Search Results for: a rebel comes of age

A Rebel Comes of Age by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall

December 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

REBEL
A Rebel Comes of Age by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (289 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Seventeen-year-old heroine Angela Jones meets a nineteen-year-old activist named Fabio during the Occupy Wall Street protest in September 2011. Together with three other homeless teenagers, they “occupy” a vacant commercial building in Brooklyn’s disadvantaged Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Over the course of five months, they transform Freedom House into a teen homeless shelter.

When Bank of America takes them to court to obtain an eviction order, Fabio and the other teenagers decide to use automatic weapons to prevent the police from evicting them. Determined to stop the eviction by nonviolent means, Ange reaches out to other groups in the African American community. They help her obtain legal advice and start a large community coalition.
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The court grants the eviction order, and the police arrive to find the church has mobilized seventy-five community members to commit civil disobedience by blocking access to the building. Meanwhile Ange is one of four residents standing at the front windows with an M16.

Enthusiasm is contagious for a while, but eventually even the most dedicated activist must make hard choices. Will Angela know what to do when everyone she counts on tells her to do something different?

Imagine running away from home and finishing your childhood on the streets. While Angela’s idealism and stubbornness make it difficult to like her at times, the idea of growing up homeless is so sad and frightening that I developed a great deal of respect for her due to everything she’s endured so far in her short lifetime.

This tale includes so many characters that most of them had very little time to express their personalities or grow as individuals. Angela has a complicated backstory and nuanced personality, but most of her fellow protestors do not. While allowing certain supporting characters to fad in and out of the plot is quite realistic given the setting and nature of their lives, I would have liked to see more time spent developing at least a few of the people Angela meets at Freedom House. The little I learned about their lives and reasons for moving into Freedom House made me eager to discover more.

With that being said, Ms. Bramhall captures the strengths and weaknesses of the Occupy movements extremely well. Long-term political protests require a level of organization that is extremely difficult to uphold. This is even more true when one is committed to a truly democratic decision making process that requires the cooperation and input of a large group of people. The strongest points in this novel involve showing how this process unfolds over a long period of time when good intentions rub up against the harsh realities of daily life.

A Rebel Comes of Age is a great choice for teen and adult activists alike. I’d recommend it to anyone who has ever attempted to change the world for the better in even the smallest way.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Rebel Heart by Dani Petrone

July 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Rebel Heart by Dani Petrone
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Review by: Mistflower

Rebecca Prentice has always been the obedient daughter of a political figure. It’s hard being perfect―and boring. It’s time for a change. So, when her girlfriends plan to check out local bars using different personas, Rebecca calls herself Reb and goes looking for fun. But when she meets a bad-boy musician in a biker bar, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Mick has a secret. He doesn’t live on the wild side. However, if that’s what it takes to keep the beautiful and exciting Reb in his life, this straight-arrow tax attorney is ready to take her on the ride of her life.

But what happens when the truth comes out?

The synopsis is straight forward. My interest was sparked after I read it so if it intrigues you then try reading it for yourself. This romance was a fun read full of miscommunications, misunderstandings, and a few left-out details between the hero and the leading lady. I was pleased with the writing style because all too often romance stories with these types of conflicts can make me want to bang my head against the wall but not in this book. I was able to read this story pretty fast thanks to the character development, smooth pace and contemporary setting.

The heroine, Rebecca aka Reb, was entertaining when she was with her group of friends. They were relatable and well-developed characters. I’d love to read a book for each of Reb’s friends. They were kind, supportive and loyal friends. Reb is lucky to have caring parents as well. It was easy for me to like Rebecca and want to see her happily ever after.

The hero, Mick. Ooh la la. He was dreamy. When Mick and Reb got together, I had to lower the Air Conditioner. They were immediately attracted to each other, and their romance was sensual throughout the story.

There were a few interesting plot threads that came along that kept me turning the pages. One in particular had me feeling like Mick was a real hero as he saved Reb from danger. I think that is when Reb and I fell in love with him.

