One For Kami Guest Review

How appropriate I am talking about a love story the week of Valentine’s Day.

Today I want to tell you about a story available now from Amazon on Kindle from Charlene Wilson.

Charlene is the author of romantic tales that take you to other worlds, dimensions, and times, as well as our very own. Whether it be Paranormal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Contemporary, she weaves lasting love and intrigue into multi-layered story lines to immerse you in the lives of her characters. Fate and destiny have a plan. Are you ready to believe again?

Author site:  http://CharleneAWilson.com
Blog:  http://bit.ly/CharBlogs
Facebook:  http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson
Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR
Pinterest:http://pinterest.com/charleneawilson/

Today her newest creation is One for Kami.

http://www.amazon.com/One-for-Kami-

Print Length: 38 pages

Publisher: Oracle Bay Books (December 21, 2012)

ASIN: B00ARU2Z6A

This is a story of what true love is all about. Kami lives in a society where men of the Elite are required to take three wives. When confronted with the possibility of sharing her love for Ian with two other women, she would rather live a life away from him than suffer that heart ache. She takes a position on another planet to forget her feelings and tries to start a new life without him. New surroundings do little to ease the feelings she carries for him in her heart.

(spoiler) Just before she embarks on the mandated return to her world, a figure reveals himself to her. Imagine her shock to find it is Ian, who leaves his status and his world behind to be with her. *swoon*.

We are transported to a new world through this story. Excellent descriptions place us in Kami’s surroundings. Charlene pulls us into Kami’s world and reveals her deepest thoughts and her most intimate feelings. We experience the pull of Kami’s heart and the confusion she experiences as she encounters a new culture. Coupled with the frustration she goes through as she tries to forget about Ian, but everything always leads back to him.

I love the way Charlene still uses the lure and pull of true love to transcend the boundaries of worlds and time. Her story is poignant and tender, a read worthy romance.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

 

Kami’s blouse bunched up her back as she slid down the wide oak’s trunk. Bark grazed her skin and snagged her hair with its aged layers until her bottom hit the ground. She cringed at the sharp pangs. Folding her knees to her chest, she buried her face in her arms and welcomed the punishment. Hurting Ian pained her more than anything she’d done in her life.

Autumn leaves crunched beneath his footsteps as he paced the woodland’s small clearing. Each stride matched two beats of her heart and crushed the sweet memories of their grove. Dust scented the air as he shuffled into a turn.

“Why are you just now telling me this?” His breath hitched and he cleared his throat.

Words wouldn’t form as Kami lifted her gaze.

Setting his hands at his slender waist, his hazel gaze shifted to the shadows of the young birch trees. A cloud of insects drifted through the pale trunks, soft hums filling the air as they paused. Wiping his hand across his strong jaw, he looked back at her.

“You know I love you, Kami.”

Tears stung as they seeped beneath her lids and she blinked to relieve the burn. “I need to be the only one, Ian. I can’t know you might love someone else more than me when you choose another wife.”

She lowered her gaze to the thick roots that surrounded her. They wove within the caramel-colored ground, creating a perfect lounge for two lovers in an embrace. How many times had they sat there and shared their secrets, their love? How many times had he told her she was the one, the only one? She cursed the fact that she was gullible enough to believe it could be true.

Kami forced her voice through her tight throat. “When I first saw you, you were playing with that scruffy looking little dog in the park. Its hair was so long and matted I thought you couldn’t afford to pay a groomer. I thought that sock with the knot in it was all you could come up with to be his toy.”

He lowered his gaze. “That stray lives at the park and I removed my sock to have some fun with him.”

“I know that now. But then I assumed you were poor. And after the third date of peanut butter sandwich picnics by the river, I thought I knew for certain. I mean, who could love peanut butter that much? And what member of the elite class prefers such a simple activity for a date?”

She scanned his solemn countenance. His love of nature was one of the things she adored about him, alongside the fact that he didn’t feel the need to flaunt his wealth. But to keep such a fact from her under the circumstances… “I fell in love with you, believing you would make me the one choice you were allowed as a member of the lower class.”

