New Cover Reveal: A Beltane Gift by Holly Barbo

Title: A Beltane Gift

Author: Holly Barbo

Series: Quick Reads - Beyond Time #1

Genre: Paranormal, Short Story

Release Date: April 2, 2016

Cover Design: Darkmantle Designs

Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing

Summary:

A paranormal short story set in Scotland, with cultural heritage at its heart.

Summer in Scotland, and Mari is working on an archaeological dig of a Viking burial ship during Beltane, a time of the year when the veil shrouding the spirit world thins.

What could possibly go wrong?

A Beltane Gift is a contemporary story with historical elements and a wee bit of the paranormal. It won first prize in the PGP Short Story Competition in August 2015. It is also available as part of the anthology Tendrils.

A Beltane Gift, Beyond Time: Book 1, is a story that begs for more. You can follow Mari as she searches for answers in A Bell for Valor. And watch for additional adventures in the Beyond Time series of Quick Reads.

A Quick Read book is a short story available as a single small book. In both ebook and paper format, it is a perfect small gift or for escaping to another place and reality when you only have a tiny block of spare time.

A wisp of a sound snatched her attention and she looked up, startled. The red fox stood just inside the circle of light cast from her fire. The source of the sound came from what it held in its jaws.

Standing, she moved toward the fox, anticipating it would run away. The fox allowed her two steps toward it, then slowly lowered its head and deposited a small animal on the ground before drifting back a few paces into the shadows.

It was a kitten of approximately two months of age, with long hair, bushy tail, ginger-colored thick fur around the head and large paws, but the rest was in shades of black and gray tiger stripes. It studied Mari with eerily intelligent heather-blue eyes. She approached the little animal and held out the back of her hand to be sniffed. In a quiet voice, she spoke to the fox. “Why do you have a kitten and why bring it here?”

A strange, almost atonal, voice came from the archeological dig. “Tha kitten is here 'cause I asked Ruadh ta bring it.”

She whirled, seeking the source of the voice.

It came again. “T'was ah good name an tha fox appreciates it.” Emerging from the shadows was the unsubstantial form of a Viking.

With wide eyes she watched... speechless.

“My greeting ta ye, Mari. Ye're ah descendant...” The spirit chuckled, “Many times an hundreds o' years removed, yet ye bear ah resemblance ta my beautiful Leda.”

Author Bio:
Holly Barbo's world is shaped by her love of family, the beauty of the nature and an irrepressible curiosity that frequently has her turning over rocks and questioning what she finds. This sometimes sends the reader down a rabbit hole into an alternate view of the world than what they expected. Holly’s mind can be an interesting place.

Her motto: Weaving Alternative Worlds with Threads From Today.

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Release Tour: The Bells of Winter Box Set

Title: Bells of Winter

Authors: Holly Barbo, EM Denning, Suzy Stewart Dubot

Sean Gallatin, Michele E Gwynn, C. Forrest Lundin

Ella Medler, Cherime MacFarlane, Julie Elizabeth Powell

Regina Morris, Jess Mountfield, Maxine Murphy

Genre: Family-Friendly Multi Genre

Release Date: November 23, 2017

Summary:

The Bells are ringing for the turn of the year, so grab a hot toddy, a warm blanket, and this collection of beautiful stories to warm up your heart and soul. These are all clean, family-friendly, inspiring reads in many genres, great for entertaining anyone from lovers of fantasy to the more serious mystery reader.

Add this collection to your kindle now. And while you're at it, gift it to Grandma, too.

A Bell for Valor by Holly Barbo

Mari is hired to research a mummified bog-man found in an ancient peat field, unaware a 700 year old grudge is still alive.

Christmas Lights by EM Denning

Despite Sam's commitment to not get close to anyone, Chris forces his way into Sam's life. Chris' friendship feels like a Christmas miracle and Sam finds himself wondering if he dare reach for things he’s never even had the courage to dream about.

