Tameri Etherton Interviews the Hero and Heroine of the Song of the Swords Series

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This is my second adventure on Get Lost in a Story and I’m thrilled to be back! I hope you don’t mind if a few characters from the Song of the Swords fantasy series crash the party. They promised to be good, but that’s always subjective with these two. ~Tameri


Tameri: For those that don’t know you, Taryn and Rhoane, can you tell us a little about yourselves?

Taryn: Well, I was raised on Earth without any knowledge of my true home world of Aelinae. When my guardian Brandt took me through the portal, I thought I’d lost my mind. But then I met Rhoane, and the others. I found out I had a family (some of whom are trying to kill me), and I learned I had this crazy power..

Tameri: We’ll get back to that power in a minute, but first, Rhoane, can you tell us a bit about you?

Rhoane: I am Eleri. Is there more you need to know?

Taryn: Tell them something interesting, like your favorite food.

Rhoane: Why do they wish to know my favorite food? Would they like to dine with us?

Taryn: Probably, but they aren’t actually here, so they can’t. It’s just a way for them to get to know you.

Rhoane: Then I shall tell them I enjoy pizza.

Taryn: I made him pizza once and now he asks for it all the time. Do you have any idea how long it takes to make pizza when you don’t have electricity? All day! But dang, it’s worth it. Now I really want pizza. Thanks a lot, Rhoane.

Rhoane: You are most welcome.

Tameri: Taryn, you don’t always get along with your family, but there has to be something cool about finding out you have siblings.

Taryn: Ha! Now that’s an understatement. I love my younger sisters. They’re intelligent, beautiful young ladies. And funny. They both have this sense of humor that I think most people don’t get. I wish I could hang out with them more, but there never seems to be enough time.

Tameri: Because you’re off saving the world, right?

Taryn: If only it were that easy. More like, I’m trying to not get myself killed.

Rhoane: There are many who wish Taryn harm. She makes it difficult to protect her.

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Tameri: She’s a mixed bag of trouble, isn’t she?

Rhoane: That is putting it mildly.

Tameri: Let’s lighten this up a bit. If the two of you had a day to do anything you wanted, what would you do?

Furious blushes creep across both their faces. I fan myself from the heat coming off them.

Tameri: Uh, never mind, *cough, cough*. New question. Cowboy hat, baseball cap, or tiara?

Taryn: Tiara. Since coming to Aelinae, I’ve garnered quite a collection.

Rhoane: What is a cowboy hat? What is baseball?

Taryn: Baby steps, Rhoane. You just learned about skiing and hockey.

Rhoane: And ice skating with metal blades.

Taryn: Yeah, and proper ice skating.

Tameri: What are you reading right now?

Rhoane: Prophecies.

Tameri: Beer, wine, or whisky?

Rhoane: Spiced grhom. It is delicious, have you tried any? (Hot Chocolate spiced with chiles)

Tameri: I have. Although, what we have here is nowhere near as good as yours.

Jillian:  I'd just like to chime in here––grhom is a version of our hot chocolate spiced with chiles.

Yum! When I lived in New Mexico it was a holiday season favorite!

Taryn: I’m partial to grhom, but love me a shot of dreem every now and then. It’s like whisky, but smoother.

Tameri: What’s your favorite word?

Taryn: Hope.

Rhoane: Honor.

Tameri: Least favorite word?

Rhoane: Betrayal.

Taryn: Hate.

Tameri: Favorite curse word?

Taryn: Can I say the F-word here?

Rhoane: Rykoto’s balls

Tameri: What’s something we might find surprising about you?

Rhoane: I am fascinated by showers. I tried Taryn’s in Paderau and want one in every palace across Aelinae.

Taryn: *giggling* I told you! Showers are awesome. Um, let’s see… I’m afraid of heights and I’m not real keen on boats, either.

Tameri: You’re afraid of heights? How does that work when you’re a darathi vorsi?

Taryn: I don’t think about it. I let the dragon take over and trust I won’t fall from the sky. Which, by the way, isn’t as easy a you’d think.