It was nice to read a story where the leading couple didn’t have any issues within themselves that had to be resolved before they could open their hearts to each other. It was a nice change of pace to only have misunderstandings and miscommunications to hurdle over.

I recommend bringing this book to the beach or pool while drinking a yummy cocktail. I hope you enjoy Rebel Heart as much as I did.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight

June 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Eliza Knight who is celebrating the upcoming release of the first book in her new series Prince Charlie’s Angels, The Devil Wears Plaid. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book.

Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel, and he can’t resist being recruited to her cause…

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he’s intercepted by a woman known only as “Mistress J,” who’s determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can’t resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion…

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she’s one of Prince Charlie’s Angels—a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn’t expecting to be his enemy…

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Toran jerked around. Suddenly, figures melted out from the shadows. Scots, but in the dark and dressed as they were, he couldn’t make out what clan they hailed from. At the center of the five men stood a lass. Aye, she wore trews and had her hair up under a cap, wisps of golden strands peeking through, but there was no hiding the curves beneath her shirt and waistcoat. In the moonlight filtering through the trees, she looked bonnie—high, arching cheekbones, a mouth that puckered into a frown. But what struck him most was the spark of fire in her gaze. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon, almost making her look like she was glowing.

And the muzzle of her pistol was pointed right at him. Outlaws… Of all the bloody luck. He reached for his own pistol tucked into his belt.

“Dinna move,” the lass said. Her voice was throaty, sensual. “Else I put a bullet through your heart.”

A slow grin formed on Toran’s face. “What’s to say I won’t put a bullet in yours first?”

The lass looked down at Archie and then flicked her gaze back to his. “Ye’re outnumbered. Let’s say ye were willing to pull your weapon before I took my shot, and then ye were to waste your bullet, there’d be five more cutting through ye before ye were able to see the result.”

Again, she looked at Archie. “And your friend doesna seem like he will be much help.”

“We’re verra close to the English garrison, lass. Any shot ye make will be a beacon to the dragoons lurking about. And trust me, there are hundreds of them headed this way as we speak.”

“Is that so?” She glanced at Archie once more. “A prison break? So ye two are rebels, aye?”

Toran didn’t answer. Let her come to her own conclusions.

“We have horses.” She kept her gaze on his, and he had the intense urge to draw closer. “Ye and your friend can have one when we return to my camp—for a price. Why not donate your coin to the cause and join us? We’ve a need for more rebels.”

Toran did not want to join her. Now, if she’d asked him to join her for some mutual warmth under a plaid, that would be another story. Then again, she had a point about the bullets. And he truly did not want to die.

“I’m guessing from your current circumstances ye are in need of a helping hand, sir.” Her voice was smooth, even melodic, but still filled with authority. And considering that she was the one speaking, she certainly gave the impression that she was the one in charge. Fascinating.

A group of men led by a woman? Not a common thing, and intensely intriguing. Whoever she was, she had ballocks as full of steel as his own. And if he weren’t trapped in the woods with her, a hundred redcoats on his tail, he might have asked her to join him for a dram.

“Who are ye?” Toran asked.

A soft laugh escaped her, and her hand waved dismissively. “Not yet, sir. Ye’ll have to prove yourself first.”

Prove himself? He gritted his teeth. “All right, we’ll join ye.” There really was no other choice. He and Archie needed a quick escape, and her horse would provide that. Just because he was taking her up on the offer now didn’t mean he had to stick it out. In fact, as soon as he could, he’d steal the horse and somehow get Archie back to Fraser lands where he could make certain the rest of his family was safe from Boyd.

“Good.” She nodded to Dirk. “Search them for weapons, and then help the wounded man onto your horse.”

Toran stood still for the inspection, gritting his teeth as his weapons were removed. “I’ve said we’d join ye. Why then are ye treating me like a prisoner?”

The lass cocked her head to the side, a slight grin curling her upper lip. “We must first see that ye are trustworthy.” With an added challenge echoing in her words, she said, “Ye can ride with me. And dinna try any tricks, else ye find yourself verra dead.”

The lass didn’t beat around the bush, and there was no hint of humor in her tone at all. She meant what she said.

