How far would you go to reclaim your heart’s desire?
Devon has laid claim to Elz—marrying her in twenty-first-century America as well as nineteenth-century England. He hopes it will grant a respite from others who are drawn to the flame in her eyes.
During a trip to London, Devon’s hopes are dashed as he thwarts an attempt to kidnap Elz. While investigating who is behind the attack, he finds himself at a crossroads and is forced to enlist the aid of his friend turned rival, Symond Grayson, the Duke of Graburn.In an act of compassion gone horribly wrong, Devon’s marriage to Elz is threatened and his world is turned upside down. The door is opened for Symond, and the duke has every intention of walking through it.
With their love in as much danger as their lives, Devon has no choice but to send Elz far from Symond’s reach while he contends with their foes—old and new. Battered from all sides, Devon is under siege, and the stakes are raised as Elz and the Phoenix bloodline are placed in jeopardy. Devon could lose Elz forever if another can win her heart.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna Albergucci lives in Texas, surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies.
As a child, Anna had a bright imagination and entertained others with the telling of her colorful dreams. She now weaves her stories into fiery characters that live lives the rest of us only dream of.
Anna is a member of several writing groups and is the president of the Cisco Writers Club. She is also the founder and host of a yearly writers’ retreat held at her estate.
She loves mornings, coffee, and cuddling with her grandkids. She’s a sucker for organizing parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or sitting on the porch with a good book.
How far would you go to reclaim your heart’s desire?
Devon has laid claim to Elz—marrying her in twenty-first-century America as well as nineteenth-century England. He hopes it will grant a respite from others who are drawn to the flame in her eyes.
During a trip to London, Devon’s hopes are dashed as he thwarts an attempt to kidnap Elz. While investigating who is behind the attack, he finds himself at a crossroads and is forced to enlist the aid of his friend turned rival, Symond Grayson, the Duke of Graburn.In an act of compassion gone horribly wrong, Devon’s marriage to Elz is threatened and his world is turned upside down. The door is opened for Symond, and the duke has every intention of walking through it.
With their love in as much danger as their lives, Devon has no choice but to send Elz far from Symond’s reach while he contends with their foes—old and new. Battered from all sides, Devon is under siege, and the stakes are raised as Elz and the Phoenix bloodline are placed in jeopardy. Devon could lose Elz forever if another can win her heart.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna Albergucci lives in Texas, surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies.
As a child, Anna had a bright imagination and entertained others with the telling of her colorful dreams. She now weaves her stories into fiery characters that live lives the rest of us only dream of.
Anna is a member of several writing groups and is the president of the Cisco Writers Club. She is also the founder and host of a yearly writers’ retreat held at her estate.
She loves mornings, coffee, and cuddling with her grandkids. She’s a sucker for organizing parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or sitting on the porch with a good book.
How far would you go to reclaim your heart’s desire?
Devon has laid claim to Elz—marrying her in twenty-first-century America as well as nineteenth-century England. He hopes it will grant a respite from others who are drawn to the flame in her eyes.
During a trip to London, Devon’s hopes are dashed as he thwarts an attempt to kidnap Elz. While investigating who is behind the attack, he finds himself at a crossroads and is forced to enlist the aid of his friend turned rival, Symond Grayson, the Duke of Graburn.In an act of compassion gone horribly wrong, Devon’s marriage to Elz is threatened and his world is turned upside down. The door is opened for Symond, and the duke has every intention of walking through it.
With their love in as much danger as their lives, Devon has no choice but to send Elz far from Symond’s reach while he contends with their foes—old and new. Battered from all sides, Devon is under siege, and the stakes are raised as Elz and the Phoenix bloodline are placed in jeopardy. Devon could lose Elz forever if another can win her heart.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna Albergucci lives in Texas, surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies.
As a child, Anna had a bright imagination and entertained others with the telling of her colorful dreams. She now weaves her stories into fiery characters that live lives the rest of us only dream of.
Anna is a member of several writing groups and is the president of the Cisco Writers Club. She is also the founder and host of a yearly writers’ retreat held at her estate.
She loves mornings, coffee, and cuddling with her grandkids. She’s a sucker for organizing parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or sitting on the porch with a good book.
