by Jeanne Hardt
Love overwhelmed her. She eagerly discovered every part of the flesh that made him a man, and he took her body as his own. She truly became lost in him and would never be the same.
He was gentle and giving, yet firm and strong. A lover who relished giving her pleasure while savoring his own. A protector who would give his life for her, but in doing so, would extinguish her own heart.
To the crash of a wave, he cried out and released. She fiercely held onto him, never wanting to part. It seemed as if his racing heartbeat pulsed deep inside her. They had indeed become one flesh.
He buried his head into her shoulder. Though their bodies were drenched in sweat, they were drowned in love.
Ever so slowly, he lifted his head. She savored the dim candlelight, grateful she could see his pleasure. She cherished every touch, every sound, and the ecstasy in his eyes.
He kissed the tip of her nose, then followed it with another gentle kiss on her mouth. His breathing slowed, and she, too, calmed.
“I shall never forget this night.” He panted out the words.
“Nor shall I.” She ran her fingers through his damp hair. “I am not weary. Shall we start again?”
He chuckled softly, then rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. His hands slid down her sides, then came to rest on her bottom. No longer hesitant, he touched her as a familiar lover, with hands both gentle and firm.
She released a blissful groan, and once more joined with him.
She could not have asked for anything more perfect. She had married the man she loved, and most importantly, they were free.
Loving him exceeded her dreams. Better still, she knew their time together had just begun.
The idyllic night had started something wonderful . . .
The beginning of a lifetime of happiness.
Acknowledgments
Oh my goodness . . . where do I begin?
This story has been in my heart and mind for thirty years. It began one night when my young son asked me to tell him a bedtime story. I usually read to him, but he wanted something more. A story that was not in any of his books. That was a tall order coming from a five-year-old.
I tried to appease him by telling him my own rendition of a popular fairy tale. I think it was “Little Red Riding Hood” or perhaps, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” But I can’t say for certain. All I know is that nothing that sounded the least bit familiar satisfied him.
My mind spun, and “Island in the Forest” came into being. Of course, at that time, it was not a mature tale, but a fairy tale meant to make my little boy sleepy. It was much simpler then, but the premise has always been the same.
When he was about ten, I decided to ‘type’ the story. (Yes, on a now-extinct typewriter) I expanded it, added more characters and adventure, but still left it as a fairy tale. I envisioned it on the animated big screen and even sent it to several publishing houses for consideration. At the time, I knew nothing about publishing. I still have the kind rejection letter I received, encouraging me to keep at it, but I tucked it away and forgot about it for a while longer.
By the time my son reached his late teens, I became active in musical theater. I decided to do another rewrite and turned “Island” into a musical, complete with twelve songs. I think five of them have been fully scored, but that version was also eventually set aside. I still hope to one day do something with some of those songs. They’re quite lovely!
When I began writing novels, Sebastian and Olivia’s story haunted me. So, I dusted it off and started over from the beginning. I feel it still has the air of a fairy tale in some respects, but like myself and my son, the story has matured. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have treasured it for so many years.
Of course, I’m grateful to my son, Nathan, to whom this book is dedicated, but there are many others who helped bring it to life.
Over the years, many people read my early versions, and I’m afraid I couldn’t name them all if I tried. If you are one of those people, I hope you realize how much I have appreciated your support. I also hope you can tell just how much this adventure has grown from the time you first read it. And I’m happy to say, there’s much more to come!
When I completed my earliest novel version, Caitlin Fryer agreed to Beta read for me. She gave in depth feedback on every chapter that was invaluable. Thank you, Caitlin, for being so thorough! Her insight helped me iron out all the fine details.
Thank you also to Diane Gardner and Charli Heyer, who jumped on board and Beta read once I finished all the updates after going through Caitlin’s notes. Diane and Charli are masters at finding typos, etc. They also don’t hesitate to tell me if they don’t like something. As painful as it might be, it’s appreciated.
Thank you to my editor, Alicia Dean, for so joyfully taking on this lengthy project! She has a gift for seeing into the heart of characters and making certain I stay on track.
I’m thrilled with my cover design for this book. Thank you, Rae Monet! It’s wonderful when I envision how I’d like something to look, and Rae manages to bring it to life. As always, I appreciate Karen Duvall’s back cover design as well.
Thank you to Jesse Gordon who went above and beyond formatting for me, and who was able to give this book that unique medieval feel.
Most importantly, I appreciate every reader who gave this story a chance. I hope that those of you who have read my other historical fiction have enjoyed stepping back in time to a realm outside our world. Though my kingdoms are fictitious, I tried hard to bear a resemblance to a walk through the gates of Camelot. I’ve always been a fan of Arthurian legend and have had a longtime crush on Merlin thanks to Mary Stewart’s wonderful books.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me!
God bless,
Jeanne
Coming Soon!
Mountain of Masks
Shrouded Thrones, Book 2
Life outside the walls of Padrida should bring Olivia nothing but joy. She has attained freedom and is married to the man she wholeheartedly loves.
Unfortunately, there are those who refuse to accept her as royal. Power-hungry relatives view her unfavorable union with Sebastian as a means to stake claim to his throne. Seeds of doubt are planted in every realm and unimaginable deeds are carried out in order to accomplish wicked desires.
Though Sebastian does all he can to shield Olivia from those who wish to harm her, Olivia begins to fear that happily ever after can only be attained in fairy tales. Their love is tested beyond measure, but they are determined to stand strong.
Books By Jeanne Hardt:
The River Romance Series:
Marked
Tainted
Forgotten
* * *
From the Ashes of Atlanta
* * *
A Golden Life
* * *
The Southern Secrets Saga:
Deceptions
Consequences
Desires
Incivilities
Revelations
Misconceptions
Redemption
* * *
He’s in My Dreams
* * *
The Smoky Mountain Secrets Saga:
Whispers from the Cove
Hushed into Silence
Murmurs in the Mountains
For more information about Jeanne’s books, check out the links below:
www.facebook.com/JEANNEHARDTAUTHOR
www.jeannehardt.com
www.amazon.com/author/jeannehardt
www.goodreads.com/jeannehardt
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