Please welcome Kate Richards!
Welcome to the world of the Wiccan Haus series from Musa
Publishing where every kind of paranormal romance is possible. Where the
vampires do bite (Although the Rowans who run the place are working on that!)
and yet they still join everyone for dinner…on their best behavior, of course.
Where a shifter can marry a vampire and a witch may stop by at any time. Where
there’s only one boat a week to get there or leave, and there’s no contact with
the outside world, well, nearly. Guests get away from it all in a big way!
Is it any wonder I couldn’t resist the opportunity to write
for this series when Dominique Eastwick told me about it? My imagination ran
wild and my muse had a field day. Of course, there are already stories in
place. Shifting Hearts by Dominique
Eastwick and A Man Worth Fighting For
by Sara Daniel were a difficult act to follow, but I’ve always been a sucker
for a story about a wicked witch, and some of the sexiest men I know are from
Argentina, so when little Punda the Haus masseuse jumped on board, I had a lot
of romance to wrangle.
I’d like to give away a copy of An Apple Away along with a
ten dollar Amazon gift card to pick up the first two…or anything else you’d
like! The winner will be the first
commenter to answer this question: What did the characters have for dessert
their first night on the island? The answer is in the excerpt at the Musa
Publishing site. http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=303
Blurb: Aislinn never wants to
see another doctor. Their painful and pointless treatments have done nothing to
improve her rapidly deteriorating health. She hopes that the staff of Wiccan
Haus can at least offer a change of scene, if not a return of a little of her
former strength. She's delighted to meet Punda, a masseuse, on her arrival and
charmed by the cottage in the apple orchard where she will stay.
Dr. Hugo Peralta visits the island at the insistence of his boss. The distinguished brain surgeon is in desperate need of a respite before overwork makes him one of his own patients. He is surprised but pleased with the privacy and serenity of his cottage--across the orchard from Aislinn's. An idyllic location on a magical island where love can blossom--if the Rowans can help the trio save Aislinn from whatever is killing her.
Dr. Hugo Peralta visits the island at the insistence of his boss. The distinguished brain surgeon is in desperate need of a respite before overwork makes him one of his own patients. He is surprised but pleased with the privacy and serenity of his cottage--across the orchard from Aislinn's. An idyllic location on a magical island where love can blossom--if the Rowans can help the trio save Aislinn from whatever is killing her.
Excerpt: Most of Hugo’s attention
remained on Aislinn. Her expressions flitted across her face, happiness,
concern when Harvey talked about how he’d nearly lost his love to the
evil—Jenny laughed at that, holding her husband’s hand tight—Sam and his
“underhanded tactics.” Before he knew it, dinner, whatever it had been, had
come and gone and their waiter was placing dessert before them.
The
waiter stepped back. “From our own orchard.” Hugo frowned, but lifted his
spoon. Why was the man hovering?
Aislinn, however, dug right in. “Oh, it’s just delicious! You know, my cottage is right in the middle of the orchard. It’s like a fairy tale…I didn’t know apple trees bloomed and fruited at the same time.”
So, this beautiful and intriguing woman was his neighbor—his sole neighbor—in his hilltop retreat. Interesting.
The waiter was going on about the apples. “Oh, a very special variety, miss. Grows only here on the island.”
“Well, it’s lovely.” She spooned up more of the dessert then sighed and set the implement next to her bowl. “But I don’t think I can eat another bite.”
Hugo ate some. Good, but he rarely indulged. His focus was still on Aislinn and his medical side became alarmed as she suddenly paled. “Are you all right?”
She drew a deep breath and stood up from the table. “Oh, I’m fine. A little tired, maybe.” Her thready voice worried him.
“Perhaps we should see if a doctor or nurse….”
“No doctors. Never again.” Her vehemence added strength to her tone and sent an unhappy flip to his stomach. “I-I think I’ll be heading back to my cottage now. It’s been a pleasure having dinner with all of you. I’ll see you tomorrow, I’m sure.”
She took a few steps away and he rose, intending to join her, but a dark, graceful woman arrived at her side and led her over to a table where four people sat. They nodded in welcome and chatted for a few moments before one of them reached into a pocket and pulled out a vial. She tapped it, speaking with a serious expression before handing it to Aislinn. Rising, she gave her a quick hug then returned to her seat.