The Bells Below by Suzy Stewart Dubot

Eleanor has exchanged church bells for service bells in an aristocratic mansion. Her future looks bleak until a chance meeting in a lending library sparks an ember of hope. 

Dare a spinster dream?

Winter World by Sean Gallatin

Another time, a world deep in winter where the sound of bells bring her no comfort. She has a mission. A man from off world and Colonel Yselda will cross paths in the blinding snow.

Accidentally on Purpose by Michele E Gwynn

Accidents happen, or so Cara Delavine always thought. After all, she’d spent her entire life tripping over her own two feet and apologizing for it, but when her curse harms another, it changes everything for the soft-spoken young woman.

Beau Hamilton is a star athlete, the celebrated golden boy for the Vancouver Canuck’s, but his career gets blindsided by a cheesy twist of fate that leaves him not only unable to see his way forward, but unable to see at all!

Two lost souls in need are about to be brought together by three nosy sisters in this warm-hearted winter romance that proves everything happens for a reason, if only Cara can bravely stand up to the angry but handsome Beau, and only if Beau can forgive the person who robbed him of his sight.

A Cow in Time by C. Forrest Lundin

Zeb didn't listen to his intended. Injured and without a horse, he has to depend on a cow to get him home. He always thought of himself as a cowpuncher, but this was ridiculous. In the 1800s getting stuck on the wrong side of the Grande Ronde River without a horse, injured and alone is life threatening.

Iceworm by Cherime MacFarlane

Is her mother tired of living at the end of a dirt road the state closes in winter? If her mother intends to leave, Ida isn't going with her, and the old cabin will be a good place to hide.

Shattered Heart by Ella Medler

The frozen heart with its vicious curse slices its way through time to a plague-hit London. Dodo, guardian of Calidora, ruler of time, has a momentous decision to make—save himself or sacrifice his life to save humanity.

Christmas Joy by Regina Morris

Jake needs to clear out his father’s old cabin and sell it. He’s prepared to deal with the freezing cold weather and the remote location, but not with the sexy woman, who was once his late father’s nurse, still living in the place.

A Cat's Inheritance by Jess Mountfield

Just who is heartless enough to kill a cat for money? It's up to Wilson, a private-detective on his first case, to solve the mystery. Getting a date for the family Christmas party, well, that's just a bonus.

Whisper in the Tower by Julie Elizabeth Powell

Listen to the whispers of the tower and discover Amara’s fate.

A fantasy tale told from an unlikely source

Tolls the Bell by Maxine Murphy

Her family drives her crazy. But on a cold dark night, the chapel and the bells lead her to a terrible realization.

Holly Barbo
Holly Barbo's world is shaped by her love of family, the beauty of the nature and an irrepressible curiosity that frequently has her turning over rocks and questioning what she finds. This sometimes sends the reader down a rabbit hole into an alternate view of the world than what they expected. Holly’s mind can be an interesting place.

EM Denning
E.M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and animals, and anything cute and fuzzy. She writes romance for the 18+ plus crowd because she's both a hopeless romantic and a dirty old woman.

Suzy Stewart Dubot
Suzy Stewart Dubot is an Anglo/American who has lived in France for over 35 years, she was encouraged to write in 2010 when reading a poorly written Regency romance. She felt sure she could do better, and hopefully she has. Although discovered late in life, it is now a passion lived to its fullest.

Sean Gallatin
Sean Gallatin has lived in Alaska since he was a small child. A very private person by nature, some Alaskans are like that, he tends to keep his personal life to himself. An ex-Navy man, on returning home he found music to be his first love. While playing in a band, he has seen the seamier side of Alaska up close. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Anchorage was still trying to come to grips with having a fire hose nozzle of oil money flowing freely. Sean got to watch a lot of people and situations from the stage. It is surprising how people tend to ignore the band. There are more tales waiting to be told.

