Showing posts with label time travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time travel. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Time Travel for teens by Katie Clark

Whispering Tower

Whispering Tower
Book 2 in the Beguiled series
Katie Clark

Pelican book group
May 2019
Young Adult Inspiration Time Travel Fiction

$5.99 ebook
$10.99 Print
Buy on Amazon 
Publisher

About the Book
Stuck in London for one of her mom's work trips, Skye can't help holding a grudge when she ends up roped into a summer tour group with Philip-who-crushed-her-heart. But when Skye and Philip find themselves barreling through time after unsuspectingly opening the veil between the past and present, they're thrust into a world where Skye's very life is in danger.

If Skye had known her choices were between summering with Philip or being sacrificed to the god of the skies, she might have changed her attitude. Now she must figure out what's most important to her—getting even for the past or having a future.

My Review
Sweet young adult story, second in a series, but a standalone. Time traveling teens Skye and Philip use Stonehenge for an experiment and accidentally return to ancient Sumer in time for Skye to be mistaken for the goddess Hebat to be sacrificed at the Tower of Babel.

Skye wears a boatload of angst on her shoulders as her mother uses her as a "personal therapist." That's not a fair relationship between a workaholic divorcee and her teen daughter who's not crazy about being yanked from the last three weeks of school and forced to make nice with her mom's business partner's son, Philip, a boy who let her down and whom she now despises.

Things change when a tour around ancient ceremonial sites takes a weird turn and the two are forced to rely on each other for safety and a return, somehow, to their own time. Both Skye and Philip get a fresh chance to know each other and understand their strengths and weaknesses through the lens of wealth and slavery in a pagan culture on the cusp of the worship of one God.

I quibble with the timeline, but it’s not really important. Told through both perspectives of Skye and Philip, Whispering Tower is an enjoyable and safe story for fourth graders who read well and up.

About the Author
Katie  ClarkKatie Clark's published works include YA spec fic novels, multiple children's books, inspirational romance novels, and more. You can learn more at her website, www.katieclarkwrites.com

Find Katie on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @KatieClarkBooks!

You can watch the book trailer for Katie Clark's Enslaved Series on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1q3Fg06I0A
And check out the book trailer for Shadowed Eden, the first book in Katie's upcoming Beguiled Series! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGl3i7ZhJLs

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Once Again by Deborah Heal

Once Again by Deborah Heal

Rewinding Time series, book 1

Deborah Heal

Paperback: $9.99
Ebook: 2.99

Others in the series:


About the Book:
Professor Merrideth Randall has a tool that other historians can only dream of—computer software that virtually rewinds time!

It comes in handy for historical research and for her sideline genealogy business. When her colleague physics professor Brett Garrison asks for help with his family tree she can’t resist, even though he’s far too attractive for her peace of mind. And amazingly, he seems to be pursuing her, despite the fact that everyone knows dating a co-worker is career suicide.

Using her software, Merrideth gets a first-hand look at Brett’s ancestors, the courageous pioneers of the Illinois Country who withstood Indian attacks, hardship, and loneliness to settle there in the 1780s. One of the settlers is James Garretson, who risked his life to take the Gospel to the very tribe that wreaked havoc on his family. Merrideth is amazed that he could forgive a crime so huge.

She would love to tell Brett that he is descended from heroes, and that he inherited his black hair and green eyes from James Garretson. But she is determined to safeguard her program, and discretion is not Brett’s strong suit. She also has secrets about herself that she’d just as soon he didn’t find out either.

One virtue Brett does have is patience, and he’s quite willing to wait for Merrideth to figure things out.

Lisa's Review:
Little Merri Randall is all grown up in this new series from inspirational time master Deborah Heal. She’s followed her dream of becoming a young PhD history professor at a southern Illinois college. It’s been years since her childhood encounters with a dangerous and mysterious software program called Beautiful Houses. When she accidentally? rediscovers the program not only still exists and is just as active as ever, curiosity overcomes her good sense and she is once again drawn back to explore time.

Merredith uses the program to help her in both her work and private side business, researching family history. She has grown up reluctant to share herself with others, a definite lack of trust in others and even to a certain extent her own abilities and gifts. When the physics professor sets his sights on her, Merri has a lot to overcome, especially her teaching mentor, to believe anyone might be personally interested in her.

