My free novella, "Kind Eyes and A Lion's Heart," is now available in its entirety on my website.
I had originally planned to release it in installments, finishing just before attending before the Romance Writers of America's national conference in New York City. I thought that would be a good lead-in to the conference.
And then my athletic, multi-sports-playing husband was found to have a major blockage in the coronary artery, among others. He had an unexpected quadruple bypass, fortunately before he had a heart attack. I'm very grateful to the astute medical resident who recommended a stress test just to cover all the bases, the surgeon who performed the surgery, the cardiologists, the nurses, the physiotherapists, our family doctor, all the other many outstanding medical professionals who saw us through this experience, as well as our family, friends, my editor and agent, who were all so understanding and supportive.
My husband's recovery has been excellent, in no small part because he's a multi-sports-playing guy. But boy oh boy, if people ask me if I wish I lived in the past? OH, HECK NO! Like to write about it, wouldn't want to live there, or I'd be a widow.
And that's why I won't be at the RWA conference this year.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
FREE Novella - The Epilogue
KIND
EYES AND A LION’S HEART
EPILOGUE
Thus it was that
in the year of our Lord 1204, Sir Melvin de Courcellet and Lady Viola de Langbourgh
were married.
Many
who attended the feast did so because they were curious to see the young man
who had managed to win the hand of Lord Percival’s niece. Those who hadn’t met Melvin before were
shocked when they did, despite Lady Sylvia’s assertion that the marriage was a
true love match. They found it easier to
believe the rumors that the bride had been seduced, although it was difficult
to fathom how a dunderhead like Sir Melvin had succeeded. It just went to show that even supposedly clever
women could be tricked. They would have
to be wary of even apparently harmless young men.
Other
decided Sir Melvin must be a more shrewd, ambitious fellow than they guessed
and they paid greater heed to his opinions.
Lord Barengar did attend the wedding, with
his nose still swollen. That caused many
sighs among the ladies, for they feared his good looks would never be the same. No doubt that explained why he was so serious,
too.
Viola and Melvin didn’t care if people
believed they married for love or not.
They had, and they stayed in love as the years passed and their family
grew. In time, they became known for their
happy marriage, as well as their kindness and generosity.
And, it must be confessed, for Sir
Melvin’s tendency to talk.
This work is protected by copyright. See sidebar for notice.
Note: This novella is
PG13. With the exception of GWYNETH ANDTHE THIEF and THE WASTREL, my books are usually steamier.
Friday, July 17, 2015
FREE Novella - Chapter Seven, Part Five
KIND
EYES AND A LION’S HEART
CHAPTER
SEVEN
PART FIVE
“I can’t believe
you’re so pleased,” Lady Sylvia said to Viola later than same day as they
strolled in the rose garden. “I know you like him, but still! He’s not rich or handsome or…or anything!”
Viola
slipped her arm through the younger woman’s and led her to a more secluded
corner of the garden.
“He is
most definitely something,” she said
significantly. She looked around to make
certain no one else was nearby. “There
is nothing lacking about him when it
comes to other qualities one would wish in a husband.”
“What
do you mean? Generosity?”
Viola
laughed softly. “I suppose one could
call it that. Let me just say, he
doesn’t lack for passion. I have never
felt so wonderful as I did in his arms.”
Lady
Sylvia’s eyes grew as round as a millwheel.
“You don’t mean to say you’ve...?”
Viola
didn’t want to shock Sylvia too much. On
the other hand, it wouldn’t be long before Emil would let the secret out, even
if he’d been paid to keep it. The man
was a born tattle-tale. “Yes.”
Sylvia
gasped, then frowned and bit her lip before she intently whispered, “What was
it like? Really like?”
“When
you’re with a man who cares as much for your pleasure as his own, absolutely
wonderful,” Viola answered without hesitation. “Find a good, kind man who loves
you, Sylvia, and you’ll know exactly what I mean.”
The
gate opened and Melvin stuck his head inside, then grinned and entered. “There you are. Mind if I interrupt?”
“I
was, um, just leaving,” Sylvia said, blushing as she hurried away.
