This book is very special to me since the hero, Gavin, is a blacksmith--as was my grandfather, who was born in Ireland. Obviously, this book has nothing at all to do with my grandparents, both of whom would no doubt be appalled by most of what I write. lol! But all the same, I swear I could hear my grandmother's voice in my head as I wrote it. The Irish cadence to the dialogue? That's all her.
Blurb:
Nineteenth century Ireland. Blacksmith Gavin O'Malley is a bitter man, with a heart as hard as the iron he forges. He wants his life back--the one that was stolen from him the day his wife died in childbirth--taking their firstborn son with her.
When Aislinn Deirbhile, an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his doorstep, he knows he's in luck. For Aislinn can give Gavin everything he's been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and children who are sure to outlive their father. Now, all he has to do is find a way to keep her--without losing his immortal soul in the process.
But Aislinn has an agenda of her own. On the run from a vengeful fae lord who's vowed to either make her his or end her existence, she knows the iron that allows Gavin to take her captive will also keep her pursuers at bay. In order to put herself permanently beyond her enemy's reach, however, Aislinn will need something more. She'll need to win Gavin's heart and convince him to willingly part with a piece of the very soul he's trying to save.
Excerpt:
Sleep did not find Gavin easily. He lay awake for
a long while, studying Aislinn's face in the moonlight and brooding. She’d looked
beautiful at dinner tonight, idly rolling her glass between her hands as they
talked; the whiskey casting amber colored shadows against the table linens as
she explained all the ways in which having a soul might aid her. She’d leaned
forward earnestly as she made her case, speaking with all the persuasive
passion she possessed.
And, all the while, her long, elegant fingers had cradled
the glass as lightly as they might have held a frozen soap bubble, or a crystal
ball—something rare and magical. As magical as she herself could be. He’d found
himself staring at the glass, unable to look away; thinking of all the ways in
which she and it were similar. Both were things of beauty, shiny and bright,
fit for a palace; divinely inspired creations of earth and fire and breath
commingled.
Both were delicate yet strong; durable unless they
were handled carelessly or callously. Or cruelly. Fragile enough that, if they
were treated without the respect their beauty and refined natures deserved,
they would not just chip or crack, they’d shatter. Irreparably. As had nearly
happened to her today in the forge. As could happen again—at any time—if the
threat against her could not be finally and definitively eliminated.
She’d caught him off guard when she’d asked for his
soul and even though it was clear from all she’d said that she thought it the
perfect solution, at the time, he could think of nothing to say. He still could
not. What answer could he give her that
he would not end up regretting?
However much he might wish to oblige her, to atone
for the hurt he’d caused or repay her for all she’d given him, how could he
honor such an impossible request? He had nothing to gain from such an exchange,
and everything to lose.
With a soul, Aislinn need no longer answer to anyone.
Endowed with free will, she could choose to disregard the geis by which her sister had all but given her to
Tiernan. She could refuse Tiernan, and by extension her sister, without
repercussion. She could refuse anyone. Even him—though she’d been far too
careful to mention that last fact.
And, even if she were to marry Gavin—in gratitude for
the gift of his soul, perhaps—what of it? She’d need be no more faithful to her
vows than any human spouse. She might choose to leave him at any time and for
any reason. Or for no reason at all.
Without a soul, on the other hand, she’d be forced to
remain as she was: At his mercy. His to command. Bound by the iron that kept
her imprisoned here. Bound by the promises he’d wrung from her today, at the
point of death, and by her own words last winter. Bound by the geasa that still threatened her existence. And,
perhaps most of all, bound by her abiding fear of being imprisoned in Annwn.
The fact that fear was his greatest ally in this war
to keep her was a source of great shame to Gavin. He knew that a good man, one
who was generous, chivalrous, disinterested, would be willing to aid
her—without hope of recompense—not just in evading her enemies, but in
defeating them, once and for all. Such a man would be willing to let her go, if
need be, and if it was what she truly wanted; or even give up his life for her.
But Gavin doubted he had ever been that good in his life, and he had no wish at
all to be that man.
* * * * *
Currently, Iron is only available in paperback. https://www.amazon.com/Iron-PG-Forte/dp/1880370220
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