Always a Booklover

The magic of books just enchants me. I love reading, what more can I say?

Blog Tour: Shadowland by C.M. Gray - Guest Post + Giveaway


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Today, we have Christopher joining us with a guest post about his motivation as an author! We also have a giveaway lined up for you! Simply fill in the Rafflecopter form and you're done! As of now, there will be a single winner, but if response is good, there will be more winners! All winners will receive a Smashwords coupon to download the book. You can then transfer it to whichever device you want! :) So yep, do sit back and enjoy today's post!


Shadowland by C.M. Gray

We grow up with the Legend of King Arthur ... But where did he come from? Who was Merlin? What part did the Druids play in bringing Arthur to his round table? Shadowland is the story that came before, when Britain was in its darkest age. It tells of the start of the Pendragon line and the birth of a legend.


`I have lived more years than I can remember, probably more than the sum of all your years combined. Kings have called me friend and brigands have sworn to burn the flesh from my bones even if they have to search all seven halls of the shadowland to find me.'

On the night of midwinter's eve, a storyteller takes his listeners back to the Dark ages and a tale from his youth.

Usher Vance and Calvador Craen return to their village to find it being attacked by a Saxon and Pict war party. With the help of an aging bowman they pursue the warriors and manage to free Cal's sister. Now being hunted they escape into the forest and follow the path a druid sets them on find welcome and a few surprises with a rising army of Britons set upon reclaiming their land from the Saxon invaders.

With the death of Ambrosius at Mount Badon a new king must rise to meet the challenge and return the land to the tribes.

Buy it from Amazon | Smashwords

Check it out on Goodreads!


C.M. Gray


Born in Essex, England in 1963 I have since been lucky enough to live and travel in many countries around the world. In fact I have lived more time outside of England than I have living there! Home for me now is just outside of Barcelona, Spain where I live in a house in the middle of the forest with my Dutch born wife and two children, Dylan and Yasmin.


My writing is mostly fantasy and many of the experiences I have had in Asia, Africa and the middle east come to life in my writing. The Flight of the Griffin follows the adventures of a group of young orphans as they battle demons and bandits on a magical quest to stop the world tipping into Chaos. Shadowland blends fantasy with history as an old story teller takes his audience back to Britain's dark ages.



And now, let's welcome Christopher to the blog to talk with us a little about his motivation!


Motivation as an Indie author

There is an old saying that everybody has a book or two inside them, I remember hearing that echoing around in my head for years. I have been an avid reader since I was about eleven years old. I remember starting on books like Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and The Secret Seven. Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe soon followed and by my early teens I had read everything by Wilbur Smith and was starting on the Steven King books as they were just coming out (yep, I’m that old!).


I discovered the world of fantasy in my twenties when discovering an old copy of The Hobbit in a second hand book shop. The Lord of the Rings soon followed. Those books unlocked a certain something in my head, as I know they did for many writers.


Fast forward a good few years, and after travelling the world, living in places like France, Amsterdam, Israel, India, Hong Kong and The Philippines, I settled in Spain with my wife and two Children, Dylan and Yasmin.
At the time I typed out my first sentence, Dylan was still a baby and my wife had discovered reality TV shows. I took a distinct dislike to watching people make fools of themselves trying to sing, and sat down at my laptop.


‘We all have a book or two inside us... ’ It was still there. Little did I realise, but the experience of writing was better than watching a film, better than playing a game on a computer and even better than reading a great book; it turned out to be all three things combined!


I type really fast and to be honest the first draft of anything I write is filled with mistakes and has very little grammar; I just have to get the ‘story’ out. It’s like reading that great book but controlling the characters as I would in the computer game and the film just plays in my mind.


About four months after sitting down that first time, the first draft of The Flight of the Griffin was born. I proudly typed ‘The End’ and thought I had made it; I was an author! However, reality struck when I started reading and found I had to do an awful lot of work to bring it into any kind of legible state! When I had done my best with it I had to pass it over to an editor and it’s amazing what a really good editor will find. I now work with a wonderful lady on my books named Caro from Carocaro editing. Caro is a wonderful person who is very supportive and, as a retired teacher, really good at helping me produce the best book I possibly can. I sit reading her edits shaking my head thinking ‘How on earth did I miss that... and that ... and...




Now with two books published on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords, and paperbacks of both available on Amazon and LULU and all selling well, I’m back to writing again and working on the final chapters of the sequel to The Flight of the Griffin, it has a working title at the moment of Chaos Storm.


What motivates me to write? Well it’s just the best thing I can imagine... well, one of the best things... I don’t write in any structured way. I hate the idea of coming up with a basic plot and filling in the gaps, that’s far too constrained and confined. When sitting down for the first time, I spend some time coming up with what I believe is a great first line, and then see where that will take me. A page or two in and a scene begins to unfold for me and ideas start to flow. After a chapter or two, I have an idea where a story is hiding and start to chase it. I then start to notice where a subplot might be and expand on that so that by the third or fourth chapter I may have three or four ‘threads’ that are flowing. It’s then a bit of a task to keep tabs on these threads so I tend to make notes; the worst thing you can do as a writer is to leave something hanging and unfinished. Towards the last third of the book I’m getting worried about an ending, the ending just has to be good! I suppose all these things are what motivate me and it really is a lot of fun. When I start to get feedback and positive reviews it really motivates me to write more. A writer needs readers and I only know if my writing is good if the reviews are good, so please, read my books and review them if you like them!


Anyhow, if you’ve ever heard a small voice in the back of your head telling you to switch off the television and write a book, give it a go. We all do have a book or two inside us and it may just be that your one is an awesome read!

And now, enter the giveaway here! 1 winner will be selected, but if response is good, I will increase the total number of winners! So don't worry, just enter and you may just win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Book Feature: Asenath by Anna Patricio

Hey guys! Today, I'll be featuring an author and her book on my blog. Asenath is a historical romance set in ancient Egypt. What's more, the main characters in the book are even biblical characters! Now, I haven't read the book yet, so I cannot tell you what I think of it. But I will say this. When I first saw the blurb, I was instantly intrigued and got it off Amazon immediately (it was free at the time). I hadn't even been contacted by the author yet, so I had no influence whatsoever. It just completely captured me!


