The Talisman #HistoricalRomance

The Talisman by Christine Young

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level:

Buy at Amazon

This is a wonderful tale, full of action, emotion and a bit mystical at times. Enjoy this one.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More 4 Cups

Blurb: The Talisman

The Talisman

Running from a marriage that lasted one night, Dr. Moriah McKeown discovers the land she has settled on is coveted by determined and lawless men. Yet the proud young woman who once vowed never to abandon her home has second thoughts when her adopted children are threatened. Her only recourse is to enlist the aid of a dark, dangerous gun for hire. 

Haunted by the past and a betrayal he will never forgive, Ian Civanovich uses his fast gun and his reckless courage to forget the faithlessness of a woman in his past. He will trust no female--nor will he rest until the threat hovering over Moriah McKeown is put to rest.

EXCERPT: The Talisman

Buffalo Creek, 

South Dakota 

1895

Hot, dry air scorched the prairie grass. Sweat slid along his spine. Danger clung to every whisper; seemed to swirl and grow with each passing second. Ivan Civanovich watched the woman below. With deadly purpose, he studied the lady who had hired him--the woman who had bought his gun and perhaps death.

"Reckless courage," Ivan mused. 

"Si Senor, she does have what you call a great courage, but I don’t know about the reckless part. She is always so very careful," Pedro said. 

"I’m a dangerous man, Pedro." 

"This is why she hired you."

"The lady has no business hiring men like me. She’s a woman. She is supposed to nurture lives."

"She needs you to keep the bad men from taking the land away--our home," Pedro said.

Ivan pushed the tip of his hat back from his brows. From his vantage point, he considered the woman while she hung the freshly laundered white sheets on the line. A strange shudder swept through him, his muscles tensing with the sudden feeling he knew this woman, had known her forever. The sensations were too strong, the feelings too acute, and it troubled him because knowing her was impossible.

Her hair, a wild mop of red curls, battled with the stiff, hot wind rising off the prairie. The breeze and her hair flowed in undulating currents between the lines, threatening to tangle themselves in the wire. She bent over at the waist, giving him a perfect view of her backside while she toyed with something on the ground. Seconds later she picked up the object of her curiosity, turned it over in her hands then tossed it aside.

He didn’t like to think about what could happen to her in the next few weeks. She’d advertised for a gun for a hire. She didn’t know what she bargained for, and he’d bet his inheritance she didn’t have any idea what kind of trouble she’d purchased. 

When she looked up the hill, his grin widened. She couldn’t see him, but her shoulders tensed and she sucked air. Her hand touched her forehead, shielding her eyes from the blinding sunlight. She scanned the horizon, turning a complete circle before she stopped.

"Good," he said, "she is cautious." 

"She knows someone is up here," Pedro announced. 

"She’s got more starch in her drawers and the stiffest backbone of any woman I’ve ever seen." Ivan whistled through his teeth, his eyes intent and focused upon the woman.

"Si." Pedro agreed. "She sure enough does but her heart is made of spun gold."

Ivan wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Beads of sweat dripped down his back. His gaze swept across the barren landscape then followed the line of trees that bordered the creek. He lifted the glasses to his eyes and turned his attention to a spot about a mile north of her ranch. The railroad wanted easement rights. So why wouldn’t she sell to them. "Spun gold, huh." He dropped the binoculars, letting them dangle from their strap around his neck.

"Si, boss."

"I see." Ivan leaned forward, resting his forearm on the saddle horn.

Ivan wasn’t sure he understood. Women had a lot of fine qualities, many of which he didn’t want to live without but a soft, feminine heart shouldn’t be deciding life and death matters. 

Spun gold.No, he’d never met a female with a heart of gold, spun or otherwise. He’d never known a woman who wouldn’t betray a man for a piece of gold. Save one, he amended, and his best friend had married her. Alexi Popov had his trials too. He had kidnapped Angela and spirited her away to his home in the Crimea. In the end though, he gave up his title, his land, and most of his wealth for Angela. He followed her back to America and married her.