Told from Merredith’s viewpoint throughout, this story and series is a history lover’s dream. Because the character is a professor, her lectures that include blocks of rote history are a natural part of the story, as are the fascinating dialog sharing dates and people. Merri’s trips through time provide a virtual visit to experience life in the late eighteenth century literally through those people’s heads.

Just a fascinating series with excellent research. While science is not discounted, the details of the software’s ability to provide virtual time travel experience for the user doesn’t hinder the reader. The books are part of a series, and while a reader can pick up any story and read it with enough information from the past books to make sense of the particular story arc, you’ll want to read the whole series. I know I will. Recommended for those who love plucky wounded females with a side of romance while reading their history.



Note: Time and Again, the first book in the History Mystery trilogy sert before this series, is available free from Amazon Kindle

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Clash of the Titles holiday CLASH!

It's the end of our CLASH year, and we've lined up some awesome holiday reading (and gift ideas!) for this month's Clash of the Titles.
Vote for your Ideal curl up in front of a fire read!


Scroll through these releases and cast your vote for your perfect idea of a next read.
It's a tough choice, but it's up to you to determine our Clash Champion!


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Risking Love
Brenda S. Anderson

A play-it-safe bank employee falls for a down-on-his-luck, risk-taking widower. Can she risk loving a man whose home she may have to take away?

32574171

An Unexpected Role
Leslea Wahl

Josie's island getaway becomes the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. But as she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers her true self.

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Forest Child
Heather Day Gilbert

Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable, conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life and is Book Two in the bestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.


29430781 

Can't Help Falling
Kara Isaac

A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.


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The Cautious Maiden
Dawn Crandall

In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind. 


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The Thorn Healer
Pepper D. Basham

A wounded nurse battles resentment against a German prisoner as the two work together to save an Appalachian town from deception and disease in the wake of World War 1.


VOTE BELOW!

If you have trouble viewing the entire survey Click Here to load a dedicated page to the survey. 



Friday, September 2, 2016

Crystal Stuart from Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel

An interview with Crystal Stuart
Character from Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel


Today, I’m talking with Crystal Stuart, a lab technician from the Temporal Counseling Program at National Science University. Crystal, I’ve heard that there’s an emergency at TEMCO. Can you confirm that two cadets have been kidnapped and that Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson have been sent through a time portal to investigate?

I’m sorry, Lisa, but I’m not at liberty to say. Commenting on the current situation could be extremely dangerous. As you know, TEMCO deals with time travel, and if we don’t handle things with extreme caution, the entire timeline could be jeopardized. I’m sure you understand.

Yes, I do. Let’s change topics. Marc Kerry, a professional time counselor with the TEMCO program, has become a popular figure in Washington D.C. Is it true that you’re dating him?

Wow! I’m not sure how that particular rumor started. Marc and I have never dated. Our interactions have been rocky, to say the least. In fact, we didn’t even speak to each other for four years. In the past, I wouldn’t even classify us as friends.

You said “in the past.” Have things changed recently?

Well… Lately, we’ve gotten along better. I used to think that Marc was pretty egotistical, but I’ve discovered that he’s actually a very nice man with an extremely kind heart. I’ve been told that we’ll be working together in the future. I’m looking forward to it.

Would you be willing to date him?

I can’t deny that Marc is extremely handsome. Nor can I deny that I like him now. But, Lisa, look at me! I’m not his type at all. He always goes for glamorous, gorgeous girls. I’m just a lab tech with big glasses. He’s out of my league, and I know it. It’s nice of you to think I could catch his eye, but we’re not living in a fantasy dreamland. Things like that just don’t happen in real life.

What would you say if I told you that I’ve heard he’s attracted to you?

I wouldn’t say anything, Lisa. I’d just laugh. If your sources told you that, you may need to check them for accuracy. You know that I enjoy crunching numbers, and I’ve run the statistics. Statistically, there’s less than a 7.8 percent chance of Marc asking me for a date.

You may be surprised.

Possibly, but not likely. I deal with facts, and it’s a fact that I’m not Marc’s type. Gracious! It’s also a fact that I’m late! It’s been a delight talking with you, Lisa, but I need to get back to the lab. I can’t talk about TEMCO’s current situation, but it’s extremely urgent. I’m sorry, but I have to go.