Michele E Gwynn
Michele E. Gwynn has loved writing stories since the third grade when she created her first book as a class project. She's come a long way since then. She has several series published independently.

C Forrest Lundin
C. Forrest Lundin is a lover of all things having to do with the wilderness and the west. History and research are another of his favorite things. And he's pleased as punch to be part of Paper Gold Publishing.

Cherime MacFarlane
Cherime MacFarlane is a prolific multi-genre author, she has a broad range of interests that reflect her been there-done that life. Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, all sorts of characters and plots evolve from a vivid imagination.

Ella Medler
Ella Medler is a U.K. author and editor who lives in a corner of Heaven, on the south-west coast of Ireland, overlooking the Atlantic. She writes fiction in many genres — some after her own tastes, and some to make her readers happy. Sometimes, those two happen to coincide.

Regina Morris
Regina Morris is an award winning author who writes the sensual paranormal romances that make up the COLONY series. She also writes some contemporary sweet romances and fantasy/time travel stories. The romance in these are light/sweet.

Jess Mountfield
Jess Mountifield was born in the quaint village of Woodbridge in the UK, has spent some of her childhood in the States and now resides in the beautiful Roman city of Bath. She lives with her husband Phil and her very dapsy cat, Pleaides. Jess can often be found either in a cafe, grinning behind a large mug of hot chocolate, at her desk, getting annoyed with her cat for sitting on her keyboard, or on her comfy corner sofa with friends, enjoying a vast array of films.

Julie Elizabeth Powell
Julie Elizabeth Powell can't ignore her dreams, so many of them, with names and places and ideas that spark her imagination and compel her to write; to create stories, whether fantasy or horror, or mystery or psychological thriller or murder or even humour and adventure. So, Julie's garden is sown, flourishing, with all manner of growth, and still the dreams come.

Maxine Murphy

Maxine Murphy A very private person, Maxine writes what is in her heart. It's not always comfortable or sweet, but it is authentic. She keeps her home life out of the public eye.

Holly Barbo

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Magic of Books Promotions Presents: Back 2 School Part 7: Fantasy

Authors: Kim Iverson Headlee, Dani Haviland, Holly Barbo

Cherime MacFarlane, Liza O'Connor, Maggie Mundy

Genres: Fantasy, Apocalyptic Fantasy, Steampunk Fantasy

Summary:

REJOICE! The children are back in school.

For those who live to read...here are some awesome books provided by the incredible authors who wrote them. All in celebration of the new school year.

While a few of these books might be oldies, but goodies...others could be new and fresh off the presses.

Relax and find your new favorite author.

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯

FANTASY

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that concentrates on imaginary elements (the fantastic). This can mean magic, the supernatural, alternate worlds, superheroes, monsters, fairies, magical creatures, mythological heroes—essentially, anything that an author can imagine outside of reality. With fantasy, the magical or supernatural elements serve as the foundation of the plot, setting, characterization, or storyline in general.

Please enjoy these books that focus on fantasy and all its sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an Amazon Giftcard.

Morning's Journey by Kim Iverson Headlee

Fantasy

“Magnificent.” ~ Kathleen Foley, author of the Faith in Uniform series

In a violent age when enemies besiege Brydein and alliances shift as swiftly as the wind, stand two remarkable leaders: the Caledonian warrior-queen Gyanhumara and her consort, Arthur the Pendragon. Their fiery love is tempered only by their conviction to forge unity between their disparate peoples. Arthur and Gyan must create an impenetrable front to protect Brydein and Caledonia from land-lusting Saxons and the marauding Angli raiders who may be massing forces in the east, near Arthur’s sister and those he has sworn to protect.

But their biggest threat is an enemy within: Urien, Arthur’s rival and the man Gyan was treaty-bound to marry until she broke that promise for Arthur’s love. When Urien becomes chieftain of his clan, his increase in wealth and power is matched only by the magnitude of his hatred of Arthur and Gyan—and his threat to their infant son.

