Today's guest on The Roses of Prose is Christine Elaine Black. Please welcome her!
I love magic and I love mystery, especially in the romantic,
historical book genre. It hadn’t occurred to me to write those elements into my
story but touches of magic and mystery appeared, and soon I realized that
ancient tales appeal to me because of those very elements.
Seer, prophet, oracle, sibyl, wise-woman, clairvoyant, diviner,
augur: whatever the exact meaning of all these names they have a common thread.
And I can’t write a tale of ancient Rome without having a woman with magical
power make an appearance. Whether it be for good or bad reasons…I’ll leave that
spoiler alert alone!!
Happy reading and I hope you find some magic and mystery in all
of your stories.
Cheers!
Christine Elaine Black :)
Taurus - Free on amazon kindle
May 21 - 25
Blurb: Rebellious and strong-willed, Kalliassa flees a
political betrothal arranged by her brother, the emperor of Rome. She runs to
the one man capable of preventing the match -- her brother's sworn enemy.
Unwittingly, she throws her fortunes into the hands of a man pledged to destroy
Roman rule.
Taurus, proud Governor of Panua,
would do anything to provoke the emperor, even ruin an imperial sister. But
Kallie is like no woman he's ever met, and she tests his strength of will and
his solemn vow to end the reign of her family forever.
Can true love overcome lust, lies,
and deceit?
Excerpt: The parchment rolled out of
Kallie’s hand and fell to the floor with a sharp oath directed at the author.
How dare the emperor use her as a pawn in his game of politics! The love and
trust she had placed in him as a small girl, watching from afar as their
grandfather groomed him for greatness, shriveled in the brutal realization that
he now ruled with complete disregard for his family. Marriage! To a man at
least three times her age, ruler of a desert country, and with a harem of wives
and concubines, no less. The only choice appeared to be swift action to avoid
the imperial order. On unsteady legs she ran for the stables.
The horses stamped impatiently, and
Kallie glanced around for the boy normally on duty at this time of day.
“Sergius, are you in here?” A rumble of laughter greeted her.
“Should you not be dressed for
dinner in fine ladylike attire?”
Kallie squealed with delight. “Uncle
Atticus! You have arrived at a most propitious moment.”
“Have I indeed.” Her uncle, in truth
her father’s uncle, had taught all the children in the Gregorian household the
most efficient and effective skills of survival in the roughest conditions.
“And why are you dressed as a boy?”
“I’m running away.”
Atticus eyed her with skepticism.
“From what?”
“Our esteemed emperor has ordered me
to marry, and I won’t do it.”
“Hah,” Atticus grunted. “If you wait
until after I eat and refresh my water supply, I’ll go with you.”
“But why? You will incur the wrath
of my brother.”
“I have my reasons.” Atticus
scratched his bushy beard, a twinkle lighting his dark eyes.
“Where can we hide from the entire
Roman Empire?” Kallie mused.
“I know a place, but it will require
cunning, and could be dangerous.” Her uncle chuckled with his usual good humor.
Kallie’s mind glowed at the
possibility of escaping her brother’s reach. The great emperor, Caius
Gregorian, would not be amused.
Link to Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Taurus-ebook/dp/B00C1MDDOU/
