Rhapsody and Rebellion by Aubrey Wynne - Excerpt

Rhapsody and Rebellion by Aubrey Wynne

An enduring legacy... A rebellion... A destined love...

Raised in his father’s image—practical and disciplined—there are no gray lines interrupting the Earl of Stanfeld’s black and white world. Until his mother has a dream and begs to return to her Highland home.

Alisabeth was betrothed from the cradle. At seventeen, she marries her best friend and finds happiness if not passion. In less than a year, she’s a widow. Vowing to honor her husband’s memory, she joins his activist group of Glasgow weavers and is soon embroiled in the Radical War of 1820.

Crossing the border into Scotland, Gideon finds his predictable world turned upside down. Folklore, legend, and political unrest intertwine with an unexpected attraction to a feisty Highland beauty. But Lissie doesn’t trust the Englishman or the rising desire between them. When the earl learns of an English plot to stir the Scots into rebellion, he must choose his country or save the clan and the woman that stirs his soul.

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Excerpt from Rhapsody and Rebellion by Aubrey Wynne

“Mama, you were dreaming.” Gideon’s thumb stroked the top of her hand, his voice soft and soothing. “Look at me, Mama, and you will see.”

Maeve slowly turned her head, tears now spilling down her cheeks. “Oh Gideon, it was ghastly.”

“What did you dream?”

“It was not a dream.” Her voice faltered. “Your cousin, Ian, is dead.”

“What? Did you receive a letter from Scotland?” Gideon had not seen any correspondence from his mother’s family over the last week, and nothing had arrived today.

“I do not need a letter. I saw it. There has been a terrible slaughter in Manchester, and Ian was trampled by a Hussar’s charger...” She lifted her chin and wiped her wet cheeks with determination. “You must take me home to my clan.”

“To the Highlands? You haven’t been there since your wedding.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t just run off to Scotland with my aging mother because of a dream.”

“Aging?” Her eyes narrowed, anger shining from beneath her lashes. “I have more stamina than most of those mutton-headed females of the ton.”

He had to agree with her but bit back a smile. “This is folly. A trick of the mind from lack of sleep.” He pressed his lips to her fingers. “Let’s have a glass of sherry, and you’ll feel better after we eat.”

“Don’t patronize me. Your father didn’t believe in…” She took his face in both her hands, strength growing in her touch and her gaze steady and direct. “It doesn’t matter. Listen to me. It was not a dream but a message that we are needed at home.”

“This is our home.” Gideon stood and leaned an arm against the fireplace mantel, worried the past year had also taken a toll on her mind. An uprising in Manchester? There had been rumblings throughout parts of the country but nothing significant.

“This is your home. Mine has always been in Scotland, regardless of how long I’ve been away.” Her eyes pleaded with him.

“What about Marietta’s visit in September?” That would end this foolishness, he was sure.

“It will have to wait until October. You must promise we will leave as soon as you return from London. Or I will go alone.”

He looked up to the ceiling, hoping for some divine intervention. None came. “I give you my word.”

Praise for Aubrey Wynne's Rhapsody and Rebellion:

“Well-written historical romance with a bit of everything – a tragedy, a conflicted hero, a strong and fragile heroine, interesting characters, and a happily ever after.” - Amazon verified review

“Best Regency Romance I’ve read in a long time and highly recommend!” - N.N. Light Book Heaven Reviews

“I adored this story. I look forward to reading more in this series.” - Reads2Love Review

“A wonderful romance!” - 5 Kindles Review

Author Aubrey Wynne

Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of

children and animals by conscience, and author by night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things Christmas.

Her short stories, Merry Christmas, Henry and Pete's Mighty Purty Privies have won Readers Choice Awards. Dante's Gift and Paper Love received the 2016 Golden Quill, Aspen Gold, Heart of Excellence and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

In addition to her Chicago Christmas novellas, Aubrey will release two more Regency romances in 2018. The Wicked Earls’ Club will release again in 2019. Wynne’s medieval fantasy series launched in 2017 with Rolf's Quest, winner of the NTRWA Great Expectations.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

Instagram * Newsletter * BookBub * Amazon

$50 Blast Giveaway

Winner’s choice of a $50 Amazon Gift Code or $50 in PayPal Cash

Ends 2 November 2018

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Takhayyal writing prompt 90: Hello Halloween!

The lovely month of Halloween is upon us once more and I have a special writing prompt for you!

Welcome to the season where all things are dark or magical, or both!

