Today, I wanted to give you a brief excerpt from a book I think you should check out! Here you go…
Madam Aurora gathered the cards off the table and reached for a new deck. “Now,” she said sharply, “it’s time for your friend’s reading.”
As Madam Aurora laid out the cards in an elaborate sequence, Annabel watched her with curiosity, thinking that while she could not judge Madam Aurora’s ability to foretell the future, she could definitely tell that Madam Aurora was an excellent actress.
Madam Aurora frowned at the cards and shook her head. “Too much anger, too much fear,” she muttered. “You will drown in it unless you find the strength to rise above it.”
“Excuse me?” Annabel exclaimed, getting up to leave. “This is total nonsense – I don’t have to listen to this!” Sure, Madam Aurora had a performance to make, but this was going too far.
“No, you do not, but you should, my girl.” Something in the tone of Madam Aurora’s voice made Annabel sit down. “This here is the sun card, it is upside down, which means there was a failed partnership – a failed engagement.” Madam Aurora flashed a quick glance at Annabel’s left ring finger, and Annabel put her hand into her jacket pocket uneasily. “I don’t have to see your ring finger to know the answer,” Madam Aurora seemed to almost leer, “I can tell by the upside down lovers card and by the moon card over here. The moon card next to the upside down empress card also speaks of stifled creativity – dissatisfaction with you current work. Now, the fool card promises a journey, and the star card right there promises renewal, but both depend upon your ability to overcome your hurt and lack of trust, which is the upside down hermit card right there. Only then will you find love in your life again.”
Annabel stared at Madam Aurora bluntly, too shocked to speak: she had promised herself that she would not be fooled by this mumbo jumbo, and yet, somehow, the card reader’s words reached into her very core. It was as though Madam Aurora knew precisely what had happened in her life, which, of course, was impossible.
“Here,” said Madam Aurora. “I know exactly what you need.” She got up from her seat and walked toward the chest of drawers that stood against the far wall. She opened one of the drawers and returned to the table, carrying a velvet pouch in her hands. “This is for you.” She placed the pouch in front of Annabel.
“What is it?” Annabel asked, too afraid to open it.
“It is a charm, a talisman. Put it on.”
Annabel threw a dubious glance at Lilly and her friend nodded in encouragement.
Her fingers trembling, Annabel pulled the pouch open and its contents fell into the palm of her hand: it was a beautiful gold chain with a heart-shaped pendant of hand-blown glass with flecks of gold in it that shimmered like tiny sun specks.
“Wear it and it will bring you luck in love,” Madam Aurora chanted. “But in order for the talisman to work you must open your heart to new possibilities – what’s the expression I’m looking for…” Madam Aurora frowned, rubbing her forehead. “Ah, yes, go out of your comfort zone – that’s it, that is what you must do – take chances on new things, try doing something you’ve never done before. But you must be patient – it takes time for the charm to work.” Madam Aurora rose from her chair. “Now you must pay for the reading,” she added abruptly, “fifty dollars.”
Lilly reached for her purse, but Annabel stopped her. “I got it.” She handed the money to Madam Aurora. “Thank you.”
Now, a little about the fabulous author…
Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels Dance Me to the Stars, On the Rim of Love, and Lucky Charm, and a collection of short stories A Chance Encounter and Other Stories.
Marie’s latest contemporary romance novel, Dance Me to the Stars, has been selected in the first round of entries in the General Fiction category in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest this year.
Currently, Marie is working on her next novel – a first installment in her romantic suspense series.
Websites and Social Media:
Author Website: www.marieastor.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor
Twitter: @marieastor
Thank you for featuring Lucky Charm today!
Marie
thanks for sharing!