Tameri: A super hero afraid of heights. That’s brilliant.

Taryn: I’m NOT a super hero. Just a girl with enhanced power.

Tameri: Right. What was I thinking? What’s the coolest thing about having all that power?

Taryn: It’s really not as great as you think. Yes, I can fly and create something of nothing, but ShantiMari can also destroy just as easily. I try not to use it if I can. I prefer the strength of my sword.

Tameri: Anything else you want us to know?

Rhoane: Do not get comfortable. Everything that has happened so far, it is only going to get more, shall we say, interesting.

Tameri: Ohh, intriguing! Thanks again for coming today, Taryn and Rhoane. I hope the readers had fun getting to know you a little better.

About Book Two: THE TEMPLE OF ARDYN

It’s hard to save a world when your family is out to kill you…

Taryn banished the phantom, but someone, or something, is invading her thoughts. To escape the torture and bring balance to Aelinae, Taryn must do the one thing she fears most—unlock her Dark powers.

Rhoane swore an oath to protect Taryn, forsaking all others to keep her from harm, yet her independent spirit and lack of trust almost cost her life. Now, he’ll do what it takes to save the woman he loves from the Blackness growing inside her.

But there’s evil in this world, and it’s just as desperate for them to fail.

This is the second book in the Song of the Swords epic fantasy series about honor, family, and love—of what it takes to become someone you never thought you’d be and to find the strength to face your inner demons.

Get to Know the Author of the Song of Swords mSeries: 

Rocker of sparkly tiaras, friend of dragons, and lover of all things sexy, Tameri Etherton leaves a trail of glitter in her wake as she creates and conquers new worlds and the villains who inhabit them. When not masquerading as a mom and writer, rumor has it she travels to far off places, drinking tea and finding inspiration for her kickass heroines—and the rogues who steal their hearts—with her own Prince Charming by her side.

THE TEMPLE OF ARDYN Excerpt:

     Taryn shook her head and flexed her fingers, testing her flailing energy.
     “I want what everyone wants from you. Your power.”
     A blur of silver studded with sapphires plunged deep into her midsection, ripping skin and muscle. Taryn staggered to her feet, jerking the blade free. The pain drained what little strength she had left, but she kept moving forward, away from Marissa. Her sister sat on the sofa, laughing and calling taunts to her as she stumbled, disoriented.
     Rhoane, help me.
     Blood seeped from the wound, over her hand, to drip onto the thick carpets.
     Hayden.
     Her boots thudded on tile and she lunged for the door, her vision narrowing as she fumbled with the doorknob, her hands slick.
     Baehlon. Faelara.
     Finally, she managed to grasp it enough to yank open. Marissa’s laughter burrowed like a worm into her mind; confusion muddled her thoughts. Why, Marissa? But no answer came to her.
     Brandt, I need you. Please.
     She stumbled into the empty hallway, blinking at her surroundings.
     Sabina. Please hurry.
     The light from the wall sconces hurt her eyes and she turned away from the glare. Her rooms were at the far end of the palace, away from Marissa. She focused on setting one foot in front of the other, making slow progress. Stars teased the outer edges of her sight.
Kaida.
     The sound of footsteps approaching spurred Taryn to move faster. Marissa was coming to finish what she’d started. She had to get away from her sister.
     The last of her strength gave way and she collapsed, a discordant ringing in her ears the final thing she heard.

Question for Commenters: 

If you had a dragon of your very own, what would you name him/her? Commenters who leave their contact info will be included in the raffle for a print or ebook version of THE STONES OF KALDAAR, book one of Tameri Etherton's fabulous new fantasy series.

Contact Tameri:  Twitter: @TameriEtherton  Facebook: TameriEthertonAuthor
Website: A Cup of Tea and Sorcery

Get Lost in a Tantalizing Excerpt from The Lady Meets Her Match:

Dear Diary,

How does a woman “bake” a man to perfection?

Especially if the man of interest is overbearing and has a fondness for blunt words and short missives?

