Stone of Thieves
by Diane J Reed
Published May 8th, 2014
Published by Bandits Ranch Books, LLC
Genre: New Adult Romance
Synopsis for Stone of Thieves, book 2 in the Robbin’ Hearts Series, a sensual, stand-alone new adult romance with sex & the sequel to Robin in the Hood (readership for ages 17+):
The Stone of Thieves . .
. for centuries its magnetic draw has twisted the hearts of ambitious men and
women with the promise of power, passion, and intrigue until it fell into the
hands of unlikely thieves Robin and her boyfriend Creek. But can they steal
their destiny away from the curse that pursues this magnificent ruby heart? As
the stone begins to spread its sorcery, Robin races to find her long-lost mother
in Italy in the hopes of discovering the truth about her unique gypsy heritage
and the ruby heart that is rumored to steal souls. Yet when the desire for this
stone by powerful members of her family threatens their very lives, Creek
decides to take matters into his own hands to protect Robin, his greatest
treasure of all . .
Available at: Amazon
The following is an excerpt from Stone of Thieves by Diane J. Reed, a
sexy, stand-alone, new adult romance & the sequel to the young adult novel Robin in the Hood. In this scene, Robin
& her boyfriend Creek have arrived at her family's ancestral home in Venice
to search for what happened to her long-lost mother. The
palazzo now offers tours of its grand interior, so Robin & Creek take
advantage of this opportunity to search the house for clues, only to be
confronted by stranger evidence than they anticipated...
Stone of Thieves
As I give Creek a swift nod and head toward the kitchen, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
Swiveling around, I half-expect to see the Italian tour guide. But I find myself gazing at a man so desperately handsome he steals all breath from my chest.
His dark unruly hair frames his cheekbones in random curls, and his face is all hard angles—smooth and sharp as Venetian cut glass. Eyes twinkling, he gives me a broad smile filled with enough charm to send a dozen girls’ hearts into spirals. The second that thought strikes me, a strange flutter arises in my gut and works its way out to my limbs in waves. I feel the stone throb against my pocket, harassing me with whispers that are drowned out by the pulsing sound of blood rushing to my brain.
Because something about this man’s eyes mystify me and holds me into place.
Although he appears in his early 20s at best, somehow there’s a shadow in his gaze that bears the weight of a very old man. Like the other tour guides, he’s dressed in period clothing from the Renaissance, an ivory peasant shirt and pants with brocade detail and black boots. I have to presume he’s here to help with the tour.
“You want to see the rest of the palazzo, sì mia amica?”
He doesn’t wait for an answer, holding out his arm in an oddly cavalier way, as though he were about to ask me to dance at a ball. “Here, let me show you the map room. The group will-a join us soon.”
I hesitate, grinding my heels into the alabaster floor.
Truth be told, I’d love some of that pasta in the kitchen because I’m still starving, even after the bread and cheese we wolfed down from the nun’s handout earlier. But as I hear the Conté de Bargona bragging about his blood-red sauce, I can’t help thinking anything’s better than being near him right now. He did seem to recognize me—at least as someone who looks spooky-close to his ancestor. Does that mean he pegs me as his daughter’s bastard child?
Before I can entertain the possibilities, the tour guide forcefully whisks me up several stairs by the time I manage to jerk my elbow away from him. Glancing over my shoulder, I spot the other docents cleaning up the blood spill, and I wonder how Creek is doing with rifling through desks and files. At least this trip to the map room could buy us some more time. I give the young man a hint of smile.
He responds by breaking free of my arm and bolting up the steps to the landing, where I can see a room at the top covered in yellowed, archaic maps. Flashing that broad smile again, he disappears, and all of a sudden the landing is filled with a warm, inviting glow. Curious, I head to the map room and find him standing beside two French doors that are opened wide to a balcony.
“The only way to truly know Venezia is by its light,” he says with a certain triumph in his voice.
