Susanne Matthews's Blog, page 14

Tuesday Tales: From the Word FLOWER

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Ten days away from the official start of summer, and we’ve certainly felt the heat, but sadly it won’t last. More rain in the forecast, but on the plus side, everything is incredibly beautiful and green.

We continue with The Price of Courage, The Canadiana Series, Book Two, and Murielle.

Enjoy as the plot lines start to converge.

“Silly girl. The chevalier has had half of France looking for her. Apparently, after begging both his pardon and the king’s, she’s prepared to obey his majesty’s will and marry the new Count of Caen and assume her position as countess. The wedding will take place in Paris, at Notre Dame, the Sunday following Epiphany.”

Lips pursed, prepared to refute Gerard’s words, Murielle bit her tongue. It couldn’t be true. Whoever this poor girl was, she wasn’t her Isabelle. If her charge had failed to escape on the ship as planned, she would’ve gotten word to her. The girl might be foolhardy, but she was brave and determined to learn the truth. Moreover, she would die before she would bend to the likes of d’Angrignon. Instead of arguing the matter, Murielle forced herself to smile.

“Isabelle always had a mind of her own, refusing to do things the easy way. She’s like a wildflower forcing her way up between the stones rather than in fertile soil. I wish them both much happiness. Now, I’d better hurry and get ready before I’m late. You know how highly Uncle Nicholas prizes punctuality.”

Climbing the steps one at a time, Murielle packed her small valise, her conscience screaming at her, warning her that she could be in danger. If d’Angrignon was passing off a stranger, or possibly one of the Navarre cousins with similar coloring, as Isabelle de Caen, she could unravel his plans with just a few words.

The man was ambitious, and such men had enemies. He knew where she was. She’d made no secret of her plan to return to her home. Would he come looking for her to ensure her silence? And if he did, what danger would the family face? The man was without honor. He would think nothing of destroying anyone who stood in the way of his desires. The sooner she left France, the better.

Setting her concerns aside for the moment, she checked the Swiss clock in her room, the gift Isabelle had given her on her fortieth birthday. While she’d gotten old, so much of life had passed her by. She’d lived only for her girls. Might she have fallen in love and married again if she’d turned down Fiona’s offer the day of Gaël’s funeral? Nothing good would come of playing “if only.” How many times had she told Isabelle the same thing?

That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales. 

New Release! Forever and Always: From Short Story to Novel!

[image error]Good morning! It’s finally warm enough that we can predict summer is on its way!

This is a snapshot of one of my my flowerbeds. By the end of the month, the vine will have filled in and it will be a solid wall of green.

And while I was waiting for warm spring early summer weather, I was hard at work revising a former short story into a novel which has just been released.

After putting out as series as emotionally draining as The Harvester Files were, especially as they were preceded by Murder & Mistletoe, and the Vengeance Is mine Series, I wanted to do something a bit different before I tackle more books for both of those series.

A few years ago, I wrote a short story, There’s Always Tomorrow and a novella, Forever and Always which were published by Solstice Publishing. When my contract ended, the rights to those stories were returned to me, and I’ve republished them together  by folding the information from one story into the other. Many people wondered about Iris and Finn from There’s Always Tomorrow. In Forever and Always, the novel, you meet them five years later and get to know the answer.

So what did I do to make an 18,000 word novella into a 53,000 word novel?

I begin by going back to the night of the accident. I give you a glimpse into Brandi’s life as a dancer, so that you can better appreciate how the tragedy affects her. I also include more about smothering fans who take and take until there is nothing left. Then I let you inside Brandi’s head as she tries to come to grip with losing everything. When Jarrett comes into the story, you meet a man who’s constantly on the go, but manages to make time for her. And when the misunderstanding occurs, with new insight into the accident and Brandi’s state of mind, everything that follows makes more sense. The ending comes to a satisfactory conclusion for all.

Here’s the new cover and the blurb to the novel, Forever and Always

[image error]The dance is everything, or is it? 

Brandi Alexandra Jameson’s entire life has been dedicated to ballet. When an accident she believes was caused by a crazed stalker fan leaves her close friend and dance partner dead and herself barely able to walk, she’s lost, adrift without a future.