Asenath by Anna Patricio

Two Destinies...One Journey of Love

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

Buy it from Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble | Powell's Books

Check out the book trailer here!


Anna Patricio


Anna Patricio is a lover of ancient history, with a particular interest in Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. She is also intrigued by the Ancient Near East, though she has not delved too much into it but hopes to one day.

She undertook formal studies in Ancient History at Macquarie University. She focused mostly on gyptology and Jewish-Christian Studies, alongside a couple of Greco-Roman units, and one on Archaeology. Though she knew there were very limited job openings for ancient history graduates, she pursued her degree anyway as it was something she had always been passionate about.

Then, about a year after her graduation, the idea to tackle historical fiction appeared in her head, and she began happily pounding away on her laptop. ASENATH is her first novel.

Recently, she traveled to Lower Egypt (specifically Cairo and the Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. She plans to return to Egypt soon, and see more of it. In the past, she has also been to Athens and Rome.

Anna is currently working on a second novel, which still takes place in Ancient Egypt, but hundreds of years after ASENATH.




And now, let's welcome Anna to the blog to have a little chat with us! :)


Hey! It’s lovely to have you on the blog today! So, shall we begin? J

Hello Victoria, thank you for having me. Yes, we shall!

For starters, why not tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

I am a debut author. My novel Asenath is set in Ancient Egypt and is about the little-known wife of Joseph of the coat-of-many-colours.

Being an author of historical fiction, it might come as a surprise that I used to detest history as a child. I thought it was a tremendous bore. This is probably because in my younger years, I equated history with having to memorise lengthy lists of dates and names. Hence, whenever I would hear about something history-related, I would immediately tune out.

However, in my second year of high school, I had a brilliant teacher who was like a storyteller. She made history come alive, not to mention she did not make me memorise anything either. Not only did I truly learn about history, I even began to love it.

When I entered university, I decided hands down that I would study Ancient History. If my childhood self were to see me today, I think she would get the shock of her life.

Last year, I had the pleasure of traveling to the setting of my novel. My mum and I went on a bonding excursion to Egypt, Israel and Jordan. It was a wonderful experience. I will especially never forget climbing Mt. Sinai. It wasn’t easy, admittedly, but it is something I would not have wanted to miss out on.

As for something not many people know… hmm… well, this is totally random: I can’t eat onions. I cannot stand them. I guess this came to mind because many folks seem to be astonished whenever I mention this.
I used to be able to tolerate onions though. However, one day I ate a pizza that had too many onion slices in it. Since then, I have been careful to avoid them. Whenever I order food, I always ask the server if there are any onions in it, and if so, could they please exclude them.

What made you want to become a writer?

I have always been inclined to writing since childhood. That is to say, I felt more capable of it than, say, sports, singing, dancing, drawing etc. Whenever I wrote something for school, I would always get positive feedback.

However, I had trouble with writing outside of school requirements. The reason was simple: I did not know what it was that I wanted to write. I tried my hand at various things, mostly poetry and short stories (and I never thought to attempt a novel). But it felt and looked forced. So I thought perhaps writing was a fleeting thing.

Not long after my graduation from uni though, the idea to write a novel suddenly appeared to me. I don’t know why and how it happened, but I am glad it came. Now, as long as I can write, I will be happy.

So in short: I did not look for the writing life. It found me.

Do you have any hidden talents? *wink*

Well, I make pretty good spaghetti, satay, and fritata! Though of course, I wouldn’t make them at the same time.

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

With Asenath, that was pretty easy. I have been an enthusiast of the Joseph story for a long time. Though for the record, I am not too crazy about the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. It’s not really my type of thing.

Anyhow, I grew really curious about his wife Asenath. There did not seem to be much mention of her. I looked her up and found hardly anything on her.

I then thought to imagine what she might have been like. And I have actually been playing around with ideas for a novel about her since my uni days. In between my studies, I would write these really random scenes.

Backtracking a bit, I ought to add that when the writing idea came to me, I thought this would be a good opportunity to take the Asenath novel to the next level. Or, to be more precise, to seriously work on it. So I did.


Probably, I might not have thought to imagine about Asenath’s life if I had not been introduced to the historical fiction genre. Back in the day, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as historical fiction – and it could be because I eschewed from all things history, due to my previous perception about it. But not long after I came to love history, an acquaintance recommended to me Wilbur Smith’s River God. Since then, I have been hooked.

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Both. With principle characters though, I have an easier time basing them on people I know. I won’t mention names though.

But I think it’s enriching that I’ve met all sorts of people, both the good and the bad. These experiences have richly contributed to my writing.

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

As I mentioned, it is a fictional memoir of Joseph’s wife. It is written entirely from the POV of Asenath, though Joseph still figures prominently in it.
The Bible mentions that she is the daughter of a high priest. In my novel, she is the priest’s adopted daughter. Her origins are in an inconspicuous fishing village along the Nile. When a group of marauders ransack the village and murder her family, she and other orphans are rescued and brought to the temple, where she is later adopted.

The story of Joseph is one of the world’s most beloved tales, enjoyed by people regardless of their faith. I thus thought it would be interesting to present his story as seen through the eyes of the woman he would marry.

What do you love most about the writing process?

I guess the mere fact that I am doing something I truly enjoy. There is nothing more fulfilling than having a job you truly love.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

This may sound totally predictable, but I would have to say Joseph and Asenath. They have been really fun to work with. Some readers have been suggesting to me a sequel of Asenath. And why not? I’d love to meet up with Joseph and Asenath again. They’re a lovely couple.

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future, and maybe other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

The abovementioned Asenath sequel is probably still something for the farther future. Currently, I am working on a novel set during the time of Moses.

