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| Cover art of Nemu by Ruth Bochte |
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM OF WATER AND
DRAGONS:
Ignoring the cold wet air that slapped painfully at his face, he
urged the horse to go faster through patches of woodland
and over green pastures. The familiar clearing came into
view and with it the sickening sight of his house smoldering,
gutted and destroyed. His first thought was to call out for his
wife, but the soldier in him bade him to be silent in case
renegade Celtic tribes were responsible for the destruction
and they were still nearby.
Movement behind the smoldering house caught his eye and
he halted his horse, motioning for Conare to do the same.
The boy was unarmed and Ambiorix didn’t wish to put him in
danger.
“Stay here,” he instructed the boy. Pulling his sword from
the sheath at his side, he guided the horse through the
trees, into the clearing and into the unknown.
It was much too quiet. Even the birds were silent. The
pounding inside his head roared along with the rapid beating
of his heart. The remains of his ruined house still smoldered
from the ravaging fire. A light rain began to fall and the still
hot embers emitted a resounding hiss.
Ambiorix cautiously dismounted, scanning the area for any
sign of people. He wanted to call out for his wife, but
hesitated, still not sure what had caused the fire. It was
possible the bathhouse caught on fire, as they were
notorious for starting fires, but something didn’t feel right to
him. He prayed to the gods that Valeria made it out of the
house before it burned.
Near the burnt out ruins, he found the bodies of two Roman
soldiers; their headless bodies coated with white ash like the
first dusting of winter snowfall. The evidence confirmed his
fears of an attack and an icy hand gripped his heart,
squeezing the air out of his lungs.
‘Where was Valeria?’ The thought echoed wildly inside his
head.
He whirled around at the sudden sound of a snapping twig.
His sword narrowly missed taking off Fiona’s head. She didn’
t seem to notice that she almost lost her head, her eyes were
wide with shock and she stumbled about as if drunk on spirits.
“Fiona, what happened?” He held on to her arm to keep her
from falling down.
She shook her head, her long wet braid swinging from
shoulder to shoulder, spraying droplets of water.
“Ah…Ah…they blended into the forest like f-faery f-folk.”
He took her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Where is
Valeria?”
“Valeria?” Her eyes were wide, vacant.
“Where is my wife?” He tried to keep the anger out of his
voice, but couldn’t help it.
“Ambiorix!” Taran appeared from around what was left of the
house.
“How could this happen, Taran? Where are all the soldiers?”
“It happened just before dawn. I was in the stables. Most of
the soldiers were called away to a neighboring villa.” He
paused, catching his breath. “I heard screams coming from
the house and then… flames. There was nothing I could do.”
Ambiorix felt his heart rise inside his chest, choking him.
“Valeria?”
“I…I’m sorry. She didn’t make it out of the house.” Taran
shifted his gaze, looking down at the ground.
The world seemed to spin and the vision of the burnt,
blackened house loomed before him like a wide black maw.
Behind him, Fiona started screaming.
“The poor babe! The poor babe all burned up, too!”
He lost all control. “Speak to me, woman! What babe?
What are you talking about?” He shook her hard and
slapped her cheek, the loud crack piercing the thick mist and
rain.
Her eyes cleared and she looked up at him. “Why, your
babe, sir. Valeria, she was with child.”
He turned away, his legs buckling beneath him, and was
violently ill. Shaking, he turned his face upward, letting the
rain cleanse his invisible wounds. They had killed his wife
and unborn child, but it was the unborn child that reached
out to him from the smoldering ashes. He imagined the tiny
fingers grasping onto his large, callused hand. Cursing, he
pounded the earth with his fist, the vision fading into a black
abyss; and with it any hope of peace.
copyright 2005 by Kelley Heckart
DRAGONS:
Ignoring the cold wet air that slapped painfully at his face, he
urged the horse to go faster through patches of woodland
and over green pastures. The familiar clearing came into
view and with it the sickening sight of his house smoldering,
gutted and destroyed. His first thought was to call out for his
wife, but the soldier in him bade him to be silent in case
renegade Celtic tribes were responsible for the destruction
and they were still nearby.
Movement behind the smoldering house caught his eye and
he halted his horse, motioning for Conare to do the same.
The boy was unarmed and Ambiorix didn’t wish to put him in
danger.
“Stay here,” he instructed the boy. Pulling his sword from
the sheath at his side, he guided the horse through the
trees, into the clearing and into the unknown.
It was much too quiet. Even the birds were silent. The
pounding inside his head roared along with the rapid beating
of his heart. The remains of his ruined house still smoldered
from the ravaging fire. A light rain began to fall and the still
hot embers emitted a resounding hiss.
