WITCH TEASE
Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan, #3
by Cindy Keen Reynders
December 19th 2019
Solstice Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978677131563
ASIN: 781677 131563
Number of pages: 272
Word Count: 70,000
BLURB
As the Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan prepares to celebrate Mabon (autumn equinox) by holding a “Blessing of the Brooms” ceremony at the Royal Witch Arena, a banshee swarm attacks. While clan members are held captive, the banshee leader, Sorcha, barters with the Supreme Witch’s Council to bestow life to her group within the next 48 hours.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rose, high witch of the Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan, has recently been running late to coven events. She arrives at the arena after the banshees’ attack, and manages to escape.
She hires the famous Spirit Wulver, who is known in the magical world for dispatching demons and evil spirits. When he arrives, she realizes it is Kincaid McAllister—the same man she fell in love with centuries ago, back in Scotland.
Kincaid and Lizzie set aside their personal feelings in order to save her clan. Unfortunately, Kincaid’s typical pest exterminations fail. As a last resort, he plans to travel to the Land of the Fae to consult with the Faery King to determine the best way to get rid of Sorcha’s gang.
Despite the dangers, Lizzie insists on going with Kincaid. After rekindling their love, the two vow to spend their lives together. They find Uaithne; a magical harp that will destroy the banshees. Possession of the item requires the sacrifice of a life. To Lizzie’s dismay, Kincaid offers his.
Refusing to accept Kincaid’s fate, she frees her clan, then begins the process of returning to the Land of the Fae where she hopes to free her lover. Hopefully, Lizzie’s timeless love for Kincaid will unlock powerful magic to fuel her quest.
Excerpt:
Breathing in the
old magic wafting through the glade, Lizzie entered a ring of tall standing
stones and placed the basket of herbs on the ground. The ancients had worshipped
here, her Druid ancestors who had practiced otherworld mysteries by tracking
celestial bodies.
They knew about
life and its beginnings and they understand the nature of humans and other
creatures. Much of their knowledge had been lost over time, but she and her
Hedge Haven Clan did their best to pass along the fundamental teachings and
learn the old ways.
At last Kincaid
pushed his way through layered green foliage. Tall, powerful and exuding raw
sexuality, he strode up to Lizzie. His familiar musky scent drifted toward her,
and she breathed in his intoxicating presence. A smile curled her lips, but it
faded when she realized he wore woolen soldier’s attire complete with a red
plaid kilt.
Her stomach
clenched. “What’s going on? Why are you dressed that way?”
“Come to me,
lass,” he said in his thick Scottish brogue, his blue eyes dancing. “You ken I
want you.”
“And I want
you,” she whispered, momentarily forgetting her fears as he pulled her into his
arms. When he lowered his shaggy head, his lips met hers in a warm, passionate
kiss. Desire wrapped around her and she melted into his protective, loving
embrace.
As the kiss
deepened, Kincaid gently eased her down into the soft grass. She moaned as his
talented mouth found the curve of her neck, nibbling the sensitive skin. His
warm, moist lips thrilled her as he blazed a fiery trail of warmth. Nimbly
unlacing the ribbons on her bodice, he made his way to her cleavage, then her
nipples.
She arched her
back as his lips encircled the rosy tips, sucking and licking until the center
of her being nearly burst. Untying her cloak, she spread it out beneath them.
Breathing heavily, she undressed him as he undressed her. Before long, they lay
naked beneath the sky.
“I’m cold,” she
managed before her teeth began to chatter. “We’ve barely entered the spring
equinox and the weather still chills my soul.”
“Then ‘tis my
job to warm ye.”
Author Info
Cindy Keen Reynders is a contributing editor and staff writer for LCSD1’s Public Schools’ Chronicle. She worked as a book critic for Storyteller Alley and has published articles with True West and Wild West magazines.
She is the author of mysteries The Saucy Lucy Murders, Paws-itively Guilty and A Killer Slice. Additionally, Solstice Publishing released The Seven-Year Witch in March, 2019. The second book about the Wysteria Hedge Haven Clan sisters is, A Witch at Midnight, which was released in July, 2019. Witch Tease, is the next book in the series.