I know it seems planned out that after writing about Joseph, I would write about Moses. But like what happened with Asenath, the idea found me! I totally was not expecting it.

This time, my heroine will be the princess who adopts him. She is not as obscure as Asenath, but again, not much is mentioned about her. So it will be nice to explore her emotions and motivations.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

All hues of purple – lavender, indigo, violet, orchid etc.

Favorite place?

Egypt and Israel. Plus my house. It’s a sanctuary.

Favorite book?
I have a lot, but these are my tops: Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha (which, I must say, influence Asenath), Wilbur Smith’s River God and Warlock, Alex G. Chappell’s Joseph and Asenath, and Gilbert Morris’ Till Shiloh Comes.

Favorite genre? (and why, if you like)

Historical and Biblical fiction, needless to say. Although I also try to expand my horizons. I pretty much enjoyed Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club, which I read some years ago

To end off, is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

May you always drink from the Nile. (A common Egyptian blessing.)

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you, Victoria. My pleasure as well. Have a lovely day.




So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Book Feature: Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Hey guys! Welcome to another day where I feature Whitney and her book, Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It. It is a chick lit novel, good clean fun and a fast, flirty read. So, what are you watiting for? Dive in and start this!


Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Ever had a secret you were terrified would get out?

MIKAYLA: Cute Canadian college girl turned world-famous, super- sexy pop-star practically overnight. And still figuring out if she belongs in this celebrity wonderland.

JORDAN: The only genuine guy in all of L.A. Law student, and extremely attractive. Also happens to hate the Hollywood celebrity scene.

MATT: Stupid, lying, money-loving ex-boyfriend trying to get back into Mikayla's life and ruin every hope she has with Jordan.

KURT: Personal trainer, confidant and only true friend Mikayla has in Hollywood. Questionable fashion sense included.

CHERYL: Completely psychotic manager.

The next three months? Happily ever after with Jordan. Or social and career ruin with no hope of ever finding true love . . . .

What people are saying about it:
~"The book is comical, witty, and romantic. It is a perfect read for travel, at the beach, by the fireplace, anytime you want to sit back relax and be entertained."


~"I enjoyed all her characters and laughed many times at different conversations, which were--in my opinion--spot on."


~"It was not the usual stereotype ending."


~"It was like reading US Weekly, only not as trashy and better written."


~"Thought it would be a predictable book, but the author kept making turns that kept me from putting the book down."


~"Fun, insightful, and filled with characters you both love and love to hate, this is the next must-read chick lit."

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Whitney Boyd


Whitney Boyd was born and raised in Calgary to parents who loved reading and shared that passion with their children. Today, Boyd loves traveling and over the last few years has lived in various parts of the United States including Utah, Florida and Idaho. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Spanish. Boyd married her husband, Stephen, in 2009 and together they enjoy camping, hiking, fishing and spending time together.




So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and please do leave a comment! :)

Book Feature: The Brainiacs by Brook Syers - Author Interview

Hey guys! Today I'll be featuring an author on my blog, Brook Syers. Brook has recently released the second book of his Brainiacs series. The book featured today will be the first book in the series, The Brainiacs. It was published on February 22, 2012. Brook will also be joining us with an author interview!



The Brainiacs by Brook Syers

fter graduating from Harvard and returning home to the worst economy in decades, Theo Phillips is forced to swallow his pride and take a job at a burger joint. An act of violence against a co-worker puts him at the center of a deadly drug war that threatens to destroy his hometown. Determined to fight back, he and his childhood friends band together to challenge the gangs. Using their unique skill sets, cutting edge technology, and psychological warfare, they fight for those who can't protect themselves.

Action-packed and suspenseful with surprising moments of humor, The Brainiacs is a tale that grabs you with the very first sentence and captivates all the way to the shocking conclusion.

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Why not check out the sequel to The Brainiacs, The Brainiacs vs. The Ravens here?


Brook Syers


A graduate of The University of Texas, Brook has been a practicing CPA and bean counter for over 10 years. On the weekends he likes to BASE jump, skydive, rock climb, free-dive, hunt Great White sharks, and participate in other life-threatening activities. Actually, he doesn't do any of those things. He usually just comes home from work, eats dinner, plays with his son, and attacks the DVR with his wife. He follows UT football obsessively and occasionally tries to inspire young people to stop complaining about life, get out of debt, and save for their future. The inspiration for his first book, The Brainiacs, was his own childhood in which he was bullied until learning karate and fighting back. He lives with his wife and their son in Houston, Texas, which consistently ranks in the Top 10 of America’s Fattest Cities.




And now, let's welcome Brook to the blog for an author interview!


Hey! It’s lovely to have you on the blog today! So, shall we begin? J

Thank you and I was born ready to begin ;-)

For starters, why not tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Well I’m an accountant, so as you can imagine my life is very exciting and rewarding.  Actually, it’s pretty much the opposite of that.  I work as an internal auditor, meaning people aren’t too excited when they see me coming towards their office.  No one wants to invite the auditor to lunch, if you know what I mean.  I do have a Master’s degree in Criminology.  Does that make me sound more interesting and mysterious?         

What made you want to become a writer?

I could say I did it for the fame and fortune (if you are an indie writer, you are laughing right now) but I would be lying.  I became a writer simply because of….wait for it…..Envy! 
I read an article about a certain author making tons of money selling ebooks.  I downloaded a sample of their ebook and it was terrible.  When I say terrible, I mean it was basically unreadable.  That’s not to say that I can’t read, because I can, but there were tons of run-on sentences and grammatical errors.  Right then and there I decided I could write a book.  So there you have it.  I was envious of someone else’s success (typical American, right?) and figured I could replicate it, which I haven’t been able to do yet, but I’m working on it.  Apparently success takes lots of hard work.  Who knew?       

Do you have any hidden talents? *wink*

I can chirp exactly like a cricket.  I’m so good that I can approach a group of children, start chirping, point at the ground, and they will begin looking for the cricket. 

