Paranormal Romance, Hot Heroes & Magic!

I'm pleased to announce that I'm guest blogging over at The rantings & Ravings of Jeanne St. John's blog today.

Topic: Paranormal Romance, Hot Heroes & Magic!

[here...]

)O(

Aithne Jarretta





Read CONCENTRIC CIRCLES excerpt


Indulge in the Magic! ~ BUY Today

[6] Chapter Six: Never More

Today I'm honored to participate in Excerpt Monday hosted by Bria Quindlin & Mel Berthier over at Wordpress.

http://excerptmonday.wordpress.com/



Here's my EM contribution ~ Chapter Six: Never More of LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON. Below, you will find additional links from other participating authors to explore.











The pristine white interior of her car had always calmed her. Osythe shivered with bone deep chills which traveled from toes to the top of her head. She grasped the steering wheel and put her forehead on cold knuckles. Never more… She would never be the same.

She released a deep breath and raised her head. The box holding her inheritance still rested on the passenger seat. This time she didn’t touch it. Thawed broccoli puffs irritated her sinuses. She crinkled her nose, flipped the sun visor down and stared at her reflection.

Blood smeared across her cheeks. “How can rain cut?” She touched close to one of the small lacerations. Not deep. Breathe, Aila.

Fury at the monster behind the storm clouds grew.

Her lungs didn’t want to work. Not even in her worst nightmares had she ever imagined such a demonic fiend. Intense emotions roiled in her blood and heated her in a flash of smoldering warmth. It expanded outward.

“Ahh!” she screeched in an effort to force the buildup out.

The windshield exploded.

Stunned, she held her breath.

All action stopped.

Tiny shards of safety glass hovered in the air. “Tweet that online, would you? Sure trip to the psycho ward.” On impulse she spun her right hand in a clockwise spiral.


Everything melded back together into absolute perfection. Another glance in the mirror and she brushed her pinky along the largest cut. It vanished. She applied the same magick to four more wounds with the same results. “Maybe never more won’t be so bad.”

For some reason Edgar Allen Poe’s poem and words had come into her mind after landing in the car. This metal machine was still the same as before her magical bonding, but she never would be. “Where’s my tombstone?” She looked around and didn’t see it anywhere.

“Could’ve sworn I had it.” She inserted the keys into the ignition. The engine roared. She cringed and glanced at the digital clock.

“Three thirty a.m. Damn. Time flies when you’re having fun. So much for visiting Mary and Bob. Josh is going to be furious.”

The parking lot at Pinellax Market was vacant. She pulled out onto Gulf to Bay Blvd. and drove west. “Go home—hot shower and bed.”

The phone rang.

She glanced at the caller id and winced.

Ringing stopped.

The small viewer stated with a glaring light that she had missed sixty-seven calls.

“Hi honey,” she muttered to no one. “Where was I? Oh… only in Scotland during Yule 1352, and then there was that brief interlude when I was flying to the other side of the moon… Insane.”

The red traffic light seemed worthless considering the street was empty except for her.

She sent her gaze toward an empty parking lot. A sudden flash and loud bang sent her into action. The steering wheel spun under her hands and she stepped on the gas.


Another flash accompanied a painful yell. The front end of her car bounced when she entered the parking lot. Tires squealed and she headed toward the man standing over a prone figure on the ground.

The gunman raised his weapon and fired at her car. Undaunted, she moved forward with determination.

The sound of metal striking her window sent a shiver down her spine. She slammed on the brakes and jumped out. “Stop!”

“You stupid?” Once more the gun aimed at her.

“No, but you are.”

Bang!

Echoes beat on of her five senses.

The bullet froze in midair, and then went ‘pfft…’ before it vanished.

“What the fu—!” The man sent a rapid glance to his injured victim, turned on his heel and took off running.

“Scaredy cat,” Aila said and knelt by the man. “Easy,” she whispered.

“Who are you? What happened?” he asked through ragged breathing.

“It’s over now.” She avoided his question and reached for the radio attached to the officer’s shoulder. “Let’s get you some help.” Pressing the button she said, “Officer down. Northeast corner Gulf to Bay and Keene. Come quickly.”

He tried to rise.

“Be still. They’ll be here in no time.”

Sirens cut the night.

A grunt passed through swelled lips. “You never said…”

She tucked a length of hair behind her ear. “Shush. Don’t talk.”

Tires screeched and two police cruisers whipped into the lot followed closely by an ambulance.

She moved to rise.

“Don’t go. What’s your name? They’ll want you to fill out a report. Name? You saved my life…”

Aila squeezed his hand and stood.

“Locke, you all right?” asked the approaching officer.

“Yes. Sleaster got away. This angel of mercy scared him.”

“Who?”

Osythe blended into the darkness glad to know that officer Locke was safe. From the shadows she watched as the paramedics tried to talk him down. No one understood where a mysterious woman could have disappeared to. She experienced calm acceptance on several levels including the fact that instinct had warned her not to heal him.


Better to slip into a realm of obscurity—explanations would have been complicated. “The power of invisibility,” she murmured and slid into her car. With the ease of silent magic, she pulled out of the parking lot onto Gulf to Bay and continued her journey home.

“It isn’t going to be easy—explaining this to friends. Josh, especially.” Another red light paused her journey home. During the wait she studied her box containing her inheritance. It rested on the leather seat just as any package would.

