D is for Dad — Happy Father’s Day

D is for Dad – and Father’s Day is almost here. Fathers will enjoy the Banderos story, about a Dad struggling to control his unruly brood.

Enjoy this exclusive excerpt from

Banderos, The Last War, Book Six.

Excerpt—

Gerwal’s mind turned to the years he’d spent building this territory. Days patrolling the fields around the manorhouse, and the forests and valleys as their holding grew. It was amazing he had so many children given how often he was out on the trails, days on end of short battles to head off the encroachment of other settlers, long negotiations to bring neighbours into the fold, attempts at trading with those more distant.

By the time Angel was born, the territory had tripled in size and he spent weeks at a time away from the manorhouse out on patrol. She would write letters and send the missives with her brothers to be delivered to him in camp at night. Dear Daddy, they would read, and for Daddy only. As if anyone else wanted to read those squiggly little notes. He snorted at the idea and repressed a grin, even as moisture gathered in his eyes.

Sometimes she would talk about needing him at the manorhouse. Daddy, it’s from your daughter Angel. Come home soon and fast. We all miss you.

Many were about her concern for him. Daddy, from your daughter Angel. Close the door and come home. Don’t work too hard while you are away. See you when you get here. There would be kisses attached at the end of each letter. How could she love him so much when he’d been such an indifferent father?

He rested his head on his knees as a shudder rippled through his body. He wouldn’t give up, he refused to give up. As long as he had breath in his body, he would fight for what was his.

KEEP READING:

AMAZON US https://www.amazon.com/Sylvie-Grayson/e/B00OEIVODG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

AMAZON CA https://www.amazon.ca/Son-Emperor-Last-War-Book-ebook/dp/B01698O76Y/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=sylvie+grayson&qid=1560292914&s=books&sr=1-6

AMAZON UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sylvie-Grayson/e/B00OEIVODG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

If you’re new to The Last War series, you can start with Book 1, Khandarken Rising, Book 2, Son of the Emperor, Book 3, Truth and Treachery, Book 4, Weapon of Tyrants, or Book 5, Prince of Jiran.. All books can be read as standalone stories and can be enjoyed independently, but are interesting to be read together.

Happy Reading,

~Sylvie

Flower garden

This is called Jerusalem sage. Not sure if it is actually a sage plant, have never used it that way as have tons of sage, but it makes a very interesting dried flower.

A bouquet from my garden, phlox, lupine, foxglove, some peonies. This time of year my windowsills are heavy with vases and the falling petals litter the area. Still, it’s nice to bring some of the flowers in and their subtle perfume carries throughout the house.

Sylvie’s Garden

Here are a couple of other wildflowers that thrive in my garden. This is foxglove. We had a lot of fun with them as kids, stripping the flowers to put one on the tip of each finger. Then there are the lupines.

Funny that nature has a similar colour palette for all three of phlox, lupine and foxglove.  This vine is a honeysuckle. It was my mother’s plant, and years ago I took pieces off it to plant in my own garden. I’ve moved it a few times now, but it is one sturdy plant. The hummingbirds love it, it covers the arbour into the garden nicely, keeping it shady in the heat of summer.

 Let me know what flourishes in your flower bed.

Garden in bloom

My garden has gone crazy this spring. Don’t know if it is the weather or my green thumb!

Here are the Japanese tree peonies – I thought they only came in one colour but apparently not. These come in several different shades.

There is also a white one with huge petals that I didn’t get a photo of, it only lasted a few days.

Then there are the azalias, several different colours,

Lastly the wisteria, growing on the railing of my deck. The perfume is stunning, makes me want to linger out there, beside the great vine. It has roots in the rocks below, I don’t know what feeds it, but it is so strong it pulled the railing out of alignment.

The other plant is called rose geranium. I’ve never been fond of geraniums since my grade 6 teacher put one in a pot on the window sill beside my seat and I caught what I thought of as the ‘stink’ of the plant for the rest of the spring. But these smell wonderful. The flower isn’t huge, but the leaves have a lot of oil in them and I dry them and use for potpourri in the winter.

How is your garden growing?