What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?

I love entertaining people.  I don’t mean having people over and serving them dinner with antique silverware, I mean grabbing someone’s attention and keeping it.    Whenever I write a book, I am inspired by the reaction I hopefully create for the reader.  It’s not uncommon for readers of my books to finish them in one sitting while ignoring their kids, skipping work, and foregoing bathroom breaks.      


Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The central character in my The Brainiacs series is a genius.  He graduated from Harvard and has a photographic memory.  So basically I used myself as a model.  Okay, that’s not true.  He is a figment of my imagination.  Each of my characters is a figment of my imagination, however some of the things that happen to them actually happened to me.  Most of the time, they react to these situations in ways that I wish I would have at the time.  Writing about them is kind of like a do-over for my own failed experiences.     


Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

There are two books so far in The Brainiacs series (The Brainiacs and The Brainaics vs. The Ravens).  They are both must-reads simply because I wrote them.  That and they are loaded with action, humor, and witty dialogue.  Seriously, you must stop reading this interview and go buy them right now!  You can buy both of them for less than a Grande Mocha Latte Frappuccino Vente Half-Caff at Starbucks.  And my books don’t have any calories, so you can enjoy them without fear of gaining weight. 


What do you love most about the writing process?

You mean other than the constant struggle against writer’s block and fear of failure?  I’ll go with the creativity.  I’m an accountant and unless you worked for Enron, you can’t be too creative when you’re an accountant.  Creating characters and storylines is a lot of fun and I enjoy making them come to life.  Artists and writers live for creating something out of nothing.        



And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

Most writers will pick their protagonist.  While I love mine (Theo Phillips), I would have to say my favorite character is Zing Li.  He showed great aptitude for math when he was a child and the Chinese government plucked him from his home and trained him to become a world-class hacker.  They sent him to America with an assignment (under the cover of an exchange student) and he joins up with Theo and the other nerds to fight the bullies.  He has a very interesting backstory and the best superhero name (The Angry Panda).   

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future, and maybe other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

I have been working on another series after finishing The Brainiacs vs. The Ravens.  It’s called The All-American Family and is basically a serialized sitcom in ebook format.  It is an ongoing story about a typical American family and the craziness of life and the pursuit of money – I mean happiness.  I don’t think there is anything out there quite like it among the millions of ebooks.  Each episode is jam-packed with humor and fun.  For example, in Episode 1, the parents decide to send their teenage children to Facebook addiction therapy and as you would expect, they don’t like it.       

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

Green.  It’s the color of my eyes so I see it every time I’m admiring myself in the mirror. 

Favorite place?

Austin, Texas.  The food is spectacular and there are tons of things to do.    

Favorite book?

Catch Me If You Can.  After reading it, I wanted to start forging checks and impersonating airline pilots.    

Favorite genre? (and why, if you like)

Crime thrillers – especially about serial killers.  After seeing The Silence of the Lambs, I wanted to be an FBI agent and hunt them down.  Then reality (bad eyesight, weight problem, small hands) hit.   

To end off, is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

I have my eye on a Ferrari that I would like to buy at the end of the year.  Please keep buying my books so I may do so.  Just kidding!  I would like to tell my readers that I truly appreciate them and the fact they have set aside time out of their busy schedules to read the words that I have written.  I know that my books are just an escape from the daily stressors of life and I love providing that outlet for them.  If you enjoy my books, please recommend them to your friends.  If you find typos or grammatical errors, you can blame my wife since she is my editor.      

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you!  It’s been a whirlwind, but writing books has become the love of my life.  Unless my wife is reading this, then scratch that.  

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and do leave a comment! :)

Blog Tour: Sacred Breath Series by Nadia Scrieva - Promo


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! I'm sorry this is a bit late, school was crazy busy today! First time I have access to a computer! So yep, today's blog tour is actually for two books - Drowning Mermaids and Fathoms of Forgiveness. Drowning Mermaids is the first book in the Sacred Breath series, while Fathoms of Forgiveness is the second.

Though I haven't read Fathoms of Forgiveness yet, I have already read Drowning Mermaids. I apologise that I am unable to put up a review for it right now, but do watch our for it in the next couple of days! I really did enjoy Drowning Mermaids and the book really kept me hooked all the way! It was an extremely enjoyable read and I certainly can't wait to read Fathoms of Forgiveness.

So yep, without further ado, let's begin! Oh yes, Nadida will be giving away an eBook copy of Drowning Mermaids to one randomly drawn commenter! So do comment and you will stand a chance to win this amazing book! :) So yes, do enjoy, I've rambled on long enough!


Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva

Deep under Arctic waters lies an ice kingdom carved into a glacier. Those who dwell within it possess magnificent biological secrets. Due to the dangers of impending war, the Princess of Adlivun is forced to flee her undersea utopia and regroup with her sisters in Alaska.

Captain Trevain Murphy is a successful king crab fisherman who has spent his life building his empire above the sea, and knows nothing of the empire beneath it. When he meets a mysterious dancer whose father has recently died, he extends kindness towards her, unaware of her unique genetics and royal lineage.

Trevain's attraction to the enigmatic Aazuria Vellamo will involve him in dangerous designs that will forever change his life, and his perspective on himself and his world. He embarks on perilous journeys in which he will need to release all of his insecurities and inhibitions in order to survive.



Fathoms of Forgiveness by Nadia Scrieva

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death—even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she has no faith in their feeble bond and knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged man would relish breaking her down and making her lose her sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands; she will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior woman with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing?


Nadia Scrieva


Nadia Scrieva was born in 1988 in Toronto, Canada. She studied English and Anthropology, graduating with an Honors B.A. from the University of Toronto in 2011. She likes knives. Writing has been the most meaningful part of her life since she was a child. Nadia loves receiving feedback from readers, so do not hesitate to contact her with any of your comments, questions, ideas, or just to say hello.



Time for a short excerpt!

