Remembering Ashby
By: Heather Long
With a whole lot of sizzle, a dash of sweetness and an overflowing cup of deep desire, the reader is quickly and easily transported into another time and place, while reading Remembering Ashby.
The time has come for young Melanie to honor her Goddess by taking part in the Maiden of the Hunt. This is one of the highest honors that a priestess can perform in and Melanie has been preparing for this time all of her life. However, once she meets the handsome Scotsman Adam, her whole life is turned upside down. Passion rages and desires heat between the two, though Melanie knows that she must somehow resist and continue in her duty to honor her Goddess.
Adam and Melanie come up with a plan, one that will allow them to be together for all time. Little do they know, however, that the wrenched Sorcerer discovers them during one of their trysts and is about to change that plan in a torturous and painful way.
Heather Long displays a wonderful and delightful talent for bringing her characters and their surroundings to life. The Scottish brogue is outstanding and her descriptions of the countryside amazing. The reader quickly and easily falls within the words and the story, that Ms. Long interweaves. I have to say that I truly loved both characters of Melanie and Adam and completely despised the Sorcerer. While reading, I was overtaken with rage at the actions of the Sorcerer, yet at the next moment, overcome with tenderness for the denied lovers of Melanie and Adam. The love between these two is eternally deep and heavily gratifying.
Remembering Ashby is an excellent story of love, desire, strength and courage. I have to admit that in the beginning, the heavy Scottish brogue was a bit difficult for me to follow. However, once I stopped trying to actually pronounce/decipher, in my mind, the wording and just simply lost myself within the story, the words just flowed and the story became incredibly enjoyable. In other words, the brogue was a bit distracting in the beginning, however once the reader gets used to it, everything falls into place. The brogue and dialect add to the believability of the story and three dimensionalizes it - making the characters and time period all the more real.
Remembering Ashby is a great story and one that I would highly recommend! I can't wait to read more by Heather Long!
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Remembering Ashby:
Peace among the clans has been nonexistent for the past centuries. But now that clan Lairds have decided to summon the God-touched people from their magical Isle to perform the rituals of Beltane to bless the peace talks between the clans, peace is within reach.
Melanie is honored to be chosen as one of six maidens to represent the Goddess at this important event. She is meant to be a vessel for the power of the Goddess while forgetting the failures of humanity during the festival. She knows should be concentrating on her part as a Maiden of the Hunt, yet she cannot banish the handsome Scot from her mind. Running in the Hunt is as sacred as the Goddess herself, and should her desires be known, there could be dire consequences for her and the clansman. However, she can’t find the will to deny his pull.
The mists of the Black Mountains enhance the excitement of their forbidden love while providing an escape from the Islanders encampment. Can they give in to their desires at the expense of their destinies?
Especially once The Sorcerer discovers their dalliance…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
As she lowered her arms and sank down to gaze at the watch fire, Melanie became aware of him. He sat quietly a few feet away. The firelight cast a play of shadows over his face. He smiled when he noticed her looking at him. She was surprised to see him there, but pleased.
“Goin’ t’sing a bit more?” he asked softly.
She shook her head slowly. The hood still hid her face, and, truthfully, she should return to the encampment. The others would be returning soon, but no one would disturb her for this communion time was her own. They had two nights to prepare themselves, and this was only the first step. She sat slowly, pulling her legs beneath the cloak letting it shroud her. The fire was behind her allowing the shadows to play in her favor.
"Wha’ was th’song?”
“There were many,” she murmured.
“Wha’ were ye singin’ just now—th’oak one?”
“It’s a song for the sun king—he is born with the coming of Yule and the passing of the Winter Solstice, but he sacrifices himself with the coming of the summer to allow himself to be reborn.” She smiled a bit. “It’s the willingness of his sacrifice that allows the land to bear fruit—for the Lady to birth him again so the cycle might continue.”
“Does nae seem like much o’a fate for a king.”
