Enchanted Bookstore Legends by Marsha A. Moore, the epic fantasy romance now in a complete box set

It's finally here! And I love how the cover turned out. It's featuring my own watercolor painting of the series' golden dragon character, the Head Guardian. In creating this box set, I recalled how much these characters meant to me and how they still live on in my heart. A magical journey! 

AN EPIC FANTASY ROMANCE SERIES 

Seeking a Scribe, Book 1

Heritage Avenged, Book 2

Lost Volumes, Book 3

Staurolite, Book 4

Quintessence, book 5 

THE ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1,200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications.

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her. 

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

Available at Amazon

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. 

JOIN MARSHA'S MAILING LIST and receive a free copy of her paranormal romance story RULER OF THE NIGHT.

Read Marsha's COON HOLLOW TALES of paranormal romance and her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance. For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Enticement of the Emtori Ruby ~ Sweet Saturday Sample

My Sweet Saturday Sample is a morsel from my latest release, an epic fantasy romance, Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four. This is the fourth of a 5-part series.

 

Available at Amazon.

Lyra McCauley is the fifth and current Scribe of the Alliance territory of Dragonspeir. Magic coded in ancient texts written by her ancestors, the previous Scribes, is desperately needed to help the Alliance battle fierce attack by the Dark Realm. While studying the book written one thousand years ago by the first Scribe, Elisabeth, Lyra becomes frightened when she reads this alarming scene. It has been foretold that she shares a destiny with Elisabeth, and enough similarities have already happened. Lyra is terrified that she and her beloved, Cullen Drake, the Imperial Sorcerer of the Alliance, may share the fate of the first Scribe and Sire Garrett--in the light of the Emtori Ruby.

When the light shined directly in front of us, the head of the beast became visible, but I still couldn’t identify it—a confused mix of brown fur and scales.

It stood as tall as a grizzly, but owned more limbs than I could count. Some stretched out serpent-like with thick, coiling muscles reminding me of a boa and others like a bear but with exaggerated claws. One of those dug fiercely into the crook of Garrett’s neck. By the size of the blood staining through the thick layers of his undergarment, tunic, and waistcoat, I feared a major vessel had been severed.

Adrenaline rushed through my body, and the ball of magic prickled the skin of my palm. I couldn’t lose him, the first man to touch my heart. A rush of instinctive knowledge flooded my mind. I raised my arm to throw at the silhouetted head of the beast.

It leaned into the light and turned, so that I no longer had a line of fire. Its furred ears pinned back, and a thin, forked tongue shot from the tip of its muzzle. A red glow haloed its fur and glistened along its scales. With the mass of the bear-asp filling the entry, I believed the beast displayed an immense evil red aura—the color common to those of the Dark Realm—until it dragged Garrett to one side of the room.

My beloved’s head lolled to one side, and the glow of his aura dimmed. In the intense red light filling the room, his white power seemed to disappear.

My vision strained to determine the truth. I darted to a closer fissure and pulled my arm back to cast a handful of power.

A familiar red flash caught the corner of my eye. With Garrett unable to cloak my vision, I realized my struggle with the ruby would rely upon my own mettle.

No matter how I tried, the fireball would not leave my hand. Blisters bubbled on my palm and pads of my fingers.

From a wide basin on a crude granite pedestal, the Emtori Ruby radiated scintillating crimson light in every direction. The gemstone, the size of an apple, appeared far larger than in the Imperial Dragon’s conjured image. It seemed to grow under my gaze to the diameter of a basketball. Transfixed by its power, no impulse to scream, run, or defend myself registered.

Confusion tore at my mind. I sensed the warmth of Garrett’s love entreating me for help, while the Ruby locked my vision on it alone. My beloved’s heartbeat rang in my ears, begging, while the pulsations of the Ruby formed their own rhythm that fought his. Blood trickled in a thin stream along the stone before my toes…red, crimson, ruby. Opposing thoughts battled each other. Madness made my muscles tense. I crumpled onto hands and knees in the pool of his blood, my eyes still fixed on that fiery gem. All I desired was to touch it, feel its power coursing through me, feeding me. It was the mother I’d lost as a child. It needed me and promised to care for me like no one else had. It commanded my arms and legs to crawl. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I passed Garrett.

Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four

Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?

About the series~

The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications. 

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.  

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

Purchase Links for previous books in the series:

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One

Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two

Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three

I'm looking forward to seeing what sweets some of my fellow authors on this hop will serve. Be sure to check them out on the main blog page for Sweet Saturday Samples.

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, Book Three, LOST VOLUMES, and Book Four, STAUROLITE. For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Dragon Fight! ~ Sweet Saturday Sample

My Sweet Saturday Sample is a morsel from my latest release, an epic fantasy romance, Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four. This is the fourth of a 5-part series.

 

Available at Amazon.

In this scene, Lyra and Cullen engage in a massive dragon battle between the Imperial Dragon's good Alliance and the evil Dark Realm. They are riding on the back of a blue dragon fighter, a senior guard named Yord. Cullen is the Imperial Sorcerer for the Alliance. He and Lyra are engaged to marry. Her powers, as the only Scribe, are unique, allowing her to kill the most dangerous dragon, the cimafa, but doing so takes a tole on her health.

“Yord, cover us for a minute,” Cullen called to the blue dragon before he twisted in his seat to face Lyra. He took her wrist and paused. “Rapid, but not erratic. Your aura isn’t flowing as smoothly as it should, but the pulses are only slight. Good enough.”

Her gaze darted all around them. While understanding the importance, she felt uneasy with him taking a break in the middle of the fighting.

He turned back and alerted Yord, who responded with an immediate sweep into a snarl of fire and magma drakes that formed a ring trapping two blue fighters with two ice drakes in a death match.

The Imperial Dragon rocketed toward the opposite side of the circle from high above.

Tension materialized a powerball in Lyra’s hand. She worked to hold it in place.

Yord gave a slight nod, signaling to her.

She braced herself, contracting her thighs even tighter around him.

The senior blue charged—faster than Lyra had ever experienced—straight for the circle. His mouth opened wide, but the Imperial Dragon beat him, firing a fraction of a second earlier.

The leader’s golden flame licked up the backs of several drakes, their agonized contortions silhouetted in the light.

Yord hurled a wide swath of lightning at those closest to them. Red bodies of fire and magma drakes darted up and down, fleeing the area.

From beside him, Yasqu shot a wide flame, injuring many who fled too late.

When the lights of fire dimmed, only one blue fighter with a badly torn right lower wingsail remained in the center of the decimated ring. The other plummeted to the ground, out of sight in the pre-dawn shadows. The injured dragon uttered no cry, which made Lyra uneasy. A knot formed in her stomach, wondering whether he’d died instantly or merely worked to not display his weakened state.

Cullen threw his body weight into another powerball that zinged over the heads of fire drakes, saving its strike for an ice drake who threatened the injured fighter.

Lyra’s skin crawled, an unmistakable sickening feeling that shot straight to her gut. She looked up and from a sky dotted with red magma sparks, she picked out the ringed red eyes of a cimafa stealth dragon. Its sinuous black body absorbed the light. Only patchy reflections of red hues from its surrounding allies marked its form. It glided into the fracas without notice. No aura permeated its outer surface. But Lyra had fallen under its shadow too many times not to recognize it. The density of the darkness beneath the beast signaled her that it was about to strike.

She forced additional power into her hand while checking her aim. Her other hand dug into Cullen’s side, and he looked up just as her arm drove the powerball into a wide arc over their heads.

His hand clamped onto hers. His aura throbbed along her skin as darkness flooded her vision. The shrill, pained cry of the wounded cimafa hit her ears. She smiled even though tremors shot through her body. She slumped against Cullen’s back.

The rhythm of Yord’s flight gradually changed from jerkiness, dodging the hazards of battle, to a more regular pattern. Sounds of fighting became more and more distant. The smooth flight made Lyra feel sluggish.

A sudden impact caused her to open her eyes. “Where are we?” she choked out, her throat rough and constricted. Suddenly, hit with a blinding white light, she grimaced.

Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four

Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?

About the series~

The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications. 

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.  

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

Purchase Links for previous books in the series:

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One

Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two

Lost Volumes: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Three

I'm looking forward to seeing what sweets some of my fellow authors on this hop will serve. Be sure to check them out on the main blog page for Sweet Saturday Samples.

