genre: urban fantasy (sorcerers)
length: novel
Price: $4.95 download

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If you would like to get a print copy of the former, now out of print, version of this book, you may do so directly from me! http://www.marywinter.com/?page_id=728

BLURB:

Orphan. Sorcerer. Te Mulligan held many labels. With the impending death of his foster father he’ll add one more – leader of StarMyst Conclave. Ten years ago he’d left StarMyst after a night of passion with Jacy Duwards. He always loved her, always wanted her, but had taken something he never had a right to take. Still, memories of her haunt his days and his nights.

Jacy stayed by her foster father’s side, nursing him through the long months of his battle with cancer. With his time near the end, Te’s back. Ten years hasn’t changed anything, except to heighten her desire for the man destined to take over the Conclave.

The Prodigal Son has returned, and he’s ready to claim everything that’s his – including the woman he loves.

Note: This book has been previously published under the same title. This version has been slightly edited.

Reviews

“The first book of the StarMyst series is enjoyable and romantic. Emotions run high, and readers will empathize with the characters as they struggle with issues of trust, death and love. The hero and heroine experience real passion and steamy sex”
-RT Bookclub Magazine

“Prodigal Son is an intriguing story of a favored son returning, the woman he loves and magic.  The combination of characters, story and sex is a good one.  Te is one hottie with magical powers and a strong sex drive.  Jacy is a devoted daughter also with magical powers and her own sex drive.  Put these two together and sparks fly.  I look forward to more about the StarMyst Conclave”
- Trang Black, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“Lovers of contemporary romance with a touch fo the paranormal will enjoy this spicy romance”
- Patrice Storie, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“Prodigal Son is a very lusty book. I found the sex scenes spicy and very frequent. I liked all the characters and the story line very interesting. …I found this a quick read and a pleasant experience.”
- Anita, Enchanted in Romance

“Ms. Winter has created a very sexually charged story. The power of the lussor within the two sorcerers is very stimulating, like a smoldering ember that suddenly bursts into a towering flame. The plot revolves around Te and Jacy’s troubled relationship, which I could relate to. The strength of this story is in the sex magic conjured by Te and Jacy. The characters are fiery and sexy. Te is a hunk with long black hair, and a tender heart. He is one hot and charming character that is not easily forgotten.
- Kelley, Coffee Time Romance

Prodigal Son by Mary Winter is a red-blooded country-girl’s wet dream. Hot men in boots and jeans, a barn full of horses and lots of open spaces surrounded by woods set the scene for sensual seduction; and that is just what happens to the reader. Throw in the wounded bad-boy with a tender heart as the hero and the tough but delicately feminine, emotionally pained woman as the heroine and the stage is set for every country girl to live her fantasy vicariously through Ms. Winter’s spectacular story. The other men of StarMyst are the perfect foil to highlight, and focus the reader on, the special relationship between the two main characters.

Besides the fact that reading one of her love scenes could cause you to set your clothes on fire due to over heating, Ms. Winter delivers a powerful plot with plenty of tidbits to flesh it out properly. No untidy loose ends or rambling explanations mar the enjoyment to be found in spending an afternoon with the men of StarMyst. Though, you may find yourself looking for an arrogant mule of a man to slap in place of the one antagonist. Bravo, Ms. Winter!
- Keely Skillman, ecataromance reviews

Prodigal Son is a riddled with magic and emotions. Whether readers are reeling from the loss of someone or the possibility of a new beginning, this story is one that will have them engrossed by emotional struggles and rewards. Te is consumed with grief, guilt, and uncertainty over decisions that were made and need to be made, but deep down he is a compassionate and tender man with a heart the size of Texas. Jacy has a strong-willed personality that does what is right for everyone else, but is frightened at the aspect of going after what she wants. The electrifying chemistry between them will leave readers as scorched around the collar as it does Te and Jacy. Mary Winter has created a magical romance with roaring emotions. Prodigal Son is worth the read: 4 Angels!
- Jessica, Fallen Angels Reviews

Excerpt

Jacy stopped just inside the door to the magic room. Rich dark walnut boards covered the floor where a circle had been inlaid with marble. A heavy table sat in a corner with brass reading lamps sitting on it. Along the south wall, books filled shelves from floor to ceiling. The shelves came with a sliding library ladder, and an antique chest served as the filing system. A computer sat in the corner connected to the Conclave’s T1 connection. Jacy crossed the floor, careful not to step on the marble circle, and went to the antique chest. A large leather-bound book sat on top where Edwin had cataloged all the rituals listed in his massive library. She quickly found the Ritual of Healing and was relieved to see the book on one of the lower shelves.

The book, a heavy volume with only a name on the spine-Padmere-looked as if it hadn’t been touched in ages. A thin layer of dust covered the top, a testament to Edwin’s illness. He kept the room closed to anyone but the five of them, and in his health, he dusted the shelves monthly to prevent wear on the delicate books. Jacy filed the knowledge away, knowing the chore would be one which would busy her hands when she might need to find solace in work. Edwin’s thorough reference system pointed her to the exact page of the book, and Jacy carefully opened the volume on the table. She turned on a reading lamp, careful not to point it directly at the pages. She started to read.

Jacy stopped. She looked up, as if she could see through the ceiling to the man lying in the hospital bed above her. “He meant it.” Jacy pressed her lips together. “It’s for Edwin. I’d do anything to see him healthy again, even have sex with Te.” She fought against the urge to bury her face in her hands. He may have broken my heart ten years ago, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do it again. It is a ritual. An intimate one, but a ritual nonetheless. I can do this. I just have to stay detached. Only Jacy feared she might not be as detached as she wanted to be. In her bed at night, when the lussor became too much for her to handle, it was Te’s fingers she imagined sliding through her slick pussy. His cock replaced the vibrator sliding into her body and pressing against her womb. She wanted to clutch at his arms as he pumped his cock deep inside her and scream her release for the world to know. She had her fantasies, and they let her shudder to completion in her darkened room. Now she’d have the man in the flesh. The recent memory of seeing him standing before her rose to her mind, and she knew if they performed the Ritual of Healing it would be more than a ritual, at least to her.