Ambiorix cautiously dismounted, scanning the area for any
sign of people. He wanted to call out for his wife, but
hesitated, still not sure what had caused the fire. It was
possible the bathhouse caught on fire, as they were
notorious for starting fires, but something didn’t feel right to
him. He prayed to the gods that Valeria made it out of the
house before it burned.
Near the burnt out ruins, he found the bodies of two Roman
soldiers; their headless bodies coated with white ash like the
first dusting of winter snowfall. The evidence confirmed his
fears of an attack and an icy hand gripped his heart,
squeezing the air out of his lungs.
‘Where was Valeria?’ The thought echoed wildly inside his
head.
He whirled around at the sudden sound of a snapping twig.
His sword narrowly missed taking off Fiona’s head. She didn’
t seem to notice that she almost lost her head, her eyes were
wide with shock and she stumbled about as if drunk on spirits.
“Fiona, what happened?” He held on to her arm to keep her
from falling down.
She shook her head, her long wet braid swinging from
shoulder to shoulder, spraying droplets of water.
“Ah…Ah…they blended into the forest like f-faery f-folk.”
He took her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Where is
Valeria?”
“Valeria?” Her eyes were wide, vacant.
“Where is my wife?” He tried to keep the anger out of his
voice, but couldn’t help it.
“Ambiorix!” Taran appeared from around what was left of the
house.
“How could this happen, Taran? Where are all the soldiers?”
“It happened just before dawn. I was in the stables. Most of
the soldiers were called away to a neighboring villa.” He
paused, catching his breath. “I heard screams coming from
the house and then… flames. There was nothing I could do.”
Ambiorix felt his heart rise inside his chest, choking him.
“Valeria?”
“I…I’m sorry. She didn’t make it out of the house.” Taran
shifted his gaze, looking down at the ground.
The world seemed to spin and the vision of the burnt,
blackened house loomed before him like a wide black maw.
Behind him, Fiona started screaming.
“The poor babe! The poor babe all burned up, too!”
He lost all control. “Speak to me, woman! What babe?
What are you talking about?” He shook her hard and
slapped her cheek, the loud crack piercing the thick mist and
rain.
Her eyes cleared and she looked up at him. “Why, your
babe, sir. Valeria, she was with child.”
He turned away, his legs buckling beneath him, and was
violently ill. Shaking, he turned his face upward, letting the
rain cleanse his invisible wounds. They had killed his wife
and unborn child, but it was the unborn child that reached
out to him from the smoldering ashes. He imagined the tiny
fingers grasping onto his large, callused hand. Cursing, he
pounded the earth with his fist, the vision fading into a black
abyss; and with it any hope of peace.
copyright 2005 by Kelley Heckart
No part of this web site is to be copied without the permission of the author.
5 Angels! Kelley Heckart embraces romance,
battles, and fairies in Of Water and Dragons that
make this delightful story a precious treasure to read.
She instills a great plot, intriguing dialogue and a
well-rounded cast of secondary characters that keep
the story flowing creatively and gives good meaning
to absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Reviewed by: Linda L. at Fallen Angel Reviews
battles, and fairies in Of Water and Dragons that
make this delightful story a precious treasure to read.
She instills a great plot, intriguing dialogue and a
well-rounded cast of secondary characters that keep
the story flowing creatively and gives good meaning
to absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Reviewed by: Linda L. at Fallen Angel Reviews
"The characters and the story have heavy Arthurian
overtones, but the plot does not play out like the
legends, or even the Badon Hill version of historical
Arthur. This does make for a surprising ending,
which is good, and lays the groundwork for future
novels following on from this one."
Reviewed by PaganNews.com
overtones, but the plot does not play out like the
legends, or even the Badon Hill version of historical
Arthur. This does make for a surprising ending,
which is good, and lays the groundwork for future
novels following on from this one."
Reviewed by PaganNews.com
"The riveting novel is authentically set in ancient
Scotland and Britain. Conflict and cultural differences
affects their relationship adding suspense, surprise,
mythic, and historical fantasy to a spellbinding
plot...Real Celtic lore and Roman history combined
adds synergy to the exciting, soul-stirring story about
separation, conflict, love and sacrifice."
Recommended and reviewed in The Mindquest
Review, by Lightword Publishing
Scotland and Britain. Conflict and cultural differences
affects their relationship adding suspense, surprise,
mythic, and historical fantasy to a spellbinding
plot...Real Celtic lore and Roman history combined
adds synergy to the exciting, soul-stirring story about
separation, conflict, love and sacrifice."