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, Book Three, LOST VOLUMES, and Book Four, STAUROLITE. For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Staurolite is released!

Book four in my Enchanted Bookstore Legends is now available on Amazon!

Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?

If you read and enjoy Staurolite, I’d very much appreciate reviews left on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, or wherever you like to talk about books.

I’m very excited about this book. The tension mounts as we work to the final volume, book five, and some especially interesting characters find their way into my heart.

  ~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, and Book Three, LOST VOLUMES. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Mystical Rubies—drops of blood from battling dragons—in Fantasy Fiction

I’m putting the final touches on the fourth book in my Enchanted Bookstore Legends, entitled Staurolite, which will release this month. In Staurolite, I’m expanding and developing the foundation of the magical lore of my fantasy world. The basis of magical power is a group of four mystical gemstones that connect with the four Chinese elements of nature: air, earth, fire, and water. The book’s title is actually a known gemstone, staurolite. The gem corresponding to fire I have chosen to work with is the ruby. In my series, it serves as one of the four powerful keystones which can empower the good Alliance to overcome the threatening attacks of the evil Dark Realm.

When I selected the gem that would be my keystone corresponding to fire, I considered many attributes that would make it an empowering symbol. My fire keystone plays a strong role, with a power so great it can easily overtake those who attempt to control it. I was intrigued by rubies from the moment I learned those gems have long been known as hardened drops of blood from battling dragons.

The gemstone ruby has held a regal position in myth, legend and lore for thousands of years. Rubies are said to respond magically, warning of danger by changing their color. Catherine of Aragon wore an infamous ruby, rumored to have turned dark and dull the day before Henry VII announced he was divorcing her. Rubies engraved with fantasy animals, like dragons and serpents, have been popular for attracting wealth and enhancing magical energies. A ruby was considered to be an important gift to honor Buddha and Krishna because the Hindu people believed the gemstone's red glow came from an internal flame which no human could possibly extinguish.

Many believe the gems possess energy to help overcome forces of darkness, protecting wearers from malicious spirits and evil spells. As a shielding stone, it can send out protective energies to surround the wearer at all times. This is an especially good way to help prevent psychic attacks. It is a stone of authority, excellence, but also of vanity. It brings to its wearer happiness and love. A ruby can strengthen the heart, restore lost forces, drive away melancholy, awaken passion and sexual desires. Its energy is intense and vivid, helping you see your own strength to encourage leadership and increase concentration and intellect.  

The power of ruby may help you know and follow your dreams and bliss, to change your world. To help improve your ability to enter a lucid dream state, wear or carry a ruby during your sleep. The gem is thought to help you to remain lucid while entering the dream state and increase your ability to control the dream without slipping into a normal sleep pattern.

With all this power, I had no trouble selecting the ruby to be my fire keystone. Throughout the Enchanted Bookstore Legends series, Lyra comes upon the forces of this special stone. In Heritage Avenged (book#2), she is drawn to a ruby displayed by the Dark Alchemist, Tarom. Lyra is born under the Aries fire sign and cannot resist the powers of the fiery ruby which are like her own. He knows this and tempts her with a taste of what the ruby’s energy can do to multiple her own powers, eliciting dark qualities of greed to pull her off her path of what is noble and good.

In Lost Volumes (book #3), Lyra travels into the underground world of Terza and learns how the first Scribe also fought against the seductively powerful Emtori Ruby she was expected to remove from the collection of the Black Dragon. Lyra discovers a startling fact—the ruby was hidden rather than destroyed as most thought. It still exists!

In Staurolite (book #4), Lyra learns how the first Scribe worked hard to control the Emtori Ruby and avoid allowing its powers to overtake her own. Lyra wonders if she will be able to control the valuable keystone when she must locate it and return it to the Alliance.

Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four

Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?

Other references to rubies in fantasy fiction come to mind. I’m a big Harry Potter fan and remember rubies showing up several times throughout that series. Godric Gryffindor’s sword was adorned with egg shaped rubies. Rubies filled the Gryffindor house hourglass. Also, goblins in Gringotts wizarding bank kept busy weighing piles of rubies.

What other works of fantasy do you know that use rubies in mystical or magical ways?

Cross posted at http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/

Photo credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, and Book Three, LOST VOLUMES. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.