Toran climbed onto the back of her horse, his cold, wet body flush to her warmer, dry back. Beneath the icy exterior was a lass full of lush curves. Mo chreach… Good heavens, but she felt good. Hesitantly, he placed an arm around her waist.

She shuddered. “Blast, but ye’re soaked,” she hissed. “Ye should have warned me. And ye smell like the devil’s own chamber pot.”

Toran chuckled. “A hazard of escape, lass.”

Her back straightened, and she leaned forward, away from him. “Ye can call me Mistress J.”

Mistress J? Why did that sound familiar?

“And ye are?” she urged.

“I’m called Toran,” he said slowly as realization struck him. The night had taken a very interesting turn. For he was holding onto the woman he suspected might be responsible for his mother’s death.

***
Excerpted from The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. © 2020 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author:Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a princess…

Growing up, I was a proficient story teller, with most of my plots encompassing princesses and princes and dreams coming true. Now as an author, some of my stories are still about royalty, knights, duels, ladies, intrigue, betrayal. History fascinates me and I try to bring history back to life in each of my stories.

Growing up, I was lucky to have grandparents who lived in Paris, so many a summer was spent exploring medieval ruins and historical sites. That passion continued on with me into adulthood and I have enjoyed many adventures around the world.

One of my all time favorite books is Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, and I am of course Jane Austen fan, my two favorites being Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I love the in-depth, emotionally riveting and intriguing works of historical author, Ken Follett. I am also a fan of Shakespeare, and you will find in a lot of my writing reference to the literary God and his work. Not only Shakespeare, but other period poets and literary notables of history are on my keeper shelf.

When I’m not reading or writing I am usually doing research for fun. If you love history, come visit me at History Undressed, where we discuss all the wildly fascinating and titillating facts of history!

Website | History Undressed | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Buy the book at Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, or Barnes and Noble.

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A Rebellious Echo of the White Cockade by Elizabeth Rodger

April 16, 2020 By Leave a Comment


A Rebellious Echo of the White Cockade by Elizabeth Rodger
But For Freedom, Book 2
Publisher: Lillibett Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (350 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Following Across the Sea Beyond Skye, the saga of the MacKenzie family continues.

With the father, Donald, emancipated from indenture and offered employment by the benefactor, the social and economic fortunes of the family advanced. Yet, despite their prospering, they were mindful of their displacement and London’s propensity toward despotic cruelty. They aired little surprise on hearing the contemptuous responses of the throne and Parliament to colonial complaints and predicted arrogance encroaching on the rights and freedom of others would finally arouse the oppressed to be free of the domination and oppressive taxation.

All these ingredients are blended in right combination make it one of the effective and appalachianmagazine.com purchase generic cialis powerful natural herbs. Each belong towards group from the so-called PDE-5 inhibitors and are, in the time of this writing, one of the major risk factors for impotence and with overeating; the chances of putting on extra weight soar. viagra fast find content now Drinking excessively or using other drugs several nights a tadalafil online india week, staying up late and short changing themselves on sleep, stressed about school performance are also powerful sexual performance stealer’s. Those negative impacts show in more than 80% of men using canadian viagra generic 100 mg versus 24% of men taking a sugar pill. Both sons graduated from William and Mary, the elder, Robbie, to pursue law. He delayed his advancement professionally to be commissioned and serve in the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War. Kenneth, the younger, attended the first medical school in the colonies at the University of Pennsylvania. On graduating with MD, encouraged by Benjamin Rush, he returned to Scotland to study surgery under the best at Edinburgh University. Between semesters, he traveled north to his birthplace to find the glens quite deserted.

The storyline elaborated the enormous influence diminutive Scotland, the poorest and yet most literate country in Europe, had with the influx of academicians from its shores expounding the ideas of the Enlightenment providing fuel in the movement toward independence. One such educator was the young William Small, Professor of Moral Philosophy at William and Mary, who exposed his students to the writings of the brightest philosophers in Edinburgh. One young mind that became captivated with the egalitarian concept of natural rights was that of Thomas Jefferson.