Morning’s Journey, sequel to the critically acclaimed Dawnflight, propels the reader from the heights of triumph to the depths of despair, through the struggles of some of the most fascinating characters in all of Arthurian literature. Those struggles are exacerbated by the characters’ own flawed choices. Gyan and Arthur must learn that while extending forgiveness to others may be difficult, forgiveness of self is the most excruciating—yet ultimately the most healing—step of the entire journey."

Naked in the Winter Wind by Dani Haviland

Fantasy

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT TIME, IN A DIFFERENT BODY, AND AS PART OF YOUR FAVORITE ROMANCE NOVEL?

She awoke in a different time, in an unfamiliar body, and not knowing who she was.

Find out how 'Evie' got there in the first book of The Fairies Saga series.

A mix of mystery, history, and fantasy, with a tad of romance, a dash of violence, and a pinch of humor. 'These characters will live in your head long after you’ve read the books.' (common remark by readers)

Imagine falling right into the middle of your favorite historical romance story...and getting a thinner, rejuvenated body at the same time. That might sound ideal, but dealing with cougars, creeps, and kidnappers isn't.

Join 20th century-born Evie as she deals with the hardships of living in the backwoods or Revolutionary War era North Carolina while dealing with a severe case of AMNESIA, being ABANDONED by the man who claimed her as his wife, and ADOPTIONS, using nothing but her wit and grit, give or take a knife or two...and the smartphone that hitched a ride with her from the 21st century!

THE FAIRIES SAGA ~ Time travelers: fairies, according to the auld folk, people who suddenly showed up in strange clothes, confused about where they were, and without friends or family. Fairies either kept quiet and adapted to their new time period…or went insane.

**The books in The Fairies Saga are numbered for historical sequence only. Each is a stand alone story. If you decide you want to know more about a character-- where they came from or where they eventually wound up-- check out your book's number and go from there! (Much like the Star Wars movies)

Nightwind's Shadow by Cherime MacFarlane

Apocalyptic Fantasy 

To survive a world of mutant predators, people must band together, but Nightwind’s and JoJo’s people have chosen different paths. His family has reclaimed an old cliff dwelling, hers herd cattle and migrate. Their rules and ideologies are not compatible. While her people are prospering, his must scavenge farther to hunt exposing Nightwind to the ever-present danger of the rats.

JoJo’s partner leaves her alone and defenseless, running for her life. The solitary hunter who sees her must choose. He can bring her back to the small hidden shelter he shares with his dog, Mouse, to take cover. Or he can leave her to her fate. If Nightwind allows her to see his find, the woman can never go home. The rats are coming. JoJo must become his shadow…or die.

Rana: Teenage Queen by Liza O'Connor

Fantasy

Rana is only sixteen when she becomes queen. Her first challenge is to quell an internal coup while a massive army storms the gates of her castle. Her enemies believe her to be a child, but she has powers they’ve never suspected. She also has great dreams for her people, and she will do whatever is necessary to make them happen, even marrying a prince she does not want.

Sunstone by Holly Barbo

Steampunk Fantasy

The steam-powered civilization of Myrn is a thriving adolescent culture. But the rapid industrial development has given rise to greed, and the triumvirate of government, banks and industry leaders has lost sight of those it is supposed to serve and protect.

When a mysterious incurable illness sweeps through the impoverished masses, increasing the suffering to breaking point, rebellion seems unavoidable. Society is on the brink of revolution, and the planet is marked for destruction.

M'nacht, his son Kes, and his team of researchers investigate a legend about three sacred fossils that could save the people and rebalance Myrn. However, they are not the only ones looking. Where they see salvation, others see power, wealth and control.

Will the gifts from the goddess Navora be found in time to save their world, or will the sacrifice of innocents be lost under the weight of human depravity and corruption?

