About the Book:
Stone of Thieves by Diane J Reed
Published May 8th, 2014
Published by Bandits Ranch Books, LLC
Genre: New Adult Romance
Synopsis for Stone of Thieves, book 2 in the Robbin’ Hearts Series, a sensual, stand-alone new adult romance with sex & the sequel to Robin in the Hood (readership for ages 17+):
The Stone of Thieves . . . for centuries its magnetic draw has twisted the hearts of ambitious men and women with the promise of power, passion, and intrigue until it fell into the hands of unlikely thieves Robin and her boyfriend Creek. But can they steal their destiny away from the curse that pursues this magnificent ruby heart? As the stone begins to spread its sorcery, Robin races to find her long-lost mother in Italy in the hopes of discovering the truth about her unique gypsy heritage and the ruby heart that is rumored to steal souls. Yet when the desire for this stone by powerful members of her family threatens their very lives, Creek decides to take matters into his own hands to protect Robin, his greatest treasure of all . . .
EXCERPT
Stone of Thieves
As
I give Creek a swift nod and head toward the kitchen, I feel a tap on my
shoulder.
Swiveling
around, I half-expect to see the Italian tour guide. But I find myself gazing
at a man so desperately handsome he steals all breath from my chest.
His
dark unruly hair frames his cheekbones in random curls, and his face is all
hard angles—smooth and sharp as Venetian cut glass. Eyes twinkling, he gives me
a broad smile filled with enough charm to send a dozen girls’ hearts into
spirals. The second that thought strikes me, a strange flutter arises in my gut
and works its way out to my limbs in waves. I feel the stone throb against my
pocket, harassing me with whispers that are drowned out by the pulsing sound of
blood rushing to my brain.
Because
something about this man’s eyes mystify me and holds me into place.
Although
he appears in his early 20s at best, somehow there’s a shadow in his gaze that
bears the weight of a very old man. Like the other tour guides, he’s dressed in
period clothing from the Renaissance, an ivory peasant shirt and pants with
brocade detail and black boots. I have to presume he’s here to help with the
tour.
“You want to see the rest of the palazzo, sì
mia amica?”
He
doesn’t wait for an answer, holding out his arm in an oddly cavalier way, as
though he were about to ask me to dance at a ball. “Here, let me show you the
map room. The group will-a join us soon.”
I
hesitate, grinding my heels into the alabaster floor.
Truth
be told, I’d love some of that pasta in the kitchen because I’m still starving,
even after the bread and cheese we wolfed down from the nun’s handout earlier.
But as I hear the Conté de Bargona bragging about his blood-red sauce, I can’t
help thinking anything’s better than being near him right now. He did seem to
recognize me—at least as someone who looks spooky-close to his ancestor. Does
that mean he pegs me as his daughter’s bastard child?
Before
I can entertain the possibilities, the tour guide forcefully whisks me up
several stairs by the time I manage to jerk my elbow away from him. Glancing
over my shoulder, I spot the other docents cleaning up the blood spill, and I
wonder how Creek is doing with rifling through desks and files. At least this
trip to the map room could buy us some more time. I give the young man a hint
of smile.
He
responds by breaking free of my arm and bolting up the steps to the landing,
where I can see a room at the top covered in yellowed, archaic maps. Flashing
that broad smile again, he disappears, and all of a sudden the landing is
filled with a warm, inviting glow. Curious, I head to the map room and find him
standing beside two French doors that are opened wide to a balcony.
“The
only way to truly know Venezia is by its light,” he says with a certain triumph
in his voice.
He’s
merely a silhouette now, his amazing physique backlit by the subtle morning
sunshine, almost like a phantom.
As
my eyes readjust to the outline of his dark contours, I notice there are Mardi
Gras masks hanging on the walls next to the double doors. Their hollow, black
eyes and faces empty of the warmth of human flesh spook me a little.
“A-Aren’t we here to see the maps?” I remind
him, cautious about stepping any further into this room. I turn slightly to
glance into the hallway, my eyes hunting past several doors that have been left
ajar.
“Creek,”
I whisper sharply. “Where are you . . .”
No
answer.
Dammit—
Returning
my gaze to my host, I find he’s grabbed two of the masks and he’s motioning for
me to step out onto the balcony.
“Maps only record the past,” he insists.
“Come, let’s see the future.”
I
draw in a breath, rationalizing it won’t hurt to stall for more time. “OKAY,” I
voice too loudly, hoping it might help Creek detect where I am, “I CAN CHECK
OUT THE VIEW WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE.”
Not
a sound stirs from the hallway.
Only
my echo as it slowly fades away.
With
a sigh, and several excuses in mind to bolt free from this guy as soon as I
hear evidence of Creek, I shrug my shoulders and stroll out to the balcony to
take in the sights.
Before
us is the Grand Canal, its waters a deep murky green with hints of shimmer from
the early sun that’s begun to peek above the elegant domes and spires. A layer
of mist still shrouds the city like a blanket, making it appear hazy and sepia
toned, and every bit as ancient as its architecture belies.
“Tell
me,” the young man asks, “what do you see, Rubina?”
My
heart skips a beat.
I
haven’t told him my name yet. Much less the Italian version the de Bargonas
gave me at birth—
And
I feel the ruby wobble to match my quickening pulse.
“Um, I see green water,” I pipe up, extremely
antsy now to get back to Creek. The time for politeness is way over, and as I
spin on my heels to go inside, his hand stops my shoulder with the abruptness
of stone. He holds up a glittering gold mask.
“Un
momento. Just put it on—then tell me what you see.”
He
adjusts a shiny black mask over his face that instantly makes him look
foreboding.
“This
will only take a second,” his accent rolls in an almost musical tone, “I
promise. I simply want you to understand. Everything in Venezia changes. The
light, the masks, the people—nothing is ever as it seems.”
Annoyed,
I slip the gold mask over my head, only because I calculate Creek will emerge
from the hallway any second now. Interestingly, when I glance back over the
canal, the water has transformed from emerald to an ethereal amethyst with
hints of rose that sparkle over the currents as the sun ascends more boldly over
the city. It’s beautiful—there’s no doubt about it. But it’s way past time for
me to join Creek.
Just
as I open my mouth to say a swift goodbye, the man grabs my face in his hands
and swallows me in a kiss.
Not
just any kiss—
He
wraps himself around me as though he could pour his spirit like a searing
liquid into my throbbing veins.
And
the fluttering I felt earlier now runs up and down my spine like wildfire,
stinging me with a heat that focuses like a laser on the stone inside my
pocket.
It
takes every ounce of strength I have to break free from him. And the second I
do, I haul off and slap him so hard it knocks that black mask off his face.
“WHAT
THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!” I cry, reeling, my fists clenched tight.
Out
of the corner of my eye, I spy a wash of red. The bold sun now glows like an
angry ball that pierces the mist of the city, coating the entire canal the
color of blood.
The
young man gazes at me without apology.
“I
only wanted to kiss something beautiful before it dies,” he says. “Because make
no mistake—Vittorio de Bargona will kill you.”
He
steals another kiss before I can gather the wherewithal to shove his ass back.
“Go
to the gypsies, Rubina,” he whispers, “out in the countryside. That is, if you
want to live.”
In
that moment, he becomes hazy, like the mist that still threads between the
buildings of the city. Then he disappears.
And
all that’s left at my feet is his shiny black mask.
GIVEAWAY
Grand Prize Package of (1) a Stone of Thieves tote bag, (2) a $25 Amazon gift card, (3) paperback copies of Stone of Thieves & Robin in the Hood—the first 2 books in the Robbin' Hearts series, (4) a Gypsy Oracle Fortune Telling Deck, (5) Zhena Gypsy Chocolate Chai Tea, & (6) a crystal Ruby Heart (see attached photo).
Grand Prize Package of (1) a Stone of Thieves tote bag, (2) a $25 Amazon gift card, (3) paperback copies of Stone of Thieves & Robin in the Hood—the first 2 books in the Robbin' Hearts series, (4) a Gypsy Oracle Fortune Telling Deck, (5) Zhena Gypsy Chocolate Chai Tea, & (6) a crystal Ruby Heart (see attached photo).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane J. Reed has a Ph.D. in English and a lifelong passion for books—both popular, forgotten and literary—as long as they touch her soul and make her want to tuck them under her pillow at night to remember them in her dreams. She writes novels that are infused with enchantment, where characters dare to break through boundaries and believe in true love. She also has a soft spot for artisans and outlaws ofthe heart, those who burn brightly to live each day as a gift—because it is! In addition, Diane J. Reed has conducted 13 interviews with the cast of the hit TV show Once Upon a Time. Feel free to visit Diane J. Reed’s website at www.banditsranch.com to share your love of books and the whispers of your spirit.
Author Email: banditsranch@juno.com
Author Website: www.banditsranch.com
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/
Thank you for posting in my Book Blitz today—have a magical week!
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