Please help me welcome today’s guest, Hywela Lyn…
Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card and ‘Matchmaker’ key chain to one lucky commenter
Who knew a stray pony and a haunted cottage could bring two wounded hearts together?
BLURB:
When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma. Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.
Excerpt:
Prologue
Near Pentrebont, West Wales, sometime in the distant past.
“Faster Seren, faster.” Leaning low over the pony’s neck the young woman urged her into a mile-eating gallop. The mare’s hooves scarcely seemed to touch the ground as she appeared to fly across the rugged landscape. If only Seren really could gallop through the air, it would make her escape so much easier.
There had been something very special about the filly Rhiannon found as a motherless foal in the mountains and raised until fully grown. She named her Seren, meaning ‘Star’, for the perfect diamond-shaped star on her face. Seren needed no breaking-in or training, but allowed Rhiannon to sit on her back as soon as she was mature enough to take a rider. No one else could ride her, not even Sion Sienco. Now she could only hope the mare would carry her to Sion in time.
She cast one last, swift look over her shoulder at the only home she had ever known. The cottage receded into the distance, appearing forlorn in the soft moonlight before melting into the darkness. She could almost believe the cottage knew she would never return. With a sigh, she turned her head to concentrate on the rough road ahead.
Thoughts of the injured animals the villagers, or their children, would bring to the cottage for her to heal flashed into her mind, and hot tears stung her eyes. Her spells and herbs could heal most injuries provided they were not too severe. Now she would no longer be able to help them. Nor would she be able to use her gift of matchmaking to help the maidens in the village find their one true love. “Oh Sion,” she whispered, “Sion, where are you when I need you?”
She pushed the mare even faster. “Sion,” she whispered once more. “Sion, please let me find you.”
Her father’s harsh words rang in her head and a shiver ran through her, which had nothing to do with the chill night air. “It is all arranged. You will marry Gwynfor Pryce. We have already agreed on the marriage settlement and the wedding will take place a week today. There will be no more argument.”
Rhiannon knew then she must leave the little cottage where she had lived with her father since her mother died five years before. Leaving the dwelling where she’d lived her whole life, the only home she knew, made her heart ache. However, she would not marry a man she hated.
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About the Author:
Award-winning U.K. author, Hywela Lyn spent most of her life in Wales, whose beautiful landscapes and wealth of myths and legends inspired her to write. A horse and dog lover, she weaves fantasy romances set in her native Wales, and romantic Science Fiction adventures set in the future. She loves dreaming up characters who overcome the odds, and go on to find deep and enduring love. However difficult the journey, in the end love will always win. She hopes her stories will truly take you ‘out of this world’ and beyond.
She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers. Beloved Enemy, the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, was shortlisted in the Paranormal category of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association RoNA awards and was a Runner up in the U.S. RONE Awards in 2017. Circumstances prevented her writing since the Release of Beloved Enemy and she is excited to now be able to announce the release of her new novel The Matchmaker’s Mare, featuring her other great love, horses, and the area in Wales where she grew up.
When she is not writing or reading, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors with Choccy, anything involving horses or dogs, or just eating chocolate!
Website: https://Hywelalyn@hywelalyn.co.uk
Blog: https://Hywelalyn.blogspot.com
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/hywela-lyn.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HywelaLynAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1422651.Hywela_Lyn
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
My pen name, Hywela Lyn, is a combination of my first two names. (I have always been known by my second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time my Welsh first name was used as well!) Having been born and raised in Wales living and working there for most of my life, I moved to a small village in England when I married my late husband, Dave, although I have to admit my heart remains in Wales! A keen animal lover, especially horses and dogs, I live with a terrier called Choccy, adopted by myself and my husband. Choccy rules the house and keeps me sane (nearly
Where did you get the idea for THE MATCHMAKER’S MARE. Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I’ve always loved Science Fiction, Fantasy and stories of the paranormal. My fantasy novella, Dancing with Fate was originally written as part of an anthology featuring the Greek muses, for the Wild Rose Press, who have published all my books to date, including my Science Fiction Romance trilogy, which, like The Matchmaker’s Mare, started out as a short story.
One of the first short tales I ever wrote was entitled A touch of Witchcraft, about a fiery grey Welsh Mountain pony belonging to a white witch. Years later, I dug that one out and the witch became a matchmaker, and the pony evolved into a chestnut mare, becoming my latest novel The Matchmaker’s Mare. I usually manage to sneak a horse or pony into all my stories somewhere, and this one allowed me to indulge my love of horses more fully.)
I’ve had a passion for horses for as long as I can remember, and I saved up for five years to purchase Flicka, my first horse, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge several years ago and is also featured in The Matchmaker’s Mare, along with Flying T’pau (aka TipTop), although the actual Star (Seren) was a gentle 15.2 hands high bay mare I bred myself, from Flicka, rather than a feisty little chestnut pony, but she did have a perfect star in the middle of her face!
Author Alicia Dean 