Title: The Devastation (Unexpected Circumstances #7)
Author: Shay Savage
Publication Date: August 23rd 2016 by Shay Savage, LLC
Plot: Although Branford is broken and desperate, he finds himself with no choice: He must declare war against Hadebrand, or Edgar’s evil darkness will envelop the commonwealth. Silverhelm’s army is grossly outnumbered, but Branford underestimates the people’s love for their commoner queen. The people rise up in support of their beloved regent, and Branford sees a glimmer of hope for his wife. He becomes more determined than ever to make up for his previous failures and secure the future of his kingdom.
With their murderous intentions, the treacherous King Edgar and Princess Whitney must pay for what they have done. They must not be allowed to destroy everything the people hold dear.
With but faint hope in his heart, Branford gathers his people and marches toward the castle in Hadebrand, gathering allies along the way. With the support of other noble families, Branford will have to find the strength to fight for the very survival of his own.
He sees only one path: the annihilation of his enemy.
With their murderous intentions, the treacherous King Edgar and Princess Whitney must pay for what they have done. They must not be allowed to destroy everything the people hold dear.
With but faint hope in his heart, Branford gathers his people and marches toward the castle in Hadebrand, gathering allies along the way. With the support of other noble families, Branford will have to find the strength to fight for the very survival of his own.
He sees only one path: the annihilation of his enemy.
☆✮ My Short Review ✮☆
Oh my gosh. What a finale for the last and final installment of the Unexpected Circumstances series!!
Branford and Alexandra certainly have come a long way and jumped leaps and bounds from Branford merely choosing his rival kingdom's' handmaiden as a strategic ploy, to all out----
transforming into braveheart on us and going all lengths to protect the women he has come to love.
I have to commend author Shay Savage for writing such a thrilling and addictive read as I just loved the suspense around it and seeing both Branford and Alexandra grow and seeing develop together and on their own.
Not to mention~~ seeing Branford come to terms that in order to become the man and ruler he wants to be to his wife, child, and subjects--- that some things are worth fighting for if he ever wants to keep them around, protected.
My Rating:
♥♥♥♥
☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆
“I am coming for you, Alexandra,” I said into the air. “Do not be afraid. I will come for you.”
I closed my eyes briefly and imagined myself once again in the tight container of the hidden compartment under the carriage bench. I heard the screams from outside. Only this time, it was Alexandra’s voice, and she called for me, but I could not reach her.
“Please, please—keep her safe,” I whispered as I dropped to my knees. Memories overwhelmed me again, and I felt Lord Sawyer’s arm around my shoulders as I was brought from the carriage. I saw the bodies of my parents on the ground, covered in blankets. At the point where I usually imagined what my mother’s body must have looked like under there, I now thought of my wife, and a choking sob emerged from my throat.
“God…no…please…”
What if they were hurting her right now as I knelt here and did nothing?
What if?
What if?
What if?
The words echoed in my mind as the palms of my hands tried to push the imagined sights from my eyes. I screamed into my fists, trying to muffle the sounds as my mind conjured all the possible things that could be happening to her at this very moment.
“Branford! Branford, no!”
I felt the delicate hands of my adoptive mother around my shoulders and inhaled the scent of her hair as she turned me and pulled me toward her and back to sanity. I tried to turn away, but the weakness of my mind had affected my body, too.
“They could be hurting her…killing her!” I cried. “Right now, they could be…”
“Hush,” Sunniva said as she attempted to pull me closer. “This will not help you or Alexandra.”
“But she could be hurt!”
“I know,” Sunniva said quietly. She placed her hand on the back of my head and attempted to pull me to her shoulder. I resisted at first but then dropped my forehead against her.
“Think, my son,” she whispered quietly. “I know you wish to find her now, and I know you fear for her, but your men need sleep, and you need additional time to perfect your strategy. You will go to Alexandra in the morning.”
“I cannot wait,” I said, my voice strained.
“I know it feels that way,” she said, “but Alexandra is strong and brave. You must not go into a slaughter, my son. You can only save her if you are ready.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I pleaded with her.
“You will gather and lead your men,” Sunniva said softly. “You will remain calm, and you will encourage your army, Branford. It is the only way you can beat Hadebrand.”
“How will I, Mother?” I whispered into her hair as I finally relinquished whatever pride I was trying to maintain and just sank against her and sobbed. “How can I go on without her beside me? I cannot…I cannot even think!”
I closed my eyes briefly and imagined myself once again in the tight container of the hidden compartment under the carriage bench. I heard the screams from outside. Only this time, it was Alexandra’s voice, and she called for me, but I could not reach her.
“Please, please—keep her safe,” I whispered as I dropped to my knees. Memories overwhelmed me again, and I felt Lord Sawyer’s arm around my shoulders as I was brought from the carriage. I saw the bodies of my parents on the ground, covered in blankets. At the point where I usually imagined what my mother’s body must have looked like under there, I now thought of my wife, and a choking sob emerged from my throat.
“God…no…please…”
What if they were hurting her right now as I knelt here and did nothing?
What if?
What if?
What if?
The words echoed in my mind as the palms of my hands tried to push the imagined sights from my eyes. I screamed into my fists, trying to muffle the sounds as my mind conjured all the possible things that could be happening to her at this very moment.
“Branford! Branford, no!”
I felt the delicate hands of my adoptive mother around my shoulders and inhaled the scent of her hair as she turned me and pulled me toward her and back to sanity. I tried to turn away, but the weakness of my mind had affected my body, too.
“They could be hurting her…killing her!” I cried. “Right now, they could be…”
“Hush,” Sunniva said as she attempted to pull me closer. “This will not help you or Alexandra.”
“But she could be hurt!”
“I know,” Sunniva said quietly. She placed her hand on the back of my head and attempted to pull me to her shoulder. I resisted at first but then dropped my forehead against her.
“Think, my son,” she whispered quietly. “I know you wish to find her now, and I know you fear for her, but your men need sleep, and you need additional time to perfect your strategy. You will go to Alexandra in the morning.”
“I cannot wait,” I said, my voice strained.
“I know it feels that way,” she said, “but Alexandra is strong and brave. You must not go into a slaughter, my son. You can only save her if you are ready.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I pleaded with her.
“You will gather and lead your men,” Sunniva said softly. “You will remain calm, and you will encourage your army, Branford. It is the only way you can beat Hadebrand.”
“How will I, Mother?” I whispered into her hair as I finally relinquished whatever pride I was trying to maintain and just sank against her and sobbed. “How can I go on without her beside me? I cannot…I cannot even think!”
☆✮ About the Author ✮☆
Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves soccer in any and all forms - especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆
Book #1
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Book #2
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Book #3
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Book #4
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Book #5
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Book #6
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Book #7
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