Blog Tour: Character Interview and Review of Priestess of the Nile by Veronica Scott

Presenting... Priestess of the Nile by Veronica Scott!

Priestess of the Nile is a romance novella set in ancient Egyptian times. Sound good? I know it captivated me from the start! It is an amazing book, and I have to say, I loved it!

A short little thing I have to say about it is that it is a very enjoyable read and I really liked it. Sweet, interesting, short. It's a simple read, to be sure, but never boring. It may be short, yes, but a lot was covered within those pages and the love that they had was truly real. I could just feel that. Now, check out my review here!

Priestess of the Nile

Drawn to his abandoned temple on the banks of the Nile by an enchanting song, Sobek the Crocodile God is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he learns she is Merys, a descendant of his last priestess. Though filled with lust, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. But the rules that govern the Egyptian pantheon forbid anything beyond a physical joining of a Great One and a human.

Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love.
Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve to leave her pure. When he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But can a love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the gods?

Veronica Scott

Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library full of books as its heart, and when she ran out of things to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one young grandson and cats.

Veronica's life has taken many twists and turns, but she always makes time to keep reading and writing. Everything is good source material for the next novel or the one after that anyway, right? She's been through earthquakes, tornadoes and near death experiences, although nothing is as stressful as meeting a book deadline. Always more stories to tell, new adventures to experience--Veronica's personal motto is, "Never boring."

You can find her on:

Wordpress - her blog
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon
Harlequin

And today, we have Merys, the heroine from Priestess of the Nile joining us with an interview!

Me: Hi Merys, thanks for letting me interview you!

Merys: I’m happy we could find a way to arrange it without you having to travel to the Afterlife. I’m not sure Isis would have allowed you to leave, once there.

Me: *Gulp* So… What was your last thought before you died? Was it of Sobek?

Merys: Yes, he was holding me close and I wanted so much to stay with him, but it wasn’t possible at the time. His beloved face was my last sight in the upper world.

Me: Sigh, that’s just so sweet! And out of curiosity, did you ever see Tyema again?

Merys: Since she is the official Priestess now, yes, Sobek has made it possible for me to meet her within the sanctuary of the restored temple. I can only journey there occasionally but it’s always so good to see her and to catch up on events. But please don’t tell Isis!

Me: Heh, you don’t have to worry about that! It’ll be our little secret! Now, Sobek is pretty damn amazing. There are so many things that are great about him, but what do you love most?

Merys: He has such tremendous strength and power, enough to divert the entire Nile from its course, but when he’s with me, he’s gentle, loving, kind and considerate. Yet I know he would do anything necessary to protect our son and me from harm, even at the hands of the other gods.

Me: And I was wondering, do you wish your story was longer? I mean, I loved what I read about you, but would you have liked it if we could have seen more of the love between you and Sobek?

Merys: The events probably seemed longer to me when I lived through them, than they did when you were reading of them!

Sobek and I have all eternity to be together now, living where the gods dwell. As long as people remember the Egyptian gods, we will abide in our home. He takes very good care of me, much more solicitous than he needs to be. I’m tough, despite the fact that I endured some unhappy things in my time on earth. He tries to make up for not being there at the moment I needed him. I don’t think he’ll ever quite forgive himself, even though the end result has been our happiness. For every joy there is a price to be paid.

And now, just a few random questions because many readers, like me, simply have to know what happened afterwards - your life with Sobek.

Me: Was it as amazing as you thought it would be? Or were there quarrels and such that many human couples have?

Merys: Living with Sobek has been pure joy, especially with the birth of our son. He’s very active, keeps me busy! Sobek and I have “discussions” (not quarrels) sometimes, about raising our son. I want him to experience the human side of life at some point. Sobek isn’t convinced yet. My husband wants the boy to grow up and help him with the maintenance of the Nile. I think our son might have his own interests to pursue when he’s older. But there’s time to decide all of that…

I was especially grateful when Sobek arranged with the god Thoth to teach me to read hieroglyphics. Now all the libraries of Egypt and the Afterlife are open to me. I love learning about the past lives and victories of the pharaohs who came before the current ruler. There are also some very entertaining scribes’ tales about magicians which I read to my son.

Me: Name of the child?

Merys: Sobekhotep, which roughly means “Sobek is pleased” in your language.

Me: Are you still considered human? Like an immortal human if there’s such a thing. Or are you now a Great One?

Merys: I’m definitely not a Great One – they arose from the waters of Chaos when time began, endowed with mysterious powers granted by the Universe. I’m much, much younger and have no powers! The goddess Isis blessed us by allowing me to enter the area where the gods themselves dwell and granted me immortality so that Sobek and I could always be together, with our son. Sobekhotep has inherited his father’s powers and immortality.

Most of my people who gain the Afterlife dwell in another area, totally separate from the home of the gods. Pursuits in the Afterlife bear much resemblance to daily life along the Nile, which is why those who can afford it gather worldly goods in their tombs. (Shaking her head, Merys smiles.) Our belief system is complex and even though I was a priestess at Sobek’s abandoned temple, I was mostly self taught. I don’t know the innermost mysteries. And I’m still keeping my distance from Isis, so I won’t be asking her any questions!

Me: Thanks for the interview, Merys! Wishing you and your family eternal happiness :)

Merys: May the sunlight rest upon you every day!

And now, a short excerpt from the book.

