Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 213

What was Christmas like during the reign of the Tudors? @tonyriches

Tudor Christmas by Tony Riches, Author of The Tudor Trilogy


The Tudor Christmas was a time of religious fasting and prayer, particularly on Christmas Eve, when no meat, eggs or cheese were allowed.  People shared 'minced pyes' made with thirteen ingredients to representing Christ and his apostles. These usually included dried fruits and spices, with chopped mutton as a tribute to the shepherds of the Nativity.  Henry VIII was one of the first to eat turkey at Christmas. He liked it stuffed with a goose stuffed with a chicken stuffed with a partridge stuffed with a pigeon—served with side orders or small birds and wild fowl!Tudors kings and queens also ate swan, venison, peacock and wild boar, which was often a centrepiece, with its tusks gilded. Queen Elizabeth I decreed everyone should eat goose for Christmas, in honour of English sailors who saw off the Spanish invaders. (Unfortunately, few could afford a goose.)Tudor commoners liked to drink ‘Wassail’ at Christmas, a wooden bowl of punch made from boiled ale, sweetened with sugar and spices. When shared with friends and neighbours, a crust of bread left in the Wassail bowl was presented to the most important person in the room – the origin of proposing a ‘toast’ when drinking in company.The Tudors gave each other presents on New Year’s Day. Important people of the Tudor Court would offer the king a New Year gift and have one in return. King Henry VII kept a list of all his gifts, a tradition which lasted for two generations. The women of King Henry VIII's court gave him shirts they had embroidered.A ‘Lord of Misrule’ was often chosen at Christmas and ruled the festivities until Epiphany. King Henry VII encouraged his court to enjoy turning the usual order on its head, and even allowed a ‘Bishop of Misrule’ to mock the church. This was banned in 1541 to prevent mocking the new head of the church – King Henry VIII.
About the Author  Tony Riches is a full time author of best-selling historical fiction and non-fiction books. His latest novel, JASPER – Book Two of The Tudor Trilogy, can be found on Amazon UK  Amazon US and Amazon AU. For more information about Tony’s other books please visit his popular blog, The Writing Desk and his WordPress website and find him on Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches.

Author’s Inspiration ~ Mary Morgan #romance #timetravel #HistFic @m_morganauthor

When I agreed to write an inspirational post for Mary Anne’s blog, I never dreamed of coming to a complete creative halt! I’m the lady they nicknamed “Mary Christmas” when I worked for Borders Books. Regardless of the hectic time of year, I kept the spirit alive inside of me and for others.
However, a week ago, sheer exhaustion settled within me. My sixth book, A MAGICAL HIGHLAND SOLSTICE, was days away from releasing out into the world. At the time, I was working on numerous holiday posts and attempting to finish my next story before the deadline. Of course, I had to factor in normal everyday situations, as well. When it came time to pen the post for this blog, I found I had nothing left to give.
Yet, on a cold, clear Saturday morning, I paused. While making my bed, warm sunlight streamed in, and I let my shoulders relax. Then, I took in a deep breath and released it slowly. I realized my “well” of inspiration was empty, because I didn’t take any time to enjoy the moment—to smell the crisp, clean scent of my pine wreath or savor a freshly baked sugar cookie.
I was on a perpetual merry-go-round, and it was time to jump off! 
My days are still filled with massive lists and a looming deadline. Nevertheless, if I’m going to write about the joys of the season, I must also experience them fully. I’ve learned to pause, take a breath, andsmile. ‘Tis the season of hope, joy, and love—three special ingredients I’ve included within A MAGICAL HIGHLAND SOLSTICE.   
Excerpt
Giving her no time to protest, he grabbed her around the waist and hauled her up onto Fingal. When he mounted his horse and settled behind her, Cormac felt her body stiffen as he placed an arm around her waist. He leaned next to her ear. Her mass of curls brushed his face, and he inhaled her scent—one of different spices. Lust instantly surged forth, powerful and intense. “Relax,” he urged in a hoarse voice. Though he found it difficult to do so himself.
He felt her tremble, but she nodded. Giving a tug on the reins, they moved up the path.
With each steady trot, her body swayed and Cormac tried to focus on the road. The castle.Fighting in the lists. Bathing in the icy waters of the loch. Anything, but the soft curves of the lass’s body pressing against his own. What was wrong with him? He prided himself on being a man always in control of his emotions—especially his lustful ones. Yet, now he found himself confused, tongue-tied, and his gut twisted into knots.
So deep in his thoughts, he did not notice Fingal veering off the main road until the lass let out a giggle. She had the most musical sound, and he found himself smiling. Guiding his horse back to the path, he could hear his men doing their best to contain themselves. A glance back confirmed William was coughing loudly and Gordon trying his best not to fall off his horse.
“I swear Fingal, I am tempted to trade ye in for another horse. Ye must be going blind, or worse, old.”
His horse let out a large snort.
Eve clicked her tongue in disapproval. “For shame, Mr. Murray. How cruel. I think he’s a kind animal. Perhaps it’s the man holding the reins who can’t see clearly the path in front of him?”
The lass was quick with the wit, he mused. “I dinnae ken your word, but ye may call me Cormac.” He leaned near her again. “And I can assure ye, I am nae blind, nor old.”