Jarrett Sullivan has spent most of his life in love with the petite red-headed brunette he met when he was in first grade, acting as her protector throughout school, but just as he was ready to make his move, she left Victoria for the National Ballet in Toronto. He’s followed her career, and now that she’s back home, he jumps at the chance to get to know her the way he always wanted to.

Brandi remembers Jarrett, the boy she idolized, and when the man wants to have a relationship with her, she’s thrilled. But that joy turns to horror when she learns the truth about a poster, and believes he’s just another fan and that it’s Alexandra, the dancer, he wants, not Brandi, the broken woman. Fleeing her family and Victoria, she runs to the only friend she has hoping to heal her broken heart.

Discovering Brandi may have misunderstood the situation, Jarrett is frantic to find her and straighten out the mess, but will she be willing to listen and give him a second chance?

Forever and Always is available from all Amazon sites and is free to read with Kindle Unlimited.

From Native Myth to Reincarnation Suspense: Hello Again on Sale for June

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Paranormal Romance Suspense

Good morning. We’ve finally got the kind of weather I’ve dreamed of– sunny and warm with an expected high of 72 this afternoon.  Climate change is hard to take, and there are still those out there who deny it, but unless we do something, it’s going to get a lot worse.

Authors get inspiration from many places and I’m no exception. I love myths. At the moment, one of my favorite authors is working on a Greek god series where she’s giving the entire mythology a makeover. While a similar idea has danced through my head, I’ve worked with North American Native myths myself, a Mohawk myth about the Lake of the Mountain for Echoes of the Past and a Sioux Myth for Hello Again.

Hello Again, is based on the reworking of a  Sioux myth that pits the king of the wolves against an evil shaman. The shaman’s wife, the chief’s daughter and an abused woman, runs away from her tribe and her abuser, and is on the verge of dying when the Great Spirit sends the king of the wolves, in his human form, to rescue her.  Long story short, they fall in love, and she gets pregnant. Somehow the evil sorcerer gets wind of this and convinces the chief that the wolves are to blame for every bad thing that’s happened to the tribe. The warriors set out to hunt down the wolves.

The king of the wolves asks the woman to save them all by returning to her father until he can come for her. She does as he asks, returns to her village, but refuses to go back to her husband and lives apart, where she gives birth to twin boys who have the same rusty colored hair as the king of the wolves in his wolf form.  The shaman is furious and steals the children, but instead of killing them, he gives each one of them to an enemy tribe. Desperate and heartbroken, the woman prays and begs the king of the wolves to come for her now and help her find their children.

In the meantime, the shaman has made a deal with the devil as they say, and manages to separate the king of the wolves into two distinct entities, the man and the wolf. He kills the wolf. The human, lost without his wolf half, wonders off.  The shaman then skins the wolf and and presents the pelt to the  chief when his daughter is with him. She recognizes the fur, and distraught, runs out into the wilderness looking for the man. On the verge of dying, the Great Spirit turns her into a wolf. And, so, according to the legend, when wolves howl at the moon, they are searching for their lost king and his cubs.

Sad, right? But so many old myths are. I decided that myth needed a happy ending and so I wrote Hello Again. The story has its own share of sadness, but in the end, love prevails.

For Charley Winters love means loss and pain. She’s spent the last five years struggling with her grief. Existing, not living. Drawn to Saskatchewan, she travels west take the job she’s always wanted. But life gets complicated when she’s rescued from a vicious tornado by her dead husband’s double, a man who makes her feel things she hasn’t in years. Add to that a native myth, a shaman, a green-eyed wolf, and her husband’s ghost … Can she lift a millennia old curse and find joy and love again?

This month, Hello Again is only 99 cents. Why not grab a copy and see if it lives up to expectations?

“I loved Charley’s journey from having her whole world turned upside down to finding love and a future again. Bill is a sweetheart and very much driven to help others. They are brought together by a Native America curse and two spirits that need to find each other again. The rich history involved in this story was interesting and made the story a good one. I highly recommend this book.” Amazon Review.

