Friday, July 29, 2022

FAVORITE BOOKS FOR SUMMER READING

By Caroline Clemmons

All authors have favorites of the books they’ve written. Sometimes that’s the one they’re currently writing. J Authors may have a sentimental attachment to a particular book. 



For instance, mine with Irish characters, such as THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, remind me of the two lovely trips my Hero and I took to Ireland. I wish my hair were like hers. Sigh.

Hero and I on the ferry from
England to Ireland. What a fun trip!




Other favorites are those that have won awards. A BRIDE FOR GIDEON won Best Proxy Bride Book of All Time from ALL ABOUT BOOKS! You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out about this award. Was I ever pleased! I also loved writing that book, loved Gideon and Kiera, and love the cover created by V. McKevitt. 



BRAZOS BRIDE won Best All Around and Best Historical from the Yellow Rose RWA chapter Winter Rose Contest. Actually, I love all of the Men of Stone Mountain Texas series. The first two are available in audio.


The third in that series, BLUEBONNET BRIDE, was inspired by a family visit to Jefferson, Texas.



THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND won Second Place in the OKRWA contest, losing by 1/10 point to another book. That’s from the Kincaid Series, and I love that series, too. It’s very special to me.



The idea for the heroine in the first book in series, THE MOST UNSUITABLE WOMAN, came about from a tiny story my grandmother told me about a girl with whom she attended school.



GRANT ME THE MOON won First Place in Short Contemporary in the International Digital Award Contest. I enjoyed the research for this book because it’s a subject that Hero and I enjoy. If you saw our living room, you’d believe me. We have Native American memorabilia we’ve collected over the many years we’ve been married—and hope none of it is from the Taiwan, China, or Japan tribes. J  Over several vacations, we visited Chaco Canyon, Hovenweep, Mesa Verde, and other archeological areas across the South and Southwestern United States.

No point going on tooting my own horn, but I wanted to share some of my favorites of books I’ve written.

I’m sure you have favorites on your bookshelves or in your e-reader, too. Do you reread them? I do. About once a year I reread Julie Garwood’s PRINCE CHARMING, Louis L’Amour’s FALLON and CROSSFIRE TRAIL, and others of his. 

Each member of my family is a reader, so we have way too many books in our home, in spite of the fact that we donate to a charity shop. Our librarian daughter keeps urging us to use the library because you can download to your e-reader now. But, guess what she wanted for her recent birthday?

What’s your favorite book?



Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Windmaster Golem by Helen B. Henderson

 


Windmaster Golem
by Helen B. Henderson
Romantic Fantasy

Tagline: Magic animated the golem. Can someone without powers stop them? 

 

Book Blurb: 

 

Kiansel, sister to the current Oracle of Givneh, is expected to one day assume the mantle and lead the temple’s followers. Her emerging powers force an impossible decision. For to have magic demands she turn her back on her family, her heritage and the teachings of the oracle. 

 

Banishment to a remote village as healer, a position he despised, fueled Relliq’s desire for revenge. The discovery of a mythical city and an army of clay soldiers provided the means to control all mages--including the one he wanted most—Kia. 

 

Brodie, weaponsmith for the School of Mages couldn’t refuse the archmage’s request to act as escort for a healing team fighting a curse upon the land. But how can a man without any magic of his own fight a curse or protect a friend from an invisible stalker? 

 

Excerpt: 

 

Cold enveloped Kia. Her hand stopped in mid-knock. Although she knew no one was in sight, she still looked over her shoulder and scanned the street. Use of the postern door was restricted to senior members of the temple. I will not betray Brantly’s trust in me, she thought. Neither Brantly my brother, nor Brantly the Oracle of Givneh. 

 

Ghostly fingers caressed her hair. The touch slid down her arm, not a lover’s touch, but that of an icy wind. The feeling of a presence was so strong she put her back against the wall. What heat the stones retained from the noon-day sun did nothing to warm her skin—or soul. 

 

No one is there, reality encouraged. 

 

No one you can see, caution answered. 

 

For long moments she stood watching the street. Finally, the bags of vegetables she had purchased at the market grew heavy. “This is ridiculous,” she growled. “There is no one there.” This is just a case of nerves. 

 

A toss of her head cleared an errant strand of hair from her face. A whispered incantation to cloak herself from the prying eyes of villagers and she knocked. 

 

The hidden door slid open to reveal the same young soldier who was on duty when she left earlier that morning. “Greetings, mistress.” However, instead of the usual wave, he brushed past her and scanned the street. 

 

He feels it too. Her unease growing stronger, Kia stepped over the threshold into the darkness of the building. Hurry up and close the door, she silently urged. Then she sent a prayer winging skyward that the sanctuary of the temple would stop whoever, or whatever, spied on her. 

 

As the door closed, the image of a silver cord being squeezed filled her mind. With a snick, the lock bar slid into place. With the door secured, the eerie contact vanished. 

 

I have to speak to Brantly. As the Oracle he can explain what happened. 

 

You already know the answer, fear retorted. Someone used magic to track you. 

 

 

Buy Links: 

One Click to More Ebook Sellers:  https://books2read.com/Windmaster-Golem 

 

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: 

Although the author of several local histories, and numerous articles on the topics of American and military history, antiques and collectibles, Henderson’s first love is fiction. Her work in the museum and history fields enables a special insight into creating fantasy worlds. 

 

The descendent of a coal-miner's daughter and an aviation flight engineer, her writing reflects the contrasts of her heritage as well as that of her Gemini sign. Her stories cross genres from historical westerns to science fiction and fantasy. In the world of fantasy romance, she is the author of the Dragshi Chronicles and The Windmaster Novels. In her books, she invites you to join her on travels through the stars, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 
 

Email:  helenhenderson.author@gmail.com