Sheryl Browne, Author: Science Fiction

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – BELOVED ENEMY SERIES (& Book #) – THE DESTINY TRILOGY (Volume III) AUTHOR – HYWELA LYN GENRE – SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE PUBLICATION DATE – 11TH March 2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - Page Count: 266 Word Count: 69,380 PUBLISHER – THE WILD ROSE PRESS COVER ARTIST – RAE MONET

NOTE - Can be read as ‘Standalone’

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON US - AMAZON UK - THE WILD ROSE PRESS PAPERBACK

THE WILD ROSE PRESS EBOOK - THE WILD ROSE PRESS

EXCERPT

Before she could activate the weapon, Kerry let off another barrage of plasma bolts into the river. He leapt toward her and ripped the severed tentacle from her leg. It flapped around on the wet grass. She scrambled to her knees, still slightly winded, and fired at the hideous thing. The foliage around it flared briefly with an eerie green flame, and the tentacle shrivelled into a slimy black mass, emitting a pungent odour and causing her to gag.

“It seems I was mistaken about the creature being dead.” Kerry prodded the smouldering mass with his boot and looked across over the water. “It is now.” He leaned down and grasped her wrist to haul her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Her shoulder was sore and probably bruised but she’d live.

She tried to control her shivering. The incident affected her more than she wanted to admit. Kerry’s proximity—naked to the waist, his lithe body shining from the water droplets that still clung to his skin, and his legs swathed in tight black leather—did nothing to help. The last thing she wanted was for him to realize how scared she’d been when she thought a snake attacked her.

“Thanks. That was close. It would have been a bit ironic if I’d been killed by the same creature I saved you from.”

She realized he still grasped her wrist. She tried to move away, but he pulled her back, obliging her to turn to him.

“You’re trembling.”

“I’m fine.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not.” He pulled her closer and his eyes softened, his gaze holding her mesmerized. She opened her mouth to try to speak, but in the same instant, he put his hand under her chin and his lips closed over hers.

CHARACTER BIOS

KERRY MARCHANT - By nature something of a ‘loner’, as a young boy, Kerry nevertheless formed a strong friendship with Jon Quinlan. This friendship continued through adulthood, although both were from vastly differing backgrounds, Kerry having been raised as an orphan and Jon being the son of a family possessed of enormous wealth.

Disillusioned by a vastly overpopulated and oppressed Earth, and combining Kerry’s computer skills, intellect and brilliant astrophysical knowledge, together with Jon’s limitless funds and leadership skills and contacts, they designed and built a magnificent exploratory starship, The Destiny. They assembled a crew of like-minded individuals and left earth to escape the tyranny of The Global Union of Earth and Allied Planets.

His role as second-in-command of the Destiny suits Kerry perfectly and although on good terms with the rest of the crew, Jon remains the only person Kerry feels he can really relate to. Never one to reveal his innermost feelings he is now even more withdrawn and morose, blaming himself for the loss of Jestine Darnell, the young woman with whom he fell in love, and who still haunts his memories. Cat Kincaid is a lovely, red haired complication he had not counted on and would prefer to do without – except that there is something about her that, despite his better judgement, he finds tantalizingly attractive and intriguing.

CAT KINCAID - Independent and single minded. Cat has learnt to trust no one and to rely on her wits to survive. Raised on Earth with her only sister, her comfortable life was turned upside down when her father deserted them.

After several years in space, she has things in her past, secrets, which it would be dangerous to reveal, and one in particular which she has made a solemn promise to keep safe and to protect with her life, rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands.

Having been betrayed by a man she thought she could rely on, she has sworn never to let another close enough to break her heart again. There is one man, however, who she has sworn to track down and confront – the man responsible for her sister’s death. When she finally meets the handsome, blue eyed man she seeks, she is confused by conflicting emotions which have nothing to do with revenge.

AUTHOR BIO

Hywela Lyn most of her life in Wales and the beautiful countryside and legends did much to insire her writing. Although she now lives in a small village in England, she is very proud of her Welsh heritage and background.Her pen name is a combination of her first two names - 'Hywela’ is Welsh and her first name but it was never used and she has always been called by her second Christian name, Lyn, so she thought it was time ‘Hywela’ got an airing.