“I
hope I wasn’t interrupting anything important.
I didn’t mean to make her run off,” Melvin said as he gathered Viola in
his arms. “Much as I want to be with
you, I could have waited a little while.”
“It’s
all right,” Viola said, resting her head on Melvin’s broad shoulder. “I think I gave her something to think about
when it comes to men and marriage.”
“Speaking
of men, Barengar’s gone. Rode off a
little while ago. Says he’ll come back
for the wedding. I doubt it. His nose might still be swollen and he won’t
want a lot of people to see him that way.”
Viola
sighed so heavily, Melvin frowned.
“What’s the matter?”
“I
fear Sylvia won’t be happy if he doesn’t return.”
Melvin’s
frown deepened. “I’m not sure he’s the
right fellow for her. I’m not sure he’s
the right fellow for any lady. Maybe he
will be in a few years when he’s had time to realize what’s really
important. At least, I hope he waits a
few years and doesn’t go rushing into marriage with some pretty girl who’s got
a large fortune.”
“Although
I’m not pretty, you’re rushing into
marriage with a girl who’s got a large fortune,” Viola said softly. “My dowry is twenty-five thousand marks.”
“You
are the most beautiful woman in the – wait!” Melvin stopped smiling. “What did you say?”
Melvin
looked so startled, Viola had to smile. “I said, you’re marrying a girl with a
dowry of twenty-five thousand marks.”
“I had
no notion,” Melvin incredulously replied.
“No wonder your uncle was so angry this morning. I suppose he thought I was after your
money. Maybe I should refuse it. After all, it wouldn’t make a bit of
difference to me if you were a pauper.”
Viola
knew he was speaking the absolute truth and embraced him tightly. “Melvin de Courcellet, I do love you! You
truly are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met.”
“As
you are the most wonderful woman, Viola.
I love you with all my heart,” he said before he kissed her with all the
passion and love in his kind, courageous heart.
The story isn't over! Come back on Monday for the Epilogue!
Note: This novella is
PG13. With the exception of GWYNETH ANDTHE THIEF and THE WASTREL, my books are usually steamier.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
FREE Novella - Chapter Seven, Part Four
KIND
EYES AND A LION’S HEART
CHAPTER
SEVEN
PART
FOUR
Any remained doubts the guests might
have had about the marriage disappeared as they watched the newly betrothed
couple dine together. It was clear that
Lady Viola genuinely liked the young man who appeared to prefer looking at the
lady to eating or talking, something a few wags considered a miracle equal to
the betrothal.
Some
of the older lords began to wonder if they’d been mistaken to dismiss Sir
Melvin as a fool. If Lord Percival
agreed to the marriage, there might be more to the young fellow than they
supposed. More than one took Lord
Percival aside to congratulate him and his family on the alliance, and to make
it clear they would consider it an honor to be invited to the wedding.
Lord
Barengar waited until the hall was nearly empty before approaching his cousin
and his future bride.
“Melvin!”
he said a bit louder than necessary to get their attention, which seemed to be
focused solely on each other.
“Oh,
Barengar, there you are,” Melvin said.
“How’s the nose? Not too painful,
I hope. I’m truly sorry about that,
coz. I hope you’ll forgive me. You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you? It’s to be in a fortnight. Here, of course, home of the bride and all
that.”
“It’s
really true then?” Barengar asked.
“You’re really betrothed?”
“Yes,
it’s really true,” Viola replied.
Melvin
and Viola exchanged smiles before Viola leaned closer and spoke in a
conspiratorial whisper. “Since you saw
us in my bedchamber, it would be useless to lie, so I won’t. My aunt and uncle are insisting that we
marry. But I must admit that it was a
most satisfactory night, in every
way. Your cousin is a veritable lion,
Lord Barengar.”
Barengar
reared back, his brows raised, his mouth agape, while Viola took her future
husband’s arm in hers and regarded him with calm serenity.
While
Melvin merely smiled.
This work is protected by copyright. See sidebar for notice.
Note: This novella is
PG13. With the exception of GWYNETH ANDTHE THIEF and THE WASTREL, my books are usually steamier.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)