This book picks up right in the middle of an exciting moment, directly from the point book one left off, but there is a synopsis at the beginning to catch you up if you need that. The first book was great, and this book is just as entertaining if not better.

Elizabeth Rodger is a talented writer who excels at recreating a world of the past. Her vivid details illuminate the setting so well that readers can imagine they’re there. This only makes the exciting storyline unroll all the better. The characters are lovable, and the things they go through will have readers nervous for them.

Though it’s set in commonly-known historical episodes, one will wonder how the characters will be personally affected by the chaos going on around them. Where book one dealt with the brother who became a lawyer, book two features his younger brother who becomes a doctor. It’s fascinating to get an inside look into medical training in the eighteenth century, and the doctor here goes further and researches Native American medicine. Things get even better when he goes to a famous medical school in Scotland to learn to become a surgeon. Hearing about the school that has an historical reputation is very interesting. What readers will learn about the school and the town could be surprising to many people.

The doctor’s adventures in Scotland and then in America again will keep pages turning. The added bonus is discovering just how much Scottish people beneficially affected the birth of a nation (The United States). They played a bigger role in this than many might suspect.

Our characters get involved first with the French and Indian War in America then see the beginnings of the American Revolution. The doctor is friends with Thomas Jefferson as a young man and offers great insights into his thoughts. Even romance is thrown into this story. Those who love history are sure to enjoy this adventurous tale.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Wolf Rebel by Paige Tyler – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Paige Tyler who is celebrating the upcoming release of Wolf Rebel, the newest book in her SWAT series.  Read our review of this book here. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a set of Paige Tyler’s SWAT series (books 1-9).

She let him get away
SWAT werewolf Rachel Bennett is hounded by nightmares after a vicious attack left her with PTSD. Not knowing who or what she can trust anymore, she’s relieved to be assigned to a high-profile protective detail. Diving into work might be the distraction she needs, until she notices the mysterious hunk who seems to follow her wherever she goes—and recognizes him.

Now he needs her help…
After he’s badly injured, former Navy SEAL Knox Lawson seeks out Rachel when he realizes he’s turning into a werewolf. He’d once been part of the group hunting her kind, but he knew he had to quit when he found Rachel in his crosshairs. Now he desperately needs her help.

Rachel isn’t sure she trusts Knox, but having him around keeps the nightmares—and the monster creating them—away. Knox might not know much about being a werewolf, but there’s no doubt he’ll do everything in his power to win her trust and keep her safe.

Enjoy an Excerpt

She leaned against the balcony railing to do a little stargazing from the second-floor deck when two scents that were becoming overwhelmingly familiar hit her. It was the same combination of scents she’d picked up this morning at the compound.

But this time it wasn’t some slight trace carried on the breeze. Instead, it was thick and heavy, like whoever the scents belonged to had been standing on the balcony mere seconds ago. It struck her then that this was the first time she’d attributed the smell to a person. Before now, she hadn’t been quite sure.

Hand tightening on her mug, she swept the street below her apartment with her gaze, taking in every car parked on the curb and row of buildings on the other side of the street, following the smell with her nose. It was strongest in that direction and she inhaled deeply. The scents were richer and fuller than she’d sensed before. And they definitely belonged to a man. Of that she was sure. The scents possessed a subtle hint of something so tantalizing that Rachel found her eyes going slightly unfocused as she fixated on it. She’d never smelled anything so…perfect.
Suddenly, she caught sight of movement across the street, buried in the shadows of the alley that ran alongside the organic food store. She turned all her attention in that direction, her eyes shifting so she could see better. That’s when she saw a man’s silhouette in the darkness.

As if sensing her gaze on him, the man retreated farther into the alley, and while she couldn’t see him, she could tell he was still there somewhere.

Setting her cup on the small table in between the two chairs, Rachel gripped the balcony railing and vaulted over it to the ground below. Her bare feet hit the sidewalk hard, but she ignored the discomfort and took off running across the street, chasing after the shadow.

