#Sunday Snippets, #Weekend Warriors, 'Dancing With Fate' - '...Myrddin crept closer and a twig cracked underfoot.'

Hello fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Welcome to  my Weekend Warriors post. I'm continuing this week with another snippet from my fantasy novella, Dancing With Fate. Thank you to everyone who's been following my snippets so far. 

I apologise for not visiting as many of my fellow Weekend Warriors as I should have last week - somehow the time just got away from me and the week disappeared!  I'll try to do better this weekend.

Weekend Writing Warriors for Eight Sentence Sunday

Snippet Sunday Facebook Group

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above, there's something for all tastes.

Last time:
Terpsichore, muse of dance, is dancing near a waterfall in 5th century Wales, unaware that she is being observed. (Read last week's snippet HERE)

 (As usual, some creative editing of punctuation and slight variation from published version to comply with  8-10 sentence rule)

SNIPPET

Myrddin watched, enthralled, he'd never known anyone to dance as she did. The way she swivelled her hips had him mesmerized. Her voice was soft and clear, with a haunting quality, it reminded him of the musical bells of Maes Gwyddno, the civilization that now lay drowned beneath the sea. At times of danger, if one listened hard enough, one could hear the bells ringing from beneath the waves. Moreover, it may have been a trick of the light, but she seemed to radiate a soft glow, pure and shimmering. He shook his head in disbelief, he must be imagining it. He'd eaten nothing since dawn, this was surely a vision brought on by weakness from hunger.

Myrddin crept closer and a twig cracked underfoot. Before he could take cover, the beautiful dancer stood motionless. Her eyes, green as the depths of the ocean, looked directly into his. 

BLURB

DANCING WITH FATE

When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. 
 Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 

From one minute past midnight Pacific time on July 1 until After 11:59pm Pacific time on July 31 DANCING WITH FATE will be on sale for ONLY 99c  so if you have been enjoying the snippets and would like to read the whole novella at the bargain price of 99c go to:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53249 You will see the full price but will be only be charged 99c at the checkout. (You do need to register but it's fairly painless and doesn't cost you anything!)  Please note, This offer isn't available at Amazon, or any other retailer, it's a Smashwords special promotion.

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Heart Healer - by Leslie Bowes

Happy Independence Day to all my American friends and followers!

It's always a pleasure to welcome a fellow Wild Rose Press author to my Blog.

Leslie Bowes has recently released her time travel romance 'Heart Healer' and  I asked her what inspired her to write the book, and also to tell us a little bit about herself.:

               "Heart Healer started out as a historical romance called Rose Hill but it did not get published. So I stared on a contemporary romance called A Second Change At Love.  When I was in middle of writing, I noticed something was amiss. So, I pulled out Rose Hill again and put parts of Rose Hill and A Second Chance at Love together and it became Heart Healer.

I was born and raised in southern Maryland. When I was thirteen I moved to Summerville, South Caroline where I fell in love with the Low country culture and history. South Caroline was my inspiration for my book Heart Healer. Recently I moved to central Va and now I am enjoying the beauty and history of this area. The rolling hills and pastoral views will surely inspire ideas for future stories."

Buy now on Amazon

That's fascinating, Leslie, sounds like we're both country lovers. Now let's find out a little more about 'Heart Healer'.

BLURB:

Catherine Andrews is an English woman living in the 1800's. Her father sells her to Blake Von-Clyer to be his wife to pay off debts owed to Mr. Von-Clyer. Catherine soon finds out Blake is a cruel and horrible man.

On their wedding night, to escape his cruelty, she throws herself into the river. Death is better than marriage to a beast.

Christopher King is living in 2014 doing his best to raise his young son Ryan after his wife left him. One night, Christopher finds a woman in the river unconscious and barely breathing. She is also wearing old fashioned clothes. Christopher does everything in his power to help the young women. When Catherine regains consciousness, she finds herself in a strange and unbelievable situation. Terrified, she does her best to keep her guard up against Christopher. But as she gets to know him, she can't help but fall for the man who saved her life. When Catherine's dangerous past comes back to haunt her, it has Catherine and Christopher fighting for each other and their love.

