An irreversible curse, an impossible mission.
Can she catch The Tyger before it’s too late?
Set in the fantasy world of Tallenmere, this story continues the saga of this tumultuous era with Mirabelle Hearton, who played a supporting role in Hearts in Exile (Book #3). It’s also the beginning of a new turn in the series called Tallenmere Unleashed. Starting here, each book is more intense, more graphic, and much hotter than its predecessors. This is not a book for youngsters or those who enjoy light romance. You’ve been warned! J
No Place Like Home (Tallenmere Series Book #4) By Mysti Parker
Release Date: Oct. 24
eBook length: 277 pages
Publisher: Melange Books
In Port Valor, it’s dangerous to be different. Especially for sixteen-year-old Mirabelle Hearton, whose psychic abilities could put her entire family in danger. To protect them, she left the city and her childhood sweetheart, Lysander Devlin, behind to live a life of servitude in Leogard’s Temple. Ten years later, someone discovered her mind-bending talents and forced her to send an innocent woman into exile.
As punishment for her crimes, she must return to Port Valor to seek out a dangerous mercenary called The Tyger. He's already threatened the lives of her family and is rumored to have killed countless others for the right price.
Mirabelle’s time is running out. She has two months to bring the Tyger to justice or succumb to an excruciating death from an irreversible curse. As frightening as her mission is, facing Lysander again may be the greatest challenge of her life.
Despite their difficult reunion, she and Lysander must band together to face an evil force that could sap the very souls from everyone they love. Mirabelle must also make a choice—catch The Tyger and redeem her sins, or give into feelings long buried and risk losing everything.
Excerpt:
“So, why are you back, Mira? Ten years with no word from you—I assumed you were devoted to the Temple or dead.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, paying undue attention to a dried spot of blood on the table. “Didn’t you get my letters?”
“Yes, and they were very well-written.” He huffed out a laugh. “Both of them were so vivid, I hardly knew you were gone.”
“I guess you’re still angry with me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Angry? Whatever for? I’ve had a lovely life, as I’m sure you’ve had in Leogard. You heard I’m getting married?”
“Yes,” I said, my mouth suddenly dry, but I forced a raspy, “Congratulations.”
“Why, thank you. The moon will be perfect for the ceremony tomorrow night. Full and bright. Of course, you’re welcome to attend.”
What was I supposed to say to that, having been on the brink of marrying him myself? I settled on, “That’s very kind of you.”
Narrowing his eyes, he leaned in and propped his elbow on the table. “Well…you still haven’t told me why you’ve returned. My parents’ death wasn’t deemed important enough, though your note was sympathetic. It must be some official Temple business.”
I really wished he’d stop trying to make eye contact. Being reminded of his parents’ death cut me deep—they were like a second set of parents to me, even called me their daughter. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. The dull roar around us had grown louder. Another fight had begun in the back corner. One of Marlow’s twin wives broke a bottle over her sister’s head, and soon they were rolling on the floor, throwing punches and pulling hair. Marlow ran over, doing his best to pull them apart. Everyone else turned their attention to the latest brawl, cheering on one wife or the other.
But, Lysander kept his eyes on me, waiting. With everyone distracted, I decided to tell him part of the truth. If there was any chance the Tyger actually existed, he might have heard something about him. “I’m looking for someone called the Tyger.”
“Really? Is he another jilted lover of yours?”
“No.” I crossed my arms, knowing I should have been prepared for resentment. “He’s supposedly an outlaw who may pose a danger to Leogard and my own family. But I suspect he’s just a rumor.”
“You didn’t come all this way to confirm a rumor, did you? What are your plans for this Tyger, should you be so fortunate as to find him?”
He’d laugh at me, but I’d already told him this much and had only a few weeks to live. Might as well surrender the last of my pride. “I’m supposed to capture him and bring him back to the Priestess.”
“So, you’re a bounty hunter now? An odd assignment for a Temple acolyte. But, I do have it on good authority that the Tyger isn’t just a rumor.”
My eyes widened, and I sat up straight, daring to look him in the eye. Could he actually exist, or was Lysander punishing me by leading me to believe in a phantom, only to crush my hopes for a good laugh?
“Let me guess,” I said, “he was here earlier, but I just missed him, right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Fine, I’ll bite. Then where is he?”
He smiled wickedly. “You’re looking at him.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MYP3Zd
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1OZN2vV
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1R6n610
Ms. Parker was gracious enough to answer a few questions for my blog...
“I’m sorry,” I said, paying undue attention to a dried spot of blood on the table. “Didn’t you get my letters?”
“Yes, and they were very well-written.” He huffed out a laugh. “Both of them were so vivid, I hardly knew you were gone.”
“I guess you’re still angry with me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Angry? Whatever for? I’ve had a lovely life, as I’m sure you’ve had in Leogard. You heard I’m getting married?”
