Five Classmates. Two Time Portals. What Could Possibly Go Wrong…

Themonth of September marks new beginnings. For some it’s their very first day ofschool. For others, it’s moving up a grade or even on to high school, collegeor university. For many, it’s back to work, a return to routines, and movingforward in the new season. However, autumn also marks the harvest season forhard-working farmers who reap what they have sown throughout the late springand summer. I’m harvesting my own kind of crop by bundling Books 1-3 of theLast Timekeepers series so readers can escape to the past, and have a blast anytimeof the year. Your reading adventure awaits…

Blurbs:

Books1-3 in the Last Timekeepers series now available in one volume. Escape to thepast and have a blast!

The LastTimekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis: After 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her classmates uncover amysterious stone arch, they learn that it's an ancient portal created by thelost civilization of Atlantis. Chosen by an Atlantean Magus, Amanda and hercompanions are swept into the secret world of the Timekeepers: legendaryguardians entrusted with preserving history from a sinister force known asBelial.

The LastTimekeepers and the Dark Secret:In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War 2, the Last Timekeepers are taskedwith locating an ancient book before it falls into enemy hands. With help fromthe Dutch Resistance and a mysterious baron, they must stay one step ahead of aregime determined to silence the truth.

The LastTimekeepers and the Noble Slave:On his third Timekeeper mission, eleven-year-old Drake Bailey must confront adark chapter of history: the antebellum South. In a time of fear and cruelty,Drake must outwit his captors, protect a vital bloodline, and find the courageto break the chains that threaten to destroy him. Do the Timekeepers have whatit takes to complete their mission and protect the timeline?

Excerpt from The Last Timekeepersand the Arch of Atlantis:

They were almost inside the glowing archway. Its light feltwarm and welcoming, like the rising summer sun. Treena stuck her thumbs in thestraps of her khaki backpack as if it doubled as a magic parachute. Amandamimicked Treena and grasped the straps on Jordan’s backpack that she was stillwearing. Ravi was the only other person wearing one, so all the rest hadnothing to break their fall if that light suddenly cut them loose.

The brilliant, fathomless glow swallowed Amanda, blindingher. Calm and silence overrode her senses. In that moment, two thingshappened—Amanda sensed that there was no separation between her and theothers—as if they were all connected by these tiny threads of light. Second,she started to feel as though she were free falling, moving fast and out ofcontrol. She regained her vision, just as the white light exploded into awhirling rainbow.

Drake laughed. “Wicked! This feels like a ride atDisneyland!”

“It feels better than that!” Jordan replied. “I’ve been toDisneyland twice, and there’s no ride that even comes close to this!”

“It’s as if we can fly!” Treena shouted, doing a somersaultin mid-air.

“It does feel wonderful, doesn’t it?” Melody said dreamily.

Amanda grabbed both ankles and flipped herself over. Shegiggled. This freedom, this feeling, this flux was awesome. The huge, spiralingrainbow surrounding the group of seven gently juggled them in mid-air likefloating balls in a never-ending lottery game. She glanced over at Jordan’suncle. His cheeks were sucked in, and his body flopped one way then anotherlike a fish out of water.

“Is your uncle okay, Jordan?” she asked.

Jordan maneuvered over to his uncle by spreading his armsand legs wide as if he were a free-falling parachutist. He grasped his uncle’sshoulder and shook him. “Uncle John? Uncle John! Don’t make me slap you again!”

He reached over, grabbed Jordan, and kissed him on theforehead. “It’s all true, Jordan! It’s all true!”

Jordan squirmed. “What’s true?”

“Time flows through us,” he answered, his voicecracking as if he were a young boy again.

The whirling rainbow burst into shards of light, and theyall touched bottom.

It felt soft—like a cushy trampoline—as Amanda, herclassmates, Melody, and Professor Lucas bounced easily until they all stoodstill. Then the ground became solid again. Polished marble walls and finelycrafted pillars materialized through the fading light. A sudden high-pitchedbuzzing noise made her wince. Everyone seemed to hear it too; they cringed inunison. The sound of waves crashing against a shore replaced the buzzing, and aset of deep purple curtains miraculously appeared in front of them. Amandarubbed her eyes. In the time it took her to take a breath, the curtains weredrawn. The brilliant white light that had pulled them into the stone arch nowhovered between the open curtains. It started to radiate out, then draw in,out, then in, changing its shape with each rhythmic movement, until it finallytransformed into a woman.

The woman was beautiful in an otherworldly way. She hadlong, fair, flowing hair adorned with quartz crystals. Piercing blue eyesstared back at Amanda like she was peering into her soul. She had a long narrowface with high cheek bones that tapered down to a firm chin. Her nose was longand slender. Amanda smiled at her. The woman smiled back. Her teeth were white,small, and even. She was perfect in every way. A rich-blue sleeveless linenrobe adorned her slim body, accentuating her ivory skin.

I wonder if she’s a princess. Amanda didn’t doubt it, especially with all the jewelrythe woman wore. A sparkling metallic snake bracelet wound around her left arm,a string of gleaming pearls and shells hung around her neck, and a silver beltstrewn with various green, blue, and red gems hugged her waist. The only pieceof clothing that didn’t seem to belong was a plain pair of woven sandals.

Melody pushed Drake behind her and took a few stepsforward. “I demand that you tell us where we are!”

