Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Secrets Revealed by Erika Szabo


Hi Everyone,

Thanks for stopping by.  Today I'm featuring a new release from Erika Szabo.  Read on to learn more about Secrets Revealed.  And don't forget, Nov. 30th is the last day to comment for a chance to win a $10 Gift Card from Amazon via 5 Prince Publishing!

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Time Travel
Release Date: November 29, 2012
Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-16-5 ISBN 10:19392171761
Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-17-2 ISBN 10:193917172

Secrets Revealed
Ilona’s story is provocative, rich in characters and detail that bring a lost world to life, a journey to treasure and remember. In book one Ilona is a lonely doctor discovering her rich tribal heritage and birthright to become a Healer. The barrier created by her insecurity kept others out, but also kept her caged in. She has to break the barriers to discover her true identity. She discovers growing magical abilities within her in the strange world of the Huns, which are beyond her wildest dreams. She can use her given gifts for absolute good or absolute evil; the choice is up to her. Ilona’s birthright as a Healer runs alongside her desires as a woman. She’s secretly and hopelessly in love with her best friend, he seems oblivious to her feelings. Fate brings Zoltan into her life. Will he break her heart, or will he bring true happiness? Ilona is hoping for a red tulip, the symbol of devoted love. Who will offer it to her? She discovers some secrets the Hun society is concealing, a society that is secretive and complex, with strict and fiercely enforced ancient rules; revealed to only those who come of age. Ilona is a rebel, who is determined to control and guide her own life. Resourceful and daring, she crosses the line and breaks those rules. She must face the consequences and has to fight for her men; both of them disappear from the face of the earth. She acquires magical abilities beyond her dreams to find and save them. Ilona has been evacuated from her easy and steady life. She is happy, but she still has many doubts. She hates that she has to hide in the past from a faceless enemy, however enjoys meeting her ancestors.


 Author Bio:

Erika M Szabo is a Hungarian born American; she lives in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. She has a PhD in Alternative Medicine; she published a few books in this subject. Erika loves the art of healing; however, writing about dry medical facts doesn’t satisfy her thirst for storytelling. The ancient history of the Huns always fascinated her, it is full of holes, mysteries and speculations; there are only a few written facts about them besides their legends. Erika used her fertile imagination to fill the historical voids in the story of Ilona. She raises questions such as - What if healing by touch could be possible? - What if we could find a soul mate no matter the obstacles? - What if we could visit our ancestors on a whim? - What if our destiny is not written in stone and we can create our future?








 EXCERPT: Thanks to these freaking well-guarded Hun secrets, my life became very complicated almost overnight. Today, in the secret society of the descendants of the ancient tribes everything is structured and everyone is on the need to know bases. They move people around like puppets and create their destiny. I don’t know much about their plans with me and my life yet; I just found out that I’m a Healer by birthright. I accepted and welcomed this discovery, because being a traditional doctor doesn’t give me the opportunity to restructure people down to the cellular level, to heal their diseases, being a kind of magical healer does. To make my life even more complicated, I met Zoltan. All my life I nursed my quiet love for Bela, my best friend. He never gave me any sign of feeling the same; he always just wanted to be best friends and nothing more. Zoltan stirred emotions within me that I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. He is handsome, gentle and sensitive and when he kissed me… oh, what a kiss that was. The dark man relentlessly hounded me and tried to kill me many times. He couldn’t do it himself for some mysterious reasons, but he could influence others to try. Then I found out Ema was my sister. She is the forbidden second daughter of the Healer, who according to the ancient laws could bring destruction to the Hun nation and have to be destroyed. My mother and Elza successfully hid her from the Elders council and the Leaders council– for eighteen years, and then Elza made a mistake by naming her with her true birthright in a dream address. The Leaders decided to visit us bringing – as we suspected – the Law Keeper with them to destroy Ema. We couldn’t let them do that and we were frantically trying to find a way to save her.
I called Ema, told her there was an emergency and she had to come home right away. She panicked; afraid something had happened to Elza. I assured her that she was fine, we just had to decide something very important in a hurry and that we couldn’t talk about it on the phone.
“What is it? Please tell me! You’re scaring me, Ilili,” she begged me.
I knew she was in great distress, because she used my almost forgotten pet name. I was suspicious, not wanting to reveal anything on the phone. Actually, the way I felt was borderline paranoia. Who knows what kind of resources they have? What if they can even listen to phone conversations? I thought, knowing that I had found out so many peculiar and mysterious things about my ancestry, it really scared me.
“It’s okay, love. Come home as soon as you can and I’ll tell you everything.” I tried to calm her, but that didn’t work. I heard the escalating anxiety in her voice.
“Sure you can’t tell me? Not even a hint?” she probed.
“No love, sorry.” She gave up and promised she would be home in half an hour.
I remembered an important task and told Elza we had to prepare some food for the guests. In our tradition, it is an insult from the lady of the household not to offer refreshments to announced guests.
“I’m on it! I’ll get the food.” Elza’s voice trembled as she hurried towards the kitchen, her long skirt floating behind her. She must have been feeling greatly honored, yet scared half to death, by the upcoming visit.
“I’ll help!” I yelled after her as I jumped off the sofa.
“No, you won’t dare!” She turned back, alarmed.
Zoltan gave questioning glances to each of us in turn, “What’s going on?”
“Her culinary talent doesn’t even cover boiling water!” Elza exclaimed, in a hurry.
He laughed lightly. “I’m a good cook. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. Can I help?” He turned to Elza, smiling.
“All right, but you have to keep Ilona out of the kitchen!” she warned him. He had an amused expression on his face. He chuckled, cocked his head towards me and then led me towards the kitchen by my hand. “Are you really that bad?” he whispered.
“So they tell me!” I confessed. He laughed softly and squeezed my hand.
“She’ll just sit and watch.” He promised, turning to Elza.
I sat down across the aisle on a stool, muttering under my breath. They set to work, deciding on small sandwiches and cream puffs, which Elza took out from the freezer to thaw. Soon they were slicing Italian bread which they loaded with various toppings of cream cheese, pepperoni and olives. They flavored them with mustard and red pepper paste. As the pile of small sandwiches grew, Elza looked over to Zoltan with approval. He was a lovely sight to look at. Shirt rolled up to his elbows, and a thin apron accentuating his muscular chest and flat belly. He sliced and chopped at a fast and efficient pace.
“You look beautiful when you’re pouting, by the way,” he announced, smiling at me. My heart sank a little - it must have been apparent how I felt.
“It’s not fair! How can I learn to cook if nobody lets me?” I complained, but I was easing up somewhat.
“I will teach you sometime.”
“Promise you won’t laugh if I mess up?” I asked, suspiciously.
He made the cross sign over his left chest, trying hard to conceal a smile, “Cross my heart.”
“Can I at least set the table?” I asked Elza, still pouting. I was feeling rebellious and left out.
“Actually we need only small plates, napkins and glasses,” Elza replied. “All right, you can put them on one of the cocktail tables. Get the ones from the side cabinet.” She sighed as if she was talking to a small child.
I jumped up happily, grabbing at the chance for something to do. I carefully arranged the cart as Elza had instructed. I dropped only one plate in the process which wasn’t so bad...or so I thought, compared to my usual performances. I heard Elza sighing behind me. “I knew it! That’s why I told you to get the cheaper china.” She admonished quietly, under her breath. I blushed deeply, feeling like a berated child.
“Elzaaa!” I yelled at her, embarrassed.
Zoltan snickered softly while I quickly gathered the pieces on a napkin. “You’re a real klutz, you know!” I swallowed my hurt and looked up. He flashed a warm smile at me.