Recommended and reviewed in The Mindquest
Review, by Lightword Publishing
This reviewer found it an interesting tale, rich in myth
and preserved history. Although not meant to be
historically correct, it relies on the suspicions and
myths alive at the time. The mystic dragon and the
Druid abilities make this an interesting setting. The
characters are very well drawn, with some out of the
ordinary people mixed in. A colourful but harsh life for
most, although freedom wasn’t something most
people had. Slavery was rife and shown as
demeaning and something most fought to avoid. The
ceremonies and battle scenes are vividly brought to
life on the pages.
The author has tied the story in with well-known and
still not understood happenings in history. This tale
is filled with well-written prose, some great dialogue
and descriptions. The characters are well drawn and
true to the time frame. It also brought the land and
the tribal outlook to life in a new way as the historical
background rolled forward.
If you like unusual fantasy and can suspend belief for
a while, you will enjoy this trip back in time.
Reviewed by Pam
November 2005
© Love Romances, 2001-2005. All Rights Reserved
and preserved history. Although not meant to be
historically correct, it relies on the suspicions and
myths alive at the time. The mystic dragon and the
Druid abilities make this an interesting setting. The
characters are very well drawn, with some out of the
ordinary people mixed in. A colourful but harsh life for
most, although freedom wasn’t something most
people had. Slavery was rife and shown as
demeaning and something most fought to avoid. The
ceremonies and battle scenes are vividly brought to
life on the pages.
The author has tied the story in with well-known and
still not understood happenings in history. This tale
is filled with well-written prose, some great dialogue
and descriptions. The characters are well drawn and
true to the time frame. It also brought the land and
the tribal outlook to life in a new way as the historical
background rolled forward.
If you like unusual fantasy and can suspend belief for
a while, you will enjoy this trip back in time.
Reviewed by Pam
November 2005
© Love Romances, 2001-2005. All Rights Reserved
4 Cups! This tales speaks of another time. A time of
faeries, soldiers, druids, and magic. Ms. Heckart
draws the reader into the pages and enchants them
with her words, making them believe for just a little
while that they too can call on dragons or control
armies. For the time it takes to read this book, we just
might have the power to control the universe. Of
Water and Dragons is a romance to make you believe
again.
Karen Magill
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
faeries, soldiers, druids, and magic. Ms. Heckart
draws the reader into the pages and enchants them
with her words, making them believe for just a little
while that they too can call on dragons or control
armies. For the time it takes to read this book, we just
might have the power to control the universe. Of
Water and Dragons is a romance to make you believe
again.
Karen Magill
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
"OF WATER AND DRAGONS is an inviting story.
Readers will like Nemu and Ambriorix. Themes of
destiny and fate are threaded throughout the book,
and the secondary characters add to these themes,
helping to neatly tie up the story. Yet for all the
coincidences that Ms. Heckart offers readers, there
are a few surprises...OF WATER AND DRAGONS is a
solid read; if you are interested in a story filled with
information about Celtic religion and Roman
history,...OF WATER AND DRAGONS is for you."
Reviewed by Nickole Yarbrough of Romance Reviews
Today
Readers will like Nemu and Ambriorix. Themes of
destiny and fate are threaded throughout the book,
and the secondary characters add to these themes,
helping to neatly tie up the story. Yet for all the
coincidences that Ms. Heckart offers readers, there
are a few surprises...OF WATER AND DRAGONS is a
solid read; if you are interested in a story filled with
information about Celtic religion and Roman
history,...OF WATER AND DRAGONS is for you."
Reviewed by Nickole Yarbrough of Romance Reviews
Today
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4
Both Nemu and Ambiorix are well drawn out and I
cared a lot what happened to them, so much so I had
trouble putting this book down.
The ancient world they lived in is vivid and very
realistic. Their love story is a fascinating mix of
Roman history, Celtic lore, fantasy elements and a
strong desire for one another.
Reviewed by Romance Junkies Reviewer Michelle
Both Nemu and Ambiorix are well drawn out and I
cared a lot what happened to them, so much so I had
trouble putting this book down.
The ancient world they lived in is vivid and very
realistic. Their love story is a fascinating mix of
Roman history, Celtic lore, fantasy elements and a
strong desire for one another.
Reviewed by Romance Junkies Reviewer Michelle
The author spins a fine tale...The characters are
three-dimensional and easily captured my interest.
The plot weaves seamlessly through a complicated
time in history, taking advantage of ambiguities to
insert an otherworldly mystique. I truly enjoyed this
story and look forward to reading more from this
author.
