• About Catherine Castle
  • Blog
  • Book Shelf
  • Contact Catherine
  • Copyright Permissions
  • Gardens
  • Guest Blog Information-A Writer’s Garden
  • Guest Blog Information-Musings from a Writer’s Brain
  • Guest Blog Information-Tasty Tuesdays
  • Guest Blog Information-Wednesday Writers
  • WIP

Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: YA romance

Thursday Christmas Reads–It Happened at Christmas by Christen Krumm

14 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by Catherine Castle in Christmas Reads, Romance, Sweet romance, YA fiction

≈ Comments Off on Thursday Christmas Reads–It Happened at Christmas by Christen Krumm

Tags

Christen Krumm, Christmas romance, giveaway, It Happenedat Christmas, Sweet romance, YA romance

Christmas is coming, and with that holiday season comes more Christmas romances. If you don’t now, I love Christmas and Christmas romances. So, to fill out the rest of the Thursdays this year, I’m hosting fellow authors and their Christmas novels. Today I’m featuring Christen Krumm and her sweet YA Christmas book It Happened at Christmas . I Read on for the fun and an excerpt. Christen is willing to give away 1 e-copy of the book to a reader. Leave a comment and your email to be entered to win. Please type email as name(@)domain(dot)com to protect your email from robots. 

Welcome, Christen

 

Thanks, Catherine!

It Happened at Christmas was never supposed to be a novel.

It started last fall. I had a goal last year to make something happen with this writing thing — I would have liked to have gotten representation for my first novel (a dystopian … I’ve promised my mom I’ll still do something with that story …), but by the fall that wasn’t happening. I knew that needed to start working on something else. But the problem was I couldn’t get the characters from my first book out of my head. Maybe it was that the book I was trying to work on—a superhero meets Aladdin on a dying planet story—was a little too close to my dystopian. It was frustrating, and I wasn’t getting any traction on it—even though I loved the story.

There was still the matter of making something, anything happen with this writing thing. I started to look at different publications for short fiction. I thought, and rightfully so, I just needed a “palette cleanser” since I had been working on the dystopian story for way too long. Publications were starting to work on submissions for their Christmas editions, and I thought it might be fun to take a scene from one of my favorite Romantic Comedies and write it as flash fiction.

I jumped on a vox with one of my critique partners to chat back and forth about story. And the story grew … and grew … and grew! To the point that I knew I wouldn’t be able to limit it to just a piece of flash fiction. Instead I decided to write a Christmas novella to release later the next year. As I was writing I quickly realized that it was going to be slightly longer than the typical novella, and by the time I finished it and grew to a full-length novel.

So, what’s next? I’m still working on getting my dystopian story agented (the story of my heart), but I’m also working on my next fun rom com to release (fingers crossed) next summer! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (http://christenkrumm.com/newslettersignup) to keep up on all the latest news!

And Now for the book!

“A sweet and funny YA twist on a beloved movie.” —Emilie Hendryx

In this enchanting YA spin on While You Were Sleeping, Christen Krumm delivers laughter and Christmas sparkle through a swoon-worthy story of first love and belonging.

Life at Iverson Preparatory Boarding School isn’t easy when you’re basically the maid. Murphy Cain spends her days cleaning up after her upper-class peers in exchange for tuition while dodging their cutting remarks. All of that changes when she rescues her crush, the popular and hunky Tripp Harrington, after a near-fatal accident and is mistaken as his girlfriend.

Murphy finds herself struggling with the choice to reveal the truth or play along. As Tripp’s girl, his wealthy family will offer Murphy something she’s been craving her whole life—a chance to be one of the “in” crowd. A chance to belong. Without it, she’ll be right back where she started.

It only gets worse as Tripp’s brother Hank enters the picture. He’s handsome, down to earth, and seems to understand Murphy better than anyone else. The only problem? She’s supposed to be dating his brother.

As Christmas break draws to a close, Murphy must decide if telling the truth is worth losing it all or if the risk will bring a greater reward in the end.

Excerpt:

If she never saw another piece of Bubblicious bubble gum, it would be too soon.

Murphy Cain flexed her hand before picking up the paint scraper. She’d been hacking at the dried gum on the bathroom wall for over two hours and had hardly made a dent. Why Claire Bentley insisted on creating her own gum wall “just like that one in Seattle” was beyond her. It was disgusting.

