Once Upon a Christmas Moon
by Christine Young, Genie
Gabriel, C. L. Kraemer
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GENRE: Fantasy/Romance/Antology
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BLURB:
Blurb
Twelve Days to Love
When Archer Steele showed up at Calanthe Durand's failing plantation with an alligator over his shoulder, Cali thought she'd never seen a more handsome man. During the war she'd had to defend herself and her servants from both union and confederate soldiers. Independent and self-sufficient, she'd vowed to never marry.
But Archer Steele has different ideas. The first time Archer had seen Cali in town, he felt an instant attraction. He decided he'd do everything and anything to convince the beautiful Miss Durand he was worthy of her love. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, he gave her twelve gifts to in hopes she'd fall in love with him.
When Archer Steele showed up at Calanthe Durand's failing plantation with an alligator over his shoulder, Cali thought she'd never seen a more handsome man. During the war she'd had to defend herself and her servants from both union and confederate soldiers. Independent and self-sufficient, she'd vowed to never marry.
But Archer Steele has different ideas. The first time Archer had seen Cali in town, he felt an instant attraction. He decided he'd do everything and anything to convince the beautiful Miss Durand he was worthy of her love. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, he gave her twelve gifts to in hopes she'd fall in love with him.
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EXCERPT
Boots and Blades
C.L. Kraemer
High Desert,
Central Oregon
Killian stared at
the rise of rock from the desert floor. The emerging sun tricked the sky into
revealing pink and blue streamers across the horizon exposing the severe lines
of craggy mountains. Pine trees scented the air, and the slightest hint of sage
tickled his nose.
“Where are they
disappearing to? They’re much too young to be running away.”
“Master Killian?”
The young man
turned his blue gray eyes from the mountain to answer. “Yes, Ms. Luna. What can
I do for you?”
“Are you sitting
out here at this early hour worrying about the young ones?” Luna’s black hair
was braided down her back and she sported a shawl bright with her clan’s
colors. She handed the young man a steaming cup of coffee. “I hope you don’t
mind black. I’ve yet to milk the goat.”
Killian flashed
her a seldom seen smile. “Ms. Luna, you make the best coffee in the desert.
Black is fine.”
Taking up a spot
next to him on the porch, she turned her attention to the mountains admiring
the soft colors of rose and tan springing to life in the morning sun. “What is
it that haunts you so?”
“The illogicality
of it all.”
“Aye, I figured
that. It is indeed illogical. The children are too responsible to leave
unannounced, yet they are snatched from their beds in the middle of the night
with no clues.”
Killian sipped
the wicked black brew and allowed the liquid to spike his taste buds. The
brilliant light of a new day was caressing the landscape and warming the air.
“The kinders disappearing are not inclined to run off. They are the eldest and
most reliable. These missings make no sense. They don’t happen in the same area
or at the same time. They’re completely arbitrary and being so—random—has given
me pause to find a method. If I were to discover a pattern, the recovery would
be simpler.”
Luna watched the
anguish distort his handsome young face. His blue eyes clouded to a dark grey
when he spoke of the missing children, and his normally full mouth stretched to
a tight slash across his face.
“I don’t wish to
sound cruel, but none of these are young ones of your own family. Why take
their absence to heart?”
Killian relaxed
his scowl a bit, and a smile began to touch his lips. “Because it is they who will
be the leaders of our clans in but a few short years. I had hoped to retire my
sword someday to warm my boots by a fire. Having a mate and young ones around
isn’t such a bad idea.”
He automatically
sipped his dark brew. It would indeed be nice to warm my feet by a fire with
a mate and children. The problem being I’ve found no person who makes me think
in such terms.
“Well, I must
admit, Master Killian, I never would have thought you to be the settling type.”
She picked up his cup, returning from the kitchen minutes later with fresh
coffee in the container.
“Neither had I,
Ms. Luna, neither had I, however, aside from our missing young ones, there has
been no conflict between the clans, nor have the Others tried to interfere in
our affairs in a very long time. It is a good thing for many but for me, what
good is a warrior without a war?”
Luna could only
agree with his forlorn assessment; what good, indeed, was a warrior without a
war? “Maybe a solution will arrive in the near future. You never know.”
Killian shrugged
his shoulders. Who knew indeed?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Christine
Young Bio
Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived
in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a
BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University
working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her
Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days
of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first
book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to
Kensington. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising
three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation
of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and
co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.
Links
Christie L. Kraemer Bio
A traveler for most of her life, C. L. Kraemer has settled
in the Northwest with her husband and two cats. When not creating a new world
or entity, she likes riding next to her husband on their Harleys.
Genie Gabriel Bio
I'm an optimist whose rose-colored glasses have bent frames
and cracked lenses. When life kicks me in the teeth, I find miracles and
lessons I refused to learn an easier way. In fact, I live with a small herd of
miracles in the furry forms of dogs, who are constantly trying to teach me to
forgive, to play more, and to love without limits.
I write about people who find courage and integrity in the
darkest times of their lives, who rescue stray dogs and kittens, who find a
person they would willingly give their lives for, and who make their little
corners of the world a better place.
People have remarked my stories "aren't what they
expected." With rose-colored glasses firmly in place, I take that as a
compliment.
Links
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GIVEAWAY
Christine
Young, Genie Gabriel, C. L. Kraemer will be awarding one digital copy of Once
Upon a Christmas Moon to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the
tour.
DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!
December 14: Emily Carrington
December 21: books are love
December 21: Sharing Links and Wisdom
January 4: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
January 4: Locks, Hooks and Books
January 11: The Reading Addict
January 11: Mixed Book Bag
My Review
Once Upon a Christmas Moon is a collection three Christmas stories which includes:
Twelve Days to Love by Christine Young
Boots and Blades by CL Kraemer
Christmas Pawsibilities by Genie Gabriel
I thought these were fun to read. I, especially, liked Twelve Days to Love. I was hooked from the beginning. Boots and Blades is an interesting story to me. Christmas Pawsibilities is not my normal read but I still enjoyed it.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Thank you so much for hosting and reviewing Once Upon A Christmas Moon. I appreciate the time you spent and I'm looking forward to seeing this review on Amazon. Thank You again. Christine
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad you enjoyed Ms. Young's southern Christmas story. [She's quite the tale spinner, isn't she?] This was fun to write and I always enjoy working with Genie and Chris.
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