The appearance of ordinariness hid boundless secrets. One thing was for sure. Whatever the magickal book, ‘Life Compass’ held within its covers, it was beyond anything she had ever imagined. To reassure herself she touched the box.


Moments later she unlocked her apartment and entered. The keys clinked when she tossed them on the entrance table. The gilded oval mirror gave her a full reflection. She fingered a hole in her favorite blouse. She lifted a hand to fix it.

“Where the hell have you been?”

~to be continued~

(My deepst apologies...the right click button on my computer isn't working right. Made copy/paste really weird. ;o( )

And the links of 5 other FREE Excerpts. Hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading.


Inez Kelley, Contemporary Romantic Comedy (R)

Cherrie Lynn, Erotic- Contemporary Romance (R)


Crista McHugh, Paranormal (PG 13)

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG)

Evie Byrne, Historical Romance (R)


~ Aithne

[5] Center of the Celtic Cross

Magical Moments Tuesday!


Why is this a Magical Moment Tuesday? Because I'm finally uploading chapter five of LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON. ;o)

This is one of my favorite chapters because it reveals some of the magic that you will discover within the pages of this story. I must admit, this is a fun one to write and the words flow so freely. Humm... Freely and FREE -- what a wonderful idea.

So now begin...


Chapter Five: Center of the Celtic Cross

“I don’t know.” She tried to control the tears and full throttle emotions. “The city wasn’t there. All I knew was broken heart and vast emptiness.” The last word caught in her throat and wrenched her heart in two.

Gentle fingers soothed away tears. “Perhaps with time you’ll figure it out. Are you ready to continue?”

An indrawn breath… “Yes.”

“So be it. You realize, once we finish I’ll be gone.”

“Must you leave?”

“Aye, I must.”

“How will I understand the Life Compass?”

“You will grow to understand more as you journey along your path. Close your eyes.”

A knot of uncertainty pooled in her belly, but she complied. [more...]

[4] The Five Sisters

First, I want to appologize for being so late with this update. I spent three days flat on my back the first part of the week. Now I'm trying to catch up.

If you're just discovering LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON, don't worry. There are links to the other chapters within the pdf.

Thank you for stopping by!


Aithne

Chapter Four: The Five Sisters

She lifted the lid. White light burst forth. The car interior vanished. Black night surrounded. It wasn’t harsh. It radiated with stardust and floating blue flakes. She hovered among them.
The blue looked and felt like snow. Osythe held her hand out. The gentleness landed upon her palm. It melted and blended into her skin. She had never seen snow, but in this moment she experienced its wonder. A coldness that she had never known before enveloped her. [more...]

Ch. 3: Osythe, So Named by Life's Chosen Blood

As promised here's the next chapter in the continuing sage, THE LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON.


Chapter Three: Osythe, So Named by Life’s Chosen Blood

Aila returned her focus to the package. The red wax seal beckoned to her curiosity with annoying potency. Once more she looked out the windows and still saw no one. How could this be? In slow motion she placed the broccoli puffs on the floor and reached for the envelope.

Fancy calligraphy spelled out Osythe. An intricate ‘O’ imprinted the red wax seal.

She cringed. That particular elaborate design had always been around her. The family monogram for O’Hara bore the same markings.

Hands trembling, she touched the parchment. The action of picking it up made her head spin. She gripped it tightly and held it close. [more...]

Catherine Bybee's Lemonade Stand Blog Award

I'm so pleased by this Award! First, it's because I feel like Break~Time Romance is a purely leisure blogspot. I am working on it in that venue because I tend to seek relaxation myself.

When a Reader comes this way I'd love for them to sit back with a tall cool one (or hot drink for those that prefer) and relax into a good story. For FREE!

Much like Catherine's Video Blog posts, this little Blogspot is for total enjoyment. *smile*

Thank You for Reading!

Aithne

Next chapter of LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON coming tonight!

LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON: [2] Unexpected Trickle-down Effect

First, I want to say Thank You to my new Followers. (Yes, I see you. ;o)

I'm also pleased because the page hits have increased for this little blog. It is so wonderful to be able to share this FREE Read with you. Thank you to each of my Visitors. Please feel free to leave a comment if spirit guides you to do so.

So without anymore commercials . . . .

Here's the second chapter of LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON; Unexpected Trickle-down Effect.

“Joshua, I already told you the Peterson case is off limits!”

“It’s a done deal, Peach—”

“Don’t call me that when we’re discussing business.” Aila O’Hara slammed on her breaks. Tires squealed. The phone landed on her lap and slid to the floor. She stared at the rear end of an Escalade looming in front of her.

“Are you all right?” Joshua’s voice yelled from the dropped phone.

Heart racing she gripped the steering wheel and ground her teeth.

“Aila!”

There was just barely enough room for her to turn the car into a strip mall parking lot. Once in, she pulled into a space. Her knees shook from racing adrenalin.

“Dammit, Aila! Talk to me!” [...more...]

LEGEND OF OSYTHE & AMON: [1] Essence of the Journey

Today I'm making the link available for the first chapter of LEGEND OSYTHE & AMON: [1] Essence of the Journey. Tomorrow, I will spread the word far and wide. ;o)

Enjoy!


http://www.aithnejarretta.com/downloads/%5b1%5d_ESSENCE_of_the_JOURNEY.pdf


The MobiPocket will be available when 3 chapters have been posted.


~ Aithne Jarretta
http://www.aithnejarretta.com