SERIES TITLE: GIFTED
TRILOGY
AUTHOR NAME:
Erin Manbeck
Gift of Sight
“Gifted” Trilogy, #1
Feisty, smart mouth Regan thought that
breaking up with her boyfriend Sam was going to be the start of her
independence. Instead, she is manipulated and dragged into a
world where sharp, sarcastic wit isn't going to save her.
Turning to her Gram for help, the only remaining relative she has,
Regan is upset to find out that her grandmother has been keeping
family secrets of her own all these years.
With a vengeful goddess using people to
try and bring Regan to the Underworld, Gram brings in three Guardians
to protect her. Given the short version of what is expected of
her, loaded with a lot of expectations for her future, Regan knows
first-hand that life is too short. She isn't letting anyone
make life-altering decisions for her despite finding out that the
vengeful goddess has placed a price on her head.
This book will make you laugh, feel
connected to the characters, and leave you wanting more.
Warning: Adult language and sexual
situation
AVAILABLE
NOW:
Gift of Power
“Gifted” Trilogy, #2
Power equals
responsibility.
Despite declaring to those
closest to her that she will take her position as Queen, Regan’s
first priority is not to rule, but to find her parents. With Jake at
her side, she is determined to learn how to use her new powers and
hide from her destiny, as well as the Council, a little while longer.
Unfortunately, someone has
been watching and reporting every move Regan makes. She is
disheartened to find out the Council is already eagerly awaiting her
arrival in Ireland and have apparently started to plan her future…one
that does not include Jake.
Regan must decide just how
much she is willing to sacrifice to protect her people from a
vengeful goddess, while also weeding out the traitor among them. In
the end, will she have the strength to withstand losing any of them?
AVAILABLE
NOW:
Gift of Prophecy
“Gifted” Trilogy, #3
Regan’s
arrival in Ireland may have heightened her powers, but it has also
given Agrona and her minions more cause to make sure she never makes
it to her coronation. With every attack and the harsh welcome she
receives from the council, Regan is more determined than ever to
prove why the deities have chosen her to be the Queen.
Although, part of her has
accepted that she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice, it isn't
until Regan finds herself in the Otherworld being handed over to
Agrona that the reality hits her. Will Jake and her family survive
without her?
AVAILABLE
NOW:
AUTHOR BIO:
I’m
an author in hiding…I still work full time, but don’t ever look
over my shoulder to see what’s on my computer screen. Chances are
you will find me secretly writing.
Besides
family and friends, I love to laugh. It may be at the expense of
those I love, but they get me, so I usually don’t offend too much.
Honesty…I
can’t help it. I usually say way I feel, but with a little
guidance, I’ve learned to be more tactful.
I’ve
worked in plenty of environments (trucking company, correction
officer and I was in the military to mention a few) so I guess you
can say that’s where my mouth and attitude come from. Either way,
as long as I get my morning cup of coffee people are safe.
The
Trilogy is complete and I also have a new stand-alone book called
“Dreamless”. It’s a Paranormal Suspense that’s a bit lighter
on the language, but will keep you guessing who the Nightmare really
is.
AUTHOR CONTACT LINK:
Website:
www.erinmanbeck.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/erinmanbeck
Gift of Sight
Excerpt Once:
Regan could tell he was being
sincere, but she didn’t care. “You said most of the time, what
about the other times? What did you do?” Regan’s questions were
being fired out like a machine gun burst.
Jake was definitely having a hard
time finding the right words. He went with the honest approach.
Over the year quite a few times, you really have nothing
to be embarrassed about. You are beautiful.”
“What? Why do you want me to do
that?”
Jake couldn’t believe what she
was asking. “Regan, I am not taking my clothes off.”
Regan screamed into Jake's face...
Suddenly Gram was at her side.
“Honey, why are you screaming? What are you getting so upset
about?”
Regan never took her eyes off
Jake. “He needs to get naked. It’s only fair.”
“Honey, why would Jake need to
be naked to talk to you?” Even Gram had a bit of a laugh mixed in
her tone.
