No Brighter Dream: The Pascal Trilogy - Book 3 (36 page)

“And I the luckiest man,” he said, enfolding her in his embrace. “Truly the luckiest man.”

She tucked herself into his shoulder. “Thank you, God and Gabriel,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

The country Turkiye, or Turkey, as it is called in the West, did not exist as a nation until 1922 when Mustafa Kemal Atatiirk formed the republic from what remained of the decimated Ottoman Empire after the First World War.

The majority of the land on which Turkey now sits has been known since ancient times as Anatolia, a word taken from the Greek
anatole,
“sunrise.” Home to known civilizations since 7000
B.C.
, Anatolia has been ruled by the Hittites, the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans, and the Byzantines, among others. In the eleventh century it was invaded by the Turkoman, who founded the Seljuk Empire and introduced Islam to a country that had been Christian since the time of Constantine nearly a thousand years before. In the fourteenth century, when the emirate of Osmanli took over the quarreling factions created by the constant warring between the Mongols and the Seljuks, Anatolia became known as the Ottoman Empire. Although at its height the Empire extended as far north as Hungary and parts of Russia, as far south as Egypt and parts of Arabia, and as far west as Algeria, the term
Turk
was only ever applied to the people who lived in Anatolia.

In the time that Ali and Andre would have been there, Anatolia was caught in the grip of the last dark years of Ottoman rule. The language Ali would have spoken as an Anatolian Turk was known as Osmanlica, a complicated, flowery mixture of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish that bears little resemblance to the language you hear in Turkey today.

I’d like to thank Rod and Margaret Evans who, aboard the spectacular
Nuku II,
introduced me to the magic and wonder of the Lycian Peninsula of Turkey. Thanks also go to Ümit lris for good conversation and my kilim. Research has never been more fun—çok teşekkür ederim. And a big hug and thanks to Karen Pershing, who supplied me with a copy of Sir Charles Fellows’s
Travels and Researches in Asia Minor,
without which I would have been lost.

I also don’t know what I ever did without Robert Lee Whitmire or Carole Howey, both of whom nudged and prodded and generally encouraged me from start to finish.

Jan Hiland and Jan Jouflas patiently listened to my endless mutterings with great humor and never once told me to go away, an astonishing feat of patience and caring. And I owe Erica Winkler a five-course, five-star dinner and a
really
good bottle of wine for taking the time to read the final draft of the manuscript and bring her critical eye to it.

My husband, Bruce, and son, Alexander, did their best not to moan and groan when the door shut behind me for months on end, not an easy task. I love you both.

To you, the readers, I love to hear your comments. Please visit my web page and blog at
katherinekingsley.com
and my Facebook page under
Katherine Kingsley
. Share your thoughts, read some of the background on the books, join in the ongoing adventure!

No Greater Love

“Ominous rumors surrounding an exiled heir lead only to unquenchable curiosity for Georgia Wells. From bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“A charming tale with a refreshing twist. Engaging, witty and full of surprises.” – Mary Kirk, author of EMBERS

Nicholas Daventry of Ravenswalk is a handsome man of dangerous passions, exiled to India by his uncle for his scandalous behavior. With news that Nicholas is returning, the mistress of Ravenswalk, ravishing and ruthless Lady Jacqueline Raven, warns young Georgia Wells to stay away and beware her unpredictable nephew.

But despite the warnings, Nicholas’ return has the opposite effect on Georgia, leading her to a choice that will turn her life upside down. Prepared to claim the legacy of his birth that is his due, Nicholas drags Georgia into a world of dark passions, a terrible betrayal – and love.
“An irresistible read. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” – Mary Jo Putney, author of SILK AND SHADOWS

“A rare delight…refreshingly different…an enchanting love story that will take full and immediate possession of your heart.” – Romantic Times

No Sweeter Heaven

“Cultures clash and sparks fly when a willful Frenchman and an untamed British heiress meet. From bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“One of the romance genre’s best and brightest.” – Romantic Times

Orphaned as a child and raised by a British lord, Frenchman Pascal LaMartine is notorious for keeping the desires of his heart secret, even as the handsome man is beloved by all around him. British heiress Elizabeth Bowes is equally notorious for her wild spirit and refusal to wed. They have nothing in common until the day she accidentally lands at his feet and changes both their lives forever.

Brought together by destiny, threatened by shadows of the past, and drawn into a dangerous battle of wits, Pascal and Lily discover the true depths of passion and commitment and how perilous their love may be.