A hopeless romantic, she enjoys weaving romantic tales of the future, and distant, mysterious worlds, and one thing remains constant in her writing: The power of love. Love, not only between her heroes and heroines, but between friends and siblings, and for their particular world and the creatures that share it. This reflects her love of all animals, especially horses. She lives with her long suffering husband, Dave, and has two horses, a feral cat and an adopted lovable but slightly manic terrier called Choccy. (whose name also reflects her love of chocolate!)

Hywela Lyn’s debut novel, 'Starquest', a futuristic romance was published by The Wild Rose Press who also published her second book in the Destiny Trilogy, 'Children of the Mist'. ‘Beloved Enemy’ which continues the Destiny series is released on March 11th by the same publisher.

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Thanks for sharing, Hywela! This sounds fab!

I have the pleasure of welcoming Jim Webster onto my blog! Jim’s here to tell us a little bit about his new book published by Safkhet Publishing, War 2.2

An action packed investigation, from Delta mud to the palaces of Merchant

princes, Haldar is back in War 2.2

Haldar Drom is starting to worry. The long running insurgency in the Zala

Delta suddenly starts to spiral further out of control. Who is arming the

insurgents? How and why? Then a leading local politician who is using his

influence to try and keep things calm is threatened with assassination. It's

obvious that things are moving to a climax.

All Haldar has immediately available is a third year university student who

gets given a dissertation project she'll never forget; young journalist who

he convinces to investigate the situation of the ground; and a retired

marine librarian whose job is to keep the politician alive. As the

investigation proceeds, from the mud of the Delta to the luxurious

surroundings of the Drake Islands, Haldar comes to realise that he may be

facing Wayland Strang's counter-attack. Faced with a coup d'état spearheaded

by off-world mercenaries Haldar has to react quickly to stop a major war.

Excerpt:

Like an adolescent on a first date, Willon had agonized about his appearance. In his case he had no wish to appear achingly cool. Rather he was intent on looking professional. He had pondered his limited wardrobe and had finally decided on bottle green britches of conservative cut and a side buttoned tunic in metallic grey that he had purchased to wear at a relative's funeral. Yet he still felt the need to cut some sort of dash, so he inveigled a colleague into giving him a lift in one of the company floaters. Hence he was dropped off on the upper terrace of the Alani Hotel to the amusement of the dinners. Nodding courteously to those sitting and eating, he crossed the terrace and entered the main fifteenth floor dining room as the antique wall clock struck eight. He saw Mistress Bonart arrive at the dining room on the arm of the manager. A fleeting smile crossed her face and she turned and said something to the manager who bowed and withdrew.

"Willon, punctual indeed." She held out an arm and he hastened to lead her to the table she indicated. He seated her and then waited to be invited before seating himself.

They sat in silence as she studied him and he, more covertly, studied her. Mistress Bonart, widow of Targan Bonart the celebrated playwright, poet, dreamer and drunk, was a lady in her late sixties or thereabouts. She was small, her once black hair was white now, her clothes almost as conservative as his own. She smiled at him impishly and he found himself smiling back.

She held the menu lightly in one hand, "If you like I could order for us, I'm perhaps more familiar with the foibles of the cook than you are."

Willon nodded, then remembered his manners, "Yes please."

She tapped the side of the table and almost instantly a waiter appeared. She gave him complex instructions, he raised issues, she brushed them aside with another of those impish smiles, he rallied, raised other issues. Still in no mood to take prisoners a hint of steel entered her voice. The waiter's defenses collapsed utterly and he scuttled off to do her bidding. As he watched this exchange Willon was acutely aware that he was about to dine with the lady who had single-handedly built up Tsarina Broadcasting. He remained watchful and silent. Her brief skirmish with the waiter completed, Mistress Bonart turned her full attention onto him.

"So Willon Cartif, you have ambitions."

Willon was cautious, unsure exactly of what Haldar had done to win for him this interview. "I suppose so Ma'am."

She made an abrupt gesture. "I am certainly older than your mother but I'm not going to waste my evening in tedious formality. I am Bertrice, and I'd be grateful if you could use my name. I in turn will scandalize everyone by calling one of my employees 'Willon', so heads will be turned and everyone will assume we are having an affair." Again there was the impish smile and suddenly Willon felt he was a fellow conspirator rather than a potential sacrificial victim.