Besides reading, writing and crocheting, Cindy’s favorite activity is seeing new places. She was born in Portland, Oregon and has lived all over the United States and in Misawa, Japan. She has visited Canada, the Philippines, Samoa, Hawaii, both the western and eastern Caribbean and New Zealand.
From baby alligators to glow worms, Cindy has seen a variety of life’s wonders.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
I’ve worked full time outside of the home for so long, that I follow a similar routine when I write. I get up, shower, do my hair and makeup and dress in comfortable, but office-worthy clothing. After I eat a piece of toast and fruit—something light—I head to my office to start the day at 7:30 a.m. If I don’t follow that routine, for example, try to wear my pajamas—I’m not in the mood to write well. Although writers get to write at home, I prefer to use this approach. I think this also comes from my mother who sold real estate and appeared to be the ultimate professional at all times.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I’m dedicated to making my characters come alive. I start out with ideas of who they are and their background, but throughout the story, I often feel that I need to add quirks along the way.
Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper?
I’ve been living with a set of characters in my head for months. She is a doctor who arrives in a rough and tumble 1870s Wyoming town where female physicians aren’t appreciated. Yes, the plot has been done before, but these are my characters, my setting and my plot. This will be the next book I write.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
I work part time at a small newspaper, so there is writing and other project work that comes with the territory. I do freelance editing, so I’m working on eight books for a local pastor. I’m also editing a mystery set in Wyoming, starring my private investigator character, Reese Golden. An editor from a publishing house requested to see it, so I’m putting on the final polishes. I hope it will be coming out sometime in 2020.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
My husband and I have a friend in Samoa. We visited the island when he and his wife got married and I love the beautiful, pristine beaches on the non-tourist side of the island! Our friend took us to a beach that is very quiet, although it offered all the amenities.
There is where I’d rent a beach fale, which is a simple thatched hut. Seated on a reclining canvas chair, a warm tropical breeze caressing my cheeks, I would enjoy a fruity drink bearing a tiny umbrella.
Under those azure blue skies, seated by the turquoise water, I would relax and dream of more book plots.
That would be my personal heaven on earth.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Cindy Keen Reynders . . .
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
I’ve worked full time outside of the home for so long, that I follow a similar routine when I write. I get up, shower, do my hair and makeup and dress in comfortable, but office-worthy clothing. After I eat a piece of toast and fruit—something light—I head to my office to start the day at 7:30 a.m. If I don’t follow that routine, for example, try to wear my pajamas—I’m not in the mood to write well. Although writers get to write at home, I prefer to use this approach. I think this also comes from my mother who sold real estate and appeared to be the ultimate professional at all times.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
I’m dedicated to making my characters come alive. I start out with ideas of who they are and their background, but throughout the story, I often feel that I need to add quirks along the way.
Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper?
I’ve been living with a set of characters in my head for months. She is a doctor who arrives in a rough and tumble 1870s Wyoming town where female physicians aren’t appreciated. Yes, the plot has been done before, but these are my characters, my setting and my plot. This will be the next book I write.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
I work part time at a small newspaper, so there is writing and other project work that comes with the territory. I do freelance editing, so I’m working on eight books for a local pastor. I’m also editing a mystery set in Wyoming, starring my private investigator character, Reese Golden. An editor from a publishing house requested to see it, so I’m putting on the final polishes. I hope it will be coming out sometime in 2020.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
My husband and I have a friend in Samoa. We visited the island when he and his wife got married and I love the beautiful, pristine beaches on the non-tourist side of the island! Our friend took us to a beach that is very quiet, although it offered all the amenities.
There is where I’d rent a beach fale, which is a simple thatched hut. Seated on a reclining canvas chair, a warm tropical breeze caressing my cheeks, I would enjoy a fruity drink bearing a tiny umbrella.
Under those azure blue skies, seated by the turquoise water, I would relax and dream of more book plots.
That would be my personal heaven on earth.
Thank you for letting me share!
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