Hey all,
I've always loved the stories and myths of the world. Norse, African, Native American, Australian--so many wonderful tales of how the world and its peoples came to be. I studied them extensively when I was in high school and college, enjoying the way all the threads of the different countries' stories could weave together to make a beautiful tapestry of the history of the world.
But my favorite legends were from Greece. The myths and the tales of the Greek Gods were my bedtime stories from the first time I picked up a picture book at a yard sale. I read it so many times I almost knew it by heart, and it was the springboard for many more years of reading and enjoying the myths.
When I was asked to be a part of an anthology about the Greek Gods in the early days of my writing career, I jumped at the chance. And I loved the story I came up with. A tale about one of my favorite Gods, Apollo, every time I read it, I'm taken back to that yard sale and the coffee table picture book I found that got everything started.
And now, years later, I've got the rights back to Blindsided and today it has been expanded, re-edited and re-released under the Restless Winds Publications umbrella.
So, let me introduce you now to my first (yet definitely not my last) foray into the wonderful world of the Greek Gods.
Sometimes a heartfelt
wish can change your life.
When Emma receives a second hand invitation
to a most exclusive “Fantasies, Wishes and Dreams” party, she decides to throw
caution to the wind and go.
When her hosts—who just happen to be the
Gods of Olympus—find out about the switch there is much concern. After
all, the people chosen to come to the ball are all picked for a very special
reason, and Emma doesn’t quite fit the mold.
She is blind.
But when Apollo, the god of light and music
sees her, his curiosity is aroused. Though he is initially put off by her
disability, he finds himself drawn to her. He decides he will be her personal
host for the weekend as well as the god who grants her dearest wish.
But even a god can make a mistake and when
Apollo grants Emma the wrong wish, he destroys her trust in him. Will
Apollo figure out what it is that Emma truly wants? Or will he be
blindsided by the truth?
REVIEWS
In Blindsided, Ms. England continues to work her special magic that
makes her stories so well-loved by a variety of fans. ~~~ CK2S Kwips
and Kritiques
A love of such intense passionate sensuality, that the reader will have
tears in their eyes. ~~~EuroReviews
What a fun, witty and quirky tale of love, acceptance, and orgasmic
sex. BLINDSIDED was outstanding.
~~~Romance Junkies
EXCERPT
They didn’t speak until they reached the house.
Then he stopped, and cupping her chin in his large hand, lifted her face to
his.
“I don’t know what happened in the garden. I
wish we could go back to when we were standing alone, surrounded by the scent
of flowers. Kissing you was something I’ve wanted to do since I first saw
you. I regret that you are angry with me. Will you not give me a
chance to make up for it? Tell me what I did.”
Her throat tight with unshed tears, Emma bit her
lip. “I wish we could go back in time too, but it’s too late for
that. You’ve made how you feel perfectly clear.” She sniffed
audibly. “Please… I just want to go back inside.”
Apollo’s heart fell. What did she mean?
What had he said to upset her so? The look on her face was a stubborn
one. He knew that without using his powers—which was forbidden—he would
have no chance of changing her mind. Sighing, he led her back into the
busy room.
Looking around, he saw that most of the guests had
found their gods or goddesses. It would soon be time for his father to
appear. He led Emma over to one of the benches in the corner. “I’ll
go get us something to drink.”
She didn’t answer, just stared unseeingly across the
room. With an angry growl, he turned and went to the refreshment table.
“How goes it?”
He turned from ladling rum punch into a glass and
looked at Hermes. “She is very
angry at me. I don’t know what I said to set her off.”
His brother glanced over at Emma. She was
sitting stock still, her chin in the air. “Yeah… I can see that.”
He looked up at Apollo. “You…you don’t think she heard us talking?”
Apollo stilled for a moment, but then shook his head,
pushing away the worrisome thought. “No…I believe she was too far
away.”
“I hope so.”
Catching sight of Zeus heading for the dais, Apollo
picked up both drinks. “Looks like it’s announcement time.”
Hermes nodded. “Guess I better get back to my guest.”
He motioned to a thin man with shifty eyes. “Wants to steal the crown
jewels.”
Apollo laughed. “An easy one.”
“As is yours.”
The golden god lost his smile. “If she will allow me to give it to
her. Right now she is threatening to leave.”
“Leave?” Hermes stopped in his tracks.
“She can’t leave.”
“I am hoping Father’s speech will make her change
her mind.”
“No one has ever left,” the shorter god
muttered. “No one.”
“I know.”
Emma sat where he’d left her. She wasn’t
really listening to what was going on around her. Her mind was too full
of Apollo and her reaction to him.
She’d only known him a day. So why was what he
thought of her so important? Was it because of how he made her feel when
he touched her? Was all this just a simple case of lust?
A woman to her right laughed, and Emma found herself
envying her. If only she hadn’t overheard Apollo talking to his
brother. Then she could have gone on in blissful ignorance.
She felt him before he spoke. His scent and the
warmth of his big body were something she would never forget.
“Here is some rum punch.” He placed it
carefully in her hand.
“Thank you.” She sipped at the punch, finding
it surprisingly good, especially on her dry throat. She felt him sit down
beside her.
“My father is getting ready to speak.” He
touched her soft cheek. “Whatever you decide to do, Emma, know
this. I am glad to have had this night with you. In a very short
time, you have become important to me. Your kisses will keep me awake for
a long time to come.”
Her midnight eyes filled with tears again. “I
wish I could believe that.”
He gave a growl of impatience. “I don’t
understand why—”
“Hear ye, Hear ye!”
They both jumped when they heard Hermes’ loud
voice.
“All rise for the supreme leader of the Olympian
Gods. Lord of the Universe, God of the Thunderbolt, strongest of all who
live. Zeus, the Magnificent.”
Apollo helped Emma to her feet and whispered, “My
father likes to make an entrance.”
He heard her stifle a giggle, and he couldn’t help
but grin. Maybe this would work out after all.
“My guests,” Zeus intoned in his loud deep
voice. “I welcome you to the Olympus Resort on the beautiful island of
Bintan. This is our paradise and a very special place.” He smiled
as he looked over the crowd. “You were each invited here for a very
special reason. Something you have done in your life brought you to my
notice.”
Emma bit her lip and looked at her feet. Maybe
everything bad was happening because she wasn’t supposed to be here.
“Even those of you who received the invitation
secondhand were screened, I promise you. I cannot say this strongly
enough. Every person in this
room has been carefully selected.”
Apollo chuckled when Emma’s mouth drop open.
He leaned towards her. “My father sees everything, omorfi.”
“You have been selected to receive a very special
gift,” Zeus went on. “But before we go any further, you all must
understand one thing.” He bent toward his feet, and the entire crowd
gasped in awe as he pulled out a glowing bolt of lightning. His whole body
shone with his glory.
“This mystical resort and all the gods and goddesses
you see around you?” He sent the thunderbolt flying through the room, and
the crowd screamed.
“We are all quite real.”
~***~
For more information on this story, check out my website HERE. Or go straight out and buy this great book at these fine retailers. And of course, please let me know what you think!!!!
AMAZON KOBO ALL ROMANCE NOOK
Until next time...
CJ England
Follow Your Dreams
1 comment:
I just bought the book. Thank you. I love Greek Mythology. In Syracusa, Sicily I visited one of the temples of Apollo. There was a large green area around it. As I was standing in front of the ruins I saw a vision of Greek soldiers guarding the temple. They seemed so real at the time.
Syracusa was also the birthplace of Archimedes.
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