It’s nineteenth-century England. Social decorum reigns. Devon Phoenix, Marquess of Phoxdale and first-born son of the Duke of Seton, shuns society when he is bound to his soul mate through the discovery of a buried family secret. He learns she will need his protection from those drawn to her because of her lineage. When he crosses two centuries into present day to claim her, it is not without cost. The life of Boston artist and history buff Elz Valli is about to be irreversibly altered. Coming face-to-face with Devon, she feels certain this striking, intellectual man bears more than a shocking resemblance to the man marked in the pages of her history books. Even so, she does not expect the chain of events that unfold because of one heated dance with him. With the pendulum in motion, there is no turning back as Devon’s presence in today’s world ignites raging fires both good and evil. Driven by his insane love for her, Devon will stop at nothing to have and protect Elz. But will this be enough to overcome the powers that will attach themselves to her?
Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club, and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.
She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.
It’s nineteenth-century England. Social decorum reigns. Devon Phoenix, Marquess of Phoxdale and first-born son of the Duke of Seton, shuns society when he is bound to his soul mate through the discovery of a buried family secret. He learns she will need his protection from those drawn to her because of her lineage. When he crosses two centuries into present day to claim her, it is not without cost. The life of Boston artist and history buff Elz Valli is about to be irreversibly altered. Coming face-to-face with Devon, she feels certain this striking, intellectual man bears more than a shocking resemblance to the man marked in the pages of her history books. Even so, she does not expect the chain of events that unfold because of one heated dance with him. With the pendulum in motion, there is no turning back as Devon’s presence in today’s world ignites raging fires both good and evil. Driven by his insane love for her, Devon will stop at nothing to have and protect Elz. But will this be enough to overcome the powers that will attach themselves to her?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
Devon Phoenix
I was about to pull my fingers from the large mirror when I again felt the same strong piercing deep in my chest. The air sucked from the room, and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand away from my flesh.
To my horror, I hadn’t the ability to pull my hand free.
The piercing grew stronger, like a vast needle threading my heart and sewing me to the glass as panic spread through me. I struggled to pull my hand free, but to no avail.
I don’t want this. I don’t want to love someone who doesn’t love me in return. I don’t want to fail.
What I did want was to back away, but I was frozen in place. I fought it, yet I had no choice but to yield to the overpowering pull.
Breathing heavily, eyes fixed on my reflection, I surrendered to the unforeknown words pouring from my lips, a new edict rising up from within me as though it had always been there. There was nothing I could do to stop it, and to my alarm it spilled from my mouth, riding on breath drawn not from my fleshly lungs, but from somewhere deeper…my very soul…
“Hear me now, my beloved, my bride,
Set me as a seal upon thine heart,
Mine eyes shall look upon thee, for thou cannot hide,
Two hearts become one, no longer apart,
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away,
Let these eyes behold what is mine,
I am coming for thee, I shall not delay,
Through ancient ways long past, I’ve divined.”
I braced myself for another explosion of wind, but there wasn’t one—it was calm, like a still ocean. My eyes were glued to the glass as I tried to focus on the murky image within. There was something…someone maybe. I couldn’t make it out.
A fleeting moment and the apparition became clear, chasing my breath away with a rush of emotion. My knees gave, and I fell upon them but held fast to the mirror’s frame.
It was by sheer will that I was able to steady my trembling hand so that it remained touching the glass. The earlier hold it had over me was gone—all my actions were now my own free will.
My flesh burned, and I gasped for breath, struggling to absorb the strong and terrifying emotions engulfing me. Fierce, white-hot love and desire awakened within me, like a Phoenix rising, until my very heart and soul were consumed by it.
My gaze crawled over every inch of the mind-boggling vision in the glass, as shock melted into immense longing—longing so strong I felt the need to weep and could only breathe out a mere whisper.
“Mother of God’s own Son—have I crossed through heaven’s gates? Where on this earth—?”
Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club, and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.
She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.
It’s nineteenth-century England. Social decorum reigns. Devon Phoenix, Marquess of Phoxdale and first-born son of the Duke of Seton, shuns society when he is bound to his soul mate through the discovery of a buried family secret. He learns she will need his protection from those drawn to her because of her lineage. When he crosses two centuries into present day to claim her, it is not without cost. The life of Boston artist and history buff Elz Valli is about to be irreversibly altered. Coming face-to-face with Devon, she feels certain this striking, intellectual man bears more than a shocking resemblance to the man marked in the pages of her history books. Even so, she does not expect the chain of events that unfold because of one heated dance with him. With the pendulum in motion, there is no turning back as Devon’s presence in today’s world ignites raging fires both good and evil. Driven by his insane love for her, Devon will stop at nothing to have and protect Elz. But will this be enough to overcome the powers that will attach themselves to her?
This book is intended for mature audiences.
Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club, and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.
She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.