“Over the last year there have
been moments where he has seen me naked. The only way I am going to
be comfortable with that fact is if he gets butt naked right now, an
eye for an eye, so to speak.”
Piper jumped in to help. “She’s
right, Jake. I mean, if someone saw me naked like that without me
knowing and then I had to work with him or her, you bet .... I would make them strip. Come on, Maggie, we don’t want to see
that, so we should go back into the kitchen until he is done.”
"You have a ..."
Regan asked Jake.
"No, of course not, Piper is
messing around."
"See, the smart money was on
yes because then I might have said to forget this whole thing, but
since you said no…get in the birthday suit. You’re wasting
precious time."
Gift of Sight:
Excerpt Two:
Sam’s response was to hit Regan in
the face again, but this time on the opposite side. “Isn’t it
simple, Regan? I want you and that smart mouth to come with me.”
Through the tears that had started to
fall down her face, she replied, “So you plan on beating me into
submission? I don’t work that way you know that. Besides, what
real man hits a girl?”
Regan, SHUT UP!
Is what she thought, but it was too
late. Sam punched the side of her head, which caught both her temple
and part of her eye. She instantly saw stars and could feel the
blood trickling down the side of her face.
Damn it! I think he just split my
eye. He’s got gorilla hands. How have I never noticed those huge
man hands?
Then, like a light had switched on in
Sam’s head, he gently started to run his hand down the side of her
face. “I can’t wait for the black eyes to appear on your lovely
face. They will have to temporarily take the place of those dark
circles I’d gotten so used to seeing. What happened to those eyes,
Regan? Your trademark circles seemed to have disappeared over night.
Is it because you slept with that dog? I expected so much more from
you, Sweetie.”
“No, nothing happened, Sam. Please
stop hitting me. You are wasting your time. I made my decision. I
don’t want to be with you and I won’t be going back with Gram and
the rest of them. They bound my powers so I can stay here and be
normal. Please just let me go.”
“You’re lying!”
Gift
of Power Excerpt One:
“When I was in the Otherworld, Agrona
promised two things. One, if she gets those long fingers on me she
will use me to come back. She swore that if she came back it meant
that she would destroy all those I love and care for, and leave no
McQuigan linage to remember. Secondly, if I chose not to help, she
was going to kill my parents. So you see, no matter what decision I
make she will destroy the people I love.
“What would apparently surprise you
is that I told her I’m not so selfish that I would put my parents
before not only my people, but all of humanity. So, don’t YOU all
jump the gun and think you know me as well as you think you do. My
life has changed. I have changed. I have new feelings and beliefs
flowing through me every second that none of you will ever
understand.”
She turned her head slightly and spoke
over her shoulder. “For your sake, as well as mine, I will be
patient right now. I will sleep on it tonight and hopefully by
tomorrow I will have a better grasp on everything that we have
discussed, and I’m hoping with your help, I will have a plan.
“Let me lastly remind you, and I’m
not trying to be a bitch, but if that’s how you see it, so be it,
but the decision I make will be my own. You will choose to stand
beside me or you will choose to walk away. Either choice, I will
accept without judgment.” She turned back to all of them. “We
all have a lot to think about so let’s get some sleep tonight and
talk again in the morning.” Regan then walked out of the room and
headed for her bedroom without giving any of them a chance to refute
what she had said.
That’s right people; I just walked
out like a boss!
Gift of Power
Excerpt Two:
“This is too much, Jake. I don’t
know how to handle this. I’m supposed to be strong, I’m supposed
to be a leader, I’m supposed to do a lot of shit that I haven’t
even been briefed on yet, and I don’t want it. I don’t want that
life. All I want right now is revenge. How do I do this?”
Jake enveloped her in his arms. He
pulled her so tight that she was being smothered. She didn’t want
his protective arms, she wanted to punch something, kick something,
and DO SOMETHING! Jake released her just enough to attempt to make
eye contact with her. Regan couldn’t bare it. She didn’t want
Jake to see this evil that was taking over her being. She felt the
darkness climbing from her toes and slowly making its way up. Soon
it would have her heart and there would be no turning back.
