Love Least Expected - Rolf's Quest by Aubrey Wynne

Rolf's Quest is another of the stories I'm showcasing in 'Love Least Expected'  -  an anthology from award-winning authors:

Meredith Bond

Aubrey Wynne

Valerie Twombly

Kris Calvert

Katie Stephens

Nessie Strange

Kishan Paul

Isabella Harper

Michaela Miles

Today we have the author of Rolf's Quest, Aubrey Wynne.

Love Least Expected is a collaboration with stories from various genres, including contemporary/erotic/paranormal romance, crime drama, science fiction/fantasy.

A quest for true love brings together two unlikely people, Rolf and Melissa. Everything seems against them and many times they doubt themselves. The clock is ticking.

Aubrey Wynne’s delightful and enchanting tale will tug on your heartstrings. Beautifully written, rich and lyrical, this story will have you reaching for the tissues, and leave you feeling warmly satisfied.

I can’t wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended, along with the other stories in this remarkably diverse anthology of love.

I gladly give Rolf's Quest five stars.

Rolf's Quest

Synopsis:

Baron Rolf Arbrec, the royal wizard for King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, is burdened with a centuries– old quest to free his descendant , Merlin. To lift the enchantment, he must find true love without the use of magic or deceit, something that has eluded the male generations before him. Finding genuine love is no easy task, even for a wizard, If he cannot break the spell and fails his quest, future generations will be deprived of their chance for happiness. When Melissa steps from his dreams and into his arms, he realizes his need for her love runs deep and she is more than just a way to free Merlin. Lady Melissa Garrick travels to London to meet her betrothed. Along the way, she encounters a man who haunts her dreams and makes her reconsider her destiny. Torn between loyalty to her family and her intense attraction to Rolf, she struggles to remain an obedient daughter. Though she desires him, will she defy her family and turn her back on her betrothed? Or will time run out and Rolf be doomed to a life of discontent and bitterness like his ancestors before him?

Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things Christmas.

Her debut story, Merry Christmas, Henry, was published in November 2013 by Melange Books, LLC and received Best Short Romance in the Editors and Predators Reader’s Choice of 2013.

Her humorous shorts , Pete’s Mighty Purty Privies (Top 100 Laugh Out Loud List on Goodreads) and To Cast A Cliché are published with Alfie Dog Fiction. 

Social Media:

Web:  http://aubreywynneauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/magnificentvalor
Twitter:  Aubreywynne51

Release date for the anthology is February 3rd but it's available now for pre-order! Just click here!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Google Play

All Romance Books

Love Least Expected - Under the Mango Tree by Meredith Bond

Under the Mango Tree is the first of the stories I'm showcasing in 'Love Least Expected'  -  an anthology from award-winning authors:

Meredith Bond

Aubrey Wynne

Valerie Twombly

Kris Calvert

Katie Stephens

Nessie Strange

Kishan Paul

Isabella Harper

Michaela Miles

Today we have the author of Under the Mango Tree, Meredith Bond.

Love Least Expected is a collaboration with stories from various genres, including contemporary/erotic/paranormal romance, crime drama, science fiction/fantasy.

Under the Mango Tree

Here is my review of Under the Mango Tree.

It was the title of this story that first hooked me. Growing up in the sub-tropics, I know well the allure of summers spent in the branches of a mango tree, the intoxicating aroma of ripe fruit, and the taste of mangoes – still warm from the sun – as they are devoured in great numbers.

This delightful story – part of the Love Least Expected Valentine’s Day Anthology – is a refreshingly different, culturally exotic, and joyful read, right from the first word.

Lakshmi is a girl who stretches the boundaries of the social mores of her 18^th Century life in Calcutta, India. The rules surrounding girls, so at odds with the relative freedom accorded male children, are unfair. She tells her brother that it is wrong that he should be allowed to study geography, mathematics, and English when he hates it, whereas she excels at those subjects and indeed, helps him pass his exams.

But as she reaches young womanhood, it’s the other rules that rile her. When she discovers that the rules in her world are not the same in England, she questions why this is so. If English girls can choose their own husbands, why can’t she?

This story left a smile in my heart. I highly recommend it.

Synopsis:

Lakshmi is a good 18th century Indian girl who should not be avoiding her chores and enjoying a mango while hidden amongst the high branches of the mango tree in her mother’s garden. She truly should not be seen by a man who is not a member of her family –– an Englishman, no less. And she absolutely should not even contemplate speaking with this man. But Lakshmi has never been one to follow the rules. This time, though, it could ruin–– or make––the rest of her life.

