Stone of Lust by Margaret Izard

 She finds true love in the past, but is his love worth risking her future?

         She dreams of a Viking warrior with Fae-blue eyes and a God-like body that makes her heart pound like no other. Trying to save her kidnapped sister-in-law, Ainslie follows her back to the Vikings of Scotland, where she faces the very man who has haunted her dreams.

When Jarl, Rannick MacRaghnaill meets the alluring Warrior Woman who helped steal his warship, she dresses in clothing so strange that every curve teases his senses. But is she, as she claims, a woman from the future or an irresistible lying thief?

She’d risk her life to save her sister-in-law. He’d risk his honor to win her heart. Can both hardened warriors save the realms from the evilest of Fae’s minds combined with the most dangerous of humans?

 Wild Women Authors focus on: Stone of Lust, a Scots time-travel, a current release out of the Wild Rose Press, written by Margaret Izard.

 Excerpt:

She placed her sword at his throat. “Yield?” The warriors gasped, then cheered for her.

Rannick’s eyebrows rose as Ainslie helped the youth to his feet and patted him on the back. Rannick rubbed his neck and looked over his warriors. He called upon another warrior. “Gunnar, come fight the She Warrior.”

A large older warrior moved from the crowd, a grin on his face. As Gunnar passed, Rannick patted his back and whispered something, but Ainslie couldn’t hear what was said. The warrior nodded as he moved toward her. No matter. She’d fight anyone.

Both took their ready stance, and Rannick signaled for them to begin.

They circled, weighing their opponent waiting on who would take the offensive first.

It was Gunnar, with a slice of his blade on her shoulder. Ainslie blocked him well, but he stepped forward and slammed his shoulder into her knocking her down. Ainslie somersaulted backward to stand, her blade out and ready to defend the next block.

Gunnar glanced at Rannick, who nodded toward Ainslie.

They circled again, waiting to see who would advance.

Ainslie led the next attack with an overhead slash. Gunnar blocked it, pushing her back. He was more substantial, but she was small, agile, and smart.

They circled, and Ainslie went for his middle.

Gunnar blocked and spun, coming around overhead.

She stopped it with her blade and allowed him to slide down hers knowing she could quickly push it aside with his forward momentum. When his sword came to the hand guard, she moved with all her might. He stumbled on a sidestep at the unexpected shift. As he flew past her, Ainslie whacked his rear with the side of her blade. The warriors laughed, and Gunnar came for her in an off-balance rage. She sidestepped and hit his rear end again.

Gunnar leveled his eyes on her and advanced with his blade. Side-to-side attacks came at her fast, backing her into the mainmast, trapping her, obviously trying to end the fight. Knowing sailing and the rigging, Ainslie reached up and grabbed the tack line holding the sail in place and swung herself onto the keelson box beneath the main mast. She landed surefooted and, in her follow-through, swung her sword connecting with Gunnar’s disarming him. His sword flew out of his hand and clattered against the hull. He stood staring at his empty hand, then tilted his head back and laughed loudly.

He bowed to Ainslie. “Ye are Freyja, the war goddess. Her spirit lives in ye. I have never seen a woman fight. A Valkyrie, and I’m honored to fight with ye.” 

Gunnar strode to Rannick whose eyebrows remained raised. “She has earned her coin. She has won the contest.”

The surrounding warriors cheered as Ainslie stood over them, proud of her accomplishment. She’d battled and won against a trained, skilled Viking warrior. Her da would be so proud. Some warriors grumbled as they settled on the bets made, bringing her out of her musings. Ainslie jumped down and approached Rannick. She grinned at him and held out her hand. “Time to settle up.”

Rannick dropped a gold coin in it, then glanced behind her. “Disarm her. She is still our guest.” Her guard Ivor must be back. The sword pulled in her hand, and she let him take it. He wasn’t who she focused on.

She stared at Rannick, her being so tall that they stood almost eye to eye. “I bested yer best. Admit it. A woman can fight.”

Rannick’s smile grew. “Oh, my sweet, he wasn’t my best. He was the one who wouldn’t hurt ye.”

Ainslie gripped the coin and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take on yer best any day, anytime, and I’d still win.”

She flipped the coin and caught it. “I’d even wager the gold coin on it.”

She flipped the coin again, and Rannick stepped toward her, catching the coin. They stood close as their breaths mingled. His sweet woodsy scent wafted over her, sandalwood and citrus. He glanced over her face and hair, then trailed to her chest.

His eyes returned to her eyes, and she raised an eyebrow as he spoke. “Warrior woman from another time or another land, my best would do ye harm. I have vowed never to harm a woman.”

Ainslie gazed back into his eyes. “That’s all right. Ye’d never get close enough with yer sword to harm me. But I may harm ye.”

Rannick stood there a moment, staring into her eyes. She glowered back with the glare of a challenge. She held out her hand for the coin. He took it in his, the rough callouses brushing her skin, sending goose bumps up her arm. He placed her coin in her palm and closed his hands over hers, holding her hand in an embrace.

Without taking his eyes off her, he said, “Ivor, find a second guard. The She Warrior might need more than one.”

He winked at her, released her hand, and turned, moving away.

 To purchase Stone of Lust, go to: https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor

To learn more about Margaret Izard and the stories she creates, go to:

Trailer - https://youtu.be/qXAJQ47Djkc?si=f0iHwgKsvwJlTLxc

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217439887-stone-of-lust

 BookBub-https://www.bookbub.com/books/stone-of-lust-stones-of-iona-book-3-by-margaret-izard

The Passenger by Joie Lesin

 . . . The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found . . .

        Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home.

Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Joie Lesin and The Passenger a ghost story set in post WWII California wine country. Today’s guests include Joie and Paolo Clemente—the ghost who sets off a chain of events that forever changes the lives of several generations.

 Good morning, Paolo. Thank you for joining us. Let’s begin with where you are from. Foggia, Italy

Tell us a bit about The Passenger. It is the story of the beautiful young woman who aided me at the moment of my death. With her generous heart, she helped me to return home to mia famiglia in California so that I could make peace with the mistakes of my past.

What did you think the first time you saw Adriana? The first time I saw my wife, it was at the harvest day celebration at the vineyard of mia famiglia back in Italia. When my eyes lit upon her, knowing she was not there for me, I thought the man who would win her heart would be both extremely fortunate yet face many challenges.

How lovely. What was your second thought? I would see to it that she become mine. 

Was it love at first sight? I did not fall immediately in love with Adriana. If I were meant to ever fall such a way, it would have been with her. So you see, I do not believe in love at first sight, but I do believe in loving someone for all eternity.

What did you like most about her? I would not be Paolo Giovanni Clemente if I did not say I admired Adriana’s beauty. Yet, that is not what I liked most about her. What I admired most about my wife is her strength and her ability to speak her mind no matter the situation. I admired the way she gives her heart and loves those of us lucky enough to have it with an unmatched fierceness.

How would you describe her? I could describe the waist-length, raven black hair of her youth or the graying hair she wore bound at the nape of her neck when I returned to her. I could describe her striking, coffee-colored   eyes or perfectly shaped nose . . . instead I will describe for you the strong woman who raised our son without my presence. This woman, my Adriana, came to America unable to speak the language and learned to run a vineyard. This resilient and beautiful woman kept my dream alive and passed it on to my son.

How would she describe you? She once told me when we first met, she believed me to be built of lean lines and sinewy muscle. She believed me to be an aristocrat made for Roman society and not be the don of a country vineyard.

          Later, she told me while divine to look at and despite her undying love, I frustrated her like no other with my mule-headed nature. That said, I ask who is the mule-headed one? For she loved me in my absence and never stopped waiting for me to return to her.