The rocks and stray pieces of glass in the alley dug into her feet, but she refused to let that slow her as she ran as hard as she could. For a werewolf like her, that was pretty damn fast. But the man ahead of her was fast, too—too fast to be a normal human.

Crap, she was chasing another werewolf. She almost stumbled to a halt at the realization, shocked she hadn’t recognized the unique scent until now. How was it possible she hadn’t known it for what it was? Maybe because it had changed since she’d first smelled it all those weeks ago. The werewolf part of the scent seemed new.

Growling, she picked up speed, her body partially shifting as she ran faster, refusing to let the man ahead of her get away. It took a while to corner him, but when her prey turned down a dead-end alley, she knew she had him.

He didn’t stop running until he reached the brick wall at the end of the alley. Then he stood there and stared at it as if trying to figure out how to go through it. Dark-haired, he was tall with broad shoulders and sleek muscles filling out the T-shirt he wore. He looked left and right, breathing hard as he searched for an escape route.

“You’re not getting out of this alley,” Rachel told him, not even trying to disguise the anger in her voice. This guy had been stalking her for weeks. He was lucky she didn’t rip him to shreds first and ask questions later. “Not until you tell me who the hell you are and what you want with me.”

Squaring his shoulders as if resigned to his fate, he slowly turned to face her. His hair was short on the sides and longer on the top, and his face carried a few days’ worth of scruff that emphasized his square jaw, making him look dangerous and even more attractive than he probably had a right to. His eyes were a deep, rich chocolate brown, piercing but somehow soft at the same time.

She was well on her way to getting lost in those eyes when she suddenly realized she recognized him. He was the hunter she’d let get away. A hunter who was a werewolf.

***
Excerpted from Wolf Rebel by Paige Tyler. © 2019 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

Website ~ Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound, BAM, or WalMart.

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Future Comes From Behind by STK Chan – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 30, 2018 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. STK Chan will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fighting what we’ve become.
An ancient dimension of dark echoes from the past.

Lisa and her family barely manage to escape an invasion from the Rebel army in their home of Malta. Shortly after this episode, she discovers Exo, the ancient dimension she cannot understand until her late 20s. Exo is made of memories of the past; it brings forth all the strong echoes we leave behind. Lisa desperately wants to resolve the conflicts of this inner world peacefully, but quickly learns she must fight the shadows in people’s hearts, materialized through battle re-enactments, warfare and emotional turmoil.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

“Are we in danger? I heard Daddy talking to Uncle Bernie about some bad people coming to our island. There’s only water protecting us from them, see?”

“Ah, their long debates over the phone… It’s just chatting; just people talking. No worries here, my dear.”

Her mother paused and reflected on whether to be more honest with her child, as some school advisors were recommending, or whether to continue shielding her from the world’s problems.

“I don’t want them to come to my school. My friends might stay at home because they’re scared.”

“They won’t,” the mother replied with another smile as she caressed the little girl’s brown hair. “They won’t. Let’s get inside, sweetheart; it’s getting chilly.”

They resided in a fortunately situated neighborhood. Though just two miles from the shore, it was elevated enough to have an unobstructed sea view over the gentle slope of their rocky hill. Before entering the house, Lisa spotted some movement above her head.

“Hey, it’s Reblas!” She waved at their neighbor, who was tranquilly gazing through his telescope, poking out of his dark attic window. “Any shooting princesses today?”

“Why don’t you come over and take a look? It’s a cheesy moon out tonight,” beamed the man. He was recently retired and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life on the island.

“It’s late. Maybe tomorrow,” Lisa’s mother called back.

“’Night, Reblas.”

“Sure thing, Strawberry. It’ll be there tomorrow as well—always waiting for us to look up and admire it!”

The electric shutter on the back door slowly closed after they had passed through. Reblas adjusted his telescope’s lens and angle, observing the horizon, while in the background, concerned voices on the radio discussed the recent riots in Europe and the increasing numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea from both continents.

