Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Enchanted Rose by Nadia Nader - Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway



The Enchanted Rose
Misty Hills, Book One

Nadia Nader

YA Paranormal
January 14, 2015

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When Vivian’s mother dies in a tragic accident, Vivian’s world is turned upside down. Her life, as she knows it, is over. A new life, full of her mother’s secrets, begins…

Sent away by her father to live with two eccentric aunts on the mysterious Tremaine Estate, Vivian comes to learn that a powerful curse lurks over her family – one that only she may have the power to break. With each day she spends in Misty Hills, Vivian uncovers more unsettling discoveries about the town, her reclusive family, and herself.

Can Vivian let go of every truth she’s ever believed and discover who she really is, before the dark secrets hidden within the supernatural town threaten to consume her and those she loves?



Guest Post by Nadia Nader

The Story Behind the Story

Hello, my name is Nadia Nader and my debut novel The Enchanted Rose is a paranormal story set in the fictional town of Misty Hills. The book starts with Vivian having to move to the mysterious town due to her mother’s sudden death. She’s distraught as she’s sent to the small town she’s never heard of to live with two aunts she didn’t know existed.

The seeds for The Enchanted Rose were planted during a family gathering several years ago. My parents and I were visiting our relatives. It was a small family gathering composed of my aunt, uncle, and two cousins. There was also a girl there, one that I had never met before. However my parents seemed to know her very well. They kept asking her detailed questions about her life. The more knowledge they showed about her life, the more curious I became about how they knew her. After we were done with lunch, I pulled aside my cousin and asked her who the girl was. With a surprised look at me, she replied, “My sister.”

I was shocked. How could I not have known of the existence of her sister? My world shifted slightly off its axis and rearranged itself. I began asking myself, “What else don’t I know?”

When telling my friends the story, we bounced ideas around asking each other what would be the strangest thing you could find out that would change the way you viewed your world. What event would have you questioning your life?

I knew then that I wanted to write a story about that and explore the emotional aspects of your whole life turning upside down and having to question every truth you’ve ever known. I liked the idea of Vivian having to return to a town her mother ran away from and discovering family secrets. Especially when those secrets turn out to be paranormal in nature.

 Writing The Enchanted Rose was a wonderful experience and I am currently working on the second book in the series. Vivian has had an interesting start to life in Misty Hills but she has more secrets to uncover. Life is going to be a little rocky for her in the next couple of months but I know she can handle it!

Excerpt

A couple of pots were bubbling atop the stove emitting delicious smells. My mouth watered, and I realized how long it had been since I'd had a home-cooked meal. My father and I had lived on ready-made meals since mother’s passing. I briefly wondered how my father would manage without me there to make sure he ate. I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over.
“Have a seat at the table.” My aunt gestured to a cozy table along the wall. Two places had been set. With an efficient stride and swoop, she took a seat. “I’ve made beef stew with vegetables and rice.”
“It smells delicious.” Despite the lump in my throat and rock in my stomach, I salivated.
With a serving spoon, Aunt Agnes scooped rice onto my plate and added a healthy helping of stew alongside it. She did the same for her plate and then sat watching me as I raised a spoon to my mouth.
I took a bite and reveled in the taste. She smiled at my blissful reaction. The smile softened her face, making her appear kinder.
“This is amazing.”
“Thank you.” The smile disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Her face clouded over again. “We take turns cooking here. Beatrice actually made that. Of the three of us, she’s the better cook.”
“I can cook too, if you like. I used to cook for my parents sometimes. Mom taught me some family recipes.”
Aunt Agnes studied me for a few seconds. “That would be nice. It’s good to give Beatrice a break from time to time.”
We ate the rest of our meal in silence. The beef stew filled my stomach and warmth spread across my body. In the cozy atmosphere of the kitchen, with pots bubbling across the countertop, I almost felt content for the first time that week. Before I could enjoy it for too long, my aunt spoke.
“You won’t be expected to go to school tomorrow. I’ve told them that you’ll start on Friday, so no reason to go and mix them up.” She frowned at me. “I don’t normally encourage slothfulness, but I supposed you could take the day to recover from your travels. If you’d like, you can explore the grounds. You can also go down to town if you wish.”
I nodded gratefully.
“Is there anything you would like to ask me?” Aunt Agnes peered at me down her thin nose.
“Yes.” I hesitated, not sure it was the right time to ask. Then I decided to take the plunge and pose the question that had been bothering me since I'd found out I was being sent to live with them. “Why didn’t my mother ever mention she had sisters?”
If I hadn’t been intent on observing her reaction, I would have missed the fleeting expression of anger and grief that crossed her face. But I was watching closely.
That expression disappeared quickly, and she looked back at me in disapproval, her face becoming more pinched looking. Her lips thinned to a white line until they almost disappeared. The silence went on long enough for it to become awkward. Soon, all I could hear was the loud ticking of the grandfather clock.
When I thought I couldn’t bear the tension any longer, my aunt finally spoke. “Your mother never mentioned us because she was desperate to break free. Mentioning us would have made her escape futile.” She looked at me with an intensity that made me lightheaded. “As it is, you are back with us, so she never managed to truly escape.”

About the Author

Nadia Nader lives in Kuwait with her family. 

You can contact Nadia on her blog http://www.nadianader.com





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10 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.

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  2. The Enchanted Rose sounds like a great book! Love the cover. Thank you

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    Replies
    1. It's on my review schedule for mid-April- I'm looking forward to it :)

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  3. Replies
    1. Lately I just can't seem to get enough paranormal.

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  4. Sounds great and the cover is very eye catching!

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  5. Love all the wonderful books in the giveaway. A few there I haven't read yet, but would love to!

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