The beautiful woman gave Melody a gentle smile, and nodded.She opened her arms wide and said, “Welcome to the Temple of Poseidon, in theCity of the Golden Gates.”

Melody jerked. “I-I beg your pardon?”

“Atlantis,” Professor Lucas answered in a whisper. “We’rein Atlantis.”

Excerpt from The Last Timekeepersand the Dark Secret:

“I wonder what else isdown here.” Drake beamed his cell phone across the basement, hitting jars ofjams, pickles, and relishes. His stomach growled.

Jordan pulled the cheesefrom his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Trade you for your phone.”

“Best. Trade. Ever.”Drake passed his phone to Jordan.

Jordan walked over andgrabbed a jar of pickles off the dusty shelf. At least they wouldn’t arrive atthe baron’s place hungry. He hoped his uncle had managed to stop Amanda’sbleeding. His hand tightened over the jar, the ridges of the lid cutting into hispalm. A scrape from behind the shelves made Jordan jump.

“Hello?” he asked,pushing jars aside. He flashed the cell phone into the small, dark area.

“Who ya talking to,Jordan?” Drake asked with his mouth full of cheese.

“Shhh, Drake.” Jordanlistened. Hearing nothing, he shrugged and turned back around.

“I thought I heard—”Jordan stopped and pointed the phone at Ravi. His jaw dropped. “A-Are youserious, Sharma?”

Drake spat out hischeese, snorting with laughter.

“Is there a problem?”Ravi asked, tying the bowtie of his tuxedo.

“You look like a penguinwith attitude!” Drake slapped his knee.

“Say what you want, butI’m glad we didn’t hit the cleaners on the way to school now,” Ravi replied,pulling down his sleeves, “or else I wouldn’t have these dry clothes.”

Jordan chuckled.Suddenly, he heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps squeakingdown the stairs. Panicking, Jordan stuffed Drake’s phone in his track suitjacket’s pocket and waved Drake over by the shelves. Drake slipped behindJordan just in time, before the small light bulb above the bottom of the stairsclicked on. Jordan swallowed hard. There, staring directly at Ravi was a portlyman in a blood-stained apron. Tufts of blond hair sprouted from the sides ofhis balding head. His brown trousers were pulled up past his waist, making himresemble an evil garden gnome. In one of his hands, he held a huge butcherknife, its blade flecked with blood.

Wielding the knife, theman pointed at Ravi. “Who are you?”

Ravi licked his thicklips nervously. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.”

Excerpt from The Last Timekeepersand the Noble Slave:

Drake glanced at Elvisstanding by the back of the wagon, and their eyes locked. He didn’t appear tobe dressed like the slaves Drake remembered in movies or had seen in textbooks.Wearing a dark frock coat over a white linen shirt, and a pair of tan trousers,Elvis seemed dressed more for city living instead of country life. He smiled atDrake and tipped his charcoal derby at him again. “Is…is Elvis your slave?” Drakeasked.

“He’ll be free once Ipass on.” The sides of Dixie’s hazel eyes crinkled. “But Elvis sometimes thinkshe’s the one who wears the pants on account he takes care of me. Taught him howto read and write as best I could, but as you see, people don’t know what tomake of him. His skin’s lighter than some white folks I know.”

“So Elvis is an albino.”Drake rubbed his chin. “I thought so. His skin would be the same color as mineif it wasn’t for the lack of a particular enzyme in his body.”

“Not sure what the devilyou said, but sounds like you’re one smart boy. If I was you, I wouldn’t showoff your schooling to the people ’round here. Folks don’t take too kindly toeducated blacks, free or not.” 

“Don’t worry, Dixie,he’ll keep his mouth shut.” Jordan nudged Drake. “Right?”

“When hell freezesover,” Drake whispered to Jordan. He looked up at Dixie and grinned. “Right.”

“Let’s go, children,into the wagon.” Melody gave them the come along sign. “We don’t want to takeup any more of Dixie’s valuable time.”

Dixie guffawed. “Pay nomind to the time, Melody. My pappy taught me that you get what you need inlife, and I got plenty of time to help others get to where they need to be.”

The sound of Treenagrunting into the back of the wagon made Amanda giggle. Drake caught Treenascowling at Amanda while Jordan helped her in. Ravi followed Jordan, carefulnot to brush his sherwani against the rough wooden sides. The wagon creakedagainst the added weight, but it seemed sturdy enough to transport them on therugged dirt road. The Prof assisted Melody into the wagon, and she found aplace next to Treena near the front. Jordan and Amanda sat next to each othernear the back gate, while Ravi brushed away the dust from one of the sacks ofgrain before he planted his butt on it. Drake had never known Ravi to be thisanal about anything, especially clothes.

“Come on, Drake,” TheProf held out his hand, “last but not least.”

Drake started toward thewagon and stopped, feeling a twinge in his bladder. Looking both ways, he spieda copse of tall shrubs leafy enough to allow him some privacy. “Um, give me asec, Prof. Nature calls.”

“Hold on, I’ll come withyou.”

“No thanks. I think Ican handle this task.” 

Drake darted toward theshrubs before Professor Lucas or Melody could protest. Finding the mostappropriate spot, he unzipped his pants and proceeded with his business. Assoon as he was done, he zipped up his pants the same time a calloused handroughly covered his mouth. Drake’s neck muscles corded while he was draggeddeeper into the forest with what felt like a gun shoved between his shoulderblades.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK:  https://books2read.com/u/b5ExvR