Welcome HALLOWEEN! And welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, Ghosts, Vampires, Werewolves, Fae, Zombies, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends, and Family; WELCOME EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's monthly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal!

I’ve asked an artist friend to craft something special for you this month - and she tells me there will be two images - but here is the first...

Hello Halloween by Yomna Ibrahim Mahany

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a means to get inspired and spark our writing once more.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

Not feeling inspired? Or need more inspiration? 

Check out the previous Halloween writing prompts on Nadaness In Motion over the years ;)

Writing prompt 73: Witchy Season

Writing prompt 72: Halloween

Writing prompt 46: Witch Walking

Writing prompt 23: Halloween is Here!

Writing prompt 22: Brew me a potion!

General rules:

• No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.
• Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post
• Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture
• Multiple entries allowed
• It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.
• Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

· 

Let's IMAGINE!

The Children of Hurin – Book Review

The events of The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien or as I would prefer to call it The Series of Unfortunate Events that Befell the Children of Hurin, take place probably thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

There are elves, dwarves, and Men, a wingless dragon, and lots of sadness and destruction.

The main idea behind the story is that Hurin curses Morgoth in his face, so the latter curses Hurin and his family, making Hurin watch his children unknowingly destroy themselves.

"I am the Elder King: Melkor, first and mightiest of all the Valar, who was before the world and made it. The shadow of my purpose lies upon Arda, and all that is in it bends slowly and surely to my will. But upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death."

The Children of Hurin opens with an info dump of the people in the book and who married who, including several names we never actually meet. There is a genealogy tree at the end of the book, which honestly should have been at the beginning because I had to go back to it several times while reading. The info dump wasn't necessary but just got me confused.

Hurin had three children: Turin, who is the main focus of the story, his sister Urwen, and his other sister Nienor who appears towards the end and is dragged into the curse laid upon father by Morgoth.

"The doom lies in yourself, not in your name."

What my book looks like after reading

The language is really tough to get around. True, I've been reading modern and contemporary fiction but this was a tough read. Reading this book, one sees how the elements of fiction have changed over time. There is no showing versus a lot of telling. The description is simpler and there aren't many alternatives to "said".

There is minor character development for Turin. Sometimes he's likeable and sometimes he isn't. But it is easy to sympathise and connect with him. In terms of imagery, there aren't many, but there were several sections of rich descriptions.  

One of the things that The Children of Hurin has gotten me excited about is rereading The Silmarilion, where there is a powerful tale of Beren and Luthien. People in the story make many analogies between Turin and Beren. I also have The Book of Lost Tales part 2, which I plan to finally start.

"This man is not Beren. Even if he be both as fair and as brave. A doom lies on him; a dark doom."

It is interesting to learn that The Children of Hurin was originally written as a poem – a very long one "running over 2,000 lines", according to the notes section after the novel.

Overall rating: 3 stars

Witching Hour: Sinister Legends anthology - Cover Reveal

Today, I'm featuring a gorgeous cover for an upcoming horror anthology. I don't know any of the authors in this collection but I hope to make their acquaintance soon.

Witching Hour: Sinister Legends

(Witching Hour Anthologies)

Publication date: 23 October, 2018

Cover design: Cover by Combs

Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller

Synopsis:

Bloody Mary...

Bloody Mary...

Bloody...maybe we shouldn’t test that just yet.

Urban legends, fact or fiction, at the end of the day they’re all stories. We know not to spin around the room in the dark whispering her name. We've heard about the man with the hook and the terror that stalks the babysitter while she's home alone.

But there are other tales told around the fire at night. The man finding the steps into hell and sanity flickering away. Mind control experiments by governments, big and small. The woman married to the man of peculiar tastes. There are the haunted hospitals, sleep trials in Russia and more.

Slenderman and Bigfoot are nowhere within these stories; these are only the unusual and dark ones, slanted into truth.

In every legend, there is a seed of truth. Welcome to the Witching Hour.

Anthology Authors:

Jenniefer Andersson

Alyssa Brocker

Angie Brocker

JM Butler

Lenore Cheairs

Wendy Cheairs

Alana Delacroix

Charlotte Dhark

Trinity Hanrahan

Sienna Haslam

Morgan Heyward

Kristin Jacques

Add the book on Goodreads.

  

Pre-order via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

Purple Kisses by Priya Prithviraj – Book Review

Purple Kisses by Priya Prithviraj is a short hopeful, colourful book featuring a single poem with several illustrations.