Of course, as with so many of my books, Hello Again is free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

Have a great weekend!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Blog Post for June

[image error]Welcome to the June  IWSG Blog Day. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group  is a “database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG”

Each month, there is a blog day with a optional question to answer. I try to make it each month, but sometimes life gets in the way. You know how that is, but I’m here this month.

Question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

The answer hands down is suspense. It’s an integral part of everything I write, regardless of the genre. When I read, I like to be challenged to think and imagine what’s going to happen next. Even in a contemporary romance, there needs to be something that makes me want to turn the page and sometimes conflict between the characters alone isn’t enough for me.

By adding an element of suspense to all of my stories, the potential for death and danger outside of the romance itself, I can work in a deeper story line, adding a dimension to the characters I might not otherwise find. It also gives me the option of adding more main characters to the mix. For example, in my novel, Fire Angel, I have three characters with their own POV–the hero, the heroine, and the villain. Getting inside his head has allowed me to delve deeper into his emotional state and motivation, something I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

In the historical romance suspense I’m currently working on, adding suspense has allowed me to dive deeper into the history of the time and the real dangers as well as the fictional ones my characters face. At the moment, I am taking two contemporary romance short stories and merging them together into a novel. In doing so, I went behind the original plot of the main story and added an element of suspense to the mix, a stalker responsible for the accident that destroyed my heroine’s dreams. By adding that element of the unknown, I have made her overreaction to seemingly innocent behaviors by the hero more believable and understandable.

I love suspense and intrigue, the more thrilling, the better. How about you?

Follow this link to read more of this month’s offerings.

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Tuesday Tales: From the Word Rancid

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Only sixteen days until the first official day of summer! Do you have any vacation plans? I have a few, but the weather will determine which ones we follow through on. Welcome to another week’s Tuesday Tales. This week’s word prompt, RANCID, wasn’t an easy one to work with, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the other authors come up with.

We continue with Murielle. Do you sit down to eat as a family? Does anyone ever talk shop? My kids used to enjoy trying to gross me out–hey! I was a teacher. If I couldn’t out-gross them, I wasn’t doing my job.  We continue with the scene from The Price of Courage, The Canadian Series, Book Two.

In the dining room once more, Murielle turned to her grand-nieces, Marie and Millie. All of the children had names starting with the same letter, honoring their grandmother.

“Help me serve the stew, please.”

Millie stood to help while Marie finished tying three-year-old Melda into her chair. The twelve-year old twins often assisted with the younger children and the meals. “Les filles, after the dishes are done, you can help Espé get the little ones ready for bed. Mathieu no longer wears dresses, but needs help removing some of his new garments. At seven, he’s become a young man. Let’s give Maman and Papa some time to themselves while I’m with mon oncle.”

“Of course, Aunt Murielle,” Marie answered, grinning as she assisted Melda with her spoon. “We’ll do our best. You’ll see.” Murielle chuckled. The little mother of the family was always happy to help, unlike Martin who felt house chores were beneath him.

Gerard smiled. The young doctor spooned the rich stew into his mouth and tore off a chunk of bread. Once he’d swallowed, he turned to Murielle.

“Delicious as always, ma tante. Before you leave us for the evening, I meant to give you both some interesting news,” he said. “While I was attending to Martin Destrin—I had to amputate the leg. The flesh was rancid. I don’t know if he’ll make it, but his chances are better without the rotten limb.”

“That’s hardly what I would call appropriate dinner conversation,” Beatrice said, dropping the spoon she’d just picked up, and pushing her bowl away.

Gerard chuckled and shook his head. “Forgive me, mon ange. I forget how sensitive your stomach is, but you must eat for the babe’s sake and yours.” He dipped his spoon into the bowl. “That wasn’t the news I meant. The wedding banns for the Chevalier d’Angrignon were posted on the Saint Jean Baptist Cathedral doors this morning. Rumor has it that his missing fiancée has returned. Apparently, Isabelle was in seclusion at a convent in Navarre where she went to mourn her father and pray for guidance. Did she not say anything to you before she left? You were her governess, the closest thing she had to a mother.”

Murielle swallowed her surprise and shook her head. The thought of her baby lying with that monster was enough to turn her stomach. “No, she didn’t confide in me.”

 

That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales. 

