Bea's Book Nook: Excerpts from the Cornerstone Deep series by Charlene Wilson & Giveaway

Please help me welcome back fantasy author Charlene Wilson. She was last here in February 2012 celebrating her book, Cornerstone Deep Echoes. That's almost two years ago! Definitely overdue for a visit. Pull up chair, help yourself to a drink, and read on for some book info, excerpts and a giveaway.

Charlene A. Wilson is an author of tales that take you to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.

She began writing in her early teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing she brought them to life through her books.

Charlene resides in a small community in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, husband, and a very chatty cockatiel named Todder.

Find Charlene Online:

Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com

Blog: http://bit.ly/CharBlogs

Facebook: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR

LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonLI

For media interviews, contact Carla Gallway, assistant.

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The Transformation of Anna

Blurb

For centuries, Cole Shilo has harvested the homeless, wiped their memories, and delivered them as servants to the nobles of Cornerstone Deep. When Cole is sent to harvest a second-class woman who has broken curfew, he expects no different. But Anna Sinclair’s soul calls out to him. Soul mates aren’t possible on Cornerstone Deep…

Are they?

“My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”

What they’re saying:

“The Transformation of Anna is first-rate fantasy, with a healthy dose of romance added in. Wilson has created a plausible, multi-dimensional world complete with gods, mythologies, and engaging characters. The world Wilson has created in The Transformation of Anna is complex, but infinitely and easily accessible to the reader. It's quite an amazing and impressive work with lots of action and adventure, heroic characters, and an elegant and satisfying romance.”—Jack Mangus, Readers’ Favorite

"The Transformation of Anna by Charlene A. Wilson is a beautifully stunning and deeply touching story of the darkest of treachery, the rebirth of lost love, and the discovery of hidden secrets. Being left absolutely breathless and deeply astonished after reading such an extraordinary story is a new experience for me. I am anything but disappointed in this superbly enchanting and endearingly exhilarating tale of deeply true and lasting love. My heart was captured and lost to this spellbinding journey!"—Amber McCallister, The Wonderings of One Person.

Buy links:

Amazon – http://bit.ly/ToAe-pb

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/charlene-a.-wilson

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/362646

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-transformation-of-anna

Author site (signed paperback) - http://charleneawilson.com/books/order/

EXCERPT

Chapter Seventeen

Cole unstopped the slender vial and gently lifted Anna’s head to administer the potion. As he carefully tipped the container to her lips, tremors traveled down his forearms. His hands quaked. The amber liquid jumped to the brim and he quickly tilted it upright. Gods, Cole, control yourself. She needs every drop.

A soft palm rested on his wrist and Cole’s gaze shot to Elaina’s. When had she returned and how did he not pick up on the strong compassion emitting from her when she had? Her blue eyes looked deep into his, understanding with a touch of sadness. “Let me do that, Cole. You’ve been through enough.”

He wasn’t sure if the tremors were from anticipating a fortunate outcome or from sheer anxiety over the whole ordeal, but he accepted her tender attention as a blessing. Vincent’s intervention with her was evident. He watched as she patiently poured small measures into Anna’s mouth.

Elaina turned to Cole and lifted the emptied container. “Well, that’s it. She got it all.”

He sighed. “Thank you.”

“Anything, Cole.” She smiled and set the vial on the bed stand. “What about you? Can I get you a drink? It might calm you some.”

Nodding, he offered a small smile.

“Good, then. I’ll be right back.”

As she closed the door behind her, Cole eased himself onto the bed. “Don’t give up, Anna.” His faint words were swallowed by the silence of the room. “I’ll fix this and see to it nothing ever happens to you again.” Brushing his fingertips over her hair, he solemnly whispered a plea. “Don’t leave me.”

Her soft locks sent countless memories rushing through his mind—her smile, cheeky comments, blue eyes dancing as if life itself was a game. Her Arylinite spirit embraced every moment of love, able to see beneath façades that others deemed as truth. He sighed, knowing that side of her may have been unique to that lifetime—a result of her specialized upbringing in the Arylin colony of the northern territory.

He tilted his head and gazed over her still face. Her features were remarkably similar to Mianna’s. The gentle slope of her nose, the way she chose to wear her dark hair long, and he couldn’t deny her blue eyes when she’d looked at him. He cupped her cheek with his hand, gently stroking her lips with his thumb. They curved from a bow-tie center into a natural smile. So soft. Inviting. He leaned to her and lightly kissed them, then leaned his cheek to hers.

“Talk to me, Anna.” His breath was a plea. As much as he knew no answer would come, his heart called to her with his deepest wish.

He brushed his fingers down her neck to her chest, tenderly caressing her pale skin at the neckline of her gown. A strained pause caught his throat as he lightly followed her breast to her ribcage. “What’s in your heart?”

The tiny circles he drew on the thin fabric fed his longing for her touch. Supple creases followed his motion. To have her arms around him, the love they brought, had given him unmitigated comfort in a past life. It could be so again.

“My life was yours.” He kissed the circles he created. “Every moment, I found joy in you.”

He looked at her closed eyes. “Please, don’t leave me. Please promise you’ll be mine again.”

No emotion showed upon the visage of his love, but distant echoes of vows lighted his soul.