I understand. Thanks for speaking with us, Crystal. Best wishes with the current situation.


About Time Trap:
When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Prism Book Group
$3.99 eBook
$16.99 Print
Buy on:

About the Author

Danele Rotharmel grew up with a love of the literary word, and by age five, she knew she wanted to be a writer. However, her life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a low-level carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace in her home was slowly poisoning her. This poisoning triggered severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and partial amnesia.
      
During this time, the hardest thing she faced was a crisis of faith. She had to quit her job and stop going to church. She couldn’t write, couldn’t drive, and could barely remember who she was. To say she was upset with the Lord was an understatement. She began reexamining her faith in light of her illness, and eventually, she came to the firm conclusion that God is real, God is good, God is interested and involved, and God is trustworthy regardless of tragedy.
      
When her illness became even more severe, she was put into quarantine and could only talk to friends and extended family through the glass of a window. This quarantine lasted for seven years. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.
      
Danele currently lives in Colorado where she continues to write. Although her journey back to health was long and difficult, it provided her with the opportunity to grow closer to God and to write her books. For that, she is forever thankful. You can learn more about Danele by visiting https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Connect with Danele:


Friday, August 12, 2016

Talking with Marc Kerry from Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel

Meet Marc Kerry
Character from Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel


Today, I’m talking with Marc Kerry, a professional time counselor with the Temporal Counseling Program at National Science University. Marc, can you tell us what time counseling entails?

Sure, Lisa! Time counseling is a unique—and sometimes dangerous—profession. TEMCO’s main objective is targeting death-row offenders for time-based counseling. It’s my job to travel back through time and counsel criminals while they’re children. Many times, I’m able to put the children on a better path so that when they grow up, they avoid a life of crime.

You mentioned that time counseling can be dangerous. How so?

Sometimes, time counselors encounter unexpected events. For instance, a few years ago, a student cadet encountered a serial killer during her field exam. Gil almost lost her life.

Has anything like that happened to you?

I’m happy to say that it hasn’t. But a time counselor always has to be prepared. Danger is part of the job.

Does TEMCO take precautions to keep you safe?

Of course! Since Gil’s deadly assignment, time counselors always travel in pairs. And student cadets are no longer allowed to handle criminal cases—they’re assigned suicide preventions. Speaking of which, two cadets, Phoebe and Drake, are about to tackle their field exam. I just ran into them on campus. Director Matthews and Dr. Nelson were going to tie up some last-minute details and then send them through a temporal portal.

Will Phoebe and Drake be in danger?

Probably not. Danger isn’t likely during a cadet-handled suicide prevention. Besides, TEMCO has top-notch lab technicians who constantly monitor the timeline. This helps ensure the safety of time counselors in the field.

Marc, you blushed when you mentioned TEMCO’s lab technicians. I’ve heard that one of the techs, Crystal Stuart, has caught your eye.

That may be true, but I’m not sure what to do about it. Crystal and I had a fight several years ago, and she refuses to talk with me.

If you try hard enough, I’m sure you can patch things up and grab her attention.

I don’t know, Lisa. I’d like to think that my famous “Kerry Charisma” could charm her, but Cris has a mind of her own—and that stubborn mind of hers is determined to hold a grudge. I wish she’d forgive me. She’s a fascinating woman.

Marc, thank you so much for talking with me. I want to wish you luck on your next assignment…and also luck with Crystal.


Thank you, Lisa! I appreciate it.


About Time Trap:
 When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Prism Book Group
$3.99 eBook
$16.99 Print
Buy on:


 About Danele J. Rotharmel 

Danele Rotharmel’s life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace was poisoning her. This poisoning triggered Multiple Chemical Sensitivity causing her to be put in quarantine. For seven years, she could only talk to friends and extended family through a windowpane. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.  Although her journey back to health was difficult, it provided her the opportunity to grow closer to God and write her books. For that, she’s forever thankful. To learn more about Danele, visit her blog:  

Meet Danele on the web:

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Phoebe Reynolds from Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel

Meet Phoebe Reynolds
Character from Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel

Today, I’m talking with Phoebe Reynolds, a senior cadet in the Temporal Counseling Program at National Science University. Phoebe, I’ve heard that you’re about to take your field exam. Can you tell us more about the test?