Bio:

Meredith Bond is an award– winning author of a series of traditionally published Regency romances and indie– published paranormal historical romances. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith’s heart belongs to her husband and two children, who have recently abandoned her to seek higher education.

While Meredith’s passion is writing, her second favorite pastime is teaching others to write. If you want a taste of her class in book form, Chapter One is available at your favorite e– retailer and you can always find articles on writing and self– publishing at her blog and always stay on top of what's happening with Meredith through her newsletter.

Social Media:

http://meredithbond.com/
https://www.facebook.com/meredithbondauthor

Release date for the anthology is February 3rd but it's available now for pre-order! Just click here!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Google Play

All Romance Books

Happy St Valentine's Day

Today I'm one of the lucky guests over at Shehanne Moore's blog. A dozen or so of us - all authors - are sharing the First Kiss scenes from our novels. We are also spilling the beans on whether it is love or lust, and what happens at the happily ever after.

Here's my portion of the post - re-posted with the permission of Shehanne Moore. But please visit her blog by clicking here, and read what the others have to say.

Why is this story called Rosamanti?
Rosamanti is a villa. A 400 year old villa. In its lifetime, it’s witnessed its fair share of happiness, sadness, loss, even violence. When you’re 400 years old, you gain a bit of wisdom.
Rosamanti seems to have a hand in causing good things to happen to good people who deserve happiness.
Do you believe in magic? I do.

The first kiss between Sarah and Pietro:
Pietro picked up the bottle of wine and the glasses and indicated to her to follow him. She walked behind him up a steep but well-trodden pathway. After about ten minutes, they reached a flat area atop the big headland that she recognized from her study window. They sat down on the grassy knoll and looked across to the east where the big full moon again made its slow climb, spreading gold on the waters of the calm, dark sea. The sheer beauty of the place was very moving.
Trapped in the moment, she hardly noticed Pietro remove the glass from her hand. She detected the silhouette of his head as it blocked her vision, then his warm, soft lips caressed hers. It was a mere whisper of a kiss, but tender. He pulled back.
“I couldn’t help myself, bella. Do you mind?”
She didn’t know what to say. She shook her head. Did she mind? No. No she didn’t mind at all. But no words would come out.
“Ah, I see. Then please forgive me. The wine, the moon…”

She reached out in the darkness and placed her palm gently on his cheek, unable to speak. His big hand covered hers, then his strong arms embraced her. His kiss this time was warm and robust. She found herself responding. It was delicious. He parted her lips with his tongue and probed for hers. Caught up in the moment, she touched his tongue, tasting saltiness, mixed with wine. Somewhere deep down, something fluttered—oh so delicately—through her. His embrace became tighter. Linked together, they lay back on the spiky turf, their kiss becoming more passionate.

What happens next?
He cooks for her, gives her a whole cellar of gorgeous wine, charms her with his smooth Italian ways, makes her laugh again.

But is it love?
She watched enthralled as Pietro spread the pliant dough on the smooth, floured bench in Nonna’s kitchen. Sipping wine, she could feel contentment oozing through every pore of her skin. He started singing as he worked—firstly skinning the rich, ripe tomatoes, and dicing the onion and basil finely. Every so often, he looked at her and winked, a happy smile resting on his handsome face. When the meal was ready, they sat opposite each other at the old wooden table. She loved the meal, and she loved the happiness that he infused into the food. Wholesome, calm, generous, and sweet.
When they finished eating, he raised his glass to her. She clinked hers with him and smiled. “Bella, you look so happy.”
“I am happy, Pietro. I’m happier than I’ve been for a long time. I don’t know if it’s your wine, your food, or Rosamanti, but I feel like I’ve been transformed into a fairy tale where everything is good.”
His face took on a look of mock admonishment. “Ah, bella,” he chided, “maybe it is because of me!”
They both laughed. She looked thoughtful for a moment, tipping her head to one side. “You know, maybe—just maybe—it is.”
The tender look in his eyes, and the happy smile on his face, warmed her heart.

When it is love, how does Sarah know?
Taking her coffee outside, she sat at the little white wrought-iron table under the pergola and waited for the sun to rise. Her thoughts turned to Ted and she felt the weight of sadness deep within her. When he was first diagnosed, they talked a lot. She remembered his words: “You’re still a young woman. Promise me you’ll love someone else.” She drew an involuntary breath as she realized she may have just done exactly that. The vision of Ted’s sick, pale face dissolved into a brown, smiling countenance brimming with life. Pietro’s black eyes twinkled as they gazed out from his handsome face. She felt like she was sixteen years old again. No way—no way at all—had she expected this to happen. Not so quickly. Maybe even never.