 | Currently reading : The Long Way Home (Shadows Forge, Book 4) By Jena’ Galifany Release date: 2007 |
Brian Cummings has come a long way from Leicestershire, England. Miles of hard road lay between then and now – hard road he's kept hidden—until the nightmares began again.
Ms. Galifany has woven a tale of tragedy and love that is more genuine than any I have read in a long time. I wasn't expecting such a deeply moving story from a series devoted to a popular British rock band, but ShadowsForge 4: The Long Way Home is just such a story.If you have not read the rest of the ShadowsForge series, do not hesitate to start with The Long Way Home. Ms. Galifany has woven enough history into the story that you will quickly learn about the other members of the band and some of the interesting adventures they have had.
If you are a devout ShadowsForge follower, I think you will be intrigued by the in-depth look into the past of their drummer and the secrets he's been carrying within him all this time. As for me, I'm off to find the first three volumes of the ShadowsForge series so I can hear about all those amazing adventures these bad boys of rock have had a part in." - Reviewed By Sabine Maurier, Novelspot
Excerpt:Brian lay on the bed in a towel and watched a movie. When he heard a light rap at the door he snapped off the television. He opened the door and stifled a smile.
Mia shivered, cold and wet. "My car's stuck."
Brian stepped back and allowed her entrance. He locked the door, walked around her and stretched out on the bed on his side, his head supported on his hand. "I told you to stay. You should have listened." He caressed her with his eyes. "You should get out of those wet clothes." His brown eyes sparkled.
Mia dropped her bag on the chair. She shivered under his visual assault and looked very much like a lost schoolgirl. Her stockings had slipped again to reveal the soft skin Brian had thought about since she'd left.
When she didn't continue he commented, "You're new at this." Brian sat up. "Come here." Mia moved toward him, her vision fixed on his face. Her hands nervously clutched her sweater. She moved cautiously—out of cold or perhaps fear. Brian held his hand out to her and motioned her closer. "Come on. I'm not going to hurt you, you know."
"No, I don't know." She took a deep breath. "I had to come back. Home is too far away to walk."
"Turn round." When she didn't respond, he took her firmly by the hips and turned her. He raised her foot and removed her boot. She surrendered her other foot for him to repeat the act. Her eyes were tightly closed when she turned to face him.
"You need to get warm," Brian suggested.
She nodded in agreement but kept her eyes closed. He shook his head. She was no prostitute—and never would be. The way she responded Brian suspected she was virgin. He wondered how to confirm it without scaring the hell out of her.
"How old are you?" Brian placed his hands lightly on her waist and hoped she would open her eyes.
"Eighteen."
"Yeah, me too." He lied. "Life sucks at eighteen." He slipped his hands around her thigh and pushed each stocking slowly down. He allowed his palms to glide along her skin down to her knee, and enjoyed her halted breath each time his warm hands connected with flesh. His attention fell on a tattoo high on her right thigh. Brian stroked the mark with the side of his hand as if to dust the cold from her flesh. "What's this?"
"My family's crest. I thought it looked interesting."
"It does. I'll have to give it a closer look later."
Brian sat back on the bed and pulled her on to his lap. Her wet hair felt like icy fingers on his skin. He pulled her leg up to push her stocking off. He ran his hands from her ankle up as she lowered her foot. He repeated the ritual and the second stocking joined the first. If he took his time, he could have his hands on every inch of her by morning. What an interesting challenge.
He waited, allowed her time to relax before he continued. She was surrendered but nervous, and allowed him to do as he pleased. He took his time, careful not to frighten her. If she ran again he feared she'd freeze to death before she'd submit herself to him. Brian moved his hands from her hips slowly upward as he lifted the sweater. She willingly raised her arms and allowed him to pull it over her head. She wrapped her arms around her body and covered her bra. Brian wrapped his arms around her and held her cold body to his warm chest. She stiffened in his embrace.
He whispered in her ear. The softness of her hair brushed his face. "I'm trying to share my body heat. I want to help you get warm."
"Thank you."
He smiled at her whispered response. She relaxed against him; the tension melted from her shoulders as she leaned her head back. Brian stroked her arms slowly before he moved his hands over her shoulders. He stroked her throat, moved his hands cautiously downward in a circular motion to caress the chilled flesh of her chest. He was hindered from going further by her arms.
"You need to get that wet skirt off—get under the blankets." He gently prompted her to stand. He stood with her, and collected her wet clothes. "Get in the bed." He busied himself as he hung her clothes in the bath. Leaving the bathroom light on, he turned the lights off in the bedroom. The indirect glow was sufficient for his plans.
By the time Brian returned to the bedside, Mia lay in the bed curled on her side. She watched Brian as he sat on the bed.
"Is there enough light for you?" He kept a low, smooth tone.
"Yes."
"Can I do anything for you? Get you anything?" Brian stalled. He gave her time—let her get comfortable with him.
"No."
"All right." Brian turned the covers back and slid into the bed. He pulled the towel from his body and dropped it on the floor. He pulled the blankets up to his waist and folded his pillow under his head. "Closer." He waited.
To his satisfaction, Mia positioned herself along side of him. He wrapped his arm around her. Her head rested on his shoulder, her hand moved to his chest. He enjoyed the contrast of her cool body and legs along side his warmth. She pressed close to him. He stroked his hand down her side to her thigh to confirm there were no barriers between them. A slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She was his.
 | Currently reading : ShadowsForge 3: Retaking America By Jena’ Galifany Release date: April 2007 |
What ShadowsForge does while Jena' is away…
This was a bit of silliness that I typed up one night between writing ShadowsForge 3: Retaking America and ShadowsForge 4: The Long Way Home. Just what do the characters do when they are waiting for their next book to be written? Read and see…
Jena'
Believe in Dreams!
Geoff Richards paced back and forth across the white room that was devoid of furnishings, decorations, even windows. He couldn't figure out where the light was coming from but at least the room wasn't dark. He released a heavy sigh as he reached the wall for the umpteenth time.
“Where the hell is she?” He shouted at the wall, and his voice echoed back in his face.
“That’s not going to help.” Ty sat on the floor, Alexis on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her as she leaned down, and gave him a long kiss.
“Oh, would you two get a room?” Jon leaned against the opposite wall and moaned.
"What’s bugging you?” Brian sat on the floor, against the corner. Diane sat beside him, her legs curled under her and her head on his shoulder.
“Nothing you or Ty would understand. We’ve been waiting for over a month.” Jon moaned again.
Jordan laughed. “You want some cheese and bread, Jon?”
“For what?” Jon slid down the wall to sit on the floor.
“I thought it would go well with your whine.”
“Funny. Why aren’t you going nuts yet?” Jon stretched out his legs.
Jordan shrugged. “I know how she is. She’ll be here when she's ready.”
Geoff punched the wall. “Not soon enough.” He leaned his forehead against the smooth surface, and kicked at the baseboard with the toe of his boot.
Jon shrugged. “There were some truly fine ladies in that audience in Roanoke. I saw at least three I could have gotten to know really well. She could have left a couple of them here, too.”
“And a couple of acoustics,” Jordan added.
“Sticks and a snare or tom.” Brian shrugged.
“Hey, I always have my voice with me.” Geoff turned his back against the wall, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“How about a few partitions--for privacy.” Ty grinned at Alexis.
Brian smirked. “It could be worse.”
“How?” Jon looked around at the silvery-blond drummer.
“She could have left Nigel in here.”
Everyone groaned.
“That would have been grounds to up and quit.” Jon slid along the wall, and landed on his back. He stared at the ceiling. “Hey. Look at that.” He sat up, his steel blue eyes tracing the top of the wall.
The others followed his gaze. Around the ceiling where it met the walls was a seam.
“She’s put us in a bloody shoe box!” Jon stood up, jumped as high as he could, and struck the ceiling. It bumped up.
Jordan leaned his back against the wall, and laced his fingers together. “Jon.”
Jon placed his sneaker-shod foot in Jordan’s hands. He climbed up to push on the ceiling. It moved a bit before Jon jumped down.
“It’s heavy. Geoff, Ty get up here.”
Geoff braced his back against the wall and assumed the same position as Jordan.
“On three,” Ty suggested.
Geoff cleared his throat. “Five, four, three.” Jon and Ty climbed up their band mates.
Ty laughed. “Can’t you count normal?”
“Wouldn’t be as much fun.” Geoff groaned under the strain.
The two blonds pushed at the ceiling, and raised it high enough to see that there was a small lip. They struggled to move the lid before J.C. or Geoff gave out.
Between them, they got their hands under the lip and pulled it. The ceiling slid part way back, and left a gap of about a foot before Jon lost his balance, and fell to the floor. Before Geoff collapsed, Ty put his boot against the wall above Geoff’s shoulder and shoved. With his fingers wrapped around the lid, he was able to move it another foot or so on his way down.
The four sat on the floor, slightly out of breath.
“Damn.” Geoff huffed. “We need to get to a gig soon. We’re in pretty bad shape, here. Ty, you’re getting fat, mate.”
“Thanks.” Ty looked at his body, then at his wife. She shook her head and licked her lips. It made him smile.
“We definitely need some exercise,” Jordan agreed.
Brian walked over to assess the opening. “Don’t suppose we have a rope?”
“Not with,” Jon grinned. “Got one or two in my bag.”
“And your bag is where?” Brian looked sarcastically down at Jon.
“Same place yours is. In the bleedin’ bus in Roanoke, Virginia, where Jena' packed us up.”
“That was a great show,” Geoff reminisced with a twinkle in his topaz eyes.
“Glad you had fun.” Ty stood up, and dusted off his trousers. “You almost got locked up.”
“I wasn’t going too far. Security just got nervous when I opened my trousers.”
Brian crossed his arms over his thick chest. “Like I was saying, a rope? Could we make one?”
“Out of what?” Geoff looked around, and turned with his arms wide to present the empty room.
“Your y-fronts.” Jordan laughed.
“Excuse me?” Diane spoke from the corner where Brian had left her. “The only undergarments in the room belong to Alexis and myself. Just what can you do with two bras and two thongs?”
They all laughed.
END
