Title: Olivia’s Promise
Author: Diane Merrill Wigginton
Series: Jeweled Dagger Series (Book 3) (The Benjamin Franklin Award Winning Series)
Genre: Historical Romance/Suspense
Publisher: Jeweled Dagger Publishing
Release Date: Aug 4 2017
Edition/Format: 1st Edition/Formats
~ eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
The
year is 1804. Lady Olivia Sophia Allen Townsend has just turned 20 years old,
beautiful and considered by some in polite society far too eccentric for her
own good. When Olivia was younger, she was very open about her gift of being
able to see spirits, but the shunning by her peers has caused her to turn her
back on those who need her the most - spirits caught between two worlds. That
is until her best friend Lilly Collins comes to her in the middle of the night
and asks for her help. Lilly can’t remember what happened to her so finds
herself in need of Olivia’s unique gifts.
Olivia’s younger sister, Coco, is also
gifted with a unique set of skills - she can touch someone and know things
about them that they would sometimes prefer to keep hidden. Together, the
sisters set off on a sea voyage, from Ireland to America, intent on solving the
mystery of Lilly’s untimely death.
Brody and Quinton Beaumont, fine-looking,
eligible, southern American gentlemen, and heirs to a successful cotton empire,
are twins hiding a deep dark secret. Their mother, Annabelle Beaumont, died
eight years earlier on the night of their annual birthday winter ball, yet she
continues to rule over their plantation home with an iron fist.
Olivia, drawn to no man, feels suddenly
akin to Brody Beaumont, but she must figure out if she can trust him, and if he
or his brother had anything to do with Lilly’s death.
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Excerpt
5 PG 13 Paranormal Spirit
Margo walked to the doorway carrying a tray
of tea. “I was told that you were up, so I brought — what is it, ladies?” she
questioned, bewildered by our blank stares.
“Shut the door!” I ordered.
Taking three steps back, Margot gently
kicked the door shut with her foot. Then setting the tray down, she came over
to where we stood. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I
would never have believed it,” I began. “What we say in this room, does not
leave this room. Swear it. You too, Margot. Swear!” Both nodded their head.
“Young Sam was preparing the fire and discussing strange occurrences in the
house hold when something exploded down the chimney catching Sam’s pants on
fire. He was nearly burned alive in front of me. Annabelle Beaumont did this.”
“Who is Annabelle Beaumont, and why haven’t
I met her?” Coco asked before Margot could get the question out. I began to
shake uncontrollably as tears formed in the back of my eyes.
“And yesterday when that stallion nearly
trampled me, Annabelle was on the back of that stallion. I think she meant to
kill me,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Touching my arm, Coco gasped as vision of
both events flashed through her mind. She released my arm suddenly. “Olivia, we
cannot stay here,” she cried.
Taking her shoulders in my hands, I said
with a deadly calm, “Coco, you have to leave.”
“I will be only too happy to leave this
place. I felt something was off when I walked through the door,” she stated
through clenched teeth. “Why didn’t you say something?” she narrowed her eyes
at me. “You saw her that night.”
“Saw who?” Margot asked suspiciously. “What
are you both talking about?”
“The woman whose portrait hangs over
the fireplace downstairs,” I said, exasperated because Margo didn’t understand
what I was trying to say. “Mrs. Annabelle Beaumont died eight years ago after
the annual celebration. That is all I know so far. Please try to keep up, Margot.”
“We have to leave, today,” Coco stated
emphatically.
“You have to leave. I’m staying.”
“You can’t be serious. I am not leaving
here without you,” Coco insisted, stomping her foot for emphasis.
“I’m mean it, Coco, you have to go before
something bad happens to you. Tell her, Margot!”
“And I said I’m not leaving without you. If
you stay, I stay,” she argued, petulantly lifting her chin.
“You are the most stubborn —” I began, then
sniffed the air. A foul odor permeated my room, and I quickly turned to find
Annabelle standing a mere three feet away. My sudden silence alerted both women
that something was terribly wrong.
“Is it her, Olivia?” Coco asked, her voice
shaking. I braced myself in front of them like a human shield, as if by shear
will alone I could protect them from the evil that was Annabelle Beaumont.
Slowly nodding my head, Coco took ahold of
my hand. Somehow I was comforted by her presence and the fact that I wasn’t
alone.
“What is it that you want, Annabelle?” I
asserted, with a voice that was neither confident nor potent. The noise of my
heartbeat pounded between my ears, like waves hitting the shore. “Why do you
stay earthbound, tormenting people?”
Annabelle simply smiled, narrowing her eyes
as she advanced on me causing me to step back pushing Coco and Margot as I
went. The sound of Annabelle as she threw her head back and laughed was more
demonic than joyful, before she leveled her eyes at me. Hovering inches from my
face, she smirked and vaporized into thin air, without answering the question.
I felt Coco’s hand trembling before turning
loose and she dropped into a nearby chair, as I dropped to my knees on the
floor. I was left feeling weak and breathless, as if someone had punched me in
the gut. My breaths came out in harsh gasps for air as I omitted a guttural
noise that was somewhere between a growl and a scream of frustration.
“Not a word of this incident is to ever
pass from your lips, Catherine Elizabeth. Not one word,” I said more harshly
than I intended. “And that goes double for you, Margot.”
“But Olivia…”
“I mean it. Not one word. Swear it!” I
growled threateningly as I cut her off. “Swear this instant, Catherine
Elizabeth!” I repeated when she didn’t instantly recite the oath. Letting out
the breath she’d been holding, Coco conceded.
“Yes, yes, I swear. Not one word of what
has transpired here, in this room this morning will ever pass from my lips, to
another living soul, as long as I have breath in my body. I swear until the day
I die.” Coco chafed, rolling her eyes as she repeated our childhood oath.
“Margot!” I bellowed, staring her down.
“You know my loyalty lies with you,
Olivia,” Margot prefaced, “but your parents should know about this.”
“Margot, I’m afraid you are going to have
to declare an oath of silence, on penalty of death.”
Margot looked at me and Coco, who pursed
her lips and nodded her head, affirming the seriousness of the situation.
“Fine!” she finally proclaimed, exasperated by our antics. “But you are both
crazy,” Margot announced, leaving the room. “Hope you don’t mind pouring your
own bloody tea. It’s probably cold to boot.”
Author Information
Born
in Riverside, California in 1963, my family and I moved to San Diego when I was
nearly 8. I had a very rich life growing up, with my brother, David and best
friend Gigi, for company. I was married to my current husband, David in 1998
and we moved to Herald, California in 2001. We have a blended family of 6 kids
and enjoy the rural life on our 5 1/2 acre ranch, 45 minutes south of
Sacramento. I love writing and creating stories that are different and
intriguing. I like to give my readers a little something unexpected. I have
always wanted to be a published author, but the timing never seemed right.
Raising a family and working full time always took precedence. Shortly after I
turned 50 I decided that it would never be the right time, and determined that
I needed to live my truth and follow my dreams. So I began writing on a whim,
and loved everything about it. My first book is out, and the second one is at
the publishers, scheduled to be released, April 4, 2017. I am currently working
on book 3 of my series, slated to release the first week in August, 2017. I am
very excited about the future, and thrilled to be writing. I count my blessings
every day because I know how truly lucky I am. Life is good.
Author
Links
Facebook Page/Book Page
Angelina’s Secret
Twitter @Dianesunny
Website/Publisher
Jeweled Dagger Publishing
Diane is giving away three fab prizes. So if you're interested in winning your choice of any of the books from the Jeweled Dagger series, make sure to hit the link and leave an entry on the rafflceopter below. Good luck!
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