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Rachel Rowlands, Book Editor & Author
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Rachel Rowlands, Book Editor & Author
fairytale retellings

The Darkest Curse

Independently published 22 October 2022

Available in ebook and paperback

What if Rapunzel’s hair was cursed by dark magic, and she had to resist falling for a handsome bard?

Locked away from the rest of the world, Annice dreams of leading a life filled with adventure and romance, things she’s only read about in books. But her hair holds a deadly curse – it kills any other living thing it touches, and no one knows the cure. Even her attempts to cut off her cursed hair are futile in the face of dark magic. Watched over by her mother, Gothel, Annice lives a lonely and sheltered life in her tower, her only escape her beloved books and lyre.

When the dashing, well-travelled bard Cyrus passes her tower, Annice is torn between her caution and curiosity. Drawn in by his stories of adventure and the world beyond, she soon finds herself enchanted by him and yearning more fiercely for a life outside. And the forbidden relationship blooming between them becomes a closely kept secret from Gothel.

As Annice begins a fresh quest for answers about her curse, she unravels a web of deceit that will change everything she thought she knew about love and family.

The Darkest Curse is Book 1 in the Nethervale series, but the series can be read in any order. Each book can stand on its own.

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Member of the Editorial Freelancers Association

My author copies of First Dates at the Cat Café ar My author copies of First Dates at the Cat Café arrived! How gorgeous are they?! I just love all the colours and the cats having their own little dates outside the café! @kelley.mcmorris.art has done it again with her beautiful illustration!

I think you'll love this one if you enjoy fake dating, summer festivals, and brooding musicians. 🎶 Here's a reminder of the blurb! Out May 28 with @hodderbooks @hodderfiction 🥰🥰

🐱💜🐱💜

Grace adores her job as a barista at the café, but dreams of one day setting up her own matchmaking agency to help pet lovers find true love.

When Catpurrcino partners with a dating festival for the whole of August it seems like it is meant to be.

The last thing on Grace's mind is her own love life.

Until she is matched with musician Nathan, who is only at the festival so he can perform.

Grace knows from the very first moment that Nathan is not the man of her dreams.

But no one is going to take romantic advice from someone who can't even get through one successful date. So Grace and Nathan make a pact. They will pretend to be smitten with each other until the end of festival.

The more time Grace and Nathan spend playing the perfect couple, the more Grace wonders if her fake feelings are becoming real... Could Nathan ever feel the same?
April 🌸🌻 A month of doing lots of decorating and o April 🌸🌻 A month of doing lots of decorating and other jobs in our house... I also worked on several really good books for some lovely writers, and turned in copyedits for one of my own cat café books. 🐱

We did manage to get out into nature and the glorious sunshine when we could. And I listened to BTS on repeat. 🎶

Now I'm cooking up a new book idea... ✨️
Love a peaceful day browsing books and grabbing co Love a peaceful day browsing books and grabbing coffee, so I decided to vlog it because I love watching cosy little reels and wanted to make one! ☕️📖 I picked up The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season series is one of my absolute favourites!) and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

Have you all been reading anything good this weekend? 💕📖
Spilling the tea on getting published and what mig Spilling the tea on getting published and what might happen next… ☕ I don't think we writers talk about these things enough, especially the first one, which was a big shock to me after I got published!

The positive part is, you learn to deal with these swings and roundabouts over time. And you become a stronger person – and writer – because of it. ❤️

#writingcommunity #amwriting #writersofig

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  • Home
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    • About Rachel
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    • Nethervale
    • Cat café
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    • Editorial services
    • Testimonials
    • Portfolio
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    • Blog
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