Afterthoughts: This excerpt has been provided by the author.  All words belong to her.

12 comments:

vivaciousgold said...

The book sounds steamy. I love this title. I am a Pisces!

Erika M Szabo said...

Ann, thank you for introducing my new book to your readers:)

Ann Swann said...

Isn't it a great title...and cover? Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I'm entering you in the $10 Amazon giveaway. Winner announced on Dec. 1st. =)

Ann Swann said...

Glad to have you on the blog, Erika!

Amber D. said...

Sounds like a fun read! Men and their complications to our lives, LOL!

abnerkat03 at hotmail dot com

Judith Venne said...

Hello Ann,

I really enjoyed reading Erika Szabo's Excerpt and Bio. I love paranormal themes and mysteries in books, (they are actually my favorites), and Erika's "Secrets Revealed" seems quite my style!
(And I can also relate to IIona regarding her culinary abilities and dropping plates lol)

I wanted to add, Ann, I am so glad I discovered your website. I had bought "The Phantom Student", (I simply love ghosts stories!),
I haven't read it yet, but I intend to read it during the Holidays Season.

I will keep your Website to my bookmarks in order to check out for more of your other books.
Thank you, to you and Erika, and a lovely evening to you.
Judith

Ann Swann said...

Hi Judith,
Thank you for the kind comments--I can't wait to hear what you think about The Phantom Student! So glad you stopped by to check out Erika's post, too. Everyone who comments is entered in the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway from 5 Prince Publishing. Good luck!

Ann Swann said...

So glad you stopped by, Amber! You are entered in the giveaway!

Erika M Szabo said...

Thank you for your comment and interest in my book. I chose the title because my heroine Ilona was dropped into the middle of this big Hun mystery. Everyone, but her knew her birthright, it was bestowed upon her, and she has to discover everything step by step on her own. Ema's character in the trilogy is Pisces with great artistic talent. Her ability to love, to start fresh after a tragedy and make a sacrifice for her loved ones leads her to her destiny to become... well, you will find out in book three:) Happy reading

Erika M Szabo said...

Haha! We can't live with them and we can't live without them. Ilona has two great guys to complicate the heck out of her life as well as making her whole and happy as a woman. Knowing Bela and Zoltan makes her discover feelings she didn't know she can feel and find abilities she never knew she could be capable of. She seems to make her choice in book two, but don't let if fool you... book three is only half way written, lots more to come. Thank you for your interest in my books Amber:)

Erika M Szabo said...

Thank you Judith for your interest in my books. Secrets Revealed is the second book in the trilogy and Destiny Altered is coming next year. As to Ilona's culinary talent - I have to tell you the truth - that part of her is coming from me. No matter how hard I try, most of my attempts at cooking ends up in the garbage :( Also, as Ilona in the books, I can wash dishes alright, but it is a great victory if I break only one plate or glass in the process. Anyway, there are lots of mysteries in the trilogy, Ilona will lead you step by step as you discover them and put the puzzle pieces together. Have a great journey finding magical abilities with Ilona that she was born with, but doesn't know about until an emotional event triggers them to surface. Thank you for reading:)

Erika M Szabo said...

Also, the title Secrets Revealed is coming from the fact that Ilona is the descendant of an ancient tribe still exist hidden amongst us. A very complicated society with stricts rules and many secrets. Most of the secrets are revealed in book two, but there are plenty left in book three Destiny Altered as well:)