Welcome to the Words, Words, Words post for the Share the Love Blog Hop! This blog hop is all about sharing love with (and for!) other authors and book bloggers. I’ve chosen to highlight several of my favorite authors and bloggers–check out their books and sites below, use the Rafflecopter link to enter to win copies of my books (the descriptions are at the bottom of this post), then HOP over to the other blogs for more prizes!

Chasing the Star Garden, by Melanie Karsak

Amazon description:

An opium-addicted beauty.

An infamous poet living in self-imposed exile.

An ancient treasure about to fall into the wrong hands.

Melanie Karsak’s Chasing the Star Garden takes readers on a thrilling adventure from the gritty opium dens of gaslamp London to the gem-colored waters of the ancient world. Lily Stargazer, a loveable but reckless airship racer with a famous lover and shattered past, reluctantly plunges into a centuries-old mystery in a steampunk romantic adventure best described as Dan Brown meets Mary Shelley.

It all begins on one of the worst days of Lily’s life. She just lost the London leg of the 1823 Airship Grand Prix. To top it off, a harlequin fleeing from constables shoved a kaleidoscope down her pants, told her to fly to Venice, then threw himself from her airship tower. What’s a girl to do? For Lily, the answer is easy: drink absinthe and smoke opium.

Lily’s lover, Lord Byron, encourages her to make the trip to Venice. Lily soon finds herself at the heart of an ancient mystery which has her running from her past and chasing true love and the stars along the way.

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Wicked, by Jillian Kleine Der Löwe

Amazon description:

Angels and demons and dragons… Oh my! Earth: it’s the promised land for Kin, beings from the Astral Planes. Some, beings of light. Others, the Fallen, beings of unimaginable evil… Seven Cyn, a confident and empowered modern woman, is Kin and a CIA Operative. With her best friend Leon in tow, she flies to Wales in pursuit of an ancient relic, the Spear of Destiny. Then throw the enigmatic Luc into the mix as he and Sev discover a love that defies the stars. Yet, there is a catch… Sev has been tasked with ending his life. Along with a twisted pixie named Ace, they uncover the location of the Spear and end up in a race against time with the survival of the whole entire Universe left hanging in the balance in a battle between good verses evil. This unlikely odd-coupled menagerie comes up against a shadow government run by Dark Entities and Fallen Angels possessing mortal souls. Will Sev unlock the secrets of the Spear in time to avert universal disaster or will the Universe fall into utter darkness? Has Sev finally bitten off more than she can chew? Filled with believable characters and injected with a heaping dose of sarcasm and wit… And just as many twists and turns; Wicked promises not to disappoint. This lighthearted energetic, fast-paced romp will certainly open your mind and tickle your funny bone. Wicked is kinda like this… Take satirical chick lit… Place that in a contemporary fantasy setting… And then throw in the Apocalypse just for good measure. That’s Wicked! And That + Wicked = Awesome!

Wicked is filled with all of the no-holds-barred thrills of your average adventure. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat as you are transported into the depths of a rich and dark fantasy world not unlike that of your own, but with a few unique and dynamic twists. Take a globe trotting trek into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Wicked has enough pulse pounding chases, fights, heists, shadow government conspiracy theories and treasure hunts to appeal to not only die-hard fantasy fans; but your average adventure enthusiast. Be prepared for the wild high-flying ride of your life. And just hope that the good guys win.
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Fabulosity Reads

Fabulosity ran my last book tour and did an amazing job, and her blog is great fun!

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Rave Reviews Book Club

I just recently joined the Rave Reviews Book Club and am delighted by the connections I’m making. Readers and writers should all come play book club with us!

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Enter the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDc2NDEyMTFiMWVhMDg4MzE4NzZlNDdkNjZhMTgxOjE1/

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HOP! to the rest of the entries in The Share the Love Blog Hop. Have fun, and good luck!

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What you can win:

Fairy, Texas

Fairy, Texas. A small town like any other.