About the Author:

A fan of nourishing SF&F fiction. Seeker of essential truths in historical non-fiction. Exploring life for almost half a century. Delivering action and matters of the inner self. “Chan has license to be more philosophical and issue-oriented, and on the whole he blends together different genres well.” (John Staughton, SPR)

Website | Goodreads


The book is $0.99 during the tour. Buy the book at Amazon or other venues.

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Highland Dragon Rebel by Isabel Cooper – Spotlight and Giveway

November 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Isabel Cooper who is celebrating the recent release of Highland Dragon Rebel, the second book in her Dawn of the Highland Dragon series. Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a copy of the book.

By wing, by claw
By fire, by death
So long as dragons rule the skies, Scotland will forever be free.

After a long and bloody war, Scotland has finally won its independence. But Highland dragon Moiread MacAlasdair knows peace balances on the edge of a blade, and she will do anything to keep her homeland from falling to English control.

Even if that means escorting a powerful new ally into the otherworld itself…and defending him with her life.

Madoc of Avandos is on a critical mission to cement alliances against the British. Powerful men would kill to see him fail—but as he and his fiercely beautiful warrior fight their way through hostile lands, Madoc is faced with a difficult choice: sacrifice everything for the cause…or let himself burn for the love of a dragon.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“You’ll only have to do this the first time,” Moiread said. She sat tailor-fashion on a flattish stone. The brook at her side rushed loudly, swollen with the spring rains. “After, it’ll just be a matter of saying the words. It’s a compact you’re making, like most spells, though I’ve not heard of anything coming in person to agree. Too minor.”

“It’s rare that they do,” Madoc agreed, “or at least rare that they show themselves for it.”

Magic, or most magic, was a matter of talking directly to the forces of the world: the spirits of those forces in the oldest tales, the demons or angels governing their spheres in more modern lore. All spells invoked, most indirectly. Madoc had never been present for an actual summoning. When he was thinking sensibly, he was glad of that. Everything he’d learned said that even the holy ones would frighten the bravest man.

“Good,” said Moiread, evidently sharing his thoughts. “Here.”

She held out a twig of yew, dark needles and bright-red berries attached. In the last village they’d passed through, Moiread had taken them by a churchyard and stopped long enough to break the twig off the tree, which, as in many villages, grew by the gate.

“Now,” she went on, when Madoc had taken the twig, “hold it up and repeat after me.”

Slowly Moiread began, in Latin as good as any priest’s. “In the names of Gabriel, Amariel, Nargeron, and Almighty God, I call upon you, O powers of the worlds. I invoke you, and by invoking, I command you to grant me sight of the union of the spheres. Part the veil that blinds mortal eyes and give me to see the subtle workings of the world, now and whensoever I should invoke it again.”

As Madoc followed her lead, he felt power gathering. It wasn’t much—as Moiread had said, this was a minor spell—but the earth and the air both shifted, as if he could feel them being drawn slightly toward the yew twig. The twig itself began to feel both heavier and less present. Madoc was half worried that his fingers would go through it. In the sun at midday, it was hard to see, but he also thought it glowed. Moiread nodded. “Now crush the berries. Close your eyes, and smear them on your lids.”

The sliminess Madoc had expected lasted barely a moment. Then it turned to a cool tingling across his closed eyelids and, in another heartbeat, vanished. His skin felt untouched.

“And open.”

Madoc did, and caught his breath. He was no stranger to magic, but never had he been able to see the whole world through such entirely different eyes.

A faint haze hung above the grass and trees, a paler shadow of their natural green. The rocks and road looked normal, though their colors were deeper than they had been a moment ago. Madoc looked to the horses, peacefully cropping new grass a few feet away, and saw that each of them glowed a shade of brown: the steady darkness of wheat bread for Moiread’s horse and a slightly lighter color for Rhuddem.

Madoc raised a hand in front of his face. His fingers shone red, shot through with streaks of silver. He flexed them, and the colors shifted accordingly.

“By God,” he said. “This is truly a lovely art you’ve shown me.”

“Useful, at times. But aye,” Moiread said admittedly, “rather beautiful too, in its way.”

