“What would you pay for a chance at true love?”

G’day! I’m Heidi Kneale, an Australian author of moderate repute.

What price would you pay for true love?

Daywen Athalia wants love–true and lasting. Fearing a future of bitter loneliness, she seeks help from a gypsy woman. The price: a hundred pieces of gold. Daywen’s never had two shillings to rub together in her life. Where’s she going to find a hundred gold pieces?

Bel MacEuros made a career of theft from fey creatures. When the cursed gold he rightfully stole from a gnome is taken from him by Daywen, the consequences could bless or break his life.

It is not the gnome’s curse or a gypsy’s blessing but another magic, far deeper and more powerful, that will change their lives forever.

“As Good as Gold” is a sweet, romantic tale of a Scottish lass who wants true love more than anything, even if it means theft. Will she find love or ruin? And what happens to the gold?

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An excerpt from “As Good As Gold”:

“You have put me in an awkward spot between several of my relations,” Bel MacEuros explained as he gripped Daywen’s arm. “When my mother learned you had stolen an hundred gold from me, she guessed rightly that you were seeking a Faerie. Had she not told me, I would demand my hundred back from you, if not in coin, at least in trade–“
As he spoke these words, Daywen stiffened and she drew herself upright. “I am not that sort of woman!” She pulled against his grip like a panicked horse.
Bel pushed her up against the wall, her hands pressed between his chest and hers. “And if it had occurred to me–which I will not confess if it did or not–and I chose to sample your favors, that would not bode well between me and another relation of mine: my cousin. After all, isn’t he your sweetheart?”
Confusion wrinkled her brow. “Who’s your cousin?”
He didn’t expect that. Surely the lass knew who she loved. “Uhh,  Lachlan…?”
“Oh,” she muttered, then realization dawned in her widening eyes. “Oh! Oh no…” She sank under his grip.
“So no, I won’t be taking a hunner’worth from you that way. I can’t even steal a kiss from you.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. She was pretty and wasn’t going anywhere for the moment. Is that why he wanted to kiss her? That itch in the back of his head nagged him. All he had to do was bend down and taste her lips…

“As Good As Gold” is a Faery Rosette out from The Wild Rose Press, available on Amazon right now. If you love sweet Historical Fantasy Romance set in Scotland, grab a copy today!

One lucky commenter  (drawn at random) will win an Aussie “Bag of Gold”. In Australia, our one- and two-dollar coins are made from an alloy called copper brass. Colloquially, we call them ‘gold coins’, because they shine so prettily… We consider them to be lucky, but only when we use them to bless other people. Thus, charities will ask for “gold coin donations”.

A Bag o’ Gold!

So, today’s winner will receive a small velvet bag containing an Australian one-dollar coin and two-dollar coin (the “Bag of Gold”–see illustration). As well as striking it rich, that same winner will also receive a copy of the ebook “As Good As Gold” in their format choice of EPUB, MOBI or PDF.

Let’s have some fun today with some questions! Post your answers in the comments below.

Q1. If you were given a hundred pieces of gold today, what would you do with it?

Q2. If you were given a hundred pieces of gold today, BUT COULD NOT SPEND IT ON YOURSELF or anyone you personally knew, what would you do with it?

Q3. What is the most outlandish thing you’ve done for love?

Q4. If you travelled to Australia, what would you like to do?

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Note: being an Aussie, I won’t be present for the first half of the discussion, as it’ll be the middle of my night. But I’ll join you in the second half of Book Brew (my morning). Meanwhile, feel free to ask questions in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer them. Cheers, mate!