She's the One Who Can't Keep Quiet by S.R. Cronin

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. S. R. Cronin will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Do you know what your problem is?

Celestine, the fifth of seven sisters, is tired of hearing about hers. Father thinks she’s frivolous because she likes pretty clothes and caters to the crowds in the taverns who adore her music. Mother thinks that because she’s the most social daughter in the family, she can’t keep quiet about anything.

They’re both wrong. Celestine hides a secret she has kept for most of her life.

As the family beauty and a talented musician with a lyrical voice, she has the best prospects for marriage to a prince. When such a liaison never happens, people assume Celestine is too choosy. But even in somewhat tolerant Ilari, a daughter hates to disappoint her family. How can she tell them she’s in love with a princess instead?

Lucky for Celestine, all her sisters are obsessed with an invading army headed to their realm. Celestine would rather ignore the threat and enjoy the freedom their lack of attention gives her. But, her voice can unlock a power that may help save Ilari. And the woman she loves is determined to fight these invaders. And her family, for all their talents, seems clueless about how to motivate the masses.

Celestine knows she can inspire the citizens of Ilari to do what needs to be done. Is it time to put her inhibitions aside and use her voice to save those she cares about?

Read an Exclusive Excerpt

Backstage as we gathered our things to leave, Nevik stepped behind the curtain.

“Madam, your music is excellent,” he said to me. “Would you allow me the privilege of walking with you to your inn?”

“Your wife? Your family?”

“They’ll see to each other,” he said. “I told them that I’ve some musical questions I wish to ask of you.”

“Very well.” I turned to the others. “Do you mind if I start back now?”

“Please.” Zamarran spoke for them all.

Once we were outside, I dropped the polite veneer.

“I know we’ve never met, sir, and you are a prince, but I also know what you did to my sister and I’ve nothing to say to you.”

He shook his head. “That is why we are walking together. If you’re going to frequent the places in Pilk where I dine, I need you to stop glaring at me. It’s awkward.”

“I don’t glare at my audience,” I said.

“You sure did when I requested that song.”

“It’s Ryalgar’s favorite.”

“It’s my favorite too, and she and I continue to enjoy it together.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Your sister and I…we remain much in love. We see each other whenever we can.”

I looked at him in horror. Despite the freedom permitted to the young and unmarried, most of us took marriage vows seriously. I couldn’t believe my sister would participate in such a torrid arrangement.

“My marriage is not one of love, it never has been, and your sister knows it.”

“Right. What woman hasn’t heard that line before?” Was this man just another Davor?

“No. The farce I’ve been saddled with was arranged by our parents. She hated the idea worse than I, yet we were both ordered to make it seem real, so it wouldn’t sway public opinion against our families. Ryalgar has known about this from the start. The woman I am forced to call my wife has an agreement with me and she loves another as well.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes and I beg you to verify this with your sister. I love her with all my heart. And she loves me.”

Well, wasn’t that a surprise?

We’d reached the inn where I stayed.

“Celestine. Before I bid you good night, let me say that I regret I never got the chance to meet you when Ryalgar and I were publicly courting. I enjoyed the sisters I got to meet. Your family is wonderful. Please. You’re becoming quite the figure here in Pilk so I don’t need you as an enemy. In fact, I could use you as a friend.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“If I find your story to be true, we’ll talk again.” Then the side of me that handled our promotions kicked in. “And if it is true, I could use a friend, too.”

About the Author:

Sherrie Cronin writes stories about people achieving the astonishing by developing abilities they barely knew they had. She’s made a lot of stops along the way to telling these tells — living in seven cities, visiting forty-six countries, and working as a waitress, technical writer, and geophysicist. She’s lost too many beloved cats to mention, but has acquired a husband and three children who are all doing fine, despite how odd she is.

Today she lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina where she writes, answers a hotline, and occasionally checks her phone for a message from Captain Picard. She still hopes to get the chance to pursue her remaining dream in life and become Chief Science Officer on the Starship Enterprise.

Author Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinnabar01
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/46Ascending
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.r.cronin/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5805814.Sherrie_Cronin
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Cronin/e/B007FRMO9Q
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-r-cronin
Author Blog: https://troublesome7sisters.xyz/

a Rafflecopter giveaway