“Just let me go, Jake. You all
deserve someone better. Someone who isn’t capable of this much
hate, because right now that’s all I feel.”
Jake grabbed her by the face and placed
a kiss on her lips. It only slightly distracted her. “Did you
feel that, Regan? Do you feel this?” He grabbed her more forcibly
and slammed his mouth onto hers. For a moment she fought it, he
deserved better. However, when he ran his tongue over her lip, she
slowly started to let him. Before she knew it, she was backed up
against Oaky and giving just as much as she was getting. Jake picked
her up enough that she was able to wrap her legs around his waist.
He slammed into her, and instead of feeling pain, she moaned. “Do
you feel that, Regan? Do you feel how much I love you, how much I
want you? Do you think I would settle for just anything or anybody?
It’s you, it’s always been you.” He kissed her again, but this
time it was gentler, and she started to feel the love again. “Get
your head on straight and talk to me. Don’t let the hate take
over. You will get your day of justice, but not like this. Don’t
walk away from me now. I’m here for you. I will help you get what
you want. Do you understand that?”
Gift of Power
Excerpt Three:
“Lead the way, Buttercup. No, stop,
don’t like that nickname, I have to come up with another one.
Lover, no, ill, I sound like the chick from ‘Saturday Night Live’.
Caveman, yes, that’s the one that still sticks. Lead the way,
Caveman.”
“Hey, if I’m supposed to be
watching my language, you can’t flaunt it in front of me like
that.”
Jake eventually just grabbed her hand
and started to pull Regan out the door. “What’s wrong with the
word ass?”
Regan decided that being pulled didn’t
suit her, so she double-timed her steps in order to walk side by side
with Jake...
Jake thought about it for a second and
finally just started laughing. Regan sighed, “At least we look
natural, you laughing at me, me wondering why?”
Jake, while still laughing, wrapped her
in another big hug. “My mission has been accomplished.”
“I got you distracted enough to get
you into position. Piper and Maggie will be out soon.”
Regan surveyed the area and then her
stomach flopped. “Oh shit. I really hope it’s a friendly cat?”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
Gift of Prophecy
Excerpt One:
“Stay behind me, all three of you,
and that is not a request.”
When Regan had first seen the council
members, an image had flashed in her mind.
What the hell, why not?
She didn’t even have to touch the
ground to feel the connection. Everything around her, since she
arrived in Ireland, seemed to call to her. She raised her hands ever
so slightly, and concentrated on the level ground that was between
her and the stage. Tapping into nature, she prayed. “I call
upon my abilities and I ask for your help.”
At first there was a small vibration,
an effect that had Regan not sure what she was doing, but when the
earth before her started to violently tremble all she could think
was, “Thank you Danu and Oaky.”
To make sure the council knew her
intentions, she spoke loud and clear. “Keep those that
doubt me and are not pure of heart from reaching me.”
Regan placed her palms together and
directed them at the center of the open area. While visualizing what
she wanted, she pulled her hands apart and watched as the ground in
front of her slowly started to tear apart. A large crack appeared in
the center of the open area and the ground began to separate. By the
time her arms were spread wide, the fifty feet that had separated her
and the stage, was nothing more than a gaping hole that didn’t
appear to have a bottom.
Regan, not satisfied yet, continued
creating this bottomless pit around the entire stage, until it stood
like a lone island in a vast sea, with all of its occupants now
huddled together, except for her one lone wolf. Rewarding him for
standing apart from the others, she’d offer him an olive branch, so
to speak.
Regan raised her hands higher this time
and drew from what remained around her. Strong roots, embedded in
the earthen pit walls, began to come alive. The once nestled roots
pulled away from their home in the dirt, entwining together as they
reached out across the chasm. They continuously stretched until they
met their counterpart, coming from the other side. When connected,
what appeared in front of everyone was a small bridge. “Conall, I
offer you this opportunity to join me, since you are probably the
only one of the nine that wishes to remain a member. If you choose
to join me, walk across my bridge before I remove it.”