"So Willon, tell your friend Bertrice why exactly you have decided, against all wisdom, to leave a comfortable billet in Channel Six and become a freelance."

Willon was about to launch into a prepared speech when she raised a hand. "And note well I have known young Haldar Drom for more years than I care to remember, so I think you can give me the version of the story that includes him."

Deflated, Willon struggled for something to say. He was briefly rescued by the arrival of the first course, a gastropod pâté served with various herbs. The waiter placed their plates and withdrew. "How about telling me your story from the beginning," Bertrice prodded.

For the next half hour, with brief pauses for eating, Willon was gently cross examined. Finally, the sweet course swept away and a selection of liqueurs placed on the table for them, she allowed him to lapse into silence.

"So, you are a young man at the crossroads of your career." She studied him as she spoke. "On one hand you have a decent salaried position on Channel Six. I've checked and you're well liked, considered perfectly competent, and it is assumed that you will work your way steadily through the organization. Or on the other hand you can give this up and go freelance." She was still watching him closely. "I have to tell you that should you leave Channel Six, even on this assignment, that we cannot keep your job there open for you." She raised a hand to forestall any protest. "This isn't a judgment on your ability or a sign of disapproval, it's a simple fact. We'll need someone doing the job while you're not there, and if that person is any good, then it would be unfair to just kick them out again. Not only that but if you do this freelance job for Haldar Drom, do you honestly think you'd be happy in Channel Six anymore?"

Willon subsided a little, and then Bertrice asked, "Have you ever been freelance?"

"Well I have submitted the occasional piece over the years."

"That means no Willon. Strangely enough I have. I had to freelance for ten years to support my husband and three children." She sighed. "You might think you're pretty low down the pecking order at the moment, but you wait until you're freelance. You're lucky if one in three people returns your call; you spend your time making friends of receptionists and personal assistants. You're the last person they get round to paying and the first person they decide they can do without. Still think you want the job?"

Willon smiled slowly. "I think so."

"And what do you know about the Zala Delta Insurgency?"

"Rather more than I did this morning when Haldar asked me the same question."

"Good answer. You're hired. We have a standard contract, I'll have one of my people drop it round to your desk tomorrow morning along with your severance pay."

"Why, thank you," Willon almost stammered, he was somewhat surprised by the speed of it all.

"Thank me when you've done the job and can decide whether it was such a good idea."

She gathered her belongings as if she was about to leave, then she paused. "Willon, another thing; what do you think about the freedom of the press?"

Willon looked at her, "But of course I believe in the freedom of the press. It is the duty of the press to hold the powerful to account."

She ran her finger round the rim of her glass. "I know it is boy, but how do you square this with working for Haldar Drom?"

Willon sat in deep thought. She continued, "I know, the question hasn't occurred to you has it? Still, don't try to answer it now, but just keep thinking about it, that's all I ask. Haldar I trust, the Governor is a decent enough man, but it might be that one day it will be your duty to hold them to account. Make sure that you can do it with a clear conscience."

She paused as if wondering whether to say something. Willon watched; it was the first sign of indecisiveness he'd seen from her.

Then she said. "Are you able to be just the reporter and not to be part of the story?"

"How to you mean Madam?"

"I mean can you report a wrong without wanting to right it? Can you sit outside looking in or are you going to go native?"

She smiled at his hesitation. "Cheerful banter on Channel Six doesn't force you to ask these questions does it?"

With that she stood up. Hastily he stood up as well, and she offered him her hand to kiss. As he bowed his head to kiss it she said softly, "And remember, the only person you have to sleep with is yourself." As he raised his head again she kissed him gently on the cheek. "That should give the gossips something to talk about."

About Jim:

I'm Jim Webster. Claims to be fifty something, and has been married to the same lady for thirty years. We have three daughters who've all sort of left home. I've been a livestock farmer in South Cumbria all my life, and for the last forty or so years have combined this with freelance journalism and writing. For relaxation I walk a lot, read (mainly ancient history) and have been a wargamer and roleplayer for as long as I can remember.

Links:

Twitter: @JimWebster6

Thanks for sharing, Jim!

Keep safe everyone!

Lots of love,