Sure, Lisa! In order to earn my Time-Counselor License, I have to pass a field exam. For four years, I’ve been studying about time travel. Now, I have the opportunity to surf timewaves myself! I can’t wait!

How far into the past will you be traveling, and what will you be doing?

Unfortunately, because of TEMCO protocol, I can’t give specifics. However, I can say that I’ll be traveling about ten years into the past, and my case subject is a girl named Nicki. She’s a fourteen-year-old artist who is about to commit suicide. It’ll be my job to convince Nicki that life is worth living.

I’ve heard that because of new field-exam protocol, cadets are now teamed with partners. Can you tell us a little about your partner?

My partner is Drake Procerus, another senior cadet. I’m really looking forward to working with him.

You just blushed. Is there something going on between you two?

Not yet, but… Lisa, all of the girls wanted partnered with Drake. He’s so cute. When he looks at me, my bones melt. It’s been so much fun going through the preliminary stages of testing with him. I’m hoping that once we’re out in the field, I can really catch his eye. Gil, one of TEMCO’s former cadets, fell in love during her field exam. Why couldn’t it happen to me?... Not that I won’t be focused on Nicki, of course. Nicki is my first priority.

Are field exams dangerous?

Not usually. Gil ended up facing a serial killer during her exam, but I don’t think that will happen to me. After all, I’m just dealing with a suicidal teenager. What could be dangerous about that? Besides, I’ll have Drake as my partner. I feel completely safe.

You just went pale and shivered. Why?

I’m not sure… I just had the strangest feeling… Never mind, I’m just being silly. It’s just a case of nerves. I know that everything will be fine. Field exams are safe—at least, most of the time.

Phoebe, thanks for being with us today, I wish you the best with your exam.

Thanks, Lisa. I can’t wait to make a difference in Nicki’s life!

And what about catching Drake’s eye?

I can’t wait to do that too!




About Time Trap:
 When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Prism Book Group
$3.99 eBook
$16.99 Print
Buy on:


 Danele J. Rotharmel 

Danele Rotharmel’s life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace was poisoning her. This poisoning triggered Multiple Chemical Sensitivity causing her to be put in quarantine. For seven years, she could only talk to friends and extended family through a windowpane. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.  Although her journey back to health was difficult, it provided her the opportunity to grow closer to God and write her books. For that, she’s forever thankful. To learn more about Danele, visit her blog:  

Meet Danele on the web:


Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel


Time Trap

Time Trap
By Danele J. Rotharmel
Time Travel/Romance

$3.99 eBook/$16.99 print
ISBN: 978-1-943104-56-7

When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate. While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program. As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question. A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself.

Buy at the following links
LISA: Danielle, I love your series premise, though I wondered about how some
of the travels worked. Can you share with us some of your conundrums?

DANELE: Conundrums were definitely on my mind when I wrote Time Trap. You see, at the time, I was very ill—so ill that I was quarantined in my home. I literally talked to people through the window glass. Quarantine wasn’t fun, and it lasted a long time--seven years.

Now, what does quarantine have to do with the conundrums in Time Trap? Everything! My whole life while I was writing Time Trap was a conundrum. That’s why I included so many in my story. You see, before I became ill, I served God faithfully. I expected Him to keep me from harm. Instead, I became so sick that I almost died. I had to quit my job and stop driving my car. I couldn’t go to church, to stores, to restaurants, or out with my friends. I was shut up inside my house like some sort of weird zoo exhibit. I felt so much despair that I turned my back on God, but eventually, I reconciled my faith and my circumstances.

When I wrote Time Trap, I explored some of my questions about God. And as the years of isolation slowly passed, I learned several truths. I learned that God is faithful. I learned that He will stand by us even when we temporarily lose faith in Him. I learned that this life is truly a momentary vapor. Pain comes, and pain goes—but God remains the same. And most of all, I learned that when we are in the middle of a trial, we can’t always see the great things that are just up ahead.