Excerpt 

“That’s true, but I don’t need a servant. I need a wife.”

Catherine dropped the spoon as her whole body shook. What was her father planning to do? Hard work? A wife? What was going on? She was not her father’s slave to trade as he wished. She was his daughter. Too nervous to turn around, Catherine prayed that she heard wrong.

“What did you say?” her father asked, shocked.

“You heard me.” Mr. Von-Clyer laughed. “You had no problem selling her to me as a servant Mr. Andrews, but now that I want her for my wife your conscience haunts you. What’s the difference? Either way your debt to me is paid.”

“Catherine, get over here now!” her father yelled drunkenly. The longer she stared at the vein in her father’s neck; she realized that she was making him angrier than Catherine had ever seen before.

She slowly walked over to the table and stood in front of her father. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched him drink his last bit of wine.

“You will be Mr. Von-Clyer’s wife to pay off my debt.”

“What debt?” Catherine asked angrily.

“Catherine, do not speak unless you are spoken to,” her father snarled.

“What debt?” Catherine yelled.

Her father jumped up from his chair with an angry shout, bumping the table, but James jumped in front of him.

“You cannot treat Catherine like that, Father. She is your daughter and my sister, not your slave!” James yelled.

Catherine’s father was having none of that. He lunged for James, but Catherine got in between them before her father could do anything. She knelt in front of James and wiped his tears. All the while she prayed for strength.

“Thank you, James, but I need you to go to your room.”

“But, Catherine—”

“No buts. Go to your room and stay there until I come for you.”

As soon as James was in his room, Catherine’s father grabbed her arms and shook her hard.

“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again, Catherine! Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Catherine whispered, scared for her life.

“Good. Now go with Mr. Von-Clyer and pay off your debt.”

“Father, I beg of you. Tell me what my debt is?”

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

#Sunday Snippets, #Weekend Warriors, 'Dancing With Fate' - Someone's watching...

Hello fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Welcome to  my Weekend Warriors post. I'm continuing this week with another snippet from my fantasy novella, Dancing With Fate. Thank you to everyone who's been following my snippets so far. Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above and also below this post, there's something for all tastes.

Last time:
Terpsichore, muse of dance, is dancing near a waterfall in 5th century Wales, unaware that she is being observed. (Read last week's snippet HERE)

 (As usual, some creative editing of punctuation and slight variation from published version to comply with 10 sentence rule)

SNIPPET

She was the loveliest woman Myrddin had ever seen. Spellbound, he watched her step from the falls, he should have turned away but he found it impossible not to watch her as she dried herself. When she started to dance, he was captivated by her grace and the eloquence of her movements. She seemed unconcerned about her nakedness. Not that she had anything to be ashamed of; such exquisite beauty should not be covered. Long, dark red-brown hair fell like a veil of silk to below her knees. Her skin was smooth and flawless; her breasts firm and high, full but not heavy, above a tiny waist.

Her rounded hips undulated sensuously in time to her singing, while her upper body remained perfectly still, apart from the expressive movements of her arms. Her legs were slim and very long and she moved on tiptoe, her small feet scarcely seeming to touch the ground. Between her fingers, she held a long piece of silky material, which she swirled around her, until it seemed almost like a living thing.

BLURB

DANCING WITH FATE

When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. 
 Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 

From one minute past midnight Pacific time on July 1 until After 11:59pm Pacific time on July 31 DANCING WITH FATE will be on sale for ONLY 99c  so if you have been enjoying the snippets and would like to read the whole novella at the bargain price of 99c go to:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53249 You will see the full price but will be charged 99c at the checkout. (You do need to register but it's fairly painless and doesn't cost you anything!)  Please note, This offer isn't available at Amazon, or any other retailer, it's a Smashwords special promotion.

Don't forget to visit the talented authors who are also taking part in 'Sunday Snippets'

Weekend Writing Warriors for Eight Sentence Sunday

Snippet Sunday Facebook Group

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join