Friday 8 August 2014

Betsy J. Bennett: A Gargoyle's Vow

A big, big welcome back to Betsy J. Bennett.

Today, Betsy introduces readers to another wonderful story in the Dragon's Roost series -- A Gargoyle's Vow.

First, a little back story. Dragon's Roost is a B&B. Not just any B&B, but one with secrets! Run by Jan Pikorski, readers are about to meet a wonderful cast of characters, the heroes of which are totally hunky!

In the first book, A Dragon's Tea, we met Lori Lawrick, Jan's niece. Lori needs some time away and decides to visit her aunt and stay in her lovely B&B. There, she meets Byron, a man who lives between worlds as a dragon shifter.

Today we're introduced to Brenda and Milton.

Brenda has come to Au Sable to visit her aunt. She had spent some of her childhood at her aunt's B&B, and has vivid memories of monsters in the basement. They've haunted her for years and now she's back to put her fears to rest. If they're childhood nightmares, there's nothing to worry about, right?

Martin is a very old soul. He committed a grievous sin early in his life and was punished for it by being given the horrifying looks of a gargoyle.

Brenda needs Milton's help, but it will come at a cost for her -- marriage to Milton. But what happens when Milton is forced to honor a quest he's been put on and Brenda's life is on the line? Will his marriage vow become more important than regaining his life as he knew it?

As with any book Betsy writes, there are twists and turns throughout A Gargoyle's Vow. The vivid imagery drops readers right into the story from page one, and her characters are likable as soon as we meet them. And of course, the adventure Betsy takes us on through Au Sable and the many secrets to discover in Dragon's Roost B&B are incredible. This book is an excellent addition to the Dragon's Roost series. It's fast paced and an easy read. And we can't help falling for Milton. Another great story, Betsy!

As always, there's a free book on offer today. All you need to do is comment with your email address to put your name into the draw for an ebook copy of A Gargoyle's Vow. If you can't wait, just click on the link to grab your copy.

And on special offer from Tirgearr Publishing, Betsy's previous book, A Dragon's Tea, is available through August for just 99c at Kindle!

• • •

Brenda thought her Aunt’s Bed and Breakfast a house of horrors
As an eight-year-old child Brenda was bitten by a monster chained in the basement. Now 17 years later she returns to face her fears.

He looks like a monster
With claws at his hands and feet, broad wings, horns and a massive snout, Milton terrifies Brenda. Centuries ago, before the Earth was even formed, Milton committed the worst sin imaginable and as payment for this sin, he is forced to look like an evil gargoyle.

Now she needs his help
Milton offers to help Brenda’s infant nephew, but only if Brenda agrees to marry him. While she agonizes over her decision, Brenda learns that he is not evil as he appears. But she also realizes if she marries him, she will not be first in his life. He must complete his quest, even if it means sacrificing her.

How can her growing love survive under those conditions?

“I don’t know how you do it,” Sal DeLuca said.

“Me?” With a casual hike of her eyebrow Brenda Larwick pretended she had no idea what her partner was talking about. She knew him better than to give him the canned “Police officers work as a team,” liturgy, yet by the same token, she wasn’t about to provide him with the truth. Or rather, she would willingly offer up the truth, if she had any idea what that was.

She wasn’t a big fan of lying and her relationship with the man riding in the passenger seat had always been based on mutual respect and trust. Since she didn’t understand what was happening, she didn’t want to tell him what she suspected and thereby come across as some raving lunatic. Instead she said “We’re in this together.”

“Yes, darlin’ that’s true.” DeLuca had Southern Alabama roots, although he’d been cruising the streets of New York’s capital city for decades. He was hard, tough and coarse, and the drawl was selective. It only appeared when he knew it would rile her most. She looked over at him, her eyes hard for the moment, a biting retort sizzling on her tongue, but his eyes twinkled back at her, and instead of taking offense, she flipped back her head and laughed.

“You are so annoying. I don’t know why I put up with you.” At even intervals they passed under street lights, the illumination brightening the interior of the patrol car before shifting them back into shadow. “Are you sure you’re not ready to retire?”

There had been no sexual connotations to his ‘darlin’, but she loved him desperately, this grizzly old man over thirty years her senior. He was wise, street-educated and his reflexes were honed. He was everything she wanted in a partner.

He chewed a fresh piece of gum a bit, then met her gaze. “If I retire, who will watch your back?”

“Who indeed,” she whispered, and suppressed the shiver that crept down her back. With her gaze alert, Brenda scanned the dark alleys, the hidden recesses, the parked cars looking for anything suspicious, anything warranting further investigation. Although the area was quiet, she had learned her lessons the hard way: danger could erupt from anywhere.

They were on routine patrol, no destination, just driving, keeping the streets safe by showing off the black and white squad car. He looked out the window toward the street well on its way to becoming part of a neighborhood. “You’ve got the touch.”

Brenda wasn’t certain all police officers were as superstitious as Sal DeLuca, but “the touch” to him was the highest of compliments. It was a second sense, a knowing of when danger lurked.

Brenda would have argued, but how many major busts had her name on them as arresting officer? She was beyond lucky, she was phenomenal, and lately it looked like criminals from as far away as New Jersey were driving up to Albany, just so they could be arrested by one tawny haired cop and her disbelieving partner.

• • •

Betsy J. Bennett lives in Michigan with her husband, two adult daughters, three obnoxious cats and an English bulldog. She has five grandchildren. She collects dragons, creche's and Santas. She has always believed in Christmas and in Santa, and although she has yet to meet the real Santa, she has hope that with the publication of this book he'll seek her out. She is currently at work on her next novel.

Find Betsy online --

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/betsy.bennett.58
Blog - www.betsyjbennett.blogspot.com
Tirgearr Publishing - http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Bennett_BetsyJ

Buy your copy here: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Bennett_BetsyJ/a-gargoyles-vow.htm

* Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book!


A Gargoyle's Vow
Dragon's Roost, book 2
Available here
A Dragon's Tea
Dragon's Roost, book 1
Available here
A Wizard's Spell
Dragon's Roost, book 3
Available here