Tina just finished her Executive Wives’ Club series which combines elements of women fiction with the passion of romance.
The Family Tree series has two books out – Summer’s Growth and Fallen Leaves. Winter’s Wonders is the next book Tina is planning to write. This is a paranormal romantic suspense series, the books follow the keeper of the Winston manor and the trials she has to overcome to remain in the house of her ancestors.
ABOUT MATING RITUALS
With rock-hard fortitude, Marohka Taunton battles to maintain her position as top mineralogist and refuses to see why she should marry even if the law requires she take a mate. Fighting her attraction for Stihl Fermesium, she struggles to save her father’s company.
Stihl, determined to win her as his mate, is faced with the commission deal of a lifetime and needs the money to save his family land. He wrestles with her emotional resistance and discovers someone other than Marohka is unhappy about their union. In fact, they want to separate them in the most basic of ways, death.
“All right, ladies, please line
up for the final event of the evening–The Ladies Parade,” a voice boomed from
the speakers. “Give your partner a smile and a curtsy, and then ascend the
stairs to the stage area.”
“Right,” Marohka reasoned,
“like I need any man.”
Harold, the father presenter,
liked to follow the old habit of bowing to one’s partner. The custom to him
added romance and grandeur to the evening. She could’ve told him differently,
but with him being an old stick from a bygone era and a hopeless romantic, he
wouldn’t have listened.
“Now, gentlemen, here are the
rules. Although, you might know them, I’ll restate them again so no problems
will occur because you forgot what you’re supposed to do.” Harold paused a
moment and scanned the crowd. “So listen carefully.”
Marohka and the other girls
started up both sides of the twin staircases. Harold stood at the top of the
landing, dressed in his usual green plaid suit. His cheeks colored with his
excitement.
“Each one of these lovely
ladies will be carrying a small placard with a number printed on it.” Harold
showed them a sample card. “The number is not how many mates she desires.” The
crowd broke into the expected laughter. Harold grinned.
She wished her sign displayed a
zero. Even one man was more than she needed. All evening, she’d avoided them.
If a man approached, she offered him a rude comment and walked away to prove
her lack of interest in catching a mate.
“If you’re attracted to a certain
lady and want to meet her in the mating arena, take note of her number. If you
write down the wrong number, you’ll be matched with a different girl, which
would result in an unwelcome surprise.” Harold released a small cough of humor.
“You can choose three women. In
the end, however, you’ll only be mated with one.”
A good-natured roar of
disappointment exploded from the men in the hall. Marohka rolled her eyes at
the typical male response.
Harold sighed. “Sorry, boys,
that’s the rule. The Council of Elders will determine which girl on your list
will become your mate. Then it’s up to you to pass the next challenges. The
first duel is at three sharp in the battling arena. Be sure to check the
schedule. If you miss your fight time, you’ll be out of the running and will
have to wait until next year.”
Turning to the girls standing
beside him, Harold added. “Ladies, don’t worry. An escort will be sent to your
room to make sure you arrive on time.”
As the oldest unmated girl,
Marohka stood at the front of the line. Her future suspended on the edge of
success. She’d led the other girls down the red carpet, along the edge of the
dance floor, through the ballroom, and then back up the twin staircase on the
other side of the room many times. She drew in a deep breath, preparing for her
final steps to freedom.
Harold glanced at her and
nodded. “At the top of the list from the Taunton family is our special
princess, Marohka. A smart girl, she’ll offer any man a stimulating adventure,
where life will never be boring. She works hard and . . .”
Stepping forward, she cut off
Harold’s words by moving off the stage and out of the spotlight. She detested
the Royal Presenter selling her to these men. With her job of finding
qualtrilium and keeping her father’s company afloat, she had all the challenges
she needed in life.
Lustralia’s law might require
Royal girls to be present at the charade. But with this being her final year of
mandatory attendance, victory stood in sight. All she had to do was navigate
the man-infested waters between here and the staircase on the other side of the
room. Freedom waited.
She reached the bottom of the
staircase. Her path led her past a legion of men. From tall, dark, and handsome
to fair-haired wonders, an array of eligible men lined her route. Dressed in
fine, silk coats and tight fitted pants, they represented hundreds of Royal
families across the great land. All showed excellent breeding and genteel
manners. Any one of them would make a good mate to the girls behind her, but
none tempted her to lose her freedom.
Staring straight ahead, she
avoided eye contact with every man she passed. Moving along the edge of the
dance floor, she wove her way back and forth across the assigned path. Her
steps, jerky and clumsy, she hid her natural smooth gait. No man, in his right
mind, craved an ungraceful wife. At least, she hoped not.
With the stairs a few steps
ahead, she tasted victory and allowed herself a sigh of relief. “Thank
goodness.”
A masculine voice in front of
her chuckled. “It’s not over yet, princess.”
Read the first chapter at http://www.tinagayle.net/mrchapter.html
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