Title: The Mask of Truth (part one)
Author: Lara MacGregor
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Wings ePress
Book Blurb:
A young prince has been accused of murder and has been sent to live in America; though he is innocent. He grows up with a tightly knit group of friends and falls in love with his best friend, a rock musician. He tries valiantly to win her heart.
A strange mask having paranormal qualities offers him, his love, and their quirky friends more questions than answers when they try it on and receive its disturbing messages. The mask warns the prince that he must find a way to win the throne from his dangerous brother, a tyrant, and save his country. How can he do this without money or power? His younger brother will strive to help him, but time is running out. The prince will face the greatest challenges of his life and impossible choices.
Excerpt
She looked at Cory as they waited for a bus.
“Sweetheart, why were you standing before a judge with Jon?”
“I was on the verge of despair and was trying to save myself in a desperate, reckless, irrational way. It wouldn’t have worked though. I know now that I’ve seen you again.” She paused. “Hon?”
He smiled. “Hm?” He nudged her cheek with his.
“Do you want to get married?”
His face lit with joy. He bent on one knee and took her hand. “Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes,” she said on a happy breath. “Oh yes!” She smiled grandly. “I love you.”
He stood. “You have just made me happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
“How are we going to make this work? We need to hide.”
He leaned back and opened his mouth to speak. Kat heard a thump, and Cory touched his chest over his heart. Blood seeped out. He collapsed, and Kat screamed.
Kat pulled the mask off her face in a cold sweat.
~ * ~
The next day Katarina paced in a dressing room in a small building near the outdoor set-up for the party. Cory stopped at the door, staring at her. Then he strode across the room and pressed her close. She closed her eyes, squeezing them against the threat of tears. She soaked up the heat of his body and willed her love into him. She leaned away to gaze at him. He took her face in his hands and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Her stomach did somersaults. Her hands slid down his back, and she leaned her head back, exposing her neck. He trailed down it with kisses. Working his way back up, he pulled back to look into her eyes. Through her stinging ones, she saw indescribable love.
“Cory,” she breathed out.
“Run away with me.”
“W…what?” She took a step back.
He leaned forward and grasped her hands. “I won’t go back to Carasivia and marry a stranger.” He paused. “If you run away with me. Katarina, I’d defy—”
True love washed over her. Uh-oh. Oh no! No, the king will hunt you down! Shoot you in the street. Do something, Katarina, think, quick. She drew in a deep breath through her nose. She had it.
Buy Links:
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Giveaway:
I’m one of the authors participating in the N. N. Light's Bookaholics Unite Giveaway and you can win an e-copy of The Mask of Truth.
Runs May 1 - 31 and is open internationally.
Winner will be drawn June 3, 2019.
Author Biography:
Lara MacGregor lives in Colorado. She has written flash fiction to full-length novels, mostly historical, but other genres as well such as paranormal, and especially time travel stories. She has a B.A. degree in Modern Languages with a minor in music and an M.A. degree in history. She plays guitar and piano and loves reading as many books as time will allow.
Social Media Links:
WEBSITE: (blog) http://traveltheages.blogspot.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lovebooksmusic