February 19, 2013

Lovely Excerpt from Susanna Kearsley's The Firebird & Awesome Giveaway of Four of Her Books. Four!


Have I told you how much I like Susanna Kearsley’s books? Yes I have. Multiple times, actually. But I’ll say it again: Ms. Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. Her books are filled with magic, interesting characters, delicious angst and lots of swoon-worthy romance. So it’s no surprise that her upcoming book, The Firebird, is one of my most anticipated books of the year. This is why when Sourcebooks asked if I wanted to be part of this mini-tour I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

We have an exclusive excerpt to whet everyone’s appetite and an awesome giveaway for those who have yet to read her books.


THE FIREBIRD By Susanna Kearsley
EXCERPT #2 (CHAPTER 5)

Rob took his wallet out, put down enough for the bill and a generous tip, and then tucking the wallet away looked at me as I stood. “D’ye not have a jacket?”
     I shook my head. “I didn’t really think… I mean, it’s August, and it’s warmer down in London, and I didn’t…” I was babbling again. I stopped myself and started over, more coherently. “This trip was a last-minute thing. I didn’t plan ahead.”
     Rob hid a smile. “A first for you, then.” Shrugging off his own dark blue windcheater, he held it for me. “Here, put this on.”
     The coat was lined with thermal fleece that felt blanket-soft on my bare forearms, and when I stepped from the cheerful pub to the dark pavement outdoors I was grateful for both the coat’s warmth and the sheltering windbreak of Rob at my back. He didn’t crowd me, didn’t touch me, but I felt the force of his protection all the same.
     Even though it was properly dark now—the cold wind roughening the water of the harbor so whatever light was coming from the fishing boats and those few windows on the black hill opposite reflected only briefly in a thousand scattered fragments that were swiftly doused in blackness—still the harbor was alive with people out to find their fun on Friday night. As Rob shepherded me past the Ship Hotel, a trio of men stumbled out of the door to the public bar, where they’d apparently been for a while from the look of them, and from the loudness of their voices, cursing cheerfully and often.
     One man staggered into Rob and let loose with an expletive before he noticed who he’d just bumped into.
     Rob said, “Heyah, Jimmy.”
     The man, less belligerent, gave a nod. “Keen-Een.”
     Rob looked at the man’s mates and said, “You’ll be helping him home, will you?”
     “Aye,” said the nearest man, dragging his friend back. “We’re gaun hame the now.”
     “See that you don’t wander off into Armatage Street,” he advised them. “I’ve been on a shout with the lifeboat the day, I’m fair jiggered, and getting called out to a housebreaking widnae improve my mood any.”
     The nearest man stared at him hard for a moment, and then his mouth twisted into something approaching a grin. “All right, Keen-Een. We’re gaun hame, as I said.” And he herded his friends away, all of them walking unsteadily.
     Watching them, I asked Rob, “Will they go home, do you think?”
     “Oh, aye. It spoils their fun,” he told me, “when they ken I ken they’re at it.”
     I imagined that the crime rate here in Eyemouth had gone down since Rob McMorran joined the force. Whereas I only “saw” things when I held an object, Rob’s own gifts were greater than that, as I’d learned in the short time I’d known him. He read people’s minds with astonishing ease.
     I remembered that talent now, trying to keep my own thoughts in control as I asked, “Do you live very far from here?”
     “Not far at all.” He nodded to a block of flats scarcely a stone’s throw away. “I’m just there, Chapel Quay, but it’s only a bedsit, and you’ll get no sleep with my snoring.”
     His tone was normal, but I felt the line that he was drawing in between us, whether from his own desire to keep me at a distance, or to show me that he understood my coming back for help meant only that, and nothing more.
     “I see. So then where…?”
     “You’ll find more comfort out at the cottage.”
     “The cottage?”
     My mind filled with images, swirling, receding—the brightness and warmth of a low-ceilinged kitchen, the edge of a lace curtain brushing the white-painted sill of a deeply set window with one cracked glass pane, a succession of snapshots so rapid and fleeting I couldn’t catch all of them, blending to one strong impression of home.
     Rob said, “I’ve rung my mother, let her know you’re coming. You can sleep in my old room.”
     That seemed even more personal, somehow, than spending the night at his bedsit. “Won’t your mother mind having a guest to look after?” 
     “My mother? She’s probably baking something as we speak. She loves company.” Stopping at a navy blue Ford Focus in the car park, he opened the passenger door for me. “It’s my father you’ll want to be keeping an eye on. He’s aye had a liking for blonds.”

