Day 1 of Two Weeks of Romance

Today's feature is CYNTHIA OWENS and DEBORAH GRAHL.

First- let me introduce you to Cynthia Owens and her book. KEEPER OF THE LIGHT.

Keeper of the Light is the second book in The Wild Geese Series, which features five life-long friends who met on a coffin ship bound for America from famished Ireland. They grew up on the mean streets of New York City, and when war came, they joined up with Thomas Francis Meagher’s Irish Brigade. But now the war is over, and they’re ready to re-start their lives – and find new love.

The hero of Keeper of the Light, Cathal Donnelly, is a handsome, mercurial storyteller who has…well, let’s call them Fenian leanings, to use an Irish expression. It’s 1867, there’s something big coming up in the Fenian community, and you can bet Cathal is eager to be a part of it.

But…something goes wrong, and he finds himself on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he was in a boat that capsized in a wild Atlantic sea storm. The only thing he knows is that he’s desperately attracted to his beautiful rescuer…even though she’s as English as the British soldiers who drove Cathal and his family from Ireland’s green shores during the hunger.

I loved writing Keeper of the Light because it allowed me to combine some of my favorite things: Irish history, Irish mythology, and a very important, but little-known piece of Canadian history. Call it a little Canadian pride!

BLURB-

Like the Wild Geese of Old Ireland, five boys grew to manhood despite hunger, war, and the mean streets of New York…
She was everything he despised…but he didn’t know it

Cathal Donnelly washed up on the shores of an Atlantic island one stormy night, with no memory of who he was or why he was there. But is his lovely rescuer his salvation…or his doom?

She dreamed of a very different life

Laura Bainbridge has spent her entire life on tiny Turtle Island, but she dreams of a Season in London and a presentation to Queen Victoria. Can a handsome Irish stranger with a golden tongue and a disturbing past change her heart and convince her to stay?

As Cathal’s memory slowly returns, both he and Laura must come to grips with his painful past…and fight for a future free of hatred and loss. 

Where to find Cynthia-
www.authorcynthiaowens.com

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Now, to introduce you to Deborah Grahl. 

Hi, Sarah, and thank you for having me today.

I’d like to share a little about my romance, The Silver Crescent, from the Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House. Also I would like to give a signed copy away to one lucky reader who leaves a comment and contact information.

If you enjoy romance, mysteries, treasure hunts, and ghosts, The Silver Crescent has it all.

From the back cover:

Betrayal, murder and a stolen fortune bring Elise Baxter to Cedar Bend, Michigan, on a quest to solve a family mystery—and recover the missing treasure.

Max Holt impulsively buys a crumbling Victorian mansion and fulfills his dream of restoring it as a restaurant and inn. Aware of its reputation for being haunted, he adds to the mystique by building a garden path of old tombstones, one of which belongs to the original owner of the house, Cyrus Mosby—the man whose legacy Elise has traced, and who allegedly stole her ancestral share of a Colorado silver mine over a century ago.

Following clues gleaned from old diaries and a visit from the spirit of her great-great-grandmother, Elise seeks out Max and his inn. Not knowing if she can trust Max with her family secret, Elise pretends her interest is in researching Cyrus, whose own violent death remains a mystery.

An intense attraction between Max and Elise leads him to believe she may be the girl of his dreams. But when he discovers her true interest in him and his inn, memories of a past betrayal threaten to end their passionate relationship. Elise, finding herself falling in love with Max, fears her deception may cost her more than she is willing to lose.

Once persuaded the stolen silver is hidden somewhere in the inn, and captivated by the idea of a treasure hunt, Max and Elise begin the search together, aided by the resident ghosts, Cyrus and Virginia.

The treasure hunt seems like a harmless adventure until someone tries to steal the diaries. Unknown to Max and Elise, there are others—including an evil presence—who are driven by greed and will stop at nothing to unlock the mystery of the Silver Crescent.



Excerpt from the Prologue:

Cedar Bend, Michigan, Circa 1900

At fifty-two, his once thick, dark hair was thinning and now completely gray. Lines of age and sorrow creased his weathered face. His well-tailored, pinstriped suit fitted his slim frame to perfection. It’s been a long, hard road to get where I am today. And it all may have been for nothing. Resigned to meet his fate head-on, he opened the front door.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes as he took in his fastidiously attired brother-in-law Garrison and the unkempt older man at his side.

Garrison smiled. “Good evening, Cyrus. How are you this fine night?”

It took everything Cyrus had not to slam the door in his face, but without a word, he stepped back and directed the two men into his library. Concealing his unease, he took what he hoped was an intimidating stance behind his desk.

“All right, Garrison, I’m here. Now would you be so kind as to explain what this is all about?”

The smug smile Garrison gave Cyrus didn’t extend to his cold, green eyes. “Are you not at least going to give us the courtesy of inviting us to sit? Also, the offer of a glass of your excellent single malt would, I’m sure, be appreciated.”

Cyrus wanted nothing more than to throw the young reprobate out on his ear, but in deference to the older man’s frailty, he waved them into the two leather chairs facing his desk. He took his own seat, and with no attempt to disguise his disdain, addressed Garrison.

“I’m a very busy man. I don’t appreciate getting mysterious notes demanding my presence, so I suggest you tell me what this is all about. Then kindly take your friend and leave.”

Before Garrison could respond, a raspy voice said, “You don’t know who I am, do ya’, you son of a bitch?”

To Cyrus’s disbelief, the old man lurched from his seat. Reaching across the desk, he grabbed Cyrus’s coat by the lapels, bringing their faces inches apart, and said, through gritted teeth, “I’ve waited twenty years for this moment and here you sit in your fancy house, with your fancy new name, behind your fancy desk, wearin’ your fancy clothes, and you ain’t got a clue who I am, you lyin’, cheatin’, murderin’, thievin’ bastard.”

Icy fingers of fear began to run up and down Cyrus’s spine; his gut clenched with every word the old man spoke. He fought to maintain a haughty expression as he stared into those hate-filled eyes.

“Release me, sir, and control yourself,” he said before Garrison spoke.

“Yes, my good man, this kind of behavior will gain you nothing. We’re all civilized men here. I’m sure, after hearing what you have to say, our good friend Cyrus will be more than happy to atone for his past sins and give you your due.”

“He damn well better.” The old man sneered as he retook his seat.

In a gruff voice, throat gone dry, Cyrus demanded, “For the last time, what is this about?”

Garrison paused to light his thin cigar. “Well, Cyrus, it’s about a Colorado silver mine and murder.”



Please visit my website: www.debbygrahl.com


Where to purchase:

The Silver Crescent is available from Amazon in paperback or Kindle and Barnes & Noble in paperback or Nook.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Crescent-Debby-Grahl/dp/1612132081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391261974&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Silver+Crescent

HERE IS HOW TO WIN and WHAT YOU WILL WIN!

Cynthia Owens is giving away a handmade ribbon and beaded bookmark, a beaded key chain, and a copy of DECEPTIVE HEARTS, book 1 in The Wild Goose Series. 

Deborah Grahl will be giving away a copy of her book, THE SILVER CRESCENT. 

All you have to do is leave a comment. Two winners will be chosen. One for each author. Check back tomorrow right here in this thread to see if you won! You will have two days to contact me at sarah-hoss@hotmail.com to claim your prize or I will have to choose another winner. 

Thanks for joining us today. I want to thank Cynthia and Deborah for participating! It's been fun and don't forget to check back each day in the next two weeks for new authors and prizes!