Muse It Up Specials at Coffee Time Romance

If you’ve been wanting to read my romantic fantasy novellas CYPHER and THE MAGICAL MISPERCEPTION OF MERIDIAN, they are 40% off during December at Coffee Time Romance. The final price is $1.50 apiece. Both stories are appropriate for middle grade readers and up.

Back of Cover:  Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she pleases.  She happens upon the queen’s nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment.  Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table.  Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant.  At summer’s end, Jona’s job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after ten years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen.   Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee will fight for an uncertain future.  But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Back of Cover: Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country.  Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection.  Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him.  Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy.  At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories.  She stumbles across a silver key she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Sunday Snippet – Cypher by S.G. Rogers

The tunnel up ahead was caved in and impassable. Cypher’s shoulders slumped.

“I-I don’t know any other way around.”

“We passed a lot of other passageways,” Joss said.

“I don’t know where they lead. I always stayed in the main tunnel so I wouldn’t get lost. Joss, perhaps we should go back.”

“Shh.”

“What?”

“I hear something.”

“What do you hear?”

“A ringing.”

“The air isn’t that good, Joss. I imagine your ears are ringing.”

“No, it’s like a bell.”

Cypher cocked her head to listen. Moments later her eyes grew wide. “I hear it too! Do you
think there could be somebody else down here?”

“I don’t know, but it’s getting closer.”

Joss put his arm around Cypher and held her tight. Someone or something was approaching,and they were trapped in a dead end.

Cypher, a romantic fantasy novella by S.G. Rogers

Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country. Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection. Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him. Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy. At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories. She stumbles on a silver key that she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Buy: Amazon (Kindle format), MuseItUp Publishing (all e-formats)

 

S.G. Rogers’ Cypher – Release Day Party

UPDATE:  Using Random.org, Onisha’s number came up! Congratulations to Onisha, and thank you to everyone who left a comment on my blog. 😀

“You can’t raze Castle Augur. It’s a national landmark! How dare you even think of desecrating the place where so many people died!” Cypher exclaimed.

Prince Ewan sat with his boots up on a desk, his hands laced behind his head. “If it isn’t the pretty barmaid.” He swung his legs to the floor and stood. “Castle Augur is an eyesore and a danger to the community. I’m building a summer palace on the foundations. Don’t worry, there will be a job waiting for you as my servant once we’re through.”

“I’ll never wait on you. You’re not fit to kiss my Augurian backside, Your Highness.”

Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country.  Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection.  Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him.  Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy.  At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories.  She stumbles across a silver key she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?

Available today in all e-formats from MuseItUp Publishing HERE. Coming soon to Amazon, and BN.com.

To CELEBRATE my latest release, I’m giving away a copy of The Magical Misperception of Meridian (any e-format) and a Cypher cover t-shirt (men’s size L).  I’ll even throw in a little author swag (postcards, magnets, etc).

I’ll pick the winner at 11:59 p.m., Friday, June 22 (EST).  To enter, just do ONE of the following (pick the easiest!), and leave me a comment to tell me which way you entered:

1) LIKE my author Facebook page HERE; OR

2) ADD one of my books to your to-read list on Goodreads HERE; OR

3) LIKE one of my books on Amazon HERE; OR

4) FOLLOW my blog, or FOLLOW me on Twitter.

Buying Cypher or one of my other books (click on covers on the right side of my blog, or there are links on each book page) would definitely qualify as an entry (and make my day). (Cypher will be at Amazon in a day or two…BN.com takes a lot longer.)

Thanks for coming to my release day party.  😀 ~ S.G. Rogers

Review Copies of The Magical Misperception of Meridian

UPDATE:  THE COMMENTS WERE SO WONDERFUL I COULDN’T PICK ONLY FIVE WINNERS. EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SAY SOMETHING HAS BEEN SENT A CONGRATULATORY  EMAIL.  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO STOPPED BY TO READ MY EXCERPT! ~ S.G. ROGERS

The Magical Misperception of Meridian needs your review! This weekend, I’m giving away review copies (Kindle, .pdf, or Nook format) of this romantic story to FIVE readers who agree to post reviews on Amazon, BN.com and/or Goodreads!  Just leave a comment, below, and I’ll choose the winners just before midnight EST on Sunday, March 25th.  Good luck! ~ S.G. Rogers

Back Cover Blurb:

Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be
able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she
pleases. She happens upon the queen’s nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak
to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment. Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table. Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant. At summer’s end, Jona’s job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after nine years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen. Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee fight together for an uncertain future. But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be
shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Excerpt:

Jona had a plan.