Drowning Mermaids

It was his angel. He knew her, although she looked nothing like before. She was his Aazuria, his mythical heroine. In the dancing glow of the oil blaze, she was simply too dazzling to be real and he knew that he must be dying. As she hovered in suspension before him, her skin and hair were almost luminous in the dark water, almost phosphorescent. Perhaps she never had been real. It did not matter—she was firmly grasping his hands, and it sent a feeling of comfort and tranquility through him. He knew that she loved him.

He could see forgiveness and acceptance in her expression. None of the turmoil between them mattered any longer in this pacific moment. In her benevolent gaze, he could finally forgive himself. He smiled at her, although his vision was fading, and the world was disappearing. He tightly gripped her hands to thank her for coming back for him. He could not bear the thought of letting go; he did not want to be robbed of her touch. He tried to keep his eyes open for as long

as possible, to keep looking into her unfamiliar ultramarine orbs. So this was what she really looked like, in her element. He wished he could have known her true form. It was mystical.

Trevain could imagine no better way to die. No better sight to see the last time he closed his eyes. A peaceful smile descended on his face, and the captain’s tired eyes closed for what he knew to be the last time ever.

Fathoms of Forgiveness

Meeting the scrutiny of his steel-grey eyes made her feel sweltering hot and bitterly cold at the same time. It was a thousandfold more difficult to tolerate the intensity of his gaze when it was penetrating her skull from the front instead of the rear. She felt like her eyes did not offer as much protection as the dense bones of her skull had. He was already piercing beyond her eyeballs to knead her memories with his knuckles, and to dissect her thoughts with his fingernails. She tried to get past the pain in her skull to objectively observe her enemy. His jet-black hair was pulled back into its classic ponytail at the nape of his neck. Had he not changed his hairstyle in all this time? Had he not grown hideous with all the horrible deeds he had done?

It did not seem possible, but he looked exactly the same. Except for his eyes; those vicious grey-blue eyes would have terrified any lesser woman to tears. Visola could not help seeing the blatant resemblance to her daughter in his face. Although Alcyone’s coloring was closer to Visola’s own, there was still so much of Vachlan in her. Seeing this; seeing the glimpses of Alcyone in this man who was little more than a stranger, drew her spirit to him involuntarily. Visola realized that she had to face the terrible truth.

She was not strong enough to face the father of her child.

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting and do leave a comment! Remember, one lucky commentor will win an ecopy of Drowning Mermaids! Don't miss that chance! :) Oh yes, and want more chances to win? You can go to the other blogs on this tour too! Just click here!

Blog Tour: Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry - Promo

Hey guys! I'm so so sorry this is so late! I fell asleep last night, was too exhausted. I'm really sorry! My sincere apologies for the late post! So yep, let's start! Wild Princess is coming August 1, 2012 from Avon Books. It is a Victorian novel of Queen Victoria's daughters.


Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had nine children;nfour were girls. In this first book of the sensual historical romance series, Princess Louise, known as the "wild child" of the royal family, marries amidst scandal and threats against the Crown from Irish radicals. But when Louise discovers love, it isn't with the man the queen arranged for her daughter to wed.

To the court and subjects of Queen Victoria, young Princess Louise—later the Duchess of Argyll—was the “Wild One.” Proud and impetuous, she fought the constraints placed on her and her brothers and sisters, dreamed of becoming an artist, and broke with a three-hundred-year-old tradition by marrying outside of the privileged circle of European royals. Some said she wed for love. Others whispered of a scandal covered up by the Crown. It will take a handsome American, recruited by the queen’s elite Secret Service, to discover the truth. But even as Stephen Byrne— code name the Raven—vows to risk his life to protect the royal family from violent Irish radicals, he tempts Louise with a forbidden love that could prove just as dangerous.

In the vein of Philippa Gregory, Mary Hart Perry tells the riveting story of an extraordinary woman—a princess who refused to give up on her dreams, including her right to true love.

"In The Wild Princess, Mary Hart Perry spins a marvelous tale about the life of the real Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s most unconventional daughter—and the fascinating events that might have taken place between the cracks of recorded history. Full of romance and suspense, The Wild Princess is the life Louise could have—should have—had. Mary Hart Perry has created a masterly historical novel."
~Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of No Longer a Gentleman, and Dark Destiny as M. J. Putney.


"Romantic, exciting, historically accurate and deliciously imaginative, Mary Hart Perry's THE WILD PRINCESS is a lush and entertaining read that truly delivers. Perry creates a fascinating portrait of Princess Louise -- artist, wild child and modern thinker caught in the confines of her mother's strict court -- and immerses the reader in a vivid Victorian setting. I devoured the book and I'm eager to read more about Victoria's daring daughters!"
~Susan Fraser King, author of Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter


"THE WILD PRINCESS is a fascinating, intriguing glimpse into a royal household. There is the public image and then there is the reality that Mary Hart Perry brilliantly brings to life."
~Cathy Maxwell, NY Times bestselling author of Lyon's Bride





Mary Hart Perry


Mary Hart Perry lives in Maryland with her husband and two feline writing partners: Miranda and Tempest. She teaches at The Writer's Center in Washington, DC and is an inspiring speaker for international and regional organizations interested in the joys of history and fiction writing. She is an advocate for teen and adult literacy. You can reach her at Mary@MaryHartPerry.com. She invites you to "like" her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @Mary_Hart_Perry.



Time for an excerpt!