Conall let out a laugh and saluted his
fellow council members. With no fear, he walked quickly across
Regan’s makeshift bridge, and with every step, Regan not only saw
his aura become brighter, but her trust in a man she had never met
grew. It was unquestionable that he belonged to the light. When
Conall came to the end and took his last step off the bridge, he
smiled widely.
Just as she was getting ready to speak,
Regan saw the other members starting to make a move for the bridge.
She instantly dropped her hands, in turn dropping the bridge, and
leaving them to think about their actions.
Gift of Prophecy
Excerpt Two:
Regan went to the oaken doors and
requested them to open. When they did, she had Piper drag Edana
across the threshold. When they sealed shut, she placed her hands on
the doors. The eyes were aglow and the voices were in her head
before she could address them.
“How may we be of service, Queen
Regan?”
She spoke for all present to hear.
“How about explaining why you let this woman in the castle. Did
you not say you would protect me?”
“We will always protect you, but
we too have our limits. She is a goddess and we cannot deny her
entry.”
Regan stepped back. “She’s a
what?”
Before they could answer, a laugh
echoed behind her. Regan slowly turned her head, while praying that
the laugh didn’t belong to the woman she thought it did. “You
heard them, Queenie, I am a goddess, and they can’t stop me from
entering.”
Not knowing what to expect, Regan’s
mama bear came out. “Piper, get the hell away from her, NOW!”
Piper went to walk away, but Edana
grabbed her and pulled the small dagger from off her waist. She held
it to Piper’s throat. “Not so fast, warrior. I like you. You
would make a good addition to my floor collection.”
Piper’s eyes were wide. “What the
hell is she talking about, Regan, and why is she suddenly stronger
than me?”
Regan’s mind flashed back to a
different scene. She was once again watching Abram as he held a
knife to Gram’s throat, while she stood frozen to the spot. She
couldn’t let this happen again. Shaking off the cowardice that was
just at her fingertips, she knew she had to save Piper. “Agrona, I
see you are practicing with others. Do you think that is going to
help you? I won’t give myself over to you.”
Piper whispered a holy shit, while all
the Knights just gawked at what Regan had just said. Agrona let out
another laugh. “Oh, Queenie, you are so smart, but so foolish.
You could save them all if you come with me now.
Gift of Prophecy
Excerpt Three:
Danu spoke to Regan. “My Child,
if you are done gawking at the lovely Brigitt, I would like for you
to stand and come join us. Your ring has centered your focus back to
the here and now, so I would like to introduce you.”
“Not if she intends on kicking my
ass. Look at how she’s eyeing me. Did I offend her or something?”
Brigitt stood up straight and her eyes
became even more acute. “You can speak to me directly and, yes,
I might attack you if you decide to break down like that in front
of your people again. Get off the ground and get over here. We are
only here to bring Josephine home, so you have nothing to worry about
right now.”
Regan let out a grunt as she started to
get up. “Right now? The Griffins are definitely yours. Did
you train them to be a pain in the ass?”
Brigitt turned to Danu, “See, I
told you she was more like me, despite the meltdown just now.” She
looked back at Regan, but this time offered a smile. “You don’t
train Griffins. They are loyal creatures that offer their services
when they respect you. They are not infallible, but who is. If we
were all perfect, the deities would still be in this realm. Come,
Regan, we don’t have much time. Josephine is rather impatient.”
As Regan approached the goddesses,
Brigitt still owned her attention. “Is it normal for the two of
you to show up like this? Gram doesn’t even descend from your
line, so why would you be here? Not that I don’t want you here,
because I think this is awesome, I’m just confused and why do you
appear to be in solid form when you are spirits in this realm?”
