Cinnamon wafts through the air, the comforting smell in sharp contrast to the room full of spirits, ghouls and terrifying beasts.
“Wow, Lyn. The decorators have done a great
job getting this place ready.” Mac runs a hand over the mock stone walls and
grins. “It’s like a real castle!”
“Isn’t it just? I thought it fitting since our
author, Kristy Tate’s stories are set in historic England.” Lyn’s gaze sharpens
on Mac and she grimaces. “That makeup is hideous. Don’t grin so wide, it does
weird things to your face.”
Mac grins wider, the zombie makeup making her
mouth seem to stretch grotesquely. “Aww…don’t you think I look bee-oo-ti-ful?
Give me a kiss.”
Lyn shrieks and dodges behind Mary and Lilly
who’ve just joined them. Oliver approaches with a tray of sparkling apple cider
and the hostesses all sigh in unison. Even with makeup turning his skin pallid
and blood dribbling down his chin from glistening fangs, he was a gorgeous
creature.
“Thank you, Oliver.” Lilly takes a glass and
flutters her lashes up at him. His brow creases momentarily before he recovers
himself, smiles and glides away towards the kitchen.
Mary turns to a confused Lilly and bursts out
laughing. “You’re a pirate remember?” She covers an eye with her hand and
blinks furiously in demonstration. “You looked like you had an eye condition.”
Her glance moves past Lilly’s shoulder and her large bosom suddenly quivers
with suppressed laughter.
Lilly turns from the arresting sight to see Oliver
returning, a damp cloth in his hand and a sympathetic smile on his beautiful
mouth. “Thanks,” she mutters and ducks her head, dabbing at the supposedly affected
eye.
“Hi, girls! Sorry I’m late. Story of my life.
How’s the party going?” LaVerne snags a couple of cinnamon spice cookies from a
nearby table. “It looks so good! Exactly how I’d imagine a haunted castle –
right down to the cobwebs.” The hand holding the biscuit freezes midway to her
lips and her eyes widen. “They are fake, right?”
“Of course they are.” Lyn offers her the plate
of pumpkin, chocolate chip muffins. “And speaking of fake, your makeup looks
fabulous. So ghostly.”
LaVerne raises a brow. “Uh, thanks, I think.
But this is how I always look. It makes dressing as Morticia Addams that much
quicker, that’s for sure.”
Lyn groans. “These darn feet. They’re always
finding their way into my mouth.”
“I find that impossible to believe.” Mac pats
Lyn on the arm in a kindly gesture then winks at LaVerne and continues. “They’re
huge. You surely couldn’t get more than your big toe in there.”
Lyn lets out an indignant squeak and goes to
shove Mac with her shoulder, but she’s already scooted away with a giggle.
“Oh, look.” Lilly lowers her cloth and
gestures towards the entrance. “It looks like the party can officially start.
Kristy is here!”
Kristy glides in, waves at the hostesses and
makes her way over. When she reaches them, Lilly hands her a glass of Apple
cider and raises her glass.
PURCHASE LINK |
Emory must thwart the plans of religious zealots. His mission is dangerous, his enemies are fanatical, and Petra Baron is a complication that Heaven only knows he does not need. Or does he? Although Emory is on Heaven’s errand, he learned long ago that Heaven does not always play fair.
As Petra slowly falls for Emory, she wonders if he really is who he seems, or if he is just as lost as she is. How can they have a future while trapped in the past? Or is anything possible Beyond the Fortuneteller’s Tent?
EXCERPT
Fester, who had been sitting in the corner, somehow suddenly flashed to Petra’s side. She flinched from the strong, garlicky smell and the warmth of his body. Petra held her breath and took a step closer to the curtains that led outside.
He followed. “If you think your life is here and now, you are mistaken. Indeed, there is no time or space.”
“My only mistake was putting twenty dollars in your jar.” Petra’s voice sounded screechy in her ears.
“Harbingers of ill will do not always mean you harm.” Fester laid his fingers on Petra’s arm and sent a jolt of electricity that lifted her off her feet.
Petra watched the crystal ball sail through the air and the strings of hanging beads swayed, sounding like a rush of wind chimes. Potion jars spun in the air, tarot cards floated around her like large, one-dimensional snowflakes. The ball connected with a flying jar and shattered into thousands of pieces, crystal and potion glinting midair as the poles supporting the draped damask groaned and teetered.
Earthquake, the rational part of Petra’s mind told her, but Petra was listening to another voice, one that said, run. Amidst the fluttering curtains Petra flew, whirling her arms and feet, a mid-air mime pantomiming running.
When the earth settled, Petra found herself buried beneath a pile of fabric and pillows. She sat up, dazed. Other than the drapes of cloth and the swaying crystal beads, the tent looked about the same, give or take the tarot cards scattered about. She pushed them away so she wouldn’t step on them.
Looking around, she didn’t see the fortuneteller. She wondered where he was and if he was hurt. Dazed, she tried looking for him, but the incense stung the back of her throat and filled her head. Needing air, she pushed through the curtains, brushed off her dress and straightened her tiara. Taking a few faltering steps, she stopped.
PURCHASE LINK |
Ten sweet stories of love. Ten great authors. Ten ways to celebrate Autumn.
Falling in love is timeless. From a sexy medieval stonemason to a small town shopkeeper - Regency England to Napa Vineyards, this selection of Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and Time-Travel short romance stories is sure to capture your heart.
Falling in love is timeless. From a sexy medieval stonemason to a small town shopkeeper - Regency England to Napa Vineyards, this selection of Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and Time-Travel short romance stories is sure to capture your heart.
Featuring THE WITCHING WELL. KristyTate. Time Travel
Celia
Quinn holds Jason West responsible for the demise of her grandmother's
dress shop, so when she takes a sip of water from the Witching Well and
is transported back to Regency England, Jason West is the last person
she wants to see--or kiss.
BIO
Kristy Tate writes Women's Fiction with a dash romance, mystery and humor. Her debut novel, Stealing Mercy, was on Amazon's top 100 list of historical romance for more than fifteen weeks and spent two weeks as number one. Her participation in the Christmas on Main Street Anthology, an Amazon #1 bestseller, inspirational romance, made her an Amazon top 100 author for more than a month. Her novel, The Rhyme's Library, was a 2013 Kindle Book Review semi-finalist, and Hailey's Comments was 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel quarterfinalist.Stealing Mercy
A Ghost of a Second Chance
The Rhyme's Library
Hailey's Comments
Losing Penny
A Light in the Christmas Cafe
Beyond the Fortuneteller's Tent
Beyond the Hollow
kristystories.blogspot.com
***GIVEAWAY***
Contest ends on Sunday and everyone who comments is eligible.
(We reserve the right to waive the prize in any week when there are not enough contestants for a draw to be deemed fair and unbiased)