Books Available on Google Books

I have recently uploaded a few books to Google Books with more to follow. I feel this gives a worldwide sales platform for my books as other online retailers do not cover the same amount of countries as Google.

Here is the link Google Books


Below is an excerpt from Blue and Silver: Caishel - the first of the Cloud Kingdoms series.



Ardon
The pile of glossy fruge tempted Caishel. A quick movement of her hand and the red fruit lay safely tucked between her fingers.
“Stop thief!”
Experience had taught Caishel to run first at any shout and only stop and plead innocence if nothing else worked. She flew through the market, and a quick glance over her shoulder revealed the stallholder chasing her, his chubby face glowing as he tried to match her speed.
Anybody would think I’d taken his life’s savings instead of one fruge. The old potbelly’s got no chance of catching me.
Laughter bubbled up inside her, but an immovable object in the form of a body stopped flight and mirth. A tall aristocrat blocked her way, his feet planted wide to take the impact. The air whooshed from the man’s lungs as her head collided with his chest. Caishel attempted to get free, but strong hands grabbed her skinny arms then held on tight. Her desperate struggles only resulted in the loss of the fruge.
“Let I go!”
Ominous ripping noises came from her shirt and Caishel kicked frantically at the boot clad shins, but her bare feet had no effect. Unable to escape, her next stop would be Duke Robard’s law courts.
First I got caught, now I’m going to be arrested. Great!
“Hold him, Ailan.” The Duke’s voice rose above the marketplace noise.
An eager crowd gathered in anticipation of a free show as the Duke stepped up beside the noble he’d called Ailan. “Now then my good people, who calls this boy a thief?”
“It’s me, your lordship.” The stallholder whined as he nervously approached the Duke.
Caishel carefully watched the face of the noble holding her, hoping for a chance to escape. On his cloak, above the house emblem of a silver dragon, were the rank marks of a Sire. A look of disgust crossed the man’s face. His nose lifted haughtily and he took shallow breaths as the stallholder came closer.
Arrogant man. Who does he think he is? We have no choice but to live like this. Downside only the strongest survive. Let the lofty Sire try living in the filthy streets of Ardville and see if he can keep himself clean.
“It’s not exactly a major crime, is it?” Duke Robard said dismissively and Caishel silently chuckled with glee. The Duke had lost interest. “Ailan, attend to this, would you?”
With a negligent wave of his hand, Robard gathered his entourage around him and left the market, heading for the sky port.
“How much?” Sire Ailan asked the stallholder.
“Three d’jars, your lordship.”
“For one fruge?” Caishel saw the greed in the stallholder’s eyes. Apparently so had the Sire. “I’ll give you half a d’jar. It’s not worth any more.”
Sire Ailan tossed the stallholder a coin with his free hand and the man snatched it out of the air, checked its authenticity with his teeth, and hurried back to his stall. Now that the show had finished, the crowd lost interest and wandered off.
Caishel tried to free herself while Sire Ailan negotiated with the stallholder, but the noble had kept a tight grip on her arm the whole time.
“Going so soon, boy?” Ailan asked.
Caishel saw his lips twitch with humor and anger boiled up inside her, followed quickly by relief. At least he hadn’t discovered her true identity.
“Let I go.” Thankfully, her voice sounded young, not frightened. The Sire frowned and took a closer look at her. Her body shrank as far away as his hold would allow.
“I’ll release you if you repay me for the fruge.” The laughter in his voice lay below the surface.
“You stupid? Why I steal fruit if I could pay? Where you think I get money for you?”
For a moment, Caishel thought she’d gone too far. He didn’t look like he would release her. What would happen if he discovered her secret?
“I’m going to let you go now. Make sure you don’t get caught thieving again.” Ailan released her arm and Caishel stepped away from him, rubbing the sore spot on her skin.
“I not get caught.” Her voice could barely be heard. “Your fault I got caught this time.”
Caishel quickly disappeared into the crowd before he changed his mind.
Best to take some of the back streets in case he decides to follow. Must stay low for a while. So much trouble for nothing. I didn’t even get the fruge.
Using the back alleys, she headed for the artifact shop selling relics from the ancients. Looking in the shop window reminded Caishel of her father, and thoughts of him always calmed her down. The next corner brought her to her destination, but a muttered oath escaped her lips. Sire Ailan walked down the narrow street ahead of her. Caishel quickly ducked back into the alley. Cautiously peering round the corner, her teeth ground in frustration.