Laney Harris didn’t want to live there. When her mother remarried and moved them to a town where a date meant hanging out at the Sonic, Laney figured that “boring” would have a whole new meaning. A new stepsister who despised her and a high school where she was the only topic of gossip were bad enough. But when she met the school counselor (and his terminal bad breath), she grew suspicious. Especially since he had wings that only she could see. And then there were Josh and Mason, two gorgeous glimmering-eyed classmates whose interest in her might not be for the reasons she hoped. Not to mention that dead guy she nearly tripped over in gym class.

She was right. Boring took on an entirely new dimension in Fairy, Texas.

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Waking Up Dead

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, when she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up dead in Alabama?

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Mjk3OWM3M2E5Yzg0YWEwN2UwYmM5NzljNjFkOTZkOjQ=/

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7″.

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

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Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7″.

Ends 2/9/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enemies by circumstance of Creation
Sworn to their purpose, the Vampire and the Witch
were created to battle over the fate of mankind.

He was the First
Until one Vampire sought a Higher Purpose.

She was the Beginning
And one Witch’s faith brought Darkness into the Light.

Their love would turn the course of the Ancient War…
Before the Prophecy, an Ancient Queen and the Vampire she loved
would forge the path for those that would follow.

Mistaken
Ancients of Light #4
Spring 2014

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Excerpt

Tristan liked that the witch was not composed enough to hide her shiver and the responsive widening of her eyes, but he did not like the apprehension he viewed there. He could not ascertain whether her tremble was due to terror or because somewhere, deep inside, her need rivaled his own. Having witnessed her bravery in their earlier confrontation, he tended to believe it was the latter, even if she was too inexperienced to recognize that truth. Intensely satisfied that he had her under his control – even if it was only for this short period – her closeness eased his raging, predatory instincts.

Leaning down to issue his gentle-toned inquiry, his breath stirred the tendrils of sun-bleached gold near her ear, “Do I scare you, Alia?”

Alia knew it was reasonable to be terrified; one of the darkest warriors within the enemy ranks had abducted her. Drawing back to look at him, she had no doubt that he was the stronger between the two of them. Those tips of teeth peeking from behind his upper lip should have her screaming in fright and begging for her life, but the longer she peered into that brilliant blue gaze, the more she calmed and her senses acclimated to their surroundings.

The sound of cascading water came to her, and almost simultaneous to that she felt an internal pull. Disbelieving, her gaze flit to the mouth of the cave. During her hurried inspection on arrival – her oversight most likely attributable panic – she had failed to identify its most extraordinary feature. Standing deep within the recesses, hundreds of feet from that opening, Alia had been mistaken in thinking that the overcast weather was responsible for the wall of gray visible beyond the entrance. Now, coupling her recognition of the sound with a second look, she realized that it was not a foggy haze but that a waterfall curtained the opening.

Those of her Caste were strongest when surrounded by nature’s bounty, which was why her kin settled within forests. It was also the reason they most often chose to bare their skin in a manner that was just short of improper. The feel of the rays of the sun and even the very wind against their flesh pulled at their magic. Understanding was in her eyes when they narrowed and shot back to him. It was obvious that he had been waiting for her to understand the significance of this location.

Her command over water and lightning was a new facet of Nature magic never before displayed by her kind, but her captor had witnessed her abilities firsthand. The more wild those elements, the more responsive her magic, and yet he had brought her here. His smug expression conveyed that his choice for her temporary prison had been deliberate and Alia was most certain that Tristan realized that her strength would be magnified being near such a powerful manifestation of one of the elements that she controlled.

Clever Vampire… Skatosita … She did not want to like him, but this one was making it rather impossible to relegate him to the pile of degenerate monsters that populated his breed. She had already determined that the Witch leaders were wrong in their assessment of his race. Rather than a rabid beast, Alia had witnessed the intelligence in this Vampire leader. During their first encounter, she had also glimpsed a side that suggested much more was lurking in him. Now he intentionally brought her to a place where she would feel strong, not powerless. A myriad of questions formed, and seeing her bemused expression, Tristan smirked and lifted a brow in invitation to speak her mind.