Unmasked, Book 1 The Liranni Trilogy by Maggie Mundy

Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Six hundred years of peace are destroyed when Daria’s settlement is attacked. It is the start problems for the land of Majura. Daria saved people with magic and must join the magic wielding Mask wearers who rule the land. Her dreams have warned if she became one it would be the end of Majura. Are the Mask wearers keeping secrets or is she the only one who can see the power in the land is changing. A Mask wearer called Alenze believes her, and offers to go on a quest with her to fix the Essence where the magic comes from. He may be keeping secrets from her that could be the death of them all.

Kim Iverson Headlee
Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet. She has been an award-winning novelist since 1999 (Dawnflight first edition, Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and has been studying the Arthurian Legends for nigh on half a century.

Dani Haviland

USA Today best-selling author Dani Haviland, a Mayflower and Mormon pioneer descendant, recently semi-retired from selling tractor parts, tools, and roses in Alaska, relocating to a more temperate climate in western Oregon to pursue her passions: writing, gardening, and photography.

Life has changed from jumping into a skidsteer loader to plow snow to pull-starting the walk behind weed whacker, but there are still enough hours in the day for the feisty old lady to propagate people for her novels and plants for her yard. Sharing is part of her personality, so creating books and photos to share all over the world makes her happy.

Her tenacious and perky attitude is reflected in many of her cyber children, whether they be a British lord stuck in 18th century North Carolina or a 6'7" time traveling 'fairy' who is out to champion anyone who is having a rough time dealing with difficult life situations.

Cherime MacFarlane

Although born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here since 1977. I have seen -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and I live in a cabin. I have used a fishwheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie. I have cut firewood on shares. I worked as a cocktail waitress during pipeline days in a small lodge on the Richardson Highway.

My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write Scots dialect, I personally experienced hearing it from my in laws. When my husband got on the phone to Scotland, after 5 seconds I could barely understand a word.

We moved to Wasilla to get warm. It barely drops past -25 degrees here in the winter. I became a paralegal and worked for over 26 years for the same firm.

Alaska is my home. I never thought I would love it so much, I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. My love and I were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years. I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with and was my biggest fan.

Liza O'Connor

Liza O’Connor was raised badly by feral cats, left the South/Midwest and wandered off to find nicer people on the east coast. There she worked for the meanest man on Wall Street, while her psychotic husband tried to kill her three times. (So much for finding nicer people.) Then one day she declared enough, got a better job, divorced her husband, and fell in love with her new life where people behaved nicely. But all those bad behaviors has given her lots of fodder for her humorous books. Please buy these books, because otherwise, she’ll become grumpy and write troubled novels instead. They will likely traumatize you.

You have been warned.

Holly Barbo

Holly's world is shaped by her love of family, the beauty of the natural world and an irrepressible creative drive. She has always been curious and sees life through questions. These four characteristics color her writing voice. Holly's stories are mostly in non-urban settings and usually have some focus on nature, building discordant themes inside a seemingly peaceful refrain.

My motto: Weaving Alternative Worlds with Threads From Today.

Maggie Mundy

I live in Adelaide, Australia with my husband, one cat, two dogs and a snake. I have a motorbike that I would like to ride more than I do and I love walking at the beach and listening to the waves.  I've always loved reading all forms of fiction from high fantasy and paranormal to contemporary and decided the stories in my head needed to be written down. It was either that or start on medication. Unlike many, I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer until a few years back.  I started off doing a degree in drama but soon realized my love was in writing, though there is a play lurking somewhere on my computer. My day job is as a nurse in the operating room. I believe romance can be fun to read and write but it’s exciting to spice it up with the uncertainty that comes with suspense where the rules can be broken.

Kim Iverson Headlee

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Morning's Journey by Kim Iverson Headlee

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Naked in the Winter Wind by Dani Haviland

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Nightwind's Shadow by Cherime MacFarlane

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Rana: Teenage Queen by Liza O'Connor

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Sunstone by Holly Barbo

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Unmasked by Maggie Mundy

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