The Concubine's Tale Releases Today!

I was thrilled to find out today that The Concubine's Tale is now available at New Concepts! Though it's a standalone story, The Concubine's Tale ties in with The Soul Jar

Here's the blurb:

An ancient papyrus scroll tells the sensual and tragic tale of Nayari, concubine to a power-hungry magistrate bent on usurping the Egyptian throne. The chronicles of her forbidden love for Khanu, the stoic warrior sent to transport her from her master's home to the temple of Min, enflame the passions of modern day art collector Grant Pierson for sexy gallery curator Cait Lang. As Cait relates Nayari's erotic adventure she stirs more than just Grant's curiosity in the priceless artifact and they find themselves caught up in a love story three thousand years in the making.

Rating: Contains some violence and sexual situations.

And here's a short excerpt:

Cait stared at the scroll and thought of the first pair of hands that might have touched it. Sheathed now in tempered glass, its brittle remnants spread in a broken oval shape, it reminded her of a half-finished jigsaw puzzle. She found it sad that the missing pieces would never come together.

Lost in thought, she jumped a little at the sound of the gallery's door chime. She smoothed her dark skirt and hurried to the front door.
Grant Pierson appraised her through the frosted MG logo that decorated the upper half of the glass.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from something," he said as she backed up to let him inside. He stepped aside while she relocked the door.

Of course not, she thought. What social life can a girl have when she works all the time? "No problem. I was able to rearrange my plans." Cait let her curious gaze follow him across the main display area. His charcoal suit and polished shoes said boardroom all the way, but the broad shoulders and tight butt said weekend athlete. He moved like he owned the place. With the amount of money he'd spent here over the years, he might as well have been a partner in the business.

He bent to study the rare coin case in the center of the room. "You've changed the lighting in here."

She nodded. "We added some tracks down the center of the ceiling and replaced the top panels of the cases with a new type of glare-free glass. A major improvement for a small investment."

"Your idea?" His expression gave her pause. She couldn't tell if he approved of the change or not.

She crossed the room before answering, conscious of his eyes on her. "Not really. Mr. Greer is the display expert. The scroll is in the back, if you'd like to take a look."

"Can't wait."

They met at the narrow doorway leading to the back room. There, she caught a warm, spice-scented whiff of his aftershave as she passed him. Their shoulders brushed, and the feel of textured wool over lean muscle sent a charge through her nerve endings. Goosebumps rose under her blouse.

The sudden chill of excitement caused by the brief contact became a languid heat as she watched his expression change. His eyes lit when he saw the scroll, and his long fingers flexed with the desire to touch it. Figures an ancient artifact would turn him on, she thought.
He circled the display case. "Tell me about it." He clasped his hands behind his back now, as if to prevent himself from reaching for the inaccessible treasure.

"Of course."

* * *

For a longer excerpt, go here! And don’t forget, if you want to know more about the legend of The Concubine’s Tale, pick up The Soul Jar, also available from NCP.