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Blánaid thinks there's something wrong with her.
It's been months since she's dated, and even if she makes
the first move to invite a man out, it seems he can't run
away from her fast enough. If it weren't for her best friends,
Ronan and Siobhan, Blánaid is sure she'd go crazy
with loneliness and despair. Then, one night while watching
the sunset, Ronan kisses her and suddenly, the world as
Blánaid knows it is thrown into turmoil. She turns
to Siobhan for advice and a shoulder to cry on.
Can Blánaid face the truth in Siobhan's words?
The instant his lips touched Blánaid's, Ronan was
sure he'd found Heaven. Ever since meeting her, he tried
to find a way to tell her how he felt about her. When he
overheard her telling Siobhan she never dated the friends
they hung out with, he kept his feelings to himself- until
this night when everything seemed so right. And he thought
she felt the same when she returned his kiss. But when she
realized what was happening, she ran from him. Ronan was
sure he'd scared her off forever.
Can Ronan settle for just being Blánaid's friend?
~*~
"Love that's true happens only
once in a blue moon"
Three Sisters, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
"What do you suppose is wrong with me?" Blánaid
tugged her jumper closer about her body trying to conserve
warmth.
Ronan had certainly chosen a chilly enough evening to watch
the sunset. He'd driven them out to the Three Sisters headland
and they'd climbed to the top of the Middle Peak. To the
left was Binn Hanraí, Henry's Peak, to the right
was Binn Diarmada, Dermot's Peak and below them nothing
but jagged cliff-face.
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It was beyond Blánaid's comprehension why the Three Sisters
had men's names on two of her peaks. Right now, the only things
she knew was that she was reezing her bum off, and that if she were
here with a lover, she could snuggle against him for some warmth.
The North Atlantic winds were blowing right up the legs of her trousers.
She tucked her legs under her, but it did little to alleviate the
goosebumps.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Ronan, glancing at
her. The breeze caught his sandy colored hair and whipped it around
his face for a moment before leaving it in a wild state that gave
him a handsomely roguish appeal.
She swallowed hard at his intense gaze and continued. "Just
what I said. There must be something wrong with me. It's a lovely
Saturday evening and we're sitting here watching a lovely sunset
together."
"And what's wrong with that?"
"What's wrong is that I should be sitting here with a lover
with a bottle of wine between us rather than a friend and a flask
of tea."
"Are you saying you don't love me, then?"
Blánaid lifted an eyebrow in response to his question,
but her unease continued to grow. Even in the fading light, she
saw curiosity in his hazel green eyes. His gaze was penetrating,
as if he was trying to look into her thoughts. Things had always
been easy between them, but something seemed different now and
she couldn't quite say what.
She shifted nervously and faced the horizon again. It was awash
with amber, gold and russet with streaks of clouds in lavender
and peach. Silver starlight began to shimmer along the edges.
And the sea echoed the glow along the path of the setting sun,
rippling as if on fire. Night was coming quickly on a deep azure
velvet sky from the eastern horizon beyond Ballyferriter Village.
The moon was out and not quiet full, giving it a lopsided appearance.
The perfect night for lovers, yet Blánaid saw none of
it. Instead, all she could think about was her unseasonably dry
dating spell.
"What I'm saying is that it's been months since anyone
has asked me out. You haven't dated either if I'm guessing right,"
she told him.
Ronan cleared his throat and said, "Yes, well..."
"And now, if we want to take pleasure in something as simple
as a sunset, we have to come out here together."
"Are you saying you don't want to be here with me?"
"Are you telling me you wouldn't rather be sitting here
with a woman you love rather than me?"
Ronan didn't reply immediately, forcing her to finally look
back at him. The words seem trapped on his tongue. When she opened
her mouth to speak, he finally said, "I wouldn't rather be
here with anyone else."
REVIEWS
Blanaid and Ronan have been good friends for quite some time
now and as the forlorn beauty despairs of finding love, Ronan
can no longer resist revealing his true feelings. Rearing from
confusion, Blanaid knows not what to think now of the man that
has always been here for her--as a friend. When she realizes
her true feelings, will she be in time to prove to him how very
worthy he really is? Love often resides right under our noses...if
we know how to see it. Author Shortland writes a tale of love
that is not so very far if we are just willing to reach for
it. A wonderful story filled with pent-up passion and discovery
of love.
K. Montgomery, Amazon and ParaNormalRomance.com
Blue Moon Enchantment from Highland Press offers fifteen writers
worldwide, many from the No Law Against Love anthology, with
enchanting romance tales of what happens when a wish is made
on a Blue Moon. Presented as two volumes–Blue Moon Magic is
the first book. These tales are from all periods, every genre,
and showcase award-winning romance writers of today and stars
of tomorrow.
~ Tina Adams, The Romance Reading Room
Set in Ireland. Ronan moved into the area a year ago and fell
in love with Blánaid on sight. However, Blánaid has only ever
thought of him as a friend. Ronan had once overheard Blánaid
and one of her friends discussing what they looked for in a
man, so Ronan knows that he is nothing like the one she dreams
of. Yet as Blánaid and he watch the sun set one evening, Ronan
takes a chance and kisses her.
If you want some sweet dreams, read one of two of these stories
just before bed. Terrific!
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
Kemberelee Shortland demonstrates the power of friendship in
"Moondance". Blanaid and Ronan have been close friends
for quite awhile. Blanaid is oblivious to Ronan's love for her
as well as her own feelings for him. Will the blue moon forever
change this friendship?
"Moondance" is a story everyone can relate to. Either
one has experienced or witnessed a friendship evolving into
a romantic relationship. Kemberlee Shortland's splendid portrayal
of Blanaid's concerns about possibly losing the friendship she
has with Ronan will resonate with readers everywhere.
Deborah Wiley, Amazon
Ronan has loved Blánaid from their first meeting. She only
sees him as a friend and he wants to change that. With the help
of a setting sun and a wish perhaps Ronan will find his happy
ending.
Kristi Ahlers, Amazon
Short story available through Coffee
Time Romance
Anthology available through Amazon
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