I’ve come up with a recipe that might work:

Start with one tart-tongued conversation (in the dark).

Flirt outrageously until midnight.

Then, leave one shoe on his doorstep.

Said man will simmer at low temperatures for a time.

Don’t worry…You’ll bring him to a boil when he finds you.

Sweeten him with promises you may not keep.

Stir up an important luncheon he’s hosting. Pepper it with hot kisses.

Add a dash of midnight adventure in London’s seedier wards.

Melt him with more hot kisses…and season him to taste.

Fold heartache into forgiveness and understanding, and let both hearts cool.

The final result is Cyrus Ryland, a bold commoner of uncommon appeal.

I may have created the perfect man!

With all my heart~

Claire

 Excerpt: 

   The study’s late-night visitor took a step in her direction, tense lines bracketing his mouth. Immense shoulders shrugged off a fine velvet coat in slow, distracted fashion, the fabric rustling its intimate hush in the dark.

   Excuses flew through her mind. She was looking for the lady’s retiring room…she got lost—

   “Who are you?” The coat stopped halfway down sizable arms.

Claire tried a fortifying breath, but her lungs refused to cooperate while her mind absorbed a new fact: she faced Cyrus Ryland. He loomed large, waiting in the silence.

Masculine brows shot up when her lack of response stretched too long.

“I’m Claire.” The truth burst out, and she cringed as much from the social slip of blurting her Christian name as from revealing her identity.

His eyes flared, likely from her blunder of manners, but she hadn’t thought of a false identity. Mr. Ryland took his sweet time removing his coat. His unhurried gaze traced her hair, the mask, finally settling on her plunging bodice with thorough consideration.

“Just Claire?” he asked. “Not Lady Claire Something-or-other?”

“For a masked ball—”she attempted a lighthearted smile—“just Claire.”

He retrieved the candle, his granite-hard features severe behind the guttering flame. Mr. Ryland put his coat and the lone taper on a small table beside the settee. Her smile wobbled the closer he came, caught as she was in a neat trap of her own design.

Big hands spun his jabot’s lacy fall around to his nape and went to work on the knot under his chin. Glued to the seat, she couldn’t stop from staring. Little scabs marred his knuckles. She lingered on those marks before her vision drifted upward to confident gray eyes watching her. His powerful presence made the idea of him being anyone’s victim laughable.

   The cushion dipped beside her, and her stomach dropped. They’d crossed paths once at Greenwich Park, when she was in service there. Would he have any recollection of her? One hand touched her mask, and she remembered: her face was half-covered in a dimly lit room.

  She was safe. For now.

Mr. Ryland faced the wall, more concerned with his neckwear than the stranger in his study.

  “Let me guess,” he drawled. “You’ll remain anony­mous until midnight, when all will be revealed.”

  “Typical of these entertainments, don’t you think?”

  “Lovely as you are, being in here isn’t a good idea. I’m not the type to marry because I’m alone with a lady.”

Mr. Ryland assumed she’d come here to entrap him? She wanted to laugh at the absurdity. The eve­ning’s ironic twist was too delicious.

  “Oh, I’m no lady, Mr. Ryland.”

  His keen stare slanted her way.

  “And I promise not to accost you, sir.”

Gina Conkle writes Viking and Georgian romance with a softly sensual side. She loves history, books and romance…the perfect recipe for historical romance writer. Her passion for castles and old places ---the older and moldier the better--- means interesting family vacations. Good thing her husband and two sons share similar passions. When not visiting fascinating places she can be found delving into the latest adventures in cooking, gardening, and chauffeuring her sons.

Gina's Social Media Links: Website: http://ginaconkle.com/    Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginaconkle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaConkleWriter Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gloveshistory/

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Question for commenters: How would you go about "baking up" the perfect man? Share your recipe in comments for a chance to win a print or ebook copy of The Lady Meets Her Match. 