 I was honestly expecting several poems so I could comment on them but this was a different read for me.

As the name suggests, Purple Kisses is a beautiful piece and book full of colour. While the poem is smooth, the accompanying images are an outburst – a good one.

Note: I received a free copy of Purple Kisses from its author Priya Prithviraj in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour for the book.

Add Purple Kisses on Goodreads 

Enter the GIVEAWAY as part of the tour and book launch to win an e-copy of Purple Kisses.

About the Author: 

Priya Prithviraj writes poems which appear in journals such as Eastlit and the New Plains Review. She also writes about books, writing and publishing on her blog at priyaslitblog.com. Her book of illustrated poetry, Purple Kisses, published by the Linnet's Wings press, is out now.

Purchase Purple Kisses by Priya Prithviraj via Amazon

About the Illustrator:

Niveditha Warrier is a fine art photographer whose work has been published in international magazines like the International Contemporary Artists Magazine, Toer Magazine and White Crow Art Daily. Learn more about her at www.nivedithawarrier.com  

The Blood Moon – Spiritual Poem by Nada Adel Sobhi

Once white

Now soaked with the blood

Of centuries gone

And more to come

The ivory sphere

Forever waiting and watching,

Watching and waiting

Until the end of time

When all shall come,

Before the Lord

Begging for forgiveness

– Not matter what they claim in life

They will beg –

"Have mercy on us!" They will say

Until then,

The moon, with its creator,

Shall stand

Waiting and watching,

Watching and waiting

For that final day.

By: Nada Adel Sobhi

Written Friday, 27 July 2018 at 23:20 (Blood Moon night)

I hope you've enjoyed reading my spiritual poem "The Blood Moon".

Your comments and thoughts are highly appreciated it. If you liked what you've read, please feel free to share it via social media. You can tag me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and/or Instagram.

The Language Thieves – Book Review

"Were there actually people called Cerebrals who could steal languages from your mind?

They sounded like vampires draining words from people."

The Language Thieves by Marc Remus is fun, quick-paced young adult story for anyone who is a fan of languages.

Daniel is moving to a remote area in Scotland with his parents after his mother suffers a strange disease that renders her unable to speak or move and after his father is cured of cancer. His father brings everything Irish and green along with them, while Daniel resents his Irish roots.

On board the ferry transporting him and his parents from Ireland to Scotland, Daniel encounters a strange scene where a man somehow steals a language from a boy who had been speaking Irish Gaelic earlier. After that, a girl, Jenny, warns him not to mention to anyone that he speaks a second language at the island, Inverdee, where he would be living.

Shortly after we are introduced to strangely-dressed people, known as Cerebrals, who are believed to be the language thieves.

"It was happening all over the world. Languages were disappearing every day. It seemed as if someone was deleting one language after the other."

"But that's been happening for centuries. Languages just keep dying out."

"And this is what they want you to believe," Jenny said. "They want you to think it's normal that people pass on their languages to the next generation. But I think it's a cleverly-devised plan by the Cerebrals."

The novel moves as Daniel attempts to learn more about the Cerebrals, who are superb at covering their tracks, and as he wonders if they had a hand in his mother's illness. Along with Jenny and Connor, the trio infiltrates the Cerebral village, trying to discover the Cerebrals' agenda for stealing languages. What they uncover is brilliant!

I enjoyed the pace in The Language Thieves, which was mostly quick. I think the book would make for a good movie, especially with all the architecture involved in the Cerebrals' village.

We also meet the Cerebral Emily, whom Daniel has a crush on and who is terrified of the Cerebral tradition, a kind of rite-of-passage, where children often return changed or don't return at all.

"This is very serious. If you don't keep this to yourself, you will be in great danger. This language will be taken from you, and if you are really unlucky, you will be left with an empty mind."

The Language Thieves is Remus' first young adult novel. He previously wrote the middle grade series Magora. I felt that some of the text was still in the middle grade range, even though Daniel, Connor, and Jenny are within the 15 to 16-age range.

I also liked how Remus kept me guessing throughout the novel whether it was fantasy or science fiction. No, I'm not telling.

I also felt the ending was slightly rushed; that there should have been more emotions and development at the end.

The writing was easy, too easy. I liked the use of Gaelic and the overall plot of how and why the languages were being stolen. I felt that Jenny was the most mature of the trio but I think they all developed in one way or another. There weren't many images to quote but the book read like a movie with lots of vivid description.