She was beautiful. The spell stripped her of her illusion. Her hair lengthened slightly, her figure swelled and narrowed, and her face became a shade more delicate, so that a young-looking woman in men’s clothing sat facing him. In the world of the spell, a pattern of dancing lights played across her body, like diamonds set onto the crisp blue that washed over her skin.
In this world, her shadow was nothing remotely human. Two vast wings stretched out behind her, the brook running through their shade. When she tilted her head to watch him, the shape of an immense head, on a serpentine neck, separated itself from the larger shadow and turned toward Madoc. The same pattern of lights glittered in the shadow.

Mayhap it would have been sensible for Madoc to fear her then, but he wished only that he had more time to sit and watch her.
“A bit revealing, aye?” Moiread asked, clearly aware of where he was looking. To his relief, she sounded amused. “That is why we don’t generally teach the spell. We didn’t come up with it, but we’ve enough luck that not many know it.”

“Do you care so greatly for concealment?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s no great peril, in my view of things, to be found out. There are already those who know what we are and speak of it with varying degrees of truth. Once more knew, or we were more willing to admit it, or both.”

“What happened?”

“To us? Time and duty. The world gets fuller. A clan turns from hunting to farming, and it’s no’ such great use for its laird to spend his days flying in dragon shape. Less use still in court, and we must go there to be part of the greater world, to lead a clan rather than a tribe in a cave. Our sires have other duties, and we as well. Our foes have magic of their own. Dragon shape is no sure victory.”

“I have heard that,” said Madoc, “and seen a little too. Only ran into one sorcerer myself.”

“We’ve not fought them often, no’ directly. The English magic turns more toward enchanted weapons”—she rubbed her calf, wincing in memory—“ or strengthening castles. Crafty spells.”

“Like the one I’m doing?” Madoc asked, speaking the words that courtesy would have Moiread avoid.

“No shame in taking a weapon from your foe,” said Moiread. “We may have fought the people we learned this from”—she gestured around her, indicating the world revealed—“ or we may fight them in the years to come. I’m still glad to have it.”

“So am I.”

About the Author: Isabel Cooper lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her boyfriend and a houseplant she’s managed to keep alive for over a year now—a personal best. By day, she’s a mild-mannered editor at a legal publishing company. By night, she’s really quite a geek: polyhedral dice, video games, and everything. She only travels through time the normal direction, and has never fought any kind of demon, unless you count younger sisters. She can waltz, though.

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Texas Rebel: Jude by Linda Warren

April 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

jUDE
Texas Rebel: Jude by Linda Warren
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (222 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Rebel Dad

Your doctor will consider your particular situation to determine which of the two is the best option for them as they were very cheap and buying viagra uk equally effective. But, it is advised to have them properly cooked before eating viagra 20mg cipla it. 3. Here, we will discuss the advantages of http://pamelaannschoolofdance.com/aid-1994 viagra 100 mg are that one can find complete termination of issues like ED or Erectile Dysfunction and impotency issues. Movie scenes are extra good when shot at amazing movie locations in California. viagra buy usa http://pamelaannschoolofdance.com/lyrical/ The day his son was born, Jude Rebel knew he was meant to be a father. That was why he had to stop the adoption. How could he give away his own flesh and blood? For twelve years, Jude has kept his secret. Until Paige Wheeler comes home to Horseshoe, regretting the decision that changed both their lives forever.

At eighteen, all Paige wanted was to escape her Texas town and troubled, hardscrabble life. Her ticket out cost her dearly. Now she has a chance to make things right. Finding out Jude has been raising their child is only the beginning. Is it too late for forgiveness? Or have they all been given a second chance?

Starting over right where you began might not be this sweet, but for Paige and Jude, it just might be.

I know when I pick up a book by Linda Warren, I’m going to get a great story. There’s always a strong sense of family and love, and I cheer for the characters. In the case of this book, I couldn’t get enough of Paige and Jude. Ms. Warren writes well and kept me right in my seat needing to know what would happen next.