“The Ritual of Healing takes the energies created by two people and focuses them on an individual who needs healing. The best way to raise energy is through sexual encounters and is the only method covered by the Ritual in this book,” Jacy read aloud. She needn’t remind herself it was for Edwin, and she continued reading, determined that she would give him the best ritual she could. The thought of the ritual with Te set a tingling low in her stomach, and she tried to ignore it as she focused on the intricacies the ritual required.

Nearly two hours later, Jacy felt certain she could perform the ritual from memory. She still needed to convince him to perform the ritual with her. Jacy swallowed at the thought of having sex with Te in a few hours. Gooseflesh rose on her skin, and her nipples hardened. She rubbed her arms to ward off the chill snaking down her spine and shook her head. If Te’s control over his lussor really was as bad as it seemed, the question might be better asked as how was she going to hold him off until the ritual.

Jacy shook her head. The complex ritual required focus and concentration, two things she suspected Te didn’t have at this moment. His lussor had risen nearly uncontrollably when he touched her. What would it do once they were finally making love? Sex. Sex. Fuck. Shag. Roll in the hay. Nothing about the ritual said anything about making love. She forced herself to be pragmatic about the situation. Whatever feelings she might have had for Te were in the past. He’d broken her heart when he walked away from StarMyst-she wouldn’t let him break it again.

Determined to speak with Te while it was fresh in her mind, Jacy replaced the book on the shelf and walked out of the magic room. Something told her Te remained outside. After living in a large city, the sorcerer part of him called out to nature. It was part of what made StarMyst so special. The camaraderie of the other Conclave members, plus the acres of rolling forest and the horses, all of it combined in a type of natural living Jacy thought she couldn’t do without. At least, that was what she told herself. Jarrod’s words on the subject differed considerably.

Jacy let her musings carry her outside until the wind rustled her hair and the sound of a horse whinnying in the paddock pulled her attention back to her surroundings. A quick glance showed the barn area mostly empty. She thought of the five hundred acres and knew if Te didn’t want to be found, he wouldn’t be. She stopped in the barn long enough to feed Spot a treat, and then headed down her favorite path into the woods.

The path led past a natural spring that fed into a creek. A small wooden bridge allowed her to cross it and head down the many bends leading to the bottom of a deep ravine. Trees lined the hills, row upon row of oak and hickory trees, their lush canopies spreading overhead to nearly block out the sky. The scent of loam and wildflowers filled her nostrils. Her tension eased away with the rustling of the leaves and the sounds of birds chirping overhead. The idyllic setting comforted her.

Her feet carried her down the path, past a large boulder, smooth and perfect for sitting. She meditated there sometimes, letting the sounds of nature connect her with the wider world. She rounded a bend, the trail steep as it descended into the ravine. There beneath a large willow tree sat Te.

Jacy stopped, the significance of his location not lost on her. She’d lost her virginity on that soft bed of grass growing in a clearing next to the willow tree. A lake as blue as the sky above sat behind it, the splashing of fish clearly audible.

Te sat with his back against the willow tree, legs crossed in lotus position and hands lighting resting on his knees. The serenity surrounding him made Jacy hesitate to interrupt his thoughts. A deep frown crossed his face, lines furrowing his brow. Whatever ran through Te’s mind, it wasn’t happy. Taking a deep breath, Jacy stepped forward.

“Te,” she said as she stopped beside him. She sat on the cool, soft grass smelling a hint of Te’s scent, the woodsy scent of his soap combined with the muskier scent of his skin. Jacy wanted to bury herself in that smell, wrap him around her, and never let it go.

Te turned. His features softened. “You found me.”

“I did. I hate to interrupt, but Edwin wants us to perform a ritual tonight-the Ritual of Healing.” Jacy hated blurting the words out there, but saw no need to dance around the issue.

“The Ritual of Healing? I’ve never heard of it. Do you think it will help him?”

“I think so. Edwin asked us to perform it.” Jacy kept her voice neutral, not wanting to give away the ritual’s contents until she had to.

Te looked away. “He’s not well, is he?” Sadness filled his voice. “He hasn’t been well for a while, and I’ve been ignoring it.” Closing his eyes he leaned back against the tree and swallowed hard.

Jacy reached to him. His grief called to her own, and she twined her fingers with his. The heat from his thigh radiated through his jeans, but she hardly noticed. Now was not the time for seduction, only comfort. “He doesn’t have long. The doctors have done all they can. I think he’s been holding on. For you.” She swallowed against the tears threatening to choke her voice. They fell over her cheeks, and as she bent her head, one dripped from her nose to splash on their joined hands.

Te looked up. He tilted her chin so he could see her face, and slowly wiped away her tears with his thumb. “You’re worried. How could I have been such a bastard as to stay away from you? From this? From Edwin? If I can do anything to make it up to him, participate in his ritual. I will. No questions asked.” Te thought for a moment. “Tonight would be a good night for a healing ritual, I think.”

With Te set on the ritual, Jacy knew she had to tell him the truth. “You may want to research the ritual first, Te. In order to complete it, we have to have sex.”

Te’s sharp intake of breath filled the clearing. He looked down at her, and a very sexy smile played around the corners of his lips. “You’re right. I will want to go over this ritual.” He brushed his lips across hers. “If Edwin wants energy, then by God he’ll get it.”

Feeling the heat from Te’s body, Jacy had no doubt sparks would fly.