Her lone question was accusatory, “How did you know?”

Tristan refused to believe she was as upset with him as her tone implied, but he was not going to pretend to be something that he was not for the sake of charming her. Alia was a divine creation while he had been spat from the pits of Hell. He was resolute – between them there would be no skirting what either of them was, or the bloodied history between their breeds. For that reason, he gave her the truth, “I told you that we know much about the Witch. Your breed spills secrets from its lips as rain falls from the sky… and even was your Caste not of the same ilk, your kin reveal their secrets as willingly as all the others with the proper incentive.”

It sunk into her slowly what he meant by incentive, and she whispered confirmation of her understanding, aghast that he would broach the subject with her and have the audacity to gloss over it, “Torture.”

The word lingered between them and held no hint of question; the little witch had already convicted him. Tristan could have comfortably avoided the blatant confirmation, but he gave her a curt nod to make certain she had no room to doubt her conclusion. He did not want her young and fanciful imagination to make him into something more valiant than he was.

She did not move, but her eyes stabbed him, followed by words that were pious and clipped, “I would imagine, as a General in the Darks, that you are particularly adept at such practices.”

Alia was acting as though the Vampire were exclusive in their use of such abusive techniques. Her youthful innocence was endearing, but her illusions about the moral fabric of her leadership required correction. Rolling his eyes over her naiveté, his arms folded across his chest. The response he offered was calmly given, not defensive, “I am no more adept than your own leaders, Alia.”

There were rumors, of course, about the methods used by the Queens to interrogate the Vampire, but she had seen no such practice herself. She remained self-righteous, “I would not know, but I cannot think that our ways would be as twisted as those that the Darks employ and…”

Tristan snapped, leaning in, his sharp words interrupting her defense of her breed, “That is because you are young, Alia. You are foolish to believe that those you follow are so far above what I am and what I am required to do in order to fight this war.”

Starring at him for long moments, Alia realized that while she could allow his impatient interruption to push her into arguing, she was reluctant to fight with him. While she would not take his claim as fact merely because the handsome Dark proclaimed it, she would also neither ignore it. Many of her beliefs – beliefs that had been postulated as truths by her Queens – had been challenged recently, but she needed time and distance from him in order to form her own conclusions. The best choice was to move to another topic.

He had yet to withdrawal after those last words and his close presence was stealing her focus while her magic seemed to be coursing manically through her veins. The combination was leaving her feeling flushed and off balance. When she returned to his very first question, Alia was conscious that her breathy words most likely revealed too much of her attraction, “Should I be afraid?”

Tristan experienced a surge of triumph when she turned the topic rather than answer his harsh words in kind. The grin he gave her was a reflection of his pleasure and an entreaty to trust him, “There are parts of you that already know that answer…”

Leaning in closer still, it required only a small movement on his part to close the small gap that remained between them. The beauty did not retreat. Her nearness had his eyes shifting black while they lowered to observe the delectable pulse dancing beneath the sun-kissed skin of her neck. Still the witch did not move away…instead, her gaze was waiting for his when it lifted, and sparkles of magic blossomed there in response to his entreaty, “Listen to those parts, Alia… something inside you already knows that you belong to me.”

When she did not immediately deny it, Tristan could not help but wonder what it would be like to drink sunshine.

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About the Author

Heather Fleener lives in Indiana with her husband, D.A. and their twins, Thomas and Alexandra. Professionally she has spent her career working in the area of Intellectual Property law.

Reading has been a passion of hers since she was young and she has adored romance novels her entire life. The romantic styles of Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood are her inspiration, though she has read and loved the stories of countless other authors. Her fascination with the paranormal began to form at the young age of six, watching late-night ghost and vampire movies with her Grandpa. Unfortunately, as a result, she also remains afraid of the dark to this day.