A gust of wind lifted his black hair to dance around his face. The cheery motion seemed to mock his lips as they dipped into a deep frown. “If it were up to me, I’d have only you. Can’t you believe that? I’ve waited, pushed the age limit to wed, looking for the right one to be my first. My first, Kami. The others will never mean what you do to me.”

“If you really love me, you’d want me alone. No other. Period.” Frustration bubbled in her chest at her misconception of their love.

He tilted his head and bit his lips together. “I can’t help that I was born an elite. If it were possible…”

“If it were possible, what? You’d give up your birthright and join the ranks of the vagabonds who can’t afford food for the one wife and child they’re allowed? Or you’d buck the system and refuse to wed the other two? That would only land you earthbound, exiled to a foreign dimension, and stripped of everything but the clothes you wear. And while you’re considering it, I’d advise you to wear a thick coat and heavy boots because I hear they choose some pretty rough climates for those who refuse to live by this law.”

The sarcastic response rolled off her tongue before she realized it, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t right. None of the counsel’s decisions on eliminating poverty was. The lower class weds one spouse and bears only one child while the elite must choose three and produce as many offspring that would come to them? It was absurd.

Find another way to spread the wealth than through inheritance.

She looked at him, and her voice rose with her exclamation. “I can’t stay here and conform to the laws of this dimension. Not when I know there are other places that don’t require such things. I need the freedom to love whomever I want whoever they are, without the stipulation of a quota. And if that means transferring, then that’s what I’ll do.”

“If your mother was alive…”

“Well, she’s not.” Kami scowled. She had expected him to try to bring her mother into this, but it hurt just the same. “But, I can’t believe she wouldn’t want me to be happy. She was one of a quota, Ian, one that had only one child. Father’s attention stayed on the others.”

Ian’s broad shoulders lifted as he took a deep breath and sent his gaze back to the trees.

“I’m leaving for a six-month stay in Three-Two-Three. With me gone, you’ll be free to start your family before you turn twenty-five. I won’t stand in your way to fulfill your obligation. You’ll have time to find a woman that will happily live by the law.” Her voice lowered to a mumble. “And I won’t have to see you do it.”

Ian’s heavy brow furrowed and his dark lashes narrowed his gaze. “And what will happen if you find someone while you’re there? That realm doesn’t know we exist, Kami. What will you tell him when you leave every six months to come back to renew your travel rights?”

“When I choose someone, it will be because our love is true. He’ll understand I need some time away.”

His mouth dropped open and he shook his head. “What love that’s true has those kinds of secrets?” A scowl crossed his face and he drew his hand through the air. “And what makes you think a love there would be truer than my love here?”

“They choose only one. They pledge their hearts and it lasts a lifetime.”

“Promises can be broken whichever realm you’re in.” Orange and yellow leaves scattered as he marched across the small tract and sunk to the ground before her. Taking her hands in his, he looked into her eyes. “Stay here. Marry me. Be my elite choice. There can be only one first time, and I want it to be you. Let it be enough.”

It took all of Kami’s strength to look away. She clenched her jaw, trying to control the hiccup that would surely release a sob.

Ian shook his head and his voice lowered to a plea. “Please, Kami. Don’t go.”

She pinched her lips together and the hiccup forced its way to her throat. Snatching her breath, she kept it silent, but it jarred her into action. “The consort has already granted my leave. I’ve taken the training and temporary employment is waiting for me. If I can make it work, I’ll arrange to stay longer.”

The frank tone of her voice gave her strength as she stood. “Goodbye, Ian.”

Ian’s hands slowly released her as he rose and stepped back. His square jaw flexed. “Never say goodbye. This isn’t the end.”

Tearing her gaze from his hazel eyes, Kami focused her thoughts on the Inter-dimensional Courtyard. A wave of heat sizzled through her veins as her elements prepared to shift through space. The scene before her distorted and a soft fizz buzzed in her ears as she synced into the atrium.

 

A tourwide giveaway is hosted by Rafflecopter. Click on the link to join in the fun.

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Charlene has graciously offered to give away a copy of One for Kami. One of our lucky commentors will win a free copy. Since we are in the middle of Valentine’s Week I’d love to hear from you about a favorite love story or Valentine’s tale. Let’s spread the love!

Thank you Charlene for sharing your story with us. And good luck to all of you in the give away!!

Nena