“I suppose. But if he does not make the sacrifice—then he cannot be reborn, and the cycle will be broken.” She should withdraw. She’d already indulged this conversation too far. But he remained still, watching her with a quiet expression. “You should not be up here.”
“Nay?”
“No.”
“Well—ye are here.”
“Aye. But…well…”
“Ye do nae want t’talk t’me?”
“It’s not that.” Melanie reassured him quickly, despite the fluttering sensation in her belly because now she was treading on even more dangerous ground. The maidens were representatives of the Goddess, not themselves. She was not representing the Goddess in this conversation, and she was of a mind to think he wasn’t seeking one when he came up here.
“So ye do want t’talk to me…" He grinned.
“But, I’m not supposed to,” she whispered.
“Why nae?”
She shook her head. “It’s improper. I should go.”
“Doona—” He moved lightly toward her, and she rose to take a step back, holding out her hand to warn him away. “Why do ye ’ave t’go?”
“You really don’t understand—do you?”
“I am nae going t’harm ye, lass. I give ye my word.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid of that.” She smiled. “It’s just—” She looked away from him toward the camps below. They would start wondering soon and protocol or not, likely someone would come up.
“They do nae want ye talking to us?” he asked quietly from a position much closer to her than she’d imagined he would be. He’d come right up to her on quiet feet. Her skin tingled at the nearness.
“It’s improper,” she said softly. She should really move away, but her feet remained firmly planted like lead weights, and she turned her head to look at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(click here) To Purchase Remembering Ashby!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Heather Long:
Heather Long is a freelance writer turned author who enjoyed a gypsy lifestyle as a child. Her grandmother used to read her Harlequin romance novels as a child including those by Penny Jordan, Nora Roberts and more.
She began reading fantasy in the sixth grade and by mid-high school she was blending fantasy, romance and mystery together in what she wanted to write. Her first novel flirts with past loves by exploring historical romance. Heather currently lives in Texas with her husband of ten years, daughter, 4 dogs and 4 cats.
By: Heather Long
With a whole lot of sizzle, a dash of sweetness and an overflowing cup of deep desire, the reader is quickly and easily transported into another time and place, while reading Remembering Ashby.
The time has come for young Melanie to honor her Goddess by taking part in the Maiden of the Hunt. This is one of the highest honors that a priestess can perform in and Melanie has been preparing for this time all of her life. However, once she meets the handsome Scotsman Adam, her whole life is turned upside down. Passion rages and desires heat between the two, though Melanie knows that she must somehow resist and continue in her duty to honor her Goddess.
Adam and Melanie come up with a plan, one that will allow them to be together for all time. Little do they know, however, that the wrenched Sorcerer discovers them during one of their trysts and is about to change that plan in a torturous and painful way.
Heather Long displays a wonderful and delightful talent for bringing her characters and their surroundings to life. The Scottish brogue is outstanding and her descriptions of the countryside amazing. The reader quickly and easily falls within the words and the story, that Ms. Long interweaves. I have to say that I truly loved both characters of Melanie and Adam and completely despised the Sorcerer. While reading, I was overtaken with rage at the actions of the Sorcerer, yet at the next moment, overcome with tenderness for the denied lovers of Melanie and Adam. The love between these two is eternally deep and heavily gratifying.
Remembering Ashby is an excellent story of love, desire, strength and courage. I have to admit that in the beginning, the heavy Scottish brogue was a bit difficult for me to follow. However, once I stopped trying to actually pronounce/decipher, in my mind, the wording and just simply lost myself within the story, the words just flowed and the story became incredibly enjoyable. In other words, the brogue was a bit distracting in the beginning, however once the reader gets used to it, everything falls into place. The brogue and dialect add to the believability of the story and three dimensionalizes it - making the characters and time period all the more real.
Remembering Ashby is a great story and one that I would highly recommend! I can't wait to read more by Heather Long!
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Remembering Ashby:
Peace among the clans has been nonexistent for the past centuries. But now that clan Lairds have decided to summon the God-touched people from their magical Isle to perform the rituals of Beltane to bless the peace talks between the clans, peace is within reach.