Reviewed by Debra Rodensky for Historical Novels Online
three-dimensional and easily captured my interest.
The plot weaves seamlessly through a complicated
time in history, taking advantage of ambiguities to
insert an otherworldly mystique. I truly enjoyed this
story and look forward to reading more from this
author.
Reviewed by Debra Rodensky for Historical Novels Online
This story is rich in Celtic Lore. The author is a master
storyteller that weaves and binds you in her spell of
enchantment as you become engrossed in this tale of
love and sacrifice.
Reviewed by Qetesh at TCM Reviews
storyteller that weaves and binds you in her spell of
enchantment as you become engrossed in this tale of
love and sacrifice.
Reviewed by Qetesh at TCM Reviews
The story was good, the plot moved along fairly
quickly and was unique in both plot and delivery.
Reviewed by Astraea at Enchanted Ramblings
quickly and was unique in both plot and delivery.
Reviewed by Astraea at Enchanted Ramblings
This is an incredibly well written book with a good plot
that moves along fast enough so you find yourself
having to keep reading.
Reviewed by Morgaine at The Pagan Review
that moves along fast enough so you find yourself
having to keep reading.
Reviewed by Morgaine at The Pagan Review
| REVIEWS |
| INTERVIEWS |
Long before I was writing books, I played bass guitar
and wrote songs in an all female hard rock band called
Driven Steel. My roots in writing started with this band.
Metal Maidens revisits the past with an interview with
Driven Steel. Click on the link below to read this
interview and to see pictures of Driven Steel.
and wrote songs in an all female hard rock band called
Driven Steel. My roots in writing started with this band.
Metal Maidens revisits the past with an interview with
Driven Steel. Click on the link below to read this
interview and to see pictures of Driven Steel.
Order the trade paperback from me
and receive an autographed copy & a
free bookmark! Click below! Canada &
U.S. only.
and receive an autographed copy & a
free bookmark! Click below! Canada &
U.S. only.
| Of Water and Dragons is now available at the following stores: New Age Concepts, 55836 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley, CA 92284 For store hours please call 760-365-9284. Hastings Books, Music & Video, 321 Lake Havasu Ave. N., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. The phone number is 928-680-7272. Desert Swan, 2018 McCulloch Blvd. Suite G, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406. For store hours, call 928-854-7926. |
Of Water and Dragons ordering info,
excerpt, reviews and interviews
excerpt, reviews and interviews
To order the trade paperback, click on
the 'buy from amazon.com' link below:
the 'buy from amazon.com' link below:
| Experience ancient Britain like never before... |
Back cover text from Of Water and Dragons (Celtic
Fantasy Romance)
They were destined to meet, but were they destined to be
together?
“Of Water and Dragons” takes place on the mystical island of
Britannia from the dark enchanted lochs of Scotland to the
grand bathhouses of Roman Britain.
The battle of Mons Graupius in AD 84 is one of the most
profound battles in history when the Romans, though greatly
outnumbered, defeat the Celtic tribes of ancient Scotland
and furthered the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Here, in this untamed land the Romans call Caledonia, lives
Nemu (Nay-Moo), a half-human, half-water faery woman.
Soon after the battle ends, she finds a wounded Roman
soldier named Ambiorix. Despite her distrust of humans, she
takes him in and heals his wounds. Though they are from
different worlds, they are mysteriously drawn to each other,
but unforeseen forces keep them apart until their worlds
collide in a fury of fire, blood and darkness.
“Of Water and Dragons” weaves together the Roman history
and Celtic lore of ancient Britain to create an unforgettable
story of love and sacrifice.
Fantasy Romance)
They were destined to meet, but were they destined to be
together?
“Of Water and Dragons” takes place on the mystical island of
Britannia from the dark enchanted lochs of Scotland to the
grand bathhouses of Roman Britain.
The battle of Mons Graupius in AD 84 is one of the most
profound battles in history when the Romans, though greatly
outnumbered, defeat the Celtic tribes of ancient Scotland
and furthered the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Here, in this untamed land the Romans call Caledonia, lives
Nemu (Nay-Moo), a half-human, half-water faery woman.
Soon after the battle ends, she finds a wounded Roman
soldier named Ambiorix. Despite her distrust of humans, she
takes him in and heals his wounds. Though they are from
different worlds, they are mysteriously drawn to each other,
but unforeseen forces keep them apart until their worlds
collide in a fury of fire, blood and darkness.
“Of Water and Dragons” weaves together the Roman history
and Celtic lore of ancient Britain to create an unforgettable
story of love and sacrifice.