Title: Jade
Series: Out of the Ashes
Author: Angela Schroeder
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: August 11
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing
Jade spent her life hidden away from the world but when tragedy strikes her home she has to set out to discover what she can about the family she never knew. In a world where people are afraid of sorcery and anything that is different she finds herself in the custody of men who are working for Mona, the woman she was trying to escape.
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After the evening meal Jade allowed Blaise to change her bandages. Shivers ran through her when his fingers grazed her skin. She knew it was all innocent to him; he was only changing a bandage. Perhaps this was the sort of thing he did back home. He had to have someone waiting for him there. For her, him touching her even in such an innocent way sent spirals of warmth flooding through her veins, awakening feelings she had never known to exist.
“Your shoulder looks alright.” His breath tickled her neck. “Now, let’s look at your cheek.” Gently he peeled away the bandage. “Good.” The word was so soft but he sounded pleased. She sat still as a statue while he used his finger to apply more anointment then secured a fresh bandage over it.
“What was it like growing up in the city?” she finally asked.
“My sister Teresa and I are very fortunate that we have such a loving family. Our parents were busy with their obligations but they always made time for us, even if it was just to read a story to us before we went off to bed. I’ve always lived in a house with electricity though. We even have indoor plumbing. Many of the things that were once taken for granted in this country, we have.”
“Indoor plumbing?” She did not recall coming across this in her books.
“I’ll show you when we get there. It’s great. I look forward to the day that everyone can enjoy it again. No outhouse, no heating water for baths, no carrying buckets of water from a well.”
“Really? You don’t have to go out for all of that?”
“No, pipes bring the water in and they take it right back out. Water is stored in a large container that heats it so you have hot water waiting for you.”
She knew her eyes had gone wide as he described it all to her, the slightly amused look on his face confirmed it for her. “That must be nice.”
“It certainly is a convenience. We helped others in the city who did not have the things that we had, so we grew up appreciating all that our family had given us.”
“People should help each other, is that not common?” Her brows furrowed together at the thought of people not helping their neighbors. What if Mona had not wanted to be bothered with raising an infant? She would have surely died.
“It seems that no matter where society is there will always be those who look out only for themselves.”
“Why would anyone want to be a part of that then?” She crinkled her nose at the thought.
“You’re cute when you do that.”
Her green eyes grew wide and locked on him as her eyebrows shot up toward the ceiling. “You think I’m cute?” She tried to hide a smile.
“Yes, I do.” He ran a hand over his face, covering his eyes for a brief moment as he answered her. “I’m sure you will hear things like that more often now that you are no longer hidden away from the world.”
“Perhaps.” She tucked her bottom lip under one of her teeth. “Maybe I don’t want to hear it from anyone else.” She cut her gaze to the fire so she would not see his reaction. The embarrassment she already felt would only be worse if he looked appalled at what she had said.
“Hmm.”
She imagined that it was a pleased sound that he made. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the slight upturn of his lips. He stood and stretched.
Angela Schroeder is a single mother of three. She was born and raised in Iowa in a river town known for its pearl buttons. Having four siblings she never lacked for someone to play with, as she grew older she found herself pulled into books and writing more and more.
Her parents are her heroes, her siblings her confidants and tormentors and her children are a wonderful blessing. Church is important to her children and her. They enjoy the friendships they’ve made with the people there.
Writing has always been a passion. Her first experience was in fifth grade when she went to a one day writing conference. After that she knew it was something she wanted to pursue.