Combining her love of epic romances and the supernatural was a natural progression for her overactive imagination. When the idea for the Ancients of Light series began, it was an abstract story line rambling around in her head to help kill a few miles on the treadmill. As the stories and plotlines continued to grow, it finally became necessary to put the words to paper and build the characters that had been living in the Realm and having conversations in her head for months.
The series is a testament to many miles on the treadmill and lots of characters that insist on having their stories told.

Website: http://www.ancientsoflight.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AncientsOfLight
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6486276.Heather_Fleener
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherFleener
Blog: http://heatherfleener.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hfleener/boards/

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Review: Chasing Anya by J. L. Campbell

Two years ago, Anya Davies dumped Christophe Mondesir without any explanation. Now he’s back in her life—but she’s not sure that’s where she wants him to be!

J. L. Campbell’s Chasing Anya is part of the Island Adventure series, and it offers romance and mystery with a particularly Jamaican flair! Anya is determined to avoid the kind of serious relationship that Cristophe would prefer, in large part because she has a stalker to avoid—but also because she is determined to protect herself from the kind of pain that she has experienced in the past.

I loved the use of Jamaican phrases and accents in this novel; they added to the setting! And I liked the realistic reactions that Anya had to her past relationship issues; she’s a complicated character with a complicated past that has a measurable effect on her current life. I also liked the suspense that builds throughout the novel. Overall, Chasing Anya is a fun read!

4.5 stars

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Content/Theme(s): Sexual Content (not graphic), Post Abortion Sydrome, Relationships, Spousal Abuse,
Release Date: January 13, 2014
Publisher: The Writers’ Suite

Social Media

Welcome today to the character interview of Anna, from Kristal McKerrington’s Waking Up His Wife!

Book Title: Waking Up His Wife
Character Name: Anna

Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m the agent for Adam and several of the big wrestlers at Over The Top Rope Wrestling. I work with them endlessly and also still handle my brothers career. He’s married to the CEO of WWIC.

What is your birth date?
15 th of May 1987

Where do you live?
I live in Florida where it’s warm all the time.

What is it about that area that drew you?
The fact it never ever snows. I hate snow.

What’s your favorite music?
Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry and a few others.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the limelight?
Oh you’ll be seeing me in the second book, when Miaha and me have to get Eric to take responsibility for his actions in Waking Up A Father.

What do you do to relax?
Cheesy films, books and watching wrestling. I like to see how it looks from the viewers stand point. I’m not someone who relaxes very often.

What’s your biggest turn on?
Adam’s tattoos and abs; there is something about water dripping off of them which turns me on.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Mint Chocolate chip, brandy ice cream on Adam’s abs.

Do you feel the cover accurately represents you?
Yes, I just wish that I could remember the picture being taken.

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Book Blurb

Strong, muscled, chiseled, good looks and a gentleman to boot. This is what Anna’s friends thought she married; however, this wasn’t what she had caught. They thought she caught herself a fighter. Instead she caught herself trouble on two legs.

About the Author

Kristal McKerrington has been a professionally published author since 2010. She writes for Reem Vision and is the former writer of Bishop-Lyons Entertainment. She is published worldwide. She has been a commentator for TMZ. She is an award winning marketing and promoting author. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America’s Association.

Joe E Legend will be returning to ITV, which is a UK national TV network in January. This show will be on repeat on ITV’s Player and also be shown in some parts of America. He’s also currently on TV in South Africa. He will be making his first appearance on Israel TV. He has starred in films, TV shows and as the face of many wrestling companies worldwide. He’s venturing into the publishing world with countless independent publishing fictional novels. He wrestles in 44 countries. He has heavyweight championships worldwide and travels globally.

He’s starred in Celebrity Wrestling as the co-host for ITV. He has several films he will be staring in over the next year. He’s represented with Kristal McKerrington by Barone Literary Agency. He’s about to do a tour of India, South Africa this year with sold out Stadiums. He’ll be in Detroit for a film and will be attending a show related project in LA.

