Sunday Share-Magic in the Storm, by Meredith Bond + 2 book giveaway

Hello to Meredith Bond! Isn't that cover just wonderful, everyone? Meredith's sharing an excerpt and 2 copies of the Regency-set paranormal romance Magic In The Storm today, so make sure you leave a comment for your chance to win.

Magic In The Storm, by Meredith Bond

Genre: Regency Paranormal Romance
Heat Level: sensual

Morgan Vallentyne is trapped. A direct descendent of Morgan le Fey, he knows he is destined for greatness — but cannot access the magical abilities that should be his.  When he learns that he has only one month to achieve his full powers, he begins to lose hope. But after a violent storm throws a beautiful girl into his path, the magic begins.

Adriana Hayden is desperate to be free.  Born to paint the natural world with unprecedented passion and vision, she is fenced in by the conventions of 19th century English society.  But after meeting the handsome and mysterious Morgan, her world begins to open to enchanted possibilities she could never have imagined.

Brought together by the forces of nature, their love is fanned by the winds of fate.  The only way to fulfill their destinies is for each to unlock the powers of the other — through the magical tempest of their passions.

Excerpt:

Gently, he pulled her to the French doors behind them that led into the back garden, but she stopped as he was about to go outside into the rain.

“We’ll get wet!”

“No, we won’t. Watch.” He let go of her hand and took a step out the door. Adriana watched in fascination as Morgan stood outside in the rain without one drop falling on him. It all just seemed to bend around him, as if he were holding up an umbrella – only he wasn’t.

He took her hand and pulled her outside to join him under his non-existent umbrella. Laughing at her expression, and then said, “You know, I don’t think it was supposed to rain at all today.”  With a wave of his hand, the rain stopped.

Adriana’s world faded once again as she watched the deep gray clouds just skitter away with the wave of his hand. A brilliant blue sky appeared and a dazzling sun shone down on them, warm and full of the expectation of flowers and lovely walks in the park. She was grateful that Morgan was keeping a firm hold on her elbow. In the sudden shimmering heat of the sun-drenched garden, the fresh scent of the earth enveloped them making her feel light-headed.

Morgan bent down to a rose bush next to the door that had not yet bloomed, but was filled with the promise of many deep red blossoms. As he gently cupped his hand under one bud, it burst into bloom, unfolding its petals even as she watched. He then plucked it off the bush.

He handed it to Adriana. Their fingers touched as she took the bloom from him. Small pinpricks shot from his fingers into hers, leaving her hand tingling.

Holding the rose delicately in her shaking hand, she tried to steady her breathing. There was no logical explanation for what he had done.

“Then you really are... you truly are a witch?” she managed to whisper not lifting her eyes from the flower – it all seemed so impossible.

“We prefer the term Vallen. Witches are ordinary people who dabble with potions, but they are not truly magical.”

Morgan watched as Adriana’s green eyes  widened with wonder when she finally she lifted them to look him.  The gold and red in her auburn hair glinted in the brilliant sunlight. “But, yes, truly. I am Vallen. I am a Vallen who cares for you a great deal.” 

He couldn’t resist reaching out and touching her. She was so beautiful even in her awe and amid her fears. She was strong and brave in a way he couldn’t have expected from anyone else. He ran his hand gently up her cheek and then feathered his lips across hers, leaving a trail of tingles.

A rush of heat went pulsing through his veins as she took a step closer to him. He wrapped his hands around her delicate waist and pulled her close. He needed to feel her, all of her. His lips descended upon hers, pressing his desire into her.

Fire licked at his blood as Adriana opened her mouth and allowed their tongues to dance together. He could feel her arms moving around his neck, as she relaxed and accepted him for who he truly was.

Happiness and joy coursed through him. Now, finally, he could be completely honest with her. How long had he wanted to be able to share his life, his feelings and his problems with her – to show her just how much they had in common. And now, finally, finally, he could.

Reluctantly, he pulled away from her. He wanted to tell her everything, to share everything with her.

“Adriana, I am so happy. Happy to be with you, and to be able to speak with you openly and honestly,” he began.

A frown marred her beautiful face. “You haven’t been honest with me up until now?”

“I haven’t been able to be. But I’ve wanted to.”

“So, why haven’t you?” she said, taking a step away from him.

“I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk telling you.”

“Why? I don’t understand.”

“It’s too dangerous. I wouldn’t have told you now, except you witnessed the fight with my mother. It is very dangerous for people to know I’m Vallen. What if you accidentally tell someone and it gets out? I could be killed. It’s not common any more, but witches are still drowned or burned at the stake and we are commonly mistaken for them. People are not kind to us, Adriana.”

Adriana focused her eyes on the ground, clearly thinking about this. Slowly she nodded her head. Thank goodness, she understood – but still, the fear that she might tell someone was sharp in his gut.

“You can never tell anyone what we are – my mother, Kat and I – that we have powers,” Morgan said vehemently, adding a touch of magic to his voice.

“I will never tell...” She stopped speaking and raised her eyes up to meet his. “You... what did you do?” she asked, with a tremor in her voice.

“I’m sorry. I put a suggestion into your mind. If you try to tell anyone I’m Vallen, you won’t be able to – just as you couldn’t tell your companion my name until I released my hold.”

“Why did you do that?  Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do, I just.... This is so important, Adriana,”  He hated using his magic on her.

“You don’t trust me not to tell anyone.” She was beginning to get angry again. He could feel it sparking out of her, pricking him like tiny little needles.

He didn’t do anything for a full minute, hoping she would calm down. He wanted to trust her. He wanted to so very much, but there was just the slightest hesitation, the little voice in the back of his head telling him to be cautious.

~*~

Meredith Bond is the award-winning author of four traditional Regency romances. She has also been teaching creative writing for the past five years and has published a book to help all levels of writers. Chapter One can be found at your favorite e-book retailer.

Find Meredith and her other books at: www.meredithbond.com

Magic In The Storm can be found at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/w2vUBm

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/wxOT8X

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/127906

Thank you for being here today, Meredith - wishing you much success with this wonderful book!

Don't forget, readers, leave a comment or question (and your email contact) for a chance to win one of the two copies Meredith is sharing!  She will pick and announce the winners on Wednesday.

Have a great week!

Stacey Joy Netzel