Sunday, November 02, 2008

Lisa Griffin--Celtic Lover's Magic

I want to introduce a friend of mine named Lisa Griffin.

I met Lisa on Avoid writer's hell group. The first time I read am except of her's that she tentatively posted for us to read, I knew she was a writer with talent.

Her writing speaks to you, and carries you off. Her heroes and heroines are some times tragic and lonesome, but they live and breath and touch your heart.

I'm looking forward to her published works.

Janice~


Coming Soon!
A Celtic Lover’s Magic by Lisa Griffin
http://www.freyasbower.com/


Bio:
Lisa resides in North Alabama with her husband and young daughter. A writer of contemporary romance, you can find her at http://www.lisaalexandergriffin.com/ or www.myspace.com/destinyschoice8

Blurb:
California raised, Liam Macauley inherits what he believes to be a mansion in Ireland from an uncle he’s never known. The moment he sets foot on Irish soil nothing is, as it seems.

Caileaan, descendent of the Sidhe, ancient gods of Eire, the Tuatha De Danann, longs to dig her toes into freshly turned earth, toil side by side with a husband, birth his children, know what it is to be loved and alive as one with humans. In a a battle of darkness and light, will the evil Fomhoire destroy the promise made to Caileaan and thwart Liam’s chance to attain his hearts desire?



Unedited Excerpt #1:
Liam Macauley stepped onto the dock. Waves sloshed the hull, the riverboat nudging under his weight. He gazed at the distant highlands where magical fingers of mist twined and writhed to obscure the Irish landscape of Boyne Valley.

He shouldered the small carryon bag and wheeled the larger suitcase down the wooden dock. His legs protested each stride, slowly adjusting to solid ground.

Liam tunneled a hand through his hair, scanned the deserted dockyard and spotted the lone taxi. For two days he’d traveled up river to reach this place and the whole damn trip remained a mystery: an uncle he didn’t know and an inheritance he’s never expected.

A raven screeched and flew low, almost slamming into him. Liam ducked, and unease crept up his spine as the bird cawed and settled into a nearby tree.

The raven’s golden eyes blinked as if mapping his every move. Liam locked his gaze on the bird and eased the taxi door open. The raven flapped its dark wings and took to the air as Liam slid inside. The breath rushed out of him, and he looked at the taxi’s driver.

"I assume you’ll want to go directly to Macaula Mansion?"
Liam scrutinized the man. "Yeah. How did you know?"

The cabby smiled. "Let’s just say I have my orders, sir." He shifted into gear and moved down the bumpy lane.

Unsure how to respond, Liam sat back in the seat. The countryside whizzed past. He relaxed, cranked the side window down, and breathed deeply of the fresh air and pungent pine aroma—a drastic change from the smog and congestion of Los Angeles.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. "Your first visit to Ireland?"
"Yes." Liam laughed. "An obvious tourist, eh?"

The cabby’s eyes glinted, and he chuckled. "Not at all." He veered the taxi down a winding lane, more rutted than the one they had left behind. The elevation rose with each turn, and the cabby slowed his speed. "Macaula Mansion straight ahead, sir," he said, and, moments later, braked to a stop.
Liam stared out the window. "God in heaven," he muttered in disbelief.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

The taxi clamored over a wooden drawbridge and through an arched stone portcullis. "Did no one inform you that the mansion’s an old keep?" The driver laughed.

Liam opened the door, fumbled for his bags and stepped out. "No…err…no, they didn’t," he stammered and dug into his pocket.

"Cab fare’s been paid. G’day, sir. Enjoy your stay." The cabby revved the engine and eased away.

Liam stared at the stone-faced monstrosity. The lawyer who’d contacted him had revealed his inheritance over the phone: a thousand acres and a mansion. Not a damned keep. No wonder this Brennan Finny declined further detail. Probably feared he’d tuck tail and run.

Liam turned full circle. Damn!



The Unexpected Gift by Lisa Griffin
COMING December 9, 2008
One Touch, One Glance
A Sweet Anthology (Sweet Romance is Back!)
http://www.freyasbower.com/



Bio:
Lisa resides in North Alabama with her husband and young daughter. A writer of contemporary romance, you can find her at http://www.lisaalexandergriffin.com/ or www.myspace.com/destinyschoice8

Blurb:

Elise, a widowed mother, finds attraction in the most unbelievable of forms—a toy store Santa with twinkling blue eyes. Cade, drawn to mother and child, wars with inner demons from his past. Is his instant and emotional attachment due to the loss of his wife and child? Will a Christmastime miracle heal Elise and Cade’s wounded souls, allowing them a second chance at love?



Elise wrung her hands, stared at the phone, and willed it to ring. She’d gone to the doctor just that morning to find out why she felt so fatigued, so nauseous.

The mesmeric twinkle of lights drew her gaze to the window. Christmas Eve. She should be happy, but she wasn’t. Her chest tightened into a painful knot. Her husband’s face, his love of life, surfaced in her mind. James had been gone for only two weeks, but a long and bleak future stretched ahead of her. An eternity.

She coughed, fighting the urge to gag. Food made her queasy. Like clockwork, she’d vomited every morning. What’s wrong with me?
The phone rang shrilly, shattering the silence. Her nerves already shot, she jerked. I should have died with him.

Elise took a deep breath and reached for the phone.

"Hello," she said, cringing at the quiver in her voice.

"Elise," Dr Mansfield said. "Is that you? You sound strange." His voice faltered, and a chuckle rumbled through the phone. "I have what I hope is wonderful news. It seems that James has left you a miraculous Christmas gift. You, Elise, are going to be a mother."

Elise stared at the receiver. Her eyes blurred. Even in death, James knows what I need and takes care of me from beyond the grave.

She smiled for the first time in weeks. Proof of their love would live on long after she was gone. Although she couldn’t share that joy with her husband, this baby would give her strength to endure the holidays.

Elise released a thankful sigh. "Thank you, Dr. Mansfield. I’ll get back with you—when I’ve had a chance to digest this unexpected, but wonderful news."

"You’ve been under a lot of stress lately. I’d like you to call for an appointment, soon."

"I will." She hung up the phone. Her hand fell to her stomach.
The baby was an answered prayer, a gift from God. Somehow she’d manage. The will to live surged inside her. She glimpsed light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

Bowing her head, she wept.



--~Lisa~ Coming Dec 9th '08 from Freya's Bower: One Touch, One Glance, A Sweet Anthology Step into my world... where dreams come true...and dreams are shattered... But happily ever after still happens...
http://www.lisaalexandergriffin.com/