I thought God was being mean when He allowed me to become ill, but what I’ve learned is that God allowed me to walk that painful path because He knew it was going to lead to something beautiful. During quarantine, I had time to draw closer to God. I studied the Bible and memorized vast quantities of Scripture. What I went through was painful, but it was beneficial. Besides my spiritual transformation, Quarantine also gave me the time I needed to write my books. During those long, painful years, I wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles (Time Trap is book two). If I hadn’t been ill, my books probably wouldn’t have been written. Quarantine also opened up a path of ministry. Because of the publication of my books, I started a blog, and on https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/, I discuss the lessons I learned during my illness. My blog is being read around the world. If my life hadn’t unfolded in the way that it did, I never would have had the opportunity to touch so many people for the Lord.

Life isn’t fair. Life hurts. If we only look at the pain, we can become bitter toward God. But if we quiet ourselves and trust that everything will be okay, we learn that Romans 8:28 isn’t just a nice verse—it’s a powerful reality. God will turn every hurtful, confusing thing in our lives into something beautiful if we let Him. Our responsibility is to hold on and trust that God is real, God is good, God is concerned about everything that happens to us, and God is trustworthy. When we hold onto these truths, we can face the conundrums in life with peace—and even with joy. That’s what I have learned, and that’s what I tried to express in Time Trap.




My review:
Another romance amidst the astounding horror of a TEMCO project gone horribly awry. When a time counselor works to save a vulnerable teen in the near past, they unwittingly unleash a murderer who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on all those blamed for removing the object of desire. 

Book Two in the Time Counselor series takes a dramatic and gruesome turn even while loose ends are woven throughout and the future personas of those involved not only reach back to help at the exact right moments, but look fondly upon unfolding events. This begs the question, which is addressed in the story, of whether and especially why not prevent catastrophe when able to do so. Shouldn't suffering be avoided when possible? The answer is one for the ages and the subject of good discussion.

Told in multiple viewpoints in voices from the past and future, readers of the series, and new readers will welcome old friends and nemeses, find new villains to keep you awake at night, and a fluid, highly intertwined and entertaining visit to the future, the past, and a dramatic present as the founder of TEMCO is both available and unavailable to help his staff during their most dire project so far. Be warned: This ride is not for the faint of heart, despite the occasional lighter moments during the pursuit of true soulmates and the search for everlasting love. I especially enjoyed the creative clues used to track the murderer. Recommended for those who love a good conundrum with a truly warped antagonist and uber determined victors.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Not Bound By Time by Victoria Pitts-Caine

Introducing the Exciting New Novel by Victoria Pitts-Caine!


About the Book:

Time cannot imprison love nor hold it in place. At Balmoral, a two-hundred-year-old estate in old Northampton, love calls and only the heart can answer. 

When five-year-old Albert Farraday first sets foot on the grounds of Balmoral, he senses its magic. After he returns from the Korean War and is employed as the caretaker, Camille, the mysterious new wife of the owner of the estate, leads Albert to believe there is indeed a 
force drawing the love-worn to Balmoral. 

After Camille’s widowed niece visits the mansion, then disappears, he is certain his own sister Lydia traveled to meet her love and didn’t go mad as his mother had suggested. 

Over the years Balmoral welcomes brokenhearted travelers who find their way to the portal and into the arms of love, and Albert comes to the understanding he is not only the custodian of Balmoral 
but the keeper of its secrets. 

Buy the Book:

Watch the Trailer:



A brief Interview with the Author:


What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

There’s something magical when love finds a way. The reader will discover there is hope and a little fairy-tale enchantment when the characters, even though they are in an unusual situation, manage to travel through time to their true loves.

Who is one of your favorite characters in the book and why?
Camille Windham is my favorite. She’s the first traveler and I took a little bit of my own ancestral background to create her.

Why did you decide to do a time travel?
           
I read Love of My Heart by Bess McBride and was haunted by the story and the concept. The couple discovers they were in love before in another time. I decided it was a genre I wanted to try. The Time Traveler’s Wife was another favorite.

What else about your book might grab the reader’s interest?


There are three separate but connected stories in Not Bound By Time and there’s a little bit for everyone from Western to World War II to protecting the Scottish regalia in the 1500’s.

