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Holly Barbo
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A Beltane Gift (Quick Reads Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Holly Barbo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
A paranormal short story set in Scotland, with cultural heritage at its heart.

Summer in Scotland, and Mari is working on an archaeological dig of a Viking burial ship during Beltane, a time of the year when the veil shrouding the spirit world thins.

What could possibly go wrong?

A Beltane Gift is a contemporary story with historical elements and a wee bit of the paranormal. It won first prize in the PGP Short Story Competition in August 2015. It is also available as part of the anthologies Change of Tides and Tendrils.

This short story has planted roots in Holly’s imagination. It’s possible it will be continued in other books.

A Quick Read book is a short story available as a single small book. In both ebook and paper format, it is a perfect small gift or for escaping to another place and reality when you only have a tiny block of spare time.
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  1. Print length
    45 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    April 2, 2016
  5. File size
    784 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01DSAGE8K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paper Gold Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 784 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 45 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Holly Barbo

Holly Barbo

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Holly’s world is shaped by her love of family (which includes an adorable rescue kitty who has stolen her heart), the beauty of nature and an irrepressible curiosity that frequently has her turning over rocks and questioning what she finds. This sometimes sends the reader down a rabbit hole into an alternate view of the world than what they expected. Holly’s mind can be an interesting place.

In all her work, Holly weaves alternative worlds with threads from today.

To get the latest news just subscribe to Holly's newsletter. The button is on the right of the page.: http://hollybarbo-books.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
8 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Belinda C
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really great short story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    Holly has a way of weaving a story that makes a reader happy. A Beltane Gift is written with such clarity that you just feel like you there with the characters. In it Mari our heroine is an archaeologist working on a Viking homestead dig which turns out to be where her family settled years ago. A fox gives her a kitten because her ghostly ancestor asked him to. The history is very well researched . All in all a great quick read
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  • Cynthia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Story...but why go so Soon?
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed this story very much in the anthology callrd "Tendrils", which has many of Holly's short stories. I am always amazed at the research Holly must have done to present such clarity of her Characters. I also am amazed at how, without reducing the richness of History, Holly can blend the traditions of the past along with its characters and characteristics with characters from the modern time. The interaction of the two cultures seems very easy and very real. In my opinion that takes a very great writing ability. My only reservation about this story is that the ending is rather hurried and abrupt in its historical listing of how the characters lives move on. I like the idea of explaining what happens their lives as they move on. however there was so much depth that could be explored both in the reasoning of the antagonist and the adventures and learning of the main characters. I do hope that Holly expounds on this story of the future!
    One person found this helpful
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  • JH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    This is one of those stories that, once you read it, will stay with you for a while. I first came across it in an anthology some months ago, and loved it. Holly Barbo is a master of descriptive language, which makes the Scottish setting of this story really come to life. She seamlessly weaves together two different time periods with just the right amount of historical detail plus a deft touch of magic. Rooted in the everyday, yet spiced with fantasy, the suspense in this short story steadily builds to a rather karmic ending that left me smiling.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • babygirl
    4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT SHORT STORY
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a captivating story. My only problem, it is a short story, but there is definitely​ room for expansion. I would love to read more.
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  • Camille
    4.0 out of 5 stars A haunting tale
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    With A Beltane Gift, Holly Barbo has once again woven a tale that immediately captures our imagination. We meet Mari, a smart, charming young archaeologist working on the excavation of a rotting Viking ship in Scotland. We quickly find her caught up in challenge, mystery and puzzling apparitions. A kitten—a very real kitten—shows up at her campsite, along with an ethereal Scotsman from the 13th century. The author deftly combines this background of ancient culture with the very real story of Mari’s present-day world.

    As the story concludes, one is left hoping Holly will come up with another story, perhaps a series of stories, where we will again find Mari using her special talents in equally intriguing circumstances.
    One person found this helpful
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  • H & H Supply
    4.0 out of 5 stars When short stories are this good, we readers often yearn for more
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    The book was a page turner.
    When short stories are this good, we readers often yearn for more. We forget that it's s short story.
    Good book.
    One person found this helpful
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