Aislinn left the room with the dark-haired woman’s arm around her waist. She must be very ill. But what had doctors done to make her reject their care and turn to quackery?
And what the hell was in that vial?
Aislinn, however, dug right in. “Oh, it’s just delicious! You know, my cottage is right in the middle of the orchard. It’s like a fairy tale…I didn’t know apple trees bloomed and fruited at the same time.”
So, this beautiful and intriguing woman was his neighbor—his sole neighbor—in his hilltop retreat. Interesting.
The waiter was going on about the apples. “Oh, a very special variety, miss. Grows only here on the island.”
“Well, it’s lovely.” She spooned up more of the dessert then sighed and set the implement next to her bowl. “But I don’t think I can eat another bite.”
Hugo ate some. Good, but he rarely indulged. His focus was still on Aislinn and his medical side became alarmed as she suddenly paled. “Are you all right?”
She drew a deep breath and stood up from the table. “Oh, I’m fine. A little tired, maybe.” Her thready voice worried him.
“Perhaps we should see if a doctor or nurse….”
“No doctors. Never again.” Her vehemence added strength to her tone and sent an unhappy flip to his stomach. “I-I think I’ll be heading back to my cottage now. It’s been a pleasure having dinner with all of you. I’ll see you tomorrow, I’m sure.”
She took a few steps away and he rose, intending to join her, but a dark, graceful woman arrived at her side and led her over to a table where four people sat. They nodded in welcome and chatted for a few moments before one of them reached into a pocket and pulled out a vial. She tapped it, speaking with a serious expression before handing it to Aislinn. Rising, she gave her a quick hug then returned to her seat.
Aislinn left the room with the dark-haired woman’s arm around her waist. She must be very ill. But what had doctors done to make her reject their care and turn to quackery?
And what the hell was in that vial?
The characters had warm apple crisp with vanilla whipped cream for their dessert. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletesuz2(at)cox(dot)net
"warm apple crisp with vanilla whipped cream "sound's a fascinating tale ,,
ReplyDelete"warm apple crisp with vanilla whipped cream "sound's a fascinating tale ,,
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this new tale! Thank you, Kate!! *Rubbing hands together* I read the teaser and the answer is:
ReplyDelete“Warm apple crisp, with vanilla whipped cream.”
Sounds delicious!! I want some!!
They had warm apple crisp with vanilla whipped cream.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it.
Warm apple crisp, with vanilla whipped cream
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I know I'm not the first, but...
ReplyDelete“Warm apple crisp, with vanilla whipped cream.”
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
That sounds so freaking fantastic. I love your stories, Kate!! Congrats on the new release, the cover is beautiful and the story sounds sooo interesting. And now, I'm hungry. Dang it.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Beck
www.stephaniebeck.net
Thanks for a great post and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThey had one of my fav desserts... warm apple crisp w/ vanilla whipped cream... yum!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
Susan W. was the first, so she wins! I am starting to wish I could give the dessert away...or have some lol. Susan please email me at katerichards09@gmail.com so I can get you your prize and thanks everyone who stopped by!
ReplyDeleteExcellent work, indeed! I love when authors combine genres, that way the best works could appear, a book could be romance, fantasy, thriller, philosophy, drama, etc at the same time... That's what i strive to achieve with my books too.
ReplyDeleteI guess a suggestion of mine would be welcome, any author could appreciate it? Do you use sites like zazzle.com, cafepress. com, fiverr? They could be a good way to promote your works/blog, etc and to help "remove" stupidity in the streets like headlines on t-shirts, fridge-magnets, cups, etc: My Boyfriend kisses Better Than Yours, FBI - female body inspector, etc. Not everything we see and think of should be about sex, right? It would be much better if there were more nice pictures (even of mythical creatures), good thoughts, poems (from any genre are welcome I guess), etc? I'm allanbard there, I use some of my illustrations, thoughts, poems from my books (like: One can fight money only with money, Even in the hottest fire there's a bit of water, All the problems in the world lead to one - narrow-minded people, or
Love and happiness will be around,
as all the chains will disappear,
and Mountaineers will climb their mount
and there won't be any tear!
etc). Hope anyone could appreciate such lines? Best wishes! Let the wonderful noise of the sea always sounds in your ears! (a greeting of the water dragons' hunters - my Tale Of The Rock Pieces).