In 12th century Britain, Eirik Laurenbrogue is born during the bewitching hour with frightening deformities. He is forced to live his life in the shadows of his father’s great manse for he terrifies all who dare look upon him, and is condemned to lead a life of loneliness and exile, hidden away from the world while dreaming of love.
During one nightly excursion on his father’s vast lands, he happens upon a beautiful maiden in the woods. He does not know if his mind is playing tricks on him, for is she a demon that had come to torture him by taunting him with what he could never hope to have, or is she a bittersweet dream conjured by his intense loneliness?
Isleen, however, is neither demon nor dream. She is flesh and blood, and she has come to pose a question. The answer he chooses to give her will decide his fate; whether he remains the monster of Laurenbrogue Manse or becomes the Young Master of it.
If you like the classics, "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" you might like this story because it is written in that vein. It is an erotic adult fairytale romance that takes place in 12th century, very early 13th England, and as a fairytale, it is a novella rather than a novel.
***Please leave your NAME & EMAIL for a chance to win one of TWO print copies w/ bookmark. And answer THIS question: Have you ever read Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or both? And did you like these classics? Drawing to be held 3/22/13. ***
Excerpt:
“You must choose tonight, Eirik Laurenbrogue, and you must choose wisely for you have this night alone to decide what you wish your destiny to be, and this night alone to allow me to help you.” Then she stared at him in earnest. “Do you wish to live freely, or do you wish to hide forever?” Then she turned from the window and began walking toward him. “You must choose now, Eirik Laurenbrogue, or the choice will be taken from you.”
Eirik instinctively pressed back against a solid post of his bed. He was not as brave as she and he was suddenly wrought with unease and fear, for her words gave him no comfort and she was sure of heart and sure of foot, whilst he was neither. He realized he knew nothing about this stranger, but he knew with painful certainty that should she choose to do it, a single push would send him falling to the hard, stone floors and he would be incapable of rising on his own.
“I wish you to leave.”
She raised a single eyebrow.
“Nay, I command you to leave!” he snapped with more courage than he felt.
She paused in step as she studied his eye. “I do not mean to bring you discomfort,” she said. “If you wish me gone, you have but to give me your answer and you shall have my promise that I shall be gone.”
“Answer?” he nearly sneered. “No. I give you a command! Leave!”
“I cannot leave pending your answer,” she said, and she calmly laced fingers before her as she looked at him with quiet repose. “But I caution you, Milord,” she continued with an earnest look, “you may give me but one answer and it will stand through time indefinite. I beg you, for your sake, choose wisely.”
“I have never met you. I do not know who you are. You speak in riddles, and you vex me beyond my limits,” Eirik growled. “I command you to leave my chambers. NOW!”
“Your answer, Milord,” she said, quietly, “and you will be rid of me if that is your desire.”
He glared at her from one, fiery eye. “If an answer buys ridding me of you, then you shall have it,” he began. “No, as handsome as you are, I do not want you here—”
“—That is not the answer.”
“—I do not want the divine honor of your company that only serves to remind me how—“ he abruptly paused as he swallowed. Then he cleared his throat. “How ugly I am—”
“—That, too, is not the answer—”
“—for contrary to your prejudice, Milady, I am NOT a sad creature. I am NOT a beggar groveling for your pity and charity. I am NOT in need of anyone! I AM A MAN, NOT A MONSTER!” he finally shouted with all his might, his bellow bouncing off the stone walls.
And then . . . there was silence.
***Please leave your NAME & EMAIL for a chance to win one of TWO print copies w/ bookmark. And answer THIS question: Have you ever read Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or both? And did you like these classics? Drawing to be held 3/22/13. ***
Buy Links:
E-book is FREE to download at:
Paperback copy is for sale here:
Contact the Author:
Catharina Shields' Official Author Website: www.CatharinaShields.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatShields
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cat.shields.3
Catharina Shields' YouTube Channel for all my book trailers (book trailers are also available to view on my official author website)
I haven't read either of those, but I've seen the Disney movies. This novella looks great! I'm off to smashwords to get it right now! Thanks. ;)
ReplyDeleteMark
ReplyDeletemarkmmm77@comcast.net
I've read them both, but quite a long while ago and I liked them both.
cfcbc@netzero.com
ReplyDeleteI have read them both and I love them !!
Hi Mysti - I read the Classic comic book adaptation of both back when I was a kid ... I remember thinking that I couldn't figure out why Quasimodo was considered a monster? He was just a little different looking guy with some problems! But I also thought that the priest, who I was always taught were good guys, was awfully creepy, so I figured "What do I know? I'm just a kid! Maybe I'll know it when I'm bigger!"
ReplyDeletep.s. that was from Andrew T. Kuligowski (KuligowskiAndrew [at] gmail [daht] com)
ReplyDeleteI loved the excerpt and fairy-tale idea of your story.
ReplyDeleteI have read both, Mysti, and enjoyed them. There's something compelling in seeing the ugly transformed into beauty, or to be accepted for what they cannot change.
Forgot to leave my email yet again.
ReplyDeleteleona59@msn.com
I've never read either of those books but I was in love with the Disney film of Beauty and the Beast when I was younger. The girl on the cover's eyes are very interesting.
ReplyDeletesankofa0509@yahoo.com
Oooh, this looks so good! I adore Beauty and the Beast -- both the original, and the Disney, and its incarnations for TV. I once tried reading Hunchback, a long time ago, though it wasn't for me, but these stories also remind me a lot of Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux).
ReplyDeleteThanks!
torilridgewood@gmail.com
I've read both, but quite some time ago.
ReplyDeleteBoth translated from the French.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Read Beauty and the Beast. Like the classics.
ReplyDeleteL
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi L,
DeleteI've been notified that you're one of two winners for the "Bewitching Hour" print copy giveaway. Since I always sign my books, I would like to know if you'd care to give me a name rather than my just signing "L" for you. I'll be sending you an e-mail and I've also commented on Mysti's Facebook page.
Please watch for my e-mail that will be send to the e-mail addy you've noted above.
Congratulations!
Warmest,
Catharina Shields
I haven't read the books, but I used to love the Disney movie, Beauty and Beast as a kid and I remember seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the cinemas for a special occasion. :)
ReplyDeleteNae
renee-moore@live.com.au
Jessica Sawa
ReplyDeleteIcePrincess552 @ AOL . Com
I have read Beauty and The Beast, but it has been FOREVER! as far as I remember I LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!
I read Beauty and the Beast and I LOVED it!!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI also love the classics!!!
--DREW
andrew(dot)g(underscore)2013(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have read both fairy tales, and enjoyed them, though the Hunchback tale left me quite sad. I have to say though that they were not erotic, so I'm intrigued by this spin on the fairy tale. Congrats on your book, Cat! :)
ReplyDeleteOOPs..and sorry - email tarafoxhall AT gmail DOT com
ReplyDelete