Having a Fantasy Filled Day

A young woman in medieval dress and a white horse

The Magic of Inherian: Scepter of Salvation, Book 1

Ebook By Terry Spear
Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy
Princess Talamaya turned 18 in the human kingdom of Damar, just like her twin brother. Only when she comes of age, she must wed the king’s choice. When her brother comes of age, he’s allowed to sit on the council. But everything changes when a wizard pits beast and man against each other in Inherian–all because of the loss of the Scepter of Salvation and she must return it to their kingdom.
Princess Talamaya and her friends, Lady Kersta and Lady Mexia, must retrieve the Scepter of Salvation when her brother is poisoned.Visions plague Talamaya of a world beyond her own, of a destiny she has to fulfill.But the barbarian king is also after the scepter, and the black-hearted wizard who is trying to gain control will do anything to keep them from retrieving it.
She must free a knight from his madness.
Help a female dwarf escape from the dwarven mines.
Aid an Amazon fighting the Dark Elves.
Rescue even the barbarian king.
Save a crusty old dwarf from the wolves of Elan Pass.
And outwit the dark wizard once more.
Above all else, she must always take the path of righteousness.

 

Which is much easier said than done.

 

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 iBooks:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-scepter-of-salvation/id1155740533?mt=11
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Terry_Spear_The_Scepter_of_Salvation?id=AJQFAwAAQBAJ

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She has to learn her magic skills to save their world, but if she can’t attend the school of magic, how will she ever be able to aid them?

The Magic of Inherian: The Mage of Monrovia, Book 2

Ebook By Terry Spear
Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy » Romance – Fantasy

An apprentice of the mage they had destroyed earlier, now threatens Inherian once again. But when Mexia arrives at Langdon to become school trained, she learns the school will not permit a woman to attend. But she must destroy the mage’s apprentice, and she cannot do so without the training. She must use the magic she has learned to discover a way to defeat the apprentice before it is too late.
Mexia has already done much more than most school- trained mages when she and her companions had gone in search of the scepter of salvation. But now one of the apprentices of the evil wizard they had destroyed, has stolen his spell book and plans to take up where he had left off, and she has to try and stop him.
Mexia believes the only way for her to defeat the mage is to become school trained like he was with the eventual goal of becoming a high wizard–the first of her kind in Inherian. But the current headmaster denies her entrance because she’s a woman. Though if she can get the former headmaster’s recommendation, she may attend.
And that’s the beginning of the trouble.
First, there’s the wizard.
Then, the immovable headmaster.
And then, the circle of misfortunes.
It all goes downhill from there…

 

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B&N

Smashwords

Kobo

 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Terry_Spear_The_Mage_of_Monrovia?id=GPwlAwAAQBAJ
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mage-of-monrovia/id1155745068?mt=11
Audible

When I saw this dwarf in the gardens, I thought of my fantasy trilogy. Which, I need to still finish. The story is: I wrote the first two, had the idea for the third, couldn't sell the first two, this was in the dinosaur time before ebooks and indie publishing, and so I put it on hold. THEN, I sold other books to publishers and was so busy writing them, and new books, and more new series, and more and more and more, and...well, you get the idea, don't you?

I have started on it, but I have edits on Flight to finish today, need to finish writing Bounty, and I've been thinking about Billionaire.

*sigh*

But right after this, it's time to reread Flight and make sure it's ready to turn in.

I did finally plant the flowers this morning, and dug up some of the grass. I need to keep working on that though. :)  And I saw a hummingbird flying around the birdseed feeders. The flowers I planted are all hummingbird flower plants and butterflies love them too.

Some days I want to just slip into a fantasy.

Enjoy your day!!! Hope that it is just as magical. :) 

Terry Spear
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

A Walk at Biltmore

Hi, everyone, yesterday was my birthday. A good friend and I went to Biltmore Estate for a few hours. Here are some scenes from our walk.

Biltmore House

 First we drove to the garden parking area and walked through part of the gardens.

A primitive bench among the azaleas

Reblooming azaleas

Japanese Anemone

 There is a trail through the woods I'd never walked on. So it was neat to discover what was along this woodland trail.

