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ISBN
1-59998-615-9
Now Available in
eFormat
An ancient
prophecy and a sheikh's passion.
One woman will ignite the flame that fulfills them both.
2005 RWA Golden Heart Finalist Entry
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Character Interviews
Mirage
by Monica Burns
Samhain Publishing
Print ISBN 978-159998-615-9 (Coming June 2009)
Meet Altair |
Meet
Alexandra | Excerpt
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Book Video |
Recipe
Romantic
Times BOOKreviews Top Pick
A man without a country...
Half
Bedouin, half English, the Viscount Blakeney has
always been Sheikh Altair Mazir in his heart. A
victim of prejudice from both cultures, he’s learned
to trust no one. But a feisty American archeologist
and the heat she ignites in him is about to change
all that. And more.
An independent woman hunting
for a Pharaoh’s treasure…
Alexandra
Talbot is used to men questioning her intelligence
simply because of her sex. But the mysterious
Viscount isn’t like other men. He never questions
her ability to find the lost city of Ramesses II,
only her resistance to the sinful pleasure of his
touch.
An ancient prophecy…
Bound by
a Pharaoh’s prophecy, desire flares between them
beneath the desert stars. But murder and betrayal
turn their quest into a deadly game, pushing their
fragile trust to the breaking point. Their survival
hinges on rebuilding that trust.
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Sheikh
Altair Mazir aka Lord Blakeney |
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Welcome, my lord. I’m delighted we could meet here at
White’s today. Marguerite has been hounding me to
arrange this engagement. Something about a new book
Monica Burns has written. What was it Marguerite called
it—?”
Sheikh Altair Mazir:
Mirage,
which is a Samhain Publishing release. It’s the story of
how Alex Talbot and I met.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Ah, yes, Mirage. Tell me Lord Blakeney—sink me, dear
fellow, but you’ve excellent tastes when it comes to
last names.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: Thank you Sir Percy. As I’m
part English and part Bedouin, I have two names. Altair
is my desert name. In truth, I believe I owe my last
name directly to you. I’m not sure if you’re aware of it
or not, but Monica Burns is an avid fan of yours. She’s
read all of the Baroness Ocrzy books on the Scarlet
Pimpernel and (Sir Percy raises his hand to indicate
a need for discretion) …ahem…his adventures.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
The devil you say. (Sir Percy glances around to
ensure they’re not being watched). So the woman
likes adventure, does she?
Sheikh Altair Mazir: I believe it has something
to do with the sword play, my lord. (grins wickedly)
I understand from Alex that Miss Burns even collects
swords.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Is the woman daft? (relaxes somewhat and chuckles)
Pray sir, do not answer that question or I shall receive
nothing but sorrow when Lady Blakeney hears of the
matter. Speaking of women, I believe its one Miss
Alexandra Talbot who has been at the heart of your woes
as of late.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: Indeed, my lord. During our
search for Per-Ramesses, Alexandra caused me a number of
headaches. But I believe this is true of any intelligent
woman. Perhaps that’s what we find so intriguing and
fascinating about them.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Odds fish, but I think you’re correct, Blakeney. Tell
me, exactly what is this Per-Ramesses? It sounds like a
new cravat style, and as you may know I’m an authority
on the limpness or stiffness of a cravat.
Sheikh Altair
Mazir: Unfortunately for you, Sir Percy, it’s not a
new cravat style. (Altair smiles as Sir Percy arches
his eyebrows). Per-Ramesses is where Ramesses built
his summer palace when he moved his government from
Thebes. Alexandra’s father and uncle worked for years to
determine the location of the city before their deaths.
Alex chose to carry on with their work, which is how we
met.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
How you met?
Sheikh Altair Mazir: We met at the British
Museum. Alex was determined to see the Rosetta Stone,
and I was happy to help her gain access to it.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Sink me, but archeology
is a rather unusual occupation for a woman. Most
unusual.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: It is, but Alex excels at
it. I have great admiration for her knowledge. I’m
somewhat of a scholar myself in Antiquities, so we have
a great deal in common when it comes to Ancient Egypt.
