Today, I've the lovely Cathi Shaw on with her brandy new cover for Five Corners, The Marked Ones.
Five Corners: Book 1
The Marked Ones
Growing
up in a sleepy village untouched by distant wars and political conflicts, it
was easy for Thia, Mina and Kiara to forget such horrors existed in the Five
Corners. That is until the dead child is found; a child that bears the same
strange birthmark that all three sisters possess. A Mark their mother had
always told them was unique to the girls. Kiara's suspicions grow as their Inn
is soon overrun with outsiders from all walks of life.
Strangers, soldiers and
Elders who all seem to know more about what is happening than the girls do.
After Mina barely survives an attack in the forest, the sisters are faced with
a shattering secret their mother has kept from them for years. As danger closes
in around them, the sisters are forced from their home and must put their trust
in the hands of strangers. With more questions than answers, Kiara finds
herself separated from everyone she loves and reliant on an Outlander who has
spent too much time in army. She doesn't trust Caedmon but she needs him if she
has any hope of being reunited with her sisters and learning what the Mark
might mean.
Kiara felt her
face heat with anger. "You judge me too quickly, Outlander," she said
coldly.
Kiara felt
Thia's fingers grasping her arm. "Kiara, stop, this is not helpful."
Caedmon
nodded. "Listen to your little sister, girl. She at least speaks sense."
Kiara shook Thia
off. "What do you know of it?" she demanded as she took three steps
closer until she was within arm's length of Caedmon. She forced herself to
ignore the fact that her head barely reached his shoulders. Showing Caedmon how
his physical size affected her would not help matters.
"Hey, I was
thinking of going into the Village to see what we could find. How about
it?" Teague broke in with a grin and a nod toward the
street. "C'mon Caedmon, you know a pint of ale and a pretty new face
might lighten your mood."
Caedmon ignored
his brother and took a step closer to Kiara, erasing the little space that had
remained between them. Kiara fought the sudden urge to step away again. Instead
she smiled dismissively.
"Yes, why
don't you listen to your brother, Caedmon, and go find a sweet Village lass to
dally with. Stars knows, our serving maids have had their fill of you."
Caedmon's dark
eyes were devoid of emotion. "How many men have you killed, Kiara?"
he asked, his deep voice taking on a menacing tone as it radiated through her.
She tossed her
head. "I've had plenty of kills."
He shook his
head. "Animals, perhaps." He leaned closer using his size and
physical proximity in an attempt to intimidate her.
Realizing what
he was doing, Kiara forced her lips to tilt up in a shadow of a smile. Then she
leaned even closer and whispered, "Same thing."
His eyes
hardened. "That statement shows how naïve and unprepared you are." He
turned away in disgust and said to Teague, "They really thought she would help? Are we to babysit?"
Teague's teasing
manner disappeared swiftly. "Caedmon, you know why we're here."
"Why are you here?" Thia asked suddenly.
"I, for one, would like an answer to that question."
Her sister had a
point. What was the reason for their sudden appearance at the Inn?
Cathi
Shaw lives in Summerland, BC with her husband and three children. She is
often found wandering around her home, muttering in a seemingly incoherent
manner, particularly when her characters have embarked on new adventure. In
addition to writing fiction, she teaches rhetoric and professional writing in
the Department of Communications at Okanagan College and is the co-author of
the textbook Writing Today.
Twitter: @CathiShaw
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for featuring my new cover, Liza! :)
ReplyDeleteVery spooky looking cover. I've been hooked on this show called Salem (about witches of course) lately and reminds me of a cover for the show. The excerpt already has me curious so I'd say this is a good one. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! The story sounds fantastic, Love the sense of mystery. Definitely added to my TBR. Actually, I think it jumped in front of the rest. Ready for something with a bit of mystery. Just bought.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty cover. I like the blurb and excerpt. I wish you all the best!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome cover! And the story sounds intriguing, too.
ReplyDelete