Author Event: Mists & Moonrise: An Anthology (Excerpt & GIveaway)

Mists and Moonrise: The Reluctant Brides Collection by Kathryn Le Veque, Eliza Knight, Madeline Martin, Catherine Kean, Laurel O'Donnell, Elizabeth Rose
on June 20th 2017
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
Goodreads

Welcome to the Mists and Moonrise collection, a new material set of historical romance novellas never before published.

An ancient Cornwall legend tells of king with a pregnant wife, warned by an oracle that the child born would be a woman so beautiful that countries would go to war over her. A princess was born to the king and queen, and when she became of age she was pledged to the son of an enemy. But the princess had fallen in love with a mere knight and together, they ran away to the caves of Cornwall to hide from the princess' betrothed. However, when it came clear that they would be captured - rather than live their lives apart - the princess and her knight took their own lives.

Now, it's said their blood stain the caves of St. Agnes' caves along the coast of Cornwall. Legend says that if two lovers touch the stain together, they will fall madly in love for eternity. But there's a catch - they must touch of their own free will.

Because of this legend, the caves of St. Agnes have drawn men - and women - seeking to make their mate fall in love with them, including many tales of reluctant brides and grooms.

In these six romantic novellas, read some of the romantic tales associated with this poignant legend.

Lady of the Moon by Kathryn Le Veque - A lady knight is hired by the father of a reluctant groom to take his son to the caves where he will meet his intended and they will touch the stains together. When the lady knight and the reluctant groom fall in love, will the groom honor his father's wishes or will he follow his own heart?

Laird of Darkness by Eliza Knight - When Lady Rosamond de Warenne is abandoned by her father in a remote cave, she doesn’t believe her fate could get any worse—until she’s kidnapped by a fearsome Highlander. Laird Tierney MacDougall, recently released from an English prison, is bent on revenge, starting with marrying the daughter of his tormentor. A union forged from vengeance is doomed to fail—or is it?

The Highlander's Untamed Lady by Madeline Martin - With long winters killing crops and food becoming scarce, Laird Evander Mackenzie will do anything to save his people from starving – even kidnap the feisty Diana Stuart at her father’s request. In a world filled with death and heartbreak, is it fate or legend that will hold them together?

That Knight by the Sea by Catherine Kean - Lady Adaline Mortimer never expected to see Garrett, the rebellious young lord she loved and lost, ever again. Yet, when she's kidnapped and held captive, the dark secrets of the past return. In the cave of St. Agnes, will she and Garrett win a second chance at true love, or will they perish just like the legendary lovers before them?

The Bravest Of Them All by Laurel O'Donnell - Sir Luke of Brackley rushes to save the sister of his betrothed when she is kidnapped. Always trailing in her older sister’s shadow, Nessa has kept her love of Luke hidden since their childhood. When Nessa discovers Luke is to marry her sister, will she condemn herself to a life of misery or risk her love on a legend?

Pirate In The Mist by Elizabeth Rose - When Brody’s crew turns mutinous, he is thrown overboard but is rescued by a fisherman and his beautiful daughter, Gwendolen. However, once it’s discovered he’s a pirate, everything changes. Can an act of nature and the legend of a cave turn enemies into lovers?

~~~~~~

This week we are excited to have the lovely ladies of Mists and Moonrise stop by to share snippets of their lovely anthology.

A reluctant bride,
A legendary love,
An anthology of brand new novellas by six best selling authors.
~~~~

Bravest of Them by Laurel O’Donnel 

About the book:

Sir Luke of Brackley rushes to save the sister of his betrothed when she is kidnapped. Always trailing in her older sister’s shadow, Nessa has kept her love of Luke hidden since their childhood. When Nessa discovers Luke is to marry her sister, will she condemn herself to a life of misery or risk her love on a legend?

“It looks like there are rocks all the way across.”  Luke pointed at an imaginary line from boulder to boulder across to the opposite shore.

Nessa wasn’t going to wait.  She wanted to prove she could do it.  She wanted to prove to him that she wasn’t useless.  She picked up her skirts and hopped onto one of the boulders.  She spotted another rock and jumped forward.  She was on the third rock when she looked back.  Luke was right behind her, holding his armor over his shoulder.  The setting sun washed across his shoulders with a red hue, highlighting his dark hair.  Nessa turned quickly away before she got distracted and jumped to the next boulder.  Her foot skidded on the slick surface and she wobbled.

Luke grabbed her arm, steadying her.

She nodded thanks to him and continued forward with a small leap to the next rock.

She was halfway across the river when Luke hissed, “Nessa!”  She turned to look at him and he waved her down.  She followed his example and crouched down on the rock.  The river rushed by the boulder she stood on, churning around her.  The hem of her skirt floated in the water.  She scanned the banks of the river behind them, but could not see the cause for Luke’s warning.  She glanced at Luke.  He was absolutely still, staring behind them at the shore.

Nessa waited.  And waited.  Finally, uneasy and confused, she whispered, “What is it?”

“I thought I heard something.”

Nessa looked at the bank, anticipating one of Urien’s men rushing out after them or Urien to emerge brandishing his sword.

A bush rustled.

Nessa gathered her skirts closer, preparing to flee.

Suddenly, the shrub erupted and a deer rushed out.  Nessa gasped.  The deer paused for a moment; the animal seemed as startled by them as they were of it.  Then, it hopped elegantly away.

Nessa’s heart slammed hard in her chest.  Her mouth was open in relieved surprise.  She glanced at Luke.  He was still crouched down on the rock, his expression a mirror of her own.  Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe it was evaporating fear, but laughter bubbled up from her throat.  A joyful release churned inside of her and she leapt over the remaining boulders with ease.  At the last boulder, she paused to look back at Luke.  He slammed into her, unable to stop his momentum.  She felt herself falling.

In one swift movement, Luke seized her around the waist and spun, pulling her close to him.  He simultaneously tossed his armor onto the shore and landed on his back on the bank of the river, Nessa on top of him.  Smiling, she boosted herself up to look down at him.  All her jubilant feelings vanished as she stared at him.  He was smiling a breathtaking, white-toothed grin that took her breath away.  She was close to him, very close.  She could feel the length of his hard body along hers, feel his breath fan against her skin, against her lips.  Her gaze shifted to his lips.  She had the sudden desire to kiss him.  To see what kissing him would be like.

His smile disappeared and his gaze moved slowly over her face to her lips.

A strange tingling sensation followed his gaze.  It was as though he had touched each spot on her face that his gaze had lingered on.   Nessa’s lips suddenly felt full.  She wanted to kiss him.  She wanted to feel his lips against hers.  She wanted to know what it was like to kiss him.  She leaned forward.

~~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~

Related Posts