This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming historical author and regular contributor, Jennifer Linforth, with an excerpt from her upcoming novel, RONDEAU. Join us on Sunday, when Jennifer will be here to talk about the book and give away a copy! Here's the blurb:
The
Madrigals continue...
Jennifer Linforth expands the classics by continuing The Phantom of the Opera. and her books are available now. Look for future books based on the classics, in addition to her unique historical romances. "Ms. Linforth's prose is phenomenally beautiful and hauntingly breathtaking." ~ Coffee Time Romance
While on the
run and hiding in Germany, Erik lives like anyone else—until one nobleman
strikes back...
When Anna’s
secret past is revealed and she is captured by Raoul’s bounty hunter, Erik is
forced to avenge her. This time the madness of the Phantom cannot be freely
unleashed. Erik must rein himself in for the sake of his genius son and
hideously deformed daughter.
With few allies
as he takes to the streets of Paris in pursuit of Anna and his nemesis, Raoul,
one man, The Persian, seeks to help while Christine seeks to keep Erik at
large. Forced to turn over his control while spinning out of it, Erik’s past as
The Phantom of the Opera roars to life before Paris and his unsuspecting
children and only The Persian tries to talk sense to him.
But talk is
senseless when speaking to a madman.
Overcome by his
history and desperate to keep the past from destroying his life, Erik takes
Paris by storm...
Two guns.
One bullet.
And a result
that changes everything...
**An Excerpt from RONDEAU**
Vahid rubbed at his temple nervously,
making his scrutiny of the lamplight below waiver. The monster trembled with
some unarticulated frustration. He sensed it. It manifested in the slight
twitches to Erik’s hand. That letter made matters worse—far worse. He cursed
himself for delivering it.
“Do you have any idea what risk you put your
children in? You made the choice to put them first when you took them out of
the security of that monastery. You can’t run off half-crazed right now.”
Erik touched his temple. He leaned
in slightly. “I am half-crazed. What
would you suggest I do?” With one graceful leap he pounced upon the railing and
began to walk, stabbing the air with a finger. “My fuse is smoldering and every
minute that passes without her is a minute of absolute agony. I am growing
angry, Daroga.”
“You’re not in the position you used to be—”
“Daroga—”
“You go running out onto those streets
right now after her and you are as good as dead!” Vahid uneasily eyed Erik’s
twitching hand. “There is not a shadow in this city that doesn’t know the
Phantom, regardless of this fair. You
have children here to think of and clearly your state of mind can’t handle a
thing right now.” His eyes shot from Erik’s hand, to his mask and back to his
hand. Erik balanced precariously on the edge of the rooftop. The wind snapped
his cloak sending arrows of tension up Vahid’s neck.
And the raven, never
flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, On the pallid bust of Pallas just
above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is
dreaming…
He swallowed hard. “You stay here. I will
return to the comte and attempt to leave with Anna.” Erik’s eyes shifted
abruptly, moved, and glowed at him from an even higher spot. Vahid spun,
searching high and low for his evaporating specter. “I will Erik. When have I
ever backed down on my word to you? You can’t have the control when you are the
one out of it. Don’t do anything stupid. Do you hear me, Erik? Stay burrowed
like the mole you are until I come to you to let you know all is clear. You
have children to consider, you colossal fool!”
A disembodied voice filled with all the
surge of a rising tide and floated menacingly around him.
“Get off my roof, Daroga.”
“Get off my roof, Daroga.”
RONDEAU: A Novel of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera
ISBN: 978-0-9833960-8-6
See the trailers for this series!
Praise
for Madrigal and Abendlied:
“If you long for an evocative heart wrenching
tale and are prepared to pour a little of yourself into it, Madrigal is for
you” ~ Long and Short Reviews on Madrigal
“Ms. Linforth’s prose is
phenomenally beautiful and hauntingly breathtaking.” ~Coffee Time Romance on Madrigal
Jennifer Linforth's latest
work is sweet and tender, dark and decadent, a treat to be reached for again
and again. For anyone who read Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera and
wanted more, this is the book for you! ~ Night Owl Romance on Abendlied
