A warm welcome to author Cheryl Headford joining us today on Love Bytes on her blog tour for new release “Hostage”
Welcome Cheryl 🙂
Title: Hostage
Author: Cheryl Headford
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Length: 328 Pages
Release Date: September 17, 2015
Blurb: Astrin Raphael wakes up in a strange place, frightened and confused. He is told to trust someone who seems to hate him, and he tries—he really tries. However, things change rapidly when he discovers his friend is actually his archenemy, Rowan Gabriel, whose abusive behavior stems from a deeply ingrained, if unwarranted, hatred over something that happened many years before, and simply wasn’t Astrin’s fault.
When Rowan’s uncle and Astrin’s father are kidnapped by Strebo Michael, the two crown princes are catapulted into an adventure that forces them to work together, and along the way their feelings for each other grow. Rowan is quick to let his hate go, but Astrin can’t release his inhibitions. It takes Astrin almost dying from a poisoned dagger before he finally accepts Rowan’s love.
When they return home, their problems continue as their Houses try to negotiate a way for the young men to be together. It soon becomes clear at least one of them will need to relinquish his throne.
EVERYONE TURNED to look at Rowan as soon as he walked into the room. Both Charles and Hersten hurried over.
“How is he?” Hersten asked.
Rowan could barely look him in the eye.
“Happy,” he murmured. “Hungry, or so he says, but… he still has a bad headache, and he says he feels like there’s not enough air to breathe. He has no idea he’s ill.”
“What have you been talking about?”
Blushing, Rowan looked away. “We haven’t been… talking, as such.”
“What do you mean? You have been keeping his mind occupied, haven’t you?”
“Oh yeah, for sure.”
Charles, who was more sensitive to such things and was certainly more sensitive to his nephew, put his hands on Rowan’s shoulders. Rowan tried to turn away, but Charles wouldn’t let him. Rowan had never been able to resist his uncle, and he had to look him in the eyes.
Charles seemed shocked. “This is hurting you.”
“More than I can bear.”
“It’s surprising how much a man can bear, Rowan, and more so men like us. We are the rulers, the leaders, the role models. We are the ones who have to bear hardships so that others can bear so much more. I know you and Astrin have become friends, but I also know that whatever happens, you will bear it and you will go on.”
“You know nothing,” Rowan spat out. The pain and helplessness he’d been feeling poured out in a burst of vitriol, like puss from a lanced boil. “You talk of moving on, of leading and ruling, but I care nothing— nothing, for any of it.” His voice rose as he spoke, his face contorting with the attempt to keep tears at bay. “I’d give up anything I have, everything I am, my life itself if I could make him well.”
“Rowan—”
“No! You don’t understand. None of you understand. He’s better than me. He’s better than me in everything. He’s a better leader, a better king… a better person. He’s calm and wise and strong and… and he doesn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve it.” By the end Rowan was almost screaming… then he cracked and half fell into his uncle’s arms. The tears he’d been holding back for so long burst forth in uncontrolled sobbing.
“What’s going on?” a voice asked from the doorway. “I heard shouting.” The room became dead silent as everyone turned to stare at Astrin. “What’s going on? Why is everyone…? Rowan!” He saw Rowan, still in his uncle’s arms, and flew across the room. “What have you done to him?” he demanded.
Cheryl Headford was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was sixteen, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry, and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.
Cheryl has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her nieces, nephews, and cousin, and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created, in play.
Later in life, Cheryl became the storyteller for a reenactment group who traveled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.
It was there she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news and the storyteller the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.
In present times, Cheryl lives in a terraced house in the Valleys with her son, dog, hamster, and two cats. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close. She’s never been happier since she was made redundant and is able to devote herself entirely to her twin loves of writing and art.
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Winner’s Prize: Signed Paperback of Hostage.
Runners Up Prize: 2 E-copies of Hostage.
September 21:
September 22:
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
September 23:
September 24:
Wicked Faeries Tales And Reviews
September 25:
September 26:
September 27:
September 28:
September 29:
September 30:
The story sounds really compelling!
Thank you for hosting me