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© 2008, Michelle
Hasker Reviews For WITCHY WOES Book 5: SANDRA by Michelle Hasker A Night Owl Romance Reviewer Top Pick! Ms. Hasker continues her story here
with the same attention to detail that has encompassed all the books
in this series. The characters are vibrant and real, the settings pull
the reader into the tale. Definitely looking forward to see what happens
in the final episode of the saga. Sample Chapter For WITCHY WOES Book 5: SANDRA by Michelle Hasker Sandra sat on the sandy beach and watched the waves crash against the shore. Nothing was more soothing than this place, this spot, and that was why she chose it to help Camryn rectify her mistakes. As soon as the others arrived they could begin the preparations, but until then, she watched the seagulls soar overhead and listened to the waves break. “Sandra!” Camryn’s voice shattered the soothing sounds of nature. Biting back a groan, she turned with a smile for the newest member of her coven. Some days being High Priestess seemed harder than it was worth. Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. She’d never give up her coven or her position. She loved her sisters. They were all she had. “I see you started to get ready. I can’t thank you enough for this chance. Joining your coven has meant more to me than anything else.” “I’m just glad you realized what you were doing was wrong, and sought help.” She glanced past Camryn and saw the rest of the coven was arriving. “Come on, let’s set up. I want to get this done and over with.” Though her Sight didn’t show her anything, her stomach had been rolling all day. At first she’d thought it had been anticipation, but she wasn’t so sure anymore. Something evil was near by, and she needed to make sure it didn’t penetrate their circle. Focus. She needed to focus and concentrate. A strong wind began to blow once they’d finished laying out the altar. Trying not to let her nervousness show, she picked up the besom and handed it to Camryn. It was still a little awkward to have a new member, but Camryn needed them. That was all that mattered. “As I sweep, may the besom…” Camryn’s voice wavered, making Sandra grimace. Evil was too close for comfort, and her sisters struggled to keep their power under control. Tonight had been picked for a reason, but it wasn’t too late to cancel it and try again later, was it? A glance at Camryn reminded Sandra how important this was. There was not going to be a rescheduling. They would perform the ceremony tonight and just take more precautions than usual. Tamara set something on fire, but quickly stomped it out, reminding Sandra how easy it would be for her to lose control of her own power, too. “I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.” Candace’s voice rang out loud and clear. Perhaps her strength would help Camryn gain confidence in tonight’s spell. The surge of power under the sand certainly helped her. “I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.” Allison’s words sent a rush of wind through the circle. Around once, then again, before it dissipated. “I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.” Tamara’s power sent heat around and through them, giving them much needed warmth. “I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle,” Macy said. As the next wave crashed on the shore, Sandra felt her worries melt away. Things would be okay. The coven could handle this. Sandra lifted her athame and stepped forward. She stopped in front of the altar. She drew in a deep steady breath, and exhaled. “I draw this circle in the presence of the Lady and the Lord, that They may aid and bless us in our work.” As Sandra walked around the circle, flames danced behind her. The reassuring heat reminded her of the strong power this coven wielded when they joined together for spells. When she was across from Tamara, she noticed the witch was staring at the flames. She always wondered if the others noticed them, or if it was just her Sight that allowed her to see them. She continued with the ritual, saying the words she knew by heart. Words that would protect them while they cast tonight’s spells. They needed it. Sandra moved back to the altar and blessed the salt which she then sprinkled in a circle around everyone. As it touched the flames, they turned bright white and rose, wrapping over them until they were sealed inside the circle. Again, they went around the circle, starting with Candace. “I call upon you, Guardians of the North, Element Earth, to guard this circle. By the body and strength that is ours, we ask you to attend this rite.” Before she finished speaking, a loud rumble sounded underneath them. Candace smiled and looked at Allison. “I call upon you, Guardians of the East, Element Air, to guard this circle. By our breath and thoughts, we ask you to attend this rite.” Another strong gust of wind whirled around the outside of the circle. With a smile, Allison turned to Tamara. “I call upon you, Guardians of the South, Element Fire, to guard this circle. By our energy and