The Key to All Things
by Cindy Lynn Speer
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GENRE: Fantasy/Adventure/Romance
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BLURB:
Every day, Lady Avriel hears the bards sing about the greatest love story of all times, a heartbreaking romance between a human nobleman, Captain Edward de Vere, and the beautiful Queen of the Fae, who shattered his heart when she abandoned him to accept her throne. Avriel secretly longs for the sad and romantic captain as she works as a double agent, serving at both human and fae courts to keep the peace between the two kingdoms.
But for three hours every night she remembers a completely different world, where the greatest love story is a lie, and Edward belongs to her. She believes this reality to be the true one, even if no one else does. The world has fallen under a spell, and it is up to Avriel to find its source and undo it.
To set things right, Avriel must face the all-powerful Elder Fae and confront the darkest powers that rule her destiny – only to learn that if she proceeds, her actions will bring chaos and open her kingdom to destruction. Is this a choice she is willing to make to bring her love back?
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Excerpt:
Avriel blinked. Blood rushed into her head, and suddenly there was too much of everything – too much sound, too much scent, too many visions clouding her head. It pulled her in like a wave, all cacophony and fear of being overwhelmed. And then silence, abrupt and complete, before her senses started to work again.
She had to school her features, to look calm while the turmoil sorted itself.
Nine o’clock. The Remembering Time. For the next three hours, she would remember a completely different world, a different reality.
“What is it?” Northram asked sharply, staring into her face. Jervis had the grace to look worried, Charlotte was studying her fingernails.
“Just this awful headache all the sudden.” She took a deep breath, and held it as the world clicked back into place.
She did not want to meet Northram’s gaze, fearing that he would see the truth – that she was a different person sitting here, staring back at him. She wondered for the thousandth time how he did not remember the truth of things. The spell, whatever it was, was strong indeed; for when she finally looked into his eyes, she could find no warmth, no concern. She was just one of his puppets… if he knew her as anything else, his expression did not give it away.
“Very well, then,” he said. “You may go.”
Jervis helped her up and walked with her. Charlotte stayed behind, as usual.
“Do you need a doctor?” Jervis asked.
“No.” Avriel forced herself to keep a hand on his arm. With her recovered memory, she now knew how she despised his cowardice, how cruel he could be. Her skin crawled at his touch. But since the Avriel of a few moments ago did not remember Jervis in such a fashion, she was forced to submit.
Fortunately, her room was not far. “Thank you for your help.”
Jervis searched her face, much like Northram had a moment ago. “Avriel, what is it?”
“Pain. Just lots of pain.
I will take some headache powder and take to my bed.”
She closed the door quickly before he could say anything else. Some nights the truth wanted to come pouring out in a torrent. She wanted to punish people like Jervis for sins they doubtless didn’t even remember.
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From The Author:
A couple of different people have pointed out that they feel
like they get plenty of idea who Avriel is in a very short time, but who is
Edward? So I thought I would take some
time and introduce you!
Edward De Vere is the main hero of our story. Brown, longish hair, green eyes, a scattering
of freckles. When we meet him as a
younger man, he is much gentler, as younger men often are. Sillier.
He writes somewhat decent poems, trains as a sword fighter – the True Arte
of Defense is his love. He was raised to
take over his father’s lands and someday become Comte, and he’s fairly smart,
educated.
When he first comes to court he is a very romantic
figure. Dashing. Dedicated.
He’s noble, so he could have demanded a high place in the King’s Guard
but instead starts from the bottom, works his way up. It’s where he meets his two life long best
friends, Stephan and Merrick.
It’s easier, to talk about who he was. Because if you asked Edward, he’d rather talk
about who he was, rather than who he is…as long as it is the man he was before he
met and fell in love with a half fae woman called Catherine of the Willows. He faced great adversity to be with her, to
marry her despite opposition…and was cast aside in the most humiliating way
possible so she could become Queen of the Fae.
That, and some other less than wise political moves robbed
him of his title, his position, his honor.
That’s the man he thinks he is now.
But Avriel knows differently. Our heroine knows that he never married
Catherine (he actually didn’t much like her at all) – he married Avriel. He is not a broken, dishonored man, but a
victim of forces that Avriel must unweave if she is to ever be with her husband
again…and if her husband is ever to successfully navigate the path to redemption.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Cindy is the author of the Amazon bestselling The Chocolatier’s Wife, and it’s sequel, The Chocolatier’s Ghost, among others, including the brand new Key to All Things. She loves reading, taking road trips, hiking, pretending to garden (really, I need to feed my poor tomatoes) and sword fighting.
You can find out more about her at http://www.cindylynnspeer.com or her
facebook , https://www.facebook.com/cindylynnspeer/ and
Twitter https://twitter.com/cindylynnspeer
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Cindy Lynn Speer will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
RAFFLECOPTER:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