Purchase Links Amazon B&N Apple iBook Kobo All Romance e-books The Wild RosePress
About the author
Award-winning Scottish paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary's passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn't until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling--writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

Useful LinksWebsite  Blog  TwitterFacebook Book Page Facebook Goodreads  Amazon Author Page    

#NewRelease ~ Dark Betrayal #HistFic #Rome @Oldbrookender

Dark BetrayalByBrian John Kitchen It is late February 392ad and Flavius Vitulasius a former soldier, now a Magistriani agent is at his father’s villa in Ad Trivonam, Britannia Prima, Britain, when he receives a letter from Aulus Head of the Magistriani in Britain informing him of a mission he must undertake. The Roman Empire is on the brink of civil war, the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian having died in mysterious circumstance following a long running dispute with the commanding general of his army, the Frank, Arbogastes. It is feared that Arbogastes has a candidate he will install on the Western throne as his puppet.The Eastern Emperor Theodosius, who is the senior Augustus, spared the lives of the usurper Magnus Maximus’ wife Elen and their two children when he was overthrown. Now, Emperor Theodosius wants Flavius and Siward, Flavius’ friend and comrade, to find Elen. Theodosius believes that Elen might know what happened to the Silver Host, a treasure believed to have been hidden by Magnus and his men. The war chest is depleted, and Theodosius needs the money to finance an army, as he fears that the Empire will once more be plunged into civil war.Flavius and Siward set off for Eburacum, where Elen, a Christian, was close to a bishop before her husband became emperor. The Bishop cannot help them, but they meet up with their friend Lucius who joins up with them. Returning to Ad Trivonam, Flavius’ father who knew Elen thinks her brother Gadeon might be able to help them in their search and the three friends set off for Glevum where they find Gadeon. Whilst they are speaking to him, there is an attempt on his life by their old enemy Gunhilde, a Saxon woman and an agent of Caidrus, Arbogastes henchman. Flavius and Siward thwart the attempt, but Gunhilde, escapes custody, and will be one step ahead of them on their travels. A grateful Gadeon tells them that Elen is in Segontium.After a series of adventures and the help of a Druid, Myrfann, the three friends reach Segontium and meet Elen. Elen doesn’t know where the Silver Host is hidden, but says that a man called Cognobius Pollienus, a Christian priest does, but he has disappeared in Hibernia, having last been heard of at the court of the Irish High King.Flavius and Siward travel to Hibernia and find that the High King’s court is a very dangerous place. Cognobius is under a sentence of death for blasphemy and so a plot is hatched to rescue him. They become friends with Niall mac Eochaid and unwittingly aid him to become the next High King. Niall frees Cognobius in gratitude, but the priest dies before he can reveal the Silver Host’s whereabouts. Returning to Britain, Flavius and Siward finally learn the truth about the Silver Host, but a more dangerous situation has now arisen.Aulus now sends the friends to Londinium, where they are to escort the daughter of the Duke of the Britons, the commander of the Roman forces in the north, home to her father in Eburacum. The Emperor Theodosius needs the loyalty of the Duke and a plot has been discovered to kidnap Melania the Duke’s daughter and use her to coerce the Duke into supporting Arbogastes. It is also suspected that Melania has sympathies for the Pagan cause, being the widow of the son of one of the Pagan leaders in Rome.A  dangerous journey north ensues and with the political situation now on a knife edge, Flavius, Siward and Lucius soon find out that those who they once thought of as friends will now betray them and a woman who was abandoned and abused as a child, and a group of women loyal to the Goddess, are now their biggest threat.Rich with historical detail and intrigue, Dark Betrayal is an action adventure and a must for anyone interested in the time when Rome’s rule was threatened by political intrigue and barbarian uprisings.
Links to PurchaseAmazon USAmazon UK
About the author   I live in Burton upon Trent, England and am married to Lynne and have a son, Mark and two tortoise shell cats, Tansy & Zoe. I enjoy walking in the countryside, photography, reading, writing, visiting museums and historic sites & buildings and supporting Burton Albion. I first became interested in the history of Roman Britain as a child and loved the 'Eagle of the Ninth' trilogy of novels by Rosemary Sutcliff. When I was older I read & studied all that I could about the history of the period, visiting many museums and archaeological sites to further improve my knowledge. I am a member of The Association for Roman Archeology.I've always had a passion for writing and when I retired from Local Government Health & Social Services, I wrote a guest column in our local newspaper for two years and also decided to write novels set in late 4th Century CE Roman Britain. The first of the Flavius Vitulasius Novels, 'Divided Empire' is my first published novel, but there are many more to come and the second novel is nearing completion. I hope that you enjoying reading the novels as much as I've enjoyed writing them.Should you wish to know more about Flavius & his friends, you can find me at:Twitter: Brian John Kitchen @OldbrookenderWebsite: www.briankitchen.me.ukFacebook: facebook.com/FlaviusVitulasius

