Series: Tallenmere (stand-alone)
Author: Mysti Parker
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Formats Available In: All eBook formats and Print
Release Date: June 3, 2013
Blurb: Somewhere, hidden in the waters of the Southern Sea, lies an island unlike any other. Within the amber glow of its pyrogem-laden cliffs, legend says the very heart of the dragon god Drae keeps the island, and its occupants, alive.
Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard’s High Priestess Arianne, had no idea what she would face when she arrived by boat ten years ago and was left alone in exile. All she knew about Draekoria’s inhabitants was written in one tattered notebook. Now, her life revolves around keeping Drae’s descendants happy. Never in her life did she imagine being a Dragon Keeper.
Captain Igrorio Everlyn, known as Sir Robert to his unit of Holy Paladins, has faced his share of hell, battling the evils of Emperor Sarvonn’s tyranny and the dark god Tyr’s abominations. But none of that compares to the ten years of hell he’s been without Loralee, presumed dead.
One freak storm changes everything. Now the two of them must fight to re-establish the delicate balance of the island before the dragons take things into their own hands. Through it all, they discover the secrets that kept them, and their hearts, exiled for a decade.
Excerpt From Chapter Three:
After a shipwreck, Sir Robert wakes up in a strange cottage, only to find Loralee, the love of his life, whom he thought had been dead for a decade…
“I don’t understand. What is this place?”
“It’s an island. Very few know of its existence.”
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of this confusing dream come to life. “But, why would you be here, and why would you be sorry? Unless…”
The words wouldn’t come. My racing mind pitched in to help. Unless she didn’t want to marry me after all.
Wrenching pain I’d kept tucked inside broke free, and I clambered to my feet. Loralee followed suit, backing herself into the small dining table.
I tried, but could not hide the bitter anger in my words. “How could you do this to me? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?”
Her eyes widened. She clutched the table with one hand and her robe with the other. “What you’ve been through? I didn’t want this. I was forced here.”
“What do you mean, forced here? Where are your shackles?” My voice roared through the little cottage as I gestured around me with one arm. “Where are the bars? This looks like no prison I’ve ever seen.”
Her voice cracked the air, rivaling with my own. “I was betrayed, forced into exile. Don’t you understand? I never wanted to leave you. I never wanted anything so much as I wanted you.”
Pacing away, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I had to calm myself, to let the weight of this discovery, the improbability of her explanation to sink into my water-logged brain.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at her just yet, so I stared at my bare feet instead. “Why didn’t you tell me, write to me?”
“I tried. I begged the supply ship crew to bring my letters to you. They always took them, but never brought one in return. I suspect they destroyed them, but I had no way of knowing.” She sucked in a shaky breath as though trying to hold back her tears. “I never stopped loving you.”
Turning back to face her, I felt like a mindless beast. Here I was, raging against the love of my life when she’d all but been brought back from the dead.
“Loralee.” I eased toward her. She cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Without a word, I leaned in and pressed my forehead to hers, allowing myself to breathe in her scent for the first time in a decade. We stood suspended like that for a while, lost in time, and emerging from a purgatory neither of us had imagined ten years ago. I would have been content to stand like that forever, but Loralee burst into tears and wilted to the floor.
I followed her down and opened the quilt to wrap us both inside. I held her tight while she cried.
While I cried.
I finally got enough breath to speak again. “What did you mean by forced here? They told me you were…” I couldn’t say it, not with her warm and so very alive against me.
“I know.”
The weight of it all came crashing down on me. “This is my fault, isn’t it? You’re here because of me.”
She made no attempt to wipe her cheeks, but shook her head and stared at the rafters as though entreating the gods. “No, it’s not your fault. Not at all. There is so much to explain, I don’t know where to start.”
I couldn’t comprehend any of it, so I focused on the here and now. “You found me on the shore?”
She nodded.
“The crew, Francis…did you find anyone else out there?”
“No, I had Xax-, I mean, no, I searched but didn’t find anyone else.”
The familiar weight of grief squeezed my chest, and a few more tears escaped before I could stop them.
