What Love Means

I stand in the night and stare up at a lone star, wondering what love means.  You whisper your desire—do I love you?  I dare say yes.  But my eyes drift back to that solitary star; my mind is plagued with intimate uncertainty.   

What art thou, Love?  Tell me.   

I contemplate what I know—the qualities love doth not possess.  Love lifts no cruel or unkind hand, for it seeketh no harm.  It shirks from constraints and demands, for tyranny is not love.  A boisterous voice never crosses love’s lips, for to speak with thunder chases its very presence from the heart.  Love inflicts no pain, no fear, no misery, but conquers all such foes.  It is said love is not selfish, yet it does not guilt those who are.  On a heart unwillingly given it stakes no claim.  Love is nothing from Pandora’s box; it is no evil, sin, or sorrow unleashed on this world.   

My eyes glimmer as the star I gaze upon twinkles with brightness I do not possess.  I recognize my smallness—my ignorance of the One whose hands placed that star in the heavens for me.   

He is love.  By His own mouth He proclaimed it.   

Again the whispered question hits my ear—do I love you?  I dare say yes.  But my eyes squint tight, wishing on a lonely star, wondering what love means. 

                                                                                           ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

10 Things You Want to Know About the Book

The fourth book in the Harrowbethian Saga has been released!  Eena, The Two Sisters is now available for purchase at most online book-retailers. Feed your curiosity with the following ten things you want to know about the book:

1.  The book stars 17-year-old Queen Eena of Harrowbeth.

2.  Two unscrupulous immortal sisters seek to gain their freedom at any cost.

3.  Killer dragons are involved.

4.  This book brings readers to the two-thirds mark in the Harrowbethian Saga.

5.  The story was inspired by the author's fantastical youthful daydreams.

6.  A love triangle builds and intensifies.  Or is it a love quadri-angle?

7.  Global maps of Eena's planet, Moccobatra, are included in this book.

8.  A crazy and unexpected proposal is made.  Make that two.

9.  A traditional Harrowbethian birthday game is explained.

10.  Learn to speak a few lines in the Bethan language.

Early Reviews of Eena, The Two Sisters

In one week, I will be releasing the 4th book in the Harrowbethian Saga—Eena, The Two Sisters.  I know it has been a long wait for some.  Let me tell you, it will be worth it! I thought you might enjoy a few reviews from my beta readers.  Yes, I have some amazing beta readers who help me mold my works in progress.  Maybe their comments will get you pumped to read this next book in the saga for yourself.

"This is the 4th of the Harrowbethian Saga. It is a a science fiction, love novel about a young queen who is confronted by enemies who appear unbeatable and who pose a deadly threat to her and her people. She, her fiance and her protector battle against enormous odds and what appear to be a hopeless struggle. This is probably one of my favorites of the four. It is packed with adventure, romance, mystery and delivers quite an emotional punch towards the end. It about breaks your heart, lots of sniffles, however, this book is not the end of the saga."~ Arlene

"Eena continues her struggle against two immortal sisters bent on freeing themselves of their prison on Eena's planet. In order to further his own agenda of getting Eena to forfeit her responsibilities as queen and join him, Edgar constantly splits up Eena and Derian and throws her across the globe with Ian. It certainly makes for an interesting love triangle (quadri-angle?). All hope of not freeing the witches and/or escaping alive seems lost."  ~  LeiAnn 

"A lot of interesting things happen in this book, and I am honestly torn on what I think of them. This book is the hardest to review, because if I say anything, it might spoil it for others reading the book. I can say I really like this cover. It has beautiful colors and a nice perspective. There are some definite surprises in this book. I am certainly curious where it might lead next. My mind is full of question marks."  ~ Jackie