This is a wonderful tale, full of action, emotion and a bit mystical at times. Enjoy this one.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More 4 Cups

#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:

Tapestries in Time - Sardinian Sunset

Sardinian Sunset

by

C. L. Kraemer

Prologue

USA Today, Feb. 1, 2018

Ollolai, Italy, is selling homes for $1.25. That's cheaper than a cappuccino.

  Ollolai, a hillside town toward the center of Sardinia, a large Mediterranean island west of Italy, is offering crumbling dwellings for 1 euro (about $1.25) in an effort to boost the shrinking population of the mini-metropolis, which dates back thousands of years.

  The catch? You have to spend about $25,000 to renovate the home you buy and do the work within three years. You can sell it after five years.

  Over the past half-century, as reported in official figures, the town's population has declined from 2,250 to 1,300, leaving hundreds of abandoned homes.

  According to Britain’s Independent newspaper, Ollolai sits on the slopes of Monte San Basilio Magno, and is one of the few remaining Sardinian towns where a local martial art, S’Istrumpa, is still practiced. It also keeps up traditional artisan crafts such as the weaving of baskets.

Chapter One

Keys winging through the air, accompanied by an exasperated, “I have HAD IT!” announced the arrival of Olivia Francesca Porcu Martin. The unintended target, a replica of an ancient, Italian, wine container, shattered into shards on the floor. “I always hated that vase.”

Traffic on the way home from work had her wondering if the State Mental Hospital had freed all the patients with keys to new cars, releasing them on the unsuspecting public. Her briefcase thunked to the floor, and she dropped to the sofa. Toeing off her high heels, Olivia sighed as she lay her head on the back of the cushion. “What I wouldn’t give to fly away to a quiet Greek island and disappear.”

Working was a distraction, nothing more. Years of living in the fashion her friends referred to as, monk-like, she had invested her earnings wisely, wanting for very little in the way of material items. Why couldn’t she fly away? She huffed. “Where would I go, and what would I do?”

Sitting on her laurels didn’t appeal. Her finance degree opened the door to a world of fast and furious; leave your emotions in the lobby. Another wistful sigh escaped her lips. “Something will show up. Just a matter of time.” Leaning forward, she snagged the remote from the coffee table and turned on the local news.

“In other news, today… On the island of Sardinia, the mayor of a small village in the mountains is offering approximately two hundred abandoned and crumbling homes for sale for… are you ready?” The newscaster peered into the camera lens and waited an appropriate length of time. “…one Euro. That’s right, one Euro. There is a catch, however,” he chuckled, “Isn’t there always? The purchaser must sign an agreement to refurbish the home to a livable state. The mayor figures it will take $25,000 to $30,000 and the new owners have three years to reach that goal.”

Olivia was on the edge of the couch cushion, waiting for more information.

“We’ll be right back.”

She groaned. “Of course.”

When the broadcast came back live, the newscasters moved to another story without divulging the name of the town. She knew she had some research to complete as soon as possible.

 “Comfort first.”

Olivia struggled from the couch and traded her work clothes for jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes. She snatched the laptop from its resting place on her dresser and walked to the sofa. Folding her legs beneath her as she flipped open the laptop, she powered it up. “If this story isn’t a con, I’m outta here. If not…well, can’t hurt to check it out.” The sound of fingers maneuvering computer keys muted the rest of the news. Olivia leaned against the cushions, folding her arms. “I’ll be. They’re serious.” She tapped through the photos, stopping when she’d located the place in which she was most interested.

Decades old stones tumbled into a courtyard. The layout shown suggested the previous owners of some wealth at some point. I wonder what could have happened to make them move? Olivia scanned the rest of the pictures and noted the number assigned to the property.

“Tomorrow, I’m taking a vacation day and doing as much research as I can. I believe I hear the call of Mediterranean sirens. No point in ignoring their songs.”

Space Dragons

Dragons Among the Stars

The theory has been put forth that the moon is but a space station set in place to monitor the earth. 

What if it were true? The Persian Dragons have opted to leave their underground home for the Zagros Mountains to escape the insanity of the two-leggeds and their jihad.

The cavern they locate in the mountains will house the small band of dragons comfortably. Hot springs and cold water streams run through the mountains, providing sustenance and warmth for the clan. After a dismal hunt for food, the members aren't as sure they have chosen wisely. 

Minau, their leader and a royal, full-blood Dragon, takes the comment made by Darius, a shifter, in an argument, I can shift to my human form, and determines those who can shift to two legged form must. If the clan is to survive, those who can mingle unnoticed should. The members opt to sleep on the idea. 

Minau dreams of flying without using her wings and wakes to a world foreign to her. Cold metallic walls surround her, and she finds she is warmly covered by the wings of a full-blooded dragon.

She will learn the truth of her heritage and be forced to make a decision about her future and that of the royal eggs.

Sable Angel

#CheckInAndShareDay

It's Check In Day.

Let's Make Fireworks

Time to pay the piper! How did you do? How much did you write? Did words explode on your WIP?

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.

Finished Sweet Dreams a paranormal romance.  Caitlin's Duke will be published Dec. . Finished Foolish For Piper. Caitlin's Duke is with the cover artist. Working on Falling for Flynt. Reached the 42,000 word mark last evening. Still on track. Enjoying Dublin and Belfast.


Busy, busy, busy!

#TheRockStar #ContemporaryRomance

The Rock Star

Genie Gabriel

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 3

Buy at Amazon

The Rock Star by Genie Gabriel

The Long and The Short of It Reviews called this sensual romance "an excellent tale of love and the power of healing."

BLURB: The Rock Star

Fifteen years and many heart-wrenching experiences after their disastrous first meeting, a reformed rock star and the woman who idolized him as a teenager get a second chance to prove songs of the heart are the sweetest music of all.

EXCERPT: The Rock Star

Spotlights flashed in rainbows across the stage. Red. Green. Blue. Crisscrossing until they merged into one white-hot light on Geoff Chastain’s face, evoking memories of other times. The screams of thousands of teenaged girls washed through his memory as he pulled the microphone from its stand. 

The first notes of his daughter's favorite song filled the auditorium and his breath caught, jagged, in his chest. Pain pulsed through Geoff's heart with each beat of the drum. He nearly dropped to his knees, longing to crawl back into the self-imposed exile where he had existed since his daughter died. 

The faces of the kids in wheelchairs looked up at him with bright expectation. The whispers of the singers waiting in the stage wings curled around him in concern. 

Daddy, promise you won’t let the music die.His daughter’s last request haunted Geoff. He never suspected life would become so desolate he would forget to eat and sleep, let alone lose touch with the music that had always flowed so easily from his soul.

A singer moved from the wings to stand beside him. Her presence drifted around him in silent encouragement. Her sweet contralto coaxed him to sing with her. 

Focus,he ordered his brain, staring at the woman. Waves of auburn hair framed her face, then tumbled halfway down a lush body barely covered in spandex and sequins. A woman designed to stir a man to action. 

Geoff's voice rasped with disuse on the first verse; the woman's harmony covered it. As he started the second verse, an image of his daughter swam before his eyes and Geoff's throat closed. The woman picked up the melody without missing a beat, as if they had planned this duet.

He grasped at her hand and drew a deep breath. Her soft scent filled his nostrils, drawing his attention away from the pain. Giving him the strength to dig deep inside where the music had lain in silent mourning. 

Geoff's voice mingled with hers on the chorus, then soared as he soloed the third verse. Their voices chased each other through the final refrain, then their eyes met and held on the last triumphant note. Awed silence hung for a moment before applause erupted and the crowd was in motion.