Osborne House, Isle of Wight
Wednesday, January 23, 1901
My dearest Edward,
            I write to you with a grieving heart. My emotions are so a-jumble at this moment I can barely stop my hand from trembling long enough to put pen to paper. As all of London wakes to the sad news, you too must by now be aware that Victoria, Queen by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India—my mother—has passed from this life. Last night I stood at her bedside along with my surviving sisters and brothers, the many grandchildren, and those most favored among her court. We bid our final good-byes, and she drifted away. Among us was the devoted Colonel the Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, who delivers this letter and accompanying documents, by hand, into your possession. 
The doctors say it was a cerebral hemorrhage, not uncommon for a woman in her 80’s, but I believe she was just tired and ready to rest after reigning these tumultuous sixty-four years, many of them without her beloved Prince Consort, Albert, my father, who died before you were born.
She was not a physically affectionate mother, demanded far more than she ever gave, often drove me to anger and tears, and very nearly destroyed my life…more than once. Yet I did, in my own way, love her.
            The enclosed manuscript is my means for setting straight in my own mind the alarming events of several critical years in my life. But more than that, it will bring to you, although belatedly—and for that I apologize—the truth. Your mother, my dearest friend, wished to tell you of these matters long ago. Indeed, it was she who compiled most of the information herein, using her rare skills as an observer of human nature and, later in life, as a gifted investigative journalist. I have filled in the few facts she was unable to uncover on her own. For selfish reasons I begged her to keep our secrets a while longer…and a while longer. Then she too departed from this world for a better one, leaving no one to press me to reveal these most shameful deeds. Indeed, Edward dear, I would not even now strip bare the deceptions played out in my lifetime, had they not so intimately involved you.
            Do these words shock you? If so, then you had best burn these pages and live the rest of your life in ignorance. But as I remember, you were a curious lad, and so I expect you will read on. However, before you go further, I must ask of you a solemn favor. What I am about to reveal is for your knowledge alone, that you might better understand both the gifts and the sins passed along to you. To share this account with others would cause scandal so damaging that our government would surely topple. Therefore, I implore you to choose—either destroy the enclosed manuscript this instant without reading it, or do the same after reading in private.
Regardless of your decision, I pray you will ever think of me as your devoted godmother and friend, and not hate me for the things I have done to protect you or, on my own behalf, simply to survive.
Be assured of my love,
Princess Louise, duchess of Argyll