She pulled me close and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved him. We all did.”
“We all grieved for you. You’ve been here…all this time?”
“Yes.”
“By the gods, Loralee, I’ve missed you so much.” I put my wet cheek against hers and pressed my lips to her soft skin. “Part of me died the day I thought you… please…just tell me how you ended up here.”
Loralee took a few deep breaths and finally pulled away from me. She caressed my cheek and smiled weakly. “I’ll make us a pot of tea. And then, I think we should start at the beginning, back to the Great Plague and when we first met. Do you remember that?”
Smiling past the sadness, I covered her hand with mine and closed my eyes. “How could I ever forget?”
Make Sure To Click This Link For A Chance To Claim This Dragon Necklace:
About Mysti Parker:
Mysti Parker (pseudonym) is a full time wife, mother of three, and a writer. Her first novel, A Ranger’s Tale was published in January, 2011 by Melange Books, and the second in the fantasy romance series, Serenya’s Song, was published in April 2012. The highly anticipated third book, Hearts in Exile, has already received some great reviews. The Tallenmere series has been likened to Terry Goodkind‘s ‘Sword of Truth‘ series, but is probably closer to a spicy cross between Tolkien and Mercedes Lackey.
Mysti’s other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, and Christmas Lites II. Her flash fiction has appeared on the online magazine EveryDayFiction. She has also served as a class mentor in Writers Village University’s six week free course, F2K.
Mysti reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder’s Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband and three children.
Tallenmere Series:
A Ranger’s Tale, Tallenmere #1
Serenya’s Song, Tallenmere #2
Hearts in Exile, Tallenmere #3
Related articles
- Review: Serenya’s Song by Mysti Parker (jcckeith.wordpress.com)
Thanks so much for hosting me! ~Mysti
Thanks for visiting my blog, today, Mysti! Your book looks awesome, I can’t wait to read it. I wish much success :-)!
Thanks Kimiko! And ditto to you!!
Hey Mysti, How many books are gonna be in the Tallenmere series?
Not sure if this a Kimiko or Mysti question–I clicked on the link to enter the Dragon Necklace and it took me to a page of garbly goop words???
Never mind–looks like you need to click the dragon picture, not the word link.
Hey Tiggs!! No set number for the series as of yet. Definitely FOUR, but I have head plans for others and hope to keep writing until the ideas run out 😉
Mysti, I love the excerpts I’ve read and can’t wait to read the entire book.
Mum
Thanks so much Mum!!! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I love your writing Mysti. Looking forward to reading more of this. I’m with Mum, the excerpts are fabbie.
Patricia
Thanks again Patricia!! Now I’m wondering which excerpts are your favorites?
Oh geez. Picking a fav is difficult. I loved the blurb and the chapter three exerpts in its entirety. The blurb instantly drew me in and the chapter three exerpt held me. Now I want to read the whole thing. One thing I love about this Mysti, is even if I had not read the first two books, I could follow this easily. It really holds my interest. And that is really important to me in order to see it through to the end.
Looking forward to sitting down and reading this. Wonderful series!
So glad you enjoy the series, Lisa!! I love your reviews 🙂
Hello Mysti!! Have a great day!!!
–DREW
Thanks Drew! It’s been really fun to “travel” all over the world today 😉
Best wishes for the greatest success
Pingback: Hearts In Exile Thank You’s | Page Turner Book Tours
Running a little behind, but I found this one.
Yay, glad to see you Kandy Kay! 🙂
I’m running behind too, but better late then never right?
Good morning everyone. I have been fortunate as a young lad to have visited a few foreign countries. My family has been to England twice (the second time we switched houses with a family in Southampton, England during which we took a boat over to France and spent a week in Paris), in Puerto Villarta, Mexico for a Christmas, I personally spent my freshman year of high school in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and I have been to Topeka, Kansas and Disney in Florida. Has anyone else done some traveling?
Have a great day!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
–DREW
I’ve visited Nippon (Japan)…and my sister lives in Dublin, Ireland.
Always better late than never, Jeannie! 🙂
And good morning, Drew! All your travels make me long for more vacations!