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Links

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-His-Wife-ebook/dp/B00F56DH2M/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/K_McKerrington
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristalsmckerringtonsfanpage
Website: kristalmckerrington.com
Solstice: http://store.solsticepublishing.com/kristal-mckerrington/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kristal-McKerrington/e/B004KRVFTO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1380981474&sr=8-1
Free Author App: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJTCKV2
Joe’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeELegendAuthorPage
Shares My Author Website: kristalmckerrington.com
Solstice: http://store.solsticepublishing.com/joe-e-legend/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-E.-Legend/e/B00DUBQTG0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1380981690&sr=1-2

Review

Wicked offers a comic take on urban fantasy. Seven Cyn, otherwise known as Sev, is a member of the Kin, a being from the Astral Planes—and she’s also a CIA operative! Along with her best friend Leon, she goes in search of the Spear of Destiny, teaming up with Luc, the novel’s sexy love interest, and with Ace, a pixie with an attitude. Together, they face apocalyptic evil in their race to save the universe. And Sev faces the much more personal issue of being expected to kill off Luc (otherwise known as Lucifer), despite her love for him.

The novel’s vast canvas, spanning eons and the entire universe, allows for delightful character building. And Jillian Kleine Der Löwe’s world-building is fascinating. She draws upon imagery and tropes from a variety of religions and weaves them together into a compelling setting and storyline. Occasionally, the satirical elements seemed a bit heavy-handed; sometimes, this pulled me out of what should have been otherwise completely engrossing scenes. Nonetheless, Wicked is a fun ride, taking the reader from the comfortable world as we know it into a fantastical universe of light and dark, good and evil—a universe that blends the religious and the mundane into a fabulous background for entertaining characters and a plot that moves at breakneck speed.

Score: 4 stars

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Buy Wicked on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Seven-Deadly-Sins-Novel-ebook/dp/B00E9CATQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390790066&sr=8-1&keywords=wicked+jillian+kleine

Jillian Kleine Der Löwe’s Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Kleine-Der-Löwe/e/B00E9HOQOG/

Welcome today to Maureen Gregory, author of Beware the Seventh Wave! You can read about Maureen and her new book below; be sure to check out the excerpt, too!

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Hello!

I would like to thank Margo for kindly hosting me on her blog today.

A bit about me

Having previously combined writing short stories with a career in psychiatric and community nursing, I now write full time. Beware The Seventh Wave is my debut novel. When I am not writing I can usually be found riding one of my horses. I live in the Peak District with my husband and a friendly assortment of creatures great and small.

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About Beware the Seventh Wave

In the novel, deceit, obsessive love, betrayal and murder are threaded alongside the fabric of normal life.

Emma is convinced she has found the man of her dreams, until she suspects her lover may have a darker side.

Was he a cold, calculated killer or a victim in someone else’s deadly game?

Emma believes she will uncover the truth, but are some lies better left undiscovered?

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A note about the video.

I had a firm image in my mind of what the books cover should look like. In keeping with the books title I wanted a picture of the sea, and as a missing black stallion plays a pivotal part of a murder plot, the horse on the cover is perfect. When I saw the finished cover, the idea of a video just came to mind.

I was looking out of my window, the weather was wild, windy and stormy. Jazzmin, my horse, came galloping down the field with the wind in her tail, her lovely long mane flowing like waves. I grabbed my camera and ran outside. I wanted a close up of her eye, in contrast to some of the characters in my novel, a horse can not lie.

My friend and I put the footage together and made the 62 second trailer, I hope you like it.

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Contact Maureen

Your comments and feedback are always welcome. I can be contacted via my website: http://www.maureengregorybooks.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MGwriteonow/532082136861989

Twitter: @MaureenMgregory

Beware the Seventh Wave is available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beware-Seventh-Wave-Maureen-Gregory-ebook/dp/B00HR9EFUI/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1389269719&sr=8-14&keywords=MAUREEN+GREGORY

Thank you everyone for your time, and a special thank you to Margo.

