Title: Druid Defiance (Stewards War, Book 3)
Author: Juli D. Revezzo
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book Blurb:
Destined for War…
As Steward, Stacy travels to her ancestral home in Ireland to wed. When she is granted access to the family’s sacred site, her presence opens a magical portal that brings her into a new version of the world. Does this mean the gods approve and her wedding can move forward or will the evil Balor object and end the world once and for all?
Excerpt:
Stacy rose and entered the roundhouse. Beside the pallet, Aaron had lined his bags against the wall along with it, waited a sword in a scabbard that he explained a harshad warrior named Nigel had brought him; the central fire pit hosted a banked fire. The rest of the wide space was bare. “Roughly what you’d expect. She welcomed me, told me her church is open any time I should have need of her. Oh, she asked me ‘what did your family teach you, child, if not how to run their land?’ I wish I could tell her about grocery stores.” She laughed. “With what you say about Una, I wonder why she insisted on separating us.”
He closed the door behind them and enfolded her in his arms. “I don’t care why. I’d say we’d better make the most of the time, before she comes back.”
“Even if she doesn’t, Nia might tell.” Her fingers trailed down his chest. “It would be rude to make a liar out of her.”
“Most inhospitable.” He answered her query with a deep kiss, and coaxed her out of her fine dress.
Later, she stared up at the reed and timber ceiling, thinking. If Una and the others knew about the battles, would that help, or hurt their cause?
They separated for the night and Stacy found herself tossing and turning in her lonely bed, only sleeping lightly throughout the night. A vague nightmare of battle broke out all around her. Harbingers ripped her flesh with their needle-sharp teeth. The end of the dream saw her running for the caves, Harbinger claws slashing, inches from her neck.
She awoke, gasping for breath. A stumble for the chamber pot woke Nia. She heaved out the last of her dinner.
“Are you unwell?” Nia rubbed her eyes. “No need to answer, I think I know. Let me get you some mint to calm your stomach.”
“And wat—tea… but the spring is frozen.” For it was in her vision.
Nia looked out the window. A thin thread of moonlight illuminated the sill, until she lit a lantern. “Of course it isn’t. It’s far too warm now to freeze.”
“Prove it.” Stacy headed out of the room and downstairs.
Nia caught up with her and unlatched the door. Stacy stepped out onto the soothing grass but returned inside to snatch the blanket off the chair. It was colder than she’d expected, but still the river gurgled happily, not far away, she thought.
“Come with me.” Nia took her arm and led her to the latrine. While it was cool out, it wasn’t as cold as she had expected. They spent the rest of the night by the light of rush lights, Nia distracting her with calming stories and tea.
The next morning, she told Aaron about her dream. After she successfully milked a cow. The success wasn’t enough to keep the chill out of her heart.
“It was just a dream.”
“Yes, but, no. It felt like more than a memory. It reminded me of Gwenevieve’s frozen spring, before the battle.”
Maedus shared breakfast with them and she asked his opinion. “I concur. I’ve seen little evidence Balor’s ice makers are here.”
The news didn’t ease her mind as much as she would’ve hoped. “I’d like Cyreth’s interpretation, to be certain.”
And there were other things she needed to do. Once again, they went to the church and Stacy grilled the priestess on what she really knew about the Harshad Wars. “Of course we don’t know what the world would be like if Balor kept to hospitality. I suspect it would involve less suffering.”
They spoke with the nun in the church’s cozy office. The builders had painted the walls in light gray, and placed a Brighid’s cross above a low, oak bookcase packed with scrolls. Three candlesticks stood on the top shelf, each of gold and with a golden smaller Brighid’s cross decorating each capital. A larger Brighid’s cross was etched into the glass of the window behind the nun’s desk. A ledger, quill, and inkstand rested on the desk, close to her hand.
Aaron sat back in the chair and crossed his arms. “Who can say? Mayhap there would still be some strife. We, as humans, seem prone to wanting the best no matter if it denies our neighbors of their portion.”
Sister Tess nodded. “Peace and the peace of my community would suit me well.”
Peace would be just fine. “Would that Balor agreed.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads):
Druid Defiance is available at Amazon: https://smarturl.it/8d612i
What’s your favorite part about being a romance author?
Writing heroes that my readers will love, and maybe dream of as their own “knights in shining armor”.
Here’s my tip to add romance to your love life:
Find something you both love to do and focus on that. Be patient. Never go to bed angry.
Giveaway:
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Open internationally
Runs February 1 – 28, 2021.
Drawing will be held on March 1, 2021.
Author Biography:
Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century. She writes fantasy and romance and dabbles in other genres, and is the author of is the author of the Stewards War series and the related Celtic Stewards Chronicles, as well as the paranormal urban fantasy series, Antique Magic, and historical romances including the Camden Girls series, Watchmaker’s Heart, and Vesta’s Clockwork Companions, among many others. Her non-fiction has been included in The Scarlet Letter. She has also, on occasion, edited the popular e-zine Nolan's Pop Culture Review... But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of The Indie Authors Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://julidrevezzo.com/
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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Juli-D.-Revezzo/e/B008AHVTLO/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/julidrevezzo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julidrevezzo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jewelsraven/
And I have one board specifically related to this series: https://www.pinterest.com/jewelsraven/related-to-the-celtic-stewards-chronicles/