Melanie is honored to be chosen as one of six maidens to represent the Goddess at this important event. She is meant to be a vessel for the power of the Goddess while forgetting the failures of humanity during the festival. She knows should be concentrating on her part as a Maiden of the Hunt, yet she cannot banish the handsome Scot from her mind. Running in the Hunt is as sacred as the Goddess herself, and should her desires be known, there could be dire consequences for her and the clansman. However, she can’t find the will to deny his pull.
The mists of the Black Mountains enhance the excitement of their forbidden love while providing an escape from the Islanders encampment. Can they give in to their desires at the expense of their destinies?
Especially once The Sorcerer discovers their dalliance…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
As she lowered her arms and sank down to gaze at the watch fire, Melanie became aware of him. He sat quietly a few feet away. The firelight cast a play of shadows over his face. He smiled when he noticed her looking at him. She was surprised to see him there, but pleased.
“Goin’ t’sing a bit more?” he asked softly.
She shook her head slowly. The hood still hid her face, and, truthfully, she should return to the encampment. The others would be returning soon, but no one would disturb her for this communion time was her own. They had two nights to prepare themselves, and this was only the first step. She sat slowly, pulling her legs beneath the cloak letting it shroud her. The fire was behind her allowing the shadows to play in her favor.
"Wha’ was th’song?”
“There were many,” she murmured.
“Wha’ were ye singin’ just now—th’oak one?”
“It’s a song for the sun king—he is born with the coming of Yule and the passing of the Winter Solstice, but he sacrifices himself with the coming of the summer to allow himself to be reborn.” She smiled a bit. “It’s the willingness of his sacrifice that allows the land to bear fruit—for the Lady to birth him again so the cycle might continue.”
“Does nae seem like much o’a fate for a king.”
“I suppose. But if he does not make the sacrifice—then he cannot be reborn, and the cycle will be broken.” She should withdraw. She’d already indulged this conversation too far. But he remained still, watching her with a quiet expression. “You should not be up here.”
“Nay?”
“No.”
“Well—ye are here.”
“Aye. But…well…”
“Ye do nae want t’talk t’me?”
“It’s not that.” Melanie reassured him quickly, despite the fluttering sensation in her belly because now she was treading on even more dangerous ground. The maidens were representatives of the Goddess, not themselves. She was not representing the Goddess in this conversation, and she was of a mind to think he wasn’t seeking one when he came up here.
“So ye do want t’talk to me…" He grinned.
“But, I’m not supposed to,” she whispered.
“Why nae?”
She shook her head. “It’s improper. I should go.”
“Doona—” He moved lightly toward her, and she rose to take a step back, holding out her hand to warn him away. “Why do ye ’ave t’go?”
“You really don’t understand—do you?”
“I am nae going t’harm ye, lass. I give ye my word.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid of that.” She smiled. “It’s just—” She looked away from him toward the camps below. They would start wondering soon and protocol or not, likely someone would come up.
“They do nae want ye talking to us?” he asked quietly from a position much closer to her than she’d imagined he would be. He’d come right up to her on quiet feet. Her skin tingled at the nearness.
“It’s improper,” she said softly. She should really move away, but her feet remained firmly planted like lead weights, and she turned her head to look at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(click here) To Purchase Remembering Ashby!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Heather Long:
Heather Long is a freelance writer turned author who enjoyed a gypsy lifestyle as a child. Her grandmother used to read her Harlequin romance novels as a child including those by Penny Jordan, Nora Roberts and more.
She began reading fantasy in the sixth grade and by mid-high school she was blending fantasy, romance and mystery together in what she wanted to write. Her first novel flirts with past loves by exploring historical romance. Heather currently lives in Texas with her husband of ten years, daughter, 4 dogs and 4 cats.
1 comments:
Och, thank ye kin'ly lass. I will definitely send this review to my editor who actually toned down the brogue because it was so hard to read. In my head, it made sense, it was thick and wonderful and flowing, but that was hard to capture on paper! Thank you so much for the wonderful review and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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