Blurb for Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin:
Trouble is Tara Triannon’s middle name. As swords for hire,
Tara and her sister Laraina thrive on the danger. But a surprise invasion
throws them into chaos... and trouble on a whole new level. Pursued by the
Butcher, a terrifying assassin more wolf than man, Tara and Laraina must get a
prince marked for death and a young, inept sorceress to safety. There’s only
one problem – eluding the Butcher has never been done. Aided by a secretive
soldier of fortune, they flee the relentless hunter.
Gifted with magic and cursed by nightmares that are all too
real, Tara must stop an army led by a madman and fend off an evil Being caught
in a centuries-old trap who seeks to control her magic and escape through her
dreams – all while keeping one step ahead of the Butcher.
Excerpt:
Tara raced down the
moon-silvered streets, following the clash and clang of
weapons. Shutters cracked open, then slammed shut as the city dwellers glimpsed
what was happening. Up ahead, a snarling knot of soldiers blocked her path. She
dodged into a side street. The soldiers chased after her, following a parallel
course. Somewhere to her right, near the docking bay, she heard a shout and
recognized the voice. She charged forward.
She found Trevillion with
his back to the wall, the councilman's soldiers closing in around him.
Trevillion fought them off, but was impossibly outnumbered. Tara ran toward
him. With another shout, Trevillion leaped into the surrounding troops, sword
flashing, and Tara lost sight of him. Just as she reached the mob of soldiers,
Trevillion staggered out of the melee and fell, clutching
his right side. Tara swept past him, yelling and launching a vicious attack on
the nearest soldiers that had them backing away like rats from a flame.
Trevillion
dragged himself to his feet. "Tara! What in blazes?"
She
sped back to his side. "Are you all right?" Her voice died away.
"Oh, gods," she whispered, looking past him. Icy-hot chills raked her
flesh. "Natiere."
Head
and shoulders above the rest, the Butcher stood, watching her. A satisfied
smile softened the ragged scar ruining his face. He was so close. His black
eyes locked with hers. In that instant, she sensed his pleasure, his approval.
Her mind slipped deeper into his and felt anguish, the pain of a life as
tortured as his victims. Surprise crossed Natiere's face.
Trevillion
gripped her arm. "Tara!"
She
blinked, wrenched her eyes away. She saw the regrouping soldiers coming at
them.
"This
way!" With his arm clamped to his side, Trevillion ran.
Forcing
her limbs to move, Tara followed. Soldiers attacked from all sides. Ducking and
slashing, they fought through them and kept running. Tara felt the Butcher
coming after her, gaining. She heard a voice like grinding rock barking orders,
and the soldiers backed off.
With startling suddenness, Tara and Trevillion burst out
into the open. In front of them lay the swollen river. The councilman's troops
swarmed out onto the docking bay on either side of them. Tara and Trevillion
raced to the river's edge and jumped.
Lori
L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry
Brooks, finding The Lord of the Rings
and The Sword of Shannara
particularly inspirational. She's been writing stories in her head since she
was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up.
She
has been many things over the years – tree climber, dairy farmer, clothing
salesperson, kids' shoe fitter, retail manager, medical transcriptionist,
journalist, private pilot, traveler, wife and mother, Red Sox and New York
Giants fan, muscle car enthusiast and NASCAR fan, and a lover of all things
Scottish and Irish.
When
she's not writing (or working), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming
up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time
with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.
Retailer Links:
Social Media Links:
Website/blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com
Twitter: @LLMacL
Thank you very much, Diane, for including me in your Saturday Sampler series!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure having you, Lori.Come back again.
DeleteBeautiful cover, great read.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thanks, Juneta! And thanks for following me around.
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