A bridge over a stream or swampy area.

Some sort of brightly colored mushrooms.

The trail.

Looking from the trail toward the bass pond.

Wild asters in front of the waterfall.

The trail emerged from the woods just behind this bridge. We walked over it and along the drive then crossed a footbridge (where we saw a snake.) As we were walking up the other side of the pond, I took this photo.

Here is another cute rustic bridge.

The footbridge I mentioned above.

The bass pond.

The resident ducks.

The bridge leading to the boat dock.

The boat dock.

Reblooming azaleas.

The gardens.

Walled garden.

Butterfly on Lantana.

A hidden bench just outside the conservatory.

Roses.

Hope you enjoyed this walk around Biltmore.

I received a wonderful review for my birthday. :) Thank you so much, April!!

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! A Scottish Highlander fans dream!!, September 22, 2014

By 
April A. Renn 

 #6 in the Highland Adventure series, but can be read as a stand alone. I love this series! Fast paced, adventure filled with the right blend of suspense and romance. From the beginning "Rebbie", Robert MacInnis, Earl of Rebbinglen and Lady Calla Ferguson will steal your heart as their love story blossoms. Ms. Sinclair has once again weaved intrigue, danger, secrets, passion and romance together into a compelling "Highland Adventure". A wickedly delicious tale that will keep you reading long into the night. Intriguing and compelling characters with a suspenseful, soulful "Highland Adventure". A must read for Scottish Highland Historical fans. I was in awe from the beginning and the story lingered long after the last page. Thank you, Ms Sinclair for such an enjoyable read! Well done!

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewed by: April R, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

My Rebel Highlander

Known for his wicked wit, fierce loyalty, and skills in battle, Robert "Rebbie" MacInnis, the Earl of Rebbinglen, loves freedom and has no plans of marrying anytime soon. But when his father, a powerful Scottish marquess, signs a contract betrothing Rebbie to an earl's young daughter, he is furious. If he has to marry, he's determined to choose his own bride, though he has no inkling who he would wish to wed until fate intervenes to remind him of one fair-haired, nameless beauty and the passionate night they spent together years ago. A night forever etched in his memory. 

Lady Calla Ferguson, a penniless widow with a young son, is forced to seek employment as her cousin's companion in order to pay her late husband's massive gambling debt. Having been ignored or mistreated most of her life, Calla has become a resourceful survivor who will stop at nothing to get what she wants—safety and security for her son and herself. Wealthy merchant, Claybourne cares little for the money the Earl of Stanbury owed him; he simply wants the earl's beautiful, voluptuous widow and he'll do whatever it takes to get his hands on her, even kidnapping and blackmail. 

When Rebbie happens upon Claybourne abducting Calla, he rescues her and hides her in a secluded castle deep in the wild Scottish Highlands. Calla conceals her passionate spirit beneath reserve and duty, along with closely-guarded secrets which, if exposed, could ruin both her life and her son's. Years ago, she lost her heart to a dark-eyed stranger she never thought to see again, but now he's her protector. Rebbie craves another pleasurable night like the one they shared in the past, and she cannot resist the fiery passion that echoes deep in her heart and soul. Soft but strong, Calla sparks within Rebbie a desperate hunger and a need to protect her. But will her secrets tear them apart? 

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Thanks!
Vonda

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The Azalea Garden at Biltmore

My friend and I visited Biltmore on May 2. The main reason for our visit was to see the 15 acre Azalea Garden which is spectacular at this time of year.

I loved this little bridge (above). This is the largest garden at Biltmore and it contains a thousand azaleas of all sorts of varieties, including native and hybrid.

This garden was mostly planted by Chauncey Beadle, a Cornell University graduate and horticulturist who was hired "temporarily" as a very young man in 1890. He once said that he "came to Biltmore for a month but stayed for a lifetime." He worked here for 60 years. He and his azalea hunters traveled the country looking for unique and different azalea cultivars. In 1940 he donated his huge collection of azaleas to Biltmore.