Tuesday Tales From the Word Colorful

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday Tales. It’s hard to believe the last week of May has arrived. Does it feel like spring yet? That’s the thing about climate change. It brings with it all manner of extreme weather. I may not relish the frigid cold of winter, nor the yucky cool days and rain we’ve had to date, but then I’m blessed with living in  an area that seems to be avoiding the worst of the super storms and droughts we’ve seen these past few years.

I’m continuing with Murielle’s current situation. I hope you’re enjoying this character loosely based on my own Aunt Murielle. We continue with The Price of Courage, The Canadiana Series, Book Two. This week’s word prompt is COLORFUL.

Enjoy!

The children clamored down the steps, sitting on the long benches on each side of the table, Marie helping the youngest, Melda, into the highchair placed next to the bench. Her nephew, Gerard, sat at the head of the table, while Beatrice dropped into the chair at the foot.

“Merci, ma tante,” Beatrice said, reaching for nine-year-old Martin’s hand on her left and seven-year-old Marc’s hand on her right. “It was God himself who sent you to me. I don’t know how I would’ve managed without you. This little one is taking more out of me than all five of the others combined, including the twins.”

Murielle smiled. “It’s not a bother.” She envied her niece, never having borne a child herself. “Whom did you say Uncle Nicholas was entertaining tonight?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it’s someone from New France. The ship from the colony made port in Marseilles on Sunday. Clotilde Leterrier was there for a wedding. According to her, there was someone important aboard, but that’s all I know.” She laughed softly. “She did mention that some of the gentlemen were garbed in colorful silks with enormous ostrich-plumed hats. Mon oncle forgot to mention to the mayor that he’d exchanged houses with me. The guests’ carriage showed up here earlier while you were hanging out the laundry, but Gerard sent them down to the lane to the dowager house. Will you come back here after dinner or spend the night there?”

Murielle forced a smile, wishing she were indeed coming back tonight. Entertaining men who’d been at sea for seven or eight weeks might not be a pleasant task, and if they were dandies hoping for a tussle in the hay, they were about to be disappointed.

“Uncle Nicholas asked me to stay for the three days his guests will be there. There will be several meals to attend to. Cosette, his cook and housekeeper, seems to have that side of things under control, but she isn’t Ma tante Marigot. She needs direction. I’ll send Espé here during my absence. She’s not much older than the twins, but with your guidance, she should be helpful. I’ll get the food.”

Murielle left the family to say grace and returned to the kitchen for the tray of bowls, a crock of butter, and a loaf of fresh bread.

That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales. 

Friday’s Featured Author: Holly Jody Gill

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As someone who’s written series books, I know the challenges faced by an author fighting to keep the reader interested, and Holly Jody Gill nails it in her Innocence Series. This morning, I’m pleased to welcome her and introduce her latest book, Return to Innocence (Book 3)

In honor of her release, the author is offering a special RELEASE DAY + SIGNED PAPERBACK’S GIVEAWAY

But; be warned. To fully appreciate the series and truly understand what’s happening,

Book 1 & 2 must be read before  Book 3

So, check out GIVEAWAY https://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthor/

Return To Innocence (Book 3)

#Friendship, #Romance, #Contemporary, #LoveScenes

BUY Links:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07R62G292

US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PDJ69Q5/

Blurb:

[image error]Promises are meant to be kept.

Calvin’s world is in disarray once again, Uncertain what’s going on around him, His mind is not his own, and the concern of those around him, irks him. He wants to recall his love for Sophie, but nothing makes sense. His frustration at his situation makes everything so much worse. Loving this stranger proves harder each day. How can he love a woman he can barely remember.?

Sophie’s heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. Everything they had was stolen. She loves Calvin and wants to stay by his side but his reaction to her breaks her. She hopes their love is rekindled, only this time, everything has taken a nose dive. Her world was spiralling out of control and all she wanted was the Forever she was promised, which seemed to be slipping away further each day.

Can they return to innocence?

Innocence (Book 1)

Book 1 must be read before reading Book 2!

[image error]‘Don’t make promises you cannot keep!’