Claire Bentley. The Iverson Queen “B.” Her daddy’s money kept her from being expelled from Iverson — well, that and the fact that no one was outing Claire as the orchestrator of this mess. And Headmistress Kingfisher couldn’t very well let go of every girl on this floor. Oh, no. Too much money would be lost.

Murphy cringed at the sound of the scraper chipping away two more pieces of the hardened gum, hundreds left staring her down. The mere fact it was multiple girls’ saliva and germs stuck to the wall—and probably a few of the boys’—made Murphy’s stomach tighten with nausea. The saddest part about it was she wished she was a part of creating it. Because that would mean she was one of the elite. Not the Cinderella of Iverson Hall.

Another chunk of gum landed on the floor. The piece looked fresher than most. She told herself she wouldn’t throw up—then she’d have to clean that up too. At least they had found this mountain of gum now, midway through the year, instead of at the end. She wasn’t kidding herself. She knew there’d probably be another gum wall up by then. One wall for now was a small bit of relief.

The bathroom door opened with a whisper and then clanged shut. Murphy caught a whiff of expensive perfume. Keeping her head down, she swallowed the groan fighting to get out.

 

Amazon Book Links:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2MZTDwj

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2nV9LW2

 

 

About the author:

Christen Krumm is the author of It Happened at Christmas. She lives with her real-life superhero husband and three barefoot wildings in small-town Arkansas. Coffee is the lifeblood, books are her drugs, and creating stories is her favorite. Find her online at christenkrumm.com

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristenEKrumm

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ChristenKrumm

Newsletter Sign up: http://christenkrumm.com/newslettersignup

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Laurie Lucking Author of Common

21 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Romance, Uncategorized, Wednesday Writers

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

book excerpt of YA romance Common, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Cinderella retelling novel, Common, fairy-tale retelling, fairy-tale twists, Laurie Lucking, YA fantasy romance, YA romance

 

 

Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome Laurie Lucking to Wednesday Writers. Laurie writes YA fantasy fiction with a classic fairytale twists. She’ll be sharing the background of twist of her newest YA romance, Common, along with an excerpt. Welcome, Laurie!

 

Putting a Twist (or Three!) on a Classic Tale

 

Thanks, Catherine.

I have always loved a good fairy tale retelling. It started with Disney animated movies during my childhood: tales of far-off lands with heroes who boldly risked their lives fighting evil, romances that made butterflies flit about my ribcage, and happily-ever-afters that left me with a contented sigh. When I reached my teens, I enjoyed authors like Gail Carson Levine and Robin McKinley, who brought fairy tales to life on the written page with their unique voices and interpretations. I discovered Melanie Dickerson’s books as an adult, and you can guess how quickly I snatched them up!

When I delved into writing, I couldn’t wait to put my own spin on some classic tales! My first manuscript (which will hopefully be rewritten someday!) explored the premise of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, giving the older sister a back story that explained her cagey behavior and creating what I considered to be a more satisfying ending. In approaching Common, my debut novel that just released on Valentine’s Day, I began with a “Cinderella”-type setup of a servant girl in love with a prince. But rather than center the primary action around a ball, I wanted to explore the relationship and characters much further. I started with a childhood friendship between the maid, Leah, and the prince, Raphael. To increase the conflict, I added a surprise betrothal, a plot against the royal family, and a mysterious group of nuns. Though Leah is every bit as “common” as Cinderella when it comes to her skill set and station in life, she ends up on an adventure to save her country and her beloved prince. Her journey causes her to rise not only beyond her circumstances, but above challenges to her courage, confidence, and faith.

Other stories I have in the works draw inspiration from “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and Peter Pan. I appreciate the opportunity to bring new life to the timeless themes and love stories of fairy tales and other classics, and I hope my readers will cherish their adventures in my imaginary lands, smiling with satisfaction when they reach the happily-ever-after at the end.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Common

By Laurie Lucking

 

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend

Excerpt:

Rafe took my arm and steered me in the opposite direction, keeping silent until his friends’ footsteps retreated. “Are you really all right, Leah?”

I tried to pull away. He was whispering so close to my ear, I could feel his breath on my neck.

“What was going on back there? Who were those young men?”

“I’m fine, Rafe, truly. Those were two of the stable hands. I’ve known them all my life, and they’ve been teasing me almost as long. They get on my nerves, but I can assure you they’re harmless.”

His jaw remained set. “Even if they meant no harm, they need to learn the proper respect due to a lady.”