"I have finally figured out a secure way to get rid of all the languages in the world. Once this is accomplished, they'll all speak the old language again."

Overall rating: 4 stars

More on the Magora books.

It is worth mentioning this part from Remus' bio:

"Marc Remus has travelled many times to Ireland and Scotland and developed a passion for these countries over the years. While he stayed with his family in Arizona, he began writing his first young adult novel. The Language Thieves interweaves the writer's fantasies with his experiences in Ireland, Scotland, Arizona, making the book a unique multicultural blend.

Cover reveal for Purple Kisses by Priya Prithviraj

Today, I'm taking part in a cover reveal for PURPLE KISSES by Priya Prithviraj. The book, a poem with illustrations is having a new cover. It was launched earlier this year with a different cover and now it's time for a makeover.

I'll be reviewing the book on 27 September, so stay tuned for that.

Oh, the cover! Here it is

Behind the book... Meet the author and illustrator

Priya Prithviraj

Niveditha Warrier

Impulsive Bones, poetry collection – Book Review

Impulsive Bones by Molly Madd is a collection of poetry ranging from pieces from her childhood to topics tackling drinking and drug use – no idea if these are personal experiences or part of the inspiration process – and love.

I felt the collection could be divided into themes, since some of the love poems in there were a bit sappy, I figured they were written earlier in Madd's life, as opposed to other poems that were deep.

There are a few heartbreaking pieces in there. The collection encompasses 108 poems!

Impulsive Bones opens with two emotional pieces, namely "Nani" and "Heavenly Sight"; although I wasn't sure if Nani, in the first, were a mother's name or someone else. Both are recommended pieces.

Both "The Darkness" and "Disappear" are five-star pieces that would be great reads at a poetry recital.

But not all is beautiful or interestingly dark. Several of the pieces had unnecessary repetition, or jargon that isn't fitting for a poem. In one piece "Comfort from a Stranger" I felt like I was reading an economic news article rather than a poem. Similarly, "The Book" was one of those pieces where redundancies weakened what would have been a great poem; the same for "Finger Printed Breaths".

The fear of emotional melancholy

I feel it anyway, in my bones, it fries

Like chips in sizzling water

I hope for a higher feeling of numbness

Of comfort

My soul deprived

Needy of the casing to cover me

Only to be left in silence as I wait.

From "Opiate Haze"

"He's Calling You Upstairs" and "Mum's Meds" are two of the most painful and heartbreaking pieces in Impulsive Bones. They are also the strongest and they made me shiver. Along with "Bathroom Lunch", these poems highlight personal and societal problems. Each of them gets five stars.

I love poetry, but at one point I considered dropping this collection. Many pieces just didn't make sense. Still, going back to the book, there were several beautiful pieces.

I was despairing then a poem like "Duplicate Dreams" came along and my vigour in the collection was restored. I wish I can quote this poem whole.

Other recommended poems in Impulsive Bones: "Running Wild", "Your Presence", "Your Touch", "Cup of Love", "Voices of the Unheard", "Unknown", "Carbon Polo", "Selfless", "Car Weather", and "Magic.

One of the things that bothered me about Impulsive Bones was the spelling mistakes. Moreover, I felt that some poems could have been lengthened or shortened to bring a closer meaning and a stronger emotion to the reader. Poems, unlike stories, can't handle redundancies and over-the-top repetition.

Last but not least, I liked the cover.

I'm still a bit unsure about how to rate Impulsive Bones. I had originally given it a 2-star review, but while rereading my notes and the poems I liked, I've moved it up a notch to 2.5 stars. I think the collection needs work to reach 3 or more stars.

Takhayyal Writing Prompt 89: #amwriting by the Sea

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's MONTHLY picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal/Imagine.

I honestly didn't know what to post this month. Kept going through lots of pictures, some on my phone, some on my computer, Pinterest, Facebook…

Then I thought I could use two images I took with my phone that well I think might be inspiring. September is when people are leaving the beach behind and getting ready for school, so here are two images for the hearts we're leaving by the sea (I know I am) with a final dose of salty sea spray.

I've also heard or seen a few people who dream of being able to be inspired to write by the sea; this is for YOU!

Ready?

Get set...


Here we go!

Photography by Nada Adel Sobhi. Taken at Egypt's North Coast 2018.

Photography by Nada Adel Sobhi. At Egypt's North Coast km 89. 

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

Give credit where due, the images were taken by me, Nada Adel Sobhi at Egypt's North Coast.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·        Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·        It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!