EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
The Black Lotus
(Night Flower Book 1)
(Night Flower Book 1)
by Claire Warner
The Black Lotus is the first book in Claire Warner's Night Flower Trilogy. Coming soon: Blood Orchid and Faded Rose. The Black Lotus is currently on tour with Enchanted Book Promotions. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
" ... though I would dearly love to play court to you, I would hurt you more than any other."
It is 1752. The year that will change the life of heiress Melissa De Vire. As she makes her first steps into society, she meets Justin Lestrade and his world tears her perceptions apart. Drawn irresistibly to him, she finds herself sinking into a realm of feuds, magic and old curses.
Excerpt
15th June 1752
The floor was cold. This first impression floated through her mind as the deep dark of unconsciousness began to shift from her. The unyielding surface sent small stabs of pain through her limbs and confusion set in. Why was she slumped on a hard floor? Her head felt heavy and somehow hollow, even though the darkness that clouded her vision had slowly begun to recede. She managed to blink, the mundane task rendered difficult by the lassitude swamping her. As she struggled closer to full awareness, she became aware of something clasped in her hand, something smooth with petals. Despite her temporary lack of memory, its presence between her fingers sparked a wary, almost sick sensation of worry.
"I think she's waking up."
A voice, feminine and vaguely familiar, sounded close to her head. She tried to move, to turn her head to stare at the speaker, yet her body refused to cooperate, still caught in the spell of near insensibility.
“Yes, I can see that.” Another voice, male this time and disapproving, spoke from further away. “You need not sound so thrilled; I doubt she will welcome you when she opens her eyes.
“Oh, Hugh darling, how can you say that?” Petulant yet teasing notes flowed through the woman’s light lilting speech and she longed to see the face that it belonged to. Those tones invoked cautious recognition, a recognition which did not bring her any sense of peace.
“Because it is the truth,” The man moved position, coming closer to her prone figure. “Why on earth did you do it?” The voice dropped lower, becoming accusatory in tone and timbre. She wondered at this, struggling with tattered threads of memory that refused to make sense.
“It solved a problem.”
“I beg to differ,” He was standing over her now; she could feel the tips of his toes against her side. “Do you think that Justin will thank you?”
Justin, that name caught at her mind, dragging it free from the sludge her mind had become. She knew that name and the feelings it provoked were soft and wondrous. Once again the memories fluttered close to the surface yet she was still not awake enough to make sense of it all
“He should,” The voice argued, louder and less teasing than before, “This solves all,” She felt the woman move, the edge of a skirt brushed against her side and she wondered how long they were going to stand and argue over her.
Featured Review
This book is filled with suspense, intrigue, drama and romance, so I feel it can fit in either of those genres as it has so many elements of each genre.
I think the author has a great writing style, and she definitely knows how to capture and keep the reader's attention. She created impressive characters filled with intense emotions and powerful personalities. I enjoyed that she gave the story from each characters point of view not just the one. This is the first book in the Night Flower series by this author and I cannot wait to read the next one she produces. I would recommend any of this author's books and will be looking out for any books she releases in the near future.
I really enjoyed this book and the story line was fascinating and full of intrigue, I struggled to put it down until I reached the very last page. I think this book will appeal to a lot of different people as it falls into multiple genre's, whether you are a fan of romance or drama, you are guaranteed to enjoy this book
I would recommend this book to all those book fanatics who love a good read.
Guest Post by the Author
My dream cast for The Black Lotus.
From the Author
By day I am a boring civil servant, but by night (and at weekends) I write stories. I love fiction, I love the way that words can draw you from your own everyday world.
I love to read. As a child I read all of the Enid Blyton books and devoured Roald Dahl. As a teenager, I discovered L. J. Smith, Anne McCaffrey, Tamora Pierce, David Eddings and went through the phase of reading Point Horrors. As an adult, I found Kelley Armstrong, Raymond E. Feist, Georgette Heyer, the Brontës, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu, and Henry James. I cannot imagine life without books.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Black Lotus by Claire Warner.
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