Calvin Edwards has everything he could dream of running the family real-estate company back in London. But what was just a holiday up north, visiting his parents, turns into him talking a young pregnant woman from taking her life. Wishing desperately to help, Calvin befriends her, only he fears he may be out of his depth. Just when he thinks he has it all under control, his past resurfaces, sending his life crashing.

Kacey is pregnant and her life has spiralled out of control. With nowhere left to go, she returns home in one last attempt to get help, only to have the door slammed in her face. At her wit’s end, she’ alone, scared, and helpless, until Calvin comes along. He becomes the only friend she’s had in years, offering her his kindness, something she thought no longer existed in the world. Only her past is knocking at her door, mistakes she’d made and pain she’d buried, have all come back to life!

Would either of them survive a truth lost with innocence?

Innocence of Love (Book 2)

Book 1 must be read before book 2

Warning ends in Cliffhanger!

[image error]‘Promises are made to be broken!’

Calvin’s world has been thrown into disarray. He has no idea which direction to go. He hated her. He loved her. He longed to keep her safe, and be the man she always deserved. His life had spiralled out of control. His heart said one thing, and his mind said something else. Can his heart heal and forgive all the pain?

Sophie was lost, confused and had no idea what her heart desired. Or did she? Unfortunately, the timing was off. Fate brought them together. Calvin was the sweetest, most caring man she’d ever met. But could she expect him to give up all he knew for her. She had to take a step back, and allow nature to take its course. Only conflicting emotions controlled her. She wanted Calvin. She needed him more than anything. But she was about to understand that destiny had other plans. Would forgiveness and love see them through?

Will they recover for innocence of love?

Best of luck Holly, Wishing you many sales!

 

Tuesday Tales: From the Word Pick

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday Tales, the weekly blog where myself and a group of talented authors give you a peek at our on-going works.

Juggling three plot lines and multiple POV is something new to me, but I realized it was the only way to pull the three threads of the story into a cohesive tale. Today, we stay in France with Murielle, whose thread is vital to the unfolding drama in New France.

So, from The Price of Courage, The Canadiana Series, Book Two, I give you today’s post based on the word prompt, PICK!

Enjoy!

“Supper,” Murielle called after setting the table, pleased when she heard the sound of footsteps thundering above. Returning to the kitchen, she picked up the ladle and gave the stew one last stir before reaching for the bowls.

Living at home again after so many years in Caen wasn’t easy, accustomed as she’d been to giving orders rather than taking them, but her niece and uncle had welcomed her with open arms, and as the poor relative with no other family, where could she go?

Beatrice wasn’t feeling well, this pregnancy harder on her than the previous ones had been, so Murielle had agreed to take over the young woman’s duties as hostess at her father’s table tonight. Once the early family supper here was over, she would pack her valise for a few days’ stay, change into her best gown and heaviest cloak, cross the orchard, and walk the hundred yards to the dowager house. Since there was an early-rising full moon and it had yet to snow, the short walk would be a cool but pleasant one.

Strange how fate worked. Within weeks of her mother’s passing, Beatrice had announced the pending birth of a sixth child. Her father had insisted on switching homes with his daughter, giving her the larger of the two houses on the small estate, asking only that she serve as his hostess when necessary, stepping in to replace his beloved Marigot, something Beatrice had willingly done until now. Murielle was pleased to have been asked to take on her aunt’s role.

After ladling the thick pork stew into the bowls, Murielle set them on the tray. She enjoyed helping with the children and the meals, assisting her uncle when he entertained like tonight, but she missed her girls. Sophie had sailed for the colonies in April, and if God was on their side, Isabelle had stolen aboard the same ship.

If she’d failed to do so, she’d still managed to elude the Chevalier d’Angrignon. Come spring, after the birth of this child, Murielle would buy passage on a bride ship bound for New France as she and Isabelle had planned, hoping she could be reunited with the only children she’d ever mothered. In the meantime, she would stay here with her family and enjoy their company one last time.

That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales. 

Come What May Book Promotion Is Live!

[image error]I know. It’s spring, you’re busy gardening, but at the end of the day, when you don’t want to deal with reruns, it’s time to pull out a book and read!

This is a great time to pick up quality books and  possibly win one of three $50.00 Amazon gift cards. There are many books in the promo, something for everyone, priced  from free to 99 cents. Do yourself a favor and check out the wonderful deals available.  If you’re looking to load your Kindle for summer, here’s your chance to do it!

