and whispering past the forlorn figure slumped on the tree trunk, hands clasped tightly in his lap. Thomas, a forest leprechaun, released a long melancholy breath between his cracked, dry lips. A single plump tear meandered down his stubbled cheek.

The sun sent bright shafts of light through the pine boughs and around the wooden pedestal upon which the morose figure resided. Ignoring the dancing beams, the leprechaun pulled a shuddered breath into his lungs and stared at a spot in front of the stump where a crumpled daisy chain necklace lay withering in the warmth of the afternoon. Another plump tear snaked down his unshaven face.

In the distance, a lone figure scuffed up the lane, which crossed in front of the tree stump. Thomas paid no heed to the approaching form, pulling a thin silver flask from inside his rumpled vest. He blindly opened the lid, placed the opened top to his lips and pulled a deep draught from the container. Refitting the cap to the top, he slipped the silver spirit holder back into his vest. His next shuddered breath was interrupted with a hiccup.

The figure on the road drew closer. Thomas raised his head and squinted his eyes. Was she coming back? He hiccupped and straightened up. Maybe she had been teasing him when she ran away and now she realized how much he cared for her. His eyes brightened and a smile began to touch his lips.

The figure came around the bend and toward him. The last he'd seen her, she was wearing a diaphanous, thin dress. Had she changed? The form nearing him was clad in leather breeches, a braided leather tunic, and knee-high, soft leather boots. A sword blade strapped to the figure's back flashed in the sunlight. Was Cary so angry she meant to cut him in little pieces? His heart began to pound in his chest and inside his mouth his tongue stuck to the roof.

The figure stopped two lengths from him and raised a hand to shade its eyes from the brightness of the day.

Thomas realized he was shaking. This was it…his life was over. He hung his head.

"Thomas?"

The voice was familiar but it didn't sound like Cary. If it wasn't her…

 

 

St. Batzy and the Time Machine

Genene Valleau

 

Horace Ainsworth patted the side of the giant red fire hydrant towering two stories above him then addressed the terrier mix dog staring at him curiously. "It's finished. Now don't you dig in my Maddie's roses any more or potty on the pansies."

Batzy stared at Horace's retreating back for a moment before he hiked his leg on the nearest flowering plant.

Then he turned his attention to the odd-looking structure the Big Human had erected. Not like any fire hydrant he'd ever sniffed. A canine would have to be the size of King Kong to give this thing a proper marking. 

Though it did smell like the water that sprayed out of the hose when the human across the street yelled at him. Batzy grinned and lifted his leg, imagining he was returning the spray of the yelling human. 

As he circled this mysterious structure, the smell of fresh paint and overturned earth drifted into his nostrils. It was bigger than the merry-go-round at the park where his human, Chloe, sometimes took him. 

Wonder what's inside?

Batzy scratched at the side of the structure then trotted another few steps and scratched again. About halfway around he found an opening. Not tall enough for the Big Human, but just about perfect for his little girl, Chloe.Batzy darted inside and lifted his face to sample the aromas. 

No scents of danger but much to explore. Like this box of dirt. Odd. Big humans usually didn't appreciate the joys of digging. Hadn't he just been told not to dig in the rose bushes? A sniff and a poke with his paw uncovered a bone. Fresh out of the package. Batzy looked around. What game was the Big Human playing? 

"Batzy!" his little girl was calling him. 

Batzy stepped out of the digging pit. Hmm. I smell peanut butter.

He put a front paw on a cabinetfor balance and nosed a button. A bone-shaped treat fell into a bowl below. Also fresh out of a package. The Big Human was definitely up to something. Batzy gobbled it down quickly before looking around again.

"Batzy!" 

Drat!He had to go. On his way out, Batzy stepped back into the digging box and snatched up the bone. Outside once again, he pushed the bone through the gap under the fence, and squeezed through after it. 

He popped up on the other side with only a few more streaks of mud on the white of his belly and wagged his tail at Chloe. He'd go back to explore the Big Human's structure later.