Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms, Moms-to-Be, Grandmothers and everyone who plays a motherly role in someone’s life – best wishes for a great day!
A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
Continuing with the excerpts from MAGIC OF THE NILE =>I’m skipping the events of their evening together at the town festival (because I can’t excerpt the entire book here LOL). Suffice it to say Sahure doesn’t learn her identity while they’re exploring the town. I promised I’d share how he reacts when he does find out. Today’s excerpt is leading up to that moment.
The next morning…
As Tyema led the midmorning ceremony, chanting the hymns to Sobek, she was 
more conscious than usual of the small but attentive crowd of worshippers. Normally she blotted out any thought of the onlookers and lost herself in singing the sacred music. Today she wondered if Sahure was there in the outer sanctuary and whether he’d be upset to learn she hadn’t told him her true identity. Her anxiety wasn’t relieved any by the fact he’d appeared in at least one of her dreams as well, smiling and holding out another red flower she’d been too frightened to accept. Awakening from the dream with a gasp, she couldn’t go back to sleep, disturbed by unfamiliar thoughts and desires. Tossing and turning left her tired. By the time the ceremony was over and she was free to retreat to her office in the temple’s new wing, tension was rising in her like a wave. A small headache pounded over her left eye, spreading tentacles of pain through her head.
As always, I love your comments and feedback. Although this is a published work, the input helps for the future novels…
Here’s the story blurb:
The standalone sequel to Priestess of the Nile…picks up about fifteen years later and tells the tale of Tyema, who was the younger sister in Priestess of the Nile…
After a childhood spent scorned and ignored by her family because of her crippled foot, Tyema was magically healed then installed as the High Priestess of his temple by Sobek the Crocodile God. But Tyema is still haunted by her memories, scarred by the abuse she endured. Despite Sobek’s protection, as an adult she’s become a near recluse inside the temple grounds…
Until Captain Sahure arrives in her remote town, sent from Thebes on an urgent mission for Pharaoh, requiring High Priestess Tyema’s help. From that moment on, her quiet, safe life is upended in ways she never could have expected.
But after a whirlwind romance with Sahure, the two part as Pharaoh orders him to undertake another assignment on Egypt’s dangerous frontier, far from Tyema’s remote town.
Heart-broken, Tyema is ready to return to her life of loneliness, official duties and, now, regret. But the Crocodile God has other plans for his priestess: she must uncover the sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh’s life with black magic. Soon enough, Tyema finds herself thrown into the chaos of Pharoah’s court, neck deep in intrigue and danger. Just when she thinks she can’t take the pressures of a very public court life and her secret investigation for the Crocodile God any longer, Sahure re-enters the scene.
But is her former love there to help or to hinder? Can they resolve their differences and work together to find the dark sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh and Egypt? Will the love between a proud warrior and a shy priestess lead them to a future together?
Available at Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes Google Play Books
The imagery certainly conveys her anxiety and leaves me wondering how he will take it when he learns the truth. Hopefully, he takes it better than she expects.
Terrific, characterizing description, VERY well written! =D
Wow, you pack a lot of detail in your snippet. Rich and full.
Poor girl! At least Sobek is on her side (he is, isn’t he?).
Yes, Sobek is on her side (but sometimes that’s a mixed blessing…)
Powerful eight. Happy Mother’s Day, my friend.
Nice internal conflict blended with sensory details. I’m anxious to see how he reacts!
A lot of info in a small space, artfully conveyed 😀
This is probably just the writer in me but I do bump a little at “tension was rising in her” because I usually prefer “tension rose”. Saying “rose” seems more consistent but it doesn’t detract from the story.
I definitely agree, something I always try to watch out for so I appreciate the reminder! Thank you 🙂
He’s obviously made an impression on her for her to be so distracted. Great details, and the prose flows beautifully.
Great imagery, beautifully written.
her awareness of Sahure and her anxiety come across very well in this snippet!
Ho boy! She’s gotten her panties all in a twist. Poor thing. Relieve her tension soon.
Well, I guess the high priestess won’t object to her learning to drive!
I love the description of her headache–it’s different, and the reader can almost feel the pain. She needs some old-school aspirin!
The ancient Egyptians did know the pain relieving qualities of willowbark! Tyema has a potion in the room to take, somewhat later in the scene so she will get out from under the headache, I promise.
I’m glad to hear that. Headaches like that are the worst–it’s like your brain is punishing you.
Hmmm…she’s been dreaming about him. Sleepless nights, tension, unfulfilled longing…I think he has her undivided attention. 😀
I’m feeling her pain. Great imagery!
Ouch, a headache. Great imagery here.
Very drawn in by your imagery and it’s obvious she’s got it bad for him. You impart her worry very well about her deception. Great snippet.
Uh oh–a pounding headache? The price of worry over her deception? Excellent details, Veronica! 🙂 Happy mom’s day. I didn’t post a snippet this week. Just saying hello. 🙂
I would not want to be in her shoes with that terrific headache. Sounds like a cluster headache coming on.
You pack so much into 8 sentences, it’s amazing! Wonderful descriptions throughout as well. Great job!
Great visual. I am right there with her.