Monday, December 28, 2015

In Time for You

In Time for You
by Chris Karlsen

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

While horseback riding in the English countryside, sisters, Electra and Emily Crippen find themselves trapped in a tear in time. Thrown back to 1357 England and caught by a local noble, they are in a place that is home but as frightening and unfamiliar as an alien world would be. With no idea how the tear in time came about, the one thing they do know is: they must stay together and stay near to where the event took place in hopes of discovering the way back to their modern life. That certain need to stay together is the first certainty taken from them when one sister is forced to remain in England and one is sent miles away to Wales by royal order.

There is one other hope for help the sisters don’t know exists. It’s Electra’s lover, Roger Marchand. A time traveler himself, he never told her of his past. When he realizes what has happened to the sisters, he enlists the help of a scientist friend to help him open the suspected passageway through time. Any effort to save Electra and Emily will likely cost him his life. This was the time Roger came from, a time when his country, France, was at war with England. If he is discovered on English soil while searching for the sisters, he will either be killed or taken prisoner of war. Any risk is worth saving the life of the woman he loves.


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EXCERPT:

"Just ahead. I have a surprise set up," Roger said as he trotted toward Elysian Fields again.

He led them to an open field where the sunlight was bright and the ground flat. The cafe staff had laid everything out on a red and white checked tablecloth from the restaurant. A platter held cheeses and fruit arranged around chunks of the baguette. The champagne sat chilling in a silver bucket with two flutes at the side. He'd share a flute with Electra.

“Damn,” he muttered, they’d forgotten the flowers.

Everyone dismounted and tied the horses to an oak tree with low hanging branches.

"It's lovely. You are such a romantic," Electra said, kissing him on the cheek.

Emily gave him a sheepish look. "Tell the truth, Roger. You planned for this to be enjoyed by just the two of you. I'm the proverbial third wheel, aren't I?"

Only a lout with a complete lack of chivalry would answer truthfully. "Don't be silly. What man..." he tipped his head at her, "especially a Frenchman, wouldn't be delighted to have two charming ladies at his side?"

"You're sweet to say that," Emily said. "Is there some sort of all occasion book Frenchmen work out of that tells them what to say to women? If not, you should consider writing one. You'd make a fortune."

"Thank you—I think."

Electra turned to Emily. "Want to pick some flowers?"

Emily nodded.

Electra emptied a wicker basket that held honey and butter while Emily took the sharp meat knife from the platter. "We'll be back in a flash," Electra said.

"Where are you going?"

"We passed a blanket of wildflowers not far back. I thought we'd gather a bunch for our table."

"Where exactly is this spot that's not far back?" He asked, anxious to pour the champagne and his heart out and propose.

"By that granite outcropping."

Roger reached for the basket. "You can't go there. That's not Alex's land. It's part of the acreage he donated to Dr. Gordon's group."

Electra held tight to the basket. "So? It's not like Gordon is going to know we were there. What harm are we causing picking a few flowers? None."

"His knowing is not the point. It's the principle. You've no right to go traipsing about on his property without permission." This was a thorny issue for him. In her defense, Electra didn't know that. Over the years, Roger had had his share of trespassers and poachers on his land. He'd never have given poachers permission to cross his land, but the trespassers, had they asked, he'd have let cross.

"Since you're determined to do this, hurry up and get away from there," he told Electra. "I'll open the champagne and have a glass ready for you."

"We'll work double fast," Emily added and the two jogged off.

He'd opened the champagne and was in the process of pouring when Electra's panicked scream came from the spot near the outcropping.

"Roger!"

He dropped the bottle and ran.

Gone. Both sisters were gone. The basket with a handful of flowers inside lay on the ground.

"Electra," he called out. "Emily."

He ran in a widening spiral hoping to find them. When he didn't, he returned and checked the scattered patches where the flowers grew for a clue. He looked for any sign someone had come along and taken them by force. Perhaps one of Dr. Gordon's crew had hustled them back to the trailer that served as their lab. Perhaps they demanded an explanation for what the women were doing.

He was grasping at straws and knew it. Anyone of the Gordon group could clearly see the women were picking flowers. Taking them off to their camp was heavy-handed especially for a bunch of scientists. Nor were there any footprints other than those left by Electra and Emily's riding boots.

What the devil could've happened to them? People don't just vanish without a clue.

He climbed to the top of the outcropping called out again. Only the rustling of the breeze through the trees and the low roll of thunder from the storm miles away could be heard.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. 

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs. 

Links:

http://chriskarlsen.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4822048.Chris_Karlsen
https://twitter.com/AuthorCKarlsen
https://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter
https://plus.google.com/117369224297604815922/posts

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK FOR ONLY $0.99:  http://www.amazon.com/Time-You-Knights-Book-ebook/dp/B019JKXR5G/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450544230&sr=1-1&keywords=In+Time+For+You+by+Chris+Karlsen

Chris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Use the link below to enter. You can follow her book tour by using this link: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/12/book-blast-in-time-for-you-by-chris.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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