Tangled In Time by Barbara Longley
To set him free from an ancient curse, she must travel to a time of myth and legend…
Regan MacCarthy’s ability to see ghosts is a gift inherited from her Irish ancestors, but it’s one she’d dearly like to give back. In an attempt to return her powers to their source, she travels to Ireland to harness the ancient magic that still permeates the mystical site of Newgrange. Instead, something far more unexpected awaits her: a strapping, gorgeous stranger who insists he’s a centuries-old Celtic warrior.
Fáelán was one of Fionn MacCumhaill’s elite soldiers before being cursed by a resentful fae princess. The only way to free himself is to fall so deeply in love that he’d sacrifice his life. Not an easy matter when he’s invisible to most. Yet Regan sees him—not just the proud, handsome warrior on the surface, but the complex man beneath. Only when it’s too late does Fáelán realize that drawing this beautiful mortal into his world has endangered them both, and may destroy the happiness he’s waited an eternity to claim…
Exclusive Excerpt
I love writing Celtic fantasy romance, and I particularly enjoy a good curse/quest plot, because the antagonist can be so deliciously evil and intriguing. In TANGLED IN TIME, Fáelán has been cursed to dwell in the void realm by a vindictive faerie princess. You see, our proud, third-century warrior, had the temerity to reject the princess’s command that he become her consort for eternity. His quest? To end the curse and once again take his rightful place in the earthly realm. The difficulty lies in the path to that end, which proves to be far more perilous than he could have imagined—especially for the woman he loves, the only one who can set him free.
“Fáelán, it’s been how many years now?” Regan asked, her tone chiding. “In all that time,
haven’t you ever caught a glimpse of a glowing light that seemed to beckon to you? As much as
you want to believe you’re cursed and not—”
“Soon enough ye’ll learn the truth.” Damn, but Regan possessed a most vexing stubborn
streak. In his day, women had fawned over him, hung on every word he spoke and never accused
him of lying. The Fianna never spoke falsehoods. “The summer solstice approaches, aye?”
“June twenty-first, a few weeks away.”
“On nineteen June, I will once again bide in the earthly realm.” He held up one hand and
counted off the days. “For five entire days and nights, I shall be back where I belong. Then ye
shall eat your words, oh doubting one.”
“Shall I?” She laughed.
“Ye shall.” Uncertainty rose like an ocean wave, swamping his hopes. His mouth went dry,
and he tensed. What if Regan quit him afore then? “Will ye spend those five days with me,
Álainn?” And the nights? Especially the nights.
She slanted him a pointed look. “So you can fall desperately in love with me and end the
curse?”
“Exactly.”
“Sure.” Smugness suffused her features. “Why not?”
“Stubborn as stone, ye are, and don’t think I’m not knowin’ ye think me cracked.” It might
not be as easy to fall in love with her as he’d hoped. He growled low in his throat for good
measure and crossed his arms in front of his chest. But then her laughter spilled over him again,
and despite how much she vexed him, his mood brightened.
“Tell me about yourself, lassie. How do ye earn your keep? What of your family?”
“I have a mother, father, two sets of grandparents, an extended family and two younger
sisters who happen to be identical twins.” She entered a roundabout and turned onto the ramp for
the freeway leading south.
“As for how I earn my keep, the year I graduated from college, the owner of the yoga studio
where I’d been working part-time decided to retire. I offered to take over managing the place,
and I made a deal to buy her out within twenty-four months. Once I owned that studio, and it was
doing well, I opened another about forty miles away.” She glanced at him. “The second was
located in a touristy area in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. I opened the third a year later in
a popular vacation spot, also in the mountains.”
“Ye’ve accomplished much for one so young.” He barely knew her, and yet pride in her
swelled his chest. That must be a good sign. Fionn would be pleased one of his warriors had
found such an industrious woman. Every indication proved her to be virtuous and kindhearted as
well. After all, she’d helped many like him, had she not?
While growing up, award-winning, Amazon bestselling author Barbara Longley moved frequently, learning early on how to entertain herself with stories. Adulthood didn’t tame her peripatetic ways. She has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an Indian reservation, and traveled the country from coast to coast. After having children of her own, she decided to try staying put, choosing Minnesota as her home.
Barbara holds a master’s degree in special education and taught for many years. She enjoys exploring all things mythical, paranormal and everything newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her writing.
Ms. Longley is a longstanding member of Romance Writers of America, (RWA) and Midwest Fiction writers.
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