Hello Readers,
Welcome back to Book Hooks and WIPWed. Today, I’m sharing from my work in progress, book 2 in the Fated Fairytale series. If you’ve been keeping up with my upcoming release, Scarlett and The Big Bad (out 3/9 but available for pre-order), you know the series is an adult fairytale retelling filled with shifters and spankings, and the old character stereotypes are turned on their heads.
Book two is a reverse harem retelling of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I’m sure you remember the tale of the spoiled brat, who broke into the home of three bears, ate their food, broke their furniture, and did who only knows what in their beds…what a nightmare! Giselle Devoe fills the role in Fated Fairytales 2.
At first glance, the pampered granddaughter of a village’s wealthy leader certainly seems to be an obvious liar and in need of so much correction, it will take three, strapping bear-shifters to teach her some respect.
How much of Giselle’s attitude is hubris, and how much is a coping mechanism? Is she ignoring the chiding of our three heroes or is she disassociating? Does she feel superior, or has she been isolated for so long, she misinterprets social cues?
Blurb
When soldiers broke down the door to nineteen-year-old, Giselle Devoe’s house just before dawn and arrested her grandmother and mother, she trembled in terror. At her maid’s urging, she lied about her name and pretended to be a servant as the people of their village (in actuality, an internment camp in a pocket universe, where The Order of the Phoenix raised humans for sacrifice) were relocated through the portal to the human refugee center.
Neither Colonel Daniel Black nor his brothers, Captain Jax Black, and task force officer, Tristan Black is fooled by Giselle’s obvious lie. She carries herself like the spoiled brat they’d expect the granddaughter of the wealthy and tyrannical human village leader and Order of the Phoenix devotee to be. Luckily, these three dominant bear-shifter brothers enjoy sharing and chastising women who need discipline.
When Giselle’s nature proves to be much different from what the brothers originally suspected, all three become afflicted with the rare human-bonding-syndrome. They’re determined to claim her as their shared mate, but plans put in motion long ago will see all of their lives in danger. The Order of the Phoenix will seek out the sacrifice pledged to them. Are three bear-shifters enough to protect Giselle and provide her with all the love she’s never been given?
Excerpt
(In our excerpt today, Colonel Daniel Black, the bear-shifter in charge of protecting the refugee center, and by far, Giselle’s biggest fan, has already started to cut through the smoke and see Giselle’s true character as she works for him as a part-time office assistant.)
“When do you need this completed?”
The corners of his lips curved upward. “There’s no rush. If it’s too tedious, you’re welcome to spend some time on self-study.”
She tilted her head. “What do you mean? I’ve completed all the information sessions. They’ve nothing more to teach me.”
He leaned back in his chair. “There’s a lot more to this world than the bare minimum our instructors had the time to go over. Pick a subject you’re interested in and read.”
“A subject?” She rubbed her head.
“Fashion design, art, music.” He stopped as she began to shake her head profusely. “Goldie?”
“I can’t sew or paint. I was never good at playing the piano either. My gram-gram said she sent the teacher away because I made the cat scream when I practiced.”
He held her in his gaze as he tented his hands under his chin. “Do you remember exactly what the instructor said?”
She looked off to the side and squinted. “Well, no. I must have been quite young when I took lessons, but he told gram I had no proclivity toward rhythm and no talent for playing.”
His nostrils flared. “I don’t remember you ever mentioning having a cat. Is it at the animal hospitality facility? I can arrange a visit. You don’t want to go too long or the poor thing won’t remember you.”
She squinted and rubbed her head. “I was never allowed to have a pet. No animals were allowed inside at all.”
He stared into her eyes. “I see, so you practiced the piano outside or with the window open?”
She lifted and dropped her shoulders. “I don’t remember.”
Clefts formed on his forehead as he nodded. “I see, and your art teachers said you had no talent too?”
“Gram said I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler so there was no need to pay anyone to teach me art. I only needed to learn the information important to the Priestesses of the Temple of the Phoenix.”
“So, you were a candidate?” He clenched his jaw.
She averted her gaze, grasping one hand with the other. “No, um, well, maybe. My gram-gram believed they’d be unlikely to call on our village during my generation.” She touched her lip, her heart pounding as she thought about the gemstone hidden in her purse and the way it called to her. “I…I know, you disapprove.”
That’s all for today. Don’t forget Fated Fairytales book 1 drops March 9th, but you can pre-order now: https://books2read.com/u/mKyePP
I’m still trying to decide on the title of book two. Please leave a comment and let me know which you like best? 1) Blondie and the Bears 2) Taming Goldie 3) Goldie: Tamed and Claimed by the Werebears 4) Locking Down Goldie
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The way you turned the tale on its head is brilliant. I need to read this.
Thanks, Kryssie! xoxo
I kind of like Blondie and the Bears. Interesting concept, adding BDSM to stories that were originally not for kids, but were cautionary tales of violence and gore for adults. You seem to be taking them back to being stories for grown-ups.
Interesting. Definitely not a multi-talented person
Not necessarily. Giselle’s grandmother’s comments were designed to push her into a corner with no where else to go, but the Colonel is catching on to how deeply she’s been gaslit and for how long.
He’s not letting her get away with the usual anecdotes. He wants the facts!
He wants her to realize her grandmother was lying and gaslighting her so she can stop believing the worst about herself.
Sounds like another great read! Love your stories.
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Dee
Thank you, Dee!
I like “Taming Goldie” or “Locking Down Goldie.”
Educators and parents can have a tremendous effect on a person’s confidence in their creative abilities. My mother always belittled my artistic talents and, consequently, I have no confidence in my ability to create art.
My sixth-grade teacher was a nasty man who should have been nowhere near kids or adults. His attitudes probably would have reduced a pack of wild dogs to quivering jelly. He insisted that we create outlines for our stories and follow them–but if we followed them too closely, he’d know we wrote the story first and fail us. To this day, I absolutely cannot work from an outline for creative projects. I actually start shaking and feeling sick.
Thanks for voting on the title, Cie! I’m so sorry your mother and teacher belittled your talents. I’ve certainly been there! In this case, Giselle’s grandmother wanted to break her down. The Colonel’s an astute man, who has keyed on on why she has no confidence in her abilities and is trying to make her realize a lot of what she’s been told never actually happened.