“So many questions, and we have so
little time. No, Regan, it is not normal for any deity to appear
before their people in public like this, but today is different. We
have used quite a lot of our power to materialize into this form
because we needed everyone here to see us. Much like Danu, and like
yourself, I love my family. I knew that you, as well as the people,
were going to need my support today. Danu and I are bringing
Josephine to the Otherworld, as well as reassuring the people, that
although they don’t know you yet, you are the Queen that has been
chosen.
“My family has blended into the
Tuatha just as they have into mine. We are all one. You follow
those instincts of yours and you will find that in time, the
followers of Danu will not be your only loyal subjects. Besides, why
are you acting so surprised? The Griffins told you there would be
three powerful forces here today, who did you think they were talking
about?”
Regan stopped two feet in front of the
goddesses. “Gram, mom and I, but obviously I was wrong. You
know, it wouldn’t hurt if you did speak with the Griffins and teach
them how to be a little more forthcoming in their information or
maybe how to be a little more specific.”
Brigitt gave Regan that glare again,
and Regan almost took a step back. “Maybe, Young Queen, you
should learn to ask the right questions, and then you would get
answers that you like. Good job not backing down just now when I
gave you my evil eye. The people will love that.”
Gift of Prophecy
Excerpt Four:
The truth is, I want their support,
and I need their help. Should I just ask them real quick what they
think? No, I just said this wasn’t a meeting. Besides, I’m
nicer after I eat. I wonder when they are going to bring in the
food.
Reading her mind, Jake leaned over and
showed Regan a button on the side of the table. She asked him, “Will
this bring on the feast?” When he nodded, she started hitting the
button like crazy. She stopped when a door opened and a line of
staff started piling into the room, each one carrying a tray loaded
with food. She watched as they placed bowls of salad and soup,
accompanied with loaves of bread onto the center of the table. Her
eyes must have shown her disappointment because her mother started to
laugh. “Honey, this is just the start. There will be meat after
this.”
“Thank God, because I’m not a
rabbit.”
“No, you never were.” Veronica
turned to the group. “Terence and I learned very early that we
needed to put all the food out at once. Regan would get so upset if
there wasn’t some kind of meat on the table.”
Regan rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t
that bad. I just wasn’t a fan of salad unless there was a cow on
top of it.”
Maggie leaned over and started to cut
herself a piece of bread. “So as a child, you weren’t happy
unless you were butchering the English language or animals for food.
Glad to see some things haven’t changed.”
Before Regan could respond, Ormand
spoke to Veronica. “My Lady, it’s been a very long time. How
are you doing?”
Veronica took the piece of bread Maggie
offered and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m good, Ormand. I mean,
I’ve been kept away from my family for all this time, my mother was
killed, Abram stabbed me with the intention to kill me, and my
daughter is next on their list. Oh, and my husband is still
imprisoned. I’d say I’m doing great.”
Everyone fell silent and just stared at
Veronica as she buttered her bread. Regan couldn’t believe her
mother had just spit that out and she almost kicked her under the
table. Piper was all smiles. “Well, if that doesn’t prove the
apple didn’t fall from the tree, I don’t know what does. She
might be looking at you all shocked right now, but Regan knows she
would have said the same thing.”
TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS GRAND PRIZE: Signed Copy of the entire Trilogy, Signed Copy of my new book Called “Dreamless” and Bookmarks to match RUNNERS UP: 3 Runner ups: Signed Copy of the Entire Trilogy
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I wonder how she came up with the idea for continuing the trilogy. I have nor read it yet, but look forward to it.
ReplyDeletealed ol, When I started the book I wasn't thinking trilogy, but the more I wrote, and the less I slept (I'ma night writer) the more I found myself adding. By the time I finished the first book I still had a ton to tell. Thanks for the comment and go download your copy of the first book today. Last day it's free. :)
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take for you to write the entire trilogy?
ReplyDeleteJeanine B,
DeleteWriting, editing, and covers took me 5 months. Very quick for a trilogy, but once I started I couldn't stop. I go nuts waiting for continuation books and I didn't like the idea of keeping people waiting to long.