“Open to me.” He wondered if his whispered thought could possibly reach her unconscious mind. “Speak to me with your soul.”

Her lips parted and a chill flew through him. He waited, listened intently. Weak sensations touched his senses. “Anna,” he said aloud, hope rising. He cupped his palm to her cheek again. “Fight for it. Call to me.”

Anna remained silent.

Cole’s heart ached. Yet, that small reaction spurred his resolve. He framed her face as he lowered to take her lips with his. “I’ll help you.”

The scent of licorice and cream fell from his lips as he called on his Breath of Zephyr. His soul’s voice owned his words. “My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”

She inhaled his sensual gift and gasped for deeper intake.

Yes. Hope impossibly filled him. His muscles tightened with expectation. His heart pounded against his chest. “Call to me!”

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Echoes

Cornerstone Deep book two

Nothing is sacred to Cole when it comes to keeping his love – not even covenants made with gods, and when Lord Dressen's obsession to have Anna soars, Cole pulls out all the stops. But, through all his efforts, lofty or damned, the truth remains.

Will echoes of another life cause him to fail?

“Every breath you take is a song to my soul.”

Buy links:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/EchoesK

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376671

Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com/order/

Book Trailer

http://youtu.be/fgYyEddNpYA

What they’re saying:

“Echoes is the second installment in Wilson's Cornerstone Deep series, and was just as much a pleasure to read as the first. The timeless love story is brought to life in a new and creative way that pulls at your heartstrings and keeps you reading….”—Annette, Gothic Mom Reviews

“A touching and magickal romance story, Echoes picks right up where The Transformation of Anna left off. Charlene pens her characters well written and brings them to life in this fast paced, totally hard to put down sequel. Recommended for all romance and paranormal romance fans.”—My Cozy Corner

“Echoes is a shockingly spectacular sequel to the Transformation of Anna that will leave you reeling from the mind-blowing revelations and truly surprising twists of fate.” — Amber, The Wonderings of One Person

“Cornerstone Deep Echoes is as interesting as Book 1. Those who enjoyed the first book will definitely relish this book too... The book is a romance that touches on past lives and rebirth. This paranormal angle makes it an exciting read... Lord Dressen's obsession for Mianna forms the somber angle of the book. It is so powerful that he will do anything to possess her. Cole's struggle to continue his love with Mianna, in spite of Lord Dressen's dark presence, makes the story very exciting and adds that bit of intrigue and suspense. All the characters are skillfully etched by the author. I look forward to reading the next part of this series to find out where the author will take us.”— Mamta Madhavan, Readers' Favorite

EXCERPT

Chapter Twenty-Five

Adoration flowed from behind him, touching his senses. Slender hands smoothed his shirt to his waist and a soft form leaned to his back. His heart melted and he closed his eyes. Mianna. Despite his attempt to avoid an earlier meet, he couldn’t resist. He lifted his arm and turned to hold her in his embrace. As she met his gaze, Mianna’s soul once again spoke to his as none other had or would. Unrest fled. Doubt disappeared.

Her brow wrinkled with worry. “You’ve been distant.”

He brushed her long hair with a gentle stroke. “I’m sorry, my love.”

She caressed his forehead with her fingertips, erasing the tension there.

“Hush thy worries. Still thy mind.

For within mine arms,

love’s sweet bliss will heal thy soul.

Cares of life be gone.”

Cole rested his cheek on her soft locks, allowing her poetic tongue to soothe him.

“Whispers, wings of love’s caress,

light upon thy heart.

Gazes, speak of my soul’s want.

Body, sing their praise.”

She gently placed her hand to his cheek, guiding him to look into her eyes.

“I long. I pray thee touch me.

Carry forth my will.

Leave behind the world, my love.

Be this moment mine.”

Cole’s heart wrapped around her plea and the reality of her return filled his being. She was his. Now and forever. “This moment, my life, my existence is yours.” He cradled her face with his hands. “Every breath you take is a song to my soul.”

Her words fell to his lips in a hush. “Make love to me, Cole. I need to feel you still love me.”

The Breath of Zephyr flowed freely and licorice and cream rode his whisper. “How could you truly doubt.”

Wilting onto a bed of flowers, he lay with her on the soft buds. The song in her sigh washed through his heart and her emotions flowed, reminding him Sylis Shilo had no influence there. They alone shared this moment surrounded by beauty and its sweet aroma. The dark sky of Cornerstone Deep blanketed them in solitude.

Little buttons on her blouse released at his touch and as he slid the fabric aside, a heated plea breezed past her lips. The layers of her skirt fell to her hip as she raised her thigh to rest it against his waist. He leaned into her entreaty.

Her voice came to him, a small sound breaking from a whisper. “Time has passed for you, Cole.” A quiver shook her words. “I know there were others.”

“Mianna—”

“Just…let me pretend I was the only one to share your soul all that time. Lie to me…this once.”

Her request clenched his heart. “My love. It’s been you all this time.” Cole’s thick breath poured against her skin. “It’s always been you.”

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~ Month Long Giveaway ~

A signed paperback of book one, The Transformation of Anna

A lovely necklace depicting the three globes used in the story

Book marks

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ECHOES Book Blast Schedule: