Book Blurb:
A FORGOTTEN GODDESS (The Forgotten #1) by Cecilia Randell
Pub. Date: September 20, 2018
Publisher: Cecilia Randell
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 236
An abandoned Egyptian goddess follows her visions to Ireland, and finds more than she ever bargained for...
An abandoned Egyptian goddess follows her visions to Ireland, and finds more than she ever bargained for...
Bat Sitru used to be a goddess. Well, technically she still is. But with no followers, no temples, and only the overly mischievous cat-goddess Bastet as a friend, it's difficult to lay claim to the title.
When her visions—once faded—return to her, they point to a land in the north, one of green slopes, mist, and rainbows. She is shown a hope for comfort and home, something that has long been missing from her existence.
Once there, she begins to wonder if her visions have led her wrong. She's cold, damp, and her new landlords, the O’Loinsigh brothers, are not particularly welcoming. On top of that, she is confronted by a dead leprechaun on the rear stoop, a dagger that sucks the life of immortals, and territorial gods.
As past secrets collides with the present, will Bat be able to carve a place for herself in this new land? Or will this goddess be forgotten once more?
Please note: A previous, and shorter, version of this story was released in the anthology Shamrocked. This is also a slow-burn RH.
Goodreads | Amazon
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The man before her would have been a wonderful offering. That was, if she still accepted those types of offerings and if they were ever brought to her. Those had ceased around the same time all other offerings and sacrifices had tapered off. It was also around the same time Horus had risen to prominence and Seth had fallen fully out of favor.
This man though… Bat sighed and momentarily forgot the chill. Tall, broad-shouldered, with swirling tattoos peeking out from the pushed-up sleeves of his sweater, he had short dark hair and the shadow of a stubble along his jaw. And his eyes. Oh, those eyes. Bright blue, like the lapis of her pendant, and shining from his face.
A scowling face. “What do ya want?”
She blinked. Men were not normally rude to her. Indifferent, yes, but not rude. “I… rented the extra room?” She held out her confirmation.
He glanced down at it and then back up, his gaze roving over her face. “We’re closed. Come back tomorrow.” He stepped back, hand on the edge of the door and ready to push it closed.
She put forward a foot, blocking him. A trick she’d learned long ago and that came in handy when dealing with Seth and his occasional surliness. It seemed she’d need to brush off those rusty skills quickly in order to deal with her new landlord. “I need a place to stay tonight. I have a confirmation.” She held up the paper once more and thrust it toward him.
“Which is for tomorrow.” A muscle ticked in his cheek. “It’s St. Paddy’s. We’re closed.”
“I understand your worship of this saint is important to you, but I do not believe I can stand another night traveling. I promise if you simply show me to the room, I will not require anything of you until well into tomorrow. I… need to get dry. I have been wet since I arrived.” Her shivers increased, and she tucked her hands into her armpits, no longer caring if he took the confirmation. She didn’t move her foot, though. She did know better than that.
The man swung the door open and stepped in close enough the warmth of him bridged the gap between them. She was not an insubstantial woman, but he made her feel almost petite. And warm. It was not something she had felt since… Bat shook off the stray thought. It wouldn’t be a good idea to get involved with anyone at the moment, especially someone as surly as this. She was seeking a new home, and she had two months to decide if this was the place her visions had shown her and if they had shown her the full truth. The flashes had only offered a possibility, after all.
A new figure appeared behind the first man, just as broad and even taller. A neat beard framed his dark face, and he wore his hair slicked back. What caught her attention, though, was the patch covering one eye. It was made of dark leather and bore intricate designs tooled across the surface. His good eye was the same lapis-blue as the first man. Brothers?
Her senses stirred, and she braced for another flash, but it didn’t come.
“Dub,” the second giant said. “What’s the issue?” The bass of his voice moved through her like thunder—like storms over the red lands—and she shivered, though not from the cold.
“New tenant is early.” Dub shrugged and shifted back, putting a bit more distance between them and taking away his heat.
The second man rolled his eye and slapped Dub’s shoulder and without a word turned on his heel, revealing a braid nearly as long as her own hair, and then disappeared back into the pub.
He had… dismissed her. Just as she’d been at home. A hollow pit opened in her belly. It was just as the other gods and goddesses had made her feel. They were not cruel, but without a purpose—and all but forgotten by her own worshippers—she’d often been relegated to the one standing outside the circle and looking in.
Or the one standing on a cold threshold, shivering in a foreign country, while lapis eyes gazed at her mockingly.
Enough. The visions had pointed her here. Teased her with the idea of having a new place, and friends. Shown her happiness and contentment. There had been a glimpse of those people needing her. There had been a… promise of hope. And no smug pig would stop her from finding out if this city could be that place.
Gripping the handle of her case, she shifted right up to the man blocking her path—right on the threshold—and confronted him, her heart pounding. “You will move, and you will show me my room. Now.” Bat allowed some of her remaining power to leak into her tones.
Dub’s eyes widened and the scowl fell away, replaced by a blankness that was even more foreboding in its own way. Not the reaction she’d expected. There was something there, an echo of something… extra. This was no mere human.
“Of course.” He stepped back and to the side.
Pushing her chin up, unwilling to show this not-man that he had intimidated her in any way, she stepped fully over the threshold. There was a pressure, followed by a slight pop and an assault on her senses. Power filled her. For one shining moment the room before her was laid bare. Each person’s past, their future, hers to see. The images came, too fast for her to sort.
But wasn’t that the way of it? She reveled in the colors, the feelings, the pure life of it. She’d not had a rush such as this in centuries. Longer. The last had been… just before Narmer conquered the Upper Kingdom, and she’d united with Horus and Set to ensure the lands stayed unified and peace reigned. So, much, much longer than mere centuries.
She pushed away the memories attempting to crowd in and let the new visions flow through her. The sorting would come later. Once she’d seen them, the images were hers and came when they were needed, as they were needed. It was the seeing itself that had always been unpredictable.
Oh, don’t you now remember, love
When you gave me your right hand
You vowed if you got married
That I should be the man
A voice filtered through the swirls of images, and her attention focused on the far side of the room, and on a man cradling a guitar. He stroked the strings with long fingers, bringing forth a delicate sound.
I wish I were a butterfly
I’d fly to my love’s nest
I wish I were a linnet
I’d sing my love to rest
His tenor was smooth and filled the room, carrying over the low conversations of the patrons. He smiled at her, his deep brown eyes merry despite the wistful yearning of the song’s melody. Something in his face reminded her of Dub. So, not a mere man either.
I wish I were a nightingale
I’d sing to the morning clear
I’ll hold you in my arms, my love
The girl I love so dear
She stood before him now, and the room she hadn’t really seen fell away until she and this man existed alone. Joy and sadness and something that may have been affection wrapped around her.
The girl I love so dear.
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Book Blurb:
THE LEGENDS THAT REMAIN (The Forgotten #2) by Cecilia Randell
Pub. Date: December 6, 2018
Publisher: Cecilia Randell
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 291
A storm is brewing, and this goddess does not like the damp…
Bat Sitru, an Egyptian goddess, is content in her new life in Sligo, Ireland. She tends the bar, participates in all the sing-songs she cares to, and is making new friends. The only thing she could wish to change is her relationship with the O’Loinsigh brothers—they’ve grown distant, and she’s afraid to upset the careful balance the four of them have found.
Before she can figure out what to do about that distance, an invitation arrives from the head of the O’Loinsigh family, leading to the revelation of long-held secrets and her visions come to life once more. What she will need to face this time is nothing so simple as a mad woman out for revenge—old legends are stirring as an ancient evil seeks to return.
Along with Dub, Mell, Shar, the reluctant Finn, and a host of other outcasts, Bat will confront a growing conspiracy of fae, gods, Fomoiri, and an evil long locked away. All she wants is to enjoy her strawberries and tea, and maybe a kiss or two, but sometimes a goddess has to do…
Well, a goddess has to do what a goddess has to do.
Goodreads | Amazon
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Book Blurb:
THE FINAL MELODY (The Forgotten #3) by Cecilia Randell
Pub. Date: April 27, 2019
Publisher: Cecilia Randell
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 255
Bat Sitru and her merry band of fae are officially on the run...
Or are they on the hunt? It's hard to tell. Separated from Dub and Shar, Bat can only concentrate on getting through the next steps of their piece-meal plan to defeat Balor. They have all the tools to defeat the would-be god, now they just have to pull it all together.
With new and unexpected allies, as well as a horde of sluagh on their heels, Bat and her boys race to find Tir Hudi and the cauldron before their enemies know they're there.
In the end, it will be up to her, that forgotten goddess, to restore the balance and prevent the world from descending into chaos...
Note: Yes, for those who have not read the first two books yet, this is a "why choose" type romance.
Goodreads | Amazon
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Author Bio:
Cecilia Randell was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in a home with her very own Cheerful Bulldozer. After some brief adventures in various places such as California and Florida, she returned to her hometown and took up a career in drafting. A lifetime lover of words and stories, the transition to writing was two-fold: a comment from a relative and a short line from another author, saying to write what you want to read.
And thus the new adventure was born.
Now she can be found most days curled up in a comfy chair and creating new tales to share with others.
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Week One:
7/8/2019- BookHounds- Interview
7/8/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt
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7/9/2019- Jaime's World- Guest Post
7/9/2019- Owl Always Be Reading- Guest Post
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7/10/2019- The Tired Buyer- Guest Post
7/10/2019- Julia Swoons- Excerpt
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7/11/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Excerpt
7/11/2019- Lisa Loves Literature- Spotlight
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7/12/2019- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Review
7/12/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
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Week Two:
7/15/2019- Sometimes Leelynn Reads- Review
7/15/2019- Cindy's Love of Books- Review
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7/16/2019- Book Briefs- Review
7/16/2019- Burgandy Ice- Excerpt
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7/17/2019- The Reading Life- Review
7/17/2019- Parajunkee- Excerpt
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7/18/2019- Bri's Book Nook- Review
7/18/2019- Reese's Reviews- Review
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7/19/2019- Drink Coffee and Read Books- Review
7/19/2019- Good Choice Reading- Excerpt
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