Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Crane, the first book of the Legends Saga, by Stacey Rourke!
Genre:
New Adult Paranormal
Series:
Legend Saga
Publish Date:
May 26, 2014
Publisher:
Anchor Group Publishing
Cover by:
Najla Qamber Designs
Publisher:
Anchor Group Publishing
Cover by:
Najla Qamber Designs
Summary from Goodreads:
The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan't lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.
Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.
What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?
Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.
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*Excerpt*
“Tonight was meant to be the Harvest Ball,” Katrina said as she slid between the folds of her crimson and taupe gown. “Now the town is meeting, trying to concoct a plan to stop a being that death itself couldn’t tame.”
Ichabod sat on the edge of the bed with his back, respectfully, to Katrina while she changed. His loaded musket lay across his lap. In the reflection of the window in front of him he could see the soft curve of her hips as they tapered into her narrow waist. He cleared his throat and shifted his gaze to the floor. His chin tipped to the side, ever so slightly, to ask, “Are you secure in our plan?”
“I am to attend the summit on the arm of Brom Van Brunt,” she reaffirmed as she pulled her long, blonde locks out from the back of her gown and began tightening the laces of her bodice. “Then speak with as many people as I can, searching for anyone that may have motives leading to the Horseman.”
Ichabod nodded. Mostly to himself, he muttered the remaining details they were depending upon, “Rip will be inside as well. That man can finesse a crowd with a skill that truly baffles. If there are secrets to be found, he will uncover them. Irv will be outside with me, primarily because the Horseman isn’t the only one in this town that would like to see his head on a spike. We will be on horseback, patrolling the grounds with a few other men that have volunteered. You will have nothing to fear.”
Her elegant gown in place, Katrina turned to Ichabod wearing an expression equal parts timidity and fear. “What of Brom?”
The bed squeaked as Ichabod shifted his weight to face her. “Boorish as his ways may be, he cares for you. If you adopt the guise that you have interest in him, he will do all he can to protect you inside the gathering, while I provide you the same service outside.”
“And,” her long lashes brushed the tops of her cheeks as she cast her gaze to the floor, “you aren’t bothered by me being on his arm?”
In the midst of the plotting and planning, Ichabod had slipped into the role he knew well of military strategist. He had detached himself from the emotional aspects—until that very moment. The reality of his request sank in like a heavy stone. He had asked her to take another man’s arm, asserting her place beside him. The implications of that dug into his gut like a dull blade, churning and twisting deep.
“The mere idea of that makes me ache,” he stated, forcing the words through his suddenly parched throat. “Yet I would endure this hardship, and countless others, to keep you safe.”
She moistened her lips with a flick of her tongue, seemingly wrestling with words that gave her pause. “Ichabod, when this is over … w-would you call yourself mine?”
Ichabod closed his eyes. The euphoria of that question washed over him, cleansing him of all his sins with the promise of tomorrow. Rising to his feet, he took her velvet soft hand in his. A love he hadn’t known possible illuminated her striking face. “From the moment I saw you, my heart belonged to you alone. If by some miracle you were to give me your love in return, I would need nothing else to sustain me the rest of my days.”
Katrina’s palm tenderly brushed his cheek. “You have already claimed that.”
Allowing no further hesitation, Ichabod gathered her in his arms. Katrina tipped her head back, the soft curves of her body molding to his. Full lips parted in an alluring invitation it would take a stronger man than him to resist.
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Watch the book trailer now!
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Enter the Goodreads Giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Crane!
(ends June 14, 2014)
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**About the Author**
There is nothing worse than being put on the spot nd asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, "My name's Stacey and I like pickles!" then for the rest of the school year I'd be known as the Pickle Girl and lets be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.
Stacey Rourke lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Stay connected with Stacy Rourke
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*My Thoughts*
Note: This review contains no spoilers
Wow! What an enjoyable twist of the classic stories that we have grown up with and learned in school. Stacey Rourke brought a hauntingly touching story of lost love in this telling of a small town named Sleepy Hollow. Again, an author takes stories that we learned about during our youth and brought it to life...with the whole premise that the stories are true! Loved it! I enjoyed all the references of little known facts to these authors and characters! Whoa!
I'm not going to get into telling what happened in this review; hence, spoiling it for others. No way, no how! I don't want to ruin the suspense and mystery of what is happening in this quiet little town of Sleepy Hollow, especially for Ireland Crane. Told in both Ireland and Ichabod's points of view, it gave me the feel of duality in both the present and past. With this telling, the story revealed how much the past is intertwined with the present. With the descriptive telling of both views, I was whisked away, back and forth, past and present, following the clues that lead to all the answers that Ireland was so desperately searching for.
Crane is a riveting, suspense-filled mystery that the past and present had to solve together in order to save those that reside in Sleepy Hollow. A story of favorite classics with a twist of "reality." What if the stories were really true!?!
My Rating
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***The Giveaway***
Blog Tour Organized by
Stacey Rourke has put a, fantastic, new spin on an old legend. Loved it from start to finish!
ReplyDeleteRight! She did! It was fascinating to learn of little known facts that she incorporated into the story! Loved it from start to finish, too! I'm already excited for book 2!
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