March 21, 1871—Windsor Castle, St. George’s Chapel
Under siege, that’s what we are, Louise thought as she observed the mayhem beyond the church’s massive oak doors. Indeed the week-long crush of boisterous visitors had become truly dangerous.
“There must be thousands of them,” she murmured, more to herself than to any of her bridesmaids clustered around her.
Her brother Bertie gently closed the door, shutting out the cheers of the crowd. “It’s all right. The guardsmen have things well in hand.”
Scores of well-wishers from London and the surrounding countryside had arrived on foot and horseback, along with souvenir vendors, draysmen with cartloads of sightseers and hawkers of ale, roasted potatoes and meat pies. They clogged Berkshire’s country roads, converging on Windsor, making virtual prisoners of the royal family and their guests within the great castle’s walls. 
Many travelers hadn’t been content with a tourist’s hasty view of Windsor in the days before the wedding. They’d set up crude campsites outside the walls, lit bonfires that blazed through the night. Toasts to the bride and groom turned into drunken revelry. Hundreds pressed against groaning castle gates, hoping for a chance glimpse of the royal couple. Crowd control, never before an issue at a royal wedding, became a necessity. A nervous Queen Victoria called up her Hussars and a fleet of local constables to reinforce the castle’s guardsmen.
Louise stepped away from the chapel’s doors, fingering the delicate Honiton lace of her gown. Strangely, she wasn’t worried about being hurt by the mob of well wishers. What concerned her was what her mother’s subjects might expect of her. 
To do her duty as a princess, she supposed, whatever that might mean to them. Or simply to “be a good girl and don’t make trouble,” as her mother had so often scolded her since her earliest years.
Standing at the very foot of the church’s long nave, Louise tried to reassure herself that all the pomp and fuss over her marriage was of no consequence. It would pass with the end of this day. The mob would disperse. The groundsmen clear away the mountains of trash. The important thing was—she had agreed to wed the marquess of Lorne as her mother wished. She was doing the responsible thing for her family. Surely, all would be well.
Louise rested her fingertips lightly on Bertie’s arm. The Prince of Wales stood ready to escort her down the aisle. She desperately wished her father were still alive to give her away. On the other hand, Papa might have talked her mother into letting her wait a little longer to marry. But, of the six girls in their family, it was her turn. In the queen’s mind, Louise at 23 was already teetering on the slippery verge of spinsterhood. An unwed, childless daughter knocking about the palace was a waste of good breeding stock.
Louise felt Bertie step forward, cued by the exultant chords of organ music swelling to the strains of the Wedding March’s intricate harp obbligato. She matched his stride, moving slowly down the long rose petal-strewn quire toward her bridegroom.
Another trembling step closer to the altar, then another. Wedding night jitters? Was that the source of her edginess?
Definitely not. The panic swelling in her breast could have little to do with a bride’s fragile insecurity regarding her wifely duties in bed. Louise felt anything but fragile and more than a little eager for her husband’s touch. Nevertheless, she sensed that something about the day was disturbingly wrong. Sooner or later, she feared it would snap its head around and bite her.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds and drew three deep breaths while letting her feet keep their own pace with the music.
“Are you all right?” Her brother’s voice.
She forced a smile for his benefit. “Yes, Bertie.”
“He’s a good man.” The Prince had trimmed his dark mustache and looked elegantly regal, dressed in the uniform of their mother’s Hussars. He had initially stood against the marriage, believing his sister should hold out for a royal match. But now he seemed resigned and loath to spoil her day.
“I know. Of course he’s good.”
“You like him, don’t you?” Not love him. They both knew love didn’t enter into the    equation for princesses. The daughters of British royals were bred to marry the heads of state, forge international alliances, produce the next generation to sit upon the thrones of Europe.
“I do like him.”
“Then you’ll be fine.”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I will.” Somehow.
Three of her five bridesmaids—all in white, bedecked with garlands of hothouse lilies, rosebuds, and camellias—led the way down the long aisle, leaving the two youngest girls in Louise’s wake to control the heavy satin train behind her. The diamond coronet Lorne had given her as a wedding present held in place the lace veil she herself had designed. 
She felt the swish of stiff petticoats against her limbs. The coolness of the air, captured within the church’s magnificent soaring Gothic arches, chilled her bare shoulders. Yards upon yards of precious hand-worked lace, seemed to weight her down, as though holding her back from the altar. An icy clutch of jewels at her throat felt suddenly too tight, making it hard to breathe.
Her nose tingled at the sweet waxy scent of thousands of burning candles mixed with perfume as her guests rose to view the procession. The pulse of the organ’s bass notes vibrated in her clenched stomach. Ladies of the Court, splendid in silks and brocades and jewels, the gentlemen in dignified black or charcoal grey frock coats, turned heads her way in anticipation—a dizzy blur of smiling, staring faces as she passed them by.
But a few stood out in sharp relief against the dazzling splendor: Her dear friend, Amanda Locock beside her handsome doctor-husband, their little boy wriggling in Amanda’s arms. The always dour Prime Minister Gladstone. A grim-faced Napoleon III, badly reduced in health after his recent defeat by the Prussians. Her brothers and sisters: Affie, then Alice and Vicky with their noble spouses. A predictably bored looking Arthur, always solemn Lenchen and young, fidgety Leo. Bertie’s lovely Danish wife Alix clasped a hand over each of their two little boys to keep them quiet.
Louise lifted her gaze to the raised box to her left where she knew her mother would be seated. Beatrice, youngest of Louise’s eight siblings, sat close by the queen, gazing down wide-eyed at the ceremony. Victoria herself, a plump figure in black mourning muslin six years after her husband’s death, her grim costume relieved only by the rubies and blues of the Order of the Garter star clipped over her left breast, looked down on the wedding party as though a goddess from Mount Olympus.
They’d all come to witness Louise’s union with the striking young man waiting for her at the chapel’s altar. The marquess of Lorne. John Douglas Sutherland Campbell. A stranger to her in many ways, yet soon to be her wedded mate.  Beside him stood his kinsmen in striking Campbell-green kilts, sword scabbards strapped to hips, hats cocked forward.
Louise felt an almost equal urge to rush into her intended’s arms…and to turn around and run back out through the chapel doors. Into the fresh spring air, breaking through the crowd to escape down Windsor’s famous Long Walk and into the countryside. To freedom.
But was that even a possibility now?
All of the country had lapped up news of her betrothal as eagerly as a cat does cream. Hadn’t the newspapers been chock full of personal details for months? The chaperoned carriage rides through Hyde Park. The elaborate French menu for the wedding feast. Everything, from the details of her gown to advertisements placed by a London perfume manufacturer announcing their newest fragrance, Love-Lorne, had been gossiped about in and outside of the Court.
And then all of that fled her mind as Bertie deposited her before the archbishop and beside Lorne. Her husband-to-be stood breathtakingly handsome in his dark blue dress uniform of the Royal Argyllshire Artillery with its bits of gold braid, burnished buttons, and shining black leather boots that shaped his long legs to above the knees. A silver-hilted sword hung from the wide black patent belt that encircled his narrow waist. His hair, a glorious pale blond mane brushed back from his face, long enough to feather over his collar, looked slightly risqué and tempted her fingertips.
He took her hand in his. At his touch, she finally settled inside herself.
During the ceremony Louise was aware of her bridegroom’s eyes turning frequently to her. She did her best to meet his gaze, to bring a little smile to her lips and hope that some of it slipped into her eyes for him. Like her, he had blue eyes. But, while hers were a soft shade, the mesmerizing sapphire brilliance of the young marquess’s eyes never failed to startle people on meeting him for the first time. He was a Scot, one of her mother’s northern subjects. When his father passed, he would become the duke of Argyll. A minor title, but better than none at all in her mother’s view. For Louise’s part, titles were of no consequence. They marked a man as neither good nor bad, kind nor cruel, rich nor poor.
She had every reason to believe they’d get along well, even though they’d not once been left alone together. Still, their escorts had been discreet, allowing them to speak freely. Lorne had even shyly kissed her on the cheek, last night. In time, they might fall in love. She’d like that. And even if they didn’t, he would give her the children she so longed for. Life was full of compromises.
The archbishop was speaking in that sing-song voice of his that was at once soft yet somehow carried to the very back of the grandest church. Louise let the words wash over her, a warm and calming stream. She daydreamed of her honeymoon—Lorne making tender love to her, his soft hands opening her gown to touch the places on her body that most longed for his caresses. And she would discover ways to please him.
The images in her mind brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. She raised her eyelashes shyly to glance up at him in anticipation.
Their gazes met.
He grinned and winked. Did he know what she was thinking?
It was at that moment something odd caught her eye. A motion off to her left and above. Startled, she turned her head just far enough to take in her mother’s box.
John Brown, once a lowly ghillie in the queen’s stables at Balmoral in Scotland, and now her personal attendant and self-appointed bodyguard, stood behind Victoria physically blocking a man who seemed to be trying to force his way into queen’s box. A frisson of alarm shot through Louise.
“Steady,” Lorne whispered in her ear, grasping her hand. “Brown’s handling it.”
The archbishop, too, seemed to have noticed the disturbance, but he droned on, the ultimate performer under pressure.
Louise glimpsed Victoria waving off Brown. The stranger bent down as though to whisper something in the queen’s ear. He wore rough riding clothes, a long dung-brown overcoat of a less than fashionable cut, in what appeared to be scuffed leather. He looked unshaven. As if he hadn't bothered to even run a comb through his spiky black hair. In one hand he held not a stove-pipe top hat that was the only acceptable headwear for a gentleman in London—but a strange wide-brimmed style of black felt hat she’d never seen on any head in all of England.
Louise turned back to face the bishop, fearful of missing the rest of her own wedding. The next time she glanced back, the stranger had gone.
Lorne squeezed her hand, as if to say, All is well.
Was it? She shivered but forced a smile in return.
Then all at once, the archbishop was giving them his blessing. A joyous “Hurrah!” rang out in the chapel. Her new husband kissed her sweetly on the lips, and every concern fled her mind at this excruciatingly joyful moment.
All she could think of was the night that lay before them—her first night as a married woman.