bookreview ~ A Magical Highland Solstice #romance #timetravel @m_morganauthor

  A Magical Highland SolsticeByMary Morgan
  Laird Cormac Murray has witnessed how love destroyed his own father after the death of his mother, and he vows to never take a wife. Yet, when he comes upon a bewildered lass traveling alone, he finds his heart will no longer listen to his mind. In the end, Cormac risks everything to claim the love of a woman not of his time. Eve Brannigan loves helping others and baking. After winning a contest, she is stunned to learn that the Clan Murray has requested her assistance to cater to their guests during the holiday season. When a lost path in Scotland leads her to a handsome but gruff Highlander, Eve fights the temptation to allow love to enter her heart for the first time. Can the Fae and the magic of the Yule season bring together two souls who have forsaken love? Or will tragedies from the past separate the lovers forever?
What did I make of the book?
Present day
If Eve Brannigan can win the Sweet and Savory Contest at the Blushing Rose Bakery, then she would be able to fix her car and repair the broken down heater of her elderly neighbour. The last thing on her mind is love. After winning the contest, Eve receives an invitation to travel to Scotland and prepare the desserts for Castle Creag’s annual Winter Solstice Festive. Unsurprisingly, Eve jumps at the chance.
Scotland December 1207
The season of Yule is always a busy time in the kitchens of Castle Creag, but now the cook, Moria, has had an accident, and Laird Cormac Murray has to find someone else to cook the festive feast. But who?
Could this mysterious woman he meets on an isolated stretch of road be the answer to his current dilemma? One thing was for certain; she may cook his food, but there was no way she was going to steal his heart.
There is something strange about Castle Creag. There are no modern amenities, and the kitchen is practically medieval. Still, Eve was asked to cook and so she would. But…what she had not foreseen was how quickly she would fall for the Laird. Dare she risk her heart to a man such as Cormac? And what will happen when Eve finds out the startling truth about where she really is?
Mary Morgan has done it again; she has brought 12th Century Scotland back to life in this beautiful Yule story of a love that transects time. I adored the characterisation of both Eve and Cormac and the chemistry was heart-warmingly beautiful. This is the perfect book to snuggle down under a blanket with on a cold winter day.
I adored Eve. She is such a genuinely lovely person, who is always thinking of others before herself. There are some hilarious moments as she tries to adjust to medieval life, and being a modern woman, she is quite vocal about having to use a chamber pot and what does a girl have to do to get a bath around here?!
Cormac is the perfect Highlander hero, and if any two souls were made for each other it would have to be Cormac's and Eve’s, but alas, Cormac has sworn never to love a woman. Will he break his own vow and take a chance with Eve?
I thought this book was truly wonderful and if you are looking for a gift this Christmas for a Scottish Romance fan, then look no further than A Magical Highland Solstice. It would defiantly be a book I would want to find in my stocking!
I Highly Recommend.

Links to PurchaseAmazon USAmazon UK
About the author

Scottish paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling—writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

Visit Mary’s website at http://www.marymorganauthor.com where you’ll find links to all of her books, blog, and pictures of her travels.

Your personal invitation to The Du Lac Devil Book Release Party!

Let’s Party! 

It is with the greatest of pleasures that Secret Realm Book Reviews and Services and Mary Anne Yarde officially invite you to The Du Lac Devil Book Release Party! 
 
It is all happening on Facebook Accept your invitation here
What time do I need to be there?


What do I need to bring?Bring yourself and be prepared to have some fun!

Come and meet my guest authors…
Gina Conkle Hi, I’m Gina Conkle, writer of Viking and Georgian romance, with a recent dip into *hot* contemporary romance. I grew up in southern California and despite all that sunshine, I love books over beaches and stone castles over sand castles. Now I live in Michigan with my favorite alpha male, Brian, and our two sons where I’m known to occasionally garden and cook. Living in snow gives me the perfect excuse to get lost in reading and writing.
Mary Morgan Scottish paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling—writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.
  Nicole Zoltack Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranormal, or regency. She's also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and works as a freelance editor and ghostwriter.

When she's not writing about gentlemen and their ladies, knights, superheroes, or witches, she loves to spend time with her loving husband, three energetic young boys, and precious baby girl. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead and Gotham.
Amanda Mariel Bestselling, Amazon All Star author Amanda Mariel dreams of days gone by when life moved at a slower pace. She enjoys taking pen to paper and exploring historical time periods through her imagination and the written word. When she is not writing she can be found reading, crocheting, traveling, practicing her photography skills, or spending time with her family.


Alexandra Hawkins SA Today bestselling author Alexandra Hawkins is an unrepentant Anglophile who discovered romance novels as a teenager and knew that one day she would be writing her own. Her "Lords of Vice" and "Masters of Seduction" series combined her love of English history, mythology, and romance to create sensual character-driven stories that, she hopes, will touch readers' hearts.





M.A.Abraham Born and raised in the central part of Canada, M. A. Abraham still lives on the prairies, while she writes her stories. She was known as the storyteller when she was a child, and those she told were played when they were at a loss for something to do. Her friends and her would act out the character parts, as they raced around outdoors, in summer as in winter. At thirteen, a friend challenged her to a writing contest, to see who could make up the best story. Well, after winning that, she continued to write, and never stopped…
Amy Rose Bennett Amy Rose Bennett has always wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. An avid reader with a particular love for historical romance, it seemed only natural to write stories in her favourite genre. She has a passion for creating emotion-packed, racy stories set in the Georgian and Regency periods. Of course, her strong-willed heroines and rakish heroes always find their happily ever after.
 
  Mary Anne Yarde (that would be 
Mary Anne Yarde(that would be me)  Mary Anne Yarde, is the bestselling author of The Du Lac Chronicles series.  Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

At nineteen, Yarde married her childhood sweetheart and began a bachelor of arts in history at Cardiff University, only to have her studies interrupted by the arrival of her first child. She would later return to higher education, studying equine science at Warwickshire College. Horses and history remain two of her major passions.


  Meet the Host
My name is Ashley and I live in Tennessee. I have two beautiful children that I love more than anything in the world. I have been married to my soulmate now for 10 years. In my spare time I love to read, write, manage my blog, and spend as much time with my family as I can.
I am a Personal Assistant to a few authors and I absolutely love my profession. It is simply the best thing in the world. I am able to go to work everyday loving what I do and manage to be at home with my children as well.
My favorite types of genres of books are Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Sci Fi Fantasy, Mystery, and Medieval Romance. I have major respect for all the talented authors I’ve had the pleasure to know and become friends with. They are all so amazing and unique.My world is a pleasurable one and I wouldn’t change anything about it.
You can find me over at Secret Realm Book Reviews and Services

I hope you can make it….Mary xxx

New Release ~ The Beauty Shop #HistFic @Suzy_Henderson

The Beauty Shop by Suzy Henderson
 
England,1942. After three years of WWII, Britain is showing the scars. But in this darkest of days, three lives intertwine, changing their destinies and those of many more.

Dr Archibald McIndoe, a New Zealand plastic surgeon with unorthodox methods, is on a mission to treat and rehabilitate badly burned airmen – their bodies and souls. With the camaraderie and support of the Guinea Pig Club, his boys battle to overcome disfigurement, pain, and prejudice to learn to live again.

John ‘Mac’ Mackenzie of the US Air Force is aware of the odds. He has one chance in five of surviving the war. Flying bombing missions through hell and back, he’s fighting more than the Luftwaffe. Fear and doubt stalk him on the ground and in the air, and he’s torn between his duty and his conscience.

Shy, decent and sensible Stella Charlton’s future seems certain until war breaks out. As a new recruit to the WAAF, she meets an American pilot on New Year’s Eve. After just one dance, she falls head over heels for the handsome airman. But when he survives a crash, she realises her own battle has only just begun.

Based on a true story, "The Beauty Shop" is a moving tale of love, compassion, and determination against a backdrop of wartime tragedy.

Links for Purchase Amazon

About the author

Suzy Henderson was born in the North of England, but a career in healthcare would eventually take her to rural Somerset. Years later, she decided to embark upon a degree in English Literature with The Open University.

That was the beginning of a new life journey, rekindling her love of writing and passion for history. With an obsession for military and aviation history, she began to write.
It was an old black and white photograph of her grandmother that caught Suzy’s imagination many years ago. Her grandmother died in 1980 as did her tales of war as she never spoke of those times. When she decided to research her grandmother’s war service in the WAAF, things spiralled from there. Stories came to light, little-known stories and tragedies and it is such discoveries that inform her writing.
Having relocated to the wilds of North Cumbria, she has the Pennines in sight and finally feels at home. Suzy is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Romantic Novelists Association. "The Beauty Shop" is her debut novel and will be released 28th November 2016.
Useful Linkshttp://www.suzyhendersonauthor.com/suzyhenderson.wordpress.comhttp://lowfellwritersplace.blogspot.co.uk/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15954239.Suzy_Henderson
https://www.facebook.com/SuzyHendersonAuthor/https://twitter.com/Suzy_Hendersonhttps://plus.google.com/u/0/109057622139171622985https://uk.linkedin.com/in/suzy-henderson-714a4353

New Release ~ The Du Lac Devil (Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles) #historicalfantasy

I am so excited to announce the release of the 2nd Book in The Du Lac Chronicles series…
The Du Lac Devil

War is coming to Saxon Briton.
As one kingdom after another falls to the savage might of the High King, Cerdic of Wessex, only one family dares to stand up to him — The Du Lacs.
Budic and Alden Du Lac are barely speaking to each other, and Merton is a mercenary, fighting for the highest bidder. If Wessex hears of the brothers’ discord, then all is lost.
Fate brings Merton du Lac back to the ancestral lands of his forefathers, and he finds his country on the brink of civil war. But there is worse to come, for his father’s old enemy has infiltrated the court of Benwick. Now, more than ever, the Du Lac must come together to save the kingdom and themselves.
Can old rivalries and resentments be overcome in time to stop a war?

Come and celebrate the release of The Du Lac Devil with me on Facebook ~ 11th December 2016
The Du Lac Devil ~ Facebook Party
Purchase Links Amazon USAmazon UK(Paperback will be available shortly)

5* #bookreview from Readers' Favorite for The Du Lac Devil.

I am so excited to receive a 5* review from Reader's Favorite — I just had to share it with you!!



Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite  -- 5 stars

The Du Lac Devil is the second book in The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Yarde, a story with a compelling historical setting and a drama that will surprise fans of fantasy. Saxon Britain is on the brink of war. Kingdoms fall under the might of the Wessex King, Cerdic. Only the Du Lac family can stand up to him, but the family suffers from internal discord which can play to their great disadvantage. Merton is a great warrior whose interests are very unpredictable. Will he join the ranks of the Du Lacs and stand against the invading king or will he follow his personal interests? This is a series that features a family saga, political intrigue, and war.

Mary Yarde has woven a compelling story with a beautiful setting, a story that features an equally compelling conflict. The reader is introduced to the key characters in the very opening pages of the story and the conflict comes across as a great hook. The Du Lac Devil combines great writing with storytelling skills to keep the reader's eyes riveted on the pages. The writing is clear and beautiful and the descriptions are vivid, painting a picture that readers can easily visualize as they read. The dialogues flow naturally and they help to deepen characterization and to enhance the plot. I also enjoyed the narrative voice which came through as strong, clear, and confident.Yarde creates characters that are real and memorable and a story that readers will love to share.

Check out the review on Readers' Favorite.

Pre-Order The Du Lac Devil on Amazon 

#GreatReads ~ The Ripmender #romance @JulianneAlcott

The RipmenderByJulianne Alcott


What if there is a secret organisation that protects us from alien invasion?
What if that organisation is being threatened by an enemy seeking revenge?
What if the Loch Ness Monster is real?
Cathy Slater’s life will never be the same when she finally meets gorgeous rock star Nathan Jake, the guy she’s been crushing on for years.
She sees something she wasn’t meant to see.She becomes involved in something that humans are not allowed to know.
Who is Nathan Jake really?
A tormented young celebrity, a brilliant magician or an alien hunter from another planet...
Only by risking her life and everything she knows, will Cathy discover the truth, and find a love that will change her life forever.
Book Extract Nathan Jake’s roguishly handsome brown eyes smiled into mine. I raised my hand to touch the dark curls that tumbled over his forehead... and felt the smooth blandness of the page against my fingers.
Drawing him was the closest I would ever get to him. He was a young hot American rockstar, and I was a plain girl with long dull brown hair who had never even had a boyfriend. I’m not counting the guy who asked me out on New Years Eve. He had ended up being a douchebag, who had wanted nothing but a roll in the hay.
Literally. His father was a cattle farmer.
Nathan was one of those supremely confident people who never had a day of doubt about who they were. When he walked into a room, he immediately owned it without making any effort at all. When I walked into a room, no one noticed.  They would notice me, if I walked into the room with Nathan by my side …
But we were worlds apart, and it seemed like we would never meet, until the miracle happened. He was running music workshops for university students in between world tours, and not in New York or London, or anywhere you would normally expect a celebrity to go, but bizarrely in the city of Durban, which was only three and a half hours from where I lived.
I had just finished school, and with a lot of persuading, pleading and tears, my parents had eventually agreed that I could do an art degree at the same varsity. But I had only ever seen him once, from a distance. He was surrounded by screaming fans, who were being kept at bay by his intimidating bodyguard, and a substantial number of varsity security staff.
The chances that we would meet dwindled with every depressing day. And so that’s why I was sitting by myself in a state of misery, in a clearing of a forest on the varsity property, drawing a tree for my first art assignment. I couldn’t concentrate though. My thoughts persisted in straying onto a handsome male face. I wished more than anything that I could be a part of his life.
The movement of something in front of me distracted me from my sketch. It was like a giant invisible jug was pouring a fast stream of water onto the ground, except that it wasn’t water. As it poured, it became a person, from the shoes up.
It became Nathan Jake.
I sat absolutely still, not even daring to breathe. What the heck? How had he done that?
The sudden flapping of my sketch book pages in the summer breeze caught his attention, and he turned and stared at me.
Yes, it really was him. I would know those dreamy eyes and trademark curls anywhere. He wore designer jeans and a tight black T-shirt, that showed off his well-built arms, tanned bronze by the South African sun.  
Links For PurchaseAmazon
About the author

I’ve been writing stories ever since I learned how to write. My favourite genre is romance adventure, and plots that give me interesting topics to research.
My day job? I’m a school librarian, which I enjoy. If I could do anything else, it would be a movie set designer or film editor. I love reading, watching movies and dancing. I enjoy cooking (sometimes successful) and baking (occasionally more successful)
My favourite quote is a dedication in an Agatha Christie murder mystery... “To those who lead monotonous lives, that they may experience at second hand, the delights and dangers of adventure.”
I want to write novels that take the reader on adventures, but also hopefully make their regular lives happier in some way.

#bookreview ~ Wrenching Fate #paranormal #romance @Brooklyn__Ann

Wrenching FateByBrooklyn Ann
She’s haunted by her past.  He promises her a future...

Akasha Hope trusts no one. Her parents were shot down by uniformed men, which forced her to spend most of her life on the run.

She’s so close to getting out on her own, making her own dreams come true when he shows up and disrupts everything.

Her new legal guardian.

His kindness makes her suspicious, while his heart-stopping good looks arouse desires she’d kept suppressed.

Silas McNaught, Lord Vampire of Coeur d’Alene, has been searching for Akasha for centuries.

He’s perplexed to discover that the woman who has haunted his visions is anything but sweet and fragile. Her foul mouth and superhuman strength covers a tenderness he’s determined to reach.

While government agents pursue Akasha and vindictive vampires seek to destroy Silas, they discover the strength in their love.

Can they survive the double threat?
***What did I make of the book?
Akasha Hope isn't like a normal 19-year-old. Akasha has been on the run since she witnessed the brutal murder of her parents when she was a child. She knows not why they were killed, but she knows that if the men who killed her parents find her, then she will die as well. Akasha tried to live off the radar, but life on the streets is challenging for a young child, and eventually she becomes a ward of the state. However, there are no records for an Akasha Hope, so those in charge make their own assumptions, and do not believe her when she tells them her actual age, instead they inform her she is two years younger than she actually is! For now, she will go along with them. It wouldn't be forever, and she would soon put this sorry past behind her and forge a new life for herself. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens, a stranger offers to become her guardian. Great! Just what she needs.
What Akasha didn't expect was her guardian to be quite so well...young, good-looking, mysterious, yet kind. There must be something wrong with him? But despite her frantic searches in his magnificent house, she can find nothing that says this man is anything but what he says.
So the vampire thing he has going on comes as a bit of a surprise!!
Brooklyn Ann is a skilled storyteller, and I love the paranormal world that she has created. I have read books by this author before so I purposely dedicated an afternoon, in which I would have no interruptions, to read this book! I am so glad I did! Wrenching Fate was a heart-rending, action-packed, tender, brutal, very real in the telling, paranormal story about a vampire who has spent centuries searching for his soul mate, and a troubled young woman who just wants what any woman wants…to be loved and accepted for who she is.
I took to Akasha immediately. She is such a strong woman, who has been through hell and yet, she has the most beautiful soul, that no matter what curveballs life throws at her, she somehow stays forever hopeful.
Likewise, Silas is so compassionate and so caring, not just for Akasha, but for her friends and for humanity as well. He is this powerful vampire, who is the most genuine man you could hope to meet.
Wrenching Fate isn't just another, girl falls in love with a vampire story. This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue, murder, cars and romance. It is certainly on my repeat to read list and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Brides of Prophecy Book series. A superb book.
I Highly Recommend.

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About the author


 Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, and the New Adult winner of the 2016 Reader’s Choice Award, “Hearts of Metal Series,” she provides love for the broken and strange.She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her son, her cat, and a 1980 Datsun 210.She can be found online at http://brooklynann.blogspot.comas well as on Twitter and Facebook.

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