Jude and Paige have chemistry and it’s evident, even when things aren’t going right for them. That’s what I love about the both of them. They never give up. Okay, so there are bleak moments. What book doesn’t have those? But it’s how Paige and Jude get past them is the core of the story. I loved it. I’m glad I read this book and can’t wait to go back and read the other stories. I can’t wait for Phoenix to get his book, too.

If you want a book filled with heart and family, then this might be the story for you. Highly recommended.

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Texas Rebels: Quincy by Linda Warren

December 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

QUINCY
Texas Rebels: Quincy by Linda Warren
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Holiday
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

A Heart Divided

Quincy Rebel lives by a strict code of honor. Family first. Which means Jenny Rose Walker, his younger brother’s ex-girlfriend, will never know how deeply and devotedly he loves her. The woman of his dreams is off-limits…until his brother gets engaged to someone else.
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Jenny is ready to sever all ties with the ranching clan who has been like a second family to her. Even if it means giving up working with her best friend, Quincy, who she helps train paint horses. Quincy…the tall, masculine Rebel who’s always been there for her. Is she developing feelings for him? Or are they headed for a rebound romance that will leave them both brokenhearted?

Jenny couldn’t believe it. Paxton was engaged and getting married and it wasn’t to her! When she goes over and asks Quincy about it, he asks her to not come the engagement party they will be having at the family ranch. Then she’s mad at Quincy, too.

This is a big family of Texas men who work at ranching. Quincy specializes in paint horses and Jenny has always spent time working on them with him. After all, their farms are next door to each other. He’s tried telling her that Paxton will never settle down. He’s a rodeo competitor and he likes travelling and the women he finds while on the road. Jenny dated Paxton in high school, used him for support when her mother died, and she thinks he’s her soul mate. It’s a dose of cold water to find out he doesn’t feel the same way.

This story is smooth and roots through the issue of a broken heart and trying to make a new beginning. The author shows a good insight at family relationships and romantic rebounds.

Jenny suddenly finds that Quincy is more than just a good friend. But she’s afraid she’s just rebounding. Quincy is afraid maybe she still loves Paxton. Somebody needed to take them in for a good sit down talk about life. The family tried but we all know how that goes. When Jenny almost loses her dad, it shakes her up. It also shows her who stands by her.

Paxton comes back. This was the best part of the book to me. It’s where everyone finally has to grow up. This is a sweet cowboy romance with a big magic thrown in. It’s a good read.

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Texas Rebels: Falcon by Linda Warren

August 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment

FLACON
Texas Rebels: Falcon by Linda Warren
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (219 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Falcon Rebel has been father and mother to his girl ever since her mother walked out on them both seventeen years ago. Now Leah’s back to see their daughter—just once, she says. She’s built another life and wants them all to move on. But Falcon’s suspicious. Her story doesn’t add up. Why isn’t she willing to keep the door open between them, at least for Eden’s sake?

Leah can’t tell them the truth—she won’t burden her family with what she must face. But being close to Falcon again has reignited the incredible bond they once shared. They were so young then…and some things never change, including their feelings for each other. Leah thought she could walk away. But nobody loves like a Rebel—even though love might not be enough.

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Falcon Rebel, when little more than a big kid, took over as head of the family when his father committed suicide. He took his family responsibilities seriously and thought he did the right thing by the girl he loved, when she became pregnant. He loved her, married her, and moved her in with his family, and made decisions that he thought best for them all

He never falters in regard to what he sees as his responsibilities and raises Eden, his daughter, right along with managing the Rebel Ranch to make it prosper. But his heart cries out to Leah, his wife who left for no apparent reason eighteen years ago when Eden was tiny.

Just when he declares it is time to move on, Leah comes back. Emotions run wild and conflicts abound. From this point on, the story kept this reader turning pages and wondering how in the world things could ever work out for a happy-ever-after ending.

Linda Warren’s smooth, unobtrusive writing style sets the reader right in the middle of the characters’ lives and takes that reader on a vicarious journey. With back-story and immediate happenings, she does not excuse the flaws and bad decisions, but reveals how the characters forgive, love, and survive incredible trauma in their lives.

Texas Rebels: Falcon kept me up late. Good entertainment!

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