She crept downstairs, making sure to avoid the squeakiest treads. Her hand was on the
doorknob when her mother pounced from out of nowhere and caught her by the suspenders.

“Jona Barbara Haever, you will not leave the house in those clothes! Queen Gaia will take
you for a boy!”

“But I’m not actually meeting the queen,” Jona protested. “And I want to have fun.”

“You’ll be sitting in the front row with your father and me, watching the presentation. Get
that cap off your head and put on a dress, for heaven’s sake. We’re leaving soon,” Mrs. Haever said.

“Yes, ma’am.” Jona loped upstairs.

She had absolutely no intention of obeying her mother, of course. Her back-up plan involved a very serviceable drainpipe outside the window in her sister’s room. When that room was hers, she’d used it quite a few times to escape. Unfortunately, the neighbors had seen her shimmy down one night and told her parents. The aftermath had been unpleasant and she’d had to change rooms with her sister. The challenge would be to reach the drainpipe before her sister sounded the alarm. If she were caught, the consequences would be swift and dire. Nevertheless, the benefits outweighed the risks on a day like today.

With an air of studied innocence, Jona sauntered into Holly’s room…

Can’t wait to read The Magical Misperception of Meridian? You can buy it right now at Amazon or MuseItUp Publishing (all formats)… (coming soon to BN.com)

To return to the Sweet Saturday Sample List, go HERE!

Fresh Fairytale. Timeless Romance.

The Magical Misperception of Meridian

Excerpt:

On the final day of the term, a fancy horse-drawn carriage waited in front of school, flying the royal flag of Meridian. Rumors and speculation about an illustrious visitor ran rampant through the school halls. Just after the beginning bell rang, however, Jona was called to the office of the headmaster, Mr. Widgette. The blood left her face, and rightly so. Getting that sort of summons was never a good sign.

“What did you do?” Fiona whispered, but Jona had no reply.

Many of her schoolmates gave her a sympathetic smile as she left the classroom, but Quinton smirked. Jona smirked back. With an air of resignation, she trudged down the hall to meet her doom. She’d only been called to the headmaster’s office once before, when she’d accidentally poured ink down Chet Bettle’s pants for calling Holly stuck up. If she’d somehow managed to get expelled on the last day of school, her mother was not going to be pleased.

Upon entering Mr. Widgette’s office, Jona saw a strange little man sitting in a chair, dressed in an expensive suit. The headmaster rose from behind his desk.

“This is Mr. Phipps, Queen Gaia’s representative,” he said, without ceremony.

Proper etiquette demanded she acknowledge the man in some fashion, so Jona gave him a wobbling curtsy. Then, feeling foolish, she wondered if she ought to have offered him her hand instead.

“Jona, Mr. Phipps wishes to have a word with you,” Mr. Widgette said.

In the silence that followed, Jona waited for someone to start laughing and let her in on the joke, but nobody did.

“Miss Haever, Queen Gaia would consider it a personal favor if you would live at the castle for the summer and assist her in a matter of some delicacy. In return, you would be paid a salary, and your parents’ tea shop would be awarded the royal Seal of Approval,” Mr. Phipps said.

A relieved grin spread across Jona’s features. “That’s very generous, sir, but I think you must be looking for my sister, Holly. I’ll go fetch her if you’d like.”

“We are most definitely looking for you, Miss Jona Haever,” Mr. Phipps said. “Mr. Widgette has agreed to release you from school this morning. If you would be so kind as to accompany me, we will drive to the Haever Tea Shop and discuss the matter with your parents.”

Romantic fantasy novelette available at Amazon & MuseItUp Publishing

The Magical Misperception of Meridian

My novelette, The Magical Misperception of Meridian will be published by the Canadian powerhouse e-publisher, MuseItUp Publishing.  The projected release date is February 2012.  Ah, the wheels of the publishing business turn slowly!

Tag:  When a reluctant beauty meets a stammering prince, their future happiness will turn on the magical misperception of Meridian…

I’m thrilled that this story will be released.  It’s a fantasy with romantic elements, suitable for all ages.

– S.G. Rogers