He’s merely a silhouette now, his amazing physique backlit by the subtle morning sunshine, almost like a phantom.
As my eyes readjust to the outline of his dark contours, I notice there are Mardi Gras masks hanging on the walls next to the double doors. Their hollow, black eyes and faces empty of the warmth of human flesh spook me a little.
“A-Aren’t we here to see the maps?” I remind him, cautious about stepping any further into this room. I turn slightly to glance into the hallway, my eyes hunting past several doors that have been left ajar.
“Creek,” I whisper sharply. “Where are you . . .”
No answer.
Dammit—
Returning my gaze to my host, I find he’s grabbed two of the masks and he’s motioning for me to step out onto the balcony.
“Maps only record the past,” he insists. “Come, let’s see the future.”
I draw in a breath, rationalizing it won’t hurt to stall for more time. “OKAY,” I voice too loudly, hoping it might help Creek detect where I am, “I CAN CHECK OUT THE VIEW WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE.”
Not a sound stirs from the hallway.
Only my echo as it slowly fades away.
With a sigh, and several excuses in mind to bolt free from this guy as soon as I hear evidence of Creek, I shrug my shoulders and stroll out to the balcony to take in the sights.
Before us is the Grand Canal, its waters a deep murky green with hints of shimmer from the early sun that’s begun to peek above the elegant domes and spires. A layer of mist still shrouds the city like a blanket, making it appear hazy and sepia toned, and every bit as ancient as its architecture belies.
“Tell me,” the young man asks, “what do you see, Rubina?”
My heart skips a beat.
I haven’t told him my name yet. Much less the Italian version the de Bargonas gave me at birth—
And I feel the ruby wobble to match my quickening pulse.
“Um, I see green water,” I pipe up, extremely antsy now to get back to Creek. The time for politeness is way over, and as I spin on my heels to go inside, his hand stops my shoulder with the abruptness of stone. He holds up a glittering gold mask.
“Un momento. Just put it on—then tell me what you see.”
He adjusts a shiny black mask over his face that instantly makes him look foreboding.
“This will only take a second,” his accent rolls in an almost musical tone, “I promise. I simply want you to understand. Everything in Venezia changes. The light, the masks, the people—nothing is ever as it seems.”
Annoyed, I slip the gold mask over my head, only because I calculate Creek will emerge from the hallway any second now. Interestingly, when I glance back over the canal, the water has transformed from emerald to an ethereal amethyst with hints of rose that sparkle over the currents as the sun ascends more boldly over the city. It’s beautiful—there’s no doubt about it. But it’s way past time for me to join Creek.
Just as I open my mouth to say a swift goodbye, the man grabs my face in his hands and swallows me in a kiss.
Not just any kiss—
About the Author:
Diane J. Reed has a Ph.D. in English and a lifelong
passion for books—both popular, forgotten and literary—as long as they touch her
soul and make her want to tuck them under her pillow at night to remember them
in her dreams. She writes novels that are infused with enchantment, where
characters dare to break through boundaries and believe in true love. She also
has a soft spot for artisans and outlaws of the heart, those who burn brightly
to live each day as a gift—because it is! In addition, Diane J. Reed has
conducted 13 interviews with the cast of the hit TV show Once Upon a
Time. Feel free to visit Diane J. Reed’s website at www.banditsranch.com to
share your love of books and the whispers of your spirit.
The
Giveaway
(1) a Stone of Thieves
tote bag,
(2) a $25 Amazon gift card,
(3) paperback copies of Stone of Thieves
& Robin in the Hood—the first 2 books in the Robbin' Hearts series,
(4) a
Gypsy Oracle Fortune Telling Deck,
(5) Zhena Gypsy Chocolate Chai Tea,
(6) a crystal Ruby Heart (see attached photo).
(please be patient it takes the rafflecopter a minute to load)
Thank you for featuring Stone of Thieves on your blog today! Wishing everyone good luck in the giveaway—have a great summer & happy reading!
ReplyDelete