Stupid man. Why did he have to stop outside the artifact shop?
Her head pulled back round the corner, but a flicker of movement overhead caught her attention.
High above the street, a pedestrian bridge spanned the space between the upper stories of the buildings. A misty figure flickered into existence out of nowhere and Caishel’s stomach dropped in horror as it pushed a large urn from its pedestal. Once the urn left the pedestal and tumbled toward the ground, the figure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
The urn hurtled toward the unsuspecting Sire and Caishel desperately flung herself from her hiding place. With her head low, her body rammed Ailan’s again, knocking him sideways to the ground where they ended up in a tangle of legs.
“What the…” Ailan struggled to get to his feet, but blinked in shock as the urn smashed noisily in the exact spot where he’d been standing.
“Saw it coming. Didn’t want you to get hurt,” Caishel muttered.
Sire Ailan slowly looked up at the empty bridge then dropped his gaze to her face. Recognition dawned in his deep brown eyes and her heart sank. Her safety depended on her anonymity and keeping a low profile on the streets.
“What are you doing here?” Ailan asked as he brushed down his clothes and straightened his dark brown hair. “Why did you push me out of the way?”
“I owed you one. Don’t owe nothing now.”
“You really thought you owed me?” Ailan raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Now you’ve saved me from disaster, perhaps I should tell you my name. I’m Sire Ailan of Lan, part of Duke Robard’s court. What do they call you, boy?”
“What’s it to you?”
“I’d like to talk to you, and it would be easier if I knew your name.”
“Cai--Cail.”
Idiot, don’t tell him your real name.
“Pardon?”
“Name’s Cail. What you want to talk about?” Her voice came out low and gruff.
“Let’s eat while we talk, shall we?” Ailan led the way back to the market and approached a hot food stall where he purchased two babbit pies and mugs of kee.
Caishel picked up her pie and, aware of Ailan’s gaze on her, made a desperate attempt to restrain her hunger. Soon, only an empty cup remained, and the rich gravy dribbling down her chin.
“I don’t think I’m hungry after all,” Ailan pushed his own food away. “I’ll drink my kee. It seems a shame to waste this. Would you like it?”
The words had barely left his mouth when Caishel seized and devoured the hot pie.
“You said you wanted to speak to me.” Her hands caught the last of the gravy from her chin. Her tongue savored every drop as she licked her fingers clean. To her horror, her street cant had disappeared and the next words came out abruptly. “What you want to talk about?”
“I’m in your debt for saving me from serious injury, maybe even death. I’d like to thank you. How would you feel about being my page? You look about the right age, and a job would be better than stealing.”
“A page! Up there?” Caishel’s finger jabbed skyward at Ardon Castle floating high above the town. The Sire must be joking. Nobles didn’t give scruffy urchins important jobs.
“Yes. Up there.”
“Me. A page! Don’t be daft. I live on the streets. Why you want me for your page?” Despite her astonishment and excitement, Caishel remembered to keep talking like an urchin.
“Do you want the job or not?”
“What do I get out of it?” Suspicion filled her voice. Men in Ardville never did anything without expecting a favor in return.
“Food. A bed. Education. If we suit one another, I’d pay you a small wage.”
“Would I have a room of my own?”
Caishel tried to hide her interest. It wouldn’t be possible for her to share a dormitory with the other pages. In such close proximity, they’d soon discover the truth about her.
“You’d have a small closet off my rooms, and yes, it would be entirely yours.”
Her body relaxed with relief. A room of her own would ensure her safety. The job would give her a chance to get away from the dirt and grime of the streets.
“Okay.” Caishel tried to stop the happiness showing on her face.
“Do you mean yes?”
“You’ve got deal. I be your page.” Her hand extended to offer the Sire a handshake to seal the deal. Ailan hesitated, but a glare from Caishel dared him to withdraw his offer. He shook her hand.
“Fine. I’ve got a few matters to attend to. Can you be ready in an hour?” Caishel nodded. “Meet me at the sky port and I’ll take you up to the castle.”
“See you at the port then.” Caishel turned to leave.
“Cail. You will turn up, won’t you? I don’t think you’d like the consequences if I had to come looking for you.”
Caishel turned, glancing warily at him. Sire Ailan stared piercingly at her without speaking then he turned and hurried away, disappearing quickly into the crowd.