Read the first excerpt here.

*****

Connect with Susanna:

Website | Blog | Twitter

*****

GIVEAWAY

As I said before, the excerpt comes bearing gifts – awesome gifts. One winner will get a copy of the following books: The Shadowy Horses, Mariana, The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden. See? Awesome! I’ve reviewed three of the four, and two of them were 5-star reads.

For a chance to win all you have to do is leave a comment telling me you’re in. No need to leave your email on the comment, but if you don’t do it, come back next Monday to check if you won. This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.

Details:
  • Giveaway ends 01/24/13
  • Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced here and via email (if email address was provided) and will have 72 hours to respond.
  • Leaving your email address on the comment makes my life easier, but it’s not necessary. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it, please come back on Sunday night or on Monday to check if you won, because I won’t be able to get in touch with you.
  • For more details read our Giveaway and Privacy policies.
*****
About the Book:
Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes glimpses those who have owned it before. When a woman arrives with a small wooden carving at the gallery Nicola works at, she can see the object's history and knows that it was named after the Firebird-the mythical creature from an old Russian fable.
Compelled to know more, Nicola follows a young girl named Anna into the past who leads her on a quest through the glittering backdrops of the Jacobites and Russian courts, unearthing a tale of love, courage, and redemption.
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

Sourcebooks. June 4, 2013.

19 comments:

  1. There's no need to enter me in the giveaway (I own all of these books and adore them all), I just wanted to say that I hadn't heard about The Firebird and I'm so completely excited for it. Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  2. No need to enter me, either, as I also love her books. I am SO EXCITED about The Firebird!!! I wish I lived closer to one of the cities she's visiting on her US tour. :( Still, so exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OH yes, please! I'd love to be entered. I just recently finished reading The Winter Sea--my first Kearsley book and I CANNOT wait to read The Firebird! Love this excerpt. If I win, I'm going to give The Winter Sea to my library (since they don't have it and I bought it for reading just a few weeks ago). The rest will surely find places on my keeper shelf. Thanks for the chance to win! :)

    krauscakes at verizon . net

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, I'm in. I would love to read her books. Thanks so much!!
    maagic5905 at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am totally in. I love series. I love finding new authors also. This is a new series and author for me. Definately adding to my must try list. Thanks for the chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  6. christinebails at yahoo dot com
    forgot email.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please include me. I have not read this author, but the excerpt was great!! I love finding new authors. Trishleroy49 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Please include me! The book sounds great! I would love to read them all!

    Mary
    mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I absolutely loved the excerpt. Sadly I live in the UK so don't qualify for the giveaway:( But I've just downloaded The Rose Garden and am excited about starting it. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  10. would love to win...consider me in!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I absolutely LOVE Susanna's work,. The Winter Sea just blew me away. Please count me in.
    She's one of my favorite Authors.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sign me up! Love her books and looking forward to reading this newest one. Thanks!

    -Sarah E.

    ReplyDelete
  13. nice, nice, NICE giveaway!!
    thank you!!

    cyn209 at juno dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This one looks so great! I've only read Winter Sea thus far, but I absolutely loved it! Please enter me into the giveaway. My e-mail address is megankathleenward at yahoo dot com.

    Thanks so much!

    Meg

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, please and thank you very much! I'd love to be included in the giveaway. I came across this blog because I have a Google alert for SK, since she is also one of my favorite authors.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wondeful giveaway. I love the sound of all her books, especially The Firebrand.

    Na S.
    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've never read anything by this author. But I enjoyed the excerpt and will keep my eye on the book. Now I'm off to check out your reviews of the other books. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please enter me. Thanks.
    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Blogger likes to eat comments, so I suggest copying it before hitting "publish" just in case it doesn't go through the first time. This is a pain, I know, but it's the only solution/prevision I can think of, and it will save you the frustration of losing a comment. Also, thanks for visiting!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

FTC Disclaimer

The books reviewed here were purchased by us. If the book was provided by the author or publisher for review, it will be noted on the post. We do not get any type of monetary compensation from publishers or authors.