I laughed, then checked myself and lowered my voice. “A lady? I appreciate the thought, but you need to remember I’m merely a servant. As such, I don’t command quite the same level of gentility required for a noblewoman.”

“Well, perhaps you should.”

A lady’s maid stared at us as we passed, sending searing heat into my cheeks. “While we’re on the subject of my lowly status…are you sure this is a good idea?”

“What do you mean?” His brows knit.

“Walking through the corridors like this.” I waved my free hand at our linked arms.

Rafe puffed out his chest. “I’m the prince, aren’t I? How could I do any less than escort the maiden I rescued to safety?”

“I’m not sure that quite constituted a rescue.” I stole a glance at him. “Is it customary for you to attend to damsels in distress in such a manner, then?” I bristled at the idea of Rafe walking through the halls arm in arm with other young women, but I shook it off.

“Well, no. But I still don’t see how this could be objectionable.”

“I’m concerned what people might say…”

“Oh, Leah, will you cease your endless worrying? I’m trying to be your knight in shining armor, and you’re ruining it.”

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Want to read more? You can find Common here.

About the Author:

An avid reader since birth (her parents claim she often kept them up late begging to hear just one more story), Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. She writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of romance, and her debut novel, Common, released on February 14, 2018, from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing. Laurie is the Secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of Lands Uncharted, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons.

Connect with Laurie at these Social Media Links: Website, Blog, Facebook

Wednesday Writers hosts Unwritten Melody Blog Tour with Tessa Emily Hall

07 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Wednesday Writers

≈ Comments Off on Wednesday Writers hosts Unwritten Melody Blog Tour with Tessa Emily Hall

Tags

@tessaemilyhall, Catherine Castle's Wednsday Writers blog series, Emily Dickinson, giveaway, Tessa Emily Hall, Unwritten Melody Blog Tour, Unwritten Melody Prize Pack, YA inspirational fiction, YA romance

 

unwritten-melody-blog-tour-banner_1Today on Wednesday Writers I have something a bit different for my readers. I’m hosting Tessa Emily Hall, author of Unwritten Melody, on her blog tour. Tessa will be talking about the inspiration behind the book and offering readers a chance to win a special Prize Pack, which will be discussed farther down in the post. So be sure and read to the bottom to get your chance to win. So, Tessa, tell the readers about the inspiration behind Unwritten Melody.

Thanks for having me today, Catherine.

I loved the idea of having a songwriter (Cassie) mesh her lyrics together with a musician (James), and for the pieces to fit together like a puzzle—almost as though the lyrics and songs were created for each another.

I also knew that I wanted to somehow incorporate the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson into the novel. I first learned about this poet in my 8th grade English class. I remember becoming fascinated – not only with her works, but also with the unique story of her life. After I brainstormed the premise to Unwritten Melody, I knew Cassie’s own life would shadow perfectly that of Dickinson’s and highlight the book’s theme in the process.

It’s my hope that, through any book that I write, readers will realize they are not alone in their life’s journey – in the questions they wrestle with, emotions they deal with, situations they experience, etc. And hopefully, through following the journey that my characters take, readers can find a solution for their own problems as well.

I specifically hope readers will come away from Unwritten Melody with newfound hope for their current circumstances and a deeper revelation of the power of God’s unending love.

I’d like to leave the readers with a quote from the book.

unwritten-melody-quote02

I know a lot of us can relate to that! Thanks for being with us today. Here’s a quick blurb to give you an idea of what the story is about.  Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack!

 

Unwritten Melody

By Tessa Emily Hall

 

Does breaking free require breaking the rules?

Cassie Gilbert lives every day in the shadows of her deceased mom’s rebellion. But now that she’s seventeen, she finds herself longing to break away from her grandmother’s suffocating rules, experience what it’s like to be a regular teenager, and fulfill her songwriting dreams.

James Russo, former American Spotlight contestant, escapes to small town Willow Creek, SC hoping to flee from his tarnished past. When a school project pairs him with the shy principal’s granddaughter, he’s determined to get to know this Emily-Dickinson-obsessed and typewriter-using girl. His plan? Convince Cassie to co-write songs for his demo album.

As Cassie gets to know James over “project meetings” (more like opportunities to match her lyrics with his melodies), she becomes intrigued by his sense of adventure and contagious passion for music. But soon, his past becomes exposed. Cassie’s left to wonder—did she make the same mistake Mom did by falling for the bad boy?