Get Lost in The Courtesan's Book of Secrets…

From the diary of Cornelia, Comtesse de Vane.
England, 1803

Affection died with my mother. My father, a minor country baronet, didn’t want me because I wasn’t a boy, so he found himself a second wife who gave him what he wanted. Then he died, leaving me to deal with my shallow stepmother. The vapid woman would rather have a house in London so she can find another husband than take care of her own son, my half-brother, the one person I love the most in the world, the one person who loves me, except, perhaps Rafe. Or so I once thought.

Rafe Densmore, 5^th Baron of Densmore, was the only man at Lord Perry’s card party who didn’t eye me like a sweet meat as I stood behind my father, before his death, watching him gamble away the last of our money. I was wearing a too small, hand-me-down dress and Rafe smiled at me, not with the lascivious look all the other men threw at me, but with one of understanding. It was as if he alone knew the humiliation I was suffering.  Then, when my father ran out of blunt and the disgusting Lord Edgemont suggested he wager me instead, it was as if the world had turned upside down. My father, the one man who should have protected me, sat there and laughed with the others as old Lord Waltenham won the game then yanked me out into the dark garden.

I cursed my father as I fought the old man’s gnarled hands, but he was stronger.  Just when I’d lost all hope, Rafe stepped from the shadows and gave Lord Waltenham a thrashing. He sent the dirty codger scurrying back into the house. I didn’t know what to think of the handsome Baron standing before me, the one with a reputation for gambling and shouldering the debts of his father. As I rubbed my aching wrists, I expected him to be like Edgemont and demand something in return for his kindness, but he had a much more interesting proposal in mind.

“Working together, we could take the Paris card rooms by storm,” he said with a smile to make my toes curl with excitement.

After the Peace of Amiens, all English society was flocking to France. I’d never been farther than Lord Parry’s estate. Rafe promised to teach me how to act and dress like a lady, an education my mother and stepmother had failed to provide. It was an escape from my wretched life, a chance to slip away from my father and reinvent myself. It tore at my heart to leave my half-brother behind, but if I won in the card rooms of Paris, perhaps I could save myself and him from a life of poverty.  

The partnership Rafe and I agreed to was never about love, only business. I blossomed under his tutelage. I’d never met a man so honest, or one who looked on me as though I was a treasure and not a burden. Together, we lost ourselves in the whirl of London, and then Paris society. In the heady excitement of the card rooms, with Rafe strong, sure and confident by my side, I also lost my heart to him.

It was the biggest mistake I could have made.

The Courtesan’s Book of Secrets 

by Georgie Lee

Available October 1, 2014 from Harlequin Historical

     

Uncovered: a list of noblemen's names—each one guilty of treason. 

To save his family legacy, Rafe Densmore must seize a courtesan's infamous register. No one can ever know how his father betrayed his country! One person stands in Rafe's way—the beautiful Cornelia, Comtesse de Vane. 

In the card rooms of Paris, Rafe and Cornelia made an unbeatable…intimate team. Until, convinced of Rafe's desertion, desperate Cornelia married an elderly comte. 

Now, returning to London an impoverished widow, she'll do anything to possess the register. 

Even if that means becoming Rafe's partner once again…. 

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A lifelong history buff, Georgie Lee hasn’t given up hope that she will one day inherit a title and a manor house. Until then, she fulfills her dreams of lords, ladies and a season in London through her stories. The Courtesan’s Book of Secrets is her third Harlequin Historical. When not writing, she can be found reading non-fiction history or watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit  www.georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books.

If you found yourself in Cornelia’s place and had to choose between following a handsome stranger and staying where you were and hoping for the best, would you follow the stranger? Keep in mind, the Peace of Amiens failed fast, trapping English citizens in France for over ten years, and there is no guarantee that you will win at the card tables. By following the stranger, you could end up in a worse situation than before. 

Commenters: Would you still follow the stranger? Let me know in the comments below.

Also, anyone who signs up for my newsletter will be entered into a drawing to win an ebook copy of my second Harlequin Historical, Rescued from Ruin. Follow the link http://bit.ly/1uzeNCJ  to sign up and then leave a comment below to let me know you did it.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to Get Lost in a Story for having me, and the Comtesse here today.

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