In the Wake of the Wind

Destiny and desire intertwine in a passionate romance from bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“Another dreamspun romance…once more Katherine Kingsley works her magic…in a story that lifts your heart and makes your soul sing.” – Romantic Times

During her years of exile in Wales, Serafina’s only solace has been the golden-haired lover who has haunted her dreams. On the eve of her wedding, Serafina is sure the man she will marry the next day is the man of her dreams, even though they’ve never met. But during a moonlight walk in the woods she comes across a dark stranger who shatters her hopes with a kiss and a devastating revelation of the feelings of her betrothed.

Preparing to marry a woman he doesn’t know, Aiden Delaware, Earl of Aubrey, seeks solace in the woods, stumbling upon a maiden as beautiful as a fairy queen. He tells her his darkest secret: that he already despises his betrothed and has no wish to be forced into an arranged marriage. Resigned to never seeing the ethereal apparition again, he’s shocked to meet her again the next day: the beauty from the woods he’d loved at first sight turns out to be the unwanted fiancée, who now knows his true feelings. Despite this inauspicious beginning, Aiden and Serafina gradually discover that marriage is more than a contract, and love can span more than a lifetime.

“Ms. Kingsley has done an excellent job of bringing us two wonderful lovers and a cast of secondary characters you can sink your teeth into.” - Rendezvous

Once Upon a Dream

“An Irish beauty and an English nobleman are star-crossed lovers in a fairy tale romance. From bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“An ardent and magical retooling of Cinderella…draws the reader in and leaves her holding her breath…emotionally compelling and intensely romantic.” – Romance Forever

Lucy Kincaid endures a life of drudgery and loneliness in her stepmother’s home, sustained only by her dreams of a better life and a man to share it with. She’s sure her wish is coming true when a golden stranger appears on the windswept cliffs of the Irish coast. But Lucy’s hopes are shattered when she realizes the man she’s lost her heart to is the despised Englishman whose family stole her birthright.

Raphael Montagu is obsessed with finding the mysterious Irish beauty who captured his heart at first sight. When he discovers fate has delivered her to him at a London ball, he’s crushed when she claims to have never seen him before. Even after sharing a kiss and hearing his declaration of undying love, the woman vanishes, leaving no clue as to her identity. Raphael’s only hope to find his true love is to return to the remote cliffs of Ireland and unravel the mystery that is keeping him from his heart’s desire.

“Miss Kingsley has woven a delightful tale…a sparkling gem.” – Romantic Times

Call Down the Moon

“An innocent outcast is drawn in by the promises of a handsome stranger. From bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“A beautiful and uplifting story – the kind that makes readers sigh with pleasure and smile through their tears. Tender, sweet, joyous, sensual, and poignant, this novel is simply wonderful.” – Romantic Times

Gifted with the ability to read minds, but unable to remember much of her past, Meggie Bloom is a pariah without a future as she cares for the lost souls in Woodbridge Sanitarium. All that keeps her going are her dreams of a better life, until the handsome and mysterious Lord Hugo Montagu enters her life, promising the impossible: Lord Montagu will free Meggie from a life of drudgery, if she’ll agree to be his wife.

“Brilliantly written… Hugo is a great character whose behavior is changed by the love of a good woman. Meggie is magnificent as the heroine.” – Affaire de Coeur magazine

“A charming tale.” – Romance Reviews

The Sound of Snow

“Driven away from England by scandal, a woman returns to confront a danger to protect the only family she has left. From bestselling author Katherine Kingsley.

“A timeless tale of the miracle of true love which conquers all, heals all, and makes all new again. Add interesting characters, unexpected plot twists, and a touch of the supernatural, and the result is a memorable, feel-good read.” – All About Romance

Despite having been driven from aristocratic English society in disgrace, Joanna is resolved to return to England after the death of her beloved cousin, Lydia. She is a woman on a mission, determined to rescue Lydia’s son from his father, the man Joanna suspects is responsible for Lydia’s untimely death. Guy de Salis, Marquess of Greaves, seems to be capable of anything.

Joanna’s wit and passion leave Guy feeling uneasy. Despite his own misgivings, he invites her to be his son’s governess, an invitation Joanna warily accepts in order to better protect her family. What neither expected was to see the boy bloom under Joanna’s care, or for love to blossom in the most unlikely of circumstances.

“A true gem…a sheer delight. Guy is possibly one of the best heroes I’ve read in years and you won’t want to miss THE SOUND OF SNOW. I treasured every word.” – The Book Nook