Then, Grandma’s control pushes her over the edge. Cassie must choose between remaining in the chains of yesterday, or delving into her own freedom by completing the melody her mom left behind.

If you want to read more check out the book at one of the following links:

  •  “Unwritten Melody” on Goodreads
  • View “Unwritten Melody” on Amazon
  • View “Unwritten Melody” on Barnes & Noble

Giveaway

 

Enter for your chance to win the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack! Two winners will be selected and announced on Tessa’s blog the final day of tour (Friday, December 9th) and will be notified via email.

unwritten-melody-giveaway

 

This prize pack includes…

 

  • E-copy of Unwritten Melody
  • Signed paperback copy of Purple Moon
  • Unwritten Melody mug, filled with goodies
  • Unwritten Melody swag, including a bookmark, pen, and poster
  • Starbucks mocha flavored instant coffee
  • Free Unwritten Melody: Page-By-Page Secrets PDF
  • Handmade journal
  • Typewritten thank you note

 

*This giveaway is open to the US only

Click on the link below to enter the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the Author

 tessa-emily-hall_headshot3Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show others they’re not alone—and because she remembers the teen life like it was yesterday (or a few years ago). The debut novel she wrote at 16-years-old, PURPLE MOON (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) was a Selah 2014 Finalist. Her second novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY, releases with Clean Reads November 2016. She’s the Founder of PursueMagazine.net, a magazine that inspires teens to embrace their calling. She also enjoys helping writers achieve their dreams through her internship at Hartline Literary Agency.

When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, Tessa can be found making healthy homemade lattes, speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. She writes in a small town nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Southeastern coast. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website.

 Connect With Tessa

  • Website: www.tessaemilyhall.com
  • Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2ef5bu1
  • Blog: www.ChristisWrite.blogspot.com
  • Twitter: www.twitter.com/tessaemilyhall
  • Facebook page: www.facebook.com/tessaemilyhall
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessaemilyhall
  • Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tessaemilyhall 
  •  

Remaining Blog Tour Schedule Dates for Tessa

Don’t miss the next blog tour stop! Be sure to visit the following blogs on its designated tour date. You can also email tessaemilyhall (at) gmail (dot) com and request to receive the Blog Tour Packet. At the end of the tour, Tessa will send you the downloadable PDF that will contain all of the content from each blog tour stop.

Thurs., December 8 – Rachelle Rea Cobb

Fri., December 9 – Leslie L. Mckee

 

Catherine Castle’s Christmas Reads: Poppies for Christmas by Stacy Renée Keywell

17 Thursday Nov 2016

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Christmas Reads

≈ Comments Off on Catherine Castle’s Christmas Reads: Poppies for Christmas by Stacy Renée Keywell

Tags

book excerpt from Poppies for Christmas, Catherine Castle's Christmas Reads, Christmas fiction, holiday fiction, living with autism, Poppies for Christmas, Stacy Renée Keywell, YA fiction, YA romance

 

Today’s Christmas Read is Poppies for Christmas from YA author Stacy Renée Keywell. Hope you enjoy the excerpt!

 3-poppies-for-christmas_850x1275

Poppies for Christmas

 

A celebration of love without labels. It’s easy to be brave with you by my side!

Popular DJ Dexx finds himself positively smitten by the precociously pristine Poppy Paris. Too bad she’s already taken by an older boy, Declan Davies, a beautiful model with a thriving career, and a perfect family. By a dreamful stroke of chance, Dexx finds himself invited to spend Christmas at the Davies home by a gorgeous girl, granting him the opportunity to pursue the precious Poppy. But in his quest to win her over, he unlocks a world of imperfection and insecurity, where people are picked on for their disabilities, speech, appearance, and eccentricities. For Poppy and her friends, love trumps labels, and everyone deserves a brave friend to stand by their side. What gifts will Dexx discover this Christmas? Will he ultimately find true love, or will he discover something even greater?

You are invited to read a powerful story about living with autism, but not letting it define you, about being bullied, but carrying on with determination and grit, and about having dreams, but not giving up in the face of adversity. Come celebrate something beautiful with Poppies for Christmas.

Poppies For Christmas

by Stacy Renée Keywell

 

The Science of Baking

I read somewhere once that cooking is an art. It takes imagination and flare. But baking? Baking is a science. It takes exactitude and precision. It requires patience. It requires dedication. It requires love. A whole lot of love. And well…that’s what I’ve got…love…love for a girl, a special one, one who deserves dedication. So what do I choose to prove my love? I choose baking.

 

Chapter One

Lenn

Deep inside my tote, my hand grazed against my faithful sketchbook before I removed it. The metal spirals comforted my fingers as I dragged them across the row of sharp-edged rings. Firmly gripping the book, I flipped it open to a blank page near the middle. I smoothed out the slightly texturized, eggshell white page. I bent down and buried my nose in the crease, inhaling the faint lead pencil scent. It calmed me, readying me to add another chapter to my visual saga.

Spreading my tools around me, hard and soft pencils, a ruler, several firm erasers, and a small metal sharpener, I steadied my hand and cleared my mind, inviting in only the most blissful images of my fantasy. With a soft lead pencil, I constructed an oval blank for the face. Art classes definitely assisted in perfecting the technique, but dedication and talent trumped instruction.

I used the ruler to estimate the proper dimensions. I added eyes, a nose, some crazy-hot lips, all his beautiful features. I gave him expressive brows. I sketched his glossy dark brown hair, shaggy bangs flopping over to the side, covering his ear, exposing that sarcastic, twisted grin on his lips, the same way he looked when he joked around with his friends in the corner of the library during study hall.

A trusty eraser mopped up all of the stray, miscellaneous marks. I blew away a couple gummy shreds before I shaded in his taut jawline. I wiped up the last scattered pieces left behind on the page before I started on adding myself to the portrait. Duplicating the process, I gave myself a hipper, manga-esque look, allowing for a more whimsical likeness of myself.

Poppy and Kit sat at the same long, wooden table, on the opposite side of me. Kit swiped through the pages on her tablet, desperately trying to find the right page number, since she had neglected to tap the bookmark before closing out her chapter the previous night. Nervous oohs and aahs escaped her lips. Poppy, sitting with her legs crossed, jiggled her feet beneath her chair, shaking the table, creating a rattling earthquake under my artwork.

I shot a glare in her direction. “Would you please stop? The both of you! You are driving me crazy, and ruining my picture.”

Poppy and Kit stopped suddenly. They looked at each other, wide-eyed and innocent, two does in the midst of a meadow. Unaware! Clueless! Oblivious!

“I can’t think when you moan that way,” I snapped, addressing Kit. She squirmed underneath her oversized flannel shirt and baggy jeans.

“And, you,” I turned to Poppy. “You are going to smudge my drawing with all of that wild motion going on underneath the table. Can it!”

Their jaws dropped. They both stared at me, wordless.

“Please.” I hugged my journal protectively. Softening my voice, I turned to Poppy and asked her again. “Please?”

“Sorry,” they announced in simulcast, sighing, shrugging their shoulders, lost together in the great woods of their minds.

They looked back down at their own musings. I continued to draw.

In this picture, the two of us relaxed together on a chaise lounge, him with his large, bulbous headphones, and me with my skull and crossbones ear buds. Our eyes drifted in the opposite direction, lids almost closed, in a sleepy trance. My arm draped across his chest until our fingers entwined, intimately. We zoned out to his simpatico beats.

Dare I say heaven? Total reverie? Dare I label it? Give it a title like Lost Together, or Technotransing it, or D-lightful?

I absolutely planned on scanning my image when I returned home, possibly even uploading it to his fan page, once I swallowed a dose of bravery and forced myself to take that leap of frightening faith. My mouth dried up like a petrified prune, and puckered at the thought of posting my reveries.

 

Want to read more? Check out Poppies For Christmas at Amazon

 

 

About the Author:

garden-3Author Stacy Renée Keywell lives a life of fabulous clichés. She enjoys asking rhetorical questions, and speaking redundantly. Stacy works hard at telling bad jokes, dancing oddly yet awesomely, and making up amazing new words in hopes that they will one day find their way into the dictionary. She strives to love without labels. She vows to bravely stand by the sides of those who need her, especially her two daughters. Stacy, her husband, and her children live in Michigan in a quaint house in the woods. You can connect with Stacy at:

http://www.stacyreneekeywell.com/

http://stacykeywell.weebly.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stacyreneekeywell

https://www.facebook.com/projectlovewithoutlabels

https://twitter.com/keywelluvsbooks

Author D.R. Grady Talks About Love On Wednesday Writers

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Blog about Love, Book excerpt from the Dragon Chronicles, D.R. Grady, Dragon Chronicles Book Three: Healing, YA FAntasy, YA romance

 

HEALING-Soulmate 805_805x1275 (3)Today Wednesday Writers Welcomes back D.R. Grady, author of The Dragon Chronicles, YA fantasy romance series. Today, D.R. will be talking about a subject all romance readers and writers revel in—love, and the different journey love took her in her latest book Healing. Be sure to read to the bottom of the post for the excerpt from Healing, the third book in her Dragon Chronicle Series.