Cloud Kingdom Series - Free Book

 

 

Have you seen my Cloud Kingdom Series and not sure if you want to read it?

There are so many fantasy ebooks available on Amazon and other online stores it's difficult to choose. To help you make your choice I am offering the first book of the series – Blue and Silver - Caishel – for free from Book Funnel.

Book Funnel will assist in the download and they will help you put it on your Kindle if that's how you read ebooks. 

What have you got to lose? Click on the link below and download to start reading. 

Book Funnel (https://BookHip.com/SDNBMLW)

https://BookHip.com/SDNBMLW

FREE BOOK!!

Not sure if the Cloud Kingdom Series is your type of book?

From 10th to 14th July the first book of Cloud Kingdom Series is available FREE. This will allow readers to check if it's this series is the type of books they like to read. Find it on Kindle

https://tinyurl.com/cloudkingdomseries

Caishel saves Sire Ailan's life and accepts a job as his page in the floating castle of Ardon. Anything is better than living on the streets as a male urchin.
Ailan immediately discovers his page is a woman, but keeps this knowledge to himself, despite his growing attraction to her.
Caishel longs to tell Ailan the truth but confession could put her in danger. Circumstances eventually force her to reveal her true identity and, like a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, Caishel marries Ailan. After his grandfather dies Ailan inherits the title and lands of the Duke of Lan.
Caishel is convinced the ghost like Eos have something to do with the accidents that keep happening to Ailan and she decides to investigate by donning her street urchin disguise.

Kindle Unlimited

In view of the Coronavirus 19 situation I decided to make my Cloud Kingdom series available only on Kindle and specifically on Kindle Unlimited. If you click on any of the titles below it will take you to the correct page for Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Four feisty women who live in castles in the sky, overcome immense odds to be with the men they love. Danger still lurks and the women put themselves in more danger to save their men.

I hope you enjoy these books and it would be lovely if you could leave a review. Thanks.

Blue and Silver - Caishel

Amazon.com                  Amazon.co.uk

Russet and Gold - Elisette               

Amazon.com                  Amazon.co.uk

      Ebony and Ivory - Tazia                  

Amazon.com                  Amazon.co.uk

   Emerald and Amber - Zaeyen         

Amazon.com                  Amazon.co.uk

Free book

Desert Breeze Publishing is offering the first book of the Cloud Kingdoms series for free. Try this free offer to see if you would like to read the rest of the series.

Cloud Kingdoms - One

Caishel

Caishel accepts a job as Sire Ailan's page in the floating castle of Ardon. Ailan immediately discovers she is a woman, but keeps the knowledge to himself, despite his growing attraction for her.

Caishel eventually admits the truth and like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly she evolves into a beautiful young woman. 

They begin a new life in Lan, but strange accidents happen to Ailan and Caishel dons her street urchin disguise to investigate the danger.

Lise from Elisette - Cloud Kingdoms Book Two

Elisette

Today the heroine from Elisette, the second book of the Cloud Kingdom series, visits the blog. 

Hello Elisette.

Elisette:  Please call me Lise, Elisette is for people who don't know me. 

Very well Lise, thank you for visiting us today. Would you like to tell us a bit about your life?

Lise:  There's not much to tell. My mother, father and I lived in Lan until my father died in an accident when I was five years old. We had a happy life until then.

I'm sorry to hear about your father. Did you stay in Lan after his death?

Lise:  Mother and I managed for a while but then she got sick and couldn't work. A widowed farmer from Northside offered us a home if mother would marry him and look after his house and family. Unfortunately we had no other option.

You don't live there any longer do you?

Lise:  No. The men of my stepfamily began to take an interest in me when I started developing as a woman so mother sent me away.

What ever did you do?

Lise: I meant to try for a job in one of the big houses of Lan, but instead the Duchess of Lan engaged me as a nurserymaid to help her children's nanny. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

So what's it like living in a sky castle?

Lise: It's so different. The Duchess has put a proper bathroom in the nursery so I don't have to haul water up for the children's bath. They have dropchutes to move from floor to floor and the nobles travel downside by mattporters. I take the children to the castle gardens when the weather's nice, and did you know the weather is actually decided by the Duke?

Really? So what do you do when you're not working?

Lise: (blushes) I've made friends with a Capet. He's been very kind and shown me how to get downside, where to shop for personal needs. He's nice.

Nice? He's just a friend?

Lise: Well, we have kissed but we're trying to be discreet because it's not a good idea for a capet and an nurserymaid to become a couple. We go for walks in the gardens in the evening and have afternoon tea downside on my days off.

Do you think there's any future in the relationship?

Lise: I don't think so because his parents will want him to marry someone of a better social standing. I'm enjoying things while they last. Sorry I have to get back before the children wake up.

Thank you for talking to us, Lise. I hope everything works out for you and your Capet.


Excerpt

Outside, Lise pondered which way to take to the laundry. Guessing it would be on the same level as the kitchens, she headed for the staircase sack slung over her shoulders and her head bowed as she compensated for the extra weight.

"Watch out!"

Startled by the sudden appearance of a male body, Lise looked up quickly. Capet Sard stood in front of her, hands on hips and a big grin on his face.

