BOOK SPOTLIGHT: LOVE'S MAGIC by Traci E. Hall

Love's Magic
by Traci E. Hall
Paranormal Romance
Medallion Press

Celestia Montehue has inherited special healing powers from the maternal line of her family. It comes with a glitch. The year is 1192, witch hunting abounds in England and she can only marry for love or risk losing her gifts.

Nicholas Le Blanc is a soul-sick Crusader who escapes from his captivity in Tripoli. He wants redemption and forgiveness from God for losing the sacred relic of Saint James the Apostle. And the other matter of murder, as well.

Forced to marry and move to Falcon Keep, which is haunted by Nicholas’ mother, they must learn to love one another before their family’s curses doom them for eternity.

Read an Excerpt:

Her eyes widened and she swallowed, her breaths coming faster beneath his stare. “We agreed to an annulment,” she said on a ragged whisper.

“I know.” But he couldn’t think of all the reasons they should not be together; instead he stared pointedly, envisioning the kiss they’d shared that afternoon. The pull of lust alluring for the first time in a long while, he thought of all the ways he could teach her to kiss him, to hold him. She flicked her pink tongue over her full lower lip, her eyelids heavy. He was aware that she had no idea how heavenly she looked. The heat between them ratcheted another notch until he could stand it no more.

“Angel.” Nicholas reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her to him until her mouth was beneath his. He kissed her as if his life depended on it, and if she did not return his passion he would fall into a spineless puddle at her tiny feet.

His surprise was great when he felt the push of her warm tongue against his lips. Her hands rubbed the sleeves of his tunic, as if she would strip him of it. Up, down, the fabric slid against his flesh until the heat of her fingers bumped against the ropy scars on his wrists.

A zing so hot it felt cold made him pull back and she cried out, as if in agony.

“What?” Nicholas panted. “What was that? What is the matter with you? You’ve seen my scars, I thought that you didn’t mind them, I-”

“It hurt,” she said, her face pale, her eyes without the familiar sparkle.

“It didn’t.” The realization of what she’d said came slow.

“It was hot, dark, you were hurting terribly.”

Nicholas’s desire ebbed, but the intensity was replaced by fear. “What do you mean?”

Her eyes filled with tears that sparkled like gems upon her lashes. “You were hurting. You were being made to feel the highest level of pain, on purpose. I’m sorry, I am so sorry, Nicholas.” Tears tracked down her cheeks.

Horrified, Nicholas lashed out, “You know nothing about my life, pain or otherwise.” His basic instinct was to protect himself, and his secrets. He put his hands out, symbolically pushing her away. “Close the neck of your gown. If you want to act the whore, I am happy to oblige, my lady. But if you wish to return to this house as pure as when you left it, then I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”

She dried her eyes, but refused to adjust her gown. Her shoulders were proudly set. “My heart is breaking for you. Can you not trust me?”

“You’ve already lied to me once!”

“I didn’t lie, exactly. I saved your life.”

Cold spread through his body. “And I’ve saved yours. We shall see who made the better bargain.”

About the Author:

A proud member of RWA, Traci Hall is active in multiple chapters. She has three medieval paranormal romances coming out with Medallion Press – Love’s Magic, June 2008, and Beauty’s Curse, June, 2009 and Boadicea's Legacy in 2010.

She is also published with Samhain Publishing, and has two ebooks for young adults coming out in 2008. Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways and Something Wiccan This Way Comes are the first two books in the Rhiannon Godfrey series.

She has a non-fiction book being released in March 09, co written with author Rhonda Pollero, titled Adoption is Forever.

After many ups and downs, she continues to pursue writing with a maniacal vengeance, and has often lamented that her mom didn’t raise a quitter. Terrified of failure, Traci has overcome her knocking knees and tackled workshops, online courses and how-to books in her quest to break into print. You can visit her at http://www.traciehall.com , or http://www.tracihall.com or http://tracihall.blogspot.com - as well as myspace and facebook.

ATTENTION: This book spotlight is being brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. As a special promotion for Traci E. Hall's book, LOVE'S MAGIC, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour or $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky person who comments on her blog stops. Leave a comment below to have a chance to win one of these prizes! For more stops on Traci's blog tour, visit www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.