Furthermore, she’s as courageous as any member of the
Scarlet Pimpernel League
Sir Percy Blakeney:
(glances around with his usual cautionary manner):
That is high praise indeed, my lord. It sounds as though
you’ve had an adventure or two along the way.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: Between cobras, poisons and
murder, my time with Alex has been one adventure after
another. But it is the quiet moments that I value the
most.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Ah, the quiet moments when their silence is devoted to
sleep…(Sir Percy Blakeney smiles slowly) or other
pleasures of the bedroom.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: Pleasure, indeed, my lord.
(Sheikh Altair Mazir chuckles as he winks at Sir
Percy Blakeney) The one advantage to loving an
intelligent woman is that they are well-read. Inevitably
that means they are intrepid enough to act on what
they’ve read, which ultimately makes for immense
pleasure.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Immense pleasure; sink me Blakeney if it’s not that it
exactly. (Sir Percy and Altair laugh together).
You make me believe your Alex is a remarkable woman,
Blakeney.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: She is quite remarkable. I’m
extremely proud of her accomplishments. That she’ll even
have me is an amazing fact in itself.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Ah, yes, unlike cricket, life is never clean bowled.
Alter-egos make things all the more difficult.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: I agree. Pretending to be
someone I’m not wasn’t easy for me, particularly when
I’m proud of my heritage. Deceiving Alex was not my
intent, but unfortunately our relationship started off
that way. However, society made it extremely difficult
for me to trust in the notion that someone could see the
man behind the mask so to speak.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
Ah, yes, the masks one wears simply to protect oneself
from the negative elements of life. In addition, the
aspect of betrayal is something we’re both well
acquainted with.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: (heaves a sigh)
Unfortunately, I’m far too familiar with the subject
matter. Betrayal has plagued me throughout my life, but
never so much as when Alex and I were searching for
Per-Ramesses.
Sir Percy Blakeney:
I can see that the topic is one that troubles you
greatly, so I shall not ask you about it any further.
But I do wish to reassure readers that you and Miss
Talbot manage to resolve all differences between you.
T’would serve them well to simply read Mirage.
Sheikh Altair Mazir: Agreed, Sir Percy. I think
they’ll find it a passionate and rousing romance.
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Alexandra Talbot |
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Alex Talbot:
Good morning, Lady Blakeney. Please forgive me for
dropping in on you unannounced.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Alex! Nonsense, I’m delighted to see again. I was
just telling Percy this morning that I was hoping
you would pay me a visit one day soon. I so enjoyed
our last conversation.
Alex Talbot:
Oh thank you, my
lady.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Please, I insist you call me Marguerite. I
absolutely adore being Percy’s wife, but there are
times when the conventions of society are quite
restrictive.
Alex Talbot:
I understand precisely what you mean. The
constraints society puts on women and their
abilities is quite frustrating. I’ve found it almost
impossible to convince the British Museum that a
woman is just as capable as a man. When I tried to
convince them to back my expedition to find
Per-Ramesses, the Museum refused to even consider
the possibility simply because I’m a woman.
Marguerite Blakeney:
It is a pity that so many men find it difficult to
recognize our abilities, let alone the workings of
the female mind. But I feel that you and I are quite
lucky. The men we love recognize we’re intelligent
women. Of course, they know how to romance us too,
and yet still be quite wicked, no?
Alex Talbot:
I couldn’t agree more. I think LB is quite handsome
and very brave. With everything he’s done to save so
many from the guillotine.
Marguerite Blakeney:
(looking worried) Indeed, I am so proud of
Percy, but I do fear for his safety. Sometimes, he
takes such great risks—much like you I think. (a
knowing smile curves her lips)
Alex Talbot:
I must admit I do
take the occasional risk, but not often. (Alex
flushes with embarrassment) I’m fortunate to
have Altair looking after me. When I find myself so
wrapped up in my work, I often forget where I am. He
knows how important my work is to me, and he does
everything possible to ensure that I’m safe while
I’m performing an excavation or researching an
artifact.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Ah, yes, the desert. You’ve spent a great deal of
time there. That must have been difficult for you,
no conveniences of any sort. I cannot fathom it.