Look at the selection!

Click to view slideshow.
Click to view slideshow.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up awesome books, and have a chance to win an awesome prize.

Here’s a scene from The White Carnation, The Harvester Files, Book One.

Every hair on Faye’s body stood on end as she approached the oak door. It was open. Mrs. Green never left the door open. The woman double- and triple-locked everything. The last time she’d been here—was it really two years ago?—it had taken forever for the woman to undo the locks and let her in.

“Mrs. Green, are you there? It’s Faye.” She pushed open the door and the unmistakable scent of blood—that slightly sour, coppery scent she’d never forget—greeted her. She swallowed a scream. The place was a disaster: furniture overturned, papers, books, CDs, and DVDs littering the floor. There, amidst the chaos, lay Mary’s mother, the jagged red line along her throat testifying to her fate.

Faye dropped the flower and damaged purse, some of the contents spilling out and landing in the pool of blood—a tube of lipstick, a pack of gum, a roll of breath mints—strange sprinkles on the deep red surface. The pristine white petals of the carnation soaked up the redness, adding to the eeriness. She ran to the powder room and threw herself on her knees barely in time to spew what was left of her cucumber and watercress sandwiches into the toilet. The pungent, sour aroma of vomit filled the room. Tears tracked down her cheeks. The gut wrenching heaves that followed brought up bile and left her exhausted. She sat back on her heels, trying to control her anguish. With a shaking hand, she pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and dialed a familiar number.

“Homicide, Rob Halliday.” The voice was tired, bored, resigned.

“Rob, it’s Faye. She’s dead. Lucy Green’s dead. There’s so much blood. Someone killed Mary’s mother.”

“Where are you?” Rob was all business, as if there were no painful history between them. Deep down, she knew this no-nonsense, professional side of him was what she needed, why she’d called him and not 9 1 1.

“Third floor, seventeen thirty-seven Marlborough. It’s in Beacon Hill.”

“I know where the damn street is, Faye. Stay there, and don’t touch anything. I’m on my way.”

Faye leaned back on her heels, tears coursing down her cheeks.

That’s it!

So, check it out now! https://www.greatbooksgreatdeals.com/accentonromance.html

Have a fantastic week!

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Tuesday Tales: Picture Prompt Week

[image error]Hello. For those who celebrated, I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day. I certainly did. This week’s Tuesday tale is one based on a picture prompt. Here’s the one I chose. Today, I’m reintroducing a character from The Price of Honor, The Canadiana Series, Book One. Murielle was a key figure, instrumental into assisting Isabelle in her flight from Caen.

Enjoy!

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Murielle Leroux adjusted the mob cap on her graying hair, walked into the dining room, and lit the candles in the ornate candelabra, one of the few wedding gifts she’d kept all these years. She’d been a widow more than half her life, her Gaël dying weeks after the wedding, thrown by one of the Count de Caen’s horses. The countess, newly pregnant, had opened her home to the young widow, offering her a position in the household.

When Isabelle was born, twenty-year-old Murielle had become her governess. Two years later, when Fiona’s sister had died in childbirth, the countess had assumed responsibility for the child her own father shunned, and Sophie had joined the nursery. Her charges, her girls. For twenty-five years, she’d cared for them, nursed them through colds and heartbreak when the countess had died, and then later when the count had remarried, and finally when Isabelle’s beloved Pierre had died. But they were both gone now, and other than her niece’s family and her uncle, she was alone in the world.

Once the girls had gone—Sophie unwillingly to New France to be some stranger’s wife and Isabelle running away from her fiancé, hoping to hide aboard the same vessel, determined to discover the truth about poor Pierre, her murdered husband—Murielle had left Caen, returning to what was left of her family.

She didn’t know what had happened to her girls, but the answer, like the one Isabelle sought, was in the colony. Poor Isabelle’s escape had been a dangerous one. The girl had defied not only the Chevalier d’Angrignon and her step-mother, she’d refused a command from King Louis himself. Such behavior was an act of treason. She could never return to France, not if she wanted to keep her head attached to her shoulders.

That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales.