Laurel O'Donnell's Blog, page 21
November 6, 2017
Medieval Monday! Ending of First Encounter!
It’s Medieval Monday! Today, I’m finishing up our First Encounter in The Angel and the Prince! I hope you’ve been following along! Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a signed paperback of The Angel and the Prince! Don’t forget to leave your email so I can contact the winner!
Here it is! The final excerpt for the first encounter from The Angel and the Prince!
“He’s only planning on taking back the lands that rightfully belong to England,” Bryce stated blandly.
“So he is going to attack! When? Tell me when!”
“I don’t know,” he replied.
For an instant, Ryen thought she saw a flicker of light behind his dark eyes. She frowned. A moment of doubt attacked her reasoning. Is the powder strong enough? Is it working? She wiped her thoughts free of uncertainty. The powder had never failed before. She had no reason to distrust it now. But she was sure that it would not last much longer.
Ryen studied her prisoner. His eyes were dark and unfathomable, mysterious. Strangely, they reminded her of a wolf’s. But she knew it must be his legend throwing shadows over her thoughts. His unruly hair gleamed in the light of the candles, giving him the aura of a wild animal. A pang of guilt touched Ryen’s heart as she saw that a lock of his black mane was caught in the moist blood on his cheek. How could I have cut his face? It was so flawless, so perfect…
She reached up to brush the hair from his wound, but her hand froze in mid-air. What am I doing? He’s the enemy! He deserves far worse than a simple cut! She whirled away, sickened by the feelings he stirred within her, incensed at her weakness. Anger stabbed at her. How could he make her want to touch him? How could he soften her heart when his words were full of hate? The devil! The rogue! She stood with her back to him for a moment, clenching and unclenching her hands. When she turned back, she was ready to explode, to strike out at him, for making her soft, for making her feel like a helpless woman!
A wind whipped up from outside, blowing the tent flap aside and swirling in around Ryen, flinging her hair wildly about her shoulders and face. The fire in her soul reddened her cheeks, caused her blue eyes to sparkle.
His eyes widened and he gasped.
Ryen stopped, confused at seeing a wondrous expression on his face. She brushed an annoying lock of hair away from her eyes. “What?” she demanded.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
Shock immediately replaced her anger as she stood dumbfounded, gaping at Bryce. “What did you say?”
Bryce looked away from her.
Ryen had clearly heard his words, but her mind was refusing to acknowledge them. ‘Beautiful’ was not a word men used to describe her. The Angel of Death, Ice Queen, Black-hearted Bitch. These were the phrases men used to portray her.
She was so astonished by his declaration that she was unsure how to proceed. Ryen became flustered by her hesitancy. She was losing valuable seconds. She had to think of a question. A question…
Beautiful. He said I was beautiful. She felt herself softening, looking at him not as an enemy, but as…
No!
She burst out of the tent into the night air, racing past a group of men rolling dice. In her mind, Bryce’s voice softly repeated the words of praise. She ran around a spit of smoking duck as the bird was being basted by the cook, almost knocking the man down. Beautiful. The word was like a plague, spreading through her body, infesting her thoughts. She reached her tent and barely paused long enough to tell the guard who stood like a statue before the flap, “I am not to be disturbed,” before disappearing inside.
Ryen stopped just inside her quarters, her eyes sweeping the tent until they came to rest on a wooden chest bound by great bands of silver metal. She remember what she had been given by her aunt about five year ago, in hopes that she would become more ladylike. Ryen had never used it. She kept it hidden in the chest with her dresses and fancy undergarments, elaborate combs and jewelry, embarrassed by the femaleness of it all.
Ryen flung open the chest. After years of disuse, it squeaked with objection. She fell to her knees and thrust her hands into the mounds of clothes, digging through lacy night clothes, bolts of silk fabric, a necklace of pearls, ruby earrings, jeweled rings…all the items that she had accumulated through the years, rummaging for the one object that she wanted, until finally she found it.
It was a hand mirror made of gold with diamonds set into its intricately sculptured metal. She clasped it with both hands and stared at the person she found looking back at her. She was not the child she remembered from five years ago.
Her face was slender and soft, her cheekbones high. Her eyes were the blue of the deepest ocean.
Ryen tilted the mirror, trying to see her profile. She could see nothing that made her attractive, nothing that made her different. Yet he had said she was beautiful. She had never thought of herself like that. No one had ever told her she was. Not ever.
She was inspecting herself when she saw, in the glass, the flap of the tent open and Lucien ducking inside.
“What did you find out?” Lucien asked, excitement barely hidden under his words.
Ryen ignored him, staring hard at herself in the mirror, twisting her head to try to see what Bryce had seen.
“Ryen?” Lucien’s brow wrinkled with momentary confusion, then darkened with rage. “Did he hurt you? What did he do? I told you I should have been there with you!”
“Lucien,” Ryen said, and turned to face him with a trusting look. “Do you think I’m beautiful?”
Surprise was written all over his boyish face, and for a moment he could not move. Suddenly, he threw his head back, laughter bubbling from his throat like a spring.
Ryen’s face turned a deep red, her eyes going from a light blue innocence to the deep blue of an angry sea. Slowly, she replaced the hand mirror and closed the lid on the heavy wooden chest, her jaw clenched.
Lucien ceased his laughter when he caught Ryen’s murderous glare. He chuckled a bit and looked away from her. “Oh, Ryen. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh at you. It just that…well, if I had even suggested the possibility, you would have cut out my tongue.”
Her jaw was still set like stone. No one laughed at her.
“Please, Ryen,” Lucien said sincerely. “Forgive me.”
Ryen whirled away from Lucien. “Get out.”
“What?” He stared at her with surprised eyes.
“Get out before I say something I will regret,” Ryen clarified.
Lucien studied her for a moment, then whirled and departed from her tent. After her brother’s footsteps faded away, Ryen chastised herself. You are not beautiful. You are a warrior, a knight. Knights are not beautiful. They are strong, rugged, relentless. I have never been pretty.
Still…in the eyes of the mightiest of legends, the fiercest of English knights, she was beautiful.
The truth powder never lied.
Hope you enjoyed this Medieval Monday! Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a signed copy of The Angel and the Prince.
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 29, 2017
Medieval Monday! First Encounter in Betrothal by Jenna Jaxon!
It’s Medieval Monday! Today, I am honored to feature the gifted Jenna Jaxon and the excerpt from Betrothal.
It’s about –
The heart can choose, but can it also change?
Lady Alyse de Courcy has fallen in love with Lord Braeton, a nobleman in King Edward III’s court and a man to whom she has barely spoken. Fate, however, has decreed her betrothal to his best friend, Sir Geoffrey Longford—a handsome and imposing knight, yet hardly the man she wants to wed.
When Sir Geoffrey is bound in betrothal by his father, he could not have expected the beautiful stranger to win his heart the moment they meet. But Alyse’s infatuation with his friend casts doubt on whether she can ever return his regard and their wedding day is fast approaching… Will he have time enough to win her love?
Continuing along with the excerpt –
Oh, Father, what have you done to me?
As they continued down the long side of the Hall, Geoffrey leaned over to ask, “Why so quiet, my lady? Are you in awe of me or merely stunned by the good fortune of our betrothal?”
Outraged by the conceited fool, Alyse opened her mouth to explain exactly how unimpressed she was, both with him and her so-called good fortune, but instead met eyes of darkest sapphire flickering with merriment at her indignation.
So the oaf has wits.
Buy Links:
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF6UZFW
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/betrothal-jenna-jaxon/1115182506?ean=2940044481251
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/307838
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 27, 2017
Spooktacular Giveaway!
Hop on over to the Spooktacular Giveaway and enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
The contest runs October 27th – 31st. Sign up before your time runs out!
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 23, 2017
Congrats! Winner!
Congrats to Margie Shaw for winning the Kindle Paperwhite!
Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and followed me on Amazon and Bookbub, and signed up for my newsletter. Thank you for reading my novels!
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
Medieval Monday! First Encounter in Her Christmas Knight by Nicole Locke!
It’s Medieval Monday! Today, I am honored to feature the talented Nicole Locke and the excerpt from Her Christmas Knight.
It’s about –
A knight to protect her—this Yuletide
By order of the English king, Alice of Swaffham searches London nobility for the traitor dealing information to the Scots. Little does she know that the mysterious spy she seeks is the man she once loved and thought she’d lost forever…
If Hugh of Shoebury felt unworthy of Alice before, as the Half-Thistle spy he can never claim her heart. Now he must fight to keep not only his dark secrets—and Alice—safe from a vengeful king…but also his burning longing for her at bay!
Continuing along with the excerpt –
He stepped away. The crowd moved into the space before her. Their voices finally reached her ears. The circular room was clanging and echoing with cries of protest, outrage, laughter, loud talk.
The courtiers stared and pointed at her chest. Embarrassment warmed her skin. Had the ribbons around her dress loosened as Hugh held her so tightly? Had she become undressed—here, in public, at Court?
Pretending to check on nothing at all, she lowered her eyes, but nothing was indecent. The light green ribbon that wound round her chest and sleeves still held her blue linen dress together. She was intact; there was nothing to cause her shame.
And she still had the seal clutched to her body,
Next Monday, I’m at Ceci Giltenan’s blog: https://cecigiltenan.com
Buy Links:
Amazon: myBook.to/Lovers-n-Legends6
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/authors/24841_nicole-locke.html
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 20, 2017
Thank you Contest!
I can’t thank you, my readers, enough for all your support. I truly couldn’t do it without you.
As a thank you, I’m giving away a Kindle Ereader to one lucky reader! To enter the contest, go to the link below. Good luck to all and keep reading!
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 18, 2017
Lost Souls!
Step into the world of the Lost Souls –
Souls who refuse to pass into the afterlife become wandering spirits, trapped between the world of the living and the dead. These are the Lost Souls. Some of these Lost Souls have banded together, uniting to fight against an evil endangering both their existence and the safety of the human world they once inhabited. This evil has taken shape in unholy creatures called the Changed, beings who were once Lost Souls but who are now dark, dangerous and disturbed monsters. The Changed feed on the energy of the Lost Souls, growing stronger with each Lost Soul they drain. The ultimate goal of the Changed is to harness enough energy to return to the land of the living by possessing the body of a human. The mission of the Lost Souls is to stop them…
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 17, 2017
Introducing Skittles!
Take a break from the hectic week and enjoy my introduction of Skittles. Skittles is unlike any other cat I’ve known. Okay, I’ll admit each cat has their own personality and quirks. But Skittles is driven solely by food. Chicken, to be specific. Although, she will eat just about anything. My son taught her to love chicken so much. He eats it daily and I’m embarrassed to say that she has become a mooch. However, this love of food has allowed my son and my daughter to actually teach Skittles to do tricks for treats. Skittles will sit. She will give paw. And she will lay down. It’s amazing and a little bit funny. When she lays down, she does so slowly, almost grudgingly. She just wants that treat so badly! Here she is…
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 15, 2017
Medieval Monday! First Encounter in For All of Ever by Sherry Ewing!
It’s Medieval Monday! Today, I am honored to feature the amazing Sherry Ewing and the excerpt from For All of Ever.
It’s about –
Sometimes to find your future, you must look to the past…
Katherine Wakefield has dreamed and written of her knight in shining armor all her life. Never finding a man to measure up to the one of her imagination, she and her three closest friends take a dream vacation to England. Yet, strange things begin happening while visiting Bamburgh Castle, but how could they have known they’d find themselves thrown back more than eight hundred years into the past?
Riorden de Deveraux travels to Bamburgh answering the summons of King Henry II knowing his past life is about to catch up with him. But nothing prepares him for the beautiful vision of a strangely clad ghost who first appears in his chamber, let alone the fact he begins having a conversation with her.
Centuries are keeping them apart until Time gives them a chance at finding love. But there are obstacles threatening the fragile bit of hope that Riorden and Katherine can remain together. Will the past of one consume what their future may hold, or will Time take the decision from them and hurtle Katherine forward to where she truly belongs?
Continuing along with the excerpt –
Bitterness dripped from her words, along with a touch of helplessness. Her eyes pleaded with him for some kind of understanding. Something about her made Riorden pause. He wanted to know what troubled her, and why she was lashing out at him. What in her life had made her laugh? What made her cry? Was it just his imagination, or was there some twinge of a memory of her in the far recesses of his mind that was just out of his reach and recollection? He could feel ’twas of much import, so how could he have stupidly forgotten such a grave matter as to remember her possibly being a part of his life?
Buy Links:
Read For All of Ever: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time Novel (Book One) for #FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1zoF0pl
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1Iis7D5
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/18UOvm8
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1xB3jLv
Laurel O'Donnell - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
October 12, 2017
Laurel O'Donnell's Blog
“What do you want from me?”
Perhaps it was ridiculous, Ryen thought. Men never seemed to have a problem with taking what, ...more
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