Book Title: The Bear Goddess
Author: Kelley Heckart
Genre: Greek myths/fantasy/shapeshifters/romance
Release date: 11/9/14
Page Count: 284 in print
ISBN-10: 1502982684
ISBN-13: 978-1502982681
ASIN: B00P74X0WY
Kindle Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P74X0WY
Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com:
Blurb:
Forbidden love… Broken vows… Betrayal…
Callisto, daughter of the great Arcadian King Lycaon and the
nymph Maia, has studied all her life to attain the high position of Bear
Goddess among the nymphs of Artemis, taking a sacred vow of purity. But when
she meets a mysterious man, her life changes forever.
Kasin is a prince among the fierce centaurs and one of few
who can take human shape. A follower of Zeus, he is mystified to save a nymph’s
life and even worse, to fall in love with an enemy of the centaurs. He is torn
between his duty to his people and his love for Callisto.
When the nymphs capture
Kasin for their next sacrifice, Callisto cannot allow him to die, but before
she can help him escape, they are caught together and their secret connection
exposed. Surrounded by armed guards, they manage a daring escape. On the run
from the nymphs, danger and betrayal follow Kasin and Callisto. To survive,
they must evade a god obsessed with having Callisto for himself as well as
others who also want to keep them apart. Will their love for each other be
enough to save them?
Excerpt (PG-13):
In
a flashing blur of altering limbs, Kasin stood before her, naked from the waist
down in his human shape. He pulled on the rest of his clothes.
She
held out her bound hands so he could free them.
He
studied the chain for a moment, searching for the clasp. “Hmm.” He unbound her
hands, inspecting the silver chain. “I have never seen anything like it.”
She
frowned. “I am grateful for that,” she said, watching him in wide-eyed wonder.
Raising
one eyebrow, he asked, “Why are you giving me that questioning look?”
She
raised both of her eyebrows. “When were you going to tell me you are a
centaur?”
He
crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Never.”
Tightening
the blanket around her shoulders, she gave him a hard look. “I do not think I
heard you correctly because it sounded like you said you were not planning to
tell me your true nature.”
“I
knew you would be displeased. You speak so harshly of my people,” he said in a
defensive tone.
“And
I have good reason to speak thus of your people.” Even if he was
different, there were too many stories about the savagery of the centaurs for
them all not to be true.
He
unfolded his arms. Looking weary, he grasped her shoulders. “I do not want to
have a battle with you now. We should rest. Tomorrow we must start before
daybreak.”
“Where
are we going to go? I have no clothes.” She looked down at the blanket covering
her naked body. All she had was her moonstone choker, the only item that
remained on her when she shapechanged into animals.
“Yes.”
He rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. “I cannot bring you unclothed into a
village full of lusty centaurs.”
She
glared at him for his arrogant assumption that she would want to go to a
centaur village, but she held her tongue, realizing he was only trying to save
her life. And she had no desire to start another argument. The events of the
night began to weigh on her. She suppressed a yawn.
He
pulled off his tunic and then took the blanket from her shoulders. Gently, he
dressed her in his tunic.
His
baggy tunic hung just below her knees. The short sleeves of his tunic reached
to her forearms. Accustomed to her clothing that hugged and flattered her
female curves, she wrinkled her brow in disapproval. She stared at him, at his
taller, more muscular body that made her seem small even though she was
considered tall for a female. “It looks like a lumpy grain sack.”
Tearing
a long strip from the blanket, he said, “I am not finished, love.” He fastened
the belt around her waist.
His
expression of affection left her with a tender sensation beneath her breast.
She watched him, her lips forming a pensive smile, enjoying the feel of his
hands lightly brushing her as he dressed her and, at the same time, troubled
about their dangerous situation. She couldn’t fully comprehend what had
happened yet or the consequences of being discovered breaking her vow and then
running off with a centaur. This night seemed like a strange dream to her. She
wanted to pinch herself to see if she would wake up.
****
Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with
her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets,” including Godzilla
the desert iguana. Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval
time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts,
her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic
and romance. When not writing, she works as an editor/proofreader and practices
target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/
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Kelley Heckart,
Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
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