About the Author:
Victoria Pitts Caine is a native Californian. Her varied interests include genealogy and exotic gemstone collecting both of which she’s incorporated into her novels. While her genre is inspirational, she has branched out into other areas such as her current release, Not Bound By Time and a YA mystery/suspense.  

The author has received recognition from: Enduring Romance Top 10 Picks for 2008, William Saroyan Writing Conference, Byline Magazine, Writer’s Journal Magazine, HI Families Magazine and The Southern California Genealogical Society. Her first novel, Alvarado Gold, was published in 2007. To complete the trilogy which began with Alvarado Gold, Cairo was published in 2013 and The Tempering Agent in 2014.


She is the mother of two daughters. Victoria and her husband enjoy travel, church service and emergency radio communications.

Connect with Victoria:

Read an Excerpt:
The year was 1942, and Randolph Mitchell, along with several of his fellow soldiers, marched down a road pockmarked by shelling in London. He shuddered as a light mist fell around him. Late summer had gone.

A captain at twenty-two, Randolph’s first glimpses of war lay around him. Bile rose in his throat at the devastation. Is this what years of military boarding school has brought me to? He bent to retrieve a bit of paper. Printed roses danced on the edge, and with nowhere to discard it, he pocketed the small scrap of the life people there once lived.

When the men arrived in town earlier, Randolph spotted the young woman gazing into a merchant’s window. She carried herself with an air of importance. Ribbons and lace accented her oddly-layered clothes of multicolored fabrics. Such elaborate attire was ill-suited because people were starving and only making do. Randolph dismissed her unusual manner of dress. Who could she be? So out of place, yet so beautiful.

His troop moved up the street, and as he surveyed the area, he forced himself to forget the woman, but when he approached the shop, she turned, and their eyes met. Randolph Mitchell lost his heart in that split second, but it would take his head a while to figure it out. His eyes pursued her as she picked her way through the rubble of the bombed-out buildings.
“Hello,” he ventured.

As a delicate pink color rose from her neck, she turned her eyes toward the window. Randolph sauntered to stand beside her and glanced at their reflection. He stood a good foot taller than she. 
His wrinkled uniform caused a pang of self-consciousness, but his desire to speak to her quelled his embarrassment. “I’m Randolph Mitchell, US Army.” He smiled, studying her porcelain complexion and bright hazel eyes, hoping for a welcome response.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking to you,” the woman said.

“It’s safe. We’ve been sent here to protect you. Or err… your country.” Randolph took his cap off and grinned at her. “I, ah, we might make sure you get home. Do you live close by?”

The young woman’s face blanched as she shook her head. “I used to live here.” She sighed. Then she backed away, turned around, and started running.

Randolph clenched his fists. He had to find out.

“Wait! I didn’t mean any harm!” He called after her. “Your name? At least tell me your name!”

“Camille Windham,” came from her lips, and her name planted itself in Randolph’s heart.

She scampered down the walkway away from Randolph, leaving only her name.





Thursday, October 30, 2014

From Now On, with Susan A. Royal

Remember, friends, MuseItUp is a Canadian publisher, so some Queen's English rules apply.

Introducing Susan A. Royal, a fellow MuseItUp Publishing author, to talk about her new book,
From Now On


About the Book:

     Griffin has traveled across centuries to reunite with the woman he loves, but he and Erin may not get their ‘happy ever after’. Not if Lady Isobeil has anything to do with it. She forces Griffin to leave Erin behind and travel to eerie Manx Island. When he goes missing, Erin and his friends set out to find him. Followed by his strong-willed sister, Kateryn, they ride to Swansea and secure passage with the notorious Captain Akin.
     Erin sees firsthand how the island earned its dark reputation when she battles freakish weather, encounters a race of little people known as “Prowlies”, and experiences ghosts of the long departed. She discovers “ley lines” crossing the island’s mountain peak and making time travel possible. 
     Yet these obstacles pale in comparison to the secrets Erin uncovers while determined to rescue the man she loves.