The old abandoned temple remained one of his favorite spots along the Nile, overlooking the river from a small bluff, with a deserted beach below. Bek stood gazing across the sparkling water at bronze- and black-spotted crocodiles sunbathing in the final rays of the setting sun. A breathtaking mix of colors stained the sky as the Goddess Nuit spread her cloak across the heavens, sprinkling the black velvet with stars.

A beautiful soprano voice rose from the beach below the bluff. Bek recognized the words of a familiar old song, given new meaning by the hypnotizing, alluring voice. I must see this songbird. She’s cast some kind of spell over me.

He strolled along the path from the ruins toward the beach. Taking the last turn on the trail, he walked out on the sand and found the woman. She waded in the water, casting a small fishing net and retrieving it, every once in a while picking out a wriggling silver fish and throwing it into a waiting basket on the beach.

Her ample breasts flashed into view when she leaned over. She had kilted her skirt to her thighs, revealing shapely legs. Long ebony hair was caught behind her ears with combs in the shape of seashells.

Wouldn’t I like to take those combs out and see her hair tumble down—she’s as beautiful as her voice. He must have made some sound. She stopped singing and wheeled, taking an involuntary step deeper into the river at the sight of him, a stranger. Her face paled under her tan and her eyes opened wide as she staggered, caught by an eddy of the current.

“Don’t be frightened, please. I mean you no harm.” He held his hands up, palms out, and smiled. “I heard your singing and it drew me here. I only wanted to give my thanks for the concert.”

She laid one hand on her graceful throat, toying with an amulet on a thong. “You startled me.” Poised to bolt, the girl appeared wary, probably planning an attempt to run past him.

“I apologize.” He kicked off his sandals and waded into the water at an angle from her. The net drifted lazily in a whirlpool; he reached out and caught it, lifting the tangled strands from the river.

“Oh, don’t! You’ll ruin your fine kilt, sir.” She came to him hastily and took the net from his hands. “The river runs muddy at this time of the year. Your servants will labor in vain to get the stains out.”

He glanced at his waist. Oh yes, I did choose to wear the pleated white kilt of a nobleman. He followed her to the shore as she splashed through tiny waves with her net. “Fortunately, I have no servants to worry with such things.”

While putting his sandals on, Bek frowned at the Nile crocodiles lying deceptively immobile on the opposite bank, then glanced at her. “You take great risks, walking into the river with those beasts nearby.”

One of the animals twitched. Bek glared at it. The creature met his eyes for a second, then settled onto the sand.

“Oh, I’m not afraid. I’m protected.” She was busy folding the net and packing it into a compartment in the lid of her fish creel. She didn’t even spare a moment to consider the predators across the water.

He coughed to cover his instinctive laugh. “Protected? And exactly how are you warded against attack?”

She stood briskly, raised her chin and tugged an amulet free of her dress to show him. It was a small green stone crocodile hanging on a frayed black leather thong. “My great-grandmother was the last priestess of the temple on the bluff above.”

He indicated the amulet. “May I see it?”

The girl unlooped the cord from her neck and handed the necklace over. “Great-Grandmother told me the amulet was blessed by the Crocodile God himself and would protect me from his creatures.” Bek chuckled, holding the tiny figurine in his large meaty hand. “Mighty protection indeed.” He momentarily closed the pendant in his fist, then tossed it to her with a slight bow.
“Nonetheless, you shouldn’t take such chances. Crocodiles are crafty and fierce.”

When she refastened the amulet the stone pendant fell between her shapely breasts. She unkilted her skirts and the simple dress fell to her ankles. As she bent to lift her basket of fish Bek put his hand atop hers on the handle. She gave him a wide-eyed glance but stepped aside to let him lift her burden.

“Thank you, sir. I’m going to sit in the shade and eat my dinner now.” She pointed at the nearby grove of palms. “Would you care to join me?”

“I’m not hungry, but I’ll sit if you don’t object. An hour of good conversation is a pleasant way to end the day.”

She peeked sideways at him while she walked. Eventually she smiled shyly. “I’m grateful for the company. My name is Merys.” She stood nearly as tall as him, unusual in a woman, but he found it distinctly attractive. Her face was lovely, oval and browned by the sun, which set off her sparkling black eyes. She was all lush curves and smooth skin—his cock stirred with lust but he restrained his arousal.

She seems to be an innocent maiden, of good family by her educated speech, not a woman to be lightly trifled with for an afternoon. He realized he was standing rooted to one spot, lost in admiration of her beauty. Shaking his head, he started walking again. “Call me Bek.”

“A propitious name for this place, if your naming was in tribute to the Crocodile God.” Merys slanted a look at him sideways and chuckled. “Are you a merchant? Is your ship anchored somewhere nearby?” Not waiting for an answer, she sank bonelessly under the tallest palm. Lifting a shawl that lay draped there across some wicker hampers, she pulled out a hard roll filled with dried meat.

Bek set the stinking fish creel on the sand well away from where he planned to sit, but safely in the shade. He lowered himself into a cross-legged position and leaned against the tree, hands clasped behind his neck. “I travel along the Nile quite often, yes.”

She blinked and raised her eyebrows. He hadn’t precisely answered either of her questions but she didn’t press the matter. “Did you come to see the temple ruins?”

He nodded. The truth, as far as it goes.

And has that excerpt succeeded in sparking your interest? Click on the links below to buy the book!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance
Carina Press

So yep, that's the end of today's blog tour. Check out the other tour stops here!

Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the blog tour in exchange for a honest review. I did not receive any payment for it. All views stated in my review is mine alone.