Alex Talbot:
True there no modern conveniences at the
archeological dig, but we make do. Altair was
particularly thoughtful and provided me with a
collapsible tub for those moments when I must have a
bath.
Marguerite Blakeney:
I remember Percy saying something to me about all
the danger you encountered in Cairo and out in the
desert. He said someone had tried to kill you on
several occasions.
Alex Talbot:
Yes, (nodding her
agreement) I had several bad scares. Altair was
quite supportive through them all. It’s troubling to
see what people will do for greed and power. But
then that’s one of the reasons Ramesses’s wife
Nourbese died.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Oh yes, Nourbese. I love that name. Do tell me what
it means.
Alex Talbot:
It means wonderful in
Egyptian. Nourbese was the equivalent of a poor girl
in love with a monarch. Ramesses’s fell in love with
her and defied the priests and politicians by
marrying her. That didn’t sit too well with a number
of people, and Nourbese was murdered. Ramesses never
forgot her. In fact, it’s why Per-Ramesses exists.
It was his tribute to his first Queen and the only
ruler of his heart. I found that incredibly
romantic.
Marguerite Blakeney:
I quite agree. I
love it when Percy is romantic and yet so masculine
at the same time.
Alex Talbot:
(smiling)
Altair is the same way. I would never tell him this,
but when he orders me about, I get a tiny little
thrill running down my back. He’s devilishly
handsome and commanding, yet there are moments when
we’re alone when he’s gentle and loving.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Percy is equally
so. The man’s wit can be scathing and he keeps me on
my toes, but when we’re alone, he’s everything a
woman could ever want in a man. It’s obvious we both
adore our men. Tell me where the two of you first
met.
Alex Talbot:
It was at the British
Museum. I’d made an appointment with the Antiquities
Director and Altair was there. If not for him, I
never would have been given access to the Rosetta
Stone, which had been taken off display.
Marguerite Blakeney:
You love Egyptology very much do you not?
Alex Talbot:
Yes, it’s one of the
great passions of my life. My father and uncle
nurtured that love in me from the time I was a young
girl. There’s something so fascinating about
discovering what life was really like during the
time of the Pharaohs. We’re learning new things
every day about how they worked and played. And I
confess, the Mazir prophecy made it just a little
bit more exciting.
Marguerite Blakeney:
(smiling with excitement and bobbing her head)
The prophecy! How could I forget to ask you about
that? Tell me more.
Alex Talbot:
The Mazir are
descendants of Ramesses and Nourbese. Before she was
murdered, Nourbese delivered a son. The child was
delivered out into the desert to live with his
maternal grandfather. His blood lives on in Altair’s
half-brother Kahlil who is next in line to lead the
Mazir. The prophecy predicted that Per-Ramesses
would be found and that the tribe would prosper once
Nourbese and Pharaoh were together again in the
Elysian Fields, the Egyptian version of heaven.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Oh my, a handsome
hero, a prophecy, danger—it sounds deliciously
romantic. Percy said the story of you and Altair is
detailed in the book Mirage by Monica Burns, and it
sounds wonderful.
Alex Talbot:
Yes, Ms. Burns was
quite kind to listen to us tell the story of how we
met and fell in love. I’m delighted with the way
things turned out, and I think it’s a book readers
will love too, but I don’t want to share too much as
I don’t wish to spoil any surprises.
Marguerite Blakeney:
Of course, I will just have to sit down October the
9th and tell Percy I cannot be disturbed until I
have finished reading Mirage. I am so happy you came
by this morning to talk to me. Your adventure is
certainly equal to the ones Percy and I have had in
our marriage.
Alex Talbot:
Thank you for saying
so, Marguerite, and like you, I hope readers will
enjoy reading Monica Burns’s Mirage, published by
Samhain Publishing.
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