Enjoy this Mini-Excerpt:

     I am a stranger in this world, even though I’ve traveled this way before.
     Fate and not design brought me the first time. It hurled me into a distant future, with no idea how or why, taking me from an existence dependent upon modern technology to a place where people fear such things and those who use them. While searching for my way home from this harsh and sometimes violent world, my admiration for its inhabitants who valued honor and duty above all else grew into admiration and respect. I found myself drawn to one in particular, a man who saved me more than once. Only I never expected to fall in love with him.
      Torn between my feelings and a longing for home, I returned to my time with only vague memories of my experience. My life went back to normal, but part of me sensed the loss of something more precious than anything I’d regained. Until one day, I saw him again.
     This time I’ve come by choice, and it is where I’m going to stay.
     Fate willing.

A brief Interview with the author:

Susan, what do you love about your book?
I’ve read time travel ever since I was a kid, hanging out at the bookmobile that visited our shopping center every other week during the summer months. The idea of being up close and personal with another time in history…particularly medieval times…well let’s just I was hooked. I read every time travel book I could lay my hands on. It was only natural I’d want to write a book along the same lines. What I love about Not Long Ago and the sequel From Now On is the relationship angle. Erin is a modern girl, used to taking care of herself. So when she gets time travels to a medieval world and finds herself falling for a handsome knight, she tries to be sensible. Only it doesn’t work. When she goes back to her time, she can’t forget him. And he feels the same way. In Book 2, they return to his world. As with any relationship, there are obstacles to overcome along the way. When Griffin disappears, Erin fears the worst, but she is determined to find him no matter how long it takes. Go ahead and say it…I’m an incurable romantic…I love writing about two people from totally different worlds who are willing to overcome insurmountable odds to be together. ~~sigh~~

Introduce us to your favorite secondary character.
It would have to be Arvo. He’s a tall gangly young man with a disreputable shock of red hair who becomes Erin’s good friend and confidant. He’s witty, he’s charming, he’s just a little lazy and he has the appetite of a horse. He wasn’t intended to be more than an ‘extra’, but as the story progressed, I realized Erin needed a confidant who was familiar with castle goings on and knew all the gossip. And when she needed a dress for the Masquerade Ball, who better to help her but the tailor’s son? He was such a loyal friend to Erin I brought him back in the sequel.

Share two things you learned during the writing and publishing process.
Research is a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
My next book is always going to be my best book because of what I learn every time during the writing process.

What are you working on now? I just signed a contract with MuseItUp for Xander’s Tangled Web, a fantasy with a mystery, due out in fall of 2015, and I’m writing a third book in my It’s About Time Series. I can’t wait to find out what will happen to Erin and Griffin in this adventure.

Lisa: ~Me, either. Thank you, Susan!

About the Author:
Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, Susan A. Royal makes her home in a 100-year-old farmhouse in a small east Texas town that comes complete with a ghost who has been known to harmonize with her son when he plays guitar. 
     She is married and the mother of six (she counts her children’s spouses as her own) and five grandchildren who are all unique and very special. Her family is rich with characters, both past and present. Her grandmother shared stories of living on a farm in Oklahoma Territory with three sisters and three brothers and working as a telephone operator in the early 20th century.  Her father told her about growing up in San Antonio in the depression, and she experienced being a teenager during WWII through her mother’s eyes.
     When she isn’t writing, she still has a day job, working in the public schools in east Texas as a secretary. She does her best to keep up with her grandchildren. Music and painting are two of her passions. Susan is a firm believer in getting what you want without breaking the bank. She loves to bargain shop anywhere there’s a sale and began repurposing long before it was popular. She paints, crafts and sews. Her office/craft/sewing room is littered with her latest projects.
     Susan loves to take her readers through all kinds of adventures with liberal doses of romance. So far, she’s written two books in her It’s About Time series, Not Long Ago and From Now On. They are time travel adventures with romance about two people who fall in love despite the fact they come from very different worlds. In My Own Shadow is a Fantasy adventure/romance. Look for her books at MuseItUp/Amazon/B&N. You can also find Odin’s Spear, one of her short stories featured in a Quests, Curses, and Vengeance anthology, Martinus Publishing, available on Amazon.
     Want to know more? Visit susanaroyal.wordpress.com or susanaroyal.moonfruit.com for a peek inside this writer’s mind and see what she’s up to. You never know what new world she’s going to visit next.

In My Own Shadow (fantasy, adventure, romance) 
Not Long Ago (time travel, adventure, romance)