2
Amanda Locock stood beside the dressing table in the bridal suite at Claremont House while Lady Caroline Barrington unpinned Louise’s hair and brushed it into soft golden-brown waves down her back. "I'm so sorry about bringing Eddie with me to your wedding dinner and concert,” Amanda said.
The music that followed the lavish meal at Windsor had been one formal event too many for a restless four year old. Amanda walked him up and down the great echo-y hallway outside the grand salon until he’d fallen asleep on her shoulder. She’d been able to bring him back inside in time for her to hear the lovely Bach violin solo, played so beautifully by Herr Joachim.
“You know how unpredictable my husband is. He promised to watch Eddie while I stayed for the reception and concert, but one of his patients was in urgent need of him."
                Louise waved off her concern, reached up and ruffled the little boy’s hair. No longer a toddler, Eddie still loved to be propped on his mother's hip. He buried his face shyly against her breast now, looking pink-eyed and exhausted by the day's activities.
                "You know I love to see Eddie any chance I get." Louise opened the drawer in her dressing table and pulled out a tin of salt-water taffies. "What you need, my darling, is a little more energy to get you through the rest of the day."
                "More sugar?" Amanda rolled her eyes. "Henry has this notion that my indulging the child with sweets keeps him up late at night." But she laughed as he selected with great concentration a single candy from the tin. "Here, love, let me unwrap that for you. Then you go sit on your favorite chair over there and suck on it while I talk to your godmother."
                "He's growing so fast," Louise said, her eyes misting with affection as she watched the child stride away from them. "Soon he'll be all grown up."
                "I know. That's why I'm particularly happy with the news I have to tell you." Amanda bounced on her toes and felt she might burst like an iridescent soap bubble with happiness.
                "News?"
                "I'm with child.” She giggled at Louise’s shriek of joy.  “Henry says the baby will be here in August." They had tried for a brother or sister for Eddie for years, but after miscarrying two babies she’d nearly given up hope. “I didn’t say anything to you sooner because of the other times, you know.” The thought of her lost babes nearly undid her.
                Louise shot to her feet, tears in her eyes, nearly knocking over Lady Car in her haste to reach Amanda and clasp her in her arms. “Oh, my dear, I’m so happy for you. Maybe a little girl then?”
                “We’ll see. Why so weepy? Are they tears of happiness for me?”
                “Of course.”
                Amanda knew better. “You and Lorne will have your own brood in no time. You’ll be tripping over little ones.”
                Louise laughed and wiped away her teardrops. “I’d love that. Truly.”
                “Your Royal Highness,” Lady Car interrupted with a meaningful glance toward the door.
                Louise smiled. “Yes, of course.” She turned back to Amanda. “Speaking of Lorne.”
Amanda gasped. “What a ninny I am, standing here gossiping with you while your new husband is waiting to take you off to bed.” She laughed, thrilled for her friend. No matter what Louise might think, Amanda was sure that marriage would agree with her friend. Children meant so very much to her, and Lorne seemed such a stable counterpart to Louise’s sometimes impulsive nature. “Come, Eddie. Let’s run along and let your Auntie Loosy be alone with her new husband.” She cast Louise a knowing look and teased, “Don’t need no pointers from an old married woman, do you now?”
                Louise lifted her gaze to the ceiling but watched Lady Car out the door before she responded. “It’s not as though it’s the first time; we both know that.”
                Amanda smiled. “’deed I do.” She had started toward the doorway when Louise reached out to clasp her arm and hold her back.
                “What do I tell him?” Louise’s face was tight with anxiety, her voice tremulous.
                Before she answered, Amanda pushed her son a few steps in front of her and out the door. “You wait for me right there,” she instructed him then ducked back inside the bedchamber.”The truth,” she whispered. “What else?”
                “I was wondering, maybe I could just say…nothing?
                “And you think the man won’t realize you’re not a virgin?” Amanda laughed. “That’s wishful, girl.” She winced. “Sorry I’m reverting to my old ways, Your Highness.”
                Louise cuffed her gently on the arm. “Stop that. We stand on no formalities, you and I.” She sighed. “I had guessed, from things my mother said in recent days, that Lorne might already know. So, why bring it up? I mean, it’s quite possible she’s told him about my wild years.”
                “About Donovan, you mean?”
                Louise shut her eyes and nodded. “I truly did love him, you know. To think he so suddenly took off. Not a word….”
                “Most of them do, dear.”
                “Well, I suppose I was naïve.”
                “Very.”
                “And I didn’t know that—“
                “Now isn’t the time to blame yourself.” Amanda touched Louise on the shoulder and gave her a comforting smile. “You were so very young. We both were. Anyway Donovan is in the past. I can’t imagine Lorne will reject you when he finds out you’ve had someone before him. Someone who really didn’t matter. Or at least…he doesn’t now. Lorne’s such a sensible, modern man.”
                Louise bit down on her bottom lip and gave her an anguished look. “I don’t know what to think.” She groaned. “But it would make sense that Mama would have told him I’d had…experience. Why else would she champion a marriage with someone who wasn’t a royal? A man with such a minor title.”
                “I don’t understand all the fuss.” Shaking her head, Amanda peered out the door to check on Eddie. Lady Car was entertaining him, coaxing the little boy to march up and down the hallway like a Beefeater. “You make it sound as if it’s never been done before, marrying a commoner.”
                Louise let out a bitter laugh. “Not for over three hundred years has a child of an English monarch married outside of the royal families of Europe.”
                Amanda winced. She hadn’t realized that. “Then your mother must have discussed this with him, don’t you think?”
                Louise shook her head. “I just don’t know.” She looked down at her hands, clenched in front of her. “I do need to tell him. I know that, Amanda. It’s only fair. And if he is upset…well, I must then deal with the consequences.”
        


So yep, that's about it for today! Once more, sorry for the late post!

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