consumption of life, we ask you to attend this rite.” As Tamara finished, flames leapt up surrounding the circle, reaching high and wide, like a protective shield. Tamara turned to Macy with a smile. “I call upon you, Guardians of the West, Element Water, to guard this circle. By our emotions and blood in our veins, we ask you to attend this rite,” Macy said. A light rain drizzled down upon them, then ceased as Sandra lifted her arms up in the air, holding her athame up high. “Hail to the elements! Welcome to the Lady and Lord! We stand between the worlds surrounded by light, love and power.” Sandra poured wine onto the ground for the Lady and Lord, and turned to face Camryn. “I know we’ve done spells before, but the power you five hold is amazing.” Camryn looked around the circle with a smile. Ignoring Camryn, Sandra took another centering breath. “Are you ready to begin?” “I’m not sure where to start. I did spells for love, money, health, a job and looks.” “Did you follow my instructions?” “Yes, I did. But—” “No buts. Get your spells in order, dear. Job, looks, health, love, money. Please start when you are ready.” Camryn nodded, but looked nervously around the circle. Sandra piled some small oak twigs inside the cast iron cauldron. She glanced around the circle at her sisters. Goddess, she hoped Camryn didn’t mess this one up. After Camryn read the paper, she reached for the frankincense candle and lit it as she said, “Please cleanse me, as I reverse the spells I cast in ignorance.” The flame flickered, but held strong. Maybe she should be more confident in their newest witch. Camryn looked down at the sheet and repeated another spell, hopefully word for word. The flame stayed strong and true without flickering this time. When she finished, she dropped the paper in the cauldron. It burned with a brilliant flash of light. Camryn moved onto the next spells with more confidence, and she was finished in no time. She dropped the last paper into the cauldron and a huge flame leapt out of it and split into five separate flames. Horror filled her. Before she could throw up another protective shield, one flame shot at each corner, and the last at her. * * * * A shriek pierced the air, and resounded through her skull. Sandra groaned as she rolled over, and got a mouthful of sand. What in the world? “Sandra?” Camryn’s concerned voice came from behind her, and her memory returned in a rush. Camryn, the once-black-now-white witch with intentions that were usually good, even if a bit misguided, stared at her in horror. The woman she’d convinced the others to give another chance to, even after she’d failed to do so much as one spell right, and brought a gray cloud of failure over them all. This had been her idea. And now Camryn’s bad luck had extended to all of them. Or something else… Why had Camryn been the only one not hit by the flames? She drew in a deep breath to sigh and got a mouthful of sand and started to cough. “Oh, Goddess. I’m so sorry, Sandra.” Camryn’s voice drew closer. Sandra turned her head to the side and squinted. Waves lapped on the shore, dangerously close to Macy. “Camryn, get Macy. Be quick, she’s going to drown.” With a gasp, Camryn ran off to do as told. About time. Sandra winced as another seagull screeched and the sound did a number on her already pounding head. What had gone wrong with the spell? They’d done everything by the book. They’d performed plenty of spells in the past, and not one had made her feel like this or put them all out of commission, even temporarily. The only thing different had been Camryn. Sandra glanced back over at the young witch as she tried to rouse Macy. Scents and sounds of the beach, ones that once soothed her, now agitated her as she struggled to sit up and look around for the rest of her coven. She prayed they were okay as she struggled upright. Strands of dirty blonde hair obscured her view as she located the rest of the girls. She whispered a quick prayer to the Goddess and managed to get on her hands and knees. She crawled over to Tamara and cried out at the burns that marred Tam’s once creamy flesh. “What’s going on? Are you ladies okay?” a deep voice called out. Sandra looked up and saw a tall, deeply tanned man with dark hair and dressed in jogging shorts approach. “What the hell happened here?” Sandra looked back down at Tamara and closed her eyes, pain speeding through her as she absorbed as much of Tamara’s hurt as she could. If only she could do more, but she was too weak. Slowly, Tamara opened her eyes and then closed them as she hissed out a breath. “Damn.” “I’m so sorry,” Camryn cried as she knelt next to Sandra and looked at Tamara. “You!” Tamara cursed and looked away, right at the handsome stranger. Sandra quickly released Tamara as a wave of lust raced through her. So the Ice Queen wasn’t as immune to men as she claimed. Macy, Candace and Allison joined them, murmuring sympathy for Tamara as the stranger examined her wounds. “I’ll fix it. I don’t know how, but I will, I swear it,” Camryn promised as the sounds of sirens drew near. |