Of Bells and Thorns by Valentina Cano - Book Tour + Giveaway
Of Bells and Thorns
The Rose Master Book 2
by Valentina Cano
Genre:
Fantasy, Magic Realism
Fantasy, Magic Realism
294 pages
Rosewood Manor has been ashes for weeks.
Left with no post and no home, Anne Tinning never expected to find herself
in a luxurious carriage, dressed in the finest of clothes, pretending
to be the wife of Lord August Grey. The search for Miss Bellingham,
however, will require them to blend into the very height of London
society, a class Anne has only ever served, and which August
despises. But August insists that the ruse is the only way. For
although they’ve vanquished the wraith that called for August’s
life, they will never be safe unless they find a way to stop the
woman he scorned.
in a luxurious carriage, dressed in the finest of clothes, pretending
to be the wife of Lord August Grey. The search for Miss Bellingham,
however, will require them to blend into the very height of London
society, a class Anne has only ever served, and which August
despises. But August insists that the ruse is the only way. For
although they’ve vanquished the wraith that called for August’s
life, they will never be safe unless they find a way to stop the
woman he scorned.
There are traces of Lily Bellingham the length and breadth of London, but
when Anne and August investigate the gruesome disappearances in a
factory she has just purchased, they realize that Lily is more
powerful than either of them. And she has devised a new way to take
her revenge.
when Anne and August investigate the gruesome disappearances in a
factory she has just purchased, they realize that Lily is more
powerful than either of them. And she has devised a new way to take
her revenge.
With another curse placed upon August’s head, Anne must find a way to
defeat Lily, and this time, she will have no help from the young man
she has grown to love. This time, the curse is more insidious,
twisting him into someone unrecognizable.
defeat Lily, and this time, she will have no help from the young man
she has grown to love. This time, the curse is more insidious,
twisting him into someone unrecognizable.
This time, August Grey is the one she must fear.
Lush, lyrical, and layered in horror-filled suspense, Of Bells and Thorns
evokes the feel of classic Gothic literature, blending the magic of a
beautiful fairy tale against the rich backdrop of history.
evokes the feel of classic Gothic literature, blending the magic of a
beautiful fairy tale against the rich backdrop of history.
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My
dress crinkled as I shifted in the plush carriage seats. Still not accustomed
to the layers of heavy cloth, I made much more noise than was absolutely
necessary. My hand slipped into my gown’s pocket, a pocket I had especially
made, and wrapped around the rose. The one that never seemed to wilt, that
never crumbled under my touch, that always greeted me with its scent.
And
its thorns.
“Damn,”
I gasped, bringing my finger to my lips.
“Anne,
do you think you could manage to keep your expletives to a bare minimum when we
reach the hotel? Otherwise we’ll be thrown out, and I don’t fancy spending
another night in the cold.”
“I’ll
certainly try.”
“Good.”
August
put down the book he’d been absorbed in for the majority of the trip and looked
up at me. He shook his head and smiled. The gesture made his thin face even
thinner and all I wanted to do was press a pastry on him, or a thick scone with
a glob of Devonshire cream on it.
It
had been two months since Rosewood Manor burnt down, and he was as insufferable
as ever when it came to his health and well being. The cough was gone, at
least, swept away like fog when we vanquished the wraith, but his leg still
hurt him on wet days, which were most of them this spring season. More
infuriatingly, he still waved aside food as if reading alone could keep body
and soul together.
One
of my corset stays was digging into my ribs and I wriggled to shift it to a
more bearable location. I’d worn corsets for many years, but none of them
nearly as intricate as the one I wore now and certainly never as tightly laced.
When the woman at the shop had wrapped me in it two days ago, I had almost
fallen in a swoon of skirts. I had adjusted somewhat to the tightness but I
still had to pause to catch my breath at inopportune moments. Scrubbing floors
or carrying chamber pots up and down seemingly endless stairs would have been
impossible wearing this. I groaned and shifted in my seat again.
August
chuckled.
“Does
my discomfort amuse you?” I asked lifting an eyebrow.
“You
look positively miserable, Anne.”
“That
is very perceptive of you. If you had to wear all the fabric I am currently
suffocating under, it would not be so entertaining, I assure you.”
He
reached out, wincing slightly as he moved his weakened leg, and smoothed a bit
of cream lace on my new China blue bustle skirt. “Perhaps, but it would not
look nearly as pleasant on me as it does on you.” His hand lingered on the
fabric just a second longer than necessary, causing a flare of that strange
heat the combination of our two innate abilities always created. After a second
more, he removed his hand.
The Rose Master
The Rose Master Book 1
194 pages
The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's
hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home
she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the
newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when
she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home
she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the
newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when
she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.
Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and
inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold
as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with
fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds
herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold
as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with
fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds
herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is
something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the
frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the
frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally
demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts
the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared
for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts
the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared
for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to
admire, or abandon her post while she still can.
admire, or abandon her post while she still can.
Valentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time
she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable
army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works
have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been
nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in
Miami, Florida.
she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable
army of pets, including her five, very spoiled, snakes. Her works
have appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been
nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Web. She lives in
Miami, Florida.
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