This garden has a few of these precarious crossings. This serves as a bridge across this stream. :)

I didn't get the names of any of these azaleas but I thought this one was especially lovely.

I loved this bridge and stone bench beside the little stream.

A nice collection of various colors near the woods and exit drive.

When we left the Azalea Garden, we strolled down to the bass pond. It looks more like a lake to me, it's so big.

 I was so excited to get to see and photograph the Canadian geese chicks! I saw these babies for the first time a couple weeks before but didn't get a photo until this time. They are the cutest! The parents were ever watchful to make sure we didn't grab one. :)

The walk along the bass pond is nice and relaxing. It leads down to a dam and a man-made waterfall. There are benches here and there along the way so people can sit, rest and enjoy the view. Above and below are opposite views. Below you can see the top of the boat house, which looks like a big gazebo.

After leaving the Bass Pond, we again passed through the Azalea Garden, no hardship with all the beautiful flowers and other interesting sights, like this crooked tree and a stone bench.

This is the exit to the Azalea Garden, a grand finale of blooms.

I hope you enjoyed today's garden stroll! :)
Thanks!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.

Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first? Buy My Daring Highlander at Amazon,B&N, iTunes and various other sites.

May at Biltmore

My friend and I got season passes to Biltmore Estate and visited a few days ago. These two turkey gobblers greeted us not long after we passed through the gates. Okay, so they weren't really there to greet us. They were competing and courting a turkey hen which I didn't get a good picture of. She ignored all their strutting, posing, and posturing, then dashed across the drive and up the bank into the woods. I had never seen turkeys showing off and doing their mating rituals like this in the wild so it was really interesting.

The sky was looking a bit ominous as we walked through the woods and neared the house. It was around 12 noon so we headed to the Stable Cafe for lunch. Yes, it really used to be stables, but no horsey smells are left. :) If you click the link above you will see a picture of the cafe.

 This is one of the entrances from the parking areas. I love this fountain, iron gate and ivy-covered wall. It looks like someplace in Europe.

After lunch we headed onto the South Terrace. We didn't go inside the house since we did that in February and were in a hurry to see the gardens.

Click the above photo to enlarge. The views of the mountains in the distance is amazing! The sky still looks threatening, but there was no rain. And the temperature was nice.

Just off the South Terrace is this extensive wisteria arbor.

Click the above photo to enlarge it. I love this wisteria! (But I would not want to maintain it. LOL)

A closeup of the wisteria, with azaleas in the background.

The Library Terrace. Wouldn't it be nice to sit under this wisteria and trumpet vine arbor in summer and read? Yes, if I could keep my eyes off that wonderful view. After this, we walked back to the parking area and drove down to park below the conservatory.

Two weeks ago I shared photos of the amazing display of tulips in the Walled Garden. After all the rain, most of the tulips had faded but lots of other flowers were in bloom, like these bluebells, above. Bluebells are among my favorite flowers. They look so dainty and romantic. The bluebells in Scotland are a different color, a darker blue, and in some areas, like Argyll they grow like weeds along the sides of the roads in May. So beautiful! In my latest release, My Daring Highlander, bluebells play a romantic role in Keegan and Seona's story. :)

This bearded iris in the Walled Garden seemed to be posing for a picture. I used to grow one similar to this.

A view of the conservatory from across the garden. I love these perennial borders with all the blues and purples.

We left the Walled Garden and headed into the Shrub Garden. I couldn't resist taking this picture from up the hill. It's like a bird's eye view and you can see the patterns the flowers are planted in.

The four acre Shrub Garden has more than 500 varieties of plants, shrubs, and trees including this weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and azaleas.

I think this little guy is some sort of salamander. He was very shy and quickly sped back into his hiding place.

I thought this white bleeding heart was really beautiful. I have fond memories from my childhood of the pink bleeding hearts my mom has always grown. We strolled through the Spring Garden and toward the Azalea Garden. More on that next week. :)
Thanks for going on this garden stroll with me!

Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.

Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first? Buy My Daring Highlander at Amazon, B&N, iTunes and various other sites.