New Release -- Cursed (Legends of Winatuke Book 2) by Sarah J. McNeal

When Hawk McKnight’s younger brother falls to his death in the mystical Lake of Sorrows, Hawk blames himself. The discovery that Peregrine is actually alive is a double-edged sword—for Perry remembers nothing of his former life, and has taken up a new beginning with a band of Gypsies. The only woman who can heal Peregrine is someone Hawk loves deeply…someone who has rejected him. But if there’s a chance that Doctor Emma Dawson can help his brother, Hawk will swallow his pride and ask for her help.

Emma Dawson carries her own emotional baggage. The only survivor of a horrendous family tragedy, she is a burned-out doctor with no time for a personal life, holding on to the dreams of what she once believed her medical practice should be. She knows the secrets of Hawk’s family, and the beings who live in a dimension called Winatuke, a place of magic and evil creatures. Though she and Hawk were once deeply in love, after the hand life has dealt her, she believes sending him away is the only way to protect him.

But when Hawk turns to Emma to help him save Perry, what choice does she have? She must face her fears and go with him to Winatuke if there is the slightest possibility of saving Hawk’s brother. Can they break the curse that holds Peregrine in its grip? Or will the secrets hidden within the depths of the Lake of Sorrows drag them all into an evil enchantment?

EXCERPT

     A messenger drew Hawk from his morose thoughts.  

     "My liege, I do not wish to disturb you, but Domingomae has delivered a message for you from Prince Raphael." Mericet entered the tent with a sealed parchment in his hand.

     Hawk took the message and noticed that the boy's hair was wet and his clothes damp. "Water's scarce out here, Mericet. Mind you don't waste it by bathing in the middle of the day."

     "Yes, my liege." Mericet nodded his head obediently and waited respectfully by the opening of the tent for further instructions.

     Pulling the dagger from his wide leather belt, Hawk cut the seal from the parchment and began to read. The first words grabbed his attention immediately. "My God," he gasped aloud, "Peregrine is alive." He glanced at Mericet. "My brother is alive."

     Mericet nodded. "That is good, my liege. I am glad for you."

     Hawk leaped from his chair and paced as he continued to read aloud. Your brother is living among the Gypsies, playing his violin, and performing his water show twice a day. But he is altered, Hawk. You must come to Vel’ka Mulano with all due haste.

     He stopped pacing. "Altered? What could he mean?" He shrugged his shoulders. "It's enough that he's alive. When that fiend, Inx, threw him into the Lake of Sorrows, we were all certain Peregrine was dead. I thought I would never see him again."

     Emotion choked at the back of his throat. He stared at the parchment as if he held the Declaration of Independence in his hands. A weight that had pressed upon his heart for months lifted, and he felt as if he could breathe again. The torment of guilt he bore for his inability to save Peregrine withdrew from his spirit.

     

New Release - The Witch-Queen (Legends of Winatuke Book 1) by Sarah J. McNeal

The Dark Isle has been a refuge for evil since time began in the world of Winatuke, and the most depraved and wicked of them all is the witch-queen, Mahara, who rules over the malignant kingdom of darkness.

Mahara has taken a captive, a prince of the Nimway people, and she plans to use him for the revenge that burns in her soul. By forcing her own daughter, Isadore, into marriage with Prince Gabriel, she hopes to gain the power she craves over the Nimway—especially her ex-lover and Isadore’s father, Raven.

Her scheme goes awry when love begins to grow between Isadore and Gabriel. Isadore realizes the only way to save Gabriel is for them to escape together, but at the last minute, that plan fails. Separated from Gabriel,  Isadore is forced to continue to the Nimway kingdom of Valmora alone to seek help from her mother’s enemies.

Once Isadore gains their trust, Gabriel’s brother, Raphael, volunteers to travel to present-day Earth to get help. To save his brother, he must bring Raven back to the world of Winatuke, and ask him to risk his own life in the battle against Mahara’s evil forces.

It seems an impossible task. How can they ever defeat Mahara? With the evil forces she can summon at will, it seems Gabriel’s life will be forfeit. But Isadore refuses to allow that, risking her own life to save him. Forced to follow her heart, Isadore wonders if she can ever win her father’s trust or Gabriel’s love. She only knows she must defeat her mother’s evil vendetta for all time. No matter the consequences she must vanquish THE WITCH-QUEEN…

EXCERPT

     "You think you can fool me, Isadore, but you should know by now that is impossible." Mahara's eyes glowed like two red hot coals of anger as she faced her daughter. "What were you doing with my prisoner yesterday, that arrogant Nimway brat?"

     "Nothing, Mother, I swear it. I only wanted to see what the filthy Nimway looked like." Isadore could not quite look her mother in the eyes. She bent her head to avoid facing her, and stared at the floor. "I did talk to him just a little." She whispered her confession.

     Mahara whirled around, her black gown whispering and swirling around her as if it had a life of its own. She lifted Isadore's chin with her long, thin finger so Isadore would have to look at her. "And what did you two converse about? Be very careful that you tell me the whole truth," she warned, "I shall know if you lie, or omit anything." There was a nasty tone in her voice.

     Isadore shook visibly in her fear. She knew her mother's powers. There was reason to be afraid…very, very afraid. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "We talked about my father."

     Mahara's eyes grew black with rage. "How could you talk with a child of my enemies about the very thing for which I hate them?" She dug her fingers into Isadore's shoulders and shook her. "Why? Why would you do such a thing?"

     Isadore could barely look at her mother so great was her fear. She didn't want Mahara to see this weakness in her. Her words stumbled from her lips, "I...I wanted to know if...if..."