What made you choose to own a vineyard for a career? Would it appear I am waxing poetically if I tell you, it is in my blood? I grew up the eldest of three brothers and always knew the responsibility of the tending the beloved vines and perpetuating the magic of turning them into wine.

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is to live without mia famiglia.

How do you relax? In the early years of my life work and relaxation were the same to me. From boyhood, being amongst the vines was always akin to being in church. Within the vines, I found peace.

          Ah, but I do suppose you mean what activities I do to relax. Well, I do like to read the occasional book though later in my life I had but a few in my position. As a boy, I learned to appreciate music—especially the opera. In her youth, mia madre had dreamt of moving to Milan and singing in the opera. This leads me to your next question and a story I must share.

Who is your favorite fictional character? As I have mentioned, mia madre loved the opera and passed that love down to me.

          She never achieved her dream of singing. No, she became the mistress of a country vineyard and gave birth to three strapping boys. While my brothers took no interest in mia madre’s appreciation of music—she only sang in private when she believed no one to be listening but I made sure to give ear to her voice and count those times among my most favorite. I digress . . . I alone attended the rare traveling theatre troupe performances that came near our home.

          One day Pagliacci came through town. Have you heard of it? It is the story of Canio, a pagliaccio—a clown—who despite heartbreak must don his make-up and costume to perform. After this performance, I always believed mia madre saw a bit of herself in Canio. Day after day, she put on a brave face and took on the expected role of mistress of our vineyard. Later in my life, I too saw how I hid behind a mask just to make it through each day.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? The best piece of advice I have ever received but did not take to heart came from my father-in-law. “Paolo,” he said, “if you want to live a long and happy life with my daughter, listen to everything she says.”

          Had only I listened, I might not have returned home a ghost.

Thank you, Paolo. This has been lovely. Now, we’d like to chat with Joie.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Marlys Millhiser’s book The Mirror is not only my favorite but also the book that has had the biggest influence on me as a writer.

          I originally read The Mirror at sixteen and was instantly thrilled over the fact that the story evolved from another person’s imagination. Marlys Millhiser’s vision whisked me away to the 1900s Boulder, Colorado and back again to 1978 with the help of a cursed mirror. Through the words, I lived vicariously through the two main characters, and I loved it. I knew this was the kind of story I needed to write. It showed me that I could put my limitless imagination to good use.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? The Passenger was released by The Wild Rose Press on August 21.

          I’d originally heard about them back in 2007 through authors in a writer’s group I belonged to. I was with another publisher at the time, but they stayed in the forefront of my mind through the books they offered, conference appearances, etc. I’d always had a thought that perhaps one day I would have the opportunity to work with them.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I have an extensive TBR pile that fills several books shelves and a rather packed eBook reader. Some of the books I’ve recently moved to the top are:

·       Curse of Flame by J. Von Tobel

·       Breaker by AK Nevermore

·       The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

·       Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

·       The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgan

·       The Singer Sisters by Joy Ross Davis

·       Sedona by Kerry Fryer Freeman

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I am currently in the process of working on two projects at once. The first is a story that takes up where The Passenger left off. Like its predecessor, Watch Over Me is a ghost story and answers some questions left open at the end of The Passenger.

          This story takes place in 1968 and tells the continuing story of Elizabeth’s daughter, Bella. I’m also working on a mermaid novel that explores the relationships between sisters, mothers, and daughters. I’m very excited about both of these stories and cannot wait to share more about them.

To purchase The Passenger, go to:

The Wild Rose Press Book Page:  https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-passenger/

OR https://www.amazon.com/Passenger-Joie-Lesin/dp/1509256644

To learn more about Joie Lesin and the stories she creates, go to:

·       Website: https://www.jlesin.com

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjoielesin

·       Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JoieLesin

·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@joie.lesin

·       Twitter:   https://twitter.com/JoieLesin

·       Amazon Author Central:  https://www.amazon.com/author/authorjoielesin

·       Goodreads Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2899613.Joie_Lesin