Thanks, Catherine.

People recognize love when we see it. We might smile at the sight of a couple, especially one newly in love, gazing into the other’s eyes as they clasp hands, bodies leaning into each other. Young love is beautiful. So is the love of a couple who have been together so many years that now age spots dot their skin. Yet they still lean into each other, still gaze into each other’s eyes with secret smiles.

Both of these scenarios are precious to us. To see young love with so much hope, all that promise waiting to unfold within the encroaching years. And older love that has endured and is stronger than the two individuals who have shaped and formed it over time. Their love has fulfilled the promise of their youth.

We love to see romantic love.

Yet this books series took me in a slightly different direction. There is plenty of romantic love here, but over the years, I’ve been humbled and awed by other types of love as well. The love a parent has for their child especially.

You might not find a love so powerful as this one. Parents sacrifice all the time for their children—with a smile on their face. Because what they feel for their offspring can’t be expressed in words. It only becomes evident in their choices. A parent’s love runs so deep and is so abiding it can move them to access potential they never knew they possessed.

Another precious form of love is that of someone who has experienced a loss. Just because someone has died doesn’t mean we don’t carry them in our hearts.

Love might be the only thing that could make us do something we don’t want to do, or wouldn’t ordinarily consider. To go against our instincts, but we keep going, because of a single, powerful emotion.

Love is what keeps Lindy and Alex on course, as they face a nasty enemy no one else can. It inspires them, with the help of Ewain, Marissa, Keely, and Hugh, as well as the entire school, to keep fighting. To keep going, despite the odds. Only love can do so.

Love gets us out of bed when we’re achy, sore, and feverish, because life is more about the people around us than about us. It inspires us, compels us, and in the long run, helps us make choices we won’t regret. So keep loving, and don’t forget to tell those you love how you feel.

 

The dragon Chronicles 

Healing

HEALING-Soulmate 805_805x1275 (3)

 

“Of course I know, but I drank two bottles of tea.”

Rolling his eyes, Ewain scooped her out of the bed. He was all hard muscle and strength and his scent enveloped her. She inhaled deeper and deeper. Her body settled against his as though they’d been doing this for years. No guilt seeped in when she looped her arms around his neck. She did need to hang on, after all. So what if she surreptitiously groped his amazing shoulders? The man was finely made.

“Where’s the nearest bathroom?” Lindy trailed behind them.

Ewain turned toward a door further down the hall. “I can help her.”

“Yes, you could. But I’m going to.” Lindy used a tone he immediately backed down from.

Marissa smiled up at him, because she had to. He stumbled. “Don’t do that.” His voice sounded a little disgruntled.

“Do what?” Had her smile just made him stumble? No way. She didn’t possess such power.

His eyes narrowed.

Her breathing hitched.

Make certain to try that smile on him again. Only not in front of witnesses.

Want to read more? D.R. Grady’s book are available on Amazon.

 

About the Author

deann grady headshotD.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes, and writing stories that resonate with others.

Website:

Twitter: @drgradybooks

Amazon Author page: Facebook Page: D.R. Grady Google+: D.R.Gradybooks

 

Catherine Castle Facebook

Catherine Castle Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,709 other followers

Recent Posts

  • Wednesday Writers–Shadow in the Dark by Antony Barone Kolenc January 5, 2022
  • Musings from a Writer’s Brain—Reality or Make-believe? by Amy R Anguish December 27, 2021
  • Wednesday Writers—When Love Trusts by Judythe Morgan December 22, 2021
  • Wednesday Writers–Defending David by Barbara M. Britton December 15, 2021
  • Wednesday Writers–An interview with Lady Fallon from Susan Hanniford Crowley’s YA Fantasy Lady Fallon’s Dragons December 1, 2021

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Writer's organizations

  • ACFW Ohio Chapter
  • American Christian Fiction Writers

Blog Stats

  • 60,688 hits
  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Catherine Castle
    • Join 1,709 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Catherine Castle
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...