Best wishes,
Maureen

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Excerpt

Chapter one

The Long Day

‘Go home, stay away, go back now’

Persistent whisperings inside her head flung conflicting commands across the thin net of reason holding her together.

Their endless chatter ceased abruptly as Emma performed a rapid last minute left turn.

For a heart-stopping moment she thought she had taken the wrong route altogether, until the grey slate roof of the old church came into view. Changing to a lower gear, slowing her speed, she glanced down at the funeral bouquet wilting on the passenger seat. Jostling for space amongst a sea of discarded tissues, pink and lilac petals tumbled to the ground like dying butterflies.

“Should have bought a wreath, had it sent on” she muttered.

A cloying perfume permeated the car’s stuffy interior, as though the scent had bled from each battered and bruised flower.

Vapors of antistress essence, seeping out from a dangling car freshener failed miserably to live up to its promise.

She saw the gateway looming in front of her, seemingly diminishing in size as she edged the vehicle closer toward it.

Numerous options presented themselves in rapid succession.

‘Turn around, – carry on, go home – drive on – stop’

Her mind went blank, the way it often did when faced with overload.

In a moment of sheer panic, she considered jumping ship, abandoning the car as though it was a trolley in the screaming aisles of a supermarket.

Against a whirlwind of indecision, she made her choice in a split second, challenging the wisdom behind it even as she executed the movement. Crouching low, she headed for the opening between the gateposts. Holding her breath, she hunched over the wheel, pulling her stomach in, as if shrinking her body would somehow reduce the size of the car. Grimacing at the shrill sound of metal scrapping against concrete, she drove through the gateway toward the church, mumbling a stream of expletives between gritted teeth. Her fingers curled around the steering wheel, forcing it to hold its line. With grim determination, she maneuvered the vehicle onto a concrete walkway running alongside the Church. It lurched to a stop directly below the grotesque pitted face of a stone gargoyle. In response to the crude and abruptly executed halt the rear tyres emitted an eerie screeching sound, reminiscent of an animal in pain. The alien noises produced by her undignified arrival rudely disturbed the tranquility of the church grounds.

With the flick of a key, the engine spluttered and died, amplifying the deathly silence that followed. Her stiff fingers struggled to disengage the seat belt. Tugging roughly against the buckle, she grappled in angry frustration before releasing the mechanism. Liberated from the strap’s constraints the tension slowly loosened its clawing grip, allowing aching shoulder muscles to readjust. Resting her head against the smooth circumference of the steering wheel she inhaled deeply.

An image of two small boys running across a park played silently behind closed eyelids. The red leash trailing like blood on frozen grass remained as vivid as it had been back then, making it easy for her to pinpoint the exact moment the panic attacks had started.

She felt bone tired, mentally drained, unable to think clearly.

Brooding on the reason for her journey, she glanced anxiously through the window.

*****

Lack of space in the designated car park offered a lame excuse for her unconventional parking. Satisfied that the risk of being wheel clamped was miniscule she decided to leave the vehicle where it was. Angling the rear view mirror toward her face, she shuddered at the unflattering image reflected on its smooth surface.

Appalled at her disheveled appearance she flipped open the catch on her handbag.

Hurried fingers delved into the cavernous interior of the bag. Familiar with its multiple pockets they quickly fished out a comb. The effort of dragging it through layers of bedraggled hair made little difference to her overall appearance. A quick look at her watch confirmed that she was way behind schedule. Unzipping a tightly crammed make up bag, she pulled out a lipstick, deftly swiveling the stick to full capacity. As she pressed the soft tip into her upper lip it broke away. A flash of pink tumbled to the floor. It lay like a fat slug in the middle of the decapitated flower heads.