"I'm so sorry, Capet. I didn't see you coming."

"Where are you off to?" Sard smiled at her.

"The laundry, sir."

"Here, let me help you. It's far too heavy for you to carry." He reached his hand toward the sack slung over her shoulder, but Lise quickly backed away.

"No, sir, really. I'm a lot stronger than I look. Besides, it wouldn't be right--a Capet like you helping me with my work. Excuse me, please."

Sard blocked her way as Lise tried to push past. He soon realized her determination and raising his hands in surrender took a step toward the wall.

"Thank you, Capet," Lise murmured and hurried toward the staircase.

"You're welcome, Lise."

His voice came from right behind her. He had followed her. How else would she have heard his words, especially when his voice had been low and soft?

"Please, Capet. I thank you for putting me forward for this job, but I really need to prove myself to the Duchess and Mesry Keva. The Mesry thinks you got me the job. I have to show her I can be trusted to do the work allotted to me."

"I understand, Lise." Sard's eyes bored deep into hers, and her head ducked to avoid his searching look. He lifted her chin with his finger and his gaze searched deep within her to find the real Lise. "You can't work all the time. I'll wait until you're on a break and we'll talk."

Lise fled. His touch stirred a wealth of emotions. Emotions her troubled mind had no idea how to deal with. Her thoughts tumbled in turmoil, but her survival instincts still worked and her feet came to an abrupt halt on the stairs as the familiar odors of washing soap and hot water drifted across her path. To her left a heavy wooden door barred her way and Lise tentatively pushed it open.

Buy Link

Sue Perkins books published by Desert Breeze Publishing

Webpage:  http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.co.nz

Facebook: Sue Perkins, Author

Twitter: Sue Perkins, Author

Other books by Sue Perkins can be found on her website.

New Release

Caishel - Cloud Kingdoms Book One, is released by Desert Breeze Publishing. This is a fantasy romance book set on an alternate world. Castles float in the air and nahars (unicorn type of animal) are the usual mode of transport.

Caishel survives on the streets of Ardville by dressing as a boy, but she jumps at the chance to become a page in the cloud castle. Sire Ailan offers her the job as he believes her to be male. He soon finds out the truth, but keeps the knowledge to himself. The safest way to protect Caishel is to maintain her disguise. His major problem is can he protect her from himself?


Excerpt

Caishel strutted into the departure hall with a show of bravado. A few feet inside the hall, a hand pulled her to a stop.

"What are you doing here?" A boy dressed as a castle page asked aggressively. "Trying to steal something I bet. Guard!"

Caishel struggled and managed to free herself, but a guard appeared and grabbed her arm.

"What's going on here?"

"This filthy urchin," the page's tone showed he considered Caishel a piece of dirt, "has no right to be here. He's probably trying to get up to the castle so he can steal something."

A crowd gathered, attracted by the commotion.

"Is this true, boy?" The guard demanded.

"I'm going to the castle to be a page." Defiance colored her words.

"A page! You a page! The likes of you don't get hired as pages." The crowd muttered in support of the other boy's words.

"Would someone mind telling me what's going on here?"

Ailan hadn't spoken in a loud voice, but his cool authority cut through the murmuring crowd and an abrupt silence fell as everyone turned to look at him.

"This urchin shouldn't be here, Sire," the guard holding Caishel's arm replied. "We think he's trying to get up to the castle, probably to see what he can steal."

"He says he's going to be a page to a noble." The page sneered. "Of course, it's got to be a lie. None of our nobles would hire a wretch like him."

"You are?"

"Frano, Sire! Page to Sire Moir," the boy replied crisply, but his self-assurance withered under Ailan's scrutiny.

Caishel hid her amazement at the way Ailan gazed silently at the guard. The man shifted uncomfortably until the Sire flicked his hand; the guard released her.

"Thank you. Now if you would be so good as to clear the way, my page and I would like to board the transport."

The crowd instantly moved aside for the Sire. Caishel grinned wickedly at the boy who had spoken, then waggled her fingers at the end of her nose. Frano scowled, anger darkening the youthful features.

"I think the rude gesture was a little unnecessary," Ailan commented quietly as they took their seats on the transport.

"Stuck up preeve! Thinks he better than me. Why shouldn't I show him what I think of him?" Her shoulders hunched, Caishel sank down in her seat, annoyed the Sire had seen her insulting gesture.

"I can think of one good reason," Ailan replied. "Your work hours and free time will be spent with the other pages. It's not a good idea to make him your enemy before you even get to the castle!"

Visit Marva Dasef's blog to read another excerpt and be in the draw to win and ebook of Caishel.