A sea of well-wishers swarmed onto the stage. Not the frenzied near-riots of years ago, but the exuberant cheer of celebration. Smiles and congratulations wrapped warmly around Geoff as men pumped his hand and women kissed his cheek. 

But the mysterious auburn-haired woman who saved his musical butt had disappeared.

#TheLookOfFove #ContemporaryRomance

The Look of Love by Rosemary Indra

Excerpt Heat Level 1

Book Heat Level 3

Buy at Amazon: 

BLURB: The Look of Love

Scott Denton always thinks of Penny Herrington as his best friend, a co-worker in the Forest Ridge Fire Department. She tricks him into helping her with the decorations for the Sweetheart Banquet. During their discussion about love and romance, Scott starts to notice Penny as a desirable woman.

When Penny hurts her ankle, Scott feels responsible and decides to move in with her. Spending time together, they share intimate discussions about love and marriage. Penny, a widow, feels guilty when her relationship with Scott becomes romantic. Devastated after a nasty divorce, Scott no longer believes in love and vows he’ll never remarry. He denies his feelings for Penny until he realizes only she can comfort him after he assist the fire department at a tragic car accident.

EXCERPT: The Look of Love

THE LOOK OF LOVE

The pager on her waistband sounded a moment before Penny heard the city's alarm sound. Her sense of duty and the need to help others pulled her back into the station to answer the call. "One vehicle off the road-milepost two on Oak Knoll Road." Penny read her pager out loud.

Once she put on her turnouts, she jumped into the engine. That's why she was there. After years of working at the bank, she'd gone back to school and became a paramedic. She wanted to help others and make a difference. Joining the fire department was the best way to honor Jim's memory.

Scott got into the officer's seat in front of her. She wondered if she should get out. Catching her reflection in the window, she straightened her turnout and renewed her fortitude. They'd shared a few kisses. Nothing more. The passion his kiss ignited was best forgotten. If he was uncomfortable with the situation, he could get into the other vehicle.

She ignored the usual chatter in the engine cab as other firefighters joined them and they drove to the accident. A pickup truck rolled over in the ditch with one occupant was all she'd heard. She drew a deep breath trying to still her clamoring nerves. Until now, she'd ignored her growing awareness of Scott. For some reason tonight her defenses were lowered and she could no longer disregard her desire for him.

Once they stopped at the scene, Scott asked. "Penny, do you feel comfortable directing traffic?"

Without looking at him, she replied, "Yes." Then she grabbed a flashlight, fluorescent vest and stop sign from the side compartment and hurried to the back of the engine. Red lights flashed around her. She directed the rescue unit and ambulance to the accident a few yards up the road.

"Watch your backside," Scott yelled. Like always, he stood behind her, protecting her.

Guiding drivers wasn't her favorite job in the department, but traffic was light for the middle of the night. She couldn't believe how much time they'd spent in the storage room.

"How are you doing?" he asked a few minutes later.

Penny jumped at the sound of his voice beside her. "You startled me, I didn't hear you." She hadn't been able to get Scott off her mind since they left the station. Now she hesitated to look at him.

"I wanted a chance to talk to you alone." His voice held a serious tone; an I-want-to-clarify-any-misunderstanding-tone.

Red lights from the rescue unit continued their rhythmic flash around them. The colored illumination added a surreal appearance to the worry lines that marked Scott's face. He too appeared shaken by something. In the darkness she couldn't fully read his expression. With his brows lowered, he had a stern look of finality over his features. She guessed their kissing surprised him as much as it did her. Afraid she was losing her best friend, she breathed in deep. She knew and dreaded the subject he wanted to discuss with her.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I…"

"I understand it won't happen again," she said hurriedly. If only she could turn back the clock.

Read and enjoy this one. Overall, this story gave me happy thoughts about life and love.

Seriously Reviewed  19 out of 20