‘An omen, a bad omen’

‘Shut up’ she chided herself. Her voice sounded hollow, as though it belonged to someone else.

Ignoring the temptation to reapply fresh make up she scrambled out of the car. A spray of dirty water made unwelcome contact with her skirt as she stepped heavily into a muddy puddle. Large drops of rainwater fell from the open mouth of the gargoyle, scoring a direct hit on her uncovered head.

“Oh my God!” Her face crumpled in dismay as she turned to lock the car. Several long jagged scratches framed a large dent on the near side door. Their testimony to her erratic driving elicited a grudging relief that she was in her own vehicle and not Phil’s. Mumbling a range of ungodly curses she headed in the direction of the graveyard.

The chatter in her head began in earnest.

‘Why come, why here, why now. Go Home’

The words beat their own rhythm.

The rhythm grew louder as blood pounded in her ears.

‘Why come, why here, why now. Go Home’

Shielded from view by a high stone wall she ran down the pathway toward the cemetery. Turning the corner brought her within sight of the funeral party. To save time she took a short cut across the grass, walking as quickly as dignity would allow, keeping her eyes downcast until she reached the large circle of mourners.

In an effort to become as inconspicuous as possible she stood at the back of the gathering. Despite her attempt to remain unobtrusive, she was acutely aware that her late arrival had been noted. To her embarrassment, several of the mourners looked disapprovingly in her direction. Turning away from their reproachful glances, she dropped her gaze to stare at the dove grey boots worn by the person standing directly in front. The sharp tip of the woman’s pointed heels appeared to be sinking into the wet, spongy ground.

Several minutes passed before she was able to summon up sufficient confidence to raise her eyes and scan the group. Diverting her attention from the boots, she strained her neck to look over the wearer’s shoulder, searching for familiar faces. Almost immediately, she found herself looking directly into the eyes of her ex lover.

“Emma” he mouthed her name silently.

His gaze, penetrating and unwavering locked with hers. While part of her brain registered its disapproval, the remainder dissolved into a throbbing obsessive need. An insatiable desire to be with him answered the one question she had been afraid to explore. With absolute certainty and clarity, she realized she was still in love with Mark.

Seconds passed, time melted into fragmented moments. In a heartbeat and to the exclusion of all else he became, as he always had, the centre of her being.

Memories from the past clung to her like a living membrane. Breathing substance into the ashes of half-buried dreams, she could almost feel the touch of his skin against her own. Her hand itched to smooth away his thick dark hair as it flopped endearingly over one eyebrow, like the wing of a raven.

Shrouded by the past, she reveled in its exquisite bitter sweetness.

A movement, deliberate and unhurried brought her awareness sharply back to the present. The woman standing next to Mark slowly lifted her head. Black gloved hands swept back a fine laced veil, exposing pale flawless beauty etched with arrogance and cruelty. Her gaze, as chill and unwelcoming as the grave swept over Emma like a dawn mist, freezing, penetrating and menacing.

A bitterly cold wind swept down from the moorland, Emma shivered.

Taking a small step backwards she turned her face away from the silently threatening gaze directed upon her by her adversary; half believing that Alicia could read her mind, picking out secrets one by one.

Lowering her eyes, she stared unseeing at the grey boots.

The brief moment of tenderness and intimacy between herself and Mark faded away without a fight. As transient as ripples on a lake, it lacked the substance to survive. Treasured memories collapsed like a house of cards, replaced by uncompromising reality.

Time had not diminished the bitterness, hatred and anger Emma harboured toward Mark’s wife.

Her reaction on seeing Mark forced Emma to examine her motives for attending Brian’s funeral.

Denied the comfort of self-delusion the truth hit her with force. Closing her eyes in shame, she acknowledged the facts as they were. Brian’s death offered a convenient excuse to see Mark again. Despite her marriage, regardless of a new life painstakingly created, she had wasted precious time hoping for a tender reunion. Her lies lay exposed like a gaping wound, raw and painfully obvious.