“Yes,” I said, my mouth suddenly dry, but I forced a raspy, “Congratulations.”
“Why, thank you. The moon will be perfect for the ceremony tomorrow night. Full and bright. Of course, you’re welcome to attend.”
What was I supposed to say to that, having been on the brink of marrying him myself? I settled on, “That’s very kind of you.”
Narrowing his eyes, he leaned in and propped his elbow on the table. “Well…you still haven’t told me why you’ve returned. My parents’ death wasn’t deemed important enough, though your note was sympathetic. It must be some official Temple business.”
I really wished he’d stop trying to make eye contact. Being reminded of his parents’ death cut me deep—they were like a second set of parents to me, even called me their daughter. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. The dull roar around us had grown louder. Another fight had begun in the back corner. One of Marlow’s twin wives broke a bottle over her sister’s head, and soon they were rolling on the floor, throwing punches and pulling hair. Marlow ran over, doing his best to pull them apart. Everyone else turned their attention to the latest brawl, cheering on one wife or the other.
But, Lysander kept his eyes on me, waiting. With everyone distracted, I decided to tell him part of the truth. If there was any chance the Tyger actually existed, he might have heard something about him. “I’m looking for someone called the Tyger.”
“Really? Is he another jilted lover of yours?”
“No.” I crossed my arms, knowing I should have been prepared for resentment. “He’s supposedly an outlaw who may pose a danger to Leogard and my own family. But I suspect he’s just a rumor.”
“You didn’t come all this way to confirm a rumor, did you? What are your plans for this Tyger, should you be so fortunate as to find him?”
He’d laugh at me, but I’d already told him this much and had only a few weeks to live. Might as well surrender the last of my pride. “I’m supposed to capture him and bring him back to the Priestess.”
“So, you’re a bounty hunter now? An odd assignment for a Temple acolyte. But, I do have it on good authority that the Tyger isn’t just a rumor.”
My eyes widened, and I sat up straight, daring to look him in the eye. Could he actually exist, or was Lysander punishing me by leading me to believe in a phantom, only to crush my hopes for a good laugh?
“Let me guess,” I said, “he was here earlier, but I just missed him, right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Fine, I’ll bite. Then where is he?”
He smiled wickedly. “You’re looking at him.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MYP3Zd
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1OZN2vV
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1R6n610
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY: THE FIRST THREE Ebooks IN THE TALLENMERE SERIES
1) What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That the characters would truly take on a life of their own, despite the plans I had for them. No matter how many times I try to stick to an outline, inevitably during the drafting process, the story takes a totally different turn as I come to know the characters better. It’s hard to explain if it’s never happened to you, like seeing ghosts or aliens, I guess. LOL.
2) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I’m a wife and mom of three kids with a big house to clean, so much of my time is spent keeping the family happy. When I do have a minute, I enjoy reading and I’m still a gamer, so I love to dive into my roleplaying games like Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls V) or even Candy Smash or whatever it’s called. I do try to exercise at the gym a few days a week to avoid the “writer butt.” Oh, and I can’t forget my love of ghosty shows on TV like The Dead Files and Paranormal Witness. They’re creepy and fun to watch!
3) How long on average does it take you to write a book?
That really depends on the type of book and the length. All the Tallenmere novels took about a year from start to finish. My historical romance took a couple years altogether with the amount of research involved. The novellas take a few months. My children’s books don’t take long to write, since they’re typically less than 1000 words, but from start to finish with illustrations and formatting can take several months.
4) Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
From No Place Like Home, I’d probably have to say Lysander. He’s such a complex, sexy hero and fiercely committed to his woman. I dare you to not fall in love with him.
Meet The Author:
Mysti Parker is a wife, mom, author, and shameless chocoholic. She is the author of the Tallenmere standalone fantasy romance series, including the award-winning Hearts in Exile. Her first award-winning historical romance, A Time for Everything, was published in July 2015. Mysti’s other romantic tales include The Roche Hotel romantic comedy series and contemporary novellas co-written with author MJ Post. Her short writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, Christmas Lites II, Christmas Lites IV, The Darwin Murders, Tasteful Murders and EveryDayFiction.
Other writing pursuits include serving as a class mentor in Writers Village University's seven week online course, F2K. She has also published two children's books (Quentin's Problem & Fuzzy Buzzy's Treasure) under the name Misty Baker.
When she's not writing fiction, Mysti works as a freelance editor and copywriter. She also reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband, three children and too many pets.
The Tallenmere Series:
A Ranger’s Tale
Serenya’s Song
Hearts in Exile
Tallenmere Unleashed:
No Place Like Home
The Menagerie (coming ??)
Website: http://www.mystiparker.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MystiParker
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jFcvj4
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1kBnCcN
Thanks for hosting me! ~Mysti
ReplyDelete